Ramsey's Praise

by Vanessa Miller

  She was so tired of waiting on things to turn around and start going her way. All her life she had run into one obstacle after another. Ramsey and Maxine enjoyed getting in her way, well now she was about to get in their way. Ms. Holier-than-Thou Maxine had moved into Ram’s house as if God approved of stuff like that. Well, Brandi needed a place to stay while she figured out how to get her kid back. Since Maxine’s house was empty, Brandi figured she’d just stay there. And if anybody showed up, well, they’d be sorry.

  ***

  On Sunday morning Ramsey got out of bed with hope in his heart that this would be the day that Maxine stopped being so stubborn and started taking his marriage proposal seriously. Maxine and Brielle were sleeping in the room next door. It wasn’t an ideal situation because Ramsey wanted Maxine in his room, in his bed. He wanted them to make babies together that no court would dare to question their right to parent. But before any of that could happen, Maxine had to stop tripping and marry him.

  He’d made a promise to God after things blew up with him and Brandi. Ramsey would never live with another woman unless he was married to her. He would just have to find a way to convince Maxine to marry him, because he was never letting her go. Maxine was the woman God had for him. It all fit. Even the way God orchestrated Maxine becoming the mother of his child before he even knew he had a child on this earth. For this Ramsey would praise the Lord until the day he died. “Thank You for keeping my child alive. Now I just need a little help with Maxine.”

  He jumped in the shower and then put on his church clothes before leaving his bedroom. Maxine and Brielle were already in the kitchen eating their breakfast of grits and eggs.

  “I left you some eggs in the skillet and I can fix you some grits if you want,” Maxine said as Ram entered the kitchen.

  Ram stopped walking, he got this look on his face as he tried to figure the best way of saying, ‘no nasty food for me this morning’.

  “Don’t worry,” Maxine told him. “The grits are instant and even I can fry an egg.”

  Ram smiled. “I’d love some.” He sat down next to his daughter and took the spoon away from Maxine. “I’ll feed her while you make my plate, if that’s okay.”

  “That’s fine.” Maxine grabbed a bowl out of the cabinet, poured the grits out of a packet into the bowl and then poured some water in the bowl and stirred. “How are we going to decide which church to attend this morning?” she asked as she put the bowl in the microwave.

  Brielle’s grits were a little watery, so she started making bubbles with each spoonful Ram put in her mouth. He had been denied fifteen months of this. It just didn’t seem right that Brandi had been allowed to bail and was now fighting them for custody. Where was the justice in that? Maxine wanted him to forgive and let his angry feelings go, but how could he, when he was daily reminded of how many hours, days, weeks and months he had been deprived of spending time with his beautiful daughter.

  “Ram did you hear me?”

  “Huh? His head swiveled around to face Maxine. “Did you say something?”

  She handed him his bowl of grits with the eggs on top. “How are we going to decide what church to attend this morning?”

  “Oh that’s easy. I attended church with you a couple weeks ago. So, I was thinking that you might want to attend my church today, so we can make the decision on which church we’ll be attending after we’re married.”

  She didn’t fire back ‘I’m not marrying you’ this time. So Ram thought this was the perfect time to let his eyes do a little sightseeing. From head to toe, Maxine was total perfection. Even headed to church, she was ever the fashion model, with a champagne colored jacket and skirt on. The skirt had these things that looked like shells, made out of silk fabric all over it. Maxine looked divine and he didn’t mind telling her. “I guess I’m going to be the envy of every man in church today when I walk in with you and Brielle.”

  “You think so, huh?”

  Ram grabbed her arm and pulled her close to him. “I know so. Maxine, you are beautiful.” He stood up, leaned her against the table and let his mouth say everything that was in his heart.

  When they came up for air, she caught her breath before shaking her hands and saying, “Ramsey Thomas Jr., what am I going to do with you?”

  “Marry me,” he told her and then held his breath waiting for her answer.

  Maxine moved out of his arms. She picked Brielle up and then turned back to Ram. “We can talk about that later. Let’s get to church. I’ll follow you.”

  “Why can’t we just ride together?”

  “Because I have to go back to my house after service. I didn’t bring Brielle enough clothes and I’ve been taking painting lessons, but I left my supplies at the house. I have class on Tuesday night, so I need to try to finish the painting I started a few weeks ago.”

  “Okay.” Ram leaned against the kitchen sink watching her as she put Brielle on the floor and picked up a champagne and gold colored hat and put it on her head. She then took her compact mirror out of her purse and worked the hat on her head until it was in just the right spot.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “Can I stop you?” she asked, grinning as she glanced up at him.

  He laughed. “Probably not. I just don’t understand why you’re trying to find a different career when you’re obviously suited for the fashion industry.”

  Maxine’s shoulders began to slump. Sorrow etched across her face as she looked at Ram. “Let’s just say that I’ve come to understand just how much I lost by pursuing my dreams of becoming a super model. It wasn’t worth it, and I’d rather not have anything else to do with the industry.”

