THOMAS WAS AFRAID HER FAMILY NAME WILL BE RUIN

Standing by the window Thomas looks on as Jerome drives away, and Paul walks towards the junction.

Taking some deep breaths trying to control his anger, feeling as though a fire was radiating out of his head.

'If Paul said he only gets his letter last week, but the person who visited her came the very week we got married.'

Wanting to know who was the visitor that came? Thomas look at Christa wanting to hug and comfort her, for not whispering a word of what he did to her.

Lingering by the window looking at him walk away, pondering in his heart, 'She had tolerated so much pain because of my foolishness.

Then the thought struck his mind recalling his words, 'The villagers will ridicule them and he will cheer them on. That fool could do serious damage to her family good name.'

As memory flooded back of her word that day they were married when she said.

'I should be happy his family name was saved but what about hers?'

Thomas rush out of the room and hurried downstairs, he listens to how the family conversed about him.

"I told the fool don't meddle, but he had to push his big mouth, now look what has happened? What he said was right, but Tom was in a rage," Carla mumbles.

"Shut up all of you," Aliza shouted at them.

"Young lady, be careful how you speak, all this is happening because of you." Sam said to her, "Now Thomas has married a." When Sam stops suddenly.

"What were you going to say, dad? A whore, a slot, please go right ahead and say it. She is my friend if you all want to believe that good for nothing man.

Feel free, and go right ahead, but I know Christa, and if you all have been observing her. As I have lately, you will know she is not four months pregnant."

Going to her mom, "If you say a month I will agree but four, Nah!.

Remember she told Sylvia she was pregnant. Mom, you know that a pregnancy test only shows up after a few weeks. So if Chris was say, six or eight weeks then.

I supposed by now she would be at least ten or twelve weeks into this pregnancy, so you all figure it out?"

Hearing them all shouting saying that, "Tom is such a fool, why did he have to marry her?"

"Say, what you may but I can certainly say, Tom, is no fool. And if he is, then so what? She said that first Sunday he has accepted her pregnancy."

Sitting in front of dad, "Oh, Dad I never told any of you this. But since we are calling names and you want to call Christa a whore or a slot.

Then I want you to do the same to me. You see when Christa and I met, I was now returning from the Doctor.

I had just aborted a baby and was very sick, Christa took me up and help me. It was the first time we spoke to each other."

The family look at how she was crying as she said, "I was one of the people who used to mock her about how she used to dress.

Yet she used her last money to buy things to help strengthen my body, never asking for anything in return."

Wiping her face then said, "I could have died, but she took care of me a full week, never leaving my bedside.

When her father got new she was cutting classes. He came up and in front of the entire school lashes her and abused her verbally.

Dad, she never told anyone, what I did she kept my secret." All-seeing the tears listen attentively to her outburst, "Oh from what I heard.

She cried just like today only she had no one then to fight for her."

Seeing Tom standing quietly Aliza went and hug him. "You all might be angry, but I am glad Tom stood up for her.

That fool doesn't deserve her, she and I became friends from then. I don't know much about her but one thing I do know Dad.

She fears God with all her heart and this Paul played smart wanting her to trust him. What he wanted to know is who she had slept with.

Dad, how could she call a name when there was none to call?"

When Thomas asked, "Dad you were telling me Christa had a visitor three weeks ago.

But I didn't bother to listen, so can you tell me who was it that came to visit her?"

"Didn't she tell you, Thomas?" His Dad asks.

"Dad, at the time I thought it was Paul, and I didn't want to know. So I never asked her, but please tell me, who was it that came to visit her?"

"Thomas, you knew about this Paul fellow before today?"

"Yes Dad, but I had no idea he was using her. I thought he loves her but who was the visitor?" Thomas wanted to know.

"Thomas, it was her brother, the Pastor, He said that he came as soon as he received her letter."

Thomas thought, 'She must have posted that letter the Sunday but where did she get the stamp?

Or how did she get the letter registered to reach so quickly?' "Thanks, Dad."

Carla held his hand, "Tom, everyone makes mistakes in life."

"What are you trying to say, Carla?"

"Tom, I know you are hurting and worried."

"Carla, my main concern right now is her family. That fool might spread some rumors that can ruin her family.

She stood up for our family, I have to find a way to help her family before that fool destroys her family with his lies."

"What are you saying, Tom?" His dad asks.

Looking at his dad, Thomas said, making sure that everyone hear what he had to say.

"Dad, my wife was a virgin when we got married. I went along with her foolish charade but I am telling the truth."