Ife Grace Alamu.

1
Copyright ©2025 by Ife-Grace Alamu
You are Beautiful.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by
any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system,
without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Chapters
Click any of the chapters to navigate.
Contents
one
One 4 ––––––– PG 4

two
Two 10 ––––––– PG 10

three
Three 26––––––– PG 26

four
Four 37––––––– PG 37

five
Five 45 ––––––– PG 45

six
Six 53 ––––––– PG 53

seven
Seven 81––––––– PG 81

Eight
Eight 86––––––– PG 86

Nine
Nine 94––––––– PG 94

Ten
Ten 110 ––––––– PG 110

Eleven
Eleven 119––––––– PG 119

Twelve
Twelve 128––––––– PG 128

Thirteen 141
Thirteen ––––––– PG 141

Fourteen 155
Fourteen ––––––– PG 155

Fifteen
Fifteen 165
––––––– PG 165

Sixteen
Sixteen 173
––––––– PG 173

Seventeen 184
Seventeen ––––––– PG 184

Eighteen 197
Eighteen ––––––– PG 197

Nineteen 212
Nineteen ––––––– PG 212

twenty
Twenty 227––––––– PG 227
You are Beautfi ul

01
one

Modupe was getting hysterical as she combed the banquet hall

in search of David. Where on earth was her boyfriend? The
Singles’ Fellowship Dinner was over and David was nowhere
to be found. When she arrived in a cream-coloured gown that
accentuated her hips and revealed her tightly curved burst,
she had one goal in mind- to drive David crazy. Maybe for
once, he would stop comparing her with the sisters in the
fellowship. Pastor Yemi had looked at her with a frown. She
was a worker in church and should have known better than
to dress inappropriately. She turned her face away, ready for
the consequence of her action but glad she had carried out her
mission.

She scanned the hall several times during the meeting,

searching for the only man who drove her nuts yet held the
key to her heart. Was he ill? Did something terrible happen
to him on his way to the dinner? She imagined David rushed

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Ife Grace Alamu.

to the hospital from a fatal accident on his way to the Singles’

Fellowship Dinner. She would be by his side and nurse him
to health. He’d finally look at her and say,

“What would I have done without you? You are my sunshine,

my life.”

How she longed to hear those words. The few times David
made statements like that, she had carried the words in her
heart for several months.

When at the close of the event, David was nowhere in sight

and his phone lines were not reachable, Modupe’s heart sank.

Desperate, she walked briskly to the raised platform to get a

better view of the joyous crowd now standing in groups and
engaging in small talks. This year’s LG Singles’ Fellowship
Dinner had turned out better than the last with lots of fun
activities and varieties of food. Though with David’s absence,
she could only describe it in one word, ‘boring.’

David was not in the crowd. Modupe rubbed her sweaty palms
and again scanned the hall, slower this time. Disappointed,
she hurried out of the hall stopping mid-way when she saw
Israel moving one of the speakers out of the hall. David and
Israel were members of the technical team in church and she
guessed Israel might know David’s whereabouts. She caught
up with him and waited until he placed the speaker into the
small truck at the entrance of the hall.

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You are Beautfi ul

“Israel, have you seen David?”

Israel shook his head. “I am not sure he is around. I overheard

my H.O.D saying he called to inform him that he wouldn’t be
available tonight.”

Modupe’s eyes burned with tears as she returned to the hall.

Why was David treating her this way? Not even a text from
him about the reason for his absence. She stared at her silver
heels, a pair of sandals she had paid for through the nose.
What was the point now?

Modupe slumped into a nearby chair and watched with

disinterest the chatter around her. She hated the way David
ignored her feelings even when she exerted all efforts to make
the relationship work. Was she not trying enough?

Gradually, the hall thinned out. The caretakers were poised to

lock up the doors.

Modupe went in search of her flat mate and found her

standing at the back of the banquet hall with some members
of the singles group. Ada was the center of attraction. They
were listening attentively and giggling like excited teenagers.
The admiration in their eyes was palpable.

A pang of jealousy hit her. Why was she not as charming as

her flat mate? She’d kill to be half as pretty as Ada.

“I’m going home,” Modupe mouthed to Ada when she turned

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Ife Grace Alamu.

in her direction.

Ada ended the conversation and hugged a few people who

were reluctant to let her go. A few persons greeted Modupe
curtly on their way out but none stopped for small talks.

“Is there something wrong with me?” Modupe muttered to

herself. “Not even one of them stopped to hug me or ask how
I was doing.”

A tall man with spellbinding eyes walked beside Ada. He

had an athletic grace that made his feet seem like they hardly
touched the ground. When he smiled, Modupe thought he
would make it first place in the competition for the Most
Handsome Man in the world. His face was not familiar and
Modupe didn’t think he was a member of their church.

“Dupe, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. I’m ready now.
Williams will drop us at home.” Ada said and turned to
Williams, “Williams, meet my friend, Modupe.”

Another quick glance followed by a smile and William’s eyes

were back on Ada.

Nobody wants you! How soon will that sink into your brain.

The voice in Modupe’s head was taunting her again. Modupe

blinked back tears.

“Will you just shut up and leave me alone!” She almost

screamed out loud.

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You are Beautfi ul

“You remember Mama Israel?” The voice in her head

continued. “The day your mother had a fight with her, she
made a statement about you that I know you can never forget.
With your bulging eyes and fat lips, a baboon looks better
than you.”

Modupe stopped walking. She stood there for a moment,

unable to control her trembling hands.

A hand went round her shoulder. “Mo, are you okay?”

Modupe jerked out of her thoughts and looked at Ada. “Sure.”

The ride home was torturous. The voices were determined

to follow her home. Williams hadn’t said a word other than
the brief ‘hello’ when Ada introduced her to him. David was
clearly avoiding her. When his phone finally rang, he did not
pick up.

What’s my life’s worth, anyway? Twice, David declined

taking me to his company’s party. There can be only one
reason. He is ashamed to have me by his side. Nobody wants
me. Nobody wants me.

“Mo, are you sure you are okay?” Ada asked again.

Modupe flashed her a smile to reassure her she was fine. When
the car pulled up in front of the ladies’ flat, Williams turned to
Modupe and said warmly, “Sister, it was nice meeting you.”

Sister? Was that her name? Why was he looking at her

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impatiently?

Modupe got the message. Williams wanted to be alone with

Ada. She forced a smile and stepped out of the car. “Nice
meeting you too.”

She dialed David’s number again as she turned the doorknob

to her room. His phone was switched off. Frustrated, she
flung her heels and tossed her phone on the bed. Impulsively,
she reached for the phone again. Her heart ached for David.
What could she do to receive half the commitment she put
into her relationship with David?

Modupe changed into a nightie and opened her image gallery

packed with David’s pictures. She swiped through each one
slowly and stopped at a picture she had taken of David at
a wedding party. On his lap was a plate of ewedu while
he struggled with a tough piece of pomo. Modupe giggled
and pulled her pillow to her chest, her eyes still glued to the
picture.

“I love you David. We are made for each other, you know?”
Modupe muttered to the still pictures on her phone

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You are Beautfi ul

02
two

Modupe licked her brown colored fingers smeared with Lindt

chocolate. “This tastes heavenly. Lindt chocolate is the best in
the world.”

Ada laughed as she watched Modupe’s tongue run over her

fingers until they were washed clean with fresh saliva. She
threw another bar of chocolate to Modupe, who caught it like
an experienced goal keeper and greedily pleaded for a third
bar.

“Finish the one in your hands,” Ada said, throwing pieces of

M & M candies into her mouth. Empty wrappers of chocolates,
wafers and candies littered the center table.

“Segun knows what I like. One of his colleagues will be

returning to Nigeria from the United States next month. My
list is set.” Ada continued.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Modupe held up a half-eaten bar. “Include Lindt please. We

need more of this.”

“That reminds me, Segun asked me to give you something.”

Ada stood up and went into her room.

Lucky Ada, Modupe thought. Her fiancé treated her like an

egg while hers considered her a trash. Soon, Ada would be
married to Segun and would join him in the United States.

Ada returned from her room with a brown envelope and

passed it to Modupe before reaching for her phone vibrating
on the sofa. One glance at the caller ID and she hissed.

Modupe pulled out a black watch case from the envelope and
opened it.

“This is so beautiful!” She exclaimed, gushing at the gold

wristwatch. She strapped the wristwatch to her wrist and it
fitted perfectly.

Ada’s phone rang again.

Modupe looked from the watch to her friend. “Ada, pick your
call.”

Ada hissed again. “abegi. I don’t even know what is wrong

with some of these brothers. Don’t they understand the
meaning of ‘I am engaged.’ What exactly is their problem? If
he is not careful, I will block his number.”

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Modupe laughed dryly. “Hottest girl in town.” Like a

treasured artifact, she placed the watch back in the case. “I’ll
chat with Segun later to thank him.”

Ada stretched her leg on a brown stool. “Mo, are you okay?”

Modupe hesitated. Tears were gathering in her eyes. “I’m not

fine. David-”

“I have told you to leave that unserious young man,” Ada

said, interrupting her. “You deserve better Mo. If he can’t see
how valuable you are, he doesn’t deserve you.”

Modupe nodded and changed the subject. It irritated her

whenever Ada spoke ill of her boyfriend. She was privileged
to have suitors line up with proposals. She thought it cruel for
Ada to judge her commitment to the only person who cared
about her.

“How’s Williams? Does he like you?”

“He does,” Ada responded. “I’ve told him I’m not available.
His heart was broken but he’ll be fine.”

“You are always lucky with guys.”

Ada sighed. “That’s because I know my worth. I can never

allow a man treat me anyhow. I am too valuable to be ignored.”
Ada stood up. “Any plans for this evening? I’m kinda bored.
Let’s hang out.”

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‘I’d loved to but my mum called. She wants me to come over

this evening.” Modupe said, hiding her resentment. Did Ada
have to remind her that she was allowing David treat her less?
Ada was indirectly saying she was not valuable. “You and
your mum sha. I wish mine was still alive. You don’t know
how lucky you are.”

Modupe rose to her feet. “I need to go before it gets too late.

I just remembered that I have to stop at the mechanic to pick
up mum’s car first.”

“Mo, buy your own car and allow your mother’s car rest.”

Modupe squeezed her nose. “You will give me the money

abi? Besides, she has two cars. This one is unofficially mine.”

An hour later, Modupe arrived at the family house, a duplex

her father built before he died. From the entrance, she could
sense that something was wrong. Her seven-year old niece
leaned on the veranda, chewing her nails. Modupe waited for
her to race into her arms, like she always did whenever Mo
visited them in Lagos but she didn’t.

“Ara!” Modupe called her niece. She looked on with eyes

bereft of excitement.

“Are you okay? Where is your mum?”

“She is inside.” Ara pointed to the house and turned her face
away.

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Worried that something terrible had happened to her sister,

Modupe hurried into the house. The living room was empty.
She peeped into the kitchen. No one was there. Where was
everyone? Why was the house quiet? She climbed the stairs
and landed on the large parlor surrounded by four other
rooms. A sharp cry rang out from one of the rooms.

Modupe opened the door slowly and saw her elder sister,
Olamide, sitting on a plush polyester rug that covered the
bedside, holding a bruised face. Her mother spoke comforting
words to her in a low tone.

Boxes were stacked up against the wall on one side of the

room. Modupe’s eyes drifted to her mother who stared back
with a grim face.

“Modupe, thank God you are here.” Her mother said, rising
from the floor and sitting on the king- sized bed in lush brown
and white linens.

“Olamide, what happened to your face?” Modupe sat on the

empty space beside her sister and reached for her hand.

Olamide gave an awkward smile. “Mo.”

Modupe’s eyes widened as she got a clearer view of her sister’s

bruised face. Her right eye was black and her lips swollen.

“What happened? Are you sick? Why are your lips swollen?”
Modupe fired questions.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Modupe’s mother flared up. “Stupid questions. What do you

think happened to her?”

“Mummy, calm down. I’m just asking.”

Modupe’s mother began to pace the room, “There is a curse

on this family. Look at me, a business woman who made
profits in millions. Your father’s people paid what they called
a cursory visit to my supermarket and now I can barely break
even. Look at my two daughters. One married a demon. The
other cannot keep a man.”

“Why do you make everything about you?” Modupe shot at

her mother.

“If you don’t shut up your mouth, ma na shege lara e. Who

are you talking to like that? Are you out of your mind? Do you
know the sleepless nights and sacrifices I do to make your life
better? What nonsense statement is that!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean....”

“Gbe enu e soun. If you don’t have anything good to say,

leave my house.”

Afraid to fuel her mother’s fiery temper, she kept mute.

Modupe’s mother returned to a sturdy oak chair that leaned
against a bookshelf filled with scattered journals and papers.
“My son is a poverty-stricken lawyer. We spent thousands of
naira to send him to law school yet he has nothing to show

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for it. At my age, I still send him monthly allowances. Whose

ancestors did I offend? I will not sit down and watch those
wicked people destroy my children. They took my husband
away from me. They will not touch me or my children. Never!”

Olamide blew her nose into a hand towel, “Not all your
children are going through issues. Eniola is different.
Everything is going smoothly for her.”

Modupe nodded in agreement. Eniola was Modupe’s elder

sibling and Olamide’s younger sister. When she completed
her one-year mandatory youth service in Nasarawa , she got
employed at the headquarters of one of the new generation
banks. After a year, she moved out of Lagos to Abuja to work
in an engineering firm owned by some foreigners and in a few
years rose to become a manager. Her husband built a massive
house in Gwagwalada where he works as a partner in one of
Nigeria’s top consulting firms.

Modupe’s mother folded her hands. “I’ll call for an emergency

family meeting. We need prayers.”

Modupe held her sister’s shoulder as she broke into more

tears. “Stop crying. Everything will be fine.”

She reached for a first aid box and began to tend Olamide’s
wounds.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

* * * * * * * * * *

The workers’ prayer meeting held on Sunday morning had

barely ended when Modupe hurried to the technical room
upstairs in search of David.

Now, she was terrified. Twice she had visited his place but
did not meet him. David lived in an isolated part of town
and rarely conversed with his neighbors. If only she had a
relationship with his sisters, she would have called. At least
one of them would be certain of David’s whereabouts. David
had been reluctant to introduce her to his family and it
bothered her. What was the name of the company he worked
for? For the first time Modupe realized how little she knew of
this man she claimed she loved.

Shortly before the Pastor mounted the podium to deliver his

sermon, Modupe sneaked out of church to check David’s
apartment one more time. If she did not find him there, she
would knock on his neighbor’s door to make further inquiries
before filing a missing person’s report at the police station.

To Modupe’s disbelief and utter shock, she found David

sitting in front of his flat, polishing his shoes. He seemed
ready to bolt when he sighted her from afar but it was too
late. She had already seen him.

Modupe’s eyes blazed with anger but beneath it, she was

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relieved. At least he was alive and well. David smiled and

pulled her into his arms.

“Oh, my baby, I have missed you.” He said with a big grin on

his face.

Modupe pushed him away. He staggered and fell back against

the wall.

“Baby! What was that for?”

‘I’ve been calling you for days abi weeks sef. It’s either your
number is not going through or you refuse to answer my calls.
What for heaven sake is going on?”

David reached for a plastic chair on the veranda, his sad eyes
on the floor, “I’m so sorry. I just didn’t know how to tell you.”

Modupe’s heart pounded. What was it he wanted to tell her?

Was he planning to break up with her?

Jesus, not again. I cannot lose him. Jesus I can’t.

“David, what is it?”

David hesitated, “I lost my job.”

Modupe let out a deep breath, “Oh sweetheart, what

happened?”

“Downsizing. My boss said my services weren’t needed

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Ife Grace Alamu.

anymore. Can you imagine that? After everything I’ve done

for the company. I’m sorry I kept it away from you. I couldn’t
bring myself to tell you.”

Modupe took his hand and pressed it against her face. “You
should have told me. I’ve been so worried. Was that the reason
you missed church?”

He nodded. “I told them I traveled. But the truth is, I feel so

ashamed going back there.”

Modupe sat on his lap and rubbed his head. “I know how hard
this is for you. I’m ready to support you until you get another
job.” She reached for his hand. “Come, let’s go inside.”

When they settled on the sofa in the living room, David

smiled. “Thank you. I don’t know what I’ll do without you
in my life.”

Modupe loved when he said those words to her. It gave her

the joy and confidence she wanted. It silenced the voices that
tortured her without her permission. She wanted the words
to keep rolling out of his mouth. She gaped expecting more
compliments, he tickled her instead until she was laughing so
hard.

“David, stop!”

“Say please!”

Modupe was on the floor, her ribs cracking, tears running

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down her face. “Please!”

David pulled her up and planted her back on his lap. “God!
I’ve missed you so much.”

“We are supposed to be in church.” Modupe reminded him.

“You had better turn off your phone. They can’t look for me.
I already told them I would be out of town for some months.”

Two small dimples appeared on her cheeks. “What should I

prepare for you? efo riro, eguisi, just name it. I can run to the
market to get the ingredients.”

He held her chin, warmly, “I’m not even hungry anymore.

Just looking at your beautiful face fills my stomach.”

Modupe giggled. “But you have to eat something.”

He looked at his wristwatch and gently pushed her away from

his lap. “I have an appointment with a woman who wants to
help me with a job. I have to go see her now. I’ll eat when I
return. But Mo, I need one favour from you.”

“Anything for you dear.”

“I couldn’t wash my clothes yesterday because I was feeling

weak and discouraged. Can you help me?”

Modupe nodded. “Sure. Listen David, I’ll always be here for

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you.”

He circled his hands around her waist and planted a kiss on

her lips. “My wife. My sweetheart. My love.”

When he tried to kiss her again, Modupe stopped him.

“Remember, we said no kissing until our wedding night.”

David smiled, “Hmmm…wedding night. Can’t we rehearse

now so that when the time comes, we’ll do it properly?” He
kissed her again. Modupe relaxed in his arms, desire rushing
through her body. Her hat fell behind the sofa when he
reached under her shirt.

Modupe stopped him. “David, No. We shouldn’t be doing

this. It’s wrong.”

David let out a slow breath. “I’m sorry.”

She peered closely at him. “Are you angry?”

“How can I be angry? I should thank you for stopping me

right before I did something stupid.” He stood up. “I have to
go now. I’ll be back soon.”

Modupe got ready to work. She shook her head when she
entered David’s room. Clothes were scattered everywhere.
Beside the bed, half-eaten takeaway packs of beans and rice
littered the floor. The room also reeked of rotten barbeque
fish.

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How did she fall in love with a dirty man like this?

One look at the laundry bag and Modupe almost fainted.

The bag overflowed with dirty clothes and boxers formed a
heap in front of the bag. The last time she cleaned his room,
her back hurt for weeks. She still remembered opening his
wardrobe to find ants feasting on grains of sugar spilled out
of an opened pack of Dangote sugar.

She offloaded the clothes into the washing machine and

returned to the room to sweep the floor. The broom she thrust
under the bed pulled out dirty disposable bowls, torchlight,
pens, breadcrumbs, plates, spoons.

She loved David and he loved her too. If this was a cross she’d
bear, she’ll gladly take it.

“But who lives in a place like this?” She asked herself quietly.

The sound from the washing machine died. Modupe exhaled,

upset at the power outage. Now she’d have to take the rest
of the clothes outside to wash with her hands. She wanted
David to be happy. She wanted him to return to a sparkling
clean house.

She mopped the room and sat at the back of the house to clear
the dirty clothes.. By the time she was done, her hands were
red and she could barely stand up. She was happy all the
same.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

The main gate opened as she draped the wet clothes over a
wash line.

Her heart leaped with excitement. “That must be David.”

She imagined the satisfaction in his eyes when he saw how

much work she had done. He would hug her and say thank
you a million times. He would tell her how much he adored
her and how she was the best woman for him.

He’d pull her off her feet and swirl her around and when she
escaped his arms, he’d chase her around the living room until
she was panting and laughing at the same time.

She decided to do what every good wife would do. Run to

hug her man and tell him she missed him. Encourage him and
remind him of her unwavering support. She had learnt that
lesson at a relationship seminar she attended. No matter how
tired a wife is, the relationship coach had said, she must put
aside her feelings and present a smiling face to her husband.

As she stepped away from the line, she sighted three men
walking towards David’s flat. They were from the media
department in church. Modupe covered her mouth in shock
and ran into the house through the back door.

What will Bro Segun, the head of the media department think
when he sees her in David’s t-shirt and knickers?

The front door was opened. She had to get to it quickly to lock

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it. As Modupe ran through the dining room to the front door,
she didn’t see a pool of water in front of the refrigerator. She
slipped and fell flat on her back.

The knock came as she got to her feet. She froze. She tip-toed
towards the door.

“Bro David!’ Someone called from outside. Modupe stood at

a spot, her heart panting.

Lord, please don’t let them open that door.

She crawled to the back of the sofa facing the T.V and laid on
the cold floor. Why were they looking for David? Did David
not say he informed them he would be out of town?

Modupe remained there, long after they left.

“That was close.” She whispered and sighed deeply before

returning to her chores.

By the time Modupe finished cleaning the apartment, it was

almost 7pm. She had pressed his shirts and laid the bed. She
prepared stew, made eguisi soup and filled the drum in the
kitchen. By 8p.m, David had still not returned. She called him.

“Where are you?”

“Baby, I’m so sorry. You won’t believe I’m still waiting for
that woman. She just drove in now. I don’t even know how
long our meeting will take. But you can leave the key under

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the drum outside. I’ll call you when I get out of here.”

Modupe waited till 9p.m. When he didn’t show up, she left
his apartment. Her eyes were heavy as she drove home. She
tried so hard to stay awake.

“Where have you been? I looked everywhere for you after the
service.” Ada said, as soon as Modupe entered the house. “I
tried calling you several times, but your line was switched
off.”

“Oh my God! My handbag is still in church.” Modupe said,

slumping her tired body on the sofa.

Ada pointed at a red bag on the TV stand. “The head usher

gave it to me.” Ada paused. “You’ve not answered my
question.Where have you been?”

Modupe yawned and staggered to her room. “I went to look

for David. I was worried about him.”

“So?”

“It’s a long story. I need to sleep right now.”

‘I seriously don’t know what you see in that guy. You deserve
better.”

Modupe rolled her eyes at her flat mate before opening the
door to her room. “Goodnight.”

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You are Beautfi ul three

03

Lola tried to make her four-month old baby stay quiet but
the more she rocked him, the louder he screamed. She was
embarrassed. This was her fault. She had talked her husband
into bringing her for this business forum and now she was
ruining everything. One glance at her husband, Kola, and she
saw regret in his eyes.

“Take that baby out of here!” Kola barked at her.

She tried again to keep her son quiet. When she raised her
head and saw that the speaker had stopped talking and all
eyes were fastened on her, she rocked her baby harder.

Kola pulled her roughly to her feet. “Go!”

Lola ran out of the building to her husband’s car. Her nanny,
Nene, followed behind, carrying her three-year old daughter.

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She entered the car and watched her son scream in agonizing
pain. “What do you want eh! Kilo fe?’

She held out her breast for him to suck but he turned his lips
away and cried some more.

“Talk now? What do you want?”

She stepped out of the car and placed him on her shoulders.
She sang and rocked him from side to side.

Are you a Jesus baby, yes you are? You are a Jesus baby all
the time.

He finally stopped crying and gradually, his eyelids closed in

sleep.

An hour later, Kola climbed into the driver’s seat, fuming. “I

told you not to come with me. But you are always stubborn. Are
you now satisfied that you’ve drawn attention to yourself?”

“Please can you stop shouting? Benjamin is sleeping.” Lola

said, quietly.

Kola hissed and started the car. “Sometimes, you behave like
a dummy. The moment you noticed he was going to cry, you
should have gone outside immediately. Look at the way they
were staring at us. Did you see anybody with a child there?”

“Have you forgotten we did not plan to bring the kids here?
How was I supposed to know that Mama T would leave town

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this morning?”

“You should have listened to me and stayed at home!” He

shouted.

“I wanted to hear Nike Adesanya speak. I couldn’t miss it for

anything in the world.”

“Just look at the way you embarrassed me before those people.

What would they think of us?”

Lola stared at her husband, annoyed. She wanted to tell him

he wasn’t that important but she held back. If she had not
threatened to report to the Pastor about his sexual affair with
the lady downstairs, Kola would never have allowed her to
come for the forum.

When they arrived home, Lola asked what he wanted for

dinner. He kept a straight face and pretended not to hear. Few
minutes before midnight, he woke her up.

“Get into the kitchen and prepare something for me to eat.”

Lola held her forehead and tried to stop the loud bangs.
Benjamin had kept her awake the previous nights and just
when she was glad he had fallen asleep, so she could catch
hers, her husband tapped her.

“I thought you didn’t want to eat anything.”

“Is something wrong with you?” Kola barked. “I said go in

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Ife Grace Alamu.

there and prepare food for me!”

Lola carried her sleeping child and laid him gently in his cot
before staggering out of the room. Her leg hit the side of a
table close to the doorway. She tripped and landed flat on the
floor.

“Just look at you,” Kola said, mockingly. “You can’t even

carry yourself. So round like a buffalo. No shape. Nothing.
Look at how pounds of flesh are dancing under your arms.
Shior.”

He followed her out of the room. “The appalling sight of

a woman like you can make someone-” he stopped and
commenced a search on the appropriate word to use.
“nauseated”

Lola pretended the words didn’t hurt. She had made up her
mind never to cry in front of her husband again. She placed a
pot under the sink and turned on the tap.

“Sometimes, I wonder why God doesn’t show us a glimpse of

what our wives will look like after marriage.” He muttered,
eyes scanning her from head to toe. “Fat rolls everywhere,”
He said, his lips curling in disgust. “You really do need to do
something about your weight.”

With a sharp hiss, he walked away. Lola held the side of the
kitchen sink and stared blankly at the pot already filled with
water.

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You are Beautfi ul

Her mind went back to the days before her marriage, when
Kola had been attracted to her body. Her friends raved about
her graceful curves, particularly her back side. Her colleagues
marvelled at how every outfit seemed tailored just for her.

