4

A pleading look took over Andra’s face as she implored Molly. “Please, I cannot face him alone.” She begged. “You need to come with me, please.”

“What!” Molly exclaimed, unbelieving. “How can you expect that of me?”

“Molly Please.”

“No.” Molly said vehemently, “I will not do it because I warned you. Plus, he is angry with me already. So, carry your cross.”

“Molly, please.” Andra pleaded again. “You know that you have a way with words and he kind of listens to you and you know it. So, please come with me and do your magic to calm him down on my behalf, please.”

“I won’t.” Molly adamantly refused and started dressing the bed, her actions a message to Andra that she had dismissed the subject and there was no way that she was going to change her mind.

“Please.” Andra pleaded.

“No,” Molly said resolutely and concentrated on her task. “Never.” She added for emphasis.

“Okay, an authentic semi-acoustic guitar from Fender,” Andra promised.

Molly simply waved her aside and continued with her task. “It won’t work. You cannot bribe your way out of this.”

“Okay, I’ll also add …what’s that thing you always admire…the uh…Bose 1 speaker for gigging.”

Molly’s hands immediately paused in their task. Andra saw that she had gotten her attention and proceeded to up her game. “I’ll also add the reverb guitar effects pedal.”

Molly abandoned her task and straightened up to face Andra. “It’s not enough.” She said.

“I’ll also add the microphone acoustic shield.”

“Wow, I didn’t know you were listening to my home studio list of needs.”

“Of course, I was.”

“You were sounding like someone who knows their way around music gear.”

“That’s because of your new aspirations of becoming a producer. You always talk about it.”

“Well, I’m glad your transgressions have turned out positive for me. And don’t you dream of double-crossing me.”

“I won’t.”

“You said promises are meant to be broken.”

“Yes, but not the promises I just made to you.”

“Are you sure?”

“I cross my heart.”

“Let me quote Lucky Dube’s lyrics ‘I cross my heart and hope to die, these are the words we use to get out of situations.’ Hope it’s not just words?”

“I’m serious, Molly. Trust me.”

“Okay, I’ll choose to trust you.”

They both gasped as they heard the sound of the car horn blaring from outside.

“I guess it’s time to go face him,” Molly said. “After you.”

“No. I will be behind you.”

“Whatever,” Molly said and led the way out of the bedroom. She paused at the doorway. “Please, on a more serious note, Andra, do not put me through this kind of trouble again. I can no longer deal with this. I’m twenty-five.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

“Okay. And please, look very sorry when we see him. Look as contrite as possible. I cannot speak for someone who is feeling self-righteous.”

“I know. Thank you.” Andra replied and followed Molly out towards the Livingroom.

 It was a luxury apartment with expensive-looking furnishing.

Andra and Molly walked over to the window. Looking outside, they sighted Duke and his wife, walking into the house while the driver was walking towards his quarters in the compound.

Molly observed Andra’s nervousness. “Look at you. Now, you’re no longer confident like you were when you left the house last night.”

“Molly, please stop,” Andra whined. “You know that this isn’t the time to play the ‘I told you so’ game.”

“Well, you’re right.” Molly conceded. “What else can I say? Just remember to look your sorriest.”

“Okay.”

Both girls sat down to await Duke and his wife’s arrival, a tense silence in the air. Their wait was not for long and soon, the door opened.

In came Andra’s father, followed by his stepmother. Carla stood aside as Duke immediately marched towards the girls who had risen in their anxiety. Since his attention was on Andra, she carefully took a step back from him as he stopped before her with fury in his eyes.

“Andra, I demand to know where you were last night.” He thundered.

Andra had already put on her sorry face but she was genuinely afraid even though she was used to her father’s wrath.

“I…I uh…” She looked towards Molly as if for help, but Molly looked nervous.

“Molly is not your mouthpiece. I want an answer now.”

“I was…”

“I guess you spent the night frolicking with some idiotic man from the club.” He stated more than questioned.

“No, dad. Why would I do such a thing?”

Smack! Duke slapped his daughter barely seconds after the last word left her mouth.

Andra was shocked because her father had never hit her before. The shock on her face was mirrored on the faces of Carla and Molly.

At that moment, it dawned on Molly that she would not be able to placate her uncle.

“Honey.” Carla cautioned but fell silent as he raised his hand in a halting manner, indicating that he wasn’t ready to listen to any lectures at the moment. Anger reddened him as he glared at Andra.

“How dare you look me in the face and lie to me over and over again?”

In the silence that followed, everyone could see Andra sniffle as she protected her struck cheek with her palm.

Duke was still overwhelmed with anger as he watched and listened to her sniffles. He was fed up with her shenanigans and felt hurt by her.

“Have I ever hit you before?”

“No.” she sniffled.

“I have tolerated your waywardness more than enough and I am not ready to do that any longer.”

Andra looked at him with tears standing in her eyes. “It is not my fault that I’m the daughter of a politician.” She cried defiantly. “I never asked for this.”

Taken aback by her defiance, he marched towards her, his move clear that his intention was to hit her again. He was out of control at the moment and everyone knew it.

Andra carefully evaded him by moving away as he angrily advanced toward her.

“I will not hesitate to slap you again if you insist on making excuses for your foolishness.” He threatened as he followed her until she stood between molly and her stepmother.

He stopped before her and her sniffles disrupted the silence in the air, her palm still protecting her cheek. Although Duke was a picture of fury, a look of pain was in his eyes as he never liked to see her hurt. She was his only daughter and he loved her to his bone.

“I have told you time and again that I don’t like what you’re doing but you refuse to listen. Your lifestyle is going to ruin my chances in the upcoming election. Why can’t you understand that?”

Andra sniffled again. “I’m sorry.” She said tearfully.

“She’s sorry, Honey,” Carla said gently, trying to calm the situation.

“No,” Duke shouted. “No amount of sorry will be able to repair my dwindling reputation. What’s the sorry going to do for me when she keeps repeating her actions right the next day after saying sorry?”

Silence followed his rage and Andra’s sniffles broke the silence.

“Well, I have made up my mind about what to do concerning this situation,” Duke said resolutely.

His words caused everyone’s eyes to focus on him with worried looks creasing their brows. His angry eyes glared at his daughter’s worried expression and tear-filled gaze.

“I have made up my mind, that I am going to marry you off so that I will no longer have to worry about your excesses. Then I can focus on my political career.” Duke stormed away, leaving them all shocked.

“Honey,” Carla called cautiously but he didn’t respond. She hastily followed behind him, disappearing into the house after him.

Andra stared at Molly in utter disbelief and fear. Molly’s face was pale with shock.

“He can’t be serious, right?” Andra asked her voice heavy with doom.

“How should I know?” Molly’s voice was quiet with shock.

Both girls stared at each other, still trying to process Duke’s pronouncement.