Behind Church Doors - S01 E03

8 months ago

Behind Church Doors - S01 E03

Read Story: SEASON 1 SEASON 3

6 p.m. Senna pulls out of the Hair Saloon’s parking lot and merges into traffic. Senna and I spent almost the whole day in town, we were so busy shopping that we lost track of time.

When she pulls up in front of my house over an hour later, I get out of the car and grab my plastic bags from the back seat.

“Thankyou for today, best friend. I had a great day. And thank you for the clothes and hair too. I owe you one.”

“You are always welcome.”

“Good night.”

“Good night, I will pick you up at 9 for church. My regards to Zyair.”

“Sure. Text me when you get home.”

“Okay.”

She drives off and I enter the house to find Zyair standing behind the stove, the most amazing smell hanging in the air.

‘’Hey babe, what’s happening here?’’

He turns around and I laugh, he is wearing one of my aprons.

‘’I am cooking.”

What’s on the menu?”

“Spaghetti, as well as a grilled steak and corn salad. I have made dessert too,’’ he gestures to the cupcakes that are on the tray.

“Wow! You are doing the most tonight. I’m sorry for coming home late,“I say, kissing his cheek. “I lost track of time.”

“It’s okay. And your hair looks beautiful,” he says admiring my hairstyle.

“Thanks baby. Senna took me shopping and after that we went to the saloon.”

“You’ve managed to get the outfit for the committee?”

“yes.”

“Okay,” he says in a low tone before he adds, “I managed to get half of the money you requested for.”

“Thank you babe, I really appreciate it. Anyways let me change into something comfortable then join you.”

“Okay.”

He kisses my forehead before I rush off to our room and throw over a pair of black yoga pants and a tank top.

I walk back into the kitchen just as he is getting started with setting the table. Walking over to the refrigerator I pour myself some apple juice and sit down at the table.

“How was Business?”

“Business was great today.”

“”Okay.”

When he gets done, he sits across from me, dishes our food and says grace before we start eating. Senna and I had a lot to eat today so I am not really hungry but I can’t say no to the meal because that would be rude after all the effort he has put in to making it for us.

“Senna has invited us to her church tomorrow.”

“Okay,” he says, sounding uninterested.

Zyair and I attend a traditional church. He has always been against the idea of us going to Senna’s church because he thinks our doctrines are quite different and we wouldn’t blend in.

And I do agree with him but right now I am desperate for a breakthrough, with everything happening in our lives, I think we need some spiritual intervention. .

“She will pick us up at 9.”

“We are not going.”

“What do you mean we are not going?”

“We shall be going to our church tomorrow.”

“I have already accepted the invitation.”

“Call her and cancel.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am serious.”

“If you aren’t going I am,” I say sharply.

“Tia, I am your husband and head of this house. Please learn to respect me. When I say no I mean it” he says. His tone continues to be stern.

“What’s wrong with us accepting her invitation to her church? What are you so afraid of? Doesn’t our situation bother you? Don’t you want a better future for us?”

“You know I want the best for you and I.”

‘”Then let’s go to this church and seek help.”

“We don’t need help. When the time is right God will make things possible.”

I click my tongue, “God helps those who help themselves. Let’s go out there and find help.”

“You think your Breakthrough lies in a man?”

“God uses people. Look at Senna’s life, she didn’t struggle to get a job and start living big after graduation.”

“Our destinies are different.”

“Let’s just go and see…..”

“I am not going and if you respect me as your husband you won’t go either.”

I stare at him, frowning.

“And we are not talking about this again.”

“Fine,” I respond. There’s no need in arguing about this because I am going to that church with or without his approval, he will be mad yes but he will eventually get over it. We eat the rest of our meal in silence.

“Thank you for the food,” I say after about twenty minutes of unbroken silence.

“You are welcome, I hope you liked it.”

“I did,” I stand up and clear the table. Then I wash the plates and clean the kitchen. I don’t want to bother about cleaning in the morning.

“Here’s the money you asked for,” Zyair says over an hour later when I join him in the living room were he is watching TV.

“Thank you very much babe.”

“You are welcome.”

About halfway through the movie, I lean close and whisper in his ears, “I think it’s about time we went to bed don’t you think?”

Knowing exactly what I have in mind, he smiles and I kiss him. He deepens the kiss, putting his arm around my shoulder, cupping the back of my head to pull me closer.

Eventually we walk into our room and lose our clothing, dropping them on the floor. When we are both naked, he lays me down on the baby and takes me with tenderness, we make love, over and over again until we are exhausted and passed out.

Sunday morning, I throw back the covers and slowly got out of bed being careful not to wake a snoring Zyair. Then I shower, get dressed, comb my hair and put on my makeup. By 7:30 I am all dressed up and ready to leave.

I texted Sanna and told her not to come over. I will get on a bus and meet her at her house instead since I have finished earlier than usual. I can’t wait for her here and risk Zyair waking up.

Grabbing my handbag and shoes, I ease out, quietly. I have even carried the clothes and shoes for the kitchen party. I will only be back here in the evening.

On Sundays, Zyair and I usually wake up at 8, we leave the house for church at 9:30 for the service which starts at 10:00, church is a walkable distance.

He will be very upset to find that I defiled his orders but I am doing this for us. We have been stuck in the same place for two years, something has to change and if the key to our breakthrough lies with Senna’s pastor then this has to be done.