Crowning Glory

by Pat Simmons

  “I was once a really nice person.” But the years after her sister’s death had taken a toll. Rossi continued to trail her as she turned into her subdivision. She waved good night and drove into her garage and let the door down. She dragged her body out and headed inside. She deactivated the alarm and began her routine of flicking on the lights. Jet kicked off her shoes and dumped her coat on the kitchen floor, uncharacteristic behavior for a neat freak. When her doorbell rang, she jumped.

  Going to the door, she checked the peephole—Rossi. Jet groaned. Didn’t he know she just wanted to climb in bed and hide under the covers? Taking a deep breath, Jet reluctantly unlocked the door. He strolled in without an invitation.

  Rossi seemed even taller than his six-five height now that she was barefoot. An unreadable expression on his dark rich skin caused Jet to hold her breath. She was certain he was about to unleash his wrath. She didn’t ask to take his coat, but that didn’t stop him from removing it anyway, then he took the liberty of going into her kitchen. He stepped over her coat on the floor.

  “Where’s your coffee?” he asked over his shoulder as he opened and slammed cabinet door after door in search of it.

  “I don’t drink coffee.”

  “One of us is going to need it.” With his hand on the refrigerator handle, he paused, asking permission.

  Crossing her arms, Jet rolled her eyes as she leaned against the doorjamb. “Why stop now? Help yourself.”

  He did. Grabbing a pitcher of punch, he found two glasses. He poured both of them a drink of cranberry. Downing the contents, he grabbed the pitcher and poured a second. Pulling out a barstool from the counter, he collapsed on it. Rossi wiped a hand over his face and bowed his head. “Jesetta whatever-your-middle-name-is Hutchens, start from the top and tell me when you lost your mind.”

  “I saw her name listed in an inmate registry…” She paced the floor as she told Rossi of her suspicion that Karyn was a criminal.

  “You mean you saw a similar name. You can’t jump to conclusions like that. Why are you still visiting that federal prison site as if you’re bookmarking porn sites?”

  Whether Rossi intended to or not, his chastening shamed her. She sobbed and slobbered like a drunkard as she explained the chain of events. He didn’t interrupt. Once she had emptied her heart, she braced herself for Rossi, the cousin of her brother-in-law or Rossi the youth minister, to respond.

  “First of all, I’m going to pray for you.”

  She should have known, the preacher man.

  “Jet, this has gone on long enough. About three this afternoon God told me to pray. I didn’t know who or what for, but I obeyed. Now, I doubt the Karyn you found online is the same woman. You didn’t rationalize this. You could have caused Karyn to lose her job, making false accusations like that. When did you become so enraged that you’re going to hit somebody? You’re one temper tantrum away from becoming delusional. You can’t lash out at others with a cause or without one. Stop this behavior! As far as I know, Karyn hasn’t said an unkind word to you. Don’t you know God protects his saints?”

  “Not my sister,” Jet reminded him as she flopped on an opposite barstool.

  “Jet,” Rossi spoke softly, reaching across the table, he covered her hand. “God was with her at the time of her death. Those who die without Christ feel the sting of death—Diane was not one of them. For the saints of God, it’s different.”

  Rossi stood and left the kitchen. He with a small Bible he must have carried in his coat pocket. He flipped through the pages. “In 1 Corinthians 15, So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable and decays, but the body that is resurrected is imperishable, immune to decay. It is sown in dishonor and humiliation; it is raised in honor and glory. It is sown in infirmity and weakness; it is resurrected in strength and endued with power. It is sown a natural physical body; it is raised a supernatural body. There is a physical body. There is also a spiritual body.”

  Jet didn’t want to hear this, but she found herself listening anyway.

  “We only know one part of what Diane experienced that night. You need to know the other part. In verse forty-five...”

  Jet held up her hands. “Enough, I appreciate the Bible like anybody else on a Sunday morning, but come on. It’s late. Can you just get to the point?” she pleaded.

  Rossi smiled. “Sorry. I’ll just skip to verse 51: We shall not all fall asleep in death, but we shall all be changed or transformed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? You can read it for yourself.”

