Under the Crimson Sunset (a Nigerian Romance story)

The party decorators moved around the compound; a group worked on the chair and table arrangements, another group worked on dressing the flowers and the exterior part of the building. The live band set their musical instrument while the workers of The Wilson were busied with the cooking. Inside the house, few guests were seen in the general living room.

The whole family were in the private living room, getting ready for their party. Dr. Wilson knelt down beside his seated wife, adjusted her blue crystal beaded necklace. She smiled graciously. Beside them, Dave held Nancy by her waist. He introduced her to his parents two days ago and they accepted her. Luckily enough, his mother was responding to treatment and she seemed normal to Nancy. Dave saw no reason to tell her about his mom for now. He planned to do that later.

That day was his parent's wedding anniversary. Staying and supporting each other for almost thirty years was worth a celebration, coupled with the fact that she had series of mental predicament. The party was hitch-free, it commenced around midday and ended after dinner where they got a shock of their lives.

They had the dinner in the garden, with short palm fonds gracing the view. It was famly reserved; Dr. and Mrs. Wilson, Dave, Nancy, Tina and Auntie Ella were the ones present. They were enjoying and basking in the glow of the evening, Dave's mother seemed totally herself. They'd laugh, joke, clink wine glass and cutleries. It was all filled with tranquility.....until she arrived.

"Enjoying the evening without me? I'm a bit hurt."

They turned around only to see the glowing figure walking towards them. Her short sequins gown glittered in the evening light.

"The Walking Sun." Nancy whispered to herself. Her heart sank as she saw her.

"Dorcas?" Dave questioned no one. His heart became furious as he saw her.

Their parents weren't disturbed at her arrival. Dr. Wilson already knew who she was. Ella and Tina despise her with every bone in their bodies.

"Dorcas! Is that really you?" Dr. Wilson laughed as she approached him. She hugged him and Mrs. Wilson too.

"Ohh, it's been ages. How have you been, Mom and Dad?" She beamed more than the fluorescent that lit up the evening.

"Mom and Dad? What a daughter." Tina scoffed as she brought the wine glass to her mouth. Dorcas avoided her.

"What are you doing here?" Dave was getting furious. Nancy held his hand under the table.

"Wait, was I not invited to the anniversary? I thought I was a family. My mother got the invitation but she was still mourning her husband, so I filled in for her."

"Oh, my condolences, Dorcas." Dr. Wilson held her hand.

"Find somewhere to sit."

Dorcas walked past few empty seats and settled for the one opposite Dave. Dr and Mrs Wilson were sitting beside each other, Dave sat beside his mom, Tina sat beside her dad. Ella sat beside Tina and Nancy sat beside Dave. Dorcas chose the seat beside Ella.

"And, aren't you mourning your dad?" Ella asked gently.

"Well, I'd mourned him when he died. I can't dwell on it for too long. I have to move on."

"What a daughter, once again." Tina spewed.

"Hey, Dave. Nancy, hi." She ignored Tina and gave both Dave and Nancy an unsettling smile. Her arrival changed the atmosphere from bright to gloomy. But their parents didn't know.

Dave didn't return her greetings. Nancy smiled at her. Dave had already told Tina and Ella about his encounter with Dorcas, so they weren't shocked she knew Nancy's name.

"I didn't know we'd be meeting again." Dorcas maintained her gaze with her.

"Do you both know each other from somewhere?" Dr. Wilson asked.

"Oh, not at all. I met her and Dave some weeks ago. He introduced her as his fiance."

Dr. Wilson already knew Dave broke up with Dorcas but without knowing the reason. He could notice how hurt Dorcas was. "Hmm, that's what we heard too. But, I'm happy for both of them. I believe there must be a reason things didn't work out between you two."

"Yeah, a reason. Just one reason." She chewed the word while looking at Dave.

The dinner ended quietly. They've raised the toast before Dorcas walked in. When Dr. and Mrs Wilson finished their meal, they excused the family and went to bed.

"Well, ladies and gentleman, I'm afraid my wife and I need to retire to bed. We'll meet again tomorrow morning." He rose to his feet. "I'm grateful to God for blessing me with this family. You're my strength, and I love you all. Darling, let's go to bed."

