??Love and betrayal ??
?? ???????
??Episode 12??
❤❤❤❤❤❤
From U.S Bah ❤✌?
Chris opens the door for her. She
sits down and he closes the
door. He drives out of the house
and both of them are silent.
He drives along the abandoned
residential streets, and then he
stops the car.
She turns to him, and there is
great pain on her face. He gets
out of the car and walks around
it.
He opens her door and holds out
his hand. Effe takes his hand and
he gently pulls her out of the car.
He closes the door. She looks up
at him.
He takes her by the wai-st and
pulls her into his arms.
She holds him ti-ghtly around the
wai-st. Her resolve breaks, and
she begins to weep bitterly. He
holds her as she cries, smoothing
her hair gently.
After a long time she cannot cry
anymore. She exhales and looks
at him with a tear-streaked face.
He smiles down at her gently.
CHRIS
Finished mourning?
She smiles at him shyly.
EFFE
Yes. I ruined your suit.
CHRIS
Glad to be your handkerchief,
beautiful lady.
She giggles and hides her face in
his che-st again.
EFFE
I’m hungry.
CHRIS
For food?
She laughs then and looks up at
him. She sees the mischievous
look in his eyes, and shakes her
head.
EFFE
Yes. Food. Nothing else.
He nods.
CHRIS
Okay. Sit down. Let’s get some
waakye to eat.
He drives out of the Airport
Residential Area. They end up
inside Legon Area where he buys
waakye from a seller by the
roadside.
He beckons to Effe.
She approaches him reluctantly.
The waakye is in green leaves,
and he motions for her to sit
down on a chair.
Other people are inside the
wooden enclosure behind the
woman, eating. They look at
them. Obviously, Chris is well-
known because some of those
eating and the others standing
continue to greet him and call
him Darling Boy.
EFFE
(speaking to him softly)
Here? You want us to eat here, in
public, inside this enclosure?
CHRIS
(smiling)
Please sit down, Effe.
She looks around and sits down.
This is something she never
would have done in a million
years just two weeks ago.
He spreads the waakye in front
of her. She picks a spoon and
looks at it skeptically.
He laughs and takes the spoon
from her, and puts a bowl of
water and liquid soap in front of
her.
She washes her hand shyly, rinse
it, and then begins to eat.
It is sweet, and slowly she begins
to laugh and eat the waakye with
gusto.
He picks up a particularly ju-icy –
looking cowhide delicacy and
she reaches out, takes it, and
stuffs it in her mouth.
She hears people laughing, and
when she looks up she sees
they’re laughing at what she has
just done to him.
She looks into his eyes.
EFFE
I’m happy you’re with me, at this
time in my life.
CHRIS
I’m happy you’re happy.
Effe lies in bed and yawns.
It is morning, and she is
surprised she had slept till
morning. She has not cried
during the night as usual.
She hears her parents raised
voices downstairs and wonders
lazily what is going on. She gets
out of bed and stretches.
She makes her bed, shirks her
nightie, and pads nak-ed into the
bathroom.
She takes a long bath, revelling in
the water. She smiles when she
thinks that it is her first day as a
divorced woman. She is
surprised she does not feel so
sad about that anymore. She
feels relieved somehow. She
promises herself she is going to
get over Steve and move on with
her life. She is still young and still
believe in love. This morning, she
even feels she will have children
of her own in the near future.
She steps out of the bath and
looks at herself in the mirror. She
admits she is still a knockout. She
places her hand on her tummy
and smiles. She knows she is not
barren. No test had said that she
could not have children. It still
baffles her why she never
conceived in her ten years of
marriage. She wipes herself and
wraps the towel around her still
standing in front of the mirror.
Her thoughts shift to Chris for no
apparent reason. She kind of like
the guy. She likes being around
him. She feels safe when he is
with her. He gives her the
strength to do practically
anything. She finds herself
looking forward to seeing him
every day.
When she comes back into the
bedroom she can still hear raised
voices, and she frowns.
She had rarely heard her parents
fighting, and so she is a little bit
disturbed by the harsh voices.
Whilst she is dressing she
decides to pas-s throu-ghthe
hospital to reschedule time-
based appointments and attend
to those that cannot be
rescheduled.
Later she will go to the Ameyaw-
Eden Clinic to attend to the
urgent cases.
