Suspicions

Dinam POV

The good lady looked at me with so much disdain. She was staring at me squarely. As for me, I felt so humiliated. I lowered my head without saying anything. Why of all the houses there were in this town, did I have to come across the same one where I had been humiliated a few weeks earlier? At the same time, I must also admit that I had already walked through more than a third of the big houses and businesses in the city in search of work. I regret that bitterly at this time. Because all these humiliations have led to nothing except to make me be taken for a beggar.

"It seems to me that you have brought us together to introduce us to your husband! Correct me if I'm wrong. Where is this supposed husband?" Maïeil's stepmother asked, turning to Maïeil.

"Here's him. Do you know each other? Why are you talking to him so condescendingly?" Maïeil wondered looking around from her stepmother to me.

"Because he's a filthy guy who was ready to work here as a toilet shiner two more weeks ago. I rebuffed him by forbidding him to set foot here again. I don't understand how he miraculously ended up as your husband today. "

"So what's wrong with looking for work, even scouring the toilet as you think is disparaging? He's just an honest man who leads an exemplary and noble life. Is that a valid reason for disrespecting him? " Maïeil replied by defending me.

"No more chattering! My Daughter, at least give our guests room to sit down." The head of the family intervened, speaking kindly to his daughter.

"Are you serious Georges?! Do you allow these dubious people to move into our living room? What kind of father are you then to let your daughter hang out with this kind of person?" Maïeil's stepmother inquired to her husband without being shy about our presence. She was giving us a very contemptuous look.

At the time, I felt really bad for my mother. What trap had I stuck my mother and I? I could accept any misconduct towards myself, but never against my mother. My gaze suddenly became harsh. Maïeil's father having felt how his wife's words bothered us, reprimanded her severely

"So don't you have any sense of welcoming Martine? Don't you see that these people are our family in-law and that we owe them respect? What are these ways of talking to human beings, notwithstanding their social class ? "

"Let me laugh my dear!What family in-law are you talking about? Can't you see it's a fake marriage?I'm sure your daughter bamboozled you by being the first to escape her marriage with Lens. And as he was desperate and ready for anything, he rushed at the opportunity. But damn it, open your eyes George! "

"Enough Martine! I won't tolerate such disrespect towards my daughter and this boy you don't even know. Don't make me believe that you had other plans behind this marriage with Lens. Do you?" Thundered the head of the family obviously very angry. His wife immediately became disturbed by his words. It was clear that she was blaming herself for something. She said lowering her voice

"Of course not! What are you going to imagine yourself there? All I wanted was just good for Maïeil and for her to be happy."

"Very well! In this case, I don't see why we are here to discuss in a vacuum. Me too it is the happiness of my daughter that I want. If her choice fell on this young man, I can't help it, neither can you. " My father in-law cut it short.

"Come on sweetheart," Maëiel said taking my hand and leading me into the living room which was very chic. She also signaled to my mother to follow us.

We were well installed my mother and I. Apart from Maïeil's mother-in-law who furtively threw us mean looks, the rest were very kind to us. A buffet worthy of a feast was served. I really enjoyed myself by eating all the food that was put on the table. My mother also ate happily. At the end of the buffet, my father-in-law told me in apartheid

"Find me in my office right away." His gaze when he spoke to me was serious. I started shivering. What did he want to tell me?

I made up my mind to go to my father-in-law office under the fearful gaze of Maïeil. I wondered what he had to tell me that was so urgent. I found him sitting there, his eyes glued to his computer.

 "Did you want to see me ?!" I said nonchalantly.

 My stepfather takes his eyes off his machine and looks me straight in the eye. I suddenly feel embarrassed. I look down so as not to show my panic.

 "So young man, where are you from and how did you meet my daughter?"

 His question catches me off guard because I had not prepared for an interrogation.