Chapitre 4: CHAPTER 3
Mrs. Michael (POV)
“Madam Elder, it’s been a pleasure talking to you. You don’t know how worried I was these past few days when I couldn’t reach you!” I said happily as I talked with the woman who had become an inspiration in my life.
As a powerful and rich woman living in such a bad economy. There were still a lot of people who were much more influential and powerful than me.
And although this was a bother, something that would make anyone envy especially myself, since I have always hated losing from a young age.
This woman for me was quite special and no matter what grade or stage she was at, nothing about her would make me feel inferior.
She was that kind of icon, an idol that I looked up to and someone that I had taken as a mentor.
She wasn’t just like that in my eyes but probably in every person’s eye, especially in the church.
In the whole church, she and her husband were the richest people. And happen to hold the elder positions as well.
Whenever there was a function or an event that required money, they were always at the forefront.
They have helped a lot of people inside and outside the church.
They were well-loved, even more than the people loved the pastors and bishops.
As for whether these top dogs in the church were envious of them. That was one thing she didn’t know, for it didn’t concern her at all.
As long as she gets what she wants, and gets her heart settled, then the rest doesn’t matter.
“All I did was just listen, and I am sorry once again for not reaching back to you. It’s been pretty hectic lately,” Madam Elder said, her expression very apologetic, making me feel very bad for bringing it up.
After all, everyone understood how busy Madam Elder was and what everyone loved calling her though when they were out of church. I will be calling her Mrs. Chuma or Ma Leo. At church, I respected her as the elder she was, but when we were outside, I respected her as a mentor, a friend, and also the mother of my youngest son’s best friend.
Our families had been pretty close for a decade, so we are pretty tight, and probably one of the reasons why I don’t even bother to envy her. I saw with my own eyes just how hard-working Ma Leo and her husband were.
And this is something that me and my old husband will never be able to catch up to.
We have become too old to compete with them and when people do good. As human beings and children of God, we should celebrate and not think badly of others.
“But I am still grateful for it,” I emphasized with a smile as I walked by her side, both on our way to the parking lot.
“Oh, that reminds me. Where is Tadiwa? I haven’t seen him today,” Ma Leo asked from nowhere as we both walked, taking me by surprise.
“Oh! You mean that son of mine?” I asked, still reeling in surprise, before something in me switched, “Oh my goodness! I have completely forgotten about him!”
I suddenly felt like a fool upon recalling this. How could I have forgotten about him?
Ma Leo turned to look at me, confusion written all over her face, and asked, “Huh! Is there something wrong with him?”
I quickly shook my head, urgency written all over my face, “excitement got to me all of a sudden that I forgot that I kept him waiting in the parking lot. I came in his car today, so he will be driving us back to the house,” I embarrassingly explained myself.
Ma Leo, hearing this, smiled teasingly at me and said, “It’s normal for women to forget, after all, talking is already a pleasure for us. Besides, your son is a good boy and will not be angry at you. He is such filial, I am very envious of you,” complimenting my son with praises that made my old heart flutter.
Hearing such praises from Ma Leo who only gave birth to one child which was a pity praising my naughty son who doesn’t operate unless I threaten him with something, as much as I wanted to condemn him, I just couldn’t and took all the praises with a happy smile on my face.
“Haha, thank you very much. He is indeed such a good boy. And so is Leo. Those two had been friends and influenced each other from a young age,” I couldn’t help but blurt out, reminding Ma Leo of how close our children were.
“Yes, that is true. Those two are close, like brothers. And now that Leo is studying abroad, when Tadiwa is free, let him drop by the house once in a while. It gets boring sometimes without any children at home,” Ma Leo said sorrowfully, her eyes filled with longing.
My heart ached to see her like this. To support her son and give him the best education, she had to send him overseas and only see him twice or three times a year, depending on the situation.
And it’s been like this for three years.
Whenever I think of my youngest being that far away from me, I would start having a headache. I don’t even want to think about it, which is why, despite his naughtiness, I still do my best to provide him with everything that I can give him.
This way, he won’t leave me and my husband’s side. My oldest children are all married and living with their spouses and families. Being by ourselves isn’t something that I want to do yet.
So, when I think of Ma and Ba Leo living just the two of them plus the maids in that huge house, it just gets cold.
So, hearing her suggestion regarding my son, I felt that there was no issue there. After all, Tadiwa sometimes visits their house, even when Leo is not there.
Tadiwa was like an additional son to the Chuma couple, and I didn’t have anything to worry about. So, I immediately agreed without having any second thoughts, “Don’t worry. I will tell him to visit in the future,” while looking at Ma Leo.
Ma Leo, hearing this brightened up, that young face of hers that didn’t show just how old she was, illuminating as if a halo was shining on her.
“That’s good then. Just tell us when he is coming. I will get the maids to prepare the guest room,” Ma Leo enthusiastically said.
I felt happy seeing how Ma Leo was happy about this and after knowing each other for a long time, my mind didn’t have any dirty thoughts. That would be just low for me and besides, there were kinds of people I wouldn’t trust with my son, but the Chuma couple were different.
They were good people and the kind that she would trust with anything, for they were very reliable in everything.
Agreeing to this, she and I walked to the parking lot where I saw my naughty son who loves pretending to be obedient when he was facing the elders and mostly the Chuma’s couple to the extent that even I would start to completely doubt whether he is my son or not, busy chatting and laughing with his other friend Peter.
“Oh, there he is!” I pointed excitedly upon spotting him.
Ma Leo also turned her head to look in the direction which I had pointed and said, “he is all grown up now.”
“Hehe, you know these kids! Especially boys. They grow up very fast.”
“Indeed, they do and to think that soon they will be_” Before she could finish, Ma Leo’s phone began to ring.
“……. Jesus, you love me too much, Ohhh….”
Hearing the ringing tone, I couldn’t help but praise her inwardly. Ma Leo never disappoints. She was truly a God-fearing woman and was something seen in every single thing that she did.
As for whether my delusional side of being a pure fan of someone younger than me was kicking, I was never bothered by that.
Looking at me with an apologetic smile on her face, Ma Leo said to me, “I am sorry Ma Tadiwa, but I guess I need to go now.”
Hearing this, I didn’t hold this against her. I have talked to her about everything, so letting her go to run her errands or meet other people was something that I should just accept and allow.
So, with a gracious heart, I responded to her, “Please go ahead. We will talk on the phone.”
Ma Leo smiled apologetically at me once again before she hurriedly turned in another direction of the park while answering her phone.
Busy people are always indeed very busy.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone