The atmosphere was visibly strained as all three ate breakfast. Usually, Daniella is the chatty type but this morning, she is unusually quiet and it made Theresa very uncomfortable.
She kept thinking in her mind what she could say or do to make things different and make breakfast lively but every idea she had did not seem right especially because she heard their exchange of words over the night.
Theresa decided to mention that she would be visiting the Ojo’s since they were back. As she started to say something, Joshua spoke. ‘I will be going over to Pastor’s house this morning. I need to pay Simon a visit. It’s been so long since I chatted with him,’ Joshua said.
Daniella did not say a word in response. Theresa spoke up. ‘That’s good. You and the Pastor’s son must be really close. I haven’t really interacted with the Pastor much except when I newly joined and mummy pastor joined the visitation minister to greet me after the service.’
‘Simon is my baby o. I am sure Pastor Dave won’t say otherwise’. Joshua said with some gale of laughter. ‘Pastor Dave and his family are very close family friends of ours. Whenever they are going out of town without the children, their children usually will come over here. We are that close’.
Daniella still did not say anything in response.
‘I was going to share this after breakfast but I’d just say it now. The Ojo’s are back. Yay!!!’ Theresa shared ecstatically. ‘I saw mummy Ojo’s text message from last night and I have responded that I’d come over this morning. I might return late at night. I hope you don’t mind, Sis. Daniella?’
For the first time that morning, Daniella responded, ‘I’d go with you’.
Neither Theresa nor Joshua expected that. That was a quick turn of things. She didn’t ask if she could go, she simply declared she was going.
Theresa quickly responded with joy but she couldn’t hide the surprise, ‘really? That’s great. Mummy will be so excited to meet you. Though she hasn’t heard anything about what happened to me but in the long run, she’d still want to meet you. So why not now? Thank you for choosing to go with me’.
Joshua took a side glance at his wife. He knew without a doubt that she was choosing to stay away from him. She has not said anything to him this morning.
She even led the morning devotion and he wondered how she had quickly forgotten the rule in their home not to enter God’s presence with unresolved conflict.
Is she simply putting up an image because of Theresa’s presence? Isn’t that hypocrisy? He looked at her again and wondered what was running through her mind.
At that moment, Daniella got up, took her plates to the kitchen and went to their bedroom. Just as Theresa and Joshua finished up and were both cleaning up the dining table, Daniella came out fully dressed with her handbag and the car key.
Joshua looked at her and said, ‘Daniella, you want to drive there? I thought we agreed that no more driving until you have put to bed?’
Daniella did not respond at first. Then she sat and said ‘It’s my car and I will drive it’.
Joshua could not believe his ears. Did Daniella just lay personal claim to the car? Yes, she did get the car from her boss as a bonus for winning a very tricky case with a lot of dividends.
But they both agreed to sell his own car so they don’t have to maintain two cars at the same time!
Is it this same issue that is making him see this side of his wife? Daniella has never been one to speak like this in all the years of their courting and marriage!
Joshua did not say anything out of consideration that Theresa was within ear shot. But one look at him, his anger was evident.
Theresa did not know much but she heard disdain in Daniella’s response to her husband, Joshua. She kept very silent in the kitchen so as to avoid making Joshua feel more embarrassed than he already was.
Silently, Theresa prayed to God, ‘Father, let your light shine ever more brightly in this home. Let there be no room for darkness here in Jesus name!’
Theresa heard Joshua walk into their bedroom and shut the door a little louder than necessary, then, she walked out of the kitchen towards the guestroom to dress up. She saw Daniella on the couch aimlessly scrolling through social media.
As she was about to enter the room, Daniella spoke to her and said, ‘Sis. Theresa, when you are ready to go, I am ready.’
Theresa responded saying, ‘Oh, Okay. I should be ready in about 15 minutes.’ As Theresa got inside, she wanted to pray but was not sure how exactly she should pray. She remembered she had received the gift of tongues, she simply opened her mouth and prayed in tongues for five minutes.
While she prayed in tongues, she received the prompting to send a message to Mrs Ojo that she will be coming along with someone. As she got up from her knees to freshen up, she texted Mrs Ojo and within a minute, Mrs Ojo responded with ‘okay, love. Can’t wait to see you’.
