[Story] Too late – S01 E31

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 31

A month after Karen moved into the house, Charles went to check on his house to ensure it has been roofed. He didn’t plan to renew the rent of the house he lives currently. He inspected the house and roofing and was satisfied.

He instructed his driver to drive to Brian’s house. He was worried and needed to share his worries with him. Brian was driving into his compound when Charles entered the compound. They exchanged greetings and he followed him in. Then Charles told him of Karen.

“I can’t believe this. I am disappointed in you Charles. You shouldn’t have allowed her move into your house again. She’s going to ruin you. Ahhh! You can’t be beaten twice na. Forget her stories. It seems you don’t know her. Karen is an actress”

“She said she has given her life to Christ”

“Really?, Since when?” Brian laughed hilariously.

“What evidence can you see in her?”

“Well, she only moved in a month ago.”

Brian left the chair to the kitchen. He soon returned with two bottles of soft drinks. Charles thanked him and after opening it, sipped from the bottle. Both of them sipped quietly.

“By their fruit we shall know them” Brian said.

“How do you mean?”

“A good Christian produce good fruit and you will see the fruit.”

Charles nodded understandably.

“I want us to put aside emotion. Seek the divine counsel from the Lord. If God spoke to those Pastor as she claimed, God will also speak to you concerning her. Let Gods word lead you.

As they sat there drinking quietly, Charles’ mind went to Elena. He truly felt something for her. It dawn on him that he had really not gotten any answer from God regarding Elena. That was because he assumed Elena was meant for him. Since he likes her. He was convinced God has given him the sign that Elena is his wife. Now he felt like a fool.

“If I were you, I won’t take Karen’s word so serious. I know her to be a bloody liar. I believe the man she enloped with disappointed her or something like that. Maybe she’s even pregnant and want you to have sex with you.”

“God forbid that I should entangle myself in sin.”

“It’s wrong for Karen to live with you. Both of you are not married. It’s morally wrong to live together.

Charles sighed deeply and began to tell Brian’s his plans.

Brian smiled and began to talk to him. At a time, he went to his room and returned with his bible.

“You must be wise. Marriage is not what you delve in without preparation. I don’t want you to be confused about the whole thing. Seek divine counsel from God. Have you actually seek God about Karen and Elena? Do just assume because both of them are beautiful and one of them is surely made for you? It will be devastating if you make mistake in choosing a life partner.”

Charles sighed deeply.

“Proverbs 11:14 says: where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 15:22: without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.”

“Ahhh! I remembered the bible verse I read this morning, the same proverbs 12:15: the way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel” Charles finished, nodding his head.

“Charles, you need to seek God. Waiting for your right answer is an exercise in trusting God and letting go of our attempt to control things. The truth is we aren’t in control anyway and we expend a lot of energy trying to prove to ourselves that we are.”

The book of proverbs 19:21 says: many plans are in a man’s heart, but the counsel of the Lord will stand. Go home Charles and seek divine counsel.”

Before Charles left Brian’s house, he had known what to do.

———————————–

Tears fell from Karen’s eyes as she lay on the bed. The event of the previous weeks began to play in her head. She was hurt and felt used by Kam.

She had to come back to Charles. She had thought about many things and concluded he was the only one who truly loved her. Karen also knew Charles was soft hearted and if she could just shed a few tears, he would accept her back into the house and his life. she had to come up with lies to reach his heart.

Now that she had moved into the house, she will not leave. She vowed to pitch her tent with Charles. This time she will stay with him and plan their life together.

Karen regretted the fact that she got pregnant for a man who didn’t marry her. Her parents or family never met Kam. None of her family knew she was ever pregnant talkless of giving birth. That is a secret she was ready to keep. She will never tell anyone she was once pregnant. Never! She was grateful that no one knew her around here.

“It will never be well with you Kam. You wasted my time. May God’s punishment rest upon your head” She cursed.

Karen was jolted out of her deep thought. She stood up and walked lazily to the door. It was Elena that stood at the door. She had decided after many weeks of silence to come ask Charles what her offence was. Her brother did not come with her, for she thought Charles may not open up to her if he was with her.

Elena stood there and smiled. She wondered why Charles never mentioned having a sister to her.

“Good evening, you must be Charles sister” She said smiling.

Karen stepped aside to allow her enter the house. Karen wondered who Elena is. She planned to find out. Elena made herself comfortable on one of the chairs in the sitting room.

“Where is Charles?” She asked.

“He is not at home”

“Ooh!, I thought he is home” She said smiling.

Karen looked at her beautiful face and her beautiful set of white teeth.

“My name is Elena and you are?”

“Karen”

“Wow!, Beautiful name”

“How come Charles never said anything about you? So he has a pretty sister and he has never said anything about her. Waoh!.

“What’s your name again? Karen asked.

“I am Elena, his church member. We have been friends, Great friends” She added and smiled.

“Wow!, This is great”

“He has said nothing about you either”

Karen smiled and sat up properly.

“Do you know he’s married?”

“Married? I don’t believe Charles will get married without telling me or inviting me to his wedding”

“I am not his sister. I am his wife Elena. We just got married a week ago”

“Ooh! Congratulations then. He did..not even bother to in..vite me” She stammered, surprised and sad.

“We decided not to invite friends, only family”

Karen watched how Elena’s face turned from smile to sadness. This gladdens her heart. She will keep any female from Charles. Elena stood up.

“I…I.. must ta..ke my leave..e” She stammered.

Karen too stood up and saw her to the door. Then she called her.

“Please keep what I told you to yourself. A lot of people don’t know we are married” She said.

Elena nodded and forced a smile. Elena walked very fast to the gate.

God had told her Charles is her husband, yet God allowed him to marry someone else. As she stepped out of the gate, Charles stepped out of the car. They exchanged pleasantries and Elena walked very fast as one being pursued. Charles called her back but there was no response. He stood there for a time watching her before entering the compound.

“What did you tell Elena?” He asked as soon as he stepped into the house.

“Elena, Who is Elena?” She asked pretentiously.

“The lady that just left”

“Ooh!, That lady?. She asked after you and I said you went out”

“Is that all?”

“Yes, did she say I said something bad to her?”

“No, no, not at all”

Charles was still worried. He sent her messages on WhatsApp apologizing for the way he embarrassed her the other time.

Elena saw the messages and responded.

“I have long forgiven you. Forget that anything like that ever happened”

“You are angry with me, why?”

“I am not angry. Just disappointed that you got married without telling me or inviting me. I now knew why you were avoiding me.”

“Me married?”

“Your wife even begged me to pretend I didn’t know anything about the marriage”

“Alright I will get back to you” He replied and put off his data.

He frowned.

He now understand why Elena didn’t want to speak to him after the exchange of pleasantries. But why would Karen do such, he asked himself.

“She just came only few weeks ago and she has started causing trouble. I know what to do”

Charles never confronted her. He didn’t want to offend her. He may have been a fool for opening his door for her after all she did, he will never open his heart to her except God says so.

In as much as he loves Elena, he was still going to pray about it. This time, his prayers would be intentional.