Chapter 21: Pick a wife for me


    “Amelia? What are you doing here?” James asked after he stopped hugging Helen.


    “I brought her home, because she helped me,” Helen answered before Amelia could, and the men


    exchanged looks.


    “I’ll tell you about itter, okay? Come on, James, join me in the kitchen.”


    Helen held James’ hand and pulled him along with her to the kitchen. After they were gone, Amelia


    looked at Charles, she didn’t know what to say.


    “Come and have your seat, Amelia. Let’s talk.”


    Charles walked to the sofa, and Amelia followed behind him. She sat on the sofa in front of Charles


    and looked around again.


    “Wee to my home, Amelia. I’m still very surprised to see you.”


    “Thank you, Mr. Charles. I never knew I’d be visiting too. But Ma’am insisted I have dinner with her.


    I never knew she was your wife.”


    “Erm, not really. She is my ex-wife.”


    “Oh… I’m sorry, Mr. Charles.” Amelia lowered her head, and he chuckled.


    “It’s fine, Amelia. You never knew about it.”


    *


    “So, are you going to tell me why Amelia is here?” James asked as he watched Helen chop the


    onions.


    “She is here to have dinner.”


    “Why? Can’t she do that at her house?”


    Helen heaved a sigh, stopped chopping, and looked at James.


    “You don’t have to be so harsh. She saw me in front of the mall, struggling with torn nylons.


    Everything I bought scattered on the floor, she helped me pack them, brought me two new bags,


    and even gave me her bags to put the fruits in. I just wanted to show my appreciation.”


    “C’mon, Mom. Tonight is supposed to be special. It should be a family dinner, where we get to talk


    about you and Dad. Amelia isn’t part of the family. She is a stranger.”


    “She is no stranger. She is your secretary.”


    “Now you know everything about her?” James asked sarcastically.


    “Of course, I asked to know little about her, and that included the fact that she got robbed tonight!”


    “What? Where? How did it happen?”


    Helen knitted her brows and smiled widely. “Look who is worried about a stranger.”


    “Of course not! I just want to know if the file I gave her to study today is safe.”


    Helen’s jaw cked in surprise. “James, are you serious, right now? She got robbed and all you


    care about is your document?”


    “What else should I care about? She isn’t hurt. She seems fine to me. So…”


    “Her phone and money was stolen, okay? Show some pity to her. She is a very nice girl, and I like


    her so much.”


    “You have yet to tell me why you decided toe home. You prefer me toe to anywhere you


    are to see you. What changed?”


    Helen narrowed her gaze at James. She knew he tried to avoid the topic about Amelia, but she


    decided to y along.


    “Well. You are the reason why I’m here in bama, facing your father after a long time.”


    “I am the reason? How?”


    “We’ll talk better after dinner. Alone.”


    “You are scaring me, Mom. I can’t wait till after dinner. Why am I the reason? Or is this an excuse to


    see father after a long time?”


    “Nah! Your father hates me, James.”


    “But he allowed you into the house after eighteen years. This is progress, right?”


    Helen exhaled sadly and lowered her head, arranging the chopped onions on the chicken. James


    lowered his head to look at her sad face.


    “You still won’t tell him?”


    “No, James. This is not the right time.”


    “But you want him back, don’t you?”


    “I do, James. But, can we not talk about this yet? This time around, we are talking about you and


    that thing of yours that refuses to rest.”


    Helen pointed between James’ legs, and he raised his eyebrows.


    “So that is what this is about, hun? Dad reported me to you?” James asked, folding his arms.


    “Let me pay attention to our meal, okay? You have distracted me enough,” Helen responded and


    carried the chicken to the microwave.


    ***


    The table was finally set, and they all sat at the dining table, including Amelia.


    She sat on the chair that was next to Helen. James sat directly opposite Helen, and Charles sat at


    the front part of the table.


    “This smells so good, Ma’am Helen. I bet the taste is the same,” Ameliamended with a smile.


    “Of course it is. Thank you, Amelia. Start eating so that I can drop you at your house afterwards.”


    Amelia nodded and looked at James, who looked at his meal. He lifted his head and shot her a


    deadly look. She quickly threw her face away, and Charles and Helen exchanged looks.


    “You don’t have to take her home. I’ll take her home,” Charles responded, and James hit the table.


    “She is no baby. She can go home by herself.”


    “No, she can’t. It’ste, okay? I’ll take her home. It’s no problem,” Charles responded, and James


    heaved a sigh.


    “Whatever.”


