Chapter 10

Daniel wondered what Pastor Aaron was looking for from Sophia at four pm on a Saturday evening.

"Why?" He asked him for the third time.

Pastor Aaron cleared his throat, "I need her help on something I'm working on"

"Mind me asking what that something is?" He interrogated further.

"Pardon?" Daniel could see the pastor didn't really like him interrogating him like that. But he didn't care as this was something concerning Sophia and he wasn't going to take it lightly when it concerned her.

"I was asking...."

Footsteps on the stairs showed Sophia headed their way pulling on a grey sweater over a white shirt with blue jeans, her curly hair had been pulled into a tight ponytail. Looking at her Daniel noticed the cast was off. She looked....beautiful. his subconscious mind answered him.

No don't start thinking that way. He told himself.

She looked past him at Pastor Aaron and smiled "You are here early"

"I'm surprised myself too. But hope you don't mind me being early"

"Not at all" she said.

Watching their interaction Daniel felt left out as a weird feeling stirred in him.

"Does Rhoda know about this?" he asked.

Sophia answered not looking at him, "Yes she does" Ever since last nights incident, she had refused to look him in the face.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Pastor Aaron spoke up.

"Are you set to go?"

"Yes"

"After you then?" He held the door open for her before turning to Daniel. "I'll bring her back at eight pm"

Daniel could only give a stiff nod and watch them leave.

After they left, his conscience told him the weird feeling he had felt was jealousy. But he shook it off. He couldn't be jealous.

He, Daniel Asamoah wasn't jealous. He tried convincing himself. But his conscience wasn't having any of that as it continued to point out how he was feeling at the moment. He wanted to know what they were going to do, where they were going and the sort of help Pastor Aaron would want from her and why he couldn't go with anyone else but her. What exactly did he need her help on?

Unable to satisfy his curiosity he decided to follow them advising himself that he was checking on her. Them, he meant.

Picking his keys he drove in his pick-up driving straight to the church but did not see them. Turning around he headed towards the town. Passing through the busiest part of town he saw them, he pulled over so quickly his tires screeched loudly drawing the attention of some people around.

There they sat in a restaurant talking and laughing about something known to just them. But what was the issue that he had to discuss that got him to laugh with her?

When his conscience tried to rear its head he quickly put it off denying he was jealous. He wasn't and would not be jealous of his pastor.

As he continued to look at them, he saw Pastor Aaron take her hands in his. That did it, angrily he drove to work. Either ways he had to do some work.

It seemed everyone could see he wasn't in a good mood. The two boys he had working with him as his apprentices were from a troubled background. But after taking them under his care they had improved from the rowdy boys they were. Or at least they were improving to be better boys that he could see.

"Something's got him in a bad mood. You ask him" he heard Kevin telling his older brother in a whisper that was too loud to be a whisper.

"I don't want to get into trouble with him" Yaw said.

Sighing he stood up and walked towards them, "What's the problem?"

They both dropped the toolbox they were looking through. "Nothing" Kevin said.

"We wanted to take a break" Yaw said at the same time.

"That's it?"

They nodded. "Of course you can" he said running his hand over his beard.

It wasn't until after they left that, that he sat down trying to get his thoughts straight. He honestly couldn't stop thinking about her and Pastor Aaron. Trying hard to shake the image of them holding hands proved futile. He leaned against the table the tool box was on.

Lord help me sort through this roller coaster of emotions. Was his only plea.

Roller coaster of emotions. He laughed. He sounded like a woman.

"I think laughing aloud might just be the first sign of madness" a familiar voice said behind him.

He turned around to face his best friend. Dressed in a white v-neck shirt over a pale blue jeans paired off with dark blue sneakers. His friend had met a queen of difference. A huge difference he could see. The man would never dress this way before marriage.

"Perhaps staring absentmindedly too is also a sign of madness" he laughed drawing him from his thoughts.

"Nice way of saying hello old man" he retorted.

Vincent made a shocked face, "Who are you calling old man? My wife will have your head for that mister"

David laughed pulling him into a hug,"Its been so long where have you been? You just decided to look for me?"

