Five

Throughout that night, Emily pondered over her options. Her parents had suggested she seek shelter at her Uncle Kofi's place. Uncle Kofi, her father's older brother, worked as an Engineer at High Energy Stores and had a reputation for being strict and stingy, causing few family members to call on him for help. Emily quickly dismissed this option.

Next, she considered one of her friends, Michelle, whom she had trained with at Amalina Fashion Academy years ago. Michelle had once offered her a place to stay after Auntie Ama scolded Emily for returning late from the Academy. However, when Emily discussed this plan with Auntie Okaibea, the older woman had persuaded her to reconsider her decision.

"You're still very young and not fully capable of supporting yourself at this stage," Auntie Okaibea had advised. "Living with Michelle might lead you into a destructive lifestyle, and the city can be harsh for someone without a stable income. Be patient, focus on your studies, and consider moving out when you're more financially secure, either after marriage or when you land a job with a regular income." Auntie Okaibea's words convinced Emily to rule out Michelle as an option.

Another possibility was the 'Ladies in Christ Hostel' in Kwabenya, which offered reasonably priced accommodation. Emily had a friend there. However, she couldn't make up her mind. In desperation, she cried out to God in prayer, "Oh Lord, please guide me." This prayer was her last conscious thought before falling into a dreamless slumber.

Emily awoke just after midnight, still uncertain about where she would be going in the morning. She had purchased a lot of equipment for her future salon, which meant she needed to carry heavy boxes with her wherever she went. As she pondered over her predicament, she drifted in and out of sleep until the first rays of dawn broke through the darkness of her room. It was a quarter to five when she finally rose from bed.

"Oh Lord, this is a new day, and I'm still waiting for your guidance," she fervently prayed as she got out of bed. As she removed her sleeping clothes, her phone suddenly rang. Who could be calling at this hour? She wondered as she picked up the phone.

It was Mrs. Adams; Emily recognized her voice immediately. "Emily, my dear," Mrs. Adams greeted her, "I'm sure you're already awake. I need your assistance today. My housekeeper resigned late last night, and I must find a replacement immediately. I've been thinking of you, and I believe you're the right person for the temporary position. If you accept this job, you'll need to move in with me right away."

"When should I move in, Madam?" Emily asked, her voice trembling.

"Excellent!" Mrs. Adams exclaimed with relief. "I knew I could count on you. Get ready by six o'clock. I'll send Donald to pick you up. Do I need to speak with your aunt?"

"No, Madam," Emily replied. "I'll inform her myself."

"Alright then," Mrs. Adams agreed. "I'll be expecting you. Donald will arrive at your place at six o'clock."

Emily exhaled to calm her racing heart. "Thank you, Lord! You never fail, and you show yourself faithful when your children cry out to you," she prayed.

With faith in her heart, Emily hurried to take a bath. She had packed her belongings the night before, and as she placed her nightdress in her suitcase, she remembered she needed to inform Auntie Okaibea about the new opportunity. "Praise the Lord!" Auntie Okaibea exclaimed when she heard the news. "Richard and I discussed it, and we had decided to offer you a room in our house. We were planning to call you later to discuss our plan, but clearly, God has other intentions. Let's trust in His guidance. Since Mrs. Adams urgently needs your help, I think that settles it. Don't be afraid, my child, the steps of good people are ordered by God. He'll guide you."

After speaking with Auntie Okaibea, Emily sighed with relief. She would move to Mrs. Adams' house. Once she was ready, she spoke with her parents, who were delighted with the unexpected turn of events. "She's a wealthy woman, and I've visited her home a few times," Emily assured her parents when they inquired about her benefactor.

At a quarter to six, Emily, assisted by her parents, took her belongings to the roadside to await Donald's arrival. She attempted to bid farewell to Auntie Ama, but her older relative ignored her. Maame, her cousin, had been greatly upset when she learned about her parents' decision to send Emily away. She had tried her best to change their minds, but they remained resolute.

"Mom, who will take care of us, wash, and cook for us if she leaves?" Maame anxiously asked her mother.

"We'll find someone else," her mother replied. "We have several needy relatives who would be grateful to move in with us."

Maame felt a deep sense of sadness. She and Emily had grown up together, and she cherished her cousin. Emily had always helped her by washing, ironing, and cooking whenever Maame requested. They had never quarreled again after an initial fight many years ago; a fight that ended with Emily receiving a very painful beating from her aunt. Emily, typically quiet and easy-going, would be sorely missed; Maame thought to herself.

As Emily and her parents waited by the roadside early on Monday morning, apparently for a bus, the family driver who was taking Maame to her university noticed them. He slowed down and asked, "How far can I take you?"

"If you could help Mama and Papa get to the bus station, that would be great," Emily suggested.

"Please let us know once you're settled in your new place," Emily's mother requested, waving as the driver resumed his journey.

Maame waved, and Emily could sense her cousin's curiosity about her new destination. However, she chose not to satisfy anyone's curiosity.

"Please call me," Maame waved and Emily smiled at her.

Emily's heart raced, but she kept her emotions hidden behind a composed facade. She was about to move in with Mrs. Adams and her son, Stephen, and she felt a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

She didn't have to wait long. At exactly six o'clock, Donald arrived and pulled up in front of the bus stop.

"Good morning," he greeted her as he opened the back of the van. Together, they loaded her boxes and suitcases into the back, and when they were done, Donald shut the door.

"Did you have a good night's sleep?" he asked as he drove away from the bus stop.

