Chapter 17: Chapter 17

The news about Theo’s disappearance filtered around and created uncertainty to Nkiru. The news got to Nkiru first, through Akintola and then Sophia. Vero heard about it from Paula. No one said he or she saw or heard from Theo the past one week, from Nkiru and Vero’s calculation; they were the last people that saw Theo, before he went missing. Report had it that Nkiru’s mother-in-law collapsed and was rushed to the hospital, on hearing the news of Theo’s disappearance for a second time.

“I hope something worse had not happened to Theo,” Vero expressed her fears.

“How do you mean,” Nkiru asked out of Panic.

“I still remember his comment. He said, ‘Nkiru, don’t walk out of my life... if you do so, I will be gone before the night,’ that comment, ‘gone before the night’ if I get him right, could mean, contemplating suicide.”

Vero’s postulation got Nkiru thinking, “I don’t think Theo would do such a thing.”

“Let’s hope so, Nkiru, because no one can completely know the heart of a man,” Vero reasoned.

Pastor Pela’s call rattled Nkiru out of her nap at about an hour later. He told Nkiru he had arrived in Abuja and told her where to meet with him. Pastor Pela’s conversation with her, elevated her dampened spirit that characterised her day, since she had about Theo’s disappearance. But the clergy’s counsel changed her perception. “You don’t have to worry, Theo would return,” Nkiru believed those words from her pastor.

Sophia’s call came through a couple of minutes, after Pastor Pela had finished praying with Nkiru. Sophia had brought her good news. Nkiru former boss had hinted on the plan to have Nkiru return to her job, if she so choose. Her position had remained vacant since her resignation.

Sophia also asked if Nkiru had any news about Theo. She said no, but was resolved in faith Theo would come back, according to Pastor Pela. Her decision to pursue a divorce with Theo had also faded away, owing to the new aura of fortune she perceived around her at the time.

Nkiru had informed Veronica about her planned visit to Pastor Pela. “Vero, I want you to accompany me to Maitama to see my Pastor.”

“Ooh Nkiru, not now that I need rest,” Vero grumbled.

“You know, I don’t know my way around. Again, manoeuvring around this big city with baby would be difficult for me,” she explained.

“Okay, for the sake of baby, I will go with you,” Vero accepted.

“Thank you,” Nkiru hugged her friend, “I am so sorry, I had to bother you a lot,” she pleaded.

“O never mind, what are friend for,” Vero shrugs it off.

The next day Nkiru and Vero embarked on the journey to see Pastor Pela. It’s a public holiday. They rode on Vero’s car. Nkiru strapped baby to a toddler car seat at the back. They rode around the Maitama metropolis, until they got on Ministers Hill Maitama district as described on the address they parked. The place was serene and highly exclusive, with trees along the road. Nkiru and Vero hopped out of the car. Nkiru picked her baby from the back seat. She had not been disturbing of late. They walked down to house No. 13, the building bearing the same number in the description. The guard had been informed about the ladies’ visit, showed them to the door.

Pastor Pela opened the door for the ladies, after a couple of knocks at the door by Vero. “You’re welcome, come right inside,” the clergy man ushered them in. He walked them to a seat in the living room, with a well furnished interior decor. “You’re welcome,” she greeted one more time.

Pastor Pela called Chioma. She came and dished a sumptuous meal for the ladies. Pastor Pela invited the ladies to the dining table. The clergy opened up a conversation as the ladies began to eat.

“Nkiru, I have called you for a reconciliatory meeting. Like I said to you before, no marriage is perfect, and yours is not different. I want you to forgive Theo and accept him back as your husband. I have spoken to him and have counselled him and made him see his faults. He’s given me his word to be a responsible husband...”

Nkiru paid rapt attention to all Pastor Pela said. She sobbed as she recalled those trying times she faced, because she was yet to have her own child, all that are in the past now.

“Are you willing to forgive Theo and accept him back as your husband again?”

“Yes Pastor, I am willing to let go of the past and ready to rebuild our broken home. But how is that possible, now he is nowhere to be found,” Nkiru revealed.

Pastor Pela beckoned on Chioma and whispered to her ear. Nkiru and Vero watched the lady walked inside the room. Pastor Pela said nothing further and the ladies looked on in suspense, until Chioma emerged with Theo on his crutches. Nkiru was shocked. The lady helped Theo to a seat.

“Theo was attacked by hoodlums the evening of the same day she called at your place. All his personal effect was taken off him. The medical personnel could only find a business card with my phone contact on it that was how I was contacted...”

The Pastor narrated all that had transpired, while the ladies looked on dumbfounded at the entire Theo’s ordeal in the hands of street miscreants.

Theo seized the moment to apologize to Nkiru. Nkiru had suffered greatly in his course of abandoning his home and block all joint accounts. Nkiru accepted Theo’s apology in the spirit of love and for the new born. Both embraced each other in the glare of Chioma, Vero and of course Pastor Pela.

Theo held his baby in his hands for the first time. He gazed at the child excitedly and christened her Peace. She had not been named. Pastor Pela took baby, Peace from Theo. He blessed the baby and blessed Theo and Nkiru as they both knelt before him.

Smiling, Theo took the baby from the clergy and played with her. He had a private time with his wife.

“Nkiru, I dealt wrongly with you," he said. "I was out of my mind. I allowed the devil to have the best of me. Please, forgive me."

“I have forgiven you because of our baby,” she said.

“I want us to start our relationship as husband and wife all over again. I want us to start on a clean slate, like nothing happened before now.” He brought out a ring from a case in his hand. “Give me a second chance to be your husband.”

“I will again and again,” she said, “In good times and in bad times.”

Theo held his wife’s hand and shoved the ring up her finger, and it sparked off a renewed emotion of love. The couple embraced each other.

Nkiru soon discovered that the apartment they were in belonged to Theo. Nkiru and Vero passed the night at the place. They moved back to Lagos, after a week. Theo allowed Vero and Chioma to move into his Maitama apartment.

Theo apologised to Caro and Monday, his domestic staffs and gave them an additional incentives to their salaries. They were happy again to serve.

Theo called for a get together party. Everybody was in attendance, Akintola and family, his in-laws travelled dawn all the way from Delta to grease the occasion. Sophia was in attendance as well.

Theo’s mother and his sibling came around. His mother had recovered fully from her ailment. She embraced her son. Once again, he was close to his family. It was an unconditional love bound by the blood flowing in their veins. Theo took the opportunity to apologize to everybody who had suffered one pain or the other in his course of abandoning his home and family. They all accepted his apology in the spirit of love and celebration.

Nkiru was given a recall letter from his former employer and was to resume in two weeks. She was glad she was returning to the job she resigned from. Her decision to resign her job was taken under duress.

Theo and Nkiru visited the ranch on a second honeymoon. They had picnic on the open field with lush green grasses. They rode in the cable car at Tinapa and they relived the memory of their first honeymoon by kissing and cuddling each other, with Peace in their company.