For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
--Ephesians 2:8 (KJV)

Posi was awakened by the sound of her alarm going off. She made yawning noises as she stretched her arms till her fingertips brushed against another warm body. At first, she was startled till she remembered that the warm body belonged to none other but her husband.

Husband. The word still felt surreal to her and even the person too. She gazed at his every feature that had endeared her to him from the beginning. She even remembered saying he had a nice face.

Well, nice doesn't cut it. This is a very handsome face and a more wonderful personality.

They had been married for roughly six months and she was still settling into the married life she knew she had a long time to enjoy. There were days when she wondered why God had blessed her with such a perfect human and she was just grateful for the gift of Tayo. On other days, she had moments when she just couldn't stand being in the same room as him.

Like right now. Tayo's sonorous and rhythmic snoring was one of the first things she had had an issue with. She still did in fact but she was beginning to get used to it. For someone who couldn't sleep where there was noise, she had had to adjust her system to falling asleep to his bass solos every night. Either she slept before he did or she wore ear muffs, which she tried for a few months but stopped because even that was uncomfortable. Now, she just enjoyed him praising God even while he was asleep.

Tayo was such a romantic man and he babied her like she was a freshly laid egg. There were mornings when he made them breakfast after their morning devotion as they prepared for work. It wasn't important that the breakfast was either cereal and milk or sliced bread cut into triangles with different kinds of spread laid out on the table. It was his heart that mattered. And there were days he just sent small chops to her at work and many other little things she was learning to enjoy.

She was still reminiscing when his snoring ceased abruptly like someone had applied the brakes to a car speeding on a highway.

"Hey," he said in that distinctly bass voice of his, with a smile playing around his lips.

She smiled at him. "Hey."

"Why didn't you wake me? It's time for prayers."

"Was just lost in my thoughts for a while. Let's go."

The bed creaked as they both stood and walked a few paces to the lone settee in their room.

"It's your turn to lead us today," he said again.

"Yes, sir."

Their voices rang out in the silent room as they lifted up their voices to worship their Heavenly Father.

********

Tayo had just returned from work and it had been a hectic one for him. However, the joy of coming home to his beautiful wife was enough to wash away some of the tiredness he felt. It was at times like this that he understood why God had made a woman as a companion for man.

Yes, he was sure he would never fully understand how a woman thought but he was ready to love his woman whether he understood her or not. He had a second chance at love with another wonderful woman, he sure wasn't going to waste it on trivial things. Posi wasn't perfect but she was God's and his in the way God wanted, but neither was he.

There were times she exasperated him, like times when she didn't say what was truly bothering her. He had made a commitment to her and he prayed for her through those moments. However, there was one thing he couldn't pray her out of -- her teeth grinding. She argued with him like there was no tomorrow when he brought it up and instead, brought up his own snoring, which he of course denied to the last. He didn't snore. He had never snored a snore in his lifetime! What was she talking about!

"Olatayo Adekiitan Sijuade!"

He smiled as he heard his beloved wife call out to him. Wife. A beautiful title. He was still smiling till he remembered something.

Okay, what did I do wrong?

Tayo paused in unbuttoning his shirt as her footsteps got closer to their shared walk-in closet. She never called him his full name unless he had done something wrong or she felt he had done something wrong. Posi was everything he wanted in a woman but she possessed the ability to make him feel like a child when she used a certain tone.

Hesitantly, he replied, "Y-yes, babe."

She has her eyebrows arched. Oh, man!

"Did you finish my Blue Bunny ice-cream?"

With his eyes flitting from left to right like a butterfly aiding the cross pollination between flowers, he flashed what he hoped was his sheepish disarming smile. "Urm, actually, I did take a few spoonfuls before I went to bed last night."

"A few spoonfuls? Can you please describe what a spoonful is according to you? Because you finished more than half of the tub!" She shut her eyes. "And don't even start with those your smiles. It's not working today."

That wiped the smile off his face. He moved closer to her and wrapped his arms around her as he peered into her eyes. "Oya, sorry na. I will buy another one for you."

He watched as she looked down. "Another one? Just one?"

He could hear the incredulity mixed with a sprinkle of mischief in her voice. Oh, that's what you're aiming for.

