THE DEVIL ON THE ALTAR
CHAPTER TWELVE
Paul called relentlessly and sent various texts to convey how sorry he was and how it was not his intention to hurt her and many other things but Patricia was not in the mood to talk to him. She tried to get over what happened and gradually she was finding rest and peace of mind and she felt God had forgiven her. So, she didn’t want to have anything to do with him again and had even made up her mind not to attend that fellowship again. She didn’t know how to explain to her roommate in a reasonable way, why she would want to leave the fellowship.
“Babe, it’s time for the workers preparatory meeting,” Celestina said, when she noticed that Patricia who used to hasten her up for church services was seated idly even though they were almost late for the meeting.
“I’m not going for the program.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not feeling too well.”
“You are not feeling too well and have been jumping up and down since morning.”
“I’m not fine emotionally and psychologically so I need rest and I need to clear my head.”
“I have told you times without number that you should not desert God in your trying times. This is the time to seek God and get closer to Him so He can see you through the storm and trouble.”
“I have heard your preaching, Madam Pastor but my mind is made up. I’m not going to that church anymore.” Patricia finally let it out of her chest and she watched her friend intently to see her reaction.
Celestina could not believe what she just heard. She kept on staring at Patricia to see if she was joking or serious. When she discovered that she was serious, she tried to convince her but her mind ~was made up. Celestina was really worried for her friend. She was convinced that something was wrong with her. But, how would she help her when she had decided to always keep things to herself. Celestina resolve~ d to inform Paul about the case, with high hopes that he would help them proffer solutions to what was happening and get Patricia to open up.
Celestina waited to see Paul after the meeting. When Paul was informed that Celestina wanted to see him and also after he discovered that Patricia was not at the meeting, he began to sense danger and was highly agitated. Celestina waited until she was summoned and then she went in to see Paul. He studied her facial expression as she stepped in, hoping to get a clue of why she wanted to see him and all he saw in her eyes were sadness and pity.
“I’m here to see you because of my friend.”
“Ok, I’m listening, what is the matter with her?”
Celestina narrated everything to him and he was somehow surprised and also thankful that Patricia didn’t confide in her friend.
“I want you to come and talk to her,” Celestina finally said.
Paul was shocked at that request. He didn’t want anyone to know what transpired between him and Patricia and due to the fact that Patricia had not picked his calls nor replied to any of his text, which meant she was still angry and might explode at the sight of him. He tried to look for an excuse to dodge the request but Celestina was always ahead of him and because she was persistent he had no choice but to oblige to her request.
All through the journey from the fellowship center to the hostel, Paul’s mind was highly distracted and even though Celestina was trying to start up a conversation she discovered that he was absent minded and was mostly not listening to her. Paul was thinking of what would happen when Patricia sets her eyes on him because they have not seen each other since that ugly incidence.
Patricia laid still on the bed as many thoughts passed through her mind. Thoughts of regrets, of maybes and what ifs, she just wanted to forget all that happened and move on with her life but she knew that it would be impossible for her to do that unless she forgave Paul and just the thought of that brought tears to her eyes and she started regretting the day she met Paul, the day she decided to join that fellowship, the day she volunteered to go with the sisters to visit him and even her decision to go back for her key that night, she cried and cried until she had no energy to cry anymore.
Shortly after that, there was a knock on the door and even though she heard it, Patricia had no strength to rise up and open the door, she just laid there and was staring at the door. The knock came again and this time a little louder and Patricia knew that whoever was at the door would not leave until she opened up so she braced herself up and went to open the door.
“Why did you take so long before opening the door?” Celestina asked just as she stepped in. Patricia had no strength to answer her and she just went back to the bed.
“Come in, sir,” Celestina said to Paul who was still standing outside while ignoring her friend’s rude attitude. It was at that point Patricia knew that Celestina came with someone and even though she wanted to know who the person was she didn’t turn her neck to avoid unnecessary attention because of her present state and swollen eyes.
“Peace be unto this house,” Paul said, as he stepped in and Patricia could not believe her ears.
“So after all he did to her he still had the effrontery to come into her room and pretend like a saint,” Patricia thought to herself.
She wanted to scream at him, curse him and chase him out of her room but she cautioned herself. She remembered the story of David and Saul in the bible where David had the opportunity to kill Saul who was after his life but did not kill him because he was the Lord’s anointed. She also decided not to insult or curse Paul or make an open shame of him for all the wrong he did to her because he was the Lord’s anointed, so she just kept her cool and didn’t even turn to look at him.
“I have brought our great president all the way from the fellowship to this room so that you can explain to him all that is going on with you and tell him why you have decided to abandon the ~fellowship of God’s people,” Celestina said, looking at Patricia but Patricia did not even bulge and she just pretended like she didn’t hear what Celestina was saying and kept on pressing her phone.
~
“You are the one I’m talking to.” Celestina snatched ~the phone from her friend. Patricia knew at that moment that her friend was hell-be~ nt on frustrating her and she didn’t need that.
Paul mustered all ~the courage left in him to remain seated as he watched Celestina batter words with Patricia. He was praying in his mind that Patricia would remain calm so that she wouldn’t ~spill the beans. Patricia sat up and looked at Paul eyeb~ all to eyeball, she was trying to read the expression on his face to see if he would fain innocence in case she accused him. Paul was getting uncomfor~ table ~with the look and he asked Celestina to excuse them so Patricia could open up~ to him. Celestina was reluctant to leave. She wanted her friend to be alright and was ready to do anything to see her friend whole again, so she just took her phone and earpiece and went out for a walk.
After Celestina left the room, Paul drew his chair closer to where Patricia was seated and went on his knees begging her.
“I’m very sorry, Patricia. Please, find a place ~in your heart to forgive me. I never intended for things to happen this way between us. I love you and would want to spend the rest of my life with you and all I was looking for was an avenue to convey my love to you and not for all this~ to happen,” he said, almost in tears.
Patricia kept looking at him. She could not register all he was saying to her.
“How would you convince me that what ~happened that night wasn’t planned? How did my key fall from my bag? How did you know it was my key? Why did you call me and not Celestina? Why did you force me to enter your room at that late hour? Why? Why? Why?” Patricia sa~ id, and broke down in tears. She just did not want to believe that everything that happened to her that night was a coincidence. She could feel it deep down in herself that it was planned out.
“I did all I did that night from a pure heart. Just that the devil took over at some point and it wasn’t my intention and I deeply regret it and I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me and accept me,” Paul said, still on his knees.
This went on and on for a while before Patricia finally forgave him and she said she needed time to be sure he was God’s will for her before she would accept him as a lover. He was also extremely happy and was grinning from ear to ear as Celestina stepped in. She was surprised to see her friend radiant again and thanked Paul, teasing him that he should give her whatever he used on her friend all the time to get her out of her foul mood and they all laughed about it and after some time Paul took his leave.
To be continued…
