Hillsong _So will I

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Abeokuta, Ogun state

Nigeria

Liz

When someone makes you so happy the least you could do is to reciprocate. To try as hard as you can to make them  them feel seen, heard and loved.  So against my mother in-law warning I told Jason I'll love to have my honeymoon in Nigeria; to travel and see his home he usually talked about with so much pride.

His sisters took me to a fashion parlour to have these dope braids installed two days ago. They were made in spiral fashion and piled at the center of my head, my baby edges were presently curled and slicked down.

I pushed down the growing disappointment in me, when he said we had to visit his grandmother first ; the obvious reason why his mom didn't want me to come, but it was a last minute decision that he sprung up on me and I couldn't argue. I'll try to suck it up as much as I can, she can't be as bad as the rest of his family described.

He had pleaded me with last night when we landed in Nigeria, hence we didn't stay in Lagos but took another flight down to Abeokuta. One week of visiting his grandparents and then we'll tour Nigeria.

Pamela had laughed so hard at me when I told her we were coning to honeymoon in Nigeria. She said it sounded ridiculous, and went on about how people in Nigeria didn't want to vacation in Nigeria and I was leaving all my opportunities.

The coral beads I bought was attached to the end of the braids and it had a nice contrast to my skin color and my outfit. I looked around the hotel room where our packed bags lay, evidently we'll be going home to stay there with this woman everyone was scared of.

The heat wave was on a rage and I was super scared to go outside. To someone who lived the better portion of her life in London where it was always almost cold this was suffocating even though Jason said it wasnt much.  I smiled at my reflection in the mirror hoping and knowing Jason would love my outfit.

Looking good check! Good day about to be double check. I took deep breaths to expel every residual bad energy.

The door was casually pushed in and he strolled in then I turned to surprise him "Ta-da!" I exclaimed loudly.

As usual I waited for the pride and recognition that lits up in his eyes whenever he sees me but I couldn't find it. He looked slightly angry and I couldn't even begin to wrap my head around why.

Jason  let his eyes rake around my body and I quelled the usual hunger that was burning in me at his gaze. He pulled off his face cap and ran his hands through his short buzz cut something he does whenever frustrated.

"Elizabeth what what______" he stammered out, "What in Gods name are you wearing?"

I looked down at the Ankara shorts I had his sister make for me, few inches below my bum to mid thigh and the sleeveless matching crop top. White sneakers adorned my feet, Ankara but Fashionable I thought.

Surprisingly the outfit looked good on my mixed black skin. So I couldn't understand what his problem was, instead I cracked a joke "I'm naked babe" I even chuckled at my foolishness.

"You look good as naked" he shouted and I instantly flinched.

"What's your problem with this" I waved my hands to my outfit, because I was about to get irritated.

"Elizabeth! We are going to see my grandmother for the first time and you are practically wearing a bum short and crop top" he shouted even more.

Is that it? The shorts was mid thigh so technically it wasnt bum shorts but I didn't bother to correct him because I still didn't get his point. "And so?"

He looked even more infuriated. "What do you mean by and so?"

At this point I was royally pissed to. Since we all wanted to be mad I shouted in return, "Stop screaming at me and just tell me what the problem is I dont speak code."

He took large calming breaths then grabbed me by the shoulder and led me towards the bed where we both sat down, then began:

"B, I'm sorry for being short with you okay. I know you look decent to you and if we were back home, I'll say there is nothing wrong with your outfit but we are going to see my grandma; the woman that raised me for three years. And over here in Nigeria you can't wear shorts and  sleeveless top to see your in-laws. You have to wear something that makes you look more covered and responsible." He explained as carefully as he could.

"But Baby I dont understand its hot outside, what am I supposed to wear?" I asked.

"Just wear something else Liz please. The car is air conditioned and so is the house, it won't be that bad" he pleaded and kissed my cheeks.

I grudgingly got up to change, my mood took a minor dive but I still wanted to stay on top of the situation. I temporarily forgot he was still in the room and got up to change.

I heard his slow muttered groan as I stepped out of my clothes leaving me with a matching set of red lacy underwear. Well he wasnt supposed to see that now it was supposed to be at night but there goes the surprise too.

As I bent to retrieve another outfit from the packed box, I must have flashed him my bum because suddenly he was melding himself to me from the back and littering kisses at the side of my face. "Leave me alone, Jason"

He kissed my dimple spot and instantly I forgot my anger as it felt ticklish and laughed. "Was this for me" he gestured with his hand, referring to my choice of underwear.

I rolled my eyes at him then gave him a sarcastic answer "no, its for your grandmother," an image flashed into my head of pulling up to see her in my underwear and I just chuckled, she'll probably have an heart attack.

"Not funny babe," he intensified his kisses and I pushed him off. "Come on Jason we should leave already"

"Leave to where? how can we go now that I've seen you in these delicious things." My following protests was muffled and we ended up tumbling in bed for another hour, doing you know what.
.
.
.
The drive down wasnt so bad, I enjoyed the scenery. Nigeria in total wasnt everything the American media painted it to be, well I'm after all a Nigerian by marriage too now.

