Against All Odds

Chapter sixty Two:Severance Package

The rains descended heavily that night, the thunderclap often terrified Obi as she tossed and turned over the large bed which she used to share with her husband. She had been dealing with the aftermath of receiving a kiss from her husband's cousin. Sleep had turned an enemy, running deep into the a place where she couldn't reach it. Obi fought herself from thinking about how the kiss felt. She would not let herself have such intimate thoughts about any man besides her husband.

She just couldn't, thinking about it would be pure adultery, atleast to her. Obiefune had been through so much, recalling his confession made her heart ache. Who knew how he must have felt when he watched her marry another man. It wasn't her fault or was it? She had done what she felt was best for everyone. Obi's thought wandered to his body and the birthmark she saw beneath his armpit.

How had she never noticed the birthmark before? Had he not mentioned something about it before? Why did it feel so strange seeing that unique birthmark on his body?
The lightning tore through the curtains and Obi jerked up. She couldn't keep up with the pretense, she was very much scared, not just about the sound made by the sky but also what her heart was trying to whisper into her ears. She couldn't let herself love two men, married women owe it to their husbands to be faithful. Obi threw a wrapper over her shoulder and headed to the only place where she could draw strength from.
She walked as quietly as she could, peeking to avoid running into Obiefune as much as possible.

What was her husband even thinking bringing a man she had history with, into their house. Wasn't he as jealous as he used to be? "who keeps his yam in front of a goat and expects the goat to just stare at it ". She heaved a sigh of relief when Obiefune was nowhere in sight. "Maybe he had finally gone to bed" Obi thought to herself. When everything settles and her mind was in a calmer state, she would have to speak to Obiefune about boundaries and he would have to leave the house. He was free to visit but "living in" privileges were Peculiar to Benjamin and harmless males with blood ties.

Obi closed the door and leaned on it after her mission was concluded. She was grateful that her roommates for the night were less generous with urine than her siblings had been when they were younger. The thunder struck again startling Obi and she quickly turned on the light. She adjusted her nightwear and secured her hair in a hairnet before turning to her safe haven.

Obi's eyes blinked at the sight before her, her mind tried to explain that she was out of luck with security and safety from a certain handsome ball less man. "She mentally scolded herself for thinking him to be that, even though it was true.

The sight before her made her eyes misty from disappointment of having her safe haven invaded and happiness that Obiefune also sought refuge in the arms of her little wonders. They clung to him like moth to flame, Chukwuemeka's arm around his torso and Chukwuebuka's hand tucked safely in his arm. The little boy made a sound and lifted his other arm. Obi was preoccupied with thoughts about the invasion that had occurred before another thunderclap pulled her out it.Obi's eyes fell on the mark beneath her son's armpit.

She moved closer to the edge of the bed and ran her hand across the mark. "Could it be true what Obiefune claimed?" Her son chose at that instant to wake up and when he heard the thunderclap he also became terrified. "mummy!" The little boy screamed as he jumped on her body. Obi held him holding her breath as if the sound of air leaving her nostrils would wake her nemesis.

"Mummy ụjọ Jim I'm scared" the boy cried out, Obi reassured her son in a hushed tone but when she tried to put him down. He clung to her "mummy please don't go!" The little boy pleaded. Obi decided she was going to wait till he sleeps off before going away. She adjusted her body on the bed with her son on top of her . Obi found breathing difficult and wondered how Obiefune could sleep peacefully with Chukwuemeka's weight on him.