CALLED BEFORE US- FINAL CHAPTER

Episode 17– To Have and To Hold

Dearest gentle reader,

You thought I was done??????🤭🤭

Neverrrrr!!! I had to give you guys a beautiful wedding episode.

It was still dark when Valerie opened her eyes. For a moment, she didn’t move.

The room was quiet and the air soft. Lagos hadn’t fully awakened yet. A faint blue light filtered through the curtains, announcing dawn.

Then it hit her. She was getting married today. Her stomach flipped.

She sat up slowly on the bed in her room— a 4 bedroom service apartment rented for the wedding morning. She had insisted on sleeping in a room all by herself. She wanted the quiet, the calm, the solitude. She needed to bask in the euphoria that she was about to be a wife.

Her phone was flooded with messages. She opened Purity’s text first.

My King 👑:

Babyyyy!!. Pastor Mrs!! Arise and shine!!! I can’t wait to get married to you today. I love you so much. 

Tammy:

WAKE UP MRS PURITYYYYY.

Beauty— Joel’s babe:

Babe the Makeup artist is on the way. Don’t cry before I get there abeg.

Mummy❤️❤️:

Come downstairs when you’re ready. Let’s pray.

She slipped out of bed and wrapped a robe around herself. The house was already awake — low voices in the kitchen, distant laughter from aunties who had slept over, the smell of jollof rice being prepped for the family members.

Life was happening.  She walked downstairs barefoot. Her mom was seated at the dining table with her Bible open.

When she looked up and saw Valerie, something shifted in her face. She was blessed to have this beautiful daughter.

Valerie sat beside her quietly and for a second, neither of them spoke. Then her mom reached for her hand.

“Today,” she said softly, “You don’t leave as a girl. You leave as a woman who has chosen wisely.”

Valerie’s throat tightened. Her mom flipped her Bible open gently.

“Proverbs 18:22,” she read. “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.”

“I know there were years you doubted yourself ,” her mom continued. “Especially after your father. Especially after heartbreak. But see God.”

Tears spilled silently down Valerie’s cheeks. “See how He writes stories.”

Her mom prayed that Valerie would never feel small in her marriage. That she would never silence herself to be loved. That her home would be filled with laughter, safety, and the presence of God.

Valerie prayed too. She thanked God for restoring her heart before giving her a husband. She thanked Him for Purity. They cried and hugged each other after the prayer ended.

Upstairs, Tammy’s voice rang through the hallway.

“Brideeee! If you don’t come and start makeup now, I will personally postpone this wedding.”

Valerie laughed through her tears.

Across the city, Purity hadn’t slept much. He stood by the window of his hotel room. Today, he would be marrying the absolute Love of his Life. 

He remembered one late afternoon as the sun spilled gold across the classroom, painting every corner of the Bible school in warmth and quiet glory.

Purity closed his notebook for the last time, a sense of completion settling in his chest. Months of lectures, late-night prayers, scripture memorization, mentorship sessions, and self-reflection had all led to this moment. The weight of every lesson he had learned, the ones about humility, leadership, patience, and God’s timing was now a tangible part of him.

He exhaled slowly, running a hand over the spine of his worn Bible. This book had been more than a guide. It had been a mirror, showing him the man he needed to become, the man he was still becoming. 

His mentor, Pastor Ade, had been relentless in his guidance, refusing to let him settle for mediocrity. Every challenge, every correction, every encouragement had been about shaping his heart for service. And now, the fruit of that labor was visible.

Two months to his wedding, he had been appointed Assistant Pastor at a branch church in Epe. The excitement should have been immediate, he thought, but what he felt first was gratitude and a quiet reverence. This wasn’t just a title; it was a responsibility, a calling that would shape the lives of others, just as he had been shaped.

Valerie had been there in spirit through it all, cheering him silently, her prayers interwoven with his own. He thought of the moments he had been tempted to run, to hide, to protect his heart instead of allowing himself to grow.

And he thought of her, how she had waited, forgiven, and trusted that he could rise to be the man she deserved. That thought alone brought a smile to his lips.

He remembered a particular afternoon with Pastor Ade, shortly before the final evaluation.

“Purity,” the pastor had said, “leadership isn’t about knowledge alone. It’s about the heart. You can preach eloquently, quote scripture flawlessly, but if you cannot love intentionally, serve humbly, and guide wisely, you are missing the call.”

