The Puzzle
By Moyoso-re Teniola
Episode 12 and 13
THE OUTING
Pastor Daniel was seated in his study in the early hours of Saturday morning observing his quiet time when David’s call c@m£ in.
“Hello Bro David, how are you doing? I hope all is well, why this early morning call?”
“Good morning pastor, all is not really well. I decided to call you this early because something has been troubling my spirit.”
He narrated his ordeal with his wife two nights before and how he had tried her line all throu-gh the next day but she didn’t pick up…
“Pastor, my wife has never behaved this way towards me since I married her eight years ago . She seemed like a total stranger to me the last time we talked. I don’t really un-derstand what is happening and I have lost concentration here but I can s-en-se in my spirit that whatever it is nee-ds to be attended to urgently. I should be back home by tomorrow afternoon by God’s grace, we will both come over to see you tomorrow evening plea-se. I know I have my faults, I have been abandoning her for some time now because of my ti-ght business schedule, I just hope I will be able to make things right from now.”
“Alright Bro David,” Pastor responded “all will be well, just put your mind at rest, I will be praying for you both. Meanwhile, I will call on her to hear her own side of the story.”
“Okay Pastor, that will be fine
. I will really appreciate that. plea-se I count on you. My wife is all I have got aside God, I don’t like having issues with her.”
“It is well Bro David, count on God.”
“Thank you sir, my regards to mummy.”
*****************************
At exactly 6:30pm on Saturday evening, Roseline was alre-ady dressed up for the outing with Michael. She wore a short blue fitted go-wn which made her look five years younger than her pres£nt age. Judging from her pretty young face, her flat tommy and figure eight structure, one would never guess she was a mother! She had left Debbie with a friend that stays in the same estate with theirs. She didn’t want anyone or anything to stand in the way of this outing, it’s been a long time she had the opportunity to hang out and have fun.
As she was about to step out of the house, her phone rang.
“Pastor? What could have made pastor call me at this time? I hope he is not planning to pay us a visit? Well I’ll just tell him my husband is not around and I am on my way out, simple. Nothing can hinder me from going out with Michael this evening.” She thought.
The phone rang again and she picked up.
“Hello Sister Rose, how are you?”
“Hello sir, good evening to you, I’m fine sir. How is mummy?”
“We are fine. plea-se, I nee-d to see you this evening. I should have called since morning but I had a busy schedule today. Can you just spare me some minutes of your time and come over?”
“I am sorry pastor, I am on my way out right now, I nee-d to go see someone and it must be now.”
“Is it that urgent Sis Rose?”
“Yes pastor, very very urgent sir.”
“Okay then, plea-se make sure you see me at church after service tomorrow, it is very important.”
“I hope all is well sir?”
“All is well, no cause for alarm.”
“Okay then, tomorrow after service,” Rose replied hastily, eager to end the call. “Good night sir.”
“Good night sister Rose, it is well with you, my regards to Debbie.”
After pastor has ended the call, Roseline smiled to herself and said, not even pastor can stand in my way, no way, I must enjoy myself this evening.
She walked out of the estate to look for a motor bike that would take her to her destination, which is one of the finest eateries in town, a bit far from where they both live.
She decided not to take her car, she didn’t want anyone to trace her. She knew going out with Michael was improper for her as a married woman, but she had damned all the consequences.
“I nee-d to enjoy myself, I am dying inside, who knows if David had been doing worse on his numerous business trips?” she had told herself.
She soon got to the eatery.
. She had expected to see Michael’s car in the parking lot but he seemed not to be around yet, so she decided to go in and wait for him. She settled on a seat at the corner of the restaurant and ordered for a cu-p of ice cream. She brou-ght out her phone, and just as she was about to dial Michael’s number, someone’s hand covered her face from behind, she knew definitely that it was Michael, she had perceived the same perfume on him the last time they met.
“Come on, I know it’s you alre-ady Michael,” she responded, removing his hands from her face gently.
“Hello babe!” Good to see you again,” he said and sat on the chair opposite hers.
“Hmmmmmmm, You look so stunning! Where were you when I was looking for a wife?” He remarked smiling as usual.
“I wonder where I was,” Rose thought and said aloud,
“you have started your flattering again? Why did you keep me waiting?” She asked trying to avoid his gaze which was fixed on her. She had observed him once and turned her eyes away. He looked so handsome and breathtaking in his pink polo T shi-t and blue jeans and there is this thing in his eyes that made her want more of him…
“Me? A gentleman can never keep a beautiful lady like you waiting. I have been here since 6:50pm. I hate getting late to appointments, you know? Michael replied confidently.
“Really? But I didn’t see your car parked outside,” Rose pursued.
“It’s right there,” he replied pointing at a Royal blue Jeep parked outside.
