WITH THIS RING – a novel – will be posted all through this month
By: Pastor Taiwo Iredele Odubiyi
Read and be blessed.
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(Day 14)
Grace eventually decided to keep the pregnancy. She knew it would not be easy and there would be a lot of challenges on the road but she decided she would walk it. Knowing she had made the right decision, she felt some peace in her heart. Now all she needed to do was pray and make plans. She would have to find a way to inform her mother.
She would also have to inform her friends, Jennifer and Ayoade. Ayoade lived in Lagos but Jennifer lived in Benin. She would try and go to Ayoade’s house on Saturday.
Grace and Jennifer became friends in High School. Jennifer was the Assistant School Prefect while Grace was the class captain. Jennifer was a strong Christian and a good influence on Grace. Grace met Ayoade in Law School and through Grace, Ayoade became Jennifer’s friend.
While still thinking, she slept off.
Albert was in the office which was on the first floor of the newspaper’s three-storey building, and had just finished writing his report of the book fair he attended in the morning. He read through for the last time. It was okay. With a few clicks on the computer on his table, he sent it to his editor.
Then he took his cell phone and dialled Grace’s cell phone number. It was still switched off. This was his third time of trying her number within twenty minutes.
He glanced at his watch. The time was now five. He wondered why Grace switched off her phone. Had she gone to do what they discussed? If yes, was she okay? She should have put the phone on silence or vibration.
He dialled again. It was still not reachable. He dialled her office line.
“Lawal and Adesola Chambers. Good evening.” The receptionist’s voice trilled.
Albert asked to speak with Grace.
“She’s not in right now.”
Albert frowned as he asked, “Will she be coming back?”
“I’m not sure. Would you like to leave a message?”
“Yes. When she returns, tell her Albert called and would like her to call when she has a moment, please.” He said.
“I’ll do that.” She promised.
Grace must have had it done, Albert thought as he put the handset down. Good. He would call her cell phone later in the evening to be sure she was alright.
His phone alerted him of a Facebook message. He opened it. It was a post by one of his friends, Chike.
You have a Landrover and a Landcruiser and still have a Landlord, you deserve to be landed a slap.
Albert laughed. Chike must have gotten it from the internet or someone, he thought. He clicked on ‘Like’, then proceeded to checking his e-mails, and responding to the very urgent ones.
At about eight when he was leaving the office, he tried Grace’s number again but still couldn’t get through. Oh well, she must be resting after the procedure. He would call her tomorrow morning and arrange to have dinner with her in the evening.
The next day, on the way to a press conference, Albert called Grace’s phone. This time, it went through and she picked it on the fourth ring.
“Hello.” She said in a low voice.
“Hello, Grace.”
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
“I’m driving; I’m on the way to court.” She said.
“Okay but why did you switch off your cell phone yesterday?”
“I wasn’t feeling too well.”
“How are you now?”
“I’m much better. Can I call you back later?”
“Fine. Can we go for dinner in the evening?”
“Okay.”
“Let’s meet at Chumsey Restaurant that is two streets away from your house at seven-thirty. Is that okay?”
“Okay.” She agreed.
“Okay. Bye.”
When she entered the restaurant in the evening, she saw that Albert had already been seated at a table. A waitress was with him and Grace could hear her laughter. When she reached the table, Albert stood up to welcome her. There was a full cup of Chapman cocktail drink in front of him.
As he looked at her, his eyes twinkled. He liked what she wore. The pink dress with V-neck flattered her shape well.
When they were seated, he told the waitress, “Could you get her a cup of Chapman as well?”
“Yes. I’ll bring it right away.” She said. She handed them a menu each and left.
“What were you talking about that was so funny to her?” Grace wanted to know.
“Oh, I was just chatting with her. She wants me to help her get a better job.”
“To help her get a better job?” Grace repeated. She looked in the direction of where the waitress went and saw her coming back. She kept quiet and glanced around the room. Potted palms were in every corner.
As the lady set the cup in front of Grace, Grace looked at her and guessed she could not be older than twenty two years.
The lady asked Albert, “Will you like to order now?”
“Yes.”
As he ordered for both of them, Grace noticed the way the waitress was smiling and responding to him. If this had happened some days ago, Grace could have felt some jealousy but right now, she didn’t think she felt anything. The lady could have him as far as she was concerned.
When the lady left, Albert told Grace that he had asked the lady to get her CV across to him.
“She obviously likes you.” Grace said with a false smile.
He smiled. “There’s not much I can do about that.”
“I think you should let her know that you’re not ready for commitment before she gets pregnant.”
The smile on his face disappeared. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked with a frown.
“What do you think it means?”
Just then, the waitress returned with their appetizer which was mushroom sauce soup with crusty bread.
As soon as she left, Grace asked Albert, “So, why were you calling my line yesterday?” She took a spoon and began to take the soup.
Even though there was no one sitting near them, he lowered his voice and leaned forward. “Why shouldn’t I call you?” He answered with a question of his own. “Were you not supposed to go somewhere?” He took his own spoon.
“So, you wanted to know if I’d gone.” She said with a frown as she buttered the bread.
“What’s biting you this evening?”
She didn’t talk.
His phone began to ring. It was one of his friends.
“Excuse me.” He told Grace and answered it.
From his end of the conversation, Grace gathered that a pastor had been found to be involved in fraud. It was obvious that Albert was interested in the story.
When the call ended, she asked him, “Was that about a pastor?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t teach you how to do your job but if you’re writing about it, be careful.”
With raised eyebrows, he asked, “Why?”
“Because this is about a pastor.”
He couldn’t understand her point and he said, “Because he’s a pastor?”
“Yes.”
“Who gives a flip that it’s about a pastor? I’m a reporter and I report news.” He said and dismissed her advice. “Back to our discussion, have you done it?”
“No.” She finished her soup and set the bowl aside.
Surprised, he tossed her a disapproving look. “No? You mean you didn’t go for it yesterday?”
“No.”
“So, where were you? I called your office, you were not there and your phone was switched off. Did your secretary tell you that I called?” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.
To be continued.
You will learn about the mercy of God and that there is hope for you, in this novel.
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