The Sham Bride

EPILOGUE

°•°•°•°•°•°•°

Matthew's POV

When I arrived at Doris's house in time to take them to the party, I felt relieved that the hurdles of the past week have been put behind me, for now. As soon as the last meeting in Badagry was adjourned, I rushed to the airport to join the last flight heading to Imo State. Even though it cost me extra naira to buy a ticket at the last minute.

I missed my sons. I never knew that parenting was this exhilarating. Sure, they are a handful most times, but I would never trade every sacrifices I've made for their sakes just to have a less complicated life. They filled my days with a lot of light. Their charisma and intelligence made me proud to call them mine. When I made the decision to be part of their lives, I knew that I had made the best decision of my life.

The most thing on my mind was to freshen up and get a good rest. Especially since today was going to be a special day for all of us. I smiled as my thoughts flashed back to the conversation I had with Mom on the night before my departure to Lagos.

Her favourite TV show has just finished, dad retired to his room after having dinner. It was just the two of us in the living room.

"So, my son, what's going on?" she said.

I stared at her, perplexed by what she said. "I don't understand what you mean,"

"Son, you're not getting any younger. Your children are growing too, the day will come that they'll realize what is happening between you and their mother..."

"If that day comes then I'll face up to the truth," I replied.

"It's not as easy as you think my son, no matter how old a child gets, that child will always be closer to his mother. If you suddenly decide to up and leave their lives without preparing them for what they're about to experience, then you'll leave a scar on their hearts for a long time." she said.

"Mother, I still don't get you."

"Do you not have any future plans for your life?" she sounded irritated.

"Mother, I don't want to go into that discussion yet."

"Why? You think you have it all figured out, well, let me spell things out for you. Do you really want to remain a bachelor forever? You mean to tell me that for three good years, you have not met a woman who you'd want to start life all over again?" mother said.

"Honestly, I don't have time to think about that, besides, I don't want to get involved with a woman who cannot accept my children. And they're my priority at this point." I answered.

"What about Doris?" she asked.

The temper threatened to let loose but I held back. I don't understand why mother continually made statements insinuating that I could get back with Doris.

Does she really not care that I got divorced three years ago?

"Nothing will happen between us, mother. I've told you to stop thinking in that direction."

"I meant to say that, what if she finds someone else? Will you be ready to accept another man's presence in your boys life?"

DORINE'S POV

¶ By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest officiating the ceremony, instructed.

At this point, my heart began beating faster. I had the chance to put a stop to this, but I failed to. Now, it was too late to do anything. I could have stopped the ceremony and spoken the truth, I should have given Matthew a chance to make the decision that would affect his life.

If only I was not much of a coward to come clean.

I was so lost in thought that I did not realize the moment his lips touched mine, sealing our relationship forever. I gazed around like a robot going through the motions until Rita, my chief bridesmaid gestured to the forlorn look on my face, that I had to smile.

Just a few people could make it to the ceremony, and I liked it that way. Most of them were Matthew's friends and business partners.

I hand-selected the people I sent invitation cards to, a lot of them were my course-mates in school and not my very close friends anyway.

As we walked down the aisle and smiled at our guests, I felt nervous and a panic attack was soon to set in.

I had no idea when Doris would show up, seeing as I never told her of the wedding. I instructed her to put on a simple dress, let her natural hair loose and come to the address I had texted to her.

She informed me that it was going to take a while for her to get here, but that was no problem for me, as long as she arrived.

After the ceremonial pictures, I retired to the small room to retouch my makeup and fix up my hair again.

I held my phone, going through the message I sent to Doris at sunrise when I made up my mind to back out of the wedding. A knock sounded on the door.

Come in, I said.

(THIRD PERSON POV)

"You said it was important so I hurried down here as soon as I can. Tell me what the problem is?" Doris started, panting heavily.

Dorine Okpara, now Mrs. Udochi, looked up at her twin sister Doris who just walked into the room. They were truly identical in every sense of the word, except their personalities.

When Dorine looked at Doris, it was like staring at a reflection of herself. Only that, the difference in their outfit as at that point were their shoes for one. And two, that Dorine was dressed in a white bridal gown and Doris was in a purple polo and denim jeans.

