HOLY HOTS

Fate Plays At The Bookshop

"Thank you for your time", Amelia Steel responded in appreciation to the sonographer as she wiped the cold gel off her stomach with the towel provided by the sonographer's assistant. These routines are quiet tiring but Amy has no options but go through them. What in the world is Jack up to? Medically, Amy has been confirmed fit and fertile for reproduction. Whatever that was keeping them from having children was certainly not Amy's fault. Why is Jack helbent on putting her through this much stress! These questions she pondered on while taking off the johnny gown provided by the hospital for the ultrasound as she changed into her dress.

She left the room praying in her heart to test positive on her next appointment with Dr Sam.

On In vitro fertilization, presenting this option to Jack is the only obstacle on Emy's road map to conception at this point. He has never considered Amy's opinion to be relevant and may not listen to this suggestion. Amy wished Dr Sam suggested the procedure to Jack but in all honesty, it wasn't up to him. She was the one in a bad marriage, otherwise communicating with her husband on a pressing and sensitive decision as this, would be the least thing to worry about.

Pulling out her phone, she dialed a number which was attended to instantly on the other end. "I will be out in less than a minute. Kindly Pull the car up to the front".

"Yes ma'am", responded the voice at the other end. It was her chauffeur.

Amy approach the exit almost same time the car pulled up. He opened the rear door for her as Amy thanked him with a smile and a wave. "Thank you" she said as he started the engine. The gentleman had been waiting outside all those hours although it was his job and he got paid for waiting, Amy was still thankful.

"Do I drive you home, ma'am?"

Taking a deep breath she began, "I am spent! I would love to go home now but I need to pick a book from the book store just right on Allen Avenue".

"Alright ma'am!" He exclaimed..

"Would that be convenient for you?" Chatted the obvious worn out Amy.

"I am at your service ma'am'" the chauffeur avowed just incase he was being tested.

"Then take me there".

"Alright ma'am!"

The book store was right around the corner, enough to let Amy get few minutes of alone time.

"what kind of book should I buy? These romantic novels make me feel extremely miserable about my life", she whispered. "Maybe I am on another planet unlike the characters in these books because I have never felt that way about any man before." Truly it was tiring and exhausting reading these books. Apparently, they make her expect things she would never get from Jack, thereby leaving her heart broken.

Wondering if her life would ever get better, Amy squeezed her eyes shut praying to sleep off. This was the only moment she didn't feel miserable. In her dreams, she could live whatever life she wanted, go wherever her heart desired. Her dreams were absent of Jack's brutalizations. Infact, she was always a real queen in her dreams. No one calls her useless in it, no one calls her barren and no one subjects her to heart breaking ridicules.

It was her safe heaven and she wanted to be there at every moment she manages to lay down.

"We have arrived ma'am". The chauffeur called interrupting Amy from her brief rest.

Startled Amy looked through the window as she blinked repeatedly. "Oh!" She exclaimed in reflex. "Thank you. I will be back soon. You could wait right around the corner". Looking into her Louis Vuitton bag, she asked, "can I buy you lunch while you wait? I may have to briefly read a few books before I finally settle for the perfect ones". She explained.

She was kind and every one who offered services to her knew this undeniable fact.

"I am fine ma'am", he replied giving a gentle smile which Amy could see from the rearview mirror.

"I insist!" She ordered , counting the notes from her purse. "Here, get something while you wait. I will call you as soon as I am done".

"Thank you ma'am" , the excited chauffeur chortled with glee.

The chiming of the bell right above the door gave out Amy's entrance into the book store and she instantly curled her lips in reaction to the sound of the bell. 'This is outdated! Why do they still hang bells over the doors in book stores?' Mrs Steels wondered as she quietly walked in trying so hard not to distract other scholars in the store.

Waving at the book keeper, she approached her in a beaming grin. "How are you Mabel?" Amy cheerfully greeted. "It's been a while"..

The mid aged lady who worked as the bookshop's keeper responded in a fondly tone. "I am well darling. I am delighted to see you", She said while approaching Amy . Arms wide open, both ladies hugged theirselves tightly.

"How is your child?" Amy began. "The last time I met him, he was twice as tall as I could ever be?" She joked.

