6 months later

Elorm’s business, Dee’s Sweets has been growing at a tremendous rate. The Christmas orders coupled with the end of year events increased her profits tremendously. With time, she was able to get all her certifications and documentations together. Nuerkie was right, it was easy to apply for catering gigs when you obtained all the documents. One of her main customers was this chain restaurant called Mayenii, she was one of their suppliers for daily confectionaries such as meat pie, bread rolls and spring rolls. At the moment, she supplied to only their Ridge branch. They wanted the pastries made and frozen, all their staff did was bake it in the morning themselves.

After a  month, they increased their order. Nuerkie was still adamant about Elorm quitting. Elorm knew in her heart that it was time. She prayed earnestly about it for days. She received confirmation in her Spirit. Her mother who was the usual sceptic even agreed that Elorm was needed full time at the bakery. Worla also supported the decision, after all, what is life without risk.

Elorm has so been engrossed with work and church. She barely had time to even think about love. Oh yes! Chris was still blocked on phone and other media. He came by the office a couple of times but unfortunately, those were the times Elorm was running errands or away on business. It was like they were never destined to see each other. She also went ahead to block Chris on her mother’s phone remembering he had her number.

Elorm finally gathered the courage to quit her job, she gave Gwen a two month notice though the company required just a month. She used her last month to train Beryl to assist Gwen.

Last day of work

ELORM

It feels great when your last day of work is a Friday. The last two months have been bittersweet, I will miss working for Gwen and the nice colleagues I have. I am also glad to be taking this step, four years with Oceans Consult is enough.

The day was over and I carried a small raffia tote bag filled with some personal belongings. Gwen walked me to my car.

‘’I am so proud of you Elorm. I knew this day will come. Remember to believe in yourself always. You are the best assistant I have ever had.’’ She confessed.

‘’Awwwwww’’ I said and hugged her.

‘’Do not be a stranger okay. Never hesitate to ask or call me when you need anything. I am right here’’ she said.

‘’thank you so much Gwen, Bless you for not making my life here difficult. I know my last days were a bit disappointing with managing the bakery and work. Thank for your patience’’

‘’always welcome’’she said.

I placed the bag in the booth and noticed she was still standing around.

‘’Now that we no longer have a professional relationship. I have been dying to ask this question. What happened between you and Chris? He refuses to tell me anything and Carmen too has kept her mouth shut cause Chris warned her. I could not ask you because you know, I did not want to mix stuff up. I thought things were going well’’ Gwen rambled.

‘’Things were going well then they didn’t, Gwen. That is life, things happen. I am not comfortable speaking about it, just know that I have no hard feelings towards him’’ I said politely.

‘’alright,okay, I hear. Take care. And I have some orders for you. I will let you know’’ Gwen said and we said our final goodbyes.

As I drove out of the parking lot, I saw Chris car drive in. The windows were tinted so I could not see if he was driving himself or not.  My heart sank a little, I hate to admit that I miss him a lot. But life goes on, I thought to myself as I drove home.

Home

‘’so you really quit the job?’’ my dad asked as I served him his dinner.

‘’yes dad’’ I answered.

‘’to bake things?’’ he asked

‘’yes dad, as you can see, I am doing well’’ I said

‘’I know but are you not scared? There are a lot of bakers ooo, how are you sure you can stay at the top?’’ he asked

‘’God is on my side’’ I answered.

‘’okay ooo, well, we will see. I know you and Worla do not like it when I talk like this. But I have to ask the difficult questions because I care’’ he said

‘’yes Da’’ I answered and walked away.

Later that evening, Worla gathered the family into the living room. We were all wondering what could be the situation.

‘’I have an important announcement to make’’ Worla said as she stood in the center of the room facing us. I was seated between our parents.

‘’We are all ears’’ mama said excitedly.

‘’I will be travelling to the Netherlands in three months. I got admission into a university there to pursue my masters’’ she said gleefully.