"I have a favour to ask of you, Dorine said to her sister while removing the pins that held her wavy hair together.

Doris hissed.

The only time Dorine acted sensibly towards her was whenever she was about to ask for a favor which was a time like this time.

"What is it that you want this time?"

"I want you to replace me as the bride..."

Doris burst into laughter before Dorine could complete her sentence. She steadied herself on the closet beside the dressing mirror.

"Are you out of your mind, please tell me this is one of your jokes?"

"I'm serious Doris. I need to go to Singapore right now, my business over there would be in shambles if I don't do something to stop it. I promise I'll be back in two days, all you have to do is pretend to be me for some hours."

"You're crazy! Is this a joke? What's going on with you?" Doris barked at her sister who has already peeled her gown off.

"Could you keep your voice down? I've already done the main thing, you just have to put on an act for the reception ceremony. By the way, you're an actress, you'll do such a good job that no one would notice." Dorine bent down to unbuckle her shoes.

"Being an actress I'm aware that it's just behind the camera, this is a real-life situation we're talking about and I'm not about to lie to millions of people out there just so you can have your way," Doris mumbled.

"What would you have me do, run away during my wedding day. You and I both know that Matthew has no idea that I have a twin sister, your job hasn't given you the chance to meet him. I must say that was a card played well by fate. Besides, I can't give up the business I spent my sweat and tears on for years because of a man I met only five months ago." Dorine retorted.

She walked closer to her sister and held her by the shoulders.

"You won't have to keep up the pretence for too long, I'll come back as soon as possible. Can't you just help your sister with this?" She was blackmailing her with the sister card.

"You said you'll return on time?" Doris asked, and regretted her statement when she saw the large grin that appeared on Dorine's face.

"Yes, I promise, now just pull off your clothes so I can wear them. My makeup artist would come in anytime soon and she shouldn't see us together." Dorine informed her sister who was still trying to get over the shock of the reality revealed before her.

Doris walked to the dressing mirror and started to remove her clothes slowly.

Dorine who could not wait a moment longer, helped her twin to pull off her polo and jean.

She helped Doris get dressed in her too-white and expensive wedding gown, wore the gloves and ring on her hand as well. Then she picked up her sister's clothes and put them on.

"I have to leave now, can't risk anyone seeing us together," Dorine announced and pocketed her sister's Android phone.

"What about my hair?" Doris pointed to her wavy hair still left unclipped.

"Henrietta would handle it. Please just take care," She moved behind her sister and placed her head on Doris' shoulder.

"Just think of this as a new movie you've always wanted to shoot in and just do what you've always done with each new project...have fun. I'll be back before you know it."

She gave Doris a peck on the cheek and made her way towards the exit door.

Doris could only stare helplessly at the retreating figure of her twin.

Suddenly Dorine turned back. Doris harboured the ray of hope that she would change her mind but she nonchalantly said,

"Oh! And Doris...don't sleep with my husband"

Doris was flustered, of all the advice she could give it had to be this.

"You know well enough that I haven't met your husband before, sleeping with him is the last thing on my mind right now,"

"Good" And with that Dorine walked out, for real.

Doris hoped this was all her dream but she was wrong. Soon enough, a lady; short, chubby, and light-complexioned, walked into the room.

Standing at akimbo she asked, "what have you done to your hair?" And started moving closer to Doris.

"Now I have to fix it again. Sit down," she motioned towards the vanity chair.

"Are you ready?"

Doris could not tell however she meant the question, whether she was ready to begin her role, or for her sudden wedding reception celebration.

And after all, what's a lie? Tis but the truth in masquerade." -Unknown

________

"No ma, no be how much I de sell am," (no ma, that's not how much I can sell it) the dark tall and slim Hausa trader spoke to Doris and Martha in pidgin with thick Hausa accent dripping as he spoke.

"Ok, give us for one thousand five hundred naira..." (Give it to us at the price of one thousand five hundred naira) Martha tried bargaining with him.

Doris was getting tired of standing in the hot sun, surrounded by all kinds of people who are either buying or selling, the noises emanating from the various kiosk located around the market. Sooner or later she would lose her patience and speak badly to the trader or Martha, she wasn't enjoying this market spree but she couldn't voice out her mind.