Soon enough, Daniella was driving out of the compound. As Theresa closed the gate, Joshua stepped out to the verandah, she smiled at him and said, ‘we are off sir’. Joshua smiled back and waved them off.
Theresa gave Daniella directions as they drove. Theresa brought up many gists to engage Daniella but she only gave short answers and sometimes a nod of the head. Eventually, Theresa asked if she could turn on the radio in the car and Daniella put it on herself.
Within twenty-five minutes, they were already at the Ojo’s gate. Their estate looked so beautiful and Daniella could not help but mention it. As the gatekeeper opened the Ojo’s gate, Daniella saw a woman dressed in a simple styled ankara dress. She had low cut curly hair with some strands of white hair here and there.
However, what stood out the most in this woman is the serenity in her eyes. There was this peace that is undeniable even in the gentle movement of her body. The scripture that came to Daniella as she saw Mrs Ojo was 1 Peter. 3:4. She is one woman with a gentle and quiet spirit.
Daniella recognised that peace and she knows that she has not felt it for some weeks now. How she misses the bubbling joy of the Lord and the serenity that comes with it. Discarding that train of thoughts almost as soon as it came, Daniella parked the car in the spacious compound and almost immediately, Theresa was out, into the wide open arms of Mrs Ojo.
Daniella came out of the car and simply stood watching the duo as they were still locked in that tight embrace and she was certain both were crying. Who would believe that the two are in no way related?, Daniella wondered.
After a while, Theresa broke the hug and she beckoned to Daniella to move closer. ‘Mummy, meet my new found sister, Daniella. I found her while you were away.’ Theresa introduced Daniella lovingly.
You’d think Mrs Ojo had known Daniella before as she drew her into an embrace no different in warmth as she did Theresa, only shorter in time, and no tears.
‘What a baby bump! You seem really far along, Daniella. I am so glad to meet a sister to my beloved daughter. You both certainly have much to download to my hearing. I can’t wait to hear all about how you both met!’ As Mrs Ojo was saying all these, they had sub-consciously moved into the house, heading to the lounge area close to the dining room.
Daniella was still so shocked by this woman’s humility and warmth. She made sure she sat on a comfortable chair before having Theresa sit. Mrs. Ojo excused herself to get them some refreshments before settling for some gisting. But almost as she left, Theresa stood up to follow behind her, leaving Daniella by herself.
Daniella looked around the house as far as she could see. The furniture looked so simple yet functional and Daniella knew they were not cheap. She has seen that particular brand of furniture in her boss’ wife’s office who loved practical furniture.
Everything in the house worked beautifully together and there was the cool effect of the air condition. The comfy reclining chair, the cool air, and the peacefulness of the home soon caused Daniella to drift into an unplanned nap.
She didn’t know when Mrs Ojo and Theresa returned with some freshly squeezed fruit juice and banana bread. Both looked at the sleeping pregnant woman and stifled the urge to laugh about the beautiful scene she created.
As though on cue, they headed to the main living room and as soon as they were alone, Theresa hugged Mrs Ojo again and was sobbing profusely.
‘Mummy, I missed you so much, so much…’ was all Theresa could say between tears.
—————————–
Wheeeeew!
Hello dear reader,
I know it has been super long you heard from Adeyoola. Trust me, the break was not intentional. We had to do some blog maintenance for weeks before Juicy July and thereafter, I needed to still relish the experience of Juicy July in August.
I believe I am back and honestly, I am feeling like this is getting bigger and wider than I hoped for and expected. Like you, I am waiting for the Checkmate moment!
Please don’t get tired of reading this series and I am hopeful that just as the Lord Jesus is speaking to me, He’d also speak to you.
Let me reiterate again, this is purely fictional but the Holy Spirit has no barriers, right?
How have you been blessed over these twenty-two episodes?
Tell me how in the comments section. It’s just a click away.
Yours in Christ,
Adeyoola.
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Checkmate Episode 23
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I’ve really been so blessed by this series, every episode speaks to one aspect of my life and walk. I pray more strength for a deeper walk. Thank you for yielding ma.