we discuss this over dinner?"
"No. Take care of yourself, Mantel."
"Don't go, Naomi."
Mantel went silent. His heart was clearly crushed and saddened. It was first time he had been opened and transparent about his feelings for Naomi.
"I'm sorry that I have hurt you. I am not the same innocent girl you loved at college. My life has changed for the worse. I have done things which I have regretted and I will have to live with the consequences of them. I want you to build the ministry with Jan by your side and to forget about me."
"I will never forget about you as long as I live."
"Good bye, Mantel."
"Good bye, Naomi."
Naomi switched off the phone in flood of tears. She had to end the relationship with Mantel or Phil would reveal details of her infidelity. She would not be able to look into Mantel eyes again if news about her intimacy with Phil ever came to light. It was far too much for her to contemplate. Mantel was her dearest and closest friend. She had always loved Mantel since childhood. The very thought of leaving him greatly perturbed her. She sobbed on her bed and prayed.
"Dear Lord, please hear my prayer and wipe away my tears I beg of you. Father, it has been ages since I last knelt down before you to pray. Lord, please forgive me of my disobedience and sins committed with Phil. I have let you down. I promise to serve you for the rest of my days."
Naomi fell asleep and was transported into the spiritual world. Two male figures stood before her. Naomi was trembling with fear and she could hardly utter a word.
"Who are you?" said Naomi.
"Don't be afraid we have been sent to you by the almighty God. He has heard your cry and He will deliver you."
"Who are you?"
"Don't be afraid, Naomi."
"Are you angels?"
"We are what you said."
"Can I stay here for a while?"
"No."
"Am I dreaming?"
"Yes."
"It is peaceful here and I am so weary of living this life."
"It's not your time yet, Naomi. God has a work for you to do."
"Can't somebody else do it?"
"No Naomi. You were chosen specifically for this work."
"How can God use someone like me?"
"God looks on the inside but man looks on the outside. He is interested in what you will become. He will strengthen you for the work ahead."
"What work does God want me to do?"
"You will know the task ahead of you in due course."
"How will I know?"
"You must follow your heart desire, Naomi. He has given you emotions and life experiences."
The angels departed leaving Naomi alone again. A still, small voice spoke to Naomi with authority.
"You are my precious child and I am with you always. I have given you power and authority to walk in the path in which I have set out before you. You are to serve Mantel in the ministry. No man shall come against you."
It suddenly occurred to Naomi that God was speaking to her. She could not contain her joy of hearing His words.
"There is so much I want to talk to you about, Lord."
"It is time for you to rest, Naomi. You look tired. I must leave you right now."
"Don't go."
"I cannot stay with you, Naomi. My assignment with you has come to an end."
"Don't tell anyone about me."
It became clearer to Naomi how God was omnipresent. Nothing is hidden from Him. Her past relationship with Phil was not based on love. They were no affairs of the heart between them. Everyone was doing it. She went along with her peers. She didn't want to be teased at college for being called a 'fridge'.
Thirty-four
Naomi thought how terribly unkind she was to Mantel on the phone. She needed to make it up to him before Jan come offering him a shoulder to cry on. He may find comfort in her arms. It was not too long before Naomi's fears were realized. Jan found Mantel sobbing at his home. Jan patted him on his shoulder and was quite concerned for him as she had never seen him looking so depressed before. Jan walked into a minefield with bombs ready to explode.
"What's wrong, Mantel?"
"I have a speck of dust caught in my eye."
"Hold still man and let me take the speck out of your eye."
"It is okay, Jan."
"No problem, Mantel."
"I said its okay."
"Why are you crying?"
Mantel showed no emotions to Jan on this subject. He wanted to be left alone to lick his wounds. Mantel liked Jan but he felt uncomfortable about discussing his personal life with her. Today was no exception.
"Is it Naomi, Mantel?"
"No."
"She will break your heart like the others.
"What others, Jan?"
"Do you know Naomi and a Denzel Washington lookalike was an item?"
"I would advise you to keep this matter to yourself, Jan."
"She slept with a married man, Mantel."
"The man is adulterer. He is old enough to know better."
"Naomi was not a kid."