"Hey stop being dramatic. I'm here aren't I? Now tell me what you were thinking about that got you laughing aloud" he asked sitting on the table beside him.

"It was nothing"

"It didn't sound like nothing to me"

His conscience raised its voice again,"she's not nothing"

He grunted mentally at his conscience which wasn't shutting up.

Vincent squinted to look at his face an eyebrow raised, "I know that look. Its a girl" he stated matterfolding his arms. "Never thought I'd see this day"

Daniel choked on nothing, "Its not a girl"

"You are right. Its a woman" Vincent laughed.

Daniel gave him a sour look for laughing at his predicament.

"Bro take off that frown. Its good news that you at least have found a woman who has been able to finally grab the attention of your stubborn heart. I never thought this day would come soon"

He stared at Vincent, "So now what do I do?"

"Nothing"

"Nothing. Such a great advice"

"Just joking. Have you prayed for guidance?"

Daniel shook his head, "Didn't think I needed to"

Vincent glared at him, "Seriously? Sometimes I think you are still sixteen years old but just got the beard of a twenty eight year old man. So what were you planning on doing?"

"Do nothing and the feeling would disappear? But hey you can't blame me when is the first time I'm feeling like this. I just want to in the meanwhile stop thinking about her. It is frustrating"

His best friend nodded and picked up a plier, "I understand. So does this make you think of her?" He waved it in front of him.

He stared at the plier as a statement from his mother drifted to mind when she had said he could take her to work and teach her how to change car tyres. Maybe that would be good as he would finally have her away from Pastor Aaron.

"Man, you are gone" Vincent laughed "I have to tell Serwaa about this. She'll be so excited on getting a sister in law"

Daniel didn't hear the last word he said but went on to ask about Serwaa, "How is she?"

"She's hanging on and I'm proud she's making so much progress. She's moving on" Vincent said and one could hear the adoration and love he had for his wife seeping through his voice.

As Daniel listened to him he wondered what exactly love was. And if what he was feeling was actually love.

God help me, he prayed.

*************************

Going over the ideas they'd finally settled on, Sophia sat back and watched as Pastor Aaron put finishing touches to the file in front of them. The church was planning a project for the local orphanage in town. Mostly Rhoda had been the one to help with the planning each year they made such plans. Apparently this was a yearly programme they had that made and ensured the little ones weren't left out on the love shared through Christmas.
Since Rhoda was going to be missing in action she had asked Sophia to take her place so as to be settled into the town as well. Sophia had readily grabbed the opportunity to step out of the house, she wanted a time out from seeing Daniel and she didn't want any trouble with him after last nights confrontation. If you could call it that.

Grabbing the red disposable cup holding her chilled orange drink, she gulped the rest down quickly as she waited for Pastor Aaron to make the finishing touches. She leaned back in the chair her eyes running over the people in the restaurant. A couple sat in the far corner close to the door paying more attention to what they were saying than the food they had ordered which sat untouched with the woman laughing at something the man had said probably a bad joke. A smile crossed her face at them, they looked so happy. As the woman pretended to wipe fake tears from laughing so hard at the joke the man made, a sparkle of a wedding ring caught her eye. It made her wonder if she had someone like that-someone who made her laugh- in her lost past life she wondered if the memories they made together were among those she couldn't remember. She wondered if they were looking for her.

Pastor Aaron cleared his throat, she looked at him, "So now that we've got the plans to kick start the project. I will be going to check out the orphanage to get any requests the director might have and scope out anything that might need our attention"

She nodded, "And we could interact with the kids to know their interests and keep it in mind when planning the theme"

"Absolutely. You can come along with me if you want"

"Sure I'd love to"

"And will Daniel be okay with it?"

Sophia raised an eyebrow at the man before her. His round face giving him a sort of babylike look, round eyes and a little flat nose gave him the complete babylook. But he had that look that said 'don't underestimate me'.

