Ayikailey sat across from Addae at their small dining table, her hands still curled around a cup of ginger tea. The wooden carving sat between them like a silent witness. Addae was already halfway through his plate of yam and palaver sauce, his brows furrowed as he listened to her recount what had happened.
“So you’re telling me,” he began, chewing slowly, “that you saw a shadow lurking by the gate, your heart nearly jumped out of your chest, and instead of running inside like a sensible person, you decided to investigate?”
Ayikailey gave him a look. “I wasn’t investigating. I was… observing.”
“Ah. ‘Observing,’” he echoed, nodding sagely. “With your heart racing and your yam knife in hand.”
She huffed, crossing her arms. “Anyway, it turns out it wasn’t a spirit or an ancestor come to give me a sign.”
Addae leaned forward, lowering his voice dramatically. “So who was it? Don’t tell me it was old Kweku from next door. That man moves like he’s made of fog.”
Ayikailey let the tension build for a moment before she smirked. “It was Naa Korkor.”
Addae froze, his spoon halfway to his mouth. “The fetish priestess?”
“The one and only.”
A second passed. Then, Addae dropped his spoon with a clatter. “Ei! What was she doing creeping around our house in the dead of night? Does she not have enough spirits to talk to?”
“She wasn’t creeping! She was… uh… checking on me.”
“Checking on you?” Addae repeated, eyes narrowing. “In the dark? Without knocking? The woman wears enough beads to be heard from a mile away—why was she sneaking around like a cat?”
Ayikailey suppressed a laugh. “She said she wanted to leave the carving without disturbing me.”
“Oh, of course,” Addae said, throwing up his hands. “Nothing says ‘respectful delivery’ like lurking near the gate like a thief.” He sighed, rubbing his temple. “Did she at least explain the carving?”
“She said it was for the baby,” Ayikailey replied, glancing at the figurine. “A blessing from the ancestors. She claims she saw a vision of our child.”
Addae squinted. “What did she see?”
“She refused to tell me! Just smiled and said, ‘You will know when the time comes.’”
Addae groaned. “Of course she did. Priests and priestesses can never just say things directly.”
Ayikailey laughed. “You should have seen your face when I said it was her. You looked ready to pack your things and move out.”
Addae scoffed, picking up his spoon again. “Ah, after all, you said you saw a shadow! If it had been a ghost, would you be laughing now?”
She grinned. “If it had been a ghost, you would have been halfway to your mother’s house by now.”
Addae gasped in mock offense. “Me? Run? Ah, Ayikailey, you wound me.”
“Just eat your food, brave warrior,” she teased, nudging his leg under the table.
Addae shook his head, muttering under his breath as he took another bite. “Next time, tell Naa Korkor she can leave her gifts in the daytime like a normal person.”