"Dorcas, tell your mother I send my condolences. I'll find some time to pay her a proper visit. And, you've grown to be such a beautiful woman. But I'm glad my son found his happiness already." Mrs. Wilson smiled and held her husband's hands who helped her up. Dorcas had her jaw on the table as she watched both of them walk away. Still shocked, she faced Ella,

"She's fine now?"

Ella turned to her with a straight face, "what do you mean? She has always been fine."

"You know what I mean." She faced everyone. "Everyone knows what I mean. Well, except for you, Nancy. You probably didn't know Dave's Mom had..."

"Shut up, traitor." Tina burst out. Nancy watched both of them carefully. She began to wonder what she wanted to say and what happened to Dave's Mom. Was Dave keeping her in dark? Why didn't anyone tell her anything? Do they really have dark secrets like Wumi had said before? The tightly clenched fist of Dave under the table brought her back from her thought. Dave was silently becoming ferocious.

"Traitor?"

"Yes, or should I say coward? You sure do have quite the nerve to show your shameless ass here again."

"Tina, chill." Ella held her hand.

"Auntie Ella, don't tell me to calm down. This coward left when she was needed the most. She added more fuel to my brother's fire."

"Oh, please. You want to talk about fuel and fire? Bring it on. Do you cluelessly think I'll be your brother's victim? He was a ticking bomb and still is. I wasn't ready to risk my life for anyone. I'm my parent's only child." She roared

"I hate you."

"It's okay to do that, Tina. I hate myself too." She was calming down now. "Honestly, there's no day I don't regret what I did to Dave. I should have stayed back, I should have stayed with him, surf through the storm with him. But I ran away."

"Who cares about your sad story. Opportunity comes but once. You can't have your way in my brother's life again. Nancy is his wife, so deal with it." Tina yelled.

"I plan to do that." Dorcas whispered to herself

Tina rose to her feet at once, dragged her chair backwards and approached the exit. At the exit, she stopped and looked back at Dorcas, "hey, if you love your entire self, avoid my brother and our family. You aren't welcome here anymore." She left. Ella, also done with her meal, rose to leave.

"Dorcas, it's great to finally see you again. But, I'd be helpful if you'd leave Dave alone."

"What do you all mean? Can't I come here peacefully again?"

"I wish you had done that. But I heard when you said you'd deal with it. Admit it, Dave isn't for you."

She looked at Dave, who was gritting his teeth, suppressing his volcanic anger with the help of Nancy who held his hand tightly. To Dorcas, she thought Dave was listening to her. "No, I won't admit it. I want to rectify my mistake."

"Sorry girl, it's too late."

"I'll rewind the clock."

Ella walked away, saying, "in your dreams. Their love is impenetrable."

It remained the three of them. The atmosphere was too tight that Nancy struggled to swallow her spit. Dorcas maintained a deadly gaze with her. Nancy could see her intentions behind the gaze: she wanted her man.

"Dorcas, get out." Dave managed to say between his anger. Nancy and Dorcas looked at Dave. Nancy smiled and exhaled because she was scared Dave would do something terrible and she wouldn't be able to stop him. But he kept his cool.

"Dave, I should leave? Are you chasing me out of your family's house?" She had innocence in her voice.

"Dorcas, I won't say this for the third time. Get. Out." He emphatically stressed each word between his teeth. Dorcas flinched a bit but stood her grounds.

"No, I..."

"Dorcas." Nancy began. Her voice was gentle and tender. "I like you and your skin. I call you the Walking Sun because I find all Albinos like the sun. You're wise and intelligent. However, this is the part where your sixth sense tells you to adhere to what he's saying if you love yourself. Dorcas, kill the thoughts of having Dave as your own. It's a dream that'll never be a reality."

Dorcas found herself sobbing. "I...I...I'm sorry. Dave, I'm sorry for everything. I really love you. I can't imagine you with another lady. I can't bring myself to accept such." She rose to her feet. "I know it's a dream far from reality, but I'll give it my best to bring it to reality. I'll have Dave back. Mark my words." She turned and left.

Dave struggled to breathe as she left. Nancy held his shoulder and pulled him to an embrace.

"It's fine, baby. You did well. I'm proud of you. You controlled your anger."

He tried to speak but he was whimpering. After a while, he calmed down, raised his head to meet Nancy's. "Thank you for being there for me. I love you." Nancy smiled at him. Whenever they're in a much relaxed condition, she'd ask him about his Mom and why he or Tina didn't tell her.