  He could see that this particular subject was hard for her to talk about, so he let it go. “Well, I guess we need to get going.” He grabbed his keys and they headed out of the house.

  11

  Pastor is on fire today, Ram thought as he listened to the seasoned minister preach and teach the word of God.

  “Then came Peter to him and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him, till seven times? Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until seventy times seven.”

  Pastor Morrow stopped reading and looked out at the congregation. “That means you need to be willing to forgive a whole, whole, whole bunch of times. It also means that if anybody sins against you this many times, they must be crazy, so you need to go on and forgive them anyhow.”

  He then bent his head low and began reading again, starting at the twenty third verse:

  “Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king which would take account of his servants and when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

  “The servant therefore fell down and worshipped him, saying, lord, have patience with me and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellow servants which owed him a hundred pence: and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, pay me that thou owest.

  “And his fellow servant fell down at his feet and besought him, saying, have patience with me and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow... came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou have had compassion on thy fellow servant, even as I had pity on thee?

  “And his lord was wroth and delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him. So, likewise shall my heavenly father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

  Pastor Mo
rrow closed his bible and then turned back to his congregation. “Why do you all think I took time out to read almost the whole eighteenth chapter of Matthew?” Without waiting for a response from the congregation, Pastor Morrow said, “Because many of you need to hear it directly from the bible. I don’t want you to think is your pastor, your mama, your friends or anyone else trying to tell you that YOU,” he pointed out toward the people. “need to hear it from the word of God. Forgiveness is the key to this salvation walk... And I know it gets hard. Believe me, I know firsthand how people can keep messing with you and messing with you to the point that you wind up feeling like you hate them. But I’m challenging you to forgive... that is, if you want God to forgive all the things you’ve done.”

  In the back of the room, angels stood at their posts, watching and waiting for their chance to intervene on behalf of God’s people. Arnoth, the warrior angel had been assigned to many great men in the body of Christ. He’d won most of the battles he’d entered into on behalf of the Lord. But he’d lost a few. Arnoth was determined not to lose anyone else to the enemy.

  “Do you think it’s beginning to sink into his head yet?” Steven asked Arnoth.

  “Prayer for Ram has reached heaven, so all we can do now is wait to see if he will accept or reject what God has freely given him.”

  “I fear that this next part of his journey just may break him.”

  Arnoth held up his sword, always ready to do battle for the kingdom of God. “Then we will fight the enemy and his minions from here to eternity if we have to. Whatever it takes, Ram will finally know God’s perfect will for his life.”

  The other angels said, “Amen!” as they unsheathed their swords and held them high. The battle was on and Ram had no clue, for the bible tells us that we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and of spiritual wickedness in high places.

  “I like your pastor,” Maxine told Ramsey as they walked toward their cars.

  Ram took Brielle out of Maxine’s arms and hugged the child to him. He looked as if he’d just been exposed to a whole new level in God. A level that he didn’t know much about and wasn’t sure if he could even hang out with rest of the folks on that level. “He was definitely on fire today. He sure lit me up a few times.” He let out an uncomfortable laugh.

  “Yeah, I kept feeling you flinch,” Maxine joked with him.

  “You’re laughing, but I’m serious. After that message, I’m ready to go find people that have done something to me, just so I can forgive them.” They stopped in front of their cars, and Ram added, “And if I’ve done anything to you, I’d like to ask for your forgiveness.”

  Maxine waved the thought away. “You haven’t done anything but be kind to me since I met you.”

  His eyes took on a sorrowful look as he quietly asked, “Then why won’t you marry me? Don’t you know that I’m in love with you, and I don’t want anyone else?”

  Those words broke her down. She touched his arm, not caring about the people around them who were busily getting into their cars and driving off. “Do you mean that, Ram? I mean... you’ve never said anything about love before.”

  “Well, now that is surely unforgivable.” With Brielle clutching his shirt, Ram pulled Maxine into his arms, leaned his head down and let their lips meet in a slow and tantalizing love dance. “How could I have neglected to tell you how much I love and care for you?” The smile was now gone, as he expressed what was on his heart. “I need you in my life, Brielle needs you in hers, and we both love you more than words can say. So, how about it, Maxine? I’ll never get tired of asking, even if I have to ask you to marry me a hundred or more times.”

  Stepping out of his embrace, Maxine said, “All right...”

  Before she could get the rest of her sentence out, Ram was jumping for joy.

  She pulled on his arm. “Let me finish, Ram.”

  “Oh, sorry about that. I guess I got a bit carried away. Go on, finish.”

  “I have something I want to talk to you about. And if you can deal with what I need to tell you, then, yes, I will marry you.”

  He waved his hand in front of her as if indicating that she had the floor. “Tell me.”

  Maxine looked around. People were still in the parking lot, either heading to their cars or having conversations just as she and Ram were doing. “Not here. I’ll tell you at home.”

  “I like the way you’re calling my place home.”