Purity thought of the people he would serve—the young men and women he would mentor, the families he would counsel, the community he would shepherd. His chest swelled with a mix of humility and determination.

That evening, he called Valerie after his mentor had congratulated him. Her voice over the phone was soft but bright, as if it carried sunlight in every syllable.

“You did it,” she said, almost laughing through her excitement.

“I couldn’t have done it without your prayers,” he admitted, heart full.

“Honestly, I feel like every moment of waiting, every challenge, every step of training, every decision… It all led to this. To be able to serve, fully, without running.”

There was a pause.

Then Valerie’s voice softened.

“I always knew you could. I saw it even when you doubted yourself. I’m proud of you, Purity. And I love you. More than I can even explain sometimes.”

He felt warmth flood his chest, a sensation that had nothing to do with the sun or the day but everything to do with her.

“I love you too, Val. And soon… soon, we’ll get to celebrate all of this together,” he said, thinking of their wedding on the horizon.

---

He was drawn back to reality when his mother knocked gently and entered without waiting. She studied him carefully then adjusted his collar gently.

“My handsome son. I am glad that you are a  man who fears losing God more than losing a woman so I know God will protect this marriage.”

He nodded slowly. They prayed too. She asked God to make him gentle. To make him patient. To make him quick to apologize and slow to anger. To help him love Valerie in ways she understood.

---

Back at Valerie’s apartment, the glam had begun. The makeup artist worked carefully, blending foundation into Valerie’s skin. Her hair had been styled into a soft, elegant low bun with delicate tendrils framing her face.

Tammy stood behind her, hands on her hips.

“You see this face?” Tammy declared. “If Purity faints, nobody should blame him oo.”

Valerie smiled nervously at her reflection. She looked… different.

Her dress hung behind her. She was a Veekee James bride. She has always longed to be dressed in a Veekee James Wedding dress. 

Her dress had Long sleeves with delicate lace embroidery. A fitted bodice that hugged her gently before flowing into a cathedral-length train.It was Modest, Royal and Sacred.

Her bouquet rested on the table beside her, white roses with subtle hints of baby’s breath and soft blue accents, tying into their wedding theme: Blue and White signifying Faith and purity.

When it was finally time to step into the dress, the room quieted. Her mom helped zip the back slowly.

Tammy wiped tears dramatically.

“Don’t cry,” Valerie warned.

“I am not crying,” Tammy snapped. “My eyes are just sweating.” Everybody laughed.

But when Valerie turned toward the mirror fully dressed…. Everybody went silent. She looked like a woman who had survived her own heartbreak and chosen love anyway.

Her mom covered her mouth.

“You are so beautiful,” she whispered.

Valerie’s eyes shimmered. “Thank you Mummy” she said quietly.

The wedding planning had not been chaotic.. When planning began 8 months ago, Purity had insisted on one thing:

“God must be seen in this wedding.”

They chose a venue overlooking water in Lagos, open air, with white drapery flowing gently in the breeze. Scripture verses were handwritten in elegant calligraphy would line the aisle.

Song of Solomon 3:4

“I have found the one whom my soul loves.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one…”

1 Corinthians 13 — woven subtly into the décor.

Tammy handled the event planning.

There were moments of stress. Like when the caterer canceled two weeks before. Or when Valerie panicked over seating arrangements involving extended family drama. But even then, they chose not to allow it to deter them from making God the focus .

---

Back in the bridal room, the driver knocked.

“It’s time, ma. The car is ready”

Valerie inhaled sharply. Her heartbeat quickened. Tammy squeezed her hands.

“You’ve walked through harder doors than this.”

Valerie lifted her bouquet and her fingers trembled slightly.

Purity stood at the altar, adjusting his cufflinks and waited— for the girl who once walked away, the woman who came back, the bride who chose him.

As the first notes of the processional music began to play… Valerie stepped forward.

A live string quartet stood to the right of the venue, the violin carrying the melody of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” in a slow instrumental that felt like it had been pulled straight from heaven’s rehearsal room.

The guests rose to their feet.

A gentle Lagos breeze moved through the white drapery that framed the aisle. The ocean beyond shimmered faintly under late morning light, as though creation itself had dressed up for them.

At the altar, Purity felt his chest tighten.

Joel nudged him slightly.

“Breathe,” Joel whispered.

But Purity barely heard him.

