“Point taken. And yes, the morning target practice was a good call. The hike with my mom yesterday reminded me how nice it is to get out of the city. Thanks again for setting this up.” She soaked in the natural landscape as it whizzed past, soon to be replaced by subdivisions then shopping centers, and eventually the jutting buildings of downtown Austin. “When are your mom’s cousins coming home?”
“Who?” Miranda looked at her like she was talking gibberish.
“Your mom’s cousins … who own the land we’re using as my smiting range?”
Quickly Miranda set her eyes back on the road. “Oh. Right. Um. I dunno.”
Jessica groaned. “You don’t actually know whose land that is, do you?”
“Not personally, no. But I do know no one is living on it right now. It’s currently for sale.”
“So we were trespassing. In Texas.”
“Yeah, but it’s super low-risk.”
“In a state where people can shoot you in the back because you tripped and caught your footing on their property, you think that’s super low risk.”
Miranda kept her eyes firmly focused on the road. “Smite beats gun, though, right? Plus, God wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”
“You keep assuming that, but as someone who has to talk to him on a daily basis, I’m just not confident about it.”
“Well fine,” she conceded, “I’ll follow your logic: God’ll probably try to martyr you, but until that day comes, he’s not going to let you die in some dumb way. Like guacamole or a trigger-happy landowner.”
“Are you trying to reassure me?”
“Is it working?” Miranda grinned.
“Unfortunately, yes. Except, like with the guacamole poisoning, you could still get hurt or killed.”
“I guess so, but I bet He knows that wouldn’t play well with you.”
“You sure have a lot of faith in the goodness of God.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Not necessarily. But I wouldn’t recommend it.”
When Miranda pulled up to a light on the edge of downtown, she glanced over at Jessica. “You might want to fix your hair.” She reached in the glove box between the seats and pulled out a brush, offering it.
“I’ll fix it when I get home.”
Miranda shook the brush at her. “Maybe just fix it now?”
Jessica leaned to the right in her seat, giving herself room to look over at her best friend. “Oh, I’m sorry, is my disheveled hair a nuisance to you?” She took the brush and used the sun visor mirror to straighten the part. “What’s with you today, Miranda?”
“Promise you won’t be mad?”
Jess jerked her head around. “No. I don’t promise that. Especially when someone asks me to.”
“We’re going to brunch. And before you say you don’t have the money, I know. It’s my treat.”
“Oh.” Brunch wasn’t so bad. After all, she was hungry, and if Miranda was paying… “Why would I be mad? That’s no big deal. Cash will be glad to hear it.” She pulled out her phone and texted them, letting them know and hoping it would win her some brownie points for once.
They pulled into a parking spot and Miranda said they’d have to hoof it a couple blocks to where she wanted to go. Considering it was a Sunday and Jessica had no plans other than baking the shit out of some sourdough bread, which she’d failed at five days running, she was fine dragging out the more enjoyable parts of her day.
“I hope we’re not going somewhere too expensive,” Jessica said, secretly hoping the opposite. When was the last time she had a nice meal? Probably on a date with Chris, which she hadn’t had many of in the past month, now that football season was heating up and Texas State was actually in the running for a bowl game.
When Miranda led the way up to Chez Shea, Jessica celebrated on the inside. She’d had this place recommended to her by no fewer than eleven people, nine of whom she hardly knew. The consensus was that it was the “delicious and upscale in an understated way, but they usually have the AC cranked too high” brunch spot.
Then she caught sight of her reflection in the tinted front windows and grimaced. She was so not dressed for this. And not just because of the AC.
“You look fine,” Miranda said, catching sight of Jessica’s gaze while she held open the door. “This is Austin. All our naughtiest bits are covered, so nobody cares.”
“I know you!” proclaimed the young hostess when Jessica and Miranda approached the stand.
