by Nana Prah
“Now enough of this mushy stuff, I get plenty of that in therapy. Let’s go before we’re late.”
“We can’t have that, can we?”
***
Ora relaxed into the couch and sighed. “I can’t believe this is my last session.”
Diana smiled. “You sound sad.”
“I am. What am I going to do without you?” The question hadn’t been meant to flatter her therapist. She’d come so far in therapy and feared backsliding once she no longer had Diana to help her work out her issues and draw out her emotions.
“What you’ve always done. You’ll live. Now with the realization that you don’t have to hold yourself back in life, especially from love because now you’re aware you deserve it.”
A nervous flutter in her belly made her cover her stomach. “But what if I revert into my old ways?”
“Do you think you’d ever want to?”
She couldn’t imagine going back to the unemotional, non-committal woman she’d been before she discovered her true self. “No.”
“The tools I gave you will help, just in case you go back a step or two. Just remember to utilize them.”
They sat in a contemplative silence for a few minutes. Within the past few months, Ora had learned to sit in silence and be comfortable. In order to find the truth within herself, she had to quiet her mind.
“This session is to wrap things up and give you some closure. Do you have any questions or comments?”
“Will I be all right?” Ora asked even though part of her knew the answer, or rather question, Diana would give.
“Do you think you’ll be all right?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine.”
Diana smiled. “I think you’re already all right.”
Ora tried to be cool, but the surprise compliment made her giddy.
Diana stood up and Ora followed suit. They had reached the moment of good-bye. Sadness claimed her for a moment, but joy and gratitude replaced it. Her heart had been opened. Not just to Jason, but to life.
“It’s been a pleasure working with you, Aurora. You’ve come a long way and remember that if you need help, you can call me.”
“I hope the time never comes, but I’ll call if I need to. Thank you very much. I have learned so much about myself from working with you.”
“Goodbye, and take good care of yourself.”
“You, too. Goodbye.”
Ora walked out into the street shading her eyes from the glare of the sun. White fluffy clouds in the huge blue sky made her smile. She had no doubt things would work out in her life or that she and Jason would be fine.
He’d been with her through it all, refusing to let her go. She considered him to be her rock and she loved him all the more for it. No words of love had escaped his lips, but how could she doubt it? After all she’d put him through, he’d stuck around, willing to be her friend.
She headed off to the mall with the intent to tell him she still loved him. Ready to share the rest of her life with him in the sure knowledge that whatever happened between them, she wouldn’t drive him away. She deemed herself worthy to love and be loved. Worthy of the best and even though he wasn’t perfect, he was perfect for her.
Chapter Sixteen
Jason couldn’t take his eyes off of the radiant woman beside him.
“I forgot how crowded the mall can get on Friday nights. Maybe we should have gone somewhere else,” Ora said, scanning the place as they walked with leisure through the throng of people.
“And have me miss the opportunity of showing you off? No way, lady. Have I told you how beautiful you are?”
He took her hand and held onto it. The sensation of her touch sent waves of heat up his arm and warmed his body although the air conditioner made the atmosphere cool. He’d ventured to be more affectionate as of late, but not too much due to his wariness of scaring her. Every once in a while, he’d drape his arm around her shoulders or hold her hand. He wanted to show he cared, but not be overzealous about it. And she always accepted him, snuggling close when he hugged her, or holding his hand in return.
Jason almost sighed like a schoolboy at the memory of the brief kiss she’d given him when he picked her up for this date. He’d been so shocked he barely had time to pucker up before she moved away.
“You’ve mentioned it, but I don’t see it myself. I’m just wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I look ordinary.”
“And that’s beautiful to me.”
She smiled and then shifted her eyes away from his gaze. What would he do about his wonderful Ora? Loving her for the rest of time sounded like the best idea.
He swung her arm between them. “How did your last session go?”
“Sad, but all good things must come to an end, right? And going to therapy would qualify as a good thing.”
“I’m glad.” He spotted Esi, or rather her outfit, across the mall. “There’s Esi.”
“Where? Never mind.” Ora giggled. “I don’t see how I could have missed her.”
“Hi,” Esi said, her line of vision on their adjoined hands.
“Your clothes are a little bright, Esi,” she pointed out.
“I know. Don’t you love it?” Esi turned around to model her bright orange pants suit with neon yellow sash tied around her waist.
“Love wouldn’t be the word I’d use,” Ora quipped, making Jason chuckle.
“How about that ice cream?” Jason asked, herding them to the ice cream counter at the food court.
“Chocolate for me,” Ora ordered first.
“I’ll take a mix of raspberry, mint, and vanilla,” Esi added.
“Banana over here,” Jason said and Ora scrunched up her face. “I take it you don’t like banana.”
“No, I like bananas. I just don’t like banana-flavoured things.”
“I didn’t know that. You learn something new every day,” he said, gazing into her eyes. He desired to learn everything about her.
“I guess you do.”