Dressed in a smashing black skirt
suit, she descends to the hall to
find that Aunt Ruth is present,
and she is with her mother.
Aunt Ruth stands up immediately
and moves towards Effe. She falls
to her knees and holds Effe’s
ankles.
AUNT RUTH
Oh, Afi! Afi, Afi, Afi! Forgive me o!
Forgive me o! How I wish I had
died before this evil day ever
befell me!
She is crying. Both Effe and her
mother reach down and pull the
distressed woman to her feet.
She looks dishevelled, and she is
dressed in the same attire she
had been in the last time Effe had
seen her.
MADAM IVY
Come on, Ruth! I’ve already told
you we know your heart! We
know you’re not a part of what
your daughter has done!
EFFE
Yes, Auntie. Stop stressing
yourself so much. I’m not
blaming you. I’m not even
blaming Elaine, Auntie. Steve
allowed me to be exp-osed like
this. He bears the blame! He
allowed this to happen. It’s a
bitter experience but at least it
teaches you a lot. I doubt he ever
loved me. Maybe he felt attra-cted
to me but real love, I think he
never did. It’s unfortunate Elaine
allowed herself to be caught up
in something like this. It could
have been anyone. I’m sure Steve
had been lying to me all this
while. I have been so
inexperienced to notice.
AUNT RUTH
(wiping her tears with a corner
of her cloth)
But you don’t un-derstand! You
don’t un-derstand! They’re
getting married now as we
speak.
Effe goes still. The shock almost
knocks her down. She has been
expecting it, but to be told that
Steve, her Steve, is marrying her
cousin just a day after divorcing
her is more than she can bear.
EFFE
(in a pain-filled whisper)
They’re getting married?
MADAM IVY
Yes, dear. Ruth came to inform
me. She wants us to go and stop
that marriage. They’re at the
court house, where we went
yesterday. Evidently the same
Judge who annulled your
marriage is officiating their
marriage. And they have planned
a reception at your former
house. That was why I was
arguing with Ruthie. I told her it
wasn’t necessary to try and stop
the marriage, but she just will
not accept it.
Effe is thun-derstruck. Her
haunted gaze and wounded look
are too terrible to behold, and
her mother takes her into her
arms.
AUNT RUTH
Elly is a devil o! Elly is a devil o!
Ahhhhhh, my daughter is a devil!
Effe turns towards the door. Her
mother tries to stop her. She
holds unto her arm.
MADAM IVY
Afi! Are you okay? Oh, dear!
Please take heart, okay? You will
be fine!
Effe nods and hu-gs her mother.
EFFE
Mama, I’ll be fine. I just nee-d a
few moments to myself.
Effe quickly gets out of the
house. She takes her phone to
call Chris, and then she stops.
She flags down a pas-sing taxi
instead and gives the driver the
address to the court.
She sits in the back of the car
and shuts her eyes ti-ghtly.
For a long time she remains like
that, eyes closed and as rigid as a
piece of carved granite.
But finally, unbidden, the tears
creep beneath her eyelids and
trace silent paths of pain down
her cheeks. She knew they would
eventually marry but she never
expected it so soon. She can’t
believe Steve is allowing all these
things to happen. It’s as if he is
not in charge anymore. It was
one of the things she loved
about him. He was his own man.
He was always in charge. He
knew exactly what to do and
when to do it. He was very caring
and considerate with her. Now
she has faded completely from
his life. He had moved on as if
she never mattered and that
hurts.
INSIDE THE COURT PREMISES
Steve is seen in the corridor
outside the Gents. He is dressed
impeccably in a white suit and
gold shirt, colours Elaine had
chosen.
His forehead is leaning against
the wall, and his eyes are ti-ghtly
shut.
Suddenly the door at the end of
the corridor opens and Jonathan
Afful emerges. He is dressed in a
white flowing African wear,
complete with a white headgear.
His face is worried. He grabs
Steve by the shoulder and shakes
him.
AFFUL
Goddamnit, man! What the dilly
ooo! What’s with you? They’re all
waiting!
Steve’s face is tortured. He looks
blankly at his friend for some
time, and then he leans back
against the wall.
STEVE
Things are moving too fast, Bro!
