?

''How old is she again?'' Belinda asked.

''She is your god daughter nah''

''Blossom, I can't think again. I'm dying here, help me out please''

''8 years old in primary 3''

''Jesus Christ! It's not a matter of did she notice it. She clearly saw it and so she understands. I know it like I know my name''

''How can you be so sure?''

''The way she stared at me after you'd gone. She kept staring like I'd bewitched her! Chic, you'll need to wipe the slate clean and say something so she does not get confused and blurts something out. She is your child so you know how best to handle it. You may pretend it was nothing or try to distort the image of what she thought she saw''

''I'll handle it, she is my daughter. Jesus Christ this is nasty''

''I'm sorry but I've got to rush now'' she rushed towards the bathroom door but suddenly turned around and held out a finger in warning ''ensure you say something today, preferably before she gets back home because of Cosmos. If you can say something in the car this morning, better do it. You don’t want her talking rubbish to friends at school''

''She won't. She is far too smart for that''

?

She picked up her hand bag and beckoned to her son who was playing on her rug. He promptly got up and ran in her direction. And just before she left, she glanced around the room one last time and smiled in satisfaction. It looked great, nothing was out of place so she shut the door and walked towards the dining area ''are you done with your cereal kids?'' she announced. She didn’t get a reply but she was not expecting one.

''C'mon let's go!'' she yelled. She hurried them out and made sure they were all seated in the car. She placed Junior in his car seat and buckled him in. Everything seemed perfect and she was going to have that talk with Nkem later in the day.

She didn’t want to say anything in the car and arouse the suspicion of her second child. That one was another typewriter on standby! Besides, if she spoke too soon, it may be termed desperate. Did kids even think like that? An adult would certainly think along that line, but what about a kid under the age of 10? Damn it! Blossom thought to herself. What a way to start my week!

[size=18pt]36[/size]

''All of them?''

''Yes''

''Did the dresses fit?''

''Yes''

''Yes mummy''

''Sorry. Yes mummy''

Blossom continued to stare at her but she could not tell what was going through the young child's mind. She stroked her forehead and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. Suddenly she cleared her throat and lowered her voice, her other child was asleep so it was safe to talk
''Nkem, mummy would like to explain something to you''

''Aunty Bel…''

Then Blossom smiled at her and replied ''yes, Aunty Belinda. You see sometimes grownups can be happy or filled with gratitude and they express that happiness in different ways. Do you understand what I mean by gratitude?''

''That’s like you are thankful''

''That’s right. Mummy was very happy because Aunty Belinda came to stay with her while daddy was away. Mummy needed help with taking care of all of you and your aunty helped with that. You saw her cleaning, cooking and sometimes holding Junior while I helped with homework or dinner. You saw her didn’t you?''

I just hope the child would not practice this form of "gratitude" with a girl in her school.

olashas:
I just hope the child would not practice this form of "gratitude" with a girl in her school.

She will ooo

U took d word outta ma mouth

Dis is wrong for a mother to engage in such activities, wen she is fully aware that her children are close by

Blossom eh!!!

[size=18pt]37[/size]
By the time Blossom entered the room, Cosmos was still up ''I thought you were going to sleep there'' he joked.

''Nah, just tucking the kids in''

''Well done, it's not easy''

''Nah it was all good. Nkem was well behaved while you were away, she is preparing for her common entrance so I had respite. Chichi was preoccupied with her art project and Junior … oh dear me!''

''Pele!''

''It wasn’t bad at all oh. Belinda was on hand to help and of course keep the kids thoroughly entertained''

''Ahh! God bless her. I was a bit worried about you and that’s why I kept calling. I mean being alone all by yourself at night so I'm grateful you had company'' then Cosmos stood up and announced he was going to take a shower. ''You look knackered'' Blossom announced.

''It’s the jet lag dear. My system is also trying to adapt to the time zone thing'' as Cosmos spoke, he walked into the bathroom and began to whistle. The door was open so Blossom continued to talk ''I loved the perfume, thanks''

''You are most welcome. What about the wrist watch?''

''Oh lord! How could I forget? That's like the best gift I've received in ages!''

''I know you would like it, they said it's called Mother of Pearl watch - whatever that means. America is great. It is indeed God's own country, that title nor be for mouth. My dear everything works there. The roads are clean, wide and free of potholes. You call the ambulance and police and they are there in a jiffy''

''Na so''

''Not once did light blink - not once. No matter the weather oh, no shaking. I can't tell you how comforting that was for me''

''Oh my God, come and help us in this country!''

''He sure will. Well while he does, I will check out with my family. I loved everything I saw in Arizona. Honey, that is indeed the place for us. I have calculated everything and things will work once we leave this place. It is a bit of a gamble but I will sell that land at Abuja and we will relocate''

''Hmm, are you sure? That’s a huge step you know''

''Don’t even worry about it. By God's grace we will get double the value of that land within a five year period in the States!’’

