Fourteen

On Christmas day, Emily went to church and, as usual, she sang in the choir. It being Christmas day, many people attended church service so the small auditorium was packed full with worshippers. Some of the regular members had travelled to their home towns for the Christmas festivities and their places were filled by the first-time worshippers who were graciously welcomed by the resident pastor. 

The story of the birth of Jesus Christ was retold and the visiting pastor who preached the sermon reminded his listeners that the reason Jesus Christ was born was to reconcile man to God. 

"His birth brought peace to God's people. He is the Prince of Peace and so having Him in your life brings peace into your innermost being. The peace He brings to those who accept Him is not the peace as understood by the world that is, the absence of physical war. The Master Himself said there would be wars and rumours of wars throughout the ages. Kingdoms would rise up against kingdoms and, true to His Word, we have lived with such things throughout the ages. No, the peace He brings is inner tranquillity, even in the midst of storms. 

We all want peace of mind; we want to be able to enjoy our families, friends, work and life itself without worry. God our Father does not want us to worry, as worry means lack of trust in Him. The peace of God is when you can smile even as you hurt because you are able to trust God, although you do not know what may happen to you, when you are going through challenges yet you have that quiet assurance that all will work in your favour because your faith rests in the Word of God; when you go to bed at night and you are abe to sleep soundly like a baby because you have the peace of God in your heart, that is the peace of God that passes all human understanding," he told the congregation.

At that point in the sermon many worshippers, including Emily, filed to the front of the auditorium to give an offering in appreciation of the message they had heard. The message spoke to her heart and she remembered she had experienced the peace of God on a countless number of occasions and she knew for real that God still intervened in the affairs of men as the Bible made it clear. 

When the service ended, she looked for Auntie Okaibea to wish her the season's greetings. After scanning through the crowd for some time, she spotted her at the back of the auditorium engaged in a conversation with a young man. Emily recognised the young man Auntie Okaibea was talking to and as she did so she tried to stealthily slip out of the side door. But just then they both turned in her direction and saw her. 

Emily hesitated for just a brief moment before finally deciding to walk out. She would later explain to Auntie Okaibea why she had left even after they had seen each other, she told herself. While she walked out of the auditorium towards the car park, Auntie Okaibea and her companion used the back door to reach the open parking space before she did. She felt trapped and for a moment she felt like doing what she considered unthinkable, turning her back on them and walking away. On second thoughts, however, she decided to wait and listen to whatever Auntie Okaibea had to say. After all, one couldn't cut one's nose to spite one's face, she reasoned as she waited for the two near the Corolla which she drove every Sunday to church ever since Mrs Adams had given her permission to do so after she had successfully passed her driving test. 

Stephen was looking as handsome as ever in a white caftan worn over a white pair of trousers. The usual merrymaking spirit was gone from his demeanour and in its place he had a very sombre look. None of them smiled when Stephen and Auntie Okaibea finally caught up with her. 

"Merry Christmas, Akua," Auntie Okaibea greeted Emily, using the young lady's pet name. "I'm sure you saw us but still walked away. I know it has something to do with Stephen and I think that but for my presence, you'd have driven away as fast as you could. My child, you have every cause to feel that way, considering the way things went the last time the two of you were together, but I strongly believe in dialogue. Everything under the sun can be resolved through dialogue If only we are willing to listen, show maturity and allow the spirit of God to work in our hearts." She paused and looked around the car park. 

"We must move away from this noisy place to a quieter place where we can talk without being interrupted," she said. 

Emily looked at her wristwatch. It was thirty minutes past midday. She had agreed to have a drink with Dr Newman at one o'clock and it took about twenty minutes to drive back to her residence if there was no traffic. 

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Auntie Okaibea, but I have an appointment with someone at one," she apologised. 

Both Auntie Okaibea and Stephen glanced at their wristwatches. 

"In that case, we'll not keep you," Auntie Okaibea stated. "We'll, however, have to find the time to meet to sort this unfortunate issue out. How soon can you be available for the discussion?" 

