MORE THAN A CARVING CHAPTER 10

MORE THAN A CARVING
CHAPTER 10
Iwalade and Mrs. Williams have become so close that Mrs. Willliams now visit her place often. They discuss about so many things including their personal life. There was a day Mrs. Willliams asked Iwalade about her marital life and she told her everything. Iwalade also told her about her family members when she asked. Mrs. Williams had one time met with Iwalade’s Mum when she came visiting, Iwalade introduced them and asked her Mum to help her thank Mrs. Williams who had been so good to her ever since they met. On a Friday morning, Mrs. Williams gave Iwalade a call, she said she was at home that very day and asked if she could come over and she accepted. That day, Mrs. Williams had made up her mind to discuss her private life with Iwalade, she trusted her that much. There’s one thing that Mrs. Williams had observed about Iwalade, she will never ask you anything personal unless you tell her. Iwalade tidy up some work on her laptop and then went to Mrs. Willliams’ house. “Iwalade, won’t you ask me about my husband or you just assumed that I’m a single mother?” She said as the two chilled together in the private sitting room upstairs. “Ma, I’m sorry, it’s just that when we first met, you told me, all you have is you and your son and I don’t want to press further.” “You are right, I said so but I expect you to still ask, you are now close to me than when we first met.” “You are right ma but I don’t like poke nosing.” She said and Mrs. Williams smiled, that’s the kind of people she liked, people who don’t poke nose or gossip. “Well, here is my story and I don’t mind if you turn it into a movie.” She said with a smile. “We’ll see what we can do about it.” Iwalade smiled back. “I got married a bit late, I’m a Christian and I so much believe in waiting on God. So many suitors came but once I pray about them and I’m not convinced, I let them go. My family members complained a lot but I didn’t allow anyone force me into a marriage I won’t enjoy. I was like that until I was 34years old, then I met my husband, Imisioluwa’s father.” “Hmm…..” Iwalade sighed lightly and adjusted on her seat, as she paid rapt attention to Mrs. Williams’ story while she continued. “We actually met at a wedding party in Ijebu, Ogun state. The bride was my boss’ daughter, so almost all the staff attended the wedding while Olumide Williams, I mean my late husband and the groom were cousins. The couple are both from wealthy families, so it was a grand wedding and all the guests had a swear time. It was during the reception that I noticed that he kept on staring at me, and once our gaze fixed, he will quickly look away, all that went on till the party ended, myself and my colleagues were ready to leave, then he walked up to me. He asked if he can have few words with me, I actually hesitated at first because we were ready to leave but he pleaded with him. ‘One minute.’ I said to him and he sighed.
‘I can’t say everything in my heart in one minute.’ He said and I checked my wrist watch. ‘50 seconds more.’ ‘Fine, I want to meet you again.’ He said and one of my colleagues called out my name. ‘Alice, the bus is ready to leave.’ My colleague said. ‘I can take you to wherever you are going to; you can tell them to go ahead.’ He said. ‘You can’t take me, I don’t even know you.’ I said, he wanted to say something but, I heard another colleague of mine calling again. ‘I need to go now.’ I said and turned. ‘Please wait, how can I contact you?’ He said because there was no mobile phone then. It was only the rich people who have telephones at home and in offices back then. All you have then is a public pay phone, where you can call those who have landlines. ‘I looked at him from head to toe, he was a fine man.’ Iwalade looked at the face of Mrs. Williams who was talking, Iwalade was surprised at what she saw on her face, and she had to interrupt her. “Ma, you are blushing.” “Really, well my husband was a fine, tall man with a chocolate skin, what you people now call brown skin.” She said smiling. “Hmmm….”Iwalade smiled. “Once you see Imisioluwa, then you already know what my husband looked like. I’m so happy, he took after his father, and the only disadvantage is that girls kept on running after him when he was still in school but Imisioluwa is a wonderful boy, he always put those girls in their place.” “Hmm…. keep on rooting for your son.” Iwalade said and the two laughed. “Now, back to my story.” She said and then continued. ‘Let me have your contact, I’ll reach out.’ He said to me. ‘I should have given you my card but I know you will not call me.’ He replied but I told him there’s no way he can reach me, so he had no choice than to give me his card. “And he was right, I didn’t call.” Mrs. Williams said and went back to her story. “Unknown to me, he had already gotten information about us at the party, I mean myself and my colleagues because we were given our own table at the party, so he knew we worked for the bride’s mother and he knew the company so well, so while I was still hesitating on calling him. He then showed up in my office out of the blue. I was so surprise, so I had no choice than to give him audience that very day and he told me everything in his mind. I realized how serious he was on my case and I decided it’s time to start praying about it. I prayed and fasted and I was convinced he was the one. So, I talked to my Pastors and my parents about it and they all prayed about it and every one gave me a go ahead that God is involved. I started giving him attention then we started courting. Olumide Williams loved me with the whole of his heart, I got to know that he was rich, he actually came from a wealthy family but I don’t know the extent until he took me to his company. I on the other hand was from an average family, but I was surprised that his family accepted me wholeheartedly despite the fact that they only marry from their caucus in those days, so I was the only exception among the wives in the Williams’ family; I was the only one who came from a humble background. They weren’t even spiritual; I would have thought maybe it was God that convinced them. Even my husband is just a regular Christian, nothing near been spiritual. I’m the one that used to do all the prayers, he doesn’t even have time, and he is always occupied with his business. One day, I visited my mother inlaw to-be while we were still courting, I was still curious about the smooth acceptance but when my mother inlaw to-be and I got talking, I then realized that my husband of 39 years old never brought a lady home for once and they knew if they rejected me, he may not bring another lady anytime soon so they just have to accept me regardless of my status.” “No wonder.” Iwalade said and Mrs. Williams continued. “Okay then, let me go back to my story.” “Before I go back to where I stopped, I forgot to tell you something.” “What ma?” “Few weeks to our wedding, I started having some terrible dreams but once I tell my fiancé, he’ll tell me that it’s nothing. He even said maybe I was just having cold feet because the wedding day is drawing near. I thought of telling my mum but I don’t want to bother her as they were all busy preparing for the wedding. Another thing is that ever since I started dating Olumide Williams, my spiritual life started dropping and the reason is that, we always go out every now and then, so many date nights and all. And you know for someone who is rich he takes me out almost every time and buy me gifts, he even bought me a car, I changed my wardrobe, I started wearing expensive things and because of all these things, I got carried away and started relaxing spiritually.” ““Hmm……” Iwalade who was so curious on how the whole story will end sighed and Mrs. Williams continued. “Iwalade, no matter how comfortable you become, like this your present status, never you get comfortable with your spiritual life. In fact, this is the time you need more oil in your lamb to keep you burning. Never let the fire go down.” “I’ll put that in mind ma.” “I trust you though, you that can fast for Africa.” Mummy Williams joked. “How do you know I fast?” “Of course I know. All those things you use to tell me that God showed you, I know it is only those who are given to prayer and fasting that gets steady revelation from God.” “Its grace ma and I thank God for it. I wasn’t this spiritual before but when I realized my mum is of age and couldn’t fast again like before, I had to stand in the gap for myself, family and my loved ones. I even have a message for you, I’ll tell youlater.” “You see what I’m saying, you even have a message. Can you tell me now?” “Later ma.” She said and Mrs Williams continued with her story. “As I was saying before, there are times that my spirit will move me to pray, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night and I’ll sleep off after like five minutes of praying. I don’t know what was happening to me and you know Olumide is not spiritual so that alone wasn’t helping matter. Once he attends Sunday service that is all, the next time he’ll pray or read the bible is when he attends the next service. Somebody that never fasted all his life not to talk of attending vigil, he was raised like that and I tried but he couldn’t get along at all. At some point, I was like, what do I even need prayers for when I have everything, so the little time I had to pray is just to commit the wedding day into the hands of God that God should take control. I don’t need to pray for provision since money is not an issue.” She said and sighed and then she continued. “Then one day my pastor told me to wait after the service that we need to talk. I think that was two weeks to the wedding. After the service, it was a Sunday; I went to the Pastor’s office. The truth is that I rarely attend mid week services. Like I said Olumide and I use to meet every evening. I met with the Pastor and I heard the shocking news of my life.” ‘We have to postpone the wedding.’ Pastor Bobola said. ‘Postpone what! Pastor!’ ‘You just have to; it’s for your own good Alice.’ He said. ‘Sir, you are talking as if you don’t know the kind of family I’m marrying into. This people are…’ ‘Elite, so?’ ‘Pastor, let me talk to my fiancé first because I don’t even know what to do.’ ‘And tell him to come see me. The two of you have to pray and fast for 21days.’ ‘21 what! Olumide cannot even fast for a day.’ I stated. ‘He has no choice at this point, he has to fast. By the way, I know you are spiritual, God use to speak to you. Are you telling me, you haven’t seen anything?’ Pastor asked. Then I remembered all the terrible dreams I had swept under the carpet. ‘Ehm….ehm….’ I said scratching my head. ‘Alice, so now that you are living in luxury, you now forget God, right.’ ‘It’s not like that sir, I can never forget God.’ ‘You know what I mean; you are drawing away from God.’ ‘I know. I’ll make amends.’ ‘Make amend Alice and please, you must bring your fiancé here as soon as possible.’‘Yes sir.’ I said and thanked him. Mrs. Williams sighed deeply and Iwalade adjusted on her seat as the woman continued her story. “I got back home after Sunday service devastated and confused. I was wondering how I will face Olumide and his family members and tell them that I want the wedding postponed. I was living with my parents, so I went to their room to discuss with them and guess what; they were in support of what our Pastor said.” ‘Maami, (mother) Baami (father), you know this people o, they will not postpone the wedding.’ ‘Why, because they are rich!’ Baami asked. ‘Abi o…. this is a serious matter that needs spiritual attention, you have to postpone the wedding. In fact, we your parents will join you in the fast as well.’ Maami added. ‘Maami, Olumide’s parents have already sent out wedding invites to families, friends and their business associates and some family members who live abroad are all coming down to Nigeria this week, in fact, two of them returned from London yesternight and we are here talking about postponing the wedding!’ I explained. ‘So you will rather allow the wedding hold when evil is lurking around you?’ My father asked. ‘I’ll try my best Baami.’ ‘Once he comes around, let us know, we will talk to him ourselves.’ My father said. ‘Let me tell him first, and then you can take it from there.’ I said to my parents and they agreed. Then I left their room. “In the evening, Olumide came to my house, after greeting my parents; we went back inside the car to discuss. But, before I even open my mouth to say anything, he started pleading with me.” ‘What is it? You didn’t offend me nau.’ ‘I’m about to offend you, that’s why I’m pleading.’ ‘What is it, just tell me.’ ‘I’m leaving the country tomorrow for an important business deal, my mother even try to send someone else because of the wedding but those people over there insisted they want to see me, since I was the one that pulled off the deal.’ He explained and I was sweating. ‘So, you are saying……’ ‘I have to be in China tomorrow.’ He cut in. ‘Jesus. And you’ll be back when?’ I questioned. ‘All I know is that I’ll be back at worst, three days to the wedding.’ He said and I was like this is the time to shoot my shot.
‘Let’s postpone the wedding.’ ‘What! Is it because I’m traveling for some days?’ ‘Not exactly, there’s an issue on ground I’d like to discuss with you.’ ‘What issue.’ He sat up. ‘My Pastor said we have to postpone the wedding as we need to do some serious prayers before that day.’ ‘We have like two weeks left; you people have a whole lot of time to pray.’ ‘You people! We are all in this together, including your people.’ ‘My what! As if you don’t know where I came from.’ ‘But you people are Christians nau.’ ‘Christians who can’t remember the last time they talk with God. It is poor people that need God’ ‘Olumide! Seriously!’ ‘Okay, what do they need from God that God has not already provided for them?’ ‘Olumide, we are postponing the wedding and we are fasting for 21days with serious prayers.’ ‘Alice, talk to your Pastor, just do the prayer from your end, I’ll give you all the necessary support.’ ‘Is that all you’ll say.’ ‘What do you want me to do? Do you want me to die?’ ‘Fasting doesn’t kill Mr!’ ‘I can’t even fast for half a day not to talk of 21days, woman! I have never done that before.’ ‘My God! Okay, I wish you a safe trip.’ I said and opened the door to alight but he held my hands. ‘Alice, you know me right?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t womanize and I try to leave a godly life everyday, I don’t cheat people and I don’t take what is not mine.’ ‘I know Olumide.’ ‘What I’m trying to say is that, I try as much as possible to please God but I’m not just cut out for these fasting and prayer.’ ‘Have you ever heard this statement before, ‘pray so that you won’t be a prey!’
