Ex Gratia (#1 EX TRILOGY)

Chapter 7

Akoma had not realized she had inadvertently gripped a piece of paper and was crumbly it menacingly, making Gracefield raise her eyebrows. “Which one?” she asked.

“Oh. Every Rich is Rich. Must I give you all the details?” Gracefield snorted and leaned back in the chair. “Let us think.”

Akoma’s expressionless face made Gracefield feel confused about what was going on. She shrugged and drummed her fingers on the table. Akoma sighed and crumbled the paper into a tiny ball in her fist. “Which one, Gracefield?”

“I don’t think it’s important. Seriously.”

“It is. I want to know who he is.”

“Wait. You want to know if he is not Richard, or do you want to know who he is? You are confusing me, Akoma.”

“Gracefield, it’s not funny anymore.”

“Ah! How many Rich’s do you know around here?” Gracefield was losing her temper. “It could be anybody. Why are you acting paranoid because – hey! Do you have anyone called Rich?”

Akoma scowled. There was nothing romantic going on between Rich and her, so there was no point trying hard to ensure it was not him Gracefield was talking about, but the suspicion that he must have been married before was driving her to dig further. “I don’t have anyone. I just know someone. He’s Richard Ampofo.”

Gracefield blinked for a moment and shrugged. “That’s not him.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Oh it’s not. Honestly. He’s Richmond Lartey. You see your life?” She giggled and clapped her hands together. “So – I need you to be my wedding planner.”

“All right. So what are we looking at?”

Gracefield smirked. “Can we have planets hanging from the ceiling?”

Akoma snorted. “If you like. I’ll suck you dry, and you’ll both go to your new home living on gari soakings for the rest of your lives. Gracefield, you are silly.” Akoma chucked the crumpled paper at her and she dodged. “If you are not kidding, let’s talk about the wedding for real and leave this – Disney wedding, OK?”

Gracefield smiled at her and smacked her lips. “Who is your Rich? I’d like to know him.”

“None of your business, Gracefield. Don’t come any closer,” Akoma mumbled as she opened a gallery of photos and scrolled through for a sample of her works.

“Akoma, you’re growing. Don’t you think you need a man anytime soon?”

Akoma looked up and paused. “You’re stating it as if it’s as needful as – um – a vaccine or something?” She chuckled, but had to stop when she noticed Gracefield looked rather solemn. “Look, I don’t know how soon I am going to let anyone in. Maybe sooner. Don’t push it.” She averted her eyes before adding, “Maybe I like Rich.”

Gracefield frowned. “My guy?”

“No, no. Silly. My Rich.”

“Aha! So you already have a Rich? You used ‘my’.” She rose to her feet and sat on the edge of the desk close to Akoma. She looked mockingly gleeful. “Akoma, you actually like someone. Wooow! I am happy for you! Will you break up with him next week?”

Akoma narrowed her eyes and clenched her jaw. “Gracie Mouse, enough. Don’t jump to conclusions. You don’t know anything. We were talking about your wedding.”

Gracefield grinned. “All right. You know me. I will bring this topic up again on any day. The girls will hear this.”

“You won’t do that.”

“Watch me.” Gracefield took out her phone and started searching for the phone number of one of their friends from school. Akoma dropped her tablet and lunged for the phone, and both of them toppled over onto the floor.

Suddenly, Gracefield’s phone started to ring, and Akoma glimpsed the picture of a beaming handsome gentleman as caller photo and the name “Rich One” before Gracefield whipped it out of her hand to answer it.

“Hun, please call me back in an hour, OK? Sorry” she squeaked hurriedly and ended the call, put away the phone and grinned sheepishly at Akoma. Akoma stared at her and shook her head.

She could not remember vividly the face of Gracefield’s Rich she had seen, but her suspicion only got worse.

Her date that night was either going to prove her paranoia or not.