DANGLING

By S. F. Toabeah

• Language: English
• Publisher: P5 Publishing
• Release date: Apr 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781734795806

S. F. Toabeah

S. F. Toabeah worked in the financial industry for many years before exploring her creative endeavors. Ever since she could read, she wanted to write. She had plotted her own stories and imagined several interplays of characters as she dreamt of how to put the stories together. She lives in the United States with her family. "Dangling" is her debut novel.

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DANGLING

S. F. TOABEAH

DANGLING

First Edition

This book is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places, incidents, and events are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real life events, entities, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2018 S. F. Toabeah

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, mechanical including photocopying recording taping without written permission from the publisher except in cases of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Library of Congress Control Number

2 0 1 8 9 0 4 6 0 3

Paperback:

ISBN-13: 978-0-692-19227-6

Ebook:

ISBN-13: 978-1-734-79580-6

P5 Publishing

Published in September 2018

Printed in the United State of America

Cover design by casamiedesigns.com

DEFTLY CRAFTED, SUSPENSEFUL, AND INTRIGUING

A masterful storytelling, weaving through a labyrinth of well-placed twists and turns, through past and present, without missing a beat. Only leaving the reader turning pages and yearning for more.

__ A. K.

DEDICATION

For Afua, Ami, Kweku, and Maame Akua.

Nothing in this world is illogical.

What might seem as illogic to one,

is doctrine to another.

Through experiences, logic is formed and that

logic influences prospective experiences

until disbanded.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My biggest gratitude goes to my family, friends, and mentors who always see the best in me. To my readers, thank you. You make it all worthwhile.

CHAPTER 1

Delicately nursing a glass of champagne in hand and laughing flirtatiously in Aiden’s face, Tikki was a picture of contentment. For the moment, she could care less about anything else. She was having fun; real fun in a long time. So, she caused a few rumors or pointed stares in the process. That was the least of her worries tonight. Let the rumor mongers burn! She was not trying to be the Sensible Miss Goody today. Aiden, as usual, was at his best and looking as dreamy as ever. Frankly, has he ever not been at his best. Seeing her almost empty glass, he offered to fetch another drink for her.

As soon as he left Tikki’s side, Ayo sneaked over her shoulders and whispered behind her ears, Behave missy dear. Where did you grab this one from? He looks like one who would break your heart faster than you could say STATS! snapping her fingers as she said so.

Oh, stop it, Tikki replied with a smile, Don’t judge a book by its cover. Besides, one has to have fun. It is a party, isn’t it? She took a sip of her drink, placed a hand on her hip, and with an exaggerated shake of her head, she admonished Ayo again. Anyway, why are you monitoring my movements? Go have some fun of your own, shooing her away as one would chickens. I see two cute eyes following you around the room all night. At that, Ayo made a three-hundred and sixty degrees turn.

Um! Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about. Do you want to go check what might be of interest to the owner of that hazel pair? Tikki gave Ayo a half smile and pushed at her shoulders, turning her around to face the crowd. Go on, she urged.

Who? asked Ayo, pretending to be less interested.

Seriously? He just spoke to my date a few minutes ago and he is right over there by that bar.

Tikki wondered where her date, Aiden, went. There were bars just over there to her right and left, he was not among those standing there and waiting to be served. On the other hand, he could have simply asked a waiter to bring him a drink. She turned her attention back to Ayo.

You needn’t ask if you are interested, Tikki added in answer to the fake frown Ayo had plastered on her face. Unexpectedly, Ayo cleared her throat noisily. Her brown eyes narrowed and fixed to the far right corner of the room.

Just what did the cat drag in? she sneered.

What? Ayo! You really can be nasty when you are up to it. Give the poor man a chance.

Tikki turned around to the direction of Ayo’s focus. Apparently, what the cat dragged in was not about the guy with the hazel eyes. Tikki was surprised that she skipped a heartbeat. Like Ayo, she froze when she ascertained the reason for Ayo’s insidious throaty noise. For a few minutes, the chatty Ms. Tikki Temaki seemed to have lost the ability to speak. She stood there staring at the entrance. No, that can’t be him. Among the new arrivals, a tall, dark, curly, hair, chocolate-milk man with an air of aloofness about him had just emerged.

