Chinasa noticed that Nnenna had not been going to her work place. For 2 consecutive days she met Nnenna at home when she came from work. Another was that was not leaving the house early as before. She waited for Nnenna to talk to her. When she was not coming fort, she decided to confront her.

“Babe, I noticed that you have not been going to your work place. Is there any issue?”

“There is no issue. I have resigned from the work”

“What! What happened?”

“I never planned working there forever,” she answered and looked away.

” I understand. Just that it is too sudden. You didn’t even discuss it with me.” Chinasa pressed on.

“I am so sorry for that,” Nnenna apologized but the tone of her voice showed that she purposely did it.

“It’s okay. But I still want you to talk to me. Why did you leave the job?” Chinasa asked.

“Stanley’s mum came to the office to confront me. She called me a barren woman and warned me to stay away from her son. The best away I can stay away from Stanley is to leave the office,” Nnenna explained.

“Is Stanley aware of this?”

“No and I don’t intend to let him know. I don’t want to cause problem between mother and son.

“It’s a wise decision. But why should his mother go that far. Is she the one that will choose a wife his son?”

“I don’t blame the woman. Anybody in her shoe will act the way she acted. Remember that Stanley is her only son. We should not expect her to happily agree not to have grandchildren. Even my mother that have seven children expects grand children from all of us. The person that should be blamed is the person that told her about my condition.”

“That is the truth. Who gave out that information. Pastor and his wife can’t do that,” Chinasa said firmly.

“I suspect Pastor’s secretary. I believe that she eavesdrops when Pastor is discussing with people. The day I went to see Pastor, I saw her standing near the door of Pastor’s office her ear was placed on the door.

Immediately she saw me, she went to sit on her chair. When I told her that I wanted to see pastor, she told me that pastor was with someone.

“Really! Then we need to report her to pastor”

“My dear there is no need for that. I don’t think thank I and Stanley are meant to be husband and wife.”

“Please don’t say that. You should not confess negative things with your mouth. It is a sign of faithlessness,” Chinasa rebuked her.

“Nasa you are my friend so there is nothing to hide from you. I have been praying concerning this relationship. I don’t have peace. Stanley is every lady’s dream husband. I sincerely wish to marry him. But I keep having fear in me. I don’t even know what I am afraid of. That is not a good sign. For now, everything is fine. But it is only God that knows the future. If after marriage, I am not able to give birth. Can he still stand by me? Won’t he bow to pressure and discard me. I prayed and fasted that God should make his mother to love me. Immediately I ended the prayer, she came to the office to warn me to stay away from her son. I saw her action as an answer to my prayer. I think that God is trying to tell me that the home is not for me. Since the day God revealed my past to Pastor. I surrendered my life totally to him. I know that he loves me and will not allow affliction to arise the second time in my life.

It is better that I did not marry than to marry into a family where I will be tormented.”

“Babe you are right. We will keep praying. God will make everything to be clear as the days go by.” Chinasa assured her.

***********
Stanley kept watching Nnenna as she sips from the fruit juice she bought for her. Lots of questions were flowing through his head. Nnenna was stealing glances at him. She wondered what was going on in his mind. But it was obvious that was worried.

“My dear why did you resign from the office,” Stanley asked softly.

The question caught Nnenna unawares but she tried to regain her composure. She let out a deep breath before answering the question.

” I never intended working in that office for a long time . I told you my plans,” Nnenna answered.

“Yes, you did. But why did you not tell me before dropping your resignation letter? It was daddy that informed me that you resigned from your position. I was thoroughly embarrassed. Though I tried to act like you told me before doing it.”

“I’m so sorry. I never took you for granted. Something prompted my action. Please don’t asked me tell you what happened. I never planned for it but circumstances beyond my control prompted me to do it. I’m so sorry,” she pleaded.

“My dear, all is not well. I have this feeling that someone is threatening you because of me. I’m I wrong?”

Nnenna started laughing to distract Stanley and avoid the question.

“Thank God that I made you laugh. At least it has eased off some tensions,” Stanley said happily.

“Was there any tension? ”

“Of course, there was heavy tension. You have been avoiding looking at my face. Am I carrying masquerade? ”
Nnenna started laughing again and Stanley joined in the laughter.
He felt that the atmosphere was clear for him to dive into the main thing he intended to discuss with her.

“My dear , why are you still keeping me waiting? You have not given an answer to my marriage proposal”

“Agreeing to marry you is not an issue. The main thing is the way forward. Have you told your parents about me? What was their reaction? ”

“You know that dad loves you?” Stanley told her and smiled nervously trying to calm his nerves.

“He likes me as his worker and his son’s friend. Is he aware that you want to marry me?”

“Yes. He has given his approval”

“What of your mum?”

“Babe, she has not even met you. Take the engagement ring and accept to be my wife. Every other thing will be sorted out,”

“Are you trying to tell me that your mother has not heard about me?” Nnenna asked, steadying her gaze on Stanley.

“My mother is aware that I want to marry a lady that her name is Nnenna,”

“Is she in support?” Nnenna asked softly.

“Not yet. But you know that she is yet to meet you.”

“Stanley please, let’s slow things down. Your mother’s consent is needed. Let’s pray more. If it is the will of God that we will come together as husband and wife, he will touch her heart to support us,” Nnenna advised.

“Thank you so much. I have been heavily burdened but you have taken away the burden,” Stanley told her.

“We don’t need to worry ourselves. This relationship is in the hand of God. Let’s allow him to perfect the things concerning us. I don’t even know why you are worried. Don’t you know that you are every ladies dream husband. I am the one that should be worried not to miss you,” Nnenna told him and smiled.

“Wow! You have finally put my heart at rest. I will sleep like a newborn baby this night.” Stanley told her and smiled contentedly.