Only a week ago I was with Effe,
very happy! Now, I’m divorced
for less twenty-four hours and
about to marry her sister! D–n!
This is driving me crazy, man!
This doesn’t make any sense.
Things are moving too fast.
Yesterday Effe took off the rings I
gave her on our wedding day
and gave them back to me! Can
you believe that?
AFFUL
(looking incredulous)
What did you expect her to do?
Lean over and ask you to give it
to her doggy-style? Come on, you
made your bed and it’s time to lie
in it! You chose to give your
unborn son a home and a
mother, not a step-mother! It is
bitter, guaranteed, but you got to
gird your loins and ride with the
storm! What’s done is done. You
should have thought of all that
when you were sneaking un-der
the sheets with your wife’s
cousin.
STEVE
(his voice tortured)
D–n you, Jon! I think Elaine is
using this pregnancy to strangle
me! I could still be married to
Effe, and I could take my son! I
can go to court and fight for
custody if she proves difficult!
AFFUL
Stop the whining, man! She told
you she would give the
pregnancy to somebody else and
make sure you never see the
baby! What the hell, if you felt so
much for Effe why did you go
throu-ghwith the divorce? If you
want her back, go and apologize
to her. If you want your son, and
his mother, then get the f–k out
of this stinking place and let’s go
and get your marriage
registered!
STEVE
(his eyes looking haunted)
I taught I had it sewn up,
y’know! Like I’ll just get married,
and when Elaine gives birth,
which can be any day from now,
I’ll have legal access to my son,
and then I would go back for Effe
because Elaine wouldn’t dare
manipulate me after that.
AFFUL
And why can’t you still do that?
Steve shakes his head wearily
and grabs Afful’s arms ti-ghtly.
STEVE
Because I could be too late, man!
You remember that night Effe
caught me in bed with Elaine,
and how she ended up in a taxi?
AFFUL
Yeah, yeah, yeah. The d–n taxi
driver gave you a lic-king, so
what?
STEVE
(his voice a hiss)
She’s still with the d–n taxi
driver, man! Came with him to
my house yesterday to get her
things. I didn’t like the body
language between them, man!
Not one bit!
Jonathan laughs with genuine
mirth and shakes his head.
AFFUL
What the hell, man. You think Effe
is s——g a d–n taxi driver now?
Give her some credit, will you?
STEVE
Stop mocking me, man! D–n!
Maybe not yet. The dude had
dreadlocks that night, I
remember. Yesterday the locks
were gone, shaved off. He was
dressed decently, and he is a very
handsome son-of-a-b—h! Effe is
hurt bad, and I saw that in her
eyes when she gave me the ring.
That guy… that d–n guy, he
almost hit Elaine yesterday, and I
saw the way Effe looked at him!
She’s clinging to him throu-ghthe
pain, and anything can happen,
man! The guy is trying so ha-rd to
impress her and I’m positive he
is making headway. You should
have seen how Effe looked at
him? She’s falling for him
because she’s hurting.
AFFUL
(breaking in)
Jeez! Really? He tried to hit
Elaine? And you did nothing?
STEVE
Elaine slapped Effe! Very
regrettable. I should’ve done
something, maybe insulted
Elaine, y’know, or defended Effe a
bit. I couldn’t, but when the guy
came in he was all furious and s–
t. I saw the way Effe looked at
him, man! When she was with
me she wouldn’t have looked at
another man like that. She’s
hurting, she’s vulnerable. She
could easily give in to the man,
bro! The thought of her loving
someone else, ki-ssing him,
getting nak-ed, making love to
another man… d–n, bro, just the
thought kills me! Been thinking
about it the whole night! Maybe
I’m f—–g up bigtime by marrying
Elaine. I’m not sure Effe would
get back with me if I go throu-gh
with this, man!
Afful shakes his head, and his
face is incredulous.
AFFUL
You’re amazing, man! You f—-d
the girl’s sister, impregnated her,
divorced her, and now you’re
trying to marry her sister, and
you still expect Effe to be faithful
to you, or maybe become a nun,
or maybe commit suicide, or
crawl into her room and mourn
you for ten years? Stop the
nonsense! Who the hell do you
think you are? Barack Obama?
Get it out of your system! Effe is a
beautiful woman. There are
probably men queueing up for
her affections already, and yes,
someone is going to f–k her.
