by Tracy Reed
“I think it’s pretty safe to say, he feels the same way.”
“That’s what I think. He did say he was attracted to me, but God was first and he wasn’t going to do anything to mess up that relationship.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, he’s never judged me. He’s been a good friend.”
DeeDee looked at her face as she spoke and saw how peaceful she looked talking about Sean. The smile on her face told the whole story. “No sweetie, he’s been a good boyfriend.”
“No, he’s been a good friend.”
“I have had male friends and none of them treated me like that. Take that back, the only man who was that considerate and kind, is down the hall, playing tea party with our daughter.”
“Oh.”
“And the dog?”
“Yeah, our dogs go on play dates.”
“No, that’s the excuse you two have been using. You two have been a couple longer than either of you want to admit.”
“No, we’re just friends.”
She shook her head. “Honey, I don’t know any friends that spend a couple of weeks with someone they aren’t serious about and take care of them and their dog. And men definitely don’t come over and rub your feet and bring you groceries, unless they really care about you, or are trying to get you into bed.”
For all her knowledge about men, Kyla wasn’t ready to admit she and Sean were more than friends. “Well, I…I mean, he’s…I’m not…he should be with someone…a little more virtuous.”
“Honey, the heart wants what the spirit tells it is right.” DeeDee smiled. “But the final decision is yours. I won’t say anything about our conversation.”
“Thank you.”
“But, how are you going to explain being at church?”
“I’ll go on Saturdays.”
“And you’ll need to attend New Members class on Sunday mornings before service. Oh, but once a month they offer an all day Saturday class.”
“Well, the Holy Spirit will tell me what to do.” They both laughed.
“Good one. That will work until you complete the class and graduate. Sure, you don’t have to do the Right Hand of Fellowship, but…”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Deal.”
Chapter 49
GETTING UP SO EARLY ON Sunday mornings had been a challenge for Kyla. Used to sleeping in until about ten and then taking Winnie for a walk, followed by a bagel and coffee in the park was her old life. Now her Sunday mornings started out very early. Up at five-thirty, quickly walking Winnie, followed by a shower, getting dressed and straight to church.
The new members packet had a Sunday class for two months or two Saturday power sessions. She figured she should get used to attending church on Sunday mornings. On several occasions, she wanted to tell Sean and her mother about the change in her life, but decided to wait until she had completed her classes.
Another reason she opted for the Sunday classes was because Mike was the teacher. She looked at it as having someone to be accountable to. The last thing she wanted was for him or DeeDee to call her about missing class. Today at the end of class, she was told that on next Sunday, she would have the opportunity to receive the Right Hand of Fellowship if she wanted. All the new members were told it was a day to celebrate and to invite their family.
On the way home she wrestled with the thought, and what to do. Her life had changed dramatically in the past few months and she thought it would be nice celebrating the change with her parents. It was Sean she wasn’t too sure about. She reached into her bag for her phone and sent DeeDee a text. “Call me after church. I need some advice. Kyla.”
Kyla walked into Cafe Noir and waited for Sean at their usual table. When he walked in, her stomach jumped. That’s new. She patted her stomach and felt her smile getting wider the closer he got to the table. She was studying him from head to toe.
“What’s with the smile?” he asked.
“Nothing.”
The server placed the cup and saucer in front of him. “Thank you. So tell me, what’s got you all smiles?”
“Nothing in particular. Seems I’ve finally got a handle on things.”
“So you’re feeling a lot better about Eric?”
“Who?” She smirked.
“Okay.” He nodded. “Is Olivia still calling you?”
He would have to bring her up. “Yes. I’ve tried everything to get her to understand I’m not available, but she insists on meeting with me.”
“Then see her.”
“Are you insane? I can’t do that.” She reached across and broke off a piece of his cookie.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but maybe this is God’s way of getting you to complete the final step in ending things with Eric.”
“Sean, I don’t…”
“Hear me out. You took a huge step by giving him the ultimatum and kicking him to the curb, but you still need to put an end to it. The only way to do that is to confront him or come clean to his wife.” He took a sip from his cup. “Did you find out who referred her?”
“Nope, not yet.”
“What else is going on?” he asked.
“My parents are coming to town this weekend and my mother wants to know if they can go to church with you.”
“Of course. I’ll call Miss Nadine, tonight.”
“No need, I told her I was seeing you today.”
“Is that all?”
“Oh and brunch?”
“Sure, but I was kind of looking forward to Miss Nadine’s mac and cheese.” He patted his stomach.
“I’m sure she’ll hook you up,” she assured him.
“I hope so.”
“So what’s going on with you? Any more blind dates?”
“No, smarty,” he laughed. “My sister-in-law is upset with herself because her last attempt didn’t work. What about you?”
“Me? I know you’re not talking about dating.”
“Why not? It’s been a few months. You need to get back out there.”
“Look who’s talking.”
“What? I’m out there.”
