WEDNESDAY

The Dolphyne residence was a hotbed of activity now, with everyone up and about, working to prepare the place for the big day. From the man of the house to the wedding planner, everyone had something to do…

***

“Ah! Madam! What do you mean? Weren’t you told that it’s this Friday? How did you mistake it to be next Friday?! Ahh!”

Toby sat in the car, watching as his girlfriend, Shamima Osman, blew up at the vendor responsible for the local bar. As the wedding planner, Larissa had tasked her with the responsibility of making sure the vendors fulfilled their various duties, and she was taking it very seriously.

Which is why she was pretty outraged that this vendor had presumed the wedding was the following week and as such had not begun any preparations.

Toby looked on as she raged on at the lackadaisical vendor, who now seemed to have noted her grievous error and was promising to set things right.

“Yooo, I’ve heard. So Madam, please. It’s 9 am now. Please go and get the needed ingredients… fine, fine, I’ve heard. Thank you.”

Hanging up, she turned to Toby. “Can you believe this woman? Ah! After the date and time have been given to you, you now claim you thought it was next week. Herh, some vendors, eh?”

“Relax, baby, relax,” Toby calmed her. “At least you managed to get her attention so she corrects it. That’s the important thing.”

She sighed. “Ugh, but it’s so annoying. Maa Lari and I were specific when we told them it’s from the 13th to the 15th of January. So where from this sudden talk that she thought it was next week? Ahh! Some of these vendors, if you slack, they’ll spoil your occasion for you!”

Toby nodded. “I get it, baby. Let’s just thank God you got in touch with her. And as for her, she should even be glad that it’s you blasting her. Na if it was Her Ladyship…”

“Eeeiii, gyae! Like she’ll drop everything and bring the stuff this afternoon naaaa! Ei, your mother would tear her apart ankasa!”

“I promise!”

The two laughed for a moment before going silent, with Shamima looking deep in thought for a moment.

“So, Mima,” Toby murmured, running his hand across her cheek, “what’s on your mind?”

She looked at him, took his hand in hers, and smiled. “Hmmm… well, there’s one thing on my mind right now.”

“Mm-hmmm. And that is?”

“A certain gentleman with killa dance moves whose big sister is getting married this weekend.”

Toby laughed.

“On the real, though, I really love you, Toby. I really do. It’s like with each passing day, I get more and more convinced that it’s you and only you I wanna be with. The way your family has embraced me and all, how Maa Lari and I get along… Sweetie, as I sit here, I know that with all these plans for this wedding between Edem and Diamond, I want all that with you in due time.”

Toby smiled and kissed her hand. Who would have thought he’d find love in this beautiful girl he had met at an influencers’ party about a year ago? After the infamous Delphine debacle, he had not gotten involved with girls and just focused on his job and his dance squad – which had since become very popular.

And it was through that popularity that he met Shamima Osman. The incredibly beautiful, five-foot-ten babe that every guy on social media craved after. They hit it off at the party and hadn’t looked back since, becoming a couple in no time flat.

“That’s beautiful to know. And you know I love you too, Mima. So much. I so cherish the fact that you’re mine, and I swear I’ll never take you for granted. And yeah, this wedding’s making me look forward to the day when preparations are made for ours. Already, Daddy is giving me low-key hints to get ready.”

Shamima laughed, then laid her head on his shoulder. She looked up to briefly look at his chin, which was now covered with facial hair. “So babe, how come you got the facial hair, but Oscar didn’t?”

Toby giggled. “That question can only be answered by God ooo. I have no idea how Oscar didn’t inherit Mr. Dolphyne’s beard. Especially considering he’s started balding.”

“Really?”

“Oh yeah. It’s not very obvious now, but we can all see it in the house. At least, Adelaide says she likes bald men, so he’s cool with it. Anka no be small anti-balding creams for the house inside!”

Shamima laughed out loud.

The honking sound of a truck immediately followed.

