Chapter 27

              Cushane's pov

  There is so much I neede to say to Lamais, but it is clear she did not want to hear. I wish I could go back into time and unsex Nicole, I would unweakened myself also and unspeak to her that very first time. I was feeling physical pain all because of one moment of satisfaction, one release that I should have resisted has cause me to lose the trust of the woman I love, the woman who have proven to be worthy without even trying to and I'm dying inside.

  I leave the gym after my intense workout and went to pick up my mom from work, I hope she does not ask me about Nicole, I still can't accept that she is pregnant and carrying a child for me. She said she was on contraception and I had given her money to buy the emergency pill just to make sure she did not get pregnant. She had lied and for what to have a child for me?

  Mom spoke about Lamais all the way home, I could not eat any of the dinner when she finished preparing it so I drank some fruit juice and took a nap. When I awake they were all ready and I told them to go, they refused however and when we arrive the church was filled to capacity. Someone touch my shoulder as I turn and took my niece from my sister arms, I turn and saw a man who looked familiar but I couldn't place him.

  "Come this way," he says and we followed him clearing the way for the choir that was getting ready to march in.

  He led us to five seats where my Simeon, his wife and daughter was and we sat down, when I turn to thank him he was already too far away and then recognition dawn on me as I watch him walk to where another minister was standing. He had been the one who was at my side on more than one occasion when I was in spirit at Lamais's church convention. Who exactly is he? I wondered.

   I am sure everyone's eyes were on Lamais, I could not tell the exact colour of the suited robe she was wearing but my God, she looked magnificent and who and how long did it take to put on the head wrap she is wearing? The recording drones went right up to her and circled, she did not seem to be bothered by them.

  I turn and saw Simeon looking at me, he blinked talking to me with his eyes. His wife Italia touch his arm and he turns to her, I knew she was talking about Lamais by her direct gaze upon the rostrum. Tonight was dubbed PENTECOSTAL FIRE and I had no doubt that they had chosen Lamais specifically for tonight. I wondered if she was tired, she didn't look weary or fazed. In fact she looked like she was just relaxing, we stand up for prayer and I catch a better glimpse of her clothes, it shimmers but clung close to her body more than how her usual robes were.

  Breathing in deeply I exhale slowly, thank God no one gets to see how curvaceous and sexy she is under her clothes. This one shows that she was shapely, but only to an extent. The choir started up a lively selection of choruses and I sing along watching Lamais rocking her head to the music.

  My parents took my niece and nephew so my sister and brother-in-law could rest their hands, my nephew who was two and my niece three were quite an handful at this age. I caught Bishop Shimand looking at me and salute him smartly, he gave a gentle nod of his head and his wife who was looking at him looked in my direction. She turn and look at Lamais whose attention was taken by the moderator, I sighed and question myself Lamais is so well respected will I ever fit up to her standards?

  Almost everyone in the church stood up as a visiting pastor did the honours of putting on Lamais the preacher for the night. She smiled and greeted the church then place down the mic and went to where the bands was set up. The brother who had been playing it stood aside and to my amazement Lamais sat down and began playing a number.

  "What can she not do?" My mother turn and ask me.

  I hunched my shoulder then watch as she then went to the drum set and Kemar who had recently taken a seat their got up. Lamais played the drums for a good five minutes, I was in awe I guess like most people who are watching. I was expecting her like them to just preach and sing but I guess you just never know. She finished playing the drums and got up, she came down into the congregation and begins to speak and move about. What was she doing I wonder as she went for a bottle of water and gave a woman, then smile and went back up on the rostrum.

"Choir, what did I just do?" She ask as she took up the microphone.

  No one answered, they all sat looking at each other.

"Can anyone in the congregation tell me what I was just demonstrating?" She ask and we were all looking around at each other.

"Ushers?"

"Bishops? Ministers? Evangelists? Anyone on the rostrum?"

Oh my, this is embarrassing I thought.

"Can anyone tells me what I was demonstrating a few minutes ago?"

"There's a hand in the back bishop," a missionary on the choir said.

I look and saw that it was the minister who had directed us to our seats earlier and Lamais waited until a microphone was given to him and he said.

"You've been demonstrating how to fully serve in the house of the Lord," he stated.

"What is your name again Minister?" She asks and waited.

"I'm traveling Minister Riquan Hayes," he responds curtly.

"Thank you Minister Hayes," she said and walk down off the rostrum.

She turn and I was surprise by her next words. "Can you all remove yourselves from the rostrum please, everyone of You."

They all begin to come down from up there even Bishop and Evangelist Shimands, I felt worried wondering if she could really do that when it's not her church. Even so it seems embarrassing-

"I don't care if you all want to go outside, to the back of the church, out through the gate or on the roof," Lamais said rolling up her sleeves.

They all went to the back and stood and no one said anything, I was confused and could hardly wait to see what she was about. "Minister Hayes, please come this way," she says and Minister Hayes walk up to her.

"Can you anoint the alter for me?" She ask looking at him.

"No ma'am, I can't," he replies.

"Why not?" She ask him and the church was so quiet you can hear a pin drop as everyone look and listens.

"I was not ordained to do so," Minister Hayes answers humbly.

"Can I get a bottle of olive oil?" Lamais ask and the secretary hasted from the back and went for it.

She thanked her and place the bottle of oil in the Minister's hand. "Humble they spirit," she tells him and he raise his right hand and bow his head.

"I did not come here to sit upon that rostrum and preach in the pulpit for nothing, I came here to win souls. It seems some of us are just sitting pretty, so right now I'm just doing as the spirit leads me to," she says.

"Amen."

"Do what the spirit tells you preacher," said Bishop Shimand.

   Lamais say a short prayer and then Minister Hayes walk off and begins to rub oil upon the alter. "The message has been preaching from the start of the week and I've been here every night, yet I haven't seen anyone at the alter desiring to be baptized and save. Why are you sitting and not coming to the alter when you're burning to? The alter is open and if you don't come right now don't complain when the Holy Spirit deals with you," she says then motion for Kemar and the other musicians to take back their positions.

Minister Hayes put down the bottle of olive oil and cloth and was returning to where he was but Lamais calls and told him to take a seat upon the rostrum. She then turn to the rostrum and held up her right hand and says reverently.

"Pentecostal fire! Pentecostal fire! Pentecostal fire! Lord forgive my sins and help me through the struggles of the flesh, save this wretched soul of mine from hell. Please have mercy upon me and grant the petitions of my heart, thank you Lord. Amen."

She look towards the musicians before turning and looking into the congregation, she seem to recognize someone and smile before singing.

"I only live my life to please the Lord...
I am working for a robe and a star on my crown...
I only live my life to please the Lord...

The musicians begin to play and the moment I heard the kette drum I knew the rest was going to be lit, Lamais facial expression and the choir joining in had everyone's full attention.

"If I'm not living for Christ then I cannot be happy...
I only live my life to please the Lord..
I am working for the Lord and a star on my crown...

"Oh!" I went when she begins to dance.

The ministers standing at the back began to dance and I started to chuckle, Bishop Shimands was moving as if he was marching. But when Lamais draw another song and Kemar begins to hit the cymbals holy ghost took over.

To be continued...