Beautiful Liar

by J. Jakee

  Marley lowered her head in deference and spoke wobbly. “Nola. I am so sorry…. I forgot... I...-I wasn’t thinking.”

  The both of us sat in silence moments before I caved. “Fine. I’ll be your advisor. I’m not ready to be anybody’s Maid anything for anybody’s wedding.”

  Marley pressed her hands together. “Oh thank you, Jesus!” She then threw up her hands, “Fine. Perfectly fine. I’ll take that!”

  She led us through the church doors of Worship Way Baptist Church, and we maneuvered through a maze of smiling and extremely affectionate people. In the lobby area, there were flat screens mounted on the wall and plenty of chairs for overflow. I motioned to sit there but Marley mentioned that her father wanted her to sit front and center every service.

  I was amazed at how modern even medium-sized churches have become since I’d last attended a service. The announcements were done via slideshow on two large screens—not delivered by an old lady wearing a ginormous hat. The choir didn’t hold those rigidity red Hymn books either. Instead, lyrics to the songs appeared on the screen as well. Her church partied how Marley partied all the way there, just ten notches higher. Even children stood and jumped and clapped their hands. I didn’t want to be the only unstirred soul in the building, so when Marley clapped, I clapped. And, when Marley stood, I stood—even when I had no idea why I clapping or standing.

  After the choir sung, a tasteful bald pastor who looked to be about my age, if not older, rose and approached the podium. He was sitting next to another pastor who had to have been Marley’s father, with his hoary beard and pudgy physique.

  As the pastor at the podium delivered the sermon, I zoned completely out, burning with fervor. Who knew pastors were even capable of possessing that much pulchritude and swag? The way he strolled across the altar while he preached with one hand in his pocket, but not enough to hide his Movado wrist bling, had my full attention. The other hand was waving and pointing with each passionate emphasis. There was something about the way his natty suit laid perfectly tailored, disregarding a corny church robe. The grey opened jacket. Pure white shirt—free of a bulging belly, unlike his colleagues—adorned with a soft yellow, skinny tie which gave his attire the perfect finishing touch.

  While he preached, flashes of romantic dinners, spicy nights, and all kinds licentious thoughts took over. It was then that two things occurred to me. One, I was sexually deprived and the so called “small part of me” that needed to be with a man, was actually large… way large. Two, he was the reason Marley dragged me here! I grabbed her arm and rested my head on her shoulder. I smiled, giving her a tacit approval, and she patted my hand.

  After the service, Marley and I waited in the lobby for her father. I stood casually, but deep inside, I wanted to nudge her and send her off to find the pastor who preached.

  “I take it you enjoyed the sermon?” Marley smiled.

  “Of course! I just wish my hair was on point,” I said as I flipped out my pocket mirror to ensure my ponytail was still intact.

  Marley giggled, “Seriously, Nola. What did you think about the message?”

  The look on her face made it clear that she didn’t bring me there for a hook-up after all. The girl really wanted me to hear the message, and instead, I was busy lusting over one of her pastors. I felt like the wanton of Worship Way. I grabbed her hand, and lied.

  “Powerful. I loved it.”

  She clapped, and cheered, “Yay! So that means we will see you again?”

  “I don’t know about that.”

  ”Oh, come on.”

  “I’m not a church girl. You know that.” I had my eyes fixed on the throng of worshipers either chatting or exiting. I was hoping I would spot the pastor of the hour. He was nowhere in sight.

  “Well, I think you should become a church girl,” Marley pressed. “You even said at the meeting that your classes and internship were getting tough for you. God could help you. Allow Him to guide you. God is…”

  “Alright! You’re right. I will visit once more,” I finally agreed.

  Marley bounced, “Hallelujah!”

  “Just once… so you can quit preaching.”

  “All God needs is once, Nola,” Marley beamed.

  The lobby began to clear and my stomach grumbled for breakfast food.

  “Where. Is. Your. Father? He better hurry before I change my mind about ever coming back.”

  “I should probably get him. Sometimes it takes him a while.”

  “And, maybe next time I visit, he’ll actually preach.”