“It’s not fair. How can God create you with a beautiful face, a
sonorous voice and the perfect body size at the same time. It’s
not fair at all.” One of her female friends had said.

One time, she had complained to a friend about the men

chasing her. She was tired of their frequent calls and stares.
When Kola showed interest in dating her, she’d been excited.
He was intelligent and knew how to make her laugh. She felt
safe with him and enjoyed his compliments about her looks
more than the others.

On her wedding day, she whispered to her best lady. “Finally,

all the brothers will rest. I am for one man and for him alone.”

Had she made a mistake in her choice? She had tried

everything to maintain her weight, but nothing was working.
Listening to her husband humiliate her was driving her nuts.

How could a man who showered love words every night,

wrote love poems every week and presented her before his
friends like a prized asset before their wedding suddenly
change to a monster? Was this the cruel and wicked man she
married?

The tears came pouring down her face as Kola’s words

30
Ife Grace Alamu.

reverberated in her mind. She turned off the tap and held the
pot of water over her head. She moved to the center of the
kitchen and poured the water over her body. Drenched, she
picked a mop and began to wipe the wet kitchen floor.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“I’m fat and ugly,” Lola muttered to herself as she stood in

front of the mirror, rubbing her bulging belly that had refused
to deflate after her son’s arrival.

The birth of her son had come with great difficulty. After two
days of painful labour, she was rushed into the theater where
she stayed for several hours until Benjamin was born.

Several weeks after delivery, Lola slipped into depression and

became vaguely fascinated with death. Tosin, her best friend,
called it postpartum depression. Nothing excited Lola and
she preferred to stay in bed and cry all day. She had insomnia
and soon began to develop hatred for her newborn child. She
became afraid when one morning, she left her two-month old
baby on a wooden table confident it was his cot. Thankfully,
her mother had come to her rescue.

When the depression finally lifted, Lola swore never to have

another child.

Now, the darkness has returned. This one was bent on sending
her to an early grave.

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You are Beautfi ul

“I’m a shapeless bitch!” Lola screamed and stepped away

from the mirror.

She pulled out a weighing scale behind the shoe rack and
stood on it.

110kg.

Fuming, she walked over to the treadmill Kola bought for her
at Christmas and began to run on it so fast she was panting
hard.

Benjamin was crying in the next room. Lola pretended not to

hear him. Her husband’s voice filled her thoughts.

You are very lazy. Just take a look at the bathroom. It’s as
dirty as you are. All you know how to do is eat.

Have you seen Temi lately? My God! That woman always

looks great. Even with three children, she is hot! You just have
two and you are disgusting.

Don’t touch that cake! If I see you touching any pastry, I’ll
send you back to your father’s house. When was the last time
you looked into the mirror?

Why should I cuddle you? Maybe when you get back in shape,
I’ll change my mind because with the way you are, my hand
can barely go round your waist.

Lola got down from the treadmill and sat on the bed, weeping.

32
Ife Grace Alamu.

“God, but I’m trying. I just get so hungry after breastfeeding.”

The door opened and Nene entered, carrying Benjamin in

her arms. Her effort to sing to the child wasn’t working. Lola
reached for her son and began to breastfeed him. A drop of
her tears fell on the child’s cheeks.

“Aunty, you are crying?” The petite house help asked.

Lola kept her gaze on Benjamin. “Nene, have you finished

cleaning the kitchen?”

“Yes ma.”

“Have you done your assignment?”

“Not yet but I’ll do it. I want to stay here with you.” Nene
paused. “But Aunty, why are you crying?’

A car horn interrupted their conversation. Nene ran out of

the room to see who was at the gate. Lola glanced at the clock.
1p.m. It was still early for her husband to return from work.

Benjamin slept, his tiny lips still latched to her breast. At least,
for some hours, she’d be able to catch her breath. She took
him to his room and quietly laid him in his cot.

“Who dey house o!” A loud voice called from outside.

Lola adjusted her t-shirt and peeped into the living room. Her
best friend sat on the long sofa, looking radiant in a yellow

33
You are Beautfi ul

chiffon blouse and flared flowery skirt.

Lola went into Tosin’s open arms. “What a surprise. You

didn’t go to work today?’

“I started my leave yesterday. How are you?”

Lola smiled. The darkness had lifted. Her mother and her best
friend always brought life to her weary soul. She wondered
what she would do without them. Her eyes danced towards
Tosin’s bag. A package in aluminum foil shot out of the side
of the bag. Lola’s mind screamed chocolate cake.

“Tosin, what’s that?” Lola asked, grinning.

Tosin winked at her and unwrapped the foil paper to reveal a

large piece of brown cake.

Lola rolled her eyes. “Tosin, this is not fair. You brought the
temptation right to my doorstep.”

Her cravings for cake had skyrocketed when she became

pregnant with Benjamin. After his birth, it had become her
escape route when Kola’s words drove her insane.

Tosin tore off a small piece and propped it into Lola’s mouth.
The moment it touched her tongue, it was as if something
snapped loose in her brain. She snatched the entire piece and
devoured it like someone who hadn’t seen food in months.
Tosin sat back, arms folded, watching with quiet amusement.

34
Ife Grace Alamu.

Lola looked from the crumbs in her hands to her friend as

guilt crept in.

Tosin leaned forward. “Lola, don’t take the guilt trip. I made
the cake using a low-fat recipe. See babe, losing weight starts
from having a genuine reason to get the excess weight off and
not because you want to please a man. If you lose weight and
become like those skinny models you see on T.V, he will find
something else to hold against you. Should you lose weight?
Of course, but a better reason is because you want to live a
healthier life.”

Lola squeezed the foil paper and tossed into the small bin
beside the TV stand. “I don’t even know what to say..”

“What about a thank you for the delicious cake I painstakingly

made just for you.”

Lola relaxed on the sofa. “Thank you Tosin. You always show
up at the right time.”

Tosin rubbed her friend’s bare arm. “I’m praying for you.
Everything will be alright.”

They caught up on the events that had happened since the

last time Tosin visited. Lola listened as her friend narrated
her experience at an interview she attended the previous day.
She had been nervous until she discovered the head of the
recruiting team was a junior student back in her secondary
school days.

35
You are Beautfi ul

Lola wished she could relax on the sofa with her husband the
way she was with Tosin. Would there ever be a day when her
husband would cuddle her while she laughed at his jokes?
Will the tension in her home ever end? She knew it was an
impossible mission, a dream that would never come through.

“Aunty Lola!”

Lola turned to find Nene standing at the door that led to

Benjamin’s room. There was panic in her eyes.

“The baby! Something is wrong.”

The ladies sped into the room. Benjamin’s breath was forced.
His face was red and his hands limp. Lola whisked her child
out of the cot and ran out of the house.

As she opened the driver’s side, Tosin stopped her.

“Give me the keys.”

Lola obeyed. Her body was trembling as she climbed into the
back seat with her sick child in her arms. Tosin sped out of the
house to the hospital.

36
Ife Grace Alamu. four

04

Lola stood, watching her son asleep in an incubator with

drips attached to his tiny hands and an oxygen hood covering
his nose. She clenched her fists as tears poured down her face.

God please.

Lola looked around the special care baby ward lined with
incubators and breathing machines. Mothers like her watched
their babies with eyes sunken and Lola wondered what they
were thinking.

A nurse in a clean white uniform entered the ward followed

by another woman bursting with excitement. They walked
between two rows and stopped in front of the incubator
beside Lola’s. The nurse raised the glass enclosure, carried the
baby out and handed him over to his mother. She kissed her
baby’s cheeks as tears trickled down her light-skinned face.

37
You are Beautfi ul

When she raised her head and saw Lola, she smiled. “I never
thought my child would live. Your baby will be fine too.”

Lola nodded and turned her attention to Benjamin. “I love

you son.”

When she got outside the ward, she tried Kola’s line again.

Why was he not picking up his calls?

Lola’s brows creased, her frustration evident. Tosin, who had

been prevented from entering the special care baby ward,
joined her in the corridor where she stood staring into her
phone.

“How is he?” Tosin asked.

Lola sighed. “He is sleeping now. Tosin, I don’t understand

my husband. He is not picking my calls. I sent him a text
message and he has not responded. For goodness sake, what
kind of man did I marry?”

“Stop talking like this. It is possible he did not see the text. He
might be far away from his phone. Try his number again.”

Lola shook her head. “I won’t.”

Her son was dying and her husband did not deem it fit to
call to find out what was going on? Even if he hated her, why
would he treat his son like that? In her mind’s eyes, she saw
him read her text message, push the phone away, recline in

38
Ife Grace Alamu.

his chair before turning his attention to a client. How can a

man be this cruel?

A hand touched Lola’s shoulder. A tall, dark man with full

afro hair looked at her with compassionate eyes.

Eben!

She ran into his arms. He wrapped his hands around her
shoulders.

“How are you?” His voice was deep and soothing. Lola
wanted to stay in his arms. How long had she wanted this
warmth from her husband? But this was her best friend’s
husband and Tosin was standing right before them, smiling
at her. She pulled away gently.

Eben squeezed her hands, “Benjamin will be fine. What did

the doctor say?”

“They are still running tests on him.”

Eben looked around. “Where is Kola?’

Lola shrugged. “He is not answering his calls.”

Eben dialed Kola’s number. He picked on the first ring.

“What’s up?”

“Why are you not picking your wife’s calls?”

39
You are Beautfi ul

‘I’m busy.” Kola responded. “Just got out of the board room
with a client. What does she want?”

“Stop asking me useless questions and run down to Rhema

Hospital right away!”

Lola was hurt that her husband had answered his friend’s
call even though she had tried his number several times in
the past few hours. Had their relationship gotten so bad that
he now avoided her calls? She glanced at her watch. It was
almost 7p.m. Her body was sticky and with the sweat that
covered her armpits, Kola would be mad at her if he stood
beside her. She had to get home, shower and return to spend
the night with her son.

“I’m going home. I need to pick a few things.”

“My wife will go with you.” Eben said. “I’ll wait here till Kola
comes.”

Lola shook her head, “I want to go alone please. I promise, I’ll

be back before you know it.”

Tosin held her friend’s hands. “Are you sure you’ll be fine?”

“Yes, I will.”

Lola drove home in silence, her thoughts running back to the

years before she married Kola. Life had been beautiful and
exciting. Memories of her renditions at church programs
flashed. She smiled remembering how her worship sessions

40
Ife Grace Alamu.

drove people to their knees. A woman once jumped out of

her wheelchair completely healed on a crusade ground. She
sniffed and wiped a tear.

Lola knew exactly where she had gone wrong. She had craved
swag and eloquence. She had longed for a confident man
whose body could make her head spin. She had crafted an
idol in her mind and found Kola the perfect match.

A few weeks before her engagement, she had a dream. It was

the morning of her wedding ceremony. She had searched
everywhere for her wedding dress. That dream had come
twice. Had God been trying to warn her about her relationship
with Kola? She had been carried away by Kola’s admiration
to heed the warnings from God.

Lola drove into the house, surprised to see her husband’s car
parked in the compound. Wasn’t it thirty minutes ago he said
he got out of a board meeting?

Her husband was sitting on the bed, perusing through some

documents. He didn’t even give her as little as a glance when
she entered the room. Conscious of her sweaty skin, she took
her towel from the wardrobe and used the shower in the
adjacent room.

“Why did you ask Eben to call me?” Kola asked as she entered
their bedroom with a towel tied around her chest. Lola didn’t
respond. She opened one side of the wardrobe and took out
her body cream.

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You are Beautfi ul

“What did the doctor say was wrong with you again?”

Lola remained quiet. Sitting in front of the mirror, she creamed

her body slowly.

“I’ve told you several times that the solution to your health
problem is to get back in shape. I printed these articles from
the internet.”

He pulled out a brown envelope from a black briefcase and

pushed it towards her. “There are many health issues obese
women suffer from. You won’t be visiting the doctor every
time if you’d just lose some pounds.”

Lola flared up. “Do I look sick to you? Did you even read my
text? Our son is in the intensive care unit”’

Kola stared at his wife, “What!”

“He wasn’t breathing properly.”

Kola was alarmed, “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

Lola hissed, “How many times have I called you today?

You avoided my calls Kola. I sent you a text. How else was I
supposed to reach you?”

“What did the doctor say?” He didn’t wait for a response

before rushing out of the room.

Curious, Lola reached for the documents scattered on the bed.

42
Ife Grace Alamu.

Her husband was planning to buy a landed property and he

didn’t tell her? She blinked and sat down slowly. How long
will Kola continue to treat her like an outsider? She had no
idea how much her husband earned or the investments he
had acquired. She wondered if she really knew this man at all.

Benjamin’s test results came in later that week. One glance at

the doctor and Lola knew the result was not good. She waited.
Every second seemed like eternity.

Doctor Biodun looked at the couple, “Your son has a congenital

heart defect.”

Lola stared at her husband in alarm, then turned back to the

doctor, eyes wide with confusion.

“The condition is called Patent ductus arteriosus. There is an

abnormal blood flow from the baby’s heart to the lungs and
your son’s PDA is quite large. It’s sending blood to his lungs
far more than your baby can handle. There is nothing for you
to worry about. Benjamin will be fine.”

The doctor pushed two fliers before the couple. “However,

we need to act fast. Here are two hospitals in India that we
partner with. This is the fastest procedure you can get.”

Kola took the flier and stared at it like it was some difficult
exam question. Lola placed her head on the table. She was
shaking terribly. She left the doctor’s office for the intensive
care unit. For a long time, she stood in front of the incubator

43
You are Beautfi ul

and watched her son sleeping peacefully. Her throat was dry
and tears were gathering in her eyes.

My baby. My baby.

44
Ife Grace Alamu. five

05

The emergency family meeting took place a few weeks after

Olamide returned home. Modupe’s brother, Rotimi, boiled
with anger as he sat with his siblings in the living room.

“Mum, I took a night bus all the way from Port Harcourt to
listen to this nonsense? You called me here to organize prayers
for us? Are you listening to yourself at all? This is bullshit!’

“Rotimi, calm down.” Olamide said. “How can you talk to

mum like she is one of your peers? She wants the best for us,
that’s why she called us here.”

Tears stung the elderly woman’s eyes. “And I’m doing this
because of you o. It’s your best interest I’m looking out for.
This man of God ehn, he is very good. His wife is a prophetess.
They have seen countless revelations about our family. My
children, some people want to ruin us.”

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You are Beautfi ul

Rotimi clenched his fists. ‘I can’t believe this. Who told you I
believe in your God? When will you stop deceiving yourself?
There is no God! I can prove that to you.”

“Ah!” Modupe’s mother shouted.

Modupe’s elder sister, Eniola, watched the scuffle like a

journalist sent to observe an important event for a breaking
news story.

Modupe’s mother lost her cool. “Rotimi, what is your

problem? None of my children wear my life out like you do.
Why are you so stubborn? Look at you, for two years, you
have been working in that shack you call a law firm. You are
nothing but a freaking, destitute.”

Rotimi shook his head. “Mum, I know your tongue is sharp

and none of us can match it. I choose not to take your words
seriously. But don’t forget, nobody becomes a success
overnight. When did I leave law school? Three years ago. I
know where I’m going and I’m working hard to achieve my
dreams. I will hit it big and my hard work will eventually pay
off.”

“Rotimi!” Olamide shouted. “You were raised in a church.

You were taught the word of God.”

Rotimi opened his mouth to say something to his sister but

he changed his mind. He turned to his mother. “I can’t stay
in this house. I’ll book a hotel room tonight and first thing

46
Ife Grace Alamu.

tomorrow, I’m out of here. Mummy, please, don’t ever call

me for this kind of thing again.”

He stormed out of the house before anyone could stop him.

Eniola gave her mother a long glance.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Eniola’s mother asked.

“Do you want to join your brother? If you want to go, good
luck to you. God knows I am doing the best I can.”

Eniola reclined on the sofa and folded her hands. She watched
her mother exit the living room still talking angrily. The air
of tranquility that Eniola carried was disturbing. It annoyed
Olamide that Eniola could not be bothered.

Eniola looked at her sister, concerned. “What happened to

your face?”

Olamide hissed and turned her face away. What right did
Eniola have to question her? Was it because she had a husband
who adored her?

She remembered the night she spent with Eniola in Abuja.

She’d never seen a man treat a woman with that kind of
warmth and care. At first, she thought it was a façade. But
when she woke up very early in the morning to find the
pair laughing in the living room, her heart had burned with
jealousy.

Life was going well for Eniola; she had a good job, lived in a

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You are Beautfi ul

house built by her husband, and her two children attended

one of the best schools in Abuja. Was she trying to mock her
because her marriage didn’t work?

“I’m talking to you,” Eniola pressed.

“Nothing happened to my face!” Olamide snapped.

“Your eyes are swollen, Lamide. Martins did this to you?”

Olamide shot her an angry glance. “Are you seeking the

downfall of my marriage? Why would Martin hit me?”

Eniola raised her hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset

you.”

Modupe remained silent not knowing how to mend the fence

between her elder sisters.

The door opened and a man in a clean black suit stepped into
the house, followed by a woman dressed in a long blue gown
and black turban. Modupe’s mother followed them closely,
laughing.

“Peace be unto this house.” The man said in a deep baritone

voice.

The three sisters stared at the pair as they settled into the
living room.

“These are my daughters,” Modupe’s mother said, then

48
Ife Grace Alamu.

immediately began fussing over them, asking them what

they’d like to drink.

The man stood up, “Yesterday, while my wife and I were

praying for this family, we saw a woman in white standing
by a river. She carried a basket and in the basket were four
cans. I saw all your names written on the cans. One after the
other, she threw them into the river and said some incoherent
words. Then she made a statement. “You will never prosper.”

“Jesus!” Olamide’s hands flew to her chest. “Who did we

offend?”

Modupe’s eyes became watery, her hands were trembling.

Eniola sat there amused, watching her sisters’ panic.

“Jesu! sha anu fun wa o! Help us o!” Modupe’s mother fell to

the floor. “Oluwa o!”

Clearly irritated, Eniola leaned forward, “You really saw my

name inscribed on a can and tossed into a river? Let’s say this
is true, what’s the implication for me?”

“Are you not Eniola?” His wife asked.

“Of course, I am.”

“I am a prophetess. Go and ask about me and they will tell you

that my words never fall to the ground. I am Woli Omolade.
Let me tell you something. You are the target right now. In

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You are Beautfi ul

fact, what I see about you is disastrous. Those people, they

know that everything is going well for you and they have
planned to destroy your family completely. I see your family
melting like ice under the scorching sun.”

“God forbid!” Modupe’s mother yelled. “They will not get

my daughter. Never!”

The prophetess stamped her feet around the house and

stopped in front of Eniola. “Right now, I’m seeing darkness
covering you and your children. It is so thick that I can literally
feel it.”

Eniola began to laugh. She laughed so hard that she slipped

from the sofa to the floor. The others stared at her, wondering
if she had gone crazy.

Her mother moved closer to her, frightened her daughter had

gone insane. “Eniola! Are you okay?”

Eniola sat up. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. But you know,
he who sits in heaven laughs and that’s where I’m seated.”

The prophetess’ eyes were dark with rage. “You think this is
funny? You don’t even know the destruction already at your
doorstep. Your children will die one after the other.”

The smile disappeared from Eniola’s face. “Enough! The

children the Lord has given to me are for signs and wonders. I
am redeemed by the blood of Jesus. Eniola has been translated

50
Ife Grace Alamu.

from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. This

darkness you talk about, where did it come from?”

Olamide exploded. “You are so proud. I swear, you will taste

this evil that has befallen this family and I will watch you cry.
It’s only a matter of time before they wreck your life.”

“Well, if they have to get to me, then they’ll touch Christ

first. Because I live in Him. I said I’m seated with Christ in
heavenly places.”

Modupe’s mother fumed, “Shut up your mouth and listen

to the people who have come to help us. They killed your
father. They have almost destroyed my business. Your sister’s
husband is a beast. Modupe cannot keep a man and you are
here making light of a terrible situation. Is it until they ruin
your life before you return to your senses?”

“Okay mum, I’ll listen to them. But I have something to say.”

Eniola hesitated and returned her gaze to the couple.

“On your way here, did you plan to charge my mum twice
the amount you usually collect?”

A slap landed on Eniola’s face. “Are you out of your mind?”

Eniola rubbed her cheek. “Mummy, that slap was hard. At

least you would have waited for them to answer the question.”

“If you don’t have anything reasonable to say, then shut your
mouth up!”

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You are Beautfi ul

“Mum, you gave this woman 70,000-naira last month to find

out the name of the man Modupe will eventually marry.”

Modupe’s mother looked at her in disbelief. “How did you

know?”

Eniola’s eyes darted back to the prophet who was already

feeling uncomfortable. “All these lies you concocted, the
woman throwing tins into the river, the stunt you pulled
here, you planned them in your room at around 3 a.m. and
from here, you are going to deceive one woman called Janet.
Am I right?”

The couple looked at each other, their mouths opened.

“Your daughter is a witch. She needs deliverance!” The

prophet barked. He grabbed the hand of his wife and ran out
of the house.

Eniola laughed. “See me see trouble o. I just asked simple

questions.”

The others stared at Eniola, speechless. She yawned and stood

up.

“I’m really tired. We’ll talk more when I wake up.”

They were still staring at her as she entered the bedroom.

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Ife Grace Alamu. six

06

Eniola woke up with a start. She rolled out of the bed she
shared with Modupe and sat on the floor, pondering over the
bad dream she had. Who was screaming her name in that
dream? The face of the troubled woman was not clear but the
voice was familiar.

She reached for her phone under the pillow. 4: 37a.m.

God, what’s going on?

She felt a familiar tightness in her chest. This was not the
first time she would feel this way. The morning her husband
embarked on a journey to Benin, she had just finished
preparing breakfast when she began to feel restless. The
heaviness stayed even after her kids finished their meal.

She’d knelt beside her bed and prayed. The picture of her
husband, Seun, flashed across her mind. He was sitting in a
bus reading a newspaper. Suddenly, a dark cloud began to
descend slowly towards the bus. Eniola knew her husband

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You are Beautfi ul

was in danger and immediately began to pace the room,

praying and declaring God’s word over him. The more she
prayed, the stronger the pain in her chest. Half an hour later,
the pain eased up.

Seun called later that day to inform her of God’s deliverance

when their bus almost ran into a truck. The bus crashed into a
tree but no life had been lost.

As Eniola stepped out of the room, she wondered who needed

prayers this time. She had learnt to be sensitive to the Holy
Spirit and to respond quickly. Who was God asking her to
pray for? Was it the woman she saw in her dream screaming
for help?

She made her way to the living room using a torchlight and
stopped when she heard muffled cries. Though there had
been a power outage, she could trace the silhouette of the
person staring out of the window. She sighed knowing who
it was. Torn between approaching her sister and leaving her,
she stood there for a moment.

“Olamide.”

Olamide jerked forward. “What do you want?”

Eniola went to her and wrapped her hand around her

shoulder. “God cares so much about you. Mide, this is not
the end of the world. I’m glad you got out of Martins’ claws.
God can take these broken pieces and make something great

54
Ife Grace Alamu.

out of it.”

Olamide pushed her sister aside and walked away. Eniola

settled on the sofa, praying her words had not pushed her
sister farther away from her.

The two sisters had been very close growing up. When
her brother was born, Olamide became his second mother,
rocking him to sleep and preparing his meals while Eniola
shared stories about her classmates. Olamide knew how
to settle fights. She knew how to divide a piece of chicken
between her siblings, everyone satisfied with their portion.

Eniola chuckled at the memory of the boy from the next

flat who had slapped her. She was in primary three at that
time. Eniola had walked past her mother to Olamide who
was peeling potatoes in the kitchen. With teary eyes, she had
reported the boy to her sister. Olamide went after the boy
who fled as soon as she surfaced. Olamide chased him and
caught him by his collar. She slapped him and pulled his ears
until he cried out in pain.

What had happened to her sister? It hurt her that Olamide

shut her up when she was only trying to help.

“God, you know her better. Please reach out to her and
comfort her. I love my sister so much,” Eniola muttered.

A song she loved so much dropped on her heart. She began

to sing, first as a whisper and gradually she increased the

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You are Beautfi ul

volume of her voice.

My wealth is in the cross

There’s nothing more I want

Than, just to know His love

My heart is set on Christ

And I will count all else as loss, the greatest of my crowns.

She stopped singing when a picture appeared in her mind.

Lola.

That was the voice screaming for help in the dream. Eniola’s
pulse raced.

Lord Jesus, what happened to my girl? Is Lola in trouble?

Guilt washed over her as she realized how much time had
passed. She’d lost contact with Lola after leaving campus.
Lola had been in her first year when Eniola was moved to
minister Christ to her at the Science faculty car park. Lola
had accepted Christ and they’d become very close. But after
Eniola left school, the closeness they shared waned.

Where could Lola be right now?

“Oh God, what’s happening to her? I’ve missed her so much.

Forgive me for not keeping in touch with her. Lord, is she

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Ife Grace Alamu.

okay?”

The tightness in her chest increased. Eniola lay flat on the

floor of the living room and began to pray. Her heart felt like
it would tear into pieces. She rolled on the floor, holding her
chest, tears ran down her face.

The heaviness finally lifted and Eniola began to sing praises

to God.

“Eniola, are you okay?”

Eniola raised her head. Modupe was sitting on the arm chair,
worried. How long had she been praying? She rose to her feet
and hugged her sister.

“Good morning Mo. I was just arranging some things in the

realm of the spirit.” Eniola said.

Modupe’s eyes widened. “You are so weird. You were crying

and holding your chest.”

Eniola chuckled. Her eyes went to the wall clock above the
Television set. It was 7am already. How time flies.

“Any plans for this morning?” Eniola asked.

“None that I am aware of. But you know your mother, she
always has plans for me.” Modupe said, settling down beside
her sister.

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You are Beautfi ul

“We have not really talked since I got here. How are you?”

Modupe shook her head. “I’m not fine at all.”

“What’s going on?”

Modupe sighed. “I’m a wreck when it comes to sustaining a

relationship. No guy wants to be with me. When I finally found
someone who truly loved me, I was so happy. Everything
went on smoothly for a while. David loved me so much and
I was sure I had finally met my man. But he has changed. I
think he’s avoiding me. He doesn’t call me again and even
when I do, he won’t pick my calls. I don’t understand him
anymore.”

