by Pat Simmons
Adrian turned to her. “What did you say, babe?”
The endearment seemed to float right into her heart. She didn’t want to disturb the moment but to let the feeling linger as he returned to his seat and reached for her hands.
“Nothing,” she finally whispered.
“I have to admit, the conversation with your uncle was mind-boggling. As if I don’t have enough to do, I wouldn’t mind going on that treasure hunt. It’s almost like a genealogy search one of my friends at work always talks about.”
Brecee nodded. “I think it’s interesting that we met in St. Louis but both have Philly roots.”
Adrian wiggled a thick, silky black brow.
“What?” She nudged him a couple of times.
“Maybe that’s why I crave your presence when I’m not with you because—you belonged to me all this time, and I didn’t know it.” Standing, he pulled her to her feet, then gathered their empty plates. He placed them on the food cart with the other dirty dishes. “Come on. Walk me to my car.”
When Adrian wrapped his arm around her waist, Brecee rested her head on his shoulder. The feeling of contentment made her sigh. She was falling in love.
Adrian didn’t want to leave. Brecee stood to the side of the massive driveway, waiting for him to turn his car around. He wanted to kiss her good-bye, but he merely waved before driving off. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he saw that she hadn't moved. She had looked so cute in her baseball outfit, so mesmerizing on the miniature stage, and so compassionate seated next to him. And there were still so many different sides of her that he had yet to explore.
How could he hope to get any schoolwork done now, thinking about her? He had postponed grad school until he thought he could fit it into his schedule. There were a lot of things he would have to shuffle around in order to be with her, but he would.
His mind wandered to his grandmother Cora Lambert. Surely, she wasn’t one of the holy rollers who had bothered Brecee’s grandfather. He would have heard those tales as a child and would have been brought up in the church. His family wasn’t anti-church; they did go, just not on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, it didn't take much of an excuse for them not to go. But, to his parents’ credit, they had instilled him with good morals. Until he’d met Brecee, that had seemed to be enough.
Still, Brecee’s uncle had piqued his curiosity. Minutes after he arrived back at his condo, Adrian called his parents.
After a cordial greeting, his father wanted to talk about the baseball game. “That was some game the Cards played against the Pirates. Nothing gets by that Rahn Maxwell...”
Adrian couldn’t focus on sports at the moment. “Pops, sorry to cut you off, but is Mom around?”
“Sure, Son. We’ll catch up later. Hold on.”
His mother came on the line moments later. She surprised him by firing one question after another about Brecee’s family. He couldn’t recall her ever showing so much enthusiasm over any woman he dated. Then again, she had met only a handful.
When she took a breather, Adrian jumped in. “They were very nice and welcoming. She definitely comes from good people, but”—he paused for emphasis—”can you believe Brecee’s grandfather and Grandma Cora worked at the same company?”
“Now, that’s a coincidence. Hmm.”
He had expected a more emotional response.
“I know Grandma Cora died when you were fairly young. Do you remember her ever taking you to church?”
His mother was silent for a moment. “Hmm. Maybe a few times. I mostly remember her being sick. Papa said it was because she lost so many babies along the way. I'm sorry, Son. Why?”
“Brecee’s uncle was under the impression that their paths had crossed, and that she was a churchgoing woman.”
His mother laughed. “Now, you know that doesn’t run in our family.”
She was still chuckling when they said their good-byes, but Adrian wasn’t ready to admit that the joke was on him. Suddenly, he had a thirst to know more about Cora Lambert.
Chapter Sixteen
A
t church the next morning, after Pastor Archie welcomed the congregation and any visitors, he looked in the direction of the Carmens’ pews. Brecee knew what was coming next.
“It’s always a pleasure when the Carmens are in town.” The pastor paused as a round of amens echoed around the sanctuary. “Sister Shae, will you and your family give us a selection?”
