#THE_MIRACLE_I_nee-d_2
EPISODE 31
Kathleen stood in front of her dressing mirror, dressed in a floral patterned romper, with an asymmetric ne-ckline, as she added a finishing tou-chto her light makeup. She smiled when she saw Pete walk up behind her and snake his arm around her wai-stbefore sliding his hands upward to cu-p her bo-obs.
“Honeymoon is over, Mr. Howells,” Kathleen chided as she turned in his arm to ki-ss him lightly. Gone was the blu-shing vir-gin. Over the past couple of weeks, she had been replaced by a shamelessly wild woman.
“How about we try Honeysun, Mrs. Howells?” Pete asked with a pla-yful smile as he nibb-led herl-ips. They had spent just three weeks honeymooning in Dubai because he had to return to work, but they still couldn’t seem to keep their hands off each other. Not that either of them wanted to, anyway.
Kathleen swiftly moved away when he tried to take things de-eper by di-pping his hand into her romper, “Don’t start, or we are going to be late,” Kathleen warned. Kimberly and Eric had invited them over for dinner so that they could catch up and Kathleen would also give them her response concerning the foundation for s-xually abused ladies.
“We could just get un-der the sheets, and tell them something came up,” Pete suggested, wiggling his brow in a nau-ghty matter.
Kathleen giggled, “Yeah, something came up the last time too. The only thing that keeps coming up is that shameless person between your legs. We have canceled on Kim before, we can’t do so again,” Kathleen said as she tried to walk past him, but he gr-abbe-d her by the wa-ist.
“How about a quic-kie? Five minutes?” Pete pleaded.
“No. You’re going to ruin my clothes. Let’s leave,” Kathleen said, moving away from him to pick up her white high-heeled sli-ppers.
“This is not fair nau,” Pete complained pitifully, ma-king Kathleen who was alre-ady by the door turn to look at him with an amused expression.
“What isn’t fair?”
“You are starving me s-xually nau.”
“Starving you s-xually indeed! You are not serious. We had s-x ba-rely two hours ago. Let’s go abeg,” Kathleen said and walked out of the room.
“But I still want to do nau,” Pete called out after her.
“Amanda come and ask your dad what he still wants to do,” Kathleen called out to Amanda who was in the living room watching TV with Isioma and Chidi.
“Silly woman,” Pete muttered with a chuckle as he picked up his wristwatch and walked out of the be-droom to join her in the living room.
“Daddy, what do you want to do?” Amanda asked, turning to look at her father curiously, while Kathleen placed a hand on her wai-stas she waited to hear his response.
“You should ask her,” Pete said, grinning at Amanda.
“Can I do too?” Amanda asked ma-king Kathleen and Pete bur-st into a fit of laughter. Chidi who quic-kly decoded what they meant started laughing too.
“Don’t mind her. She is just pu-lling your legs,” Pete a-ssured Amanda as he patted her hair, “We have to leave now. Goodnight pumpkin,” Pete said, knowing she would likely have gone to be-d before they get back.
Meanwhile, in Ella’s ap@rtment, Ken was waiting for her to finish applying her make-up so they could leave, “Women and unnecessary makeup. Why the plenty makeup to a small hangout?” Ken asked impatiently.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten that I’m a make-up artist? I have to sell my br@nd. Besides, don’t you want people to see your girlfriend and admire her?” Ella asked as she applied her mascara ever so gently.
“And how many people know that I’m in a relationship with you?” Ken asked, trying not to reveal that he was annoyed. Although almost everyone knew about their relationship, he still found it annoying that they had been together for more than six months now, yet she still wasn’t showing any signs of telling the others about their relationship.
Ella didn’t nee-d him to yell or see his face flush red with anger for her to know that he was upset. So she turned to look at him, “What is wrong?”
“I should be asking you that. How much longer do you have to keep this relationship a secret? You don’t want to announce our relationship to the others?” Ken asked in annoyance.
“Is that why you’re so upset? Or is something else disturbing you?” Ella asked thoughtfully as she faced him.
“Isn’t this enough reason to upset me? I know I have willingly allowed you to call all the shots in our relationship just to earn your trust, but haven’t I tried? How much longer do I have to wait?” Ken asked, and then took in a de-ep breath as though he was struggling to keep his anger in check.
She didn’t like that he was this angry and raising his voice, even though not very loud, at her. But she tried to put herself in his shoes, and she knew she would be just as angry if she was in his shoes.
“I was going to suggest that we tell them tonight,” Ella said, ma-king Ken frown.
“Tonight?” He asked doubtfully.