“Yeah, yeah,” Miranda said, breezing past her and straight into the bustle of the restaurant. Not in the mood to continue the conversation the hostess had initiated, Jessica followed closely behind her friend, though she was fairly sure this wasn’t the way places like Chez Shea operated. It didn’t strike her as a self-seating system, especially considering the presence of a hostess stand.
And then Jessica caught sight of a table of familiar faces, and a few things made sense.
It made sense why Miranda and ignored the hostess.
It made sense why Miranda had told Jessica to brush her hair.
It made sense why Miranda had asked if Jessica was feeling less aggro on the whole.
Jessica wasn’t and never had been a big fan of surprises, and Miranda knew that.
… Even if the surprise was as well-intentioned as this one.
“Hey!” shouted Kate, who stood, holding out her arms for a hug. Judith stood by Kate’s side, nodding a hello and suppressing a grin.
How long had it been since she’d talked with these two? Months. They should hate her for being such a bad friend, but here they were, making the drive from San Marcos and seeming in good spirits.
Destinee and Dr. Bell were also at the table but remained sitting and watched as Jessica hugged her two sorority sisters, shot Miranda a grateful yet perturbed look and took a seat at the table between Kate and Miranda.
“Good to see you, Jessica,” said Dr. Bell.
“Sorry, baby,” Destinee said. “I know you hate surprises, but I figured this would be a good one.”
Jess decided to let it go. “Is this the real reason you came into town yesterday, Mom?”
“It was why I chose this particular weekend, but I’ve wanted to come see your place for a while. Sorry I lied about leaving town at the crack of dawn.”
With the shock wearing off, Jessica struggled to stay annoyed. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad y’all are all here. I don’t know what the occasion is, but I’m not complaining.”
“Why does there have to be an occasion?” Judith asked. “Can’t we all just miss seeing you?” Then she added, “Always so suspicious, that one,” as she restrained a stubborn smile.
“What have you two been up to all morning?” asked Kate. “Looks like you’ve been working out.”
Jessica looked to Miranda, who smiled innocently, allowing Jessica to take it whatever direction she wanted. “Yeah, we did a little hike on the Greenbelt today.”
“God leave you alone?” Destinee asked. She turned to Dr. Bell. “We went yesterday and God kept bragging about everything.”
Bell pressed her lips together and nodded politely.
“Yeah, he didn’t bother us.”
“Is he here right now?” Destinee said.
“Nope.”
Destinee slapped the table top. “Then hot damn! We got us a real ladies brunch!”
Even Judith laughed along with the rest, before saying, “It’s kind of like every day in NAO, except I’ve never contemplated murdering any of you.”
Kate turned to her. “Really? You’ve never contemplated murdering me?”
“Well, not recently.”
“How are things going with all that?” Jessica asked, eager to change the subject from fratricide.
Kate hedged for a second. “Good, more or less. We should have chapters opening at Texas Tech, University of Houston, and Texas A&M–Corpus Christi in the spring.”
Jessica shook her head slowly. “I still can’t quite believe other peop
le want to, you know …”
“Worship but also claim to know a female messiah?” Judith supplied. “I sort of understand where you’re coming from, but you have to meet these girls. They’re rabid for it. It’s scary, but the insanity of it is also freaky and kind of awesome. I wish someone would make a shrine about me.”
“What about that one guy,” Kate said. “Keith? Wasn’t that his name?”
“Oh, right.” Judith shook a finger at her. “I forgot about him. Yeah, he did make a shrine of me.” She turned to Jessica. “The cops had to get involved. It was this whole thing.” She rolled her eyes.
Kate jumped back in. “Aaanyway, we sort of promised the other campus chapters you’d make an appearance at every new sorority house when it officially opens.” She winced, bracing herself for a negative reaction.
Normally, Jessica might have fulfilled that expectation, but whether it was the endorphins from the range or the rush of seeing her favorite people in one place, she couldn’t muster even an ounce of annoyance. “That doesn’t sound so bad. To be honest, I expected worse duties.”
“Yeah,” Miranda said, “it’s going to be so hard to go from town to town having college girls treat you like a queen.”
