Her Christmas desire - Season 1 - Episode 3

5 years ago

Her Christmas desire - Season 1 - Episode 3

Cassie quickly withdrew her hands from her sister’s shoulder, ‘Elvis contacted you? How long were you going to tell me that?’ She scoffed and stepped back, feeling upset that her sister would keep such a heavy secret from her.

A tear ran down Elena’s face, ‘You won’t understand, if he comes here, our lives maybe endangered. Elvis was working with very powerful drug lords before his arrest. Now he has been pardoned, he must tread carefully.’ She explained the reason she hadn’t shared the information with her sister
While the Benjamin sister were still talking, Tamar Benjamin, their mother stepped out of her room and descended on the steps slowly and gently, like a serpent that was watching its prey.

She knew her daughters were talking about Eno, her eldest child whom she never agreed with. She missed Eno greatly, and she was very happy that she would spend this yuletide season with them. Her excitement increased by each step taken, she had plans for her daughter, and she had already set them into motion.

‘What are you two bickering about? There’s a lot to do!’ She rolled her eyes as she landed at the foot of the stairs.

The sisters went quiet at once.
‘We were talking about dad.’ Elena hissed angrily. She had a temper and could be very rebellious at times.

‘Elena!’ Cassie gritted her teeth.
Mrs. Benjamin raised a hand, ‘No, let her speak!’

Elena’s hear thumped in an uncertain rhythm as she looked her mother in the eye.

‘How do you think Eno would feel coming home to find out that dad isn’t here to welcome her? And how would she feel knowing that you have sold her off to some arrogant King?’

Cassandra understood the first line, but the second didn’t sit well with her. She looked from her younger sister to her mother, and realized something had been brewing between these two and she wasn’t even aware of it.

‘Excuse me, what is going on here and what arrogant King are you talking about?’ Cassie faced Elena for more explanation.

Elena scoffed and ran her thick fingers through her curly hair, ‘Why don’t you ask your mother? She didn’t divorce dad because of his financial situation alone, she hated him for disagreeing with her.’

Tamar’s mouth went dry as she stared at her lastborn. She couldn’t believe this girl still had delinquent tendencies. For heaven’s sake, she was no longer a teen!

‘What is she talking about mum?’ Cassie drew in a deep breath, expecting the worst but hoping for something different. She knew her mother was a greedy woman who hated to work. She could sell off her daughters just to purchase the latest jewelry in town.

Tamar avoided Cassie’s accusing gaze, ‘Your sister is thirty six years old. Eno is a very beautiful woman and she has found purpose for her life…’ she paused.

‘Why don’t you just hit the hammer on the nail?’ Elena moved away from the scene angrily, and returned to arranging the table.

Tamar s----d in air to calm herself, ‘You girls should all be married by now, but if your sister fails to get married, you two may not see the need to. I got married very early, though to a miserable man, but I have plans for you girls.’ She smiled, expecting them to understand that she wanted the best for them.

Cassie was impatient with her mother’s explanation, ‘Mother, can you just tell me what I need to know?’

Tamar closed her eyes, ‘Okay, your sister has always been betrothed to the King of Lagos, but she doesn’t know that. His parents helped her a lot in school though she doesn’t know that. I thought he would’ve forgotten about her after many years apart, but he didn’t. He just returned from Amsterdam two weeks ago and he has been pestering me to visit his wife. This is one of the reasons I pressured your sister to come home.’ She averted her daughter’s eyes.

Cassie scoffed, ‘I don’t understand, what do you mean by “your sister has always been betrothed to the King of Lagos,” please explain it to me mum.’

Mrs. Benjamin blinked away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, knowing that her kids would judge her for the decision she had taken in favor of them all.

‘Your sister had always dreamed of being a medical doctor. I couldn’t just fold my arms and do nothing like your father. I worked so hard to see her dreams come true, but I knew the meager salary I earned as a Civil Servant wouldn’t take her anywhere.

So…I told one of my rich friends about it and she said she could help me. The first day the King and his wife saw the picture of Enobong, they fell in love with her and so did their son, Yemi.

They said they would fund her education on one condition which was a marriage between Yemi and Eno whenever she was done.

I agreed because I really wanted her to get better education outside. But I asked that the betrothing remain a secret between I and them, because if Eno knew about it, she would change her mind about going to school outside.’

Cassie felt weak by her mother’s confession, ‘But what about the scholarship…I don’t understand…’

Tamar brushed the tears off her face, ‘I went to a typist who helped me make that up. I knew that was the only way Eno would accept to school outside, I made it look like she had been considered for a scholarship when in truth, the King’s household had been funding her education.’

She had been lying to the Royal family all these years about Eno, but they were tired of waiting. Yemi wasn’t getting any younger, and he wanted to get married to the beautiful woman he had seen in the picture.

‘I told you! I told you that she is a devil. She is going to sell us off to me because of money.’ Elena mistakenly dropped one of the ceramic plates which shattered the silence in the room.
Tamar bit her lip angrily, ‘Enough! If it wasn’t for the goodhearted King, your sister would never have gotten a better education. None of you here would live in this beautiful house. You should be licking my feet in appreciation.’ She folded her arms into a fist, ready to fight anyone who would stand in the way of her promotion to Queen Mother.

‘But mum, have you thought of Eno’s happiness? What about her life in America? What if she has fallen in love with someone?’ Cassie asked in a gentle voice.

Tamar smiled, of all the daughter’s she had, Cassie had always been the thoughtful and pragmatic one.

‘Darling, I don’t care if your sister has a man in her life. The gold from the King’s court flourished her body and made her destiny come through. She has reaped enough benefits from the Royal House, it is time for her to payback.’
‘But what if she doesn’t want him?’ Cassie asked.

Tamar shrugged, ‘She has no option, but to want him.’

Elena sat in a corner brooding over her sister’s fate, resentment for her mother growing within her.

‘You are the worst mother in the world!’ She yelled.