“Yeah. I feel the timing is right now. You got shot and was recovering, and there was the whole wedding plans and arrangements. I felt the timing wasn’t right so wanted us to wait until they were settled,” Ella said apologetically, “I’m sorry if you feel I’m hiding you… That really isn’t my intention,” Ella said with a small frown.
Ken closed his eyes and drew in a de-ep breath before letting it out, “I’m sorry I raised my voice.”
“As long as you don’t make it a habit, I guess it’s okay,” Ella said with a small smile as Ken covered the distance between them and took both her hands in his own.
“I won’t. I promise,” Ken said, raising her hand to hisl-ips to ki-ss her fin-gers, “I love you so much Ella, and I really want to be able to flaunt you to the world,” Ken said ma-king Ella give him a beaming smile.
“I also wanted to tell you something else,” Ella said as she looked into his eyes.
“What is it?” Ken asked curiously.
“Well, because of the impatience you just exhibited, I’m going to hold on to the information. I will tell you when I’m re-ady,” Ella said, turning away from him to look at her reflection in the mirror.
“What? But I apologized alre-ady,” Ken reminded her.
“Sure you did. That is the only reason I will still tell you, but just not now. Maybe before the end of the evening. Now I’m re-ady to leave,” Ella said with a satisfied smile as she stepped away from the mirror.
“You promise to tell me, right?” Ken asked with a frown.
“Sure.”
**********
Kimberly turned to look at Eric thoughtfully who was seated on the couch in their be-droom, watching her as she dressed up, “But seriously, don’t you thinking buying that property was impulsive? What if Kat says she isn’t interested?” Kimberly asked him.
“Did we pray about it?” Eric asked, looking at her calmly.
“Yes, we did.”
“And?” Eric urged her on.
“And we received confirmation from God,” Kimberly said with a sigh. She had a dream similar to the one Eric had about them handing the keys of a building to Kathleen. Eric had said it meant God was telling them something, even though she doubted she was the sort of person God would tell anything to.
“So what is the problem?” Eric asked as he stood up and approached Kimberly.
“I don’t know. I guess I’m just anxious. I’ve been daydreaming a lot about the foundation and I would be very disappointed if Kat decides she isn’t re-ady for it yet,” Kimberly said as she allowed Eric to pu-ll her close to himself.
“You should relax, jewel. Let’s just keep trusting God to lead us, okay? I’m very sure that Kathleen won’t refuse,” Eric said and then he pec-ked her forehead.
Kimberly sighed as she leaned on him and inhaled his calming scent, “If you say so.” She wra-pped both hands around his wai-stwhile he patted her hair softly.
They both pu-lled ap@rt when they heard the sound of the doorbell, “I think they are here,” Kimberly said as she moved away from him and picked up her human hair wig. After putting it on she looked at the mirror to make sure she was set, “How do I look?”
Eric co-cked his head to the side as his eyes moved over her, “Perhaps you shouldn’t be asking me. To me, you always look beautiful even when you’re not trying to be beautiful,” Eric said ma-king Kim smile.
“As long as I look beautiful to you, I guess I don’t care what anyone else thinks. We should go out to welcome them,” She told Eric as she headed for the day.
“Not so fast, my jewel. Aren’t you forgetting something?” Eric asked, and Kimberly looked at him in confusion for some seconds before smiling at him as she returned to where he was and ki-ssed him.
“We should hurry,” Kimberly said, hooking her arm with his as she led him towards the door.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Pete was eyeing Kathleen, “So after all your rush aren’t we the first people here? Even the owners of the house are not re-ady,” He said, and she giggled.
“Just tell me you are upset because I didn’t allow you do anything,” Kathleen said with a scoff as she rested her head on his arm, “Don’t worry, once we go home you have me to yourself,” she a-ssured him as she ru-bbe-d his che-st, ma-king Pete chuckle. It wasn’t like he wanted to make love to her anyway, he just wanted to always spend time alone with her in pri-vate, and it always ended in them ma-king love. It wasn’t intentional.
Aunty Martha who had let them into the house walked in with a tray of non-alcoholic wine and two gla-sses for them, “I think I left the co-rkscrew. I will be right back,” She said, ma-king Kathleen stifle a giggle.
“What’s funny?” Pete asked curiously.
Kathleen shook her head, “Nothing,” she said, even though Pete could see she was trying not to laugh.
“Tell me nau,” Pete pleaded.
“She said co-rkscrew. As in co-ck and screw,” Kathleen whispered.
Pete looked at her in confusion and then his eyes wi-dened in surprise before he bur-st into uncontrollable laughter, “Oh my goodness! When did you become this way?” Pete asked in disbelief ma-king Kathleen smile shyly.
“What way?”
“This spoilt. Like, I can’t believe you actually said that,” Pete said, trying to control his laughter.
