by Pat Simmons
“Okay.” Levi stood. “Spend the rest of the day with us.”
She checked her watch and grimaced. “Ah, I better not.”
“A man has only so much tolerance for rejection. Don’t wear me down.” Levi reached for their coats. He struggled to put Dori’s hat back on. She was on the verge of becoming hostile as she fussed about messing up her hair until Karyn assisted him. “Break my heart, but don’t disappoint my little girl,” he whispered.
Karyn stood, gnawing on her bottom lip. She had a slightly panicked expression. “Let me use the bathroom.”
“Can I come, too, Miss Karyn?”
“Sure,” Karyn said after a brief hesitation. She grabbed Dori’s hand and her cell phone off the table, leaving her purse.
Levi always thought a woman’s handbag never left her sight, especially on a trip to the ladies’ room. Minutes later, Karyn reappeared, ending a call. “McDonald’s it is.”
Yes! He was using his kid to get his way.
CHAPTER 18
Karyn was exhausted and relieved when Levi parked in front of her building hours later. Besides taking Dori to McDonald’s, they had attended a Disney movie in the same shopping complex—against her better Holy Ghost judgment and the consequences.
“I’ve had a good time today,” Karyn said.
Levi whispered, “Next time, let’s plan something more upscale, just me and you.”
“You’re supposed to kiss her good-bye, Daddy. That’s what the frog did to the princess,” Dori said, startling both of them. Karyn thought she was napping.
“That’s right,” he drawled out. Levi formed a mischievous grin, showcasing his dimples. “Are you calling me a frog?” he had teased his daughter.
Dori giggled. “No. Miss Karyn is a princess.” She began to unbuckle the strap on her booster seat. “But we have to walk her to the door like in the movies,” she cheered.
So many emotions were going through Karyn’s head as Levi helped her and Dori out the car. This was not ten o’clock when the center was about to be on lock down for the night. It was early evening when other questionable people could be entering or leaving, or a police cruiser could pull up at any minute. The probability of a long term relationship was slim. Karyn swallowed and stopped them before they got to the door.
“I’ll close my eyes, Daddy, so you can kiss her real good like the frog.” Dori did just that. It was cute. “Did you kiss her yet?” she asked with her hands covering her face.
Staring at Levi, Karyn didn’t know what she wanted: him to go, or kiss her. The latter was her reward. It was shorter than short, but sweet.
Dori giggled with her eyes wide open. “See, I told you that’s what the frog did.”
Laughing, Karyn said good-bye and went inside with her heart pounding. Today had been the first time she had ever gone somewhere unauthorized. And that could never happen again. Her caseworker had cleared her for McDonald’s, not a movie. She had come too far and she wasn’t about to violate her parole for Disney or any other character.
When she entered her suite, Buttercup was experimenting again. Her roommate was rummaging through a freezer-size Ziploc bag filled with lipsticks and eye shadows.
With black eyeliner, Buttercup had drawn an eddy circle around her right eyebrow, eye, and upper cheekbone and shaded the area green. She picked up her pink makeup pencil. Karyn guessed Buttercup was back to her salute-to-sororities kick.
“The library must have had a reading marathon. You’ve been gone a long time.”
“I wasn’t alone.” Karyn placed her apartment key on a wall hook.
“Really?” Buttercup squinted. “And where’s your backpack? I thought we were going to go over the Crowning Glory proposal this afternoon.”
Covering her face, Karyn panicked. “Oh, no.” She collapsed against the wall and let go of her purse, spilling its contents on the floor. Gritting her teeth, she stomped her foot in frustration. “I must have left it in Levi’s car.”
“Levi?” Buttercup grinned. “Yes!” She performed spirited Indian powwow steps. Within minutes, she came to a complete halt before lifting a pink brow and wiggling it. “Hmm. So what’s the Levi latest?”
“Forget the update. I need that backpack.”
“Forget that old proposal,” Buttercup argued. “I need details.”
Karyn paced the floor. “You knew he called me this morning before I left. Levi offered me a ride to the library, I declined. He told me he would see me there and he did. When I got off the bus, they were there in front of the library waiting for me.” Karyn grinned. “Actually, it was charming.”
