Chapter Thirty-Five
After Michael and Amara returned to the pharmacy, Amara told him she would sleep for a while since she didn't sleep well at night, and then she went upstairs to her apartment and did just that.
Amara slept for a couple of hours until her phone started ringing. She reached for her phone on the space beside her, and when she saw it was a number she didn't know, she hesitated before answering it.
"Hello, who is this?"
"Hello, who is this?" A feminine voice repeated, mimicking her. "Who do you think it is? It's your aunty from the village."
Amara sat up in bed, laughing happily when she recognised the voice. It was her childhood friend, Ada. "You stupid girl! Where have you been? How did you even get my number?"
"You are asking me? After you were busy ignoring my calls and messages. You get luck say I nuh dey carry something for mind, if not our friendship for done end."
Amara had cut Ada off after she started the runs business with Valerie, since she didn't want Ada to know what she was up to. She knew Ada well enough to know she'd report her and even disgrace her if she ever found out she was into prostitution.
"I'm sorry. I was going through a lot and did not want to inv..."
"My friend, shurrup! Going through a lot fire. You think I did not hear you paid for your mother's treatment and have been sending money home consistently? I traveled home. I visited your mother and she gave me your new number when I asked if she has been hearing from you. You nuh dey try, shey you know? You and I are in that same Warri, yet to see you is a problem. I'll treat your fuck up when we see. Tell me your address. When I return to Warri this weekend, I will visit you."
Amara gave her the address, and after gisting for a while, they ended the call. Amara sighed softly with a smile on her face. She was happy to hear from Ada. They definitely had a lot of catching up to do.
She glanced at the time on her phone, and when she saw it was almost four p.m., she knew she had to start getting ready for Bible study since they had to leave in time if they wanted to get there by 5 p.m.
Amara quickly got ready for church, and by 4:30 p.m., she walked into the pharmacy dressed in a knee-length jean skirt and a plain red polo. By now, all the staff believed something was going on between her and Michael, so they ushered her to Michael's office since he wasn't busy.
Standing by the door, Amara tapped on it, "Knock knock," Amara called with a smile.
Michael's pulse quickened when he heard her voice, and he looked up from his phone with a smile. "I was just thinking whether I should call you or not. I wasn't sure if you were awake yet. Did you sleep well?"
Amara walked into the office. "I slept very well. I figured you'd want to leave early based on pastor level. Are you ready to go?"
Michael picked up his Bible and rose. "Yeah. Let's go."
Together, they stepped out of the office. Michael didn't need to tell his staff where he was going since he always went to Bible study on Wednesdays.
Amara was silent as they drove to church. She was thinking about her family and wondering if she should visit home since she had not seen them for over two years. She had not seen the need to do so because the living conditions there were deplorable, and she didn't want to feel saddened by it.
Michael turned to look at her. "Why are you quiet?"
Amara looked at him, "I didn't know you liked my voice so much that you expect me to be talking without pause."
Michael chuckled. "Now that you mentioned it, you do have a nice voice. It will be nice to hear you leading worship or taking the solo in the choir."
Amara smiled as she looked at him. "Thanks. You have a nice voice, too. Why did you choose to be a pastor instead of a chorister?"
"I didn't choose. It's what God called me to do," he murmured.
Amara eyed him with interest. "For real? How did you know God called you? Do you have a burning bush experience?"
Michael said nothing for a moment, and then he sighed. "It's a long story. One I'd rather not get into now. But I'll tell you some day. And just so you know, if I had a choice, I'd rather be a music minister than a pastor."
"Because it's easier to sing than to preach?" She asked, and Michael laughed.
"Being a pastor goes beyond just preaching. You're responsible for souls. You're a shepherd, and God would hold you accountable for the sheep. Like Moses led the children of Israel from Egypt to the promised land, a pastor is to lead his congregation to heaven. And trust me, humans are difficult to lead." Michael shook his head and sighed again.
