Chapter Forty-Three
After their conversation in the pharmacy, Amara spent the next two days hiding from Michael.
It seemed to her that he was also avoiding her because he did not attempt to reach out to her. He didn't call, text, or even come knocking at her door.
Although some of her was relieved by that, the other felt disappointed.
She didn't know what to do with her feelings, and because she didn't want to waste her time thinking about him, she spent every free moment making clothes.
On Saturday afternoon, she finally stepped out of the house when she saw it was almost time for rehearsal.
The moment she opened the door and stepped outside, her heart skipped a beat when she saw Michael standing beside his car downstairs.
She turned to sneak back inside and wait for him to leave before going, but he looked up before she could take a step.
Her pulse quickened when their gaze met, and then he smiled. No, it wasn't a smile; his eyes looked like he was silently laughing at her.
Was this guy really a Pastor? Amara asked herself, smiling back at him stiffly.
Seeing that she couldn't escape back inside, she closed the door and headed downstairs.
Michael chuckled as he watched her approach. He knew she had been avoiding him for the past two days, and he had decided to make it easier for her despite how hard it had been to restrain himself from reaching out to her.
He had been standing there deliberately waiting for her because he knew she'd want to sneak away to church. He had given her enough break.
They had a date tomorrow, and he didn't want her to avoid him tomorrow. He wasn't going to let her back out of it so easily.
"Why are you smiling?" Amara asked when she got to where he stood. She hoped he wouldn't ask her any questions about avoiding him.
Michael chuckled, "You're going to church, right? Get in. I'll give you a lift."
Amara shook her head immediately. "No…"
Michael's lips twitched. "No, you're not going to church? Or no, I should not give you a lift?"
"You don't have to give me a lift. I can find my way." Her smile was polite, and she didn't meet his gaze.
"Now, why will I let you find your way when I'm going to the same place? Get in, let's go, I don't want to be late to Sunday school preparatory class, and I'm sure you don't want to be late to the rehearsals either."
Amara shifted from one foot to the other. She still didn't meet his gaze, but she could feel it on her. "Why are you attending prep? Are you a Sunday school teacher?"
"It's mandatory for pastors to attend them since we are sometimes too busy with activities on Sunday mornings to sit for the class. Do you want us to stand here and talk? Or can we get into the car and talk as we go?"
Amara sighed softly and got into the car. She turned her face away from Michael and looked out the window as he reversed the car.
Michael did not say anything until he got on the road, and then he looked at her. "So, Amara, why have you been avoiding me?"
Amara didn't miss the amusement in his voice. "I've been busy. I'm sure you heard my machine."
Michael noted that she didn't deny avoiding him; she only gave an excuse.
"Yeah, I heard it. That was the only assurance I had that you were fine. It's nice to see your face again."
Amara said nothing. All she wanted was for them to get to the church so she would get down.
It seemed like her prayers for the past two days had not worked. Why was she still feeling so attracted to him and bothered by his presence?
What would his kind mother think of her if she found out she was repaying her kindness by having feelings for her son?
"Do I make you very uncomfortable?" Michael asked after a while, and she turned to look at him this time. "You don't have to avoid me, you know?"
"What makes you think I was avoiding you? It's not like you called or sent a text and I didn't respond," she pointed out.
Michael looked away from the road to glance at her. "Did you want me to?"
"Did I ever ask you not to?" Amara retorted, looking away again.
"And here I was thinking I was being helpful by staying away. Well, never again. I hope you haven't forgotten that tomorrow is our date," he said, turning to watch her reaction, and he almost laughed out loud when her head snapped around to look at him.
"What date? You didn't say it was a date. You said we are hanging out," she quickly pointed out.
Michael chuckled. "A date is the same as a hangout…"
"I'd rather you stick to calling it a hangout," she said stiffly.
Michael smiled, but nodded. "Tomorrow, we will be going to our hangout as planned. I hope you won't forget."
When they got to the church, Amara thanked him and quickly got out of the car with her handbag.
He remained in the car and watched as she took a scarf from her bag and tied it on her head before walking into the church.
The moment Amara walked into the church, conversations ceased. The choristers, who were gathered around for rehearsals, stared at her.
Some of them who knew her before she left two years ago hurried over to welcome her, while the others watched them.
