by Dara Girard
Catherine looked at her for a long moment, concerned. “Trying to?”
“Yes, it was wild and bucking and trying to throw me off.”
“And you said it was a unicorn? Not a horse?”
“Does it matter?” Joscelyn asked.
“Yes,” Emery said. “She’s good with dreams.”
“No, it wasn’t a horse,” Lorna said. “It was a black unicorn with a golden mane.”
Catherine shook her head. “That’s not good. You will be disappointed in love if you don’t change your heart and keep to the man who is meant to be yours.”
Silence fell as everyone looked from Catherine to see Lorna’s reaction.
Lorna’s eyes widened. “What? You don’t think I have a good heart?”
“No, I’m not saying that. Your dream is. Your heart is…um…not happy.”
“That’s not true. I love Greg and he loves me.”
Catherine shrugged. “I’m only telling you what the dream meant.”
“It was a stupid dream,” Lorna said. “It doesn’t mean anything. Nothing you say means anything. You’re just trying to sound more clever than you are. Marie skipped a grade while you were held one back.”
“That’s enough, Lorna,” Maureen said.
Catherine shrugged again. “I know I’m not as smart as Marie, but I do know dreams. You don’t have to listen, but what I said is true.”
Lorna pushed her chair back. “May I be excused?”
Maureen looked at her daughter’s half-eaten plate, shared a look with her husband, then nodded. “Yes.”
“I didn’t mean to make her angry,” Catherine said once Lorna had gone. “If she’d told me about something else—”
“I think it’s best to drop the topic,” Maureen said.
Catherine fell quiet for a while, then said, “I’m going to be a great person one day. Very powerful.”
“Yes, dear we know that,” Emery said in an indulgent tone. “Lorna said those things to you just because she’s upset.”
Catherine shook her head. “No, that’s not what I mean. I feel as if my dream was a warning. That you’d better be nice to me,” she said, glancing at her two remaining stepsisters.
“Catherine, I said that’s enough,” Maureen said, her patience thinning.
But Catherine ignored her stepmother as she looked at her two sisters. “Or there will be consequences.”
Joscelyn remembered leaving the dinner table with a burning hatred. Some kid was going to tell her how to behave? Was going to try to manipulate her with a dream? No, she looked sweet, but she was dangerous. She may not have Marie’s book smarts, but she was clever. A threat.
But it was only when she overheard her parents speaking one evening that a plan began to form in her mind.
“Lorna’s still upset by what Catherine said,” Emery said worried.
“She’s a teenager,” Maureen said in a flippant tone. “She’ll get over it.”
“They haven’t taken to each other yet.”
“It’s only been a year. There will be growing pains and this is how girls can be, don’t worry.”
“You’re right,” he said with a laugh of relief. “I have others things on my mind. I didn’t want to tell you, but remember that grapefruit scented scrub Catherine made for your birthday? I decided to test it at a small boutique to see if it had potential. It’s been selling steadily for weeks. I’m thinking of making it a permanent new item.”
“That’s wonderful. She’ll be so happy when you tell her. She’s already started working on two new natural scrubs that she wants me to try.”
“Yes, that’s why I’m thinking of introducing her to the business a little earlier than expected. I think that next year she should be in charge of this new line and start shadowing some staff and learning more of the business.”
“At eleven?” Maureen said taken aback. “None of the others have been given a privilege like that. You’ve not even let Marie look at the business yet.”
“Marie will head off to college and have a successful career at whatever she chooses. Joscelyn’s path is set and Lorna will probably marry and focus on having a family. However, we both know Catherine’s not domestic material, nor is she academic.”
“She just needs to study more and focus.”
“No, I don’t think that’s the answer. Catherine may not be book smart, but she has a head for business. That’s going to serve her well in the future. I see her taking control of the company when she’s older.”
“It doesn’t seem fair to start her so young on that path.”
“None of the others have shown the same amount of interest, besides, they will always have their investments so they’ll be well provided for.”
“I still think she’s too young, but she does have a knack for coming up with innovative ideas and if you feel this is right, I won’t stop you.”
Joscelyn felt her heart grow cold. It was just as she feared. Catherine would inherit everything, she would continue to get special treatment. As much as Marie worked, she would be passed over by Catherine who would waltz into a position of power before she even hit puberty?
Joscelyn continued to think about her problem at school the next day. “You’ve hardly said anything,” her friend Gloria said as they sat in the lunch lounge on campus. Gloria was as dark as an ink blot with big teeth as white as salt and had an uncle who was a board member at the university. She was smart and connected—very useful. The best kind of friend to have.
“Sorry.”
“Are you ready for your first family holiday together? Is that what’s bugging you?”
“Yes,” Joscelyn lied. “We’re going to visit my stepfather’s family in Nigeria.”
Gloria shivered. “I had an aunt who always threatened to send me to family over there if I misbehaved.”
“What?”
“Oh, yes. I know you’ll be in the more cosmopolitan areas, but there are still a lot of places that are like the end of the world. No electricity, potholes as large and deep as wells. In some parts you could disappear and no one would be able to find you.”