‘’Even less than the 5 years. My baby cousin that left which day here is doing so well. All she said is that you must work like jacky’’

''Well hard work never killed any serious minded person besides that land is beginning to give me cause for concern. It has remained fallow for quite a while and world people know how to convert things that are not put to good use. My brother is helping me watch it, but I want to dispose of it as quickly as possible''

''Okay''

''I believe this is the time besides its high time you picked up your career. All I ask is that you intensify your prayer for us. We must get that visa in Jesus name. I'm confident it will be easier now I've gotten this one coupled with the fact you have travelled before. That’s why I struggled so hard to travel this time. I want things to be so easy for us when that time comes. I believe it will end well''

''Amen''

All the while Cosmos talked, he was lathering his body. Afterwards he turned on the shower and the chatting came to a temporal halt. As soon as he was done, he tied Blossom’s pink towel around his waist but soon enough, he removed it in a hurry ''damn, this one is damp! Mine is still in the luggage''

''I'll fetch it for you'' Blossom replied.

''Thanks, you may need to wash this one though. I'll drop it in the laundry basket for you''

Blossom hurried and got a clean one from his box. As she handed it over to him, she noticed he was hunched over the laundry basket in their bathroom ''catch!'' she announced. He turned around and caught it then fastened the door with a lock.

It seemed like a simple action but he had not closed the door while he was taking his bath. Why did he feel the need to shut it after he was done? Blossom didn’t know it then, but it was the sign that something ominous was about to happen.

Nice one fantasyisland. More grace to ya elbow

Ghen ghen!!! Chai fantasy haff kill me ooo

Omo mehn.... Dis update is so short.

Having waited for how many days without an update. Haba madam, do us well abeg!

#GodBlessUsAll

pryd:
Hehehe did he make any discovery inside the laundry basket?

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I nearly asked what is in the laundry basket? Nawa

. . . Actually I'm thinking the wet towel led him to the laundry basket. Say by now he should have an idea of how his wife smells (without the foreign body part. Lol)
Seems to me it was a very bad idea them co-habiting in marital space!
Thanks @fantasyisland for the update but it appeared kindof short to me

Here we go

stonecoldcafe:


I think you've hit the nail on the head. I nearly asked what is in the laundry basket? Nawa

Let's keep our fingers crossed.

more

[size=18pt]38[/size]
About 5 minutes later, Dr Cosmos Ndukwe came out of the bathroom with a smile on his face. Blossom began talking again but the moment he flung his towel aside, she whistled like a garage boy and switched topic ''is it not amazing how good your spouse looks when you see them after a while?''

Cosmos laughed but said nothing in reply then she continued ''look at your lean behind, come here let me tap some of that. I like that thing swinging between your leg''

''I thought you'd be tired after a week of woman pleasure''

''Meaning''

''Oh well, you've been left to your devices and I was thinking you'll be spent by now''

''Here we go again, do you have to ruin things every now and then? Do you have to tell your expensive jokes at my expense? I'm not sure why you do these things. I don’t think you realize how upsetting it is for…''

''When did Belinda come around?''

''What does have to do with what we are discussing?''

''Hmm, just asking''

''Sunday, the day you left''

''Ahh, God bless her. A wicked week of woman wonder abi?''

Then Blossom folded her arms across her chest and frowned ''is that the new stunt you want to pull?'' she asked.

''Nah, its okay. You don’t have to answer me. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t agree without a fight too. Anyway did she sleep in this room on any night?''

''What room?''

''Why, ours of course''

''No''

''Did she come in here or something?''

''Of course she came in but it's not like she stayed for long or anything''

''Would you like to fill me in?''

''Sure for example when Junior was crying or something, she'll bring him over and stuff. We could sit and chat but that was it. It wasn’t like she slept here or anything''

''Hmm''

''What is hmm, you can ask the kids. She stayed in the guest room the entire time''

''Did she have her bath here? I mean did she ever have her bath in our bathroom?''

''The guest room is self contained in case you have forgotten''

''I just asked a simple question; no need to work yourself up to a fever pitch. You face is all red, I bet if I touched it, it would be burning''

''I'm sorry I sound slow but why would she bathe here? What is the meaning of all this useless accusation? I don’t even know why I'm answering you sef. Why would she come all the way from the guestroom to have her bath here when there is a shower in the guestroom?''

Then Cosmos headed for the bathroom and returned with a silk night gown. Immediately Blossom froze but she quickly recovered and smiled like it was no big deal ''mind telling me what Belinda's night gown is doing in our bathroom?'' Cosmos asked. ''And please don’t lie that it's yours. I have a fairly good idea of your nighties and I don’t recall this being one. And if you are thinking about lying that you got it last week, you better scratch that too unless you want to tell me how you now wear a size 16 or is it 18'' he looked at the collar of the night gown and exclaimed ''ah it says UK size 16 to 18. I don’t mean to pry and feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken. I don’t know I could be wrong, you probably added all that weight in a week and dropped it right before I arrived!''

