Michael's mother stared at him as he spoke, and she scoffed. "What is wrong with having someone like her as my daughter-in-law?" She asked, surprising Michael.
"Mummy…"
"Don't mummy me. Answer my question. What do you even mean, someone like her?" She asked, and Michael raised a brow.
"Seriously, you're going to pretend you're okay with it? What did you say when I asked you what you will do if you were Hosea's mother in the Bible?"
"I said, thank God I'm not his mother. And I said I don't want to imagine nonsense, so what?" His mother asked.
"So why are you now asking me all these questions?" Michael asked, annoyed.
"Are you Hosea? Or is Amara Gomer?" His mother asked, looking at him with mild amusement.
Michael frowned. "What is the difference?"
"Ah, Michael? I thought you were smart. So, I should tell you the difference? Okay. I will. First of all, Prophet Hosea has more sense than you," she said, and Michael frowned.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked, annoyed by the insult.
"Because he obviously didn't think himself too big to challenge God. A whole pastor like you opened your mouth to say God has a twisted sense of humor. Ah! Michael! You need to go back to Bible college. Yesterday, you were jumping and preaching about Faith on the altar, yet look at you. Do you think Faith is only about trusting God in times of trial, sickness, or lack? Faith is in obedience! And you obviously don't have faith in God…"
"Mummy…"
"Don't interrupt me! You asked me a question, so allow me to answer it," she snapped at him.
"How dare you think of Amara as a prostitute after she has given her life to Christ? Why are you still judging her by her past when God has forgiven her? Gomer was a prostitute, yes. But Amara is not a prostitute. She even decided to stop it before she met you, so it's not like you're the reason she decided to stop. And who do you think you are to judge her? Are you even as holy as Prophet Hosea? You're comparing yourself to prophet Hosea, where in the Bible did you see that prophet Hosea ever womanized?"
"That was in the past," Michael cut in defensively.
"If you can judge Amara by her past, why can't I judge you by your past?" His mother asked, glaring at him. "Who do you think you are to judge her? Do you think you're qualified to cast any stone at her if others are doing that?"
"Why are you talking to me like that? I'm your son…"
"Right now, I'm ashamed that you're my son. You are just like your cousin and that silly girl she brought with her yesterday. That girl fits you more. Amara deserves better," she said, eyeing him with disapproval.
"Ah! Mummy!" Michael shouted.
"Ah, mummy, what?" his mother asked, shaking her head. "I'm going to rent this apartment for her. If you don't like it, move your pharmacy somewhere else."
"I'm not judging her. Fine, if you want to rent here for her, no problem. But I can't marry her. Shouldn't you want me to marry someone better? We can clean her up and help her to marry someone else…"
"You want someone else to marry her, but not you?" His mother asked, and he nodded.
"Yes. I can't marry her. Imagine what would happen if word about her past got out. It will bring too much shame and embarrassment. You can give me Ese's number. You said you like her, abi? I will go out with her. After all you said, I should find a wife that God is no longer in the business of finding wives for people," he said, and his mother laughed.
"You think you can use my words against me like this?" She asked, shaking her head. "It won't work."
"But you said it yourself that I can choose my wife myself. Let's forget about Amara," Michael said calmly.
"Nobody can choose a better wife for you than God. You're the only son God gave me, Tega. I'm only your caretaker, so if God says Amara is your wife, then Amara is the best person for you, whether you like it or not. It doesn't matter what anyone else has to say about her past. If everyone were born holy, then Jesus wouldn't have had any reason to come and die for us, would He? Why would you judge her because she once had transactional sex? Is she worse than Apostle Paul, who persecuted Christians yet went on to write many books of the Bible? Or do you think Jesus would come from the lineage of Rahab or be friends with Mary Magdalene if he were anything like you? Despite her past, even Paul mentioned Rahab as a person of Faith in Hebrews 11. You have some nerve judging her when you were once like her! The only difference between you and Amara is that while she was paid for sex, you were the one paying for sex. You should be ashamed of yourself, Tega, because I'm disappointed in you. She has a past like every other person. Every saint has a past and every sinner a future."
"It's not just about her past. How do you expect me to marry someone who didn't even go to a higher institution? All my friends and coursemates are marrying doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, and even nurses, yet you want me to marry someone who only has a WAEC certificate," Michael said, feeling frustrated.
"Not me. God asked you to marry her. Not me. If you prefer your wife to be a certain way, it is up to you to build Amara to be what you want your wife to be. That's what I'm doing— helping her become the kind of person I want my daughter-in-law to be. Give me the agent's phone number. I'm going to pay for this place while you make up your mind on what to do," she said, and Michael sighed.
"My phone is in my office," he said, looking around the place.
"I paid the lady for the bed and machine, and then she gave Amara the rest of the stuff for free. So all she has to do is get someone to clean the place and move in after we make the payment. I'm hoping I can conclude that today so that she doesn't have to spend an extra night at the hotel after the payment elapses," she said, and Michael raised a brow.
"She dashed her everything?"
"Yes, Michael, everything. You better believe that God's hand is on that girl," his mother said, walking out of the place and leaving Michael alone inside.
Standing alone in the place, he looked around. So, Amara will be living here now? And he'd have to see her every day?
'Now that you have your mother's approval, what is your excuse, Michael?'
Michael ignored the voice and walked out of the apartment. As he entered the pharmacy, he saw his mother embracing Amara and murmuring something to her. He frowned but said nothing as he entered his office.
His mother and Amara walked into the office just as he sat down, and Amara smiled at him, "I have a phone now, thanks to Mummy," she said, and Michael frowned.
Did his mother tell her that he was going to marry her? Was that why she was calling her mummy?
"Why are you calling my mother mummy?" He asked, and Amara looked taken aback.
"What should I call her? Aunt? She is old enough to be my mother, and she has been kind to me, so that is why I'm calling YOUR mother mummy. I'm not dragging her with you," Amara said, and Michael's mother laughed, liking the way she responded.
If there was one thing she liked about Amara, it was the fact that she never pretended or hesitated to say what was on her mind.
"Don't mind him. He is a very jealous man. I wonder how his wife will cope with him," Michael's mother laughed.
"I'm sure his wife will understand him better," Amara said, smiling at his mother.
"What if you are his wife? Will you understand him?" Michael's mother asked with a wide smile while Michael glared at her.
"I can't be his wife," Amara said with a shrug that seemed like she was rejecting it.
"Really? Why not?" Michael's mother asked, still smiling.
"I don't want to marry a pastor. Plus, he is not my spec like that," Amara said, and Michael's mother roared with laughter while Michael frowned.
What did she mean by that? Look at this one he didn't even want to marry, saying he wasn't her type.
"You're not Amara's spec." Michael's mother laughed as she handed him her phone. "Please give me the agent's number," she said, and Michael scowled at Amara as he picked up his phone and dialed the agent's number.
"Good afternoon, Oga Joseph. Please, someone is interested in the room and parlor upstairs," he said the moment the call connected.
"Yes, I know the person. They are ready to make payment today if you can come over," he said, and after a moment, he hung up the call.
"The agent will be here soon," he said, and his mother smiled.
"Okay. The two of you are going to be neighbors soon. You know what the Bible said abi? Love your neighbor as yourself," she said with a small laugh, and Michael glared at her, annoyed that she was making fun of the situation.
"Pharmo, a patient wants to see you," Nurse Loveth called to him.
"Amara, let's leave your new neighbor to work. Let's go and recheck your apartment and decide on what else you need to buy before the agent comes," Michael's mother said, and they both rose.
"Pastor Michael AKA Prophet Hosea of our time," his mother hailed with a chuckle before walking away with Amara.