Chapter 24

Christmas at the Adams' residence was filled with lots of wonderful memories.

Maxwell Adams hosted the whole family including Emily and her family members. Daniel and Maame also came for the holidays and Emily was very delighted to see them again. The honeymoon, she observed, had treated Maame well. She was blushing and looked very confident and beautiful. Maxwell Adams had requested to spend Christmas with the whole family at his residence, because he missed everyone and wanted them to have a family time together. He was getting old however stronger. He wanted to be with his family and take his mind off government duties for some time.He had been so occupied with work that he hadn't been able to visit his family members within the year.

He was only too happy to stay at home, and spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Accra with his in-laws. Afia and Kojo Ganyo also came along. The whole family certainly had a good time together.

When Maame, Afia and Emily were setting the table on Christmas Eve, Auntie Ama nudged Maame and gave her a look that Maame had always hated. It was the same look Auntie Ama had always given her when she knew Maame had done something wrong or had disobeyed her orders in any way. It was a look that said you disrespected me, you are guilty, you disobeyed me, didn't you? It was something that happened just between them, and Maame tried hard to pretend she didn't understand, as she carefully folded the napkins."Well, what is it Mother?" Maame asked pointedly, as she put the plates on the table.

"Come on . . ." She couldn't believe her daughter was so dumb not to understand her moves. She had to know what she meant, but as she pressed her again, Daniel started to look worried. He didn't want them to fight on Christmas Eve.

"Are you pregnant yet?" Auntie Ama asked pointedly.

"Mother?" Maame couldn't believe her ears. Just then Emily came to the table with the pancakes. "What's going on between Mother and daughter?" She asked, oblivious of Auntie Ama's question to her daughter. "I was just asking her whether or not she was pregnant", Auntie Ama stated emphatically without any feelings whatsoever. "Auntie, don't do this. You'll make her feel bad", Emily told her. "Why shouldn't I feel bad or worry Emily? I am just hoping that the curse in our village hasn't affected her in any way."

"For God's sake Auntie, it's God that gives children", Emily stated with so much worry. She was concerned about how Maame would be feeling with her mother's attitude.

"No, I'm not pregnant yet, we are still believing God to give us children in his own time", Maame said and left their presence. Emily followed after her as she headed for their guestroom. "See Maame, don't bother about what Auntie said there. She is just worried about some so called curse. Therefore don't worry about it okay?", she tried to encourage Maame who was already weeping. "Why is mother this way Emily? Ever since Daniel and I got married, she hasn't ceased to ask about my pregnancy. She's not even concerned about my welfare". "Shhh don't say that about your mother", Emily cautioned her. "Believe me, she loves you more than you could imagine okay? She is showing concern; it's just that she's not doing it the right way", Emily said. "But Emily, why is this happening to me? Why haven't I been...?"

"Shhh, don't say anything negative. Think positively and don't lose hope in any way okay?" Emily encouraged her. "Our God is bigger than what we could ever think of or imagine okay? Just remain hopeful and wait on him"

"For how long Emily? I'm getting frustrated already. Even if Daniel doesn't complain, I know that he would love to have children."

"And you'll surely have them in Jesus Name Amen!" Emily said.

"One thing I know is that Jesus Christ would never fail us. Just keep hope alive and cheer up darling." Emily tried to make her smile.

"Come on now, let's go to the living room", Emily said, dragging Maame along with her to the living room.

When they got there, they saw the others discussing.

"It's not any big deal," Maame heard Daniel saying.

"You still have plenty of time. You're both young. Next year by this time, you'll probably get pregnant." Maame's mother responded.

"Who is pregnant? Not again!" Maxwell Adams asked, as he walked through the living room on the way to the kitchen. "I'll have my grandchildren running around here and there, scattering everything they set their eyes on. You women, you get pregnant every time a man taps you!" He rolled his eyes and shuddered, and they all laughed. "I guess our beautiful Maame is pregnant. Right, my love?" he asked, looking into Maame's face with a smile. After Maame gave a wry smile in return, it just occurred to him that something wasn't right, and Maame was quick to shake her head in reply to his question, wishing she had never come.

