*Continuation of Episode 14*

"Gbe meh ah! (Kill me) Ehigianewo, Gbe me ah! Kill me instead of you having anything more to do with that witch of a girl."

Oh, God! Who was the witch here now? Wasn't she the one trying to kill him with high BP? She came to see him in the hospital everyday to rant and rave. His mother had just woken him up with her shout.

A nurse came into the room just then and eyed the irate woman.

"Madam, you are here again! Please don't let us call security for you today again o," she warned sternly.

"Comot here, afiemhen (bird)," was his mother's angry reply.

Felix coughed to hide his laugh. Indeed, the nurse looked like a bird. She was quite tall and as thin as a rake. She had a beak for a nose amd underneath her nurse's cap, her hair began at the middle of her head.

The birdy nurse eyed Felix's mother, hissed and walked out of the room. Felix's mother rained abuses on her before turning to her son who had a bandage on his left upper arm and a plaster on his forehead.

"Felix, please. Listen to your mother. A child’s fingers are not scalded by a piece of hot yam which his mother puts into his palm." She sat on the white plastic chair beside the bed and held his right hand. "That girl is a witch. See how she almost killed you. She doesn't come from a good family. They are all witches. Mama Otibhor called me just seconds before you had the accident. She dreamt that morning that she saw you in your car and also saw that witch, Ivie, standing by the roadside and directing the steering wheel of a trailer. Was that not exactly what happened? I was waiting for you to get better before telling you." A tear rose in one eye. "Please do away with that girl. You will find another girl. You don't know what I did and how I suffered to get you. Don't you ever wonder why your sisters are far older than you? I couldn't conceive again after Efua for a long time. Please. It's the mouth parents use in talking to their children, if they use their buttocks, then disgrace will befall them. You're alive today because of God. Please let that remain so. She migut try to kill you again." Mrs. Eromosele sniffed.

She'd discovered that her threats weren't getting her anywhere with her stubborn son. After all, it required a lot of carefullness to kill the fly that perches on the scrotum. So she'd would use tears and coercion to get through to him. She'd never forget how her heart entered her throat when she heard of his accident. The boy didn't know how much she treasured him. He didn't know the length she'd gone to make sure she had him. The woman quickly pushed away the images of yesteryears trying to pop out from a box in her mind. She had to think of something sorrowful now to make sure her tear ducts did their job. Her tears, she believed would convince her son to stay away from that girl. She wondered what he'd gone to her house to do. He refused to say. Oh, where were these tears na?

Women!

Indeed, he was alive today because God had said it wasn't his time to go, Felix acknowledged. He remembered what happened that tragic day with anixety and still had nightmares about it. He'd missed hitting the trailer by mere whiskers. But his swerve had been too much; he'd plunged into the pillar of the bridge. Luckily for him, only his left hand which he'd hit heavily on the dash board was sprained with a small bruise on his head. He could still feel the fear as his life passed before him when he thought the end had come. The screeching of tyres and the smell of twisted metal still assailed his ears and nostrils every now and then. His car was a write-off. It was a horrible experience. Never again would he want to experience such. His mother had nearly had a panic attack upon seeing him unconscious on the hospital bed. His father had had to drag her out twice as she shouted and cursed Ivie.

Ivie!

Hmm...he couldn't believe his ex-girlfriend hadn't deemed it fit to visit him in the few days he'd been at the hospital. All his friends and relatives had visited him but not a breath of her. And to think just before he'd fallen into the deep pit of unconsciousness, he'd decided to take responsibility of the baby before having a paternity test done after she must have put to bed. All for nothing. She didn't even care that he'd had the accident just after leaving her place. Or was it true like his friend had always said, that she was a mermaid? So upset by his rejection, she'd tried to kill him? Nah, he shouldn't have such thoughts. He didn't believe in such things. But Mama Otibhor was known for her astute dreams though some had fallen short in the past. Was this one of them?

What was he gong to do? He loved his mother so much he didn't want to give her high BP but at the same time, if he was truthful to himself, he still had feelings for Ivie. One couldn't turn off deep feelings just like that. And just maybe the baby she was carrying was his. He didn't want a son or daughter to come looking for him in future after punching him in the face to claim he or she was his child. But could he really be sure? He'd seen her with Ehis dammit! But Ivie, the Ivie he'd known from the onset wasn't like that. She'd been a virgin for crying out loud and had wept profusely when he took it. He'd heard stories of recently-deflowered girls going crazy for s.ex after tasting the forbidden fruit. Was that what had happened to her? After all, he had been in school for a while then.

