Games

by Wanda B. Campbell

  Chapter 24

  During Sunday service Shannon performed a good show by participating in Praise & Worship and by taking notes during Reggie’s sermon. To her surprise, she actually found what he was saying interesting. Today’s topic was “Unconditional Love”, taken from First Corinthians Chapter 13.

  “Love is patient, love is kind. Love bears all things and endures all things. Love never fails,” Pastor Pennington read.

  Shannon’s mind drifted back to her childhood and the horrific trauma she’d endured. “Love isn’t for everybody,” she said snidely.

  From the dais Julia watched Shannon the entire service. She didn’t want to admit it, but she felt that God was leading her to Shannon. “I really could do without the drama,” was what Julia told the Lord in her early-morning prayer time, but like always the Lord didn’t change His mind.

  Shannon started in Brian’s direction after service, but Alysse gave her a warning glare causing Shannon to quietly retreat. She was about to turn and leave when Julia called after her.

  “Shannon, can I speak to you for a moment?”

  Reggie’s sermon had left Shannon feeling a little vulnerable and she wasn’t in the mood for another argument. “What is it?” she asked defensively.

  “I know something is bothering you, but I’m not going to ask what, or who it is. Shannon, it’s no secret that you and I got off on the wrong foot. But if you’ll allow me, I’d like to help you.”

  Shannon smacked her lips. “You want to help me?”

  “Yes, Shannon. I want to save you from experiencing more embarrassing moments like the one you had yesterday morning and when you were at my house for dinner.”

  Shannon rolled her neck. “And just how do you plan to do that?”

  Julia ignored the attitude. “By giving you a few simple rules on life.”

  Shannon rolled her eyes again and smacked her lips. “What rules?”

  “For starters, don’t try to make yourself look good at the expense of making someone else look bad. It will only backfire.”

  Shannon remained quiet, and Julia continued. “Don’t ever prejudge someone based on where they live or the job they hold. If Alysse were in fact a maid, that wouldn’t have given you the right to be rude to her. Shannon, never think you’re better than another person. And Shannon, if you want to land a good man—other than Brian of course—never show up at his house uninvited. It shows desperation. Don’t force your way in; wait until you’re invited. You’ll get to stay longer.”

  Shannon’s face twisted. Julia had given her more instructions on life in two minutes, than her own mother had done her entire childhood. Shannon flung her blonde curls over her shoulder and smirked. “Anything else, Mrs. Pennington?”

  Julia saw right through Shannon’s hard shell, the young woman really didn’t know as much as she portrayed. “No, I think I’ve give you enough to think about. If there’s anything I can help you with Shannon, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  Shannon turned and walked out of the sanctuary. Outside in her car she pulled out her notepad and wrote down everything Julia had said to her. By Shannon’s standards, Julia had everything Shannon wanted: money, a big house, her choice of luxury cars and not to mention that five-carat rock on her left ring finger. Shannon thought she’d learn all she could from her before she broke her daughter’s heart by marrying Brian.

  Chapter 25

  On Christmas Eve Shay found herself sitting anxiously on her bed, staring at the small parcel box. Several presents already surrounded her small optic Christmas tree, but this white box with black lettering was special. The return address and handwriting belonged to Brian. They hadn’t talked since Thanksgiving day and her feelings for him had not changed. With trembling fingers she finally opened the little cardboard box and read the short enclosed note.

  You gave me your heart, now I’m giving you mine.

  Inside of the white velvet box was a flat silver heart on a silver chain-linked bracelet. Rhythmically, her hand covered the cavity that enclosed her own heart as she read the endearing inscription.

  B&S

  4Ever

  Tears flooded her eyes as she ran her finger over the letters. Her nerves instantly settled and involuntarily she picked up the phone to call the man she loved, when the man she dated knocked on her front door. Reluctantly, Shay ran into the living room and answered the door. As she did so, she slipped the new chain around her wrist.

