HER GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT

Chapter 22: The big bad wolf

The feminine charm always worked in her favor. She was the one who made him feel like she wanted it but she didn't. But even though the trick worked to Ben it was a sign of progress. Sooner or later she was going to lean in for a real one. And he was going to wait. Good things take time. He could remember how long he waited and begged before she agreed to go on a date with him. And after they got married there was no day she made him regret spending that much time following her around. Showing up the next day even after being chased away the previous one with a banquet of flowers.

"We didn't even realize it was missing", She said going through the file.

"Urdinof said the police might have taken it when they came to investigate. The crooks that were send to vandalize might have missed it" Ben said.

"Tell your friend Noah to send his boys-loyal ones", She said get in up from the bed.

Ben followed her body as she walked to the washroom. The miniskirt was showing off everything that could get a man's attention at any time of the day leave alone a chilly morning with a dry spell.

"Did you hear anything I said?" She turned around to stare at him.

"Yeah... Yes am calling him right now", He said.

"Who?"

"Eeh... Urdinof to say thanks"

"i***t I said Noah’s boys!" She said banging the bathroom door.

Ruth was happy it wasn’t Ben. She was even happier to realize she had the some effect on him. From how he was looking he wanted s*x so did she but she was having friends over. They were all going for community education and gender sensitivity promotion in various villages before going for shopping. The wedding was just around the corner and just like the bride and groom they wanted it to be memorable. When she emerged Ben was still seated on their bed reading the morning Paper.

"Did you call him?” She asked applying lotion on her legs.

"Yeah but he didn't pick" Ben said still buried on his phone.

"So you called but didn't tell him" she said getting closer

He raised his head to look at her and said, "Was coming to that part before you interrupted me"

"Go on" Ruth sanctioned making for the wardrobe.

"He said he was in a meeting so I texted him instead" Ben said getting up on his feet.

There was a chance she was still in the mood to kiss him. The kiss was a gate to other things he wanted and he would have been glad if he got one.

"Thank you Ben. While I get ready, go meet my friends", she said smiling.

He was a little disappointed and even the smile showed him she knew what she was doing. He loved watching her naked even without engaging in any s****l activity. Ben reluctantly walked out of their bedroom. Spend some time in the corridor hoping she was going to call him back nothing. He had no option but to meet her said friends.

"Morning Mr. Chestnut", Maya said capturing the attention of the girls.

"Morning... Is that Kayla on my house?" Ben asked happily his mouth wide open.

"Yes Mr. Chestnut she slept over" Maya said.

"Kayla it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person I love your music", Ben said walking past Maya.

"Thank you. You have a nice home", She commented staring around the living room.

"Yeah she a beauty. Can I get a selfie?" He asked getting his phone.

"Sure", Kayla said leaning in.

The rest of the girls introduced themselves.

“Tania here you know me right?” she asked.

“Of course I do, how’s nick?” Ben asked.

”Probably drunk right now but he is doing great” she said making a funny face.

“And what do we got here?” Ben asked looking at the two girls; Linda and Anita were the only ones h did not know.

Linda looked at Anita signaling her to go first. She readjusted herself.

“Am Anita” she said politely almost shying off.

“Nice to meet you Anita what about you who doesn’t want to go first?” Ben asked smiling. “Linda” she said and kept herself busy with her mug of hot coffee

Among them he only knew Tania that well. Linda and Anita were total strangers and he was hoping he got to know the women who were hanging out with his wife. To him it might as well have been the committee that was sanctioning some of her crazy decisions including the divorce threat. He was filled in about the weeding preparations and by the time Ruth joined them he was looking happy with the girls. Having fun and laughing despite the fact that he was the big bad wolf of their friend’s story. She spent some time to watch him unnoticed. How she wished he could be that happy for the rest of their lives. He might have been a little troublesome but she loved him with all her heart. The divorce thing she had threatened him with the other was just her protecting herself. Ruth could not stand losing a man like Ben. A little antiquated and a control freak but on his best day a nice and understanding gentleman. She even felt jealous how he seemed happy with her friends at a time they were fighting. He belonged to her alone. That laugh and happiness were hers.