Gosh! He was so confused. What to do? He stared at his mother and her theatrics. She was squeezing her eyes tautly to produce tears. If he wasn't sure she would give him a dirty slap, he would have laughed out loud at her antics. She needn't bother. There was only one female on earth who would cry and he'd go to hell, kill the master of the underworld and dump him at her feet.

Her name-- Ivie!


*To be continued*

Change can be good but its always tough to let go of the past.
—Emily Giff


Episode 15


Aunt peace came to say goodbye before going back to Abuja. Nkechi came to visit the newly-weds later in the day. Gio took them around Akure and spoilt them rotten. They even went to Ekiti state to visit Ikogosi waterfalls.

The following day, Nkiru was sorry to see her husband go after taking permission not to attend their CDS but she knew he had to. Gio had called his dad the previous night to inform him of his plans to come home. Gio had felt his father's happiness over the phone. Little did he know he was about to receive the shock of his life.

He met his father looking debonair in a dove-grey three-piece suit, writing at his table. Gio wondered where he'd gone looking so good. He greeted his father and they exchanged pleasantries. He remained by the door wondering how to broach the topic.

"Dad," he softly called. The man in question raised his head. "I can't marry Jessica."

His father sighed. "Gio, we've been through this. There's no other way. Everything has been arranged. We'll take the last flight to Owerri in the evening." 

Gio lifted his ringed finger and scratched his nose. His father's eyes narrowed.

"I can't marry Jessica because Nkiru and I got married on Wednesday."

"What!" The senator stood up in fury and marched across the air-conditioned room to where his son, an epitome of calmness, was standing. Gio handed a copy of his marriage certificate to his father which he'd removed from the big brown envelope in his hand. After reading it, the father tore it to pieces.

"There's more where that came from," Gio informed him and handed his wedding pictures to him. When his father saw the smiling woman standing beside Nkiru, all his anger sipped from his body like air from a deflated tyre.

"Why? Why did Oby do this to me?" He moaned out his frustration.

"Because she understood my reasons for not wanting to marry Jessica."

Enraged eyes held his. "Do you know what you've done, you f.ool? You've disgraced me. Jessica and her people are expecting us in their house in Awomama tomorrow."

Gio scoffed. "They can wait till hell freezes over for all I care."

"You will not shame me. I'll have that marriage annulled," his father warned with an angry forefinger stabbed in the air at him.

"On what grounds? I'm not responsible for Jessica's pregnancy. Can't you just understand that?" Frustration laced Gio's words. "It's even too late to have it annulled. I had the best wedding night ever. She bled, Dad. Nkiru bled. Real blood, Dad, unlike that lying slut."

His father took that vital piece of information in silence and calmly said, "But the DNA test shows you're the father."

Gio laughed scornfully. "But of course."

"Even the one I had done secretly," Senator Ekwe informed him solemnly.

"What?" Gio was stunned. "It can't be."

The senator watched him through darkened eyes. "You've been lying to me. It's obvious you blanked out after sleeping with her."

"I didn't!" His son lifted his hands and dropped them as he moved about the room.

"Then explain the DNA result to me," Senator Ekwe yelled.

Confused, Gio yelled back, "I can't! Maybe the second one was doctored as well. Maybe they knew..."

Gio's father cut in with a wave of his hand to show his disgust. "Oh, please stop with the conspiracy theory. No one knew about the second test except your aunt. What? She sold you out? The evidence against you is damning. Jessica said you impregnanted her, Fi saw you n.aked with her on your bed, in your room, and both paternity tests show you're the father. What do you want me to do, son? What?"

"Dad please, I..."

"Yet you recklessly went ahead to marry another girl two days ago."

"I love Nkiru. I'm not responsible for that harlot's baby." Gio put both palms together in a desperate plea.

His father rose to his intimidating height. "This is the last straw that has broken the camel's back. I told you not to defy me again. A child can play with its mother's breasts, but not its father's testicles. I'm going to seize your inheritance."

Gio's nose flared. "You can't do that."

"Yes, I can. Watch me. If the throat can grant passage to a knife, the anus should wonder how to expel it. " He moved to his desk to pick one of the phones on it. Gio followed him.

"Dad, please stop this. What did you expect me to do? Sit back while you assuage your ego by marrying me off to that slut! I'm of age. I can do whatever I want."

"You're now a man, right? Now get out of my house. I don't want to see your face again till I call you to come and answer face to face to Jessica's family."

