Episode 10
“Do you, Rose Amaka, take Chinedu Stanley to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health…,”
Rose wished the Pastor would hurry up through the vows, she can’t wait to be able to refer to herself as Chinedu’s wife. She smiled up at Chinedu, her heart, missing a beat when he smiled back.
“…for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, from this time forward till death do you part?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Chinedu Stanley, take Rose Amaka to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, forsaking all others, from this time forward till death do you part?”
“I do,” Chinedu replied.
Before the Pastor could pronounce them man and wife, and ask them to kiss, the doorbell rang.
Wait. A doorbell? In the church? What was going on?
Rose woke up to her phone ringing.
“I should have known it was a dream,” she muttered. She didn’t know if she should be happy or sad at the interrupted dream.
She wondered who could be calling at … She looked at the wall clock, it was seven minutes past ten o’clock P.M., barely an hour since she went to bed.
Reluctantly picking up her phone from her bedside drawer, she saw that it was Susan.
She quickly answered, a bit worried. Since Susan told her parents about the rape incident, and saw that they didn’t blame her, she seemed determined to overcome whatever attack the incident started, and she began making good progress, but Rose knew from experience that sometimes, a slip happens, and she hoped that was not the reason Susan called.
“Hello,” she said into the receiver as she sat up. “Susan are you okay?”
“Yes, yes,” Susan said, sounding excited and worried. “I just…”
“Just what? Susan talk to me”
“I don’t know. I have been showing signs to Tunji that I want us to try making love, but he seems oblivious to my moves. It’s either that, or he is avoiding me. I am beginning to feel ashamed.”
“No, no don’t be,” Rose said getting out of bed, relief flooding her body. “He is your husband. His body is yours, and yours his.”
“I know, but since I denied him in the past, maybe he has changed his mind?”
Rose detected slight fear in Susan’s voice.
“Susan, remember what we said about the past? It is in the past. Where is he now?” she asked. Maybe a direct approach is best.
“He is in the bathroom. He has been there for about ten minutes. I think he is hoping I would be in bed by the time he comes out.”
“Okay let’s not conclude and get ahead of ourselves,” Rose said as she walked to her fridge and took out the juice. She always got hungry when dealing with Susan’s case outside the office. “What you define as signs may look normal to him. Besides you and I know how you withdrew when he made moves before. Maybe he does not want to hurt you?”
“Hurt me?” Susan asked, sounding hysterical. “He has been hugging me tightly everyday as if he wanted more, and now I want more and he is afraid of hurting me? You said my moves may not be clear enough? Well I have done things like rubbing his arm, and other things I am ashamed to tell you, and he quickly leaves the place. Maybe I should just go to bed, since he does not want me.”
The hurt in Susan’s voice almost made Rose happy. Her friend was truly ready to get intimate with her husband.
Forcing herself to focus on Susan she said the first thing that came to her mind.
“Get naked.”
“What?”
“Get stark naked and wait for him right in front of the bathroom door. He can’t stay in there forever. Get a chair if need be, but you will wait for him until he comes out then hug him without letting him go. Let’s see how he will ignore that.”
“Rose! What if he comes out naked?”
“Perfect then. I think he will carry on from there. But be sure you are ready. Don’t start what you can’t finish Susan.”
“I am ready.”
“Good. So I expect your call in the morning.”
“Okay. Wish me luck.”
“You won’t need it. You are becoming Tunji’s wife in the right sense tonight.”
“I know!” Susan said, excitedly. “One last question though. How did you know about this move, and when will you make your own move towards Chinedu?”
“Susan, go and seduce your husband and leave me alone,” Rose said quickly and ended the call before Susan could go further in her disturbing question.
Saying a silent prayer that the night goes well for Susan and Tunji, Rose finished her juice and walked back to the bedroom. She knew sleep was nowhere close.
She picked up the Sidney Sheldon novel she bought recently, ‘Bloodline’, and hoped it would take her mind off Chinedu.
Five minutes later, she gave up.
She decided to send Chinedu a text. She knew she was taking a stupid risk, but if she could ask Susan to take a risk, maybe she should also take one.