Their questions were like a knife in her heart, and for the first time in her life she hated them all, especially her mother who had brought this subject up in the first place.

"Well, no, I'm not pregnant, Sir." She managed to say because her silence would be miscommunicated as disrespect.

"That's fine, my darling, I know very soon you'll give birth to many children and then you'll ask me to help you clean their poop, hahaha." He said, trying to ease the tension that could be felt by all who were seated there. Auntie Ama seemed to have regretted her actions, seeing how emotionally imbalanced Maame looked. For a moment, Auntie Ama thought Maame was going to cry. Oh how she hated to see her daughter looking helpless and dejected.

Maame went back into the kitchen herself, without saying a word, to help Afia and Emily. After the whole family had dinner, Maame went inside her room and Daniel joined her there. "Listen, my dear, don't worry about anything your Mom said before we had dinner okay?" He tried to cheer her up. "It is usual for mothers to show concern whenever their daughter seems to be delayed in childbirth". He said.

"Oh, so you mean that I have delayed in childbirth? I'm delaying you?" Maame asked him, very much upset.

"No my Dear, don't interpret this wrongly", he objected strongly.

"Then what do you mean Daniel?" Maame asked worriedly and it was beginning to irritate Daniel. He however decided that it was best for him to keep silent otherwise it could result in an exchange of words which wouldn't be healthy for them both.

"Calm down Maame, calm down please", Daniel tried to handle the situation.

"How do you expect me to calm down Daniel?" Maame asked and burst into tears profusely.

Daniel went closer to her and pulled her to himself, while patting her at the back.

"I'm tired Daniel, I am", she said still crying.

"Then what do you expect Afia and Kojo Ganyo to say?" Daniel asked her.

"They got married before we did, remember? Yet they look so happy and content. Their marriage is more than a year now, while ours is not even up to a year yet. Instead of complaining, why don't we just thank God for taking control already? It's a must for us to thank God for giving us life, and also thank him for the ability to have babies. Remember that children are a gift from God". He pointed out to her. Suddenly it dawned on Maame that Kojo and Afia were also looking up to God for the fruit of the womb. She suddenly regretted her actions and started to feel very uncomfortable with her reaction earlier.

She cast her mind back to when her mother was asking her questions about her pregnancy. She could recall that Afia had come over to put the drinking water on the table. She began to wonder how Afia must have felt after hearing her mother's distasteful words.

"I'm so sorry Daniel", she managed to say, regrettably.

"It's okay, let's just put this issue behind us and focus on the future. It is not wise to react immediately when faced with an issue. It is best you think through carefully before thinking of what to do next or how best to respond to the situation.

"Daniel, I suddenly feel so terrible. I wonder how Afia must have felt after Mum said all those horrible words. Also, how would she feel sitting in our company after Emily's father in law questioned me about pregnancy? If I can recall, she was silent back then.

"Yeah,yeaaah", Daniel responded to her.

"Oh my goodness, I hadn't even thought about that", he added. "Also, how would Kojo Ganyo be feeling?" He asked her.

"Let's not worry about it, everything would be fine". He managed to say in order to encourage Maame who was already feeling terrible within.

"It's okay my Dear, it's okay. Let's pray, you'll be fine". Daniel urged her. "Don't worry, let's just commit everything in God's hands", he further encouraged her.

That night,he made love to her very passionately.

The next morning,it was Christmas day. Emily and Stephen opted to celebrate with Maxwell, while the rest of the family had to go back to their homes in order to attend church service in their respective churches. They had roles to play in their respective churches and deemed it necessary to go.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Daniel asked Maame as they drove home from Church on the dusty highway.