Eniola hesitated, pondering over Modupe’s words. “When

did you first notice these changes?”

“It was the day I talked about wedding preparations. I wanted

us to move our relationship forward. He said he needed more
time. I tried to convince him that we had no reason to wait. As
it is, I don’t even know where we are headed. The relationship
looks like a journey that has no end.”

“You need to relax Mo. When we are faced with doubts over
any situation, we lay it before God and wait to hear what he
has to say about it. We fan confusion when we use logic to
figure out answers. I’ll advise that you spend some more time
in prayers and seek God for light into this situation.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Modupe sighed. “ Do you think there is something I’m not

doing well? I’m ready to make corrections. I’m just wondering
if he is the one for me.”

Eniola smiled. She knew what her sister wanted to hear.

She wanted direct answers. She wanted her to say, ‘David
will ruin you.’ or ‘David loves you.’ She already sensed in
her spirit that whoever this David was, he was not the right
person for her.

“Mo, you have access to God as much as I do. Go to him. Tell

him about David. Just as you’ve shared your heart with me,
share with Him too. God will speak to you. You’ll know what
to do.”

Modupe looked disappointed. “ I don’t know why he

suddenly became withdrawn. Was I wrong to have asked that
we kick off wedding preparations?”

“Did he propose to you?” Eniola asked.

“Not really. I mean, he asked me out. He said he wanted to

know me better and he sees a future with me. That’s enough
right?”

“But he didn’t say, ‘Modupe, build a future with me.’ or ‘Will

you marry me?’

Modupe shook her head. “No. But we’ve been dating for
some time.”

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“How long?”

“Six months. There were many conversations we’ve had that

proved we were made for each other. We’ve talked about the
things he likes and the things that irritate him. We agreed
that divorce was not an option and we would stay true to our
vows. We talked about the number of kids we would have.
He didn’t have to propose. It was clear what we wanted.”

“Have you ever spoken to his parents and siblings?’

“No. That was part of the things I was pushing for. I wanted
to meet his mum and his siblings.”

“Is your Pastor or any other spiritual authority aware about

your relationship with David?”

Modupe hesitated. “No.”

Eniola held her sister’s hand. “Now you need to really calm
down. I know you want to get married and settle down, but
you’ll have to relax. This is the perfect time to take a break
from David and receive clarity into the future God has for
you. Remember Matthew 11:28? Let God show you how to
take a real rest.”

Modupe nodded. “Thank you.”

Eniola stood up. “You plan to be home all day?”

“No. I’ll be stopping over at the tailor’s place later today. One

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Ife Grace Alamu.

of the ladies in my church is getting married next week and

I’m part of the bridal train. I also need to get to my house
to pick some clothes for the week. You want us to go out
together?”

“Yes. I want you to drive me to the market. I need to get some

foodstuff for the house before I return to Abuja.”

Modupe drew the curtain aside. The cold crisp air blew across
her face, chilling her bones for a moment. The clouds had
become darker and dense. She turned to her sister.

“Rain’s coming.”

Eniola stood behind her, watching the tree in front of the

house sway in the wind. Modupe quickly shut the window
when the rain blew in her direction, wetting her bare arms.

“Time to get under the duvet.” Modupe said, cheerfully.

They left for the market after Modupe returned from the
tailor’s place. Eniola’s husband called just as the foodstuffs
were being loaded into the boot of the car.

“Hello dear,” Eniola said, climbing into the passenger’s side

while Modupe took the driver’s seat.

“Sweetheart, guess who I met today,’ Eniola’s husband

sounded excited.

“You know I’m poor at making a guess.”

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“Emmanuel.”

“Which Emmanuel?”

“I’ve forgotten his surname. He was one of your disciples back

on campus. The one we called, Emmanuel the evangelist.”

Eniola’s eyes widened. He was the friend she knew had been
closest to Lola. No wonder he had come to her heart while she
was praying. But how had she lost contact with so many of
the students she’d discipled?

“This is unbelievable. Where did you meet him?”

“I bumped into him at the entrance to the kids’ school. His son
just resumed school here. He is here with me. Talk to him.”

Another voice came on the phone. “Sister Eniola! I can hardly

believe I am talking to you after so many years. I’ve missed
you. Chei! I’ve been trying to find you.”

“Emma, are you based in Abuja?”

“Yes, I am. I work with a federal agency. We just finished

building our house and when we moved in, we had to look
for an alternative school for my son since his former school is
miles away. This is a divine connection.”

Eniola wanted to cut to the chase. “Emma, when did you last
hear from Lola?”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“It’s been a while ma. Since Lola married, we’ve not talked
much.”

“Do you still have her number?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Please send it to me now. Listen, I’ll be returning to Abuja

tomorrow. We’ll have time to catch up on a lot of things. But
please send that number. It’s urgent.”

“I’ll do that right away.”

Eniola couldn’t wait to reconnect with Lola. She smiled as

she remembered how cheerful and full of life Lola had been.
There was no boring moment with her. She carried the same
excitement and passion to the stage with her powerful songs.

Lola, I can’t wait to hear your voice again. I just cannot wait.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lola drove aimlessly round town. Her hands were trembling.

What was it the doctor said was wrong with her son?
Congenital heart disease. He said there was an abnormal flow
of blood from Benjamin’s heart to his lungs. How did that
happen? Was it something she ate while she was pregnant
with him?

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Her husband, Kola, had given her the cold shoulder since
they left the doctor’s office. Whenever she asked how much
he had gotten for their baby’s treatment, he never responded.
She had asked everyone she knew for support but they all
seemed to have one project they were working on or bills to
pay. Apart from the 200,000 naira her best friend had given
her, the church had managed to raise 100,000 naira.

Lola had to talk to someone. She pulled up in front of Tosin’s

house. She wanted to pour her heart out to her best friend.
She wondered if Tosin was not tired of her already.

The previous day, she had seen a bottle of methyl bromide

on one of the shelves in a store and the thought of death had
crossed her mind. She had pushed the thought aside. She had
to get through her pain and save her son. There had to be a
way out.

Lola dragged her feet towards Tosin’s flat. She turned the
door handle without knocking, expecting it to be locked. But
to her surprise, it wasn’t. She stepped inside.

Tosin lay fast asleep on the floor of the sitting room, her head
resting on her husband’s chest. His eyes were fixed on the
video playing on the tablet he held, a soft laugh escaping his
lips. Lola quietly shut the door and slipped out of the house.

Lola started the engine but turned it off again. She hit the
steering with her fist.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

What use was life when all it brought was pain? If she died,
who would miss her? Her mother, maybe. Yes, her mother
would cry and roll on the floor. Her siblings would give her
a befitting burial. It would nearly kill her father when he
discovered her death had not taken the natural course. Kola
would be glad. She was sure he’d marry someone else the
week after her body was laid to rest. Maybe that fair-skinned
neighbor he’d slept with on her matrimonial bed.

Unsure of what to do next, she logged into her Facebook

account and began to scroll through her newsfeed. Maybe
someone would give her words of hope. Just maybe she’d
find a solution here. She stopped when she saw a post from
one of the choristers in her church.

Please can someone explain why a sister with a sonorous voice

who was vibrant as a single gets married and suddenly stops
singing in the choir. I don’t understand. Does marriage take
away God’s calling from your life? God, abeg o. I’d rather
remain single than have a man put out the fire you have
deposited in my heart.

Lola’s face exploded with anger as she read it. It was obvious
she was the one addressed in the post. She’d heard rumors
from the choir and members of the church who were saying
that marriage had put out the fire in her ministry. Why couldn’t
they reach out to her to ask how she was doing? Everybody
was concerned about her voice but not her mental state.

“Hypocrites!” Lola shouted.

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She tapped on the lady’s profile page and blocked her.

Lola’s mind stopped working for a second. She felt her body
enveloped in darkness. She would love nothing more than to
drive into the express with her eyes closed.

I can’t die now, she muttered. I have to save my son.

Lola stopped at KFC and bought three packs of a five-piece

chicken and a double zinger burger. When she got home,
she placed her purchase on the dining table and began to eat
voraciously.

The door creaked open and Kola stepped in. He stopped

when he saw his wife sitting with a heap of food in front of
her. Her mouth was full and oil smeared the side of her lips.
Disgust surged through him as he looked at her.

“Are you an animal? I’m looking for money to get our son out
of the country and you are here eating like a pig. So corpulent
and dunce-like.”

Lola rolled her eyes at her husband and picked up another

piece of chicken. She had to fill this hole in her heart. The
more she ate, the more it seemed someone was using a shovel
to dig up every bite she took. She tore one piece after another.
Kola snatched the remaining pack of chicken from the table.
Lola tried to pull it away from him.

“Leave my chicken alone!” Lola shouted.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“You are not even ashamed of yourself, as fat as you are, you
are still eating this.” He threw the pieces of chicken to the
floor and did the same to the burger.

Nene stood at the entrance with Lola’s daughter, Hannah.

“Mummy!” Hannah cried.

Nene covered the girl’s mouth and pulled her back into the
room.

Lola was down on her feet, picking the patties of ground meat
and onions soup mix from the burger. She threw them into
her mouth. Her husband stood aside, shocked. He shook his
head and turned to leave, Lola grabbed his leg. She wanted
him to stay. She wanted him to lift her up and cuddle her. She
wanted his hand to caress her hair and in his husky voice say,
‘Everything will be alright.’

“Let go of my legs, woman!”

Lola froze when her phone rang. She sprang to her feet and
rummaged her bag for her phone.

“Doctor Victor.”

She looked at her husband and back at the phone. Kola peered
at the caller ID and took the phone away from her.

“Hello Doctor.”

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Kola’s face turned white. “What happened to the baby?”

Lola was hysterical. She tugged at his arm. “What’s going

on?’ What happened to Benjamin?”

Kola didn’t answer her as he sped out of the house. Lola ran
after him and jumped into his car. . Like a mad man, Kola
drove to the hospital.

“I’m sorry. Your baby is gone.” The doctor announced.

“How can you say that? The money will be ready by tomorrow,
I promise”.

“I’m really sorry.”

Kola placed his hand on his head. “My son. Jesus, please. No!”

Lola walked slowly out of the hospital, oblivious to the voices

around her. Her baby was dead. Benjamin was gone. She
didn’t even have the chance to say goodbye. They had taken
her son away from her.  

There were no tears in her eyes but her heart was shattered.

Lola’s phone rang. She swiped the green button.

“Hello,” Lola said in a very low tone.

“Lola, this is Eniola. My God! It’s been a while. I have missed

you. How are you?”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

No response.

“Hello, Lola, are you there?”

“My baby is gone. I couldn’t kiss him goodbye. My sweet

baby. My baby.”

“Where are you?” Eniola asked. “Lola, hello…hello.”

********************

“There you are.” Tosin sighed in relief and hurried towards

the slab at the back of the building. “We’ve been looking
everywhere for you.”

Lola stood up and returned to the building without saying

a word to her friend. When Tosin caught up with her, she
wrapped her hand around Lola’s waist but one glance from
her friend and she quickly returned her hands to her side.

“Lola, I’m sorry about your loss. Your husband just called me
some minutes ago to break the news. We had to rush down
here.”

Lola wasn’t listening. She increased her pace. At the entrance,

Kola stood with Tosin’s husband, his face grim. With his
hands thrust in his pockets, he leaned against the wall,
watching some nurses carry a woman out of an ambulance.
They placed her in a stretcher and rolled her towards the back

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entrance.

“Finally, here comes Lola.” Eben said. Kola spun around in

Lola’s direction.

“You got us worried. Where have you been?” Her husband

asked, his face sober.

Lola smiled. “How’s Benjamin doing? My son must be very

hungry.”

Kola looked at her, puzzled. Was his wife crazy? She was
there when Doctor Victor broke the news to them.

Lola folded her hands. “Get out of my way. I need to feed my

son.”

Tosin placed her hand on Lola’s shoulder. “I know this is

difficult for you.”

She rolled her eyes at Tosin. “What are you talking about?
How’s feeding Benjamin difficult? It’s the sweetest experience
ever.” She tried to get past Kola but he wouldn’t let her.

“What is your problem? I can hear my son crying.”

Kola’s eyes brimmed with tears. He held her chin. “Our son
is dead.”

Lola’s face paled. “What? God forbids. My son can never die.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Kola let go of her chin. His anger rose to the surface. “Stop
acting like you are the only one affected by this. Benjamin is
dead. Okay!”

Eben touched his arm. “Guy, relax.”

“You have killed my son!” Lola grabbed his shirt. ‘You are a
murderer!”

Kola tried to pull her hand away but she held on tightly. “Let
go of my shirt. You are embarrassing yourself. Stop this!”

“He has killed my son! Help!” Lola screamed.

The noise drew the attention of some of the patients and

hospital staff. Eben ran in to call Doctor Victor.

Lola turned to the onlookers. “Please call the police. This man
has killed my son. Tell him to bring my son back.”

She finally released his shirt and bolted down the hospital
corridor. A matron tried to stop her but Lola struck her hard
across the face. She cried in pain, scrambling to find her
glasses which had been knocked off in the scuffle. Lola raced
past the accident ward, sped through the labour ward and
quickly made her way towards the corridor leading to the
special care unit.

“Benjamin! Benjamin, where are you? I’m coming to feed you.

You must be very hungry.”

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Two male nurses blocked the entrance to the special baby care
unit. Lola stopped when she saw them. She knew they would
not let her in.

She started crying. “My baby. Please, I want to feed my baby.”

When she turned to see the Doctor followed by some nurses,

relief flooded her heart.

“Please tell these men to step away from the entrance. I want
to feed my baby.” Doctor Victor smiled and held her hand.

As the doctor pretended to let her in, a nurse standing behind

them quickly filled a syringe. But it was too late. Lola had
already seen the syringe in her hand. She took to her heels.
Lola didn’t have to go far before she was overpowered and
the needle inserted into her arm. Her arm went limp and
gradually her eyes closed.

A woman stood at the entrance of the special ward and began

to cry.

“I know her. Her baby was so beautiful. I told her we’d share
our testimonies when our babies get well. Does that mean my
child will die too?”

A nurse took the woman aside and began to speak gently to

her.

Lola was carried into a small empty room. Kola stood, terribly
shaken by what had happened while Tosin sat beside the

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Ife Grace Alamu.

bed and held her friend’s hand. A nurse entered, holding a

Samsung phone.

“I think this is her phone.” The nurse said. “It has been
ringing.”

Tosin took the phone from her. “Thank you.”

The phone rang again.

Tosin answered it. “Hello.”

“Lola, why did you end my call? Can’t you remember me

again from Unilorin ? Your very own Sister Eniola… Hello
Lola.”

“Oh you must be the Sister Eniola Lola always talks about.
Good evening ma’am.”

“Good evening. I thought I was speaking with Lola. Please, is

she there with you?”

“She can’t speak with you now. She is not feeling well and is
on admission at the hospital. I wish you could make it down
here. But I remember she said you reside in Abuja.”

“Where is she right now?”

“Ibadan.”

“Oh my God, you mean, Lola is in Ibadan. I’m in Ibadan at

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the moment. What’s the name of the hospital?”

“Shepherd Hospital. It’s along ring road.”

“What? This is unbelievable. My father’s friend owns that

clinic. I’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”

When Tosin ended the call, she gave the phone to Kola but he
didn’t take it. Instead he walked out of the room.

“Where are you going?” Eben asked, following him out.

Kola hesitated. He wasn’t even sure himself. He just needed

to get some air into his lungs.

“I’ll be right back.”

Doctor Victor met him at the door. “She’ll be okay. She’s just
reacting to the loss of her son. She’ll come around soon.”

He nodded. “Thank you.”

Kola set out for the only place he’d visited almost every Friday
for the past two years. A nice hotel somewhere in Bodija. He
knew it was a wrong decision, especially with the turmoil in
his heart over his deceased son. He just couldn’t stop himself
from driving there. Kelvin would be waiting for him with
some of his colleagues. They’d chat about new business deals
and new ways of making money and then the discussion
would be wrapped up with each of them leading the hookers
Kelvin had ordered into hotel rooms.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Kelvin loved women and at every meeting he brought them.

Kola hadn’t known this until some months after they became
friends. Kelvin had been transferred from the headquarters to
head the marketing department.

Kola admired his knack for business. Kelvin knew his onions
and was greatly admired by his team members. He had a
solution for every business challenge. When he kicked off
his gas supply business, Kelvin connected him to some top
business gurus and gave him ideas that shot up his business
like a rocket in a couple of months. When Kola won a contract
with BAZGAS; a multinational company, Kelvin presented
Bimbo as his gift to celebrate Kola’s achievement. He also
paid for an executive suite for them in a 5-star hotel.

“You deserve some fun, boy”. Kelvin had said.

At first, Kola stood his ground. He’d never cheated on his

wife, not even with Sandra who flirted with him at work.

“Guy, you can’t be faithful to one woman.” Kelvin insisted.

“This flesh needs fresh meat to survive. I love my wife but let
her take care of my kids. That’s her job. I cannot do without
sex and she doesn’t give a big deal about it anyway. She is
always tired after putting the kids to sleep. What’s my own?
When correct women full ground.”

Kola smiled. “Are you sure she doesn’t know you are cheating
on her?”

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“And if she does? That’s her problem. I take good care of

her.” Kelvin paused. “I pity the head of your department. His
wife monitors Paul like a madwoman. I could never allow
my wife embarrass me like that. I’ve even told him to divorce
her. These side chicks? They are handpicked from the hottest
red zones in Ibadan. These women sweet die. Just try Bimbo.
Your life will not remain the same.”

Kola had taken Bimbo to bed simply because he didn’t want

to upset Kelvin. The last thing he wanted was anything that’d
sever their friendship.

The night he walked hand in hand into the hotel room with
Bimbo, his heart raced. He felt God’s watchful gaze on him.
He wanted to run, but didn’t want to stand before Kelvin and
be regarded as a coward.

“Just this once,” he had promised himself. By the time he

walked out of the hotel two hours later, he knew he was
hooked on lust. Every moment in that room replayed in his
head until he was drenched in sweat.

When he got home that day, he couldn’t meet Lola’s eyes. The
weight of guilt pressed down on him. She asked what was
wrong and he muttered something about a headache. That
night Lola made pepper soup, his favourite, but he barely
touched it.

Bimbo messaged him that night. One thing led to another

and their chat got sexual. By the following night, he was

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Ife Grace Alamu.

back in her bed. Her thick curves and slender frames stirred
something wild in him. Something he no longer tried to resist.

If only Lola had kept the figure she had when we first married,
Kola thought, maybe it would have been easier to break free
from Bimbo’s grip.

My wife is like a bag of sac.

Benjamin’s birth must have made Lola fat, Kola concluded.

He hated fat women. He couldn’t hold back his tongue
whenever he saw her. He wanted to hurt her until she did
something about her weight but watching her lay helpless on
the hospital bed broke his heart. What for God’s sake had he
become?

Kola let his head drop on the car’s headrest after he pulled
up at the car park. The entrance to the hotel lay in front of
him. He decided to leave. Better be alone than with a pack
of devils. He started the engine and was about to shift gear
when someone tapped the car window.

Kelvin.

Kola exhaled sharply and rolled down his window.

“What are you doing sitting alone in the car? Today is Paul’s
birthday. Let’s go in and have fun.” He said.

Kelvin led the way to the almost crowded restaurant that lay
beside the pool area. The aroma of a variety of continental

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and intercontinental meals wafted through the air, teasing

his taste bud. His stomach growled audibly. How long had
it been since his last meal? He had lost track of time in a bid
to raise money for his son. The familiar laughter coming from
the far end of the pool made his heartbeat race. Bimbo was in
the company of three ladies sandwiched between two of his
colleagues. What on earth was he doing here?

As he approached the table, Bimbo stood up, dressed in a

navy blue gown with a long slit that revealed her thighs. The
low-cut blouse she wore failed to cover her breasts.

“Hello Baby!” Bimbo kissed him before sitting on his lap. “I

know you’ve missed me.” Kola didn’t smile.

Paul slapped Kola playfully on his back. “What’s up, man?

You look downcast. Today is my birthday. Drinks on me,
man. Cheer up.”

Kelvin cleared his throat. “The night is still young. Drink

sensibly because there is still so much to drink at the club.
This will be the best night ever. Paul, na your day.”

“I’m not sure how that club thing will work o. I have to be
home in an hour.” Paul said. “My wife don organize party.
The worst part, she invited my parents. Can you imagine?”

.Kola just sat there, looking at them. For the first time, he
noticed they all wore wedding rings. How could that vow on
the altar mean nothing to them? He looked at his own ring

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Ife Grace Alamu.

and felt ashamed. He had promised to love Lola for the rest of
his life. What for heaven’s sake was he doing here?

Paul gulped down all the wine in his cup, turned to the dark
beautiful girl with big hips beside him “Babe, let’s go to our
room. I can’t wait to explore the wonders of this beautiful
body.”

When he left, the others followed. Only Kola and Bimbo

remained at the table.

Bimbo wrapped her hands around Kola’s neck. “Baby, what’s

wrong? You don’t look happy. Is this about your boring
wife?” She drew lines on his face with her finger. “Let’s go
into the room and I’ll take your sorrows away.”

As she raised his chin to kiss him, Kola turned his face away.
“Bimbo, I’m not in the mood.”

She laughed and pulled him to his feet. “By the time I’m done
with you today, you’ll run out of that room shouting for joy.”

He snatched his hand away. “I said I’m not interested!”

Bimbo hissed and walked out angrily. A short man sitting on

the next table had his eyes fixed on Bimbo thighs. Immediately
she left, he smiled and winked at Kola before hurrying after
her.

A half-filled bottle of wine sat on the table. Kola reached for

it, lifted it halfway to his lips, then paused. With a heavy sigh,

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he set the bottle back down and walked out of the restaurant.
Outside the hotel, Bimbo was climbing into a white jeep. She
rolled her eyes at Kola. The man behind the steering winked
at Kola again.

Kola stood there, arms akimbo, watching as the car pulled out
of the hotel.

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Ife Grace Alamu. seven

07

Eniola and Modupe were walking down the corridor of the

hospital when they ran into Doctor Victor.

“Eniola, is this you?” He hugged them. “Good to see you

again.” He said grinning widely.

Eniola clapped her hands. “Fresh man. See your chubby

cheeks!”

“Let’s just say God is good.” He said, laughing. “What are

you doing in Ibadan? Mo, why didn’t you tell me Eniola is in
town?”

Modupe rolled her eyes at him. “When was the last time I saw
you? If not for mum that informed us that you had returned to
head your father’s hospital, I’d never have known you were
back in the country.”

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“I apologize. I’ll do better next time. What are you doing

here?”

“I got news that a lady is here on admission. Her name is Lola

Badmus.

“Oh you know her?” He led them to her ward.

Lola was sitting with a pillow propped up behind her on the

white colored metal hospital bed. A chill coursed through
Eniola’s body as she entered the room.

“Jesus! What happened to her?” There was no spark in Lola’s

eyes. She stared blankly at Eniola.

Tosin stood up. “You must be Sis Eniola.”

“Please call me Eniola.” She shook Tosin’s hand. “What

happened to her? This is not the Lola I know.”

‘She lost her baby.” Tosin said in a whisper.

Lola’s eyes were suddenly filled with alarm “Where is

Benjamin?”

Tosin turned in her direction and held her hand. “Benjamin

is fine.”

Lola relaxed and smiled. “I know Nurse Tope must have

taken him for a bath.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Eniola took Tosin’s seat. “This is my sister, Modupe. I’m so

sorry I didn’t keep in touch with you. Lola, forgive me.”

Lola’s eyes darted around the room as if she was looking for
something. She began to chew her fingernails.

Modupe’s phone vibrated. A message had entered her phone.

It was from David. She opened it.

Mo, I can’t continue with this relationship. To be honest, we

are not meant for each other. As I type this, I am aboard a
plane headed for Kaduna. That’s my new location now. I’m
sorry I lied to you that day about losing my job and for the
many lies I’ve told to keep this relationship going. I pray you
find true love.

Modupe eyes were moist. She tried to stay calm so as not to

cause a scene. When she raised her head, Lola was staring into
her eyes totally oblivious of Eniola sitting by her bed trying
to start a conversation. Modupe left the room to call David.

Why would David walk out on her like that? This was the fifth
guy who’d end a relationship with her within three years.

Is something wrong with me? Modupe wiped her tears as she

dialed his number. It rang several times but he didn’t answer.
When she dialed it again, it was switched off.

When Modupe returned to Lola’s room, she found her sister

outside, deep in conversation with Doctor Victor. Tosin was

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just heading out to get some food for Lola. Modupe looked at
Lola who continued to stare blankly.

“Imagine, my boyfriend walked out of my life by sending a

text. Who does that? For goodness sake, what did I do wrong?
When he fell ill, I was with him in the hospital. I slept on the
floor for months! I cooked for him, washed his clothes and
cleaned his house. I did everything he wanted. Except sex of
course. Not that we almost didn’t have sex. There was always
this alarm that rang in my head. It’s the reason I never slept
in his house no matter how much he pleaded with me. Could
that be the reason they always leave?”

Lola sat there like a figurine as Modupe laughed dryly.

“I’m sorry, I’m just babbling. I wish I was as stunning as my
flatmate. But I really loved David.’ She sniffed. “I thought he
had come to stay. I was wrong. That prophet must be right.
There is a curse on me.”

Modupe wiped the tears from her eyes. “Lola, say something.
My sister said you have a very beautiful voice. I wish I could
hear it. Sing a song for me please.”

Lola’s eyes wandered to the ceiling and back at Modupe. Her

lips stayed tight. Suddenly her body began to tremble. She
was getting hysterical. Modupe followed her gaze to the door
and found a tall handsome man, standing at the entrance.

“He killed my baby! Don’t let him go.” She began to scream.
“Where is my baby! Go and bring my child.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Eniola ran in with Doctor Victor. Kola quickly left the room
and Lola became calm.

Tosin entered with a nylon bag. She looked from Eniola to the
doctor. “What happened?”

The doctor sighed. “We’ll have to transfer her to a psychiatric

hospital.”

