Chapter 28

 

 

“ESI.” MICHAEL’S VOICE CRACKED.

As if she’d just realised he was real, she sat up and pulled the sheets over her breasts, looking away.

“I’ve asked Ama to prepare food for you.” No reaction. “Did you hear me?”

“I’m not hungry,” she croaked and cleared her throat.

“You may not be feeling hungry, but you’re eating for two.”

This time, there was a reaction. She shook perceptibly, and her shoulders tensed up, but still, she didn’t look at him. He extended a finger and brushed the hair near her temple. With the same finger, he traced a line down her cheek to her chin and turned her face to him.

He looked into her eyes and saw how much she loved him. Why had he never looked? How could he have wounded that love so badly? How could he have been such a fool?

A knot tightened in his throat. Not knowing how else demonstrate his remorse, he slipped off the bed and sank to his knees.

“I know saying sorry isn’t enough, but I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you.”

“You were the man of my dreams. I’ve loved you since the first time you spoke to me.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “When we married, I thought I was the luckiest girl on Earth. I thought—”

She broke into deep, wrenching sobs that tore at him. He stood and joined her on the bed, gathered her into his arms, and rocked her gently. He tried to explain why he’d been so cruel to her, but how could he hope to speak enough words to rectify his past deeds? He noted a rise in her temperature as he rubbed her back with gentle strokes.

“I love you, Esi,” he continued. “I was so proud I couldn’t admit it to you, and when I saw the pills, I was shattered.”

She pulled away, her eyes widening. “I never meant to hu—”

He placed a finger on her lips. “Shh, you don’t have to explain. I’m the one who’s been unreasonable and selfish all along.” His finger remained on her slightly parted lips as he continued, “Can you forgive me? I don’t deserve it, but…please.”

She didn’t respond, compelling him to accept the reality that this was the end of the line for him. His heart twisted as the next words left his lips.

“Let me present you to your father the proper way.” He studied her face, tracing each feature with his fingers, praying he’d never forget them. “Give me a couple of weeks to put things together, and I’ll take you back myself. Just don’t run away again.”

A stunned silence reigned after his words. She frowned without responding for a minute. Finally, she nodded, her eyes looking incredibly sad as they brimmed with tears again. Every tear she shed shattered him, knowing he was responsible for each one. When emotion threatened to overpower him, he held her, unwilling for her to see him cry. Letting her go was the right thing to do, but she’d take a big chunk of his heart with her.

“I don’t want you to go.”

The words tumbled out before he could stop himself. What right did he have to ask her to stay when he’d done nothing but hurt her? Yet, looking into her eyes, there was no mistaking her love for him. A flame of hope ignited as he held on to the faith that there might still be some blessings being poured his way.

“Give me another chance, Esi. Let me show you my love and learn how to be a good father.” He made a fervent plea. “If you love me half as much as your eyes are telling me, please don’t leave me.”

“You’ve done nothing but hurt me,” she said. “How am I to believe you?”

“I’ve never lied to you,” he said, and when she looked away, he turned her face back, making sure she looked into his eyes. Placing her palm on his chest, he said, “I know I hurt you deeply, but I swear on my father’s grave I’ve never lied to you, and I promise I never will. I’m in love with you.”

She searched his eyes as if trying to make a decision. His heart thudded with anticipation.

“My heart tells me to trust you,” she said.

Hope continued to burn within him, but he didn’t speak for fear of saying the wrong thing. Plus, he didn’t want to influence her decision with further words. Whatever she decided, it had to be from her heart.

“I don’t want to go.” She swatted away a solitary tear running down her cheek. “I want to stay with you.”

Relief swept through him, forcing out the breath he’d been holding, as her words chased away his fears, freeing his heart.

“Esi.”

Why had she never looked into his eyes like this before?

Suddenly, it was as if a veil had been lifted off his eyes, and he pushed away in reflex. “Oh my God, it’s you, isn’t it?”

“What?” Her brows creased askance.

“In Ebinom, were you the girl I met in the forest?” He looked into her eyes, his heart dancing. It was her. It would explain a lot; the magnetic attraction he could never resist, the inexplicable tendency to forget Forest Girl around Esi…the odd sense of familiarity when he first set eyes on her…and he’d dismissed it, thinking he remembered her from school.

Could he be right? Had he been cruel to his only love? What if he was wrong? It would mean he still had feelings for Forest Girl.

