Dedicated to damadrench❤❤

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Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. --Proverbs 11:14 (KJV)

Posi gave directions as they approached the more interior parts that led to her building. They had talked about any and every thing ranging from work, friends, general topics that they both deemed safe enough for their budding friendship. 

Posi truly had a great time with him and she discovered he was a smart one. He was witty when he wanted to be and he seemed wise beyond his years too. 

As the car stopped in front of her building, Posi thanked him for the beautiful and fun-filled outing. 

"And I promise that you will enjoy the small chops. It's like water to a thirsty soul," she commented. 

"Okay. If you say so. Thank you for coming out today too. I'm sure you had other things to do." Tayo smiled. 

Yeah, there goes The Colgate Smile again.

Posi lifted her left brow at him as she said, "Like you gave me a choice. But I'm glad I obliged. So, urm. Have a great night. And maybe we will see at church tomorrow."

"Yes, have a great night too." 

She alighted from his car, before she turned again. "Please, let me know when you get home. 'Night."

Posi heard a faint "goodnight" as she shut the door and waited for him to drive off. 

*******

Tayo glanced in his side mirror when he was a few paces from her gate to ensure she had walked into her compound. He wasn't sure he wanted to do the "you go first" dance with Posi.

Once he was sure she had gone in, he drove off and a smile made his way to his lips.

Hehehe. I didn't even need to ask if I could call her again. 

Tayo whistled along to Limoblaze and Ada's Okay, which was playing from his phone connected to his bluetooth speaker as he drove towards his house. Thankfully, traffic wasn't as bad as he had envisaged. So, he got home smoothly.

As Isaiah shut the gate, Tayo picked his "gift" from Posi and strode majestically towards his house with a cheery greeting thrown in Isaiah's direction. 

Walking into his apartment, he noted the clean smell that assailed his senses. 

The cleaning lady definitely came in today. Everything is just sweet today. Hmmmm.

Whistling, he sunk into a chair and opened the takeaway pack with him. He speared a piece of spring roll and munched on it. 

"Hmm," he muttered as he picked up his phone to call Posi. 

"Hi. I was waiting for your call. You're home, yeah?" He heard her say. 

She sure is kind. And this her voice sha.

"Yes, I am. Thank you for asking. But you lied about the small chops o."

"I did?" He could hear the puzzle in her tone.

"Yes now. It's not like water to a thirsty soul o. It's like chilling cold water to a thirsty parched soul that has been lost in a desert."

He heard her laugh. "You are such a goof. Anyways, I gotta prepare for church tomorrow. We'll talk later. Have a good night."

"Okay. 'Night." Tayo tapped the END icon on his phone and continued with his nibbling. 

********

Posi was seated in the reception as she waited to see Pastor Bimbo Bamidele, wife to Pastor Toba. She had heard during the announcement segment on Sunday about her being available for counselling on certain days of the week. 

And Posi believed she needed counsel especially since her mum had asked to meet her. She could feel the old heavy cloud of despair trying to creep in and she had done her best to fight it each time with prayers and worship songs. But it became harder as the hours to when she'll have to face her mother drew nearer. 

Sunday had indeed gone interestingly. Although at some point, Funmi had decided to make it Embarrass Posi Day. After service, Tayo had found his way to where she had been sitting and unfortunately for him, only Funmi was with her as Gerald was on call at the hospital.

Funmi had stared openly at Tayo so much that the poor guy began to shift from foot to foot. She had had to poke Funmi in the side countless times but that hadn't stopped her. Then suddenly, she burst into a smile and began to talk to Tayo like she had known him forever. 

Posi could see that Tayo was at a loss for words as his gaze shifted to her face as if to gauge and ask her what sort of friend Funmi was. She could do nothing but shrug and smile. Later, when Tayo had left with a promise to call her later, she had asked her friend why she had tried to make Tayo uncomfortable. 

And her reply was that she was testing his ability to withstand adversity by staring at him. And in her book, he had scored an 8 out of 10. 

Posi was still smiling at her friend's weirdness when she heard her name.

"Miss Posi Faleye."

She turned in the direction of the voice and responded before she was ushered into Pastor Bimbo's office. 

"Hello, Beloved. How are you? I believe this is the first time I'll be seeing you. Am I right?" Pastor Bimbo asked with a warm smile on her face. 