Mrs Mabel's eyebrows raised as her mouth curved into a smile. "I must admit , he is quiet a handful these days".

"Hahahahahahaha" both women laughed in unison.

"Kids are such blessings Mabel, you are blessed", Amy added in a high-pitched voice.

Mabel's eyes flickered as she admired Amy's strength. Her eyes glinted with assurance, "You are blessed too. This womb will make you a mother".

"Amen!" She responded almost immediately while mentally burying the words in her hoping they will yield fruits in her life someday.

Gradually nodding their heads in affirmative, both women's eyes sparkled with hope as they shared tight hugs.

To avoid tears rolling down her cheeks , Amy broke the silence and hug. "I am looking to buy some novels".

"What type of novel would you like my lady?"

With her right hand slightly supporting her jaw Amy's mind pondered on a better choice of book. Squinting her eyes, "I really don't know yet. All I know is that I do not want to read romance novels anymore", she stated. "They are pathetic!" Amy chuckled.

"Oh dear! I sometimes feel same too. Would you want to try horror stories?"

"Certainly not!" Amy snapped as her forehead puckered in fear. "I have enough terror to deal with already. No need for more". She added causing both women to chuckle simultaneously.

"You have no options left, apart from reading religious books", teased Mabel.

Her eyes flashed as she widen them instantly. "That's it!" Her index finger was pointing to Mabel then she repeated in excitement, "I want religious books".

Mabel looked heavenward with a smile, "thank you father!"

"Why do you say that?" She asked smiling lightly.

"Nothing! I just didn't know you loved God". Mabel replied, leading the way to the aisle that had religious books on them. "Here! Check these out. I will be there if you need me". She added pointing to her table at the corner just by the entrance.

"Thank you Mabel!" Greatful Amy responded with gleaming eyes.

The older lady patted her shoulder lightly while returning the smile then headed back to her business leaving Amy behind.

"Where do I start from?" Confused Amelia whispered. "What kind of Christian books would be less boring?" She exhaled deeply while her fingers traced through the books on the shelf.

“‘Ahaha!” exclaimed confused Amy as she picked out a book from the shelf. “What could this be about?” wondered Amy while she read the synopsis of the book in her hand. She read out in an undertone, “Filled with faith and inspiration, Break Out will challenge you to build a new prespective, let nothing hold you back…” Nodding her head in concurrence to the words she read, “ hmmmmm…. I certainly need this . May be I will finally be able to grow some balls against his abuses”.

“Joel doesn’t teach that”. Cuts in the hoarse voice which seemed familiar.

Her face still fixated to the book in her hand, making a peripheral vision, she glanced surreptitiously as in out of the corner of her eyes to see the person who spoke to her.

“Joel Osteen is a wonderful writer and you can also look at me direct” he said making mockery of her indirect glances.

“ I am not afraid to look at you" she blurted still keeping her head downturned.

He nodded in agreement while he continued. “ Remember me?” he paused. “ father Gregory from ST. John’s Parish. We had a discussion about joining the choir which you are….

“I know you!” blurted the lady who was obviously avoiding looking at him. “I am yet to get a response from my husband”

“or you forgot to speak to him about it. Which is it”?

“hehehe!” mimicked Amelia as she pouted her lips in ridicule. “you must be really nosy or is that a qualification that was needed for your ordination. Huh?”

He smirked while tilting his head and looking askance through the ends of the book aisle . She was indeed funny and sassy too but two can play that game. “Oh yes! If I am not nosy enough, I would be incapable of winning souls for Christ. The less nosy the priest is, the less his wins for the kingdom. Now how about the lady that intended to learn how to stand up to bullies from Joel’s book”. Making a cheshire cat grin as he is pleased with his come back.

Paying no heed to him, she continued her search through the shelf.

“I have read a good number of these books” he started, “I see you are new to the genre, hence your little confusion”.

Still not looking at him, “don’t help me” she scowled. “I can find what I need” added Amy.

On a good day, this was enough to get Father Gregory off the conversation but for reason yet unknown to his human mind, he stayed back. He looked through the books at his reach, studied their synopsis in quick glances. Amy on the other hand did well avoiding their bodies from touching. Not even her bag touched his body.

