Gently The Wind

It’s been such a long while. All hail the prodigal girl🙈. Forgive my inability to post as often as I should . Truth is I finished this dedaaada o but well…I hope this is worth your while

images_5

I look at the clock on my desk, half past eight. I’m late, as always. It’s surprising how time flies by quickly when you really need it to stall. The rendezvous is at exactly 9pm and I’m still behind my desk trying to figure out how to win another case. Suddenly my life at GSL comes rushing to mind. “Oh, such pleasant memories”, with a sigh of relief, I was out of my seat. Getting home has never been too difficult. The law firm I work with, Appeah-Kubi and Associates was right by the Dzorwulu roadside, so getting even a trotro is not a hustle in such a plush community. In a day such as this, the thought of boarding a trotro is not a welcomed thought. As I pack my files into my suitcase of a handbag, I begin to play everything I have to do in my head, before my rendezvous with Sammy, my boyfriend of almost two years.
Pass by Say Cheers to buy wine
Call mummy to check on her
Call to check on my adorable nephew, Kay
Check up on my current client, Mr. Bowman
Call the cleaner about the laundry
Shower
Dress up
Board a taxi to Coconut Grove Regency Hotel to meet Sammy
I like what I have planned. That is what made me decide not to board the trotro anymore. Getting a taxi was easy and I didn’t waste any time to make my calls. Everything seemed to be going so well, even the chat with mummy. She’s excited that I finally finished my masters in law but she can’t wait to get me married. I can’t say I like it, though. Chatting with her always brought smiles on my face. Since dad passed away, she has withdrawn into a shell no one ever knew existed. The once noisy chatty woman who raised me is now a very quiet woman.
My mind wanders off to Benj again. I sometimes wonder what actually happened to him; is he alive or dead or happily married with kids. I’m so deep in thought that I don’t realize we’ve reached the shopping mall. The driver tried to be civil about my reluctance to get down, although his face betrays him. With a somewhat apologetic smile, I pay the fare and leave in rush. I’m so out of time. I’m already dreading the heavy traffic on the Haatso road at this time. I decided to meet Sammy in my work clothes because going home would be another way of turning down his marriage proposal, which by the way, I’ve not had any time to think properly about.
I enter the winery, busily searching for my phone to see the gentleman with his back to me. I need to call Sammy. I promised to call him right after work. Ah, finally, there, found it! I thought as I grab the phone from the bag. That’s exactly the same time that I bump into, no, push the gentleman over. It’s a miracle he didn’t fall down. Thankfully, there is only us two, and the shop attendant, so it isn’t much of an embarrassing scene.
“Oh my, I am so so sorry”, I offered.
“That’s fine, miss”, the gentleman answered with his back to me
Wait, the voice. I can recognize that voice even if I’m deaf. But how’s that possible? I drift in thought trying to figure out if he really is that person I suspect him to be. He was gone when I came back to reality. Well, I guess it isn’t him then. Hmmm. The things he can make me do. I calmly pay for the wine and leave. I stop a taxi and sit in. Just as the taxi is about to take off, a call comes through. It is an unknown caller. I was reluctant to pick but in my line of work, it could be a witness for all I know.
“Hello”, I answer the call. Simple. Professional. This makes me smile.
Silence. No word from the other end of the line
Sometimes people experience cold feet before they come forward to witness
“Hello”, I try again
A pause. What follows is all a blur.
“Wow, it really is you. Josephine, you haven’t changed at all. You’re still as pretty as I remember you five years ago.” The person on the other end of the line finally speaks.
Cold silence from me
“I’m sorry, you must be wondering who I am. I’m…”
“I know who you are”, I cut him short as I find my voice.
“Oh, I see”, he replies. He’s not surprised.
Cold silence from me. There are so many mean things I want to say. I want to say petty things. I want to sound needy and clingy. I want to sound 23 all over again. But I can’t. I won’t.
After a few chats, we hang up.
Wow, I always wonder what my reaction would be when I finally meet him. I didn’t know and still don’t know how I feel about it. I sat in the car grimly to the hotel. I almost called Sammy to cancel the rendezvous, but I stopped.
“I don’t want to be rude”, I mumble to myself.
Finally, we arrive at Coconut Grove. I walk to the receptionist who instructs a waitress whose heels are longer than her legs, to lead me to my table. Not that it concerns me, anyway.
“Sorry, I’m late”, I offer apologetically as I hand the wine to Sammy.
“Thanks honey, I understand”, he replies with a smile.
You see, that’s what I like about Sammy. He’s a very gentle and understanding young man. Not one for a lot of words. I watch the table intently as the waiter serve our meals. My mind is obviously not at Grove.
“Are you okay?”, Sammy asks with concern written on his face.
“Erm…yeah, sure. Of course”, I stutter
Sammy, although not convinced, smiles nonetheless.
I’m very certain I went on another trip because I was startled to see Sammy kneeling by my chair with my hand in his palm. Don’t get me wrong, I had a hitch he would propose tonight but…
“These couple of years of dating you have been the best parts of my life. You’re a handful, feisty, opinionated, caring, studios but most important of all, we share a love that I wouldn’t want to share with anyone else. Will you do me the honors of marrying me?”
The silence that followed was so thicker than a mahogany tree.
“Erm..”, I finally found my voice. “I’ve to use the washroom”.