“Can you believe this? Throwing threats at me and my mother for simply telling her that Felix was not around? That Yaa girl is a little off. Honestly.”

Elias smirked as he held the phone to his ear. It was early morning, and he was happily relaxing in a chair outside his mother’s family home in Adeiso. It was such a relief to have some time off from work and just enjoy the feeling of not being in the ever busy city called Accra. The fresh air, the lack of super busy roads… all such a reliever.

And of course, he was on the phone with Akyaa. She was filling him in on what happened the previous evening. Apparently, the crazy Yaa girl had come by, asking to see Felix, who was not around. For whatever reason, she believed Akyaa and Madam Loverance were hiding him from her and demanded to check their apartment. Of course, they vehemently objected to this, and Yaa cussed them out and threatened to deal with them before leaving.

Interesting drama at Horez House, but Elias was too relaxed and at peace to be bothered about missing it. Hearing it from the lovely Akyaa was enough.

“Hmm. I always knew that girl was not correct. Na someone as toxic as this, what do you expect?” he reasoned.

“Hm, that’s true. It’s the accent kraaa that annoys me. Talking as if she’s some Brooklyn girl bi. Meanwhile, passport mpo, you don’t have! Mtcheww!”

Elias laughed. “I know right! That silly accent is so annoying. I don’t know where Felix went and found her. But he too, he’s another one, so…”

“Another one diɛ, another one. Worst boyfriend a girl could ever choose. Kai! And he’s a terrible liar on top too. That thing that caused the fight diɛɛ, we all know he’s lying. We all know. The way Maame was insulting him when we came back. She said he must be dumb to think we’re that naïve to believe him.”

“Sharp kraaa. You’ve sent pics of your breadbasket to some other girl, yet you are saying you don’t know how they got on your phone. Tweakai!”

“He’s not serious. So they just somehow magically appeared on his phone, eh? The guy is sick.”

“Very sick. Ah well, that’s their problem. So yeah, I’m enjoying myself back home. Just a few more days, then I’ll be back in Accra.”

“Sure, sure. All the best, okay?”

“Thanks. Talk to you later.”

As Elias hung up and relaxed, he smiled to himself. It really had been a long time since he had been this happy chatting with someone. It was funny how spot on his gut had been about this lady; she was turning out to be quite an awesome person to talk to.

He found himself getting fonder and fonder of her by the day, and after this call in particular, there was this deep feeling that maybe… just maybe…

There could be something more to this.

***

“What at all is wrong with Naphtali?” Natalie grumbled as another call to her fiancé went unanswered. This guy’s behaviour was really wearing her nerves thin. He had refused to get in touch with her after she stormed out of the meeting with the counsellor, and she was not impressed with this attitude of his. Standing outside the courthouse, she stared impatiently at the phone.

“What kind of immature rubbish is this? Huh? Is this what he’s going to be doing as a husband? Ei, this guy-“

The vibration of her phone cut her short. He was calling back.

Finally.

She immediately picked up.

“Naphtali!” she demanded, going straight for the jugular. “What is going on? I haven’t heard from you in almost a week or two. What’s going on? You ignore my messages and my calls. What is this? What is the meaning of all this? Huh?”

Over the line, she could hear him sigh. “Nat, Nat. See, I needed some time to think. Because what happened at the counsellor’s office was so damn embarrassing-“

“And you think I wasn’t embarrassed? When you made me look like some irrational, unreasonable woman who just wants to blow money, you think that wasn’t embarrassing for me?”

Naphtali sighed again. “Natalie… okay, you know what, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I ignored your calls and texts and all that. It was not right of me. I’m sorry. Okay? Now can I tell you why I didn’t get back to you for a while?”

Natalie grunted in response. She wasn’t done unloading her frustrations on him, but she wanted to hear the reason why he had been airing her. She’d attack him for that later on in the conversation. “No. I don’t know.”

“Well, I didn’t get back to you because I seriously started praying about this decision we’re taking. I just… wanted to be sure that this is truly what I want. Because honestly, things did not go down well when we last met our counsellor. We’re not even halfway through, and things already look suspect between us. And look, I need to be honest, I’m not against the idea of big weddings. I’m not that type that thinks big weddings always end in tears. I just want something that’s beautiful and memorable without breaking the bank totally. It’s my day as much as yours, and I want to be able to look back on it and remember what an amazing day it was.