Because the doors had opened.

Valerie stood at the entrance on her father’s arm and for a split second, everything slowed.

The murmurs softened and the music swelled. Then she saw him.

Purity. Her man!!!

His white-colored tailored suit fit him perfectly, structured shoulders, clean lines, subtle embroidery along the lapel. He looked regal and Confident.

His eyes locked onto hers and he broke. His composure cracked, tears gathered in his eyes without permission.

Purity didn’t wipe them. He didn’t care. She was walking toward him and that was all that mattered..

Valerie felt it immediately. The way he looked at her like a gift he didn’t deserve.

Her father’s arm was steady beneath her fingers. He leaned slightly toward her as they began walking.

Each step down the aisle felt symbolic. White petals cushioned her path. On either side, handwritten scripture verses framed the journey.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23

“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

Her throat tightened. She remembered the girl she used to be. Guarded. Defensive. Afraid of being abandoned.

She remembered therapy sessions. Tears, the hard conversations. Moments she almost chose self-sabotage.

But today….She walked whole.

Purity’s vision blurred. He wasn’t seeing the guests. He wasn’t hearing the music clearly. All he saw was the woman who had fought her way back to love.

When she reached the altar, her father paused. He looked at Purity carefully.

“Take care of her,” he said, voice steady but weighted.

Purity nodded immediately. “With my life.”

Her father placed Valerie’s hand in his and then he stepped back.

For a moment, the world faded. It was just them. She looked up at him.

He whispered, barely audible “You are sooo beautiful .”

She almost laughed through tears. “You’re crying already.”

“Did you expect anything less?”

She shook her head softly. “Not at all.”

The officiating pastor stepped forward.

Pastor Ade.

His voice carried warmth and authority.

“We are gathered here,” he began, “not merely to witness a union, but to witness a covenant.”

He paused.

“Marriage is not sustained by love or feelings alone. It is sustained by choice. Daily choice, Forgiveness, Humility. And the presence of God.”

He looked at them both.

“You have both known pain. You have both known growth. And today, you choose each other not from emptiness, but from fullness.”

Valerie inhaled deeply and Purity squeezed her fingers.

The vows came next. They had written their own.

Pastor Ade nodded toward Purity first.

“Son, your vows.”

Purity exhaled and unfolded the paper in his hand, but he barely looked at it.

His eyes never left hers.

“Valerie,” he began softly.

His voice trembled slightly.

“You met me when I was still learning myself. And instead of exposing my weaknesses, you prayed for my growth.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“I once ran from you. Not because I didn’t love you. But because I didn’t yet understand how to carry love without fear.”

He swallowed.

“Today, I stand before you healed in places I didn’t know were broken.”

He stepped slightly closer.

“I promise to lead you without silencing you.”

“I promise to cover you without controlling you.”

“I promise to honor your strength, not compete with it.”

Her breathing grew uneven.

“I vow to choose you when feelings are loud and when they are quiet.”

“To pursue God first, so I can love you well.”

“To never weaponize your vulnerability.”

“To fight for us, not against you.”

His voice broke. “You are not my burden. You are my blessing.”

The crowd murmured softly, wiping tears from their eyes. 

Valerie covered her mouth, overwhelmed.

“And before God, our families, and everyone here,” he continued, “I promise that if I ever begin to drift, I will not run. I will communicate. I will stay.”

He leaned his forehead gently toward hers.

“I love you. Intentionally, completely and without fear.”

Pastor Ade turned to Valerie.

“Valerie, your turn….”

She inhaled deeply. Her hands trembled slightly as she unfolded her own paper. But her voice came out steady.

“Purity,” she began.

“You loved me loudly when I barely knew how to be loved.”

A small ripple of knowing laughter moved through close friends— Tammy, Joel and Daniel.

“I used to believe independence meant isolation.” Her voice softened.

“You taught me that partnership is not weakness.”

She looked directly into his eyes. “You saw the walls I built and didn’t shame me for them.”

“You waited while I healed.” She swallowed hard.

“I promise to never make you beg for emotional access again.”

His breath caught.

“I promise to let you in. Fully.”

“To need you without pride.”

“To correct you without disrespect.”

“To submit to you as unto the Lord, but never shrink myself in the process.”

Her tears flowed freely now.

“I vow to build our home as a sanctuary. Where peace lives. Where laughter echoes. Where God is obvious.”

