Rachel Cholmeley paced up and down in her office engrossed deeply in thought. She needed money urgently but had no clue where to get it from. Her husband Jack Cholmeley had been in a jobless corner for way over six months now. They had a mortgage to pay and all manner of bills which were simply choking Rachel. They were on the verge of loosing their home. Rachel thought about how Jack had been supportive to her during their years of courtship. She remembered how she had no job at one point and Jack had supplied all her needs even at that cradle stage of their relationship. Jack was loving, caring and very respectful towards Rachel. It was these virtues in him which had wooed Rachel to passionately desire to become his wife. These six months of trial had now been her time to provide for Jack as he had done for her. She had tried to the best of her capability to do that but her salary as a travel advisor wasn't much. What troubled her heart most was the idea of loosing their mortgage!
It was during this spell of thinking that an idea crept into Rachel's mind. She remembered her friend Judith Mason. Judith was married to a business tycoon. They had an astounding mansion in Kensington-West London. They had houses and apartments for rent in many areas of the UK. Rachel and Judith had grown up together in the same neighbourhood. They had been to the same high school and had even ended up together in the University of West London. For that reason, the two girls ended up becoming good friends. Judith had been one of the brides maids in Rachel's wedding and vice versa.
Rachel dialled Judith's number and she felt perspiration slowly creep through her skin. Judith cheerfully answered the call with her usual voice filled with merry and praise. She agreed to meet Rachel for a cup of coffee around London Paddington where she worked.
As Rachel pulled into the parking, she had a nauseating feeling. This would be the first time she would be discussing matters concerning her a marriage with anyone apart from her parents. She wasn't sure of her readiness to do this but then they needed money urgently. As Rachel approached the table where Judith was, she couldn't help but notice how Judith was so expensively dressed-rocking 'Valentino' from head to toe. Rachel felt a lump rise to her throat. Was that envy? She quickly brushed away the feeling.
She poured her heart out to Judith who was listening intently. After she was done with her speech, Judith surprised her by asking what time her husband Jack arrived at home on most days. To that Rachel replied that Jack got home mostly around 8 O'clock in the evening since most of the times he had to drive way outside of London to attend Job interviews.
'' He is cheating on you. Open your eyes and see that your lazy husband is just using your money on another woman. If my husband was jobless and coming home so late, I would not tolerate him. You deserve better Rachel.'' Said Judith. These words shook Rachel like an earth tremor. She knew without doubt that Jack loved and respected her. She knew he would never cheat on her. Truth is never undermine the power of words. Even meditated lies might end up looking like mirage truths.
That evening, Rachel waited patiently for Jack to come home. At 8pm, he didn't show up. At 9,10 and 11 pm, Jack still hadn't arrived. Judith's words played like a tape recorder over and over in her mind. Her heart raced like a rally. Beads of sweat stuck on her forehead. She began to believe Judith and let anger consume her. She called Judith and told her that she feared Jack was cheating on her. Judith started telling her of how she was better off divorced and married to a rich man like she was. Judith went on to tell Rachel how her hubby Tom was taking her on a holiday to the 'Maldives.' The woman could brag big time!
At exactly quarter to midnight, Jack pulled in the drive way. He came in the house in his usual jovial mood. '' Hi baby, am....'' Said Jack but before he could finish what he was saying, Rachel shouted back with fury especially as she smelt the feminine cologne on Jack.
''Don't baby me Jack! You think i don't know of your hidden truths?'' Flared Rachel. She stormed out of the house and left Jack completely taken by surprise. She drove like a lunatic with tears streaming down her eyes to West London- Kensington to be precise. She pulled in Judith's drive way and was just in time to hear Judith crying for help. Her heart almost leaped out. She was on the verge of calling the police when she heard Tom's angry voice shouting at Judith as he repeatedly flogged her. '' You good for nothing bitch. I will continue cheating on you. I can have as many women as i want and you have no right to question me!'' Flared Tom.
Rachel didn't wait to hear anymore. She started her car and drove back to her house thanking God for a husband like Jack. As she got home, she found her lovely husband Jack sitting on the couch waiting for her. When he saw her he quickly ran to embrace her in a tight hug. Rachel cried her eyes out as Jack patted her back softly. She asked Jack for forgiveness and narrated the whole ordeal to him. Jack forgave her and told her of how he had been trying to call her earlier to tell her he would be dining with a manager from KPMG and some old work colleagues but she hadn't picked his calls. He went on to present her a gift of an expensive cologne to show her how thankful he was for her support during the hard time. He so loved her! They made the sweetest love that night.
The following day, a call came for Jack from KPMG in London. Jack had got a job and this time it was a six figure annual salary!
The next time Rachel heard from Judith was when she sent her a text message saying how her loving husband was going to buy her a condo in Hawaii. At that Rachel deleted her message and blocked her phone numbers from ever going through her phones. She felt like telling Judith that she was going to the 'Maldives' too but she was way better than that.
Find happiness and contentment in what God has given you- for that's the best. The grass is never greener on the other side. Do you now understand?
