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by Joseph Simiyu Wegesa
Paula Connors had not seen Geoffrey Preston in three years. Not since they had graduated from Boston University and he had returned to Kenya where he was born and raised. They had been lovers so she was excited at getting a chance to meet him again. She looked around as they drove from Kenyatta International Airport. She was amazed at the way he had tanned. He was golden. She looked like a fish's belly in comparison.
"So, what have you been up to, Paula?" Geoffrey asked as he turned around a curve.
"Well, let's see now. After graduation, I worked for this computer software company as a secretary, that feminine occupation us women look forward to all our lives. Fortunately, I did not just type and talk on the phone. I learned plenty about the products we were putting out. Soon, I was creating software programs. Now, I'm thinking of starting my own company. I mean, why work for somebody else when I can do it all on my own? Life is good, Jeff."
"Bloody right. I knew you were a woman of an independent mind. Nothing can hold you down, Paula," Geoffrey said with a smile.
"Damn right. So what about you?"
"Besides my travel agency which is working out marvelously? Nothing much," he said. After a brief pause he continued. "Paula, you surprise me. I thought you had by now forgotten all about me. What made you think of me?"
"The sex, Jeff. I missed all that great sex we had," she burst out laughing.
"I've always thought of you, Jeff. We didn't have a fling. We had a two-year relationship that meant something to me. Didn't it mean anything to you?" she was serious.
"It sure did. But you know. People move on. I thought you had too."
"Hey, this is Paula you're talking to. I move, I remove, now I'm here with you. You and me, we clicked, Jeff. You made me feel good about myself. You made me feel alive. Just the thought of seeing you again invigorates me."
"I'm flattered. I've thought about you too but men are different in the way that they always miss the one they loved even if the relationship was bloody rotten. Women miss subtle things like a walk in the park or a smile. Men are weak creatures when it comes to the complex structure of a relationship, I suppose. That's what someone once told me. But we had a great relationship, no doubt about that," Geoffrey said.
"Heck, I'm no expert when it comes to relationships but I know when I got a good thing going," Paula said as Geoffrey drove into the compound of a large, beautiful house. The vast, colourful gardens were breathtaking. "This is a gorgeous place, Jeff."
"Thank you. I get lots of help from nature. This is the tropics you know." He drove into the garage. He took her bags and led her into the house. He watched her as she walked in. Her blond hair was cropped short revealing her long neck that always reminded him of Audrey Hepburn. She wore a small, red tube dress that revealed her shapely body. Memories of their past romantic flings flooded his mind. In Paula's presence, he was reduced to a primal state where reason failed and instinct ruled. She literally brought out the animal in him.
"Welcome and make yourself comfortable as I put your bags away. I'll be with you shortly," Geoffrey said showing her into the living room and walking towards the guest room.
He came back a short while later.
"Nice digs you got here, Jeff. Classy," she told him looking around at the expensive furniture and paintings as well as beautiful African carvings.
"Thank you. I figured I should get something nice since I had some change to spare. Want something to drink?"
"Gin and tonic please."
Geoffrey fixed a couple of drinks and brought them to the sofa where she was seated with her legs crossed, showing off lots of leg. He turned on the stereo and soft music filtered through the air like a light wind.
"Do you still listen to that boring crap?" Paula asked as they clinked glasses.
"That is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The greatest musician that ever lived. It has been said that listening to his music increases your intelligence," Geoffrey proudly told her.
"Yeah, sure. Give me the Ramones or Metallica any day. Or Pervis, now they will wake you out of a coma. I need music that will arouse my primal instincts."
"Well, around here it's either Mozart or General Defao so you're out of luck. Furthermore, if I remember right, you don't need music to arouse your instincts, primal or otherwise."
"Damn right. How about some loving before I go take a nap?" Paula asked before gulping down her drink and planting a kiss on his lips. "I wanna take a quick bath and hopefully you'll be ready when I come out."
"Ready as ready can be," Geoffrey said thinking, oh, man, am I weak. I wish I could gain some strength but I don't think I have a bloody chance. He showed her to the bathroom then returned to refill his glass. He needed another drink for this. Paula had been the one woman who drove him crazy. She could make him do anything because she was so wild and sexy. This was a woman with no inhibitions. She had the sexual stamina of a man. She never waited for the man to initiate a sexual advance. When she told him she was coming to see him, he could not say no to her.
"Jeff, babes, I'm almost done," Paula called from the bathroom. He gulped down the drink and headed for the guest room. He could feel himself getting aroused already.
They had always, and still did, have strong sexual appetites when together. The rest of the evening was filled with sexual episodes, breaks for food and drink replenishes. Eventually exhausted they fell asleep.
Paula was awakened by the calls, cries and cacklings of what seemed like a thousand different birds. Geoffrey, obviously used to the din, slept like a baby. Paula crawled out of bed and went to the bathroom. She took a bath, then, wrapped in a towel, went to the kitchen to get something to drink.
It was after she had poured herself a glass of orange juice and gulped half of it down that she noticed a woman at the other end of the large kitchen. She was an African dressed in traditional colorful clothing. Paula whispered a hello then headed back to the bedroom.