She squeezed his hands.

“I promise to fight for your calling with you. Not against it.”

“And if fear ever whispers to me again… I will not listen.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I choose you. On my strongest days. On my weakest days.” “And I choose you with joy.”

He was openly crying now.

Pastor Ade smiled softly.

“Rings please.”

Joel’s Nephew— Aiden stepped forward, handing them over carefully.

Purity slid the ring onto her finger slowly. It fit perfectly.

“As a symbol of my covenant,” he whispered.

She repeated the same as she placed his on.

Pastor Ade lifted his voice.

“By the authority vested in me, and before God Almighty…”

A pause.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The crowd leaned in collectively.

“You may kiss your bride.”

The world went still. Purity lifted his hands gently to frame her face.

Valerie’s hands trembled slightly as they rested on Purity’s chest, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart beneath her fingers. The entire church seemed to hush, as if even the walls and ceiling were holding their breath for this moment. 

The sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting shards of warm color across their faces, illuminating the tears in her eyes and the quiet joy in his.

Purity leaned closer, his hands gently cradling her face, thumbs brushing along her cheekbones. 

He searched her eyes, silently asking permission. Valerie’s chest rose rapidly, breath hitching.

Every nerve in her body was alive. Her toes curled involuntarily beneath the hem of her gown as if her body knew the magnitude of the moment even before her mind could process it.

Slowly, he lowered his lips toward hers. The world faded, the applause, the camera flashes, the whispers, all dissolved into silence. 

The kiss was tentative at first, almost like a prayer whispered between hearts, gentle and reverent, exploring without rushing. 

Then, as they both melted into it, it deepened. Purity’s arms wrapped around her waist, drawing her impossibly close, while Valerie clutched at his shoulders, anchoring herself to him.

It was a kiss that made her toes curl, her knees weak, her heart pound like it could escape her chest. 

Every beat of their hearts synced together, every inhale and exhale blending. It was electric, yet tender; passionate, yet intimate. 

It carried months of longing, months of forgiveness, months of promise and prayer. 

Tears spilled freely from her eyes, wetting his shoulders, and he kissed them away, murmuring soft, reverent words.

When they finally pulled back, their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling.

The world slowly returned, but neither wanted to let go.

Valerie whispered, voice trembling, “I’ve never felt… like this.”

Purity smiled, voice low and reverent: “It’s because this… us, is God-made. Every second of it, every choice, every prayer… it brought us here.”

She nodded, heart full, knowing she had never loved anyone like this, and never would again.

The crowd erupted into applause, cheers, whistles. Tammy screamed dramatically somewhere in the background.

But they didn’t hear it. Because in that moment it was just them.

He rested his forehead against hers afterward.

“Mrs. Purity,” he whispered.

She laughed softly through tears.

“Mr. Valerie.”

He grinned. “Forever?”

She nodded. “Forever.”

They turned to face the crowd. Hand in hand. No longer two separate stories trying to survive. But one covenant story beginning.

He leaned slightly toward her. “Thank you for not giving up on us.”

She squeezed his hand. “Thank you for coming back.”

The crowd kept cheering. It rolled through the venue like a living thing — joy rising, hands clapping, Tammy screaming somewhere near the aisle, Daniel shouting, “My guy!!!” as though Purity had just won a championship.

But Purity barely registered any of it. He was still looking at her.

His wife.

Valerie felt his gaze and tried to compose herself, but the moment kept overwhelming her in waves.

Wife.

The word settled deep.

They walked back down the aisle together, fingers intertwined, not rushed, not hurried. Each step felt lighter than the one before. 

The string quartet shifted into a joyful rendition of “This Is the Day That the Lord Has Made,” and guests swayed gently as petals were tossed around them.

Tammy ran forward halfway down the aisle and hugged Valerie before she could stop herself.

“Mrs. Somebodyyyyy!” she squealed.

Valerie laughed through tears. “Yassssss Gurlllllll!”

Tammy’s eyes shimmered with joy. Real joy. The kind that only comes when you’ve prayed someone through storms and finally get to see their sunshine.

Whooshhhh!!!! My heart🥹🥹

The reception was held in a grand waterfront ballroom draped in white and soft blue her favorite colors woven into every detail.

Crystal chandeliers glowed warmly overhead.