As if glued to the floor, Tikki’s could not move. Her mouth uncharacteristically opened agape. Her eyes roving and inspecting every inch of him—from his mesmerizing greenish-brown eyes, to his inviting lips, and to the rest of his well-toned body. Damn! Is he always in shape? She watched him shaking hands, high-fiving, and making small talks to the people at the entrance.

Tikki could not avert her eyes off his lips. All too familiar memories engulfed her senses. She stared, unaware that she was holding her breath. Oh, snap out of it Tikki, he is the enemy now. She admonished herself and fixed her composure instantly.

Yes, that was Tikki’s Mister Perfectly Right and Wrong. He had a way about him, looking so out of place and yet so accessible. What is it about this guy? She thought. Perhaps that was why she gave him her number the first time they met. Undeniably, Jeremy Kofi Brandon had stolen her heart at first sight and she could do nothing about it.

Their chance meeting was unusual, to say the least. Tikki often recounted the story to her friends whenever they were gathered and discussing men. "Why would anyone give her number to a stranger who happens to be following her in his car? This is the twenty-first century and in the U. S. of A.," Tikki would carry on emphasizing the ‘U. S. of A.’ Truth be told, he was not following her directly, if you’d ask anyone.

Did that just happen? Tikki kept asking herself after he drove off in that silver & black Range Rover. His was stylish and a bit unusual—as if padded with extra metal alloy, she had remarked—a custom built perhaps.

Oh, he looked so masculine, sexy, and yummy in a rough wrangler way with an underlying sophistication mind you. She would squint as she narrated dreamingly like a school girl in love. That was at the beginning of their relationship anyway.

Ha! The look on his face when he saw the magazines the girls had just purchased on my lap, she says dramatically throwing her hands in the air. It was priceless. She stresses priceless in a screech, bats her eyelids, and does a mock waltz with such consistency that, her friends began to imitate her actions whenever she was about to tell the story of how she met Jeremy.

With hands on her hip, Tikki would narrate; "Hmm, Ayo was volunteered. Well, more like coerced into buying the magazines as gag gifts for Sasha’s bridal shower in Maryland. Tatiana was adamant that Ayo, having lost the draw, be the one to purchase them. Poor Ayo, in the end, Tati and I had to accompany her to the store.

I must admit, we felt a bit awkward in that adult store looking for magazines. It was too silly. Women in our fabulous late twenties pointing and giggling at gadgets in the shop like high school girls. Ayo did not want her face to show up in the cameras. She pulled her scarf to cover her entire face, leaving only tiny air pockets for her pupils and nostrils. In addition to that cover up, she had on her baseball cap and sunglasses. She was obviously beyond ridiculous! A woman in a Niqab going to the market would have felt more exposed compared to Ayo’s ridiculous getup."

Well, that’s where I disagree with you, Ayo would interject firmly, trying to defend her absurd outfit. You see, it does matter. When the tabloids get hold of it, it could become a juicy story.

Oh, but Ayo, if the tabloids get hold of a picture of the three of us, they will instantly assume the ninja, slash widow of the 1920s, slash amateur detective wannabe, must surely be you. They won’t confuse that with me or Tikki. Tatiana would tease but Ayo, then a newbie Journalist, worried about such things all the time.

Anyway, we browsed the entire store and laughed at some of the outrageous gadgets in there. It was an experience nonetheless.

And of course, in case this is no big deal to anyone, remember, Tikki is no Sex and the City’s" Samantha Jones either," Tatiana would volunteer that tidbit causing a roll of laughter.

While rolling her eyes at Tatiana for that comment, she would continue. "So how did Jeremy come in the picture? Well, after we left the store, we drove from Delaware towards Maryland. En route, we ended up in a traffic jam and found ourselves driving side by side a Range Rover and a Pickup Truck for about three miles. Ayo was frustrated trying to navigate that traffic. Tati and I decided to have fun with the guys in the blue Pickup Truck next to us. We were in Ayo’s Lexus convertible with the roofs down. The men in the truck kept craning their necks to see what was going on in ours. Tati flashed them nude pictures from the Magazines. We laughed, while Ayo cringed with embarrassment. Eventually they saw it and of course, bought the bait.