Gio nodded and held his peace despite the rage in his eyes. He left the room quietly while the senator collapsed on his chair. What was he going to do to his headstrong son? He'd underestimated him. What was he going to do now? Gio had destroyed all the plans he'd made by marrying Nkiru. He recalled with fear the shock he'd felt when the result of the second paternity test he'd sent to Lagos came. What really happened that night? There was no explanation other than Gio had blanked out after sleeping with Jessica. Of course it wasn't rape like the Jessica girl was trying to portray. He could remember the way she'd ogled Gio the first time she visited. She'd probably gone to his son's room to seduce him and the foolish boy had succumbed to her whims. Probably distressed after the incidence, his mind had chosen to blank it out. His son used to do that. What a mess!


As he sat there with a hand underneath his jaw, thinking, Senator Ekwe however couldn't stop the smile that curved his lips. He finally realized that Gio was innocent. He wasn't responsible for Jessica's pregnancy. His son couldn't have taken such drastic steps if he weren't innocent. He had neither cared for his rage nor that of Nkiru's parents nor Jessica's people. Gio was married. He now had a daughter-in-law. He was still thinking when he heard a soft knock on the door. Aunt Peace came in. His eyes communicated to her his anger at her betrayal.

"How could you?" He finally asked her after a length of silence.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "How could I not?" She sat on the chair beside him. "That was the first time in his twenty-two years plus he ever asked me for anything."

"And you chose to betray me because of that? You chose my son over me?" He stood up smoothly.

"I chose not to let history repeat itself," she firmly told him but he waved a hand in disgust.

He walked fluidly to his window. "Please don't bring that up."

Aunt Peace followed him. "Why shouldn't I bring that up? You want to subject your son to the same thing you went through?"

"Obiageli please. It's not even the same." Gio's father moved his body to face her with critical eyes.

"But almost," she countered fiercely. "Why can't you realize the fact that Gio loves Nkiru and she loves him in return. They're a perfect match. I believe he isn't responsible for Jessica's pregnancy."

"But Fiorella saw them together. The evidence is too incriminating. Both DNA test shows he's the father. Why would Fi lie against a brother she loves so much?"

She moved to hold his hand. "We've been through all these. The fact that she saw them together means nothing. Gio didn't deny it. That devious and conniving Jessica could have been on her period or something and Fi, bless her soft and good heart had allowed herself to be deceived. Furthermore, I believe Jessica and her family knew about the second paternity test. Remember you recently fired that maid who told Gio where to find me on the night of his party. Remember you caught her eavesdropping at the door when she thought you were here with me, not knowing you'd gone to get somethimg from your car. She might have been paid by them to monitor us also. I wouldn't put anythimg past them. They are a desperate bunch."

"Oby, you really don't understand what's at play here. Jessica's family have threatened to go public with the news. I can't have that happening. I don't have any political ambition anymore, I'm not running for a third tenure despite the pleas but I don't want my family brought out in the public and torn to shreds by the media wolves. What happened to Gio would be brought out."

"Then pay off Jessica's family."

"You think I haven't tried that? I wrote them a check the last time I visited. I could see they were tempted but they seem to have a bigger fish to catch. I have to assume that in some way, they've found out about Gio's money. Maybe Fi in her foolishness told Jessica about it. If that's the case, after this stunt that Gio pulled, I'll tell them he has been disinherited by me and has lost his inheritance as well. That ought to scare them away."

Peace smiled and hugged him.

"I'm still angry with you though," he said but smiled and gave her a peck. "How was it?

"It was beautiful. Underneath that cold facade your son shows to the world, he's the most romantic guy I've ever known. Tuface Idibia graced your son's wedding luncheon and he happens to be Nkiru's favourite Nigerian artiste." Aunt Peace laughed at his lifted eyebrows.

Looking at a king’s mouth one would never think he sucked his mother’s breast.

"Your daughter-in-law might not be beautiful, but she's a rare gem. She saved Gio from a fate worse than death and she really loves him. She was willing to give up her dream wedding just to marry him."

"And you're sure it isn't because of his money," he asked with sckeptism.

"I asked Gio the same question. He hasn't told her about his inheritance. He said she complains that he's too extravagant and tries saving his money for him."

The senator laughed heartily.

"Tell her I said goodluck with that!"

When Gio called his wife to tell her his dad sent him out of his house and disinherited him, she became worried. Nkechi had to calm her down. She held her hand and made sure they prayed about the incident and the future.