Round tables were dressed in white linen with blue silk runners cascading down the center. Tall floral arrangements of white roses and hydrangeas stood elegantly in gold vases. Small printed scripture cards were placed at every seat:

“Two are better than one…” — Ecclesiastes 4:9

At the head table stood large illuminated letters: P & V

Behind them, a soft backdrop read:

“A Threefold Cord Is Not Easily Broken.” — Ecclesiastes 4:12

When they entered, introduced as Mr. and Mrs., the crowd erupted again.

Purity pulled her close slightly as they walked in.

“Mama….you good?” he whispered.

She nodded. “Yes, baby… You?!.”

“Me too.”

They took their seats briefly, but not for long. Guests lined up to greet them hugs, blessings, playful warnings.

Her father embraced Purity firmly.

“Welcome to the family.”

Purity smiled respectfully. “Thank you, sir.”

Purity’s mother stood nearby — elegant, reserved but glowing with quiet pride.

She pulled Valerie aside gently.

“You are my daughter now,” she said.

Valerie’s throat tightened. “Thank you, ma.”

The older woman nodded once. “Take care of my son. He loves you deeply.”

Valerie smiled softly. “Thank you ma.”

The lights dimmed slightly. The MC cleared his throat dramatically.

“And now… ladies and gentlemen… the first dance of Mr. and Mrs…”

A soft instrumental of a Nigerian love ballad began it was slow, romantic, reverent.

Purity extended his hand.

“May I have this dance, Mi Casa?”

She blushed and placed her hand in his.

The dance floor felt like a private universe. He pulled her gently into his arms. 

“I can’t believe that you’re really my wife,” he whispered near her ear.

She smiled against his shoulder. “You really cried at the altar.”

“I’ll don’t mind crying again.”

She laughed softly as they swayed slowly..

“I meant everything I said,” he murmured.

“So did I.”

His hand rested at the small of her back respectfully. Hers rested against his chest. They moved in quiet rhythm.

“You’re not nervous?” she asked softly.

“About what?”

“Tonight.” He paused.

Then smiled gently.

“No, baby.”

She looked up at him shyly. “Why?”

“Because I’ve waited for you in more ways than one and I’ll take care you for life.” Her cheeks warmed.

He drew her close, chest to chest, arms wrapped gently around her waist, while she rested her head against his shoulder. The smell of his cologne, the warmth radiating from him, made her knees go weak again.

Purity leaned closer, murmuring the lyrics along with the song, his lips brushing her ear: “Forever is a word I keep for you alone, Valerie.”

Her fingers tangled in the back of his hair as she lifted her face slightly to meet his gaze. The depth in his eyes was overwhelming, a mixture of reverence, passion, and sheer adoration.

Their lips trembled as they pressed together in a second, slower, more consuming kiss than at the altar.

Every step they swayed felt synchronized, as if they were the only two people in the room. 

Her hands traced the lines of his back, memorizing him, while he cupped her face, tilting her gently into the kiss. It was slow, savoring every second, a kiss that carried the weight of promises kept and hearts reunited. 

Their toes curled beneath the floorboards again, but this time it was with sheer joy, with the comfort of knowing they were finally allowed to fully love without holding back.

When they broke apart, it was only by inches. Their foreheads rested together, breaths mingling, the music still winding around them.

Valerie whispered, “I could stay like this forever.”

Purity chuckled softly, voice thick with emotion: “Me too. But the best part is, we’ll get to do it every day, every moment, until forever.”

“I’m just grateful that despite how tough it was, we honored God with our bodies.”

She swallowed softly. “So am I.”

The dance ended with applause. Daniel’s toast came up next. It was chaotic but heartfelt. 

“To the only man I know who broke up with a woman and then built a whole website to win her back!”

Laughter filled the hall.

“But seriously… I’ve watched this man grow. And I’ve watched this woman soften. And together? You two make sense.”

The crowd hummed in agreement.

Then Tammy stood up. She took the mic confidently.

“Valerie,” she began, voice steady but emotional, “I’ve seen you at your worst. And I’ve seen you at your healing. Purity… thank you for coming back for her.”

She turned toward him. “And thank you for staying.”

Valerie wiped tears again.

Tammy smirked lightly. “And if you hurt her…..”

“Tammy,” Valerie warned playfully.

The room laughed.

Tammy raised her glass. “To love that grows up.”

“To covenant and to God.”