As Modupe stood up for Tosin to sit, she felt Lola tighten her
grip on her hand. She sat back. Lola’s eyes were fixed on her
again.

Modupe sat on the bed and caressed her hair softly. Gradually,
Lola closed her eyes.

Outside, Kola sat on the floor of the building where the lab
tests were conducted.

“Jesus.” He said softly and bowed his head. “Jesus, please.”

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08
Eight

Kola felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and there was

Eniola standing behind him. Her eyes searched his face, as
if she could see beyond his silence. For a moment neither of
them spoke. Then gently, Eniola said,

“Do you want to talk?”

“Yes.” Kola said, his eyes misted with tears.

Eniola sat beside him with her back against the wall. “I’m not
sure we’ve officially met. My name is Eniola.”

“Lola has said a lot about you. When you called my wife’s
phone and you said you were in town, I was hopeful that
with your presence, her healing process would be expedited.”

Eniola let out a deep sigh. “How did Lola deteriorate this
fast? I almost did not believe it was my Lola lying helpless on

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Ife Grace Alamu.

that bed.”

“It’s all my fault.” Kola lamented. “I have given her no peace

since we got married.” He paused. “Few months into our
marriage I realized that I never loved her. I was merely moved
by her beautiful body and the attention she received in church
because of her voice. One evening after a workers’ meeting
in church, I overheard some sisters talk about how lucky the
man who married Lola would be. They couldn’t wait to meet
the one who would win her heart, despite the suitors circling
around her. I felt challenged and decided to give it my best
shot. I lost interest when she conceived our first child. It broke
her spirit.”

Tears filled Eniola’s eyes. “I don’t know what to say. I had

so many promptings to reach out and help her after I left
school but I was carried away with other things. What kind of
mentor does that?

“She has every right to hate me.” Kola lamented. “I just want
her well even if we have to go our separate ways. I want to see
her blossom again. I’d love to see her stand on the stage, hold
a mic and touch lives like before. She’ll be able to do that if I
am longer on the scene. I am such a jerk.”

“Is she not worth fighting for, Kola?” Eniola asked.

“I am ashamed of myself. I think about the things I have done

and I don’t think there is hope. You saw it already. She hates
me.”

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Eniola didn’t say anything for a while. Kola hugged his feet
and bowed his head. “I don’t have a marriage anymore.”

Eniola sighed. “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down,

that it will sprout again and that the tender branch thereof
will not cease. Though the root wax old and the stock die in
the ground, yet through the scent of water, it will bud and
bring forth boughs like a plant.”

Kola stared at Eniola, taking in every word. “Is that in the

bible?”

Eniola nodded. “Job 14:7-9.” She was about to say something

else when Tosin hurried towards them.

“Your Pastor and his wife are here.” Tosin said to Kola. “They
want to see you.”

Kola was unhappy about the interruption. He needed to open

up to Eniola. There was something about Eniola that made
him want to share his heart. She had the aura of an angel. He
wanted to talk about Bimbo, to let out everything that had
stemmed from his relationship with her. He wanted to talk
about the babies he made Bimbo abort even when she fought
to keep them. He needed to unburden his heart, to prove to
Eniola that his marriage was not worth saving.

They returned to the Doctor’s office where the Pastor and his
wife were waiting for Kola.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

As soon as Kola and Eniola entered, the pastor’s wife clapped

her hands. “Kola, what is wrong with you? Why are you
treating us like outsiders? How could all these be happening
and you never informed us. If Nurse Yemisi had not reached
us this afternoon, we would not have known.” She turned to
the doctor. “Even you, Victor, could not call to inform us. O
wrong now.”

Victor bowed slightly. “I apologize. I believed it is not my

place-”

“Don’t act all nice please.” she said, rolling her eyes at him.
“I still have a score to settle with you. I wonder what we did
to offend you that you had to leave our church. These days,
where the word of God is watered down in many churches.
You can’t value what you have.”

Eniola stood there in disbelief. Did this woman know that a

child had been lost here and his parents were grieving? What
kind of insensitive pastor’s wife was this?

“I’m sorry for not carrying you along.” Kola said, apologizing.

The Pastor finally spoke. “We are sorry about your loss. The
Lord will comfort your heart.”

Victor introduced Eniola to the Pastor. “This is Eniola. She is

a big sister to me and one of Lola’s spiritual mentors back on
campus.”

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The Pastor’s wife accessed Eniola briefly and turned to the

Doctor. “Well, now that we are here, we will take charge of
this situation. Lola’s pathetic situation calls for immediate
attention. I think we need to take her to a psychiatric hospital
immediately. Omo yen ti ya were. She is not normal at all.”

Eniola opened her mouth in shock. “Lola is not going to a

psychiatric hospital.] I am already making arrangements
with a psychiatrist who practices psychotherapy to attend
personally to her. Until her mental health is restored, she’ll
stay in my mother’s house.”

The Pastor’s wife flared up. “Who are you to give orders?
Don’t get me upset, young woman. These are members of my
church and God will hold me accountable for their lives. You
think you can just appear from nowhere and become a boss.
We are in charge here!”

The Pastor tugged at his wife’s arm. She slapped his hand
away. “Leave me alone jare, let me talk some sense into her
head.”

Eniola was getting worked up. “Where were you when she
was going through this depression? If you had been spiritually
sensitive, she would not have deteriorated to this state!”

The moment the words came out of Eniola’s mouth, she

regretted it. The Pastor’s wife was trying hard to conceal her
anger but her face betrayed the rage.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

The Pastor stood up to intervene. “It’s okay.”

“What do you mean by ‘it’s okay” Did you not hear the insult
she just threw at me? I am spiritually insensitive, really? It’s
not your fault. If not for Christ leveling us all, you wouldn’t
have the guts to say something that ridiculous. The platforms
I have stood on to preach, not even your unborn children will
be invited to those kinds of places. See this small girl o. Do
you even know who you are talking to?”

“I’m so sorry for upsetting you. You can do whatever you

want with her. You are the shepherd over her soul. I shouldn’t
interfere. I’m so sorry. I’ll wait outside.”

The Pastor’s wife waved her off. “Yes, please stay outside.
This is a family matter.”

Eniola stepped outside, her eyes glistened with tears. She

leaned on the wall. “Eniola, your tongue still needs the work
of the Holy Spirit.”

When she entered Lola’s room, Lola was fast asleep. Modupe
and Tosin were talking in low tones. They stopped as Eniola
approached.

“How did it go?”

Eniola laughed dryly. “I should have been more courteous

with the Pastor’s wife. This, my mouth ehn.”

Tosin exhaled. “That woman is bad blood. We don’t see eye to

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eye at all. I’m just happy I don’t attend their church because
I don’t know how I’ll cope under the leadership of that kind
of woman.”

“Anybody would be upset by what I said.” Eniola held Lola’s

hand and prayed quietly.

Lola opened her eyes and looked around. Then she faced the
wall and went back to sleep.

Eben walked in with Kola tip-toeing, relieved to find his wife

asleep. Tosin hugged her husband and asked how the kids
were.

“I took Hannah and Nene to the house.” Eben announced.

“Hannah has been asking for her mother. I left her playing
with the kids.”

Eniola turned to Kola “How far? When will you take her to
the psychiatric hospital?”

Kola shook her head. “We are going with your plan. The
Pastor thinks your idea is perfect. She’ll stay over at your
mum’s place.”

“How did your Pastor’s wife take it?”

“She left already. Something about an important event she

needed to attend today. That reminds me, how do we meet
the psychiatrist you talked about? I’m willing to pay any
amount to get my wife back on her feet.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Lola coughed and sat up. Kola fled the room.

Modupe sat back on the bed and resumed caressing Lola’s

hair. Lola’s eyes gradually closed again and she slept off.

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You are Beautfi ul Nine

09

When Modupe arrived home, closely followed by Eben’s

car, her mother was standing on the veranda eager to receive
Lola. Lola reclined in the back seat flanked by Eniola and Dr.
Taiwo.

Eniola helped Lola out of the car. Eniola’ mother approached

them with outstretched arms.

“Welcome to my house.” Eniola’s mother said excitedly. “We

have been expecting you. In fact, I have made delicious banga
soup with semovita.”

Lola pulled her hand from Eniola and started back towards
the car. Everyone stopped and watched her quietly.

“Lola, what is it? You don’t like this place?” Eniola asked,
gently.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Lola shook her head. “I want to go home. Take me home.”

Eniola sought Taiwo’s help. There had to be a way to convince

her to go through with the arrangement. Lola needed to be
away from her house and everything that reminded her about
Benjamin, her deceased son, so she could heal properly.”

Taiwo rubbed Lola’s shoulders. “Lola, you are safe here.

You’ll be well taken care of. Please come in.”

Tears gathered in Lola’s eyes. She looked like a spoilt

adolescent on her first day in a boarding school. “I want to
go home.”

Eniola let out a quiet prayer. “Holy Spirit, please teach us

what to do.”

She pulled Taiwo and Tosin aside. “What are we going to do?
How do we make her stay?”

“Let’s take her home. I’ll stay with her tonight. We’ll watch
her for a while and see how well she does at home.”

Eniola turned to her mother. “Mum, I’m so sorry. Change of

plans.”

‘It’s okay, I’ll pack the food into a warmer so you can take it
along. Modupe, come with me.”

Modupe followed her mother into the house and returned a

few minutes later with two food warmers. Eniola called Lola’s

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husband.

“We are on our way to the house. Lola insists on returning

home.”

Lola beamed with smiles when Modupe parked her car beside
Kola’s green Toyota Camry. Kola leaned on his car, waiting
anxiously, scared of his wife’s next reaction. Lola jumped out
of the car and ran into his arms.

Confused, Kola spread his arms wide and hugged her tightly.
What was happening? His wife seemed to have left the
resentment back at the hospital. Swamped with emotions, his
hands went round her neck, tears trickled down his face.

“Lola, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” He spluttered.

Lola pulled away, looking into her husband’s eyes. “Why are
you crying?”

Before he would respond, she rushed into the house. Kola’s

eyes darted from Eniola to Taiwo.

“What is happening here?”

Eben chuckled. “Looks like a miracle to me.”

“Not so fast.” Taiwo warned. “She might not feel this way
about you tomorrow. We take it one step at a time. Let’s go
back inside and I’ll show you the drugs she’ll need to take
and the schedule for her appointment at the clinic.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Eniola placed her hand on Taiwo’s waist as they walked into

the house. “Thank you so much for doing this. I know you
have a very tight schedule.”

Taiwo smiled. “You know, this is little compared to what

you’ve done for me over the years.”

Inside, Lola rubbed her hands on the sofa, oblivious to the

small crowd gathered in her living room. For the first time,
Kola saw how stunning she was beyond the roll of fat on her
neck and arms. How could he not have noticed her beautiful
eyes?

Modupe was serving the food in small plates. Tosin helped

with pouring juice in paper cups.

“Are you ready to eat now?” Tosin asked Lola. She rubbed
her friend’s shoulder affectionately.

“Are we having some chocolate cake?” Lola said in a whisper,

but loud enough for Kola to hear.

“If you want chocolate cake, I can rush to the confectionery to

get you a delicious one.”

The smile on Lola’s face disappeared. “You will get me a

chocolate cake?”

Tosin shook her head. “You can only eat chocolate cake
made from my special recipe. We are having banga soup and
semovita.”

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The entrance door opened. A petite round woman with short

grey hair entered with a traveling bag.

“Peace be unto this house.” The woman announced.

Lola screamed in surprise and ran into her arms. “Mummy!”

The woman couldn’t hold back the tears. “Oh, my baby!”

Lola wiped her tears. “Why are you crying?”

She laughed. “I’m just so happy to see you. I have missed my

girl.”

Eniola leaned towards Kola. “That must be Lola’s mother.”

Kola nodded. “She’s been calling to speak to Lola. I didn’t

know how to tell her about Benjamin and Lola’s health
because she just got out of the hospital too. But yesterday,
she woke up and said she had a bad dream about Lola and
she wanted to speak to her daughter. I had to tell her what
happened. She told me she’ll be here today. I was already
thinking of bringing her to your place later tonight when you
called to inform me that you were coming here.”

Lola stepped away from her mother as if she had been stung
by a scorpion.

“Where are my children? Hannah! Benjamin!” She shouted,

running to the children’s room.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“Here we go.” Taiwo muttered. “You might need to get her

daughter to come.”

The cheerful mood in the living room switched to a silent one.

They waited for Lola to appear from the children’s room.

Lola searched all the rooms. When she came out to the living
room, her eyes were filled with panic.

“Where are my children? Where is Nene?”

“In my house.” Tosin said, grinning. “They are having a nice

time. Do you want to speak with them?” Tosin asked, holding
out her phone.

“I’ll be right back.” Lola replied and left for the guest room,
quietly followed by Taiwo.

Lola looked around the room. The treadmill was still where it
had been. Her skipping rope was lying carelessly on the floor.

“Omolola, are you okay?” Her mother asked when she

returned to the living room.

The memories came back like a flood. She had been feeding
Benjamin when Tosin paid her a visit. Tosin had given her
a delicious cake from a low-fat recipe. What had happened
next? Nene ran to the living room to inform her that something
was wrong with her son.

They had rushed Benjamin to the hospital. Benjamin was in

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the hospital. What was she doing at home? She should be

with Benjamin in the hospital.

“Benjamin. He is in the hospital. What am I doing at home?”

“Hannah, how are you?” Kola said as he dialed Nene’s phone

number, waiting for her to answer the call.

Distracted, Lola looked in Kola’s direction. Happy he had

her attention, he tapped the speaker button as soon as Nene
answered the call. Hannah’s voice burst through the phone.
Lola’s eyes lit up.

“My baby girl.” Lola said, smiling.

“Mummy, where are you?” Hannah said, in her babyish voice.

“I am watching a cartoon with Oyinkan and Sayo.” She went
on to give her mother reports of her stay in Tosin’s house.

Kola sighed in relief as he watched Lola forget about Benjamin

temporarily. Lola’s mother and Eniola moved to the kitchen
for a private discussion.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At about 3a.m, Lola’s eyes flew open. She turned to find her
mother sleeping beside her.

Benjamin.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

She had seen her son under a tree in a place that looked like
a forest. He’d been crying. A bare-chested man stood beside
him, laughing at her. He had dared her to come for her son.
His laughter still rang loud in her head as she stood up from
the bed.

I have to save my son. Benjamin. Oh, my son!

She left the room for the children’s room. Kola was sleeping
on the floor with a bible opened in front of him. There was
no sign of Benjamin. Where was her daughter? Had she not
heard her voice a few hours ago? Had the man taken her
daughter too?

She disappeared into the kitchen and began to open the

drawers. She needed a defense in case he was armed. As she
opened the second drawer, she heard a voice behind her.

“You will never see your son again. He belongs to me now.”

She spun around and saw the man who had captured her son.

“Where is my son?”

The man laughed. Irritated by his laughter and desperate for

her son, she moved towards him. He ran to the back door.
Quickly, Lola reached for a knife but before she could face
him, the back door creaked open. He was gone.

She ran out of the house, pointing the knife into the darkness.
The man was running ahead. She sped after him. He stood on

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the fence, laughing.

Lola’s eyes darted from the security guard, fast asleep with
spittle dripping from the left corner of his mouth to the fence
where the man stood, taunting her. An unexplainable rage
rose from deep within her and she could feel the rush of
adrenaline to her muscles. She grabbed the wall and tried to
climb but fell back. The man laughed out loud at her obvious
defeat, adjusted his position on the fence and dared her to
come for her son.

Lola reached for a ladder in the garage and dragged it to the

fence. She moved backward and with a force she never knew
she possessed, jumped over the fence. In the process, the knife
fell off her hand.

Outside the house, the laughter continued but the man had
disappeared. She looked down the street. The dark was so
thick that she pushed against it as she traced the direction of
the laughter until she heard footsteps.

“Where is my son?” Lola yelled. The man appeared far ahead

of her. She raced towards him.

Kola stretched and rose to his feet. His head ached and his
eyes were swollen. How many times had he woken up within
the last three hours? He picked the opened bible before him
and his eyes caught a verse.

Help Lord, for the godly man ceases to be. For the faithful

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disappear from among the sons of men. Psalm 12:1.

With tears in his eyes, he paced the floor. “Lord, restore me.
Show me mercy. I have failed you. I have failed my family.
Teach me what to do Lord. Like the prodigal son, I ask for
help. I need you.”

He knelt down and bowed his face to the ground. “Oh Lord,
please.”

A voice whispered in his ears.

And hope does not disappoint because the love of God is

shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given
unto us.

“Lord, let this love be expressed in my heart. Help me Lord.”

That your roots may go down into God’s love and keep you
strong. That you may have the power to understand as all
God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and
how deep his love is. That you may experience the love of
Christ which passes all human knowledge.

Kola wept. “Oh God! Plunge me into this life. Please Jesus,
teach me. I can’t help myself.”

Lola’s mother entered the room. “Kola. I can’t find Lola.”

Kola stared at his mother-in-law. He followed her out. “Have

you checked the restroom?”

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“I didn’t even know when she woke up. Look at what I have
caused. I should have stayed awake.”

“Mama, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have watched her all
night.”

Taiwo came out of the kitchen. “Come and see something!”

They followed her into the kitchen. Knives, spoons and plates
were scattered on the floor.

Lola’s mother held her chest. “Jesus!”

Kola went to the back door. It was opened.

“She used the back door.”

Why had he ignored the prompting to remove the key after

locking the back door last night? He had thought he was
simply afraid. Lola had been given sedatives that had knocked
her out immediately. He never thought this could happen.

The security guard was still snoring when Lola’s mother

arrived at his post near the gate. She struck him twice on his
mouth with her palm. He froze, not knowing what had hit
him. The third slap landed on his face. He jumped to his feet.

“Is this what you were employed to do? Where is my

daughter?”

“Did my wife walk out of this gate?” Kola asked in a calmer

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tone.

The man shook his head. “I no see anybody. Na now now

I just dey sleep. Nobody waka pass here. I swear. I don go
round the house plenty times. I just say make I lie down small.
Nobody come here.”

Kola went to the gate and saw that two padlocks were fastened
on them. How had she escaped?

“I swear nobody pass here. The gate still dey lock. I know my
job and-”

Lola’s mother moved towards him poised to dish out another

slap. “Shut up your mouth!”

“Make I check for back. She fit dey there.” The security guard
said and walked ahead of them energetically, pointing his
torchlight at different places. Taiwo suddenly reached for the
flashlight on her phone and scanned the fence area.

“What are you looking for?” Kola asked.

“I have had cases of patients who jumped fences.”

“I doubt if my daughter will do such a thing.”

The light rays from her flashlight showed something was on

the floor close to Kola’s car. “What’s that?” She asked.

Kola moved towards it, “A knife.” He replied and picked it

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up. His eyes ran up the wall and landed on the ladder leaning
on the wall.

The security came out from behind the house. “Aunty Lola no
dey backyard.”

“Shut up your dirty mouth.” Lola’s mother screamed at him.

“You should be fired.”

“I need to get my car keys.” Kola ran inside the house. Lola’s
mother paced the compound, praying.

“I’ve tried reaching Eniola. Her phone is switched off.” Taiwo

said to Kola when he emerged from the house with his car
keys.

Kola dialed Eben’s number as they entered the car. Eben

answered on the second ring. “Lola is missing. We are on our
way to find her. Please pray.”

At the end of the street, some men from the vigilante group
stopped them.

One of the men pointed a torch at Kola. “Yes, who are you
and where are you heading to?”

No word came out of Kola’s mouth. There was a lump in

his throat. Tears were in his eyes. He had to be brave. “I’m
looking for my wife. She escaped from the house.”

“Ah, she escaped. Have you been beating her? Last week, na

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so one man for that other side kill him wife.”

“Do we look like we are joking!” Lola’s mother barked. “Help

me look for my daughter.”

“E farabale. We will find her. Akim, come make we go.”

The two vigilantes entered the car and Kola drove off.

****************

Eniola woke up with a tightness in her chest. Who was in

trouble again? She had been tired after a long day at the
hospital and later at Lola’s house. Her eyes were heavy. All
she needed at the moment was a good sleep.

“God, I’m fagged out. Can’t you wake up somebody else to

pray for this person in trouble? My head is banging.”

Eniola made another attempt to stand up, but her legs would
not move. She had only slept for two hours in the last twenty-
four hours.

“God, please, I need some rest.”

She relaxed back on the bed and her body gave way to sleep.

Lola!

The name screamed like an alarm in her ears, jolting her out

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of bed. The sleep disappeared and Eniola’s eyes were soon

clear. On her way to the living room, she met Modupe at the
door.

“Why are you awake?” Eniola asked Modupe as they went

into the living room.

“I had a bad dream about Lola. I think she is in trouble.”

Modupe said.

“Yes, she is.”

The two ladies paced the living room, praying so loud that
their mother roused from her deep sleep, upset. Did they have
to pull her house down because they were praying? When
she saw Eniola holding her chest and weeping, she returned
to her room quietly.

The image of Lola running after a man flashed. Eniola stopped

praying. Who was this man? Another image flashed, this time
the man turned in her direction, his eye sockets were empty.
He had no teeth and no ears.

“In the name of Jesus, you foul demon, I command you to

stop chasing Lola now! Get out of there!” Eniola shouted at
the top of her voice.

The creature disappeared. Another image of Lola standing in

the dark flickered before her eyes as she prayed. Lola seemed
confused.

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“Lord, where is she? Please lead her home.”

Modupe had stopped praying and was staring at her sister

in wonder. She wished for such visions too. “Eniola, who did
you see?”

Eniola smiled. “Victory.” She replied, grinning.

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You are Beautfi ul Ten

10

Kola and his friend, Eben, emerged from the office of the IPO
at Apata police station looking distraught. It was 10am and
Lola had not been found. A report had been filed and all they
had to do was wait.

Waiting. That was the most difficult part. What if his wife was
dead? Would they ever be able to find her?

“We will find her,” Eben said, reverberating Kola’s thoughts.

“How did I drift so far away from the Lord?” Kola asked
himself quietly. “I hate the man I have become.”

“Regrets solve nothing, Kola. The wise thing is to pick up

from where you are and let God take charge of your life.”
Eben responded.

“I wish I could turn back the hands of time.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“But you can’t.”

Kola let out a deep sigh. “I just remembered how I cut off
friendship with you because I thought you were too spiritual.
I almost blocked your line. How foolish. Please don’t leave
me alone. Help me find my way back to God. Check up on
me. Add me to prayer meetings with your friends. Let’s run
bible studies together. Please.”

Eben smiled. “I prayed for this day to happen. I’m here for
you bro.”

Kola pointed at a car parked on the other side of the police

station. “Eniola is here.”

Eniola and Modupe climbed out of the car and crossed over
to where Kola’s car was parked.

“Good to see you.” Kola forced a smile and shook their hands.

“Any news?” Modupe asked.

“Not yet.”

Eniola smiled. “There are angels protecting her. Nothing will

happen to her. She will be found very soon.”

“Amen.” Kola and Eben chorused.

“What’s the next plan?” Modupe asked.

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“We’ll be leaving here for the radio stations later this afternoon
to speak with a presenter who runs a popular show. I have
sent pictures to some friends. At least with the awareness on
Facebook and Instagram, something might come up.”

“I really wish I could come with you but I have to get back to
work as soon as possible.” Modupe said.

“That’s fine Mo. We will keep you posted.”

“You know what?” Eniola began. “Go with the car. I’ll stay
with Kola. Call me when you are done with work.”

Modupe hugged her sister and waved at the others as she

returned to her car. “Please update me.”

“Sure.” Kola responded.

Kola had never prayed like he did on their way back to

the house. He had been a man accustomed to a few lines
of prayers and even that had been inconsistent for a long
time. He had no time to read the bible during the week and
leveraged on his regular attendance in church on Sundays.
Things would change now, he believed. He desired to know
God and become close to Him.

Eniola jerked forward, pointing at a lady walking barefooted

at the junction that led to Kola’s house. “Is that not Lola?”

He slammed the brakes. The barefooted woman jumped aside

and walked faster.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Kola’s heart raced. Could she be the one? He honked his horn
and rather than turn in the direction of the car, she kept her
gaze fixed on the road.

Eben rolled down the glass and pushed his head out. “Lola!”

The woman turned slowly in the direction of the car. Kola

burst into tears. Eniola and Eben flew out of the car and ran
towards her.

“Sister Eniola.” Lola’s eyes widened. “What are you doing

here?”

Eniola pulled her into her arms. “Thank you, Jesus.”

“Where did you find her?” Lola asked Eben. “I can’t believe
this.” Her smile disappeared when Kola alighted. She held
tightly to Eniola’s hand.

Kola came close and held out his hand. His eyes were still
teary. “Let’s go home.”

In the car, Lola kept looking at her husband, her eyes reflecting
a spectrum of fear mixed with confusion.

When Kola smiled and squeezed her hand, Lola thought she
was dreaming.

“I don’t understand. What happened to me? Why am I

barefoot and in a nightgown? You should have seen the way
people were staring at me at Aleshinloye market, like I was

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crazy.”

Aleshinloye? How did Lola walk that far? Kola thought.

“Don’t think too much about it. We are overjoyed to have you
back.” Kola responded in a calm voice.

Now, Lola was certain she was having a dream. She wished
this dream would never end. She could not afford to wake up
to the version of her husband that bullied her.

Kola’s phone beeped. Lola’s mother was calling. Kola

answered immediately.

“We have found her. She is right here with us.”

“Hallelujah,” Lola’s mother shouted for joy. Kola ended the

call when she broke into a song.

“Who was missing? Me?” Lola asked her husband.

He took her hands into his. Lola thought she saw tears in his
eyes. What exactly was going on?

When Kola drove into the compound, Lola’s mother raced

down the staircase to meet her daughter. She held her tightly,
rocking her from side to side, singing praises to God.

Eniola stood beside Lola’s husband. “God never ceases to

amaze me.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from
the door of death. Psalm 107:20. Eniola, I watch over my
words flowing out of your lips. It always works.”

The voice of the Holy Spirit soothed her. “I believe you, Lord.
You’ve done it again.”