“Who? And cancelled dates don’t count.” She joked.
“I’m not talking about a relationship, I’m talking about dating. You know dinner, dancing, bowling, the movies, coffee.”
“You’re the only person I have coffee with,” she confessed.
“Oh.”
The phone rang and Kyla ran to pick it up. “Hello.”
“It’s about time,” it was Jerome calling from the lobby. “Your parents are on the way up. If I weren’t married, I’d be all over that.”
“Jerome, would you stop.”
“What? Your mother is a good looking woman and I think…”
“Hang up Jerome.” She opened the door. She and Winnie stood in the doorway waiting on the elevator to open. When the elevator dinged, Winnie barked. “I know girl, grandma and grandpa are here.”
Nadine and Percy stepped out of the elevator and Winnie ran toward them. “Hey there Miss Winnie,” Nadine smiled.
“How’s my pretty girl doing?” Percy asked as he bent down to pick her up. She barked and smiled. “Come on, let’s go see what your mama is up to.”
“Mommy,” Kyla leaned in and hugged and kissed her parents. “Hi Daddy.” He placed Winnie on the floor.
Nadine looked at Percy and they both looked perplexed. Kyla hadn’t called them by those names in several years. Percy whispered to Nadine, “Who is this and where is our daughter?”
Nadine jabbed him in the side. “Be quiet honey. Just be glad she invited us.” They closed the door and followed Kyla and Winnie into the living room. “Baby, is everything all right?” Nadine asked.
“Yes, everything is fine. Why?”
“Because you never ask us to visit,” Nadine confessed. “We usually have to invite ourselves.”
“Are you hungry?” Kyla asked.
“No, we’re fine,” Nadine replied.<
br />
“Okay, I’ll put the bags in the guest room,” Percy said.
“Let me.” Kyla disappeared down the hall with the bags.
Percy waited until she’d gone before saying anything. “I know she said there was nothing wrong, but she’s clearly not acting like herself.”
“I can see that. You take Winnie for a walk and I’ll try talking to her.”
“Baby girl,” Percy called out. “Winnie and I are going to roll over to Duane Reade, I forgot my toothbrush. Do you need anything?”
“No Daddy.”
He looked at Nadine and whispered, “Talk to her.” He kissed her and she waved him off. He put the leash on Winnie and left.
“Hey Mommy, do you want something to drink?”
“No. Sit down.” She patted the sofa. “It’s just you and me. What’s going on?”
“No—”
“Kyla Pauline James…what is going on?” Nadine was a take no prisoners person. Sean was correct. Kyla got her frankness from her mother, as well as her spunk and looks.
Kyla took a deep breath and answered. “I broke up with Eric.”
“What?”
“And I’ve been going to church,” she announced.
“What?”
“Well, that’s not correct. I joined church and I was filled with the Holy Spirit.”
“Come again.”
“Which part?”
“All of it.”
“I broke up with Eric and joined church.”
“When did all of this happen…did you say church…why… when?”
“A couple of months ago, Phillips Christian Center and because it was time.”
Nadine’s mouth was wide open. “I see. How did Sean—”
“He doesn’t know.”
“That you broke up with Eric?”
“He knows about that. He doesn’t know about the church thing.”
“Okay, let’s start over and I’ll take a glass of water.”
Kyla went into the kitchen and came back with a glass of water and handed it to her mother. She sat down and told her mother everything…the ultimatum, the voices, receiving the Holy Spirit and her friendship with DeeDee and Mike Matthews. When she started sharing about the Bible class that had peeked her curiosity, her face was glowing. Nadine hadn’t seen Kyla like this in several years. The calm, friendly playfulness was a refreshing change. Nadine was happy about Kyla’s friendship with Sean and secretly hoped he would rub off on her, but this was a little more than she had expected. She would never say this to anyone, but she had been praying Kyla would make this change. Now that she had, she was afraid her reaction may have hurt her daughter’s feelings.
“Baby girl, I am so happy, but you could have told us this over the phone.”
“I completed my New Member classes and tomorrow there’s this thing, sort of like a graduation.”
“You mean Right Hand of Fellowship?”
“That’s it and I already worked it out where I can hide out upstairs until it’s time for the fellowship thing.”
“Uh-huh. Have you given any thought to how Sean is going to react?”
“I’m sure he’ll be happy.”
“Or upset.”
“Why would he be upset?”
“Baby, think about it. This is huge and I know he’s…I think he’ll be a little disappointed you didn’t say something to him sooner. Why didn’t you tell him?”
“I didn’t want him to think I did this for him.”
“Honey, this is Sean we’re talking about. He’s not going to think that. If anything he’ll…I mean…”
“Exactly, he’ll think I did it so we could be together or maybe as a way of seducing him.”
“No, he won’t.”
“Mommy, I…”
Nadine held up her hands. “Okay, let’s not fight.” She leaned forward and hugged her again. “Baby girl, I am so happy for you.”