Judith pointed at Miranda. “She gets it.”
Jessica laughed. “Yeah, yeah.”
The waiter came around with two pitchers of mimosas, set them down on the table, and scampered off.
“Is that our waiter?” Jessica said, confused. “He didn’t even ask if Miranda and I wanted anything besides mimosas.”
Bell nodded subtly at Destinee, who said, “Yeah, I might’ve scared him off earlier with a comment about his tush. Men in this town sure don’t know how to take a compliment.”
“It’s called sexual harassment,” Dr. Bell said kindly.
But Destinee wouldn’t hear it. “In Mooretown, we call that hospitality. I just thought it’d be such a shame for him to be walking around and not know how much he’s rocking those slacks. Plus, it ain’t like men haven’t said that kinda shit to me all the time when I’m in my scrubs at the pharmacy. It’s gotta go both ways because, you know, feminism.”
“She’s got a point,” Judith said. “And he really does have a perfect little ass.”
“I thought you were all about the older men, Judith. That kid’s maybe eighteen,” Kate scolded.
“At least eighteen,” Miranda said. “He brought us alcohol. Can’t do that unless you’re eighteen. Fair game, ladies.”
Destinee leaned across the table toward Dr. Bell. “You can’t say you weren’t thinking it, Vicky.”
Bell finished pouring herself a tall mimosa and sipped the top to keep it from spilling. “I can. I wasn’t thinking it.”
Destinee leaned closer. “Not your type?”
“Mom—” Jessica interjected, realizing instantly that the two women were speaking entirely different languages.
Bell shook her head. “Nope. Not even close.”
“You like ’em older?”
Bell shrugged. “Sometimes.”
“Manlier?”
“More feminine, actually.”
Destinee hopped in her seat. “More feminine than that manchild?”
“Mom.”
Bell shot a glance at Jessica. “It’s fine.”
“So like, what, thinner?”
“More like …” Dr. Bell lifted up in her seat and scanned around. “That one. There.”
Destinee turned around, leaning side to side to see around the waitress.
“Not sure—”
“The waitress, Mom.” Jessica covered half her face with her hand. “She’s pointing at the waitress.”
Destinee turned and plopped back down in her seat. “Oh. Ohhh …” She waggled a finger at Bell. “I catch your drift.” She glanced at her daughter. “Hands over ears, baby,” then turning back to Bell, “I did that for a little while. Want me to get her number for you?”
Dr. Bell chuckled good-naturedly. “No, no. I’m in a committed relationship already.”
Destinee pouted out her lips, considering it with a bob of her head. “I respect that. But there’s no harm in looking anyway.” Then she flagged down the waitress and Jessica held her breath for whatever mortifying thing was about to happen, but instead, Destinee simply said, “I think we’re ready to order, and I scared off that sweet little honey that was waiting on us, so would you mind?”
They ordered their food along with another round of mimosa pitchers, and Jessica felt herself relax, settling into the moment. She hadn’t settled into many moments in Austin, she realized. Every time she left her condo, she was slightly on edge, which she knew shouldn’t be the case, since it was such a safe city. Yet it was the case.
But with her favorite women around her, chatting about things she could never get Chris to pay attention to or understand, she found herself feeling … understood? No, surely not. Never that.
After the food had arrived and the frenzied pace of eating had slowed and the sparkling wine of the mimosa had dimmed the cares of anyone at the table, Judith said, “Not to bring up a sore subject, but about the bakery. How’s it coming?”
Jess tried to glare at her, but her ideal brain chemistry wouldn’t quite allow it. “It’s not coming.”
“Is it just the money that’s a problem?”
“Yep.” Jessica sipped her drink.
“So if you magically had the money, you’d be ready to get cracking?”
“Yeah, I guess so, but I don’t have the money.”
Miranda chimed in. “I know you’ve been baking like a sonofabitch lately. Anyone who follows you on Instagram knows that. You feel pretty good about your recipes?”
