by Emma Easter
It has been a lovely date. She had gotten to know him better and knew for sure she wanted a relationship with him. She could see both of them together. However, there was one thing she wanted to clear up; one thing that had been bothering her for a while. She now knew that he was the guy Trisha and Frank had talked about some time ago. The friend who was a player. When Nicholas had pulled up at the restaurant yesterday, she had almost smacked herself on her forehead. Why had she not known all along that he was Nick, Frank’s friend and work partner? The one Frank had gone to pick up at the airport weeks ago?
She had managed to hide her surprise from him. Because he had told her his name was Nicholas, she had not made the connection immediately, even though she should have, especially since he’d told her he co-owned a restaurant. She had probably made an unconscious effort not to connect the dots because she didn’t want him to be the player Trisha had told her about. That was why she was going to Trisha’s house today. If she was going to be in a relationship with Nicholas, she had to know the whole truth about him. She needed to find out if Nicholas was really as promiscuous as Trisha had made him out to be. Because if he was, she could not handle that.
She arrived at Trisha’s and rang the doorbell.
Trisha appeared at the door seconds later with Ruby in her arms. “Hey, Lauren! I wasn’t expecting you today.”
Lauren shrugged. “I came straight from work.”
“I just left the bookstore not too long ago,” Trisha said.
“I know,” Lauren said. “You usually get home from the store around this time.” Lauren smiled at Ruby and touched the little girl’s cheeks.
Ruby giggled and Lauren chucked her under the chin. She came into the house and sat on the couch. Trisha sat beside her and Ruby immediately slid down from her lap.
Trisha turned to watch Ruby toddle to the other end of the living room. When the little girl started to play with her toys on the floor, Trisha turned back to Lauren.
“I have something to tell you,” Lauren said. “But please, promise you won’t judge me and that you will be honest with me.”
Trisha stared at her for a minute and then said, “What do you want to tell me? You’re making me nervous.”
“Please make me a promise that you won’t judge me, Trisha,” Lauren repeated.
Trisha sighed. “It depends on what you are about to tell me.”
In spite of herself, Lauren chuckled. She said, “Please, Trisha, be serious. Promise me.”
“Okay,” Trisha said. “I won’t judge you.”
“And promise you will be completely honest with me.”
“I’m always honest with you, Lauren.”
Lauren nodded, took a deep breath, and said, “I met up with that guy I met on the online dating site.”
Trisha’s jaw dropped and she exclaimed, “Lauren, it’s too soon!”
“Actually, I have gone on two dates with him already.”
Trisha shook her head slowly and said, “Wow! Don’t you think you’re moving too fast?”
“You haven’t even asked how the dates went or what kind of guy he is.”
Trisha shrugged. “Alright, Lauren. What kind of guy is he? Is he a good guy?”
“I think he is a great guy, but that is why I came here to talk to you.” She pressed her lips tightly together, her heart racing with worry. What Trisha told her now would determine how her relationship with Nicholas would go from today or if they would even have a relationship. She added, “Both dates were at Frank’s restaurant, Trisha.”
Trisha raised her brows, a surprised expression on her face. “And Frank did not see you guys? Of course he didn’t. He would have told me if he had.”
“He didn’t see us,” Lauren said.
Trisha gave her a small smile. “He took you to a nice restaurant. I guess that is a good sign. Unless he wasn’t the one who suggested the date at Frankly Eating. Please tell me he was.”
Lauren said, “He was the one. The second time he asked me to go on a date with him, he told me it would be a private dinner at his restaurant.”
Trisha frowned and a confused look appeared on her face. “What did he mean by that?” And then her mouth fell open. She shook her head slowly. “No, it can’t be! Is Nick, Frank’s friend, the guy you’re talking about?”
“He is,” Lauren said softly. “I call him Nicholas, though.”
“Lauren!” Trisha shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Obviously, Trisha, I didn’t know it was the same Nick. I didn’t make the connection until he took me to the restaurant on Sunday.”
