by Pat Simmons
"Food and flowers. You do know how to spoil a man." He kissed her hair and laid the items on a small table. Lisa waited as Malcolm pulled out her chair.
She jutted her chin and twisted her lips in thought. "Considering my dad is dead, I don't have any brothers and few male cousins, I would say you're a lucky man who I intend to keep," she complimented as Malcolm gently scooted her closer to the table.
Taking a seat, Malcolm mumbled a quick blessing then ripped open the bag. "You're not eating?"
"I did already." She smiled, stretched, and watched.
Malcolm licked his lips after he bit into his ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese on warm Ciabatta bread. He grinned.
"You're a woman after my own heart." He winked and gulped down a bottle of water without pausing. "Plus, you smell good."
"That's my flowers. I usually don't wear perfume, remember? I like the natural scent of my body."
He lifted a brow. "Is that so?"
Lisa nodded with a mischievous glint in her eye. Malcolm was falling hard. Getting up, she walked behind his chair. As if knowing his thoughts, she pinched his shoulders before administering a seducing massage. "Relax."
He did, closing his eyes and enjoying her massage. Malcolm wanted to kiss her, but it would've been considered an indecent act, especially if Lilly caught them.
"Better?" Lisa cooed as she tilted his head back and planted a kiss before guiding his head up and down in a silent yes. "I know you can't talk about the audit, but Malcolm, I have to share this…"
Malcolm stiffened and turned around. "Lisa, I won't talk about the audit. We gave up our rights, or at least I did, to talk business when we became involved. Plus, we're in my office. There's no way I'm going to jeopardize my career with a casual conversation that could become misconstrued." His stern expression backed up the fact that he meant business. He may be falling hard, but he hadn't landed, not yet anyway.
The next few minutes were strained. Maybe his words were too harsh. Lisa was the first woman since Hallison who excited him. Before she left, he had to smooth things over.
"Well," she said with a sigh, "I hope you enjoyed lunch. I better go so we can both get some work done." When she made an attempt to walk around the table, Malcolm wrapped his hands around her wrist. "I'm sorry if I came across too strong. That was not my intention."
She rubbed his jaw. "Good. Be nice to me, and I'll be nice to you," she taunted, then loosened his grip and backed away.
"You little tease." Standing, Malcolm approached her as if he were a predator about to pounce on his prey. Racing to the door, she turned back and blew him kisses. Malcolm shook his head. "You're something else, you know that? Call me later when you get home if you feel up to going out for a few hours." It was time to introduce Lisa to the Jamiesons.
Before leaving work, Malcolm called Parke on his cell phone, not knowing if his brother was in the office with the stock market playing jump rope, or working from his home. "Busy?" he asked when Parke answered.
"Never too busy for my brother," he responded, then paused. "Unless, of course, you want to whip me in a game of b-ball, then I'm extremely busy."
They laughed. "Nothing like that, old man. I'm wondering if you're up to meeting Lisa tonight. We can run by—"
"Can't, Malcolm. It's Wednesday night, Bible class. You two can join us, and we can grab a bite afterward."
"Here we go again. Parke, I love you and Cheney, but church is the furthest thing from my mind with Lisa."
"Okay, my brother. Don't let your words come back to bite you."
"Yeah, right." Malcolm clicked off. He grabbed his briefcase and headed out his office to his car. An hour later, Malcolm was settling in at home when Lisa phoned him.
"Hey, are you a risk taker?" she whispered.
Malcolm's nostrils flared. She was teasing him again. "Absolutely."
"Pick me up in an hour," Lisa ordered, with a teasing laugh, before she hung up.
He was early when he pulled up in front of Lisa's house. When he rang the doorbell, she smiled and was ready to go. They dined at Lumiere Place, a casino on Laclede's Landing near the Mississippi River. Afterward, they strolled to the slot machines where Lisa acted like a kid in a candy store.
"You're going to let me play alone?" Lisa gave him her flirtiest pout. "I have special powers to win."
