After the storm by Osar Adeyemi

been invited
for an interview towards the end of her youth service year but had
decided not to tell Akeem about it. He was still not keen on her
working so soon after their wedding, but she was sure he would come
round if she was offered the job.
    She was
really happy about the offer and felt it would be so exciting to
start a career in such a corporate setting. She decided to hold
onto the news until Akeem came back in the evening.
    "See
what I've been missing." Akeem said as he kissed her when she
opened the door for him later that day.
    "I
missed you too, honey." She savoured the feel of his strong arms
around her and snuggled closer to him. "How was your
day?"
    "Good,
but I find myself looking forward so much to the end of the day
now."
    "Same
here, honey." Yemi smiled. She was still getting used to the fact
that this ruggedly handsome man was now her husband. "I made you
something really scrumptious for dinner. Why don't you freshen up
while I set the table?"
    He gave
her another quick kiss before releasing her. "Great. I'm famished.
I'll be downstairs shortly."
    When
Akeem came back downstairs, they ate, discussed their day, and
retreated to the sitting room where Akeem flicked on the TV. He
selected a channel and put his arm around her as he settled more
comfortably on the sofa.
    "I've
got some very good news," Yemi said, leaning towards the stool
where she had dropped the large envelope from Lavabre.
    Akeem
raised his eyebrow quizzically as he took the letter from her. He
scanned through it. "I didn't know that you had interviewed for a
permanent job."
    "I
wanted it to be a surprise," Yemi said excitedly.
    "That
means that you really made a good impression on them. Well done."
He placed the letter back on the stool.
    Yemi
studied his face. "You don't sound excited. Don't you want me to
take the job?"
    He
rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "Have I said
so?"
    "Tell me
what's really going through your mind." Akeem reclined back on the
sofa but still said nothing. She touched his arm. "Come on, honey,
talk to me. What's going on in your mind?"
    He
sighed. "I'm not against you getting a job, but we've only just
gotten married, and I wanted you to get used to all that without
the added stress of a new job."
    Yemi's
eyes widened slightly. "But I can take that in my stride. Other
women do!"
    His
voice was quiet. "My schedule is not really like a lot of other
men's, plus I travel quite a bit. If you get tied up in a regular
nine-to-five job, it's going to be a bit awkward synchronizing our
time together."
    "But it
doesn't have to be that way," Yemi protested. "I'll definitely
still get home before you do, and I would have had enough time to
relax before you get home."
    "Baby,
whatever you decide is fine by me."
    She
looked into his eyes. "But you don't really want me to take the
job, do you?"
    Akeem
did not answer her. Instead, he bent his head and kissed the tip of
her nose. "I'm a guy who just got married. I'm very much in love
with my wife, and I want to take care of her in every way
possible." He punctuated each statement with a kiss on her face and
neck. "Moreover, I don't want to have to share her just yet." He
touched his lips to hers again. "Well, maybe I can share, but not
with an organization," he murmured against her lips.
    "Who do
you want to share me with?"
    He
kissed her again. "My son."
    She
smiled. "Or daughter."
    He bent
his head and nuzzled her neck with his lips, sending delicious
tingles all over her body. "Yeah, but my son first. I've got a lot
of training to do on that little guy, and the earlier we start the
better." He ran his finger down her cheek. "And then, we will have
our cute little princess afterwards, someone for me to love and
cuddle, someone who looks exactly like her beautiful
mum."
    "But
what am I going to be doing with myself all day while you are away
at work?" The idea was even a little scary. "I've never not done
anything in my life."
    "Then
maybe it's time for you to have a