Trisha stared at her for a long moment, worry and concern written clearly on her face. “Do you remember what I told you about him?” Trisha asked.
“I do. That’s why I came to talk to you,” Lauren said. “I really, really like him. I think I want to be with him, but I can’t forget what you told me.” Lauren looked into Trisha’s eyes. “I want to ask, Trish, were you really serious about everything you said about him? Is he really that bad?”
Trisha said, “Lauren, I am going to be honest with you. I like Nick as a person, but he has made it clear that he’s only interested in one thing when it comes to women. He doesn’t do it spitefully, but from what Frank has told me about him, he doesn’t have a faithful soul. And he isn’t ashamed to talk about his one-night stands.” She took Lauren’s hand and said, “Besides, he’s not a believer, Lauren. You know better than to date someone who doesn’t share your faith and values.”
An overwhelming sadness settled in Lauren’s heart as she listened to Trisha’s words. She knew they were all true. Nicholas had told her he was only interested in hooking up with her the first time they met. She was sure he was serious about wanting a relationship with her now, but that didn’t mean that he would be faithful to her. And with the long-distance relationship, the likelihood of him remaining faithful was nil. Most importantly, he wasn’t a believer. She knew she shouldn’t be involved with a non-believer in the first place.
Trisha squeezed her hand and smiled sadly at her. “You look so dejected, Lauren. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you had fallen this hard for him. But you told me to be honest with you and I have been honest. You will have to make your decision. I can only tell you what I think. And I hope you do make the right decision.”
Tears formed in Lauren’s eyes, but she blinked them back. Just when she thought she had met the one she’d been waiting for, this had come to light. As much as she wanted to believe that people changed and Nicholas could, she knew it might never happen. She didn’t want to be in another similar relationship to her marriage. She had sworn not to be involved with someone who did not share her faith ever again. Getting involved with Nicholas would be just that. She was certain he wasn’t an abuser like Richie, but if the relationship was riddled with infidelity, she would feel just as brutalized as she had with Richie. Only emotionally, rather than physically.
She felt a sob rising up in her and pushed it down. She said in a voice choked with emotion, “Oh Trisha, I really like Nicholas. But you’re right. I need to end things with him.” Her heart hurt just thinking about ending the blossoming relationship. “He wants us to go on another date on Wednesday.”
Trisha said, “He is leaving Rosefield on Friday. I hope he told you that.”
Lauren nodded. “He did. He wanted us to go on one more date before he left.” She couldn’t hold back the tears anymore and they fell down her cheeks. She brought out a tissue from her purse and quickly dabbed at them.
Trisha shifted closer to her and hugged her. “I’m really sorry, Lauren.”
“He seemed so perfect, Trish,” Lauren said. “Why oh why isn’t he a Christian with the kind of morals that would make a good relationship? Why, Trisha? Why can’t I find someone to spend the rest of my life with? And you were right. I tend to be attracted to bad boys. Clearly, I am doing something wrong or there’s something in me that attracts them.”
Trisha did not say any
thing. She just continued to rub Lauren’s back soothingly.
After a long while, Lauren drew back from Trisha. “I think I have to go home now. I have to call Nicholas as soon as possible and tell him it’s over so it wouldn’t seem like I’ve been leading him on.”
Trisha smiled sadly. “I wish I knew a guy who would be great for you, but I don’t.”
Lauren felt her heart breaking, but she shrugged. “It’s not your responsibility to find me a guy, Trish.” She felt herself wanting to break down again and then bit her lip to keep from crying. “I guess I have to keep waiting on the Lord until He brings someone to me. But I am so tired of waiting.” She looked into Trisha’s eyes and sighed. “What if I never meet anyone?”
“Stop it, Lauren!” Trisha put her hand on Lauren’s shoulder. “You will meet someone soon.”
