For Better And For Worse
Chapter 126

Roger’s home.

Doctor Roger has completely recovered his health and is ready to go out in search of work. After breakfast, he gets dressed and goes out. His wife approaches him.

Clémence: darling, where are you going?

Roger: I’m going to look for work of course.

Clémence: you must rest, the illness must not attack you again.

Roger: no, I feel fine darling so don’t worry. And besides, I’m not going to spend all my time resting. When the breath of life is taken from me, I will have plenty of time to rest. But in the meantime, I have to face life because they say it is a fight.

Clémence: okay but you have to be in top form to face him.

Roger: don’t worry, God has already pulled me out of the worst.

Clemence: okay, God be with you my love.

Roger: Thank you.

Evariste also comes out of his room well dressed and joins them.

Clémence: wow, you are very elegant my son.

Evariste: thank you mom. Dad, can you drop me off for my job interview?

Roger: with pleasure son, let’s go!

They leave and Roger goes to drop his son off at his interview before going to look for work.

Renaissance hospital.

Célestin and his wife went to the hospital this morning for a medical examination. The gynecologist does the pregnancy ultrasound and gives them good news.

Gynecologist: good news ma’am. Your pregnancy is progressing very well. You’re five months in and so far so good.

Stella: I’m glad to hear that.

Célestin: doctor, is it possible to know the s*x of the child?

Gynecologist: obviously! You are expecting a boy.

Célestin: ah, what good news, I’m the strongest!

Stella: God decided that, darling!

He comes closer and caresses her belly.

Célestin: hello my little prince, it’s your dad talking to you, I can’t wait to see you you know.

Gynecologist: you are free madam.

Stella: thank you doctor, come on, let’s go back!

They leave and they talk in the car.

Célestin: what are we going to call him?

Stella: we’ll call him Christophe.

Célestin: Christophe, it’s a good first name but I prefer Angel!

Stella: why Angel?

Célestin: because my little prince will be a little angel.

Stella: that sounds too feminine.

Célestin: it’s a beautiful first name. Don’t tell me you don’t like it?

Stella: no I don’t like it.

Célestin: but why?

Stella: because my uncle’s name is Angel but he’s not an angel. When I lost my parents, he didn’t even care about me. He said I’m a girl and I’m worthless so he stripped me of all my parents’ possessions and put me on the street.

Célestin: oh, I’m sorry. I thought you didn’t have any family members alive.

Stella: Do you think such a person represents a living person to me?

Célestin: you are right. I’m sorry. We’re letting Angel down.

Stella: Thank you.

Célestin: why did you choose Christophe then?

Stella: because it was my father’s name, the best father he was and that I was lucky to have.

Célestin: okay. We then keep this first name, in honor of your father.

Stella: Thank you.

Célestin: I realize that you never told me anything about your direct or distant family.

Stella: You never asked me.

Célestin: It’s true. From today I want to know everything.

Stella: ok. Once I get home, I’ll tell you about it.

Célestin: okay.

They continue the road towards the house.

Célestin’s home.

Back at home, Célestin makes his wife sit in the living room and serves her a drink, then he sits next to her to listen to her.

Célestin: go ahead darling, tell me, I want to know everything!

Stella: I was 13 when I lost my father. He had left some savings in the bank but my two older brothers, from a different mother, emptied the account in complicity with my uncle and left my mother and me with nothing. She managed to take care of us and pay for my school until 11th grade and she passed away. I was then all alone. My uncle was a pretty good man but he abandoned me and my two half-brothers too. I found myself on the street. I had become a maid in a rich family but they also ended up rejecting me. Nobody wanted to help me, then one fine day, I ran into Isabelle. This woman welcomed me with love and compassion. She treated me with all the love of a mother. I saw my mother in her. Her husband accepted me under his roof and they treated me like their daughter. They made me the woman I am today. When all these misfortunes happened to them, I believed that it was because of me, I thought I was bringing them bad luck but never, not even for a single second did they think that of me. On the contrary, their love for me has never wavered and has remained the same until today.