  Her eyes drooped. “I don’t have to. I’m sure you’ve read the whole thing to me.”

  “I didn’t, but the bottom line is Diane is all right. It’s we who are trying to get our act together. Now, I know you’re tired. Walk me to the door, and I repeat, don’t ever act like that again. You’ve got too much class, and you know it. Clip the claws, tomcat.”

  She stood with her shoulders slumped. “I guess I got carried away with my imagination. Wait until Levi hears about this.” Jet groaned. “He may disown me.”

  At the door, he prayed with her and kissed her on the cheek. “Lock up.” Rossi got in his car and drove away. Jet leaned against the door, shaking her head. She owed Karyn an apology—maybe.

  Rossi drove away from Jet’s house, reflecting on her ridiculous ramblings. It was no coincidence that the Lord had called out to him. It had been faint, but forceful. Many times, God spoke to him at home alone, seldom at the office around others.

  Locking his office door, Rossi began to pray in a restrained manner that wouldn’t cause his assistant or Levi to break the door down in alarm. He shivered. Rossi could feel in his spirit that something was about to happen. It seemed as if some demons were about to stir up dust and leave a trail of devastation. “Lord, have mercy on us.” Even after Rossi had left the office hours later and headed home, his heart remained troubled.

  If Jet’s ridiculous suspicions proved to be right, the fall-out would be greater than even he would be able to console. Levi was in love with Karyn, and she didn’t fit the stereotypical female ex-con, whatever that was. Although Jet’s accusations were far-fetched, Rossi wondered if he should mention the incident to Levi. Rossi frowned, then glanced in the rearview mirror before getting in the right lane to exit the interstate. “Lord, I’ve been watching and praying. What is going on?”

  Keep praying, God replied.

  In two days, Levi would spend Christmas with his parents and brothers. Rossi planned to be with his Tolliver clan, but something told him his presence would be needed at his aunt and uncle’s house. In the meanwhile, he would keep an eye on Jet about getting some type of counseling from a professional or his pastor.

  CHAPTER 35

  “She did what? Aw naw.” Buttercup cracked her knuckles, then rolled her shoulders. Adjusting the headband she wore at night to keep her braids neat, she jumped in place as if she was about to enter the ring. “I knew she was trouble when I saw her watching us at Macy’s girls’ night out bash. You want me to have a talk with her?” She grinned. “I sized her up. We’re about the same height, and maybe the same size. I may have her by about ten extra pounds. That would work in my favor.”

  Karyn gnawed on her lip, shaking her head. “No, Sister Sanctified. You’re busting out this joint—your words, not mine—next month. Talk about hostile fire. I wonder what set her off. It’s a good thing security was right behind her. She was going to hit me. I may be short, but I’m a survivor. What happened to all the wisdom you’ve been imparting to me the last few weeks?”

  “I threw it out the window at the first sign of trouble.” Buttercup slouched. “I have to learn to be an overcomer and not let the devil bait me.”

  “Excuse me. Bait you? I was in the middle of the crossfire.” Karyn gawked.

  “You better tell Levi real so
on before that crazy woman does you bodily harm.”

  “It looks that way, doesn’t it?” Karyn stood to go into her bedroom. “I’m going to call Nalani, get her take and see what she thinks I should do, then I might call Pastor Scaife and ask him to pray for me, then—”

  “Girl, if you call anybody else, you might as well put it on a billboard. Your sister is going to say what I said, jump Jet.”

  “I’m going to ask Pastor Scaife to pray for you, too.”

  Once in her room, Karyn collapsed on her bed. “What happened to my plan?” Why did she foolishly convince herself she was strong enough for a relationship?

  When you are weak, I am strong, God spoke.

  Karyn rolled on her stomach and cried. She was going through her second round when her cell phone rang—Levi. Did he know? Was he was calling to make sure she got home safely since he couldn’t pick her up and Nalani was back in Chicago to take care of business before Christmas? Sniffing, she stopped guessing. Collecting her thoughts, she answered with a smile. Of course, it was their nightly chat.