Just like Christians didn’t go to church without their Bibles, the Carmens didn’t leave home without their instrument cases. They were accustomed to being asked to render a selection whenever they visited one another's churches, so they were never caught off guard but could always sing a song on demand.
One by one, Brecee and her sisters stood and filed out of the pew as the congregation gave them a hearty reception. They were followed by Garrett, carrying his and Shari’s saxophone cases, and by Victor and Dino with their saxophone and trumpet.
‘“Lord of the Harvest,”’ Stacy whispered as she slid behind the organ.
Brecee passed the word to the others, then borrowed a guitar from a church band member and strapped it over her shoulder as Shae positioned herself behind the drum set. Victor and Dino stood in front of microphones with their instruments ready to go.
The expression on the faces of several single women in the front row amused Brecee. They looked as if they were salivating as they watched her cousins, and she mused that they were on the brink of sanctification, with the devil urging them to cross over to the lustful side.
Victor was older by four years to Dino, but both were equally good- looking, with an unusual shade of brown eyes and full, shapely lips. Given their rich dark skin that resembled Shari’s, almost everybody who met them at the same time assumed she was their sister instead of their cousin. They had yet to be caught by a woman.
“Praise the Lord, everybody,” Shae said, drawing Brecee’s attention back to the present. “We stand before you to worship. Won’t you join us in singing ‘You Are My Daily Bread/Lord of the Harvest’?” The Fred Hammond tune was nonstop energy. Soon, all the saints were on their feet, clapping and singing along.
The Holy Ghost stirred His people in the sanctuary. Soon, it became an encore of the earlier praise and worship segment. And it wouldn’t have been a Carmen family performance if it didn’t allow space for Shari and Garrett to serenade the Lord on sax in their competitive spirit. Finally, Shae ended the song on her drums to a standing ovation of cheers and thunderous applause.
As they stepped down from the pulpit, the church musicians got back in place and picked up the song. They made their way back to their seats as the congregation continued to rejoice and cry in their worship of God.
“Amen, amen,” Pastor Archie said when the music stopped. He stepped up to the pulpit and opened his Bible. “Thank you, Carmen sisters and family. Yes, Jesus is our Daily Bread and the Lord of the harvest. I had prepared a sermon to preach, but I feel led to speak extemporaneously along the lines of the song we just sang.
“In Matthew nine, verse thirty-seven, Jesus lets us know that His daily bread often goes to waste because we—Christians, the saints of the Most High God—we’re leaving food on the table or in the field. We’re letting it go to waste. We may witness about God’s goodness, but it’s God’s salvation that we’re leaving in the field. Are you representing Christ? Yes? Then why aren’t you busy gathering in the harvest of souls? It’s self-reflection day here at Bethesda Temple. Let us wake up from our slumber.”
Hadn’t God convicted Brecee of that very thing just yesterday? And here she was today, listening to a confirmation from Pastor Archie. Lord, help me to leave Your calling card, came her silent prayer.
Other souls seemed just as convicted as they shouted, “Help us, Lord,” or stood to their feet with a shout of “Amen!”
The sermon concluded with an invitation for salvation. “This is your day,” Pastor Archie proclaimed. “Let God pluck you out of the harvest o
f sin. He is here today to save you. The Bible says to repent and be baptized, every one of you....”
As Brecee prayed for others to make a decision for a lifestyle change, she thought about Adrian. Until he made Jesus his daily bread, then he would stay in the harvest. Lord, help me to be a light. I know that You alone can feed his soul.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after My righteousness, for I will fill them, God whispered, bringing to mind Matthew 5:6.
Then, Lord, please give Adrian a hunger like no other. Brecee continued to pray until the altar call had ended and dozens had repented and requested baptism in Jesus’ name. Before the benediction a half an hour later, many of those candidates for baptism had received the Spirit, with God speaking through them in a heavenly language.
Once the service ended, Shae gave hugs and kisses all around. “Brecee knows the code to disarm the security system at the house, so go make yourselves at home.”
