Chapter 12

Sip and See are celebrations done in honour of newborn babies after birth and one would have expected that the child deserved to be celebrated in her own home at least but as usual, the Matriarch of the Jones family had her way when she suggested to her family that it would be better if the celebration was done at her place.

"Seeing as I have a bigger yard compared to that small thing you children have at the back of your house. It would only be sensible that you do it here. That is if your wife would allow it. What does an old woman like me know anyway" she had said before she added that the decision was all up to them.

They moved the Sip and See to her house. It was their idea, of course.

Serena geared herself up for what she was about to face as she spotted her mother-in-law's drive. It was a garden party and she knew there would be people all around the house. She just hoped she would have been able to adjust herself to the apparent stare she was bound to get from people when she alighted. Most of Mathew's family had never seen her with her hair down before. They have always known hair bun Serena and she doubted if she had dressed so sharp before in their presence. Well, no going back now, she thought as she saw that some of the people in the front yard have seen her already.

"Well, in as much as they are not her yet. Let's do this, girl" Serena said to herself with a low laugh as she got out of the car.

As her luck would have it, she spotted one of Mathew's cousins scarfing down a casserole and she was heading to him to get the lay of the land, so to say, as she call out to those far from her in greetings; the front door opened

"Has anyone seen..? Ah! What is that?!"

Eugenia's shriek was what prompted people from the backyard to rush out to ask what happened to Mathew's mother "Just look at her!" she shouted again with her hand waved wildly at Serena. Serena wished the ground would just open up and swallow her as the woman looked at her the same way her son had, the difference there was that she was more dramatic about it and there were people here to witness Serena's shame as she shouted "Just look at her all tarted up like she was going to a brothel! What nonsense is this? And that…that ridiculous hair too. She had it down! Did anybody see her husband around? Mathew, are you here?" she looked around like she was expecting to see her son pop out of the wall "No? Well, he wouldn't approve of her dressed like that! She came here on her own, that should be enough to prove that she was not acting like a good wife. My son would certainly not approve of a getup like that!" she humphed as she flung her hand aside like she was talking about something distasteful she would like to do away with.

Serena stood rooted to one spot, the smile she had on her face when she wanted to call out to Matthew's cousin long dead. She had never felt such humiliation before. More people had come out now and some of them were whispering as they nodded towards her, strange faces she was not sure she had seen before mingled with Mathew's family or maybe it was the shock that her faculty was in that was causing the confusion. She expected a reaction from her mother-in-law but this was more than she had bargained for. She originally expected the sly looks and double-meaning barbed words that her mother-in-law used to throw her way but not this. Was the woman outrightly attacking her because Mathew was not around? Maybe she should have just stayed with Mathew. At least he was not this ruthless. Should she go now?

The front door opened again and she saw her mother come out with the new mother, Meimu had the new infant in her hand. Serena's heart lightened as she thought that her mother wouldn't accept her being humiliated like this by the elderly woman. No matter what her mother's faults were, she loved her after all.

The rebellious voice in her scoffed at her "Hello? Have you met your mum?"

Serena ignored the voice as she saw the new mother saying something to her mother-in-law. She looked uneasy.

"No, Carrie. I would not calm down and I would cause any scene I so damn want, this is my house after all. Whoever does not like it can go to their house" Eugenia was so wrapped up in her ire that she did not notice the way the woman winced before looking over at her husband who gave her an apologetic look. A look of understanding passed between them which Serena did not miss and she briefly wished that she had that with Mathew, then his mother's behaviour wouldn't have mattered. She berated herself for spacing out though when his mother laid a hand on her daughter-in-law with her winning smile as she said "My dear, you can't say that you are not shocked by her behaviour too. If she was not so shameless without knowing how to properly conduct herself, would I be so harsh with her? I am a tolerant person, right?" she looked around as if for confirmation and everyone around her nodded. She turned back to Carrie "See? You are such a reasonable young woman and now you are a blessed mother too. If only someone would learn that too and stop flaunting herself around" she said as she turned her glare back on Serena.

"Maybe I should just apologise?" Serena thought to herself forgetting the vow she made to herself that day. Anything to get everyone's eyes off her.

She took a step forward to do just that when she heard "Serena, what are you doing just standing around like that, you foolish child? Come over and apologise to your mother-in-law now"

Her mother.

Serena halted in the step she took as fury filled her body. Inexplicable fury that she couldn't even explain where it stemmed from.

So much for having someone in her corner.

Serena knew she wouldn't have done it. No, she wouldn't have acted like that if her mother had not joined these people to humiliate her. Where would she have gotten the liver after all?

But her mother did talk and Serena felt something snap in her.

She removed the glasses she had hung in front of her gown and put them back on. She removed the scarf she had tied around her neck to keep her hair down. Shook her hair vigorously to make it more luscious then she flipped her hair back, turned around and walk out on them.

The whole lot of them that had turned themselves into a spectator at a bull ring.

Serena knew there would be hell to pay later but at the moment; backing the car out of the driveway before she increased her space; she heard Eugenia sputter:

"Can…can you believe that? Did you all see that?" behind her.

Serena knew that she regretted nothing.

Yes, that felt good.