We were stumped because we had no idea Worla had plans to travel.

‘’Congratulations’’ I managed to say with excitement and hugged her.

‘’Congratulations’’ my parents said and forced a smile.

‘’so are you taking study leave?’’ dad asked.

‘’no I will be leaving my job. It is a path to relocation, I have hopes of staying away for a long time’’ she said.

‘’I am not understanding you women. You have a big job in Ghana, why do you want to travel and start over? Eh Worla. You will go and be doing some jobs’’ our father whined.

‘’well, I am not complaining and how will I know if it is for me if I never tried? This is my time, if it does not work, I move on.’’ She said.

‘’It will work for you Worla. God will provide for you. Now let us talk about how we can pack your things’’ mama interjected and took Worla away.

‘’Daddy, you could have just said congratulations and asked the questions tomorrow’’ I said and he shrugged, visibly upset with Worla’s decision.

I was also worried as well. But I had no choice than to be happy for her. Worla and I share the house expenses for now. I have so many questions about she choosing to leave at this time. Will she still contribute to the house? For how long? What will be her means of sustenance when she goes? I had a lot of concerns but this was not the time to confront Worla about it. Once she is happy, I am happy for her.

CHRIS

Carmen asked we pass by Gwen’s office before going home. They had things to discuss. I know it is just gossip with these two. I secretely hoped to see Elorm this time but I doubt it.

I walked in and noticed Elorm’s desk was unusually clean but made no comment. Her perfume still lingered in the air. She probably just left. We sat in Gwen’s office and what started as a discussion ended up being a Friday night hang out. Gwen had some prosecco in her desk, we sent the driver to buy more khebab and drinks.

‘’How is sunshine?’’ Carmen asked Gwen out of the blue.

‘’Elorm has quit, today was her last day’’ Gwen answered and my heart sank.

‘’wow! Good for her!’’ Carmen exclaimed

‘’yeah, she will be travelling outside. Relocation to God knows where’’ Gwen said.

‘’What? What do you mean? Travelling? Where?’’ I asked frantically.

‘’Hahahhahahahah. I am lying ooo, relax. She wants to focus on her business’’ Gwen said and they both laughed.

‘’you have to stop playing these games, Gwen’’ I warned.

‘’ see how your heart is beating, kikim¹. Where? Travel to? ‘’ Gwen mimicked.

‘’The way he has avoided the Sunshine topic eh. He has been so focused on work. He even got another girlfriend briefly. The girl was basically an Elorm lookalike just that character , total opposite. They broke up like last month’’ Carmen said.

‘’what was wrong with New Elorm?’’ Gwen asked.

‘’Content creator’’ I scoffed.

‘’That is not bad’’ Gwen remarked

‘’Not at all, it is exhausting when someone always has their phone camera out to capture everything’’ Carmen explained.

‘’then the Aburi house has suffered in her hands. Aesthetics paa’’ Gwen remarked.

‘’No, I specifically warned about filming there. After the first date where she brought out her phone. I made my lawyer draft an NDA before we continued dating. Moreover, she was more interested in going to fancy restaurants and post about food. She is not a bad person, just not my type’’ I explained

‘’Ah! Makes sense. You still have not told me what happened between you and Elorm. All because you do not want to interfere with madam’s professional life’’ Gwen said.

‘’she did him one last hit’’ Carmen blurted

‘’buei! But what led to that?’’ Gwen asked

‘’it does not matter. It is over between us’’ I said

‘’and whose fault is it?’’ Carmen asked

‘’nobody, it was mutual. It told you not to pursue this. It is one of those things, not everything works out in life.’’ I stated.

‘’don’t worry, I will brief you later’’ Carmen said to Gwen.

‘’Ensure you get your facts right in your briefing’’ I warned.

‘’then say it yourself’’ Gwen said.

I reluctantly told Gwen what ensued between Elorm and me.

‘’I just have one question. Do you want her back?’’ Gwen asked

‘’I don’t know’’ I answered.

