Two Hearts And A Ring

Jonathan shared his roof with Amara, a woman who boiled his rice and pressed his clothes, while his heart belonged to Cassie, a woman who had been away. When Uche brought word that Cassie was returning, Jonathan saw his chance and bought a ring, setting candles in the sitting room to ask for her hand. But Amara walked in before Cassie, saw the ring, and broke into tears of joy; and Jonathan, rather than speak the truth, poured champagne laced with something to make her sleep, then tied her up and smeared the room like thieves had come. When Cassie arrived, she found only a trembling man and a bound woman, and she believed his story of a robbery. Cassie moved in as the fiancée, and Amara, thrown out by her aunt, landed at the same house as a maid. Ordering her to scrub floors and fetch water, Cassie hired her without knowing the truth, while Jonathan sweated under the weight of two women. Uche told him plainly he could not keep the lie alive, but Amara was not dull; inviting Uche for a meal, she poured him drinks and drew out the confession that Jonathan had loved Cassie for three years, that the ring was meant for Cassie, and that he had drugged Amara to clear the path. Shame and grief locked Amara in a room and took her appetite, and then one morning her shoes were gone. Jonathan ran through the streets looking for her, and Cassie, watching his panic, asked why a man would tremble so much for a hired girl. He broke and told her everything. Cassie listened without shouting, then walked out quietly, leaving a note saying she had sold his car and his house to pay for his deceit. Uche came to scold him, but the doors were already strangers' doors. Jonathan sat alone on the front steps, the echo of his own lies the only thing left to keep him company.