With This Ring
( A novel by Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi )
Cont’d – 9
Grace knew she was beautiful and doing well in her career but that was more than she could say about her love life. Most of her friends were going steady while two were already married. Her very close friends, Ayoade and Jennifer were also attached and Jennifer would be getting married in July. But here she was, without a man she could call her own. If she wasn’t careful, she might end up unmarried like her mother. Whenever the possibility of being a spinster for life crossed her mind, she felt concerned.
When she was in her second year in University, she liked one of the young men in her fellowship but he liked another girl. In her final year, she met another young man who was a good Christian, the type her mother would approve of but it didn’t work out. He kept complaining about her and they eventually stopped seeing each other. Toward the end of that same year, she met another man who was a Christian with a good job. He wanted sex and when she refused, he ended the relationship.
And now, Albert had invited her to dinner. Well, she was willing to see how things would go.
She ignored the voice in her head and went out with him. As they chatted over dinner, it was obvious to Grace that Albert was not a committed Christian and didn’t know much about God but when he asked to see her again the next day, she agreed, telling herself she could help him grow spiritually. He was very nice with a good sense of humour. She also liked the way he looked at her. It was as though he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
That was how she began to see him. She wasn’t sure if she could say she loved him but she liked him a lot.
He kept inviting her to his rented two bedroom apartment but she didn’t go until after a month. That day, he was a perfect gentleman. She brought her Bible out and shared some scriptures with him before they prayed for a few minutes. Afterward, they watched a movie.
The second time she visited him, he told her clearly to make her Bible-sharing brief as he had other things in mind.
“What other things?”
He told her his opinion about premarital sex: he didn’t think it was wrong and he would expect it in their relationship.
“As Christians, we shouldn’t do it.” She pointed out.
He shrugged. “Well, I’m not going to argue with you about it, after all your mother is a pastor. My own mother is not, and hey, this is me! This is what I want. I’m a man.”
“This is what you want? I wonder what your pastor would say if he heard that you wanted sex. Or your editor whom I was told is a Christian.”
“My editor? Who gives a flip? It’s no one’s business.” He said and stopped. He added, “The choice is yours.”
He had declared his intention.
When he kissed her, sparks of desire ignited in her, and she eagerly responded to her surprise. She had never experienced the feelings that ran through her body. That day, she was able to put him off but with great difficulty.
When she was leaving, she invited him to her house. That would be better and keep them safe, she reasoned.
On her way home, she wondered at the things that happened in Albert’s apartment. While she worried about the feelings she experienced in his arms, feelings she had never felt before, she also worried that she could lose him like she lost the last man she was in a relationship with if she didn’t do something. And she didn’t think she wanted that to happen. She really liked Albert.
A week after, he called her. “Hey, I need to see you. You’ve been on my mind all day.”
“Albert, things went a little out of control the last time I came to your house, and … er … I’m not sure I want it to happen again.”
“I really like you, Grace. I thought you liked me too. And I haven’t done anything. I told you what I want in this relationship, didn’t I? Don’t you want to see me anymore?”
Against good judgment, she went to his house again, and without openly discussing it, both of them knew what might happen. Well, she was in her safe period, she thought.
As she surrendered to the domination of his lips and gave in to her desire, she quickly told herself that she would ask God for forgiveness afterward and make sure it did not happen again.
She did ask God for forgiveness but it happened again when she went back to his house the next day. And again, she asked God for forgiveness …
… Now she was pregnant.
When she didn’t see her period, she was shocked. How could she be pregnant? Wasn’t she in her safe period – she wondered with a table calendar in her hand. Her cycle was probably delayed and would correct itself. The following day had brought no relief. When a week after, the situation was still the same, Grace was in full panic.
(to be continued)
This story is from the novel – With This Ring by Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
To purchase this novel and others by the same author, contact +234-8023000773
To read online, visit:
https://m.okadabooks.com/search?term=Taiwo+Iredele+Odubiyi+
Website: www.pastortaiwoodubiyi.org
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