“Bye, Daddy,” Ava said, pulling out a large bin filled with clothes and placing it in the middle of the floor. Joe had been promoted to front desk manager at the hotel and he finally earned enough to move Ava and the kids into a place with enough space for all six of them.
The Carraway family had accumulated a lot of stuff in the six months they lived with the Goodes, so Roscoe had bought a bunch of boxes and grilled some chicken and burgers before he left. Anaya had called in the reinforcements. She, Ava, Anaya, Catie, Sophie, Marie, and Aunt Deb were sorting, folding and throwing things away in anticipation of Ava’s big move.
“Is Roscoe still running up to that nursery every week?” Marie frowned at a stained t-shirt and threw it in the trash pile.
“Yes, sometimes twice a week. Hopefully he finishes the yard soon,” Anaya said.
Marie laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. “Yard? Honey, your daddy isn’t going up to that nursery because of the yard. He’s going because of Delilah.”
“The flower lady?” Ava asked, eyes wide.
“Girl, you say you know what’s going on, but you’re missing your daddy’s love life and it’s right under your nose. He’s been crushing on Delilah for months.”
Anaya scoffed. She could picture who Delilah was, but it was hard for her to picture her dad with anyone other than her mom. She sat back and thought about it. She wanted her dad to be happy, and if happiness for Roscoe was Delilah, then that worked for her.
Marie was still talking. “He’s been trying to work up the courage to ask her out for a while now. I think today is going to be the day. At least, that’s what I heard him telling Allen.”
“Good for him,” Anaya said.
“Why wouldn’t he tell us about her himself?” Ava was confused.
“He probably didn’t think you guys were ready for him to date,” Catie said simply.
“I want him to be happy,” Anaya said.
“Me too,” Ava said. “Is Miss Delilah a Christian?”
Catie threw a stuffed animal at her. “No, she’s a vampire, and she’s going to suck all of your daddy’s blood.”
“Not funny.” Ava said. “Oh, Lord Jesus, what if she’s a Methodist? That would never do.”
“Is being Methodist worse than being a vampire?” It was Catie’s turn to be confused.
“Ava, leave your dad alone.” Marie tugged some sheets with cars on them out of a pile and tossed them into a box.
“Fine,” Ava relented. “I don’t have a problem with him finding a life partner, but this Delilah better be a God-fearing woman who believes in the Trinity and speaking in tongues, or there will be problems.”
Anaya shook her head and started folding the bedsheets in the box. She was glad they could all come together to support Ava and help her move out. Even with their differences, Catie was still very much a part of Anaya’s family. It was odd that Anaya was hardly speaking to her, but no none but Sophie seemed to notice.
“Ava, you are a hoarder.” Catie held up a child’s sock. “Where is the match to this?”
“I don’t hoard,” Ava said looking up from a dresser drawer. “I keep memorable things for my children. I will make them all scrapbooks one day, and I don’t want to throw away anything important.”
“Hmm, like this torn bracelet from the fair? Crucial memories right there.”
“Okay, that doesn’t count. You can throw that away. And the sock too.”
“Ava, I’m excited for you and Joe,” Sophie said while rummaging through a toy bin. Anaya noticed she threw most of the toys into the trash pile without asking Ava’s permission. “I think this freedom is just what you need to get yourself centered and ready for the next step in life.”
“I agree.” Aunt Deb said. “Saturn enters Capricorn this week, my dear niece. You have perfect timing.”
“Yep,” Catie said. “I think that means that you can get a real job now.”
“I’m grateful that dad and Ny let us stay here to save money, and the good Lord provided for us just like he said he would. God is so good.”
“All the time,” Catie chimed in.
“Yes, he is,” Sophie exclaimed.
“You certainly are chipper today, Sophia.”
Anaya had to agree with Catie—their friend was acting exceptionally cheerful.
“Life is good right now. I feel like my family loves each other again and my classes are going well.” Sophie shrugged and beamed.
Anaya couldn’t help but smile back. From what Sophie had told her, she was getting along with both of her parents, and for the first time since she was at middle school, they had gone out to dinner together as a family, with no fights. Both of her parents called her regularly, they supported her, and they acted like they cared. Sophie had even put online dating on pause for now, which Anaya could scarcely believe. She had told Anaya that Jabari was still calling and apologizing. She had forgiven him, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to give him another chance. For now, she appeared content. Anaya couldn’t have been more proud of her.
Catie narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Classes? Are you seriously back in school? What exactly is your major, Sophia?”
“I didn’t want to ask,” Ava added. “Somehow I figured I should know, but I don’t.”
“None of us do,” Catie said.
“Well, I think it’s going to be sustainability,” Sophie said proudly.
“Sustainability? Girl, you aren’t going to finish that.”
“Don’t be negative, Catie,” Ava said. “It has taken Sophie a while to make a decision, but sustainability is a growing field. She might actually finish.”
“Wait,” Sophie said. “What do you mean?”
Catie darted her eyes from side to side. “Um, I mean you won’t finish. No habla ingles?”