Buttercup sighed. “Ah, how romantic. That man really likes you, and you like him. See, it’s not so bad to take a chance. Now, it’s getting serious.”
“You’re telling me.” Karyn matched Buttercup’s sigh and wrestled out of her jacket. She flopped on the sofa. “And thanks to Levi I got very little done.”
“He’ll get no thanks for that,” her roommate mumbled.
“Anyway, we left the library and took Dori to McDonald’s, then we went to Weinberg Theater to see the latest Disney movie.”
“Wait a minute,” Buttercup bucked her eyes. “Your caseworker allowed you to alter your schedule? She must’ve been feeling generous.”
Karyn blushed. “I kinda pushed my luck on the movie. Otherwise, I would have to come up with something to tell Levi that was as close to the truth without telling him the truth. Maybe I could ask Monica about wearing an ankle bracelet.” Karyn laughed.
“Nope. Those things definitely aren’t fashionable. Remember Madea?” She shrugged. “Be careful. Violating parole is easier than getting out of prison.”
“Noted.” Karyn had never been so scared. She lost count of the number of times she discreetly looked over her shoulders.
“Now, get to the good stuff. Did the man kiss you?” Buttercup asked. “He blew it on the first date. There was no smooching when he dropped you off the other night, so I’m hoping the third time is a charm.”
“Yes, and he whispered it was not the best he could do.”
“Whew.” Buttercup jumped up. “Girl, let me get my church fan. As Nelly, the rapper, said years ago, ‘It’s getting hot in here.’”
“Yes, my lips still tingle. It was so sweet, I felt so wanted.”
“That’s because, maybe, you are wanted.” Buttercup lifted her voice, then softened it. “You’ve got to tell him, Karyn.”
“I gave Levi the perfect opening at the library. We discussed Crowning Glory and how the name reminds him of my hair. I told him our business plan would be a ministry for giving second chances to those who fell by the wayside.”
“Some people aren’t smart enough to get the hints, especially men. God is fighting your battles. You should’ve told him.”
“He rambled on about the mass amount of property his company owns. Levi basically said he was willing to help me with no strings attached, but there are always strings.”
Buttercup lifted a hand, showing off her fingernails, which were painted in high-glossy red. No strings are good. Cross out everything I just told you. Don’t tell him.”
That was too easy for Buttercup to agree with her. Karyn squinted. “Why?”
“Remember the pact?”
“Yeah, the book about some thugs who went on to become doctors. It’s a bestseller.”
“Our pact—you, me, and Halo. Crowning Glory will not only provide jobs for ex-offenders, but will encourage newly released convicts physically and spiritually. We’ve been praying that God will make a way. I’d say Levi Tolliver is our way.”
Her friend’s reasoning was adding too much pressure to her so-called simple life. Karyn stood and headed to her bedroom door to unlock it. She and Buttercup didn’t have trust issues. It was another one of the house rules. “No way. Forget it.”
“I guess it was a self-serving thought.” Buttercup claimed Karyn’s vacated spot and grabbed the TV remote. “We don’t have to shout to the mountaintop our
sins, but isn’t there at least one relationship you value enough to share a secret? I say be prayerful. Maybe fifteen years down the road when you’re the successful business owner of several chains, your past will be a testimony. Until then, you’ve got a series of tests.”
“You are really irritating me. You aren’t in my shoes. You served time for check fraud. I served time for manslaughter. You’re dating Halo undercover until you’re both off parole. There are no secrets between the two of you. Levi lost his wife to violence. That makes me and Levi on opposite sides of the fence.”
Karyn’s cell phone chimed a soft rendition of the gospel song, “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Without checking the ID, she knew it was Levi. “I’ll talk to him later.”
“You’d better talk to him now and think hard about crossing over to the other side of the fence.”
“Right.” Karyn walked into her bedroom and closed the door. “Hi.”
“You’ve lost something, and I found it. Imagine that.” Levi chuckled.
“Yeah, I realized that when I came inside my apartment empty handed. I’ll get it from you,” she said, wanting to get off the phone. Levi had other ideas.
