“That’s what I said. Jasmine Cox Larson, I am so surprised at you. You think I’m going to just put you on the telephone with Kyla so you can continue this game of destruction . . .”
“I told you, I want to tell her I’m sorry.”
“That’s what you say, but why don’t I believe you?”
Jasmine pursed her lips. “I don’t know. But this is not really between us, is it?” Jasmine dropped the softness in her voice.
“Don’t pull that tone with me, young lady. I spanked your behind many times when you girls were young and I’m not against doing that now. Do you hear me?”
Forgetting that she was on the phone, Jasmine nodded.
“Now, before you talk to Kyla, you have to talk to me.”
Again, Jasmine nodded.
“You know, your mother, God bless her, must be crying in heaven. I tried to warn her. I used to say, ‘Now, Doris, you’ve got to get that girl in line.’ You were out of control when you were just a tiny tot. But your parents just thought that you were a little rambunctious. That’s what they used to say. But I knew it. I knew that one day we would all be paying. And, as sorry as I am about it, my word has become truth.”
“Mrs. Carrington . . .”
“Jasmine, I just want to know, why? Was it worth it to you? Was it worth it destroying everything around you?”
“I didn’t do it by myself, Mrs. Carrington.”
“That’s true and Jefferson will have to answer for his sin. But the thing about my son-in-law is that he is willing. He is willing to pay because he knows he was wrong. But you, I’m not so sure. I am not sure that you are willing to atone for what’s happened.”
“That’s why I want to talk to Kyla.”
“What did you really call for, Jasmine? What is it that you really want to say?”
“I want to apologize.”
“Umph . . .” Lynn paused for a moment. “Well you know what, I’ll pass that message on for you. And in the meantime, stay away from Kyla and Jefferson.”
“So you’re not going to let me talk to her?”
“No, I’m not. But, like I said, I will pass the message on.”
Jasmine’s voice tightened. “You’re acting like we’re children. You can’t keep me away from Kyla.”
“No, I can’t. But I’m not worried. When you two do meet up again, I think you’re going to have a mighty tough fight on your hands. In fact, if I were you, I’d want to prolong that meeting for a while . . .”
“I’m not afraid . . .”
“See, that’s your problem. You don’t fear anything, Jasmine. You think you can do everything by yourself. Well, I hope you never look back and regret all you’ve done because, by the time you do, you will find that there is no one who will care.”
“That’s not true . . .”
“With the way your life is going, by the time you finish with everyone and everything, you’ll be all alone. Look at the way things are now. You’ve already turned away your family, your husband, and now the one person that loved you like a sister. And, I don’t imagine that you have a lot of friends busting down your door. I hope you will sit back and ask yourself what is happening. Because if you can answer that question honestly, then maybe you can save yourself.”
“I don’t need to save myself from anything. I’m fine. I don’t need anyone . . .”
“That’s where you’re wrong. It’s clear that you do need something . . . you need the Lord. Go back to God, Jasmine. The Bible says that the Lord is married to the backslider. God will welcome you with opened arms and overflowing love, and, right now, the Lord is all you have. But the good news is, God is all you need.”
“Mrs. Carrington, I don’t need you to preach to me.”
“And I don’t want to preach to you . . . all I want to do is tell you the truth.”
Lynn had to pull the receiver away from her ear when Jasmine slammed the phone down, disconnecting them. She shook her head. She would pray for that girl. After all, Doris had been a good friend and, as angry as she was at Jasmine, she still felt responsible for her in some way.
“Mom?”
Looking up, Lynn smiled. “You’re ready, honey?”
“Uh-huh. Are you okay? I heard you on the phone. You sounded like you were a bit upset.”
“Oh, no. I was just trying to lead someone to the Lord.”
Kyla grinned. “That’s my mom, always the witness.”
“That’s what we have to do, honey. Save souls. So, this is it.”
Kyla wrung her hands. “Are you sure . . .”
“Get rid of that spirit of doubt and put your trust where it belongs.”
With shaky arms, Kyla hugged her mother. “Mom, you have no idea how much . . .”
“Yes, I do. Now, get. And call me when you get home.”
“I will,” she yelled as she traipsed out the front door.
Closing the door gently behind her daughter, Lynn smiled. They would be all right. She was sure of it now. And not because of how she and Winston had raised Kyla, though God knows they had tried to do right by their only child. But Kyla would be fine because the Lord was the center of her life. And the greatest blessing was that she had married a man who believed the same thing.
Lynn tapped her hands along her legs, making a mental note of all the things she had to do. Now that Kyla was taken care of, there was a party she had to focus on. Nicole would be back any minute and there was much work to do.
Holding her hand to her chest, Jasmine felt her heart pounding. The mirror reflected her fear-filled eyes. “I don’t care what she said, she’s not my mother! She doesn’t know what she’s talking about! She doesn’t know me!”
But even as the words screamed from her lips, her stomach twisted. She had called Kyla to get back at Jefferson, but Lynn had turned it all around. She ran her hands along her arms, trying to warm herself against the chill that had suddenly filled the room.