“What you guys are trying to say?” Sophie looked around at each of them.
“Sophie, you change your mind a lot,” Catie said.
“You don’t always follow through,” added Ava.
“You are inconsistent,” Aunt Deb piped in.
“You always—”
“Okay, I get it,” Sophie started sorting through the bin of toys again. “I know I’ve been a little scattered in the past. It’s good to know y’all pay so much attention. Geez.”
“We love you, Sophie,” Anaya said fondly.
“Give her a break,” said Marie. “We all make the wrong decision from time to time. Just make sure that you admit to your mistakes and move on. Don’t linger over them like I did.” She threw a coloring book in the recycle pile and sighed.
“Cheer up, Auntie.” Ava reached over and hugged Marie. “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”
“I’m fine.” Marie folded and unfolded the same towel three times.
“You don’t look fine to me,” Catie said. Sophie threw a baby towel and hit Catie in the head.
“What?” Catie shrugged.
“You don’t look fine to me either,” Aunt Deb called. She was on her hands and knees looking under the bed. “You look sad. Pitiful actually.” Anaya and Ava exchanged a glance.
“Auntie, it’s going to be okay,” Sophie said maneuvering carefully across the room. She pushed a box to the side, sat cross-legged in front of Marie, and closed her eyes. “Breathe and assess, breathe and assess.” Sophie took deep breaths, but Marie just stared at Sophie.
“Things went wrong. It happens, but you have to let go now and move on.”
Sophie made a whistling sound.
“Marie, you need to make a decision.” Aunt Deb emerged from under the bed but her rimmed glasses were crooked on her nose. “You don’t need to breathe to figure that out. If you had concerns about your marriage, you waited a long time to address them. I watched you take Allen for granted all these years. Years ago, I tried to tell you that you were making a mistake. Just like I did with Farley. You remember Uncle Farley, don’t you?”
Mar
ie nodded.
“Anita tried to tell you too. But you were out there thinking you cute with that new nose and them spinning classes. Well, you got the attention you wanted and now you are about to lose your husband.”
“I don’t want to lose my husband,” Marie admitted.
“Marie, I’m going to make this plain for you okay?” Deb wagged her index finger. “I tried to be nice, but you are taking this too far.”
“Oh, that was her being nice?” Catie whispered to Ava. Ava nudged her.
“Your failed marriage is largely your own doing,” Deb continued. Marie opened her mouth to protest, but Deb silenced her. “Now, it’s time to get real. You haven’t had a job since Allen Jr. was in diapers, and you can’t boil a potato. A man needs something to hold on to. Something to respect and be proud to call his own. Having a nice derrière isn’t enough, honey.” She paused before walking off. “I need to find that silk headscarf I gave Anita for her fiftieth birthday. It’s purple. Has anybody seen it?”
“I tried to find a job,” Marie called after Deb in vain. “Allen said I didn’t need to work!”
“Give him time, Auntie,” Anaya finally said. “It’s all pretty fresh, but if you give him space, I’m sure things will get better. After all, ‘to err is human, but to forgive is divine.’ Alexander Pope said that.”
“Yep,” Catie said throwing another sock. “Sometimes you have to forgive and forget. ‘Forgive them for hurting you and forget they exist.’”
“That’s dope.” Ava gave the thumbs up. “Who said that?”
“Kid Cudi.”
“Okay. We need to be careful here,” Sophie said, still breathing deeply. “We’re quoting the laureates and rappers all in the same space. Let’s just clear the air.” She closed her eyes and fanned the air with her arms.
“Girl, please shut up,” Catie said. “And finish going through those toys. We are going to be here all day at this rate.”
Sophie frowned. “Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“How did you guys do it, Catie?” Ava asked, dragging a full box across the room. “How did you and Antoine go from living in sin to being happily married?”
“Don’t bring up her marriage,” Sophie growled. “Catie deprived us all of seeing that event.”
“Girl, hush. I didn’t deprive you of anything. It was personal between Antoine, Amelia, and me. And it was perfect. I told y’all we are having a reception in July. And guess what? You are all invited.”
“Oh, yay,” Sophie said with sarcasm. “A reception.”
“Back to my question,” Ava said. “How did you guys get from sin to lovehappy?”
“First of all, who said we’re happy? And second of all, who are you to say we were living in sin? You don’t know my life.”
“Catie, stop pretending,” Ava said. “We know you are happy; it’s in your eyes.”
“What you see in my eyes is agony from all the hard work and compromise I have to do to keep peace in my house. You know I’m not used to keeping my mouth shut.”
“Yeah, we all know that,” Marie joked.
“It’s hard, but I have to admit it’s worth it. We wouldn’t want to bring another baby into the world if we were still fighting all the time.”
Sophie widened her eyes. “I guess Antoine has been allowed back into the Kegel reformed kingdom?”
“Girl, Antoine couldn’t wait to get his hands on me once I reinstated his privileges.” Catie stood up and twirled the fuller figure that Antoine loved so much. “Told y’all heffas to do those Kegels.”