Dino and Victor were going with her to the station to change and then go to the ballpark for the afternoon game.
“Having Rahn in the family has its benefits,” Victor joked, but was serious. He had said on more than one occasion that he and Dino couldn’t get enough of the perks of having a celebrity baseball player as a cousin-in-law.
“The best is, he’s my husband.” Shae kissed Sabrina before handing her off to Brecee, while their mother grabbed the diaper bag.
Sabrina fretted, which she usually did whenever Brecee took her home on Sundays. That happened a lot during baseball season. Although Shae could have taken off work, her family liked to watch her anchor the news when they were in town. Her career success was a great source of pride and honor for the Carmens.
Back at the Maxwells’, everyone changed out of their church clothes, and then the women took over the kitchen while the men flopped in front of the flat-screen television in the home theater, under the guise of watching the children.
With the others coupled off after dinner, including her mother and Uncle Marcellus, Brecee interacted with her niece and nephews, whom she would miss terribly once they were gone.
She tested their memory skills with games and books. When she started singing, the children seemed to take that as their cue to bang on the toy drums and strum the guitar or dance on the miniature stage. Taking a seat in the front row, she egged them on. Soon, Marcellus joined her.
“Can we talk?” he asked, sliding into the seat next to her.
“Sure.” They hadn’t spoken one-on-one all weekend.
“I’m in love with your mother—a lady of class, beauty, and deep spiritual understanding.”
Tilting her head, she observed him. Garrett did favor him slightly. “Does my mother know you feel this way?”
“She does, even though she’s not wearing my ring—yet.”
So, ring shopping was in his future. Brecee still wasn’t sold of her mother getting remarried, especially before Brecee could have her own wedding.
“But I’m protective of everything and everyone she cares about. You possess those same qualities, Brecee, to bring any man to his knees to do your bidding.”
Brecee sighed, then glanced back at the stage. “Oh, I’ve been there and done that with men in my past—they made me the priority. I think Adrian wants to, but he can’t....” She was embarrassed to admit it, but she continued, “I have to accept that he is a busy man at this time in his life. I was the same way when I was in residency, working long hours. Dating was a pastime, not a priority. Adrian is trying to juggle things—school, work....”
“I like Adrian,” Uncle Marcellus stopped her. “But you’re a Carmen. Demand respect without opening your mouth, and you’ll get it.” He didn’t blink as Sabrina wailed. T.J. picked her up and brought her to Brecee. “Never settle in a relationship—never. When you become a priority in his life, he will reshuffle things. If not, I recommend you become the woman who got away.”
Why did his words sound like something her father would have said to her in this situation? “Thanks for reminding me, Uncle Marcellus.”
His grunt became a chuckle. “I had no problem racking up frequent- flyer miles to see Annette. Let him work for your affection, honey. You’re worth it.”
“I am, aren't I?” Brecee giggled.
Marcellus maintained a straight face as he nodded. He was serious.
She sobered. “Okay. I got it.” After a moment, she couldn’t resist tacking on, “You know, it still seems weird...my mother, dating.”
“I love Annette. Watch and see if I don’t prove it.” Marcellus planted a kiss on her cheek and stood. “Now, my lady awaits. I’m here if you need me. Ask your sister Shari or Garrett. If I say something, I mean it.”
Adrian knew Brecee wanted more of him. Frankly, he wanted more of her, too. They had snuck in a few breakfast dates, but grad school was especially demanding as finals loomed. Two more weeks, and then the semester would be finished, only for the summer session to begin three weeks later.
It was Saturday night. He should have been taking her out for dinner and a movie or on a walk through the park, but he couldn’t. He had lost too many points for missing the midnight deadline when she’d called him for the first time.
He rubbed his face as he stared at his laptop, trying to review the key points of his business analysis.
It didn’t help that his curiosity to know more about his maternal grandmother was building by the day. Had his grandmother been that gung ho for God, and he hadn’t inherited any of that yearning? If so, when and why had there been a disconnect?
