by Sammie Ward
“Trinity,” he said aloud, then bowed his head for a moment. He prayed to God for direction.
* * *
Trinity strolled up the sideway to her father’s house. It had been almost a week since she last saw him with all that had been going on in her life. They usually never went more than a couple of days without seeing each other.
“Hi, pumpkin,” Lyle said when he opened the door. He enclosed his daughter in his arms. She felt as loved and protected as she did when she was a little girl. Smiling, he kissed her on the forehead. “Good to see you.”
Happiness bubbled in his voice.
“You’re in a good mood,” she said.
“I’m always in a good mood when my favorite daughter comes to visit.”
She shared his mood. “I’m your only daughter.”
“True.” He put his hand on her shoulder and guided her to the enclosed patio at the back of the house. The television was tuned to a baseball game. On the coffee table was an extra set of used dishes.
Trinity looked around as if looking for someone. “Where’s Gail?”
“She has come and gone. She’s working an extra shift at the hospital. Her department is short-staffed. Move that newspaper and have a seat.” Lyle instructed.
She sat her black shoulder bag on the sofa next to her. “Things going well between you two?”
He inclined his dark head. “Things are going very well.” Examining his daughter closely, he knew she wanted to talk. He wasn’t surprised. He’d seen and heard the latest gossip surrounding her and Garrett. “What’s going on with you?”
“Things could be better.”
“I know. I saw the news. What’s this about you and Garrett?”
Trinity rolled her eyes. “Please, Dad.” She waved a hand in mid-air. “There’s nothing going on between me and Garrett. It’s been difficult hearing those rumors about us.”
“What happened?”
“I congratulated him after his performance at Cadence. The media ran away with it. I apologized to his girlfriend, Imani, last night at the club. Everything is fine.”
“You were at Cadence last night?”
Trinity nodded.
He smiled. “On a date with whom?”
Trinity swallowed the lump in her throat. Her father was going to hit the roof when she told him who she went out with.
“It wasn’t a date,” she hedged.
“Okay,” he prompted. “With whom?”
“I had dinner with Darius.”
Trinity watched the glow in her father’s face vanish. “Darius? Your Darius?”
“Yes. He moved back to D.C.,” she carefully explained. “He stopped by the house the other day. We talked. Then he dropped by the school yesterday. He invited me to dinner. I accepted.”
He glared at her, frowning. “I hope you’re not thinking about getting involved with him again.”
“I don’t know,” Trinity admitted. “My head is spinning. It’s telling me not to have anything to do with him, but my heart is saying something different. I don’t know what to do.” She sat beside him on the sofa.
Her father reached out, leaning her head on his shoulder. “I know what you should do. You should leave that bum alone. That’s what you should do. He caused you so much pain before.”
“He says he wants to get back together. Get married.” She glanced up at her father, anticipating his reply. He didn’t like Darius. Not then, and not now.
“So all of a sudden, he wants to get married?”
“It’s not all of a sudden,” Trinity said defensively.
Her father looked down at her. “I also remember you telling me that’s the reason you broke up. He wasn’t willing to make a commitment.”
Trinity jumped to her feet and said, “Darius says he’s ready for marriage this time.”
“And you believe him? Come on, pumpkin. He said that before. You’re not serious about accepting his proposal?”
Trinity didn’t answer.
“Ah, pumpkin. Darius hasn’t been back a week, and you’re talking about marrying him?”
“I haven’t given him an answer.”
She stopped pacing and looked over at her father. A concerned expression etched across his face.
She heard her father take a deep breath. “I can’t believe it, Trinity. The man is no good. He strung you along before, he’s going to do it again.”
“Daddy…” she said hopelessly. No matter what she said, he wasn’t going to like Darius.
“Pumpkin, I don’t want to see you hurt again.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“Hrump,” he replied. “He ain’t fooling me. He wants to get married, my foot. A leopard never changes his spots.”
Trinity shook her head. “I wanted you to know.”
Lyle crossed his legs in defiance. “You told me,” he huffed.
She sat down next to him again. “I have some good news.” She hoped to cheer him up with her announcement. He sat up straight. She had his undivided attention.
“You mean that wasn’t it?”
Trinity hit him on the arm. “No, silly.”
He chuckled.
“I’m going to sing in the choir again.”
Her father’s eyes lit up. “Pumpkin, that’s great.” He enclosed her in his arms. “That is good news. When did you decide this?”
“Well, Garrett dropped by the house the other day. He asked me to fill in for Shannon. She’s going to be out for six weeks following surgery. They need an alto to fill in for the Gospel Explosion.” Her father’s face was animated as he followed the story.
“You agreed to fill in?”
Trinity dropped her head in embarrassment. “Actually, no.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Well, when Garrett asked me, I told him I wasn’t interested. But I prayed about it, and I’ve had a change of heart.”
He looked up toward heaven. “I know your mother is smiling from above.”
“I hope so.”
“I’m talking about the choir, not the return of Darius,” Lyle added.
