Chapter Thirty-six
Although Michael had suspected that Emma had feelings for Amara, he never expected that Emma would confess that out loud, especially not to him.
Even though he was older than Emma by probably just a year or two, they'd never talked guy to guy. Their conversations had always been about things concerning the church, so why was Emma talking to him guy-to-guy now because of Amara?
While all these thoughts were going through Michael's head, Emma was still speaking, "I want to get to know her a little before telling Pastor Dele, that way she won't be too surprised when he informs her…"
Michael tried not to scowl. "When he informs her that what?"
Emma smiled, "That I want to marry her."
If Emma had told him this some days ago, he might have been happy and decided to look the other way and allow Emma to marry Amara so that he could tell God Amara was married to someone else. But this wasn't a few days ago. This was now. Amara was going to be his wife, and he didn't like that someone else was thinking of marrying her.
What did Emma think he knew about Amara to want to marry her, anyway? Would he still want to marry her if he found out the truth about what she had done after leaving church two years ago?
Should he let Emma drop her off and allow things to play out? Maybe Amara might want Emma to drop her off. He had seen the way they were whispering to each other.
Or should he tell Emma to look elsewhere because Amara was his God ordained wife?
No. He couldn't tell Emma that. Not when Amara didn't even know about it. And he didn't want Amara to find out through Emma or anyone else.
Michael shook his head. "I don't think this is appropriate. I can't let you drop her off. I brought her. So, I will be the one to take her back. If you want to pick her up or drop her off, do that when I'm not involved. I don't want to be involved in this."
Emma's smile faltered slightly. "Okay, sir. I understand. It's just that because of the nature of my job I can't get out of the bank early enough to pick her and bring her to service unless on Sundays. But it's fine. I'll just talk to her over the phone and find a way to hang out with her over the weekend. Thank you, sir."
Michael nodded, deciding that he would find a way to keep Amara busy during the weekends. She would be too occupied with him to have time to hang out with Emma or anyone else, for that matter.
Michael almost groaned when Faith returned to join him after Emma walked away. He had thought that after the way his mother had scolded her the last time, she would avoid him and not want to talk to him ever again, but she was behaving like nothing had happened.
Faith smiled at him as she stopped in front of him. "Pastor Mike, please, can you drop me off on your way home?"
Michael glanced towards the vestry, wishing Amara would come out soon. "I'm not leaving anytime soon. I'm waiting for sister Amara."
Faith frowned a little. She didn't like that Michael seemed so close to Amara. "I will wait…"
"Why don't you ask brother Emma to drop you off?" Michael suggested before she could finish.
"No. It's you I want to follow. I will wait for you. As we are waiting, can you help me explain Romans chapters one and two? I've been studying them for the past couple of days now, and I need you to shed light on them. I really love the books written by Paul," Faith said, and Michael opened his Bible and began to talk to her.
As he talked to her, she leaned forward, smiling and nodding as if they were discussing something other than the Bible.
As Amara stepped out of the Pastor's office, she scanned the auditorium for Michael to see if he was waiting. When she saw the serious expression on his face as he talked to Faith and the way she was smiling and nodding, she couldn't help but wonder what they were discussing.
She wondered if brother Emma had talked with Michael and if Michael was waiting because of her or because he was conversing with Faith.
Wanting to find out if he was waiting for her, she approached them, but was intercepted by Emma. "Sister Amara, I was waiting for you."
She felt a pang of disappointment when she heard that. She assumed that Michael had given him the go-ahead to take her home, and that was why Emma was still waiting. She had been hoping that Michael would be the one to drop her off at home.
When Michael and Faith heard Amara's name, they both turned, and Michael rose, ready to end the discussion with Faith and go home.
"Are you the one taking me home?" Amara asked Emma with a forced smile.
Before Emma could respond, Michael and Faith joined them, "Brother Emma, why don't you drop sister Amara at her place?" Faith suggested, "So that Pastor Michael can drop me off?"
Emma looked from Faith to Michael, "Pastor Michael said he was going to drop off sister Amara, but if sister Amara wants, I can drop her off to make the drive easier on Pastor Michael."
