Aunt Isioma‘s rebuttal was immediate. “I am your aunt.”
“Are you really? One would be forgiven if they thought otherwise.”
Her aunt‘s tone was firm and she stopped eating. “Gladys, where is this going? If there‘s something on your mind, please get straight to it. Do not insult my intelligence.”
Gladys sighed and dropped the cutlery in her hands. “I do have a few questions.”
Her aunt remained silent, so she went right ahead.
“For someone who seemed not to know that her brother‘s family existed, your recent attitude towards me and the rest of my family is not very consistent.”
“You have to explain yourself better; I am just being the best aunt I can be.”
“I don‘t know how else to explain it.” Gladys paused; it was very puzzling. She‘d grown up mostly fatherless and it had been tough for her mother to cope with bringing up four children on her own. Prior to the letter last Christmas, they‘d never heard from her aunt for over fifteen years. They knew they had an aunt from pictures and faint memories, but that was all. “It‘s strange that despite your wealth, you never helped my mother in our time of need.”
Aunt Isioma clasped her hands and bowed her head.
She should be ashamed. Gladys forged on, but her voice wobbled. “Papa was very sick for a long time and all of my parent‘s savings were spent on his treatments. That money ran out along the way and maybe that‘s why he died. Even after he died, you never showed up. Did Mama tell you it was a distant male relative that made certain my father‘s funeral went ahead because you were not there? You abandoned us all without compunction.”
A low tremor marked her aunt‘s next words. “You don‘t know how it hurts me to hear that. Of course I care about all of you...”
“I find that very difficult to believe. Until recently you couldn‘t be bothered at all.”
Aunt Isioma‘s tone was stronger when she spoke, “That can‘t be further from the truth. I have mourned my brother‘s passing and how I missed watching you all grow up…”
“So what is the truth? What kept you from keeping in touch? Did you oppose my parents‘ marriage? Did you have a quarrel with my mother?”