MISSING PIECE (Part 4)

No response. “Jacinta?”

“There’s no need for that. He has his own issues”, she replied, avoiding his eyes.  

“JayCee, there’s something you’re not telling me. What is it?”

“I went to see him….”, she began. 

“And?”

“……he said he would help….”

He laughed. “I knew it. I trust my friend.”

“…….if I slept with him.”

“What?! He told you that? “

She nodded. “He’s been disturbing me for a long time now, especially when you went on long trips. Now, he’s using it as a condition to help.”

            He couldn’t believe it. So after all he’d done for Chris, he would turn back to stab him? He shook his head in pity. 

“And when did you plan to tell me all these? What if he’d planned something else?”, he asked. 

“That was part of what I wanted to tell you before you got arrested. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier”, she apologized.

He bowed his head for a while. “What was your reply to him?”

“What kind of question is that?”, she asked a bit angry, “If I had agreed, would you still be here?”

He held her hands close to his. “I’m sorry. I’m just confused. Things are taking different turns.”

“It’s okay. God is in control.”

“Spare me all that. He was in control when all these happened.”

            One of the warders approached them. “Madam, you don overuse your time. Come dey go.”

“My love, don’t lose faith in God. I love you”, she said, rising.

“I love you too. Give my love to the kids too”, he replied.

            He watched her. He missed her. He wondered when he would see his children again. Would they still recognize him? 

Have faith in God. What God? Where was He when all these happened? I am no longer interested in serving a God that does not care about me or my family. I was the good guy and look what it brought  me. Henceforth, no good guy, he told himself. He brought out a cigarette, lighted it and smoked on. 

********

“Pastor, what should I do? That man I saw today is not my husband. He’s lost faith in God. This is too much. Why did all these happen? My husband is innocent”, Jacinta wailed. Pastor Chibuzor Kalu and his wife listened to her patiently. They were the ones she ran to anytime she felt like giving up and God had been using them for her. 

“Sis Jacinta, I understand your plight. Your husband has lost faith in God because he feels that his service has been fruitless. You need to pray for him so God will bring him back. You have to be strong for your family”, the pastor advised.

“My dear, this is not the time for you to ask ‘why’. There’s a big breakthrough coming your way and the devil is trying to abort it.  You must pray fervently. We will continue to pray with you. God will give you victory.”

“Amen.”

“Now stop crying. Have you eaten?”

“I’m not hungry”, she replied, wiping her face with a handkerchief.

“You are not serious. Get up and let’s go get you something”, Mrs Kalu said, half dragging her. 

To be continued…….