“But what if it’s too late for me to start a family by the time I meet that person? And will the person be someone I really connect with the way I connected with . . .?”
She couldn’t bring herself to complete the sentence or she would break down. She stood up and went to the door.
Trisha followed her and touched Lauren’s arm. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Lauren nodded and left the house.
All the way to her house, Lauren resisted the urge to fall apart. She felt an overwhelming sadness. It wasn’t just because she was devastated by the fact that she had to end things with Nicholas when she liked him so much, but also because she had thought she had finally met a man she could spend the rest of her life and start a family with.
She got to her house and tossed her purse onto the couch. Tears fell down her face. She had to make the call now. If she postponed it, she might never tell Nicholas that this relationship wouldn’t work. She could imagine how he would feel. It was the way she had felt when he told her they couldn’t be together. He would probably feel even worse because this last date, they had both felt a deep connection with each other. Her words would take him by surprise, she was sure.
Before she could change her mind, she reached for her purse and brought out her cell phone. Quickly, she dialed his number, and then her heart drummed as his phone began to ring.
Lord, please help me, she cried out in her heart.
“Hello, Lauren!” his voice came on the line. “I’m so glad you called.”
She bit her lip until she felt as though she would bite through it. Suddenly, she couldn’t keep in her emotions anymore and broke down. She said through a voice choked with emotion, “Nicholas, I am so sorry, but I can’t see you anymore.”
“What?” he exclaimed.
“You were right the first time, Nicholas. The relationship is not going to work. I’m sorry.” She ended the call and tossed her phone aside.
Her phone immediately began to ring and she ignored it. It stopped ringing and she covered her face with her hands. It began to ring again and this time she turned it off so he would not be able to call her again. She tossed her phone aside and folded herself on the bed in her work clothes. She didn’t have the strength to change into her nightgown. This would be her life for a long time. A life of loneliness. Of coming home to an empty house. She had thought after she met Nicholas that things would be different, but now, with the relationship over before it had begun, loneliness would be her only companion.
“Lord, why?” she cried out. She listened, but heard nothing.
Chapter Nineteen
Leila hugged Hauwa’s grandmother and said, “Thank you so much, Ma. Thank you for letting me stay in your home and for treating me so well. I will never forget you.”
The old woman placed her hands on Leila’s cheeks and said, “Be well, my dear. Take good care of yourself,” she looked at Malik, who was standing near the door. “And take good care of him, too.”
Leila smiled and said, “I will. Take care of yourself, too.”
Hauwa walked up to her with tears in her eyes. She said to Leila, “I am going to miss you so much.”
Leila reached out and gathered her in her arms. She whispered in Hauwa’s ear, “Remember to draw closer and closer to Jesus every day. He’ll always be with you.”
Leila drew back and saw that tears were streaming down Hauwa’s face. She wiped away the tears with her thumb and beamed at Hauwa. “You have been so kind to me. You and your grandmother.” She looked at Malik and then looked back at Hauwa. “I hope you will be able to come to me and Malik’s wedding when we finally get married.”
Hauwa smiled through her tears and said, “I would love that.” She lowered her voice and whispered, “Thank you for sharing the gospel with me. You changed my life.”
Leila nodded and hugged the girl again. She finally let her go and then grabbed the handle of her suitcase. Malik came and took the suitcase from her and began to pull it behind him. Leila turned again. She waved at Hauwa and her grandmother and then followed Malik out the door.
Malik’s small duffel bag was slung over his shoulder. He took her hand while he pulled her suitcase with his other hand. He smiled at her and said in a voice filled with excitement, “I can’t wait for you to meet Fanta.”
Leila raised her eyebrows and chuckled. “I’ve met her before, remember?”
“Yes, but you only met her once and at that time we didn’t know where our relationship was going. Now we know that you will soon be her new mother.”
