Two Sides of 1

Vivian kept a pleasant look on her face as several people came to greet her. It wasn't unusual for this to happen, after all she was Pastor Al's wife.

She let out a breath. The Pastor Al who seemed to have no weakness; the Pastor Al who always knew the right thing to say; the Pastor Al who had a loyal group of followers—or so it seemed until Chike tried to divide the church; the Pastor Al whose smile could light up a room.

She crossed her legs. Unfortunately, he was the same Pastor Al who didn't realize when his wife almost lost their baby. He was the Pastor Al who…

"Excuse me, ma."

She looked up.

"Pastor has more people waiting to see him today. He might not be done until late in the evening."

She managed a smile. That was the same thing Gbenga had said last week and the week before that and the week … before … that. Late in the evening never failed to turn to late in the night. And it would have been bearable if it didn't happen every single day.

"Mama Vee?"

She blinked. "Sorry. I got carried away."

Gbenga smiled. "I understand."

She paused and raised a brow, "Do you?"

"Yes."

No, you don't. "That's interesting."

Gbenga frowned slightly.

"Did you say he will be done in the evening?"

"Yes, ma."

"Good. I'll wait for him."

"But Sister Martha already took your daughter home."

"I know."

"Okay, ma. I'll let him know."

"No, please don't. Not yet anyway. I don't want him to get distracted. Just send me a message when it's time for Goriola Kayode to see him."

"Did he make a reservation?"

"Yes, she did. On Friday."

"Oh, the name sounded masculine. I'll check his schedule and let you know."

"Thank you."

Two hours passed before Gbenga texted. It would be Goriola Kayode's turn in the next five minutes. She grabbed her bag and yawned.

Truthfully, the stress of the past months was taking its toll on her. She kept a tight hold on her smile as she took the path that led to her husband's office.

She deliberately avoided people's stares because she wouldn't want to miss her chance by getting caught in a conversation that wouldn't end in ten minutes.

She slowed as she approached her husband's secretary. Sarah was nice but something about her wasn't right. There was this annoying glint in her eyes whenever she was around. She shook her head. It might be her imagination.

"Good afternoon, ma. Pastor Al is currently with someone. Should I let him know you're here?"

"You won't need to."

"Sorry?"

She smiled sweetly.

The door opened and a man stepped out.

"If you don't mind, I'll have to call the next person," Sarah said.

She nodded.

Sarah scanned through a file and looked around the waiting room, "Goriola Kayode?"

"That's my reservation. Can I go in now?"

Sarah frowned slightly, "I don't understand."

"You can see it as a mild joke. I made a reservation with the name. Can I go in?"

"I guess so."

"Thank you."

She walked to the door and paused slightly before opening it. The door quietly opened and  her gaze strayed to the laptop her husband was working on. When did he start counseling people with a laptop?

"Please come in."

He looked up. His gaze dimmed for several seconds. "Vee?"

She closed the door and sat.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Nothing. I came to see my pastor. Am I not allowed to?"

"You are, but I'm sort of busy right now. That's not to say I'm too busy for you. I'm sure you understand what I'm saying."

She swallowed. "Yes, I do."

"Is something wrong? How is Sam?"

"She's fine. Sister Martha took her home."

He smiled, "Should I be scared? You're not talking."

"I am."

"No, you're not. This is unusual and I must confess that I'm currently on my toes. Did I do something wrong?"

She shrugged.

"Now you've lost me."

"I know." She slowly released a breath. "There's nothing to worry about, Pastor Al. Even though you look very," she cleared her throat. "I'm here as a member who needs to talk to her pastor."

"Okay…"

"Don't give me that look."

He raised his shoulders, "What look?"

"The one you have on. You're wondering why I didn't say anything when we were at home."

"Exactly."

"It's not wrong to see you here, you know."

"That's correct. But, we live together."

"More reason I have to do it now."

"Is this going to be a long discussion?"

She crossed her legs.

"It's so I can tell Sarah to reschedule the others."

"I don't know. It depends on how you're able to help me."

He sat back. "Okay. I'm all ears."

"Like I said, I'm not here as your wife."

"I've not forgotten." He relaxed his shoulders. "How are you?"

"I'm not fine."

"Okay…"

"My husband as you know it is a very busy man and I admit that he is trying his best, it's just that it's not enough. I'm not saying he is doing something wrong." She shrugged, "It has more to do with what he is not doing."

"What is he not doing?"

"We almost lost our baby and he didn't notice."

He grew still.

"Pastor Al?"

He cleared his throat. "Yes. I was only trying to process things. Please continue."