Now Tikki imitates Ayo’s voice, ‘don’t talk to them, don’t engage him, I’ll roll up the roof if you two don’t stop.’ Oh, she was onerous. Frankly, a little flirtation with strangers that we’ll never meet again was no harm."

By now Ayo was ready to throw us out of the car, Tatiana would interject.

That’s right. I would have if I had the strength. You two were insufferable that day, Ayo would retort, bulging her big brown eyes at them.

And worst of it all, they invited us to a party that night and Ayo was ready to have a conniption. Tati, the social butterfly of course, snapped VIP passes from the driver. We told them maybe although, we had no intention of going to no so-called party on a whim.

Hey! Speak for yourself, Tatiana chimes in often.

"Okay, correction, Tati was secretly planning to go. Unfortunately, the traffic came to a complete halt. We all got out to stretch our legs at some point. No vehicle moved for nearly three hours. There were various versions of rumors as to what caused the traffic jam. We found out later that it was caused by multiple chains of accidents.

This mishap gave the guys a chance to hop out of their vehicles to join us and chat some more. We could have had a picnic right there on the highway. It was the most beautiful hot sunny afternoon. Ayo relaxed a bit too as she had no choice than to be polite."

"Sean and Chris, those happen to be their names. Sean was the older sexy one. Chris the younger and equally handsome one, who Tati immediately took to liking, jumped in the back seat with her. Sean made an effort with Ayo and me on the curb.

Soon other passengers in the surrounding vehicles got out of theirs as well, walking up and down the shoulders to get more information about the accidents. By now, Ayo had hidden all the magazines. Whatever the two thought of us, three ladies with adult magazines and one clearly acting like she could not stand the sight of the opposite sex, we wanted them to have as a souvenir for the moment and not encourage further encounter. That is why it seemed bizarre that I would give my number to the guy in the silver and black Range Rover who was honking at Sean and Chris the entire time."

So why did you give him your number and not to Sean. Daisy would ask.

He simply turned, looked me squarely in the face and with a smile, asked if he could have my number to call me up for coffee later. Everyone froze when he made the request. I suppose because it was out of the blue, totally not in line with the discussion at hand. I had to give it to him! Besides, I didn’t want to embarrass him. She shrugs and adds, It was only for coffee. If I don’t like it or the company, I don’t have to have another one. It was that simple! Nothing more to it.

To which Sean snorted, apparently disappointed he had been beaten to the punch, Tatiana contributed once, while laughing and snorting her own cocktail in the process.

How would you know Tati? You and Chris were practically snuggling in the back seat, she exaggerates a bit, And you did not give him your number either. Didn’t you give him a lame excuse that, if it were in the stars, you’d meet again? Pretty silly considering you, Tati, do not believe in destiny, superstition, or fate!

To the present day, Tatiana had never fully explained why she did not give her number to Chris but that is Tatiana for you.

The traffic soon cleared and everyone went their merry way. Jeremy smiled at me one last time and motioned, I’ll call you as he made it to his Range Rover. Even then in a strange way, I felt drawn to him. Not a bad way to handle a bad traffic jam, right?

Tikki would then flash her engagement ring.

CHAPTER 2

True, Jeremy Brandon is the enemy now but thankfully Aiden is here too. Just as the thought crossed her mind, she heard him. He was across the hall talking to someone. He wasn’t shouting but she could make out what he was saying. She had become so attuned to his velvety voice that, she could make it out in any crowd.

Aiden seemed like a good guy. He was fun, attractive, easy to talk to, and oh Lord – the six packs! You can almost see through his creaseless and not so tight shirt. Is he built totally solid from top to bottom or what? Hmm, one would like to find out," She thought and snickered. So why do I even bother looking at the one over there, who is busily flirting with every woman in sight? Her thoughts ran on. She could analyze everything to tatters given the opportunity. Thankfully, Ayo interrupted her again with one of her nags. What is that man doing here? Spitting out the words as if she was talking about a contagious disease. Tikki did not follow her gaze this time. He had made no more than twelve feet from the doorway. The hall was crowded. He seemed to be talking to everyone and every lady seemed to be giving him her undivided attention. What a guy? One can’t always hate him though.

I don’t know. Sasha must have invited him, Tikki replied nonchalantly attempting to feign indifference but failing miserably. She is a friend to him too, remember?