He held her gaze until Esi broke in. “I knew it would be a bad idea to come out with you two. Sheez. Stop making googly eyes at each other and ignoring me.”
“Stop being ridiculous,” Ora said. “Besides, you came out with us because you have no life.”
“That’s true,” Esi agreed and laughed.
“You’ve been in Ghana for a while so now you can compare. How’s working in Ghana different from working in South Africa?” Esi asked as soon as they sat at the table with their ice cream in front of them.
For them, he wouldn’t lighten his answer as he tended to do for the others who’d asked. “The main difference is the work ethic. People do what they want regardless of the consequences here. Perhaps it’s because those who break the rules don’t face any sort of discipline. Very few times do they get reprimanded or punished for their lack of work, so they continue to do it. This didn’t happen at the public hospital I worked at in South Africa. Actions had consequences.”
Esi nodded. “Ora and I discuss it all the time. Such behaviour doesn’t help the patients.”
“Another thing is the lack of functioning technology in Ghana. It always seems as if something is broken and either they don’t want or have the means to fix it. They don’t take care of the equipment they do have. It goes beyond my comprehension. The potential is so great here, but sometimes it all seems so wasted.”
He continued on with the differences as Ora and Esi listened with rapt attention and asked questions.
He reached out and touched Ora’s hand. She glanced up from her ice cream and smiled when he winked.
“Why did you become a midwife, Esi?” Jason asked to turn the attention away from himself.
“I love the potential of life. And what can be more life-affirming than bringing a baby into the world? Looking at those cute little newborns always brings joy to my—” Her snarl and glare at a point over his shoulder made him rotate to check out the problem.
Gifty. She had impeccable timing. He turned around, hoping
she wouldn’t see them. So far, Ora hadn’t seen the woman of his nightmares.
He growled low in his throat when she sauntered up to their table. The air grew thick with tension.
Ora raised a questioning eyebrow at him, but before he could answer her silent query, Gifty spoke.
“Good evening, Jason,” she purred, ignoring Esi and Ora.
Now that things were getting back on track with Ora, he didn’t need the drama Gifty carried around with her like a handbag. “Good evening, Gifty.” His tone sounded crisp and uninviting.
“Good evening, Gifty,” Esi said in a voice dripping with false sweetness.
Ora stayed quiet but watched the newcomer with hooded eyes.
Gifty glared at Esi and spoke to him. “It’s a coincidence meeting you here.” She touched his shoulder.
He shifted away.
False eyelashes batted down at him. “I haven’t seen you in a while, not since I got transferred to the Dialysis Unit. How have you been?”
“You remember my girlfriend, Ora and her cousin, don’t you?”
He didn’t miss the brief widening of Ora’s eyes when he called her his girlfriend. He’d make sure it would be the last time she’d be surprised at the reference.
Gifty once again ignored the women. “How about if we get together later and catch up?” She had the nerve to touch the back of his head.
He had one objective—get rid of her before she had the chance to upset Ora. To do this, he had to keep calm and be direct. Yelling wouldn’t help anything except his rising temper. “That’s enough.”
“Enough of what?”
“Disrespecting my girlfriend and friend. How can you be so rude?”
“Because she’s a bitch,” Esi mumbled, making Ora smile.
“You’re one to talk. Who dressed you, your blind mother?” Gifty snapped.
“Did she just insult my mother and my outfit? I know I did not just hear what I thought I heard.” Esi’s head moved from side to side like an African American female with attitude. Jason would have laughed if anger hadn’t taken over.
“You heard it, unless you’re as deaf as your mother is blind.”
Esi slammed both hands on the table, making the empty ice cream containers jump, and stood.
Ora rested a hand on her arm. “Let’s not get you arrested tonight. We’re having such a good time.”
Jason kept his voice level but firm. “Leave right now, Gifty.”
“But—”
“Just go.”
“Okay, then I’ll talk to you later.” She reached out to touch his shoulder and then seemed to think better of it.
“No, you won’t and you know it. If you pull another stunt like this one, next time I’ll have you transferred to another region,” Jason threatened.
Gifty gave the two women a quelling look and stormed off.
“Little ho,” Esi called out to her retreating back and then glared at Ora. “What the hell just happened?”
“She can’t help behaving like the slut she is,” Ora replied.
“No, not her, you? The woman disrespected us, flirted with your man, and insulted me. You sat there as if you are watching it all on a movie.”
“I’ve changed,” Ora said, nodding and smiling. “I’ve changed.”
His shoulders relaxed and he had the insane feeling he glowed with pride. “You have changed. When she left, I feared you would, too.”
“I told you, therapy is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. Being put to the test like this made me realize now how much of a more stable person I’ve become. You know what else is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life?”
“Please enlighten me.” He leaned in closer to her. They alone existed in the world.
She whispered into his ear. “Falling in love with you.”
His eyes closed to savour the words he’d longed to hear since she’d left him. He turned his head to kiss her, but before that could happen, they heard a shrill voice.