“You know if someone sees you avoiding me this way, they will think I am a leper but that’s ok.” Looking at both books in his hands, he offered the one on his left. “ Try this. You will love it”.

At first she hesitated but when it became obvious the man of God wasn’t ready to give up nor withdraw his offer, she reluctantly took the book while murmuring “thank you” and still not looking at him.

“good start “ he commended. “that is Rick Warren. He is as good as Joel Osteen. His book 'purpose driven life' sort of redirects one’s path through a clear faith and understanding of the fact that we are created by God for a reason”. Now turning to Amy who at this time has turned to look at him, “are you borthered about something?”

Quickly looking away “ not really” she chuckled lightly. “My husband is rich so what possibly would be a burden to me?”

Pulling his brows together in a frown he mused “hmmmmmhm!”. With a nod he cleared the confusion that briefly beclouded his mind. “that's good but why do I feel this isn’t true?”

“Which part do you doubt?” she began as her voice singsonged her questions. “That my husband is wealthy? Or that I am not burdened by anything?”

Still looking at her, he snickered. “ok. I believe all”.

Amy felt disrespected and instantly turned away from him frowning fiercely as she looked for other books that may catch her soul.

“I didn’t mean to offend you Mrs Steels…”

“Well you successfully did that!” she protested while batting her eye brows in anger.

“forgive me. For I would never intentionally do that to anyone.” Apologizing for his mockery-like laugher was the right thing to do and as rightly expected, it evened the atmosphere between them.

Bobbing her head in agreement to the heart felt apology from the priest before her, she responded with quick flash of smile across her face which faded in split seconds then back to the straight face.

“What was that?” shocked Father Gregory inquired as he pointed to her face. “that face you just made is weirrrrrrrrrdddddd!”

Amelia chuckled loudly and fr Gregory joined in the laughter .

The unusual quietness in the bookshop caused them to pause as the looked around to see people gazing at them. Amy instantly felt embarrassed as she intentionally coughed repeatedly while turning away to look at the books in her hands.

Father Gregory bowed in apology to the staring crowd in the bookshop. They over stepped and he was indeed sorry. Mrs Mabel who was also staring at the duo responded to the priest’s apology with a warm smile.

That was certainly her first time seeing Amelia smile to any man. Once she saw her with her husband and Mrs Mabel could swear that they were a wrong pair and her husband didn’t like her at all. The way Amy coldly waved at her while she was with Jack was enough to tell the kind of marriage they had. In all honesty, Mabel was happy to see Amelia smile and even laugh this much.

“I must go now!” Amy said as she looked up to the man beside her who successfully brought a few moments of happiness to her. “Thank you for your kindness. It was a pleasure meeting you again” she added.

He shook his head in agreement albeit his face wasn’t showing same as he expressed via his body language. Stretching out his hand for a hand shake he admitted “it was a real pleasure meeting you again. I do hope you give a feedback on my request as soon as possible”.

Smiling as her eyelid dropped, “sure, I will see to that timely too”. To be fair, this is something she would never in her wildest dreams discuss with her husband. He hates religion so much that the only religion he believes to be true was wealth and affluence. The religion of Money and those that controlled it. Every other religion was a scam according to Jack Steels.

They shook hands as Amy walked to the counter to pay for the books she picked.

She exchanged pleasantries with Mabel whom was obviously excited.

She pulled out her phone, dialed a number which was answered almost immediately too. “please can you get the car now? I will be out in one minute.”

“ok ma’am” the young man replied.

Amy and Mabel shared a warm hug.

“I will see you soon Mabel”.

“I can’t wait to see you again” she said while patting Amelia lightly on her back.

Breaking away from the long hug Amelia assured, “Soon Mabel. Soon.” Waving good bye she left the store and into the waiting car.

“I am ready to go home now” she instructed as the chauffeur started the engine and drove towards the east west longitude of the city.

Thoughts about the priest who made her laugh few minutes ago was on her mind as she laid on the luscious leather of the luxury car conveying her. Mrs Steels wished the ride home would never end as memories of the bookshop fluttered in her stomach. “ oddly Beautiful moment” she mused.