"The lady with the voice of an angelic bird is here. Clear the way for our own Amara," the music director said, happy to see her.
Amara smiled as she greeted him, "Good evening, sir."
"Ah, Amara. What you did wasn't good at all. You just disappeared without warning. Your probation is supposed to last for three years. You're lucky pastor said three months," he joked, and Amara laughed.
"I'm sorry, sir. It won't happen again. Thank you for letting me come back," Amara said, and then went on to exchange pleasantries with the others.
Faith scowled as she watched them welcome her. She had seen Michael's car drive in and knew Michael had brought Amara.
Thinking about how Amara treated her in the car some days ago, her blood boiled with anger, but she tried to stay calm.
"Please o, MD. It's time for us to start rehearsals. Time is going," Faith said impatiently.
Amara glanced at Faith and smiled as she took her seat. She knew the reason for Faith's pepper body, and it didn't bother her in any way.
"Someone should pray for us…"
The music director had barely finished speaking before Faith started praying.
"In Jesus' name!" She screamed.
Everyone chorused, "Amen."
"Darling Lord Jesus, we thank you. We thank you especially for this church. Thank you for the choir department. Thank you for the love and unity and peace in this unit. Lord, we pray against every evil agent of darkness that has been sent from the pit of hell to destroy this unit. Father, we cast out by fire every marine spirit on assignment that has been sent from the pit of hell to seduce our single pastors and brothers and to cause confusion in the church. Oh Lord, we pray that your hands will be upon us, and your fire of judgement will rain down mightily upon every seductive spirit in this place. We pray that you will give us the wisdom not to just accept anyone into the choir. Give us discerning spirit…"
"What kind of prayer is all this? Are we doing a deliverance service or rehearsals?" The MD asked with disapproval, stopping her before she could finish.
"I'm praying as I'm led by the Holy Spirit," Faith said, annoyed that she had been interrupted.
"Na so!" One of the instrumentalists shouted.
"Sister Faith, which Holy Spirit? You manage to choose to pray, na deliverance you wan do?" One of the girls in the choir asked.
"Is it just me or does the prayer sound like it's directed at someone?" Someone else asked.
Amara, not being one to walk away from trouble, laughed. "You for just carry anointing oil cast out the marine spirit from my head nau. If you want to talk to me, use your full chest to talk, don't be lying against the Holy Spirit and praying childish prayers," Amara told Faith.
"Ghen ghen! E done set!" Someone shouted.
"Action film. Today rehearsal go tough!" Another shouted.
"Thank God say I nuh miss rehearsal today. E for pain me die to say na gist I hear," another person said.
"I didn't call your name. Unless your conscience is judging you," Faith said with a shrug.
"Conscience?" Amara asked with a laugh and turned to the MD when she felt a sudden urge in her spirit to share her testimony, "I'm sorry, sir. I know rehearsals should begin now, but can you give me five minutes to address everyone?" She asked, and the MD nodded.
"Go ahead."
"When I left the church two years ago, it was because my mom had cancer and the situation was very bad. She needed medical care, but there was no money. I'm the first child so I resorted to hook up," she said, and some of them gasped in surprise at what she said.
"I did hookup for two years, until I was almost killed and God used Pastor Michael to save me. His mother rented me the apartment on the top of his pharmacy, so I always follow him to church since it's easier and cheaper to commute that way. I didn't want to sing for God while I was deliberately frolicking in sin. I'm back in the choir because I've rededicated my life. That is it."
When she finished, everyone was silent, and even Faith was shocked that she had openly exposed herself that way. But Faith quickly recovered from her shock.
"You see what I said that the Holy Spirit led me to pray? I don't think she should join the choir…"
"No offence, Faith, but abeg shut up," one of the girls said, and some others murmured their agreement.
"Nuh mind her. Judgina. Even Jesus as he holy reach, nuh judge like you."
Before Faith could respond and cause an argument, the MD cleared his throat and smiled at her. "Sister Amara, welcome back. I'm glad God didn't allow you to stray too long or go too far."
"Ah! Sister Amara, you get mind. Make I sidon near you," someone said, shifting close to her.
Naturally, there were a couple of other judgmental people like Faith, and they kept their distance, but Amara didn't mind.
She had done the right thing. She had done what she was led to do, and that was all that mattered.
So she thought until she looked up and saw Michael glaring at her like she had done something wrong.