Chapter 15

               Lamais's pov

  The two sweet kisses I shared with Cushane left us craving and burning for each other, I told him I will come to his apartment in the next hour. I knew Shanty had seen the bulge of his pants front, but thank God she hadn't catch us kissing. I could not bare the need for him any longer, My body was aching for his fulfillment and it was clear he was feeling the same way by how he had been clinging onto me.

  When I drove out I saw that the road wasn't yet cleared of the people who had attended church, with my mind fully made up to give myself to Cushane and damn the consequences after- I drive to his apartment and went up without first calling him. He was expecting me anyway I thought as I ring the doorbell and waited.

  He was still wearing his suit when he opened the door and voices came from within, he was about to say something but just then a brown woman came up beside him in the doorway. He looked at her then back at me and pulled me inside the apartment with a low "come on in."

  I was brought face to face with my brother who sat with a woman on his lap and another man and woman sitting side by side on the same couch. Cushane begins to make introductions when Ramario hissed his teeth nastily, he stood staring at him questioningly and I turn and look at the woman who had came to the door. She was looking right into my eyes and I read her, my eyes filled with tears and I turn and hasted out of the apartment.

   I ran down the stairs almost running into a couple walking up hand in hand,  I dashed the tears from my eyes as I drive home and ignored Cushane's calls. I turn my phone off and curse myself, when my head feels like it was about to explode I took two panadols and beg my mind to not think.

  When I had fallen asleep I had no idea but Shanty's persistent calling from below my window took me out of my sleep. "Mi just did a guh call dung a station and bruk di door ino," she said sounding relieved.

  I drop the house keys through the window and a moment later the alarm began to blast loudly. "Ohhh maaaannn," I groan and hurry to switch it off.

  Shanty looked at me as I slumped down unto the couch. "A wha happen?" She ask concernedly.

  Without hesitation I shamelessly tells her everything and began crying again. "Serve yuh right, yuh shouldn't lef' yuh  yard ina di miggle a di night gone a nuh man yard an' I won't see him a lef' yah standing on three legs again," Shanty said seriously.

  "Same way mi could a ina mi bed and hear sey somn happen to yuh," she grumbled going into the kitchen.

  A hot cup of tea was pushed into my hands a few minutes later and she left carrying a cup in her hand with the keys for the church. I knew she didn't mean bad chastising me, she was right I should have controlled myself. I wouldn't have learnt that Cushane was seeing someone else and this was a true reason that things happens for the best. I was prepared to give him my virginity, my heart and completely welcome him into my life.

  Forcing myself up as I heard the gate opening, I walk to the kitchen and put down my empty tea-cup. I had no appetite for breakfast-

  "A how dat sound like Mr. Moses suh!" Shanty exclaims from the living room.

  She was already going back out through the verandah grill when I walk through the dining room. "A him yes," she said and begin to open the gate wide.

  I hasted upstairs and wash my face, I brushed my teeth then pulled on a long skirt and a blouse with sleeve. "Mi just a come to yuh," Shanty said with her foot on the first step of the stairs.

  "Mr. Moses sey him wife sick bad, him bring one a suit a clothes from har and a ask fi a reading," she informs me when I reach to her.

   I nodded and told her to make him a cup of balsly mint tea and I signal to Kemar who was helping two men who had came with Mr. Moses to come to me, when he did I ask him to go and cut a stalk of rosemary tea-bush.

  I turn to Shanty and tell her. "While I'm reading, make couple sandwiches and tea for the men who came with him and Kemar so he can go off to school.

  "Yes ma'am," she responds and I went out through the back door.

  "Good morning," I greeted the men unloading the truck with a smile and walk over to the reading room.

  I put on my robe and wrapped my head, Shanty had place a bottle of 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙞𝙡 on the cupboard top but I needed the 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙞𝙡 it is stronger. I lighted the seven different colour candles and light a selected amount of frankenscent and myr.

"Ma'am?" Kemar called from outside and I went to him.

  "Thank you and have a productive day at school," I told him.

"Thanks and you have one also," he says.

  I smile and told him. "I will try my best to."

  He nodded and turn away and I smile as I went about arranging the rosemary bush, Kemar was turning into a nice young man and I hope he'll pass all his subjects- he wasn't a fast learner but he learns and that's what matters. Shanty came in as I begin reciting psalm fifty-one, I nod my head at her questioning look and she went out and send in Mr. Moses.

  The gentle elderly man came in and sat quietly while I continue to say the psalm. "It's a pleasure to have you in my presence Mr. Moses, even though I've heard it's not a pleasant reason why you're here," I greeted him at the end of saying the psalm.

"Blessed love priestess," he said sadly.

  "Everyday above the ground is a blessing, sick, sad and sorrowful days are unavoidable. The fact that we're still breathing and able to pray, is a reminder that there is still hope and a chance to fulfill our destiny. May whatever this reading reveal ease your troubled mind," I told him.

  I felt like I was also talking to myself and I forgive Cushane in my heart, knowing it wasn't right for me to read or try to help people while carrying such burdens. Who knows he may have been in a sexual relationship with the woman before ever meeting me, also as the saying goes men are never loyal.

  I begin to hum and direct all my focus on the humble soul before me, I told him to open the bag of clothes on his lap and then look at me. I saw where he hasn't been taking his medications on time and he was tired, his pressure was a bit high but otherwise he was fairly okay for his age. So I begin to read his wife through him.

"𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞."

  A bright light appears at the end of a tunnel and Mr. Moses walks towards it smiling. I was not going to tell him so that he won't be too sad and fret.

  "𝐒𝐡𝐞'𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧," my voice uttered and I was unable to stop it.

  I shook from the presence of the holy spirit and shouted hallelujah three times, there is somethings within read-ing that I've learnt that I'm not able to control. I had a long talk with him afterwards, encouraging and offering him comforting words. It was my duty not only as a vessel of the Lord but also because he was a friend, he was a humble and hardworking man who had liked my grandma very much at one point but her eyes and heart were already set on my grandpa.

  Shanty took some of the ground foods and vegetables then hurried away to get ready for the meeting, I turn on my phone after I got ready for the meeting and answered Cushane's text messages with one simple text. To Brenton's miss calls and text on the business number I reply telling him I will talk to him the following week. Five hundred thousand dollars was deposited in my business account from Leah and I send her a confirmation text telling her I have received it.

Cushane called and I took a deep breath before answering him.

  "Hello?"

  "I forgive you and we're no longer intimate friends. What is that suppose to mean?" He asks sounding anxious.

  I felt like crying at the sound of his voice. "I have a meeting to attend to," I told him and end the call.

  He calls back and I answered reluctantly. "I went home and my friends came unannounced, I was trying to get them to leave because I needed you. What did I do wrong for you to be breaking up with me?" He said then ask.

  His voice sounded so hurt it made me felt emotional. "Why did you not tell me Ramario is your brother?" He ask when I didn't answer but held the phone by my ears.

  "Why did your friend Ramario not tell you I am his sister?" I ask feeling bitter.

  "I didn't get a chance to we argued badly and then they all left," he explains.

  "I don't want to know what happened bye," I said and end the call.

  I put my phone on silent and drop it inside my handbag, willing him away out of my mind I promise myself to just avoid him and hopefully I will be able to forget him.

To be continued...