**********


Arranging the clothes she'd put on the following day, Jessica was at the height of happiness. Her childhood friends gazed at her with envy in their eyes. Her stomach wasn't protruding yet so her beautifully tailored cream lace gown was the best she had to wear for the ceremony. She knew after the wedding, she'd have a walk-in closet. She smiled as she placed her head gear beside the gown. Her mother came into the room looking frantic. Jessica was alarmed. Her mother asked her friends to excuse them. She stood at arms akimbo at the door.

"There's fire on the mountain, Uzodinma." She held her wrapper and stopped it from slipping to the ground from her waist. She retied it firmly. Jessica watched her mother and wondered if she should chant, 'run, run, run'

"Gio is married," The desperate woman blurted.

"What! Chineke (God)!" Jessica yelled and moved closer to her mother who sat down on the bed and moved her leg frantically.

"Mummy, what did you just say? Did I hear you right?" She held her right ear.

"He got married to that Nkiru of a girl on Wednesday." Jessica sat on the bed with a thud.

"Jesus! How? Where?"

"In Akure. A court wedding for that matter. His father just called to tell us."

"Jesus!" Jessica put both hands on her head. "I'm finished."

Anguish reflected on her face. "Mummy, what are we going to do? Me, I can't give birth to a bastard baby o! I'll go and abort it."

"Shut up! Lemme think," the woman castigated with a hand on her jaw which had three strands of hair on it.

Jessica got up and paced the room.

"We're going to visit Nkiru's family. It's as if they aren't aware of it. Let us go and threaten them. I'm sure they'll do something about it."

Her daughter hissed. "What will that achieve?"

"Discord. It would make them not accept Gio for marrying their daughter without permission. Their Ada for that matter."

"Okay." Jessica sniffed as tears gathered in her eyes.

"I also have some more bad news but I think that can be easily rectified."

"What is it again? This happy day has turned into a haven of misery." She sniffed again and sat down beside the woman who gave birth to her.

"Senator Ekwe has disinherited him."

"Ha! That's not an issue sha. Gio has his own trust fund or something like that."

"No. He doesn't get anything for defying his father."

"Chineke! Then what are we fighting for? Please Mummy, let me remove this baby and look for another person. Remember I told you a friend of mine wants to introduce me to one Americana like that."

"No. The die is cast here. That small boy can't play a fast one on us and go scot free. Besides, if he marries you, I believe he will get his inheritance back."

Jessica frowned and looked away. "Mummy, I want to marry Giovanni at all cost but I must confess that I get scared of him sometimes. It was rumored that he's unstable, as in mental. I don't want him to kill me one day. My plan is to just be a rich man's wife and enjoy the pleasures of life. But I don't want to die while trying to achieve it."

"Foolish thoughts and words. Unstable indeed! Unstable enough to pull that stunt on us. There's nothing wrong with him. He's only pretending. You must marry him. Even if you become his second wife, you must marry him, live in that house with them in Akure and do your best to chase Nkiru away. You must marry him!" She beat her chest. "I've said so."

The ruin of a nation begins in the homes of its people.


**********


Gio climbed into bed beside his wife in the dark of the night and she stirred. He cuddled her and she became fully awake.

"Gio! How...what...when did you arrive?" She turned to look at him in surprise. She rubbed her left eye sleepily.

Her husband smiled. "A few minutes ago. There was no point staying back in Abuja when my dad kicked me out."

"But I thought you said you were going to put up with Tosin."

"I changed my mind. I wanted to be with my darling wife."

She smiled. "I missed you."

He kissed her lips. "I missed you too."

"How did you get in?"

"I called Nkechi over the phone to let me in. I didn't want to disturb my darling wife.

His wife grinned. "I'm glad you're back."

"Me too." He held her and they spooned. 

Nkechi went back home the following day while Nkiru with her heart in her mouth waited for repercussions of their actions from Gio's dad and Jessica's people. She was amazed to note that Gio wasn't bothered one bit.

Life is like a shadow and a mist; it passes quickly by, and is no more.

*To be continued on Saturday.*

Thanking you.

Okay, b4 I start reading and get carried away without stopping to coment, let me say a beautiful Morning to you Ma. I am sure of another classic narration here if not I wudnt have been waiting till today.I usually get bored when a story is not well told no matter how interesting the story is. I would just drop d sorry book,put to remembrance d name of the writer so I don't make d mistake of buying his/her work a second time but here I am Audrey Ma and very hungry for ur updates. It means u are doing terrific I assure you. I am even feeling guilty reading all these without paying a dime.its as if am cheating u big time. Am very sorry. Am sure God will do something nice for me so I can in turn encourage ur work. Well done Ma. Kudos to your husband too for his perceived support.

