Share
36
After two failed almost-marriages, you'd think I'd have given up on trying. I was still brimming with hope, despite everything that had gone wrong. However, when I woke up for the third wedding, I felt more apprehensive than when I did before the others. If this one turned out to be failure, I didn't think I could handle it. It would be the end of the road for me. I'd believe fate wanted me back where I belonged, the motherland although for some inexplicable reason, I felt like I belonged by Noah's side. I felt at home with him and I liked everything about him.
Related chapters
Her Paper Marriage 37
Mrs Elliot lost it. She charged at me and I fell down. I would have hit my head if I hadn't supported myself with my elbows. I glanced at my beautiful gown which wasn't supposed to get dirty, instantly becoming furious. I wanted to stand up and crush her to the ground but instead, I took a deep breath and decided to turn the other cheek. Noah helped me up as the remaining guests watched in silence, wondering if a fight was in order.Standing up straight, I met Mrs Elliot's eyes. "Good evening, misses Elliot."I wanted to call her mother-in-law but it would be petty, and I wasn't in a mood to provoke her."You trapped my son," she hissed.I didn't not reply. I couldn't think of a dignified reply to that so I remained silent. She ended up standing there awkwardly when she saw I wasn't going to retaliate. It was the perfect medicine for people like her. Now, everyone saw her as the bad guy because that's what she was."I'm disappointed,
Her Paper Marriage 38
The blue hue of the water was mesmerizing. Far away, darkness had engulfed the trees and the sun had set. There was a canopied boat floating on the river, it's lights shinning bright. Noah placed a hand on mine, which had been resting on the table between us. I felt his warmth and looked at him, his eyes, bluer than I'd ever seen them were glowing in the yellow light from the candles on the table. "Makes you feel like staying forever, doesn't it?" He commented.I nodded. This was an amazing way to end a beautiful day. It had been a busy day for both of us. We had started it by bungee jumping, canoeing and in the afternoon, taken a tour of the awesome Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. After lengthy admiration and appreciation of nature, all we needed was a good dinner before retiring to bed.
Her Paper Marriage 39
“I envisioned all sorts of scenarios but I never pictured this happening,” I told Noah. It was a beautiful mid-morning and it was scorching outside but we were doing well in the safety of our suite with air conditioning. Noah’s left arm was looped around my waist, his body pressing against mine from behind. “I never dreamed that I’d be lying in your arms, both of us happy. I never thought that one day everything would feel okay. That my problems would all seem like a nightmare that ends when one wakes up. That one day I wouldn’t have to worry about a lot of things.” Tears were now cascading down my cheeks.“My love, forget all the bad things because your pain will stay in the past,” his hand moved upward and I ached my back as my whole body tingled. We had made love a number of times already but not enough to satiate our bodies. At that time, we couldn’t keep our hands off each other and that’s why we had abandoned a bird watching sessi
Her Paper Marriage 40
Ignoring Noah’s pleas, I walked out after dressing up. The resort was a few meters away from Victoria Falls so I could hear the rush of water. The buildings were built to form a circle and in the middle was a pool and a tent that had Animal print. The tent acted as a mini pool restaurant that also served drinks. There were two impalas near the pool. That was the beauty of being in a resort built in the middle of a forest. Animals roamed the place like it was home to them and one could enjoy the sounds of nature.I decided to head to the part of the woods that did not lead to the falls. The falls probably the first place anyone looking for me would go to. Somewhere in the woods, I found a rock I could sit on. A monkey was munching on fruit in a nearby tree and I smiled when our eyes met to show I meant no harm.I did not feel like talking to Noah at that time. It was not like I had asked him an unreasonable question. What was he hidi
Her Paper Marriage 41
The days flew by so fast. Noah and I had the time of our lives going on safaris, trekking through the desert and hunting with the locals in some parts of Zimbabwe and Zambia. It was the best time of my life and when we left, I felt depressed knowing it would take some time before I stepped on African soil again. I was leaving home and stepping into my husband’s world. Did I think it would be simple? Not at all. But, I knew I could handle.As the plane flew over the ocean, I felt apprehensive. Was this really happening? Growing up, I always thought marriage was a big deal. It had not yet hit me properly during the honeymoon but now it did. It was time to become more mature, act like a real woman not a growing girl although at twenty three I felt I was still one. It was high time, I beat the girlishness out of me though not all of it. Every woman needs a bit of girl in her. In the same way, every girl needs a bit of woman in her.When the plane finally hit th
Her Paper Marriage 42
“I can’t believe it,” I mumbled. Shocked. “I’m surprised.”“I was hoping you’d be,” he took my hands in his. “I nearly spilled everything when you left me alone during our honeymoon. And trust me, I’ve not forgotten that. Your punishment is on the way.”“You’re incredible and I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” my smile grew. “I’m willing to bear any form of punishment from you.”“I’m the luckiest man,” he lowered his forehead to rest on mine.“Shut up,” I swallowed after staring into his eyes far too long.“Time for your tour,” he pressed his lips against mine. “Don’t worry about how big it is, though. We’ll have helps to do all the work. Now, we just need you to find a hobby you’d like.”“You know that’s hard,” I said. “I have tried so many things but not one makes me happy.”“You’ll find one,” his hands dropped to squeeze my b
Her Paper Marriage 43
Henry’s povThere was a time when I had given up on happiness. I had come to think that maybe it was not meant for me. I was not special enough to have it in my life. I worked in a government ministry and earned a fairly good salary, for a person my age. While a lot of my friends were unemployed, I was swimming in money, as they referred to it. So, in summary, I had a good job and a good life. Women were not hard to get. They would flock towards. And most had ulterior motives like money. Or maybe I just thought like that because none of them had felt like a special one for me.Some of them just wanted a man to take care of their financial needs and would run as soon as they were comfortable. After meeting a number of those, I had given up on love and decided to focus more on work instead. Maybe if I got lucky, I would also meet the love of my life like some of my friends had.Along the way, it had happened. I met Lena Kamara. Like myself, she
Her Paper Marriage 44
Life was good, finally. Our little Ava was now four months old and receiving a lot of love from everyone. They say all babies are beautiful. Also, every mother considers their little bundle of joy beautiful. Maybe that was it or maybe my baby was truly as beautiful as I thought. Ava’s skin was quite fair and most of her features resembled those of Noah and not mine.They say that first daughters always look like their fathers and that was very in Ava’s case. My mother in law said Ava was Noah through and through. There was no difference between them and no doubt she was a true Elliot. She and I had not become too cozy and I liked it that way. Besides, there was supposed to be some tension between me and my mother in law so that the boundaries were respected. From what I have seen, women who get too close to mothers in law always end up in trouble. I did not want extra closeness with Noah’s mother.All I needed was her respect since I was giving her mine. Also, I ne
Latest chapter