  Marley raised her eyebrow and replied with a slight chuckle, “Wait, I can’t tell if you’re joking or serious.”

  “Joking about what?”

  She laughed, “Wow! You really are serious.”

  “Serious about what?” I asked, agitated.

  “Nola that was my father preaching.”

  “Wait, what?” I shot Marley a suspicious side-eye. “The man with the yellow tie?”

  “That’s my father,” she said assuredly.

  I wanted to be clear, so I said asked, “The one who preached just now?”

  “Yes, Pastor of the church. I told you that. That is my dad.”

  “How?”

  Marley was amused. “He gets that a lot. I’ll be sure to tell him the compliment… Oh! There’s someone I wanted you to meet… Silas!” Marley shouted past me and flagged her arms. A tall, lanky man in a golden suit with red hair approached us. “Silas, this is my soror I was telling you about. Nola, this is Silas.”

  “Wow, it’s true what they say about the poised ladies of A.K.L,” Silas said as he extended his hand. “How are you, Nola?”

  After I bullied my mouth to smile, I gave him my finger tips and quickly snatched them back. I once dated this guy who had a knot on his neck that was the size of a golf ball. His style won me over. Then, there was this Caucasian Jamaican. He was five years younger than I was, and the only thing he had to offer was sex. Just sex. Great sex nonetheless. Then, of course, there was my darker than darkness ex-fiancé. Even the palms of his hands were dark, and that’s no exaggeration. I’ve always had strange love, but never have I ever dated exact replica of a No. 2 pencil kind of strange. I wanted to kill Marley. I wasn’t at all impressed.., especially after seeing her father.

  Her father… I couldn’t believe - didn’t want to believe - that the sexy holy beast on the pulpit was her father! How? I asked myself again.

  “I’ll let the two of you get acquainted while I find my dad.”

  Marley disappeared down a hall, while Mister Pencil-Body burned a hole into my head with his cloying smile.

  “You’re beautiful.”

  I replied flatly, “Thank you.” Now walk away.

  “You know, for some reason you look familiar.”

  “I don’t see how. This is my first time visiting.”

  He stroked his chin as he tried to call which of his whimsical dreams I visited. “Marley told me you’re in real estate.”

  “I am…”

  “I’m in advertising. Maybe we crossed paths there.”

  I nodded phlegmatically and threw a thumbs-up. “Nice… and maybe,” I replied, hoping he would disappear.

  Aside from his ridiculous fashion sense, Silas wasn’t all that bad looking. I found his above average height and freckled nose kind of attractive. I just had my sights already set on his pastor, who also happened to be my soror’s father. Whyyyyy?

  “Look, I’m not great with initial introductions. How about you take my number, and we could start fresh over dinner?” Silas said.

  I happily replied, “I left my phone in the car.”

  “That’s cool. I’ll just take yours.”

  Before I could give Silas ten random digits, Marley popped up with her arm interlocked with her father’s.

  “I literally had to drag this man from his desk!” she sighed as if she had been in a real struggle.

  Pastor Robinson flashed a charming smile, and I melted. “Silas, what’s goi
ng on, son?” He took Silas in for a bro-hug. The pastor was tall as well but a few inches shorter than Silas.

  “I’m good, I’m blessed. Aye, great sermon today.”

  “Thanks, Brother.”

  “Daddy,” Marley gestured towards me. “This is Nola.”

  My body stiffened. I could barely lift a finger to wave. Every inch of me was frozen, except for the big asinine grin plastered on my face.

  “Nice to finally meet you, Nola.” Pastor Robinson opened his arms and welcomed a hug. As I floated into his embrace, the sweet and enticing scent of his cologne met me half way. “Mice to neet you, too... I mean…” I slapped my forehead, abashed. Everyone laughed. This man, unlike any man ever, had me behaving disgustingly sappy. I had to step back to regain my cool, especially around Marley. I didn’t want her feeling too awkward to bring him around me. I laughed with them. “I guess missing coffee and brunch is getting to me.”

  “Oh trust me, I understand!” Silas co-signed, looking even more turned on by my folly.

  Marley patted her father, “I promised Nola I’d get her some coffee.”

