Mrs Albert final Episode

 PASTOR MRS ALBERT

Episode 40 (Final Episode)

Patricia woke up at the hospital. She wept sorely when the reality hit her again. Her husband who had left home for a very long time must have been engaging in a criminal act and has been arrested by the Police alongside his gang.

"What a shame! My own husband paraded on a National Television channel! What a shame!" She wept uncontrollably. 

"It's okay Pat. Don't injure yourself... The deed has been done already, you just have to be strong for yourself and your son." Mrs Ifeanyi tried to console her.

"Mum, I have never enjoyed my marriage... How do I keep being strong? I have been trying to be strong all these years, hoping that one day, my husband will come back to me. He had deserted me while I was pregnant and no one knew his whereabouts... He said he was going to Dubai only to be arrested in Malaysia by the Police. My own husband, declared a criminal, handcuffed and paraded on a National Television channel. Mum, it is finished! I wish I never married at all! My disobedience and refusal to hearken to God has led me to where I am." She wept uncontrollably.

Few months later, Augustine was deported to Nigeria alongside his criminal colleagues after which they were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment each. Immediately the judge pronounced the judgement, Patricia screamed out in agony, inside the courtroom. She wept as Augustine was being led away.

"Patricia please forgive me. I'm sorry for all I have done to you." He pleaded as the police forced him into the 'Black Maria' that was to convey him to the Kirikiri Maximum Prison.

"You have destroyed my life Austin. How do I tell my son that his father is in the prison? Where do I start from? You are heartless and wicked for abandoning me this way all these years!" She continued to scream till Augustine was bundled into the lorry with the other criminals.

Patricia's mother led her away gently, trying as much as possible to console her embittered daughter. Patricia gave up all hope she had put in God over the years that her husband would be back and her marriage would work again. She appreciated Mrs Ifeanyi for all she had done for her and announced that she was going back to her parents' hometown, since all that befell her and her marriage was no longer a secret to her family and everyone around her; there was nothing to hide any longer... Mrs Ifeanyi wished her the best and prayed that God be with her and her son, Great.

Patricia returned to her parents hometown where she started a new business with the help of her dad. Great was enrolled into a new school. Patricia decided to dedicate her life more to God and most especially, she sold herself out to guide ladies, especially those who are of marriageable age about the importance of following their convictions whenever they want to choose their life partners....

She also travelled to Lagos to visit Augustine once in a while in the prison just to check on him. Augustine had rededicated his life to Christ in the prison during a prison evangelism/crusade held where he was kept. He decided to at least live the remaining part of his life, sold out to God. That was his resolution...

On one of her prison visitations to Augustine, Patricia had taken Great along with her because Augustine had pleaded with her to kindly bring him along. Though Patricia had refused at first but she later changed her mind. Augustine was so happy to see his son, Great who was just his carbon copy. 

"Thank you for bringing him Patricia. Thank you for being kind to me after all I have done." 

He used that moment to recount some of the experiences he has been encountering with God as he studied his Bible, since he rededicated his life to Christ again... He also mentioned to his wife how some of the prison warders have been kind to him...

"It was covetousness and love of money that pushed me to do all that I did Pat... Now, everything is gone and I am suffering for all my years of folly." He said regrettably. 

"Your time is up madam. I even gave you extra five minutes. You have to go now." The prison warder that brought Augustine out to see his wife said to Patricia.

Tears stood in Patricia's eyes as Augustine was taken away. She held Great's hand and left the prison yard mournfully as usual.

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After service on one particular Sunday, Nancy beckoned to one of her friends whom they usually gossipped together at church and asked if she noticed that the Pastor Mrs was suddenly adding weight.

"I noticed it too... But I heard she had resigned from her job. I believe she's adding weight since she doesn't have anywhere to go again."

"Really? So, nah 'sidon dey look for house' wife she be now?" (So, she's now a sit at home wife?)

"That's what I heard oh." The lady had replied.

"Hahahaha! Na wa o! (Imagine!) She's just a total liability... No work, no child. I pity our pastor... Someone that has no child, she still couldn't do house chores on her own, she was using Funmi, now that Funmi has left, she resigned from her job, doing what? When some Pastors want to marry, they would not open their eyes to see people like us... She's just lucky that someone like Pastor Collins married her. I'm very sure he married her out of pity. Maybe she cried on his neck." Nancy hissed.

"Abi oooo (I tell you)". The other lady replied and they laughed.

Larape was gradually drawing towards her delivery date. She ensured she put on peplum tops that made her pregnancy unnoticeable... In the last month of her pregnancy, people started noticing and some were even bold enough to verbalize their doubts.

"Madam, e be like say you don get belle." (Madam, it's like you are pregnant), Mama Ejiro, who they usually buy things from in their neighbourhood once said to her.

Larape simply smiled and nodded in affirmation.

"Ha! God thank you oh! E ya... I'm happy for you sha... At last!" Mama Ejiro had enthused.

The whispers became louder at church. Most of the members were over excited about the news. It was only Nancy and her gang that weren't part of the quiet jubilation. Anytime Pastor Mrs Albert walked by with her little baby bump, Nancy would hiss loudly in irritation.

