Timothy pulled over at Harriet's flat and her roommate was the first to jump out of the car.Timothy got out and opened the door for Harriet.She grabbed her clutch and hit Timothy with it when he tried to reach for her hand.

'What was that for?'

'What was that for?' She pushed him away and took off her heels.

'You took me all the way to Area 44 to hear you blab about God!Did you know that top government officials and business people were there?'

'That's why it was the best place and opportunity to do that!'

'Go away!' She threw a shoe at him as he followed her to the door.

'Harriet!'

'Go away!' She threw the other shoe at him.

'What do you want from me?'

'I want the old Timothy back!' She yelled in response.Tears flowed down her cheeks. 'I want him back'

'Did I not explain this to you when I came back? That I'm not the person you once knew.I'm trying real hard to walk this life of faith and accommodate you.You said you had no problem, six months ago. And I want you to experience the goodness of this new found faith!I want my loved ones to know this Father, this good good father.And if you can't share this with me...'

Harriet stopped sniffing and cupped his face.

'Are you breaking up with me?'

He took her hands off him and squeezed them gently.

'I have to get going.'He kissed her on the cheek and walked back to his car.He started the engine and drove off.

Meanwhile,Maya and Mercy snuggled into their beds and said their evening prayers.There was a silence before Mercy spoke.

'Timothy is a nice guy.'

Maya turned in her bed before replying

'Yes...yes he is.'

'And so is his family.So down to earth.I wish I could live there...no offence Maya.'

'Ha ha, none taken. We need to start looking for that new house by the way.'

'Oh yeah,we should.'

'Mercy,can I ask you something?'

'Shoot.'

Maya hesitated for a while and then spoke

'Never mind...Goodnight sis.'

Maya made her way to Timothy's office,three days later.She had brought with her a Banana cake she had made at the restaurant,with Aunt Aisha's permission.She knocked on the door,and it was opened by a lady.

'Maya,'Timothy got up from his seat and walked up to let her in.Cathy moved to the side.

'I hope I didn't interrupt a meeting.'

'Are you the one who called to set an appointment?' Timothy asked.

'Yes,it was me.'

'You shouldn't have...I would have cleared up my schedule for you.Please take a seat.'

'I will be in my office when you're done,'Cathy chipped in.

'Cathy,I want you to...'

Cathy shut the door before he could finish.Timothy shrugged and then faced her.

'Don't mind her...Anyway,how are you?'

'I am well and you?I brought you cake.'She placed the dish on his table

'Oh,how sweet of you,thank you.I am good.'

'It's the least I can do.'

'Maya,you need to stop doing that.You don't have to repay me for anything.What do I need to do to stop you from doing this?' He smiled.

'I don't know,stop being generous?'She smiled back.

'Good idea.'

'I got three phonecalls the past two days.People wanting to book me for their parties and dinner.'

'That's good news.How is school?When do you start?'

'Next week Wednesday.'

'Sweet.Are you excited?'

'Yes...it's been a long time coming.'

'You deserve it Maya. I've never seen a kindhearted, strong woman like you.'

'Thank you. And you are too,except for...only that you're male,'

Timothy laughed.'I had no idea Maya,that for a moment there,you thought I was a woman.'

Timothy's phone buzzed and he picked it up.

'Hey Harriet....I'm good....no,I'm in the office,with Maya,she came to visit...aha...I don't think so...alright,talk later...bye...love you too.'

Maya stirred in her seat. 'How is she?'

'She's good...we had a little fallout...but we'll find our way.'

'What happened to eeerm...the proposal?'

'I don't know,one minute I was going to call her up...and then I felt this prompting in me to...give my testimony.It felt like it took two hours.'

'Ha ha...no, it was short.'

'And uncomfortable...offensive to others...but, five people approached me later on in the day. Two of them gave their lives to Christ. I'm still in contact with all of them. It's amazing stuff.'

'That is amazing.'

'But, thank you for reminding me...I got to get it done. Boys to men huh?'

'Ha ha...yeah...I got to get going...All the best today.I'll be praying for you.'

'Thank you...I need it.'He got up and walked her to the cafeteria where Aunt Wendy was stationed.

'My favorite people,'she exclaimed when she saw them.

'You two give me hope.In the midst of all the decay in the world...seeing you two gives me hope.'

'She says that everyday'said Timothy to Maya. 'I will see you soon. I'll let you know how it goes.'

Timothy knocked off at six thirty pm with a bouquet of roses he had ordered earlier on. He then stopped at one of the supermarkets to purchase a few household items.He was on his way to the car when he got a phone call from Harriet's father.

'Who is this? 'He boomed,sounding drunk from the other end of the line.

'This is Timothy, Timothy Jones...'

'Raphael! My son! Evening'He exclaimed,

'Evening Sir.'

'I missed your call...is everything okay that side?'

'Yes,I was calling about Harriet...'

'What now?Did she get locked up or something?'

'No sir. I, I'm actually on my way to her place right now. I wanted you to know that I'm going there to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage.'

'Ha!You're still at it?What did she feed you?Boy,if you know what's good for you...you'd walk away right now!'

'Sir...I don't understand.'

'How do you think she's surviving in the city?Huh?She's not being honest with you son.'

'But she's going to school,I assumed you're paying for her?'

'School of what?Prostitution?She ran away from home a year ago...while you were still abroad!Besides,I thought you two were done....hello...Timothy?'

Timothy arrived at Harriet's place.He carried the bouquet of roses with him as he walked to the door.Harriet's roommate opened the door before he even made it to the steps.

'Timothy...what are you doing here?'

'I came to surprise Harriet.'

'Now is not a good time...she's not here.'Her roommate scratched her head.

'Where is she?'

'Martha!Martha!Who the heck is at the door...Simon is waiting for...us'Harriet stopped dead in her tracks on the staircase.

'Tim...what are you...what's happening?'

Timothy entered the house and stood three feet away from Harriet.

'You lied to me...you've been lying to me the whole time!How long was all this going to go?'

'Timothy!You don't understand...'

'Understand what?That you ran away from home?That when you said you were getting your life together,you were messing with me?HELP ME UNDERSTAND HARRIET! HELP ME!'

Maya arrived home from work that night around eleven p.m. She let herself in and found Mercy in bed. She then took out her phone from her bag and found a text message from Timothy which read

'The proposal didn't go as planned...now waiting on the Lord to help me make sense of the situation'

Maya tapped on Timothy's number, and then cut the line after the second ring

'What am I doing, calling someone at midnight?' She thought to herself. She changed into her night gown and went under the covers of her bed. Her phone then buzzed and she reached for it to find Timothy calling.

'Hi Tim...I just read your message. I'm sorry for dialing your number at such a time.'

'It's okay... I needed someone to talk to...I'm glad I get to hear your voice Maya.'

Maya held her breath for a moment.

'What happened?'

Maya's sleep was interrupted the following day by Mercy getting ready for work. She stretched herself and watched Mercy as she got dressed.

'Morning sleepy head, that was a long phone call you had last night,' Mercy winked. Maya threw a pillow at her and she ducked.

'What time is it?'

'Six Fifteen. We're having that new Marketing Team Dinner tonight. I'll come home late.'

'Okay cool....About the phone call, I was on the phone with Timothy.' Said Maya

'I know, I heard everything...' Mercy smiled and headed out the door.