“Thank you Mommy. So I can count on you to help me?”
“Of course. What do you want me to do?”
Chapter 50
KYLA BARELY SLEPT A WINK that night. It was a combination of nerves about standing before all those people and the anxiety of facing Sean. She wanted to blink her eyes and let it all be over. Instead, it was already nine. Of all the Sunday mornings for Sean to be running late dropping Simon off, he would pick today to break his pattern.
She looked at her watch, she had only an hour to finish getting dressed, drop Winnie and Simon off at daycare and get to church.
She picked up her phone and began dialing. “Hi DeeDee, I’m having a challenge this morning. I’m running a little late and I still have to drop the dogs off.”
“I don’t want you to be late. Bring them with you and I’ll put you and them in Mike’s office.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. It’ll be fine. You can watch service on the monitor in his office and I’ll come and get you when it’s time.”
“Thank you. Oh, my parents are with Sean.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got you covered.”
“Thanks.”
She finished getting dressed, grabbed the dogs and headed over to church. Thank God she ordered a car for the day. She hopped out of the car and ran up to Mike’s office and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” DeeDee called.
Kyla pushed the door open and the dogs lead the way barking. “Simon, Winnie, shhh.”
“Good morning,” DeeDee walked over and hugged her. “Take a deep breath. It’s just the devil trying to stop you from moving forward with your life.”
“Tell me about it. Sean is always on time or early, but this morning, he was running late.”
“Don’t worry about it…you’re here. I have you all set up. The monitor is on and no one is going to come up here. I told Mike, so you’ll be okay. I’ll come up later and get you.”
“What about Simon and Winnie?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them.”
“Thank you,” she hugged her.
“Okay, I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
Kyla sat down and watched the monitor. It was difficult to relax because her stomach was tied up in knots. She got up and started pacing back and forth. Toward the end of service she went into the restroom and checked her makeup and clothes. She wanted to make sure nothing was poking out that wasn’t supposed to. She didn’t want to make a bad first impression.
The sound of the door opening startled her. “Kyla, are you ready?” DeeDee asked.
She took a deep breath. “About as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
“What about the dogs?”
“Give me the leashes. I’ll take them and we’ll stand out in the lobby.”
“Are you sure?”
“Honey, if anyone says anything, I’ll tell them Mike said it was okay.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
They rode the elevator down to the first floor and hurried over to the main sanctuary. DeeDee introduced Kyla to the committee working with the New Members and got her checked in. She arranged for her to be the last one. She fell in line with the other members and inched her way to the receiving line. She looked to her right and saw her parents and nodded to her mother to distract Sean. As she approached Mike he smiled and placed the microphone up to her mouth.
“Kyla James,” she spoke loud and clear. The sound of her mother cheering stood out. Mike shook her hand and she went down the line shaking the hands of all the members on the Executive Board welcoming her. She turned and walked down the aisle and out to the lobby. Her parents and Sean got up and quickly ran out to greet her. She took a deep breath.
“That wasn’t so bad was it?” DeeDee asked as she hugged her.
“I have never been so nervous.”
“Don’t look now, but I think there are some people looking for you.”
She turned around and her mother threw her arms around her. “Baby girl,” with tears streaming down her
face. She held her tight.
“Nadine, let me in.” Percy wrapped his arms around both of them and kissed Kyla on the forehead. “I am so proud of you.”
“Thank you Daddy.”
“Nadine…Nadine…Nadine…let her go. Get Winnie and Simon and we’ll meet you at the car.” Percy grabbed Nadine by the hand and walked outside.
“Sean.”
He stood still not saying anything. “Why…why didn’t you tell me?” he asked.
“I…”
“Kyla,” she turned around when DeeDee called her name. “Don’t forget your bag and Bible.”
“Thank you.”
“You knew about this?” Sean asked DeeDee.
She looked at Kyla before answering. “Yes. Mike and I have been counseling her.” She hugged Kyla and whispered. “He’ll be fine. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Thanks.”
“Kyla!” Trina shouted as she came out of church. She threw her arms around her. “I am so happy for you. How dare you keep this a secret!”
“You didn’t know?” Sean asked.
She looked at Kyla. “No, I didn’t.” The tension was a little thick. “I gotta get over to the nursery and pick up Tyler. Kyla, call me later.”
“I will, bye.”
Percy popped his head inside. “Kyla, Sean, we better go before we’re late.”
“Coming Daddy. Are you coming?” she asked Sean. He didn’t say anything. “Okay, I’ll talk to you later.”
She started to walk away and he grabbed her hand. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“But I could have helped you.”
“I needed to do this on my own.”
He hugged her. “Congratulations.” He wasn’t sure how he was supposed to react. Part of him was happy and the other part was confused. He knew as long as he and Kyla didn’t share a faith, there was no way they could be more than very good friends. Now that that was no longer an issue, he wasn’t sure how to proceed with their friendship. “Let’s go.”