Page 32 of Choosing the Chief

Chapter Twenty

Agreement

Maya

Iam waiting for Adom outside of Kofi and Ella’s home. I am so on edge I feel like peeling my skin off inch by inch. Pacing keeps me sane while I wait. Anxiety does this to me every time. This is why there are precious few things I actually care about. Ever since college, Ella has been most of what I care about, and now she is in danger. I don’t know what to do. I feel like crying, but I can’t fall apart like this. I called Adom because I need an anchor—otherwise, I’ll just invent one with alcohol. We are barely on speaking terms, but I know he will take care of me.

I wish Kofi had let me go with them. I know I was crazy with panic, but I would have calmed down eventually. Being here without knowing if Ella or my future godchildren are OK is torture. Right now, I want to be anywhere else but inside my thoughts. I also want to be inside of clean clothing. I haven’t had a chance to change since this morning. Ella and I were in the kitchen when she started bleeding. When she fainted, I screamed for Kofi while I held her. Some of her blood is still on my lounge pants. I need to change, but I can’t stop pacing until I see Adom’s white Range Rover peek over the steep drive. Finally. I exhale.

When the car stops in Kofi’s drive, Adom steps out and locks eyes with me instantly. I stop pacing. He is calm and in control of everything around him. Adom looks like he will bend the air for me if I ask. I think again about Ella and the baby being in danger and tears come to my eyes. Adom walks toward me with purpose, and as soon as he is close enough, I fall into him. I release the sobs I held until this moment.

He holds me tight and breathes me in. I feel him inhale with his entire body. I realize he’s not only comforting me, but he’s comforting himself. We stand embracing for a sweet moment until he speaks. “Why are you outside, princess?”

“I don’t know. I just couldn’t handle being inside anymore. I needed you. But I’m not doing nearly as bad as I was when I first called.”

“Aane,” Adom sharply says in Twi. He’s saying yes, but his eyes scream no as they travel my body and settle on the blood stains Ella left behind. “You are doing quite well outside in the heat pacing like a mad cat. Come, let us go in and get you cleaned up.” He tries to direct me toward the house, but I refuse to move.

“No, Adom. I want to go to the hospital and see Ella. I won’t wait another moment. I need to know that she’s OK.”

He sighs. “Yes! I’m sorry, I was so focused on consoling you—I neglected to tell you that I talked to Kofi in the car. They were able to stop Ella’s labor, but no one is allowed to see her right now. She is fine and sleeping.” Although he never said anything about the twins. I probably sounded worried enough without any new information. “Kofi promised he would call as soon as she wakes up so you can speak with her. It does us no good to go and hang around with worry at the hospital. Now, let’s go in and let me clean you. Meet me at the door—I need to give my driver and security some instructions before I send them back to Tafo. There is enough security here.”

I place my hand on my chest and feign shock. “You’re sending your driver back?” I roll my eyes. “How will you ever manage not being able to jump out of bed at a moment’s notice and head to Tafo?” I know it’s not fair the moment I say it. He came all this way just to see about me while our friend is hurt simply because I asked him to. But I can’t help the anger that lives beneath the surface. He was so cavalier with me just a week ago. He looks down at me with pain in his eyes. I’ve never seen him this vulnerable. I like it. He quickly wipes the look off his face and clenches his jaw.

His shoulders slump just slightly, and on a sigh, he says, “you’ve made your point— let’s go inside. I’m staying for the night in case you need me.” I nod. I walk away knowing his statement is incomplete. He needs me, too.

I stand and wait at the door as he dismisses his men. When he approaches, we both walk in. As we enter, he immediately tries to pull me into a kiss. I turn my face and push away. “No, Adom. I appreciate you coming, and I’m glad you are here. But you hurt me, and I don’t kiss men who hurt me.” I look Adom in his eye and force myself not to break contact first. He needs to know I am serious. The things he said to me last week will not be tolerated. He sighs and smiles sadly, shaking his head as he steps away.

“Maya, you are unintentionally selfish to the end. But I love that about you. You will do anything for those you love except sell yourself short. That makes the rest of us mere mortals rise to the occasion and treat you like the princess you are. I suppose it’s the price of admission to be in your presence. You take self-preservation to an entirely new level.”

I cross my arms and nod slowly. “I simply practice self-care at a high level. The poet Audre Lorde said caring for myself is not self-indulgence—it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare. I agree whole-heartedly. So yes, when you act like an ass and dismiss me, I tread lightly with you moving forward. Since you know me so well, you should know that. I know you didn’t think you were just going to just waltz your ass in this house and everything was going to be OK. We got real problems between us.”

Adom’s glare is lethal as he stalks back into my personal space. “So, me asking you for grace while I took care of myself to do justice to my job and new title is not an act of political warfare? Why are you the only one allowed to defend yourself in this war?”

I poke him in his chest to ensure he listens to me. “No, Adom, that was not an act of self-care. That was you taking me for granted while you tried to play chief. I know more than anyone how important your new role is. But you cannot forsake everything else you have worked so hard to build trying to prove a point. Everything you built and the man you are is what makes you the best choice as chief. You will take the village into the future. However, you will not be able to do it alone.”

He swallows hard and stares at me for a moment before dropping his head to exhale. “You’re right. And I’m sorry. I want you by my side. I need you. I should have never said the things I said to you last week.” He grabs my hand and squeezes. “I want you to know I was prepared to fetch you from Atlanta had you returned. I don’t think I can survive if you are on the other side of the world.”

I smirk. “Oh, I know. That’s why I’m still here, you jerk. I love you, but I will not allow you to ever make me feel like an afterthought.” I involuntarily reach out and touch his arm—I let go and remind myself we can’t go there right now. “I’m going upstairs and getting cleaned up; why don’t you find us something to eat. Akua has been back since Ella’s second trimester. She’s at the hospital with them, but she keeps food prepared at all times.”

“Wow, Ella let the old bird back in the nest, huh? She’s so forgiving.”

I nod. “Way more than I will ever be.” I head toward the stairs and call back to him. “See if there is any jollof. I’d love some rice.”

His face has a longing look as he watches me walk away. I catch him staring at my ass when I turn. He catches my eye and smiles. He walks to me at the base of the staircase. He reaches out to gently rub my wrist. “Why don’t I come up and help you out of those clothes and into a nice warm bath? Bathing you is my specialty.”

I laugh and look down to remove his hand. “Not a chance. I forgive you, but you are still outside with the hyenas. If you manage to put together a decent table setting for us to eat our leftovers on, I may let you give me a kiss.”

“Anh Huh…so I am earning my way back into your good graces. I see. Well, is there any way I can get some extra credit by…I don’t know, buying you another tiara?”

I shake my head. “Nope, I cannot be bought. You will just have to grovel. Convince me there is no other woman in this world and you will die to yourself in order to live in love with me. Because Adom, I die for you daily. I think you know that. That is why I’m here. I have no real desire to be in Ghana; my desire lies with you.”

He smiles. “I know. I’m going to treat you so good that Ghana becomes the only place you want to be.” He quickly grabs and kisses my hand. “Ghana is now my home, so it must be yours. Maya, I can no longer have a home without you at the center of it. You ruined me for any other life.” He releases my hand and turns to walk back toward the kitchen. He talks loudly as he walks away. “Go, princess. Dinner will be waiting for you when you’re done.”

I slowly walk up the stairs, hoping I don’t stumble. No one makes me weak in the knees like Adom Annan.

Chapter Twenty-One

Installation

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