Shamima looked behind and sighed in relief. “Oh, wonderful! The décor guys are in. Now we can start getting the decorations done. We’ve got a lot of work to do here, chale. All night job ahead of us.”

“Toby!”

The voice of Serwaah had them look out the window to see her walking towards the car, holding a polythene bag. “Oh, hi, Shamima!” she cheerfully greeted her brother’s girlfriend.

“Hey, Serwaah!” Shamima responded.

“You guys going somewhere?”

“Oh nahh! I’m just about to get out of the car. My décor people are around.”

“Ohh okay, okay. Umm, then, Toby, could you please do me a favour and take me to the seamstress? She just called and said my dresses are ready.”

“Oh okay, sure,” Toby responded, watching as his girlfriend got out of the car and was replaced by his little sister. “Alright, babe, lemme take Serwaah and come.”

“Sure, honey.”

As Toby turned on the car engine, he noted a grin on Serwaah’s face at the corner of his eye. He turned, and the grin was a mischievous one.

One he had been seeing for a couple of weeks. And he knew exactly what she was thinking.

“Oh no, young lady, don’t you start…”

“I see you, bro. I see you,” Serwaah stated, undaunted by her brother’s warning as she stroked her chin, the grin still on her face. “Still keeping your eyes fixated on that nice ass of hers. You’re really spellbound, aren’t you?”

“Aaaaargh!”

Shamima was one of those girls you could not deny was well-endowed at the back, and on a number of occasions, Toby had found himself enjoying the view of her walking away a little too much. Unfortunately for him, the twins had noted one of those occasions, and since then had not stopped teasing him about it. 

“Ei, Tobias Nana Nyarko Dolphyne! You no be easy kraaa oo! Chale, the day Shamima shakes that booty in front of you, unless Oscar and Anas carry you inside the house!”

Toby gave Serwaah the evil eye as she laughed at her own joke.

“Young lady, do you want to take an Uber, or do you want me to take you?”

“Please, take me. I’m sorry,” Serwaah pleaded, although the look on her face as she withheld her laughter made it obvious she wasn’t really sorry; she just didn’t want Toby kicking her out of the car.

Still giving her a hard stare, Toby shook his head as he muttered, “You wait. The day your boyfriend comes to this house, I’ll join Daddy for the lion’s den treatment.”

Serwaah sighed and rolled her eyes. “Ugh, really, Toby?”

“Oh, really, Serwaah. Really paaaaa.”

***

“Oh goodness, this can’t be real!” Diamond groaned out loud as the call ended. The DJ for the event had just called to inform her that he would not be able to make it for the ceremonies, as his equipment had been messed up. Just what she did not need to hear.

Who was gonna show up within two days?

Rubbing her eyes as she wondered what to do, she let out a deep sigh. “This is not what I need, this is not what I need…”

“Mrs. Sedudzi in waiting, you good?”

She turned to see Chief Tay enter the living room, looking hyped up as usual. Having become close friends with Edem through Oscar, he had been asked to MC the occasion, and he was more than ready for it.

She simply sighed in response.

Chief Tay cocked his head back in concern as his excited expression waned. “Uh, Diamond, what’s wrong?”

“Hmmm. I just got a call from the DJ we hired. He just cancelled on us.”

“Oh! Just like that?”

“Chale, just like that ooo,” Diamond sighed as she tossed the phone onto the sofa. “He says his equipment has some malfunctions, so he can’t make it.”

“Oh oh oh. See, Diamond, don’t shake. I have some links. Give me a moment.”

Diamond took her place on the sofa and watched as Chief Tay whipped out his phone and made a call.

“Chale, Damocles, I dey hia some help. Chale, my guy then ein woman dey come marry this weekend. I know sey this be short notice, but chale, we go dey hia your… oh yeah, I be the MC… yeah. Friday to Saturday… wait, Sunday, actually. Your mind dey?… chale, you be my nigga. You be my nigga! Great, great, so I go forward the lady ein number give you make you sort out the details… alright, sure, sure. Chale, you for bring your A game ooo, you know sey me diɛɛ, I no dey joke… dassriiiiiite, dassriiiiiiiite! Damocles my nigga! Chale, we go talk. Alright.”