It didn’t matter, he decided. He loved Esi.

“You remember that?” she said in amazement.

For a moment, he stopped breathing. It was too much for him. How had he missed it? He’d always imagined Forest Girl as a conservative girl waiting to be emancipated and cared for, while Esi was an extremely complex and sophisticated woman who had liberated him.

He threw himself into her arms and held her tight. He was shaking without control, overcome with emotion. He finally gave in to the torrents he’d been holding at bay and wept in her arms.

He’d always believed he would recognise her instantly. Evidently, he’d been wrong. In his determination to resist the marriage, he’d missed what had been right in front of him.

Esi’s arms tightened around him, comforting him the way he’d done for her only a few minutes earlier, which wrenched more emotions from him. When he managed to pull himself together, he looked up, and she helped him dry the tears. God, he didn’t deserve her.

He laughed, embarrassed. “I’m probably the only man who’s cried to his wife before.”

In his heart, he thanked his father. Not that he’d changed his mind about arranged marriages; he still thought the custom should be abandoned. His had only worked because things had been a little extraordinary.

He smiled at her fondly, overcome with awe.

“Forest Girl,” he whispered. He still couldn’t believe he’d found her. “I looked for you. I attended every gathering after that, searching for you, but you were never there.”

“I watched you all the time, Yaw. I was there.” She frowned. “I was here.”

“I couldn’t remember her face,” he explained. “I loved you, Esi, but I couldn’t remember your face, and it tortured me to think I’d married someone else. So, I did everything I could to make you leave me.”

He exhaled. “I promise to spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

She gazed into his eyes. “I love you so much, Michael.”

“I know.” It was incredible to not only see it in her eyes, but to hear her say it, as well. “Can I kiss you?”

She arched up. As their lips joined, it was as if an electric current had been hooked up to them, numbing Michael’s senses as he drank her in. He felt himself lose control for a brief moment, which was long enough for him to know without a doubt that his heart had connected with a promise.

When they finally parted, he only managed a whispered, “Wow.”

It took all his willpower to restrain himself from going any further. Maybe she wasn’t ready for that yet. He’d give her time. Right now, it sufficed that he’d found her, and she was staying.

He left the room and returned a few minutes later holding a tray packed with food. There was a permanent smile plastered on his lips.

“Room service for madam.” He imitated a French accent, which made Esi laugh as she watched him return to the bed. He kissed her lightly. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” She gave him one of her radiant smiles.

“Do you want me to call Dr. Cruickshank?”

“I don’t think so. I feel good,” she said. “I thought you didn’t like him.”

“I’ve learnt many lessons over the past two days.” He placed a bed table in front of her and sat the tray on it.

“Michael, I’ve been thinking. Wouldn’t it be nice to take Ama to school? She’ll love it.”

“You’re right. I’ve thought about it for some time now, but we’ll talk about it later. Today is just for us, okay?”

She nodded, and he gave her a sweet peck. He’d never tire of kissing her.

“Before you eat, I have something for you,” he said.

“But I’m starving,” she complained, gazing longingly at the tray.

He turned to look at her with one brow raised in mock wonder. “I thought you said only a few minutes ago that you weren’t hungry,” he teased. “You’re amazing. Just because you were annoyed with me, you were going to starve yourself.”

She stuck her tongue at him, and he kissed it. They laughed, then kissed again.

Pulling away, he blew air out of his mouth and shook his head.

“How am I going to keep my hands off you when I love touching you so much?”

She giggled in response as he looked inside his bedside drawer and brought out a jewellery box. He opened it, exposing the exquisite ring streamlined with diamonds.

“This has been waiting for you.”

“Yaw!” she gasped. “It is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s not as beautiful as you,” he replied. “Give me your hand.”

She proffered her left hand, and as he added it to the one already on her finger, he recited the vows of marriage. Hands intertwined, they shared a passionate kiss. Pulling back, he stared at her as though he’d just been swept off his feet by the goddess of love.

And he had.

“Did anybody ever tell you that you have the most enchanting eyes?” he whispered. “I love you, Esi.”

He didn’t wait to hear her response. Instead, he let his lips claim hers once again, and with that, he united Esi and Forest Girl forever. He didn’t have to ask again because he was home, and everything at home belonged to him. All he needed to do was take…not destroy.