“Wow.” Sophie was still processing. “I can’t believe you guys want another kid.”
“She’s following in my footsteps,” Ava said proudly.
“Um, not,” Catie said. “We only want two. We don’t need a basketball team. It’s too much work and too expensive.”
“But the Bible says—”
Catie held up her hand. “Ava, darling, I know the Bible says wonderful things all the time. I love God too, he heard all of my cries, but God also gives us wisdom and choices. And the Bible has no bearing on how many children Antoine and I plan to have.”
“Fine. I’m just trying to help.” Ava looked frustrated. “I don’t know why you guys get so upset with me. I just want everybody to know how good God is.”
“Then stop pushing people away with condemnation,” Sophie said.
Ava furrowed her brow.
“I’m going to have to agree,” Marie chimed in. “I know you mean well, niece, but sometimes your good message gets lost in what feels and sounds like judgment.”
Ava stared at them with her mouth open. She looked over at Anaya, who was sifting through another box of toys. Anaya wouldn’t get her out of this one; she wholeheartedly agreed with the ladies.
“Why do you love God so much, Ava?” Sophie asked.
“That’s a silly question.”
“No. I really want to know. Why do you love God so much?”
“Because he is merciful and he answers prayers, and when the world is crazy, he gives me hope that things will get better. He’s my doctor, my healer, and provider.”
“That’s your message,” Sophie declared.
“Huh?”
“If you want people to give your God a chance, Ava, tell them about the good things. About the things that bring you joy and the reasons you love him. Not all that other stuff. People are imperfect and make mistakes. We don’t need to be reminded of them constantly. But everybody wants to hear about something that makes them feel good and that gives them hope.”
“I never thought about it that way.”
“Well, maybe it’s time you do. Because if you judge my life once more in the name of the Bible, you might catch these hands.” Catie raised her fists.
Ava ignored Catie and looked at Sophie gratefully. “Thanks, Sophie. I appreciate you saying that.”
The women stood back and looked at their work.
The trash pile was massive, which meant they could probably move the full boxes to Ava’s new place in one trip. As they stacked trash bags near the front door, Catie pulled Anaya to the side.
“I’m sorry about lying about Leah,” she said. “I know I didn’t handle it right, especially with all you’ve been through. I feel so bad, Ny. That was a terrible thing for me to do to you and Sophie. You guys have been here for me and I lied to you. Can you please forgive me?”
Anaya just nodded. She had forgiven Catie a long time ago, she just hadn’t been able to admit it. She had let her pride get in the way of progress.
“I love you, Anaya,” Catie continued. “You are my family, my sister, and I can’t live without you in my life. Being here and hardly speaking to each other—it’s weird and it’s wrong. I will never lie to you again.”
Anaya wiped the tears from her eyes and hugged Catie. Life was about owning mistakes and forgiving. And that’s what she did. At some point, we all needed forgiveness.
“I love you, Caitlin.”
“I love you, too.”
“I’m sorry for not forgiving you earlier.”
“Girl, please. There is nothing for you to apologize for. That was a massive lie I let linger. I understand where you were coming from. But I will never betray our friendship or your trust ever again.”
Anaya nodded and attempted to stem the stream of tears.
“Now let’s get Ava and her family out of this house before she changes her mind.”
“Aw, I’m so happy!” Sophie ran over to Catie and Anaya. “Group hug.”
Ava joined them. “Praise the Lord!”
“It’s never too soon to change our minds when we are wrong about something,” Anaya sniffled.
“And it’s never too soon to make up our minds about things that have held us emotionally captive,” Sophie said.
Catie nodded. “And it’s never too soon to learn to let go of things that cause you pain.”
“And it’s never too soon to get to know Jesus, who is the lily of the val
ley,” Ava said.
Catie reached out her hands like she was going to strangle Ava, while Anaya and Sophie pulled her back, laughing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A Bay Area native, Tamika Christy began writing at an early age, prompted by the gift of a journal. She continued writing throughout college where she realized her talent for creating intriguing plots and multidimensional characters. Using words to paint vivid landscapes of the emotions, triumphs, and the madness of life, Tamika continued to nurture her love for writing while attending law school, where she gave birth to her first novel, Any Time Soon, which won the Next Generation Finalist Award for African American Fiction.
Now a practicing attorney, Tamika still devotes time to her love of writing. She describes her writing as urban prose—funny, warm, and soulful with blunt dialogue and familiar realism.
Book One in the Anaya Goode Series
Frenzied. Overburdened. Stressed. Overwhelmed. These are just a few ways to describe college senior Anaya Goode’s life. Add to this no career prospects following a looming graduation, and Anaya quickly finds herself drowning in the chaos of her own life. Her family and friends demand much of Anaya, and she’s struggling to balance herself in the mire. Facing an onslaught of grief, complex relationships, and a life that is full of deafening noise, Anaya must find herself, and maybe even true love and redemption, amid old traditions and new beginnings.
Any Time Soon was a Finalist Award Winner in the African American Fiction category at the Indie Next Generations Awards in 2014.
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