A NEW PHASE

Jenny sat at her dressing mirror in her husband's room and she stared at herself until tears pooled at her eyes. She was grateful to God for all she had. She is a 24 years old married lady who did not know it would even happen at the start of this journey.

She began a journey almost a year ago with no aid or assistance from anyone initially! She was determined to be more than a local secondary school teacher. She knew she was meant to impart life!

Armed with the knowledge of her responsibility towards her family, especially her siblings, she moved far away. She made a promise to give all she had to the family God will send her too.

This was always her belief. God organizes and plans our future if only we trust him. God needed a mother for Stephanie and Jenny was grateful to be that mother.

However, Jenny realised that not many girls had it easy in finding a place to strive and bloom! She had faced only a day of hard times before locating Regina. Alot of young ladies desires to be where she was at the moment but they are met with heart aches and disappointment.

Now she is contributing her hope back into society by admonishing Regina's staffs. Many of them complained of the harsh characters of their employees and she encouraged them not to give up hope. She was met with hostility from Michael and Stephanie at first but she was determined to work because the pay was far better than what she had been earning in the village. They offered her an accommodation and mouth watering salary. This was enough to keep her content in the big house.

She ran from an arranged marriage into a union she was glad she was in. She wouldn't have been able to do all these without the teachings of her mentor Mrs Jemima. Her wedding had been on a short notice but Mrs Jemima was present at her family compound in the village where the occasion took place.

She was not blinded by the fact that Michael was difficult to live with but she was assured that deep down, he loved her. She also enjoyed the support from Mrs Bose who had consistently supported and loved her since she arrived at the Oladokun's mansion. Now it was a new phase of life. She had an educational fit running, she had a dream of the business to build and she had a child.

However she needed to address a certain issue before moving forward. As usual, when Michael came into the room to sleep, he was as loving as usual all through the night. Their almost two weeks stay in the hotel was mind blowing. He was like a young boy with pride when he confirmed that she was a virgin indeed. He reaffirmed his promises to love her unconditionally for the rest of his life and she believed him.

The next morning when Sarah resumed work, she met Regina and Jenny seated in the living room. She wondered how the other lady who didn't live in the house got here so early. Jenny had made breakfast for her family as usual, hence she felt almost useless as she saw the array of platters on the dinning table.

"Madam Sarah welcome oh" Regina saluted sarcastically.

"Good morning ma" Sarah replied with a frown still standing at the entrance. She refused to move closer.

"I really don't have time this morning. I have an appointment with some of the consultants we discussed with. So Sarah i came to drop off your sack letter from my agency. You are no longer a part of us."

Sarah was not surprised. She had expected it from Regina. The woman seemed to have swallowed a certain gossip about her.

"You have an hour to pack your things and leave" Jenny stated politely.

"You are not the one that employed me. Mrs Bose did and she is the only one who can ask me to leave." Sarah said grudgingly.

"I am sure my ears are faulty, did you just speak to my wife in that condescending manner?" Michael said as he descended the stairs ready for work.

"Good morning sir" Sarah quickly greeted.

"Keep your fucking hypocritical salute to yourself. When you disrespect my wife, you disrespect me. Now get out and do what she required of you."

"I am so sorry, this was ever a staff at my organisation"

"Its okay Regina. There are so many ladies like her out there." Jenny consoled her.

As Sarah walked out of the house in tears, she saw her luggages outside her room. Bisola the cleaner was already sweeping and cleaning the room.

"The house done reach una oh. Make you and your fellow cook take charge" She snapped out to Bisola who bursted into laughter.

"You better go to the hospital and check on yourself because it is obvious that Yusuf would soon be a daddy"

Bisola said laughing the more.

Sarah ignored her outburst. They obviously know she was hooking up with Yusuf without protection but that does not mean that she's pregnant. If she was, abortion was a necessity because she couldn't afford to raise a child when she was still in capital poverty. She left that morning in tears.

They promised to love and care for one another untill their reasoning and harmony was greater than what it was at the beginning. Two years afterwards, Jenny gave birth to a set of twins. Two boys. Mrs Bose had to relocate back from England to join them in the celebration. Deji and Nina were already married with a son too. Mrs Chioma was the happiest step mother in the world. She had come to love her step daughter the more for all the sacrifices she had made for them. Her children were all in school and doing great. Mr Michael had built a big douplex in agbor for the family. She had a supermarket built by Jenny for fresh farm produce not too far from the house. The Uchenna family had gradually become a name of prosperity and progress because of Jenny. It was a chanced journey and she took it with all the risks involved.

T H E E N D!!!

Thank you for these beautiful 3 months of reading Just by Chance!

Thank you for the comments and contracts!

See you in the next book!