On the table was a box full of love letters that Lanre had written to her when they had started dating. That was part of her past she struggled to say goodbye to. For someone getting married in three weeks’ time she shouldn’t be dwelling on a past relationship like this.

She looked out at the beautiful garden filled with red roses. It made her realize how blessed she was. She had a very supportive family, her best friend and an adorable fiancé… what more could she ask for?

Irene had gone to sleep over at her cousin’s place again, which meant Michaela was spending the whole weekend alone. She made sure that everything was sparkling clean before she bathed.

She wore her red floral dress and gladiator sandals that matched. Michaela didn’t like a lot of make-up, so she applied a little bit. Two hours later she heard a knock on the door and wondered who it was because Lanre said he’d pop by at 12noon.

Maybe it’s the postman, she thought to herself.

She opened the door quickly and to her surprise, Lanre was standing there holding flowers. Lanre was tall with broad shoulders. He looked at her with his sparkling eyes. She just stared. She had forgotten just how handsome he was. Lanre hugged her.

“Where are my manners, ngena,” she said with a smile.

“Kunjani sithandwa sami?” when he took her hands in his he noticed the ring on her finger, “so you couldn’t wait for me Michaela.” His face fell.

“Ngaze ngalinda, Lanre. You were gone for four years without any communication. You really broke my heart and now I am engaged to be married.”

“I wrote letters that were never replied to. I tried to look for you on Facebook but you didn’t have a profile.” He sounded hurt. “Uyamthanda? Or are you just going ahead with the wedding because l wasn’t in the picture? I came to try to work things out with you.”

She looked at him and said, “You know that what we shared was pure and no guy can ever replace that, but cancelling all the arrangements now, it’s too late. I don’t want to break Isaac’s heart.”

“Why do couples get married then?” he asked, “They should only do it for love, not out of pity. Ungayenzi iphutha sithandwa sami ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi awumuthandi uLan, isubstitute kuphela.”

Standing up to go to the kitchen she said, “Can l warm up a pie for you? l’m hungry?” She needed time to collect her thoughts.

“That’s so sweet of you, l’ll have whatever you’re having,” he said with a quick smile.

Heating the pies was a good way of escaping his charm for a little bit. If only he knew how much his arrival in town was complicating her engagement, he wouldn’t be here at all. She put their pies on a plate and took some lemonade from the fridge and went to join him on the couch.

“So are you here to stay, or will you be going back soon?” she asked him.

“Ngize la ekhaya ukuthi ngihambe nawe kodwa manje – it seems like your heart is with someone else,” he said, the smile on his face fading away.

“Isaac is a very humble guy, loving and very supportive. How would you feel if l were to break off an engagement?” she asked him.

l sent you several letters that you never replied to. Ask your dad what happened to them,” he said.

“What does my dad have to do with us not being together, Lanre?”

He stood up and looked at her, “Michaela somehow your dad wanted you to be with the ‘humble’ guy you call your fiancé. Naye umubuze nobaba wakho. I’ll pop by before l go back to UK. I wish you the best.”

What does my dad and Isaac have to do with my relationship with Lanre? Michaela wondered when he had gone. Does it mean that my dad knew Isaac before l even met him? How could my dad be part of this?

She asked herself a stream of questions without finding answers to any of them.

***

Let’s chat: What do you think Michaela’s father did?