"She was vulnerable at the time and that is all behind her now, Jan. Doesn't God say we should forgive each other seventy times seven?"
"Don't make a rush decision that you will regret later, Mantel."
"I love you dearly as a sister but my relationship with Naomi does not concern you."
"It concerns me to see you hurting, Mantel."
"Thank you for supporting me throughout the years, Jan. I am old enough to make my own decision and it's my life."
"I have heard that Phil want to talk to you about the merger."
"What merger?"
"I thought you knew about the merger of our church with the Church Alliance."
"There will be no further talk of merger."
"Do you know Phil is helping himself to the church funds?"
"Yes. Keep it to yourself, Jan. The authorities are dealing with this."
Mantel was angry at the mention of Phil's name. Mantel thought he had a strong and close relationship with Phil. He was wrong. The struggle for power and status had shaken away the very root of their relationship.
"Lets us not discuss the matter any further as it is under investigation," argued Mantel.
"If I was in your shoe, I would have reported Phil to the bishop," demanded Jan.
"I don't want to hear this anymore."
Thirty-five
The next few hours, Phil arrived at Mantel's house. Phil entered into the reception room looking rather distraught. He had not shaved for two days and his face was showing grey and black stubbles. Phil looked washed out. He was a shadow of himself. Mantel squared up to Phil as two boxers' face each other before the start of round one. Jan moved in between them performing the task of a reluctant referee.
"It will be okay, Jan. There won't be any violence between us."
"Likewise, I'm a man of the cloth and Phil is in no state to fight me."
"Good. I hate the sight of my own blood."
"Don't you worry, Jan? You won't be seeing any blood tonight."
"Mantel, is there a private place we can go to talk?"
"We can have a chat in the Kitchen."
They stared at each other for a few seconds. It was obvious that Mantel was upset with Phil. They moved into the kitchen whilst departing through the living room door.
"A word of advice Phil, before you take the beam out of someone else eyes, take the plank out of your own eyes."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Sort out your own life, Phil."
"My life is fine, Mantel."
"Stop deluding yourself, Phil. Your life is in a total mess and you know it."
On that note Phil was even more agitated by Mantel inquisition of him.
"You think you are Mr. Wonderful. Don't you Mantel?"
"I'm an average guy like anyone else. We are children of God and if that makes me special so be it."
"Has Margaret left you, Phil?"
>
"No."
"Why have you asked me such a question?"
"Why don't you take a good look at yourself in the mirror?"
"There is nothing wrong with me, Mantel."
"You have a face that would wake up the dead and scare the day light of the living."
"Shout up, Mantel."
"Don't you dare tell me to shout up, Phil?"
"I'm sorry Mantel for being rude. Margaret is away visiting a friend in Birmingham."
"That's good isn't it?"
"Yes. She left her phone behind and I want try to contact her."
"She'll be back. So you don't need to worry yourself about contacting her?"
"I'm not worried about Margaret. But, Birmingham is a big place, Mantel."
"It's a beautiful city."
"I found a telephone number of her friend. It's a Birmingham number. Why don't we try to ring this number?"
"No Phil. She hasn't left you and she will be back soon."
"I dialled the number and all you get is a message saying this telephone number is no longer available please hang up and dial the correct number. How can Margaret do this to me?"
Mantel looked bewildered. Something was just not right. Phil needed to come clean with him about his relationship with Margaret and Naomi.
"Why has Margaret left you, Phil," declared Mantel.
An anxious Phil sat down holding his head despairingly. He's been caught out by Mantel. Phil was now more vulnerable than ever. A pig led to the slaughterhouse. The great Phil was brought down humbly to his knees.
"You must stop playing church with me, Phil because you know what Margaret means to you."
"She is my wife and I've let her down."
"Is there someone else, Phil?"
"Yes. But it is all over."
"Are you saying you were having an affair?"
"Yes. But it's complicated. Leave me alone, Mantel."
"Not until you answer my questions."
Mantel reassured Phil that it was going to be alright.
"Confession is good for the soul, Phil."
"I will explain everything to you at the right time, Mantel."
"I am not going anywhere until you give me an explanation as to what is going on. I will find out sooner or later. I