Chapter 12

The day could not have been better for Daniel as one of his young friends brought up a debate about how Ronaldo was better than Messi. The argument went on and on and he could only laugh at their antics. They were bickering as if they'd been personally hired by each footballer to debate out on their 'client' footballers greatness and how it superseded the other. He thought it wise to step into the argument, to stop it as one had handed him a screw driver when he had asked for pliers to fix the burnt out clutch of a car. They were too deep in their debate to even notice him straighten up from fixing the car and stare at them.

"Guys what about Mourinho?" he asked.

They both turned to look at him, he could have withered under their stares, "What?"

"Mourinho does not factor into this" Kevin said with a frown.
Yaw nodded, agreeing with his brother, "Mourinho is a coach not a footballer"

Daniel shrugged, "Isn't he in the football business?"

"Yeah but...." Kevin started.

"I don't see him arguing who is the world's best player or not. Do you?"

They both shook their heads giving the answer in the negative, "I thought so, now will someone please hand me the pliers and not the screw driver please" he said and the debate was ended immediately making work continue smoothly. It was a Friday afternoon, as far as he could remember, Friday was the only day they came to work early so they could go home early. To watch the football they had just been debating about, he still didn't get why they would watch a game and end up quarrelling about who scored the most beautiful goal, which team was cheated by the referee and which player deserved man of the match, all these and much more were piled on their plate after every game night and continued till Saturday. And that's when he was often left out when some of his clients were interested in the debate and would join in to make the debate bigger and he would have to be the referee to end it when the job the client brought had been done. In cases like that he thought of the brothers as the side attraction of the shop-fix your car and join panellists discuss the world's best and greatest footballers right here in my garage. Sometimes the clients would just sit down even after they'd been told the job was done just to continue the debate.

"Daniel let me try that" Kevin said and Daniel handed him a tool to work. He watched as he attempted to tighten a loose bolt. After he was done he checked it, the bolt was tightened perfectly than his previous attempts which was nothing to write about. Closing the hood of the car he asked Yaw to start the car so they could check the speed now, the owner had complained that the he had to use the second gear as the first gear as the speed had totally reduced because of a faulty clutch yet he continued to use it and got the clutch burnt out by forcing the car to climb up a hill.

Yaw got into the drivers seat of the car, Daniel watched him but was interrupted by Kevin who came to stand by him, "Tell me Daniel, how can't you know Mourinho is a coach and not a player?"

He opened his mouth but never got the chance to speak as Yaw started the car drowning out whatever sound came out of his mouth . Yaw moved the car and Daniel could see the speed was averagely back as the car lurched forward smoothly, "Was that the first gear?"

"Yeah, it was. I think its fixed" Yaw said walking out of the car after putting off the engine.

"Of course it's fixed that's why it moved" Kevin retorted.

"Yeah O smart one, I know that"

Daniel stepped in, "Guys cut it out and good job. By the way Kevin I do know that Mourinho is not a player, I know he's a coach and that he's coached Real Madrid, Chelsea the blues, and now is at Manchester United the red devils"

Kevin gave a shocked laugh, "You do know your sports"

"What did you think? That I was too old for knowledge in sports?"

"I've heard a lot of things about you and I don't think you lacking knowledge in sports was part of the info" a woman's voice said behind him. He spun around as the boys stood straight.

"Hello Daniel, boys" she greeted.

"Hi ma'am" the brothers responded, "Um we will go back there to do what we were doing" Kevin mumbled already heading out to the back of the garage with his brother in tow. Daniel took a good look at her, dressed in a lavender blouse over a white pencil skirt and green heels. The young woman's fashion sense was ever present, but as he took a closer look he could still see the pain in her eyes, he could see through the mask of indifference, it was still there.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" she asked a small smile playing on her face, "Am I looking that old?"

Daniel laughed, "No you are always looking good Serwaa. Tell me what exactly has got you running to my shop today, I see you came without Vincent and without a car for that matter. Is there any problem" he led her to the corner of the shop close to the entrance where two chairs were waiting. He pulled one and sat opposite her. Serwaa did not speak for some few seconds after sitting keeping her eyes on the floor.

"Vincent forgot something at work so he went to get it, I decided to wait for him here, it's being a long time from the time I saw you so we could maybe catch up on old times. I don't like going to his office anyways"

"Let me guess the stairs?" Daniel asked knowing before the reaction that question would get from her.

