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queasiness I suddenly felt, was it because of my . . . non-pregnancy issue, or had the woman just given me a bad case of the heebie-jeebies?
    I put my car in drive and pushed my foot on the accelerator. Too tired to attempt to understand my night and too sick to care, I almost missed the dark sedan parked several yards past the lamppost.
    But I didn’t miss the man inside.
    Black puffy jacket, black hat pushed down low over his eyes. I thought about the man who I’d seen at the ED, hiding behind the front door plant; the man who’d disappeared before I could ask a question about him or point him out to the triage nurse or front desk security guard.
    I hadn’t seen the man’s face clearly, but I was certain that the driver of that parked car was one and the same.
    I kept my head straight, feeling, sensing that I wasn’t supposed to see him. And for some inexplicable reason, I prayed that he hadn’t seen me.
    As I drove through the quiet, narrow city streets back to my condo in Canton, exhausted beyond measure and sick to the pit of my stomach, I could not shake the nagging feeling that this was not my last dealings with Sweet Violet, Ms. Frankie Jean, or whoever she was.
    Little did I realize my life would be turned upside down because of her in just a few hours.

Chapter 6
    â€œTurn up the music, Sienna.”
    Leon’s bald head bobbed up and down to the Sunday morning mix programmed into my car’s audio system. Part aerobic, somewhat techno, hinting at gospel, and all spiritual, I blasted my mix not just on Sunday mornings, but whenever my spirit needed a lift or my worship needed a workout.
    We were on our way to early morning services at Second Zion Worship Center, having now been members there together for the past couple of months. As newlyweds, we both wanted to start our lives together on the same page; being at a new, but familiar, church together made sense to us. I’d grown to appreciate the expansive ministry when dealing with a foster child and her foster parents several years ago. Leon felt strongly about helping out with the youth ministry, and I had been finding a comfortable place helping out with the extensive counseling ministry network of the respected megachurch. Despite the growth by the thousands of the increasingly multiethnic church, the pastor refused to allow his salary to grow past what he initially accepted when the church had just 300 members. The extra monies that had poured in over the years of growth were used strictly for service and ministry. Far from feeling like a corporation, Second Zion maintained an aura of community and served as a rest stop for spiritually weary souls.
    â€œI don’t even remember you coming in last night.” Leon’s head still bopped, but I noticed he’d turned down the music. A light snow fell around us, but immediately melted on the warm ground.
    â€œYeah, it was pretty late when I got in, but you don’t have to worry about late nights like that for me anymore. I’m going to make sure that Mabel gets this pager back first thing tomorrow morning. I’m done with providing free on-call services!”
    â€œYou said that two weeks ago,” Leon gave me a side glance and smiled. Side note: he had beautiful teeth.
    â€œI mean it this time, especially after last night. You should have seen this woman they called me in for in the emergency room. She—”
    Leon held up a hand. “Don’t tell me about it. Your stories always alarm me. I’m always afraid that something will happen to you and none of your stories ever make me feel better about my fears.”
    â€œOh, this woman was harmless; a little off, but harmless,” I shooed his concern away. “The only time I felt a little unnerved was just as she was getting out of the car. She said—”
    â€œWait,” Leon interrupted, “she was in your car?” His smile dropped immediately. “You drove a