"I don't know when I will be free during the coming week," Emily replied. "I can only be sure of Sunday evenings when Auntie Gloria usually permits me time for myself." 

"In that case, can we meet a week from today after church service?" Auntie Okaibea asked. 

"Yes," Emily replied. "That is, if nothing else comes up. But if it does, I'll keep you informed." 

"That's okay by me, my dear" Auntie Okaibea agreed. "But why have you switched off your phone?" 

"I have a new phone," Emily replied. "I'll give you a call when I get home and you can have my new number then." 

Auntie Okaibea smiled to herself. She understood the way her ward felt. 

Stephen had not spoken a word since they approached Emily and when Emily turned towards her car to take leave of them, she did not look in his direction. Later, she had waved, obviously at Auntie Okaibea, but Stephen had waved back at her. 

As she drove away from the church premises, Emily had mixed feelings. Before she had set eyes on the young man, she was in very high spirits, having enjoyed every bit of the Christmas service. She had been the lead singer for the popular song, Amazing Grace, and she had put all her heart into the rendition of the song. There had been tears in the eyes of many of the worshippers as the lyrics of the song resonated with their deepest, innermost feelings. 

However, seeing Stephen had brought back all the emotions she felt she had successfully kept under control. As she thought about her encounter with him, she suddenly felt like hurting him in a way that he would not forget too soon. She felt like giving him a taste of his own medicine and, in a very vengeful mood, she decided she was going to accept Dr Newman's proposal when he finally voiced it out. She knew her older companion needed just the faintest of hints that she was ready and he would propose not just love but marriage. Emily told herself she was ready to move on with her life. She would settle down with the older man. After all, she wouldn't be the first young woman to marry a man as old as her father, she rationalised. She began to sing merrily after she had made up her mind. Her revenge would be so sweet and she couldn't wait to see Stephen's face when she sent him her wedding invitation. 

"God you are so good, God you are kind, God you are so wonderful, My God you are excellent," Emily sang as she tapped the steering wheel in rhythm. 

A few minutes after she had changed from her church clothes into a knee-length dress, Dr Newman arrived to pick her up. 

"Can you spare a few minutes?" he asked as he drove out of the massive gates. "I have to pick up some documents for one of the church's board members. They just called to say they needed the document when I was on my way here." 

Emily agreed to accompany him to his house to pick up the document. 

"How was service today?" he asked. "Merry Christmas!" 

"Many happy returns," she replied and then added, "Church service was very good, as usual." 

"I'm glad to hear that. We also had a good service and I wanted you to come and hear my sermon but, of course, your church needed you," he stated. 

"Do you preach?" Emily asked with amazement. 

Dr Newman smiled. "Yes, I do and I have been a lay preacher for over ten years." 

She was dumbfounded. 

"Would you like to hear what my sermon was about?" 

She nodded and Dr Newman slotted a compact disc into the car's compact disc player. Emily was left speechless as she listened to one of the most powerful sermons she had ever heard. 

"My house is still under construction and I hope you will not be put off by it," he announced when they got closer to his residence. 

Emily remained silent and Dr Newman stole a glance at her face but it gave nothing away. 

The second surprise of the afternoon came when Dr Newman pulled up in front of a white gate in one of the new, plush residential areas of the city. He pressed a remote control device and the gigantic gates pulled open to reveal the most beautiful house she had ever seen. Compared with the imposing building they drove towards, the Adams' residence paled into insignificance. Dr Newman smiled as he noticed the fleeting look of surprise on his companion's face. 

"My humble abode," he announced with pride as he alighted and, as usual, held the door open for her. 

Emily gave nothing away by way of her emotions as she smiled her appreciation for the courtesy he was showing her. When later they entered the very impressive living room, she sat gingerly on the edge of the sofa and waited for Dr Newman to pick up his documents.

"Would you like to have a drink?" he offered as he headed towards a bar at the end of the room. 

"No, thank you," she replied. As she watched him, she began to wonder what tricks her companion had in mind. He apparently read her mind. 