A week later, Larape fell into labour in the early hours of Sunday morning. Collins rushed her to the private hospital where they had registered earlier. He waited impatiently at the reception. Larape's screams filtered into his ears from where he was pacing and he would cringe in fear. He became so restless. He prayed, spoke in tongues, he even wept... At a point, he went to knock on the door of the labour room when he couldn't take it any longer and begged to be allowed to enter but one of the nurses led him away assuring him that the baby was coming already and that was why his wife's screams got louder. 

Some minutes later, Larape put to bed. Collins heard the cry of the baby and he jumped for joy. He stood near the door of the labour room and waited patiently for either the doctor or one of the nurses to come out. He couldn't wait to see his wife and his baby.

"Congratulations Mr Albert, it's a bouncing baby boy!" The doctor announced joyfully. 

Collins couldn't contain his joy. "How's my wife sir?" He asked.

"She's good. She's a strong woman." The doctor remarked and excused him.

The labour was smooth, fast and easy. Larape had delivered within three hours of labour... Collins called his mum and his mum in-law immediately to break the news to them. They couldn't believe until Collins made a video call to each one of them to show them the mother and baby. None of them was aware that Larape was pregnant. They rejoiced greatly with the couple on confirming the news.

Collins thereafter took to the church WhatsApp group and posted an image of the new baby with the caption, "Rejoice with us, our Prince Charming is here!"

Comments started flying in from the members. They were surprised beyond words. Many people had thought Larape just took in. Some even zoomed the image of the baby to be sure he was not a premature baby. It was indeed an unexpected miracle. 

The baby was christened on the eighth day and was named "Breakthrough, Oluwatodurode (God is worth waiting for) Albert, amidst many other names from families and friends... A lot of people came around for the naming ceremony and baby Breakthrough received a lot of gifts. Obinna travelled all the way from his new base along side his wife to congratulate the Alberts and rejoice with them. We remember Obinna right? Collins' friend who introduced him to having a deeper fellowship with the Holy Spirit back at school when Collins was still dating Labake...

Labake... She couldn't make it to the Alberts'naming ceremony because she also had put to bed two weeks before Larape did, otherwise, she would have travelled down to see the baby alongside her husband, Kelvin. Labake was more surprised when Larape told her she found out she was pregnant when she was four months gone already. Labake was really happy for her...

The weekly online show of the Alberts was supposed to hold two days after the naming ceremony. Collins was the only one on the show that evening and comments started flying in from their online fans, congratulating them on the arrival of their new born. Collins moved the camera of the phone to focus on Larape and the baby. 

"Sweetheart say hi to everyone!" Collins said.

"Hi everyone! Thanks so much for all the wishes and prayers and the gifts." Larape replied happily.

"Awwwww... The baby is cute! Congratulations Pastor Mrs Albert!" Most of the audience posted.

A lot of their fans were happy to see her and her baby. They rejoiced with the couple and commended them for being a blessing to others even when they were still waiting on God. Collins rounded up the show earlier than usual after praying with his audience. Since Larape wasn't available, they couldn't come up with the segment where he would play the keyboard while his wife would sing, which they usually did at the end of the programme. 

A month later, Baby Breakthrough was dedicated at church. The congregation went wild with joy when they saw their Pastor Mrs with the new baby. Nancy and her gang were no where to be found. Collins already told Larape that Nancy and her gang stopped coming to church since the day the birth of the child was announced. At last, all those who had mocked Larape that she had a damaged womb have been put to shame.

After the church service was over, the whole church took a group picture with the Pastor's family. Pastor Collins asked the ushers to distribute the soft drinks he brought to celebrate the baby's dedication. 

"Since there are no glass cups, we are using the bottles for a toast." Pastor Collins grinned and continued... "Raise your bottles everyone! Cheers!!! To a church where Jesus lives and everyone is family!"

"Cheers!" The congregation replied.

***EPILOGUE***

Augustine was lucky enough to be recommended for a state pardon because of his good conduct, which got him released from prison after eight years. Patricia was overwhelmed with joy at the news. She and her husband relocated to another state in the South West and started a new life there. Patricia was grateful to God for restoring her marriage and granting her an opportunity to be happy once again. They gave birth to two children thereafter, Rejoice and Goodness; both of them were girls.

The new assistant pastor transferred to Pastor Collins' church, Pastor Nathaniel took interest in Funmi. He proposed marriage to her and Funmi accepted the proposal after being convinced. Funmi got married to Pastor Nathaniel after fifteen months of courtship. Collins and Larape were happy for Funmi and they blessed her marriage from the depths of their hearts.

The Alberts were later transferred to a bigger branch of the church while Pastor Nathaniel and his wife, Funmi were appointed as the new Pastor of the church, to continue from where Pastor Collins stopped.

Labake and Kelvin later relocated to the United States of America because Kelvin got a job there. They got a family visa and travelled along with their two children.

THE END

✍️For I know the thoughts I have towards you says the LORD; thoughts of good and not of evil... To give you an expected end.

~ Jeremiah 29 vs 11

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Thanks for following the story so far. I hope we have learnt a lot therein. Do well to share all the lessons you learnt in the comments section.

God bless you!

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