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Kola was in the kitchen preparing dinner when his wife returned from the women fellowship.
Jumoke sniffed at the aroma wafting out of the kitchen, tiptoed in and grabbed Kola’s waist from behind.
He turned and smiled.
“You almost gave me a fright. I didn’t hear when you opened the door to the living room.”
“It’s the aroma of what you are cooking that pulled me into the kitchen. Thank you. Let me see.”
She picked a piece of meat with a fork, blew on it and pushed it into her mouth.
“Hmm thank you. This is good.” She made as if to pick another meat.
Kola held her hand.
“Please now.” she begged.
“Remember what you always do whenever you are cooking in the kitchen. You won’t even allow me to come near the door for the fear of eating most of the meat in the pot.”
Jumoke pouted ” Don’t tell me you are taking revenge.”
“Revenge is sweet,” Kola said. He turned to check the rice in another pot. Jumoke used the opportunity to pick another piece of meat and ran out of the kitchen. He chased after her.
“I’m sure going to punish you for that.”
Jumoke ran into the bedroom and he followed her, pinned her to the wall and planted a kiss on her lips. She knew what would follow and objected.
” Hun hun. I’m hungry. That stew will get burnt”
Kola released her reluctantly. “Freshen up and come to the dinning table.”
She smiled and gave him a thumb up.
They settled down to eat. They were halfway into their meal when Jumoke started a conversation.
“There’s a rumour going round among the women in the church.”
“What rumour?” Kola asked and raised a glass of water to his lips.
“There were lots of noise about Deaconess Beatrice today.”
Kola’s hand shook at the mention of Deaconess’ name. He spilled the water held to his lips on himself.
“What about her?” He asked praying that his shaky voice wouldn’t give him away.
Jumoke pointed ” your front is wet.”
“Yes I almost choked on the water. I rushed it.”
“You know we always use the church auditorium for our meeting because of our number. We had to wait for about thirty minutes today because the youths were having a program in the church. We were in little groups and everyone was gisting when someone mentioned that she heard from someone that heard from someone that Deaconess Beatrice is married to a Muslim now and she’s even expecting a baby.”
Kola’s heart jerked dangerously.
“And you believed that crap?” He said with heat.
” What am i supposed to believe? Is it not possible? She’s been away for too long. Maybe it is true and she has been hiding.”
“Haa women!” Kola said in a stern voice. “Was that what you went to the church to do? Gossiping. Haven’t I warned you to steer clear of gossip, especially with women in the church?”
“And was I supposed to close my ears when they were talking about her?”
“You should have walked away. But nay, you stayed to listen and bring the news back to me so that I can also give it to someone else.”
“Kola!” Jumoke shrieked.
Kola shifted his chair backward, stood up and pushed his food aside. “I’m done here,” he said.
Jumoke looked at him quizzically as he strolled away.
“See me see trouble,” she said, slapping herself slightly on the cheeks.
“I should have known how to shut my mouth. Why is he always cranky whenever her name is mentioned. I thought we’ve gone past her issue.” She shrugged. “Anyway, thank God she is out of the way. I don’t have to worry anymore about her relationship with him. Thank God I insisted and he stopped being close to her. If she likes, let her go and marry a buddhist. It’s her life. She’s an adult.” She cleared the table.
While Jumoke was doing the dishes in the kitchen, Kola was chatting Jerry on WhatsApp. He had earlier tried to connect to deaconess but she wasn’t online. Jerry responded to his greetings.
“What’s happening with deaconess?” Kola typed. “I heard that some women in the church are already aware of her condition. Has she called the pastor?”
“Yes, she has informed the pastor. We just got to her house now.”
“What? We? Why?”
“She insisted that’s she’s coming back today. She said that she saw one of your church members in the market and that her secret is out. I tried to persuade her to stay but to no avail. So I decided to drive her down because she won’t be comfortable in a public transport in her condition.”
” You drove her down without informing me?”
” I never knew I had to ask for your consent. The last I knew, she asked you to stay off her affairs. If she has decided to come out clean, then you should respect her decision.”
Jerry went offline.
Kola felt like punching someone. He wondered at the type of game that Jerry and Deaconess were playing. Angrily, he picked his car key and stormed out of the bedroom. He met Jumoke at the doorway.
” Where to?” She asked.
” My business partner just called that he’s in town. We need to meet because he’s leaving for Abuja tomorrow.”
“Hmmm. This business partner that I have never met.”
” What are you driving at?” Kola frowned.
” Nothing. Don’t stay out late.”
” You can go to bed. I will be okay.”
—-
Jerry waited for Kola at the front of Deaconess’ house.
” Where is she?” Kola asked.
” She’s not willing to see you. That woman is going through a lot. All this while, her blood pressure had been normal, but just today, after seeing whoever she saw at the market, it shot up dangerously. I fear for her and the unborn child. I had to give her something to make her sleep for the BP to drop. The least you can do is to let her be.”
” I want her to reaffirm the promise that she won’t reveal the identity of the baby’s father to anyone.”
Jerry moved closer to Kola and starred at him straight in the face. ” Time indeed changes people.” He said. “Is this the same Bro Kola that I knew in the school?” He shook his head. ” Why are you just concerned about your reputation and not the safety of that woman in there?” He pointed to the house. ” Either you like it or not. Either you threaten her or not. It is your baby that is in her womb. No matter how you cover your yarsh ,na mess, e go still smell.” He turned. ” I wish we are meeting in a better circumstances.
Brother Koooola!
I will be leaving tomorrow after seeing her family doctor and explaining things to him. He’s going to take over her care. Please let her be and respect her decision.”
” Even if it will affect my family?”
” You should have thought about that before going down with her.”
Kola drove back home in a dejected mood. Deep within him, he knew that the sky was pregnant with rain. Shame and disgrace loomed at the corner for him. How he wished he had confessed to his wife the very day the deed was done. For now, he’s more than scared to open up to her.
TO BE CONTINUED
Β© BOSEDE FAGBEMI
Is it true that most rumour in the church starts from women meeting?
God have mercy on us.