‘’you don’t know or you are afraid of what you actually feel?’’ Carmen asked

‘’I want her but I can not give her what she wants so I guess that is it. I am tired of talkig about this. Can we drink?’’ I ended the conversation.

Sunday

I sat on my patio enjoying my breakfast when I heard faint singing in the background. The voices were melodious and in perfect harmony. With simple instruments like the conga drums and an organ accompanying the voices. Where could this sound be from?

I then dressed properly and walked towards the sound, it was from Mr. Yeboah my neighbour. I hope there is no bad news, he has been sick for a while now. I noticed his gate was open and there were approximately thirty people dressed casually. It was obviously a church group, from the looks of the age range. They beckoned me to sit with them, I noticed Mr. Yeboah was seated in his wheel chair with a huge grin enjoying the music. I shook my head and stood afar and enjoyed the music. After, a young man who introduced himself as Brother Eddie shared the word. It was a simple message about forgiveness , forgiving oneself and looking within to do better. The message made me miss church a bit. Just then, they shared a word of prayer. I was waiting for them to leave so I can talk to Mr. Yeboah. It has been a while since I passed by to see him.

As I pretended to be busy with my phone, Brother Eddie approached me.

‘’hello, are you related to Yeboah?’’ he asked

‘’no I am his neighbor, I just heard the music and decided to see what was going on’’ I replied

‘’sorry for disturbing you. Don’t worry, hopefully we will not come back again’’ he said.

‘’It’s alright, once you keep it down, we are cool’’ I said

‘’we pray Mr. Yeboah gets healed and returns to church. We are known as The Harmony Church, every last Sunday of the month. We hold our church service at the home of a member who is incapacitated. We do visit regularly but there is something about fellowshipping with them that keeps us together and lifts our spirits’’ he said.

I was impressed by their actions. I later noticed they had brought not only fruits and detergents for Mr. Yeboah. They added a rough estimate of two week worth of prepped meals to aid in his care. I saw Brother Eddie press an envelope into Yeboah’s palm. I proceeded to talk to Mr. Yeboah and he was elated to worship with his church. I later walked to brother Eddie who was getting ready to enter a bus with the others.

‘’hey, the next time you want to spend on Mr. Yeboah. Just contact me, I would like to help’’ I said gently.

‘’that will be great, let me take your contact’’ he said and we exchanged numbers.

I went back to my house and checked out the church online. I went to their website and noticed they did a lot of charity work. This was rare, and though they had founders. They were not occupying every page of the website. I remembered my friend Kwesi has mentioned this church before. How come I did not see him with them? I took my phone and called Kwesi.

‘’why you no go church? your church people dey Aburi, you no go’’ I accused as soon as he picked up.

‘’oh chale, I see the location naaa, I know say I miss. I carry the old lady go some funeral thanksgiving. Why? You join them?’’ he asked

‘’yes, something like that. I am just looking at the website. You guys do a lot of charity work’’ I said.

‘’oh yeah! I mean I have been telling you to join. This is the most transparent church I have been to. They operate in this egalitarian manner. At the end of every service, we get an update on how much was raised. Month ending, we get full expenditure on what was spent. A member noticed how much we were spending on electricity and installed solar for us. We help members with school fees, accommodation, job training etc. My only criticism is how everything is digitalised, it makes it hard to evangelise and invite people who are not tech-savy. In a country where literacy rate is someway,  it makes the church look classist. But they are trying to be more inclusive anyway, we will get there’’ he explained.

‘’alright, sounds interesting’’ I said.

‘’ I know you do not like church. We have a run club, next week come and run with us’’ he said.

‘’a church run club?’’ I asked

‘’oh yeah, we have these groups we call Interests, so there is a run club, gym bros, car enthusiasts, creatives etc. whatever interest or hobby you have, there is a group so you meet, do it together and fellowship’’ he said.

‘’wow! I am impressed. I will definitely come and observe with the run club’’ I said.

