Love Lies And Divorce – episode 13

LOVE, LIES AND DIVORCE
EPISODE 13

‘No problem, go ahead…’ Ben swallowed the drink and prayed he would withstand seeing her pictures.
Sundays were usually dull and depressing for her, Frederick had that accident that took his life on Sunday, she still remembered. She still dreaded that day that took the most precious gift she had away.
But this Sunday was totally different, she hadn’t been to church for a very long time…maybe it was time to seek God, maybe it was time to go back to her creator for help…
‘pray, if you’re meant for each other, your hearts would find each other….’ Amaka’s words echoed in her head….
She had seen him in her dream…he had appeared in her dream, did that have any meaning?
‘Omale…’ she whispered his name as she pulled her curtains apart….
The yellow rays of the morning sun pierced the glasses and fell on the empty bed…it warmed her skin and made her feel alive…
She moved over to where his portrait lay, the man that had loved her with everything in him…this time she didn’t sob, she didn’t feel sad…it was time to pay a visit to the real world….

‘I’ll always love you…but I have to do this…I know you’ll want the best for me…’ she k-ssed the dead man’s face and quickly dropped his picture in a drawer….
‘I guess I am ready now…’ she looked at her appearance and smiled satisfactorily…
She wore a bubble gown made of Ankara and a black turban…her make-up was very light…could God really answer her prayers about finding that man? She felt foolish at first, she knew nothing about this man except for his name…but her heart told her to find him…
Without looking back, she slid into her car and ignited the engine…she had to pray, then she would wait patiently for God’s answer…
The cathedral was a glorious monument….she paused not knowing what to do next….she wasn’t sure about this…there was still time to turn back….
‘Lord help me….’ She finally made up her mind and walked into the massive building which swallowed her petite form immediately …

‘The lord is in his holy place, let the wh0le earth keep silent…’ the pastor was opening the service with a short prayer…
Thankfully, people’s eyes were closed so she had ample time to rush in without their glances at her…since the demise of her husband…she couldn’t remember the last time she came to church…
She had just come to pray to God and planned to sneak out before the close of service to avoid pitiful glances and questions from nosy church members…maybe they cared for her, maybe they weren’t nosy…but Edima hated being the object of attention….

‘this way madam…’ an usher led her to an empty seat and she smiled graciously at the young man…things had really changed in the church she observed…
‘Amen…’ she joined the others in chorus as the Pastor began making declarations…
‘thank you …’ a familiar voice spoke…and she knew someone had been offered a seat next to hers…
She couldn’t help it…she quickly forced her eyes open and found him staring at her in shock…what was going on here?
‘we meet again…’ Omale whispered trying not to distract others….

‘uhmmm…’ Edima tried to say something but her mouth felt dry…was he stalking her or something? This was too much of a coincidence….
‘darling have you seen my purse’? a young woman took a seat next to him and her heart sank…was he married? She wondered, but there was no ring…
‘no June…we’ll search for it later…’ he replied carelessly and turned to face the woman that haunted his dreams…
‘why don’t we seat over there…’ ? the young woman suggested and eyed Edima briefly…
‘no, we’ll seat here…but you can move there if you want…’ he suggested…
June was his late wife’s best friend…after Ene’s death they’d become quite close and with her help he was able to pull through the depression that tormented him after the burial of his lovely wife…
June had always been there for him, she understood him more than any other person could…sometimes she spent time at his place…though nothing ever transpired between them…he was careful about it…besides she was in a relationsh¡p of her own…

June was twenty nine years old and single, hopefully her boyfriend would propose to her soon… he hadn’t met the guy personally but June had always told him stories about her lover…
He loved June in a special way…she was motherly and very matured….he had told her about Edima Bassey, the lady that took his breath away, he couldn’t wait for service to be over for proper introductions to be made…he hoped she wouldn’t snub him this time…

‘Stubborn guy…’ June mused uneasily…wondering who the other lady was as she kept exchanging glares with Omale…her stomach fluttered as she caught Omale staring at the other woman.
‘We meet yet again, my pretty….’Omale whispered close to her, he couldn’t believe his luck, all weekend he’d thought about the feisty Edima Bassey that had blown his mind away….and here she was sitting right beside him…
It made him believe all the more that they were meant for each other…
‘do you mind’? Edima averted her gaze from his beautiful eyes and faced the pastor…

‘I hope you know you and I are meant together….’ Omale pressed on….
‘Omale….are you okay’? June was concerned about her best friend…was he exchanging words with the other woman?
‘alright June, let’s concentrate…we have a lot to talk about after service…’ he smiled briefly and faced the pulpit…
She wasn’t herself as she kept stealing glances at him, was this real? Her heart raced beneath her chest, things were happening to fast…it felt like she was stuck in a dream and unable to return to reality…
But there he was, it was no dream, he was every bit adorable in his navy blue tuxedo….very pleasing to the eyes indeed…
She suddenly felt nervous as she scanned the woman that sat beside him…it didn’t look like they were lovers…but what if they were? What if he was already taken?
She suddenly felt stupid for acting all up previously…how could she blow this chance God had given her? This was a second chance, she would take it and explore it….
Seeing him right there and then, gave her the conviction that somehow they would end up together….
The Preacher spoke about ‘faith’, Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…
He implored the congregation to hold fast their faith both in pleasing times and trying times…because without faith no man could please God…
‘Oh Happy Day….’ The choir chanted the hymn joyously with brought the service to an end….that wasn’t her plan…
She hadn’t planned to stay till closing of the church…she didn’t want the church members to come flooding around her…she hated pity…that could even get her emotional and she didn’t want to see him this way…
‘Shake five members before you go, God bless you all…’ the preacher smiled and the grace was said…
‘Are you going to refuse me now’? Omale  smiled and offered his hand.

…. To Be Continued.

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