They have been in the market for close to two hours now and on the list-for-things-to-buy, she was holding in her left hand, they have only been able to buy five out of twenty items listed. She didn't know what possessed her to take Martha to the market with her. It seems now that she was wrong about the middle-aged woman. She thought taking her along would make matters easier as she's lived with her current in-laws before and would know what they liked but the woman has managed to make today quite horrible for her.

Doris does not enjoy going to the market, house chores were not her thing, that was her twin sister, Dorine's calling. Dorine was cut out to be the ideal housewife and not her. Ever since they were kids, Dorine has been the perfect girl, the perfect daughter, the perfect cook, and even the perfect student. All Doris could shine in was making new friends and cliques and being the leader of the cheerleading and drama club in their school.

Dorine was praised for virtually everything she excelled in and she succeeded in anything she decided to do, their parents were always proud to show her off to their friends at work, church and school whereas the opposite was the case in Doris' situation.

Their parents were successful people when they were alive. Mr. Okpara used to be a professor in one of the prestigious universities in the country and his wife was a fashion designer, she owned an elegant fashion house in Imo state as well. But one day, the cruel arms of death snatched them away. Doris wasn't close to them but she believes that she suffered the most of the impact of their loss and it was all because Dorine went about her usual life as if nothing happened. After they received the news of their parents' demise during their third year in the university four years ago, their lives changed completely.

Dorine who always looked after her totally withdrew and didn't care about her sister anymore. Doris had to grow up and become more responsible, with the threats she was receiving from her aunt about the things she would do to her if she did not graduate with good scores, Doris had to take her studies seriously so she could move out of that miserable house and become her own woman. To become independent.

She focused on her work in the movie industry which she secured, all thanks to John her coursemate. She helped with costumes, makeup, and venue arrangement for every new movie. She was relentless and wanted to make a name for herself in the movie industry, so she started taking part in short films and minor characters hoping that she would get a shot at a big movie one day.

Her dream was about to become a reality until Dorine called her up on that fateful day and coerced her into pretending to be the bride. Now she was here with an old woman in this smelly environment. Her only solace was Dorine's promise to return today, she hoped she would be able to come back in time for the big dinner tonight. Matthew had gone to Osun on the night of their wedding to pick up his parents and other family members who didn't make it to the wedding, so she spent the previous night alone and that realization made her happy.

'What if he had decided to do the deed on their nuptial night,' she had thought.

She prayed in her heart that Dorine makes it in time today or else she might not be able to stop herself from telling the truth. She already heard enough from Matthew on the wedding day, whispering into her ear how he'd make her cum. It was irritating and disgusting to her but she had to play along with a fake smile on her face. She was an actress after all.

She noticed when Martha placed five hundred naira notes in the trader's hand and collected the wrapped up smoked fish then put it into the big sack she was carrying. She did not notice the actual price they both agreed on and she couldn't care. All she wanted was to go home, change and sleep off, probably wait for Dorine's return.

They walked off towards another trader under Martha's direction, Doris doesn't know her left from her right when it comes to chores. She simply followed Martha around like her puppet.

"I hope you are learning one or two things from what we're doing in the market now?" Martha asked as they were walking.

Doris wanted to reply with a sarcastic sentence but thought twice about it and decided to wet her lips with her tongue while nodding her head instead. She does not think she would be able to learn anything about this in sixty more years of her life.

"Good, I decided to go with you today so I could help you get the hang of things. Normally I don't buy these many items but due to the wedding preparations and all that, we couldn't go shopping for groceries in the house. Now that you're the madam of the house, I believe I'll be relieved of that work soon," The woman winked and passed her a small smile.

'Which madam...hmph! Until Dorine comes back first.' Doris uttered in her mind. She was truly bitter about having to spend an extra day in that house.

"The weather seems to be getting dark, can we hurry up so we can go before it pours?" Doris trotted behind the woman.

Martha looked at the sky and nodded her head in agreement, "Bia kanyi ga hu mama Chiboy." (Come let's go and see Chiboy's mother).

The two women continued their journey through the market and Doris was feeling displeased the longer they spent there.