We spoke about life and he told me more about the church. I don’t know what it is, but there was something drawing me close to The Harmony Church.

Later that afternoon, Izzy stopped by with his twin ten year old daughters, Marlene and Darlene. I always teased him that they sounded like names of dogs. We sat on the patio as usual and watched the girls run up and down the drive while sipping our whisky. Today was exactly four years since Izzy lost his wife, Diane in a tragic car accident.

‘’will you remarry?’’ I asked him, noticed he was pensive

‘’for what? I doubt, I like where I am with my daughters. I am giving them my full attention till they are old enough to start their own lives. A woman right now will complicate things, plus they have so many mother figures from your mum to Carmen and even Gwen’’ he said.

‘’thought about getting with Gwen?’’ I asked.

‘’I did once but she keeps going on about how I am six years her junior. We are basically siblings she says. I noticed I wanted to marry her for the sake of the girls not because I want her. That is not a good reason to get married’’ he answered.

‘’yeah, makes sense. I miss Diane sometimes . How much more you?’’ I said.

‘’it is so difficult but I am happy I experienced love like that. Trust me, we loved, laughed and she died. I surely did not picture my love life going this way but that is it. I took a risk with Diane and it has been the best years of my life. Chris, love is a gamble, you will never have it fully figured it out. But you have to take a chance when the cards look right’’ he said. I knew he was referring to Elorm.

‘’True, a gamble indeed’’ I said and took a sip of my whisky

WORLA

 Today was joint service at church, this has not been the case in a long time. The duration of the service was lengthy as usual so I stepped out to get a scak. I noticed Jonathan seated in his car, the engine was on and the windows were rolled. He was so focused on his phone. I went and knocked on the window. He rolled down and looked at me. We hadn’t spoken in over nine months.

‘’Hi Jona, I haven’t seen you in ages. How are you?’’ I asked

‘’I am good. Thanks for asking and you?’’ he asked

‘’alright, are you leaving already?’’ I asked

‘’yeah, I can not wait, I am tired’’

‘’alright, let me join you. I am also exhausted, let’s have lunch, my treat’’ I said

‘’well, I like free food so lets go. What happens to your car?’’ he asked

‘’I will let Elorm drive it home with the old folks’’  I answered

I quickly arranged for Elorm to drive the old people home. I wanted to tell Jonathan about my relocation and spend the last three months with him. I miss my friend. I took him to a fancy restaurant where he ordered to his fill. I knew it was his way of punishing me for the way I treated him. We had a nice time, I had forgotten how relaxed I felt around him.

Lunch was done and as we drove nearer to the neighbourhood.

‘’I don’t want to go home yet. Lets go to yours’’ I said. He looked surprised and reluctantly agreed.

We entered his living room and I made myself comfortable.

‘’Worla, what games are you playing?’’ he asked

‘’no games Jona. I am serious, after the hole you have burnt in my account. Let me sit and enjoy your couch.’’ I joked.

‘’let us call it down payment for the emotional damage’’ he said

‘’down payment? Eii Jona. What do I owe?’’ I asked.

‘’nobody can put a price on my emotions, madam’’ he said

‘’you are right, speaking of emotions. I have something important to tell you. sit’’ I said.

He was reluctant and sat down.

‘’come close’’ I said and he came closer.

‘’what games are you playing?’’ he asked again.

‘’no games. I am very sorry for how I treated you. It was not fair and I hope we can get past it. I miss you so much’’ I said the last statement softly. I noticed his shoulders relaxed.

‘’I miss you too Worla’’ he inched closer, his face was close to mine.

‘’before we do something we regret, I need to tell you something’’ I whispered.

‘’I don’t think I will regret anything’’ he answered and planted a kiss on my lips.

‘’Jona, I am relocating’’ I blurted as soon as I stopped him.

‘’wow…’’ he exclaimed and paused

‘’yeah, so think before we continue whatever this is.’’ I said

‘’I will miss you Worla, but we can talk about your relocation later. You have no idea how long I have waited for this’’ he murmured.

