"He is a bit slow and clumsy".
Those words clung to Cletus' mind and refused to let go. Mum and Dad were catching up after so many years and a part of him was glad. Another part wondered what would become of Pastor Mike.
He was already warming up to Pastor Mike and had even planned to ask him how he felt about Mum. Now, he would never know what it was like to be a member of Pastor Mike's family.
Mum never ceased to amaze him. He could not believe how good she was with Dora. The girl practically worshipped the ground Syntyche walked on. She was so attentive and well-behaved when Mum was around her. Mum was so patient with her. Yet, the same Mum had no kind words for him.
Yes, he had a few problems with his school work and he broke a few plates. Still, it was an awful way to describe one's son to his long-lost father. Well, he just had to make do with his amazing Mama!
Dora's mum, Josephine, was a stunning woman. It was a pity she had to put her life on hold to care for the child. Maybe Pastor Mike would marry her instead?
His thoughts quickly turned to Aunty Sylvia and his cousins. He had messaged the group that his dad was back. Everyone was sending him happy emoticons. After what Mum told Dad about his slowness and clumsiness, he didn't feel so happy anymore. So he sent
"Mum says I'm slow and clumsy. So I'll just slowly and clumsily go back to my shell. Bye".
As he hit the "Send" icon, he wondered if he should have sent that. Unfortunately, one cannot retract a WhatsApp message once it is sent. Well!
As he was about to turn off his phone and go to bed, he saw a message from Pastor Mike
"Hey son, how are you doing? How are you getting along with your dad and mum? Hope you're keeping out of trouble. Let's talk after service tomorrow; I have a few things to tell you. You're always in my prayers and I love you son. Good night".
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Euodia wanted to shout to let Archippus know she was back home but for some reason, she kept quiet. She was exhausted from the shouting match she had with Syntyche at the Leaders' Meeting. The meeting had gone well until Pastor Gabriel decided to ask if anyone had a comment or question. Syntyche allowed the devil use her at that moment. She started with how Euodia's treatment of Josephine and her unruly daughter was insensitive. She had the nerve to point out that if Euodia had kids of her own, she would have understood how difficult it is to keep kids in check and how tasking it is for parents of kids with special needs especially.
As if that was not bad enough, she went on to talk about how Euodia shot down her idea of starting BBM, Whatsapp and Facebook groups for the Women Fellowship. The idea was one of the crazy ones Syntyche had come up with during the last Women Fellowship Executive Council Meeting. Which decently married woman had time to spare for social media? 24 hours was not enough for a happily married woman to look after her household and still have time for the things of God. If Syntyche had a man to care for, she won't be bringing up such silly ideas....
She couldn't believe Syntyche would have done that! The same woman that was leading Pastor Mike on while trying to resolve issues with her estranged husband. She had even caught her in a restaurant with a man she called Samson. A scarlet woman like Syntyche was calling her out? She lost her cool and gave Syntyche exactly what she was asking for.
Pastor Irene took them both aside and tried to mediate. Euodia couldn't believe Pastor Irene was actually taking Syntyche's side and asking her to apologize. However, she had calmed down enough to catch herself and "obey authority".
She saw Archippus' phone on the sofa and just as she picked it up, a message came in. It was from Mama.
"Your son is in the hospital. We need your attention in the village"
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Sylvia was tired. She was tired of the lies and cover-ups. She was tired of treating STIs. She was afraid of contracting a terminal disease from her philandering husband. She was also penniless. Everything "they" owned was in her husband's name. She was "submissive" like that. Any money she made went into the joint account and she always got her husband's approval before taking anything out. She was taught that her husband's love was dependent on how submissive she was. So, she put her all into being the most submissive wife in the whole wide world.
"So, what do you want to do now?"
"Syntyche, I sincerely don't know o. If I stay, I can contract HIV from this man and die. If I leave, I don't have anything to my name, except my clothes. How will I care for the children?"
"Hmmm, Sylvia, let's work through this rationally. If you stay, you can ask him to use a condom before having sexual relations... "
Sylvia laughed.
"Ask who? Someone that forces himself on me most of the time? And tells me to be grateful that he doesn't beat me when I try to deny him his marital benefits? Izuchukwu is a special human being o"
"Why am I just learning about all these, Sylvia? How did we drift apart like this? We used to be best friends, remember?"
"I know... It was just that when Stephen left, I didn't want to bother you with my marital challenges. I felt that if I continued to pray and fast, Izuchukwu would change and I'll also be able to use my testimony to encourage a young wife on how to persevere and build her home successfully"
They were both crying.
"Sylvia, we're in this together. We'll find our way around this. Let us pray and invite God to help us through this. All will be well"
****************************************************
He knew he would not last for too long before he reached out to her. Syntyche had taken over his heart when he wasn't looking. He had tried to warn himself that he was playing with fire but he just couldn't resist falling in love with her.
She had invited him for lunch two weeks ago and broken the news to him as gently as possible.
"Pastor Mike, I have decided to work on my relationship with Stephen. I am still his wife and the mother of his son. I'm sorry I didn't define the boundaries of our friendship clearly earlier. I'm sorry I got carried away and led you on. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me for toying with your emotions", she said in her lovely matter-of-fact way.
"Do you love him?"
"Pastor Mike, please don't make this difficult. I value your friendship and support. It'll be nice if we continue as friends but I'll leave it to you to decide. I'll soon be leaving. I'm really sorry about the situation I put us both in"
She squeezed his hand and continued with her meal. He wondered if she would slap him if he kissed her and held her the way he had always wanted to. Perhaps she would walk away forever and take his heart with her. He had to stay strong.
"I didn't intend to but I've fallen in love with you, Syntyche. My ears can hear what you are saying but my heart cannot take it in. Thanks for being kind enough to tell me this in person. I hope this doesn't mean I have to stop seeing Cletus, though? I think I'm getting through to him"
"I don't think you should stop seeing Cletus, though the time will now be shared between you and Stephen, if you don't mind. They both need some time to bond".
As she got up to go, he gave her the hug he had always wanted to give her. He almost gave her the kiss but he quickly caught himself...
"Hello Syntyche. How is Stephen? How is Cletus? This is Pastor Mike (in case you've deleted my number, lol). Yes, we can still be friends. I'll send today's devotional in a few minutes. Have a nice day"
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Stephen was overwhelmed by it all. He had gone from having his day all to himself and thinking only about himself to considering Syntyche and Cletus in all his decisions. He and Syntyche were finalizing plans to move in together and living as a family again. They had decided that it was more practical for him to move in with Syntyche and Cletus in order to minimize the disruption to Cletus' life. Besides, since he was venturing into his own construction business, it was easier that way.
He was happy to be back with his family but sometimes he was so unsure. What was he to do when Syntyche infuriated him with her "independent woman" views? What of when Cletus' clumsiness irritated him? For now, he could fake a smile through it since he knew he would go home and take a shower before going to bed. What would he do when it became his 24 hour a day, 7 days a week reality?
Syntyche hadn't even allowed him do more than kiss her. She wanted them to take things slowly and find passion again. Her requests were more than what he had anticipated. He had expected her to be relieved that he had come back to her and they would have just picked up from where they stopped. Still, kissing her set him on fire. That woman was something else.
He realized they had switched phones when the text message came in. It was from Pastor Mike. That guy still had designs on his wife. He had to find a way to get him out of their lives without coming across as being jealous...
Author's Note: Euodia and Syntyche's story is found in Philippians 4:2-3. This is a very very fictionalized version...Stay tuned for Episode 11.