"How about two then?"

"I want four tubs. Deal or no deal?" She was smirking now.

He rolled his eyes. "I can buy three and I will go get it right now."

He watched as she pretended to mull over it for a second.

"Okay. Deal!" She shouted as she stood on tiptoes to place a peck on his lips before she jumped out of his arms.

"Thank you, babe! You're so sweet."

Yep! I'm the sweetest but why does she look and sound so victorious? Was I just duped?

"Babe?"

Tayo heard her call to him again. He looked up to see her peering into the room through the side of the door.

"Yeah."

"Make sure it is the Blue Bunny brand you get, uhm?" She winked and left again.

"Uh. Okay."

He felt like she was getting back at him for something but he didn't have any evidence except that she was smiling too sweetly for his liking.

But what could he do? Even her smile was an undoing for him.

He buttoned up again and moved swiftly to do her bidding.

*********

"You needed to see his face when he came back home. It was so epic!" Posi was narrating to the group of six.

The six of them were seated under a shade in one of their favourite places to hang out whenever they were together-- the beach.

"Like I couldn't believe my eyes! I had already paid for the ice-cream before I realised that it wasn't the same one she had accused me of eating. She had just pulled the biggest scam on me and I fell for it."

"Well, you began this whole relationship by falling for her. I think it's only right that you continue in that wise," Tutu quipped from where she was, making everyone burst into laughter.

"You're witty. I will give you that," her brother spoke.

"Are you just knowing that?"

Godspower was having so much fun with his friends and he silently whispered words of thanksgiving to God for them. In the six months that his friends had been married, a lot had changed for him too. He got transferred to the Lagos branch of his company and was adjusting to the hustle and bustle of being in the nation's commercial capital.

He had joined the church the other four were attending and it had been a great six months worshipping there. And the bond between the six had strengthened too. However, he was having challenges with one thing. The one thing that had plagued him since he was a child. He thought that part of his life was gone and done away with but it reared its ugly head again, and fighting it was becoming tiring, even for him.

"Godspower?" He heard his name being called and when he looked up, he could see the question on her face.

"Yes, Tutu." He gave her a smile that he hoped showed her that he was okay.

She nodded and continued. "You remember when you cried at Tayo and Posi's wedding?"

"Nooo. GP cried? Are you serious?" Tayo asked with mischief colouring his tone.

"Tutu, I thought that was supposed to stay between us?"

"It's still between us. It's only that it is betwixt us now."

"Uhn?"

"You know. Between plus us six equals betwixt. You get it?"

They all roared with laughter again as they shook their heads.

"I can't even, with you, Tutu." He shook his head.

"Thank you very much, GP."

"It wasn't a compliment," he returned.

"I know. But I'll take it as one. You don't have a problem with that now, do you?"

GP just shook his head again and took a sip of juice.

"Now, about the crying. Why didn't I see that?" Funmi asked.

"It wasn't crying. It was just a few tears. And I was just grateful and happy for them, that's all." And he remembered it like yesterday.

"Anyone who has any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony should rise now or forever keep silent," the presiding minister stated.

After some seconds of silence with no objection, the minister proceeded to join the two and announce them as husband and wife. The entire congregation erupted in shouts and applause, while the new couple shared their first kiss. From where he was standing as the best man, Godspower was super elated for them and he was so sure that their marriage was one ordained from heaven.

Soon, prayers were said, signing of the marriage registry was done and it was time to move to the reception. Posi and Tayo had full smiles on their faces as they held hands and walked out of the auditorium. Godspower didn't know he had tears in his eyes till someone nudged him and handed him a handkerchief.

"I didn't know you were a crybaby," Tutu enthused as much as she could in a whisper.

He dabbed at the corner of his eyes before he answered her. "You can't tease me here. We have duties to perform, you know."

She rolled her eyes at him and faced forward as they approached the car the bride and groom would ride in. He watched as she helped Posi gather her wedding gown into the car as the two giggled over an inside joke.

"Bro, congratulations! I'm so happy for you." He and Tayo exchanged their bro handshake and hug. He had never seen his best friend smile so much. Meeting Posi was just the icing on the cake and he was so sure they were God-ordained.

