THE FOREVER KIND OF LOVE – a novel (32)
by : Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
Cont’d
“I don’t have any particular plan but … why don’t we have dinner together that day, after your lunch with your family?” Dayo suggested. “It’s on a Sunday, you know.” He would like to get to know her better.
“Dinner?” She said and tilted her head to a side in a thoughtful way. Was he asking her out on a date or just being friendly? Should she accept the invitation and go out with him, someone she met only on Monday? She wondered.
She liked him and would like to have dinner with him but … of what benefit would it be? Even though from all indications he was a Christian and seemed to be very nice, she should be careful so as not to get hurt at the end of the day, she warned herself. She had experienced enough hurt and pain to last a lifetime.
But … she’d been praying about whom to marry for some time. She had never been in a relationship and she was looking forward to falling in love and being loved by a godly man. Was Dayo showing an interest in her? Could God be involved? What would God want her to do?
As she thought of what to say and her eyes bounced around, she noticed his hands on the steering wheel. They looked clean, strong, and uncompromising.
“Yes.” She heard him say, and she knew he was waiting for her response.
“Er,” she began and then stopped, not very sure of what to say. And her racing heart wasn’t helping matters.
But she didn’t think she should so easily and quickly accept to have dinner with someone she had just met, although their birthday was still about three months away.
She started again, looking away from him as she gave an excuse. “Er, I … don’t go out with people I don’t know very well.” She smiled to soften the impact of her words. “I hope you understand.”
He returned the smile. “I do and I’d like to change that.”
Her eyes returned to him. “Change what?”
“The fact that you don’t know me very well.”
She smiled again.
Before she could respond, he spoke again. “It’s just dinner and it’s still about a couple of months away.”
“I know.”
“Maybe I should point out the fact that I’m a single man. I don’t have a wife and children at home.”
His smile, words, and the sparkle in his eyes told her he was interested in her. She might be wrong though, she thought.
She laughed. “I know, er -”
Sensing a ‘but’ coming, he asked, “So, what’s the problem? What are you afraid of?”
She shifted in her seat so she could look at him well. “Afraid? … Of what? You?” She thought about it as she studied him for a moment. Then she said, “I’m not afraid. If anything awkward should happen, it’s just a matter of calling Pastor Femi or his wife.”
He chuckled and said, “You’re safe with me, Mercy. You won’t have any reason to call anyone, I can assure you. I’ve been working with Pastor Femi for over two years. You met my mother this evening. You know I have two sisters and I’m the only male. What else is important?”
He thought about his question and added, “You know I’m a Christian and you know where I worship. Will it help if I add that Pastor Dave and his wife know me very well?”
She chuckled.
“And that I’ve read the Bible through twice?” He said with a laugh.
She laughed. He was funny and she was enjoying herself as they talked.
He smiled and spoke again. “The dinner is just to celebrate our birthday. It will also make you know me better.”
She chuckled. She would have to think about it later so as not to make a wrong decision. “Alright. I’ll let you know what’s going to happen, okay?”
He didn’t want to push her so he let it go and changed the subject.
They continued chatting and she found herself laughing at almost everything he said.
Mercy got down and entered the compound. One of the tenants was there, cleaning his car and they greeted.
She opened the gate and Dayo drove his car inside, parking on a side. After closing the gate, she came to the car and carried her handbag and the other bag.
Dayo got down and stood beside her.
Mercy put the bags on the bonnet of the car and as she brought the shirts out, Dayo noticed her pink-painted manicured nails.
Stella’s youngest brother came downstairs and when he saw Mercy and Dayo, he greeted them.
“Where are you going?” Mercy asked.
“I want to open the gate for my sister.” He said.
“Oh, okay.”
The gate was opened and Stella drove in.
Mercy called out to her in greeting and she waved. She parked the car, got down, and came over.
“Hi.” She greeted Dayo with her right hand stretched out.
He took it in his, smiled broadly and introduced himself, “Hi. My name is Dayo Wellington.”
“I’m Stella.” She responded. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you too.” Dayo replied.
Mercy asked her, “Are you just coming from work?”
“Yes.” Stella said tiredly.
“I’ll see you when I’m through.” Mercy told her.
“Alright.” Stella said before waving at Dayo.
He waved back, said goodnight, and she left.
Dayo and Mercy returned to the business at hand.
Mercy realised that their standing side by side, talking and laughing was doing something funny to her senses, giving her ideas about marriage. She had to force herself to concentrate on what she was doing.
(To be continued )
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