He stuffed one hand in his pocket and used the other to lean against the machine. "When I said risk taker, I wasn't talking about gambling. I don't like losing," he stated, referring to his car, money, and woman.
"Chicken. I'll put up your first twenty bucks." She reached for her purse.
"Lisa, I don't need your money." He waved away her offer, sliding in the seat next to her and inserting his own bill. Lisa knew when to call it quits. She was smart, beautiful, disciplined, and even more intriguing. An hour later, Lisa had spent twenty dollars, won two hundred, and only lost eighty dollars.
Unfortunately for Malcolm, he played ninety dollars and won thirteen. He was a risk taker in love, but not in slots. Some things were not worth gambling.
Chapter Twelve
Malcolm had been on Hallison's heart lately. She had learned months ago to stop praying for Malcolm's immediate salvation, but for God's will to be done in his life. Finishing her Monday morning prayer, she recalled the scripture from Sunday's sermon, Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Hallison was still reflecting on the scripture when she walked into her office one minute past eight. As if sensors noted her presence, her phone started ringing. Setting her briefcase and shoulder bag in a nearby chair, she reached across her desk to answer it. The caller didn't allow her to finish her standard greeting.
"Good morning. Got a sec?" Paula said as if she were out of breath.
Holding the phone between her left ear and shoulder, Hallison came around her desk and took a seat. She tapped on the keyboard to boot up her computer. "It's Monday. Applicants will be calling on job statuses and who knows what else."
"Do you remember me mentioning that The Blood of Christ Apostolic Church is fellowshipping all week with one of our sister churches?" Paula asked, then supplied the answer. "Some awesome evangelists will be preaching at Salvation is Free Pentecostal Temple all week. Let's go since I know your schedule is booked with blank pages. That means you're available every night."
Occasionally, she and Paula visited other churches to taste the Word preached with a different seasoning. "For your information, I'm helping my mother with some family reunion things tonight, and tomorrow, after work. I get free meals out the deal." They chuckled together. "Wednesday is my Bible class. Alexis is doing my hair on Thursday since I'll be at the family reunion picnic on Saturday. I have Friday open."
"Of all weeks... hold on." Paula's voice was muffled as she addressed one of her employees, then returned to the conversation. "Listen, my craziness has begun. Let's say I'm not planning to miss one day. I really could use clarity from God about some things."
Eyeing her company inbox, Hallison sighed at the twenty emails awaiting her attention. "I better hang up, too. Make sure you take notes that I can read."
For the next three mornings, Paula relayed the nightly sermons to Hallison: Monday—Acts 15:28: For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; Tuesday— Matthew 11:6: And blessed is he who is not offended because of me; Wednesday—James 1:3: Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Hallison was tempted to forgo her hair appointment on Thursday to hear the night's sermon. After Alexis's transformation the previous week, Hallison banished the thought. Besides, it was the only opening Alexis had during the week.
Friday morning, Hallison was ready to fast forward to the final night of the fellowship. She showered, then dressed in a powder blue, linen suit Octavia insisted she buy during their shopping spree. Hallison then selected a second pair of shoes she
bought at the secret shoe club with Alexis, to complement the outfit. She opted to fluff her curls instead of using a comb before rambling through her jewelry box. Hallison located the soft blue pearl bracelet, a gift from Malcolm. She fingered it before deciding to slip it on.
Blinking away Memory Lane, Hallison glanced at the time and realized if she didn't hurry, she would be late. She rushed to the kitchen and grabbed an unhealthy breakfast of Pop-Tarts and Diet Coke, then prepared a deli sandwich, fruit, and chips.
Since Paula was fasting during the day all week, and Ursula was on vacation, Hallison was lunching solo. Her latest hire, Samuel Smith, had called a few times requesting her to join him for power lunches. Although she had previously declined, she had every intention on meeting with him, under auspices of the Holy Ghost power, to share God's redeeming power.
Most of Hallison's morning, and part of the afternoon, were spent on conference calls with other branch managers. It was almost one thirty before she took a break for lunch. Every time she faced the window, the warm weather beckoned for her to come outside. Hallison responded when she grabbed her bag, left her office, and headed out the building's revolving doors.