Pictures were taken and they moved to the reception. Everything about Posi and Tayo's wedding was high-class. The calibre of people present especially from Tayo's side, the hall rented for the intimate reception, food and drinks being served. Everything.

The entire gang had been involved one way or the other in the planning of the wedding. They had both wanted a simple wedding but that wasn't possible. So, they settled on an intimate reception, with only immediate family and friends present, strictly by invitation. The reception invitation card was different from that of the church wedding. There was already a mini-reception held in the church environment for every other attendee.

*****

The kind of organized chatter coming from their shade almost overshadowed the noise of the waves hitting the shore. And it was enough to let other people know how close the six of them were.

"I just remembered when the MC at the reception asked for people who knew how we met," Posi spoke up suddenly. "And Funmi and Kazeem raised their hands up simultaneously."

"I noticed too. I could see their stare down from where we were seated. It was so hilarious," Tayo continued.

Funmi had a ludicrous look on as if she didn't understand what they were talking about. "A stare down? I was simply letting him know that he didn't stand a chance against me."

"Love, it wasn't about being against one another. The MC just wanted you to share stories of these two."

"Well, maybe I took it more personal than necessary."

The table erupted in laughter.

"Kazeem's telling of the story was more about his role in getting them together," Tutu added after a bit.

"I know, right. I didn't even know he did those things he said."

"The guy is a clown."

The banter and laughter was always present any time they all gathered. It was always soul-lifting.

Tayo and Posi excused themselves first as they held hands and walked along the length of the shore. After some minutes, Funmi and Gerald also stood and began to chase themselves around the beach.

"Bleh!" Tutu exclaimed suddenly.

"What? What is it?" Godspower asked as he frantically searched around her for any harmful object.

"Those four are making me cringe with all their cutesy motions. I could get diabetes from all these sugary moves."

Sighing, GP facepalmed and settled back on the bench he had been sitting on.

"I think you're just jealous."

"I am? Tell me more."

"Stop acting cute." He winked. "It's beautiful seeing them together though. It makes you believe something remotely close can happen to you too."

"Hmmmm."

He turned to her. "Why hmmmm?"

Tutu looked like she wanted to say something but she only said, "Nothing."

After a few moments of them talking about everything without saying what really needed to be said, the other four returned.

"Did you miss us?" Funmi asked.

"Nope!"

"Not even a teeny bit."

"How silly of me to ask! Why would you when you both are here?"

GP looked at Tutu first, and he got the feeling that she knew what Funmi hadn't even said.

"What do you mean?" GP asked first.

"What do I mean? I mean when are you guys going to become the third couple in this heptet?"

"Arrrgh, Funmi!" Gerald growled silently as he held her arm.

"What did I say?"

Posi shook her head at her, motioning for her not to push it.

"Funmi, it's fine but nothing of that sort is happening here." GP motioned between two of them.

*******

Tutu could have gotten whiplash from the speed with which she turned to look at him. She knew he had that sentiment in mind but hearing him say it out loud was like a final stamp to the hope she had been harbouring.

Why didn't he want them together when they obviously liked each other? What was he thinking?

If she knew the answers to these, she would have shut the door of her heart to him but she didn't. She couldn't. And these questions bred more questions.

Besides, no full-blooded male had ever turned her down.

Tutu looked down to hide emotions she was so sure had made it to her face.

"Adetutu? You okay?" Posi asked.

"Yeah. I'm good." She raised her head with her face arranged to give a smile. "I'm good."

"Alright, it's getting late. I think we should start preparing to leave," Tayo finally spoke up.

With nods of approval, they all began to pack their stuff together and gather all the waste in one place.

*******

GP couldn't pretend he didn't notice or  understand Tutu's moment of silence but he also couldn't say something he didn't mean to spare her feelings. He couldn't deny the attraction he felt to her but he also couldn't put her through something he was still trying to get a handle on.

Maybe, just maybe, if he triumphed over his challenge, he would pursue her with all he had. But right now, they could only be friends. That's all he had to offer. That's all he had.

He needed mending. A graceful mending.

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

Finally, the epilogue!
Thank you for sticking with me to the final end!

Please, do drop your comments and share with everyone you can!