When did she become friends with the enemy again? Ayo said disgustingly frowning and hissing her teeth at the same time. Clearly depicting her disapproval of Sasha’s action in a way only Ayo could.

‘Hey, watch it there, that’s my ex you’re talking about.’ Tikki heard herself say, only she dared not say it aloud and because she knew it was irrelevant now. Why am I even bothering to defend him?

 Sasha Monanu is always making friends where she has no business making one. Doesn’t she know how you’ll feel about him coming here? Ayo complained and unlucky for Sasha, she walked in on them just in time to receive an earful from Ayo.

Honestly Ayo, his presence here is of no offense to me. I was hurt but I’ve moved on. It’s inconsequential, truly, Tikki said, imploring Ayo to let it go.

Hurt? Tikki, are you kidding me? You were devastated, destroyed, humiliated . . . Tikki quickly held up her hands to stop Ayo midstream. She needed no reminder of the pain Jeremy had caused her. Yes, and now I am fine! she replied firmly. Lying to herself but if only to persuade Ayo to drop the subject.

Yeah well, still it’s wrong and Sasha, now pointing her fingers at Sasha. You should know better. Where is your loyalty?

Tikki and Sasha both knew better to just let Ayo ran on. She is like a bush train when she starts, there is no stopping her. Ayo Dumaa Densti must always make her point expressed no matter what. Sasha, on the other hand, epitomizing patience rivaling that of a saint, quietly accepted another one of Ayo’s weekly dosage of criticism.

It was the norm with Ayo. Her friends have gotten too accustomed to it than to care much anymore. Tikki resigned to watching her berate Sasha and recalled one of Ayo’s much ado about nothing temper tantrums a few years back.

* * *

It was the Saturday of Tatiana’s thirty-fifth birthday. All four friends went to the Spa Resort that morning for a full day of pampering: manicure, pedicure, mud baths, massages, makeover, all the major works. It was a perfect relaxing treat for them and a chance for all four friends to get together and catch up.

As they were about to leave the facility, Ayo realized she could not find her diamond tennis bracelet which, she claimed to have put in the pocket of her bathrobe. They had to retrace their steps. Imagine rummaging through piles of used bathrobes. Every single room they searched, turned up with nothing until the last one which, they had all hope to avoid—yes, the mudroom. Ayo was adamant that they go in there and practically swim through that slosh of mud to look for her bracelet.

The Spa manager offered to call Ayo if it turned up in lost and found but no, she refused. By then, she had turned frenetic, demanding some form of action from anyone in her sight. Eventually, Ayo lunged in the mud tub by herself and unfortunately for her, it was at the same moment that Sasha and Tatiana burst into the mudroom laughing hysterically. As it turned out, Sasha looked through Ayo’s dirty clothes, the ones she wore to the Spa that morning. Lo and behold, there laid the diamond bracelet, carefully nestled in a wrapped tissue in the zipped upper left pocket of Ayo’s sweatshirt. Tatiana held the tip of the bracelet, dangling it in full display, Is this, what you were looking for, Ayo?

As Ayo lifted her head, cognition slowly materialized on her face. At which, Tati took the liberty to continue derisively, Then I present to the jury, exhibit numero uno of Ayo verses ran away bracelet. Dare I say that in my novice experience as a jewelry appreciator and benefactor, this is not a diamond bracelet! Miss Ayo Dumaa Densti, why would you insist on putting us through this farce after we have fully showered, had our makeups, and coifs done? Why?

In fact, Ayo never wore her diamond bracelet that morning. She wore her regular silver bracelet. Why she thought she would have worn a diamond bracelet to a Spa was beyond anyone’s comprehension. Needless to say, it took her another ten slow minutes to get out of that small pool with mud patches in her painstakingly styled hair. She profusely apologized to everyone for the nuisance she had caused. Meanwhile, everyone was bent double with laughter.

The usually stoic manager, a middle-aged lady, long-necked, chiseled jaws, who effortlessly ward off any form of shenanigan, was having difficulties that day. She politely offered to give Ayo another hair wash and makeup amid a severely restrained urge to bust out laughing like the rest of them. In the end, Ayo was so embarrassed, she refused the offer and had never stepped back there since. Headstrong Ayo marched out of that Spa and drove home with mud caked coif just to make some silly point that none of her friends could truly understand. She refused to speak to Tatiana but that lasted for only a couple of hours.

