Uncle Terry was brought into our family by my older sister, Jane, as her fiancé.
It happened on a Sunday evening during one of our family gatherings. He was in denim jeans and a white t-shirt, fair-skinned with a Roman nose. He's tall with thick brows that raise when my dad asks about his job.
"I own a spa," he said.
I looked at Aunt Jane, feeling very let down by her. Just because Terry is incredibly handsome doesn't mean she should marry him; his job alone is a turn-off for me.
"You mean you take care of women?" I asked.
He turned and smiled at me, revealing dimples.
"I work with both men and women," he replied.
I wanted to ask him if he enjoys his job when Sandra, my immediate senior, tapped my foot under the table.
"Terry is a red flag," I whispered to her. She gave me a warning look, then whispered back,
"I like him."
I nodded. I wasn't surprised she liked him; she, too, is attracted to good looks and pink lips.
My eyes roamed around the table and landed on Terry and Aunt Jane. I noticed all the things I dislike in men. He was holding her hands, whispering in her ears, trimming loose threads from her dress, picking dirt from her hair. He does everything my grandma warned about as red flags. I can still hear her words in my head.
"Rosy, a man who's too clingy isn't a good man."
"You've seen what happened to Hannah. I knew from the start that the man she brought to us wasn't a good one," she said, tapping her feet continuously.
"Now I'm thinking I should have warned her. I blame myself," Grandma said as she wiped her eyes with the edge of her wrapper.
"Don't blame yourself, Grandma. You mentioned you dropped hints," I reassured her. I couldn't bear to see my beloved grandparents cry.
"I just told her he was too clingy. I should have explained it better to her," she lamented.
Reflecting on this conversation made me wonder why I didn't ask her for more details. If Hannah didn't seek clarifications, I should have. Now the old woman has left for heaven with her wisdom.
I was lost in thought when something grabbed my attention. Terry put his hand on Aunt Jane's lap. Should I warn her about these signs being red flags? What if she asks me why I think so?
Not only was he touchy and clingy, but Uncle Terry also consistently brought the cheapest wine I've ever seen to our family gatherings. It wasn't a one-time thing. The surprising part was that no one else seemed to notice, perhaps because I was the only one who had worked in a wine store and could identify all wines with just a glance.
During one of these gatherings, on a typical Sunday, Terry presented a wine. I was expecting the usual cheap one, but to my surprise, it was slightly more expensive.
I was almost taken aback when he cleared his throat and confirmed my suspicions of change.
"Jane and I have decided to get married," he announced, holding Jane's hand.
We all cheered and raised our glasses. It was happy news for everyone.
At the wedding ceremony, I observed that Jane was the one spending the most, triggering a memory of another red flag hint from my grandma:
"Don't let your eagerness for marriage lead you to spend more on the wedding than your husband does."
And now Jane was falling into that trap. I chose to stay silent about it. Being the youngest can be challenging; no one really listens to your advice.
Two years after the wedding, I got admission to the federal university close to Jane's house. It wasn't feasible to travel every day for screening, so I had to stay at her house for a week.
I was anticipating a small bungalow since Terry works at a spa and Jane is a secondary school teacher. However, I was surprised to see a Lamborghini parked in front of a white duplex.
"What's going on here?" I asked Jane.
"This is where I live, Rosy. Welcome to my humble abode," she replied.
I felt dizzy, like I was in heaven. The tranquillity of the compound, the fragrances of flower petals, and the freshly cut grass took me by surprise.
"Sis. Jane, this place is like paradise," I exclaimed.
She pressed a few buttons on the wall, and the door swung open to reveal a well-lit, airy, and neat modern living room. The large silver chandelier in the centre of the ceiling immediately caught my eye.
I also noticed her favourite colour, blue, and her husband's, white. The combination of these two colours made the room decor heavenly.
"Please make yourself at home, Rosy." Jane's voice brought me back to reality.
"Oh, thank you," I replied, and I enquired about Terry. She informed me that he knew about my visit and had left to finalise a business deal.
"But his car is outside," I pointed out.
The question wasn't necessary, but I was curious if the Lamborghini truly belonged to them.
"That's my car. It was a wedding gift from him," Jane said as I covered my wide-open mouth with my two palms.
"Did you marry him because of his money?" I asked suspiciously.
"Abba, Rosy. I knew him right from our university days. He wasn't rich then, but we were still happy together," she said.
"I thought touchy men were red flags," I said to myself.
"Not all. I know Grandma advised us against clingy men because of Aunt Hannah's failed marriage. But some men are touchy because..."
"They're obsessed," I cut in.
"No. I don't know about others, but I know Terry is different. He loves me and wants to be around me. I don't have any problem with that," she said.
I nodded several times. I was starting to see her points. But was Grandma wrong in her judgement?
"So, grandma also told you about these things," I said to Jane.
"Oh, kid, sis," she exclaimed and held my two hands.
"Grandma told everyone about clingy people. He warned our brothers about clingy women too.
You know, some things are not always what they seem. You just have to follow your hearts and love with your eyes wide open," she said.
"My husband is a nice man. Just give him a chance."
"I will," I said and looked at her flawless brown face and her bright eyes that show how happy she is in her marriage.
"I'm sorry, Sis Jane. I was afraid he might leave you," I apologised.
"It's alright. I get it," Jane replied, and I enveloped her in a warm hug.
"Now, let me give you a tour," she offered, and I trailed behind her like a lost child, amazed by each piece of art I came by.
