Destiny Barter

Chapter 1

I’m just doing my best

Dark and snowy day in New Jersey. Just another winter out of the textbook not so textbook winters. Winters had been getting worse the past few years, maybe it was global warming or maybe it was Cletus’ mood she didn’t know. Hopefully he was a bit chirpier with the perfectly made Amala she finally managed to get right. Mom would be so proud, plus the Ewedu looked like the Ewedu from Sisi Yemmie’s last video. If all fails, she made his favorite fish today. All the cards were out, something had to work.

She maneuvered her way out of the mess of her kitchen and proceeded to the staircase. Their home was a three-bedroom single family with an exquisite spiral staircase, the right curves at each point just catching the light from the open roof. She had worked hard to make this house a home, and she was proud of how it looked.

“Cletus? Cletus sweetheart dinner is ready.”

“I’ll be right down hun”, He belted from the top floor.

“I just need to finish this last bit of work”, Cletus said to himself. Emails weren’t going to respond themselves. The end of the year was usually the busiest, but this year has been particularly hectic. Lately every year had been increasingly hectic. Sarah’s probably going to be annoyed with him staying up here so late.

Cletus’ cellphone beeped, the “sweet mother” ringtone signified it was his mother. He glanced at his cellphone and sure enough it was her. He muted his phone and placed it back on his nightstand. He didn’t have time for what she was going to say. Lately mom had been calling him every other day. He didn’t need another conversation about Morolake. He’d said no and wasn’t changing his mind.

“Cletus?”, Sarah’s voice simmered up the banister.

“Yes hun, I’ll be right there”.

Cletus finished up his last email and closed his laptop for the day. He was starving, hopefully there was some fish involved in today’s dinner.

Dinner went on as planned and Cletus seemed to cheer up with each bite of fried mackerel. He even smiled enough to have that twinkle in his eye she fell in love with. Maybe he wasn’t in a bad mood afterall, or maybe the mackerel did the trick.

“How’s the Amala, babe?”, Sarah asked.

“It’s really good love, it’s shiny and soft like I like it”, Cletus chuckled, savoring another bite of his Amala.

“The soup is fantastic too”, He said sucking the remnants of his last bite from his fingers.

“We should eat more of this baby”, He concluded as he reached for another piece of Amala.

“Thank you for the food baby”, He said.

“You’re welcome my love, how was work today?”, Sarah asked.

“Same old same old, busy busy busy. Joanna didn’t let us leave the client’s until 5pm. And I still needed to debrief the team for the end of year close of business.”

Mmh, you could have done that tomorrow though, Sarah said to herself.

“That’s great baby, I’m glad you guys didn’t lose Vuse, I know how big a client they are for you guys. Joanna must be thrilled.”

“Oh she was, I think I’m out of the dog house, at least until next quarter”.

Sarah laughed, “I’m glad too”.

Cletus phone beeped bright on the table. It vibrated with an incoming call but he quickly reached for it and muted it.

“Anyone I know?”, Sarah said playfully.

“Oh it’s just Yetunde, I’ll call her back”. Yetunde was Cletus’ sister, but it was strange she would call at this time of the day given how late it was in the UK.

Strange, Sarah thought. Something didn’t feel right but she decided not to push.

Dinner continued in usual fashion and Sarah and Cletus continued their banter.

At the end of the meal, things seemed to be better with Cletus’ mood.

Sarah packed up the dishes and told Cletus she’d join him upstairs in a bit.

It took a while considering how messy the kitchen was, the kitchen was finally clean after an hour. Now that Cletus’ mood was up maybe she could get him to have sex tonight. Today should fall in her fertile window by her calculations. She opened the period tracker app to double-check and sure enough she was right.

Time to close the deal, her plan had worked.

Chapter 2

She’s beautiful

Orby and Associates was the best marketing firm in all of South Jersey. No one was better at making their clients heard and understood like O and A. Joanna Ordner was the head of marketing. A juggernaut in her own right she’d earned the admiration of her peers and subordinate alike. Today was another day in the firm but her Achilles heel was currently making his way to her office. Cletus Ogunmefun. He had a way of scrambling her brain each time he walked into the office and this time was no different.

“Cletus, come in”, she motioned from the glass doors.

“What do you have for me today?”