Kola, Eniola, Eben, Taiwo, Tosin gathered in the living room,

singing praises to the Lord. Lola’s eyes darted from one person
to another. Was this real? They had a lot of explaining to do.
What was she doing in Aleshinloye market in the middle
of the night? How did Eniola find her? Why is her husband
suddenly acting nice to her? She glanced at her husband,
holding her hands and his words flooded her mind.

Why should I cuddle you? Maybe when you get back in shape,
I’ll change my mind because with the way you are, my hands
can barely go round your waist.

Just look at you. Round like a buffalo. No shape. Nothing.

Look at pounds of flesh dancing under your arms. Very
disgusting. I wonder what made me marry you.

She pulled her hands away. Kola glanced at her and

understood. The pain and fear on her face was evident.

“My daughter, what would you like to eat?” Her mother

asked, when the prayer of thanksgiving ended. “Just say the
word and you have it.”

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Lola stood up. “Any meal is fine. I need to take a shower

now.”

“I think I saw a Quaker oat tin in the cabinet. Let’s start with
that,” Eniola said and walked into the kitchen.

Kola left the living room to meet Lola in the bedroom. She
became nervous and uncomfortable with his presence. He
pulled out a neatly folded towel in the wardrobe and turned
on the water heater. “I have been a terrible husband and I
regret my actions. I hope you find a place in your heart to
forgive me. I’ll be waiting in the living room.”

Lola scratched her ears to be sure she was hearing clearly. Was
her husband apologizing to her? “Incredible!” Lola muttered.

Someone must have made him do this. This was not the man
she married. Something was just not adding up.

Lola dressed in a simple navy-blue gown after the soothing

hot shower. Eniola massaged Lola’s hair with coconut oil and
combed it.

“You are beautiful.” Eniola said, her eyes fixed on Lola’s

reflection in the mirror.

“I wish that was true.”

“‘What can you see?” Eniola asked.

“Rolls of fat everywhere.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“Don’t say that. You are beautiful. Can’t you see?” Eniola
asked, pointing to Lola’s reflection.

Lola turned to face Eniola. “My husband is acting very strange

and it just does not feel right anymore. Well, it’s only a matter
of time before his true nature comes to the surface. I will not
be fooled.”

“What if he has changed from the man you knew?”

“That’s impossible, Sister Eniola. I know my husband. Give

him a few weeks.”

Later that night, Lola sat on the floor of her children’s room,
holding Benjamin’s bib. The tears poured down her face as
she flattened out the bib on her chest.

“Oh, my son. I miss you. Mama really loves you.”

She remembered his first smile. She had just finished

breastfeeding him when he’d looked up at her and chuckled.
Her sweet son was gone. She’ll never be able to hold him or
play with him again.

“Benjamin.” Lola cried, her face buried in his flowery bibs.

A hand went round her shoulder. Her husband’s face was

smeared with tears.

“Come here, baby.” He said in a low tone. Lola went into his
arms and they wept together for their lost son.

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Maybe this was the reason Kola was sober. His disgust for
her would return by the time the memory of her son faded
away. She let herself enjoy the warm affection for as long as
it would last.

When he kissed her forehead, fresh tears ran down her face.
She wept not only for her dead son but for the affection she
never received from her husband for nearly five years.

Lord, can this last for at least a year.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

11
Eleven

Modupe was close to tears as she sat beside Eniola at the Ben
City Lounge at Ikeja, waiting for their barbeque order. Eniola’s
flight to Abuja was scheduled for the following afternoon and
Modupe wished she could stay longer.

“Are you about to cry?” Eniola asked.

Modupe blinked back the tears and rested her head on Eniola’s
shoulders. “I’m going to miss you so much. I’ll miss waking
up to see you pray. I’ll miss the daily devotions. I’ll miss your
words of encouragement. Do you have to go tomorrow?”

Eniola laughed. “My husband must not hear you. My children

miss me too and I need my husband’s warmth.”

“I understand.” Modupe said in a lower tone.

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“I’m just a call away. We can still pray together and gist too.”

“Thank you.”

Eniola faced her, “I believe David is in your past.”

“Yes, he is. I can’t believe I let him trample on my emotions.

But I know my worth now and I’ll never let anyone play with
my heart again. Never.”

Eniola smiled. “I’m glad to hear this. God has a good plan for
you. I need you to trust Him.”

Modupe sighed. “Yes ma’am.”

The order arrived. They had bought enough barbeque for

everyone and Eniola planned to spend the evening bonding
with every member of her family, especially Olamide with
whom she was yet to have a fruitful conversation. Modupe
and Eniola had a long chat as they left the barbeque spot for
home.

A white Mercedes Benz parked in front of their duplex had

the exact plate number as Olamide’s abusive husband.

“No way,” Modupe exclaimed, eyes fixed on the plate number.

“Whose car is that?” Eniola asked.

“Martins is here.” Modupe responded. “I hope he has not

won mum over again with his sugar-coated words.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“Is that not Lamide opening the trunk of that car?” Eniola
observed as they stepped out with the goodies they had
purchased.

Olamide’s daughter came out of the house with a small box,

her face downcast.

“Where are you going?” Eniola asked her sister. Olamide

pretended not to hear.

“Eniola is talking to you.” Modupe was already upset.

“What’s going on?”

Olamide lifted the small box from her daughter and added it
to the rest of the luggage in the trunk. “Which of the questions
am I supposed to answer first? Besides, how’s this your
business?”

“We are your sisters. You are our business,” Modupe

responded sharply.

“Watch your tongue.” Olamide warned, pointing a finger at

Modupe.

“I don’t want to go back to that house.” Olamide’s daughter

protested.

When her mother raised a hand to slap her, Modupe quickly

pulled her aside.

“My friend, get your other traveling bag before I descend on

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you. Idiot!” Olamide shouted at her daughter.

Sniffing, the little girl walked slowly back to the house.

“Olamide, why are you doing this to yourself? How can you
allow Martins deceive you a third time? For once, think about
your children.” Eniola said, gently.

“Please, don’t do this. I’m begging you in the name of Jesus.”

Modupe said, with her palms closed in a plea.

“He has apologized and I’m tired of staying here. I need to

return to my husband’s house.”

“This is not the first time he’ll be doing this. He’s always
apologizing, Lamide.” Eniola chipped in. “This man is not
ready to change.”

Just then, the front door opened. Martins came out of the
house hugging their mother and laughing loud at something
funny she said. The smile disappeared when he saw Eniola.

“Hello Eniola. Good to see you again.”

Eniola did not respond to his pleasantries. She hissed and

entered the house. Standing in the kitchen with Modupe,
they assessed the gifts Martins had brought. Two bags of
rice, three gallons of groundnut oil, a large bunch of plantain,
several tubers of yam, beverages, a fruit hamper and other
food items. Martins sure knew how to play his game well.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

Modupe’s heart broke when she peeped through the kitchen

window, Martins had started the white Mercedes and was
leaving the compound.

“Every marriage has its own issues, Eniola. You are in your
husband’s house. Shouldn’t your sister be in hers?” Eniola’s
mother asked as she entered the kitchen.

“How can you send your daughter back to that man!” Modupe
snapped.

“He has promised not to hit her again. You should have seen
the way he prostrated before me. He was so remorseful. I
know he won’t try it again.” Her eyes drifted to the gift items.
“Martins. Imagine, after buying all these things, he still sent
two million naira to my account. He’s a good man… just with
a terrible temper.”

“I can’t believe you were carried away by this man’s fake

gestures. Mummy, this is wrong! The first time he beat her,
I stayed in the hospital for weeks. I knew the pain she went
through.” Modupe’s voice shook as she spoke.

“I said he will not touch her again. Relax, your sister will be
fine. By the way, where did you both go?”

Modupe frowned. “Don’t ask me any question please. I’m

worried for my sister.”

Eniola left the kitchen, morose.

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“What is wrong with the two of you? Did I force her to return
to her husband? Lamide wanted to go back. Should I have
stopped her? Don’t get me upset this evening because I am
not in a good mood.”

Modupe cast an angry glance at her mother. She wanted to

say more but she thought it best not to ignite a fire that had
already started.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lola was clearing the dishes from the table when she heard a
car’s horn. For three consecutive weeks, her husband returned
home earlier than he normally would, to spend some time
with her. A few times, she had woken up to find her husband
on his knees praying. Tosin had informed her that he was
paying regular visits to their home where Eben ran a men’s
fellowship every weekend.

Lola shut down the thought that she was having the man
she dreamt of. The last thing she wanted was to raise hopes
where there was none. They were still mourning the death of
her son. This change could not be permanent.

“Dad is back!” Hannah threw her assignment notes aside and

made for the door. Attempts by Nene to call her back yielded
no result. Her father swept her off her feet and placed her on
his shoulders as he entered the house.

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Ife Grace Alamu.

“Welcome sir,” Nene greeted.

Kola lay his daughter on the sofa and tickled her sides before
pulling her to her feet. “Go and finish your assignment.”

“Welcome sir,” Nene greeted him again.

“How are you?” He didn’t wait for her response. “Where is

mummy?”

“In the kitchen.”

Kola tip-toed into the kitchen and grabbed his wife’s waist
while she was not looking and kissed her neck.

“Somebody smells really nice. You just got a new cologne?”

Lola chuckled. She had come to expect Kola sneaks and

unsuspecting random touches. Not once had he said a word
about her weight or the body she had grown to resent.

“Your food is ready.” She said, facing him.

He cupped her face in his hands and gave her a long kiss.
“Can we talk after dinner?”

“Sure,” Lola’s hands were shaking. He weaved his hand into

hers to steady them.

“I’ll go take a shower and be right back.”

When he left, Lola ran into the kitchen store and broke down.

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A sense of dread filled her. If her husband was to revert to

his old self, she would not survive it. Right now, protecting
herself was the escape route. Did she prefer the man she knew
before her son’s death? At least she knew what to expect, but
this was strange. This new man that her husband had become
made her open up feelings that were long buried.

“This man does not love you, Lola.” she muttered to herself.
“You lost your mind when Benjamin died and he is scared
you’ll go crazy again. Protect yourself from him. Guard your
emotions Lola.”

Kola’s affection made her weak. She woke up daily waiting

for his degrading words. The transformation left her more
confused than happy. She needed to do something very fast
otherwise when he finally returned to default mode, she
would run mad.

“Sweetheart, where are you?”

Kola’s voice jolted her out of her thoughts. She came out of
the kitchen store, faking a smile.

“Are you crying? Your eyes are swollen.” Kola asked. He said
as he drew her into his arms.

“I miss our son,” she said.

Kola held her and she broke into tears again. It wasn’t for her
son that she wept. She wanted this affection to last forever

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and right there in his arms she knew she had to run away, far
away from this man before he hurt her deeply.

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12

Ada leaped to her feet as soon as Modupe walked through the

door. “My flatmate is back!”

They hugged tightly like friends meeting for the first time in
years. “Good to see you again.”

“Please tell me you are not here to pick up some more clothes.
You are fully back home, right?”

Modupe chuckled and dropped her traveling bag on her bed.

It seemed like a year since she slept in her room even though
it had only been a few weeks. She had not expected to stay
away for long after mum called for a family meeting. A lot had
happened in that short time. She’d become closer to Eniola,
met Lola and her husband, participated in the search for
Lola’s whereabouts, watched Olamide return to her maniac
husband, dealt with a heartbreak by her boyfriend. Now that

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her sisters were away from the house, there was no reason for
her to stay.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Ada grabbed one of Modupe’s

pillows and hit her playfully. “You left me here alone.”

“Ada, stop.” Modupe said, laughing. “You know if I start my

own play, you will get tired. I’m warning you now o.”

Ada tossed the pillow aside. “I really missed you.”

Modupe spread the pink, flowery bed sheet Eniola had

bought for her. “What’s been happening around here? What
did I miss?”

Ada moved towards the door, “Plenty gist. But first, I need to
get to the kitchen. My food must not get burnt.”

“What’s Chef Ada cooking?” Modupe asked as she followed

Ada out.

Ada stopped at the entrance to the kitchen and turned to her

flat mate.

“Smoky liver salad and sausage pepper sauce. I don’t want

you near this kitchen until it is ready.”

“You and who will eat that rubbish. Let me just prepare
noodles for myself.”

“Relax jare. Stop acting like one local girl. You will love it. Just

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go back to the sitting room and feast on some cookies. I’ll call
you when the food is ready.”

“Chef Ada!” Modupe hailed. “I’ll be waiting in the living

room.”

Modupe turned on her data and opened WhatsApp. In the

morning, she noticed David uploaded a picture. She had been
too distracted at work to pay attention to it.

She scrolled down her chats and stopped at his contact.

He was online.

Modupe’s heart pounded with excitement. On his profile

page was a picture of him sitting on a brown horse with a
large grin on his face.

“David, I miss you so much.” She muttered to the picture.

Her heart began to ache for his words, words that lightened
her morning and calmed her fears. She wished she had not
deleted his chats or the poems she saved on her Google Keep
notes. She could barely remember those words now and
longed to have them back. She tried to remember a few lines.

Your love for me brings serenity to my soul. I don’t want to

ever lose you Mo.

My sunshine, may our love remain evergreen

Baby, whenever I think about the future, I can’t imagine it

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without you. Please, promise me you will stay by my side

forever.

Modupe stared at the picture again. What had she done

wrong? Was there something about her he didn’t like? Maybe,
David would give an answer to why all the guys who had
come into her life left without any explanation.

She was curious and troubled at the same time. There had
to be a reason he ended the relationship and she would find
out even if it meant taking some days off work to travel to
Kaduna.

There were two pictures on David’s WhatsApp status.

In one, David sat in his office, dressed in a smashing black suit.

On his table was a laptop and some documents. He crossed
his leg and Modupe thought he was looking straight at her.

She wiped the tears already gathering in her eyes. “Oh David,
I love you.” In the second picture, his gaze was fixed on the
laptop in front of him.

She decided to send him a message.

Hello David. It’s been a while. Just checking up on you.

She waited. Two blue tick signs showed that the message had
been delivered and seen.

No response.

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David went offline.

Then he was back online.

No response still.

Modupe’s eyes burned with tears.

David, please talk to me. I’ve missed you. See, I just want to
know what I’ve done wrong. I’m ready to change. I love you.

No response.

Why are you doing this to me? You are breaking my heart.

David appeared online and went offline.

Modupe couldn’t stop the tears trickling down her face. She
tossed her phone aside.

God, what is my problem? Can’t I even move on with my life?

“You are crying.” Ada said, holding a tray of her smoky liver
salad.

“Did I tell you David broke up with me?”

Ada set the tray on the center table. “Good riddance to bad
rubbish. That irresponsible man does not deserve you. Mo,
there are lots of men who will kill to be with you.”

Modupe wiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s so easy for you

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to say. You think everybody is like you that have men at

their beck and call? Sometimes, I wish I had your charming
nature.” She paused. “I want my man back. Remember the
singles seminar we attended two months ago. The woman
said her man withdrew and started acting weirdly but she
knew what God told her. She waited. He came back.”

“God specifically told you David is your husband, is that

what you are saying?”

Modupe raised her hand. “Don’t come all spiritual on me this

evening. I love David. I’m not giving up on this.”

Ada smiled sadly. “He will be in Osogbo on the 25th of

August.”

Modupe eyes lit up. “Are you sure of what you are saying?
Where did you get that info?”

“From one of the media people in church. I think he has a very

important event there. Just make sure you are there between
1p.m and 3pm. I’ll get the exact address for you tomorrow.”

Modupe gasped in sheer excitement. “Ada, thank you.” She

frowns. “Two months seem so far away but I have no choice.
I’ll have to wait.”

Ada picked the tray from the center table. “Have a taste of my
delicious meal.”

“Right now, Ada, I can do anything for you.”

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Modu thrust the fork into the plate and raised the salad to her
mouth. She squeezed her face. “Why does it taste like grass?”

Ada giggled. “If you want to enjoy this, you’ll have to eat it
together with the smoked liver. Let me show you how this
works.”

Ada took the fork and impaled some of the vegetables with
the chopped liver on it. “Open your mouth.”

Modupe obeyed and chewed slowly. “Uhmmm…this is nice.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

August 25th finally arrived. Modupe woke up several times

that night and when at 6a.m she could not sleep anymore, she
got out of bed and tried on all four different dresses she had
picked out. She still couldn’t settle for the dress to wear.

“If I leave Ibadan at 10a.m, I should arrive Osogbo by noon.”

She thought aloud. “Since I don’t know the venue, it might
take some time to find the location.”

When it was 9am, Modupe finally settled for a knee length

pencil gown with flabby sleeves.

“You look stunning.” Ada said as Modupe stepped out of her

room.

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Modupe grinned. “Thank you!”

She imagined the look on David’s face when she approached

him after the event. She had noticed the spark in his eyes
every time she wore the dress to see him. She wished she had
a fair skin that glowed like Ada. It would be perfect.

“Are you not going to eat something?”

Modupe shook her head. “I’m not hungry. I have to go now.

Bye.”

At the car park, a man sat in front of a black Toyota car heading
for Osogbo while a fat man in a faded Ankara leaned on the
car shouting. ‘Osogbo! Oshogbo!’

Modupe sat alone in the back, restless. She wished she had
come earlier. Now she would be late. If this event was very
important to David, she wanted to be part of every session
of the programme. She glanced at her wristwatch. It was
past 10a.m already. Where for goodness sake were these
passengers?

A rickety bus stood at a far end of the park. A man called out
to passengers shouting, ‘Osogbo.’ The bus was almost filled
with passengers. Modupe wanted to jump down and rush in
there but one glance at the bus and she wondered if it would
make it to the outskirts of Ibadan before breaking down.

A slender young man with an attractive face walked towards

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the car. Modupe prayed he was going to Osogbo.

“E lo ni. How much?’” the man asked.

“1000 naira.” The driver answered

He pulled out his wallet from his pocket before entering the
car.

“Oshogbo, eni kan! One more person. Osogbo!” The driver

shouted, calling out to passersby.

The man who had just taken the back seat looked at Modupe.
“The way you sighed, my arrival must be a great relief.”

Modupe chuckled. “You don’t understand. I’ve been here for

over an hour.”

“It happens sometimes.”

A woman with a baby strapped to her back, appeared. She

slid the child off her back and placed him on her laps.

“Thank you, Lord.” Modupe let out a quick breath.

The driver collected his fare and left the motor park.

Modupe checked to see if David had left her a message.

Nothing. The sadness in her heart deepened.

Was she making the right decision by going to see him? Would
he embarrass her when she approached him? Will he love her

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again for fighting to keep him?

She rehearsed what she would tell him. She would be

diplomatic. Pretend she wasn’t interested in the relationship
while trying to plead with him to give her another chance.

“David, you are the best thing that ever happened to me. But
it’s fine if you don’t want me anymore. I just want to know
what I did wrong. Why did you break up with me?”

David would feel sorry for taking that decision. He’d tell her
he hadn’t been able to sleep, that she was all he thought of.
He’d hug her and say he was sorry for breaking her heart. In
a silent whisper, he’d tell her how much he loved and adored
her.

Modupe turned to the man beside her. He was typing very

fast on a notepad on his phone. He swiped to a bible app,
opened it, read a verse and continued writing. His words
caught her attention.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in

him. Ps 62:5

This verse struck my heart just now. I can choose to bring my

mind to be quiet while waiting for the fulfillment of God’s
promise. I can also jump up and down, making my wait a
drudgery task. The choice is mine. The wait that comes
with self-control produces a constant reassurance of God’s
faithfulness. But you see the wait full of raging emotions,

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comes with a lot of mistakes and pain.

Lord, let my body, soul and spirit wait quietly before you. I
am eager to meet my wife. My body cries out for pleasure. My
mind dreams of such beautiful experiences with my partner.

Last night when I poured out my heart before God, He said

Wait. This morning, he said the same thing. I want to wait
well. God, I bring my emotions to you. Teach me to wait
quietly before you. I trust you have great plans for me and-

The man raised his head. Modupe quickly turned her face
away. But it was too late, he had caught her reading his notes.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to pry. That scripture and your notes
just caught my attention. I am so sorry.”

He smiled and said it was okay. Throughout the rest of the

journey, he shared scriptures with Modupe. He reminded
her of Eniola and her knack for scriptures. Modupe soaked in
every word he said. His words pierced her heart and she felt
a stirring in her spirit.

“My name is Muyiwa.” He said as the car finally came to a

stop. “What’s yours?”

“Modupe. But you can call me Mo.”

He stretched out his hand. She took it. “Nice meeting you.
Where are you headed?”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

They were now standing at the express road. “I don’t even

know my way around. This is my first time here.”

“You have the address?”

She gave him the piece of paper. He nodded as he read the

address.

“I know the Event Centre. You’ll have to board a bus going to

Dada Estate. Or would you prefer a motorbike?’

“Bike is fine.”

Muyiwa led her to where the motorbikes were parked and

waited until she mounted one of the motorbikes. Modupe
waved at him as the bike zoomed off.

At the event Centre, Modupe stood in front of the building,

confused. Had the man brought her to the wrong place? She
looked at the name on the building. It was the same name
Ada had given to her. Why were people dressed as if they
were attending a party?

Cars lined the opened space. Young girls in Aso-ebi stood to

take selfies. A woman struggled with a wrapped gift with one
hand while she held her aso-oke with the other hand.

Three elderly men stood around a posh car, talking drums

hanging on their shoulders, hoping to receive some money
from the owner of the car. A tall woman in a purple lace
and matching gele came out of the car and walked past them

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without giving them any attention. They followed her to a

distance and when she continued to ignore them, rushed
towards a jeep that had just pulled in.

Modupe dialed Ada’s line. This had to be a mistake. Her line

was switched off.

Modupe entered the hall and found a place to sit. Was it a

wedding David came from Kaduna to attend? If she had been
properly informed, she would have dressed in her best native
outfit. Now she looked out of place in a corporate attire.

The hall was getting packed. Young girls in white gowns

walked around the hall placing trays of small chops on the
tables. The M.C had the microphone but he obviously was
talking to himself. Nobody seemed to be listening. How
would she find David in a place like this?

She took her phone out of her bag and was about to dial Ada’s
number again when her eyes caught a name on a wedding
program someone had left on the table.

Welcome to the Wedding ceremony uniting David Olaitan

and Gbemisola Falala.

Modupe froze.

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Ife Grace Alamu. Thirteen

13

Modupe flipped through the booklet with trembling hands

and stopped at the middle page. She read the words slowly
unaware that tears were trickling down her face.

I, David Olaitan, take you Gbemisola Falala, to be my wife, to

have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse,
for richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health, to love and to
cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy word,
this is my solemn vow.

She shut the booklet and reached into her handbag for a hand
towel.

Modupe chuckled. “Mo, you are a big fool.”

She looked around the hall. This was supposed to be her

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wedding. Modupe should be saying those vows not a god-

forsaken Gbemisola Falala. This couldn’t be happening to
her. She traveled all the way to Osogbo to attend the wedding
of the man she hoped to spend the rest of her life with. What
had she done to deserve this?

The DJ stopped playing and the sudden silence broke

Modupe’s reverie. All eyes were turned towards the entrance
of the hall. The DJ switched to a faster beat. The cracks of
laughter, flashes from phone cameras, loud music from the DJ
made her stomach churn. She knew what it meant. The bride
and the groom were making their grand entrance.

Two ladies sitting across from her stared at Modupe with

curious eyes. Modupe bowed her head, concealing her tear
smeared face.

Mo, compose yourself for goodness sake! she reprimanded

quietly.

She roused and dug up a smile until her face shone brightly
just like the others, who were now clapping and speaking in
low tones.

David danced with every part of his body, his hands swirled
up and down, then his legs swayed from side to side. His
shoulders and head were not left out. When he threw his head
back and winked at his wife, a sharp pang of jealousy pierced
Modupe’s heart. She recognized two of the groom’s men from
the media team at church and turned quickly, hiding her face

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when one looked her way.

When the couple reached the dance floor, Modupe pressed her
way through the crowd to get a good glance at David’s bride.
She was fair skinned, her face masked with heavy makeup.
She danced slowly, conscious of her breasts that threatened to
pop out of her wedding tube dress. The bride’s maid of honor
continued to dab a small towel on her sweaty face. Modupe
thought that was supposed to be Ada wiping sweat from her
face.

When David grabbed Gbemi’s waist and the couple went

down in dance steps that evoked ripples of laughter from the
elated audience, Modupe couldn’t bear it anymore. She ran
out of the building, towards the car park and broke down.

God, why is this happening to me? Why do you hate me so

much? Are you now happy that I’m hurt?

She remembered the first few weeks David took an interest in

her, he’d stare at her during the church service and sometimes
rush out of the media room after the service to see her. He
always made her heart flutter and when he finally asked her
out, she thought she had met the right person.

I love you Modupe. I want to spend the rest of my life with

you.

He deceived her.

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How many times had she prayed for him more than herself?

She’d wanted to give him a taste of how wonderful a wife

she would be when they finally tied the nuptial knot that
she visited his house every weekend. She even went as far
as washing his clothes, scrubbing his toilet and cooking his
meals. Was this how David wanted to pay her back? Had he
been dating someone else while they were still together?

Tears spilled freely from her wet eyelids. No wonder David

had withdrawn from her. Now she understood. This was why
he avoided her calls. Someone else had been in the picture all
along! Modupe cried all the way back to Ibadan.

By the time she arrived home, the raging anger had not
dissipated. She went straight to Ada’s room, fuming. Ada
was so absorbed in the movie she was watching that she did
not notice Modupe walk in.

Modupe grabbed the laptop and closed it. Ada turned swiftly,
alarmed. She relaxed when she saw Modupe.

“How was your trip?”

“Did you know David was getting married today?” Modupe

snapped angrily.

The silence that followed fueled the rising inferno in Modupe.

“Ada, why? Why didn’t you tell me? You are very cruel. I
thought you were my friend.”

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Ada sat up, “Please don’t say that. Would you have believed?
You were so smitten by David! This was the only way I knew
best to get you to snap out of that fantasy.”

“By making me look like a fool in front of everybody who

attended that wedding? Ada what kind of heart do you have?”

Ada’s eyes were full of regret. “I’m sorry. I just thought this
would help you get him out of your mind.”

