Father Dominic, 38, was heading Makutano parish and the people enjoyed his sermons. Makutano parish which could barely accommodate 50 congregants was now doing thrice the number because Father Dominic’s sermon was delivered with humor and too much love. He only needed to take a microphone for you to feel Jesus in your life.
Miriam, 34, always sat the same spot, the third bench on the right side. Her late mother used to sit at the exact spot and so she said that she felt her mother’s presence whenever she sat there. The congregants always joked that they had gifted her that spot.
One Wednesday evening, a sad Miriam came with a confession. “Father, I have thoughts I’m not supposed to have. I have feelings that I should kill but it’s proving to be impossible.”
He asked her to pray the Hail Mary ten times.
From there, Miriam always volunteered to clean the church after the service. Father didn’t want to but Miriam was too convincing saying the church was therapeutic.
Another confession.
“Father, I’m married but I’m commiting a sin by admiring a man of God.”
Father didn’t say anything.
“I’m married but my heart years for a man with a collar. It shouldn’t happen but it feels right.”
But that night, Dominic dreamt of her — not in the way a priest should. And when he woke up, he didn’t ask for forgiveness. He asked for her.
They met behind the church storehouse, at the Parish when everyone had left, at the nearby towns for lunch, and it escalated to meeting in hotels outside town.
“Do you regret being a priest?”
“Only on days when I remember I’m still a man.”
Miriam started laughing.
Dominic stopped fasting.
Koech, the local butcher, was the first to notice something was going on between Miriam and Dominic.
“Chep, do you notice something strange between father and Miriam?”
“Apart from seeing father escort her to her place at 730PM twice, there’s nothing I’ve noticed.”
“Dominic has been buying extra flowers from Angie but I never see them in church. I’ve met them severally at night speaking in whispers while Dominic escorts her to her place. I’ve seen them at Makutano hotel getting cosy during lunch and Dominic always tells me to deliver liver to Miriam’s house whenever Kibet isn’t around.”
“That’s serious. Should we tell OCS Kibet or not?”
“Maybe I’m wrong. Let’s just ignore everything.” Chep and Koech would tell one more person and have them swear to keep it a secret.
One evening, Kibet arrived with his usual mood swings and started passing coded messages.
“I heard the sermon yesterday was nice.”
“Yes, father knows how to capture our attention while preaching.”
“Does Dominic know that Makutano is a small town and I’m the OCS? Just remember that you’re mine forever. Have a good night.”
Their meetings intensified. Dominic started avoiding the elders and the Bishop’s calls. He knew rumors had spread across the town and they would ask him the obvious question, “Do you love her?” He didn’t want to lie to them that he didn’t, so he avoided them.
As much as OCS Kibet tried not to put the rumors to heart, he noticed his wife’s behavior had changed. She no longer asked about his whereabouts. She never told him to stay safe. She never asked for money, attention or his time. To prove he was correct, he took her phone when she was sleeping and saw the endless texting between a contact saved as F.D and his wife.
Father Dominic’s parish was now filling to the brim. Not because the villagers came to listen to the sermon, but they came to pass their judgements. They wanted to see if father Dominic’s sermon was still powerful and if he stole glances at Miriam. The church was now secretly divided in two, some supported Dominic saying he’s a man and love is a gift from heaven. The other half hated him for breaking his vows and dating a married woman.
Last Sunday of the month, OCS kibet attended mass for the first time. When the sermon was over and people were still leaving, Kibet requested for a confession but refuse to do it at the booth.
“I’ve killed before. Not in war. Not in duty. But for pride. For betrayal.”
The people behind fell into silence.
“I’m only saying this now, because I’m feeling tempted again,” Kibet continued, eyes burning. “And I came to ask God for patience. Because if I catch another man with my wife… even if he’s hiding behind a collar… I will not bury him holy.”
Father was silent.
“I have sinned with a man of God. Not because I am proud of it. But because silence is killing me faster than shame ever could.”
Gasps filled the room.
“I’m not a whore. I’m not proud. I was just lonely. And I found warmth in the wrong place. I confess because I’m tired of being afraid of my own house. Afraid of my own husband.”
At the back of the church, Kibet stood up.
He pulled something from his jacket.
A pistol.
Screams erupted. Children cried. The bishop ducked behind the altar.
But Dominic stepped forward — calm, steady.
“If you want to shoot me, Kibet, shoot me. But do it here. Before the God I betrayed.”
Kibet pointed the gun.
But then Miriam turned, eyes wide with fury and pain.
“Shoot him, and I swear to God, I’ll scream the truth until your badge burns. Tell them what you do to me. Tell them what our daughter sees when you come home drunk. Tell them about the women in the barracks, and the bruises I cover with makeup!”
Kibet stood up to leave.
“I will not use it today. But I will. I don’t take betrayal lightly. I’m a man who fights for what’s mine.”
Later, Dominic stepped down from his position and started his church. The people who supported their love followed them to the new church..one born not of guilt, but grace. Miriam walked beside him, hand in hand, no longer hiding in shadows.
Kibet never apologized. Never looked back. But Makutano knew — some men don’t forgive, they wait.