“Really?” she asked, suddenly very interested in everything her friend had to say.
“Oh sure, and you always have to be careful of kidnappers. Only flash your gold,” she gestured to Joscelyn’s earrings, “in the right places, but I’m sure your stepfather knows all that. I don’t mean to scare you.”
“No, you’re not scaring me. This sounds interesting. What about the police?”
“Which ones?”
“What do you mean?”
“The real ones or the fake ones? Most have been bought, the rest can be bribed. But with your stepfather’s connections he’ll get top of the line security and you’ll never have to deal with any of the thieves, kidnappers, or deal with bribes.”
“No,” Joscelyn said unable to stop a smile. “What if I wanted to?”
“Wanted to what?”
“Learn how to bribe someone to do something for me.”
“I have a cousin who knows some shady people. Is this for a paper or something?”
“Yes,” she lied. “My own research.”
Gloria wrote down her cousin’s information.
Joscelyn put the paper away. “I think I’ll really enjoy this trip.”
And she did. She enjoyed visiting Victoria Island, dining at a private golf club, the posh hotel they’d stayed at when they’d first arrived before going to the guest house, and she’d been able to handle the police beautifully.
Joscelyn walked to her window and stared at the London traffic. She’d thought of what she’d done and felt no guilt, no remorse, no unease. Her conscience felt clear. And she slept well every night. Better than ever. It had been such a liberating feeling when they’d boarded the plane, the bright glittering lights of Lagos twinkled beneath them as they rose into the dark sky and left Catherine behind. She’d never escape. There was no way she’d ever see her again, she’d taken the steps to make sure.
It was a shame about her mother and the baby, but casualties happen in battle and she’d just won one. A battle for her and her sisters’ futures. It hadn’t been a selfish act, it had been one necessary for survival. And she knew how to survive.
Yes, Catherine’s words had been foolish and her supposed ‘vision’ had all been a silly dream. Joscelyn had already proven it was a lie because she’d never remember her. She’d already started to let the girl’s name slip from her mind.
6
Lorna set her perfume kit aside and picked up a magazine, wishing she could feel as calm as Joscelyn looked. She wanted to be able to trust that Marie wouldn’t say anything, but she wasn’t so sure. She didn’t regret anything, but it was still too soon to feel safe. She looked at the email Greg had sent her. He’d kept in touch every day. And to think that she’d almost lost him…
“I think we should start seeing other people,” Greg suggested as Lorna placed her hand on his thigh in the car, an autumn breeze tossing leaves past the window. They hadn’t done more than heavy petting, but she wanted him to know she was up for more.
But she hadn’t expected his response. She paused. “What do you mean? I don’t want to see anyone else.”
“I’m going away to school soon and—”
“I don’t care. We can keep in touch and see each other on breaks. Please, Greg,” she said, lightly touching his cheek. She couldn’t imagine life without him. She’d committed every aspect of him to memory from his bronze skin to his deep dimples and crooked smile. “I love you so much.”
“Lorna, I just--”
“Have you met someone else?”
“No, it’s just my heart isn’t in it and Catherine said—”
She stiffened, her mouth going dry. “Did Catherine say something to you about me?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Forget I mentioned it.”
“No, I won’t forget. What did she say?” It wasn’t fair. Catherine was ruining everything! First her stupid dream and now this! Greg had always had a soft spot for her. For some reason, a lot of the guys from her school did when she invited them over to study or hang out. They liked to listen to her interpret their silly dreams. She couldn’t believe how some girl in elementary school could capture the attention of guys in high school? Once, she’d overheard Greg tell a friend that Catherine was cute now but in a few years she’d be beautiful. Beautiful! How could that lanky, stupid girl be anything. She was the one who was beautiful. He should have been talking about her.
Greg was her first real boyfriend and she didn’t want anyone to steal him away from her. She didn’t ask for much. She didn’t care about her mother’s marriage, she didn’t mind sharing her mother with her, or living with her, but Greg was hers. All hers and she didn’t want him thinking of anyone else but her.
She still couldn’t get Catherine’s silly words out of her mind about not having a heart of love or something stupid like that. She did love. She loved a lot and she wouldn’t let anything happen to it.
“This is my decision. All mine.”
“What did she say?”
He briefly rested his head back. “It’s personal.”
“I don’t care.”
“And it won’t change anything.”
“I think I have a right to know why you want to end something good. Why you’re even bringing my stepsister’s name into it.”
He sighed. “Lorna, this has nothing to do with your sister.”
“Stepsister.”
“Right, stepsister. It has to do with you and me. I think you’re...you can’t keep giving me notes every day.”
“I’ll stop.”
“And calling me three times a night.”
“I’m just checking to see if you’re okay.”
“And telling my friends where we’ll live when we get married.”
Don’t you see us together forever? “I was kidding.”
“It’s too much.”
“I’ll slow down if you want.” She took his hand. “I love you.”
He pulled away. “I know, but we need space.”
“What did Catherine say?”
“I told her about a dream I had.”