"I try to hold everything together but it seems like I'm breaking under the weight. I know I should have talked to him about the feelings of neglect and the discouragements but I can't seem to work up the courage."

"Why not?"

"He is busy."

"That's no excuse." He closed his eyes and paused for several seconds. "He is your husband. Telling him is the least you can do. He doesn't know everything."

She lowered her voice, "I know. But how am I to start plaguing him with my troubles when he comes back so late in the night and leaves early in the morning. He is sometimes on the phone when he should be sleeping and I …" She licked her lips. "I mostly feel neglected. And at other times, I couldn't bear to weigh him down with issues I felt I should be able to handle."

"But you weren't able to handle them."

"No, I wasn't."

He picked his phone and her stomach knotted. 

She cleared her throat. "I talked to someone and she told me to talk to him."

He stared at her as a pained look crossed his face, "And that led to this?"

"Yes."

"All you had to do was talk. I would have done something."

"I don't know. It felt like you weren't there."

His chest heaved, "Wasn't there? I need you to always let me know when I'm doing something wrong."

A knock sounded on the door and he looked up. It was repeated, forcefully this time.

"Come in."

Sarah walked in and barely looked at Vivian. "I got your text and I was wondering if everything is okay."

"It is. Thank you."

She held his gaze for several moments then nodded. Vivian watched as she swayed out of the room. The knot in her stomach tightened.

"You texted her?"

"Yes. I told her to reschedule the meetings."

"When? I didn't even realize it."

"I guess you didn't."

Well, I did. I just thought you were replying one of your—

"Do you want us to talk here or should we go home?"

"Sorry?"

"Should we talk here?"

"I don't know."

"We can go out if you want."

She wrinkled her nose. "No, I'd rather stay here."

"Alright. You said something about our baby. When was that?"

"Last week Wednesday. It was after you travelled. I was in pain but I managed to get to the hospital in time. The rest is history."

"I think I deserve to know the history."

"I just told you the truth. I wasn't feeling too well since the day you left but I didn't take it seriously. I decided to take a rest on Wednesday and it was around noon when this excruciating pain started. I can't explain how I managed to get to the hospital but I think I passed out after seeing a nurse. When I woke up I was fine, or almost fine."

He massaged his forehead. "I kept calling you and when you finally picked up you told me you were fine." He shook his head. "To think I believed you."

She shrugged, "Well, I was."

"It's not right for you to keep things from me. I feel hurt and I would be lying if I say I like what you did."

"You were having a meeting."

"That excuse is not good enough."

"Fine. It's not good enough. If it's not good enough then you should manage to have time for me. I can't believe we are having this discussion. Hello, Mr Man, I've missed you."

"I thought I was Pastor Al," he smiled.

She shook her head. "Al, this is serious."

"I'm serious too." He held her hand. "Okay. You know I don't like it when you're serious. It puts me under pressure."

A smile escaped her lips.

"That's more like it."

Her smile widened. "I've really missed you."

"Okay…"

"What?"

"I'm suspecting you. You want something."

Her smile faded.

"I said it. What is it?"

"I don't think I like your secretary."

"You don't think you like her or you don't like her?"

"I don't dislike her but I don't like the fact that she's your secretary."

He kept quiet for a few seconds. "She's a major part of the problem, isn't she?"

"Yes. You're spending more time with her than you do with me."

He suppressed a grin.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Al?"

"You took me by surprise. The way you arrived at that conclusion was—impressive." He shifted in his seat when she slightly raised a brow. "I'm mostly in my office, babe. I don't spend more time with her."

She touched her head, "I know that here, but not in my heart."

"Alright. I'll change her. But if it will make things better, you might want to know that she is great and efficient."

"Of course."

"You're not changing your mind."

"No." She bit her lip. "That means she'll be out of a job right?"

"Yes."

"Then let her work with Pastor Melissa. She can't work with you. There's an uncomfortable feeling I get around her."

He grinned.

"I'm not jealous, okay?"

"Okay."

"Alfred, I'm serious."

His expression calmed. "Okay. She'll stop working for me as from tomorrow. Gbenga will function as my secretary until I find a ... male … replacement."

"Is there any other thing, ma'am?" he asked.

Her eyes glistened. "I've missed you."

He stood and sat on the table. "I'm sorry."

She nodded and stared at her fingers. "I'm sorry too. I should have told you."

He gave her a tight hug and placed a kiss on her forehead, "It's nothing. I love you."

"I love you more." She tightened her hold on him. "This feels good."

He laughed, "I know right. I give the best of hugs."

"You sure do," she murmured.

© ADENIKE ONI 2021