“I really enjoyed you, and Dori is in bed determined to sleep in one position so she won’t mess up her hair.”
Karyn smiled, then cleared her throat. “I’ve got to go. I’m almost out of minutes.”
“Now that I might believe. Good night, Karyn, and sweet dreams, baby.”
CHAPTER 19
Wake up. Wake up, Rossi, and pray.
Moaning, Rossi stirred, then did the opposite and snuggled deeper into his pillow. He pulled his comforter over his head to block out the antagonist.
Wake up, Rossi! And pray, God thundered.
Rossi’s spirit quickened. Springing up, his heart pounded as if a drill sergeant shouted orders. Fully alert now, he heard nothing. He blinked, disoriented, waiting for further instructions. God didn’t disturb his sleep for nothing. Sliding to his knees, Rossi dared not lay his head on his mattress. “Lord, what should I pray for—”
With force and speed, the Lord cut him off, filling Rossi’s mouth with an explosion of tongues. The prayer was intense and exhausting. What he heard and his spirit interpreted astonished him.
Levi is blind and cannot see. I speak to him and he cannot hear. Therefore, you are his shepherd, lead him.
“Me?” What kind of stuff was Levi getting himself into that he needed intercessory prayer to get out?
The room was quiet, but Rossi knew he was still in God’s presence. “Lord Jesus, I am Your servant, but yet a man. Give me discernment, and guide me because You are the Great Shepherd.”
Opening his eyes, Rossi worshipped God by lifting his hands in praise and thanksgiving. Then stood and danced before the Lord in victory. Finally, he laughed. “Satan, you are so going down.” Rossi glanced at the clock: five o’clock on Sunday morning. Too keyed up to return to sleep, he sat on his bed and turned on the lamp.
Since God always backed up his message during prayer with scriptures, Rossi reached for his Bible. He opened it to a folded page he had previously marked with notes: Proverbs, the third chapter. He scanned the passage until verse five leaped off the page: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
He finished the entire chapter, then meditated on verse five as he closed his Bible. After stretching his muscles, he headed for his home gym. As he worked out on the treadmill then lifted weights, he didn’t allow his mind to stray from the morning’s events. The unknown concerned Rossi.
Forty-five minutes later, as Rossi showered, he began to sing, “Oh, the Blood of Jesus.” The song stayed in his heart as he shaved, contemplating whether he wanted the hassle of growing a beard. “Nah.”
As stared at his dark reflection, Rossi admired the richness of his black skin. He wiggled his brows. Grinning, he noted his healthy teeth, which he whitened at least once a year. At six-five, he maintained a healthy weight of 225 pounds. It would be 228 pounds soon if he didn’t stay away from his mother’s homemade peanut butter cookies.
The sisters at his church often commented he had the body of an athlete. Push-ups and boxing did wonders for his cardio. At thirty-three, he still had a head of thick, African-textured hair. He was blessed, considering some younger men’s hair had started to thin, and some felt the best option was to sport the bald look.
Rossi was determined to hold on to every strand as long as he could, but with that came gray strands. He wondered how many more would be added after this morning’s prayer. “I have the victory,” he mumbled, accepting Levi’s trial that he didn’t ask for.
His phone rang minutes later. He picked up the wall extension in the bathroom.
“Hey,” Levi greeted.
Rossi raised a brow. His slow-waking cousin was too chipper for an early Sunday morning. Plus, he knew Levi had spent the previous day with Karyn. On alert, Rossi mentally clocked in for his spiritual bodyguard duty. “Whatz up?”
“I’m just giving you a heads up. Dori and I are visiting Crowns for Christ today.”
“Karyn.” It was time for Rossi to meet her.
“You know it.”
Rossi imagined Levi’s jubilant expression. “I’m going along with you.”
“You? Why? You never miss our church service, even when you’re sick, believing by faith, God could heal you, which Jesus has on many occasions.”
Rossi was already on God’s clock regardless of the location He sent him. “I’m good. I’ve wanted to visit Elder Scaife’s church for a long time.”