“Nothing too crazy, I just wanted to debrief you on the latest with Vuse and our plans for the end of year shutdown”,

“Sounds good, tell me.”

Cletus proceeded to give her a breakdown of all he had in his file handing supporting documents to her one at a time.

Joanna barely heard anything he said, she was getting lost in his eyes.

Why do all the good men have to be married? Why does this man have to be married?

“In conclusion, all is set for the end of the year Joanna, we should be good to go with the shutdown”, Cletus concluded.

Joanna, rousing from her trance, responded curtly.

“Sure thing Cletus, feel free to give final instructions to the staff”.

Cletus nodded in agreement and started to gather his things to exit the office. With any luck he could be home early today.

“Cletus, I have one last thing for you, would you go to Vuse and ask Moralake for the final graphics for the latest soda campaign?”, Joanna said curtly interrupting his thoughts.

Cletus a little startled.

“Can one of the interns get that?”

“No not this, I think Vuse wants a special touch for this campaign”

“Alright… no problem, I’ll head over as soon as I’m done.”

This wasn’t good for Cletus but his boss didn’t know that.

Vuse was an hour away from O and A. The trip was easy enough on turnpike North. Cletus arrived just in time and found Morolake’s office with practiced efficiency. He was at the front door now. He wondered if he should visit the graphic designers first just in case they had the designs themselves and maybe he could avoid Morolake today. But knowing her well, he knew it would be in her office. God help him. He knocked.

“Cletus is that you?”, Morolake called out through the office door.

Cletus opened the door, “Yes it’s me, I’m here for the graphics”.

“Oh sure, let me get them”

Morolake was stunning to say the least. She was quite beautiful and shapely. Back in school all the guys used to fall all over her. It’s a wonder why she’s still single.

It seemed the graphics were in the file cabinet in her office. She stood up from her seat behind her desk and revealed a lovely skirt suit. He didn’t know why he was noticing all this today knowing what his mother had been up to. Any man would concur Morolake was beautiful though, but she wasn’t for him. Sarah had his heart.

“Ah here it is, you should find the campaign illustrations here for the next two quarters. How is Sarah by the way?”

“She’s doing very well, thanks, you know same old same old, always decorating and pulling beauty out of everything.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Sarah”, Morolake chuckled.

They bantered briefly about the latest in their lives and settled into a comfortable silence

Morolake’s eyes got dark and she looked straight at Cletus.

“I’m open to it if you are Clet”

“I can’t do it Morolake, it doesn’t seem right. I love Sarah.”

“Your mom has been calling to get an answer, I’m not going to tell her anything unless you’re onboard.” “I already told her I won’t do it Mo, it’s not what I want for Sarah and I.”

“Clet, we don’t have to go the whole way and get married, but I think the physical moments would do us both some good?”

At this point Morolake was close enough to Cletus that he could feel her breath, and Cletus was finding it harder to speak by the moment.

Just then Cletus’ phone vibrated in his pocket. The vibration was enough to interrupt the moment. Cletus took the opportunity he had and added some distance between him and Morolake. He grabbed his phone from his pocket. It was a notification, he needed to get home so he and Sarah could make it to Weds bible study.

“I need to leave”, he said.

“Thank you for the graphics”.

With that, he sped out of Morolake’s office.

Chapter 3

Will it ever end?

It was three weeks since the last time they had sex and Sarah was late. Could she be pregnant this time? It’s been 7 years now, was she still crazy for trying? The doctor said there was nothing wrong with them. They could get pregnant, it’s just been taking a while. Fine she wanted to wait 5 years before trying but that shouldn’t have been a crime right?

She’d peed on a stick and was waiting for the timer to clock the required 3 mins for her test. So many tests over the past two years, but it takes just one. She had so much hope but Cletus had been so silent about the whole thing. He didn’t seem to care, all he did was work. Maybe once this wait is all over, he’d be himself again.

The timer beeped 3 mins. Sarah grabbed the test. It was negative.

Another day, another test.

