Breaking Point

“New decor”?.

“Yeah, David called for it”. Juliet replied with a slight smile.

“I must say it looks nice, but uncalled for, if I might add”.

“So what do you say about lunch”?. Juliet asked deflecting from the conversation.

“Sure what do you have to offer”?.

“Matter of fact I have rice, jollof rice, still fresh I might add”. Juliet smiled, giving her friend a playful wink.

“That sounds good”.

“You wait here let me serve the meal”. She retreated to the kitchen. She appeared a while later.

“Let’s go eat”. Juliet said and both women made their way out of the living room.

“Hmmm this smells wonderful, and I’m absolutely certain that it will tastes wonderful as well”. They took their sit on the dinning table.

“Oh stop it Evelyn, you keep flattering me”. Juliet laughed.

“We both know I’m not”. Evelyn replied.

Half of the meal was shared in a comfortable silence.

“Just as I predicted, it tastes wonderful”. Evelyn said breaking the silence.

“Thank you”.

“I still surprised David hasn’t hired a chef yet”. Evelyn said, giving Juliet a knowing look.

“I refused, how’s the office?“.

“Great, stressful as always but it’s going great”. Juliet gave a nod at the reply. The silence that followed was thick.

“Juliet I know we’ve talked about this before and it’s not really my place to keep saying but... It’s repulsive to see you like this, it’s irks me, Juliet you are gifted don’t let it go to waste, not all nurses walks into the room and patients are immediately at ease”.

“Evelyn I appreciate your concern, I really do, I’ve thought about it and came to a conclusion that I need some time off my career. I’ll be back, just not now”. Juliet finished off with a convincing smile.

The almost finished meal long forgotten due to their colloquy. Evelyn looked at her friend of almost twelve years for a while before breaking into a tired sight.

“Whatever is going on I just hope you know what you are doing”. Evelyn whispered to a silent Juliet who just replied with a nod and a strained smile.

“Look at the time, I have to start leaving now Juliet”. They stood up and left for the living room, where she retrieved her hand bag.

“The kids”?. Juliet asked. Both on their feet as they Converse.

“Their father would pick them up from school”. Evelyn replied.

“It’s been long I spent time with them, bring them over during the weekend. How’s Blessing”?.

“She’s good. A big girl now, in SS 1. Her father wants her to skip SS 3 and take WAEC from SS 2”.

“And you said”?.

“No of course!!, she’ll miss out on all the fun, there’s no rush”. Evelyn smiled.

“Literally true”. Juliet agreed.

“Thank you very much for lunch Juliet it was lovely as always”.

“It was no problem, greet the kids for me”.

“Of course, and I’ll take you by your word by bringing the kids this weekend”. This made Juliet smiled widely.

“That would be lovely”

As they made their way to the door, someone walked in.

“Oh David welcome, just on my way out”. Evelyn gave him a small smile, he replied with a nod.

“Welcome”. Juliet gave her husband a smile as he walked in, he replied her with a hum.

“Thank you for lunch once again. See you this weekend”. She gave her host a hug that was welcomed and reciprocated.

“Take care”. Juliet gave a small smile as Evelyn went out the door.

Juliet took in a deep breath before she turned to face her husband.

“How was your day”?. She asked him.

“Same old”. He replied curt. “What was Evelyn doing here”?. He asked.

“Just popped in as usual, talked, had lunch. Usually stuff”. She replied.

“I find her personality a bit challenging, you know that right”?.

“You’ve said that lots of times David”. She took her sit on the Sumptuous couch.

“Still yet she comes here, you invite her here, you associate with her”. His voice intensified. She flinched.

“For goodness sake David she’s my only friend. She’s a good woman, she’s older and mature”.

“Exactly my point she’s older, sharing her old way of thinking and soon enough it will start rubbing off on you”. He justified.

“David you sound so uneducated saying that. Off all people this shouldn’t be coming out of you, a gynaecologist”. She said.

“I’m just saying Juliet, it’s because I care for you as my wife. I love you”. He walked up to her and placed his hands on her shoulder.

She took a deep breath, looked up at her husband and gave him an understanding smile.

“Go freshen up, I’ll serve you dinner”. She stood up.

“Now that’s more like it, my wife makes the best food, what do you have for me my love”?. He smiled, his hands on her waist.

“Jollof, vegetable soup, and oha soup”. She replied smiling back. She loved and cherished moments like this.

“Vegetable soup please”. He replied.

“Then go and freshen up, I’ll be setting the table”. She smiled while dusting off imaginary dust from his white coat.

Juliet walked to the kitchen setting up the table, using the time of solitude to collect her thoughts. She could only hope and pray that dinner goes well.

“It smell good darling”. Her husband praised.

“Thank you, enjoy”. They took their sit and began eating.

“This is great, my goodness”. David marveled at the taste.

“You act like you haven’t eaten my food before”. She chuckled.

“It gets better every time”.

“Thank you”.

They stopped conversing to focus on their meal.

“Your sister called me”. She froze.

“Today”?. She asked, her eyes not leaving her meal.

“Yes. I thought you’ve told her”?. Food now abandoned and forgotten. Juliet had no reply for his statement. “I told you I don’t like it when I’m disturbed, especially at work”.

She remained quiet, her face expressionless. No reply no reaction.

“Goodness Juliet I was at work, I was busy. I work with people’s lives getting distracted is risky”. His voice was building up. “I’m not her boyfriend nor her husband but she keeps calling to ask for money to pay her fees”.

“I’m going to visit my mother tomorrow”. She voiced out.

“Why”?.

“She called, and that way I can talk to Loveth”.

“I want you home by 5”. He said before leaving her alone.

Letting out a tired sight she got up to clear the table. Sometimes she didn’t understand David, no matter how she tried, in all their three years of marriage. Thinking about this would only give her an headache she decided to discard her marital thoughts for now and tend to her comfort zone. Her kitchen.

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