  “Jason, have a seat, I’ll be right back.” She let Jason in then returned to her bedroom and closed the door. She dialed the number and paced the length of her queen-sized bed. He answered on the second ring.

  “Hey, you.”

  She could tell he was smiling from the jovialness of his voice. “Hello, Brian, I got your present today.”

  “I hope you like it. Although I know you do from the sound of your joyous voice.”

  “It’s perfect,” she paused, “I’m wearing it now.”

  Silence remained until Brian cleared his throat. “Shay, I was thinking about coming to see you next week.”

  “Really?” She’d yearned to see him since their brief conversation when she’d recklessly admitted her feelings.

  Shay’s ecstatic response pleased him. “Good. I thought I’d fly in on Tuesday and stay until Friday.”

  “That’s great,” was what she was about to say when the sound of Jason turning on the television quickly brought her back to reality. Brian couldn’t come to Cambridge. Not because of Jason, she’d dismiss him in a second for Brian. Truth was, Shay didn’t trust herself alone with Brian for three days. She hadn’t worked on her spiritual relationship with God and she knew if Brian were in Cambridge, there was nothing to prevent her from sleeping with him again. If that happens, she may never find her way back to God. She had to think of a reason to keep Brian in California without telling him the real motive. She walked over to the window and looked out at the white powdery streets and found the answer.

  “Brian, on second thought, that might not be a good idea. We’re experiencing a very heavy snow season and I would feel better if you didn’t fly in bad weather.” That was the truth.

  “I didn’t think about that,” he said with disappointment that touched her. “I just wanted to see you.”

  Shay blushed. “I want to see you too.”

  “I miss you. I miss our conversations. I miss your company. I just miss us.”

  “I miss being with you, too, but I will come home during spring break for Marcus’s CD recording.”

  “But that’s four months away,” he whined.

  “That’s the best I can do. Maybe in the meantime we could—you know—communicate more often.” It amazed Shay how easily her heart controlled her mind where Brian was concerned.

  “I’d like that. I’m not the same without you,” Brian admitted to her. “Shay,” he broke the silence that followed.

  “Yes, Brian.”

  “You now hold my heart in your hands as well. Take care of it.”

  “Take care of mine, she whispered back.” If only their relationship wasn’t so complicated.

  “Always, Shay, always.”

  Long after Shay hung up the phone a big smile creased her face. She wasn’t quite sure what he meant by asking her to take care of his heart, but she was elated he hadn’t taken what she’d told him about giving her heart to him, for naught.

  She returned to the living room to find Jason watching a basketball game. In her elation, she’d nearly forgotten about him.

  “Is everything all right?” Jason asked.

  “Everything is just fine.” Shay sat on the couch next to him, still smiling.

  Jason’s eyes moved from her face to the silver on her wrist. “Is that a new bracelet?”

  “Huh?” Shay wasn’t prepared for his question.

  “The bracelet on your wrist, is it new?”

  Shay’s eyes looked away from him and focused on the television. “What made you ask that question?”

  �
��I don’t recall seeing you wear it before, that’s all.”

  Shay took the defensive approach. “And I’m sure I have seen all of your personal items, right?”

  “Well, no,” he admitted.

  Shay knew she’d wiggled out of this one. “Then don’t assume something is new, just because you haven’t seen it before.”

  Jason held up his hand and shrugged in defeat. “It’s nice, where did you get it from?”

  Instead of answering his question, she got up and went into the kitchen to make hot chocolate. When she returned with two steaming mugs Jason didn’t question her again about that, but did go on an expedition into her past.

  “Have you dated before?” he asked after sipping the hot warm liquid.

  “Why are you always digging into my past?”

  Jason sighed. “LaShay, if you would open up to me, I wouldn’t have to dig.”

  He was right. Every time Jason asked her a question, she’d clam up or answer his question with one of her own.

  “I’m sorry; I have been unfair to you,” Shay acknowledged. “I dated in college, but it was nothing serious.”