    Amelia lowered her head in sadness and shame. She looked at her meal and didn’t know whether


    she should eat or not. Especially after how James had reacted to her being present at their dinner.


    Helen noticed she was reluctant to touch the food, so she moved her hands under the table and


    gave Amelia a little tap on her thigh.


    Amelia looked at her face, and Helen gave her a reassuring nod. Amelia also nodded and picked up


    her cutlery. She began to eat too.


    Property belongs to N?vel(D)r/ama.Org.


    “So, tell me, Amelia. How are your parents?” Helen asked.


    James and Charles lifted their heads and looked at Helen, then they also exchanged looks.


    ‘That question shouldn’t be asked, Mom.’ James thought, looking at his meal again.


    “They died. A lot time ago.”


    “Oh…” Helen raised her eyesbrows and blinked severally in awe.


    “I’m so sorry for asking. I never knew…”


    “It’s fine, Ma’am. You don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t know.”


    “Can I ask who you live with now?” Helen further asked, and Charles exhaled softly.


    “Can you just let her eat in peace? She will be dyed if you keep asking her questions. She has to


    get to the office tomorrow.”


    “It’s fine, Mr. Charles. I live alone now. But I lived with my uncle before.”


    “She lives alone now? How did I not know? Where does she live now?” James looked up and


    looked at her.


    “You changed address and didn’t tell me about it?” James asked coldly, and Amelia gulped.


    “I… I’m sorry. I didn’t think it was necessary to bother you with such information. I stay on the street


    not so far from thepany’s building.”


    “I don’t care. I’ve lost my appetite.”


    He hit the table again and stood up. He took onest look at Amelia before walking to the stairs.


    ‘When will he stop hating me?’


    “Don’t worry about it, Amelia. That’s how he is,” Helen said with a smile, and Amelia responded with


    a faint smile.


    “Do you have a boyfriend?” Charles asked, and Amelia’s eyes widened.


    “No, I don’t!”


    ***


    James was busy scrolling through his social media when he heard a knock on his door.


    “Hey baby. It’s Mom. Can Ie in?” He heard Helen’s voice.


    “The door isn’t locked. It’s not my house, remember?”


    Helen chuckled and opened the door. She walked into the room and met James sitting on the bed.


    He seemed very engrossed in what he was doing.


    “It’s time to talk. Can you give me a few minutes?” She asked, and James rolled his eyes and


    tossed his phone aside.


    “That girl is gone already, hun?” He asked, and Helen heaved a sigh.


    “C’mon, stop treating her like that. She is a very nice girl. I like her.”


    Helen sat next to him and reached for his hand. She held his hand and looked at his face.


    “What do you want to talk about?” He asked.


    “It’s about you, James. You are twenty-eight, and you promised me something, didn’t you?”


    James knitted his brows and shook his head. “Promised you something? I don’t think I remember.”


    “C’mon, James, stop ying. I’m serious. You promised me that you’d bring a wife home when you


    turn twenty-five. It’s been three years already, and I still haven’t seen any woman you are serious


    with.”


    “I knew this was what the ‘I want to talk to you’ is all about. Mom, if I had found the perfect woman, I


    would have brought her home and told you about her. But I haven’t found one yet. You need to give


    me more time.”


    “How much more time? James, I’m not growing younger, and this goes to you too. You are turning


    twenty-nine next year. You don’t even look like you are searching for a wife.”


    James exhaled and looked out of his window.


    “Mom, I’m just not ready, and that is because alldies are the same. They are after my money,


    nothing more.”


    “C’mon, James, are you saying this because I left your father to marry a richer man?”


    He hurriedly shook his head and looked at her. “No! Of course not. You were forced. Your father


    would have hurt dad if you didn’t do what he asked. Yours is understandable.”


    Helen closed her eyes and nodded. She wore a sad face almost immediately and James grew


    worried.


    “Mom, C’mon. I don’t see women like that because of you. Father hates you because he doesn’t


    know about the threats you faced yet. I still don’t know why you have refused to tell him that you are


    a free woman now. That asshole is dead!”


    “James… James, you are raising your voice. Calm down, okay? This should be about you, not


    about your father and I. I’ll talk to Charles, and we’ll talk things out. But this is about you!”


    She pocked his shoulder, and he giggled.


    “Fine. Let’s do this. I’ll let you pick a wife for me. Any woman you want, I’ll want.”


    “What? Are you for real? Is that a promise?”


    He nodded happily, and she sprang to her feet in excitement.


    “I have a wife for you!” She yelled.


    “Who?” James looked super curious.


    “Amelia!”


    “What?!”