Amara watched him as he spoke, and she smiled. "Eya. Pele. But you're not leading them on your own. Moses did not lead them alone. God was with him all through..."
"Yet he was punished for the mistake he made out of anger," Michael reminded her.
"Yeah. But that was because he let his anger at the people lead him to displease God. Shey the Bible said be angry but sin not?" Amara asked, and Michael glanced at her.
"You seem to know the Bible a lot. Right now, you sound like the pastor between us, " he teased her.
Amara laughed. "I don't need to be a pastor to know the Bible. Anyway, I'm just trying to say that as long as you listen to God and let Him guide you every step, you can do the work He called you to do. I don't think being a music minister is easy either. I believe every office that God calls us to has its own challenges and perks."
Michael smiled as he digested what she had said. It wasn't like she said anything he didn't already know, but he liked that she was that knowledgeable about the things of God. And it was comforting hearing it from her.
They got to church early enough, and the moment Pastor Dele saw them get out of the car together, he grinned when he remembered what Michael had told him. He had to admit that they looked good together.
"Good evening, Sister Amara. It's good to see you again. I was hoping to see you after service on Sunday, but you left before I could finish," Pastor Dele said as they approached him.
"Good evening, sir," Amara greeted, feeling slightly awkward.
"I hope you won't leave in a hurry today? Let's talk after the service." Pastor Dele turned to Michael with a wide smile. "Thanks for following up with her and bringing her to church, Pastor Michael. Let's go in, it's almost time."
As they walked inside the church, Amara saw the Pastor's wife and Sister Faith and greeted them, but they didn't respond to Amara's greeting because they were angry that Michael's mother had spoken to them harshly because of Amara.
Michael and Pastor Dele were busy talking, so they didn't notice what happened.
There was no sign of brother Emma in church yet. Amara understood since he was a banker and could only come after he was done with work for the day.
When it was 5 p.m., Michael went to his seat at the minister's stand, and Sister Faith led the praise and worship session.
As she sang, Amara tried to focus on worshipping God even though her thoughts kept drifting to the picture of Sister Faith at the hotel with that man.
Amara wished she had not seen that, because now she was finding it hard to flow in worship. She didn't want to judge Faith, yet she found herself doing it.
"Holy Spirit, please help me to focus on worshipping rather than on the person leading the worship," Amara prayed silently.
As the service progressed, brother Emma arrived, and Michael watched with a slight frown as he went to sit in the empty seat beside Amara.
Michael watched Amara as she smiled at Emma and whispered something to him. Emma smiled at her and said something to her before they focused on the pastor.
After the service, Emma asked Amara, "Are you going with Pastor Michael? Or can I drop you off at your place?"
"I'm not sure yet. I have to talk with Pastor Dele," Amara said, remembering her conversation with Michael earlier.
"Okay. I will talk with Pastor Michael and find out if he will wait to take you home," Emma said as they both rose.
Amara saw Faith talking to Michael as she headed for Pastor Dele's office. Just then, Michael raised his head, and their gaze met.
Amara smiled at him and pointed to Pastor Dele's office, letting him know she was going to meet Pastor Dele. Michael gave her a nod.
Faith turned to see who Michael was staring at and scowled when she saw it was Amara. "Why did you drive her to church? You know people are beginning to talk about the two of you?"
Michael ignored her and was partially relieved when Emma approached them, "Pastor Michael, can I talk to you?"
"Yeah, sure." Michael walked away from Faith and stepped aside with Emma.
"It's about sister Amara," Emma said with a small smile, "I want to wait and drop her at home if you don't mind."
There was no way he was letting Emma drop Amara off. "There is no need for that. I will drop her at home since she lives just above my pharmacy."
Emma scratched the back of his head awkwardly and laughed. "I know. She told me. The thing is, I like her. I've liked her for a long time, but I didn't get the chance to tell her. Now that I have the chance, I don't want to miss it again. Can you let me drop her off?"