The moment Chica heard it, her chest tightened. She hoped they would not meet, but the village was too small for that. That afternoon, Chica followed Mama Grace to the market area to get a few things for the house. People greeted Mama Grace warmly. Some smiled at Chica, too. Then a dark SUV stopped by the roadside.
Kemi stepped down first, dressed richly, and carrying herself like someone too important for the place. Tunde came down after her, neat and proud as always. For 1 second, Kemi’s eyes met Chica’s. Then she looked away and said loudly to Tunde, “So this is the place? No wonder the roads are terrible. How do people even live here?” Tunde looked around with a dry smile.
“They manage.” Kemi wrinkled her nose. “Everything here looks backward.” Some people nearby heard her. The mood changed at once. Mama Grace spoke calmly. “My daughter, not liking a place is different from insulting it.” Kemi looked at her and gave a small mocking laugh. “And who are you?” “I’m Obinna’s mother,” Mama Grace said.
“Oh,” Kemi replied. “So you’re the farmer’s mother.” Chica tightened her grip on the basket in her hand. Tunde finally looked at Chica. “So you really stayed?” Kemi turned to her sister and smiled without warmth. “Of course she stayed. Where else would she go?” Mama Grace frowned. “You should speak with more respect.
” Kemi’s face hardened. “Respect? For what? Village people who think suffering is a way of life?” That was enough. Chica stepped forward. “Kemi.” Her sister turned. “Now you want to answer me?” “You came for family rights,” Chica said. “Not to insult people.” Kemi laughed. “Look at you. A few days here and you already sound like them.
” Mama Grace placed a hand on Chica’s arm, trying to calm her, but Kemi had no intention of stopping. She insulted the villagers again. She called them backward. She said money was what separated people who mattered from people who did not. Tunde did not stop her. When it suited him, he added his own cold words.
Then Kemi said she wanted to see the kind of place Chica was now living in. Before anyone could stop her, she began walking toward the house with Tunde behind her. By the time Chica and Mama Grace got there, Kemi had already entered the compound and was laughing. “This is it?” she asked. “This is where you now live?” The house was simple, clean, and quiet, but Kemi looked around as if it were a joke.
“So this is the life you chose,” she said mockingly. “I didn’t choose it,” Chica said. “You forced it.” Kemi shrugged. “And I did you a favor.” Mama Grace stepped in. “Enough. You have insulted this village, this house, and the people in it.” Kemi turned to her. “Please don’t speak to me like we are equals.” The words were so harsh that even Tunde glanced at her.
Chica’s face changed. “Watch how you speak to her.” “Or what?” Kemi asked. “You will defend your poor new family?” Then her eyes fell on the pink diamond piece lying in its case on the side table. Chica had been trying it earlier. Kemi moved toward it, opened the case, and froze. The moment she saw it clearly, her face changed from surprise to suspicion.
She turned sharply to Chica. “You stole this.” Chica stared at her. “What?” “This belongs to Daddy’s house, doesn’t it?” Kemi said. “How else would people like this afford something like this?” Mama Grace was offended at once. “That belongs to Chica. It was given to her here.” Kemi laughed in disbelief. “Given by who? That farmer?” Tunde came closer and looked at the diamond, too.