"I saw how he looked at me today and the tension in the room when you came in. It will be safe to say I don't want to intrude into anything"

Sophia sighed, "Pastor Aaron, Daniel doesn't control who I talk to or not. And you won't be intruding into anything"

Pastor Aaron winced at her tone, "Please call me Aaron. Are you sure because I still....."

"I'm sure Pastor....Aaron. He's not a problem"

"Okay. I think its time I dropped you home. It's almost seven pm" he stood up coming to her side
She nodded and got up to walk with him out the restaurant towards his car as he drove them towards the house she called home now.

Driving up to the yellow house Pastor Aaron put the car off and climbed out of his green Ford Escort. She did same and turned to face him her hands resting in the warm pockets of her sweater.
"Thanks for today, at least I got introduced to a restaurant"

"No problem. It was my pleasure"

"So I guess I will see you when I see you. And Good night" Sophia said already walking away to the front door. Her hand was on the door knob when he called her, "Sophie?"

"Yeah?" She turned to see him leaning on top of his car.

"Thanks for your help today, really appreciate it"

She smiled, "No problem. It was my pleasure"

Slipping into the house she locked the door only to find Daniel watching through the window as Pastor Aaron drove away.

He was unbelievable. She ignored him and walked straight past him to the stair case before she could start for her room, Mrs. Asamoah came bouncing down the stairs humming a cheerful tune.

"Oh there you are. Rhoda said you were to help Pastor Aaron with a project that's coming up"

"Yeah its on the annual project undertaken for the orphanage. It was fun to do plus it got me out of the house"

And away from him, she thought feeling eyes bore into her back.

"We saved your dinner. You can just microwave it"

"Thanks but I already had dinner"

"Some project discussion that must have been" she heard Daniel mutter and leave the room, the front door opening and closing being evident of that.
She heard Mrs. Asamoah sigh before pasting a smile on her face, "Don't take his words to mind. Why don't you go take a rest. Its been a day of planning for you"

"I think I will. Good night" she climbed the stairs and headed straight for her room.

Closing the door, she leaned back against the door taking a deep breath and looked around the room. Everything was in place, the books on the desk neatly arranged as it always was. She had always been curious about it but never dared to touch them. Pushing herself from the door she walked straight to the bathroom taking off her sweater and tossing it on the bed on her way. Taking a bath did its job of relaxing all muscles that were tired but also got into her wound. She'd even fotgotten she had that.

Retiring for the day she knew was well spent, she removed her hair from its rubber tie prison letting it fall around her head forming a halo of an afro as she sat down feeling a slight pull from the scratch she'd received last night. Guess it was still a little sore. Luckily Rhoda being probably aware she might have done that had placed new bandages, cotton and an antiseptic on her bedside table alongside a 'you are welcome' card.

Quickly she tended to it wrapping the new bandage around her stomach to replace the old wet one. Done, she finally climbed into the bed to sleep.
Sophia must have been just about getting into sleep world when a tiny hand pushed open her door.

"Sophie? Are you asleep?" Her feet made no noise as she neared her bed.

"I'm awake now. Is something wrong?"

Doreen shook her head the colourful accesories making noise as her short braids they adorned moved with the movement of her head, "Can I stay here with you tonight?"

Sophia sat up to look at her in her pink pyjamas with little white stars in it, "Of course, come in here"

A smile found its way onto her face as she jumped onto the bed to her side and laid on her side facing Sophia.
Sophia pulled the sheets over her, "Had a nightmare?"
"Uh huh. But I prayed about it. Mummy says God helps even when I'm scared"

Sophia nodded, "She's right. I'm glad you prayed that's gonna help you from being scared. You can go to sleep now okay?"

It took about five minutes for Doreen to fall asleep. And Doreen had an amazing way of sleeping which covered tossing, twisting and turning. Right now her head was resting on Sophia's stomach her legs splayed towards the headboard.

Unable to sleep, she decided to get a late night snack. She moved to the kitchen and grabbed an apple from the refrigerator. She was headed for the stair case when the living room lights came on making a small scream burst out of her.

Daniel stood behind the couch next to the switch directly accross her and there stair case, "What are you doing?"

