??Love and betrayal ??
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??Episode 13??
❤❤❤❤❤❤
From U.S Bah ❤✌?
Effe sits on her bed.
She is fully-dressed in a most
fetching cream skirt suit with
short sleeves. Her make-up is
minimal, and her jewellery
consist of matching chain,
earrings and br@celet. She looks
very lovely indeed.
There is a knock on the door,
and she looks up, startled for a
moment, and then she hears her
mother’s voice.
MADAM IVY
Afi, dearest, are you okay? We’re
running late.
Effe gets up and surveys herself
in the full-length mirror.
The door opens and her mother
enters. She comes and stands
besides Effe. Effe looks at her
mother and smiles sadly.
EFFE
I’m ready, Mama.
Her mother looks at her with a
face full of love, compas-sion and
helplessness.
MADAM IVY
Are you sure about this, baby
girl? You can choose to stay and
not attend this ceremony, dear. If
you want, I’ll stay here with you!
Effe turns and hu-gs her mother,
and then she steps back.
EFFE
I’ve always wanted a home for
the poor autistic children that
pas-s throu-ghEden Hospital,
Mama. I fought for it, laid petition
after petition before the Eden
Board of Directors. It took years
before they decided to put up
the Eden Autistic Center. It’s
Grand Opening today. I’ll be
there, Mama, for those poor
children! And you know father
has petitioned the Eden Capitals
for more loans, and he has been
turned down. Maybe the
Chairman of the Board would be
there, and I’ll get a chance to
speak to him and put father’s
case across.
Madam Ivy takes Effe’s hand.
MADAM IVY
Isn’t it amazing? Jon, our own
son-in-law, is the Second Vice
President of the Eden Board, and
yet he stands in the way of your
father, keeping all of us on a
leash. He threatens to call in all
the overdue loans, and if he does
we’re going to lose the Company,
and I know that will break your
father’s heart.
EFFE
And that’s the more reason why I
must be at the launch, and try
and speak to the President
himself.
MADAM IVY
I know, baby. You have a heart of
gold. You always have. But you
know Steve will be there. And
you know Elaine would take this
opportunity to be there, to be
seen, to be in the sp-otlight. It can
bring you more pain, dear.
Effe shakes her head.
EFFE
We’ve already been over this,
Mama. I’m okay. I can’t possibly
be hurt more than seeing my
husband marrying my sister. I
slept last night, mother, so
soundly that I woke up late.
Believe me, I’ll live throu-ghthis.
There are tears in the woman’s
eyes as she hu-gs her daughter.
Tears of anguish, of love, of pain
because she sees her daughter’s
pain and can’t do anything to
stop it.
She touches her daughter’s
cheek and traces a loving finger
down it.
MADAM IVY
One day, Afi, just one day, you’re
going to find that one man, that
particular man, who will love you
throu-ghit all. A real man who’ll
love you till death.
Effe smiles at that, and it is such a
beautiful smile that her mother
raises her eyebrows in surprise.
Effe walks to the bed and picks
up her handbag.
EFFE
Let’s go, Mama. We’re gonna be
late.
Her father is driving them in his
sleek black Toyota V8.
Effe sits in the back. Her parents
are conversing but she ba-rely
hears them.
She puts her phone to her ears. It
is ringing at the other end.
His voice comes throu-gh, slow
and close, and she wonders why
it sounds so near, so comforting.
CHRIS
Precious.
She takes the phone from her
ears and looks at it, shakes her
head with a bemused look on
her face, and puts it back to her
ear.
EFFE
And what did you say?
CHRIS
I didn’t say anything. I just called
you Precious.
Effe is silent for a moment. She
tries to speak, but there is a
mischievous look on her face.
She does not want him to hear
the pleased tone in her voice.
EFFE
I’m going to the hospital for a
programme. I’ll then go to the
Ameyaw-Eden Clinic. Could you
pick me up from the hospital in
say, a couple of hours?
Her parents look at each other
with curiosity.
CHRIS
Alright, Precious. I’ll be there.
EFFE
(smiling)
So. That’s what you’ve decided to
call me now?
CHRIS
(chuckling)
Yeah. But not only that. I got a
whole lot of names for you.
She laughs then, and leans
further into the seat.
EFFE
Really? Okay. Let me hear another
one.
CHRIS
Doctor.
She laughs again, and then sees
her father watching her with
surprise in the driving-mirror,
and she bites her lower li-p self-
consciously.
EFFE
I’ll see you then, Chris.