Célestin: you went through so many difficult trials my love, but you came through valiantly. Polygamy always has very negative consequences on the couples themselves but also on their offspring. Nothing in life can defeat you my love and from now on, you will never be alone again. Your uncle, your brothers, one day will come crawling under your feet to ask you for help. You will see.

Célestin: you went through so many difficult trials my love, but you came through valiantly. Polygamy always has very negative consequences on the couples themselves but also on their offspring. Nothing in life can defeat you my love and from now on, you will never be alone again. Your uncle, your brothers, one day will come crawling under your feet to ask you for help. You will see.

Stella: thank you my love, your words comfort me.

Célestin: I am here for that, to comfort you every time you are down and I will always be there in your moments of joy and sadness.

She snuggles up against him and he holds her tight.

Komer Prison.

This morning, at eating time, BRUNO takes his dish and remains thoughtful. A prisoner comes to snatch his dish but he does not react. Aristide approaches him with his dish.

Aristide: we can share together.

Bruno: why do you want to help me, I’m a criminal?

Aristide: I am a pastor and all those who are there are my sheep.

Bruno: a pastor in prison, it’s surprising.

Aristide: Everything that happens is God’s plan and everyone you see is not here because they are guilty.

Bruno: you are right.

Aristide: I sense that something is bothering you. Would you like to tell me about it?

Bruno: do you think redemption is possible for all the sins we commit?

Aristides: I know that God is ready to forgive us and cleanse us from all evil if we turn from evil, confess our sins and come to him (1Jn1:9; Heb8:12; 2Chro7:14).

Bruno: I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, mistakes that I regret. I hurt my stepson and my daughter. God has been patient with me but I have abused his patience and today he has unleashed his wrath on me. My daughter hates me and my wife hasn’t even come to see me since I was incarcerated. I am all alone in this place and I suffer more in my soul than in my body.

Aristide: do you know God?

Bruno: when I was studying, I knew God. I read his word and prayed every day for him to help me succeed in life and he answered me. But when I started working and was breaking into business, I turned my back on him, abandoned him and followed my own voice. I was so ungrateful to him. I recognized him in misfortune but I turned my back on him when he got me out of misfortune. Today I am falling back into misfortune and I want to return to him. A man will never accept me.

Aristide: fortunately for you, God is not a man. His love is so great that He is ready to welcome you with open arms and forget everything you have done in the past if only you sincerely seek His face again.

Bruno: in this case may he forgive me and purify me from all iniquity. I regret all the harm I have inflicted on my family and this city. From that moment on, I decided to entrust him with my life again and I promised to remain faithful to him from now on.

Aristide: know my brother that God has forgiven you and accepts you again as his son. You can rest assured.

Bruno: thank you pester but what about my family who rejects me?

Aristide: even if your family rejects you, God will always welcome you with love. And if she refuses to lose you, she sends fervour upon her but you are freed in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Bruno: Amen! Thank you pester.

Aristide: you are also on the mission of bringing lost sheep like you back to God.

Bruno: okay.

Krist’s home.

Krist returns after following up his construction crew. His wife welcomes him and gives him a drink.

Isebelle: How lost is Stelle already!

Krist: oh yes, that’s life.

Isebelle: It’s only been a week and she’s already lying to me a lot.

Krist: you’re not the only one. She was so kind, so respectful and so friendly.

Isebelle: after your absence, I don’t know what I would have become if she wasn’t there. She was a friend, a confidante and even a mother to me at times.

Krist: that’s why God introduced it into our life, because it naturally clears everything that could be weighed down. And today, it was time for her to live her life and start her own family.

Isebelle: Yes, God bless her home. I’ll serve you something to eat.

Krist: Yes, thank you.

It therefore serves him to eat and he rests.

On the other hand, Commander Léon also follows the events of his business colleagues.

Roger’s home.

Home of Ernestine.

