Palm lines 2 - Episode 19

 

David's POV
Erika inform me she was going to the police station alongside Mrs Reiner and Kasi to bail Timi out because Ify had him arrested. "Women and their drama" I rolled my eyes and then the thought of Tasha crossed my mind.
I knocked on the door to her room and she permitted me to enter and I did. 
She smiled on seeing me. 
"I knew you would come back" she bit her lips and I shook my head.
"I didn't come for what you think I came here for"
"What do you think I was thinking of?" She bit her lower lip and I shook my head. "Enough of the flirting Tasha, I've condoned it for too long"
"So what are you here for?" 
"You need to leave, I'll find you somewhere to stay . You don't have to worry about paying. I'll pay" 
"Why? What have I done wrong?" She asked innocently and I scoffed. 
"I can't believe you just asked that, Tasha you..." I hesitated looking backwards then i turned towards her,  "You kissed me" I whispered and she scoffed.
"And you kissed me back, we both enjoyed it"
"Tasha I don't want issues with my wife, I love Erika" 
"I know you do but you can always make room for two"
"I'm sorry but you have to go"
"I know what I did wasn't fair but... You possible can't let this happen 
"You have to leave Tasha"
"You possibly can't let me go without healing first

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/palm-lines-2

. I had this sprain all thanks to the burial I went to, just to support you" 
I rolled my eyes, I knew what she was doing; emotional blackmail.
"Okay fine, you can stay until you're okay. After that, you'll leave, promise me you'll leave" 
"Fine" she answered and I sighed.
"Thanks. I know It didn't have to be this way but you're not making it easy on me"  
"I understand." She smiled. 
I was confused, I didn't know what the smile meant. Was she angry or not? It scared the crap out of me. 
I didn't care as long as she'll leave soon. It made sense why Erika wanted her out, perhaps she sensed her as a threat. One should never doubt women and their premonitions!
I walked out and I saw Tammy stare at me, almost as though she was trying to read my mind.
The look was kind of suspicious, she couldn't have seen me kiss Tasha the other day, did she? I thought and then I shook the thought off. 
It possibly can't be. Tammie is uncontrollably big mouthed, she possibly couldn't have been quiet about it.

Erika's POV
The following morning, while I made breakfast, fried potatoes and egg, the thought of Tuni crossed my mind.  "I seriously don't know why I can't be angry at Tuni for long" I complained and David laughed.
"You know how Tuni can be, the girl doesn't have any problem, she doesn't hold grudges unlike some people" he stared at Sharon who had just poured flakes in a bowl and I laughed.
"You'll be eating all these things as if you're a baby" David picked up one of the corn flakes eating it.
"I'm breaking fast" Sharon walked to the fridge to definutely get milk.
"Did Ify finally agree to letting Kasi stay?" She asked and I nodded. 
"Yeah but It wasn't easy. She's pregnant and her baby girl is pregnant, I feel for her"
"You have to know that it's not Tuni's fault right?" David chewed on more corn flakes. This time he picked the bowl up, "I'm not only saying it's her fault, my point is that she could have said something. Together, we could have prevented this from happening,"
"Or prevented the relationship" Sharon answered holding a 'peak milk' tin can. 
"Sometimes I wonder when she'll get mature enough to be a Pastor's wife"I commented and Sharon laughed.
"That's Tuni's nightmare"
"Well she has to get used to it cause whether she likes it or not, she was destined to be a Pastor's wife."
"Mom are you being serious?"  She asked and I laughed. 
"Of course I am. " I answered and she scoffed. "Why didn't she let her know" "Because Tuni would have tried to avoid meeting or dating any Pastor or in Mrs Reiner's word, too much information ruins suspense" I sliced onion and I saw Sharon slap her forehead.
"No wonder it slipped from her mouth years ago and when I asked, she covered it up"
"Maybe it's that fine Pastor from yesterday" I guessed then she looked over at her father who had almost finished the flakes. 
"Seriously dad?" She asked answered I laughed. 
"Sorry" David apologized passing the almost bowl to her. 
"Are you coming to school with me?" I asked and Sharon opened her eyes in shock. "Why?"
 "I don't know, cause you're currently jobless" I answered and Dad laughed and I rolled my eyes. 
"Seriously?" I asked and he cleared his throat. 
"It's because of you guys I decided to stay" 
"And we appreciate it, you said you wanted to find yourself but all you've been doing is staying at home or going over to meet Felix, Tuni or to Crown Prime" Dad added and I scoffed. 
"How long have you guys been gossiping about me?"
"Sharon dear, it not meant to make you feel bad. We really care about you and we just want you find yourself" 
Her phone rang and she went out to pick it up. "That has to be Felix" I guessed and David are the last flakes in the bowl.
"So I um...." He stalled,
"I spoke to Tasha about moving out of the house" he brought up and a smile curved across my cheek, "Why the sudden move?"
"Well...." He stuttered, "I just want to see you happy and since you're not comfortable with her" "I've never been comfortable with her, why now?" I asked moving close to him and he laughed wrapping his arms around my waist.
"If you've noticed, things have been going smoothly between us. I don't want us fighting anymore or arguing over stupid things" 
"You do know we'll keep fighting and arguing over stupid things right? Marriage is no bed of roses" I answered into his mouth and we kissed. 
"Please get a room guys!" I laughed. "And get a husband" Dad snapped. 
"I have a fiance already" 
"I almost forgot" David answered and Mom laughed. 
"Felix just called me to fix a wedding date. It's next month on the 15th" 
"Isn't that too early?" I asked, "You stole the words right out of my mouth and it clashes with Feso's wedding" 
"I didn't realize it. I'll talk to him" 
"Please do but he wants you all to meet his parents" "Where?"
"Where else?"
"If they can't come to Nigeria to meet us the lady's parents, they should just forget about it" 
"Dad"
"That's my final decision Sharon" he answered leaving and Sharon looked at me.
"Don't look at me Sharon. Your father has spoken"