“Oh, I see!” Rose said as she peered throu-gh the glas-s windows, “I was actually looking out for your Toyota.”
“No, I didn’t feel like ri-ding that one today. So, what will you like to take? Mention it and I will get it for you right away. I am at your service, your majesty.” He stood up and took a slight bow…
“St©p it Michael, people are watching,” she giggled…
Episode 13
LOVE BIRDS
***Still at the eatery***
“Let them watch, I don’t care. I am here for just only one person and to me, none of those people exist okay? Waiting for your order dear,” Michael replied Rose.
“Hmmm, a plate of rice and water will be okay,” Rose said.
“No soft drinks?” Michael asked.
“No plea-se, I don’t take much sugar. I have taken ice cream alre-ady . I thought you doctors say it’s not good for one’s health.”
“Well, it’s okay, I do take soft drinks once in a while though…
Michael went over to the service point to take their order while Rose waited at the table.
Her phone rang, you can guess who the caller was. Yes, David.
For the first time during the outing, she felt guilty, she glanced round as if to check if her husband wasn’t watching. If it was a platonic friendsh!pshe had with Michael, why feeling guilty? But of course, there was more to it than ordinary likeness, they had both grown feelings for each other and here is her own husband calling her. She decided not to pick the call. She quietly switched off her phone before Michael c@m£ back to the table.
They both ate their meal and talked about all sort of issues. Michael did most of the talking and they both really got along with each other like they’ve been friends for years…
“I feel so lonely these days,” Michael said suddenly after they were done eating
. “I have missed Eliz a lot, I feel like having her and Daniella, my daughter around me, I have missed them both.” He looked sober for some minutes. Rose felt for him, she knew what it means for someone to be lonely. She felt like gathering him into her arms that minute and cudd-lehim like a baby.
“What woman in her right s-en-ses would abandon a man like this, such a nice, caring and ro-mantic man? And I am here suffering from being abandoned by my own husband. What a dizzy world!” She thought.
She held out her hands and took hold of Michael’s hands and said, I am sorry Michael, I un-derstand how you feel…”
“You do?” Michael interrupted her. You can’t Rose, you have your husband and daughter with you but I stay alone. That house is gradually becoming like a prison. I spend most of my time at work just to reduce the loneliness but it’s all the same. I love Eliz a lot, if not I would have given my heart to someone else.
If you weren’t married Rose, I would have married you right away. You are the first woman my heart has ever melted for since Eliz left me. The very first day I set my eyes on you at that p@rty, my heart cleaved to you…”
“p@rty? What p@rty?” Rose cut in confused. She had met him on the roadside on her way to work but now he’s talking about a p@rty…”
“Don’t mind me Rose, I am beginning to lose my mind.” Michael replied still wearing a sober look.
Rose thought of a way to bring him out of the mood, she felt so much pain seeing him in this state.
“Do you mind if I keep your company like this once in a while, probably on weekends, just to get you out of the loneliness for the time being?”
“Of course, I will love it. I feel like seeing you everyday of my life Roseline. You have stolen my heart, I can’t say how or why but I like you a lot and I wish you are mine.”
Rose began to feel uncomfortable, “but Michael, I can’t be yours you know. I am married, I can only pray that your wife comes back to you on time. I wish I wasn’t married too, I would have given my heart to you…”
“Really?” Michael said opening his eyes wi-de.
Rose immediately regretted the last statement she made.
“That had gone too far,” she thought. She sighed and said
“Yes Michael, but as it is now, I am married, my heart belongs to another. Even though she wasn’t really sure if her heart was still with her husband anymore, she is just loving this new man with each pas-sing minute.
She checked her wristwatch. “I have to go now Michael, it’s 8:35pm alre-ady. It’s getting late, I nee-d to pick my daughter before going home.”
“plea-se don’t,” Michael pleaded. “Stay with me some more.”
“I can’t Michael, we both know I can’t,” Rose replied, not able to look into his eyes.
. She picked up her bag. “Shall we go now plea-se Michael? I promise to chat you up on WhatsApp tonight till you are re-ady to go to be-d,” she added smiling, knowing the effect that would have on him.
“Okay darling,” Michael said, as he rose to his feet. His countenance brightened up…
*****************************
Meanwhile, David had become restless, he had lost his peace. The fact that Rose ignored his calls troubled him a lot. He decided to leave Benin that Saturday morning against his former decision to leave on Sunday morning. He doesn’t like his schedules being interrupted but he doesn’t seem to care this time around. He was eager to know what had gone wrong with his dear wife.
***************************
Michael dropped Roseline at the entrance of the estate because she insisted. She thought it not safe for Michael to drive her into the Estate, one can never tell, anyb©dy could see her. She said goodbye to Michael and just as she was about to alight from the car, He gr@bb£d her left wrist, and said
“Roseline, not even a goodnight k!ss?”