Modupe shook her head. She wanted to say more but she
stopped herself before she would say words she’d regret.

“I’m sorry Mo but God knows best…” Ada started when they
reached the door of her room.

Modupe turned sharply to face her friend. “Just shut up Ok? I

don’t need your sympathy.” She barricaded the door with her
body, refusing to let Ada in, “I want to be alone.”

When Ada would not budge, Modupe shut the door in Ada’s
face and dropped on her bedroom floor. Ada knocked quietly.

“Leave me alone!” Modupe shouted.

She lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling. Why would God
treat her like this? Bitterness crept to her throat as she thought
of Ada and the men gushing over her. Ada was engaged to
a responsible man who adored her, a first- class graduate
working in a thriving engineering company in the United
States. Why was her case different? She had read articles on

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relationships, attended seminars and consumed books on

how to be the best wife for her man. What had she missed?

“God, why?”

Modupe got up from the floor and washed her face before
heading out. If only she had someone to share her pain
with before it wrecked her soul. Her mother was out of the
question. She would insist they visit one of her prophets. Her
sister, Eniola, was at a prayer retreat with her husband and
would not be back home until the following day. Who else
could she talk to?

When she opened the door, Ada was sitting outside the room
with teary eyes.

“Mo, I’m sorry. please forgive me.”

Modupe folded her hands. “It’s okay. I’m not angry with you
anymore.”

“Thank you. Should we hang out this evening?”

Modupe shook her head. “Another time Ada. Today, I just

want to be alone.”

Modupe drove round town looking for a quiet place to sit and
think. She finally pulled into an eatery. She and David had
dined there a few times.

When she alighted, she noticed a man struggling with a

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woman in front of the car beside hers. The woman was trying
to plant a kiss on his lips. The more she pulled him closer, the
angrier the man became. He seemed clearly disgusted.

Modupe shook her head in pity. Everyone seemed to have

some sort of drama in their lives. Wasn’t she like that woman,
trying to force herself on David when all he wanted was to get
away from her? She sighed and turned away, shame filled up
her chest and made her breath laborious.

When her gaze shifted back to the car, she saw that the
woman now had her head on his chest and her hands around
his waist. She was also crying quietly. Modupe’s heart ached
for the lady. She must love the man so much and even though
her feelings were unreciprocated, she continued undeterred.

Why do men smash the hearts of ladies devoted to them into

tiny broken pieces? The man turned in Modupe’s direction.
Modupe gasped.

Kola!

What was Lola’s husband doing with this woman?

“What’s going on?” Modupe mouthed, frowning slightly.

“Please help me,” Kola mouthed back.

The woman held his face in her hands, tears pouring from her
face. Modupe walked towards them.

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“Hello Baby,” Modupe said and placed her hand on Kola’s

shoulder.

The lady pulled away from Kola and looked Modupe over.
Kola quickly held Modupe’s waist and pulled her nose
playfully.

“Who is she? You’ve abandoned me for another chick? How

dare you!” The woman shouted.

“Hey, madam! Stop shouting! You look too refined to be

acting like a village trouble maker. What if I tell you he is
my husband?” Modupe was shocked at her own words. How
convenient it was to feign a relationship.

She laughed. “You can’t possibly be his wife. You are not fat.
So, start telling me what you are doing with my man before
I scatter your head.” She clenched her fist in readiness to hit
Modupe.

Modupe pointed her fingers back at her, “You don’t even

know who you are dealing with. I see you want to go to jail
like your father. Touch me and see.”

The lady stepped back, startled by the words. “How did you
know my father is in jail?”

Modupe froze, surprised that her words had struck true. She
masked her reaction quickly and tugged at Kola’s hand. “Can
we go now? I don’t have time for this drama.”

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Kola hurried around to open the passenger’s door for

Modupe. She slipped in without a word and he dashed to the
driver’s side. As he pulled away from the restaurant, the lady
remained rooted to the spot, staring after them.

Modupe chuckled. “What just happened?”

Kola laughed. “I don’t know either. That was something.”

“Who’s that by the way?”

“Bimbo. She’s been breathing down my neck. I agreed to meet

her here hoping I’ll talk some sense into her head. I told her
in clear terms I was no longer interested in the relationship.
Then she grabbed me in broad daylight. Jeez!”

At first, Modupe didn’t understand what Kola meant, then it

hit her. Kola had been cheating on his wife.

“I’m not proud of my past. I just want to get my life straightened

out.” When Modupe didn’t say anything, he continued. “We
can wait here a little and then go pick up your car.”

Modupe glanced at him. “You want to talk?”

He hesitated. “Yes.”

Modupe pointed to an open space beside a mechanic

workshop. “We can park over there.”

Kola pulled away from the road and turned off the engine.

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He sat back and didn’t say anything for a while. Then he

began to open up his past to Modupe. He told her he’d been
drawn to Lola because of her rising popularity in church and
her attractive figure but the appeal faded a few months into
the wedding. His irritation grew when she gained weight and
stopped singing in the choir. By their second year together,
he’d become close to a colleague and Bimbo had come into
the picture.

Bimbo aroused in him passions he’d never had with his wife.
He hated to return home to Lola as she constantly wore a grim
face. Gradually, Lola became depressed but he didn’t care.
He received his sexual satisfaction from Bimbo. When Bimbo
asked him to divorce his wife and marry her, he refused. He
knew Bimbo well enough to know she was better off as a
mistress than a wife.

Modupe temporarily forgot her own problems and gave Kola

her full attention.

“I was a fool, Modupe. I still remember the Holy Spirit

warning me with these words, ‘Can a man scoop fire into his
lap without his clothes being burned?’ I didn’t listen until I
died spiritually. I destroyed my home with my hands.” He
sighed. “Right now, I want to love Lola and I have been asking
God to teach me how. But I can’t seem to reach Lola’s heart.
The more I try, the farther away she moves.”

“Love is patient.” Modupe said softly.

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“Yeah. God said that to me this morning. He’s forgiven me

but receiving Lola’s forgiveness may take some time. Waiting
can be hard though.”

Modupe smiled sadly. “I agree. Waiting is tough. I held on

desperately to a man who didn’t care one bit about me. He
moved from Ibadan to Kaduna without leaving an address.
When I would not stop fussing over him, my flatmate Ada,
told me she knew where I could find him at Osogbo. I went in
search of him and hoped we could reconcile and sort things
out. Guess what?

Kola rummaged through his thoughts, “He ignored you when

you found him?”

“Turns out, the address Ada gave me was the venue of his
wedding ceremony.”

Kola’s mouth opened in disbelief. “This happened today?”

Modupe nodded. “I felt so embarrassed.”

“Oh my! I’m so sorry.”

Modupe’s eyes welled up in tears. “I keep wondering why

men treat me this way. After my second relationship ended,
one of mum’s pastors said there was a mask covering my
face. He requested we fast for seven days. Kola, I was on the
mountain for seven days, no food, no water. We prayed until
I lost my voice. I have asked myself this several times. Why

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do men avoid me? What am I doing wrong?”

Kola held her hand, “If God should open your eyes to the
things he is protecting you from, you’ll be grateful for all
the break-ups. There is nothing wrong with you Mo. There
is a verse of the bible that has become part of my life. It was
the scripture God gave me when I cried to him to save my
marriage.”

Modupe was curious, “What scripture is that?”

Kola hesitated. “When I awake, I will see you face to face and
be satisfied. Psalms 17 verse 15.”

Modupe closed her eyes and allowed the words to sink in.
She muttered the scripture to herself.

“Modupe, unless we draw our satisfaction from Christ, we will

continue to search in vain for peace and happiness. I awake
every morning to behold the face of Jesus and I am satisfied. I
find that because I am now consumed with his love, the fruit
of the Spirit bears expression in my life. Sometimes when we
don’t quickly see our desires met, it is God’s way of teaching
us to keep him at the center of our hearts.”

Modupe swallowed hard. How many times had she skipped

her devotion just to talk to David? She had missed prayer
meetings and even bible studies to spend time with the men
in her life. Hadn’t they all left at the end?

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Kola squeezed her hand. “Everything will be alright.”

“Thank you so much Kola.”

Kola started the engine. “Let’s get your car.”

Modupe felt a heavy burden drop from her shoulder. Kola

turned on the car stereo and played Lauren Daigle’s ‘I will
trust in you.’

“Wait a minute, how did you know Bimbo’s father was in

jail?” Kola asked, glancing at her as he reversed towards the
restaurant where Bimbo’s car was parked.

Modupe fell back on the headrest, pondering over the

question. Had she really said that? “Sincerely, I don’t know
how that statement came out of my lips. Is her father really
in jail?”

“Yes. Life imprisonment.”

Modupe gasped. “Oh no. She must really be hurting.”

Kola exhaled, “I wish I didn’t get involved with her. I regret

it.”

“I have my regrets too.” Modupe sighed.

The scripture Kola had shared with her flashed across her
mind again.

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God, every time I wake up, I want to see your face. I want to
behold you. This is where my satisfaction lies. Strengthen me
Lord.

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14
Fourteen

Kola walked into the sitting room, expecting to see his

daughter perched on her small purple chair by the center
table, working on her assignment with Nene’s assistance.
Instead he met a house, cold, silent that left him sick in his
stomach. The sitting room was neatly arranged. The kitchen’s
sink had been emptied and dishes washed. No aroma of efo-
riro or ila alasepo or the simmering sauces Lola prepared
for dinner that usually stirred up hunger in him. One would
think the tenants had embarked on a long trip.

Alarmed, Kola called out to his wife, then Nene, and Hannah,
expecting a response at least from one of them. When he
entered his room and noticed that the space reserved for
Lola’s boxes were empty, he knew something was wrong. His
fears were confirmed when he opened the wardrobe. All her

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clothes were gone. Lola was done with him. He had lost his
marriage.

On the bed was a note addressed to him. He stared at it afraid

to open it. He dialed Eben’s number.

“Lola has left me.” He said in a low tone.

Eben was quiet for a while. “Did she say why?”

He looked at the note in his hand. “She left me a note but I

can’t bring myself to open it.”

“Come over to my place. I’ll call Tochi and Harry, the best we
can do is pray and trust God. Don’t forget to bring the note
along.”

It took Kola thirty minutes to finally start the car. His mind
raced. Where could Lola have gone? Tosin was the only friend
she spent time with. If she’d flown to Abuja, Eniola would
have mentioned it. That left one option- Her mother’s place
in Lagos.

Frustration churned in his chest, sharp and suffocating. Why

was Lola being so difficult? He was trying, really trying to
hold the marriage together. What more did she expect from
him? What else did she want him to do?

He arrived at Eben’s house just at the time Harry and Tochi

got there. The four men had developed a strong dedication
to their weekly prayers and bible study. Their meeting had

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always been the place to unburden his heart.

Kola handed the note to Eben and waited impatiently for his
response, all the while watching Eben’s expression.

Eben returned the note to Kola. “Read it. There is nothing to

be scared of.”

Tochi and Harry crowded around Kola as he opened it.

Kola, I’m scared. I don’t understand the man I married

anymore. I’ve been waiting for you to insult me and put me
down as usual, but I’m tired of waiting. I’m scared this new
way you treat me will fade off and you’ll return to the man
I’ve always known. My heart is opening up to your affection
and it frightens me. My mind tells me you are deceiving me
and someday the warm affection will wear off.

I’m at my mother’s place. Just want to process my thoughts

before making the next decision.

“This is interesting.” Tochi said, smiling.

“You’ll have to be patient with her.” Harry chipped in.

“Exactly.” Tochi said. “Keep building friendship with her.

Let her also know what is informing the changes. You have
submitted to the Lordship of Christ and He is teaching you
what true love means.” Harry advised.

“This is the kind of response I like. I remember my wife

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looking at me one day and saying, how are you tender? You
are principled yet loving in a way that beats my imagination.”
Tochi said.

“Reminds me of that scripture in 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18.

And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continue to
behold in the word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
are constantly being transfigured into His very own image
in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory
to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
Harry added.

Kola laughed. “My God! Someday, I’m going to learn how to

memorize scriptures like you. See the way you spilled all of
that in one breath.”

“You have started already. We memorized Ephesians 1 verse

3 to 5 last week, remember?” Tochi asked.

Eben raised his hand, “Guys, I know you are worded men but
before we divert into scriptures, let’s deal with the matter at
hand.” he turned to Kola. “Call her mother now. At least, it’ll
show that you care.”

Kola did as Eben instructed. Lola’s mother confirmed his wife

and daughter were at her place. He promised to pay a visit
that weekend.

“Can I speak with her?” Kola asked his mother-in-law

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“She just ran out of my room when she heard your voice.”

“Mum, please can I send a voice note to your WhatsApp chat?

Please play it for her.

“I’ll surely do that.”

When he ended the call, he sent Lola a voice note.

My sweetheart, the woman who gives me joy. First of all, I miss

coming home to you. But then I read your note and truthfully,
I understand your fears. For the terrible way I treated you in
the past, this is valid. I don’t expect you to trust me so quickly.
I am ready to wait until you can trust me again. Can I at least
talk to you every day? At least give me a chance to prove
that God indeed changes lives. I look forward to hearing your
voice and that of our daughter. Goodnight baby. Please let me
know if you need anything.

The three men bowed their heads and prayed for Kola.
According to Eben, God who had started this good work in
Kola’s family would complete it.

The next morning, Lola called her husband. “I’m coming

home this weekend and I’m sorry for leaving the way I did.”

Kola let out a deep sigh. “It’s fine. I’ll drive down to pick you
and the kids. We are going to be fine, okay?”

“Thank you.”

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She hesitated, unsure what to say. “Do you still love me?”

“Yes, I do. Much more than you think. Come home, dear.”

***********************

Kola entered his office closely followed by his old friend,

Kelvin. Since his commitment to a regular devotion with
the Lord, he had lost interest in maintaining friendship with
Kelvin. He wished the man would just leave him alone.

“This is what I’m saying.” Kelvin said, hitting his fist on

Kola’s table. “When you treat your staff well, you’ll see great
results.”

Kola looked at him, puzzled. “What are you talking about?”

Kelvin sat on the edge of Kola’s table, grinning. “You’ve not

seen the alert?”

Two other colleagues entered the office, their faces lit up.

“Omo! Money has arrived.” One of them said, dancing.

The second guy strolled over to Kola’s table, bouncing with

energy. “Club’s calling tonight my guy. I’m ready for some
correct fish pepper soup and ice-cold beer. If I don’t show up
tomorrow, hangover’s to blame.”

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Kola looked from his colleagues to Kelvin. “What money are

you talking about?”

“Bonus from the headquarters. Check your phone.”

Kola reached into his backpack for his phone. He tapped on

his message inbox.

Six hundred thousand naira. “What!”

His eyes widened. Kelvin slapped him on his back.“I see fresh
women everywhere. Let the enjoyment begin.” He winked at
Kola on his way out. “We meet at our regular spot tonight.”

“I won’t be there.”

Kelvin turned and walked back to his table. “Kola, you are a
man! Why are you behaving like a girl? Wetin dey do you?
Life gats continue o. You are not the only one who has lost a
child. My child was also stillborn. This is not the end of the
world. Just look how tensed up you are. You need to meet
Cynthia. She’ll show you how to relax.”

Kola sat down and turned on his laptop. “I’m serious about
my relationship with God now.”

Kelvin laughed. “I’m an usher in my church so don’t get all

spiritual on me. We know God too.”

‘Kelvin, seriously, things are different now.”

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Kelvin chuckled. “I’ve met guys like you. Within three

months, they ran back to me begging me to hook them with a
babe. Take all the time you want. But when your body begins
to long for fresh meat, call me.”

At the door, a lady called out to Kola. “There is a lady

downstairs waiting to see you.”

Kelvin gave a snort of laughter. “Oshey! My friend, my

friend.”

Kola frowned. “Who is she and what does she want?”

The lady shrugged. “I don’t know. She refused to wait at the

reception. She doesn’t look good. I think you should see her.”

When Kola got to the ground floor and saw Bimbo, he gave
an exasperated sigh. Her hair was a mess and there were bags
under eyes. Without any make up, her lips looked fatter and
her face wasn’t as pretty as Kola had always thought.

Kola stopped in front of her. “What do you want from me?

Bimbo, leave me alone!”

“I carried your seed in my womb, Kola. You made me abort

twice. Now you think you can just dump me? Is it fair?”

Kola was frustrated. “Bimbo, I’ve apologized several times. I

said I’m sorry. What do you want?”

“I know you are still upset with me about that other night. I

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didn’t know you were acting distant because you lost your
son. I’m sorry. In fact, I didn’t even enjoy sex with that short
man with a stinking breath. Baby, I have not seen any other
guy since that time.

“Things are different now. Bimbo. I can’t-”

“Kola, I love you. I have not been able to sleep well for
months.”

“But you knew I was married before we started this. Were

you really expecting me to leave my wife?”

Bimbo stared at the floor. When she raised her head, tears
ran down her face. “I miss you.” she held his hand. “My heart
aches for you Kola. You are the only man that has treated me
more than an object of sex. I know you have other women in
your life and I don’t have a right to make demands, but please
can we meet one more time. I just want to hold you and make
love to you. Just once and I promise I’ll never disturb you
again. I miss you. Kola, please.”

He pulled his hand away. “I can’t. Bimbo, move on. Get a

good life for yourself. I’m picking up the pieces of my life and
I hope you will too.”

Kola stormed back towards his office, climbing two stairs at a

time. Kelvin was waiting for him at the reception.

“I warned you about women. I told you they get emotionally

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attached. Bimbo is just trying to manipulate you.”

Kola walked down the corridor that led to his office. “I just
want her off my back.”

Kelvin moved closer to his friend. “Let’s meet this Friday at

the club and I’ll show you how we can handle her.”

Kola shook his head. “I’m picking my wife this weekend.

Even if I wasn’t, I won’t come. I’m done with that life.”

Kelvin glared at him despitefully. Kola wasn’t moved. He

didn’t care about Kelvin’s connections anymore. Back in his
office, his heart was pained at Bimbo’s state. He wished he
had listened to Kelvin a year after he started the illicit affair
with Bimbo.

‘Don’t stay too attached to this girl.” Kelvin had warned. “Try
other babes Kola. Girls are funny creatures. If you give them
all your attention, they’ll suddenly feel entitled to you. That
can be dangerous. Be careful.

He had not listened. He wasn’t comfortable sleeping with

different girls every weekend. Every time Kelvin and his
colleagues met at the hotel, he insisted on keeping Bimbo.
Apart from the lady in his compound that brought her
seductive body to his door, he had stuck with Bimbo.

God, please help me.

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15
Fifteen

Lola stood before the mirror in a sleeveless lilac sequin dress.

She smiled at her reflection as Kola’s words poured into her
mind.

You are a beautiful woman with a compassionate heart. It’s

how you love deeply without restraint. I wouldn’t have asked
for a better wife.

Do I want you to lose weight? If that will keep you longer with
me and cut down health complications so we can grow older
and see our great grandchildren, of course. I think I’m more
concerned about us staying fit. I’ll be registering at a gym, if
you want to come, we could do it together. No pressure, dear.
.

Let’s go for a walk. I want to show our neighbors on this street

what a stunning woman I married.

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Every day I want you to look in the mirror and say, I am

beautiful.

Lola blinked back tears and returned her gaze to the mirror.
“Lola, you are beautiful. You need to exercise and stay fit but
it doesn’t define who you are. I love you.”

Kola entered the room and gasped as his wife turned to face
him. For a moment, he was speechless. Desire shot through
his body.

“You like what you see?” Lola said, smiling. “Say something
jare.”

Kola wrapped his hands around her waist and planted a kiss
on her lips. “Can we just get this cloth off and get on the bed?”

Lola laughed, pulling him away. “No way. It’s our date night.
I can’t ruin this makeup that took me hours to finish.”

He kept his hands on her waist and glanced long at her. “You
look breathtaking.”

“Thank you. Oya, get dressed.” She replied, pulling his hand
away.

Kola threw on a white t-shirt over a pair of blue jeans as he

narrated how his day went. He thanked her for helping with the
slides. His presentation went very well and they commented
on the design and organization of my work. “In my mind, I’m
like, you should meet my wife. She is bodily endowed, very

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creative, has an ethereal voice, and is a seasoned cook. Oh my

God!”

They stepped out of the bedroom together with Nene’s eyes

lit at the sight of Lola.

“Wow.” Nene exclaimed.

“Mummy, you look stunning.” Hannah said in her baby

voice. “I want to go with you.”

When Hannah made a fuss, Kola went down on all fours.

“Pim-pim. Who wants a ride to ShopRite?”

Hannah’s eyes brightened at the mention of Shoprite. “I want

a ride!”

She jumped on his back and he crawled round the living room,
making sounds of an engine revving up. Hannah squealed in
excitement; her hand wrapped around her father’s neck.

“Daddy, when we get to ShopRite, what will you buy for

me?” She asked.

Kola didn’t answer her instead, he moved faster as Hannah

held him tightly, giggling. Lola quietly went to the car. Kola
pulled her off his back and asked what she wanted him to buy
for her.

Hannah hesitated. “Cheese ball and chocolate!”

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“I will buy them for you okay? Be a good girl.”

He gave his daughter a quick kiss on her cheek and rushed

out of the house.

Kola had booked a reservation in a restaurant nestled in a

quiet part of Ibadan, far away from home. The entrance to
the restaurant was framed with a pair of shiny timber doors,
giving it a rustic feel. Inside, Lola was greeted with the rich
aroma of jollof rice and seafood that made her taste buds
dance in anticipation. They choose a cozy corner table by the
window with a perfect view of the restaurant’s fountain. This
was a perfect night, the best she had ever experienced.

The waiters went to work with their orders. Chicken pepper

soup, peppered snails, jollof rice, salad grilled chicken breast.
Kola poured grape wine into the cups.

“Cheers to a marriage built on the rock. We are an unshakable

couple.” Kola said, holding up his cup.

Lola didn’t have the words. She swallowed hard. The

reconnection between them felt as natural as breathing but
there was an unfinished conversation roaming in her head
that had to be sorted out.

She dug into her meal, stealing glances at her husband as he

savored every bite, his head shaking in exquisite delight. He
was definitely in high spirits. She knew it was the wrong time
to bring up the conversation but her appetite was clearing

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away and she wanted to stop the turmoil in her head.

“Why did you sleep with her?”

Kola was clearly taken aback by the question. He wiped his

grease off his hands on a napkin.

“What did she have that I don’t have?”

Kola let out a deep breath. “Sweetheart, I was drawn away by

my own lust. I was just an idiot. Listen, I have told Bimbo that
I don’t ever want to have anything to do with her. She came to
my office and I walked out on her. I want to be your husband
and lover again. Believe me please.”

Lola blinked twice. “Who is Bimbo? I’m talking of the lady

who lived downstairs. The corper I caught you with on our
matrimonial bed.”

Kola covered his face. Jesus, please help me. “Oh...”

“So, there are others.”

Kola leaned forward and took her hand. “Just Bimbo.”

She snatched her away, clearly hurt. “How am I supposed to

believe that? How do you expect me to trust you Kola? All
those times you returned late from work, was she the one you
were with?”

Kola sighed. Jesus why are you quiet. Help me out. “Yes. I

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stopped after Benjamin’s death.”

“While I was almost driving myself insane, crying because

you wouldn’t touch me, you were with another woman. I was
depressed, Kola. I thought I would die. I wanted you to hold
me, to tell me you love me. I wanted you!”

His eyes were filled with a mixture of regret and hope “I’m
sorry. Things have changed now.”

Lola was losing a grasp on her emotions. “I knew you were

sleeping around. I told Tosin but she said I was just making an
assumption. I was right all along. I figured that if you weren’t
getting sex from me, you would be getting it from someone
else. She is slim right? Let me guess, her waist is thin, her hips
are in exact proportion to her size. She is stunning with a very
attractive face.”

Kola reached out to her again. She pulled away. “You are
more beautiful to me.”

“Lies! I will not be deceived by your lies!” Lola shouted, her

voice carrying a thunderous weight.

“Baby, please.”

“I loved you with every breath of my being. Yet you turned

around to despise me.”

“I love you.”

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Lola took the plate of rice and salad and threw it at Kola. She
scattered everything on the table. The bottle of wine crashed
and shattered to the floor. The glass cups followed. The
waitresses were now running to the scene. Lola walked out
of the restaurant without looking back at the mess she had
created.

“Excuse me sir.” A tall man approached the table. The

waitresses quickly returned to their duty post at the sight of
the man. Kola stood up, wiping his sweat with a serviette.

“Please can I see the manager of this place?” Kola asked the
man who now stood in front of him.

“I am the manager.”

‘I’m so sorry about this. Please, I’ll pay whatever it costs to

replace what you lost.” Kola’s hands trembled as he pulled
out his ATM card from his wallet.

“Come over to my office and let’s sort this out.” The manager
said. Kola stepped aside for the cleaners who were already
clearing the mess.

Bills settled, Kola walked out of the restaurant, embarrassed.

He had to call Dr. Taiwo as soon as possible. Lola’s appointment
with the psychiatrist wasn’t due until the following week.

Panic jarred Kola’s heart as he searched around for her. What

if she had disappeared like the other time.

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He heard someone sniff behind him and turned. There she

was standing with her hands folded.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I spoiled our date. I’m
sorry.”

He pulled her into his arms. “It’s okay, baby.”

“Do you still love me?” She asked, pulling away enough to
glance into his eyes.

“I’m not going anywhere Lola. We will be fine. I’m sorry I

hurt you deeply but God is working on me and you can see
the proof. I’m not perfect but my heart is opened to the Lord.
I love you very much. Will you forgive me for cheating on
you?”

Lola held his chest and wept, “I forgive you.”

Tears welled up in Kola’s eyes, “Thank you.”

He opened the door to the passenger’s side, “Let’s go home.”

When Kola would glance at his wife culled up in her seat,

she had slept off. He whispered a fresh commitment to God.
He pleaded with the Lord for strength. His home would be a
representation of Christ’s commitment to the church.

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Ife Grace Alamu. Sixteen

16

It was the beginning of a new year. In the hotel room Modupe

booked for five days, she cried, laughed, prayed and danced
till there was no strength in her body.

