Daniel took advantage of his vacation to return to Cameroon, intending to meet Irène’s parents and formally ask for her hand in marriage. She had taken the time to send letters in advance, informing her parents about the arrival of her suitor.

Upon arriving in Cameroon, Daniel followed the directions provided by his beloved and reached the specified address. After ringing the doorbell, it was Irène’s mother who came to open the door.

“Good day, Mrs. Marthe. I’m Daniel, Irène’s friend from France. I believe she informed you of my visit.”
“Indeed, she told me a lot about you in her letters. Welcome, my son. Please, come inside,” she said with a smile.
“Thank you, Mrs. Marthe! Here, these suitcases are for you. They contain small gifts I thought you might appreciate from France.”
“Thank you so much, my son, that’s very kind of you. You shouldn’t have gone to such trouble, but thank you!”
“My pleasure, Mama.”
“Have a seat, my son. So, did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, Mama, the trip went well, though there were some hassles at the airport.”
“Really sorry to hear that!”
“Thank you. Would your husband happen to be around? I’d like to discuss something with you both today, or if not, arrange a time that suits you.”
“Unfortunately, my husband is not here at the moment. But I’ll let him know you came, and I suggest you return Saturday morning. You’ll find him at home then.”
“Thank you, Mama Marthe. Saturday morning works perfectly for me. I’ll take my leave now. Have a good day, and see you Saturday.”
“Thank you, my son. See you Saturday.”

When her husband returned, Irène’s mother informed him of Daniel’s visit. Initially, he was adamantly opposed, but she eventually persuaded him to agree to meet the young man who was interested in their daughter.

“Henri dear, we had a visitor today—your future son-in-law. He’s arrived with many gifts for us. Here are the suitcases.”
“Really? And what does he want?”
“In her last letter, Irène mentioned that he’s considering marrying her.”
“What? Is that why I sent her to France? This child of mine… Anyway, I’m not welcoming that boy into this house.”
“Please, Henri, be tolerant. He’s come all this way, likely out of love for her!”
“I sent Irène to study, not to get married. She needs to focus; I’ve spent a lot of money on her education.”
“Henri dear, I know. But if this young man made the effort to come meet you, it means he’s serious and truly cares about our daughter.”
“Martha, I ask you, is his seriousness going to help my daughter succeed academically and secure a bright future?”
“Your daughter is a conscientious girl. Stop worrying and meet the young man. Just listen to him, please.”
“Fine, Marthe. Since you insist, I’ll meet him. But tell your daughter to continue her studies even if she gets married.”
“Alright. Thank you for listening,” she said, giving him a kiss.

On Saturday morning, Daniel arrived punctually for his meeting, bringing a fine bottle of red wine as a gift for Irène’s father. Feeling a mix of confidence and nervousness, he set out for the meeting.

Upon arrival, he was warmly greeted at the entrance by Irène’s mother, her radiant smile welcoming him.
“Good morning, Mama Marthe!” he said.
“Good morning, Daniel. Welcome,” she replied, motioning him into the house.
“Thank you for agreeing to see me,” he responded.

Inside, Henri, the father, was already seated. He stood up to greet Daniel.
“Good morning. Welcome. Please, have a seat,” he said, indicating the seat beside him.
“Thank you, sir,” Daniel replied.

After presenting the gift he had brought, Daniel sat down, and they engaged in a lengthy conversation. It became clear to Daniel just how much Irène’s father valued her education and future.

Henri candidly expressed that marriage was not what he envisioned for his daughter at that time. However, seeing the conviction and mutual love between the young couple, he ultimately resolved to bless their union, on one condition: Irène must continue pursuing her academic studies.

This text is an excerpt from the book “THE CHOICE” written by Franck-Alain Dimale.

We invite you to read the next article, “FROM MISTRESS TO STEPMOTHER.”

RETURN TO THE HOMELAND. RETURN TO THE HOMELAND.

RETURN TO THE HOMELAND. RETURN TO THE HOMELAND.