CHAPTER 47 –
© OPEYEMI OJERINDE AKINTUNDE
Beauty! Beauty!” I heard Reuben calling my name.
I woke up to his Soft face looking at me. I thought I was dreaming.
“Are you Okay?” He asked still looking soft. It had been a long time since I saw that look on his face.
” Yeah!” I said trying to gather my thoughts as to why I was sleeping in my mother’s room.
Boom!
Amos!
“Amos?” I said jumping from the bed and looking into Reuben’s eyes
“He is fine and very Stable, my Mum is with him”
” Your Mum?” I asked
” Yes!”
A lot of questions in my head. Just like everyone, his Mum didn’t like carrying Amos, So what changed?
” I asked her to please come to stay with him for a few hours”
“That would be bothersome, Let me shower. I will go back to the hospital. Thank you for relieving me”
I was already going to the bathroom when Reuben held me and without looking into my eyes he said…
” Beauty Let’s go home”
Those words had so many underlays I could read.
I could read him saying…
“We have a lot to talk about!”
“I am hurting but I am willing to let go”.
It wasn’t a command but it only made sense I obeyed what he had just asked me. I nodded in agreement and like a child I followed him downstairs.
“Ride with me,” He said.
The Words brought back memories. It reminded me of When he came to my University and he said those exact words. I wished the girl back then knew the treasure God had given her.
We left my car there and I got into his car. It had been so long since we sat together in the same car. It felt so strange.
As we drove, the car was so quiet, you could mistake it for a graveyard. I saw how he looked at me occasionally. I could tell he wanted to say so much but he couldn’t. I suspected the pain was still there. One year and six months was a long time. I could imagine what was going on in his mind.
” I am sorry,” I said. My walk with God had humbled me and I was quick to apologize. I also believe after I changed my name from Nwala to Beauty, I was no more strong-headed.
I wasn’t expecting what happened next. Reuben burst into tears. He didn’t stop driving, he kept driving.
A few minutes later, with his right hand, he reached out for my left hand and interlocked it together. He still did not utter a word.
From that moment, we drove off in silence.
We walked into the Living Room. I didn’t know what to expect. I stood like a stranger in my own Living room.
“Sit, Let’s talk,” Reuben said
I sat in one of the Chairs in the living room.
“I am sorry about how I have treated you in almost two years,” Reuben said
“You shouldn’t be apologizing for that, it’s my fault. You only reacted that way because of my wrong action. Once again I apologize for my error”
” Your Error? Amos is our Error, I am not a saint either ” Reuben said
” Our?” I asked
“Beauty, I was selfish, I was after making you mine, I didn’t take a minute to think about if you were ready for a relationship or marriage. Yes I am a good guy, a Child of God and I Knew back then I was going to be a good husband, but did I think about you?
Beauty, you were not Spiritually and emotionally mature enough for a relationship. I was ready and I dragged you into marriage. That’s why when you were shaken a bit, you fell like a pack of cards, so please forgive me for not giving you the chance to grow while I waited.”
My tears flowed, Reuben was a wise man. He was right. I was not even to be considered saved as at the time I got married. I was riding on the Grace of My mother’s spirituality.
“However, in the past six months I have watched you grow and I wish I had married you right here in front of me back then, but it’s never too late with God to set things right. I know things have gone really bad but I want us to start again, and today I want to reaffirm the Words I said that day, that “I gat you”.
“Beauty Acme, With the Son of your infidelity, Will you once again give me the Driver’s License of this forever ride with you…” Reuben said
I cried! We cried!
Just like his Father had said, we took our dry marriage to the Fountain of Living Water and got refreshed. Amos became better and was discharged.
Reuben asked that the twins stay at his Mother’s for a week while we traveled to a prayer camp. We knew our marriage and hearts needed healing. We got refreshed and truth be told as we stayed together in the chalet, our love and desire for each other sparked, but we knew we wanted to get it right with God first.
On getting home, our Love exploded and the body and soul starvation for almost two years ended in a joyful Love bath. Words can not describe but in the midst of it all, all I could say was “THANK YOU, GOD, for the gift of INTERCOURSE, no wonder it is a Sacred thing that should be kept between partners. This intimacy was a different kind, I believe it was because God was now more involved in our lives.
To be continued…