Her head snapped up to meet his face, "Yeah, too much stairs" her eyes moved to look behind him, "Hello? Daniel I think you have a visitor"

He turned to look and thought his eyes were deceiving him when he saw Sophia standing there holding a food flask, she waved her hand uncertainly at him. Since he'd moved out two weeks the least he'd expected was her coming over to his garage, although he'd been seeing her on Sundays when he attended church, he would see her. He would admit it he always wanted to at least catch a glimpse of Sophia every time he came to church. It somehow made him driving an hour to church worthwhile. He responded with an equal awkward wave of his hand as well as she moved towards them. He stood up to meet her but she stopped in front of Serwaa, "Hello" she replied to her.

Serwaa smiled at her and was about to speak but Daniel cut in to introduce them, "Sophie this is Serwaa"
She nodded at the information.
"She's married. To my best friend. You've never met him before though. She just came to visit me"

Serwaa laughed at the introduction, "It's nice to meet you dear."

"It's nice to meet you too" she turned stretching the flask towards Daniel, "I brought you lunch"

He stretched his hand to take it, opening it to see his favourite meal, yam and cabbage stew. Wait was that chicken in there? He raised his head so quickly, he was sure he heard a snap, to look at her, "How did you know my favourite dish?"

"I asked your mom and she told me"

Walking to place the flask on the table, he thought about how she had been able to get to his workplace when she had never been here before. "Um Sophie, tell me how did you find your way to this place, I don't remember even telling you about this place"

She shrugged, "As it seems everyone knows everyone in that town so I just had to ask Pastor Aaron and he decided to bring me. He was on his way to the main town anyways"

Daniel felt his heart drop but forced a smile on his face, "That was... um nice of him. How are you going to go back home?"

"Obviously a taxi, but before I leave, a word of advice your mom would love a visit from you" she said.

He nodded, it'd been two weeks since he'd moved out of the house after his decision to stay away from Sophia to spare his heart the brunt of a game he was bound to lose to Pastor Aaron. Realization dawned on him that it was almost the anniversary of his dad's death and he knew it was going to be hard on his mom. He was going to be there for her. Even now that Rhoda had moved back to her house with Adam and Doreen, she was going to be lonely save for Sophia been there.

"I'll take my leave now. It was nice meeting you Serwaa" Sophia said and left chattering a taxi right in front of his garage and left.

Serwaa was wearing a grin when he sat back down, "So I guess that's the one. Finally huh? That was some really great introduction"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, Vincent did tell me about how you were smitten over a certain girl. And I can see why you are so smitten about her she's a real beauty. Tell me how did you meet her?"

Daniel gave a detailed quick explanation, "It's complicated. I hit her with my truck; she lost her memory now she lives with mom"

Serwaa nodded, "That is interesting. But one thing I would like to know, is why did you sound so jealous when she mentioned the Pastor? Don't give me that look. I know how jealousy sounds like."

"I don't think I have a chance with her, plus I would love to figure out all these feelings first. And I doubt she would give me a chance anyway"

"Wanna hear something? Stop criticizing yourself so much and pray about it and then talk to her. I have a feeling she's the one. You've been hard headed for too long now your heart is becoming hard too"

Daniel decided to change the subject, "Tell me are you ready to face Harry?"

Serwaa went quiet. "I understand if you don't want to talk about it. But I hope you are ready because you will be seeing him again. Even though it's been a year since it happened, you might just not be ready to see him yet"

Harry was Vincent's younger brother and used to be Serwaa's best friend before she got married to his brother. After the marriage, that friendship dissolved like salt in water. Last year he'd caused an accident -the man claimed he didn't mean to push her- and caused Serwaa to lose her son. She had been seven months pregnant then. Serwaa had retreated into a shell after that.

When she spoke her voice was quite low "I'm not going to dwell on the past Daniel, it will only impede my progress and cloud my future"

That sounded like she was repeating a counsellor's words.
"Let me guess, a counsellor told you that?"

She nodded, "But she's right I've got to move on and not look back at the past. Now I've just got to wait for Vincent. Guess we've all got our own problems to figure out. But I know it is well"

Daniel could only hope that she had actually moved on as they waited for Vincent. He let out a silent prayer on what to do next about his situation.

*********************************

Sophia entered the house to find Mrs. Asamoah sitting in the living room. Her normal cheerful face looked blank as she was deep in thought. Whatever she must have been thinking about seemed serious as she didn't even blink when she moved across her to sit beside her in the couch. She remained silent waiting for the elder woman to finish whatever it is she was thinking about. She guessed it was something important. To while away the time she stared at her hands she had clasped on her laps, it had been four months and two weeks since she'd wandered into the path of Daniel's car landing her into a coma and waking up with no memory of any sort. And she was yet to remember anything tangible except for that symbol she saw on a car the day Doreen had gone missing and her little run-in with the thugs. Adam had wanted to make a case but she vehemently denied him. Rhoda had been familiar with the symbol which she said was the logo of an organization that was setting up a branch two towns away from theirs. She couldn't recollect the name but did say they were some sort of foundation or NGO. Since she moved back to her house, Sophia hadn't thought that much of it again. As it was now, she was beginning to believe that if she had relatives they had probably given up on finding her and if she was to be honest, she really didn't look forward to remembering her memories any time soon, she had found a home and she was pretty content being here.