  I added, “Or FeliciTEA’s.”

  Silas perked up. “THAT’S why you look familiar… you’re the one who snapped on me in FeliciTEA’s a little while back. You told me to go study my bible in church!”

  Embarrassed and flushed, I looked at the Pastor. “I didn’t say it exactly like that. I’m sure it was, a lot… way sweeter.”

  Marley laughed. “Don’t take it personal, Silas. And, if it's the night I'm thinking it was, she was under a lot of stress. Her condo caught fire.”

  Silas nodded. “Nah it's cool.” He kept his focus on me. His eyes fixed down on the crown of my head, bright like a lighthouse. “Let's catch up at FeliciTEA’s? Start fresh.”

  “I don’t know. All I can think about is food.”

  Marley smiled, nudged me with her shoulder. “Then, I better feed you before you pass on a date.” Marley used her thumb to point to her father. “Nola, meet the amazing cook I told you about.”

  My insides leaped.

  CHAPTER 7

  Before Marley and I got out of her car, I applied some make-up and smoothed down my hair while she flirted on the phone with her new fiancé. She wanted to wait for Silas to arrive before we headed inside. Silas wasn’t coming, but so far, I was the only one who knew:

  “Is it okay if we head to Jersey for brunch at my dad’s?”

  Yes! Hell, yes! “I don’t have a problem with that,” I replied casually.

  “Silas, why don’t you come too, brother.”

  “Yeah I'm down.” Silas accepted Pastor Robinson’s invitation and I almost huffed aloud.

  “I’ll send you my address,” the Pastor said.

  “I’ll send it!” I interjected. I pulled out my phone that miraculously appeared in my purse. “Marley can give it to me, and that way you’ll have my number, Silas.”

  On the way to the pastor’s house, I texted Silas an address that would send him twenty minutes out of the way, and then I turned off my phone. I needed him to get lost... and, I needed him to get lost literally.

  Pastor Robinson lived in a large and gorgeous house in Medford, NJ. It was a single home surrounded by beautiful landscaping. His driveway was a cobblestone semi-circle. As we sat and waited for Silas to never show up, I imagined my Range being parked right where we were. Every single day.

  About ten minutes later, and after her phone conversation ended, patient Marley grew impatient, and we finally went inside. It was just as immaculate as the outside. He had high ceilings and modern yet masculine home décor. His living room was suited for a single and widowed man—equipped with dark leather reclining sofas, surround sound, and an obnoxiously large flat screen.

  We met Pastor Robinson in his kitchen. He had already thrown off his suit jacket and loosened his tie. He sat the breakfast ingredients on his granite countertop, then excused himself so he could change. Marley began prepping breakfast, and I hopped in a pub-styled chair by the window. I gazed out at his massive backyard. I imagined the two of us lounging poolside while I paged through my favorite e-magazine, and as he barbecued on the grill, shirtless.

  “Ever since my mom passed…,” Marley popped the dream-bubble above my head. “He’s been so big on cooking that it became his outlet. Now that he’s gotten so good at it, it’s like his favorite pastime. God forbid I miss one of his meals.”

  “Cooking is his pastime? Doesn’t the man date?” I pried, trying to measure the size of my challenge.

  Hmm. Not that I’m aware of. So many women at the church throw themselves on him. He’s a catch! You know? He’s great looking for a 50 year-old, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my father. But, he’s not impressed by pushy women. That turns him off. I think what he needs is a woman who is relaxed and Godly –especially Godly. He needs someone who isn’t thirsty for his looks or success… someone who would allow him to chase her and not the other way around. He absolutely needs someone who will love him for him.”

  I nodded, taking mental notes. Then, I maneuvered to his pantry and found his generous alcohol stash. “Girl, your father gets down. Looks like he needs a woman who can throw a couple back, too!” I teased.

  “He drinks socially,” she said defensively.

  I waved a bottle of Moët. “Let’s make mimosas!”

  “Let’s not. I can’t drink it.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Child. You will be twenty-one in September.”

  “October 5th.”

  I rolled my eyes again, “Same difference… You need to loosen up.” I placed the bottle back on the self, but kept it in the front just in case he and I needed it when I came back to visit.

