After many years of happiness, Moni Badmus's marriage is crumbling and she doesn't know what to do. Desperate to save her home, she goes along with her husband's suggestion on how to spice up their conventional sex life.
Ladi Badmus gets exactly what he wants. But his thirst for excitement remains unsatiated. The couple find themselves drawn deep into a secret world until the risks they both embrace exacts a steep price.
In this emotionally charged tale of temptation, sacrifice and redemption, we see how love and faith erodes with promises not kept and how in the midst of man-made chaos God's compassion stands sure.
Book Excerpt
Huddled beside her father on the sofa, Shekinah poked out a full lower lip. “Mom, I really need to get a tongue ring,” she said. “Please.”
When did a tongue ring become a need? Moni Badmus wondered. Instead of answering Shekinah, she emptied her glass of water and placed it on the coffee table. There was no point saying anything since the response she gave minutes earlier had not changed. Over the past year, her teenage missy had developed a serious problem with the word, no.
“You never let me do anything fun,” Shekinah whined. “And it’s not fair!”
Crossing her legs, Moni decided to ignore the raised voice. “Considering you get all queasy at the sight of blood,” she said in a dry tone, “I’m surprised you think getting a piercing would be fun.”
Shekinah’s face settled into what had become her trademark scowl.
Ladi, who’d been quiet since they moved to the living room after suppertime, joined the conversation.
“Moni, it’s really no big deal,” he said, wrapping an arm around Shekinah’s shoulders. “Quite a number of the students in my class have them.”
Lips pursed, she glared at him. Of course, Ladi would support Shekinah’s request. She could do no wrong in his clouded eyes.
Sighing, Moni stood from the couch. “It has been a really long day. I don’t have the energ yfor a debate. Ladi, please tell your daughter to pick another birthday gift. Goodnight.”
Upstairs, she brushed her teeth and changed into a nightie. Too wound up to read her evening devotional, she mumbled a quick prayer and got into bed. Even though her body ached, her eyes were wide open when Ladi joined her.
“I was hoping you would still be awake,” Ladi said as he reached across the bed. “I’ve really missed you.”
Frowning, Moni shifted away. Not only had he ignored her request to help with moving some heavy boxes by parking himself in front of the television all evening, he broke their agreement not to contradict each other in Shekinah’s presence. And he thought he could just come to bed and expect her to fall into his arms?
“Sex is not on my agenda for the evening,” she said.
“Well ma'am, how about you pencil me in your schedule?” Ladi said in a tight voice. “Or do you need my people to call your people? Moni, it’s been two whole months. Please. I don’t want to cheat on you.”
Her words were clipped and bitter. “It wouldn’t be your first time.”
Ladi’s lean face hardened. “How long are you going to punish me? I’ve said I’m sorry. Several times, too. You’re a pastor’s daughter. Don’t you have a forgiveness gene?”
After eyeballing him, Moni turned her back.
She would never forget the day Ladi came home and confessed to an affair with a teacher at his school.
Sweating profusely, he had said it was a momentary lapse in reason. In her book, there was nothing momentary about a three-month affair. And because he pretended everything was fine with their marriage, she was completely blindsided.
After a brief period of marriage counseling, she’d told him he was forgiven. But as time passed, stabbing feelings from the betrayal grew until they took over her mind. Ladi’s touch began to repulse her as she imagined him touching the other woman. If he was capable of committing adultery, there was nothing stopping him from cheating on her again.
Growing up, her mother had frequently told her no matter how successful a woman was in her professional career, if her home was in shambles, it was all for nought. As an adult, she knew it took more than one person to make a home. Yet anytime she thought about Ladi’s affair, she felt like a failure.
Blinking back unexpected tears, Moni closed her eyes.
________
Vivian Kay is a debut Christian author weaving stories in Canada's banana belt. When she is not writing or daydreaming about writing, she's cooking, playing scrabble or snuggling up with a good book. Vivian loves to hear from her readers so please stop by at http://viviankay.wordpress.com/
Available at Amazon Kindle Store: Honour Among All: A Novella
Available at Barnes & Noble Nook Store: HERE
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