"What did I miss?" Ruth asked taking her place on the table.

"Not so much, Mr. Chestnut was just about to tell us how he proposed”, Tania said.

"And it turns out you like telling the story more", Linda said.

"Pleaase", Kyla and Anita begged in unison. Ruth looked at Ben and smiled.

The story was one of her favorite moments an surprises in their life and she imagined how much Ben loved her to let her tell every time someone wanted to know some of their best memories. They shared them both but telling them was her duty unless otherwise and the surreal environment surrounding their relationship was not enough to make Ben break tradition.

“Okay and don’t laugh at me”, She said.

“Why did you do something worth laughing about?” Tania asked already breaking into laughter.

“No let’s just say he made a fool out of me and then made me happy”

“Sounds fair to me” Anita said.

“Okay here we go” Ruth said with finality

****Flashback****

They didn't have a house help back then. They picked Jake from school in turns and that day it was her turn. Jake's teacher had called and asked her to delay in picking him up. They were still having some physical education lesson. Ruth hanged on until it was time to pick Jake. She drove to morning star preparatory academy. The school was deserted only the guards at the guard house could be seen around. She was scared. What if the teacher had kidnaped their baby boy? They usually picked him up from Jake's class. So she walked alone in the empty halls calling out Jake's name at the top of her lungs it was all quiet. Class after class there was no sign of a student. She had not checked one place. The conference room. She prayed to God before opening the door. The surprise was waiting for her on the other side of the door. The moment she opened the door the whole school asked "Will you marry him" the angelic voices of young children pierced her ears and innocence in them forced her into tears. She didn't know what to say. In the middle of the room Ben was on his knee. Jake was carrying the ring on a tray and the children were looking at her with their puppy eyes waiting for her to say yes.

"Yes"

The mood got even wilder as they celebrated them on the way back to the car.

*****End of flashback*****

"Wow! That was amazing", Anita commented.

"Yeah she couldn't believe I pulled that off", Ben said smiling.

"Well I didn't know he is man of surprises", Ruth defended herself.

"Anyway thank you for the tea and little chit chat let me get going", Ben excused himself.

After breakfast the Calvary went for community sensitization. Henry might have ruined the office space but the fight was still on and the soldiers were hungry for blood. They talked to men and women groups in conjunction with the local administrations. Advising them to speak up and act against gender issues. From the talks they went straight to the biggest boutique in town. Their smart cards ready to be swapped and expensive pink colored dresses packed. Their first stop was the wedding dress section. She was the reason they were all getting invited in the first place. She tried on a number of them. The jury was seated ready for the show case. Agreeing on some differing on some until they came to an amicable solution.

"Now this is a worthy wedding dress", Ruth complimented.

"What do you think guys?" Anita asked staring at herself in the mirror.

"It’s perfect" Linda said.

"Terrific", Said Kyla.

"Breath taking", Tania finalized.

It lighted up her face. Filled her hurt with joy she couldn't explain. It was what she had always wanted. James might have been a loose cannon because he had no responsibilities. A wedding was a step closer to a family and a family meant responsibility for any man or woman. What she didn't want to think about but it was nagging her was the will. How was James going to react to it? He had once mentioned about having his father's estate to himself. That his sisters were married and had their own homes and husbands property to himself. But he was so intoxicated that day. His judgment was clogged by alcohol and he was surely not in his right state of mind.

On the bright side alcohol helps us retrieve all that we hide in our sub conscious. Alcohol let's it flow easily. All the resentment and hate, dislike and lies we don't want to people to know usually come to light thanks to alcohol. That explains why drunk people are very honest. She believed him. The law had changed. The wind was blowing in Sarah and Sharon's favor. He knew it too but just didn't care. His mind was going to be jerked off with the realization that his lawfully wedded wife Anita was going to be the administrator of his father's estate and that Sarah and Sharon were getting an equal cut of the property. It was going to be messy but at least she was getting married.