Bella meets Stella

Chapter 4

"Whoops! This is saddening." Richard murmured as he fixed his gaze at Bella with a pathetic look.

"We were left with no other choice than to sell our company off in other to settle all the bills on our neck. 

 My dad has been in Coma since the incident, he's in a vegetative state. The doctor even suggests that we let him go since he is not recuperating but I don't want that, I want to see my dad again, I want him to see that we can get back to our feet. I want him..." her voice trailed off as hot tears dribbled down her cheeks.

"It's okay Bella, cry no more. With your pertinacity and avidity, I believe you can get back to your feet." He reassured.

"To be candid, we all know it's not possible. I mean how do we get our company back? How do we get John Bee's Company back allocated with 10 branches in the US?

 How?

  What about our properties?

   Our reliable business associate? 

   We lost everything, I was left with no choice but to leave the U.S and come stay with Maria, my cousin here in Nigeria."

 

Gosh! I don't want to think about it again." she sobbed. 

   Talking about the incident made all the pain and anguish inside her rose like a tidal wave.

 

 "Everything will be alright Bella. Just be hopeful."

 

 "I swear with my life, I'm going to make them pay. I will fight tooth and nail to make those criminals end behind bars. They will pay for all they made my family go through, the pains, the debt, everything. I promise." She said with determination as she wiped off her tears.

 "I guess it's better we stop here, probably we'll continue some other time." Richard implied for it was obvious that she has not healed from the trauma. 

 She seems to be in agony as she was narrating the unpleasant ordeal, so it's better they suspend that talk for another day.

 "No, it's fine. I'm sorry for being emotional, I just couldn't control the tears," she said with a forced smile.

  He signaled to the Waiter, then paid for what they ordered.

  "I don't know if you'll be free on Sunday. My wife wants me to invite you for lunch." He said changing the subject.

  "Oh! That's so sweet of her. Of course, I'm free." she retorted.

  "Okay, we will be looking forward to seeing you."

  "Oh, I can't wait then. I can't wait to see the woman that later capture your heart, I almost thought you were practicing Clerical Celibacy. Those people who think getting married is a sin." Bella gushed.

  "That's an Absurd thing to say. Why wouldn't I want to get married?" he inquired with a soft chuckle.

  "The way you relate with people of the opposite gender made me think otherwise. I mean you're not the only sexual Purity Advocate but yours was different and weird. Huh," she scoffed.

  "Well, I guess my action then, later payoff. I mean, I got married to the woman of my dreams, who is building the loving family I yearned to have." He said smiling broadly.

  "Wow, your wife is so lucky to have someone like you as her husband."

  "I'm also fortunate to have an Angel like her as my Wife."

  

  "Damn! I'm jealous. Where will I get my loving husband."Bella flushed letting out a short laugh.

" Soon, soon, my dear."

"Yeah, I know but I'm envious of you. You have a happy family, you're financially stable and so many good things like that." She muttered trying not to sound unhappy.

  "Come on, there's nothing to be envious about, is it about marriage? God will provide an amiable and caring man for you. The man of your dreams, who will love and cherish you in every moment.

  He'll do so at the appropriate time."

  "He will do it, yeah I know but when is the appropriate time for him to do so? She jeered.

  "I'm 29, in case you don't remember. I will be turning 30 by next year January."

 "Just know God doesn't care about human decisions or plans. He does his work at the appropriate time and yours is yet to come. Just be patient and believe."

 

"Okay pastor," she said with Sarcasm laced in her voice.

"How is your pastoral work? I mean, I could remember vividly that your main desire then was about God and how to improve in your ministry. You were even talking about going to a theological school then."

 "Yeah, that is true. I did after I traveled back to Nigeria, and graduated five years later, to be candid the journey has not been easy but I give God the glory. I'm still a junior pastor in our church".

"Oh! I'm not surprised, I know you will later become a pastor."

"Why?" he asked with a menacing stare.

"It was obvious. Your zeal and enthusiasm were eye glaring. Like, you love God, preached the gospel, prayed, and did all sorts of things in fellowship. I was envious then because you could pray for hours without getting tired or bored, you do not find it hard to do anything that concerns the work of God and all sorts of things."

"Oh!" he exclaimed.