Hanging up, he turned to her. “So my first link was successful. DJ Damocles. I’ve worked with him a couple of times, and I can vouch that he’s good. So Diamond, relax kraaa. I’ll send you his details, then you can work things out.”

“Thank you so much, Chief!” Diamond gushed excitedly. What a relief! “I’m so grateful.”

“Oh, no problem, Dee. Since I’m gonna be your MC, I gotta make sure everything goes well. And by the way, his A-game is top-tier. Absolute top tier.”

“Perfect! Coz I need it. No be small sass and attitude I dey bring to the ceremony.”

“Dassalllll, my dear! It’s your day! Show them!”

Diamond smiled in relief. Who would’ve thought that the cocky guy once battling with Oscar for a girl’s heart would become such a tight family friend, helping out in major ways?

Life, oh life. As Des’ree once sang.

***

“Wait? He actually chose the name Nixon himself?” Akinyi asked incredulously. “And he chose it for political reasons? Why?”

Maabena shook her head. “Aki, that guy is not correct. I’ve told my husband so many times that that Kojo guy he walks with, some of his wires are touching. I mean, who changes their name just because they’re running for a political position? And on top, he said the name Nixon carries a powerful political legacy, that’s why he chose it.”

“Ah! Seriously? Does this guy know anything about US history?” Selasi asked.

“He doesn’t oo, Queen Cee. He clearly doesn’t.”

“Maabena, the guy just heard the name and took it up,” Diamond chimed in. “Because ‘powerful political legacy’ and you’ve picked a president who is synonymous with scandal diɛɛ…”

“I’m shocked!” Selasi blurted out. “Ei, when you mention Nixon, the first thing you remember is the Watergate scandal. And that’s what he’s using for an identity. Ei, hmmm.”

The four ladies were in Diamond’s room with her seamstress as her fitting session took place later that afternoon. They had gone for their attire from their seamstresses and decided to pass by to check on their girl as her dress had been delivered.

“Okay, madam, it’s good to go now,” the seamstress remarked as she stood to her feet. Maabena, Selasi and Akinyi nodded in satisfaction as Diamond admired herself in the mirror before she moved to and fro to ensure she could walk in it.

“Ladies?” she asked.

Akinyi gave a chef’s kiss. “Too sweet, my beautiful Dee!”

“Yeah, looks good. Abi you can move your feet well enough in it?” Selasi asked.

“Oh yeah. Belinda made sure of that. I can dance comfortably in this,” Diamond confirmed.

“Perfect! Perfect! Girl, you look magnificent!”

“I agree! You look amazing,” Maabena stated, clasping her hands together excitedly. “I’m so happy this is happening!”

Diamond smiled as she continued to admire her look in the mirror. Indeed, this kente gown, magnificently crafted and beaded, made her look amazing. “You know, Maabena, I remember when I let that admission outta my mouth that fateful day in the trailer. Honestly, it must have been God who forced it out.”

“Oh, definitely,” Maabena agreed. “See all the joy you’d have deprived yourself of if you held on to that fear. You see why God doesn’t like fear? It would have deprived you of your husband.”

“And you would’ve deprived me of a beautiful sister-in-law, too,” Selasi added.

Everyone in the room laughed.

“Well, thank God you listened to Maabena’s counsel,” Akinyi stated. “Coz girl, being with Edem has been one of the best things to happen to you.”

“Indeed. That man just makes me happy. He really does,” Diamond smiled happily. “And I can’t wait to be his forever.”

Exciting, isn’t it? And oh, ain’t it nice to see Toby’s got himself a girlfriend? Well, a day more before the major activities begin. What’s happening on Thursday?