She strolled toward downtown's outdoor focal point— Keiner Plaza near Busch Stadium. On more than one occasion, photographers used the water fountain as a backdrop for wedding pictures. The luscious botanical garden offered rich, green grass and thriving, bold and colorful flowers. A meeting place for local sports teams' victory rallies was also a hangout for the homeless who needed a short respite.
She eyed a bench free of pigeons and beggars and claimed it. After she sat, a warm breeze embraced Hallison as the sun stood far off, playing hide-and-seek as it chased the dark clouds away. She blessed her food and nibbled on her sandwich. Sunrays winked at her again. Smiling, she recalled how the Lord had sent a cloud by day and fire by night to guide the Israelites to the Promise Land. "Lord, I need you to take the lead in my life because I sure don't know where I'm going."
Without any pressing appointments, meetings, or deadlines for the rest of the afternoon, Hallison took advantage of the free time. She followed the tourists' fascination with the tallest manmade monument in the country, the 630-foot-tall St. Louis Gateway Arch. Standing, Hallison balled up her trash and pitched it in an overflowing trash bin. Securing her purse on her shoulder, she wandered through downtown. When Hallison felt the first raindrop, she was in a crosswalk.
As more sprinkles followed, she raced across the street and ducked inside the Old Courthouse to wait it out. The weather had tricked her again. It never failed on the day of, or the day after, her hair was freshly coiffed.
The St. Louis Old Courthouse was a historical landmark because of a famous case. In the mid-1800s, a slave named Dred Scott filed a petition for his freedom, arguing he had lived in a free state longer than a slave state. He was bold enough to secure lawyers and hike the same steps that were used to auction slaves. To date, some of Scott's descendants still resided in St. Louis.
She was proud of herself at the wealth of information she could recall, another reminder of Malcolm Jamieson.
His hunger and thirst for African-American history was contagious. Before she dated Malcolm, she had passed the building without giving it a second glance. Now, it held good memories. She and Malcolm had shared lunch a few times inside. Although it was closer to her job, Malcolm said he enjoyed the exercise and would walk the distance for her.
The more she tried to forget about Malcolm, the more she remembered the wonderful moments between them. Sitting on a wooden bench in the rotunda, Hallison pulled out a small apple from her purse. Quietly, she reflected on someone's ancestors who had visited this building involuntarily. Malcolm had lit her fire of curiosity. Now it was up to Hallison to renew the search for the Palmers. She missed Malcolm's presence in her genealogy hunt.
The door squeaked open, but she ignored it. She didn't hear her name being called until his scent captured her.
"Hali."
She whirled around and met Malcolm's eyes, seconds before noticing a woman whose looks couldn't be ignored. Hallison mustered a tense smile for his companion. "Hi."
The woman returned Hallison's smile. "Hello."
"Hali, this is Lisa," Malcolm introduced as if they were strangers.
He didn't offer an explanation of their relationship. Hallison nodded and tried to take a deep breath. While she demanded her body not to shake, she lost control of the rapid speed of her heartbeat.
"This is the last place I would've expected to find you," he said with genuine awe.
And I you. She nodded and swallowed any words that wanted to respond. Covering her apple core with a napkin, she stuffed it back in her purse and stood. She had made the decision to leave Malcolm. After all, God told her to walk away. She did it once, and she would do it again.
"Lisa, it was nice meeting you. Malcolm, have a blessed day." With one shoe in front of the other, her heels clicked in an off-beat pattern as she walked across the marble floor. Shoving open the thick wood double doors, she walked out into the pounding rain.
Hallison was not supposed to be there. Since Malcolm and Lisa had become almost inseparable, he'd pushed Hallison to the back of his heart. He craved Lisa now. When she sent him flowers, Malcolm had never realized how special they made him feel. Lisa liked giving him attention. He wasn't complaining about being the recipient.
