The Grace Card

It was a good day at work. Being a Friday with moderate warmth made it even more exciting. Perhaps it is because everyone is always thrilled about the weekend with the gazillion plans that never get actualized. For her however, more sleep and getting cozy under the covers with her Amor is what made her weekends. Occasional breakfast in bed made it epic. After work today, Steph headed for the grocery as is her norm before going home. Broccoli, amaranth garlic, ginger etc. But she needed garlic specially to go fix “pilau” for dinner. She has been doing this and today, hers’ is a famous name amongst the grocery selling ladies who are peculiarly friendly with her. One day as she was within earshot, she had overheard them giggle and whisper aloud.

“This young girl has been raised well, from the ring it is obvious that she is married and taking care of her man well…I wish my daughter grows up to be like her,” said mama Nice. “I wish,” said mama Glo to her companion all of a sudden thinking about her girl who drives her nuts; she is always dreading the next report to hear about her. ‘I failed” she had lamented but Mama Nice comforted her. You see, Steph is one of those women who likes to paint her lips with pale colors accentuating her African queen chocolate complexion. She wears striking heels that bequeaths her feet with such elegance; a woman commanding the aura of the last boss standing. But that girl cooks. Her food is to die for. She does her grocery shopping and cooks for her family. That astounds many in her circus but makes her hubby the proudest of all men. What a formidable combination!

Steph still remembers like yesterday how her aunts had sat her down for the bridal lectures once the wedding date was set ‘‘Soon, you are going to be living with a man baby, even if you forget everything, I want you know that you have a responsibility to keep your marriage. Cook for him. Besides romping sex escapades, food is a way to a man’s heart, stressed Aunty P.” As though following a script aunty Racy took the mantle. “Of big booties you can never avoid, they are everywhere; at work, homes, malls, streets, and even in church! Just make sure your man finds no reason to stare away from home.” Amidst giggles and spurts of laughter she continued to give her wisdom. “One thing is that no matter how tired you are my girl; never deny that man his other food". And you better be ready to explore that world with him, emphasized aunty Racy. Steph smiled shyly but deep down wondering how this aunty who was unmarried and kept changing men like baby diapers could ooze such statements when she could hardly sustain a single man in her bed. “Yes Aunty, she answered with a nod.” “Be flexible too and let not your bedroom escapades be limited to what I can only term as Dead Cockroach Syndrome”, she added lightly as the entire room burst into hysterical laughter’s.

That day, the panel of women who religiously attended to her in preparation for her wedding and subsequently marriage told her many things. But of the many things, she did not forget this; the place of food on her house; serving his man a gourmet stomach food and the other “soul” food. After the wedding, she had resolved that, Glory was a man who deserved to be served pound yam ugali and jollof rice with a combination of stew. He was a good man. He deserved better than indomie and eggs fix; and she was delighted to pull off her heels and throw off her trench coat after a hectic day and cook for the man who had robbed her of her heart.

Two years of pure bliss, cemented love story, trust and loyalty. She had no regrets and was glad to count Glory, her lover, her second best blessing after God; her significant other. Theirs was a match made in heaven, and like a beetle and the cow dung, they were inseparable! They knew each other so well. So well such that either could sense the smell of the other from a crowd.  For the last two years, Steph has continued to work hard to make theirs a simple and refreshing home for the hubby and anyone visiting. When she is not working during the weekend, her house is full of activities; the kitchen with foods all over the counter, onions sizzling and whistling in a pan with oil; Her hands kneading the dough, scaling the fishes (which are his favorite by the way), or perhaps chopping fruits for making fresh smoothies. She cooks not just to feed up his man but because she enjoys it.

So, today like any other Friday she passes through the grocery shop on her way from work. Today is a special day for them. Ideally, after the series of events that have clouded their blossoming marriage that is just shooting its bud, it would be understood if she just opted for a Chinese take away or grab something from a Mc Donald’s but she does not.

She enjoys cooking and singing along her favorite hymns. From the patio of her kitchen directly overlooking her garden, her singing reverberation can be picked in-sequentially.  She is humming “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound”.

From the tone, she sounds so calm and peaceful.

When Glory comes back and lets himself into the living, his woman is so lost in her singing that the only other sound is of knife clattering and a joyful woman doing her magic in the kitchen. 

Afraid to disturb that innocent joy, Glory tiptoes and just peeps at this woman who has loved him so effortlessly without limitations.

“How can she be so happy after the stupid mistake and such incomprehensible pain I caused her? She even comes home after a hectic workshop and fixes dinner for a man who has broken his vow to protect her? I so don’t deserve this girl,” Glory thought.

He stands transfixed for about 5 minutes before his chains of thoughts are rudely interrupted by the sudden ‘Oh my goodness’ scream of Steph who has touched a hot sauce pan lid that she let reel down in thud.

“Ouch,ouch…this really hurts,” mourns Steph in a loud thought as she massages the burnt finger with flour.

“Am sorry babe,” Glory finds himself saying apologetically as he unconsciously reaches out to Steph over the kitchen counter.  “Let me see that.”

“I didn’t know you were home yet Mi amor? And I missed you this morning too. So how was work today? asks  Steph, as her husband blows  a puff of cold air on the wounded finger. Hiding his excitement; she had called him “Miamor”

Looking straight in her eyes, he holds the gaze. Instead of answering, he lets his eyes speak. “You are a beautiful woman sweetie, a kind soul and such a blessing to me. I am glad you chose me. And you sing so beautifully I just got content watching you oozing with such joy…I love you. I am sorry.” 

