For Better And For Worse
Chapter 129

A WEEK LATER.

Komer Prison.

A guard appears in front of Hector’s cell. He throws him a pair of handcuffs.

Guard: put that on! You have visitors.

He puts the handcuffs on and the guard leads him into the visiting room. He was happy to see his daughter. The guard removes the handcuffs and they take the phone.

Claire: hi dad.

Hector: Claire, I’m so happy to see you.

Claire: how are you, dad?

Hector: I’m fine. I discovered the way of the Lord and found freedom and inner peace.

Claire: I’m glad to know that you’re doing somewhat well.

Hector: Really!

Claire: yes dad, if I’m here, it’s to grant you my forgiveness. I forgive you. And I regret disowning you like my father, I’m sorry.

Hector: no, no, you have nothing to reproach yourself for. Thank you so much my darling, you have no idea what that means to me. THANKS.

Claire: You’re welcome, Dad. I have news to tell you. I’m going to get married soon, with Séverin.

Hector: I won’t be there physically of course, but know that my heart and my mind will be with you. I wish you a very happy marriage and lots of happiness.

Claire: thank you dad.

Hector: how is my grandson?

Claire: Dad is fine.

The visit ends and she returns very happy but she does not tell her husband about this visit so as not to make him think that she did it because she wants to get married.

Today classes resume at the University. Hervé is starting his first year in biomedical sciences. Stella, for her part, continues in the second year of law and her husband drops her off every morning and picks her up when she finishes classes. Yves, for his part, continues his internship and research to support his master’s degree.

The construction work of Krist’s company and that of Commander Léon is progressing very well so far.

Doctor Roger’s home has become a happy home again. He continues his work normally. There are no longer any means to send your children abroad so they are in local schools.

Krist is spending more time with his family while his business is still building. They make romantic tourist visits, visits to amusement parks, public gardens, etc. to enjoy their love.

Between Yves and Ernestine, everything is still going well and they are happy together.

Séverin, for his part, wants to get married now and decides to ignore the forgiveness that his future wife may grant to her father, unaware that it has already been done.

Séverin’s home.

This evening, Séverin talks with his wife.

Séverin: darling, I want you to warn the other members of your family, your uncles, aunts, cousins, etc. I want to pay your dowry so that we can get married.

Claire: Really!

Séverin: yes my love, it is time that we formalize our relationship.

Claire: ah finally, thank you my love. Tomorrow, I will visit them to inform them.

Séverin: great!

Komer Prison.

A guard informs Hector that he has a visitor. He didn’t know exactly who it could be. When he arrived, he was surprised to see Séverin.

Séverin: hello Mr. Hector.

Hector: Séverin, the one who stole my daughter and turned her against me, what a nice surprise!

Séverin: no, listen sir, I begged your daughter to reconcile with you but it was she who didn’t want to.

Hector: why are you here?

Séverin: in fact, I… I want to marry Claire and I need your authorization and your blessing.

Hector: okay, you have it and I will ask you to take good care of my daughter, she is all I have left.

Séverin: are you serious?

Hector: I’m very serious. Claire has already spoken to me about this marriage and…

Séverin: what, Claire came to see you, since when?

Hector: Maybe a week, or more. Didn’t you know?

Séverin: no, she didn’t tell me anything.

Hector: It doesn’t matter, you have my blessing and I want you to know that I don’t blame you, nothing was your fault but that doesn’t matter now that she has forgiven me.

Séverin: thank you very much sir, I promise to take care of her.

Hector: Thank you.

Séverin returns home happy. In the meantime, Aristide talks to his sheep around the dining table.

Aristide: my friends, I am going to tell you that my mission here is over, I am going to be released.

Leo: how do you know?

Aristide: I had a vision.

Olivier: when are you going out?

Aristide: I don’t know exactly, but I know it’s close.

BRUNO: thank you for what you did for me pastor.

Corneille: for all of us.

Aristide: God must be thanked. You must continue to win souls to God.

Francis: you can count on us.

Corneille: yes, we will continue your work.

Aristide: thank you. May God be with you all! Bruno, I’ll leave this to you.

He leaves her his Bible.

Bruno: thank you.

Séverin’s home.

Séverin comes home and takes his wife directly into his arms, lifting her off the ground. Claire didn’t understand what was happening.

Claire: rest me darling! What is happening ?

Séverin: darling, why didn’t you tell me that you forgave your father?

Claire: so you don’t think I did it for the wedding.

Séverin: but no, I told you that if it came from your heart, I am with you.

Claire: yes, it’s true. So, did you go see him?

Séverin: yes and he accepted. He gave me his consent and blessing.

They scream and jump for joy into each other’s arms.

Claire: ah finally, thank you my love. When are we going to get married?

Séverin: very soon, just time to prepare and everything.

Claire: Okay. I can not wait.

Séverin: me too darling.

Komer Prison.

This evening, a guard goes to Aristide’s cell.

Guard: hey Pasto, enjoy your last stay here, tomorrow you are free.

Aristide: why am I released, I haven’t served all my years yet?

Guard: You are released for good behavior it seems!

Aristide: glory to God.

This is how, tomorrow morning, Aristide is led out of the prison gates. No one knew about his release so no one was there to look for him. He thanks the Lord and sings his praises. So he walks towards the city on foot and a good Samaritan finds him and helps him.

Aristide’s home.

The doorbell rings and Arsène goes to open it. Great was his surprise and immense was his joy to see his brother free. They hug each other tightly before going in and talking. A few days later, the pastor visits Krist.

Krist’s home.

The doorbell rings and Isabelle goes to open it.

Aristide: good evening Mrs. Krist.

Isabelle: Pastor Arsène, good evening, please come in.

Aristide: thank you.

He enters and she gives him a seat, serves him a drink before chatting.

Isabelle: It’s been a long time since you last visited me, eh pastor?

Aristide: in fact, I am Pastor Aristide, I was in prison with your husband. Arsène is my brother.

Isabelle: my God, are you twins?

Aristide: yes, a miracle of nature. How are you ?

Isabelle: I’m fine thank you, I have found the desire to live again thanks to God.

Aristide: May God bless you more, you are a couple who pleases the Lord because you were able to bravely overcome all the trials that happened to you.

Isabelle: thank you pastor.

Aristide: I got out of prison a few days ago and I came to see your husband.

Isabelle: he will be back soon too.

Aristide: Okay, I’ll wait a bit in that case. Can I see your daughter?

Isabelle: of course.

She will bring Marie to him.

Aristide: she looks like her father, right?

Isabelle: quite a pastor, that’s her spitting image.

Aristide: she is magnificent.

Isabelle: yes, it’s true.

It rings the doorbell.

Isabelle: it must be him.

She will open up to her husband. They k**s and they enter.

Isabelle: surprise darling!

Krist: Aristide!

Aristide: good evening my brother!

Isabelle takes her daughter and the two hug each other very tightly. They talk about everything and nothing. Krist tells him about his project and he prays for him. Isabelle serves them food and the pastor returns in the night.