“Don’t start.” She hoisted her purse strap on her shoulder. “I have to get going. I’m on my way to the church to let them know my decision.”
Lyle stood. Trinity slipped her arm through his. He walked her outside to the car. He opened the door for her. She slid into the passenger seat and rolled down the window.
“Call me later,” he said. Sticking his head through the window, Lyle kissed her on the cheek. “I just want you to be happy, pumpkin, that’s all.”
“I know, Daddy. I’ll talk to you later.” With a wave of the hand, she drove off.
* * *
On the way to the church, Trinity thought about Garrett. She didn’t know what she was going to say. She wasn’t very nice the last time they spoke. She stopped at the red light and glanced at the people to the right and left on the avenue.
Okay, I should have been more forthcoming about Garrett speaking at the school, she thought to herself. It was about the students, not me. I put myself in this situation with Garrett; I have to be woman enough to deal with it.
There were so many thoughts running through her mind: Darius’s reappearance and proposal; Garrett wanting to change the nature of their “friendship”; Leigh confirming her decision to remain neutral.
Ten minutes later, Trinity pulled into the church’s parking lot. She exited her vehicle, heading toward the side door of the church when she heard her name called.
“Hello, Miss Blake.”
She turned to see Pastor Martindale and his wife approaching her. They were a good-looking couple that really complemented each other. Ginger looked as if she could be her husband’s sister instead of his spouse. Both lived and breathed God’s word.
“Pastor Martindale, Mrs. Martindale,” Trinity said. “Good to see you.”
“Are you here for Bible study?” Mrs. Martindale questioned.
Trinity had forgotten B
ible study was held on Tuesday nights. She was embarrassed that she’d forgotten. “I’m here for choir practice.”
Pastor Martindale straightened. A smile covered his face. “Praise God. He’s always on time. You know Shannon is out for about a month or so, and we need another alto.”
“Garrett asked me to fill in for Shannon. I didn’t want to let the choir down.” She shrugged. “So here I am.”
Ginger’s eyebrow rose as she stared at Trinity. “I’m sure Garrett will be glad to hear that you decided to come back to the choir. We can definitely use your voice at the Gospel Explosion.”
They headed to the front of the church. Several church members were milling around. Garrett was nowhere in sight.
Trinity guessed he hadn’t arrived. He’d be surprised that she changed her mind about singing in the choir. She felt good inside and excited about singing in the Gospel Explosion. She missed traveling with the choir, performing in front of an audience. Especially an audience that was on fire and full of the Holy Spirit.
“Praise the Lord, Trinity,” Marc spoke, coming over and giving her a tight hug.
“Praise the Lord, Marc.”
“I don’t usually see you here on Tuesday nights. What brings you here?”
“I want to rejoin the choir.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What made you change your mind?”
“Garrett asked if I would fill in for Shannon.”
“When I asked, you weren’t interested.”
Trinity laughed. Marc was normally a calm man. You never heard him raise his voice. She didn’t understand where the attitude was coming from. “He said you needed an alto. Is that correct?”
“That’s correct. We need someone who’s serious about singing in the choir, not here for ulterior motives.”
It was obvious Marc was referring to the rumor about her and Garrett. “Singing in the choir is the only reason I’m here.”
Marc looked past her shoulder. Trinity followed his line of vision and saw Garrett coming through the door. He wasn’t alone. Imani was with him.
“Hello, Trinity,” Garrett said. He was curious to know why Trinity was at the church. She was the last person that he expected to see, but he was pleased nonetheless.
Looking at the two of them together, Trinity was more sure than ever that they made a good couple. Imani was the type of woman Garrett needed in his life. She’d make him happy, Trinity thought as Garrett introduced Imani to Marc and the other choir members.
Trinity found a seat on the front pew. She hadn’t had a chance to tell Garrett her decision to rejoin the choir. She looked up and made eye contact with Garrett. Marc leaned over and whispered something to him. Garrett made his way toward her.
“I heard you changed your mind about singing in the choir.”
Garrett was looking handsome this evening. He was dressed in a crisp, white shirt and black fitted slacks that showed off his slim, athletic waist. She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I hope the position is still open,” she joked.
His beautiful brown eyes held her still. “Yes. Yes, it is. I’m glad you changed your mind,” he said. “I, uh, the choir needs you. What made you change your mind?”
“Something you said.”
“Which was?” Garrett asked.
“I really do miss singing. It will be like old times.” She shifted from one foot to the other, as she looked up at him. “Even if it is just for a little while.”
Garrett’s gaze took her in. “Those were the good old days, and can be again.”
“Yes, they were.” Trinity cleared her throat and decided to change the subject. “Principal Fisk told me you will be at the school on Friday.”
“Yeah. I ran into her the other night. We talked about it, remember?” He spread his hands apart. “Worked it out.”
Lips pursed, Trinity chose her words carefully. “I hope you didn’t think I changed my mind because of…” She paused to look around, making sure no one would overhear, “…what happened between us.”
Garrett’s eyes rooted her to the floor. “I’m sure you had your reasons.”
