WITH THIS RING
( A novel by Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi )
Cont’d – 16
Leaving the room, Grace went through the reception and left the office. She stood on a side by the staircase, with her back to the stairs so she could talk freely. People walked past.
“Hello.” She spoke into the phone.
“Yes, I’m here.” Albert responded.
Sighing she said, “I don’t know. I’m just feeling upset.”
“I know. Don’t let it upset you so much though. It happens all the time. If you had handled yourself, you would not have gotten pregnant.”
“And if you had handled yourself, I would not have become pregnant.”
“I can’t recall holding a gun to your head.”
“Oh, just shut up.”
“We were both trying to have a good time, not a family.”
“You’re so annoying, Albert.” Well, she had only herself to blame.
He laughed. “Relax Grace, everything is under control. I’ve done my part, it remains for you to do your part.”
“I’m just wondering … is abortion the only option?”
“It is.” He answered. “Look Grace, it’s just some tissues at this time. It’s not yet a baby.”
“Albert, it is a baby.” She corrected him. “What you call tissues is the beginning of life; that is how you and I came to being.”
“Look Grace,” He said, dismissing her theory. “What we should be talking about now is where you will go to have it done. Should I arrange for you to see one of my friends who is a doctor?”
“One of your friends?”
“Yes. That’s if you want.”
She snorted. “I don’t want one of your friends.”
“Why not?”
“One of your friends? I don’t want an inexperienced young person who might perforate my womb.”
“I beg your pardon? My friend might be young but he is qualified and experienced.”
“Like you would say, I don’t give a flip if he is qualified and experienced, he is still young.”
He laughed. “Well, it’s just a suggestion. It doesn’t have to be him. Do you have a particular clinic in mind?”
She asked him, “When would you like to get married?”
“Marriage?” He was obviously surprised at the change of subject.
“I’m wondering aloud.” She pointed out.
“That is not relevant.”
“I think it is. I’m carrying your baby and we are thinking of what we should do – have an abortion or what?”
“We have decided on what you should do.” He said clearly raising his voice on the ‘you’.
She was about to respond when she heard a movement from behind her. Someone was near her. As she looked back, she heard Richard’s voice, “Grace.”
Richard Lawal was the senior partner in Lawal & Adesola.
Surprised to see him, she said, “Oh, good afternoon sir.” She hoped he hadn’t heard her conversation with Albert.
“How are you?” Richard asked. The tall and dark-complexioned man was in his thirties.
“I’m fine.”
“I hope I didn’t startle you. I wanted you to look at someone but the person has left.” Richard explained then walked away.
“Look Albert, I’ll talk to you later.” Grace quickly told him.
“When are you getting it done?” He wanted to know.
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“Not maybe. It has to be tomorrow, alright?” He told her firmly. “Tomorrow is Wednesday.”
“I know.”
“I’ll talk to you later then.”
“Okay. Bye.” Grace said and ended the call.
Back inside, she saw the man who had been waiting at the reception entering Richard’s office. She went to hers. About twenty minutes after, she could hear Richard’s voice at the reception as he said goodbye to the man.
She took the file on her table and headed for Richard’s office. She told his secretary that she’d like to see him and she was waved in. Knocking briefly, she opened the door.
Richard was talking on his cell phone. Grace wanted to go back but he beckoned to her.
She entered and sat down. While she waited for him, her eyes took in the things on his shiny table. A file tray, a big Bible, a box of tissue, a monitor, a telephone box, and a framed photo of him and his wife were among the things on the table.
Her gaze shifted to the right where a printer and fax machine stood on a stand that had two shelves for papers. Beside the stand was a wooden cabinet with six pullout drawers, vintage handles and built in label holders. Built-in bookcases, protected by glass doors filled with many books, most of them on law and neatly arranged in alphabetical order, were on the left side of the room. She glanced at the cream-painted walls where his framed law degrees and a painting that was three feet long and twelve inches high hung.
She returned her gaze to Richard. She knew that the black suit he wore was expensive because it was of high quality.
When Richard was through on the phone, she gave him the file in her hand and briefed him about the case she went to court for.
“Well, let the man know that from now on, he should not to talk to anyone. All questions should be directed to us.” He advised.
They discussed more details of the lawsuit.
When they finished, she took the file back and got up.
“Er, Grace,”
“Yes sir.” She answered and looked at him.
“Just a minute please.”
She waited to hear him.
“Sit down.”
She did.
“I don’t want to pretend that I didn’t hear a little about your conversation on the phone when I was coming in.”
Oh my God!
“Well, aside being your boss, you know that I’m a pastor and I’m married. You have met my wife, Tammy. You also know that in this office, we all relate like a family. And you … you are like a sister to Bayo and me.”
As he talked, he looked straight at her. “I’d like you to talk to me about what’s going on in your life right now.”
Grace looked away.
“You can trust me, Grace … you can talk to me.”
When she didn’t talk, he asked, “Are you pregnant?”
She didn’t talk still.
“Grace?”
She pressed her lips together and looked down at the file in her hands on her laps.
“I heard a little about your conversation. I just want to know what’s going on so I can help you … counsel you, pray with you.” He explained then asked again, “You are pregnant, right?”
She finally nodded, still looking at the file.
“You are a Christian. What do you think God will want you to do?”
She didn’t talk.
“I need you to answer. I’m trying to help you find the best way out.” He said, with eyes filled with compassion. “What do you think God would want you to do? Do you think He would want you to terminate it?”
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
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https://m.okadabooks.com/search?term=Taiwo+Iredele+Odubiyi+
Website: www.pastortaiwoodubiyi.org
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