??Love and betrayal ??
?? ???????
??Episode 11??
❤❤❤❤❤❤
From U.S Bah ❤✌?
The courtroom is quiet now.
It had been quite emotional at
first when Effe arrived with
Joshua Darkwa.
Steve, looking quite miserable,
had met her in the corridor. He
wanted to speak to her, but Effe
had been too distraught to speak
to him.
She had been convinced that if
she spoke to him she would
begin to cry again, and she did
not want that to happen.
Steve is accompanied by his
parents and Jonathan Afful and
some of his friends.
Effe’s parents, Eyram, Dr.
Henderson, Dr. Anaman and
some of her friends are also in
court to give her some support.
The Presiding Judge is a severe-
looking man called John T.
Tamakloe.
The process had been smooth
and fast because Effe has refused
to contest any of the terms Steve
has set out with his lawyer, an
obese man called Gabriel
Blankson.
Effe sits beside Joshua. Behind
her are her family and friends.
Her fingers are interlaced ti-ghtly.
She refuses to glance to her left
where Steve is sitting with his
lawyer.
She is quite startled when the
Judge bangs his gavel lightly on
the podium and looks up. Her
heart almost stops beating. She
quite can’t believe that her happy
years of marriage to a man she
loves with all her heart is coming
to an end, just like that.
Try as much as she can, she can’t
stop the sudden w£tness that
creeps down her cheeks.
JUDGE TAMAKLOE
It is indeed a sad occasion to me
personally when I have to grant a
divorce. It is even more difficult
when I see couples go throu-gh
such pain. Perhaps I am a bit
relieved that today I’ve not had
the unpleasant task of issuing
any restraining orders, contempt
of court, child or spousal
supports and other little nasty
bits of divorces. And so, based on
mutual consent of incompatibility
and irreconcilable difference, I
hereby grant Mr. Steve Hollison’s
petition for annulment of
marriage between him and Dr.
Effe Kedem. Barring any last
appeals to the contrary, both
parties are kindly requested to
sign the final decree of divorce,
and that will be it. This court
further grants Dr. Kedem the
right to remove personal effects
from their previously shared
residence, in the presence or
otherwise of Mr. Hollison. I wish
both of you well, and may God be
with you.
What follows is a blur to Effe. She
is aware of signing spaces
where Joshua indicates, and then
turns and heads out of the court.
She steels herself against the
terrible pain. She feels faint. She
can ba-rely place one foot in front
of the other.
EYRAM
(running after her sister)
Good God, Ef! Hold up!
Effe pauses in the corridor and
turns. Eyram hu-gs her sister
ti-ghtly. Eyram is crying. Soon her
parents approach, and they hu-g
their children.
Effe chokes down her tears. She
wants to be alone somewhere, to
sit somewhere, to grieve
somewhere.
MADAM IVY
Effe. Dear lord! Come, let’s go
home now!
Effe brushes a tear angrily from
her cheek.
EFFE
No, Mom. I’ve to pick up a few
things first from… from Steve’s
place.
KEN KEDEM
Oh, no! Princess! Surely not
today! Wait till tomorrow, next
week…
EFFE
No, Dad. It has to be today, or I
can’t make it. Don’t worry about
me. I’ll be fine.
Suddenly a voice breaks in. It is
Jonathan Afful. He has come to
stand behind them. His face is
cold as he looks at Eyram.
AFFUL
(coldly)
Come with me now, Eyram. We
nee-d to go home. I’m hungry.
Eyram swings on her husband,
her face aghast, shocked.
EYRAM
Jesus, Jon! Really? My sister nee-ds
me!
Afful’s voice is a whiplash.
AFFUL
Dammit, woman! I also nee-d you!
You coming or I gotta drag you
out of here?
Ken Kedem looks darkly at Afful.
KEN KEDEM
Don’t you have any heart,
Jonathan? What’s the matter-?
Afful cuts in angrily.
AFFUL
Belt it, Ken! This is between me
and my wife! Effe is not a kid. She
can hold her own. I’m hungry,
didn’t take any breakfast this
morning. It’s her duty to make
sure I am satisfied, isn’t it?
Madam Ivy approaches Afful and
glares at him.
MADAM IVY
You think my daughter is your
d–n slave, Jonathan? What are
you going to do, beat her here
too?
Afful pushes her aside so rou-ghly
that she almost falls.
AFFUL
Grow up, woman! Remember
who you’re talking to. I can pull
the rug from un-der your
husband’s business in a jiffy, so
stop pushing all the d–n wrong
bu-ttons! Your Mom is making me
angry, Eyram, and believe me, you
don’t want me angry!
Effe hu-gs Eyram.
EFFE
Go, Rammy. I’m gonna be fine.
