Into the Starry Night

Twenty-Five

"And the prodigal daughter has returned. Welcome oh, Chibuzo, thank God for journey mercies," Harry was the one who ventured to speak.

Everyone else was staring at me like they had just found a sock they didn't know they owned.

Except for Yemisi. She looked like she was murdering me in a hundred different ways in her head.

"Hi guys," I gave a sheepish wave as I tried not to feel like I was ambushed. Leave it to Kenny to abandon me without sufficient information. "How's everyone doing? I don't know about you guys but I cannot get over how pretty this place is. It's so fancy, I actually can't believe this is my first time here, I'm usually a connoisseur of these sorts of things."

To say I was impressed by my surroundings would be an understatement. The dining room was decorated in a monochrome scheme of grey and white. An intricate chandelier hung from the ceiling, completely unnecessary in my opinion because the light coming from the floor-to-ceiling windows was more than enough. It was furnished with a long glass-topped table with very comfortable white oxskin chairs almost all of which were occupied on all sides, finishing everything up nicely were three bouquets of lilies in eye-catching vases that served as the centerpieces.

As someone who'd spent almost all her time surrounded by opulence, I had thought I had lost the ability to be impressed, as it turned out I was so wrong.

"Nice of you to finally join us," Essy said as I took the empty seat between her and Annie. If there was one thing I was grateful for as I'd been away it's that I didn't have to hear her voice. "I was looking forward to congratulating you on Lavender Skies. I was unfortunately tied up but a junior editor attended the party on behalf of the magazine and she wouldn't stop gushing about how great she found it all."

"Thank you," I put my hand to my heart to show I was touched.

"Now that we've all been caught up, let's continue with what we were doing before abeg, some of us don't have all day for this serenre," Khadijah rolled her eyes and tossed her shiny saffron-colored hair behind her shoulder.

Dishing a plastic smile in her direction I addressed her. "Well, it's nice to see you too, Dijah, but I think there's a Vegas stripper out there who needs those earrings back."

I relished in the offended gasp she gave and Essy's titter.

"How dare you . . . Why would you . . . These are . . ." she spluttered with a defensive hand guarding the overly sparkly gold hoops she had on. "These are stylish, ok!"

"Sure sweetie," I nodded as if I agreed with her. "Whatever you say."

I was rewarded with a glare.

"Alright, children," Harry clapped his hands. "Let's focus. Before my beautiful bride here goes on a murdering spree."

With the way Yemisi had been silent since I walked in, I could tell that was not too far in the future.

"Can I ask a quick question before that though?" Theo raised his hand from across the table.

"You have less than five seconds," was Harry's response.

"I only need two," he leaned his elbows on the table. "Are you alright, Amarachi?"

Surprised, I pointed to myself. "Me? You're asking me? I'm great, why the sudden interest in my well-being?"

It was Annie who answered from beside me with a poke on my neck that startled me and in turn, startled her. "Sorry. It's just . . . your face? It's a little swollen."

I knew this would happen but it still didn't stop a hole from opening in the pit of my stomach.

"Yeah, now that you mention it," Essy grabbed my cheek between her fingers and pulled. Her long, pointy acrylic nails dug into my skin causing it to sting. "You look really odd, hon. Like paper for some reason."