It was Monday evening and Chioma was expecting Dushan. They were going to spend the night watching Foyle’s War on ITV after having dinner which she had prepared. She had just finished taking a shower and putting on a black top and jeans and the beautiful gold chain he had bought for her in Buenos Aires when the doorbell rang.
Always excited and eager to see him, she hurried to answer the door. He stood there, towering over her, his coat open revealing a black sweater with white letters written across the front and jeans. “Hello,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Hello.” He took her in his arms and hugged her tightly before they kissed.
“What’s the matter, Dushan?” Chioma asked him when he released her. She could tell right away that something was troubling him. She closed and locked the door after he stepped into the foyer. When she looked over her shoulder, he was standing there, facing her with his jacket still on.
“She came to see me today,” he said gravely.
“Who?” Chioma asked as she turned to face him.
“Ruth. The married woman I had the affair with.”
“At your flat?”
“No, at the office.”
“What happened?”
He told her everything. “I meant what I said, Chioma. I will never cheat on you with her or with anyone else.” He knew deep down inside that he would never cheat on her but he worried that she might have reservations.
“I know. I believe you. I trust you.”
His eyes darkened on her upturned face. “I love you so much,” he muttered thickly.
She reached up and touched his face. “I love you very much too,” she replied softly. His expression tore at her heart. “Don’t let the things she said make you doubt yourself. People can and do change. You did the right thing when you ended your affair with her.”
“I wanted to end it a long time ago but didn’t have the guts.”
“The important thing is that you ended it.”
“Meeting you gave me the courage to do it.”
“I believe that you would have gotten around to doing it even if we hadn’t met but I’m very happy that I played a part in your decision.”
“I hope you don’t mind that I told her your name.”
“No, I don’t mind at all. And before tonight, I didn’t know her name either.”
“I hope that today’s the last time I will see or hear from her.”
“I hope so too. I feel sorry for her.”
“You do?”
“Mind you, I don’t condone what she did nor do I condemn her. I don’t have the right to condemn anyone. Speaking of which, would you mind if we watched The Gospel of John instead of Foyle’s War this evening?”
“No, I don’t mind.”
“I want you to see how Jesus interacted with people, especially with the woman at the well and the woman caught in adultery.”
“How did He interact with them?”
“Well, for one thing, He didn’t condemn or judge them even though He had the right to. So, you see, no one has the right to condemn or judge you or Ruth.”
“What does a person do instead of condemning or judging another?”
“Tell that person to go to God and ask for His forgiveness which He will readily give if you’re truly sorry.”
“I see.” He looked very pensive.
“Let me take your jacket,” she said.
He removed it and gave it to her.
“Have a seat on the sofa while I go and get dinner ready.”
While he went into the living-room after removing his shoes, she went into the kitchen. Two hours later, they were sitting on the sofa, watching The Gospel of John.
Notes to Women 