Ayo's POV

After my discussion with Funmi. I made a decision to break up my courtship with Charity. I knew she wasn't going to take it lightly but I had to. 
I called her over and she came with utmost speed.
I was watching television with Banke and Shope who had just finished their exams at OAU.
"I hope you're not planning on proposing to her" Banke asked and I rolled my eyes. "It not  your business"
"I already heard mom talking about wedding already
"It had better not be true oh"
"Why?"
"Cause I want to wear something nice on the train not look like one person in a coffin. Shope do you remember, her eldest sister's wedding and how the train looked?" She asked almost repulsively. 
"Ife is just too pretensiously upright for you. With her as your wife, I doubt if I'll ever visit you" she continued and Banke laughed.
"But mom likes her Sha oh" Shope noted and I rolled my eyes my eyes again.
"Mom will like anyone that wears a skirts that stops at their toe. I'm her daughter and she doesn't like me" Banke added and they both laughed turning their gaze at me. 
"Brother Ayo, you're not saying anything"
"What I want to do is my business..I don't want to join in your gossip" I answered then I heard a knock on the door. "Go and open" I ordered.
"Go and open" Banke ordered Shope.
"Will you now die if you open the door?" Shope snapped and I glared at her. She mumbled some complains before leaving.
Charity walked in afterwards and I demanded some kind of private with her. "Brother Ayo!" Shope cried out in a warning tone. "You don't have to do this oh"
"Come on get inside!" I ordered and they both walked in. "Please sit" I pointed at the seat close to me and she sat on it. 
"Should I be scared?" She asked and I shook my head. "No. There's no cause for alarm neither is there any better way to tell you this Charity" I cleared my throat, "I don't want to make this prolong more it had already"
"What?" She asked and I exhaled in frustration.
"I don't want to court any longer" I answered and she shook her head.
"No. You can't say that. I haven't done anything wrong to you. No,  please" she knelt down before me.
"I have prayed and God has revealed to me that you're my husband. Oko mi (my husband) don't put me to shame" she placed her palm on my lap and I shook my head.
"Please don't do this" 
"I need to do it. Ah! It's necessary. Please in the name of God that I serve and the God you serve. Don't let my enemies laugh at me" she cried and I felt sorry for her. 
"Charity when we started this, I told you I was willing to try"
"You can still try, just add effort"
"Please don't make this harder on me"
"I'll make it oh. We can't break up, mummy! Mummy!!" She yelled on top of her voice. Mum came out with Dad, Janet, Shope and Banke.
"What's going on here?" She asked, "Mummy, Ayo said he doesn't want to do again oh" Charity answered and I looked away.
"You must do" Mom insisted and I scoffed. 
"Shea is by force nii?" Shope answered and Mom raised the back of her Palm against her face. "Says word there again"
"Is this because of that daughter of Jezebel? What's her name, Tuni?" She asked, "Mommy it's her, I'm sure she's the one plotting these things and who knows if she hasn't induced him with love potions to him" Charity assumed and I so my head at how delusional she was.
"Oko mi" mom called out, "You guys can sort it out. It doesn't have to be this way"
"Mom I've already made my decision. I can't be with Ife any longer" 
"Why?"
"Because I don't love her and I can never do. I'm sorry" i apologized and Shope and Banke smiled. Mom glared at them raising a hand to slap them again and I saw Janet grin at me.
"Mummy talk to him"
"Oko mi" mom called out, "Good night Dad" I bent my head slightly, "Good night Mom" I added going out of the house then I drove back home.
I drove over to her house so I could ask her out but then I learnt she travelled to Benue State for a burial. "How long will she be staying?" I asked her mom and she shrugged.
"I'm guessing till Saturday or Sunday. I should have been there too but, I hate burials. It's like I can see the spirits jumping around" she answered and I laughed. 
"You seem disappointed that she's not home"
"Yeah... I guess I'll come back some other time" 
"Why don't you call her"
"It's not something I can say on phone. Well thank you Ma and Good night"
When I saw Tuni in church, it gladdened my heart. After the preaching, I was lead to pray for people who were willing to welcome the holy Spirit into their lives and Tuni was one of the vessels.
She twirled and turned aimlessly . Even when everyone got up she didn't. She just laid on the floor speaking in tongues. 
After service we spoke and then had lunch. I proposed relationship to her but I was disappointed Joel had already made the first move. 
My heart broke even though I tried to maintain my cool even when I went over to the police to bail her brother.
I knelt before my bed and I prayed a little prayer for revelation and guidance. "Not my will Lord but let the will be done" 