Bible study took place at Skokie Valley church. Skokie Valley was a place that felt like home to all its participants. All Cletus took away from bible study today was patience. His life was very hectic right now in all areas and he didn’t know what patience looked like, especially with his mother. Mama had taken care of them since they were young all by herself. His dad died when he was only 4 leaving is mother with 4 children to feed and care for including a 9-month-old. They grew up in the slums of Lagos, Nigeria and had to crawl their way out of that life piece by piece before eventually ending up in the United States. Mama worked every job possible to provide for them while enduring relational and emotional trauma. Mama was a rock star. Yet today he was confused on how God would have him have patience with his mother after she’s asked him to marry another woman since he and Sarah haven’t been able to have children. His loving caring mother is asking him to commit adultery, or is she?

Mama was so cunning she even suggested and spoke to Morolake. A good friend and his high school sweetheart. He didn’t know how he was supposed to love and honor his mother in this situation especially given all she had done for him.

It took about 30 mins to get home from church, but today felt like an hour. Cletus was obviously somewhere else today but so was she. This negative test was breaking her. 2 years?! Sarah could feel her hope dismantling piece by piece. To top it off, patience? Really Pastor Gary?

Hadn’t she been patient enough already? Wasn’t God asking for too much?

They arrived at home in marked time. Sarah was weary and Cletus was equally as tired. Cletus’ phone beeped, followed by the “sweet mother” ring tone.

He’s been avoiding her for a few days, might as well face it.

“Sarah I’ll be right back, let me get this call.”

“OK, I’ll see you upstairs”, she barely responded.

Cletus answered the call, stepping away to the next room out of earshot from Sarah.

“Hello, good evening mama”.

“Cletus, how una dey na?” (how are you guys?)

“We dey well oh, we just come from bible study” (we’re well, we just got back from bible study)

“Eh thank God o, you done think that thing wey I tell you?” (Thank God, have you thought about what I said?)

“Mama, my answer is still no.”

“Cletus, do you want me to die before I see my grandchildren?!”

“Mama, you will not die but live to declare the glory of God”

“Even if it’s Morolake Cletus?”

“Yes even if it’s Morolake, I plan to be with the wife I chose till the day I die mama, please don’t bring this up again.”

“Eh Cletus, after all I’ve done for you? Is this the example you want to set for your siblings? To remain hopelessly childless? You’re the first-born Cletus. Where is your sense of responsibility?”

“Good night mama, please don’t bring this up again”, Cletus concluded the call. So much for patience.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the bathtub, Sarah was starting to come apart. She was doing everything she could to hold the sobs in. But her body rocked profusely with each sob. She didn’t want Cletus to see her like this, so she hid in the bathroom.

How much longer God? I thought you loved me. Why would you make me lose everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve?

The bathroom door cracked open slowly.

Sarah looked up and saw Cletus peeking through as the door slowly open.

“Sarah, what’s going on?”

“Nothing sweetheart, I’m just a little moody”

“Sweetheart you’re not moody, look at you you’re shaking”, he said as he moved closer to her. He was scared to hug her because of how much she was shaking. He had never seen her like this.

“Sweetheart tell me, what is it?”, Cletus urged.

She didn’t want this, she didn’t want him to see her inadequacies. Failing at what is supposed to be natural.

She was too weak now and he would continue to ask until she told him. All she could do was point to the trash.

Cletus followed her gesture.

“The trash? Honey what’s in the trash”

“Just open it”, Sarah bemoaned.

Cletus did as she asked and sure enough he saw the pregnancy test. It was negative. Immediately realization hit him.

The day couldn’t get any worse. But he had made his decision. He was choosing Sarah. She was the wife of his youth and he was going to rejoice. They were going to rejoice. They just had to be patient.

“Sweetheart, it’s going to be ok. Remember what the pastor said today – patience. We will rejoice, we will not be disappointed”, Cletus said to his wife, finding the courage to hug her shaking frame”.

“Cletus, but I’ve disappointed you. How can we ever get through this? I’ve failed”, Sarah said in between sobs.

“No dear, you haven’t disappointed me. It is God that gives children”, Cletus responded lovingly.

“Oh Cletus!”

Sarah let out a loud sob and poured into her husband’s arms. They were there for an hour comforting each other.

The end

Dear reader,

Thank you for taking the time to read this beautiful story up to this point. The road to childbearing is different for some, and I know it affects others in different ways. I wanted to encourage you all on this journey that God sees you and loves you. His timing is never late, he simply rearranges your life. For those on this journey take heart, for He that has spoken will surely bring it to pass. Your destiny is secure in him, no need for barter or exchange.

God bless.