Chapter 36

Lamais's pov

The rain fell for the whole day and I stayed inside my room the entire day, Karly brought food cooked by Christopher for me and I thanked her with the excuse that I felt tired. She was very sympathetic and understanding, she asked if she could borrow one of my bibles to read as she had lose hers and I smile before getting up and giving her a brand new one. Her facial expression was to die for when I tell her it is hers, I chuckle and lie back on my bed pulling the covers over me.

"Oh my God, it's so beautiful. I've been so desperate to have one so I can read the psalms, they give me comfort you know," she said with tears pricking her eyes.

I smile at her and say. "I know."

"Thank you so much and for everything you've done for me, my children and Christopher. It's so kind of you for taking us into your home," she said looking down at her new bible.

"You're very welcome," I say.

She sighed and say. "It must be God."

"It is," I say and my spirit was moved by her.

I begin to shake while the spirit gives utterance. "Oh blessing! Nan delahijah, glory!"

"Hallelujah," Karly says reverently.

I look at her and read her, happy tears sprung to my eyes, she wanted to go to church. She desires clothes, things and a home, her spirit is free just hoping to have a better life. She was a bit bothered by what people have been saying about Christopher, any good woman would.

The next day the rains ease somewhat, I prepared a large breakfast of run dung with ground food and a large pot of chocolate tea. All I could hear were grunts and sighs of pleasure while everyone ate. Cushane left with his father and brother for his apartment afterwards, leaving his mother and sister who were only too happy to stay. They questioned me endlessly about church doctrine and my beliefs, which was my pleasure to tell them about.

Karly and Christopher listened in as well and ask a few questions of their own, Christopher ask a very important question that most people ask and none of us know the answer of. "Do you think there is life after death?"

Everyone was looking at me for answers and I ask him. "What do think?"

"Mi waan believe but sometimes mi nuh know yah, cause nobody nuh come back from di grave," he replies.

I chose my words carefully and say. "I believe that there is a high supreme being and that we should live our best lives here and now. Today, right now while we are existing we should do good not just because we are expecting to go to to heaven or get rewarded, but we should do so to feel good with ourselves because if everyone should do good then there would be no evil and we would not have to worry about where we go when we die."

There was a moment of silence after I finished speaking and then a soft breeze begin to blow, it was like they all were in their own thoughts thinking about what I had said. I do not know everything, I'm not the creator. The little knowledge that I have and what I perceive is what I offer to those who craved to hear.

Three weeks later...

I hissed my teeth as I pack my small suitcase with Shanty's help, a whole week with a man I was barely fond of feels very difficult but I fill my mind with positivity. If I don't at least try I may end up living childless and alone, Shanty had been determine enough to have me purchase two sexy dresses and two skimpy bathing suits. Between her and Sis. Grant who'll be accompanying me as my chaperone I was going to look like a hot young gal.

Cushane's face swim across my mind with the brooding expression he had worn after my dating trip was announced in church, I hissed nastily and earned a full glare from Shanty who pause to look at me. The nerve of him asking me to not go afterwards I thought angrily remembering, he better go focus on his court cases, he'll be seeing his babymama in there.

I walk out into the living room passing the three barrels I have yet to open that the Cyan's family had sent me, Christopher had Karly was still basking in excitement over all the things they had received in the two barrels they got. I was happy for them too but I just can't seem to find the energy to open mines. I turn and find Shanty looking at me, I snorted and walk off hiding a grin, she badly wanted me to open them.

As if they were hers I think stifling a chuckle, I allowed Christopher to put some of his food stuff in the kitchen but had him pack back majority of it inside the barrel and keep in the room he shared with Karly. They deserved all they got and more, Karly wanted to get saved but Christopher thinks they should get married first. With back to school upon them and no money, they were both very discouraged. I however set her name for baptism the following Sunday and a date for their wedding,

I ask Sis. Grant to help me get the children in nearby schools and Christopher leave with Kemar and Minister Smith that Sunday evening, to go to the father side of the beach to set his nets. That evening I showed Sis. Grant how I give monetary assistance according to the children who were in need of help, she was surprised at the amount them from my personal savings and the amount of children in and around the community.

While I got ready the following afternoon to leave for the resort, I wondered if it will be worth it. I tell a sleepy Christopher good bye with Karl and Shanty laughing at his snoring and drive off to pick up Sis. Grant.

"Good day bishop, I have good news," she said upon entering.

"Do tell I love good news," I say happily.

She grin cheekily before saying. "Christilla and Kareem will be attending school come September morning."

"That was quick, the Lord is working through you madam secretary," I say then stated.

"Amen," she said and we both chuckled.

When we got to the resort and checked in, we went to our room to relax and freshen up before going to meet the father and son duo for the dinner date that evening. Sis. Grant posted our photos on church media pages that were hardly posted on, she showed me Bishop Kindler's very active page and I covered my face. I really did not do much posting but that man has posted over twenty photos of him and his father for that day.

"I don't like the fact that he's highlighting our meeting so much, I mean what if we don't find ourselves compatible enough for each other," si murmured.

"Yuh tek it right outta mi mouth," Sis. Grant returns.

Half way through the dinner with our over dressed consorts came the first red flag, Jonathan did not allow anyone to finish speaking he was or his father always begin to speak before either of us women can finish saying what were saying. I kept my mouth closed from speaking there after while I ate my food, I ignored most of his questions and stare pointedly at him to read him.

Male chauvinist, selfish, conceited, boastful and a host of other adjectives whirl through my mind and I got up wish them good night and went to my room. Sis. Grant came in and burst into laughter, I showered and we stayed up a while creating content for the church media pages. By the next morning we were getting a lot of good feedback and I put on a positive attitude and went down to breakfast with the Kindler men.

Me and Jonathan walk over though the beautiful gardens at the resort, I give only single worded replies to all his queries and allowed him to do most of the talking. That evening after dinner we danced several waltz together, I was so tired from all the effort I had to put in just to put on a decent show. At the end of our evening his face was pleased and so was his father's, what kind of marriage did they think was going to take place? There was no connection between us.

I spent a boring morning with them on the beach the following day, Sis. Grant spend most of the time on her phone and videoing me. After lunch I had enough of their forbidding company and just wanted to feel free, me and Sis. Grant went jet skiing and I flung off my wrap around and exposed my beautiful bikini. She laughed tossing hers off too and we just had mad fun, I'd deal with the consequences after I tell myself.

Waltzing to please a man was not on my agenda that evening after dinner, this is Jamaica where music possessed the people and I am possess into dancing and flaunting my sexy self. This Christian isn't boring, me and Sis. Grant rocked to the music we told the selector to play and so did the other patrons that join us on the small dance floor.

Jonathan and his father sat watching us, they look so out of place in their suits. I packed my bags to go home that night, I had no interest to further date such a snobbish up tight man. I wanted an happy married life, not one where I felt trapped and had no say.

To be continued...