"Jeff, babes. The maid is here," she said loudly as she got back.
"What?" Geoffrey asked stirring awake.
"I said, the maid is here. Does she cook too?" she kissed him on the cheek and sipped on the juice.
"The maid?" Geoffrey asked. "Oh, bloody hell!" he shouted jumping out of bed. He quickly pulled on clothes and rushed to the kitchen.
"Weak, Preston. This is weak," the African woman said calmly.
"Sadaka, I can explain," he said walking over to embrace her. She raised her hands before her and stepped back. He stopped in his tracks. "No, I can't explain. I'm just weak. I did not expect you back until after the weekend."
"So that gives you the right to sleep about?" she asked.
"No. It does not. I am sorry. I don't deserve you, baby."
"What's going on, Jeff?" Paula asked walking over to them.
"Get back into the room woman. I'll deal with you later," Sadaka spoke in a cold, calculating tone that sent chills down Paula's spine. Though Paula was an outspoken, fearless woman, she opted to keep out of this for now. This woman was no maid. Paula was almost certain she was Geoffrey's wife. Bummer.
"Sadaka, Paula didn't know I was married," Geoffrey tried to explain.
"So this is the Paula Connors from Boston College. Frankly I don't see what the fuss is all about. Well, I'll make breakfast. You two don't be late now. Twenty minutes. And, Preston, tell Ms. Connors I won't kill her... this time," Sadaka was still calm and collected.
Geoffrey went to the guest room where Paula was packing her things.
"I'm sorry, Paula. I tried to tell you but I was overcome with lust. Just seeing you again made me lose control. I couldn't say no," he explained.
"I should have known a woman lived in this house. It was just too neat and tidy for a bachelor, British or otherwise. I'm sorry for you and your girlfriend but I'm even sorrier for me because I thought I had a chance to rekindle that old flame."
"Sadaka is my wife. We were married four months ago. Right now she's making breakfast for us. I suggest you stay for it," he said with a little smile.
"Is she crazy? Her husband is fooling around with another woman and she cooks for them? I'm surprised she didn't shoot us," she said.
"She said she'll kill you next time she catches us."
"Well, there won't be a next time, that's for sure," Sadaka stated. "Jeff, I just never figured you could fall for a black woman."
"And why not? You do not think she’s good enough for me or is it the mixing of the races that turns your stomach. I know what it is. You place yourself on a higher pedestal and think that a man who would fall for you would never fall for a woman from a supposedly inferior race. Isn’t that right?" Geoffrey asked as Sadaka walked in.
"No... I... This is getting worse by the minute. Why don't I just leave?" Paula said, embarrassed.
"No. Please come and have some breakfast with us, Ms. Connors..." Sadaka said.
"Call me Paula, please."
"Ms. Connors is fine with me. Preston, wash up. In the meantime, Ms. Connors and I will have a chat."
She motioned for Paula to follow her. She led her to the kitchen where she had set up the breakfast table. There was plenty of fresh fruit and juice on the table. Toast was popping and eggs cooking.
"Sit down Ms. Connors. Let me tell you about Preston," Sadaka said as Paula sat in a chair at the table. "I have known him since we were kids. My parents worked for his parents so my mother baby-sat us both. African girls were not encouraged to go to school so Preston used to teach me whatever he learned in school. By the time I started school, I was way ahead of schedule. We spent so much time together we practically knew what the other was thinking. We have a special bond that goes beyond romance. I didn't fall for him five or even ten years ago. I fell for him when we were five. The reason why I cannot get so mad at him is because I know that whatever he may do, he will always come back to me. I'm his best friend. He may have been running about with you at B.C. but he would call me afterwards and cry in apology."
"You are so calm and collected about it. I would go nuts if my husband cheated on me," Paula said
"You come from a monogamous society where it is believed that one man is supposed to be married to one woman for life. Obviously it does not work because the divorce rate is very high but that's what you believe. Here we have a polygamous society where men can marry as many wives as they can afford. It says in the Bible, 'thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife' but it does not say thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's husband so all these young, single women run after all these conniving, cheating married men. This has happened for so long that we accept it as the norm. Cheating is accepted because the men are just looking for future wives," Sadaka explained as she brought the eggs and toast to the table.
"That's amazing. You mean Jeff can marry three or four wives and that would be okay with you?"
"Of course it would not be okay. I can only ask him not to and try to satisfy him as any woman would, but I cannot stop him from marrying other women. I'm a Rhode scholar and a lecturer at Nairobi University. I have lectured in universities in America, Europe and Russia. I'm a great lover, level-headed, and know everything about Preston, but he still wanted to have a fling with you. Do you know why?"
"Lust?" Paula asked surprised at the credentials of a woman she thought was a maid.
"Weakness. Men are such weak creatures it's a wonder they have survived through the ages." Sadaka said as Geoffrey walked in. He went over to her and kissed her. "They are slaves to their hormones which run rampant in the presence of beautiful women."