She quickly typed the text and sent it before she could stop herself.
To cushion whatever blow might come, she switched off her phone when it showed delivered.
She would get her answer in the morning.
Chinedu sang R. Kelly’s ‘Storm Is Over’ along with his stereo, as he worked. He knowingly brought back some work home to keep his mind busy.
Getting to sleep had become a hard thing to do recently.
His time with Rose was coming to an end since Susan was getting better at handling her attacks. He was yet to try asking her out again. He was not sure he wanted to be rejected again.
His phone rang and he chided himself for thinking it might be Rose.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Chinedu it’s me Tunji.”
“What’s up. Hope no problem?” He didn’t say the rest of his thoughts, but he knew Tunji understood.
It was few minutes to ten, quite late for a ‘normal’ call.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s late but I don’t know who else to call, and it is also your fault.”
“What is the matter Tunji?” Chinedu asked, his mind wandering to different things that could be his fault.
“She is all over me!” Tunji exclaimed. “I don’t want her to think I followed her to the counselling sessions because I want her to make love to me. I’m not sure how much longer I can avoid her. You must realise I am not used to this kind of move from her…”
“Hold on Tunji, you lost me at the first line,” Chinedu interrupted. “Who is all over you?”
“My wife na. Who else would I be with by this time?”
“Sorry sir. She is crying all over you?” Chinedu asked with a frown. Was there a problem? Does this mean he would get more time with Rose?
“Oh God, no. Where is your mind?! I think she wants me to sleep with her.”
“Oh!’ Chinedu said, disappointed. “And why is that a problem?”
“I don’t want to scare her again, and beside you said…”
“Tunji.”
“Yes”
“Where are you now?”
“In my house of course.”
“No, I mean where in your house are you? Is Susan by your side?”
“I ran into the bathroom, before I do something…”
“Tunji are you mad?”
“I’m serious and you…”
“Answer my question,” Chinedu interrupted impatiently. “Are you mad?”
“No!”
“If you know what is good for you, you better go to your wife now,” Chinedu said, almost angry. “Do you know how many men are hoping that their wives would make the move? Your wife who has never been with a man the normal way is making a move and you left her to come and be telling me what I said. Forget whatever it is I said and go love your wife.”
“What if she withdraws again? Tunji asked, sounding both worried and afraid, Chinedu calmed down.
“She won’t. She is ready. Just let her set the pace, and don’t rush her. When she doesn’t know what to do, calmly show her. Generally, be patient with her even if it kills you.”
“Okay, so I should…”
“Tunji, go and make love to your wife. Leave me alone.” Chinedu said and ended the call.
“Madman, he muttered as he turned back to his computer. “You have been waiting for her for months, and now you are almost running away. If you like…”
A message alert from his phone interrupted his muttering. Ready to ignore him if it was Tunji again, he was shocked when he saw it was from Rose. He almost shouted for joy when he saw the contents.
Can I take you out tomorrow? Like on a date? At Serene Hotels by seven P.M.
Forgetting that he had work to do, he tried calling her. It was switched off.
Without checking his schedule, he replied.
Yes! Definitely! See you tomorrow.
He smiled through the rest of the night. Things were beginning to look up.
* * *
The sound of the door opening had Susan looking up from her hands which she had clasped on he naked thighs.
She saw the surprised look in Tunji’s eyes on seeing her naked.
She was happy he had a towel tied round his waist. She might have run away.
Getting bolder, she fought the urge to cover herself and stood up, walking slowly to where he stood transfixed.
Standing on her toes, she put her hand around his neck and kissed him.
He didn’t move away, but neither did he respond or hold her as she hoped. The only sign that he was affected by her was his erratic pulse which she could see closely.
She didn’t know what else to do, even though she felt the kisses all the way to her toes.
“Can you please hold me and at least kiss me back like my husband should?” she demanded.
She smiled at the speed with which he obeyed.
The moment her husband’s arms went around her, Susan knew she was home.
She looked forward to the rest of the night, in deed she looked forward to the rest of their life together.
For the first time, she could she the future clearly. She turned her mind back to seducing her husband.
The End!