Something was up. Jessica screwed up her face, trying to uncover what it could be. As she looked around the table, all eyes were on her. What the hell? “Yeah, my recipes are getting better.”
Destinee and Kate exchanged a sneaky glance and when Destinee nodded, Kate reached in her purse and pulled out a small card. “This is for you.” She handed it to Jess, who held it and looked around again. Destinee bounced slightly in her seat, and even Judith was grinning unabashedly.
Jessica tore open the envelope and reached in for the card …
“Another round of drinks or dessert for—”
“God dammit, woman!” Destinee shouted at the waitress. “Can’t you see we’re busy?”
The girl scuttled away, and as Destinee mumbled, “Shit, scared off another,” Jessica pulled the card out from the envelope.
On the front was a picture of Jesus, except someone, probably Judith, had pasted a picture of Jessica’s head over her half-brother’s and put bread stickers in the outstretched hands as he hovered in the air over his tomb. And above the illustration, the word He had been scratched out and It was written to the side, so that the card proclaimed It is Risen. She laughed. “This is pretty fucked up.”
“Open it,” Judith said. “It gets even better.”
When Jessica pulled open the card, the inside was blank except for Happy Easter.
But something fell out of the card.
It’d been so long since Jessica had seen a check, she almost didn’t know what it was until she held it in her hand and looked down at it.
“Oh … my … hell.” She brought the check closer to her face to count the zeros. “This is way too much money.” She scanned the other faces at the table, all of whom seemed to happily disagree.
“It’s not like we’re going broke for it, Jessica,” said Kate. “We knew if we were going to help, we had to do it without making too much of a personal sacrifice ourselves or else you wouldn’t accept it.”
“I haven’t decided if I am going to accept this. Y’all. It’s two hundred thousand dollars. Where did you even get it?”
Dr. Bell leaned forward. “I have connections, Kate has connections, Judith has connections, Miranda has connections, Destinee … um.”
“I got ways of getting things from people,” Destinee finished, f
olding her hands together on the table.
“The point,” said Bell, “is that, like I’ve told you before, you don’t have to do everything yourself. You just have to surround yourself with people who know where to find what you need. And you have. It’s the people at this table.”
Jessica nodded, feeling emotion knotting in her esophagus. “Thanks. I, um.” A terrifying thought leapt into her mind. “Wait, does Wendy know about this?”
“Duh,” said Miranda. “I ran it by her before I even approached any of them.”
“It’s not crowdfunding, is it?”
“No. Well, sort of. But not really. It’s a crowd of people you know.”
“Does that include people not at this table?”
Miranda sighed. “We did ask others, but only ones we know and trust. Now you should trust that we knew how you would want this done and we did it that way, Jess.”
“Yeah,” Kate added. “We don’t want you to be labeled the Moochsiah any more than you do.”
“But because we wanted to make sure to do things the way you would want,” Miranda added, hesitantly, “we came up a little short on the goal. It should be enough to get you started, at least. And we’ll round up the rest later.”
Jessica slipped the check back into the card and set it on the table. “Uh, no. You’ve done way more than I’d ever expect. Fifty thousand is way less daunting. Please just let me take it from here.”
“She has a point,” Dr. Bell said. “Businesses are far more likely to succeed when the owner has her own hard-earned capital invested. Jess, I can help you go back through the business plan and find ways to cut back. We’ll just have to made some concessions. Will that work?”
Jessica nodded. “Yes. That works.”
“Oh! And I almost forgot,” Kate said, “I told you about my uncle who’s a lawyer, right?”
“Yeah?”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I chatted with him about you and what you’re doing with the bakery, and when he heard you’d hit a snag with funding, he suggested you file for the bakery to be a 501(c)(3).”
“But isn’t that only for non-profits?”
“Yeah. You could claim it as a religious institution and—”
“Hell no.” She waved her hands in the air. “Nuh-uh, no way.”
It is Risen Page 14
