Excerpts from the Christian novel LOVE ON THE PULPIT will be posted throughout this month of May!
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LOVE ON THE PULPIT – a novel
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
(Day 13)
Should he bring the issue up to break the silence? Dave wondered. Teni was definitely different today. Why was she snobbish on the phone?
As he prepared to talk, a lady came out of the kitchen with a plate of food in her hand. She came straight to them, greeted Dave and sat beside Teni, engaging her in a conversation.
Disappointed, Dave concentrated on his food. When he finished, he straightened up. “I’d like to be going.” He abruptly announced, not too happy with the lady that intruded.
“Oh! Okay.” Teni got up too. “Please excuse me.” She told the other lady.
Dave dipped a hand in his pocket and brought his call card out. “This is my card.”
Teni received it and opened her purse. She dropped Dave’s card inside and brought hers out. “This is mine.”
“Alright,” Dave said as he took the card from her. He looked at it before saying, “I’ll give you a call soon.”
“Fine, I’ll expect your call.” She told him as she saw him out.
Dave bid Maryam and Jimmy farewell and Teni saw him off to his car, telling herself it was for courtesy’s sake. The car was a red coloured Espero.
Dave entered the sleek car and told her, “Expect my call.”
“I will. It’s nice meeting you.” She waved at him as he reversed the car and left.
As Teni walked back to the house, she brought his card out and checked – Dave O Coker, Eyrie Nigeria Limited. She recognised it as a big manufacturing company. The card was silent about his post but Teni was sure he was a senior officer.
As Dave drove off, he was full of thoughts about his chance encounter with Teni. She behaved differently today. She was full of smiles and laughter like she was the two times he saw her at the fellowship. Her smile seemed friendly and genuine.
And she actually saw him off! There was a way she smiled at him, he thought with a smile. He actually felt a current flowing between them. He would call her again, God was probably involved after all.
He brought her call card out and looked at it again. She worked at Pink Royals, an Estate Management firm on the Island. He liked the way she took the Praise and Worship. She didn’t just sing, she ministered. Another thing he noticed was that when she served him food, she made him feel at home. She seemed domesticated.
But didn’t she say she had someone in her life? Dave breathed in and held it, releasing it slowly. Probably it was because of Maryam that she was nice to him, and that hurt. He probably should not bother to call her as he would not want to be turned down again.
As Teni drove toward her house an hour later, she couldn’t help thinking about the man she met at Maryam’s place. Who would have thought she could meet a man at a naming ceremony of all places? Such a man as Dave! He was confident, handsome, well dressed even though it was casual and above all, a good Christian. And she liked his easy laughter. Dave O. Coker – she repeated the name in her heart.
From all indications, he must be a minister in his church, going by Maryam and her husband’s agreement that he should conduct the naming and also, the way he handled it. He knew what to do, as if he had been doing such all of his life. She hoped he would call soon as he promised.
And she hoped he was not engaged. Teni shook her head, giving herself a mental shake. Why should that come to her mind? God, let Your will be done.
She began to hum a song as she sped on.
The following day at about three in the afternoon, the black telephone in the living room shrilled and Teni picked it. “Hello?”
“Is that Teni?”
Olamide’s voice but it also sounded so much like Dave’s. “Yes. Is that er – Olamide?” Teni asked carefully, her heart pounding as she held the receiver to her left ear.
“Yes.”
Her heart sank.
“How have you been?” He asked.
“I’m fine.” She stopped.
She sounded dull, not at all like she did yesterday at Maryam’s place when they met, Dave thought. Could it be his imagination?
“I called yesterday evening.” He said.
“Yes, I was told.” Teni didn’t bother to waste words.
Yes, he was right but what could have happened? She had seemed very friendly yesterday.
“I asked your brother to tell you to call me, if you could. I was expecting your call.” He pressed on.
“I didn’t think it was necessary.”
“To call me?” Dave asked in disbelief.
“Well, I told you the other time that I’m not interested … I mean I’m busy … I mean, I told you there’s someone.” This time around, she didn’t mean Jesus, she meant Dave.
(To be continued.)
In this novel, you will realise the importance of being led by the Spirit of God.
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