The telephone book on the nightstand caught her eye and she picked it up, flipping through the pages. Lynn had told Jasmine that she was alone. And as she looked through the names in her book, Jasmine knew she was right. Who could she call if she were really in trouble? Who could she call if she were sick and needed help? Who could she call now? Loneliness swept over her, filling her with a sadness deeper than she had ever felt.
As tears trickled down her cheeks, she returned to the phone, dialing quickly.
“Serena, this is Jasmine. I need two big favors.”
“And how are you too, dear sister?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that this is so important,” she sniffed.
“Jasmine, are you all right?”
“Would you mind a visitor for a few days? I have to get away.”
“Really? You want to come to Florida? Great. Dad would love to see you. And, me too, of course. When do you want to come?”
“I’m coming tonight.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes. And another thing. Is your Bible handy?” Jasmine’s voice trembled.
Jasmine listened to the moment of silence before her sister answered. “Yes?”
“Good, because I need you to send a big old prayer up to God for me.”
It was after eleven and Kyla looked around the family room. Sighing, she lit the final candle and went into the kitchen. Any minute, he would come walking through the door. Brian had called to tell her that Jefferson had left the hospital and, as each minute ticked by, the pounding in her chest grew more intense.
The creaking of the opening garage door made her jump. Taking a deep breath, she walked towards the door, then quickly turned around. The family room was better. When his car door slammed, she clasped her hands behind her back and said a quick prayer.
“Kyla!” He sounded frantic as he yelled through the pantry, then appeared in the kitchen.
“Hey, you.” Her voice was soft.
He stepped towards her; his dark skin glowed through the flickering candlelight. “You’re home?”
/> She nodded and watched an unsure smile fill his face.
“Home for good?” The hopeful words were a whisper.
She smiled. “Yes . . . at least, I think so. I hope so . . .”
“Kyla,” he said as he stepped toward her.
She held up her hands and he stopped. “Wait. Before you say anything, there’s something I have to say.”
Standing steadfast, he stuffed his hands in his pockets as his eyes searched her face for answers.
Taking a step towards him, she spoke. “Jefferson, there are a lot of things I’m confused about right now, but I do know three things. One,” she started as she moved slightly closer, “you hurt me. More than I can ever say . . .”
When he opened his mouth to speak, she shook her head to stop him.
“No, it’s okay.” She took another step forward. “I am hurt, but I know we can get through this because the second thing I know is that I love you and . . .” She moved closer. “I know you love me.”
He nodded as tears began to fill his eyes. “I do . . .”
She held up her hands, stopping him again. “And the third thing is . . . God is all up in this place. The Lord is here, just like He promised. I wish God would take this burden away from us, but I know that won’t happen. But, God will see us through. And knowing that,” she said, now standing so close she could feel his heart beat, “I know we can make it.”
He reached for her hands and pulled them to his face, kissing her palms. “I promise you . . .”
“Please,” she said shaking her head. “No promises. At least not right now. Let’s just say that we’re going to work on this.”
He brought his lips to hers and the tears that trickled down her face mixed with his. She took him in, loving him, holding him, needing him and finally knowing for sure that somehow they would find their way.
Twenty-six
* * *
Every few seconds, a drop of water dripped from the faucet and Jasmine wondered how her sister could take it. She heard the key in the door, but remained at the small round table. Slow footsteps echoed through the house, then seemed to quicken as they approached the kitchen.
“Oh, good morning! Did you sleep well?” Serena asked.
Jasmine’s eyes roved over her younger sister, clad in a pink and yellow flowered dress and she shuddered. “Yeah, but I’m still a bit tired. Those red-eyes are killers.”
“Tell me about it! I’ve taken enough of them. Do you want me to fix you something to eat?”
Jasmine shook her head. “No, I had some tea and toast. Where are the kids?”
“With Dad. I made them promise not to say a word about you. He’ll bring them home in a little while. Dad will be thrilled to see you. He’s been so worried and so have I.”
“I’ve told you many times that you don’t have to worry about me.”
“With what’s been going on with you over the past few months, how could we not worry?” Serena asked as she leaned against the kitchen sink filled with the morning’s dishes. “First, you break up with Kenny and hide it from us . . .”
“I told you.” Jasmine picked up the cooled tea and took a sip.
“Only after I called your house and Kenny told me that he was moving out that day. And then, there’s all of this stuff with Jefferson . . . what else could I do but worry?”
“Well, now there’s one less thing to worry about. It’s over between me and Jefferson.”
“That’s what you said last night, but what happened?” Serena asked as she sat at the table and laid her elbows on the plastic tablecloth.
Jasmine sighed and looked away from her sister’s eyes. “Nothing. It was just a little mistake.”
“A little mistake? That’s not the way you sounded on the phone.”
“Well, that’s the way it was. We got involved for a minute and now it’s over.”
“Jasmine, how did you allow yourself to get involved with Jefferson Blake, of all people?”
“I guess I was lonely and he was there . . . things just got out of hand.”
“I can’t believe . . .”
“Serena, the last thing I want to hear right now is one of your lectures. And, I know what you’re going to say anyway—Kyla’s my best friend, she’s like a sister to me, Jefferson’s been like a brother . . . I know the whole deal.” Jasmine rolled her eyes. She didn’t want to hear from her sister the same words that had been playing in her own mind over and over again.
