"Home is where you are loved the most and act the worst."
~Marjorie Pay Hinckley

"Anna?" Eli's voice calls to me after I become blank for a moment thinking about what my prison cell would look like and how I would feel about my cellmate while in there because I am sure that's where I was going to find myself in the morning. The stories I heard of prison life weren't nice, at least that was why Ade vowed never to go back there again.

I snap out of my thought, "I meant to say, Hello, it's Anna, still practising." I try to come up with the fastest lie and pray it would be believable. My hands are shaking, my teeth quivering and in my heart, I am saying a silent prayer to God that he keeps my cover safe. "Thank God you called, Eli, I was beginning to worry. I thought the flight would take seven hours at most?" I ask, trying to change the subject and my voice is still tensed and nervous and my hands are quivering and I'm praying that he doesn't ask a question or think about what just happened.

If he noticed the tension a fear in my tone and fear in my voice he doesn't say anything. "Yes, I arrived after seven hours of take off," he answers, his voice going back to his normal relaxed tone. "We had to head straight to work though and it's been 4 hours since then, I checked into a hotel not so long ago and wanted to call you."

"You must be exhausted," I say, my voice settling into a bit of comfort knowing that he doesn't suspect a thing.

"I am, but I miss you more." His voice drops as he reveals this and I hear the honesty in his hoarse voice.

My heart skips a beat, "I miss you too, grandma called after you left," I inform and the line goes silent for a moment.

"Shit!" he cusses and I hear him smack himself, "I forgot I had gardening with grandma, wait, since when did you call grandma Elizabeth, Grandma?" He asks, his voice rises with curiosity.

"Since she told me to after I helped her with gardening this evening," I answered, a smile coming into my face and not leaving.

"You went gardening with grandma? And she let you?" His voice is filled with awe and I can't help grinning in return.

"I have been told I can be very persuasive," I reply with a nod.

"You are something else, Anna, to be honest, I didn't think you will get along with her in a million years grandma can be blunt at times."

"Yes I know, but I did it for you so that you can really focus on your mission, complete your task there and I get back to me."

He chuckles from the other end of the phone, "I love when you get bossy." He admits with a light moan.

"I know you do, but I got to sleep early tonight, grandma invited me to church tomorrow and I couldn't say no because she is that good."

Eli chuckles, "You will soon become her favourite grandchild."

I roll my eyes, "Yeah, but no one can take your place in her heart or mine."

He remains silent for a while before saying, "Same here. I love you, Anna, good night."

"Good night."

The call ends and I don't even try to think about the three words I said to him or return to the book I was reading before going to sleep.

...

Being in church isn't something I'm very used to but somehow, I am able to blend my way into the congregation and have a nice time with Elizabeth. Thank God for the outfit on my calendar, I wasn't overdressed nor underdressed for the service.

The service was a sweet one the songs were great and worship amazing the sermon was on point and I was glad I came but wasn't sure if I was going to come back.

After the service, Elizabeth asked if I wanted to go over to her place and I said I didn't mind and we went back to her place together. And while she cooked, I tried to help out. She made rice stew and fried plantains which were sweet and nice and from watching her, I knew I could try to do something like that in the future.

We were barely done eating when a knock came to the door and when Elizabeth beckoned to whoever it was to time in, the door opened and Jumai walked in. The old woman was ecstatic when she saw her daughter, at the door and Jumai looked happy to be visiting too- well until her eyes landed on me and the smile on her face faded away.

"What is she doing here?" She asks her mother in a harsh tone as she steps further into the room.

"She's my guest and she helped me yesterday with the garden when Eli couldn't make it," Elizabeth answers with a happy tone, but that didn't set Jumai in a better mood either.

"She shouldn't be here, you know the type of person she is, she's just out to manipulate you, to manipulate all of us." She continues, not backing down with her judging of my character.

"You don't know what you're saying." The old woman stated, her voice getting rigid with her daughter.

Jumai cast me a glare before turning her gaze to her mother, "I'm not the one eating with the enemy and she probably already lunched her claw in you just like she has done to my son, your grandson!"

"She's a good woman, Jumai, you just have to give her a chance."

"She's a lying, cheating whore who is going to be the downfall of our son and I can't believe you accept her!" She replied in a tone brittle with annoyance and accusation.

Elizabeth who tries to be calm sounds disappointed, "I thought I raised you better than judging people, this girl has proven to me that she's changing and it's good."

"Well, a leopard can never change its spot." She seethes, her eyes red with rage.

These two women had gotten along with each other always and now because of me, they were going head to head with each other. Maybe this is why Anna made the rules, to keep these sort of thing from happening and she may be a lying, cheating whore, but she knows how to mind her own business and I was stupid not to have followed suit.

Jumai is Elizabeth's daughter she was bound to come around and visit her mother, but I didn't think to that point while I tried to burn the bridges and that was my failure, I didn't think.

These two women were right in their argument, Jumai knew Anna for what she was and Elizabeth since yesterday had gotten to know Quynn which wasn't the initial plan but the old woman had her ways and now they cannot be on the same team because we aren't the same.

"I should go," I abruptly get up to my feet, "I don't see the point why you two should fight and banter with each other. I will get out of your way but the truth is, I was only trying to help, Jumai," I say to her in a flat voice. I picked up my bag in front of the couch in the parlour and make my way out of the house.

I arrive home and head up straight to my room, thinking about everything that happened at Elizabeth resident and almost slamming my head against the wall for not thinking that they were possibilities of that happening.

Anna is a lot of things, but she's right in this case and staying off is best for everyone, even Elizabeth.