Nerves clutched in my belly and I temporarily regretted my decision to come down here. I hoped she likes my new choice of outfit though because it was the best I could do.

The family building was a large storey building painted cream with brown finishings. It looked like it was recently renovated and a fat pot bellied man opened the gate.

I made to open the car door when he pulled me back and kissed me enough to make the frown on my face disappear. Jason stroked the side of my gently, then said "I'm sorry for pulling this on you. I know we are supposed to be having fun right now, and disregard all the evil stories my mom and sisters told you. She's cool."

I shrugged, when in reality I wanted to say "do we have to spend a whole week of our honeymoon here" but my insane desire to make him happy kept my mouth shut at least I'll be thinking of the kiss and what happened earlier all day.

Immediately we alighted the entire compound went into a frenzy. People were rushing out of the house to greet us like we were celebrities. The open show of affection was loud but heartwarming. They were shamelessly and openly staring at me and right now I was thankful the jean trousers I wore with the long Ankara dress shirt was decent enough.

"Akanbi mi" A throaty voice shouted and I turned towards it. The owner looked graceful, bent with age and harsh wrinkles line contoured her eyelids and formed rings around her mouth. This was the grandmother every one feared.

Jason practically ran to her to engulf her in a hug and they stayed like that probably forgetting I existed and I didn't even mind. She finally released him and turned towards me, I bent my knee towards the floor to greet her as I saw the girls do to their parents. Her eyes lit in shock and acceptance towards my greetings.

"This must be our wife" she pulled me to her side to study me carefully, "Welcome to the family."

I swallowed the hot bitter saliva in my mouth and muttered a small thanks. The next hour felt like I was in a CSI or FBI detention cell. Questions upon questions, I've never answered so many questions in my entire life. Coupled with the excruciating heat, turns out that one of the cousins sold the generator for bet money and there was no light.

Jason's grandmother whom every one called Iya Agba, narrowed her eyes into slits and studied me quietly. I couldn't believe we were going to spend one week. He held my hand the entire time and stroked it from time to time while sending me looks of pity. All was well till she sent him out of the room, and the traitor just left me there to my fate. Talk about partnership in dangerous situations, he'll get a medal right now.

Iya Agba sipped a cup of hot brewed tea and adjusted her glasses this woman was at least 90 years old. "So our wife, I'm sure you know about the previous wife and all that happened."

If she wasnt so old and scary I'll have admired how direct she was.  Why  was she asking me of Jason's dead wife?

"Yes ma" followed by rapid nods then I chugged the cold juice down not liking the direction of this conversation.

"She was an Oyinbo woman like you. She broke his heart, cheated on him and was stealing his money," Iya agba said hotly. She folded her hands over her obvious sagging bosom and gave me a piercing glance then she continued, "I really wanted him to settle down with a responsible Yoruba girl this time. Someone who wouldn't hurt him."

I wanted to tell her irrespective of the location, race or tribe there will always be good and bad for you. I could put her mind at ease by saying I wouldn't hurt him but who was I kidding even  I knew it wasnt a promise I could make, so I kept quiet.

Iya Agba looked distraught. I could feel her love for Jason and her well deserved fear. I was about to give her a form of reassurance when she said, "You know there is a part of Jason that always wants to fix the broken parts of people! My prayer is someday that wouldn't break him too."

Her words were so powerful, I was stunned as I stared at her retreating back. Jason went to get another generator after blowing his cool earlier about the previous one, he could afford it anyway.

I tried not to show how much his grandmothers word scared me, but slowly the doubts were beginning to take root. What if I'm the one who finally breaks him?

After the awkward conversation I arranged out stuff in the room and freshened up a little. When I returned downstairs it was time for dinner but Jason was too engrossed speaking with his grandma to notice my change.

The dinning table was set and I sat to Iya Agba's right. A bowl of soup was placed there. I should have asked if that was mine but my vibe was too low to bother so I dug in.

One spoonful scooped into my mouth and my world must have gone red. Holy shit! Like triple shit.

I spit the contents of my mouth involuntary and it landed on my husband and his grandmother. I chugged the glass of water to my left, my lips and throat was on fire!

Great Elizabeth, Now she hates you even more.

Who cooks a bowl of pepper in water? It must be that because the amount of pepper inside wasnt even legal. That soup was way too spicy.

My husband who should have my back right here was laughing! Probably at the horrified expression on my face or the stupefied one on his grandmother. I felt so bad I wanted to cry, but it was amusing him. I muttered a silent apology and dashed away.

What a way to start my marriage right? This should be the classic definition of honeymoon gone bad.

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*peaks from behind the door* please dont shoot me😂. I know  this is late but in my defense I've been really busy. This chapter is really long and split into two.

I miss you guys though! Who missed me?😂

Okay let's talk! Have you ever been judged by your choice of clothing? Did you get the Nigerian mothers bad mouth😂😂?

Except if someone is dying you see the first 2weeks of our marriage the only person my husband will see is me and vice versa. We will be doing 😂😂😂😂 noor norr in Mfon's voice.

Kizzez and hugs
Orex