  “So, I’m not competing with the memory of an old love for your affections?” he asked then slowly sipped the chocolate.

  Shay often wondered if Jason was psychic. He always seemed to hit the nail on the head when it came to her past. She looked deep into his eyes, debating if she should tell him about Brian. She decided against it.

  “The guys I dated at school didn’t hold my interest. Our relationships were more like that of old buddies.” That was true. She and Brian did not attend the same college.

  Jason set his mug on the coaster and leaned closer to Shay. “LaShay, have you ever been passionately kissed before?”

  Her mind immediately went back to the first and last kiss she and Brian shared. Both times and every time in between were remarkable. Remembering the warmth of Brian’s touch, a soft moan attempted to escape from her lips. “Why?”

  Again, Jason assumed she was being evasive to hide her inexperience and said as much. “I want to show you what passion feels like.”

  It surprised her how much the thought of someone other than Brian kissing her upset her. Shay’s defensiveness snatched any hope Jason had of getting a kiss underneath the mistletoe.

  “Look, Jason,” she snapped, pushing him away. “If you want to keep dating me, you’d do well to remember that my passion is reserved for my future husband.” An image of Brian flashed before her. “If you keep pressuring me, I guarantee you that man won’t be you.”

  Jason quickly moved out of her space. “LaShay, I’m not trying to pressure you. I just really like you a lot. I like to express my feelings and when you’re ready, you’ll return them.”

  Shay started to tell him she couldn’t imagine ever being affectionate with him, but the sincerity in his eyes wouldn’t allow her to break his heart, at least not on Christmas Eve.

  “Maybe one day,” was Shay’s response before going into the kitchen for more hot chocolate.

  Chapter 26

  Shay walked through Harvard Square enjoying the colorful blossoms of spring. Of the four seasons, spring was her favorite. For her, blossoming flowers and trees always promised something new and exciting, a new beginning. That was exactly what she was hoping for: something new. She could hardly wait until September, when she’d complete the fast-paced teaching program. The program was tedious, but she’d managed to maintain a 3.8 GPA since arriving at Harvard and was very proud of herself for rising to the challenge. Today, excitement over her trip home next weekend and the anticipation of spending much-needed time with Brian caused her to step with the rhythm of her humming.

  They’d been talking on a weekly basis since Christmas. She still hadn’t shared the depths of her heart, but at least she got to hear his voice every week and that helped fill the void. It was almost like old times; they talked about everything, except what really needed to be discussed: their non-existent relationship. And of course, she never mentioned Jason. In her mind, she didn’t need to, because she’d decided to break things off with Jason when she returned from California. Jason was a nice guy, but he wasn’t what she wanted. Jason had proven to be a man of great determination and honor. Someday he’d make someone a good companion, but not her.

  The enthralling aroma of hot cinnamon rolls from the corner bakery crammed her mind with more thoughts of Brian. Suddenly she felt like cooking again. Brian loved to eat her homemade cinnamon rolls right out of the oven. She continued down the brick walk, past the Italian ice shop and remembered sharing ice cream with Brian every day they were in Arizona. “I bet he’d love mango Italian ice,” she said audibly. And so it was, every store she passed, she had thoughts of what Brian would like and what she wanted him to try. Forty-five minutes later, frustrated with thinking about him, Shay pulled out her cell phone and punched in his number.

  ***

  Brian turned the engine off and looked over at Shannon. “Do you want anything?” he asked.

  “Just a tall vanilla cream. Thank you,” she answered politely.

  Shannon smiled as she watched Brian disappear inside Starbucks. Everything was working according to her plan. She’d kept her word to Brian and had attended church every Sunday for the last four months. She’d gotten used to the songs that the Praise & Worship team and the choir sang to the point sometimes she would stand and sing along with them. She especially enjoyed listening to Julia sing, but she didn’t understand why Pastor Pennington always wore an expression of love and respect for Julia, and she likewise for him. Every Sunday before Pastor Pennington took his seat next to her, he always kissed her. And sometimes he would hold her hand while the deacons received the offering or as the choir sang. When one of them administered prayer to the congregation, the other was always present. From where Shannon sat, it looked as though they were protecting each other. Shannon had never seen such an open display of real affection between two people. In the household she’d grown up in that never happened. She still took notes on the sermon every Sunday, but she also took notes on Julia Pennington.