‘Prey to whom?’ He asked. ‘To the devil of course.’ ‘Huh…….what businesses do I have with the devil Alice….’ ‘You don’t seem to understand what I’m saying. We are indeed from different worlds.’ ‘Stop!’ He said and I calmed down. ‘You know what, you’ll learn with time. I’ll teach you some basic principles you need to know about how things work because I doubt if you even know that the spiritual controls the physical.’ ‘I don’t get you….’ ‘You know what.’ I cut in ‘Just go, it’s getting late.’ ‘Alice, after our wedding, I promise, I’ll start learning all these things you are talking about. I love you and I’m ready to do whatever you want me do if that’s what you want but please for the sake of my family, let the wedding hold and after the wedding, I’ll do whatever you want.’ ‘Promise.’ ‘Promise.’ He replied. He gave me a hug, I alighted and he left. When I got back inside, my parents lashed at me when they realized he had left without seeing them. ‘Baami (father), Maami (mother), talking to him won’t solve anything. I know this family; they don’t have time for things like this. They are the types who are so much cumbersome with the cares of this world.’ ‘I think we should talk to his parents. Let’s go and see them tomorrow.’ My father said. ‘Baami, I doubt if that will work.’ ‘At least, let’s try.’ He said. ‘So that it can be said of us that we tried our best.’ My mother added. ‘Olumide is traveling, he won’t be around.’ I informed. ‘Does it matter, it’s not compulsory for him to be there at least he is aware of the situation.’ If you say so, no problem.’ I said. Mrs. Williams stopped talking but at this point, Iwalade was more curious. “What was the outcome of the visit?” Iwalade asked. “What do you expect; they only stated the obvious, invites have been sent out for over two months, their families abroad are coming to Nigeria that week and two of them have already arrived.”
“Hmmm……” Iwalade sighed. “When my parents and I returned home that day after like two hours of convincing our inlaws to-be, that proved abortive. My parents finally turned to me and ask me what I wanted. I was mute for about five minutes, not knowing what to say but because of the love Olumide has for me, I had to make a decision. ‘So, will the wedding still hold?’ My mother asked me. ‘By God’s grace Maami.’ I replied. I can’t afford to let Olumide down, he has shown me nothing but love and care ever since we met. He treats me like a queen, so what else does a lady want. Mrs. Williams paused and then continued “Iwalade………myself and my parents went back to the Pastor. We decided to carry on with the prayer and fasting on our own. Pastor said Olumide must partake but how can I convince a man that is not even in the country and whose parents are not ready to postpone the wedding. My parents and I went back home and the next day myself; parents and siblings started the prayer and fasting, since we don’t have enough time at hand we decided to go on three days dry fasting. On the last day, I kept on hearing ‘Obedience is better than sacrifice.’ I was scared so when everyone ended the fast, I decided to carry on for the next seven days, intensifying in prayer, forgetting that no one can bribe God. It wasn’t easy especially for someone who is getting married in a week time. I was so lean after the fast, that people started complaining including my fiancé when he returned from his trip but what can I do.” “Hmmm…..”Iwalade sighed. “Iwalade……. the devil got me…..” She said with a shaky voice, her face already filled with tears. “Let me get you a glass of water ma.” Iwalade said and stood up. Nike, the domestic staff was not around as at that time. She returned from the kitchen with a glass of water which she placed on a tray and handed to Mrs. Williams and placed the tray on the center table. “Thank you.” She said after drinking half of the water in the glass. Iwalade took the glass cup from her and placed it back on the tray. “I think you should stop here for now.” Iwalade suggested. “You know, I’ve never opened my mouth to tell anyone the story of my life before.” “Including your son?” “Yes, including my son. It was his grandma that told him everything. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him.” “Really!” Iwalade said and shivered because she knew what she was about to hear can never be pleasing to the ear. Mrs. Williams then continued with her story. “Finally, we got married, he had turned 40years before the wedding and I was 35 years, our wedding was the talk of the town and for the first time in my life, I traveled out of the country just for our honeymoon, I’ve never dreamt that I would ever have my honeymoon in Paris, the city of love.” Mrs. Williams said and paused.
She is a bit withdrawn now, bitterness was already written on her face and Iwalade was scared to hear the concluding part of the story just because of Mrs. Williams’ countenance. “Hmm…..our first night together as husband and wife was so steamy, the passion was out of this world. My husband was great in bed; I enjoyed every bit of the love making. Allow me jettison the details and be succinct.” “Sure.” Iwalade said. She doesn’t want to hear it either. “We took our bath together after the steamy sex and then slept off in each other’s arms, only to wake up in the morning with a lifeless body beside me.”