“But Natalie, even when I say this, you’ve refused to understand. All you want is a big wedding that everyone will be talking about. No space for compromise. None. And honestly, all I’m wondering now is, if this is what you’re doing, then as a wife, what will you do? So please, I called you to let you know that I’m no longer interested in the wedding. It’s off. We’re not getting married anymore. I’m sorry.”

Natalie had been making mocking faces at his statements up until the last part. She had not been expecting that at all. Was he just trying to twist her arm or something? Because that was not amusing at all.

“Nafty. Nafty, you know I don’t like those kind of silly jokes. Please stop that,” she stated flatly. “It’s not funny.”

“Natalie, I’m not being funny. I’m dead serious. The wedding is off. I’m not doing this anymore.”

She was ready to lambast him, then stopped.

The solemn tone of his voice. Very unsettling.

Suddenly, it didn’t feel like he was pulling a prank on her.

“N-N-Nafty?” she started nervously. “Y-y-you’re… you’re joking, right?”

“You think I’m joking? I’m not, woman. I meant every word that’s come out of my mouth. The wedding is off. I don’t wanna make you my wife anymore. Got that? I don’t want to marry you.”

The line went dead.

Natalie looked at the phone in disbelief, then began to shake her head. Tears began to fill her eyes as the weight of his last words began to fall upon her shoulders.

He… he can’t be serious about this. He… he just can’t…

***

Wayne took a deep breath and knocked on the door of Justice Paul’s chambers.

“Come in.”

As he entered, his heart beat quickly, wondering what the boss of the court would have to say.

The previous night had not been the most pleasant. While he thought there was nothing wrong with letting Nii Sodjah come over to stay, Alayaa had her reservations, which she strongly expressed. For her, it wasn’t a good idea to let in a young man they didn’t know that well enough. Wayne disagreed with her, and in the process of letting her know, used the words ‘let’s not be selfish, okay’.

That did not go down well with his pregnant queen, who immediately got mad, and a little argument followed, which ended inconclusively. Suffice to say, their plans for the night were suspended, as they slept on opposite sides of the bed.

As he left for work that morning, he felt bad for using the phrase on her, but now he was wondering if it actually was a good idea to let the boy join them. It was only when he got to the courthouse that he decided he would ask Justice Paul for his opinion. Now that the day’s proceedings were over, he thought it a perfect time to make the enquiry.

He stood before Justice Paul, who was busily writing something on some sheets of paper. “My Lord, please, can I ask for your opinion on something?”

Justice Paul looked up and nodded. “Sure, talk to me.”

Wayne cleared his throat, then began.

“So… there’s this young boy. I met him a few weeks ago. He’s almost done with JHS. Now, his home situation is very problematic. Apparently, his mother is very abusive towards him. She slaps him, throws kitchen utensils at him, that sort of stuff. From what he told me, his father is cheating on the mother with one of her cousins and has even gone to move in with her, so it’s like she’s using him as an outlet for her anger.”

Justice Paul shook his head. “Goodness, that’s horrible. Hmm! People really are going through things.”

“Indeed oo, my Lord! So my wife and I have been talking to him, and she’s gotten someone who can take them through therapy to try and deal with the matter. Last night, though, the boy called me and said things are getting worse, and that he wants to leave the house, because he can’t put up with her anymore. The thing is, he said to me that he wants to come and live with us. My Lord, I dunno… my wife doesn’t really like the idea, but I feel like it’s not so bad. What do you think?”

Justice Paul shook his head. “I agree with your wife, Wayne. I don’t think it’s a good idea. I mean, yes, I understand that you feel for him and all, because indeed, his situation sounds pretty bad. But Wayne, your family is still young, and you need to be very cautious about who you bring in. You and your wife haven’t celebrated one year yet, have you?”

“No, my Lord.”

“Exactly. If you want to help the boy, help him. By all means, he needs it. But I wouldn’t advise you to let him in to your home. You’re the head of the house, and you need to be very vigilant about who comes to stay in your house, because you may not know what they’re carrying with them. It’s not that he’s a wizard or anything, but letting someone into your house can be dicey and end up in a bad way. You need to be cautious; decisions like these can make or break your home. 