Really. I’ll call you.
With tears in her eyes Eyram
descends the steps angrily and
moves to her husband’s car. Effe
also goes and sits in Joshua’s car.
JOSHUA
Home?
EFFE
No. To Steve’s place. My former
house.
Joshua nods and starts to drive.
Effe bites her lower li-p ti-ghtly to
keep the tears away. She grips
her upper arms to stop
trembling.
Joshua glances at her often, but
he says nothing. His fury against
Steve Hollison is so great and he
takes his anger out on the
steering-wheel, gripping it as if
he wants to strangle it.
There is total silence as he drives
on. Each one is absorbed in his
or her own thoughts.
Effe can’t believe her marriage to
Steve was over just like that. She
is sad that Steve did not stand up
for them. She is very surprised he
chose a child over what they
shared. She knows now that her
supposedly perfect marriage was
not as perfect as she thought.
She reckons she has taken a lot
of things for granted. She knew
there were times she had had
her suspicions about Steve’s
fidelity but she has always
brushed them aside. She
un-derstands now why Elaine
suddenly became too cheeky
even to her. She saw the writings
on the wall but ignored them.
Joshua on the other hand is
angry at Effe for being so modest
about the whole thing. He
desi-red so much to give Steve a
run for his money but Effe has
prevented him from doing that.
He believes Steve should be
taught a lesson not to mess with
people’s feelings the way he is
doing with Effe.
After a while she takes her
phone out, dials, and puts it to
her ear.
EFFE
(very softly)
Chris? Are you free?
CHRIS
Yep. Took some customers to a
seminar but I’m free now.
Heading home. Around Shangri
La now.
EFFE
Can you please meet me around
Shiashie? I’m going to my
husba… to Steve’s place to pick
up a few things.
CHRIS
Ok.
She cuts the line. Joshua looks at
her, his face intrigued.
JOSHUA
Chris. The Elm’s Bar boy?
She glances at him sharply, and
scowls.
EFFE
How did you know I met him
there?
JOSHUA
Oh. I stayed around yesterday
after I dropped you off. Told you
I wasn’t comfortable. I waited
until you came out with that
nak-ed boy, then I drove off.
EFFE
(smiling wanly and feeling
tou-ched)
He wasn’t nak-ed, Uncle Josh.
JOSHUA
He was. Unless you call the hairy
che-st a vest.
She chuckles now, and smiles at
him warmly.
EFFE
He makes me smile. And laugh.
And not think too much.
Joshua nods.
JOSHUA
That is the first essential element,
I guess.
Chris is already waiting when
Joshua parks his car at the bus
station at Shiashie.
He gets out of the taxi when Effe
steps out of the car. She pauses
and stares at him. He is dressed
in a smartly-cut black suit, white
shirt and black tie. He is wearing
sunglas-ses, and he looks
absolutely incredible.
Looking at him, she tells herself
he looks more like a Hollywood
star.
She walks slowly towards him,
and as he stares at her he thinks
he has never seen a more
beautiful woman in his life.
Wearing a simple knee-length
grey dress that nevertheless
shows off her sleek lines, curves,
wonderful legs and ethereal face,
he pauses and drinks in her
exquisite beauty.
CHRIS
You okay? You look a bit sad.
EFFE
I am more than a bit sad.
Joshua approaches and looks
from one to the other.
JOSHUA
You must be Chris.
EFFE
Oh. Chris, this is Mr. Joshua
Darkwa, a family friend and a
family member and the greatest
lawyer in the world. Uncle Josh,
meet Chris Bawa, a new friend.
The two men shake hands.
Darkwa is quite taken aback by
the sheer masculinity, charisma
and handsomeness of the driver.
Suddenly he feels a bit uneasy
about Effe being with this boy.
He can easily turn Effe’s head
because she is hurting.
JOSHUA
Pleased to meet you, Chris. Be a
genuine friend to Effe, otherwise
you’ll find me a very unpleasant
man.
EFFE
Uncle Josh!
Chris does not smile.
CHRIS
I will be genuine friend, Mr.
Darkwa.
Joshua hu-gs Effe, and then he
turns and leaves. Chris opens the
car door for Effe, and they drive
into the traffic. He says nothing,
and she is grateful. She will tell
him in her own good time, but
she nee-ds the silence now, and
that is why she has called him.
She directs him inside the house
she has shared with Steve for ten
years. Steve’s car is parked.
She gets out, takes a de-ep
breath, speaks to the sad-looking
security man, and mounts the
stairs. The door is locked, and
she rings the doorbell.
The door is opened by Elaine. The
two women stare at each other.
Elaine looks defiant, but Effe can
see a little uneasiness in the
depths of her eyes.