Lord, she’s even far s-×ier than
Eyram and has this air of
unavailability that has always
irked me. Maybe I’ll even try to
screw her too!
STEVE
(pushing Afful violently)
Don’t dare, you b—–d!
AFFUL
Just joking, man! But you gotta
pull your head outta your f—–g
bu-tt and take a stand. If you
want out, say it right now. I’ll go
and end the d–n marriage, but
remember, Effe is barren. She
can’t give you children. If you
want your son, then let’s get out
of here and go and sign the d–n
marriage certificate, and
remember, Elaine loves you. She
is also relatively s-×y, and can
give you some more sons and
daughters. Your call, man. Make
your decision fast, or I’ll get outta
here and go and screw some
Chinese who-res. I’m fed up with
your bullshit! What’s it gonna be?
Steve stares helplessly at his
friend. His face is very confused
indeed. He takes several de-ep
breaths, and then he takes out
his handkerchief and cleans his
face of stressed sweat.
Afful gently takes his friend’s arm
and guides him to the main court
room where Elaine and some
witnesses are waiting anxiously.
OUTSIDE THE COURT
Effe gets out of the taxi and tells
the driver to wait.
She walks up the wide steps of
the court and enters the large
court yard.
She sees the decorated white
cars immediately.
She sees that the ceremony is
over. There is a lot of noise. She
sees Steve and Elaine taking
pictures with some of Elaine’s
friends whilst the guests scream
and shout.
She recognizes Afful and Steve’s
parents, and some of Steve’s
friends, but she sees that none of
the hospital staff is present.
Effe’s vision blurs. Her heart is in
so much pain that for a moment
she feels like she is getting a
cardiac arrest. Her steps falter,
and she almost falls.
Elaine looks across the yard and
notices Effe standing at the
entrance. Elaine smiles to herself,
turns into Steve’s arms and offer
her face up for a ki-ss.
Steve ki-sses Elaine with a broad
smile. Elaine winds her arms
around his ne-ck and ki-ss him
de-eply as the crowd laugh and
cheer.
Elaine steps back and looks
across the space at Effe who is
now clamping her che-st with her
right hand and crying pitifully.
Elaine lifts her ring finger and
shows her diamond-encrusted
wedding ring. It glitters in the
early morning sun, and she
smiles cruelly.
Steve is laughing, but his gaze
follows Elaine’s mocking glance,
and he sees Effe standing
forlornly at the entrance, broken.
Steve turns a furious gaze on
Elaine, and he shakes his head
with disgust.
STEVE
(whispering with much anger)
My God! Why are you so d–n
cruel? Do you really have to do
that?
Jonathan, who has been
watching Steve very critically, also
turns and sees Effe. Quickly he
turns and sees that Steve is
trying to walk towards Effe and
Elaine is holding his arm
desperately.
ELAINE
(whispering urgently)
Steve! Don’t you go to her! Don’t
humiliate me in the presence of
my friends!
Afful moves forward and plants
himself in front of Steve, and his
hand lands on Steve’s che-st,
restraining him.
AFFUL
Stop it, Bro. Stop it. Don’t make a
d–n scene. Talk to Effe later, but
concentrate on Elaine now. Don’t
make an a-s of yourself!
Steve’s face is tortured. He looks
at his friend and his new wife,
and when he looks at the
entrance again, Effe is gone.
STEVE
(whispering in anguish to
himself)
Oh, Lord, Effe, Honey! I’m terribly
sorry! Please forgive me!
Effe pays off the taxi driver. She
does not sit in it again.
There are some trees a little
farther from the court, and there
are people sitting un-der them on
benches.
She walks to the shade, finds a
secluded bench, sits on it, and
cries silently.
Her handkerchief is very w£t by
the time the fleet of white cars
carrying the newly-weds leave
the court in a horn-blasting
cacophonous procession.
She wipes the tears from her
eyes and bites her lower li-p
ti-ghtly. She stuffs the
handkerchief in her bag and
stands up. She tells herself that
was the last time she was going
to cry for Steve. He was history
now. She knows it will not be
easy
She takes a shuddering breath,
and then she pulls out her
sunglas-ses and puts it on, to hide
her swollen face.
EFFE
Goodbye, Steve! Never again will I
let you hurt me
To be continued…
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