  Pastor Robinson returned wearing a black button down, dark jeans, and Vans canvas sneakers. He looked sexy even when he wasn’t trying. Although Marley felt uncertain that her father wasn’t seeing or at least sleeping with anyone on the regular, I wasn’t about to be convinced that he. He had way too much sex appeal not to be.

  The way his lips curled upwards when he smiled. The way his right eyebrow would rise and then fall when he made a point. The scowl in his eyes, and the way he rubs his chin as he listens to us speak were all the reasons I needed to be more acquainted with him. Through it all, I managed to keep my cool while I watched him work the kitchen. I made sure not to laugh too hard at his jokes. I kept my questions to a minimum. Plus, I only gawked at him when I was sure that neither he nor Marley was watching.

  I volunteered to set the table. After we sat down and said grace to dig into the pastor’s culinary masterpiece, I told the both of them that Silas sent me a text message stating that he changed his mind about coming. I only did this because I grew tired of them questioning his whereabouts. Marley served me a pity pout as she passed me a tray of crème brulee French toast.

  “I’m sorry Silas belled, Nola. I could tell you really liked him.”

  I couldn’t keep my face from scrunching. “How?”

  “I saw how stiff you were,” she revealed while drizzling syrup over her short stack. She even managed to spill some of it onto the marble top dining table. I cringed for the pastor. She continued, “And then, how you stumbled over your words!”

  Girl, you have no clue. “Please. Stop,” I said.

  “Daddy, Nola never stumbles over her words,” Marley teased. “She’s never nervous. Silas had her like putty. I saw it!”

  I wanted to kick Marley from under the table when her father laughed. “Actually, Marley, I don’t know what you saw, because I’m not at all interested in Silas.”

  “Why not?” Pastor Robinson asked, looking directly at me and shooting a thrust of tingles throughout my entire body. It was the first time that I noticed how wizened the corner of his eyes were. The only evidence, besides the few specks of salt in his pepper colored goatee, that he was about twenty years my senior.

  “I don’t think he could handle a woman like me,” I replied.

  The pastor’s e
yes widened before he directed his attention to his plate. I smirked as I imagined the thoughts that probably flew into his head.

  “Nola is bold. She’s opinionated and outspoken,” Marley said with her mouth full. “That’s why I look up to her. She’s the complete opposite of me.”

  I nodded at my spokesperson.

  “Well,” the pastor began as I watched, in what seemed like slow motion, while he licked a crumb from the corner of his mouth. “A lot of men need a bold woman. Don’t count him out. He’s a cool dude.”

  I smiled coyly, “Thanks, Pastor.”

  “You’re in my house. You can call me Ronnie.”

  “Ronnie…” I practiced rolling it off of my tongue. “Nice name.”

  “He makes everyone call him that, even Greg.” Marley was in between bites. It was then that I noticed she looked nothing like her father, especially the way her nose flared while she chewed. I redirected my attention to Ronnie.

  “I love the French toast. You have to give me the recipe.”

  “Oh, do you cook?” Ronnie asked.

  “Occasionally,” I answered with a flirtatious smile.

  “That’s a ‘no.’ There are no occasional cooks. When you cook, you always cook,” he said confidently.

  I laughed, “Maybe you never met an occasional cook. Allow me to introduce myself.”

  Marley chimed in, “Daddy, Nola does make a good box cake.”

  Ronnie belted out a laugh that echoed in the dining room. His smile was adorable and youthful.

  “Don’t listen to Marley. I mean, I do bake a mean box cake, but I can get down on the stove as well. I’ll prove it to you some day.”

  Ronnie rubbed his shaven yet scruffy beard. “Hmm… I’ll take you up on that.”

  “Be careful, Nola” Marley added. “If you’re any good, he’ll make you work in his restaurant.”

  “You have a restaurant?” I was intrigued.

  “Continue to speak it into the atmosphere and I will by next year.”

  I was impressed. “Wow. So cooking really is your passion.”

  “What is yours?” he asked in return.

  “Huh?” I heard him the first time. Just, his question was unexpected. He looked into my eyes and repeated the question.