  “What’s wrong?” Levi’s voice was strong and concerned.

  “Nothing.”

  “I thought when two people love each other they don’t lie to each other.”

  Why did he say that? Is Levi talking about my past? His tender, sincere words started another round of tears. The deeper she inhaled, the more she cried.

  Buttercup busted through her door with her headband on crooked. “What’s wrong with you?”

  Karyn tried to ssh her, pointing to her cell phone.

  “I told you I sleep light,” Buttercup mouthed and backed out the room, closing the door.

  “Karyn, Karyn, you’re scaring me. I’m on my way,” Levi didn’t sound as if he was bluffing.

  “No, wait!” She panicked. The staff wouldn’t open the premises this late for visitors or residents anyway. “I just had a bad day at work.”

  “Patrice is really starting to bug me. I’m getting tired of her messing with you—”

  “Surprisingly, she’s been nice to me lately.” She mustered an insincere chuckle. Tell him the real reason before Jet gives him her own version, her mind prompted her. A headache began brewing as she thought about what to say.

  “Oh, okay…” He exhaled. “At least my heart rate is returning to normal. I hear a smile…I don’t like you working that low-paying job. What upset you?”

  Karyn wanted to pour out her soul to him just as she had drained herself of tears. “My heart is heavy, but I feel better.” She closed her eyes.

  “I don’t. Since you’ve come into Dori’s and my life, I can’t be happier. I want the same happiness for you. I’ve seen a glimpse of it since you’ve reunited with your sister. Haven’t I earned a place in your heart to be a trusted confidant to share your burdens?”

  Now she felt miserable. Levi meant so much to her. That’s why she was hurting so bad because she hadn’t confided in him. Sooner or later, she would have to make a decision: tell Levi or leave him before his look of disdain killed her. Evidently, he didn’t know about Jet showing up at her job and hurling accusations at her. Maybe, Karyn thought, I’ll wait and see if Jet really knows something. With the upcoming holidays, she wouldn’t be able to find out much for a week or so. That gave Karyn a little more time.

  Usually she fell asleep after talking to Levi, but she couldn’t sleep. She slid to the floor. “Lord Jesus, I know You’re a God of second chances. I know You go after the lost sheep that I am—the ones society says they don’t need anymore, but God, You love the underdog. Even after the first murder, You loved Cain and put a mark on him so others wouldn’t touch him. You redeemed Saul and changed his name to Paul to work for You. The thief on the cross asked to be remembered in paradise and You did just that. Lord, You gave me a second chance at life. Is it too much for me to ask for love?”

  ***

  Levi couldn’t sleep. Something or someone had upset Karyn. All kinds of scenarios were running circles in his head. He dozed off and on throughout the night. On Friday morning, his wakeup call to Karyn was twenty minutes early.

  “Hello,” Karyn answered drowsily.

  “What was last night all about?” Levi demanded, forgoing his normal sweetness.

  Karyn’s sigh was heavy. “I just don’t know if I should say anything…”

  Levi was a patient man to a certain point, but he was already grouchy from lack of sleep. “Baby, you know you can talk to me about anything.”

  She seemed hesitant. “Can I really? I mean about anything?”

  He nodded as if she could see him and took a deep breath. His body tensed, bracing for something he wasn’t going to like. “Yes, anything, baby.”

  “Jet came—”

  “What!” Levi shot up in bed. “What has she done? I told her if she—”

  “Levi, please calm down. That’s why I didn’t want to say anything because she’s your sister-in-law.”

  He peeled off the covers and stepped out of bed. He stomped back and forth in his bedroom, rubbing his head. Retaliation was already in the planning stage. Taking a deep breath, he calmed down as he wiped his hand over his face. “Sorry. Tell me. I’m calm.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yep.” Levi closed his eyes.

  “She came storming into my job mad about something, demanding I stop what I was doing. Jet was so upset. Mall security guards took her away…”

  “What!” Levi practically roared. He didn’t need to hear another word. Yesterday, Jet admitted she needed help. What made her flip? Lord, help me not to kill my late wife’s sister because I am on the verge of doing her bodily harm, he said silently.