"Yes, ma. Good afternoon, ma." Posi didn't know how to act. This was the first time she had taken the step to see anyone who could stand in the motherly role for her or even counsel her. She just sat quietly as she cast sneaking glances in her direction. 

Pastor Bimbo looked like she was in her early 40s, she was beautiful, stately and one couldn't help but feel the love that was oozing from her. She had never seen her without a smile either. 

"I hope you have been getting blessed since you began attending C.W.C."

"Ah, yes, ma. I began attending almost immediately after I got saved. And I have been enjoying the way the Bible is explained so simply and with power. And the atmosphere is just filled with love. I feel so much at home here," Posi gushed in excitement before she realized that she was probably talking too much. 

She watched as Pastor Bimbo smiled at her and she felt like she could trust her. So, she summoned her courage and began.

"The reason I came to see you, ma, is to ask for your counsel. I had a rough childhood... "

And on and on, she explained till she got to her mother's request to see her. 

"Now, she called me a few days ago to tell me she would like to see me. And honestly, I have been dreading the meeting. It's been like the door to my past that I thought had been shut, wasn't latched and properly locked. The old wounds seem to be opening up again and I don't want to succumb to that again. Not anymore. But I don't know what to do."

At this point, the tears had begun to flow freely but she knew she had nothing to be ashamed of. The look on Pastor Bimbo's face was of someone who was seeing beyond her and she waited in silence as the woman of God sat still. Then, she smiled. 

"Dear Posi. Can I call you that?" she asked as she waited for Posi's affirmation. "There's nothing to be afraid of. And there's no need to be fearful of something that hasn't even happened. The devil is just trying to distract you and becloud your judgement with fear so much that you become paralysed to forgive and fully move on."

"God's got a plan for you and seeing your mum is pivotal for you to move to the next stage. There's no fear for the righteous man. Scripture says the righteous is as bold as a lion. And also that you have not the spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. So, don't fear. Fear no fear. The only fear to fear is no evil," she said. 

Posi nodded as she allowed the words sink into her being. She would fear no fear. She was bold as a lion. She didn't have the spirit of fear. 

As she quietly muttered the words to herself, she felt the unease begin to wash off her. 

And she smiled brightly. 

"Thank you so much, ma," she said, beaming. 

"God be praised. Let me pray with you."

Pastor Bimbo held her hands as she prayed grace and strength over her. After the prayers, she said, "I'd love to hear the outcome of your meeting, if you don't mind."

"Ah, yes. Of course, ma. Thank you so much again."

"You're welcome, Beloved. You're blessed. Have a great time the rest of today."

"You too, ma." Posi stood to her feet and sauntered out of the office. It was truly relieving to talk to someone and ask for counsel. She felt the burden roll away and felt like she could speak to any mountain to move now. 

********

"You really do have a weird friend, Posi. I'm so sorry for thinking you're weird." Tayo spoke into his phone.

It was just a few days since their first outing and they had both settled into their newly-found friendship. Like an unwritten rule, they exchanged a phone call once every day. Extremely lengthy ones at that, where they just talked and discovered new things about each other.

"Ha ha. But I agree that Funmi is weird. Gerald is the cool one amongst us three and we have known each for almost a decade."

"That's beautiful. I have a friend too like that. He's a strange one too. So, how was work today?"

"Work was great. I had to go to church today at some point though."

"Was there a service?"

"Ah, no. I went to do something else. How was your own day?"

"It was filled with work. And I am tired."

"I can hear it in your voice. You should go rest. Your photos are ready sha. I'd send the soft copies to your mail. And you can come pick up the framed ones this weekend or I can have them delivered to you, if you prefer that."

"I'll come pick them up!" That was too fast. He sighed. 

"Okay then. I'll let you know when to come pick them. Sleep well."

Smiling, he said, "You too."

Hehehe. That's the only way I can see her again, without asking her out to lunch again so soon. 

God is truly a miracle-working God.

He adjusted himself into a lying position as he drifted off to sleep. 

"Did Posi tell you she was going to see her mum on Friday?" Funmi asked Gerald. 

"Yeah, she did. And I have been praying for it to go as smoothly as possible."

"I know right. Anyways, she went to see P. Bimbo today too. It will all work out well."

"Amen. So, mummy wants us to come visit her next month."

"Ah, yes. She called me already… "

*****************************************

P.S: Thank you to @AlwaysLuCi for dubbing Tayo's smile The Colgate Smile. ❤❤

Love and Light
❤☀