CHAPTER 38

SUSAN

Susan's doorbell rang exactly at seven, she is all

dressed awaiting Henry to pick her up. Her mother admires how ravishingly she looks and implores her to follow the etiquette she has taught her. Since her mom got back from Henry's house, she hasn't stopped talking about how lovely the family is and will be so glad if Susan and her can be part of it. She informed her about the date and her mother has been going around to make sure the outing is a blast. She picked out her dress, styled her hair, and monitored her when she was applying her makeup. At a point she got tired as her mother wouldn't stop asking for a dry run of the date rehearsal she enforced her to have with her, stating what she should say, how she should reply, and even how she should smile. Finally, the hour has arrived. Susan opens the door for Henry who has been waiting outside for a minute or two, she is surprised to see him casually dressed, she seemed overdressed for this outing and she is so embarrassed. She manages to say hi and invites him in, "I will go and change, please sit I won't be long" Henry holds her back "You look beautiful, I am intimidated, I will stop on our way out, I think I

am the one who needs to change" Susan blushes

at his reaction, she feels relaxed that instant. Her

mother sees them to the door, insisting they have a good time and could stay till the next day if need be. Susan kissed her mom bye so she would cut the conversation short and not say so many unnecessary things.

In the car, both Henry and Susan are mute as they drive along, Susan had so much to talk about but Henry's cold attitude isn't giving her the go-ahead. She keeps shifting uncomfortably in her seat "I should have changed my outfit, my mom picked this, I knew it was a wrong choice immediately I wore it" Henry smiles and mocks her jokingly which lightened the mood "Your mother has good eyes, better than yours" Susan laughs and starts up the conversation she has been waiting all day to have "So, your family already settled for a wedding date?" Henry hesitated with his response "Not really but they have the week in heart, we just need to put one or two things in place before making an official announcement" Susan's face brightens "Like inform the bride of her own wedding? So she won't be lost in the crowd and be taken for a guest"

Henry knew where the conversation was going, he had to calm her nerves "Hey! Nobody is having a wedding behind your knowledge. More reason I said we should go out on a date so we can talk about it, take a chill pill" he tickles her around her ribs, and she ends up giggling.

"So what kind of wedding do you want?" he asks Susan who immediately shares her fantasy "an elaborate one, I have always wanted a huge wedding that would stay in people's memory. You know I am the only child so my momma gotta do it once" Henry snorts "Oh kay! Sorry, you wouldn't be having your dream wedding, I am an only child too but two weeks isn't just it for anything elaborate"

Susan admits disappointedly "why does it have to be in two weeks? When we have the whole days in the calendar to prepare." Henry clears his throat and explains "well, I usually don't travel down to Nigeria more than once in a year and I won't be traveling down in the next two years for important reasons but my parents insist on having my wedding in Nigeria this year because they want a grandchild and can't wait till I will be done with my two years business course in Scotland"

"Oh!" Susan exclaims "Now it's clear" then with a confused face, she asks further "If you would be traveling for two years... how would... I mean where will I..." Henry cuts her, he knows what she is about to say and she is just too timid to ask so he will save her the stress and help her out "Where would you be? You are traveling back to the States with me but you will be in the U.S.A while I travel for my course in Scotland. Two years isn't a long time as such, you will be busy with work that you won't even notice when I'm gone and back" Susan swallows hard at this revelation. She wonders in her mind, 'so he has everything planned in his head and he isn't even carrying her along? does he think she doesn't have a life here? So she will just wake up one day and leave everything behind and go with him to a country she has never been to nor have any family member?' Henry noticed that she has wandered off in thought, and he taps her to get her attention "anything the matter? You seem lost" Susan sighs and confesses reluctantly "yea, you have everything figured out, all mapped out but I'm just being told. I mean, this is my life we are talking about, can I at least be aware of what I am getting into? I also have a life here, I have a job, and friends, I need enough time to think about relocating and all sorts". Henry calms her down "heyyy! I know it feels so sudden but making sacrifices comes with marriage. You will get another job there, you will make new friends as well there, I can assure you that my neighbors are very loving people, it's home away from home" he assures her that all will be fine, she will make new friends or keep in touch with the old ones since there is the phone and social media if that's all she is scared about. He also promised her that she could travel down home to visit everyone when he is away in Scotland. Susan isn't finding it funny, she asks within herself if she truly thinks Henry was coming down to live here after the wedding, she knows she was going to join him over there but didn't know it was going to be that fast.

The remaining evening was quiet and boring as

Susan was distant, she didn't know how to inform her friends about this new revelation. She buried herself in her meal and smiled occasionally when need be, waiting for the evening to be over.