TOKE'S CROSS

 

".....this is the height of it, I can't take it anymore. He is not the only youth pastor in this age, why am I the only one having this headache?. Since they made him youth pastor at the church headquaters, Its been more of a curse than a blessing to me and its affecting the baby. I am not trying to be the "devil" in his calling but this was not what I had in mind when we started dating. What am I supposed to do?! *sobs*....I'm just tired... " Toke kept weeping on the phone.

 It was actually a conference call with Gloria and Oyin (her all time besties) patiently listening at the other end of the line.

"Stop crying toke, you know it's not good for the baby.... I'll tell Femi to talk to him. They've been friends for a long time and I Know he'll listen to him."...Oyin comforted her.

"I've told you to leave this man and face your baby, life is too short for all this. I cannot have somebody giving me high blood pressure in this day and time, I just can't." Gloria snorted.

"Don't talk like that Gloria, not everyone is as strong as you are. Toke needs someone that would love her and we both know how much 'hawt pastor' loves her. Don't worry, It'll be fine." Oyin said, in her ever so calming voice

.

"Alright I've heard you both... Thanks oyin for your understanding and thank you Gloria for your bad advice, I knew I could always count on it"

"...Anytime girl!" Gloria replied, laughing and the phone line went dead.

This was not the "happy ever after" Toke had dreamt of. The baby was 3 weeks due and she didn't need this kind of pressure at least not now. Toke never envisaged that she would end up with a pastor. Pastors were never her "thing". Her meeting 'hawt pastor' was just a coincidence and the few things they shared in common only concentrated the new found love between them. In the beginning, It wasn't like this. Hawt pastor (Biola) always had time for her. He always made himself available for the thursday night drama, which they both watched together on TV in the comfort of their living room. He made it a point of duty to take her out for dinner every saturday night. He knew how agitated pregnant women could be sometimes but he was always patient with her. These and many other acts of love were some of the things Toke missed about pastor.

The night he came back with the news of being promoted to the position of youth pastor at the church headquaters, they both rejoiced and gave thanks to God. Biola started attending crusades all over the world leaving Toke all alone. He would always call her and reassure her of his love but that was not the kind of love Toke was used to. She needed him by her side to reassure her each time she was sad. He always knew what to say to pacify her.

It's been 2 days since 'hawt pastor' came back from the monthly "ready to mingle" crusade and Toke was savouring every minute of his presence before he would disappear again. She  decided to talk to him again about how  his frequent crusades were drifting them apart. He was having breakfast when Toke decided to express her concerns. She had not even said much when Biola started shouting

"how can you say such?.. Do you want to stand in the way of God's ministry?!. Toke what has come over you?.... Who has been advising you?... Is it Gloria? Of course it's her. I always knew she was no good. Rubbish!... I do not have time for this" and he stormed out of the house with his briefcase in his hand.

Toke just stood there with her mouth wide open and no words coming out of it. Was this the man she was supposed to marry in 3 months time?.. Truly life could not be so wicked so as to deal her so many blows at a time, there's only so much a woman can take. Here she was carrying another man's pregnancy and yet planning to marry another man, that she isn't even sure loves her. There was only one person she could talk to now...Femi Tosh.

"Good evening Femi.." Toke managed to mutter on the phone amidst sobs.

"What's wrong Toke?... It can't be that Bad. Oyin told me all about it. Are you at home? Where is Biola?" Femi asked comfortingly.

"He..." *sobs*..."he just stormed out of the house femi.... I'm tired, I'm fed up!" Toke wept on the phone.

"It's alright..don't cry. I know where he might be. I'll go and talk to him...Its alright ok?"

Biola was at the lagoon front, the place where he and Femi always came to each time they had "girl problems". Femi knew that Biola was only reacting to pressure around him. Biola was not a perfectionist but letting people down was not one of his specialities. He loved Toke to a fault and didn't want to hurt her in anyway but then he couldn't let his church suffer either. He managed to explain this and many more to Femi. Having experienced a few months in marriage, Femi was able to advice his friend on the need to draw the line between family and work. He imparted so much wisdom into Biola that caused Biola to even doubt his own 'annointing'. Biola dashed home after the brotherly sermon from Femi only to find Toke screaming and pulling at her hair...the baby was on it's way. It was coming earlier than announced. Right there and then, Biola apologized to his wife-to-be and promised to increase his love for her.

Toke raised her eyes to the ceiling and said to herself "Hmmm.....we might still have that 'happy ever after'. Afterall you are my 'hawt pastor'..." *smiles*

THE END.