"Yes sir."

"That was the main reason I wanted you to become my school father then". She added.

"Yeah, you told me about it then. So how has your relationship with God been?"

"Ha!" she exclaimed.

 He stared at her in confusion.

 

"I guess we will talk about that some other time," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Oh!" he exclaimed again.

"Yeah," she said nodding her head slowly.

.

.

 ~SuNday~

Richard was in the living room with his kids. They were watching one of their favorite animations on the Tv, and Janice was sitting down on his lap.

"Daddy, I don't like Barbie. She behaves like a kid." Felix said referring to one of the characters in the movie.

"No daddy, I like Barbie. She's pretty"Janice argued.

"Yeah, I agree with Janice, Barbie is pretty and brilliant too." Richard Added.

"No Daddy, she's not brilliant. She's a Dimwit."

"Oh, that is too harsh." Richard gaped at the statement his son made.

 The sound of the doorbell disrupted their talk.

 

 "I will go get it, "Richard said as he dropped Janice and scuttled towards the door.

 "Oh! Bella," he verbalized as he opened the door revealing Bella.

 

 "Hi, Uncle Richard." She greeted with a big smile plastered on her face.

 "Come in " he ushered as he opened the door widely for her to come in.

 

 "Hope you didn't find it hard to locate this place?"

 

  She smiled "No, not at all".

 "Hi kids." She waved at the kids.

 

 "Good Afternoon ma'am." They responded.

 "Kids, meet Aunt Bella and Bella Meet my kids, Felix and Janice." he introduced.

 "Wow, what a nice name you have got there."

"Thank you, ma'am."

 "Excuse me, let me go get my wife, she's in the kitchen."

 "Okay, can't wait to see her," she said flashing him a smile. He nodded as he scurried to the kitchen.

He tiptoed inside the kitchen, trying not to make any sound. Stella was washing the dishes in the sink, her back was turned against the entrance of the door which made her oblivious of his presence.

 He wrapped his hands around her waist as he got to her. She was startled.

 "Oh! Richy, I didn't notice when you walked in."

 "That was because you were so engrossed in what you're doing," he said as he placed a soft kiss between her neck.

 "Stop it, Hun, you can see I'm busy." She whined.

 

 "Come on, you know I would have come help you out if the kids are not around. I can't leave them alone in the sitting room, you know what they are capable of."

 

 "Yeah, I know."

 

 "Well! Well, well. Our visitor is here already." he announced.

"Oh My Goodness! Are you serious? she questioned in surprise.

"Yes, and why did you look tensed?"

"I'm not." She defended as she picked up the hand towel and wiped her hands.

"How do I look?"

"What? Are you going to meet the president?" he asked with a sardonic gesture.

"Come on, I need to look presentable. What did you want your school Daughter to think of me?  An ugly duckling or old-fashioned woman?"

"Okay, let's assume you are not looking good or presentable, will you go inside to change your outfit?" He questioned with a sly grin.

"Of course, so tell me now."

"Okay, you're looking pulchritudinous," he said with a wily smile.

Bella shot him an annoying glare and muttered "Whatever!"

 * * *

As they got to the living room, they met Bella laughing with the kids. "Wow, they seem to get along pretty well. That is so quick" Stella mumbled.

"Bella is always like that, she has a bright and bubbly personality".

"Hi, Bella," Stella announced in other to get her attention.

 

"Geez!  Mrs. Jacob"  Bella screamed as she got up from the chair. They shared a brief hug.

"Finally, I got to meet my school Dad wife." She squealed in delight.

"I guess the feeling is mutual. I finally get to meet my husband's one-time school daughter." She said as they giggled.

"You're looking beautiful." Stella complimented.

"Thank you, ma'am."

"How have you been doing?"

"I have been doing well oh."

"Ehiy! This is not the time for introduction let's get something inside our belly first."Richard interrupted.

 Stella shot him a playful glare "Whatever! Let me go set the dining."

 

"I can help if you don't mind." Bella offered.

"No, that won't be necessary."

"Mommy, I'm famished." Felix chimed in.

"Sweetie, Mom is done cooking. I will dish out the food now."

"Okay, mommy."

"I will set the table now in a jiffy," She replied.