No visit to the farm for Wednesday. So Bons Farms employees had a day off.

Everyone who saw me that morning would have seen the normal Richie Acquah. You know, the regular, bearded guy with the nice little diastema and the gradually balding head. But deep inside, I was not myself.

Double-minded. Caught between two minds.

And I knew one was totally wrong, but… as guilty as I felt, I just couldn’t let go of it. It felt too sweet to just discard.

It was about Marilyn, of course.

That night had been pretty uncomfortable for me, as I had tossed and turned, feeling absolutely terrible over the way I had treated Ellie. Yeah, she might not have received any unpleasant earful from me, and she had no idea that I was happily texting and chatting with another woman. But she didn’t need to know for it to not be wrong. It was wrong!

So many mental images of our wedding flashed before me that morning. It was such a beautiful ceremony: rich and exquisite Kente colours all around, good music, happy family, all that good stuff. But what kept hitting at me were the vows we made that day.

We made our own vows, so I still remember mine pretty clear.

Eleanor Ewuradjoa Eshun, before our Heavenly Father and everyone gathered here this day, I solemnly vow that you and you alone will be the woman with the key to the inner room of my heart. That you alone will be my best friend, most intimate confidante and the one who sees the most vulnerable sides of me. I solemnly vow that from this day forward, a line has been drawn at the pathway to my heart, and no other woman shall ever be allowed to cross it but you.

Those were just a few lines in a pretty long vow I wrote myself. And yeah, I’ve got a poetic touch in me. Pretty sweet, huh? Both families were absolutely loving it; I still remember my mother egging me on with ‘Give them’ chants.

Haha, she’s one heck of a character.

But yeah, I kept coming back to that, and realized just how badly I had violated that vow. Because it was too obvious that I was letting Marilyn get beyond the line.

And what’s worse? I knew it was wrong, but…

I just didn’t want to let go.

There was something about Marilyn. Something… intriguing and mysterious. Something that kept me wanting to stick around her.

It was in her sweet, innocent-looking demeanour. Her cute little smile. The way she always sat cross-legged on her bed. The way she sometimes pleaded for me to see her.

And as uncomfortable as I felt with the closeness, I can’t lie, I liked it.

So even as I made up some reason to avoid going to her room later that morning, there was that part of me that was unhappy. That part of me that just wanted to damn the consequences and keep letting in this lady called Marilyn. That part of me that viciously argued that nothing was wrong.

Sigh.

What a mental mess.

***

Later that afternoon, I made my way to the Takoradi Mall. Ellie had given me a list of things she needed me to buy.

Mainly skincare products and cosmetics.

She could definitely get them herself, but she preferred that it be her husband to use his money for them. Yep, she’s a fully-fledged member of the ‘chopping my husband’s money is sweeter’ club.

Not that I could complain, though. I actually stated in my vows that she’s at liberty to chop my money coz ‘I don’t care’.

Uh-huh. I went full P-Square in those vows!

As I exited the mall, my right hand occupied with Shoprite bags, and sought for a taxi to take me back to the hotel, my phone rang.

I reached into my pocket, looked at the screen, and sucked my breath in. It was Marilyn.

I answered. “Marilyn?”

“Heyyy, Richie! What’s up?”

“Uhhh, nothing much. Just made a pit stop at the Takoradi Mall to get myself some things for Ellie.”

“Cool. Well, guess where I am?”

Ummm, how was I supposed to guess where she’d be? “Where?”

“I’m at the beach! Just enjoying the waves and the relaxing scenes. It’s such a therapeutic thing to do.”

I nodded nervously. I just knew where this was going. “Wow. Uh, that’s… really nice.”

“Uh-huh. Why don’t you come around? I’m at the Africa Beach Hotel right now.”

And she didn’t disappoint. I knew she wanted me to come to join her.

“Ummmm… I dunno… I’m feeling pretty exhausted right now…”

“Pleeeeeease, Richie? We only sit in my room and talk. A change of environment would really be sweet. Pleeeeeease?”

I sighed inwardly. I didn’t want to, but… dear Lord, that voice. We might have known each other for just a few days, but it’s like she already knew how to manipulate that part of me into doing her bidding with everything she had.

“Umm, alright. Alright. I just have a couple of bags on me, so… lemme take them to the room. Then I’ll be there shortly.”