“She’s a liar. She can’t interpret dreams. She just says it so that people pay attention.”
“Maybe, but some of the things she’s said have come true. You’d be surprised, your sister has a gift.”
“And she told you to break up with me,” Lorna said in a hard, flat tone, her eyes burning with tears.
He threw up his hands. “See? That’s the problem with us. You don’t listen to me. You only hear what you want to. I said my decision has nothing to do with your si--stepsister,” he quickly said before Lorna could correct him. “I feel like life is just starting out for me and I don’t want to—”
“Feel tied down?”
“I wasn’t going to say that.”
“But that’s how you feel.”
“I just need space. That’s all.” He dropped her home and Lorna watched his car drive away. She stood in the driveway until his headlights had disappeared, feeling as if her world were crashing down around her.
The slap came as a total surprise.
Catherine stared up at Lorna as she sat on her bedroom floor, a hand to her stinging cheek. “What was that for?”
“What did you say to him?” Lorna demanded.
“Who?”
“Greg! What did you say to him? Tell me!” She grabbed the collar of Catherine’s shirt and shook her. “Tell me now!”
“What is going on in here?” Maureen asked, coming into the room.
“I don’t know,” Catherine said.
Lorna slapped her again. “Yes, you do and I hate you.”
Maureen grabbed her daughter’s wrist. “Calm down. You know better than that.”
“But Mom, she’s ruined everything. Everything! My life is over!”
“No, it’s not.”
“It’s not fair.”
“Catherine, what happened?”
The girl slowly shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do,” Lorna wailed. “You told Greg to break up with me!”
“Did you say that?” Maureen asked.
“No, I told him—” Catherine stopped and bit her lip, chagrined.
“Go on.”
“I’m not sure I should. It was a private dream.”
“What are you, a damn priest?” Lorna spat out. “You can’t keep secrets.”
Maureen nodded. “You don’t have to tell us his dream, just what you told him.”
“I told him that he needed to prepare for a different life and in order to do that he had to be free.”
Lorna pointed at her like a victim pointing out a perpetrator in a police line. “See! She told him to dump me.”
Maureen shook her head. “No, what she said could have been interpreted a number of ways. A man makes up his own mind.”
Lorna tapped the side of her head. “But she planted the thought there.”
“It was already there,” Catherine said. “The dream told him.”
“Your lies always ruin things.”
“I didn’t lie. Besides, you’re meant to be with someone else if—”
“I love him. I love him so much I could die.”
Maureen touched her shoulder. “Lorna, calm down.”
“No,” Lorna said, yanking away from her mother’s touch. “You don’t know how it feels. He loved me too. I know he did, but she slowly poisoned him against me. I saw you giggling and smiling with him, acting all innocent.”
“That’s enough. You know she’s too young to think like that.”
“Is she?”
Catherine shook her head in remorse. “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I was just trying to help.”
“I know, dear,” Maureen said, “but you have to be very careful what you say.”
“Lorna, I really didn’t mean—”
“I’ll never forgive you for t
his!” She left, slamming the door behind her.
Lorna thought about her anger back then amazed by all that had changed since then. Now Catherine was gone and Greg was back to comfort her. He’d sent her an email. She hadn’t lost him. He promised to stay with her through this and she’d make sure he stayed for a long time. She’d never let him leave her now.
Joscelyn really was brilliant. In hindsight she’d made it all seem so easy. Lorna hadn’t suspected a thing that fateful day. She’d been as ignorant as Marie about what would happen to Catherine not long before it did.
“I know a way to get rid of our mutual problem,” Joscelyn told them as they sat in the living room of the guest house, Joscelyn had been able to briefly distract Catherine by telling her of the mini garden the chef had. She now happily chatted with the woman in the kitchen.
“What?”
“We all know that our lives will be better without Catherine in it. So I’ve decided that we have to do something.”
“There’s nothing we can do,” Marie said.
“We can make her disappear.”
“How?”
Joscelyn grinned. “What if she got kidnapped?”
“Oh that sounds like a good idea,” Lorna said rubbing her hands together.
“And then she’d never be our problem again.”
“Kidnapped?” Marie said with a frown. “You can’t force her to be kidnapped. Plus, kidnappers ask for ransoms and we know Emery will pay and—”
“She won’t really be kidnapped. That’s just the story we’ll use.”
“Then how are you going to make her disappear?”
“We’ll have to work together to make this work. And only we can know about this so we have to do it when Mom and Dad aren’t around.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I was thinking of a shopping trip. Mom trusts me so I’ll take us all to the marketplace.”
“And what will we do at the marketplace?”
“We’re going to sell her.”
7
Lagos
The market bustled with life as Catherine went through the crowded aisles with excitement. She saw a basket filled with huge snails and another brimming with yams. Women and men carrying various stacks of baskets on their heads—one filled with lemons and another with chewing gum. She smelled smoked fish and the day was hot, but she’d grown used to it. She saw rows of bronze jewelry, wooden sculptures and fabrics in an amazing array of colors and patterns.