Since her return from Osogbo after attending David’s

wedding, she had become vulnerable with God, seeking for
healing from hurts that ran deep in her heart. Every month,
she spent a few nights in Bethel Hotel, a Christian resort
center, journaling and having intimate conversations with
God. At first, nothing seemed to change. She’d leave the hotel
upset and frustrated with shame and pain from rejections
clinging to her.

Modupe decided to stop visiting the hotel. What use were the
silent days when the pain still ran deep? Her sister, Eniola,
encouraged her to keep showing up at the resort. Healing is a
journey, she said.

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Modupe agreed and stayed with the affirmations Eniola

crafted for her. She meditated on the scriptures on God’s
love and read pages from the books Kola recommended.
Gradually, she began to experience changes. Her heart was
drawn to seek God more and she looked forward to the days
at Bethel Hotel.

This month at the hotel was different. She’d never felt closer
to God than she did in those five days at the hotel. Her
journal was full of words about her future, God’s promises
felt tangible like the tambourine in her hands. Her hopes and
fears were allayed, the weight of her pain and shame lifted
and her heart swelled with a sense of satisfaction.

She glanced at the bible translations scattered on her bed.

On her laptop screen was a folder containing audio sermons
she had collected from Kola. She reached for a bible verse
scribbled on her notepad and muttered it slowly.

Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed

on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Modupe let out a deep sigh. How could she have chased
shadows all these years? She saw God’s hand of deliverance
in her life. Through the painful experiences, God had pulled
her out of dangerous places and aligned her to his will. In
that moment, she closed her eyes and whispered a word
of gratitude to God for the indescribable joy that coursed
through her body.

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God, I just want to stay in your will, she said quietly. Even if
I don’t ever get married, you are enough.

On her way to the hotel’s restaurant that evening, Modupe

stopped at the counter to pay for another night. She longed to
spend more time praying and resting before work resumed
for the year.

As Modupe handed her debit card to the receptionist,

someone called her name. She looked behind her but didn’t
see anyone she recognized and then her gaze fell on a young
man standing beside her. He bowed slightly.

His face was familiar. Where had she met him?

“You can’t recognize me? Is that how quickly you forget

people you meet?” He said, teasing her.

Modupe searched her memory but couldn’t evoke any that

had a semblance to him. She sighed in frustration. “I know
I’ve seen your face somewhere. I just can’t place where. You
attended Unilorin?”

He shook his head. “University of Benin.”

“So where did we meet? You called me by my name.

Obviously, we’ve met before.”

The man let out a quiet smile. “It’s great meeting you again.”

Modupe turned her attention to the receptionist who pushed

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a POS machine towards her and was requesting for her pin.
Modupe punched her pin into the machine and waited for her
receipt.

“I’m heading for the restaurant.” The man said. He had been
waiting patiently beside her.

“Same here.” Modupe replied.

Together, they walked into the restaurant. The waitress led

them to the only empty table left. Something about him stirred
up a desire she wanted buried, especially when he glanced at
her.

Affliction shall not rise again. Amen!

Modupe ordered bread and fried eggs. He settled for yam

and fish sauce.

She leaned forward. “Please, how did we meet? I’m really

curious.”

He reclined on his seat and smiled at Modupe who shivered

under his intense gaze.

“Does the name Muyiwa ring a bell in your head?”

Modupe gave it a thought. Muyiwa? She could not recall

meeting anyone with that name.

“I’m sorry. I’m really poor at remembering names.”

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Modupe’s heart quickened. Why was her body reacting this

way? She had just met this man and he could be the son of the
devil.

“I was in a car with you headed for Osogbo. You said you
were going for an event there.”

Recognition settled on Modupe’s face. “Oh my God! I

remember.”

He was the guy whose notepad she had peered into during
the journey to Osogbo. She still remembered him writing
about an instruction to wait for his spouse. Had he found her?

“So good to see you again.” Modupe said.

“What are you doing here?” Muyiwa asked.

Modupe hesitated. “I’m trying to get my life in order and

alson to get ready for the new year. I’m spending some time
with the Lord.”

“That’s really nice. Did you find your answers?”

The waiter arrived with their order. He placed the trays

in front of them and poured hot water into their teacups.
Modupe waited until he left.

“I did!” Modupe said, excitedly. “I feel refreshed and

energized. God told me some of the things he’ll have me do
this year. I’m really happy I came. So, what are you doing

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here?”

Muyiwa did not respond immediately. He skillfully placed

some of the scrambled eggs on a piece of yam before putting
it in his mouth.

Modupe almost chuckled at the carefulness with which he

handled his meal. He didn’t speak until he finished chewing
the yam and slowly sipped his tea. He placed his fork carefully
at the center of the ceramic plate and picked a napkin to wipe
the side of his mouth.

“What!” Modupe muttered under her breath. All that process

for one small piece of yam? She wondered how many hours
it’ll take for him to dress up on a Sunday morning. Her smile
disappeared when he raised his head.

“I was asking what you were doing here.”

He stirred his tea. “This is a routine for me every year. Since I

got into the university about seven years ago, I spend the first
week of the year alone with God.”

Modupe’s eyes widened. “Wow. You’ve been born-again for

that long?”

He smiled. “I got saved in JSS 2. Thankfully, I had a great

mentor who has watched over my life since that time.”

For an hour they talked about their personal lives. Muyiwa’s

parents and siblings had died in a motor accident when he

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was writing his final exams in secondary school. He had

immediately moved into his mentor’s home who became a
father to him. From his mentor’s house, he had gone on to the
university to study medicine.

Modupe talked about her family. She was the third of four
children. She had two sisters and a brother. Her dad had died
of a heart attack. She talked openly about her past relationship,
surprising herself when she mentioned the names of the men
who had walked out of her life without a fight.

Why was she opening her life to a man she barely knew? The
spark in his eyes encouraged her to talk more.

“Remember the day we first met in that car? I was on my way

to see my ex. I wanted badly to mend our differences. I didn’t
realize I was actually attending his wedding ceremony.”

Muyiwa’s eyes softened. “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear this.”

Modupe changed the topic. She was already feeling upset at

sharing deep information with Muyiwa. What was wrong
with her? She thought she had experienced complete healing
in her soul. Why the self-pity parties? Still, she was curious
about this man sitting across from her.

“I can imagine those wonderful sisters flocking around you.

I’m sure you are in a relationship. Fine spiritual dudes like
you don’t stay in the market for too long.” Modupe said,
regretting the words as soon as they came out of her mouth.

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Modupe, haven’t you learnt your lesson! She screamed in her

thoughts. If Muyiwa was in a relationship or not, what was
her business. Why did she have to put the words that way?
Now, Muyiwa would think she was interested in him.

Muyiwa sipped his tea. “I’ve never been in a relationship

before.”

“I don’t believe that.”

He chuckled. “I told you I met Christ early in my life. It’s not

like I wasn’t smitten with any of the ladies that crossed my
path but God kept saying ‘No,’ so, I waited.”

“Wow,” Modupe mouthed.

They finished their meal in silence. Modupe stood up.

“I really enjoyed talking with you and it’s great meeting you
again,” she said quickly, eager to return to her room.

Muyiwa rose. He was looking at her with so much warmth.

She felt awkward and tried to distract herself. Her gaze
landed on his head. She noticed his baldness fitted his oval
face. He was the first man she would see with a bald head
who wasn’t short in stature. Her eyes met his and she knew
she must leave.

“Can I have your number?” Muyiwa asked.

They exchanged numbers and Modupe left. When she opened

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the exit door and glanced one last time at Muyiwa, he was
sitting with his hands folded, staring at her.

Modupe broke down in tears as soon as she got back to her

room.

God, I messed up again. Please strengthen my heart. You are

the strength of my life Lord, help me.

Rest in the Lord. Be still and know that I am God.

She wiped her tears as those words settled in her heart like
beautiful, calming waves crawling gently to shore. She
convinced herself that Muyiwa was not an option. Didn’t
Muyiwa say he was rounding up with his internship at UCH?
He hasn’t even gone for service yet. She rounded up her
service year as a youth corps member six years ago.

She sat, cross-legged on the edge of the bed. “If he entered the
university at 18, add seven years, Muyiwa would be 25. She
was 29. Four years difference between them. How could she
marry someone four years younger than her?

Why was she thinking about marriage? Has the guy said he
wanted her? Wasn’t this how she jumped into conclusion
when in 300 level, she thought the president of her campus
fellowship was interested in her?

She drew her ear. ‘Mo, learn from your mistakes. A fool at 29
is almost a fool forever.”

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Still agitated, she knelt down. “In the name of Jesus, I come
against every imagination and desire from the pit of hell.
I bring every thought under the obedience of Christ. My
emotions are stable in the name of Jesus.”

The feelings for Muyiwa grew intense, leaving Modupe close

to despair.

One Saturday morning. Modupe sat on the floor, frustrated.

“What’s going on, Lord?”

Every good gift and every perfect gift come from above, with
whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

She covered her ears with her hands. “This is not God
speaking. This is my flesh. Afflictions will not rise again in
my life in Jesus name!”

Modupe called Kola. He’d know what to say about this. How
many times had he helped her find her way?

She sat on the bed and leaned against the wall. “Hello Kola.”

“Mo, it’s been a while. How are you?”

She ignored his question and went straight to the point.

“Kola, can you marry someone who is older than you? Like
four years older?”

Kola hesitated. “Mo, I’m married.”

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“Hypothetically speaking.”

“Sure. If God is involved, why not.”

Modupe noticed that his voice sounded low. The Kola she
knew would have prodded her about the guy and how she
had met him. “Are you okay? You don’t sound like yourself.”

“I’m okay.”

“I don’t believe you. What’s going on?”

Kola sighed. “My wife just kicked me out of my house. I’m

going to settle some scores.”

Modupe climbed down from the bed and put on her sandals.
“Don’t make a move. Where exactly are you now?”

I’m just around my street. I will beat somebody blue black

today.”

Modupe threw her purse into the bag. “Stay right there. I’m
on my way.”

Since the incident at the restaurant, Lola had been full of life.
When Lola and Kola attended her mother’s birthday ceremony
last month, they seemed perfect. What could have happened
again? Modupe thought as she raced out of the house.

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17
Seventeen

Kola stood beside an ‘aboki’ who sold watermelon, waiting for

Modupe. When she alighted from her car, Kola’s jaw was set
and his face contorted in anger. He looked ready to explode.

Modupe was filled with compassion for him. “What

happened?”

Kola didn’t look at her. “Everything was fine this morning

when I left with Hannah and Nene. Kiddies Mart organized a
game party for kids in celebration of the new year. Lola said
she didn’t feel like going anywhere. She urged us to go have
fun and that she’d prepare something delicious before we
returned.

Mo, I left the house a happy husband. Lola and I even had
a pillow fight this morning. I returned home with all the
goodies and entered the room to find my wife hysterical. She

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was holding my second phone and screaming at the top of

her voice.”

“The Infinix?” Modupe asked.

Kola nodded. “I only took my I-phone to the children’s party.

Bimbo called my line and obviously when she discovered it
was my wife she was talking to, said all sorts of things. She
told my wife that I still slept around and that I had made a
bet with some guys to sleep with 30 women in exchange for a
huge sum of money.”

Modupe let out a deep sigh. “Why is she doing this? I thought
you blocked her line.”

“The fool has her ways. I’m bringing that to an end today.”

Modupe shot a glance at Kola. With his chest heaving and fist
clenched, Modupe knew he would do something he’d regret.

Kola finally brought his eyes to meet hers. “Can I drive?”

She wanted to say, ‘Why not’ but felt a restraint in her spirit.
“Until you tell me where we are going. I can’t put you behind
the wheels of this car, not with the way you look right now.”

Kola clasped his hands together. “Please Modupe, I’m begging

you.”

“Where are we going?”

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Kola let out a deep breath, “Bimbo’s house.”

Modupe sighed, “I don’t think it’s the right thing to do.”

Kola flared up. “What do you know about doing the right
thing? This woman is choking the life out of me and you are
here talking nonsense. I need to set her straight. I told her it’s
over, what part of that can’t she understand? She knew I was
married before we started this. It’s not like I lied to her.”

Kola’s voice drew startled glances from passersby. Modupe

had never seen this side of her friend.

“Kola, you have to calm down. You can’t think properly like
this.”

“Are you going to allow me drive or should I find another

means to my destination?”

“You might just be walking into a trap.”

Kola opened the door of Modupe’s car, Modupe stopped him.

“Kola, wait.”

“If you are my friend, you will give me the keys now.”

A scripture flashed at Modupe’s heart. “Human anger does

not produce the righteousness God desires.”

Kola stared at her, the muscles in his face jerking. It was the
same scripture God gave him that morning. The scripture

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had come again while he watched his daughter work on the

paper-bag skit. Has God been trying to warn him?

Kola leaned against Modupe’s car. He took a deep breath and

tried to calm himself.

“I am tired Mo. I have carried out every test Lola placed

before me. I have tried to prove that I want to make this right.
I wish Lola could trust me a little bit. Just when I feel there’s
progress, I’m back at square zero.”

Modupe gently touched his shoulders, her mind drifting back

to the first time she met Kola at the hospital. She had been
sitting with Lola, pouring out her heartbreak over David’s
decision to end things. Then Kola appeared at the door, and
Lola had screamed. Back then, Modupe hadn’t felt an ounce
of pity for him. But now, seeing him like this, her heart ahed
for the man who had become a dear friend.

“Let’s take a drive around town.” Kola suggested.

Victoria Orenze ‘Brooding’ flowed from the car stereo, filling

the atmosphere with a quiet intensity. Kola bowed his head,
praying in the spirit. Modupe joined in, her voice low and
steady as she turned off one expressway and merged onto
another.

Kola’s phone rang. He jumped with a start. Disappointment

flooded his face when he saw it was not Lola.

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While Kola answered the call, Mo parked in front of a

supermarket and purchased a can of chilled malt for Kola.

He thanked Modupe and took a deep gulp. “Eben called. He

is waiting for us at his house.”

Modupe smiled and started the engine. “That’s a better

option.”

Kola let out a heavy sigh, as Modupe started the car again and
eased back onto the expressway. “Thank you, Mo. I’d have
done something stupid today.”

Modupe giggled, glad that Kola was more relaxed now. “God
is working.”

“I believe that too. Reminds me of James 1 verse 4. Make sure

that your endurance carries you all the way without failing,
so that ye may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Modupe winked at him, “Someone is already encouraging

himself in the Lord.”

Kola laughed. “Let’s talk about you. Who is this brother you
were talking about? Is he the one we’ve been waiting for?”

Modupe shook her head. “No way. I can’t marry someone

like Muyiwa.”

“Hmmm.” Kola smiled and said nothing more.

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Eben was standing in front of the gate when Modupe and

Kola got to the house.

“She is here.” Eben announced.

Kola paused. “Who?”

“Your wife. She drove down here a couple of minutes ago.”

Hannah ran out of the house excitedly with Eben’s children.

They sped toward the back of the building, squealing in
delight.

Lola roused when her husband entered, her heart pounding.

God, help me. Please, save me from my fear. Lord, help me to

trust him again. I can’t help myself sometimes.

Kola stood in front of her, his thumb caressing her face. “I’m
sorry that I caused you so much pain. Everything Bimbo said
were lies. Please take these baby steps with me towards the
restoration of our marriage. I’m not asking you to trust me
absolutely yet. I have to earn that. Just give me a chance. God
is teaching me how to love and I’m relying heavily on him.
Please, Lola.”

Lola rested her head on his shoulders, tears streaming down

her face. Tosin emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of
Hollandia Yoghurt. Modupe followed behind balancing a
bowl of puff-puff and a stack of cups.

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Lola raised her head. “I called her after you left. I told her to
stay away from you or else I’ll have her arrested.”

Kola’s eyes widened. “You did that?” He gave Modupe a

quick glance. Modupe winked at him. Kola brushed his hands
slightly over Lola’s braided hair and pulled her into his arms.

Tosin cleared her throat and asked for their attention. “I have
an announcement.” She said, smiling. “I have decided to
resign from my 9-5 and take my catering business full time.”

A wave of excitement rippled through the room.

“I’ll need some help.” She turned to Lola. “You are one of
the most creative people I know. What do you think about
helping me brainstorm and shape the vision? For now, I can
afford a stipend.”

Lola pulled her friend into a warm hug. “Finally, you are
taking the bold step. I’m so happy for you, Tosin. There was
a time I was worried about you turning down all those pastry
orders because of your day job.”

Tosin grinned. “I feel so relieved. I can finally focus on what

I truly love doing.”

Lola glanced at her husband and instantly saw the quiet

approval in his eyes. A part of her wrestled with the fear that
she had failed in life, but another part stirred with excitement
at the promise of a fresh start. She stood still, her mind already

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buzzing with ideas.

Kola pulled his wife into a gentle embrace. “You’re going to

do great.” He said with a smile. “Remember how you helped
my cousin with her baby clothing business? You’ve got this
in you, girl.”

Lola felt another wall collapse as she leaned on him, the tears
welling their way up again. This man was different from the
man she married six years ago.

When Eben requested that they pray that evening, her

thoughts roamed to the night she saw him praying in the
living room and went to him.

She had kissed his neck and urged him to make love to her.

He had hesitated because the last time he cuddled her, she

had slapped his arms away. Now, His body rose with desire
for her. She could see the fire in his eyes. She pulled him to
his feet.

“Are you sure?’ He asked, searching her eyes. She knew he’d
rather control his desires than hurt her.

She planted a kiss on his lips and then felt him melt into her
arms. He managed to find his way to the bedroom with his
heart pounding fast.

When it was over, Lola lay beside him, staring at the ceiling.
He gave a deep long croaky laugh, like a man who had just

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been served his favourite meal. He caressed her cheeks,

gazing into her eyes. “I love your body.” Another wall had
crashed that night.

The Kola she knew would never hold her close after making
love to her. By now, he would have fallen asleep, snoring,
leaving her feeling used. There were days she cried herself to
sleep, wishing he’d just hold her close and speak words into
her ears.

God, what did you do to this man?

She directed her mind back to Eben’s living room.

God thank you for the gift of friendship.

She knew she had healed faster because of the love showered
on her. Eben. Eniola. Tosin. Modupe.

God, why do you love me this much?

Moisture blurred her vision before tears finally slipped free.

She gripped her husband’s hand tightly. Gently, he slipped
his hand free and wrapped his arm around her shoulders,
pulling her close.

“Sing for us Lola,” Kola whispered.

Lola looked at her husband, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m just… overwhelmed. I don’t know if I can.”

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Kola tucked a strand of braid behind her ear. “Silence

everything that says you can’t.”

A song popped into her heart. She fought it.

“There is a song playing in your head already. Sing it.” Kola

said, encouraging her.

She hesitated at first and then cleared her voice.

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me

The bible tells me so.

Eben stopped leading the prayer and smiled at Lola. Tosin

joined in quietly.

A deep laughter emerged from Lola’s stomach. Something

she couldn’t explain was happening to her. Her head became
light. She rose to her feet, her face glowed with excitement as
she increased the tempo of her voice.

Modupe’s hand flew to her mouth. “Jesus, her voice is out of

this world!” She extended her arm with wide eyes. “Look!
Goosebumps everywhere.”

“You’ve not seen anything yet.” Kola said, laughing.

Lola moved her body from side to side, singing.

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Lola had no idea the impact she was having on Modupe.

Modupe struggled to stay composed, her heart pounding
with emotion. When Lola lifted her voice to sing Morgan
Harper’s ‘Storyteller’ she couldn’t hold it in any longer. She
broke down completely.

She buried her face in her hands. How could a song stir many
emotions, making her body tremble like this? When her search
for love had ended in disappointment, God had revealed a
love that satisfies. How it now consumed her.

Lola sank to the floor beside her and wrapped her in a hug.
Together they rocked from side to side, singing through their
tears.

A scripture flashed in Kola’s mind. He leaned back, lost in

thoughts, turning the words over in his head.

Help Lord, for the godly man ceases to be. For the faithful
disappear among the sons of men.

Why was God bringing this scripture to him? Was he not

showing enough love to his wife?

Kola, you have a mission. Restore the knowledge of my love

to husbands. Teach young men the value of women I have
placed in their care. The harvest is ripe. My sons must be
trained to draw from my love. The well of my love is full.
Scarcely are men drawing from it. Bring them to it.

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Lord, but I am just a man. I am far from perfect in this, Kola

responded silently, consumed with dread for the enormous
responsibility the Lord was playing on him.

Learn from me. Drink from my cistern and you’ll find out the
God kind of love. It is deep. It is far beyond human knowledge.

The children burst into the house, laughter trailing behind

them. Sayo, Tosin’s daughter, led the way, panting heavily
along with the others, their faces flushed and tired from play.

“Mummy, we are hungry.” Sayo said to her mother. Tosin

led the pack to the kitchen. Hannah squealed in excitement
at the sight of her father and ran into his arms. Kola scooped
her onto his laps.

“Oh, my daddy, I am very tired.”

Kola kissed her cheeks wondering if the image of his wife

pushing him out of the house had left her memory. His
heart had torn apart when his daughter had wailed at their
confrontation.

A voice called Hannah’s name from the kitchen. She quickly

slid off her father’s lap and dashed towards the kitchen. Tosin
returned to the living room after serving the children their
food. From the children’s room, the happy chaos of chattering
spoons and noisy chatter filled the air.

Modupe’s phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and pushed

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the phone aside.

Kola gave her a side grin. “Mo, pick your call.”

Modupe hissed and shook her head. “It’s that brother I told
you about.”

Lola looked at her, curious. “Which brother?”

“Stop doing shakara for these our brothers. Sis Mo, it’s not
good nah.” Kola said, and gave her a quick wink.

Lola pulled Modupe’s hand playfully. “I like love gist. Oya,

if you will not pick his call, at least you will tell us how you
met.”

Kola clicked his index fingers and thumb multiple times,

“Oya, start talking.”

Modupe laughed out loud. All eyes were fixed on her. She
looked at their serious faces again and it made her laugh all
the more.

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Ife Grace Alamu. Eighteen

18

As Modupe finished recounting to her eager audience how

she met Muyiwa, a deep longing settled in her chest.

Why did simply talking about him stir up so much emotion?

“Why are you fighting this, Mo? You need to see the glow on
your face right now.” Lola said.

“What rule says you have to marry a man older than you?
Mo, that’s not the determinant of a happy home. A man can
be five years older than you are and yet be a baby at heart.”
Kola added.

Eben smiled at his wife who was resting her arms on the back
of the sofa. Modupe wondered what was funny.

“I can relate.” Tosin started. “I had the same fear before I

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married Eben.”

Modupe’s eyes widened. “You did?”

Eben cleared his throat. “My wife is three years older than I
am.”

Modupe shook her head “No way! I can’t believe this.” She
looked from Eben to Tosin. “No one will even know.”

Tosin chuckled. “I hardly remember too. I just know I am

married to a wonderful man and I’ll forever be glad to submit
to him.”

Eben covered his face. “I’m shy.”

Kola laughed. “Imagine, I didn’t know too and we’ve been

family friends for how many years now.”

Modupe’s phone rang again. Lola and Modupe both glanced

at the phone screen at the same time.

Lola laughed. “This brother means business.”

Modupe stood up, annoyed. “What is this now? Haba! He

wants to finish me with calls. Age apart, this is not how things
are done. Do you know how many times he has called me
today?”

“Answer your call jare and be nice to the brother.” Kola said,
grinning.

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Modupe frowned as she answered the call, “Hi.”

“Modupe, how are you today?” Muyiwa asked

Modupe sighed in irritation. “I’m fine.”

“Where are you now?”

For goodness sake, what’s your business? Modupe almost

blurted out.

“I’m hanging out with some friends.”

‘Oh, that’s cool. I just thought to check up on you.”

Modupe rolled her eyes. “Thank you.”

Silence.

“Muyiwa, can we talk later? I’m busy at the moment.”

“Okay. I look forward to seeing you soon.”

“Thank you. Bye.”

“I’ll talk to you later.”

Lola tickled her playfully. “You like this guy. Don’t deny it.”

“Lola, I don’t know why I am so scared.”

She squeezed her shoulders. “You are going to be fine. God’s

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got you.”

The men were already engrossed in a discussion about the

football match from the previous night. The super eagles
had been sent home from the games and Kola attributed the
defeat to the incompetence of the coach. What kind of players
are Nigeria raising? Kola argued. If things were working in
the country, it would reflect on the field. Eben was optimistic.
Nigeria would once again win the cup. As they talked back
and forth, Tosin came out of the kitchen with a large piece
of chocolate cake. The layers were a work of art, alternating
between velvet and green shades.

“Who’s ready for a feast?”

She placed the cake on the table in the living room. Everybody
jumped at it except Lola.

She looked uncomfortable, her eyes filled with fear.

Eben took a small piece and threw it into his mouth. Kola and
Modupe joined him, followed suit, chewing slowly.

“Oh my God, this is so delicious!’ Modupe exclaimed. She

savored every bite with her eyes closed, the richness and
sweetness enveloping her taste buds. With the fork in one
hand, she plunged in for another bite.

Kola saw his wife sitting aside, watching them. He took a

piece to her.

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“Open your mouth. You can’t miss out on this delicacy.”

She looked into her husband’s eyes and his words.

You are fat like this and you are still eating
cake! How much more shapeless do you want
to be? Don’t let me ever see cake in this house!
This is not the Lola I married!

Lola shook her head. “Babe, I need to get back in shape. You
can’t wrap your hands around my waist, remember?”

They all stopped eating and stared at Lola.

Kola knelt in front of her and held her hands. “I remember

saying those words and I regret them.” He said, softly. “I
wish I could take them back but I can’t.” He tipped her chin
up, his eyes locking with hers. “I’m so blessed to be married
to you. I mean it”

A single tear slipped down Lola’s cheek. Kola reached out

and wiped it away with his palm.

“Open your mouth.” Kola repeated.

Tears gathered in Kola’s eyes. He cringed at the memories

from his past treatment of his wife. How did I become this
cruel?

I hurt this woman, God. I feel it so deep inside my heart. I hurt

her. I don’t even deserve her forgiveness. God, I hurt her.

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Kola slid the piece into her mouth.