She cuts the call. She looks up,
and her father is still looking up
at her. She looks out the window.
Her father turns.
KEN KEDEM
Well, normally I don’t poke my old
nose into the affairs of beautiful
doctors, but-
MADAM IVY
(cutting in gently and with a
smile)
But you will look straight ahead
and drive and not poke your old
nose into the affairs of beautiful
doctors!
They all laugh.
THE EDEN HOSPITAL
It had been a very colourful
ceremony.
The Vice President of Ghana had
been present, together with the
Ministers of Health and other
powerful personalities.
Unfortunately the President of
the Eden Board had not been
able to make it, and in his stead
the First Vice President, Mr. Frank
Stiles and the Second Vice
President, Mr. Jonathan Afful, had
been present.
Effe had sat on the podium with
Steve and the other doctors.
Elaine had been present and had
sat with the guests.
The launch had been very
successful.
They had toured the beautiful
Autistic Center, and marvelled at
the ultra-modern equipment that
had been brou-ght in.
The press had been present, and
they covered the event
splendidly.
Now it is over.
The Vice President of Ghana is
gone, and so has the First Vice
President of the Eden Board who
had been in a rush and so
promised Effe that he would give
her a call later to address her
issues.
They are now eating and having
fun. It has taken almost three
hours and Effe still has not seen
Chris.
Effe is sitting in a group that
includes Doctor Anaman, Doctor
Rupert Henderson and his wife,
Barbara. Also in the group are
Eyram and her parents.
Effe excuses herself and goes to
the Ladies to freshen up. She is
standing in front of the hu-ge
mirror applying light li-pstick
when the door opens and three
giggling women come in.
It is Elaine and two of her
friends. Effe knows them. They
used to come to the house when
Elaine was staying with her and
Steve.
One, called Sheena, is very bad-
mannered, always being nasty
about people. Effe had warned
her not to come to her home
again.
The other one, called Rebecca, is
a little better-behaved around
Effe.
Sheena pauses now and looks at
Effe with a dirty look. She makes
a hu-ge bubble with her gum and
pops it.
SHEENA
Well, well, well! Look at who we
have here! Ladies, may I present
to you the FORMER Mrs. Hollison,
the woman who thought her s–t
was perfumed?
Elaine, pregnant belly bulging,
laughs and stands besides Effe.
Their eyes meet in the mirror,
and Elaine slowly holds up a
hand and shows the diamond-
encrusted wedding ring she is
wearing.
ELAINE
Hello, Effe. How have you been?
Effe is trembling as she carefully
puts her li-pstick back in its case
and slowly puts it back in her
bag.
SHEENA
(with a mocking laugh)
Mrs. Effe Hollison! I heard you’re
barren, and so you lost your dear
husband!
REBECCA
(looking very uncomfortable)
Jeez, Sheena, would you just stop
it and leave her alone?
ELAINE
Oh, but Sheena is right, Becky! My
sister couldn’t get pregnant, and
lost her husband. Surely there’s
nothing wrong with speaking
the truth, is there?
SHEENA
I don’t think it was just about not
getting pregnant. Effe thinks
she’s better than everybody!
Always filled with pride, because
she’s a doctor, a famous
surgeon! But obviously she’s like
a dead fish in bed, aren’t you,
Effe? Just lying there like a piece
of wood whilst her husband-
ELAINE
(breaking in)
Excuse me, her FORMER husband!
SHEENA
(laughng hysterically)
Oh forgive me, Mrs Elaine
Hollison! I forget you not only
gave your man multiple Orgasms,
but you’re going to give him a
son as well! Poor, poor Effe! You
lost your man to your little sister!
Oh, don’t cry! How does it feel
like, Doctor?
REBECCA
(her voice plaintive)
Oh Lord! Let her be, girls!
Effe smiles br@vely throu-ghher
pain. She looks at Elaine who
slowly holds out her hand and
shows her ring to Effe.
ELAINE
What do you think, Effe? Beautiful
ring, isn’t it?
Effe nods as she looks at the ring.
EFFE
Hm, quite beautiful, I must say.
Quite prettier than mine. Well
done, you deserve it!
The smile drops from Elaine’s
face, and she looks quickly at
Sheena, who for-ces out a laugh
and glares at Effe.
SHEENA
So what are you going to do
now, Doctor with no husband?
Are you going to become a nun?
Effe smiles. She slings her
handbag across her shoulder
and steps past Elaine.
ELAINE
Don’t worry, sister! I’ll name one
of my children after you!
