Must Read: My Husband

Episode 7 years ago

Must Read: My Husband

”Calm down dear.”Biola said,while Jane took her seat.



Jane was at the Kenneths,she had gone to see her mother,she
was deeply worried over Jacob’s attitude this past days.

”I’ll advice you to be patient and give him time.”Biola told her
daughter,as she held her hands.
”Mother,he acts strange,he rarely calls,and when he does,he’s
out of what to say.”Jane complained bitterly.
”The wedding perparations might be taking a toll on him.”
”Thats the more reason he should confide in me,i can’t let things
go wrong,my wedding is around the corner.” Her eyes were
sad,and she looked tired too.
”Thats alright dear,i have a feeling everything will be well.”
”Soon,i pray.”
”You two should see the pastor again,haven finished the
counselling programme is no reason to stay away.”Biola
adviced.



”We will.”
”So,how’s sale at the store.”
Jane looked a bit relaxed now,”Sales has been tremendously
high,i just asked the manager to send an order this afternoon.”
”And your workers?”
”They’ve been good so far,i’ve got nothing to worry about.”Jane
said happy.
”Good to know that.”Biola smiled.”And my girls.”
”They’re more than enough headache,i overhead them planning
to come over here for the weekend.”Jane laughed.


”I can’t wait.”
”I hope you say the same when they arrive here,with their bags
of trouble.”Jane said.
Mother and daughter burst into laughter,Kenneth joined them
later before Jane left for home.
…………………
”Whats happening here?”Jane asked as she entered the
spacious Smiths sitting room.




Jacob was on his feet,and Funmi was seated too,except for the
lady who had pushed her the other day,who was on her feet.
Jacob wished the ground would open and swallow him this
moment,this was the moment he dreaded most,his friends had
adviced him to inform Jane earlier.
But,he was afraid,how would he put it across to her.This was not
happening he wished.

”Is anything the matter?” she asked again,Funmi looked at
her,there was anger in her beautiful face.As she perched on the
couch watching the lady who stood meters away from her.
The lady stung her a hateful look,she looked between but for the
scowl on her face.”Ask him” she pointed at Jacob.Her eyes on
him.
Jane knelt by him,”Whats the matter,someone please speak to
me.” she screamed.
”Jane please be calm,its nothing we can’t handle.”Funmi said
tapping her feet on the persian rug below her feet.
”If they refuse to speak,i’ll inform you.”The lady gave her a
wicked grin,adjusting her gown.She took few steps towards
Jane.
Jane looked up,into the lady’s eyes.
”I’m Perosola,and i’m carrying Jacob’s baby.”she smiled.
The breeze ceased for an instant,she could hear so much noises
in her head,she could feel herself going down gently.Funmi and
Jacob got up and helped her to a seat.
Jane found herself on the couch,with a glass of cold water to her
lips.she drank all the water and relaxed in her seat.
This must be a bad dream,or perhaps a scene in a Nollywood
movie,she pinched herself to come back to reality.Alas! It was
true.


”Jacob….”She spoke at last,her eyes fixed on his,her voice
shaking and hurtful.
”No,Jane don’t believe her.”Jacob said,standing by her side.
”Listen Jane.”the lady continued.”You remember that night you
called him after his friends party,i was with him at the hotel.”
”I was the one who picked your call.Can you deny that?”she
shouted,picking her bag and stumping out of the sitting room
Jane was breathing fast,her blood pumping faster,she knew she
would faint now.But,she didn’t.
”Jacob… …..”Jane swallowed.
”Jacob,is it true?”
Before Jacob could answer,Perosola had returned.Walking
majestically around the sitting room,she stopped right in front of
Jane.
”And if you’re all confused,have this.” she flung a brown envelop
on the floor walking away.
Her steps echoed in the distance,and everywhere grew silent
once more.


Funmi picked the envelop,and tore it open,she gasped when she
saw her son almost Unclad against Pero.
In anger,she flinged the envelop at Jacob and walked out of the
room.
Jacob sat by Jane,he looked sad and embittered.
Jane picked the pictures that were strewn across the
room,taking a look.
Her world came crashing before her,this was definitely not her
own Jacob.
The evidence was glaring,but before she made any decision.She
had one question to ask.
”Jacob Smith”she called gently,putting her arms across his
shoulders.”Is she pregnant for you?”
A great silence greeted her.That was a million dollar
question,Jacob knew the time had come to tell Jane the truth
and he would not hesitate.
”Were you with her that night?”Jane asked.
”Yes.”
”Is she carrying your baby?”Jane asked.
”I don’t know.” That was the honest truth….yes the truth.
It was two days now,since she received the bad news of
Perosola carring Jacob’s baby.
Jane called Jacob asking him for a whooping sum of twenty
million naira,he had hesitated at first,asking if she needed it for
the store,to which she said no.
He agreed to send her the required amount,Jane still acted in the
same way and manner expected of her.She didn’t seem to be
angry at him.She was just curious and excited.
In two weeks time,she would walk down the aisle with Jacob,all
things being equal.By thursday she would be travelling for her
wedding shopping with Jacob,nothing would stop it.Nothing…