“This is really good.” Lola licked her lips as a sense of

satisfaction washed over her. Kola pulled his wife into a
warm embrace.

Everyone talked between mouthfuls. Suddenly, they heard a

loud cry. Tosin’s daughter, Sayo, was fuming in front of the
entrance to the children’s room.

“What is it?” Tosin asked, her voice laced with concern.

“You’re eating cake and you didn’t call me.” She wailed.

Modupe chuckled. “Is that why you are crying like that?”

Tosin shot her a sharp look.. “My friend, will you get back
into your room? How many times have I warned you about
this behaviour? You pulled the same stunt the last time we
had guests.”

Sayo stamped her foot. “I want cake!”

Tosin stood, clearly reaching her limit. Modupe tried to stop

her. “Let her have a piece.”

Eben disagreed and stood up. “You don’t raise a child that
way. Let me handle this. I’ll be right back.

When Sayo saw her father walking towards her, she ran into
the room.

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****************

Muyiwa’s frequent calls were pissing Modupe off. What

exactly did he want from her?

“Mo, relax.” Ada said, one evening as they watched a movie in

Ada’s room. “Stop closing your heart against him. This might
be the guy we’ve been waiting for. The few times I’ve spoken
to him, he seems to me like he knows what he’s doing.”

“Then he should tell me what he wants! If it continues, I might

just block his contact.”

“You know you can’t block his contact for too long. Can you
even stay without talking to him in a day?”

Modupe sighed. “I know, right? That’s why I’m so scared. I’m

already getting very comfortable with him and I don’t like it.”

Modupe’s phone rang. She tossed the phone aside. “This guy
should give me some space. He has called me twice today.”

“I think you should ask him what he wants.” Ada suggested.

Muyiwa called again. “Hello Mo.”

“On a serious note, what do you want from me?” Modupe

barked.

Silence.

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Modupe waited and when she was about to rant some more,
he finally responded.

“Mo, can we see so I can pour out my heart to you?”

If she agreed to his request, her anger would melt at his

presence and she wouldn’t have the strength to fire back at
whatever he had to tell her.

“Spill.”

“Please, Mo. It’s not something we can talk about over the
phone. Let’s meet tomorrow evening at the hotel restaurant
where we had breakfast together.”

“Why that restaurant?”

“Mo, Please.”

‘Fine’

“5p.m then?”

“Great.”

Muyiwa was already seated at the restaurant when she

arrived. How time flies, Modupe thought. Five months had
passed by, so quickly?

She paused at the entrance briefly, watching him for a moment.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the

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sweat beading on his forehead. Why was he nervous? The

moment their eyes met, she walked briskly towards the table.

He stood up. “It’s so good to see you again.”

Modupe sat down. She placed her hand on the table and
waited for him to say something. He was so uncomfortable
that she pitied him.

“Can we order something?” She asked,

Muyiwa rang for the waiter. When the waiter came, Muyiwa
ordered Yam and fish sauce.

Mo chuckled. This was deja vu, right? He had ordered yam

and fish sauce in January. She decided to play along. She
ordered bread and egg.

He seemed more relaxed and she was happy.

“What’s on your mind?” Muyiwa asked.

Modupe shrugged. “I should be asking you that. You won’t

let my phone rest.”

Muyiwa shifted in his seat. “Mo,’ He stopped. “You remember

the first time we met? As you mounted the bike at the garage
in Osogbo, I sensed a connection between us. I felt so bad
that I’d forgotten to exchange numbers with you. And then
we met at the hotel again.” he paused. “In the short time I’ve
come to know you, I’m convinced you are the right person for

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me. I want us to take this beyond friendship.”

Mo’s heart pounded as she stared at him. Did Muyiwa just

say she was the right person for him? How was she supposed
to respond to this?

Yes, she loved his passion for God. It was contagious. There
were days they had talked for hours but she had put a stop to
the long calls when her feelings for him skyrocketed.

Is spirituality all that mattered? Muyiwa had no relationship

experience and sometimes she found him boring.

“Can I ask you a personal question?”

Their orders arrived. Modupe chuckled again when she saw

it was the same person who had served them the first time
they had eaten at the restaurant.

“Sure.” Muyiwa said.

“How old are you?”

“I’ll be 28 next week.” Muyiwa responded.

Two years difference. That was still something. Wasn’t it?

“Muyiwa, I’ll be 30 in June. That’s just a month away.”

Muyiwa shrugged. “Does it matter?”

Modupe stared at her meal and couldn’t bring herself to touch

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the bread. “Muyiwa, I’m still afraid of stepping into another

relationship. I’m not sure I’m ready for one.”

When she raised her head, she was shocked to see that
Muyiwa was already digging into his meal, the nervousness
gone. What kind of man is this?

“Can we just stop talking for now and eat?”

His face was so peaceful that it annoyed Modupe. Why would

he be at rest when her own confusion had just begun?

“I’ll need some time and space to think about this.”

“That’s fine. I’ll give you all the time you need. I’m sorry if
I’ve been a bit clingy.”

“It’s okay.” Modupe said, realizing she wanted to stay longer

with him.

Muyiwa kept to his word. He didn’t call or send a text.

Modupe became disturbed. She woke up every morning to
check her call history and WhatsApp chats, hoping he’ll leave
a message for her. Every night, she stayed on his Facebook
page, reading his posts and gazing at his pictures.

A week passed and no calls from Muyiwa. It was the little

things she missed the most- his chuckles, the teasing remarks
that made her throw unnecessary fits, his baritone voice. She
felt like dying. In those silent moments, she found herself
reaching for her phone, her fingers hovering over his number.

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If he didn’t call, why would she? The last thing she wanted
was for him to think she was desperate. That was in her past.

The camel’s back broke when she turned 30. There was no call
or text from him. She had pictures on her WhatsApp status on
the morning of her birthday. He viewed all the pictures and
still not a word from him.

Fear gripped her heart. What if he had already abandoned her

like David did?

Weren’t men all the same? If he really loved her, he’d call her!
Didn’t he even miss her?

Ada stood at the entrance of her room, laughing. She was

dressed in a simple long gown, a small travelling box in one
hand.

Modupe shot her an angry look. “What’s funny?”

“You better call him and accept his request before you
faint.” Ada entered the room. “I’m leaving for Lagos. My
appointment at the US embassy is scheduled for tomorrow. I
want to hear good news by the time I return.”

“Do you really think Muyiwa is serious about what he said?”

‘Yes, I think so. My heart is at peace with him. Take a step of

faith, Mo.”

Modupe sighed. One part of her believed this but somewhere

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fear gnawed at her heart. What if after releasing her heart to

him, he leaves like the others?

She turned on the TV but nothing interested her. Muyiwa

filled her thoughts and with it came a strong desire to see him.

Her phone rang. Modupe jumped with a start, her heart

pounding as she ran to get her phone from the room.

Eniola.

Disappointed, she sat on the bed. “Sister mi.”

“Mo, can you come to Lagos this weekend?”

Modupe hesitated. “Is anything the matter?”

“I’m in Lagos right now with one of my lawyer friends. She

runs an NGO for women battered by domestic violence. We
need to get Olamide out of that house.”

Olamide keh? Didn’t her mother say Martins came pleading

to have his wife back and promised never to hit her again?

“What happened to her?”

‘When you come, I’ll tell you.”

The evening before her trip to Lagos, Modupe slept over at

her mother’s place. She informed her mother about Eniola’s
plan of getting Olamide out of the house.

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“Did she tell you exactly why she wants Olamide out of that
house?”

“If Eniola is in Lagos because of this, then something serious

must have happened to Olamide.”

Modupe’s mother didn’t seem happy with the news. “I hope

Eniola is not trying to destroy Olamide’s marriage. Martins
told me he’ll never touch her again.”

Modupe stared at her mother in disbelief. “Is this the first

time he’ll be doing this? Mum, I can’t believe you are talking
like this. Your daughter’s life is at stake here.”

She raised her hand. “I have heard you. Before you call me
a bad mother. If there was something serious, Eniola would
have told you. In fact, why didn’t she call me?”

Modupe was irritated. “I’m going to bed.”

Before Modupe slept that night, she brought out her phone
and scrolled through Muyiwa’s pictures on his Instagram
page.

Why was she missing him so much?

Fuming, she deleted every single one of his pictures from her
phone. If he didn’t want anything to do with her, that’s fine.
She didn’t need him or any man in her life. Was marriage
really a necessity? She’d focus on her career and build a
fulfilling life on her own.

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Muyiwa’s face stayed glued to her mind. She closed her eyes
and tried to sleep but she was back at the restaurant, sitting
across from Muyiwa, and she was hearing him say those
words again.

…I believe you are the right woman for me…

Oh Lord, you know I am very weak. You know how easily

I’m moved by words. Help me Lord. Help my heart. Help me
stay calm so I don’t make a wrong decision.

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19

On Saturday morning, Eniola picked up her sister at the bus

terminal. Modupe quickly realized the situation was more
serious than she’d expected when a police van followed them
closely as they sped towards Victoria Island.

In the car with Eniola was a lady dressed in a navy-blue suit.

The man behind the wheels wore a similar outfit. His dark
shades gave him a more intimidating edge.

“Mo, meet my friend, Deola. The lady I told you about.”

Modupe thought Deola wore a pretty smile that masked her

no-nonsense grit.

“It’s good to finally meet you, Mo.”’ Deola said curtly, and
focused her attention on the road.

Modupe looked at her sister, “Is the situation that bad?”

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“We don’t know yet. The only information I have right now is
that the monster has been sleeping with his daughters.”

Modupe let out a cry. “What!”

“I wish I had been around earlier. My husband was away for

a conference and I had to wait until he returned yesterday
morning. I flew into Lagos last night.”

Eniola continued.“I don’t even know what’s going on right

now. Cynthia called me again last night with her mother’s
phone. She was crying and begging me to help them.”

Anger rose in Modupe’s heart. Martins had been sleeping

with his two daughters? Who for goodness sake brought a
beast into this world? She had heard of a father sleeping with
a daughter but not two. What was this? Why did her sister
stay in that kind of marriage?

“I want that man behind bars.” Eniola said, staring out of the
window. “You don’t let men like that roam the street. The
lives of our girls are not safe with him around.”

Modupe folded her hands, shivering. “I remember some

years back when I was in the hospital with Olamide. She told
me how she had gotten into a fight with a friend. She’d left
her daughter in Olamide’s house for a couple of days. Her
friend’s daughter said Martins had touched her thighs and
she had kicked his legs before running to the nanny’s room
at the back of the building. She refused to return to the main

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building until her mother came to get her. When the girl
narrated what happened, the woman went berserk. They
stopped speaking after that day.”

Deola hissed. “This looks like a pedophilia case.”

“I agree.” Eniola responded.

“When Olamide confronted her husband about what her

friend said, he almost beat her to death. It made me scared of
getting married.” Modupe said.

Deola turned to Modupe. “There are good men out there.

Your sister and I are blessed to have such men in our lives.”

The car stopped in front of a gigantic black gate. When Deola

knocked, a man in a well ironed blue uniform opened the
gate.

“Good morning Ladies and Gent, what can I do for you?” For
a security guard, his accent was rather polished.

“We want to see Olamide.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry but my boss specifically

instructed me not to let anyone in.”

His eyes caught two armed soldiers standing behind Eniola.

When the man in suit moved towards the door, he noticed
a gun tucked by the side of his trousers. He stepped aside
quickly and they all filed into the house.

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“Is your Boss in?” Deola asked the security officer.

“No, he left early this morning.”

Cynthia was sitting at the entrance of the building.

Immediately, she saw Eniola, she sprang to her feet and ran
towards her. She led the team into the mansion flanked by
neatly mowed lawns.

Modupe looked around. Nothing had changed. The house

was still intimidatingly huge. They climbed the stairs that led
to a larger section of the house.

Cynthia opened the door to a large room, beautifully

furnished. Olamide was sprawled on the floor, unconscious.
Her twin boys were crouched down beside her, crying.

“Jesus!” Modupe exclaimed. The man who had driven the car
began to take pictures. Deola instructed the uniformed men to
comb every area of the house. There was no sign of Martins.

“We’ll find him.” Deola said as they carried Olamide into the
car. “Right now, we need to get her to the hospital.”

“Where is Susan?” Eniola asked, looking around for Olamide’s

second daughter.’

Another search commenced. Susan was found on the floor

of the visitor’s restroom. She was crying and couldn’t walk
properly. Modupe’s heart broke for the child.

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“Oh God, she is just seven years old. God, why didn’t you
prevent this?” Modupe carried the girl on her shoulder. The
nanny was nowhere to be found.

At the hospital, Modupe watched Deola pace the reception

while she made calls. Later she went in with the doctor and
returned to the reception to make some more calls.

“Your friend is a blessing.” Modupe said to her sister.

“She really is. I remember when she wanted to kick off the
NGO, she looked at me and said, ‘Eniola, you just keep
helping ladies find God and connect them to their purpose.
Keep leading them towards healthy relationships. I’ll be here
rescuing those already stuck in hell.”

The following weekend, the squad- Eben, Kola, Lola, Harry,

Tochi and Modupe gathered in Eben’s house to pray for
Olamide’s recovery.

After three days of being unconscious, Olamide finally opened

her eyes. To everyone’s relief, she responded to treatment
quicker than the doctor had predicted.

Kola and the rest took turns praying with her until she was
discharged from the hospital.

Modupe’s mother was in tears when Olamide arrived in

Ibadan. She cupped her daughter’s face in her hands.

“Lamide, forgive me. You deserve a good life. I’d rather have

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you here than gone. You are never going back there, never!”

She tapped her thighs and closed her eyes. “Martins, God
will punish you. You will rot in hell. For what you did to my
daughter, your death will be painful. Maggot will come out
of your nose, mouth and stomach. Vultures will feed on your
dead body.”

“Mummy!” Modupe yelled.

“Leave me alone o.” Her mother retorted before pulling

Eniola close. “Eniola, God bless you.”

Eniola held her close. “I love you mum.”

“How long will you be staying with us before leaving for

Abuja.” Modupe’s mother asked.

“A month.” Eniola responded. “It’s summer break for the

kids and I’m on leave. My husband is in Portugal and won’t
be back until next month.”

“What about my grandchildren? I have missed them so

much.” Her mother asked.

“A close friend will bring them to Ibadan tomorrow.”

“Thank you for everything.” Olamide said to Eniola.

Eniola pulled her into a warm embrace. “God still has a great
plan for your life. But right now, we need you to eat and rest

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well.”

When Olamide left the living room with her mother, Modupe
noticed Susan lying quietly on the sofa. Her siblings had
quickly settled in and were playing in the compound.

Modupe folded her hand. “I’m worried about Susan.”

Eniola sighed. “She will be fine. We’ll keep praying for her.
Besides, Taiwo will be here this evening with a child therapist.”

“I pray they find Martins.”

“He has been apprehended.”

Modupe eyes widened. “Really?”

“Deola called to inform me this morning. Don’t tell Olamide

yet. We need to get her stabilized first. That guy messed with
her mind. Imagine Olamide saying what Martins did to her
was out of love.”

Modupe sighed. “Marriage. It’s worth it right?”

Eniola glanced at her sister. “That reminds me. There is

something I want to talk to you about. After dinner.”

Modupe quickly devoured her beans and plantain and rushed

to Eniola’s room. She couldn’t wait to hear what Eniola had to
say to her.

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Since Muyiwa came on the scene, Modupe had kept mute

about her feelings for him. She was afraid Eniola would
consider her unserious since she was aware of all her past
relationships.

Has God revealed something about Muyiwa to her sister?

Maybe this conversation would put an end to the feelings
she still harboured, for a man who claimed to care yet, hadn’t
remembered her birthday.

“Has someone been showing interest in you lately?

Modupe’s heart skipped a bit. What kind of woman was this?

How did she know things about people without being told?

“You mean, a guy wants to get into a relationship with me?”

“Mo, stop using a question to answer my question. There is

a brother that has been coming consistently to your heart,
right? I’m seeing a man in a white lab coat with a stethoscope
around his neck.”

Modupe covered her mouth. Her eyes were teary. “I can’t

believe this. Eniola, how do you know these things? My God!”
She sat back on the bed. “What did God say?”

Eniola was silent for a while. “God says he has already told
you what to do. You should stop delaying the instruction he
is prompting in your heart. I don’t know what the instruction
is, but you know. He says, trust and obey.”

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“Can I say something?”

“Go ahead.” Eniola said.

“How did you become so confident and spiritually alert like

this? Sometimes when I think about you, I wonder if your
relationship with God is somewhat special. It’s like you have
a private access to God that some of us don’t have. Your walk
with God is so palpable. I can almost touch it.”

Eniola laughed. “Let me ask you this. Look at the woman you
are now and the woman you were when mum first organized
that prayer meeting with that man of God-”

“Oh no, we are different.” Modupe said aloud. “We are so far
apart. Sometimes I am filled with regrets at the things I did.
My walk with God is better, I must confess. I’m not the same
woman at all.”

“What do you think brought about the change?”

Modupe pondered on the question for a while. “I think I was

frustrated with my life and you modeled the person I longed
to become. You know, a prayer giant, lover of the word and
with solid convictions. Then I became intentional about my
devotional life which you helped me with. I started to read
the bible more and spend more time fellowshipping with
the Lord. As time went on, it became easier to discern God’s
voice. I was so thrilled when I picked the signal that Lola was
in trouble. I just became addicted with spending time with

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God.”

“And as you spent more time with God?”

Modupe hesitated. “I became hungrier to know God more. I

was also not moved by some of the things that usually got me
agitated. Ada noticed the changes too.”

Eniola smiled. “Becoming the kind of woman God desires is

a journey. Palm trees do not become giants in a single day. It
may look like your growth is slow but remember, roots that
go very deep take some time. I don’t have a special package
in God’s family plan. What you see are years of consistency in
devotion and consecration to the Lord. Surrendering to God’s
moldering process has made me who I am.” She paused.
“Keep going Mo. In a few years from now, with the pursuit
for God in place, you will be so transformed that some other
persons will begin to wish the same for themselves. Just know
that I am a call away if you have questions.”

Modupe pulled her sister into a hug. “Thank you so much.

I’m so privileged to be mentored by you.”

Someone opened the gate and stepped into the compound.

Eniola went to the window.

“Taiwo is here.”

She touched Modupe lightly on her shoulder and left the

room.

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Modupe put her hand on her head. She knew what Eniola
was talking about. She knew what God wanted her to do. She
had struggled with it since she got back from Lagos.

Call Muyiwa. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Don’t lean
on your own understanding. Let go of your fears.

“Oh God!”

Call Muyiwa.

She sat on the floor, battling the fearful thought that consumed
her. “God, I’m scared. What if it doesn’t work out? What if he
leaves like the others?”

There is no fear in love. For fear brings torment. Trust me.

She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling.

Remember how Damola left you for your friend

Emmanuel screamed at you and said he
was tired of you, after all you did for him.
Chika just withdrew and stopped picking your calls.
You attended David’s wedding ceremony.
Didn’t you almost break down?
Muyiwa will do the same to you. Men are all the same. You’ll
never find a man that truly loves you.

Modupe closed her eyes. “I bring every thought to the

obedience of Christ in the name of Jesus.”

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Ife Grace Alamu.

The negative thoughts stopped and then they started running

through her mind again.

She sat up and began to attack the thoughts with scriptures.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation, why should I be

afraid?”

“I am led by the Spirit of God. I walk in the light as He is in

the light.”

“ I have set the Lord always before me because he is at my

right hand, I shall never be moved.”

“I will bless the Lord, who has given me counsel. The Lord
is my portion. The Lord instructs and guides me in the way I
should go. The Lord guards what belongs to me and releases
it to me in due season.”

She prayed for a while until her mind became calm.

In the quietness of her heart, she knew what she must do.

She dialed Muyiwa’s number. Her heart raced when he

answered the phone.

“Modupe.”

Modupe closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding fast. Oh,
how she’d missed him. “Muyiwa. Can we talk tomorrow?
Maybe in the afternoon. We can meet at that restaurant.”

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“I don’t know how possible that will be. The national youth
service posting is out. Katsina calls. I’ll be flying to Abuja
from Lagos tomorrow by 1p.m. Mo, I have to leave Ibadan as
early as possible to beat Lagos traffic.”

Mo looked at the time. It was almost 10p.m. “Can I see you at

the park before you leave?”

Modupe arrived at the park at seven the following morning.

The way he held a steady gaze made her pulse jump. She
looked away but when he didn’t say anything, she returned
her gaze to him.

“It’s so good to see you again.” Modupe said, her voice shaky.

Standing in front of him, she knew Muyiwa was the man she
wanted to be with. She would not be ruled by fear anymore.
She would take this step of faith and keep her heart opened
to God.

“Were you already thinking of seeing someone else?” Modupe

asked, curious

Muyiwa laughed. “In this realm that I belong to, we don’t

do things anyhow. I’ve been praying about this and God has
been saying, wait. That’s what I’ve been doing.”

“I want to walk this journey with you Muyiwa. My answer is

Yes.”

Muyiwa let out a deep sigh. “Thank you.”

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Modupe was irritated by his reaction.There wasn’t a hint of

excitement. She had expected him to at least hug her, cheer or
show some sign that her response meant something to him.

Listen, Modupe. This man does not wear his emotions on his
sleeves. He is bursting with joy inside. He just finds it difficult
expressing it as you would. On this journey, you’ll both learn
how to handle your emotional responses to issues.

“Yes Lord.” Modupe muttered to the voice of the Holy Spirit.

This was indeed the beginning of a journey. There was still

so much she didn’t know about this man. She was willing to
learn. But now that he was going to be away for a year, how
would they cope?

As if sensing her fear, he held her hand. “I’ll only be away

for a year. We must talk everyday no matter how busy our
schedules are.”

The driver asked the passengers to get into the car. It was time
to leave.

“I’ll call you when I get to Lagos and Abuja and at every stop
I make. After camp, I should be back in Ibadan for a while
before resuming at my P.P.A.”

He squeezed her hand. “I love you.”

Heat flooded Modupe’s face. Was she really in a relationship

or was this a dream?

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The driver started the car and sped out of the motor park.
Modupe stood there waving, staring until the car disappeared
out of sight. If only she had given a response earlier, they
would have spent more time together.

Modupe laughed as she got into her car. “Wow! I’m really in
a relationship.”

She couldn’t wait to tell Lola and the other members of the
family. She placed her head on the steering.

“God, I believe you led me into this. I don’t know the future
but I trust you are holding my hands. The path of the just is
like the first gleam of dawn. It shines brighter until the perfect
day.”

Her phone rang. She jolted out of her prayers. She smiled
when she saw who it was.

“Are you in Lagos already?”

Muyiwa chuckled. “Can’t I call my sweetheart anytime I

want?”

Modupe laughed. “Of course, you can.”

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20

Tosin’s catering shop was located opposite the second gate

of the University of Ibadan. The bungalow was simple. A
renovated building painted pink and white.

The opening turned out to be a great success. The hall,

although small, was adorned with draperies of silk and the
air filled with the comfortable aroma of fresh pastries. On a
long table lined with chequered table cloths held an array of
tempting treats. Lola led a song that threw everyone into a
dancing mood. There was so much laughter and food. Tears
welled up in Modupe’s eyes when she saw Susan dancing
with Dr Taiwo.

The little girl stopped and turned to her mother who had
tears pouring down her face. They were tears of joy. Susan
was gradually healing from the abuse by her father.

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“Mummy, come and dance with me.”

Olamide wiped her tears and joined her daughter at the center
of the room. She held her daughter’s waist and danced to the
beat of, ‘Morire morire mo r’anu gba.’

The other kids were crowded around the table that held
different pastries.

At a corner, Sayo sat with a large chunk of cake, licking icing

sugar off her fingers. She was oblivious to whatever was
going on around her.

Modupe kept glancing from her wristwatch to the gate.

Muyiwa was supposed to be there by now. He’d returned
from orientation camp the previous night and had promised
he wouldn’t miss the ceremony. The anticipation of seeing
him made it hard for her to enjoy the celebration.

When Muyiwa finally walked in, Modupe sighed in relief.

Her heart raced when she went over to hug him.

“My man is back. I’ve missed you!” Modupe called out over
the speaker.

Muyiwa grinned. “I missed you too.”

Seeing how her body against his made him tremble, he pulled
away slowly and held her hand as they walked to join the
others.

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“I’m sorry I’m late. My mentor didn’t release me until a few

minutes ago.” He said in Modupe’s ears.

“It’s okay. You are here now.”

Lola had just put a piece of croissant in her mouth when she
saw the lovebirds walking towards them. She tapped her
husband.

“Muyiwa is here.”

Kola turned. Eben and Tosin were already talking with him.
He went over to greet him.

“This must be Doctor Muyiwa.” Eniola said, joining the men

Kola shook Muyiwa’s hand. “We’ve been waiting for you!’

“You should taste this coconut lime cake. It’s heavenly. Come
over.” Eniola led him towards the long table where a crowd
of people were trying different recipes.

Modupe watched Muyiwa mingle with the people who had

become so important to her. What more could she ask from
life?

Lola stood beside Modupe and held her hand. Modupe

noticed she looked trim. Her face glowed and her eyes had
this beautiful sparkle especially when she blinked.

“You’ve really lost weight.”

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Lola smiled. “When you have peace of mind, trust me, your
body will get back in shape. I exercise though. Kola insists
we do it together. I figured I wanted so badly to spend my
old age with him and if that would happen, some of the fatty
tissues had to go.”

Modupe rested her hand on Lola’s shoulders. “They say,

family is everything.”

Lola let out a breath. “I think love is everything.”

“Love is everything.” Modupe repeated.

Lola folded her hands. “Show me a couple that exudes the

depth of God’s love and right there is a marriage that’ll beat
every storm and break down every wall.”

Modupe pat Lola playfully on her back. “Girl, let’s go have

some more fun.”

Even after Tosin gave a vote of thanks, the party wasn’t really
over. Laughter and small talks rose like a symphony, hearts
connecting in love and a deep sense of gratitude. As Modupe
leaned closer to Muyiwa, she was again re-assured that God
was truly a master builder, weaving every experience of his
dear children into His ultimate plan.

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