"I'm fine, thank you for asking." She smiled. And for the first time in months, she truly meant it. Her mother's questioning about pregnancy right from the first month of their marriage,had caused her to be restless and concerned about getting pregnant. Christmas is one of the celebrations she loved most and she said it again to Daniel. "You know that I love Christmas very much; everything about it. I love the bells, the carols, the cards, the trees, everything. Once it's related with Christmas, I love it", she said happily to him.

"Yeah, that's why I want to do everything to make the season memorable for you", Daniel replied.

"If not for Mummy who spoilt everything on Christmas Eve', she said as she recalled everything that had happened the day earlier.

"Hey shhh", Daniel whispered and put a finger on his lips.

"Nobody is responsible for how you feel okay? It's how you respond to the situations you are faced with that matters. What people do or say doesn't matter if you don't pay attention to them",he told her.

"Alright, I hear you my darling husband", she said and they both laughed heartily.

Daniel surprised her by taking her to one popular restaurant in town, which was her favorite, for a Christmas treat. She enjoyed herself so much that she seemed to have forgotten about the issue concerning pregnancy.

On their way back, she snuggled up next to him, and they drove home in a peaceful and serene atmosphere of silence. It had been a long day, but a productive one. She had really enjoyed herself to bits, and so had he. Finally when they arrived home, they went straight to bed, and lay there talking softly about the dreams and hopes they shared. Maame felt relief and excitement, and when they made love that night, for the first time in months, she didn't worry about getting pregnant or the timing. It wasn't the right time of the month for that anyway, however it was exciting to make love because they both actually wanted it. The previous night, she wasn't so enthused about making love however their day and the time they shared on Christmas day, made it easy for them to draw closer to each other and make love.

"Oh my God, I love you so much Darling", Daniel whispered softly to Maame after the first time of making love that night. She smiled and he pulled her closer to himself. They made love again that night, feeling as though they were in their own world devoid of worries. The Christmas lights that shone brightly at them, seemed to give them a romantic atmosphere they desired to have in the room for their lovemaking that night.

"Oh my God, this feels like our first night", Maame said after they made love for the third time that night.

"Perhaps,did you take any drugs to give you extra strength or what?" She teased Daniel and they both laughed.

He couldn't keep his hands off her and she always moved around stark naked. Her curvy shape enticed him entirely and it was driving him crazy.

"I'm just going crazy about you, I can't seem to understand myself", he whispered softly into her ears tickling her in the process and making her giggle. Her laughter excited him,he wanted to make love to her again. He held her closer and played with her nipples, causing her to giggle more. They made love again for the fourth time that night, and they slept off without a care in the world.

Emily's salon had gradually gained lots of international recognition, clients came to her from different countries all over the world, just to have their hair done and return to their respective countries. She had to open branches of her salon in other parts of the country, and put people in charge of them. The demand for her services grew higher by the day, and she had to find a way to accommodate all her clients, while ensuring that they were duly satisfied. The demand had caused people to book ahead of time before engaging her services. Anyone who didn't book ahead of time was likely not to have their hair done on their preferred day due to the excessive demand. Emily couldn't believe that her salon could grow to this extent. She was grateful to God for the wonderful turnaround in her life.

"My International Hairstylist", Stephen teased Emily one morning after she had finished bathing Otubea.

"With this excitement of yours this morning, I'm very certain you have something up your sleeves", Emily teased.

"No, no, no no", Stephen countered.

"Yes, yes, yes yes", Emily replied and they both laughed.

"My Dear, I've been thinking of something", Stephen started.

"Bring it on", Emily encouraged him,unsure of what Stephen wanted to discuss with her.

"Looking at how your business keeps booming with the passing of each day, I think I should quit my job and join you in the business", Stephen told her.

"Oh my God, really?" Emily asked him, very much surprised.

"Ooh honey, that's so sweet of you. You're such a Darling, you know that right?" She asked him, beaming with smiles.