“Besides, have you finished playing with your wife’s buttocks up and down the house that you need another person in there?”

Wayne’s face burned with surprise and a tint of embarrassment. “Oh, my Lord!”

“Oh my Lord sɛ sen? Why, are you afraid? Do you think I’ll issue a bench warrant against you for eating your wife up and down the house? My friend, my friend! You’re supposed to be doing that. Or you don’t?”

Wayne covered his hand to stifle his laughter. This judge sure knew how to get super raw and unapologetic.

“Well, I have been enjoying it,” he admitted.

“Of course you have! Na if your wife is loaded like that, won’t you be doing justice? Hahahaha! Chale, make use of the time you two have alone ooo, coz when the child on the way comes, your lives will change. Trust me. But all that aside, on a serious note, yeah, I agree with your wife. Don’t let him come and stay at your place. Get him the help he needs, find the authorities who can shelter him for a while. But don’t be opening up your house just yet. It’s not advisable.”

“Very well, my Lord. Thank you very much.”

***

Wayne sighed as he looked over at Alayaa, seated next to him on the sofa.

She said nothing, her eyes closed as she put her feet up on the ottoman nearby.

She was still pretty unhappy with him after that argument the previous night. She barely spoke to him when he returned home, and reluctantly acknowledged his apology.

Holding his phone in his left hand, he rubbed her baby bump gently. “It’s okay, Alayaa,” he said gently. “I spoke to someone who has a place for him. So I’m about to let him know. And once again, I’m sorry. I guess I was thinking about his safety so much, I forgot to take into account what’s best for this family. Please, forgive me.”

Alayaa sighed, her eyes still shut. “Alright, Wayne. I’ve heard you. I’ve forgiven you.”

“Forgiven for real?”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Yes, honey.” She placed her hand on his hand resting on her belly. “It’s not healthy for me to stay mad at my husband, anyway. It just still hurt the way you said ‘let’s not be selfish’, considering all I’ve done…”

“Yeah, I know, I know. In hindsight, I realized that was totally unfair of me. I’m really sorry for that, honey. Honestly. You are not a selfish woman at all, Alayaa. You’re an amazing, selfless queen, and you’ve showed it throughout our dealings with Sodjah.”

Alayaa smiled and rubbed the hand resting on her bump. “Thank you, my husband. I forgive you. Honestly and truly. Just remember that you need to properly complete the apology later tonight.”

Waye smiled and shook his head. Of course, the horniness in his wife would need some compensation. And if that was what she needed to make the apology complete, he was more than ready to do it.

“Of course, baby. You know I’ll let you have it. No holds barred,” he responded with a wink and a kiss on the cheek. “Let me just deal with Sodjah’s matter.”

He rose from the sofa and made the call.

After three rings, the young boy picked up. “Good evening, Mr. Smith.”

“Yeah, Sodjah, good evening. How are you this evening?”

“Oh, I’m good. I’m ready to leave this place and come stay with you and Madam.”

“Mmm. Your mother hasn’t disturbed you this evening?”

“She did, but it wasn’t as bad as yesterday.”

“Oh okay, okay. Well, um, I promised I’d get back to you about what you said yesterday. Soooo… Sodjah, about coming to stay at our place… I don’t think it’ll be possible, with the way things are at home. But I made some checks during the day and I found a good place to stay for you. I spoke to the lady and she’s a very sweet personality. She’d like to even speak to you tomorrow morning.”

He waited for a response.

There was none.

A second. Two seconds. Three seconds.

No word from Nii Sodjah.

Ah, is he still on the li-

Before his thought was complete, he heard a loud “Mtchewww!” over the phone.

“Nonsense!”

Then the call ended.

Wayne looked at the phone in shock, then looked at Alayaa, who seemed puzzled.

He pointed to the phone, rage spreading across his face.

“Can you believe this boy?! Huh? Can you believe this?!”

Bruh, this is quite a crazy turn of events! Nii Sodjah showing some levels of rudeness we didn’t know he had. And Naphtali… wow. He’s actually calling it off. Wow.

We definitely should see how all of this pans out in the season finale…