"Yes, I did," Emily replied. "Thank you."

"Madam mentioned that you'll be staying in Auntie Susan's room," Donald informed her.

"Thank you for your assistance," Emily replied, presuming Auntie Susan to be the housekeeper who had resigned the previous day.

"I don't understand some people at all," Donald continued. "Auntie Susan had everything she needed. Sometimes, I even envied her. She received a generous salary, had three meals a day plus snacks, her own living quarters, and a car at her disposal. She handled grocery shopping and more. Yet, she wasn't content. I just dropped her off at the bus station before coming to pick you up. I'm sure she'll regret her hasty decision soon."

"I see," Emily muttered.

"I must admit, Madam is a very challenging person to work for," Donald observed. "But if you know what you want in life, you must be prepared to deal with difficult people to achieve your goals. You just need to observe them closely, and I'm sure you'll manage."

"I see," Emily replied once more.

"Absolutely!" Donald continued with renewed enthusiasm. "Madam is not the easiest employer, I must say. Her husband is a man of few words, but he's equally demanding. If you're not careful, you'll incur his displeasure, and that's not a good thing. He's a no-nonsense type. You know the straightforward, 'one plus one equals two' kind of people, right?" Donald chuckled. "As straightforward as they come!"

"Cold as ice!" he added. "While Madam may shout and express her displeasure vocally, Mr. Adams won't utter a word. He'll just give you a cold, stern look. However, they both reach the same conclusion: you'll be fired if you annoy them. The household runs smoothly, as if on oiled wheels, and nothing escapes Mrs. Adams' sharp eye. She's a meticulous homeowner. If you want to last there, you must get to know her very well."

"Hmm," Emily mumbled.

"Oh, yes!" he continued with a grin. "I've been working with them for three years, and I'm the longest-serving employee. Others come and go regularly. Asamoah, the other driver, holds a record. He was hired at nine in the morning and fired by noon!"

Emily smiled.

"Madam likes you, and that makes a big difference," Donald hinted. "As for Stephen, be cautious when you move into their residence. That young man can't resist beautiful women. Since he arrived in the country a few months ago, I've lost count of the number of young ladies he's dated. Let's just say he changes girlfriends every two months on average. The last one was a minister's daughter. I'm not sure what happened, but she hasn't been around for over a fortnight. I noticed how he looked at you yesterday when you were leaving. Be careful," Donald cautioned.

"Thank you," Emily replied with a smile.

"That will be your room, as you're stepping into Auntie Susan's shoes," Donald pointed to a detached building in the east wing of the mansion. It was a beautiful space with a small garden in front.

"Madam wants me to escort you there when you arrive," he said as he helped Emily with her luggage. "You'll meet her at half-past six for your briefing. If you ask me, I'd say Madam arranged for Auntie Susan to leave so she could have you move in. She didn't attempt to dissuade her from resigning, and the way she readily accepted the resignation made me suspect she had other plans."

Emily smiled as she entered the two-bedroom apartment. It was tastefully furnished with simplicity in mind.

"Just make sure not to argue with Madam, and smile often. She believes people who smile radiate the light of God from their hearts. She loves having cheerful people around. That's how she describes happy, vibrant people," Donald said with a chuckle as he placed the suitcase by the door. "I'll see you later," he said before taking his leave.

Emily checked the wall clock; it was fifteen minutes past six. She had about fifteen more minutes before meeting her new employer. She decided to use this time to freshen up and present herself in the best possible way.

The previous occupant had been extremely organized, Emily observed. She had left the rooms impeccably clean, and Emily's only task was to unpack her clothes into the wardrobe. The living room was furnished with a set of furniture, a television, and a radio. In one corner stood a tabletop refrigerator. Emily opened it to find a few bottles of water and a set of neatly arranged drinking glasses. The entire apartment exuded cleanliness and order. Emily glanced at the wall clock again; she had five minutes.

Swiftly, she closed the room door, locked it, and made her way toward the main house. As she glanced in the direction of the dog's pen, she noticed that Warrior, the dog, was still inside. That meant Stephen hadn't gone for his usual early morning walk. She wondered if he did this every weekday.

As she walked briskly toward the main house, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly cried out in surprise and halted in her tracks. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you," she muttered. She had nearly collided with Stephen.

Stephen, already fully dressed and seemingly prepared to leave, greeted her warmly. "Welcome to our residence," he said. "Mom mentioned you'd be moving in with us."

"Yes," Emily replied.

"There's much for us to discuss later," he told her as he walked away. "I'll be home for lunch, and we can talk then." Emily stood there, still watching Stephen, when Mrs. Adams entered the scene.

"What did Stephen say to you?" she asked Emily.

"He mentioned he'd be home for lunch," Emily replied.

"Hmmm?" Mrs. Adams raised her eyebrows. "He didn't inform me about that. Nevertheless, let's get started." She glanced at her wristwatch. She was dressed in a black skirt suit and a hot pink blouse. She then briefed Emily on her responsibilities and gave her a brief tour of the house.

"You're a grown-up," Mrs. Adams remarked as they concluded their tour. "Don't let Stephen fill your head with foolish notions. We'll talk this evening when I return."

After Mrs. Adams left, the cook, the gardener, and another driver all came to welcome Emily. Curiously, they all ended their remarks with the same caution, "Don't let Stephen mislead you."

Emily smiled, perplexed by the unanimous concern regarding Stephen. Why was everyone so worried about him, she wondered, as she began her day's work.