SHEENA
You kidding me, Elly? Name your
child after that witch?
Elaine laughs raucously.
ELAINE
Hell, no! Let her get her own
babies!
SHEENA
As barren as a racoon! Hey, Effe,
barren racoon! Did you hear
that? Don’t you think it rhymes?
Effe steps out quickly. Their
taunting is hurting her beyond
comprehension. For a moment
she is tempted to go back and
rip out Elaine’s eyes, but she
for-ces herself to breathe.
She is glad that her tears do not
flow. She makes her way
towards her group, and suddenly
Steve appears besides her.
STEVE
Effe, Effe, please hold on a
moment! I want to talk to you!
She looks at him blankly, and
then she tries to step past him.
EFFE
(in a very small voice)
Please, Steve. There’s nothing to
talk about anymore.
Steve reaches out to hold her
arm. People are suddenly
watching them.
STEVE
D–n it, baby! Honey! We can be
civil to each other at least, can’t
we? Oh, please, PLEASE! I know I
hurt you. Look, I’m just bringing
you a cheque, your portion of
our joint savings!
Effe snatches her arm from his
grasp, and looks at him with
bitter eyes.
EFFE
I don’t nee-d it, Steve. Use it as my
wedding donation to you and
your wife! I don’t nee-d anything
from you!
STEVE
Stop this, Honey! Do you hate me
that much? You can’t even stay
with me for a few seconds just
to converse?
Effe starts to reply, but just then
the door to the Ladies’ Room
opens, and Elaine and her friends
step out.
Elaine quickly snatches Steve’s
arm and rests her head on his
shoulder.
ELAINE
Handsome, your son is restless
today. He’s moving so furiously! I
think within a couple of days he
will drop into your arms! Here,
my Lord, a bulge! Feel it,
Sweetheart!
Elaine reaches out and takes
Steve’s hand and puts it on her
belly.
SHEENA
Oh, yipee! That’s a grand feeling,
isn’t it? A feeling some women
would NEVER EVER be able to feel,
right, Effe?
Rebecca and Steve speak at the
same time.
STEVE
Just shut up, Sheena! What’s
wrong with you?
REBECCA
Stop it, Sheenie! Oh my God, who
is THAT?
Rebecca is pointing to a man
who is walking slowly towards
them.
He is dressed in an impeccable
black suit and he’s wearing
sunglas-ses.
SHEENA
Wow! D–n, that is the best-
looking hunk I’ve ever seen! D–n,
no ring on his finger! Could be
my Prince Charming at last!
Effe laughs quietly, and winks at
Sheena.
EFFE
I doubt it, lady. But keep on
dreaming!
Sheena looks at her, perplexed,
until the man reaches them. He
takes off his sunglas-ses and
looks at Effe with eyes so filled
with adoration that it makes
Steve’s jaw ti-ghten as he drops
his hand from Elaine’s stomach.
CHRIS
You are so beautiful.
Sheena gasps, and Elaine’s eyes
fill up with hate as she sees the
way Steve is looking at Effe and
that nasty man who had almost
hit her the last time she saw him.
Effe stares at him. For a moment,
they forget where they are, and
just look at each other. It is as if
they are alone in the world.
EFFE
You’re late, you know?
CHRIS
Nah. I was waiting outside. I hate
crowds. You’ve been here for too
long, so I came looking for you.
Ready?
EFFE
Oh, yeah. But come. I want to
introduce you to my family first.
Chris falls into step besides Effe
as they walk away.
She, so absolutely beautiful in
cream, he, so absolutely
handsome in black, and they look
such an incredible pair that
people gawk at them.
REBECCA
Wow. They look smashing
together!
Steve, Elaine and Sheena speak in
unison.
ELAINE
Shut up, Becky!
SHEENA
Get a life, G!
STEVE
Would you shut the hell up?
Elaine turns to Steve with a face
that is suddenly filled with fury.
ELAINE
What was that, Stevie?
He glares at her, and she sees the
simmering look of sudden dislike
in the depths of his eyes, and it
shocks her.
STEVE
What’s what?
ELAINE
There, in your voice! Don’t tell me
you’re jealous? He’s just a d–n
taxi driver!
REBECCA
I’ll take him over any millionaire
any day! Just-
Elaine and Steve shout at her at
the same time.
ELAINE
Shut up!
STEVE
Shut up!
Steve begins to walk away. Elaine
tries to hold his arm but he
shrugs her off.
ELAINE
Stevie? Where’re you going to?
Steve? Steve!!
To be continued..