Cullayne POV

"Shanty nuh stop boast ova yuh a swear she is your PRO," My mother grinned as we chatted via WhatsApp video call a few hours later.

"Knowing Shanty she goodly a exaggerate. I did nothing more than what needed to be done," I smiled hoping she would refrain from talking about Alithia's reading.

My mother stared at me with motherly affection and pride and I found myself thanking God for saving me from the mire choice I made to run away from my destiny.

In a sense, I was the prodigal daughter who was now home taking up my rightful place and doing what I was meant to do and to be honest it felt good.

To know that I was able to save a life and hopefully steer Alithia down the right path was a blissful feeling. I was able to see too from my encounter today that I had almost made my reading ability into the same pitiful state that was little Keshawnie.

By running away and stifling my ability I was slowly driving the vitality out of my ability. How happy I am that the Potter did not throw me away and He was not going to let me tarnish and misuse his gift to me.

I brought myself to the conversation when I heard my father's voice. I smiled broadly as his handsome face came into view but it quickly faltered as I saw the tired look in his eyes and the dark circles beneath them.

"Grandma still not showing any sign of coming around?" I ask softly.

He shook his head and I wished I could hug him through the phone. I knew he wished he was back in Canada but he had a few obligations that he had to pay attention to. He would more than anything want to make grandma his priority but seeing they said she was stable and showing good signs of staying that way he would stay with mom and focus on the Prayer Breakfast and Retreat.

I watched as they shared a look and I immediately knew I was not going to like what was going to be said.

"Cullayne baby your father and I will be going to Canada after the retreat," my mother said getting straight to the point.

I got up from where I sat on my bed and walked over to my window only to see that it was raining heavily.

I wanted to protest but I knew they had to. I started to fit into the element of God's plan and once he started he was not going to let up.

"We will, unfortunately, have to have you work with the committee members to handle a few prospects that we would have overseen but not to worry we will be on board ensuring everything goes to plan."

"Ok just let me know what you need." I smiled feeling surprised that I did not feel pressured or burdened by this.

"Thank you, baby, " my mother smiled her face pleased.

I smiled back and was about to tell them I loved them when I got a message from Kemar asking if we were still on for dinner seeing it was raining.

"Honey we gotta go the next session is about to start," My mother informed me as I contemplated if I wanted to go out in this weather.

"OK bye love you guys," I returned before they ended the call.

I opened the chat and found myself typing.

'What if you make me dinner instead?'

'Where my place or yours?'

'Yours.'

'Ok so see you in an hour.'

'Ok.'

'😊👍🏼'

'🥰😊'

I sat reading through the message long after Kemar went offline. I was not sure where this came from or where it was heading but somehow it excited me in ways I was sure I shouldn't be.

I thought of our time joking around and catching up earlier today and how wonderfully fun and serene it was.

Kemar had turned into quite a man. At forty he did not look a day over thirty-five. He had grown into himself sprouting a charismatic and attractive man.

I was still shocked to know that no woman had claimed him as theirs. He was such a supportive,  caring and kind man. It was good to know that seeing he was a highly professional man he had kept his humility.

I smiled as I leaned my head on the cool glass of the window and stared out at the rain-drenched yard beneath my window freshly cut and neatly raked.

He had taken such pride in doing a task that was not even meant for him. To know he still valued my parents and found it in himself to offer them his time and help made me cherish him more.

I moved away from the window and walked over to the robe which I had placed on my wardrobe handle with the head wrap. I slowly let my fingers travel the outline of the shoulders down to the wide sleeves before they traced the outline of the embroidered crosses that bordered both sides of the front fastening.

I knew all my life I was meant to be a Read~er Woman. My mother knew this from the day I was born. My parents never hid from me the highs and lows that came with being a reader. I was fostered and groomed into it waiting excitedly at first to be like Lamais Cyan helping, releasing, relieving and restoring people from various woes as she built God's Kingdom until reality showed me the cruelty that came with it.

Being ridiculed and mocked at that sensitive stage of my life when I struggled with finding myself as a teenager was at the time too much for me so I became resentful and hated that I was not like the other girls who attended church or school with me.

I was quick to use my gift as a reader as a weapon against anyone who dared to be mean to me or mock me. There were times when I was accused of using my gift to cheat and remain a top student so I read them and used their secrets as my weapon.

I became liked out of fear by some and wanted by most because I was seen as a means to help them achieve. Neither way made me feel valued so I became hateful of my ability and resentful of school.

I had only endured because I knew I needed to be on top to leave Jamaica and find somewhere else where I would be valued. I thought it all fell into place when I met Taylon but even then I was not being true to who I was meant to be.

I gently stroked the gold embroidered cross that rested on the lower right bodice of the gown and smiled contented that I no longer had to hide from my ability to read people or their situation. Today has shown me the true value of who I was meant to be and I was overwhelmed with pride at my legacy.

I grinned and found myself looking forward to conducting more readings and proving myself worthy to be called a Read-er woman ordained by God and ready to be fully used.

I think I should have a few gowns made as a start to becoming my mother's future successor. As I walked to the bathroom my mind reeled with various designs for my gowns and how much I wanted to share with Kemar my newfound vigour to be a Read-er Woman as I now accept my calling to fulfil my purpose.