  “I’m not a professional, but I can see she’s hurting.”

  Right. He heard every other word Karyn said, but he had no intention on being so generous. Levi crossed the room to pick up his glasses. Once on his nose, he glanced at his clock. He needed to talk to Jet now. “She didn’t lay a hand on you, did she?”

  “No. I’m fine, but just a little shaken up and embarrassed that it happened on my job. I want to reach out to her, but—”

  “I’ll let care of it,” he said firmly. He was already heading to the bathroom to shower. Good thing Dori was staying with his parents until Christmas.

  “I don’t know if that is a good idea.”

  He assured her that he wouldn’t go ballistic, but he could tell she didn’t believe him. “You’re important to me. I won’t let anyone and I do mean anyone disrespect you.”

  “I believe you,” she responded softly. “But right now, I just want to hear you pray for me, for us, and for Jet.”

  That all sounded good, but Levi wanted to have some choice words with Jet before he had to repent. “You better start the prayer, baby, and I’ll join in.”

  Although the prayer was short, Levi was distracted and disconnected quickly. He had business to take care of before he got to the office to take care of his other business.

  Less than a half hour later, Levi was gripping the steering wheel as he sped to Jet’s subdivision. Getting a ticket would be the least of his problems.

  Levi parked and got out. Although the snow was less than an inch, he slipped on a slick spot before making his way to her porch. Levi didn’t bother with the doorbell, he pounded on her door, then he leaned on the doorbell. Whipping out his cell phone, he called her home and cell numbers—no answer. She was dodging him. He headed back to his car. “You can run, but you can’t hide.” He would hunt her down after work.

  “Not now, Rossi,” Levi snapped minutes after he stormed into his office.

  “I think you might want to hear this. I had to bail Jet out of jail last night.” “Why?” He snarled. “That may be the safest place for her right now.”

  “What are you talking about?” Rossi squinted. “So you know why, don’t you?”

  He nodded, not trusting himself to speak in front of his cousin-minister’s ears.

  “Levi, Jet is in bad shape mentally. She n
eeds counseling, medication, and most importantly Jesus.

  “I am beyond sick of her. If I could divorce my sister-in-law, I would over that stunt she pulled at Karyn’s job.” Levi stuffed his hands in his pockets.

  “You know she has a relapse every time she visits that inmate location site at the end of the year. She was plugging in names—”

  The phone rang and it was Jet. “I need to take this.” Levi dismissed Rossi as he touched the screen to answer the call.

  “Jet, you have lost your mind. Karyn is off limits. It’s a good thing Rossi bailed you out because I would have left you there.” He wasn’t interested in her explanation or apology. After he ran out of steam, he disconnected the call. After a few minutes, he bowed his head at his desk and prayed. “God, please help me be sorry for everything I said to Jet, but I meant it.”

  CHAPTER 36

  “Beginning today, behold all things are new for you,” Pastor Scaife preached at the Christmas Sunday morning service. “That is if you believe in Jesus’s birth, death, and grand resurrection. If you’re expecting something on the surface, open the presents under a tree, but if you want something with an unlimited warranty, Jesus is your man.”

  Nalani whispered into Karyn’s ear, “The best option is a no-brainer.”

  “Use this day as an opportunity to be more Christlike,” he said. “First things first. You should have joy today. Keep it and you’ll have peace.”

  “Okay, I’m getting the message.” Nalani smiled. “His encouragement is so tangible every time I visit.”

  “Does that mean you’re ready to repent and be baptized?” Karyn asked.

  Nalani shook her head. “Not quite. I’m not totally convinced.”

  It was as if Pastor Scaife heard her sister. “Are you totally persuaded to follow Christ? This is a freewill group. You must decide to come on your own.”

  “See.” Nalani folded her arms and didn’t move until after the benediction.

  Karyn was still grateful for her sister’s presence: Nalani’s flight from Midway had been on time, the rental car was reserved and waiting, an effortless Sunday morning.