Amara was relieved to hear that Michael had told Emma that he would drop her off. Seeing that Faith wanted to push her off to Emma so that she could have Michael to herself, Amara decided not to let that happen.
Maybe if Faith were a good person, she'd have let her have her way. Maybe. But Faith wasn't good enough for Michael, and she had no intention of allowing Michael to be alone with someone like that. Michael was her friend after all, and she needed to protect him.
Michael watched Amara, waiting to hear what she would say and whether she'd prefer to go with him or want Emma to drop her off.
"Brother Emma, I think you should drop sister Faith at her place. That will make the drive much easier on Pastor Michael since we are neighbors," Amara suggested with a sweet smile, and Michael smiled, pleased with her response.
Faith frowned. "You're both neighbors?" She didn't like that one bit.
"Yeah. Let's go, sister Amara," Michael said, and Amara waved at Emma as she followed Michael.
"My house is along the way, still drop me off," Faith insisted, following Michael and Amara, while Emma watched the three of them, wondering what was happening.
As they got to the car, Faith rushed ahead of Amara to sit in front, but Michael stopped her before she could open the door. "Sister Faith, please sit at the back since I'm dropping you off first."
Even though he had yet to declare his intentions to Amara, Michael didn't think it was okay for Amara to sit at the back, while Faith, who didn't mean anything to him, sat in front like his significant other.
Amara, who was about to get into the backseat, giggled before she could stop herself, and Faith eyed her with disdain as she went to sit in the back.
Amara didn't mind. She had a broad smile on her face as she got into the front seat with Michael, feeling like the madam of the house.
"Sorry, I kept you waiting. Pastor was trying to resolve things between me and his wife," Amara explained.
"It's fine. I don't mind. Did you enjoy the service?" Michael asked, and Amara smiled.
"Yeah. I've always enjoyed Bible Study," she said, and Faith snorted in the backseat.
"Based on the Bible scholar that you are," Michael said with a teasing smile, and Amara laughed.
"You know that Bible…"
"Pastor Michael, can I come to the pharmacy tomorrow evening so that you can finish the explanation?" Faith asked, cutting off whatever Amara wanted to say.
Before Michael could respond, Amara spoke again: "By the way, I forgot to ask if Mummy has arrived. Have you heard from her? I should have called her, but I was so tired after that heavy traffic on our way from the airport." Amara said this more for Faith's benefit than anything else.
Since Faith wanted to be stupid, she'd teach her how to be stupid.
"Yes. She called shortly after we returned from the airport, and I told her you were sleeping. She said she'd call you to find out if you went for Bible study," Michael said, and Amara smiled.
"Do you think I can call her now? Will she be back from church by now?" Amara asked.
"I'm not sure," Michael said, while Faith frowned in the backseat, annoyed that Michael was focused on Amara and not giving her any attention.
"Pastor Michael…"
"I'm thinking of making jollof rice tomorrow since I couldn't make it today for you as planned," Amara said, cutting Faith off again.
"Really?" Michael asked, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice.
Amara giggled. "I will make more this time so that even if you want five plates, you'll be satisfied."
"That's good. I guess I'll eat jollof rice throughout tomorrow. But I'll give you money to make it this time. Agreed?"
"Before nkor? You're the one bringing the money for it," Amara said, and they laughed.
Faith frowned. Amara was cooking for Pastor Michael, and he was accepting the food, yet whenever she offered to bring him food, he turned her down.
"I will come down here," Faith said, and Michael turned slightly.
"Here? I thought your place was still in front?" He asked, surprised.
"I just remembered that I want to see a friend here," Faith said, annoyed.
"Okay," Michael said as he pulled over.
Amara laughed softly, knowing that Faith would be very pissed by what she was doing. She didn't mind. She only felt slightly sorry for Michael since Faith might start spreading rumors about them.
Faith got out of the car and walked away without even saying thank you, and Michael turned to Amara with a knowing smile, "You did all of that purposely to annoy her, didn't you?"
"So, you know?" Amara laughed, making Michael laugh too, wondering why she behaved that way.
He wondered if she knew she had acted like a possessive girlfriend. He didn't mind sha.