Steph, freezes as he blows cold air into the burn. After nights of obvious avoidance, she didn’t see their conversation heading this way. His hands linger abit farther and naturally reaches for her waist. Steph trembles. It has been 3 days now of silent treatment and it is proving unbearable. The volcano especially in Glory’s heart is threatening to spew its contents far and wide. 

“I have missed you my flower, he says.”  Glory doesn’t understand why his other half is acting so calm and in control and it terrified him. For the last three nights, it was impossible for Glory to come close to her. She felt unsafe around him. He didn’t know what to think. The hands that touched her so tenderly felt like talons of a falcon and the eyes that gave her a snapshot of heaven scared life out of her.

As he holds her at the kitchen, she feels a conglomeration of feelings that leaves her dumbstruck; Fear, Anger, betrayal, Love, grace. She lets him massage her waist briefly and she lifts up her eyes to reach out to him.

And in a whisper, she says “Happy birthday to you my darling, am glad you are home.” Holding his chin with flour coated finger, “Now go up and change, let me wrap up the cooking and set the table, we need to celebrate your birthday, okay…”

“Oh my goodness, you remembered sweet, baked a cake and now cooking? counters a perplexed Glory. “Well, it’s my husband’s birthday and also the day he proposed to me…I figured out what happened 3 nights ago shouldn’t cause us to forego this celebration. Now go freshen up. I will see you at the dining table in 10 minutes. He blows her a kiss and heads for their bedroom. 

He stares at the neatly made bed and recalls with nostalgia the first night at their matrimonial bed. The passion shared, intimacy expressed and the glorious sex. Huh, just like his name, glory. It was a beautiful memory that left him smiling absentmindedly. He has been sleeping at the guest bedroom for those three nights. He couldn’t bear see her bae cry. The thought of her hurt crushes him. He regrets it and swears that tonight, he has to come clean. Steph deserves the truth for starters and so much respect and protection. He broke her trust when he came in smelling a woman’s perfume and traces of her collar carrying remnants of a pale lipstick that tells a story of some lips making a detour in the wrong lane. He has to tell her the truth that it is not what she thinks. He wanted to tell her how he feels, that she is the one and only. She hadn’t fought with him when she saw the red lipstick. She just kept quiet and wouldn’t let him lay his fingers on her.

"She has fixed my dinner and let me know that she missed me in the morning... I can't believe it, Glory thought quietly as he reached for his bathrobe. "How lucky can a man get? I have to make this right with my gal and am gona do that tonight before dinner lest the broccoli flower chooses to choke me before I tell her about the lipstick." 

Glory gets a quick shower and goes downstairs to an already set dinner. A candle lit dinner. This woman loves her and it is evident right in his face.

As he sits down beside her on the opposite side of the table, he feels uneasy and as if Steph senses it reaches her hands to his.

'' Let's pray for the meal sweet, am sure you are dying to sample out the special menu tonight, she says with brief smile forming around her fleshy lips." He smiles back and relaxes...

" I need to talk to you about Tuesday darling,” he spurts before pushing his knife and folk aside.

“Sssh," she tries to shush him to no avail. “Let's talk after dinner miamor. Please.” 

But he wouldn't listen. She lets him speak and explain himself.

"First of all, I am sorry babe that I let you go through such unimaginable pain. It broke me every time I tried to touch you and see you cringe in distrust and am sorry. The lipstick you saw was from a woman at work, the very one I told you about causing scene with me; my boss. We worked late. She made coffee. I don't know what happened because the next time I came to my senses she was all over me. I was confused sweetie, kind of dragged but I swear nothing happened.  “What!” Steph squirms on her seat with eyes threatening to pop out of their sockets! “Are you serious?” she interjects him. “Yes, baby, yeees…I didn’t know what to tell you that night. I swear I wanted to but didn’t know what to make of it all and am sorry,” says Glory remorsefully. She threatened to give me a hell of time if I say a thing about.  I wanted to thin first too. I was torn, but I resigned today. I couldn’t lose my wife. Another job I can find but not another you princess. ”

She stares at him dumbstruck, tears running down her cheeks leaving a warm sensation. Her eyes searching his, he leans over the table towards him.

“You remember that church I attend morning devotions once in a while?” “Yeah, sure” he replies. “I was there today and we were given a challenge by the preacher, an old card. A card he asked that we give it to someone who has or we feel has wronged us. He called it a “Grace Card”. I have been thinking about him today and what he said and I knew I had to give it to someone, you, miamor; I want my husband to come home and experience the joy in his house, ” says Steph amidst more tears.

Unclasping her hands from his, she reaches for her office bag in the living room and pulls out the tiny old card, whose inscription ignited a light of new beginning. Grace. Forgiveness. Looking at his lover eye ball to eyeball, she hands over the grace card. They stay crying together for long. Food is long forgotten and cold, but a marriage has been resurrected. That night, he sleeps beside her in their matrimonial bed. His skin rubbing against hers; inhaling the scent of her shampoo. He watches her sleep and as he finally doses off, he knows he is blessed to have Steph as his wing lady!

The grace card saved him.