Tuni's POV

I knelt down before my bed just before I slept. I pulled the Bible Ayo bought for me close and I exhaled. "Hello God" I paused, "I don't know how to do this, I don't know if I have the strength to pray, or the strength to endure so much disappointments in my life" I busted in tears.
"I'm a sinner, I'm your number one sinner" I sniffed. "I've had s*x, and I don't know if I can stop having it but I hear of righteous people in the Bible and I want to be like them but I don't know if I'm worthy" I suddenly sobbed.
"I've made mistakes, I mean I lost my virginity in Jss3 so God you can imagine. If I were you, I would have flogged me. Am I worthy of your mercy? No!" I paused in thought.
"I don't know if there's any manual to pray or open this big book before me" I looked at the Bible.
"It's so big and heavy and I don't even know why Ayo got me King James version, I would have preferred a Yoruba Bible instead" I laughed cleaning my tears. 
"Maybe I have to pray for strength to lift the Bible up first" I laughed again at my joke. 
"Okay jokes apart Tuni, you're talking to God, have something respect" I paused. 
"Because of my irresponsibility, I've put my brother in a big mess and God I'm so sorry for it" I began crying again. "I don't know how you're going to help him but I want you to. Give him the strength to carry on, Can you make the labor pain less stressful for Kasi? If that's even a prayer point." I chipped In laughing. 
"God I need you to help me understand this Bible. I don't know the Genesis and revelation of this book, holy Spirit, supply me with wisdom, with knowledge. So help me God" I ended it when Nigerian national pledge.
"Amen" I muttered and the turned towards my script and the Bible. It was tempting to pick up my script to rehearse again but I knew I just made a promise to God so I picked up the heavy Bible then I opened it from the beginning. 
I had a different revelation of the word, "let there be light"
Maybe God doesn't want us to be in darkness, which can be synonymous to 'ignorance' then he spoke his word, "Let there be light" and there was light 
Therefore the only  way to get the light which is the knowledge of God that will give us everything we ever want is through his word. 
I had barely read for an hour when I slept off. 
The shooting of Providence began the following day. "It's day one on the set of Providence which will blow everyone's mind" Bunmi raised her camera at me and I smiled. 
Everything went well and then I   saw several missed calls from Sharon so I put a call through to her. "Can you come over to Crown Prime, I just found something out you might be interested in."
"I had lunch with the crew members but Sha.... I'll be there" I answered and then I drove off to Crown Prime. 
Ade was sitting with Sharon, "What is it you guys have to tell me?" I asked and she asked that I sit down.
"Mom said something and I felt you should know" she paused. "Your mom has read your Palm lines like long before now" 
"So...."
"You ended up being a Pastor's wife.

Read " Palm lines " by the same author ( Essien Eno )

. That was what Mom said" Sharon answered and I scoffed. I didn't know what to make of it,  "This is complicated, Ayo's a Pastor and Joel is too."
"Same thing I thought. It's like the case of something grey all over again" 
"Great, that's just excellent so what am I supposed to do now?" "Meet your mom to clarify it" 
"Thou shall not serve any God except me, mom's powers are given by her Orisa (diety), the ways of darkness and light should never mix" I snapped and Ade gave me a blank look.
"Okay where is Tuni and what have you done with her"
"Yesterday I had an encounter with the holy Spirit and I can read Bibles now"
"Um... It has always been written in English" Ade answered and Sharon tapped him playfully. 
"You guys think I'm joking right? Yesterday I spoke in tongues. Even though I can't remember speaking it, It felt good and I feel enlightened. When I read the book yesterday, I'm sorry, I'm not going to meet mom to see into my future. God is the author and finisher of my fate, not Mom"
"Ayo asked me out yesterday. He broke up with Ife. I don't know what is going on" 
"Meet your mom..."
"If you guys are so keen on making me look into my future, maybe I will when you two finally look into yours" 
"Felix fixed a wedding date already." Sharon answered and Ade turned towards her in shock. 
"I was going to tell you. His parents wants to see me so.... Yay!! I'll be married!!" She noted but it was hard to denote if she was happy about it or sad about the news.