Leila’s stomach lurched at his words. She still hadn’t shared the gospel with him. She took a deep breath and told herself to calm down. The Lord had touched and saved Hauwa when she’d shared the gospel with the girl. He would also do the same for Malik. They were going to Nira now that Malik had finished everything he was doing in Dogon. He would not be too busy to spend as much time with her as she wanted. She would be able to now share the gospel with him.
They walked side by side until they reached the bus station. They both entered the bus station and stood at the back of the line to buy their tickets to Nira. Malik put his hand around her, drew her close, and beamed at her. She smiled back at him and whispered, “There are people watching us, Malik. You know how conservative this place is. We’re still not married, remember?”
He groaned and let her go. Discreetly, without looking at her, he took her hand. She chuckled at the look on his face.
Their turn finally came and Leila opened her purse to buy their tickets. Malik stared at her. “What are you doing, Leila?” he asked.
“Buying our tickets,” she said, chuckling. “What does it look like I’m doing?”
He shook his head and said, “I mean, why do you want to buy our tickets?” He didn’t let her answer but said, “I will buy them.”
She wanted to argue and tell him she had more than enough money for both of them. She knew he wasn’t paid that much on the farm and she had money that she had saved in Saudi Arabia, and the money Dauda had generously given to her. At this time, she knew she had more than him. However, from the way he looked, insisting on paying for both of them would not be the right thing to do. She shrugged and let him pay.
After he collected their tickets from the woman behind the counter, they both went out of the bus station together. All around them, people were boarding buses heading for different destinations, or roaming around the bus station grounds. A few traders were selling their wares, which they carried on their heads. Leila’s mind went to Hauwa. She usually came out to sell her candies here at around eight o’clock in the morning. It was still a few minutes past seven. Leila smiled. She would miss that girl. Hauwa reminded her of Khadija. She turned to Malik as they found empty benches and said, “I can’t wait to see Khadija again. I really like that girl.”
He smiled at her. “It seems you and my sisters are kindred spirits. Talking about my sister, have you heard from Zainah? We still don’t really know where she is.”
Leila said, “She’s probably in America now with Faizan. She was trying to get me to go to their wedding before your father deceived her and made her
come back to Nira. They are probably married now and living happily together.”
Malik stared into her eyes and took her hands. She raised an eyebrow and he said, “I know, I know. People are looking at us. But I just can’t resist. I can’t wait until we get married so we can hold hands wherever we are without raising eyebrows.”
Again, guilt invaded her mind and she sighed. I will tell him about Christ soon. This is not the place nor the time.
They talked about the farm and the harvest. Malik told her they had tried their best to plant the remaining seeds in the parts of the farm not affected by the fire. “It’s left to be seen how much produce we will harvest by this time next year,” Malik said. “It will be really small. I feel so sorry for the farmers who have toiled continuously on that farm. I wonder what my father will say about it all when I get home?”
Leila absentmindedly caressed the back of his hand with her thumb. “When I went to Nira, your father didn’t seem particularly troubled, even though Khadija told me he had heard about it. But I remember Khadija also saying he had been mad at everyone when he received the news and had raged and cursed everyone out. She told me he later calmed down for some reason.”
Leila pressed her lips together, wondering whether to tell him what Khadija had said about her suspicions concerning the fire. Finally, she decided to tell him about it. “Khadija told me that everyone thinks Jibril, your father’s so-called friend and Zainah’s ex-husband. had sent people to burn down the farm. He had threatened to do so at one point.”
Malik nodded. “We’ve also heard the rumors here. I wouldn’t be surprised. Every time I see that man, he has a wicked gleam in his eyes. I think he and his brother were behind the fire.”
Leila pursed her lips and, without thinking, she said, “I doubt that Dauda had anything to do with it.”
Malik raised his brows and stared at her in surprise. He said, “How come you’re defending him, Leila? It wasn’t just Jibril who threatened to burn my father’s farm down. Even if he did not say the words, he was there when his brother told my father that. Surely, he’s just as guilty as his brother.”