EFFE
I came to pick up a few personal
things, Elaine, and then you can
have everything for yourself.
ELAINE
(sudden anger flashing in her
eyes)
You don’t have to be nasty about
this, Effe. I didn’t ra-pe your
husband, or should I say ex-
husband? He came to me, and
made me pregnant. Surely you
don’t begrudge me fighting for
what’s best for my baby, do you?
I don’t want my son to come into
the world without a father, and
neither do I want him to be born
outside marriage. Surely you
un-derstand that, don’t you?
EFFE
I un-derstand that, Elaine. I wish
you well. Could I please go and
take my things?
Elaine looks confused. She tries
to speak, but nothing comes out.
She steps to one side, and Effe
enters.
She feels weak but she for-ces
herself to walk forward.
This is her home. She had
decorated it, planned it, and lived
in it for ten years. This could be
the last time she walks throu-gh
its walls.
The pain is fierce, and for a
moment her tears threaten to
burst throu-gh, but she steels
herself and moves from the hall
throu-ghthe corridors and opens
the master bedroom.
Steve emerges from the
bathroom and when he sees her
tears suddenly come to his eyes.
His eyes are swollen, and she
knows that he has been crying.
He walks towards her and his
arms are held out.
STEVE
Oh, honey! I’m so sorry! I’m
terribly sorry. I don’t know how
we came to this point! It’s like a
dream to me! Never meant to
hurt you this much, please.
EFFE
You did it for your son, Steve. I
couldn’t get you one, and when I
suggested adoption you rejected
it because you wanted your own
blood. Don’t worry, I un-derstand
now. I wish you all the best.
Effe hears voices in the hall, and
recognizes the voice of her
former in-laws.
STEVE
You can have anything you want,
Effe. You can have the house if
you want. I made it clear. I’ll
move out. This is just temporary,
darling. As soon as Elaine gives
birth and I make the child legally
mine I’m gonna leave her and
come back for you.
She stares at him, shocked first,
and then suddenly furious.
EFFE
What? Did I hear you right,
Stephen Hollison? Come back for
me? Don’t you dare, Steve, don’t
you dare tread that path!
STEVE
D–n it, honey, I love you! I’ll
always love you. It is you I love!
I’m doing this just because of the
baby! He’s my son, Effe. I can’t
leave him to Elaine! You know
that!
Effe walks past Steve.
She opens her wardrobe and
takes her jewellery box. She takes
an empty suitcase and begins to
stuff her dresses in. The voices in
the hall grow louder, and Steve
leaves to check it out.
Effe packs four suitcases and
drags the first one to the hall. She
finds her former in-laws in the
hall. Captain Hollison comes
forward slowly.
CAPTAIN HOLLISON
Effe, my dear. Can you ever
forgive us? I’m not a man who
easily says sorry, you know that,
but on this occasion, I feel like
my family has really wronged
you.
Effe looks at him. He is a ha-rd
man, but he has always
welcomed and treated her with a
modicu-m of affection.
EFFE
Some things can’t be helped, Sir.
At least, your wife is happy now.
Her former mother-in-law, as
usual, takes it the wrong way
and walks fast towards Effe, her
face furious.
IRIS HOLLISON
Watch that arrogant tongue, Effe!
What have I done? Am I the
cause of your barrenness? Don’t
you blame me for any of this! We
nee-d grandchildren, and my son
nee-ds children. It is not our fault
this has happened!
STEVE
Mama!
CAPTAIN HOLLISON
Be quiet, Iris!
ELAINE
Why are you shouting at her? At
least she’s on my side! Why’re
you all behaving like this? When
Steve was always sad because
Effe couldn’t give him an heir
who comforted him? I did! He fell
in love with me! If you feel I’m no
longer nee-ded tell me! I’ll leave
right now so that Effe can have
Steve, but believe me you‘ll never
see this baby anywhere near
you!
Effe walks forward slowly and
stands in front of Elaine.
EFFE
I still don’t un-derstand, Elaine. I
loved you, just like my own
sister! Now you have taken my
husband, my life, my happiness,
my everything. I don’t blame you.
I wish you well, for yourself, and
for your son. It’s pathetic the way
you are using him as bait to get
what you want. If I were you, I
would really examine myself and
read the signs on the wall. I
would ask myself if Steve would
be with me if I were not
pregnant? He was with me for
ten years, child or no child and
that should tell you something. I
honestly wish you well. I wonder
what your son will think, when
he grows up and learns of his
history! That his mother se-duced
her sister’s husband and he
came to be. What a way to come
into this world.
Elaine slap-s Effe ha-rd, the sound
so sharp that it shocks all of
them and makes everybody
immobile.
ELAINE
Keeps your d–n evil mouth away
from my baby, you witch!