"Relax, my dear," he urged her. "I just told you I'm a lay preacher and you have heard the sermon I preached on Christmas Day. Besides, I'm a highly reputed medical doctor with several years' reputation to protect. In addition to that, I will do nothing to jeopardise my relationship with you. When I marry in a few months' time, it will be with the express agreement of the beautiful lady. I have never forced myself on any woman so don't be afraid. In my relationship with you, I'm willing to give you all the time you need to fall in love with me if you are so inclined. You have said you like me and I have told you I also like you. I'm content with that for now and I can assure you that you will be happy with me and not have a moment's regret. You have my word on that." 

As he spoke, he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of fruit drink. Just then, Emily's phone rang. When she fished it out of her bag, she realised it was Afia trying to reach her. "Emily, are you alone?" Afia asked with excitement in her voice. 

Emily looked at her companion and their eyes met. 

"You may go to the porch if you need some privacy. The dogs are in their pen at the back so you will be safe," he encouraged her. 

Emily rose to her feet and hurried out of the room. She headed for the car which was parked away from the building and stood by it. 

"You can now talk; I'm out of earshot," she told Afia.

"Gird your loins for some action, girl!" Afia began. "God works in very mysterious ways indeed and the world, as I always maintain, is a very small place. A friend of mine called on me over the weekend. Pearl was my mate at the Business School at the university but she is working in Cape Coast currently. 

Her father is also a minister of state so she knows Nana Ama, since they both have the same circle of friends. As we were chatting, she mentioned to me that a friend of hers recently connived with a highly placed society lady to wreck a romantic relationship. I became curious and asked who the characters were. You can imagine my surprise when she mentioned Nana Ama and Gloria. I urged her on to tell me the story and what she said amazed me. She said Nana Ama had confided in her that recently Mrs Gloria Adams enlisted her help in a plan to wreck Stephen's relationship with a young lady called Emily. 

Nana Ama, naturally, was tickled at the thought of taking revenge on the young man. She said Stephen had shown very little interest in her when the two were going out and it had irked her. You know, Nana Ama thinks very highly of herself and Stephen's lack of interest, therefore, dealt a huge blow to her overbloated ego. The two women hatched the plan so skillfully that when they executed it, Stephen, according to Nana Ama, was left speechless with shock. Unfortunately for the two women, however, what they did opened a can of worms in the family. The young man was apparently forced to ask very searching questions and by so doing he discovered that Mrs Adams is not his biological mother. Mr Adams is livid with anger and, according to Pearl, pastors are being invited to mediate. Girl, there's so much to tell you which cannot be said on phone. Talk to Bobby. I'm told he's the one who assisted Stephen to find out the truth about Gloria. By the way, have you mentioned me to him?" 

Emily was speechless and, besides, her heart was pounding so much with fright that she did not know what to say. When she later returned to the room after what seemed like eternity, Dr Newman noticed a change in her mood, although Emily, as usual, tried to mask her inner turmoil with a smile. 

When her companion began an attempt to engage her in small talk, she asked to be taken home. 

"Is there any problem I can help you with? I can help if you need assistance," he offered. 

"No, thank you, but I must get back home immediately," she replied. 

As he drove her back to the Adams' residence, Dr Newman repeated his earlier offer of help but Emily turned it down and relapsed into silence which he considered very uncharacteristic of her. What could be bothering her so much? Had it got something to do with Stephen? he wondered. He made a mental note to find out what was going on. 

When Emily later got to the safety of her bedroom, she called Kojo Ganyo. 

"It's good you have called me," the young man stated. "Can you come over to my place tomorrow morning? There's a lot I would like to share with you." 

"How do I get to your place?" she asked. 

"I'll pick you up from the bus stop in front of the Tables and Chairs Avenue, just a few minutes' walk from the minister's house." 

"I know the place," she assured him. 

She was anxious to learn more about Stephen and the latest development but she knew too well that Bobby would not talk much on the phone. After her brief conversation with the young man on phone, Emily could not sleep that night. Her heart raced so much in her chest that she felt she would faint from the cocktail of emotions running riot within her.