Three days into her work with us, Kwakyewaa has become an indispensable member of our team, and our contractors are very much pleased with her. She gave them advice on the placement of electrical fittings. She again contacted a couple of paint specialists and, after joining them to test their quality, we chose their products, which saved me a very substantial amount. On the evening of the third day, I drove her home. ‘Kwakyewaa, we have been so busy we haven’t had the chance to chat’.                                                                                                                                           

‘Yes, indeed, I have been hoping we could talk. But why don’t you have your say first.

‘Okay, the first thing I would like to say is actually a question and I hope you don’t mind me asking’. Certainly, please go ahead’.                                                                                                                                                                                                          

‘Well, I… I am really enjoying working with you. You have done quite a lot for us, and I really appreciate that. But I mean that on the personal level, I like being with you, and I wish, er ….’                                                                                                                                                                                   

 ‘I like being with you too, apart from the fact that I respect what you are doing, and I wish I could do this on a regular basis. What about your relationship with Abena? Even though your relationship is practically over, would it not look funny that within a short time of ending the relationship you quickly grab her cousin?’                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 ‘She’s your cousin, not your sister. And she’s already started a new relationship. Moreover, she doesn’t have any respect for me. You’ve heard the disparaging things she’s been saying about me’.                                                             

‘She’s obviously being influenced by Jennifer, but I would have thought that she would at least reflect a little before believing them’.                                                   

‘You went to Tech, so you know that this type of thing is common, even though it’s boys who indulge in it. It’s ‘Takashi’. If you want a girl and you are not confident of winning her normally, you tell her false stories about the guy she’s going out with. Most of the time it doesn’t work, but in this case it has worked. It’s almost funny’.  I stopped in front of her home, and just as I was driving off, Esaaba called me.                                                                                     

‘Bernard, Mum would like a word with you’. So I locked the car and went in with them.

 ‘My son Bernard, I learned yesterday that you and Abena ended your relationship. I wasn’t pleased to hear it because you know that I have come to regard you as my son. I heard Esaaba and Abena arguing, and when I asked them they said it was due to her decision to stop seeing you. Abena is adamant that she will not change her decision, and in fact she has started going out with another person. So what can I say? I’m glad that you have not stopped coming here, because I want to see you here regularly’.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

‘Don’t worry at all Mum. I will be regular here, and you can always call me whenever you need me.’ ‘Thank you, my son. Now, the second thing, I hear Kwakyewaa has started helping you at your office. I hear that in addition to your job with the EU you have a big company. I really admire you. You are so humble and hardworking’.                                                                                                                              

‘Mum, let me tell you this, Kwakyewaa has been extremely helpful to us. She has already made a lot of difference in our work. I am really sorry that she will have to return to France in 10 days time’.                                                           

‘Ah, but I thought you said you would not allow me to go back. Have you changed your mind? I am thinking of staying for a while’, ‘Ei, Kwakyewaa, what will your parents say? You want to stay for how long?’                                                                                                                                 

 ‘Mum’, my parents are in London, and I have been in France on my own for two years. I believe that what I’m doing with Bernard is really useful. I’m not even thinking about money. I will stay for a month or two, maybe even three’.                                                                                                                                           

 ‘Let me correct you there. You will not work for us for one day without being paid. Now, tomorrow I will take you to my other site and show you what we are doing there. Then you can take a good decision. For now, Mum, we have something to discuss. Goodnight’.                                                                                                                                               

 ‘Okay madam Kwakyewaa’, I said as we walked to my car, ‘will you give me a chance? I have really developed feelings for you, and I believe we can get along together. I can assure you that I have nothing to hide, and …’                                                                                                                                                  

‘You don’t need to talk much. I accept unconditionally. Let’s go and take a look at the site tomorrow’.                             

To be continued…