It took Juliet weeks to get fully recovered, we just got home from the hospital where her cast was removed and Dr Kimberly confirmed that her dislocated elbow was healed.
Nadia's first birthday was in few days and arrangements were made to give her a grand birthday party, now that everyone knew about me and Jade, Juliet and Nadia, it felt so good to invite a lot of people to attend my daughter's birthday party.
Jade had booked a big event center usually used in hosting charity events for the birthday, so you can imagine how big the place was. I baked a three tiered cake for the party. I was well aware that when Nadia grew older, she'll have little or no memory of this particular party but I didn't really care. I wanted to make it a special one for her and for all of us, I left no stone unturned in making the party a grand one. Two weeks to the birthday party, I had already made the announcement on my Instagram page and Twitter.
4 p.m. on the 26th of October, guests trooped in to the birthday venue, bearing gifts and wonderful things for Nadia. Thell party lasted for 4 hours, Juliet and Nadia played till they were exhausted. It was really nice to see how Juliet pampered her baby sister, she showed her off to all her friends and Nadia refused to be anywhere without Juliet.
At the end of the party, Juliet and Nadia had fallen asleep, Jade buckled them up at the back seat of his car and drove us home while Natalie and the rest helped in bringing the gifts home. After changing them to their pajamas and tucked them, I went to our room to change and take a shower. I was enjoying my steam bath when Jade joined me, "I thought you'd call me to scrub your back," Jade whispered.
"I knew you'd come in nonetheless, you don't usually wait for an invitation," I said.
"Fair enough." He said.
We were quiet for a minute or so and then he broke the silence, "I'd give a million dollars to know what is going on in your mind right now."
I smiled, "nothing serious, I'm just happy that the party was a success. In my five years of stay in this country, this is the first time I've thrown a party and invited lots of people to attend. It feels so good because I don't have to be afraid of people seeing you with me or people knowing that I have a daughter. It feels so wonderful Jade, it makes me feel like throwing more and more parties to cover up the the past years I was living a low-key life."
"If you want a party then let's have one, let's throw the greatest and grandest party, one that would make the whole world stand still. A party that would make that of today look so simple." Jade said.
"What would we be celebrating?" I asked.
He held my left hand and kissed my ring finger and my heart skipped a beat, "I want us to travel next week to Nigeria. I want to get your family's blessings and fulfill all the customs and traditions of your people, so I can officially make you mine," he said.
I turned around and faced him, "really?" I asked tears swelling in my eyes.
"Yes, I can't wait any longer. I want to see you dressed up in a beautiful traditional dress, with that stuff that looks like a crown placed on your head. I want to see you with your beautiful staff, dancing to me in the midst of all your friends and family members. And then when all is done, I'm gonna bring your parents and siblings with their spouses and your best friends over here, I will make sure all the media houses all over the world air us live to the entire world. Because I want everyone to hear and see when you say 'I do', " Jade said.
"oh Jade, what did I ever do to deserve someone like you in my life?"
Jade and I Skyped my parents three days prior to our journey and told them what we were coming to do, my parents were so happy to hear the news. Three days later, we (I, Jade, his sisters and mother, Nadia and Juliet, Natalie and Scott ) all boarded Jade's jet to Nigeria.
My parents had arranged a place for us to stay because we didn't want to stay at our house, it would have been a little awkward. The main reason we were going to Nigeria was for Jade's family to officially meet mine to seek their permission for Jade and I to get married. That night we arrived, we went straight to the house we would be lodging, it was a standard 4 bedroom flat with simple and classy furnishings. Jade and Juliet were used to the environment but Jade's mother and sisters, especially Leila, needed lots of tutoring to get used to things around here.
The following day, Jade and I used the morning to go shopping. With my help, we bought a young male goat and a bottle of schnapps which he and his family would present to my family. Although he was few years younger than Jade, Scott stood in as Jade's father. Around 2pm in the afternoon, we went to my parents house. Seated in a big semi circle were my parents, siblings and my paternal uncles.
One of my uncles opened the ceremony by praying, after the prayer, my father stood up and asked me, "Ukpono my daughter please tell us, who are these people with you? And why are they here?"
"Greetings father, greetings my elders. I am here with the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. This is Jaden Kale, he and his family are here to seek your permission and blessings for us to get married," I said.
"And who is Jaden Kale among this people here?" My father asked and Jade stood up.
"I am Jaden Kale," he said.
I could see my uncles smiling and nodding their heads, my mother was winking at me.
A little interview was conducted by my father's older brother to Jade and he wowed everyone with his answers. A list of about thirty items was given to him, "these are the things you are expected to provide for this marriage to take place. Please understand that it is tradition and not that we want to extort money from you," my father said.
"No father, I completely understand and I will do what needs to be done to receive your blessings and permission to marry your daughter." Jade said.
"Good, you are expected to present these items in a month at the family compound in the village for the Introduction. Since you are not familiar with things and places around here, we would add two more weeks for you and you can ask anyone for assistance to know places you can get these items," my uncle said.
"Thank you so much uncle, but I do have one question," Jade said.
"Of course, what is your question?"
"If I get these items before one month, can I present them then or do I have to wait for one month?"
"No my son, even if you have them tomorrow you can present them. Just know that the traditional marriage ceremony would be three days after the Introduction, you can have your white wedding anytime you want," my uncle answered.
"Then it's settled, our Introduction would take place in two weeks and our traditional wedding three days after that," Jade said and everyone started clapping.
As we were about to disperse, Jade's mother and Scott presented the goat and schnapps to my family as "a small token". It was obvious that my family had fallen in love with my husband to be and his family too.
I had already started a countdown in my head in a matter of days, I would officially become Mrs Ukpono Jaden Kale...