Unsteady Storm

Prologue

Ije walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom she shared with her husband, they had packed into the house two months after their honeymoon, courtesy of her husband's brother, Lotanna.

Nedu looked up at her with admiration.
"You look like a goddess, I'll never regret marrying you"

She laughed and sat on the bed. "You have to take your bath, Nedu" she told him.
He groaned and turned. "I'm so tired"

"We have company this night, I want to prepare dinner and you should set the table" she said.

Nedu sighed and got up. "I'll be out in a jiffy" he pecked her cheek and left.

Ije got dressed in a black top and pink shorts before going down to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the company they were having that evening.

She was still arranging the ingredients on the kitchen island when Nedu snuck his hands around her waist. She smiled.

"What are you preparing for dinner?"

"Jollof rice, just the way you love it"

He released her. "I'm going to bring my wine, I've kept it for so long"

"Ten months ago, on our wedding" she said dreamily.

Nedu nodded and went out of the kitchen leaving Ije to complete the food preparation.

Neche was Ije's best friend while she was still single and also worked in the same hospital Ije worked in. She arrived with her husband, Tobe.

"They are here, Ije" Nedu called from the sitting room.

"I'll be right there, I'm coming" she replied.
She turned down the heat of the gas cooker and went out to meet her guests.

Neche clasped her.
"Ije, you are looking good, Nedu is doing a very good job in taking care of you" Neche said happily.

"You don't look bad yourself" Ije smiled taking in the sky blue evening gown that she was putting on before turning to Tobe to give him a side hug.
She led them to their dinning room.

"Hope you guys came with an empty stomach because I cooked real big"

Tobe and Neche laughed. "Let's see"

Ije made for the kitchen and dished out four plates of simmering jollof rice.

"Hope you will take some alcohol today?" Nedu asked her. He had just entered the kitchen holding a bottle of alcoholic wine.

"Oh come on" Ije whined. "You know what alcohol does to me"

"Come on baby, just for tonight"

"Okay" she sighed as she placed the dishes in a tray.

Later, they sat at the table eating the rice Ije had prepared. "Okay, listen up, especially you, Nedu. You and your wife have been our very good friends long time and we really appreciate it so you people are the first that I am informing that my beloved wife, Chinecherem is pregnant with our child"

Ije beamed as she put a spoon of rice in her mouth.

"Congratulations Tobe, we are glad" Nedu said happily. "It's a reason to celebrate, not so?"

Neche blushed and covered her face.
"Congratulations Neche" Ije spoke after chewing with a smile plastered on her face.

"Thank you" she blushed again.

"I will be his godmother" Ije smiled at Neche knowingly.

"Oh come on, it's going to be a girl" Tobe groaned.

"A boy" Neche glared at him.

Nedu laughed. "I would wish for a girl as my first child then a boy may follow"

They all laughed.

Nedu uncorked the wine and poured in the glasses. "To an additional life" he toasted.
They clinked glasses and took a sip.

Tobe exhaled. "This is alcoholic, I thought Ije doesn't take this"

Ije smiled. "I haven't taken some alcohol in a long time and besides Nedu literally begged me to take this"

"Let's hope that the outcome is not disastrous" Neche stared at her with concern.

Ije shrugged. "Nedu would pay if anything  happens to me"

Nedu raised his hands in surrender. "Please don't drink again, I love you more than this celebration abeg "

Ije blushed and took another sip. "Nothing is happening to me, Nedu"

Neche beamed in admiration. "This kind of love eh"

Tobe frowned. "Do you now want Nedu?"

"Ah ah" Neche goggled at him. "We know what is perfect for each other"

"I was just joking" Tobe laughed and they joined in.

They spent the night chatting and eating alongside their wine until Neche and Tobe stood up to go.

"Okay, Ije we will see tomorrow, thanks for this night"

"It's a pleasure, bye"

Nedu saw them off because Ije claimed to be dizzy.

"Are you sure you are okay?" Nedu asked her when he came in.

"I'm sure it's just an aftereffect of the alcohol, I'll be fine" Ije replied holding her head as she tried to get up. Nedu helped her up with worry etched on his forehead.
He helped her into their bedroom while he did the dishes.

By the time he was done and he tidied up, Ije was asleep and he climbed into the bed to sleep too.

The prologue, the beginning of this fun ride. Don't forget to show your love by making the star below to shine, drop your comments and share to your friends and family.
Thank you.

Please check out my other novel Blurred Vision by Chukwuzitelem.