We like Ayo but she is full of melodrama. Tikki thought. Looking at her and Sasha now, she simply shook her head at them and left. I need my refresher and where is Aiden? Tikki muttered. As she pushed her way through the crowd, she noticed that Jeremy had made a small progress through it himself. He must’ve not noticed that I’m around or if he did, he didn’t show any interest. Huh! But of course, this is Sasha’s party, he must know that I’ll be present. Okay, I am not pining after him, just shocked that he is here. I had hoped for a hello, at least. Damn it, I deserve a hello. It is only civil. I am not asking for much.

Tikki stamped her way throw the masses pushing at the French double doors with too much force than she had intended. She turned sharply around just to take a quick glance at the subject of her irritation. Then she saw his lady friend. Hmm, she is pretty but eh, too clingy. I know if Tatiana was here, she’ll have her own version of unflattering remarks about this situation. Where is my girl, when I need to laugh? Ugh!

Tikki couldn’t believe Tatiana was on a business trip during the holidays. She had tried every version of coercion and outright blackmail to get her to stay. The woman will not let anyone take her assignments even if she were to be on a sickbed. She often asserts to the others in a manner of a drill officer with animated hand gestures, "That’s how they get to screw you! Don’t you ever give them the chance! Don’t leave them any room for error because they are already poking for a chance to take what you have and as soon as you let them, they swim in!" She finishes with a dramatic sweep of the hand. Either, paranoia or purely workaholic tendencies, her friends tried not to ask. They simply applaud after her performance. A formidable woman with accomplishments to boost but Tatiana can be too tough on herself.

Now that’s the face I was looking for, Tikki said as she spotted Aiden. He smiled and beckoned her to join him. She liked that smile a lot more each time she saw it. She decided it was because he had a kind face, always inviting. She took a deep breath. I can’t deny there is a mutual attraction.

What happen to you? she mouthed as he walked towards her with no drinks in hand. Come here you, he mimed back and took her hands. They started laughing in each other’s face. He was certainly one of the eye candies at that shindig.

Did I just save you from a horrible conversation?

You’ll never know, he replied scathingly.

You mean man, they are only trying to befriend you and you give them the cold shoulders? Not very gentlemanly, mister, she wiggled her nose teasing him.

I did my best but I couldn’t wait to be rescued by my African princess.

Aww, you can’t stay two seconds away from me, how charming? He pushed her away at arms-length squinting and appraising her, Why do you have to ruin every romantic gesture with sarcasm?

Oh, don’t tell me you can’t stomach a little sarcasm, she moved closer to him again. She poked him in the chest with both pointers which he grabbed to hold her sturdy. Then unexpectedly he looked grave.

Seriously, you could not imagine the kind of information people are willing to divulge so easily when they are under the influence of alcohol.

Is that why you didn’t bring my refresher? she inquired with an exaggerated fluttering of her eyelids.

Are you sure you need more?

Uh no, you didn’t, she replied. So, what are you so worked up about anyway? People talking too much after drinks? That’s what people do at parties. They eat, drink, talk, and make merry. Oh, and of course, people tell you all sorts of exaggerated stories. It’s all in good fun so stop spoiling it for the rest of us! She nudged him in the arm and twirled in front of him. "Mad Over You" by Runtown was playing in the background.

She slowly sang out her subsequent words with hands waving in the air as if singing a ballad, Get them drunk, get them to spill out their innermost secrets and if you are lucky, they may sign over their houses or cars to you in some silly bet before dawn, she ended with a hearty laugh. At that, he laughed too. Okay, now I believe you don’t need that drink after all, he replied.

Hey, do you remember Sporty Jim, from the Christmas charity ball that your company sponsored? You do remember how he got that name, right? And how he lost his motorbike? Tikki was talking but Aiden’s expression had turned stern again.

Oh, spoilsport! What is it now? She frowned at him. He did not get the chance to answer before they saw Billy rolling his weight towards them. He was a short heavyset man who was fully aware of his size and uses every ounce of it in everything he does. It suited him well too.

 Hey, you! he bellowed languidly in their direction and with open arms, he called, "I have been searching