Lightning and Thunder

8

𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑

EPISODE 8 (AUSTIN'S POV)

Even before I opened the door, I heard her melodic voice wafting from the kitchen where I guessed she must be preparing an early dinner.

I did my best to be as quiet as I could be as I made my way to the kitchen.

Ruby spoiled my surprise plan when he began to bark and leap in circles the moment he sensed my presence.

Judith spun to look at me and smirked as she watched Ruby trying to jump on me. Her hair was plastered to her brows, proof that she must have been busy with chores before she started cooking. Even in this domestic state, she was beautiful in her simple way.

"Welcome, stalker," she said. "You didn't tell me you'd be visiting. Thank God I just started cooking. You're waiting for dinner, yeah. It's just 6 pm and curfew is not till 8 pm."

I patted Ruby and gave him the biscuit bone snack he loved so much.
"Judith, you should be more security conscious. How many times do you want me to remind you that doors are meant for locking?"

She chuckled and returned to chopping more of the vegetables she had been engaged with.

Oh, boy! Her wavy movements were so rapturous that I couldn't wait for our wedding, which was just two weeks away, to be done.
I would wrap her in my arms from behind and plaster kisses all over...
I quickly shook the dangerous thoughts out of my head.

'Patience, Austin. Our purity testimony will not be soiled in Jesus' name."

I put my hands in my pocket and suddenly found the decorative wall tiles very interesting. Getting a grip on my emotions, I fixed my attention back to what she was saying.

"... I have Ruby. Plus angels have got my back. So, relax, husband-to-be."

I rolled my eyes and brought forward the nylon I had been hiding behind me.

"I got something for you."

She skipped over to me like a child.
The gift was something I knew she liked, from the times I had observed her friendship with Nisha. A box of chocolates, a bucket of chocolate and vanilla-flavoured ice cream and a bottle of grape wine.

"Wow! Austin. This is too much. Thank you."

"Anything for you, dear. Plus, we have to celebrate."

We settled down to eat and I told her everything.

"My investor from two years ago that I thought I had lost. Well, he came back. Told me he wanted to begin processing the paperwork for the investment."

"That's wonderful news. Praise God!" Judith said. "I have something to tell you too."

I had already sensed that Judith enjoyed a great day with the way she was in high spirits. But I wasn't expecting what she said.

"I got a real job!"

I blinked in shock. I didn't know how to feel about that. Judith was a free bird. She hated 9-5 jobs, she had once told me. And that was why she was freelancing as a data analyst.

"Are you cool with that?" I asked.

She shrugged and beamed. "The manager is a nice man. He saw my portfolio online and asked for an interview. He's so thrilled to have me on his team. I'll still be working remotely."

The unsettling feeling from when I had received the call from my investor returned, compounding in my chest. I quietly leaned back and sipped my wine juice.