He continued to kiss me. At this moment, I knew my celibacy journey had reached its end. Just as his hands found my underwear, a loud knock interrupted us.

‘’stay quiet, the person will leave’’ he whispered.

‘’JONA, I CAN SEE YOUR CAR. YOU ARE IN THERE!’’ a female voice shouted from outside.

‘’I AM COMING’’ he shouted back  and reluctantly got up.

I straightened my dress and sat up like nothing was happening. He opened the door and a pregnant lady stepped in. It was Wendy from the neighbourhood, she is in her mid 20s.

‘’oh I did not know you have a visitor. Ei! Madam Worla. I am sorry for shouting’’ she said

‘’don’t worry. How are you? and congratulations on your bundle’’ I said gleefully. Jonathan had a straight face.

‘’thank you oo Auntie Worla, that is why I am here. I want to use this place for baby shower since Jona is the father’’ she said beaming with smiles. I was stumped but I had to keep my poker face.

‘’I told you to have it at your place’’ Jona argued.

‘’No ooo, my place is too small’’ she refused.

‘’’well, then let me leave you to it. I am sure you want to figure out the décor and all. Send me your registry if you have one, I would like to buy something for the baby’’ I said as I got up.

”Thank you in advance. Proper Auntie of life” Wendy praised.

‘’Worla, wait’’ Jona pleaded.

‘’oh no Attend to your fiancée’’ I said.

‘’no she is just my baby mama. Wendy give us a moment’’ he said and she walked away.

He chased me as I walked out of the front door.

‘’Worla, she means nothing to me. I will do right by the child but you are all I want’’ he begged.

‘’Jonathan, it is alright. No hard feelings, okay? We are friends and I am going to be an auntie’’ I said.

‘’what about what we just started?’’ he asked as he reached for my hand.

‘’I guess it is not meant to be. Just pay attention to Wendy, we will talk later. Remind her to send the registry’’ I said and walked away. He tried following me but Wendy shouted his name again.

‘’she might be in pain, go’’ I said, hugged him and walked away.

I could hear him scold her as he entered the house

Thank God celibacy is back on track, Whew! Jesus saves indeed!

JONATHAN

I was angry at Wendy for calling out my name. As I walked in, I noticed she was calm.

‘’why were you shouting my name?’’ I asked

‘’I thought I saw a cockroach, it was my eyes just playing tricks’’ Wendy answered

‘’it is a cockroach, it is not safe to have your shower here. Do it at your place’’ I said

‘’you can not get rid of me easily Jona, I am carrying your baby’’ she teased

‘’Our baby and I am not getting rid of you. I just… you know I will take care of this child by all means’’ I said.

‘’What about getting married? Jona, couples do it all the time. We do not have to love each other, this child deserves a stable home’’ she pleaded.

‘’She will have a stable home, what matters is both of us love her. Resentment is not stability ,Wendy. Constantly living in the same space with you will remind me that you lied about your birth control’’ I said.

‘’I thought we had something special’’ she said.

‘’we did, which was friends with benefits. It was not supposed to become a family situation’’ I said.

‘’This is about Worla, I am sure.’’ She said in an irritated tone.

“Worla has not done anything, she actually came to tell me she was relocating’’ I said. I noticed a smile spread across her face.

‘’Awwww, bestie is leaving. I am here for you, okay’’she got up and hugged me. She started caressing my back.

‘’ We are still not getting married’’ I whispered into her ear.

‘’Mtchewwwww, stupid man’’ she hissed and walked out of the house.

‘’Let me know when you are having the shower okay?’’ I said to her as she walked out.

I guess Worla and I were never meant to be. There is always some situation or barricade against us advancing from friendship to something more. Maybe in another world…

Author’s Note

Dear Readers, As we inch to the end of this wonderful series with a few episodes left. Stay tuned to this page for more!!!