Nnenna didn’t know how to go about informing Stanley about her past. Chinasa’s warning that Stanley would call off the relationship if he get to know about her past, kept echoing in her mind. It somehow set fear in her. But she was not willing to continue the relationship with Stanley without telling him everything he ought to know about her.
She summoned courage and went to tell pastor of the struggles going on within her.

“Sister, this is a difficult situation. But I think the decision to allow him know everything about you is the best. However, be informed that this might have unpleasant consequences. He might decide to call off the relationship. Though, it is better that he called of the relationship now, if he wants to. If you hide it from him and he finds out in future, the consequences may be fatal. On the other hand, he might even appreciate you for telling him the truth. That might make him to love you more,” pastor told her.

Immediately after the discussion, Pastor sent for Stanley and told him everything about Nnenna. It was a bitter pill for him to swallow. But at the end of it all. He told pastor that he was willing to continue the relationship.

*************

Pastor’s secretary Clara was one of the people that had been secretly admiring Stanley. She was heart-broken when she noticed Stanley’s interest in Nnenna. As Pastor was discussing with Stanley, Clara stood near the door and heard everything that was discussed. Thereafter, he quickly went to Stanley’s mum to tell her what she heard.

“Mummy, good afternoon ma.”

” Good afternoon my dear. Have we met?”

” Yes ma. I am the secretary to the pastor of the church where your son Stanley is worshipping. I use to see you when you visit our pastor’s wife.”

“O! God bless you my dear. Please what can I offer you? We have rice, eba, semo and vegetable soup.”

“Mummy please don’t worry, my reason for coming is very urgent. It’s about your son Stanley.”

“My son? I hope all is well?” She asked in agitation.

“Yes ma all is well. It’s about the girl that Stanley want to marry. Her womb got damaged through abortion. She was actually the one that opened up to our pastor. When Pastor called Stanley to tell him what he found out about the girl, Stanley told pastor the he doesn’t care whether the girl has womb or not. ”

“Which Stanley are you talking about?”

” Your son ma. I felt bad about it especially that I know that he is an only child. Ma is he not your only child?”

“What kind of stupid question is that?” Stanley’s mum asked in anger. She felt slighted by the question.

“I’m sorry ma. I have delivered the message. I want to go now. Please ma promise me that you will not tell anyone that I am the one that told you? If pastor hears it, he will sack me.”

“If they want to sack you, let them sack you. With your mouth that is as wide as a well, are you supposed to be working with a pastor. Now listen to me, if I hear this nonsense you just said in any other place, I will personally deal with you,” Stanley’s mum threatened.

“Ha! What have I gotten myself into,” Clara cried.

“Please get out of my house.”

Immediately Clara left. Stanley’s mum started crying.

“Ha! Stanley wants to kill me. In fact Stanley has finished me. What is my offence? What did I do against Stanley that he could not forgive me? Stanley wants my enemies to laugh at me. He wants to close my lineage.”

Her husband heard her wailing and rushed down from the upstairs to know what was going on.

“My dear what is the matter?”

“It is your son. He decided to disgrace me in the market. Stanley has decided to invite my enemies to laugh at me. He has decided to remove the only teeth in my mouth. He is now moving with women of easy virtue.”

“Enough of that! What did my son do?” Stanley’s dad queried in anger.

“Your only son Stanley want to marry a girl that does not have womb. He want to marry her mother’s age mate that have aborted all the children in her womb.

His Pastor called him to explain the situation, but your son said that it doesn’t matter.”

“Who fed you with this gossip and lies? I know the girl that Stanley want to marry. She is none of what you described here.”

“Oh! I am now a gossip and a liar. That was why your son told you about who he want to marry but you refused to tell me. You kept it to yourself and support my only child to jump into fire. It will not happen as long as I am alive,” she vowed.

She quickly took her phone, dialed Stanley’s phone number and waited for it to ring.

“Mumsy,” Stanley called from the other end of the line in excitement.

“Don’t mumsy me. If you want to meet me alive, leave whatever you are doing and meet me at home now,” She commanded

“Mum I hope all is well?”

She dropped the call without responding to him.
Stanley quickly search for his car key and drove to his parents residence.

His father and mother were in the sitting room when he arrived. He greeted them and sat. He was surprised that his mum was in perfect condition.

“Mum what is the matter, why did you summon with so much urgency?” He was angry and it showed in the tone of his voice.

“I should be asking you, why you want to kill me before my time. Why did you decide to marry a girl that does not have womb?” his mum fired back.

Stanley was shocked to his born marrow but he managed to regain his composure.

“Mum, who gave you such information?”

“How I got the information is not your business. Is the information true or not?” His mum asked.

“Dad please talk to mum. I am not a baby. He shouldn’t just invite me here and start harassing me with a heresy. If she wants me to talk to her, then she must tell me how she got the information. If she does not do that, I will leave this place,” Stanley said firmly.

“My dear, you heard him. We are one family, there is no visitor here. Who is the person that gave you that information?”

Stanley’s mum refused to talk. After a while, Stanley stood.

“Dad please, I have to take my leave. I was busy before mum told me to come.”

“It’s okay my son you are free to go since your mother does not want to talk. That is the end of the matter. If she ever resurrects this matter again, she will face my wrath.”

“I’m sorry please. I will talk. It was the pastor’s secretary that told, “Stanley’s mum explained.

“Son the ball is now in your court. What do you have to say about this?” His dad asked.

Stanley took time to narrate everything to his dad.

“Ah! Poor innocent girl. Why do good people always suffer” Stanley’s dad lamented.

“God will help her. Thank God you discovered on time. That is how God saves his children,” Stanley’s mum said.

“Son, this is a difficult situation. What are you going to do now?” His dad asked.

“My dear how will you be asking what he is going to do. The relationship is already over.” Stanley’s mum responded.

“I don’t understand mum. Which relationship is over? I want to plead that my wish should be respected. Nnenna is my choice. By the grace of God, we will have children. But even if God chose not to bless us with children, it is not a big deal,” Stanley said firmly.

“Son you lie. Read my lips, you are telling white lies. Let’s have a bet, if you marry that girl, then know that I was not the one that gave birth to you,” his mother threatened.

Stanley stormed out of the house in anger.