CAUGHT IN THE ACT BY GODFREY EMUZE
CHAPTER EIGHT
Charles wasn't much of a drinker but after Jenny walked out on him after seeing him with another woman, he took to the bottle in order to numb the pain but that only lasted for a few hours, he woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. As soon as he opened his eyes, the sun rays coming in through the window only made his headache worse. He squint his eyes and groggily went to draw the window curtains. As he made his way back to the couch, he sighted the empty bottle of vodka lying on the table and he shook his head in disbelief, he suddenly regretted the motion as a sharp pain cut through the back of his head. He plopped down on the couch as he looked around the empty house that was once filled with Jenny's laughter and the scent of her home made cooking. He resolved to go back to sleep, perhaps that will make his head feel better but as soon as he laid down on the couch and tried to sleep, a loud knock on the front door woke him up. He cursed under his breath for the rude interruption, he decided to ignore the intruders but the knock kept coming and the sound made his head pound even more. He stood up and made his way to the door, determined to get rid of the unruly visitors as soon as possible. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Mrs Zubair standing there.
"What are you doing here? How did you find my house?" he asked holding the door ajar.
She smiled widely, "we Charles wasn't much of a drinker but after Jenny walked out on him after seeing him with another woman, he took to the bottle in order to numb the pain but that only lasted for a few hours, he woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. As soon as he opened his eyes, the sun rays coming in through the window only made his headache worse. He squint his eyes and groggily went to draw the window curtains. As he made his way back to the couch, he sighted the empty bottle of vodka lying on the table and he shook his head in disbelief, he suddenly regretted the motion as a sharp pain cut through the back of his head. He plopped down on the couch as he looked around the empty house that was once filled with Jenny's laughter and the scent of her home made cooking. He resolved to go back to sleep, perhaps that will make his head feel better but as soon as he laid down on the couch and tried to sleep, a loud knock on the front door woke him up. He cursed under his breath for the rude interruption, he decided to ignore the intruders but the knock kept coming and the sound made his head pound even more. He stood up and made his way to the door, determined to get rid of the unruly visitors as soon as possible. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Mrs Zubair standing there.
"What are you doing here? How did you find my house?" he asked holding the door ajar.
She smiled widely, "Well I've come to restore your sanity and make you smile once again."
He stared at her in confusion, "how do you mean? What could you possibly do to make me smile again?" he asked and she stepped aside to reveal Jenny standing there, he just stared at her in shock.
Jenny smiled at him, "Hi Charles, please can we come in?" Charles stepped aside quietly to let them in. he watched as she sat down with him on the couch while Mrs Zubair sat across from them. Charles just stared from one woman to the other in confusion.
Jenny spoke first, "Peju here paid me a visit yesterday. I really wasn't expecting it, she went ahead to recount how it all happened,"
Jenny was at home mulling over what happened when she went to Charles' office, she wondered if they had been seeing each other all these while she was away from home as that would mean Charles had carried on with the affair in her absence. She shook her at the thought, the more she tried to wrap her head around it, the more furious she became. A slight knock on the door brought her out of her reverie, she grudgingly made her way to the door to see who the unexpected visitor was, and she gaped in shock as she saw the object of her anger standing there, right in front of her.
"How dare you? You have the audacity to come looking for me? What else do you want?" she shouted.
"May I please come in? I just want to talk," Mrs Zubair said quietly.
"I'm not interested in anything you have to say, I don't want to discuss anything with a home breaker like you," Jenny said, fuming.
Mrs Zubair chuckled, "well, to be fair the home was already broken long before I came into the picture." She said with a smirk on her face. Jenny couldn't hold it anymore, she slapped her hard on the cheek, Mrs Zubair looked surprised at first but then she slapped her back.
The sound of Jenny's angry voice coming from the living room had attracted Comfort who was resting inside, she decided to step out and see what was going on. She stepped in just as both ladies got into a full blown cat fight.
"ladies!," Mrs. Zubair screamed so the both of them could hear her amidst all the ruckus they were making. Jenny refused to stop even though Peju stopped fighting back, she just continued hitting her until Comfort stepped in and dragged her away from her.
"You can continue hitting me until you are satisfied but I won't leave here until you hear me out," Peju said.
"Take this woman away before I kill her with my bare hands," she said in ragged breaths, still reeling from the effect of the fight.
Comfort tried to calm her down, "I know you are angry but let's hear her out first, at least she came all the way here."
Peju spoke, "I know I hurt you and I have no right to beg for your forgiveness, yet, l I hope you will forgive me what I've done. Even if you don't I'll understand but please stop punishing your husband. Charles made a mistake but he loves you dearly, he has not been himself ever since you left. Please find it in your heart to forgive him," she finished.
Jenny was too distraught to speak and she just cried quietly as Comfort held her hand.
Jenny cleared her throat before she spoke again, "well after I got over my anger towards Peju and I listened to her, she suggested we come together."
"Well I think my job here is done," she looked at Charles, "speak from your heart Charles, speak truly," she gave Jenny a smile and walked out.
Charles turned to Jenny and looked her in the eyes, "I'm truly sorry Jenny, I never meant to hurt you but I did, for that I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"
She smiled at him, "I've already forgiven you Charles, If I hadn't I wouldn't be here."
"Where do we go from here?"
"We talk'' Jenny replied
''We talk?'' Charles inquired
''We talk, about everything and anything, no more secrets.''
''No more secrets'' Charles repeated softly
''If something is not working, we talk about it instead of covering it. 100 percent honesty and transparency…promise?"
"I promise." Charles replied.
''If we don't commit to dialogue, we will soon kill each other with presumptions and uncontrolled emotional outburst at the slightest hint of provocation. So, We talk, no matter what'' Jenny explained calmly.
''We talk.....No matter what!' Charles agreed swiftly.''
''Even when caught in the act?'' Charles pondered reluctantly but silently.
''We talk!...'' Jenny affirmed!
...The End To Part One...