Intrigues

Nice one Audrey

AudreyTimms:
@king philip, @king philip, @king philip, how many times did I call you? Na here you wan find your Nkiru?


Thanking you.

I've found my Nkiru in @Izyyblaze oo

wow, am stunned, this is an epic story, every line Is just perfect, you are in line with everything. I applaud you.

This is a masterpiece.. You are doing a great job

Seems the senator is playing a fast one on someone.. It's either the second DNA result showed he's not responsible for the pregnancy or he's using Gio's defiance to conclude

Any which way I need this story concluded soon because I can't take this suspense anymore

Thanks for sharing AudreyTimms.. May the fountain of ur knowledge never go dry
But Saturday too far o

kingphilip:
I've found my Nkiru in @Izyyblaze oo

WHAT?? @kingphilip, u brought me here n want to leave me for Izzyblaze ? Impossible, don't let me 'jessica' you o!

Awesome update Audrey i love it, but the sex scene though i must admit i kinda got aroused and i was feeling like a perv, now am scared of you.

Food is ready!!! Let me dive in... Thanks Audrey

Audrey you say this book dey okadabooks, when I couldn't take the suspense anymore I run go find am there to buy am but I no see am!..why?

You're a terrific writer not a mere storyteller you claimed at the beginning of this story. You have taken me through different emotional state since I began reading. I have frowned, jealous, guffawed, and angered all because of the different occurrences to some of your characters.

I won't leave without pointing out the flaws I noticed though. Maybe due to eagerness to update on time, they are several typos in this beautiful work of literature.

AudreyTimms, you have a new loyal fan.

To love like this dey hungry me sha. Aunty Audrey thanks for the mention...more ink to your pen!

Wow... The description and intrigue here is beautiful. So romantic... so spell binding... so captivating. Cant seem to stop reading each piece you drop till the end even when I have other things to go and do.

Thanking you.

* And well done for your prompt and faithful updates. Very commendable ma'am*

calmie:


WHAT?? @king philip, u brought me here n want to leave me for Izzy blaze ? Impossible, don't let me 'jessica' you o!

she's my sister o

U know say u r the only one

JeffreyJamez:
Audrey you say this book dey okadabooks, when I couldn't take the suspense anymore I run go find am there to buy am but I no see am!..why?

it's not this one that's on Okadabooks but the other story waiting for the bouquet

Hahaha. You just made me remember my own wedding night and how shy we both were. It took me a while to dress up in my husband's presence without hiding in the bathroom. Thank you for writing stories we can relate to

But Nkiru should have known the news will somehow reach her parents now. Why didn't she tell them immediately after the wedding? Chai. I'm just scared for them.
Felix and his mum are always a comic relief . Couldn't stop laughing at the birdy nurse. Well done Audrey!
By the way, where's KingPhilip's Fiorella?

kingphilip:
it's not this one that's on Okadabooks but the other story waiting for the bouquet

Chai!!!

Hello Aurey Timms

I can only say wow.....

You have me captivated, and can't wait for the printed copy.

This is actually my first time reading any of your works and I am really impressed.

I noted just some spelling errors, not much but I believe that will be handled with the printed copy.. yes?

kingphilip:
both

U look more beautiful when u smile

AudreyTimms:


@Izyyblaze, epic response. Pity him sha.

Thanking you.

kingphilip:
I've found my Nkiru in @Izyyblaze oo

.
By the way...good day

calmie:


WHAT?? @kingphilip, u brought me here n want to leave me for Izzyblaze ? Impossible, don't let me 'jessica' you o!

Sis calm down, no need to turn Jessica yet . He's all yours

It will be so unfair of me to read without dropping a comment. The description and d narration 're well aligned. You're such a prolific writer

it will be unfair to read your work(stories) and keep quiet. you are unique in your own way, i love that. more grace

mitchyy:
By the way, where's KingPhilip's Fiorella?

we are cooking something that'll make plenty people join the team Fiorella crew

U see me asking about her?

JeffreyJamez:

Chai!!!

na so me self see am o

I just say make I come perch for here till she finish n she's taking all the time in the world o

Izyyblaze:

wow this is the Nkiru I fell in love with

Izyyblaze:
. By the way...good day

what's good about the day

Izyyblaze:

Sis calm down, no need to turn Jessica yet . He's all yours

you know it's not true