"I see you're bashing me. Should I leave?" Geoffrey asked fixing himself a plate.
"Jeff, I have lost all interest in you. You have a great woman right here. Control yourself. Whatever it is we had was just a fling. I need to grow up and find someone I can spend the rest of my life with. You already have someone very special. I just hope you don't believe in that polygamy crap. If I ever find out that you're marrying a second wife, I will personally come back and kick your damn ass," Paula said.
"I think I'd kill myself before I cheat on Sadaka again. Geoffrey said. "Any other woman would have yelled and tried to kill both of us but what does Sadaka do? She cooks breakfast and makes friends with you. How much guilt do you think I'm carrying inside me now?"
"Not enough. You have a very smart woman here, Jeff. You hurt her and she hurts you back without raising a finger. You should be guilty the rest of your life. You don't deserve her. I'm so ashamed to have been a part of this mess. I'm so ashamed," Paula said turning to Sadaka.
"It is okay. Relationships are difficult," Sadaka explained. "While women spend their lives cultivating a close-knit kinship with men, the men are out there searching for one-night stands. Women always get hurt because it is they who believe in that fairy tale romantic concept of 'til death do us part and live happily ever after. Preston here has behaved himself rather well. You are the only other woman he has been with besides me. In a way I always wanted to meet you. I wanted to see who it was that broke him down and made him cheat."
"It wasn't easy," Paula said. "I give him that much credit. I fought like hell to get him in bed. He never mentioned that he had someone else but he said he didn't want a relationship. I'm naturally persistent so I didn't quit. I think I just wore him down."
"I'm sorry baby," Geoffrey told Sadaka. "Men have a hormonal problem. An upsurge in testosterone and we are out of control. I don't know why you put up with me."
"Do you think it is easier for women? We have sexual feelings too but we choose to keep them under control because we know there is something worthwhile about making a relationship work. We cannot live without each other Preston. You know that. We have been away from each other a lot in our lives as we pursue education, but we are always in touch and deep inside we know we cannot survive without one another. It is fate."
"That's so romantic," Paula said with a sigh.
"Well, it was nice to finally meet you, Ms. Connors because now I know you will never mess with my man again. I feel better now but I think it is time for you to go and leave us alone. Today we begin a new chapter in our relationship. Today, Preston will make a vow to be faithful to me for life. Today he is ready to commit himself to his faithful wife."
"I'm as ready as I will ever be," Geoffrey said.
"After breakfast you can drive Ms. Connors to the airport or wherever it is she wants to go. I am tired and need some rest," Sadaka said.
"You're
a bastard, Jeff," Paula told Geoffrey as he drove her to the airport.
"How
could you do that to her?"
"Maybe you don't know it Paula but you're one hot and persistent lass. I tried my best to keep away from you but I'm only human. It had nothing to do with Sadaka. I know she is the only woman for me and I truly love her. She's my lover and best friend. I cannot live without her but you just blew my mind. The minute I laid eyes on you I knew I was beaten. I mean, I knew you could not make me leave Sadaka but I still wanted to be with you, at least for a night."
"Like I said, you’re a bastard, Jeff. All men are bastards," Paula said.
"What about you, Paula? You're not exactly a bloody saint. What did you really want with me? Sex is all you ever wanted from me."
"Maybe in the past but I think, in the past year, I was finally falling in love, Jeff. Ah, what the hell. I don't think I have the patience and devotion that Sadaka has. That is one woman committed to a relationship with one man. I envy her. I wish you both good luck. Don't forget me, Jeff. I hope I meant something to you."
"How
can I forget you, Paula? You are quite memorable. I wish you
luck too. You know, all the time we were together, all we did was
make love. That was the relationship and that is where you fail.
You need to find more in a relationship than sex. All I remember
about you and me is sex. Nothing more. When I think about Sadaka,
I remember walks at dusk, talks about the future of our country, talks
about children, delicious meals, driving cross-country and sometimes just
holding her in my arms and feeling right. That is what a relationship
is meant to be."
"Okay,
okay, I'm shallow, I admit it. When I was a teenager, I believed
that I shouldn't have sex until I was married. I searched for boys
who would want to love me for whatever it is I could offer that wasn't
sex. Believe me, teenage boys don't need anything from a girl except
sex. So by the time I was in my early twenties, I was alone, desperate
and horny. I decided to change my whole perspective on relationships.
I figured the way to attain men was through sex so I became really good
at it and see where it's gotten me now. Back to square one," she
said.
"A relationship is like a plant. You have to cultivate the land, keep away weeds, water it and give it some fertilizer. You just can't throw a seed on the ground and expect it to grow into a healthy plant. You are a good woman, Paula. Find a good man for you."
"Thanks, Jeff. I'll cherish my memories of you. Give my regards to Sadaka. Tell her she's a lucky woman. Good-bye."
"Good-bye, Paula," he said as she walked away and out of his life knowing he would never see her again. But it was a good feeling because now he knew that he was completely devoted to Sadaka. This was closure between Paula and him. It was also a great feeling to know that Sadaka was fully aware of what had transpired. He was at peace.