STEVE
Elaine! Jesus! How could you hit
her!
IRIS HOLLISON
Well, can you blame her, after
what Effe said?
Effe says nothing. She just looks
at Elaine throu-gha film of tears.
She cannot help it now. Her tears
fall down her cheeks freely. Her
pain is unbearable.
She feels as if she is dying. She
can’t move, she can’t function.
Her legs are trembling; her whole
body is vibr@ting.
And then his voice breaks the
silence. He is standing in the
doorway, and his voice reaches
her from a long way off, but it
breaks the pain, and makes her
look up at him.
CHRIS
Are you okay, Effe? I heard angry
voices.
They all turn and look at him.
Chris is leaning against the wall
by the door. Effe looks at him,
unable to speak as tears course
down her face. She sees how
Chris’ jaw ha-rden, and when he
slowly takes off his sunglas-ses
she sees his anger even throu-gh
her tears.
Chris walks forward slowly,
deliberately. Steve frowns,
suddenly recognizing him as the
man, the taxi driver who had
struck him down that night Effe
had found him with Elaine.
He walks angrily towards Chris.
STEVE
Get out of here! You b—–d! Get
the hell out of my house!
Chris does not stop, but he
speaks slowly, and the fury spills
from his voice, menacing and
deadly.
CHRIS
If you don’t get out of my face
I’m gonna break every bone in
your d–n body!
Steve stops. He sees the
murderous look in the man’s
eyes, and feels the danger. Chris
walks past him. Steve’s father,
always a hothead, moves
forward and raises his hand to
stop Chris.
CAPTAIN HOLLISON
Who the hell are you and how
dare you speak to my son like
that?
Chris looks at him, and the
Captain, who had been a fierce
soldier and dealt with many
different types of men, sees
immediately that he is looking at
a very dangerous man indeed.
CHRIS
Your son is a d–n fool.
Infuriated, the captain draws
back his fist to hit Chris.
Chris smiles but does not stop
walking. He looks the old soldier
straight in the face and speaks
softly.
CHRIS
Go on, make my day.
The old soldier hears the
warning in the handsome man’s
voice. He sees how coiled up
Chris is, and he slowly drops his
fist. Chris walks past him and
stops in front of Effe. He looks at
her, and then he notices the ugly
welts on Effe’s cheeks and pain
flashes across his face, followed
by a terrible rage.
He reaches out and touch her
cheek where Elaine has slapped
her.
EFFE
Chris. It’s okay.
CHRIS
Who hit you?
Effe is suddenly alarmed by the
savagery she sees in his eyes. She
remembers how he had floored
Steve, and the ferocity with
which he had floored Wailer in
the Elm’s Bar.
She reaches out to hold his hand,
but he draws his hand back.
EFFE
Chris. Please. I’m fine.
CHRIS
(in a dangerous hiss)
Who hit you?
He turns and his angry eyes
sweeps over the four other
people in the room, and they
settle on Steve whose face
suddenly reflects fear.
Effe holds Chris’ arm.
EFFE
Chris. You’re not listening to me.
Chris indeed is not listening. His
eyes settle on Elaine, when she
yells that she did and taunted
him. He starts to walk towards
her. Steve, alarmed, rushes
forward and stands between
Chris and Elaine.
Elaine sees the uncontrollable
rage on Chris’ face, and her eyes
widen with horror. She begins to
shake as she cowers behind
Steve.
STEVE
She’s pregnant, man. She’s d–n
pregnant.
CHRIS
Pregnant? You b—–d! And you
let her hit Effe, your wife?
He sounds so furious that even
Iris becomes frightened. She
moves hurriedly to stand beside
a trembling Elaine.
Effe knowing how unpredictably
violent Chris can be, and fearing
for him should he hit a pregnant
woman, pushes her way in front
of him, and holds his upper arms.
EFFE
We’re no longer married, Chris.
He stares at her, and then he
scowls.
CHRIS
Did he divorce you?
EFFE
(nodding)
Yes. Today. It’s over.
Chris looks darkly at Elaine for
moment, and then he turns back
to Effe.
CHRIS
Are you done here?
EFFE
Three more suitcases in the
bedroom.
CHRIS
Please bring them out.
Effe nods. She turns and goes
back the bedroom and brings
another suitcase.
She sees that the four people are
now sitting docilely in the chairs.
Chris takes two suitcases out.
He returns for the other two. Effe
walks towards the door, pauses,
turns and returns to the hall to
stand in front of Steve.
Effe looks at the two rings on her
finger, and slowly she takes them
off and drops them on the seat
besides Steve.
EFFE
Goodbye, Steve. I really wish you
well.
She turns and walks quickly out.
To be continued..