Blossom caught red handed

''Dear, I'm surprised you can be worked up over something so… so … permit me to use the word shallow…'' as Blossom continued explaining away, Cosmos held out the ash coloured night gown and shook it in midair. The large fabric swayed from side to side and its memory burned a clean hole right through Blossom's heart.

She remembered naughty things she did while Belinda wore it, she recalled yanking it off, clutching at it and… suddenly she stopped talking because she was beginning to say a whole load of drivel ''is that all you can say?'' Cosmos asked. ''Like seriously, you look me in the eye and bring my kids into your mess?''

''I'm not saying he did it but he could have. Junior plays around a lot, picks things from one corner and transports it to another. Remember how he brought my wooden spoon and put in inside your car? That’s what kids that age do. Surely, you know that don’t you?''

''Are you seriously telling me, Junior walked all the way to the guest room, opened the door, then entered the room and picked this particular clothing item from God knows where. Then he wandered all the way back to our bedroom, he didn’t drop it on the floor, he didn’t drop it on the bed and he didn’t drop it on the chair. Instead he opened the bathroom door and dumped this particular item inside our laundry basket?''

''It sounds unbelievable when you say it but if you sit and think, you'll see it is not impossible…''

''He dropped this nightgown inside the laundry basket that is hidden behind our bathroom door? He leaned over a basket this high, he leaned over that woven basket that he can barely reach and he dropped this in?''

Blossom realized she was sunk but she shrugged her shoulder and continued lying through her teeth ''children copy what they see others do so to answer your question - yes''

''Would you repeat that and this time look at me with a straight face?''

Then Blossom began to stammer, it was only then it occurred to her the ridiculousness of her tale. She was caught in a difficult situation so she tried to weave another story around her initial lie ''perhaps Chichi did, I don’t know. All I know is that Belinda didn’t spend a night here. Belinda never had her bath here. Her personal items like toothbrush and sponge were never here''

''I didn't ask you about those items but thanks for intimating me. Yeah go ahead and and expose yourself some more woman!''

''Oh my God! Somebody help me from this nonsense talk! This is torment!''

''Tonight is the night, the truth will come out today. You have sworn she didn't sleep here so what is her nightwear doing in our bathroom? Why would she have her bath here? And even if she did, perhaps its not such a big deal. Maybe the heater was not working in the guest room or something. The problem is why you are lying when the truth is glaring! ''

''I'm not quite sure how that item made its way here. You must believe me dear'' then she got up and moved towards Cosmos ''you just came back today; don’t work yourself over something so small. Surely there is a reasonable explanation for this. Tomorrow I'll call the kids and ask them…''

Then Cosmos began to laugh like a mad man ''how could I have been so stupid?'' he asked. ''All the time, the truth was staring me in the face and I didn’t see it''

''See what?''

''She was the one. I mean, she is the one. You are having an affair with your fellow woman. You are having an affair with Belinda'' then Cosmos continued to laugh ''I've been so blind; the best way to hide a thing is to freaking leave it in plain sight. But how could I have known my wife was a lesbian? How could I have known that was the reason that lady hung around you or refused to marry? Of course I wouldn’t have known, what man thinks about such things? I was so naïve but that’s what you get from a man with a pure heart. That’s what you get from a simpleton. I should have put two and two together but I wanted to believe the best in humanity. What man suspects his wife's best friend of being her lesbian lover?''

''Would you stop this in Jesus name!''

''Would you wipe that precious name Jesus from your filthy mouth!’’

Belinda needs salvation from evil spirit ruling her life, blossom is one stupid woman who can't stand up for what she believes in that is why Belinda finds her easily to be manipulated, well I dey look for 3D

‘’I am dead!’’

‘’Blossom, would you admit it for once in your life? Would you admit Belinda is the third person in this marriage? Would you admit she is the clog in our wheel of progress? Would you admit she is more than your best friend? Would you admit she is the he I always spoke about?''

At that stage Cosmos was crying like a woman and it frightened Blossom. It frightened her so much because she had never seen her husband act so vulnerable. Blossom always believed if Cosmos ever found out the truth, he would kill her but now he was crying. It frightened her so much she didn’t know when truth descended on her lips ''yes'' she whispered. ''Yes you are right'' then she broke down and began to cry as well. She tried to hold Cosmos but he staggered back in disbelief ''I'm so sorry'' Blossom whispered. She held out a hand to him but he continued to move backwards like she was a ghost.

Suddenly there was a strange sound and it came from Cosmos's throat. It was a whimper like one made by a dog in pain. Then he sank on his knees and continued to cry out. Suddenly he stopped as quickly as he started then he began to mutter something.

Blossom was still crying when she approached him and continued to plead for mercy. As she moved closer, she did it cautiously because she didn’t want him to lash out at her. But when she heard what he was muttering, she stopped and moved backwards.

Cosmos was muttering the same words over and over again ''what thing have I married? What thing have I married? What thing have I married? What thing have I …''