“Oh father, help Adora!” That was the umpteenth time she had prayed the same lines out.

After spending hours talking to God, about Adora and about other people, Temilade was willing to spend some more time on her knees when Mama’s call came through interrupting Maranda Curtis’ You are my strength, which was playing through her phone as she communed with God.

That was her regular 7 o’clock call. Shocked at the realization that it was already 7am – for it felt like a few minutes since the nightmare (about 4:15am), she dashed into the bathhouse.

She couldn’t be late for Adora’s wedding; her heart reminded her why she could not. Time indeed waits for no one, she thought, as against imagining that she had all the time in the world. Mama was calling to remind her to take her meds and she knew. She was on Pregnacare Vitabiotics.

Temilade would always skip it and Mama promised to remind her before or at 7am everyday. “Mama, I would pass this time,” she muttered, in an under tone as she had her bath.

“Men, love your wives as Christ loves the church!” Rev Kel snapped and paused with his usual grin when he knows he’s on the churchy-vibe-mode. The whole church knew he’ll go on a whim. 

The service was always on point with Rev as he was fondly called by everyone at ‘The Word Makes and Breaks Cathedral’. In this church, there’s a solution for everyone; there is a home for everyone. Internationally, and in Nigeria, people had testified to the ‘solutions’, ‘making’ and ‘breaking‘ in the name of Jesus.

But, that was not the testimony of Tiffi, a senior Deaconess, and wife of the honorary Prof. Dr Apostle Sir Thomas, to mention a few titles. He was called P.D.A Sir Thomas for short.

She had recently stopped coming to church after the 9th of February, two months ago when Sir Thomas banned her from going to work. He was not going to have his wife work for someone for money no matter how honorable the job was. And Tiffi held on to the hope on being the ‘virtuous woman‘ the woman everyone celebrates.

What she wondered was why P.D.A Sir Thomas was an obstacle to her aspirations. She thought every man would love a virtuous woman as a wife but these past 11 years, she’s known different.

She had planned on walking out on the marriage. “I mean a separation, not divorce,” she said to herself after Rev prayed the couple wouldn’t know an imminent divorce. The whole church cheered a loud “amen!” Rev Mrs Tamilade’s “amen” was almost an offence to Tiffi.

She smiled carelessly and called out to Temilade, “Rev Kel is a blessing,” pretending to follow the message. Tiffi sat uncomfortably wondering why Temilade only replied with a smile, cursing in an under tone.

“She always sits in church with a smile that says everything is fine, but we know the truth. Bishop is not a patient man and it’s written all over him,” Tiffi paused, still smiling and looking at the Rev Mrs. As the couple danced out for reception, everyone was leaving the church.

“Did you see how the groom is dancing even more than the bride?” Minister Nifemi asked sister Chizoba in her Yoruba sarcastic tone. She held the lemon and peach decorated pillar behind the pastors and deacons’ section where Deaconess Tiffi and Rev Temilade sat.

Rev Temilade made her way to the gathering to take photos with the newest couple in town, while the Deaconess would rather sit back to get full information than be in the photograph.

“I think say she dey happy before say she dey wan marry P.D.P Sir Thomas brother na,” Chizoba said in a hysterical laughter, revealing her wide tooth gap.

“You would not change, his name is P.D.A Sir Thomas for short,” Nifemi corrected with a stroke on Chizoba’s short thighs laughing.

“That one na una know, whether PDP or APP, e no consine me. Their family too get waha…” Nifemi did not allow her finish the line; She held her mouth in close shot looking at Tiffi who sat glued to her seat.

Tiffi was not comfortable with the way the women spoke about her husband and her family but she was interested in what they had to say. They spoke about how Adora had met Rev Temilade and about how her initial excitement about her marriage to Thompson ended. Why they made the Rev Mrs. the last person to be seen in the marriage constitution of the church is a resent mystery Tiffi decided to demystify today.

“How come she’s been able to stay 7 years with our Bishop, his impatience and not having a child but still has the same smile on?” she asks herself, walking out of the massive cathedral in her velvet peach dress, lemon and peach fascinator that she had managed to purchase for less than a dollar just to be in colour.

After putting all her belongings in one piece, rented an apartment in the estate for people of class and colour, she had decided to leave Sir Thomas and she had her reasons. Strong reasons. No one was going to talk her out of it. She even had biblical scriptures to back her decision.

As she got to the lobby, she caught Rev Temilade’s smile. “This woman must have a plan and a secret,” she paused. A chorister from the church greeted her from behind. She told her that it was nice to see her after a long time. Tiffi only smiled and focused on Temilade. “I must go to her for some help.” She walked impatiently towards Temilade. Her eyes said it all, she needed help. Temilade knew those eyes, and she waited patiently with a smile. As she approached, Temilade’s face began to drop and quickly, she dashed to her car and took hold of something in a box. There was a sound, and the box dropped to the ground…

                    ————To be continued

Triggers!

What sets you off is a trigger!

For some women, the news of a close friend’s wedding or child dedication, a friend’s tweet on social media or cheap gossip can cause them to regret their past decisions and or make them take steps they shouldn’t.

Triggers are everywhere and anywhere, especially when we feel really empty and or starved.

Often times, women forget that the grass is not always greener on the other side and that ‘them that compare themselves with themselves are not wise!’ Most women stay down, wishing they could live like someone else.

You should know this: the devil would talk you into feeling bad about just anything that can keep you starved. For he knows that in hunger, people make terrible decisions.

The good news is; there is someone who loves better when we feel starved and empty!

For it is your VOID and NOTHINGNESS that ATTRACTS GOD! -TD JAKES.

Love,

Jace.