  Shannon observed everything about her. How she talked and how she walked. She took note of how she sat with her legs crossed at the ankles and how her skirts were always long enough that she never needed a lap scarf. It amazed her that although Julia never showed cleavage and her clothing never hugged her hips tightly, she possessed a natural sensuality and sexuality that was foreign to Shannon.

  Every Sunday Shannon made a point of speaking to Julia, to see what she could glean from her. So far she had gleaned enough to know how to convince Brian to pick her up every Wednesday for Bible Study and Sunday morning for church. Soon she’d have enough to convince him to shop for a ring.

  Shannon’s thoughts were interrupted by Brian’s cell phone that lay on the console. Normally she didn’t answer his phone, but she couldn’t resist when she saw Shay’s name on the caller ID. She pressed the green answer call button after checking to make sure Brian wasn’t coming.

  “Hello,” she said in her most sexy and seductive voice.

  “I’m sorry, I have the wrong number.” Shay was about to disconnect when Shannon spoke up.

  “If you’re trying to reach Brian Pennington, this is the right number.”

  The response seemed to confuse Shay. “Um…is…um… May I speak to Brian please?”

  “I’m sorry, but he’s um…Let’s just say he’s busy right now. Is there a message I can give him when we’re done?” Shannon breathed heavily between sentences.

  Shay’s voice escalated. “Who are you?”

  A devilish grin spread across Shannon’s face; she’d succeeded in ruffling Shay’s feathers. “I’m Shannon, Brian’s significant other. And you are?”

  Shay’s earlier adoration for Brian turned into hot anger. “Don’t worry about who I am! You’re not that significant, if I’ve never heard of you.” Then she ended the call.

  ***

  Shay was still
angry when she returned to her apartment. She paced from the living room to the kitchen to the bedroom and back again, talking out loud and yelling at the furniture.

  “I can’t believe he had the nerve to let some woman answer his phone! And what on earth was he doing that he couldn’t take my call? Is that why he calls me on the weekend, because he’s with her during the week? So you want to play games, mister? I’ll show you how to play.”

  She stomped over to the nightstand, picked up the cordless telephone and punched the numbers without thinking rationally.

  “Hello,” the sleepy voice answered.

  “Hi, Jason. How would you like to spend a couple days in California with me next weekend, my treat? My cousin is recording his CD at my parents’ church on Saturday night.”

  “Are you asking me to meet your parents?”

  She could tell he was smiling, but Shay was not in the mood to stroke his ego. “I’m asking you if you want to go to my cousin’s live recording, and yes you’ll meet my mother and stepfather and the rest of my family. Do you want to go or not?”

  “I’d love to. When do we leave?”

  “Friday morning and we’ll return Sunday evening.”

  “LaShay, thank you for inviting me. I really mean that. I’ve been working hard to impress you and now it’s paying off. If you think enough of me to introduce me to your family, your feelings must be growing.”

  “I’ll see you later.” Shay replaced the headset back on its holster. She looked at the picture of Brian on her dresser. “Let’s see how you like it when you get served.”

  Chapter 27

  Brian checked himself one last time in the full-length mirror on his bedroom door. He’d chosen the black silk casual pants with the matching button-down shirt, because Shay liked him in black. Earlier that morning he’d gone to the barbershop and had his head freshly shaved and his newly acquired goatee trimmed. After splashing on both his and Shay’s favorite cologne, he checked his watch. If he didn’t leave now he’d be late picking Shay up at the airport. He still needed to stop at the florist and pick up red roses.