They agreed to meet at Crowns for Christ at eleven in the lobby. An hour later, Rossi had eaten and dressed in his charcoal-gray suit. Too early to leave, he stared out his office-size windows in the living room, which offered a magnificent view of the Cardinals’ ballpark and the St. Louis Gateway Arch.
From this view, he reflected on being a recipient of God’s favor and salvation with a disposable income, and a lavish lifestyle if he was foolish enough to chase it. At that moment, Rossi felt empty that he didn’t have anyone special in his life. The church sisters—young, his age, and a little older—awaited his calls. There was something about those pickings that he would probably never call any of them. Rossi Tolliver dated for keeps. Most of the sisters’ agenda were snagging a minister. But God hadn’t shown him the right woman with a combination of looks and a tempered spirit. Huffing, he pushed off the wall. “Remember me, Lord.”
CHAPTER 20
Karyn believed in prayer, but she hadn’t been praying about her involvement with Levi. She was scared what God would say about the matter. Some women had said God always told them the opposite of what they wanted to hear—basically give the man up. For some reason, she had an inkling that wasn’t the direction God had for her.
What if the Lord said Levi was her destiny? Why couldn’t her emotions be in sync with her heart? She wasn’t prepared for a relationship.
Trust me, God spoke. Unlike man, I make no mistakes.
What did that mean? Karyn sighed as Buttercup elbowed her. They were standing in the foyer of their transitional home to wait for the church van.
Craning her neck, Karyn frowned at Buttercup was sporting her new stilettos. “What did you do that for?”
“Stop thinking over there. I told you, you make my head hurt when you’re too quiet,” she complained, struggling to balance on the four-plus-inch shoes.
More like praying, but Karyn didn’t share that. When Deacon Deacon honked the horn, the pair signed out at the desk. Buttercup hurried and used the door handle to steady herself. Once she cracked it open, a gust of wind pushed them back.
“Whoa. Of all the days for it to snow, why today?” Buttercup griped. “These are three-hundred-dollar suede boots,” she shrieked in horror.
“Yeah, but you got them off the clearance stack for twenty bucks,” Karyn said.
“That’s not the point.”
Residents at the center were only all
owed a certain number of personal items, including clothes and shoes. Buttercup’s new boots made her have two pairs over the limit. Karyn rubbed her forehead in mock pain. “Now you’re going to give me a headache if you don’t stop fussing. Anyway, it’s only flurries.”
“Just my luck when we leave church, there’ll be a foot of snow.”
Usually Karyn had to take extra strides to keep up with her friend’s long legs. This morning, it was the opposite as they made their way down the walkway.
“Sister Buttercup Williams, do you need a cane? I’m sure Mother Caldwell will let you use hers.” Deacon Deacon greeted them and grinned.
‘”Okay, you can joke, but if I fall, guess who has to pick me up?” Buttercup hinted.
Deacon rushed to her. “Can’t let that happen. Let me help you, sister.”
The drama never ceased with her roommate—day or night. On more than one occasion after Buttercup had retired to bed early so her skin cells could rejuvenate, Karyn overhead her yelling in her sleep, apparently having a nightmare. Before Karyn could check on her, Buttercup had awakened and laughed at herself, then fell back asleep.
Although the snow wasn’t accumulating, it was creating a few slick spots. Since Deacon Deacon and Buttercup were moving at a snail’s pace, Karyn beat them to the van. A teenager inside descended the steps to assist Karyn. A chorus of “Praise the Lords” greeted Karyn, and the energy of the van riders’ love warmed and embraced her.
“Good morning, sugar,” Mother Caldwell said. “I see your roommate tryin’ to look cute again. I hope she doesn’t hurt Deacon. He’s the best driver—well sometimes—that the church has had.” She patted the space next to her. “Come sit by me. Buttercup can sit by herself until Halo gets on.”
Karyn obliged and kissed the woman’s powdered cheek.
“Don’t you look pretty this morning, and I like your hair in curls. Red is your color.” She leaned closer. “I’ll have to tell you about another thrift store. They get designer clothes, and everything is under ten bucks.”