A sigh came from Mrs. Asamoah, "Life is something else, you have the happy days and the sad days. Most of the time when you fall into the sad days your mind finds it difficult to recollect those happy days but the funny thing too is that those thoughts the happy ones that are buried are the ones supposed to be cherished"

She remained silent as the elder woman went on to share memories and thoughts, "Today is the anniversary of my husband's death, though its been years, the man still never escapes my thoughts, the first time i met him, I thought he was pretty proud, but yes handsome, he was handsome but in that instant, his handsomeness didn't come first because his pride was outstanding. The man felt I as a woman being the first to enter their nursing school was a bit 'ridiculous' in his words. It didn't help when after three months of meeting him, my best friend got married and I was her maid of honour" she paused and smiled turning slightly to face her.

"Imagine my surprise, that, on the day that the wedding was supposed to happen I met him, turns out he was the best man, I had done my possible best to avoid seeing him in school, I loved my peace of mind. So far I had succeeded but not on this day. When the time came for us to walk to the aisle I had insisted that he led and I would follow down the aisle. The man grinned and said that wasn't the order he had received from the bride; we had to walk with me taking his hand. So I did, with a frown. But then he had a problem with me frowning when he said me frowning didn't make me any more beautiful than I already was, my jaw dropped open as i stared at him, we were already walking down the aisle. I could tell he intentionally did that when I saw a flash of a camera. Later the wedding pictures came out and I saw it, me holding onto his arm my head tilted up staring at him with my jaw sagging and he staring into the camera with a smug grin and two fingers raised in a peace sign. To say I was angry would be an understatement. He later came to apologize and then asked for a date which I blatantly refused. The man was determined to get me out on a date and after seven requests I agreed. A couple of dates later I had begun to develop an interest in him but was still not really sure if he was the life partner God had for me. One fateful Saturday, he came to my dorm and proposed, though it hurt me to do it but I told him no."

"Why did you say no?"Sophia asked confused with Mrs. Asamoah's decision.

"Well, I had been praying about him but never got a positive answer, the answer was before me. He lived a life where God wasn't in the full picture, sure he was in it, but he wasn't the first in his life, other things were, it was there in his priority list, his education had utmost priority in his life. I had known all of this before I began to date him and I felt that I had led him on. We were both in our final year then, my rejection took a toll on him but he wasn't the only victim of my action, we parted ways there. My parents and I had moved here three years later when I was posted here and here I met him again at work in the hospital. I was surprised that the feelings I had years ago were still alive but I wasn't sure about him yet again. Simple story he still had his too. Gone was the proud man I'd fallen in love with, I knew that at just a glance. When he asked for another chance I didn't hesitate, and I was proved right when he was way different from how he used to be. Later he revealed to me, he had decided that he would prove to my father in heaven that he deserved me. He meant to change God's heart but his was the changed in the end. A year later we were married with Rhoda on the way, five years later Daniel arrived. And now I can say my life with my husband has not been regretted at all. These memories keep me going when I think I am just about to crumble"

Sophia chose to remain silent when Mrs. Asamoah finished speaking, for some reason she was wondering why she would tell her about her husband, no offence to herself but she was a stranger in their family, did she trust her so much?

"You are already a member of this family my dear. I don't know if you think so but I believe you are supposed to be here in this house. You were out in the rain on that day for a reason, specifically on that road. if that wasn't God's plan then either ways I'm glad to have met you"

Mrs. Asamoah's phone rang once indicating a message, "What do you know, the prodigal son says he will come visit his poor mother tomorrow" she said with a laugh.

A smile spread on Sophia's face, glad that the woman was happy about the visit. She did not know what to believe but one thing was sure. She was glad to be with the Asamoah's.

A/N

Hello 👋 Confidence here, an update for you. Specifically for you😉. By the way I personally enjoyed writing about Mrs Asamoah and her late husband's past, kept me smiling.

Oh yes how can I forget, thank you all so much for over 600 reads and over hundred votes plus all the comments, I really appreciate you guys! 💕

P.S : if you see a typo please do comment * to help me weed it out. Thanks😊

Shout out goes to 1Catalyst for my lovely new cover! You guys should check her out. She's really sweet💕

Ko si se me te monka.... Stay blessed! 😊😊