A Blessing From The Obeah Man Read online

  There were voices, a hand on her arm. Vicki opened her eyes, bewildered. Richard was leaning over her, his face full of concern, and behind him, she could see a stewardess hurrying towards her along the aisle of the plane, eyebrows raised. As she struggled to sit up, realising the seat belt had clamped itself tightly around her hips and stomach, she could see people turning and whispering, looking at her.

  “Darling, you’re okay, don’t panic – “ Richard had one hand on her arm, stroking her as if she were a frightened animal. “You just had a bad dream.”

  Vicki felt her face grow hot.

  “Sorry,” she muttered. “ Sorry, everyone. I just had a bad dream. No, I’m fine –“ this to the stewardess who was bending over her, asking her questions, “I’m absolutely fine. I just had a bad dream.”

  Five months later, Richard was in the living room of their house, talking to his mother on the phone.

  “No, she’s fine,” he said. “Absolutely fine. A bit tired of course, but that’s to be expected. At least she’s not being sick any longer, that was starting to wear her down a little.”

  Out in the kitchen, Vicki was doing the washing up and staring out into the garden. She slowly rinsed a glass and upended it on the draining board. A flicker of movement caught her eye and she stared at the blackbird that had flown down onto the lawn. It hopped slowly towards the house and then, in a blur of wing beats, flew up to the kitchen windowsill. She looked at it, at its thin little legs and its black and beady eye. Inside her, she felt a kick that made her flinch.

  She could still hear Richard talking in the other room.

  “Mum, you don’t know how happy I am,” he was saying. “And after so long, too. Well, we didn’t want to say anything – what’s that?” A pause. Then “Yes, you’re right. You’re absolutely right. We have been blessed.”

  Out in the kitchen, Vicki watched the blackbird cock its head to one side, its eyes fixed upon her. She put a hand to the swelling curve of her belly, and shivered.

  ~~~

  Enjoyed this story? Read more from Celina Grace at her blog on writing and self-publishing http://www.celinagrace.com or find her other stories on Amazon Kindle.

  Celina Grace is the pseudonym of Celina Lucas. Find out more at http://www.domestic-entrepreneur.com