“I wish you had remembered the whole deal before all of this . . .”
“Serena!”
Her sister held up her hands, then she wiped her sweaty palms on her dress. “Okay, it’s just that I don’t understand. And, it’s such a shame because Jefferson will probably pay big-time for this. I’m sure he and Kyla will be getting a divorce now.”
“I don’t think so,” Jasmine said shaking her head.
“You think she’ll forgive him?” Serena was surprised.
“Probably. She’s like you . . . she’s a Christian. Aren’t you guys a forgiving bunch?”
“Still. That’s a lot to swallow.” Serena sighed. “I just can’t believe Jefferson did this. He’s such a man of God . . .”
“Key word . . . man. And that’s my specialty.”
Serena smiled. “You should specialize in God, Jasmine.”
“No, thank you. I’ll just leave all that God stuff to you . . . and Kyla.”
“How can you say that after we were raised to know the Lord?”
“No, we weren’t. We were forced into going to church.”
“It’s the same thing. Children are not equipped to make the right choices.”
“I’m an adult now and I’ve made my choice.”
“Living without God is not a good choice.”
“But it’s my choice.”
Serena shrugged her shoulders. “Anyway,” she started, as she hoisted herself from the table, “Dad will be here about four and then we have to go back to church for a youth program. You should come with us. Aunt Em and Uncle Ben will be there. And probably Lucas, Joe-Joe, Willard, and their wives. Everyone will be glad to see you.”
“Sounds like roll call for the Beverly Hillbillies,” Jasmine said, rolling her eyes.
Serena looked at her sister out of the corner of her eye. “I know you think you’re too good for us little-city folk, since you’re still out in L.A.”
“How do you do it, Serena? How do you stay here?”
“I love it here. I love being around Daddy and his family. This is where he grew up.”
“Yeah, but he got out when he was sixteen.”
“And returned as soon as he could. He knew what was best. Sometimes I wish we had been raised here. Maybe then, you wouldn’t have had all of these . . . issues in your life.”
“Like you don’t have any issues,” Jasmine smirked. “Well, I’m grateful that we grew up in L.A. I couldn’t imagine becoming countrified like you.”
Serena rolled her eyes. “I’m going to throw some stuff together for dinner. Wanna help?” she asked as she pulled lamb chops from the refrigerator.
Jasmine looked her sister up and down. Polyester flowered dresses, church programs that lasted all day, lectures about family—Jasmine sighed. She needed to get on a plane bound for L.A. “What do you want me to do?”
“Here. Take these potatoes and peel them.”
“Peel potatoes?” Jasmine twisted her face as if she had a bad taste in her mouth.
Tying an apron around her waist, Serena raised her eyebrows. “What?”
“I don’t peel potatoes.”
Serena plopped the potato peeler into her sister’s hand. “You’re not in Hollywood now. You’re home, honey. Get to peeling.”
Jasmine sucked her teeth as she picked up the first potato. Serena wiped her hands on the front of her apron and smiled. “Welcome home, sis,” she said as she planted a kiss on her sister’s cheek.
Kyla’s knees shook and she took another deep breath, trying to calm
her shaking. Reaching over, Jefferson patted her hand and she forced herself to smile. She needed something to focus on and her eyes roamed the pastor’s office, finally settling on the oak bookcase overflowing with Bibles. More than fifteen hours had passed. She knew, because she had counted every one in her head. Keeping track somehow made her feel better. Every passing hour was their victory. They were still together; she had not run away.
Though leaving would have been impossible, with the way Jefferson had planted himself at her side. Even after they had talked until the early hours of the morning and she had finally told him that she would sleep downstairs, he had not left her. Her eyes smiled as she remembered their conversation last night.
“Thank you for understanding, Jefferson,” she had said as she stood, preparing to go into the downstairs bedroom. “I’m . . . just not ready.”
“I’m disappointed, but I understand,” he had said. Then, he let the ends of his lips curve into a smile. “But this time, you’re not going to get away.”
When she had frowned, he had gone to the laundry room, returning with a blanket. He threw it across the couch with a flourish.
She had shaken her head. “No, I don’t want you to sleep down here. It’s too uncomfortable.”
“I’ll be fine. Believe me, it’ll be better than waking up and finding that you’ve gone again.”
“I promise, I won’t leave.”
“Just call this my insurance policy.”
She had hesitated. “Well then, maybe I should try . . . maybe I can go . . . upstairs.”
“No, honey,” he had said gently. “Not until you’re ready. I’ll be fine here, really. I’ll probably have the best night’s sleep I’ve had in days. Just knowing that you’re close by . . .”
It had been that way for the last fifteen hours.
“Hey, you two,” Pastor Ford said as she swept into her office. “Sorry I took so long. You know how it is after the service. Everyone wants to say hello.”
“Pastor Ford, I can’t believe you wanted to talk to us today. After two services, we know you’re ready to go home and enjoy the rest of your day.”
Jefferson nodded and added, “We’re grateful for you, Pastor, but we could start counseling tomorrow or the next day.”
Temptation Page 26
