Work Hard, Love Harder

Chapter 10

“Oh honey, you look beautiful!” Clare cried, smiling through watery eyes at her daughter. For once, Zoe couldn’t help but agree. Looking in the extravagant vanity mirror, she felt more elegant, poised, and sure of herself than ever in her life. Her weave was piled loosely at the crown of her neck, loose curls hanging aimlessly. Pearls adorned her hair, glittering magnificently against the blonde. Her veil tucked in just above her bun, trailing to the ground. Her dress was strapless and encompassed in lace, the back tantalizingly open. It was extravagant in its simplicity, and she was glad she had let Aisha talk her into one so expensive. It was perfect.

A dress made for a Dangote.

“Femi isn’t going to know what hit him,” Aisha laughed, sitting in her light pink bridesmaid’s dress at her side, putting glittered powder across her bare shoulders. “Although it might not make a difference, he stares at you like a lost puppy even when you look like crap. No offense,” Aisha smiled.

Zoe smiled back past the lump thickness in her throat, happy to have Aisha at her side. It had been surprisingly easy befriending Aisha. She was warm and kind, despite the cruelty she could embrace. She reminded her of Sophie that way.

“Don’t forget your garter!” Juliana sang, glowing in her dress, which clinched differently than Aisha’s around the waist, similar to Zoe’s own which left room for the slight bulge there, the only sign of the baby they were expecting.

“We know Femi wouldn’t want to miss out on that tradition,” Clare said suggestively, winking at her and Zoe tried to laugh, but it sounded brittle to even her own ears. She could feel a nervous flush at her neck, and her hearing felt muted as she tried to calm her anxious breathing.

“And the earrings!” Aisha said, holding up the blue diamonds. Zoe nodded faintly, a ghost of a smile on her face, grabbing them gently from her, but making no move to put them on.

A knock sounded at the door and a familiar voice called out.

“You ready?” John called, and all three of Zoe’s bridesmaid’s looked at her curiously, noting her nerves.

“Can I just have a moment? You guys go ahead,” Zoe said, feeling an ever rising panic in her chest.

“Come down when you’re ready,” Aisha smiled, a hand gently on her arm, before they all left.

Zoe put her head between her hands, resting her elbows on her knees and trying to control her breathing. They had been planning so long for this day. She had felt nervous about it, yeah, upon looking onto it. But sitting there, about to go out in front of thousands of people she didn’t even know, all she felt like doing was throwing up.

She could feel tears threaten her eyes, but she forced herself to hold them in, reminding herself of the lecture she would receive from Aisha if she ruined all her hard work.

The truth was Zoe didn’t belong here. As much as she adored the extravagance, it was a wedding for a Dangote, with hundreds of guests, thousand-dollar floral arrangements, and expensive gifts on the table for the guests instead of mints. She didn’t deserve or earn this life of luxury.

She felt more than saw somebody standing in front of her and almost cowered at her vulnerable state.

“I’m sorry, Aisha, I’m almost…” Zoe looked up, blood draining from her face as she met cold brown eyes with her own. The woman in front of her stood tall, looking glorious in a deep multicolored African dress, her hair elegantly curled and makeup pristine.

“Hello, Zoe,” she said kindly, smiling at her. Zoe blinked hard, feeling like it was just her luck that her future mother-in-law would find her quivering and bawling her eyes out three minutes before being expected to marry her son. But with each shake of her head, the woman’s smile grew larger and more sincere.

“Hajia?” Zoe asked thickly, eyes wide as she stared up at her, mouth open.

“Close your mouth, dear, it’s not becoming,” she scolded, but her demand was softened as she came to Zoe’s side, an arm resting on her shoulder.

Or well, it looked like her arm was on her shoulder, but Zoe felt nothing except her own confusion.

“You’re…” Zoe gulped heavily. “You’re supposed to be waiting with Femi.”

“You’re blunt,” Hajia countered.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you… just, why are you here?” Zoe amended.

Hajia just shook her head, a look of happiness on her face.

“Come on now, wipe away your tears. Why are you crying?” she asked, sitting down softly next to Zoe.

“I… this whole thing…” Zoe trailed off. She was going crazy. Hajia was always polite with her, but they weren’t at the confiding in each other stage.

“You love my son, don’t you?” Hajia asked, and Zoe nodded vigorously.

“More than anything,” she said.

“I thought so,” Hajia said. “You know, when I first met you, I didn’t like you.”

Zoe scoffed a laugh. “Well, thanks.”

“I was wrong,” Hajia continued. “I underestimated you, I think. You’re stronger than I thought—more loyal.”

Hajia rose, going behind Zoe so they both looked at her reflection in the vanity.

“I’ve been keeping an eye on you. When you love, you love with all you have,” Hajia noted, remembering Zoe with her family. “And even though you’ve loved before… nothing has been like with Femi.”

Zoe froze as Hajia’s words rang in her ears – she was right. She had never felt about anybody the way she felt about Femi.

“That’s the problem though, isn’t it?” Hajia realized suddenly, and Zoe thought she felt the air of her hands adjusting her veil as she spoke. “That scares you, even now, on your wedding day.”

Zoe nodded, eyes filling with tears.

“Now, now, don’t go doing that, Aisha will not be happy if you ruin your mascara,” Hajia said. “But you should know something.”

Zoe turned in her chair, facing Hajia.

“Femi doesn’t care about any of this,” Hajia said, waving an arm aimlessly. “The money, the extravagance, he doesn’t even care about the guests here. He’s never cared about the people of this world and the status he has. I know you’re nervous. Today’s a big spectacle. But you should know that Femi would elope if he thought that was what your dream wedding was. All of this, this is for you.”

“For me?” Zoe questioned, and her eyes caught on the flowers on the vanity. Sunflowers, she realized. Sunflowers that she hadn’t picked out.

“Mom, I want one just like in the fairy-tales,” Zoe said to her mom as she braided her hair softly.

“Baby, it’s hard to have those. They’re expensive,” Clare said to her daughter lightly, smiling to soften the blow.

“Well, what if I’m rich?” Zoe asked indignantly, because even at only 6 years old, her dreams ran a mile a minute.

“Okay, if you’re rich,” Clarisse agreed. “What do you want?”

“I want a long white dress – the ones that people have to carry they’re so long. And I want you to walk me down the aisle. I want lots of people! Lots and lots! And I want ice cream, no cake. And sunflowers, everywhere!”