  Fumbling around in her purse for the keys, Maxine said, “Let me get on over to my house so I can pick up a few more things for Brielle and my painting supplies and then I’ll meet you somewhere for dinner.”

  Ram shook his head no as he took the keys out of her hand. “You go on home. I’ll go over to your house and get everything that you need. I’ll even pick up dinner and bring it home. I don’t want to wait too much longer for this talk.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind driving all the way to my house?”

  “Not at all. Just let your man handle it. Now which one of these keys goes to your house?”

  Maxine took the house key off of her key ring and handed it back to Ram.

  “Here, I made myself a list so I wouldn’t forget anything. Call me if you can’t find something.”

  He took the paper she handed him, then bent down and kissed her again. Then he put a finger under her chin and lifted her face toward him. “I can’t wait to marry you. And I don’t want you worrying your pretty little head about anything. There’s nothing that you could tell me that will ever change my mind about us.”

  “I hope that’s true, Ram. I really hope it’s true,” Maxine mumbled to herself as Ram walked around to the passenger side of the car and put Brielle in her car seat.

  ***

  Brandi had house squatted before. But at least those people had left plenty of food in the refrigerator. But of course she should have remembered that Maxine was a horrible cook. The girl was probably still eating all of her meals out. But that wasn’t such a big deal for Maxine, not with all the money she made during her modeling career. Some people are so lucky, Brandi thought. Maxine always got the best jobs... the most money... the dream life. While I keep getting the shaft.

  Well, times they are a changing, Brandi thought while putting on a dress she found in Maxine’s walk-in closet. Brandi was about to borrow/keep a pair of Maxine’s shoes, but all of the shoes were too small. She made do with her own shoes, then grabbed the checkbook that Maxine had lying on the shelf. “Time to go to the grocery store.”

  ***

  Ramsey went straight upstairs to pick up the things Maxine had listed. He grabbed a duffle that had been laid in the corner of the room she used for painting. He glanced at a couple of the paintings, but he really didn’t have time to inspect her work. His mind was on the conversation Maxine wanted to have with him—the one that would determine whether or not she would accept his proposal.

  He went into Brielle’s room and was suddenly struck by a memory of a perfume he had grown accustomed to smelling. It was like the smell of pomegranates and peaches. He’d only known one other woman to wear that fragrance. Ramsey never liked it, so he hoped that it wasn’t Maxine’s favorite fragrance, because if it was, he would have to tell her why he absolutely couldn’t tolerate the smell of it.

  He opened the dresser drawers in Brielle’s room and pulled out a few outfits, all the while thinking how much fun it would be to go shopping with his daughter. He took a few of her toys off the dresser and then rushed back downstairs. He was on his way out of the door when he suddenly stopped. He felt as if something was in his way and it wouldn’t let him move forward. Then a thought came to him and he went back into the house.

  If this had been one of his sister’s homes, he wouldn’t have left before checking the windows and doors on the bottom level to make sure the house was secure for them. So, he walked around house. All the windows were locked except the kitchen window, and surprisingly enough, the back
door was unlocked.

  Lifting his head heavenward, Ramsey said, “Thank You, Lord.” feeling as if his thought of checking the windows and doors had been Holy Ghost intervention. He left the house and locked the front door, feeling confident that Maxine’s house was safe and secure.

  The angel that had blocked his way and then whispered in his ear, breathed a sigh of relief and then disappeared.

  12

  Maxine had fed Brielle and then put her down for a nap while she waited for Ramsey to come back home so they could talk. She smiled at the thought of his place being ‘home’. For the longest time, Maxine hadn’t felt at home in any house or condo that she’d owned. They had only been a place to lay her head. A place for her to go to when she needed to get away from the hectic demands of her career. The closest she’d come to a home, was the house she’d shared with Brielle.

  Now she was wondering if she, Ramsey and Brielle would continue to make Ramsey’s house a home after she told him about her greatest shame. Sometimes she wondered how God could forgive someone who had been as selfish as she had been. When Maxine tried to wrap her mind around God’s ability to forgive even the worst sinners, she couldn’t figure Him out. But she was so grateful that He was not just a forgiver of sins... but a forgiver of her sins, each and every one of them.

  Maxine wiped the tears from her eyes as her gratitude overtook her. “Lord, please help Ram understand that I am not the same person that I was all those years ago when I aborted my children as if they were nothing more than an inconvenience.” The tears kept coming as she whispered, “I’m so sorry. I would take it back if I could, Lord. If I had it to do all over again, I would have left the modeling industry a long time ago, and would have borne my children and been grateful for whatever you provided.”

  Maxine thought she heard Brielle crying. She reached in her purse and pulled out her iPad, pressed the monitoring system icon and watched as Ram walked out of her front door. Maxine couldn’t help it, her belly filled with butterflies at the sight of the man who wanted to marry her and have a family with her. She sighed as she laid the iPad down on the coffee table and went upstairs to check on Brielle.