Chapter 29

Lamais's pov

My first morning home was very busy, a woman who says demons was on her came in the afternoon and I, Shanty and the others had to clear her. Ten persons came for reading and afterwards two men came with terrible belly aches, I was from the outside kitchen to the reading room and when I close off at four that evening I give Shanty money to visit the market for groceries and other supplies. I spent the evening brewing roots and labeling bottles with the help of Tishawna and Kemar to restock the shop, remembering that I gave Shanty extra money, I tell them to call her and tell her to purchase KFC for us.

I was surprise when I heard Kemar's phone ring and he begin speaking to Cushane, he must be living secretly with Nicole at his new apartment I think vexedly. I've been told that she hadn't came back to church since she was told that we had gone to Canada for a church convention, and Sis. Smith says they were talks that she was saying I had gone to Cushane, she better not come back to my church because I have no time for carelessness.

When Shanty came we ate and had a great evening before she left, we talked about our trip to Canada and of the upcoming one months away. I felt honored and the money I had gotten can more than pay for our trip, my main focus now was to build a choir but we were small in number so that will be some time to come. However I still put choir practice and church cleaning for Saturday on our weekly schedule.

On Sunday announcements I tell my new members to invite a friend and to tell anyone they know that can sing that I was looking for choir participants, they would have to want to be a member of the church however and be able to live accordingly. There was also an invitation to our sister church's convention in two weeks time and because Nicole wasn't present one member thought it was ok to speak out and I had to reprimand her. She apologizes but then ask if I wasn't on any social media platform?

That evening she showed me the posts Nicole had made and I was so angry I went on three days fasting for her. I did not even give her anything to drink when she came for read-ing, if she has been experiencing problems with her pregnancy why didn't she visit a doctor? How dare her go on social media trying to slander my name?

Why would I even want to kill her child?

Why did this woman came to my church in the first place?

I was so grieve in my spirit that I had restless nights, she can take Cushane for all I care if he had truly loved and respected me he would not have been having sex with both of us. Without protection at that. I took out the suitcase of beautiful fabrics and things he had given me from out of the guest bedroom downstairs and threw it out unto the verandah in anger. Tomorrow I will ask Shanty to give the things away, or I will take them and give to someone who doesn't live here, maybe sell them all to my dressmaker. I did not want to see them.

On the third night after my fasting I cried all night, I did not want to see Cushane's face again. Shanty had carried the suitcase inside but where to I did not know, she said what he has given me was a gift and I shouldn't give them away. I had search for it all of that evening to burn everything but could not find it.

My eyes were swollen and red the next morning when I awake, I heard Kemar sweeping as I open my bathroom window and I took a hot shower before going down to the kitchen and making an hearty breakfast. I also serve Shanty and her five children out of it and still had more left, she said nothing to me as she went about her duties after telling the children she did not want to hear any noise at all.

I chuckled as Kemar tease the smaller ones and they curse him out quietly, I give them a dish of chips and some sweets before going to the outside kitchen to work until clients or others came. With all the money I have in my account I could open a business should I stop read-ing, Nicole needed a life because I can not see how she would be happy with a man who is in love with someone else. Maybe in time Cushane's heart will change towards her but right now I still feel it beating for me.

Shanty went to the gate and came back with the program for our sister church convention. "Why do these people keep giving me Fridays to preach?" I ask no one in particular.

"Cause if a nuh you a preach dah night dey it gon flop," Shanty said brawlingly and I look at her with rebuke.

I said nothing when I saw the robes she had chosen for me to wear for the two nights I plan to be in attendance, Wednesday and Friday. The camouflage dress robe has never been worn before, I had it made like a lot of new robes that I have yet to wear. The sparkling yellow and purple robe had a stylish head wrap that was attached to a purple beret to match, I had sewn it on myself when I was in love with purple. I burst out laughing when I saw the short plastic sword and my camouflage timberland that Shanty had place beneath them, she seem to be preparing me for war.

The next morning when she came inside the kitchen I begin to sing onward Christian soldiers, I saw her stifling a grin before heading hurriedly back outside. Our first client was a fisherman, he brought ten pounds of freshly caught fish and ask if I will take them as payment for a read-ing. I accepted them and read him, he had a murder trial coming up to which he is innocent. He was going to go to prison because someone has set him up, I call Shanty inside the read-ing room and tell her what's up.

"I do not know you, I don't know why I want to help you but I'm not going to question it. I would normally charge a hundred and twenty thousand dollars for a clearance like yours, but I'm going to do it for free. My spirit tells me you're a good person," I explain telling the fishermen.

He shook his head with unshed tears and says. "Mi always try fi duh good, I'm from a humble upbringing. All a mi savings wey mi did have sey mi waan buy one boat fi miself mi affi spend up gi lawyer, mi really nuh have it and mi dey pon mi last. Mi nuh kill di man a was mi fren, God, know mi nuh know wha' else fi duh."

His voice was etched with a pain so deep it shakes me and he is telling the truth. "Shanty, please gurd your waist," I tell Shanty.

"Yes ma'am." She answers and went to the other part of the read-ing room.

"Stand and stretch your arms upwards," I tell the fisherman.

Shanty came in and we all bow our heads in prayer, after which I gave him a bottle with dried healing herbs and tell him not to smoke or eat any form of meat or fish until after the trial. I spun him around outside until he was dizzy and vomited, I kept spinning him however with the help of Shanty. I give him a hot cup of leaf-of-life and bizzy tea afterwards then warn him as he was taking his leave.

"I don't know if it is going to work out just continue putting your trust in God, and do not eat any food at all from anyone. You don't owe me, now be on your way."

"God bless yuh, ma'am," he said and I nodded and walk back into the read-ing room.

"Ma'am?" Tishawna calls me from outside.

"Yes hun," I answer and walk to the back door.

She glance at her mother turning over some bushes we were drying a short distance away. "How yuh know sey him innocent?" She ask with an anxious frown on her face.

I smile then laugh when Shanty folds her arms and Tishawna immediately walks away. "Come back here, Tish," I call her back.

"Close your eyes and focus," I tell her then lean my forehead against hers.

I drew up inspector Gregory and saw that he was on his way here. "Who is he?" Tishawna ask confused.

"Get four chairs from the back patio and you and your brother put them under the shade over there," I tell her while Shanty look on puzzled.

"Kemar?" I call as inspector Gregory car horn honks at the gate and Shanty's eyes widened.

I instruct Kemar to bring the inspector to where the seats were and went and let Tishawna and Gazwain sit while I waited on him and the inspector. I answered his greeting then call Shanty as Tishawna sat with her eyes wide staring at the person I had made her see.

"Good day children," inspector Gregory greeted them.

"Good day sir," they responds.

"Shanty introduce the inspector to the children," I said to Shanty.

She let out a huff of breath and look at inspector Gregory. "A uno puppa!" She said and walk off.

I could not help but burst out laughing and so did inspector Gregory then he introduced himself to the children.

To be continued...