Page 39 of Choosing the Chief

“Adom, you know I love you.” She starts to play with her hands, picking imaginary objects from the top of her knuckles. “But I can’t be your wife. Not now.”

I focus on keeping my voice even. “Why not? If I want you to be my wife, what is stopping you?”

“Well, it is not just about what you want, Adom. It is about what I am ready to give. I have a lot of things in my past that I need to work out. What if you abandon me like everyone else in my life has?”

It’s not an accusation.She is scared of how she will react in a highly emotional permanent state like marriage. Will I be able to live up to her impossible expectations?She doesn’t want to risk it.I love her for her caution, but it simply will not do. “Maya, there is absolutely nothing you can do to make me leave you, ever. With you, I am beyond that.”

Maya rubs her eyelids with the fingers and thumb of her right hand and exhales a sharp breath. Then she shakes herself lose and sits up to tuck her legs under herself. “OK…what if I lied to you?”

Maya would never lie to me.We had the hiccup of her hiding her addiction from me, but she was sick. Other than that, she has always been unequivocally honest with me, even when what she was saying sucked. That is why she is my friend. “I would forgive you.”

“HA!” she yells. “Yeah right, you would never forgive a lie. It is your ultimate pet peeve. You would absolutely leave me.”

Where is she going with this line of conversation?I asked her to marry me, and she is trying to convince me she is a liar. “Maya, if you have something to tell me, I’d advise you just come out and say it. This is ridiculous.”

She eyes me carefully. “But what if spied on you? What will you do then?”

“Why don’t you tell me, and we will find out how I react together,” I snap. I hear the Ghanaian accent escape from my control. “Since I do not know my own mind, and you know how I will react now and in the future…Talk!”

Anger flashes across her face. “Fine. I know that you went behind my back and reached out to my grandfather.”

I’m surprised, but I’m not angry. I was keeping something from her also. I reach over and touch her knee. “I apologize. I should not have gone behind your back and contacted your grandfather without telling you. We both kept secrets in this situation. But, tell me, how did you find out?”

Maya looks at me, trying to decide if she should share. I place my hand over hers to encourage her. “That day when we were in Paris eating lunch on the balcony, your phone kept buzzing. You said someone was not following your directions. My emotions were extremely raw in Paris. We were just starting our love affair in earnest and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t a woman or a serious life issue you were not telling me about. I called the number back the next night while you were asleep.” She looks down at her hands again. “I’m sorry, Adom. I was just so insecure about our status. I mean, for God’s sake, we had just had a fight over Goyard luggage! It was a fragile time.” A smile peeks from the corner of her mouth, and I can tell she’s trying not to laugh. I’m glad to see her relaxing.

“You’re right. We were both on edge. But why not tell me after all this time that you reached out to him? I hope you two can build some kind of relationship. I think reconciling with my grandfather inspired me.”

She grabs onto my arm and scoots close enough to kiss my cheek. “Thank you, Adom. We are moving slow, but it’s worth it. He apologized and explained a lot of things about my childhood that I needed to hear. I was going to tell you once all of your royal festivities calmed down a bit.”

I nod. “I’m just glad it worked out well. And you see, you lied to me by omission and even snuck into my personal phone and I’m still here. Let’s get married!”

She eyes me with less caution than earlier. But her eyes are still unfocused. “OK, but one more thing. There is something I’ve been tasked with telling you.”

My patience is wearing thin. “Fine! Say it, so we can move forward.”

She lifts her hands in surrender. “It was brought to my attention two days ago at your ceremony that Senya is not just Kofi’s right hand. He is your brother.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Retreat

Maya

As soon as I say it, I wish I could take it back.My plan was to tell him while I was riding his dick.I knew the news needed finesse. But no! I had to fall into the trap of calling Adom’s bluff and spit it out now. While he is sitting naked in bed at one in the afternoon. He is literally about to explode from all the questions and accusations ravaging his mind. I know he will not keep control long. He stands up and walks into the bathroom without a word. He returns wearing boxers and a T-shirt. He leans against the armoire opposite the bed I am still sitting on, naked as a jaybird. Right now, I pray my nakedness will help more than harm. His eyebrow is furrowed, and his jaw is clenched. I can’t see his fists because his arms are crossed in front of his chest.

“What the hell are you talking about, Maya? Start talking. Now!”

I bite my lip, exhale, and dive into the torrid details. I recount the story his mother told us all the night of his installation. I don’t leave out a single detail. He just stares as I speak, and his face is devoid of emotion. After I finish, he rubs his face with his hand and starts to pepper me with questions.

“Who else knows about this?”

“As far as I know, Kofi, Senya, Abena, your mother, and Akua. I don’t think Ella even knows.”

His eyes go wide. “Why do you say that? I would imagine that Kofi tells her most things.”

I nod. “Most, but not all, apparently. He said he hadn’t when he yelled at Senya for allowing your mother to spill the beans. He had no interest in the information spreading any further.”

Adom pushes off the armoire and grits his teeth. “Of course, he doesn’t. Kofi is only interested in preserving power. I should have known nothing has changed. And to think I actually thought he was starting to see me as his equal. As a brother and not just a dirty little secret to keep hidden. But there is seemingly no end to the lies.”

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