Since Lisa liked to walk, he suggested the Old Courthouse, never suspecting he would see a more stunning Hallison than his mind could remember. He had assumed her involvement in genealogy was to humor him. Under hooded lashes, it took Malcolm fifteen seconds to catalogue the new Hallison. Her hair was abundant—or maybe it was the curls—her face appeared so soft that if he touched it, she would melt. With less than three seconds left of his appraisal, he'd spotted the pearl bracelet wrapped around her slender wrist. Well, at least she hadn't thrown his gifts away. No...it had been him she discarded.
He blinked as the thunder clapped moments after Hallison disappeared. Frowning, he turned back to Lisa, hoping his new lady hadn't noticed the air between him and Hallison, but she had.
"How special is she, Malcolm?"
"Past tense—was." Malcolm respected Lisa even more. She didn't ignore the obvious. "Believe me, the relationship was never meant to be. I am no longer guilty of loving her."
"But you did love her," she stated.
Malcolm didn't respond. When Lisa remained quiet, Malcolm wondered what she was thinking. When she smiled, Malcolm exhaled. There was no word to describe how different she was from Hallison. Lisa was drama-free. He might actually thank God one day for placing the right woman in his life. Hallison did have one thing over Lisa, besides height. Hallison was gorgeous, but Lisa was hot.
As she began to walk ahead, Malcolm reached out and linked his hand with hers. "I know you won't ask, but I want you to know. Hali broke it off with me. Yes, I have residual feelings for her, but I can assure you, my relationship with you is not on the rebound."
"That's good to know."
Chapter Thirteen
Hallison was a mess, from her hair to her clothes, but her heart had taken the biggest hit. The truth was Hallison had a tiny seed of hope that it was God's will that she and Malcolm would find their way back to each other. After seeing Malcolm and Lisa, there was no hope to keep alive.
She had exactly three blocks to get her mind together before returning to work. That gave her less than a quarter of a mile for her tears to mingle with the downpour that had already drenched her. Hallison gave herself a pep talk. "This too shall pass." She forced a smile to curious onlookers who also had been targets of the rain. "That's it. I need someone, too, Lord." Her only consolation was at least Alexis had dolled her up for the competition.
All she wanted to do was go home and climb in the bed, then pig out on ramen noodles and Oreos, followed by a half bottle of Pepto-Bismol. It dawned on her that she probably resembled Chaka Khan's sister. Hallison reached up to finger-co
mb the damage, but her hair wouldn't budge.
Agitated, she gritted her teeth. Hallison wished a hefty bonus could entice Alexis to skip an out-of-town wedding to redo her hair. Alexis would laugh at the offer.
"What about tonight? Oh, God, I can't miss the final night of the sermons," Hallison mumbled, groaning. She stood frozen at the entrance to the Metropolitan Circle building. No doubt her linen suit had absorbed water like a Bounty paper towel and shrunk. Straightening her shoulders, Hallison shrugged as she opened the door and entered the lobby.
Ignoring the stares, Hallison walked with her head held high like a runway model as her shoes squeaked across the floor. She had to steady herself as she slipped and glided across the marble floor, grabbing a doorknob to keep her from skating past her department. She nodded to her assistant as if she were dressed for an evening ball and headed to her office.
An explosion of laughter echoed from behind Hallison as she shook her hair like a shaggy dog. Putting on her game face, she slowly turned around to face her opponent, squinting. As her nostrils contracted, she snarled, "If you don't have a hair pik, Sammie, don't bother coming near me."
Hallison didn't try to restrain from making the unprofessional comment to Samuel Smith. Her mood had changed along with the weather. Hallison gritted her teeth. She had two callback interviewees for the marketing assistant position due within the next two hours. She couldn't afford to reschedule when the vacancy should've been filled a week ago.
Using the intercom, she informed her assistant to hold all calls and visitors until after her scheduled appointments. She needed time to make herself presentable—at least as much as the director of the human resources department could. Next, she called upstairs to Paula "I'm not going to be able to make it tonight."
"What?" Paula's squeal pierced Hallison's ear.