It was a warm wednesday evening,the time was around 6:30pm
when she stepped into the the restaurant.
She was having company for dinner,and it was none other than
her husband’s baby mama Perosola.
Perosola sat at the extreme end of the restaurant,she raised her
head as Jane walked towards her with a cool demeanor.
……………………….
Jacob tapped his foot on the tiled floor,watching the door.
He’d been surprised when Jane had acted cool like nothing
happened.Except for when she asked for the money.



Jaiye warned him that,a lady’s rantings were far better than her
silence.Her silence meant so much more,and that was what kept
Jacob at the edge of his seat.He was concerned that Jane wasn’t
screaming or crying or breaking off their engagement.
He had been avoiding Funmi ever since the incident,Jacob
wondered if Biola was aware of the happenings of late.
It was all his fault,he knew.
He heard footsteps and adjusted his sitting position,there was a
knock on the door.
”Come in.”
The door flung open,and Jane walked in.she was followed by
Funmi and perosola.
Jacob was suprised and at the same time confused.
”What’s happening he asked.” getting up.
Jane walked towards him smiling sweetly as she planted a kiss
on his lips.



”Relax sweetheart,things are getting clearer.”
”I’m lost?”he said.”What are you doing with Pero?”
”Just watch.”
”Funmi,talk to me.”Jacob said.
”I don’t know whats happening too.”Funmi said,Jane had only
asked her come with her.
Perosola looked quiet and cool today,she stood by Jane.
”We all have to get to somewhere important right now.”Jane
smiled warmly.
”Isn’t that so Perosola?”
”Yes.”
Jane led the way followed by Perosola,then Funmi.Jacob walked
behind their back locking the door.
No one was speaking in the car,everyone to his thought,except
Perosola who gave the description of their destination to Jacob
who was at the wheels.Sitted at the rear was Jane who had a
vague look,she was neither smiling nor angry.She just sat
there,millions of thought buzzing through her head.
Funmi glanced at Jane,wondering what was going through that
brain of hers.She hoped she knew what she was doing,because
she was getting tired of this tirade of trouble.Jackie had just
gotten out of her sour mood,she wouldn’t want her beloved son
getting into a scandal that would drag their well respected and
protected name through muddy waters.


”Take the next turning by the right,yes thats the street.”Perosola
said,her heart beating fast as they neared the building.
Jacob stole a look at Perosola,she looked beautiful and young
just like Jane,smart too and sophisticated,she spoke the Queen’s
language fluently,and that was why she allowed her to sit by him
when she asked to join their table,at the party organised by
comitee of friends for Jaiye before his wedding.
He knew he had some wine at the party,but he couldn’t
remember taking something alcoholic,and how they had both
ended up at the hotel later that was inexplicit,though she left
before he got up in the morning.
”Thats it,you can stop the car in front of the brown
gate.”Perosola said taking a deep sigh.
Jacob brought the car to an halt,there was an awkward silence
in the car.
”Pero will go in,while we wait behind the door.”Jane said as she
opened the car to get down.



”Wait Jane,what are you two up to?”Jacob asked
frustrated.From behind,Jane stretched her hands to touch his
shoulders,he jerked in his seat.”Sweetheart,i’m not doing
anything silly.Just come inside.”Her voice was steady and
smooth as she spoke,others were unaware of the battle going on
in her head,her cool demeanor was deceiving and covering a lot
for her.




”I trust you Jane.”Funmi said,her face void of any emotion. ”I
just hope you’re right.”Jacob said,feeling for the gun tucked in
his pant,he just prayed it wouldn’t come to using it.He just
wished everything will go well.
They all got out of the car,Perosola leading the way.It was a
quiet compound,a four bedroom flat.They climbed the stairs up
the apartment.
”When i cough you can come in.”Pero whispered quietly.
The others stood behind the door while she opened the door with
her key and entered closing the door again.
She looked up,to see her companion waiting for her.
”You’re late,what took you so long?”Her companion asked
gulping a glass of drink noisily down her throat,while litghting a
cigarette.
”Everyone is familiar with Lagos traffic.”Pero said taking her
seat.
”Whats the update? Wait,i hear footsteps,is anyone here with
you.”Her companion said getting up to check the door.
”Don’t bother,no one is here,i came alone.”Pero said,her heart in
her throat,she rushed towards the door,as her companion
opened it.