“Perfect! Thank youuuu! I promise you’re gonna love it! See ya!”

The call ended.

***

About forty minutes later, after I had dropped off the items in my room, I found myself at the Africa Beach Resort. I passed by the bar and got myself a bottle of Malta Guinness before heading over to the sea defense.

It didn’t take me long to see her. She sat on one of the rocks, looking as precious as always in her one-shoulder top and grey leggings. She grinned and waved excitedly upon seeing me. I smiled and waved back as I approached her. I took my seat on one of the rocks next to her.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she commented, her eyes on the waves.

I nodded as I followed her gaze to the ever-busy sea. Indeed, it was a lovely sight. “Yeah, it is.”

“Ever seen the fishing boats on the sea in the early morning?”

I nodded. There was this one time Ellie and I went to Next Door Resort real early during our leave period and just spent that morning watching them sail the seas. It was such a peaceful experience. “I have. So soothing.”

“Yep. It really is. This is what my heart beats for, you know. To just enjoy all the beauty this earth has to offer, with no long strings of pressure or stress or… or this capitalist demand tied to you, just waiting to pull you back into some vicious cycle that never ends. I just wanna be free.” She went silent for a moment, as her focus returned to the sea.

I just sat beside her, not knowing what to say. I guess I wasn’t expecting a shot at capitalism at that moment.

She then turned to me. “Richie, can I ask a question?”

I nodded. “Uh, sure. Go ahead.”

She had this glint in her eye. Whether it was one of mischief or excitement, I don’t know. “Have you ever come across something you quickly discover to be so precious, that you realize you’d be a fool to live without it?”

Yes. Of course. I had come across such a ‘something’ before. Or lemme rightly say, someone.

And it was none other than Eleanor.

I nodded. “Y-y-yeah, I have.”

She continued to watch me. “Did you go out and get it?”

I nodded again.

“Okay. In the course of getting it, were there like, encumbrances in your way?”

I thought for a moment, then nodded.

“But they didn’t stop you from getting that precious thing, did they?”

“Uhh, nope. Not at all.”

She grinned, then nodded as well. “Alright, alright. Thanks, Richie!”

I narrowed my eyes in suspicion as her attention returned to the sea. There was definitely a coded message in there somewhere. “Umm, why did you ask, though?”

The grin still on her face, she shrugged without turning to me. “Oh, nothing really. I’m just… thinking about stuff. Personal things. Don’t worry.”

My heartbeat increased.

I had a feeling I knew what she was referring to.

Me.

I mean, at this point, I’d be a fool to claim I had no idea she’d caught feelings for me. I knew it.

And that ‘encumbrance’ thing? Yeah, it was quite clear she was viewing Ellie the same way I viewed all those other guys when chasing after my wife back then.

Offended? Yeah, there was a part of me that was super displeased that my Ellie was being viewed as a ‘stumbling block’.

But did I react? Not at all.

As I watched her stare at the horizon, I was scared to say anything that would start a fight.

Yep, I was scared.

***

As I lay on my bed that night, my mind was a battlefield for the wolves once again.

Richie, you have to stop this! You heard her loud and clear. It’s so obvious she’s caught feelings for you, and now she wants to force her way into your life! This is not what you need, Richie! You’ve already got a dime in Ellie, and she doesn’t need any competition! You know what to do, Richie! Stop entertaining her so much! Draw the line!

Oh please, spare me the drama! Where did she mention your name? You can’t be jumping to ridiculous conclusions based on emo thoughts. There’s nothing wrong here, Richie. You’ve not kissed her, you’ve not told her you’ll leave Ellie for her, and you haven’t done any of those silly things cheating husbands do. You’re just good friends with her. That’s all!

Richie, don’t listen to him! Be wise! Don’t be lulled into the false sense of security he’s opened up to you. It is crystal clear that she’s got plans beyond just being your friend, and the more you engage her, the more you’ll empower her…

Nonsense! Absolute nonsense! What false sense of security are you talking about? Did she mention his name in those questions? Did she say she wants to snatch him from his wife in plain terms? You can’t just assume stuff based on your silly little fears and ideologies…

I sighed as I turned over.

This was gonna be one night-long battle…

This dude better listen to the good wolf. Because it’s starting to get dangerous…