I’m fulfilling My promise to your grandmother, God whispered.
“What?” Adrian blinked at the computer monitor, then closed his eyes. He heard the voice again and shivered. Was God actually talking to him?
“What promise did You make to my grandmother?”
No response.
Rubbing his neck in frustration, Adrian stared at his computer screen, thinking. He needed answers; but since his mother didn’t have them, and God seemed to, he would have to start his treasure hunt in the house of God. As much as he hated the thought of giving up his only day off, he was going to church in the morning. He wouldn’t let Brecee know his plan, though, just in case he changed his mind.
After shutting down his computer, Adrian prepared for bed. Hours later, his alarm sounded too soon, and he fumbled around with his smartphone, then hit snooze and rolled over. He repeated this process two more times before finally throwing off his covers getting out of bed.
By now, it was almost nine o’clock. So much for getting in an hour or two of studying before he left for the service.
He showered, ate breakfast, and dressed in one of his designer suits, then headed for Brecee’s church. It wasn’t long before he turned into the parking lot and found a space. He took a deep breath as he racked his brain, trying to remember the last time he had been inside a church. Probably when he’d attended a friend’s wedding last year. Had it really been that long?
Adrian grimaced. “Sorry, God.’’ He stepped out of his car and headed for the entrance. Once he was inside, he realized the church was bigger than it looked. How was he going to find Brecee?
“Hello,” a woman in a blue uniform greeted him. “Are you visiting with us today?”
“Yes.”
Her smile was warm. “Welcome to Bethesda Temple.” She handed him a contact card, on which he quickly scribbled his name, home address, and cell phone number. He almost whipped out one of his business cards but decided against it. “Would you happen to know Brecee Carmen?” he asked the woman.
Her eyes lit up. “Why, of course. She usually attends with her sister Shae Maxwell, the news anchor.”
Adrian exhaled. “Would you mind pointing me in the direction of where they—”
“Nonsense, sugar. I’ll take you to them, and you’re right on time to get in some of the praise and worship before Pastor preaches.” She patted him on the arm. “Come with me.”
The music and voices pul
sated as he peeked through the open doors into the large sanctuary. The music captured his attention, but there was an unexplainable tug on his spirit, he couldn’t explain.
Everyone was standing. The woman he was following seemed to count her steps with soldier-like precision as she led him down the aisle and pointed at the pew where she stopped.
Brecee and Shae were standing with their arms outstretched, worshipping God. Their eyes were closed, so after a whispered thanks to the woman, he squeezed in next to Brecee, trying not to disturb her.
He did a quick assessment of his lady. He had never seen her look so dainty. Her dress was fitted at the waist, accentuating her slender figure, and flared at her hips before stopping at her knees. Her hair hung down her back in curls, and she’d topped off the look with a hat. So, this was what he had been missing every Sunday? How had the men at this church managed to resist her beauty? Maybe because she’s always been mine.
This is about Me! God reminded him in a voice that seemed to drown out the singers.
Embarrassed, Adrian quickly apologized and looked away. The moment his foot caught the rhythm of the song, the musicians and singers wrapped it up.
The expression on Brecee’s face when she noticed him as she went to sit down would forever be etched in his mind. She looked surprised, then happy, and then as if she was about to cry. He hoped not. He had witnessed her tears before, and he didn’t want a repeat performance. “Hi,” he whispered as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
She blushed. “Adrian! You’re here.” Then she patted his arm and leg, as if to make sure she wasn’t hallucinating.
Shae peeked over at him and smiled, so he nodded back.
Brecee sniffed, then linked her fingers through his and squeezed his hand. Her eyes reflected questions—questions that would have to wait, as the minister was now taking the pulpit.
“Good morning, church. For our visitors, I’m Pastor Archie. Please stand so that we can welcome you.”
Adrian got to his feet as the congregation gave a hearty round of applause.