Glasses clinked and hours later, after food, laughter, dancing, bouquet toss (Tammy dramatically catching it and pretending to faint), the night began to wind down.

The reception ended in laughter.

Friends hugged them one last time. Aunties pressed envelopes into Valerie’s hand. 

Purity’s friends teased him shamelessly. Tammy cried again, of course, and blamed it on her makeup.

---

A sleek black car waited to take them to their honeymoon suite before their international flight in the morning. As the door closed behind them, silence finally wrapped around them.

When the car door finally shut behind them and the driver pulled away, the noise faded.

It was quiet. Just them.

Valerie exhaled slowly, resting her head on Purity’s shoulder. The wedding gown had been changed for a soft, elegant blue reception dress. Her veil was gone. Her hair flowed down her back. She looked lighter somehow.

“You’re my wife,” he whispered like he still couldn’t believe it.

She smiled without opening her eyes. “You’re my husband.”

And something about saying it now without nerves, without the weight of eyes watching made it real.

I had to browse the vows and use Chat GPT to refine them cause I needed to give you guys all the feels🥹🥹. My Brain is not that poetic 😂😂. I hope yall enjoyed the vows cause i did.

The next day they left Nigeria for their honeymoon. They had Santorini, Greece.  Santorini welcomed them with wind that smelled like salt and sunlight.

Their hotel overlooked the Aegean Sea. White walls. Arched doorways. A private terrace with a plunge pool that shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.

When they walked into the suite, Valerie stopped.

“Oh my God.”

Petals trailed from the entrance to the bedroom. Soft candles flickered along the walls. The bed was dressed in crisp white sheets. On the table sat chilled sparkling juice and chocolate-covered strawberries.

But Purity wasn’t looking at the room. He was looking at her.

She turned slowly to him, emotion rising unexpectedly to her throat. “You did all this?”

He shook his head gently. “Yes, baby. I just married you. You deserve the best ”

That was when it hit her again. She was someone’s wife. Not a girlfriend. Not a maybe. Not a “let’s see how it goes.”

Wife.

She stepped into his arms.

“I can’t believe we made it,” she whispered.

“We didn’t just make it,” he said softly. “We kept ourselves and God gets the glory.”

They had chosen boundaries. Chosen patience. Chosen discipline when temptation was loud. There had been nights when it would have been easy to cross lines. When emotions were high and proximity was dangerous. But they had stepped back, prayed and chosen God.

And now? Now they didn’t have to step back anymore.

He brushed his knuckles against her cheek as if memorizing her, reverent and careful. “You are so beautiful,” he whispered, voice low and tender. 

Valerie swallowed, heart fluttering. He kissed her forehead first, lingering. 

Then her cheek, delicate and deliberate, as though each kiss were a vow. 

He paused, searching her eyes. “I have waited for this moment,” he murmured

Her hands rested on his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heart. 

“I get to love you without restraint, without fear, without holding back. I get to honor every choice you made, every prayer you whispered, every moment you waited for me.”

Tears pricked her eyes. “You’re going to make me cry again,” she said, her voice trembling.

“I’m serious,” he said, brushing the tears away with his thumbs. “You trusted me. You forgave me. You fought for us. You kept yourself for me. Do you know what that means to me?”

She shook her head.

“It means I was worth the wait,” he whispered. “And so were you.”

Her breath hitched as he kissed her then, slow and intentional. 

Every kiss was a reflection of patience, of reverence, of the long road that had brought them here. When he finally pulled back, their foreheads touched, breaths mingling.

He repeated over and over how beautiful she was, how grateful he was to call her his wife, how blessed he felt that God had written their story this way.

When they finally lay together beneath white sheets and candlelight, it wasn’t just physical, it was covenant. 

Valerie rested against his chest, exhausted, glowing, overwhelmed, and he pressed a kiss to her hair.

“Mrs. Purity Nwaefuna,” he teased softly.

She laughed weakly. “You’re never going to stop saying that, are you?”

“Never.” He traced lazy circles on her back.

“Tonight was… holy,” he said gently.

“Yes. Very Holy,” she agreed, smiling against him.

They slept wrapped around each other, no fear, no guilt, no hiding. Just love.

Dearest Gentle Reader,

And so, our tale draws its silken curtains closed.

One cannot help but wonder, what has this amazing book impressed upon your heart?

I shall be lingering… in the comments to hear your replies.

Till next time,

Your Favorite Author🤭🤭