"Yeah, tell me all the sweet words baby", Stephen teased and Emily shook her head as she put hair pomade in Otubea's hair.

"Well", Stephen continued. "I'm thinking of helping you with the marketing aspect. With the knowledge I have acquired in marketing, I can help bring in more clients. We can even open branches of the salon in other countries. We can sell our brand to salon owners in other countries, and we'd pay them surprise visits from time to time, just to ensure that they are keeping up with the brand's standard",he added.

"Waooooo", Emily exclaimed. I've never thought of such an amazing and excellent idea which you just spewed out". She added.

"My husband is such a genius", she praised him.

"Thank you for believing in me Darling". He replied, encouraged by her kind words.

"Then let's start putting this idea in action", Emily added.

It had been two months since Stephen joined Emily to boost the salon business. He used his influence and his father's influence to gain more customers. In no time, they had gotten people who had agreed to use their brand and they got a lot of money from there. Emily was besides herself with joy and Maxwell Adams decided to hold a party in their honor.

"I'm so proud of you both,we need to organize a party. Don't think about the cost or anything involved. Just dress up and bring my granddaughter along." He told them.

"Invite all your friends and loved ones, and be informed that the media would air this party live on their screens. Don't even think of saying 'no' or to request something simple like you did when you were about to wed", he added and they all laughed. They recalled how Maxwell's wedding plans for them had been too extravagant and how they had requested for something much simpler.

"Okay Dad, we'll dress and come as you have said. We would also invite our friends and family", Stephen told his father who seemed to be delighted at his response.

"Daddy,we are so glad and so grateful", Emily thanked Maxwell Adams.

"Thank you for sharing in our success,we are super grateful", she added.

"Well,we thank God alone for everything my Darling", Maxwell responded.

"Oh no Dad", Stephen countered.

"I'm the only one who is supposed to call Emily 'Darling' okay?"

"Ooh, someone is jealous here", Maxwell teased and they all laughed.

"I still mean it Dad. Only Stephen Adams can call Emily Adams 'Darling' okay?"

"It's good you mentioned that she's called 'Emily Adams'. She has my name also; Adams." Maxwell countered.

"She's my daughter and so I can call her..."

"No Dad, I insist", Stephen cut him.

"Well, let's see about that", Maxwell said with a wink and they all laughed.

It had been a very long day, however fruitful. Emily and Stephen had just returned from the party organised by Maxwell Adams. Emily's parents had decided to stay with Maxwell, in order to share some time together. They had asked Emily to allow Otubea stay with them, so they would return her the following day, on their way back to the village. Maxwell Adams had previously asked Emily's parents to leave the village for good, and stay in his apartment however they had declined, stating that they enjoyed the village better.

Emily and Stephen returned home, excited and feeling grateful for what God had done in their lives. They used the opportunity they had to be alone, to thank God for his mercies and blessings upon their lives.

After that they took a hot bath, and went to bed. Emily cuddled up beside him complaining about how cold the weather was.

"This weather is so cold, I'm freezing", she began.

"That's why you have me here, to heat you up", Stephen said and they both laughed.

"Now that Otubea is with her grandparents, I believe there won't be any disturbances tonight", Stephen remarked and Emily smiled. Encouraged by her smile, he put his hands around her neck.

"I miss us, Emily. I miss moments like these when it seems as though we have no worries or fears", he said.

"I miss such moments too", she added. Stephen took out his phone and started to play a romantic tune, creating a romantic atmosphere. He switched the lights off, and turned on the bedside lamp. He lay beside Emily on the bed and whispered sweet words in her ears, causing her to giggle.

"I love you, Emily, I really do. You are an angel and you're so amazing. Plus, you have a good heart and you're so beautiful", he told her softly and passed his hands through her long hair gently.

"I love you too", she responded, looking into his eyes.

She was wearing black lingerie which was very transparent, revealing her curvy shape and hips. He looked at her with passion and began to grow crazy.

They made love that night, excited that they did.