Forbidden Dance: Will She Forgo Her Marriage for a Lifetime of Happiness? by Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku Read Free Book Online Page A

spine. “Thank you, Dune.”
    “What can I offer you? Open the refrigerator and help yourself. Dad has a pack of coke in the fridge. When I asked who drank coke, he said, ‘ Kyle likes coke’ .”
    “He did?” Kyle was touched Rev. Jones stocked up the fridge to his taste.
    They sat at the kitchen table. Dune popped a can of beer. “My marriage went through a rocky patch within the first few years. But we pulled through.”
    Kyle’s hand on the door of the fridge froze in place. “You’re married?” he asked when he recovered. The fact this stranger was willing to share his personal story with him was a surprise.
    Dune took a long swallow from his can and chuckled. “Why? You think I don’t look old enough?”
    Kyle laughed. “No. That’s not what I mean. Rev. Jones didn’t mention it, that’s all.”
    Dune waved away his reason. “My dad’s a rock. Secretive to the core, but you can bank on receiving unconditional love.”
    “That’s so true,” Kyle nodded.
    “I’ve been married for eight years. We hit an iceberg after three years. We got separated for about three months and then, we got back together and we’ve become rock solid. I’m grateful for the rough times. It was very tough, I must admit, but our relationship is better for it.”
    Kyle drank the coke and the sweetness taunted the bitter taste of his life. “It’s great to meet someone who has actually gone through a break in his marriage. Before now, I felt so alone and adrift.”
    Dune grinned. “Everywhere you look, marriages are troubled. You’re not alone. Many couples attend counselling sessions with dad. It’s so common, you need not hold it all in. Better days are ahead, trust me.”
    It was amazing to meet a family who were so open, and willing to help others pull through a bleak patch and give them hope.
    “If you don’t mind me prying, how did you sort things out?”
    Dune laughed off his discomfort. “I got claustrophobic about the marriage, she got irritated with me, complained about neglect, whined about everything and eventually reported me to my parents.”
    Kyle’s eyebrows raised several notches. “Your story sounds pretty similar to mine except my parents helped drill the nails into the coffin.”
    Dune did not appear shocked. “I love my parents dearly for the work they do. But I know many parents who help wreck marriages. Yours is no different.”
    Dune’s words provided some comfort. “How did you feel washing your dirt before your parents?”
    He shrugged. “We had hit rock bottom, Keira had moved out, so there was no pride left. It was either I admitted I needed help or lose my wife. Dad was very calm about it all. We attended sessions with him. It was hard-hitting and uncomfortable, but we committed to going through with the entire session.”
    Commitment was the key word. Kyle wondered if part of his problem was in not committing fully to building his marriage.
    “How long did it take for you to find your way back?” Kyle was full of questions. Thank God Dune did not find his probes intrusive.
    “About three months.”
    Kyle recoiled. “Three months?”
    “Imagine how long it took to sow and feed the rot. It depends on how quickly you identify and uproot the weeds.”
    From Dune’s analogy, he understood the extent of the mess, and the repair work required.
    “What do you do?” Kyle wanted to know a bit more about this man, who was very much like his parents – warm, helpful, and generous.
    “I’m a trained medical doctor, once an army reserve, but now I own and run a gym.”
    “Ah, an interesting mix. I play tennis. And I love to go to the gym as often as possible.”
    Dune stood up. “Tennis is great. You should stop by my gym sometime. Mum has made dinner. Once you’re done with Dad, we’ll have some food.”
    Right on cue, Rev Jones and Aileen appeared by the doorway.
    “Hello Kyle. Good to see you again.” Both of them spoke in unison. And they all laughed.
    Aileen gave him a hug