Trinity’s stomach began doing flip-flops. “It’s not what you think, Garrett.”
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I don’t,” she replied.
“How’s Darius?” Garrett asked out of the blue.
Trinity was silent a moment. She wondered why he’d ask about her ex-boyfriend. “He’s okay I guess. Why do you ask?”
“You were out with him the other night.” The picture of Darius kissing her was still etched in his brain; he also knew that they’d had dinner together. He didn’t have the right to be jealous, but he was. It was hard to imagine another man being with her. “Looks like you worked things out.”
“No. We haven’t worked things out. Darius moved back to town. He invited me out to dinner. Nothing serious.”
Garrett held her gaze. “I wasn’t talking about that. I saw you two kissing. That is serious.”
Trinity’s body froze. It was the last thing she expected to hear him say. She just stared back. His beautiful eyes were dim. He must have stopped by her apartment the other night and saw Darius leaving.
She was the first to look away. “It wasn’t like that.” Even though she didn’t owe him an explanation, she felt the need to explain. “He just kissed me. I didn’t kiss him back,” she added quickly.
“You don’t owe me an explanation,” he lied. “He wants to get back together?”
“He wants to marry me.”
“What about you?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“That’s not a ‘no.’ ”
Trinity shrugged. “I don’t know how I feel. Anyway, I noticed you and Imani made up.” She nodded toward the woman, who was mesmerizing the other men in the choir. “Looks like things are on again,” she said sarcastically.
Garrett didn’t respond. He glanced at his watch. Realizing practice was twenty minutes behind schedule, he gathered everyone together.
Though Garrett no longer directed the choir, these people were still his family. He missed them, missed touring with them. He was honored they looked up to him. They were very talented. He wanted to make sure they did well at the Gospel Explosion. He’d thought about the choir joining him on his next tour, a surprise he hoped to arrange with his father. He was sure his dad would not object. Trinity rejoining the choir was an extra blessing. It reminded him of when the Praise and Worship Choir was riding high. He had no doubt God would bless them again.
Chapter 11
Brian rang the doorbell where Tamara was staying. It was nine o’clock at night and no one was home. He’d stopped by earlier but didn’t get an answer. He believed Tamara had a new man in her life. Difficult as it was, Brian would try to accept that his marriage might be over. It almost took a trip to jail for him to realize it. When the officer asked Tamara if she’d wanted to press charges for harassment, she had declined. He was back tonight to see his son. He missed doing things with him. They were close. Nothing, and no one, would ever change that.
Tamara’s car pulled into the driveway. Taj opened the passenger’s door and made a beeline toward him.
“Daddy,” he exclaimed.
Brian kneeled down, picking him up. “There’s my little man.”
Taj hugged him tightly. “I miss you, Daddy. You came to take us home?”
Brian’s eyes rested on Tamara and a pecan-colored lady of medium height. He didn’t recognize her. “That’s up to your mother,” Brian answered.
Tamara didn’t appreciate Brian putting her on the spot. “Not yet, Taj.”
“I want to go home,” Taj whined and began to cry.
“Let me take him home,” Brian pleaded. “He misses me. I miss him. This is the first time I’ve seen him since you left.”
“We haven’t discussed this, Brian,” Tamara argued. Unlocking the house door, she went inside.
“I know.” Brian rubbed Taj’s bac
k consolingly, then stood him to his feet.
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Brian stated, voice raised, as he trailed her inside the house.
“Brian, you just can’t show up and begin throwing out demands,” Tamara replied, turning to face him.
“Asking to see my son isn’t throwing out a demand. It’s my right as his father.”
“At nine o’clock at night?” Nina chimed in.
Brian’s eyes fell on the unknown woman with dislike. He wondered who she was and why she was up in his business.
“Who are you?” he snapped. “Why are you all up in my business?”
“I’m a friend of Tamara’s,” Nina answered.
Brian frowned. “I’ve met all of Tamara’s friends. I’ve never met you before.”
Tamara could sense things were getting out of hand. She stepped between the two. “Calm down, both of you.”
“She has nothing to do with this,” Brian replied.
“You’re right,” Tamara added. She picked up on the look that Nina gave her. “Nina, excuse us a moment. Brian and I need to talk.”
Nina glared at Brian. She didn’t move for what seemed like forever. “Are you sure?”
“Girl, if you don’t leave us alone…” Brian moved toward Nina.
She stepped back. “This is my house,” Nina said heatedly.
“Brian,” Tamara said, exasperation evident in her voice. She turned back to Nina. “I’ll be fine. Go. Take Taj in the back room, please.”
Brian glanced down at his son’s small, innocent face as he took in everything around him. Taj was tightly holding onto his hand. Brian didn’t want to release his hand. It was as if he was afraid he’d ever see him again. “I’m going to talk to your mommy, Taj. We will be right here if you need us.”
Taj whimpered and wiped his eyes with the back of his small hand. He reluctantly went with Nina.
“Who is she?” Brian inquired when they were out of earshot. “She has a serious attitude problem.”