“You see why I didn’t want to tell you anything?” Kathleen asked grudgingly.
“Where did you learn that from?” Pete asked, ignoring her embarra-ssment.
“One time at the office someone mentioned it while cracking a joke and the rest bur-st into laughter. Of course, I didn’t get the joke then, but now I do,” Kathleen said with a small smile.
Before Pete could respond, they heard the footsteps descending the stairs, which told them Eric and Kimberly were joining them, “Good evening, sorry we kept you guys waiting,” Kimberly said apologetically as both she and Eric descended the stairs.
“It’s fine. Good evening,” Kathleen said with a plea-sant smile, while Pete stood up to shake Eric.
“What about Prisca and Chuka? Are they not joining us?” Kathleen asked curiously.
“No, Chuka is still un-dergoing his training at the company in Abuja. It will take about a year before he returns to Lagos, that is if he is not retained over there,” Eric said.
“Prisca traveled to Benin with some of the workers to supervise a job. She will be back once they are done with the job,” Kimberly said, and Kathleen nodded.
While they were still exchanging plea-santries the doorbell rang and Eric went to get the door for Ella and Ken, “Sorry we are late, madam took all day fixing her make-up,” Ken said, ma-king Ella jab his ribs with her elbow.
“I suppose it was worth it. She looks really beautiful,” Eric said with a smile as he let them in.
“Babe?” Kimberly called from behind him with a displea-sed look.
“Yeah?” Eric answered, wondering what had caused her displea-sure.
“So everyone looks beautiful for you? I thought the compliment was solely reserved for me?” She asked ma-king the others laugh.
“Oh! Well, she is pretty but her beauty can never be compared to yours, my jewel,” Eric rushed to a-ssure her.
“Women! All of them are the same,” Ken said with a shake of his head, knowing that Ella was very capable of such a petty displa-y of jealousy.
Soon they all moved to the dining which aunty Martha and the maids had arranged for dinner. Thankfully it was a round table, so the seating arrangement was easy, with each person seated next to their p@rtner. However, Pete sat between Kathleen and Ken, and Ella sat between Ken and Eric. That way they were all well distributed with Kathleen seated close to Kimberly.
“Hm, this food,” Ella said, closing her eyes as she chewed on her first bite of the well-seasoned turkey.
“Aunty Martha? How much do they pay you here? How about you come live with me instead? I promise to double your pay,” Ken called out to the lady who was in the kitchen, ma-king her laugh.
“Babe, you love the food?” Pete asked Kathleen, and when she nodded eagerly he called out to aunty Martha as well, “I will triple your salary if you come to work for me.”
“Are you sure you can do that?” Aunty Martha asked, coming to stand by the door.
“Aunt Martha, don’t tell me you are seriously considering their offer! We will fourple your salary instead,” Kimberly said, and everyone laughed again.
“Okay, you people should keep bidding. I will work for the highest bidder,” she said before returning to the kitchen to continue with what she was doing.
“Traitors. How can you come to my house and try to steal my chef from me right un-der my nose?” Eric hissed, and they all laughed.
“You can’t blame us. Blame her for cooking so well,” Kathleen said with a small smile.
They continued with small talk, and Pete and Kathleen told them about the fun places they had visited during their honeymoon. Once they were done with dinner they all moved to the living room.
“Should we get down to serious business before we pla-y games, or should we pla-y games before we talk about business?” Kimberly asked since she was the hostess.
“Let’s go with whichever you prefer,” Kathleen suggested.
They all remained quiet as they waited for Kimberly to decide what she wanted, “Okay, I fear I might not be able to enjoy the game if I don’t get the business out of the way. Kat? Have you come to a decision yet?” Kimberly asked, looking at Kathleen expectantly. Everyone turned to look at Kathleen too since they were all aware of it.
Kathleen cleared her throat, “Well, I have a condition attached,” Kathleen said, ma-king the others look at her curiously, including Pete who didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Go on, let’s hear it,” Eric urged her on.
“I was thinking if we are going to do this, it shouldn’t be just a foundation. Maybe we should have a television or radio show where we can discuss the subject too. We can bring in guests once a week to talk about their experience, the roles their parents pla-yed in it, and how they survived. That way we can enlighten parents about what might be going on un-der their roof without their knowledge. Trying to help girls who have been s-xually abused is one thing, but preventing it so that many others don’t experience it, is another thing. And the only way we can do that is by s-ensitizing the public about this,” Kathleen said, and they all remained quiet as they digested what she had said.
Pete reached out a hand to Kathleen and gave her a big smile, “It’s a brilliant idea. I’m so proud of you,” he whispered to her, ma-king her smile, while they waited for the others
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