“I’m still here, you know. Did you forget where you are? Public displays of affection are not cute,” Esi said, but the grin on her face belied her condemning words.
Jason took Ora’s hand. “While we’re here, would you two beautiful women like to see a movie?”
“If I can choose it, since you made me witness that mush between you two.”
“It’s a deal.” At that point, he would have promised her anything. Joy overflowed within him at knowing he and the woman he loved had made it through to the other side.
***
On Wednesday, Jason asked Ora to go out on Saturday night when neither of them would be working. “We’re going somewhere special so dress up.”
“Sounds intriguing. What’s the destination?”
“It’s a surprise.” He held up his hand before she could speak. “You’ve loved every surprise I’ve ever given you.”
“You’re correct, Doctor, but it still doesn’t stop me from not liking surprises as a rule.”
When Jason arrived at her door on Saturday, his mouth hung open. Ora took his reaction to be complimentary as her breath caught in her throat at the sight of him. “You look beautiful,” he breathed out.
“Thank you.” She grazed her hand along his cheek, inhaling his intoxicating spicy citrus scent. “All the women we meet will be jealous of me.”
Her plaguing nightmares about him leaving her for another woman had dissipated. For tonight, he’d be with her, and none of the other women who may covet him.
She’d spent hours getting ready for this date. She’d had the stylist do her hair up in a French twist and the dark blue, off-the-shoulder dress moulded to her body. Esi had persuaded her to let her apply the makeup. Excitement had overtaken her wariness of her cousin’s heavy hand. The end result turned out to be spectacular. “Shall we go?”
He held out a single red rose and she gasped. “A real rose.” She inhaled its aromatic sweet scent and smiled. “I love it. Where did you get it?”
“At a florist in Tema.”
The man never ceased to amaze her. “You have to take me there one day. I love fresh flowers.”
“Any time you’re ready, we can go.”
She didn’t own a vase so she put it in a tall glass filled with water. “It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”
He drove them to a French restaurant in Labone.
The romantic elegant atmosphere held her captivated as candlelight created shadows on the table. “I love this surprise.”
“I knew you would. I know you, Ora.”
Like no one else ever had or will again.
Nothing could have topped the perfection of the meal they shared and she couldn’t resist the temptation of ordering strawberry cheesecake for dessert, which she shared with Jason by feeding him from her fork.
“This is the best cheesecake I’ve ever eaten,” he said.
He’d get no argument from her.
“It’s so delicious because you’re feeding it to me.”
She sighed.
“I have something to ask you.”
She stiffened at the seriousness of his tone. Instead of jumping to any negative conclusions, she waited.
He reached into his pocket, took out a small jewellery box, and opened it. The solitaire diamond and gold ring nestled inside the box made her gasp. Were all of her dreams coming true on this magical night?
“Aurora Serwaa Aikins. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I know it might sound corny, but I don’t feel as if it started until I met you. From the first moment I saw you, I knew, my heart knew, my soul knew, you were to be wife. Will you marry me?”
Yes, her heart screamed, but her mouth refused to let it escape. “Oh, Jason,” she whispered.
“What is it?”
She’d be honest with him. “You’ve said the most beautiful words, but you haven’t said the ones I’ve been longing to hear from you.”
Her heart broke when he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “What do you wan
t to hear?”
She had nothing to lose except for this wonderful man who belonged with her. “That you love me.”
He blinked in rapid succession. “Isn’t it obvious?”
“I need to hear it.”
“Haven’t I been showing it the whole time by moving to Ghana and being there for you, even when you pushed me away?”
Around the lump in her throat, she said once again, “I want to hear it.”
Jason sighed. “I’m scared.”
Her neck snapped back at the revelation. “Of what?”
“The last time I said it, you left me and pushed me out of your life. I don’t want that to happen again.”
Her heart lurched at the misery in his eyes. “Oh, my love. My sweet Jason.”
She reached out and held his hand instead of crawling into his lap. “I can’t tell you again how sorry I am for hurting you all those years ago and the last few months. I’ve changed. I promise. I’m ready for your love now. I’m ready to hold onto it, stuff it in my bra, and run with it. If you’re not ready to say it, then that’s okay. Even though I wanted to hear it, in my heart, I know you love me.”
“Stuff it in your bra?” He chuckled. “I do love you, Ora. More than I could ever express in a hundred lifetimes.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She blinked them back so she wouldn’t ruin Esi’s fabulous makeup job. “I love you too. Yes.”
“Yes?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Oblivious to the people in the restaurant, he jumped out of his seat and lifted her off of the ground in a huge hug. His lips lingered over hers in a light kiss.
“You’ve made me the happiest man in the universe. I promise I’ll be a good husband to you.”
“I know you will. And I promise I’ll be a mediocre, but stable wife to you.” They both laughed.
“I believe you’ll be the best wife that God could have ever created for me.”
“Amen to that.”
Epilogue
“Do you remember a few months ago when I confessed that I gave Jason all that information about you?”
“I remember. Thank you again, by the way.”