After returning from work, Ernestine takes a shower and her brother serves her food. After the meal, she receives a call from Yves.

Ernestine: hello my love!

Yves: hello darling, was it nice today?

Ernestine: yes, it was well thought out. Only that I haven’t stopped thinking about you. It distracts me from time to time.

Yves: hum, my heart is full of joy. You know, since we attended Stelle’s wedding, it refuses to get out of my head. I imagine you in this dress so magnificent, so resplendent, so fresh with this smile that hypnotizes and I see myself plunging into a perfect universe, filled with love and peace, that it is beautiful I assure you.

Ernestine: you made me cry Yves! If you want to get married, I’m ready.

Yves: I love you with all my heart but it’s not yet the right time.

They spend their time discussing fun things to relax.

Bruno: thank you pastor but what about my family who rejects me?

Aristide: Even if your family rejects you, God will always welcome you with love. And if she refuses to forgive you, she will heap burdens on herself but you are set free in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Bruno: Amen! Thank you pastor.

Aristide: you also have the mission of bringing lost sheep like you back to God.

Bruno: okay.

Krist’s home.

Krist returns after monitoring his construction work. His wife welcomes him and serves him a drink.

Isabelle: so Stella has already left!

Krist: oh yes, that’s life.

Isabelle: It’s only been a week and I already miss her a lot.

Krist: You’re not the only one. She was so kind, so respectful and so nice.

Isabelle: after your absence, I don’t know what I would have become if she wasn’t there. She was a friend, a confidante and even a mother to me at times.

Krist: That’s why God brought him into our lives, because he knew in advance everything that was going to happen. And today, it was time for her to make a life for herself and start her own family.

Isabelle: yes, God bless her home. I’ll serve you something to eat.

Krist: Yes, thank you.

So she serves him something to eat and he rests.

On the other hand, Commander Léon also follows the progress of his business work.

Roger’s home.

Evariste tells his parents who have just returned in the evening the good news that he has got a job. Unfortunately, Roger hasn’t found a job yet. However, he does not despair. He will search until he finally finds it.

Séverin’s home.

This evening, after Séverin returns from work, his wife welcomes him properly and serves him a drink. He takes a shower and she serves him food. After the meal, she discusses a delicate subject.

Claire: darling, how long are we going to live like this in cohabitation?

Séverin: oh please, aren’t we going to talk about this again? I already told you, darling, we can’t get married without your father’s approval and you don’t want to forgive him, so how will it happen?

Claire: but why do you always have to bring it back to that?

Séverin: well, because I need your father’s blessing and you also need his blessing, darling, he’s your father. And no matter what he did, he deserves a second chance.

Claire: you’re not going to condition our marriage on the forgiveness that I grant to my father?

Séverin: no, not at all. I don’t want you to forgive him because you want us to get married. I want forgiveness to come from your heart so when you are ready to do that, then we can get married.

Claire: and now how do I distinguish forgiveness that comes from the heart from that for marriage?

Séverin: you can decide at this very moment to go see him and tell him: Dad, I forgive you. Would this forgiveness come from your heart? When it comes from the heart, you will know it.

Home of Ernestine.

After coming home from work, Ernestine takes a shower and her brother serves her food. After the meal, she receives a call from Yves.

Ernestine: hello my love!

Yves: hello my darling, was it at work today?

Ernestine: yes, it went well. Only that I haven’t stopped thinking about you. It distracted me from time to time.

Yves: hum, my heart is jumping with joy. You know, since we attended Stella’s wedding, it refuses to leave my head. I imagine you in this dress so magnificent, so resplendent, so fresh with this smile that hypnotizes and I see myself diving into a perfect universe, filled with love and peace, it is beautiful I assure you.

Ernestine: you’re going to make me cry Yves! If you want us to get married, I’m ready.

Yves: I love you with all my heart but it’s not the right time yet.

Ernestine: yes you are right.

They spend their time discussing fun things to relax.