"I came for an apple" she held up the apple as though it were evidence to prove her of wrong doing.

He grunted in response moving to the couch where a pullout bed was.

Sohia knew she should have just gone on her way but her moutg was quicker than her feet, "This is where you sleep?"

"What do you expect when my room is supposed to be the guestroom?"

Oh. That was his room she was staying in.

Now she just wanted to clarify everything between them,"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to"

He smiled, "You don't look sorry. You've just settled in like....."

"What does that mean?"

"You are already settled in like a member of the Asamoah family with no regrets whatsoever"

Now Sophia was angry, "What is your problem? Why do you always find a fault with me. First it was just looks of judgement then Doreen going missing and there you actually showed how much you don't like my presence in this house. I'm not trying to take your place in your family if that's what you are thinking"

Daniel walked towards her, his eyes looking tired and folded his arms standing a fair distance from her, "Okay so what do you call your date with Pastor Aaron?"

"What?" Sophia couldn't see how his question connected with the point she was trying to get accross at the moment. "What does that have to do with...?" She thought they were talking about how she was supposedly worming her way into the family.

"Don't try to deny it was a date. You were even holding hands" his voice was rising now.

"Aaron and I didn't go on a date and he only held my hand to pray before we started discussing the project"

He threw his hands in the air, "You even call him by his first name now. How wonderful?!"

Sophia stared at him not believing the words that came from his mouth, "Why am I even explaining myself to you? I don't answer to you!"

"Oh but you have to. I'm looking out for you here"

Sophia scoffed, "No I don't. What I would like to know is why do you hate me so much? I've not done anything to warrant your hate but it seems thats all I get"
"You think I hate you?" His voice fell to a whisper. Now he was trying to twist things around.

"Wait a minute, apart from standing in the path of your car that night, I don't know what else I've done to you. But it seems my mere existence seems to spite you. I'm sorry I was in your path that day okay? Maybe then we wouldn't have met then I wouldn't have stepped into your family to hijack attention from you and then I wouldn't have gotten Doreen missing. And maybe I'd still have my memory of who I am and maybe I wouldn't be given accusatory glances and looks. Maybe then I'd be with my family instead of being here" thunder cackled quickly followed by lightening. Strong winds blew in from the open curtains with the sounds of rain drops hitting the ground, "Maybe we were never supposed to meet then I wouldn't be the recipient of your misplaced hate. If you regret the day you ran into me congratulations because I do too. And if you hate my presence that much I'll leave!" She yelled above the roar of the rain.

Sophia couldn't have predicted what would happen next as Daniel's hands fell on either side of her face making her hair she'd released from the rubber tie making it poof up as an afro lie against her face. Shocked she stood still as he shook his head, "No don't say that. I don't hate you. I don't think I can even if I tried. I'm trying but I can't" his voice nearly a whisper.

She shot him a look wanting him to explain himself, "It's just...I can't" he looked genuinely confused as he looked at her as if he was expecting her to understand him. She had no idea how to fufill the hopeful look in his eyes.

"Is everything alright down there?" Mrs. Asamoah's voice came from up the stairs.

Realization of how close he stood to her must have popped to mind as his eyes widened, his quick breathing fanned her hair and he quickly removed his hands and took steps back, "Yes mom. Everything is good" he said looking anywhere but in her direction.

"If you say so. Good night then. We have church service"
"Good night mom"

Sophia stood still her mind still trying to process his words, "What do you mean?" She asked quietly. Daniel had already moved to lie on the pullout mattress.

"It doesn't matter, Good night" his voice held a tone of finality.
Standing there, she could only wonder.

What just happened?

A/N

3483 words! minus A/N. :) Yay!! I'm so happy we hit chapter 10. *bounces on toes throwing hands up and singing, 'thank God I made it'*
Thanks for being around till chapter 10.
So you know what to do vote or comment or do both, there's no rule against it;) Personally I'd like to know your thoughts on this chapter to see whether it made sense:D

Anyways thanks again guys.

Ko si se me te monka........stay blessed:)