by Nako
The movie wasn’t something that she was interested in, but that was what parents had to do. Sit through movies that the kids wanted to see. She placed her purse on her lap and wrapped her arms around it tight. They were in a nice area, but she would never let her guard down because that’s when a nigga tried you.
Mahogany dozed off a tad until Kareem nudged her, “Ma, you snoring!” he woke her up.
“My bad.”
She needed sleep and a lot of it, that little nap earlier didn’t do much to refuel her energy. Porter texted her mid-way through the movie, “I keep smelling you on my top lip…”
Her insides did a back flip as she counted the times he went down on her.
“I’m sorry about that…”
“Don’t you ever apologize. You became my favorite meal overnight.”
Porter Bavay was something serious…
η
Porter and church didn’t necessarily find each other in the same sentence too often, but Carmen was his sister and when she asked him to join her for Friends & Family Sunday, he couldn’t tell her no. What he didn’t expect was to be so freakin’ emotional during the praise and worship portion of the service. He found himself wiping his face with the back of his hand. Thankfully, an usher seated them in a section away from the majority of the congregation. She whispered to him on the way up the steps, “My Pastor likes to make sure that everyone is comfortable.”
Porter didn’t have to worry about who was watching him or trying to steal a flick. Porter was surrounded by people that he considered family, not just friends. Casey came to church and brought a date, that was surprising. Narie, the girl that they introduced to him at the last gathering, sat next to him, but he hadn’t paid her much attention. Nia sat on the other side of him. On the row behind him was Yara and Quentin, and a host of their other friends. He even spotted Big Mo and his wife, Teka, who he hadn’t seen in ages. She didn’t get out much.
The worship leader sung loudly into the microphone, “Everything is working together for my good. Everything is workinggggggg.” She leaned back and sang to the church. The entire church stood to its feet and clapped, including Mr. Bavay.
“It’s good, it’s good, it’s good, it’s good…it’s working for my good…this is my season,” he sang along with everyone else.
Porter felt the lone tears falling down his face and then someone’s hand had touched the small of his back and stayed there.
Nia’s…
She was comforting him, he supposed. Everyone was probably pitying him, and he was okay. Truly, he was.
“God is leaning in your direction, lean on your neighbor and tell em, ‘God is leaning in YOUR direction’.” The singer moved her body to the side. Porter did as he was instructed. He had to download this song on Tidal, this would be a nice lil’ morning pick me up on the days where he woke up feeling down.
Every day wasn’t good and everyday wasn’t bad either. He was human, and he had emotions.
After the song ended, everyone took their seats, so he followed.
The service continued with announcements, a praise dance, another song and he yawned because now he was sleepy and hungry. They had been here since eleven.
“When does the Pastor preach?” he whispered to Nia.
She giggled, “He’s up next. Carmen didn’t tell you that we be here all morning?”
His eyes got big. He was going to have to jet out early.
“I’m kidding,” she nudged his arm, playfully.
He relaxed his face and sat back in his seat. The custom-tailored suit did his body justice. He sent a picture to Mahogany and she had sent him several illicit emojis. They were planning to link up tomorrow and he couldn’t wait. She ensured him that she wasn’t running from him, had simply been busy at work. She shared with him that she had put the money into two separate savings accounts for Kareem and Genesis, her brother. Porter thought that was pretty smart. He commended her on doing the right thing with the money.
“There’s Apostle.” Nia smiled, bringing his mind back to church.
She credited that man of God to a renewed peace of mind. She suffered tremendously with anxiety, stress and depression and God used Apostle as a vessel. Every Sunday and Wednesday no matter if she could make it in the physical form or not she was tuned in via online to catch the Word. when you were desperate for change, nothing or no one could keep you from God.
She was far from perfect and there was still a lot of room for improvement, but she had come a long way, mentally and spiritually.
She knew protocol, so she stood to her feet which was what you were supposed to do when the Shephard of the house took the podium.
Porter remained seated.
“My, my, my...I feel Him in here on today!” his voice was strong, bold and courageous.
He lifted one of his hands in the air and said, “Church, it’s not too late. God said He will fill you up.” He shook his head.
“Whew! God is in hereeeeeeeeee. Glory be to God! Who else is happy about still being here? I know I got a witness!”
Yara and Quentin stood up and clapped.
“Alright Apostle!” Quentin was a PK which was known as a Pastor’s Kid in the church and Porter was aware of his upbringing in the church.
“God said, He may not come when you want ‘em…” then he stopped talking and titled his head waiting for the church to fill in the latter.
Porter heard Nia say loudly, “But He’s right on time!” She even did a lil’ church girl leap with it.
“I ain’t going there with y’all today. Sit down. Sit down. Some of us know about crying out to God in the midnight hour! Am I the only one that done begged God to make me smile again? I said, God, I need you to fill me up. God, I need unspeakable joy again.” That last statement pulled P onto his feet.
He clenched his fist to his mouth, trying his hardest to stifle in his cry as he reminisced on his time in France. He had been there before. His life was dark, and he was depressed.
“I know I’m not the only one that thought about taking my life. We’re still here. God kept us for a time such as this! Today, we gon’ dance. Life is worth living, church of God. The devil did not win,” he said loudly into the microphone. Porter saw the tears in the man’s eyes. He was being sincere and was speaking from his heart.
“God, we love you. It’s us, God. Your desperate people. Thank you for not letting us slip. I rebuke that spirit of depression and suicide in here today! YOU WILL LIVE. God said your better days are ahead of you!” he belted.
Porter was overwhelmed with emotion. He lifted his head and took a deep breath.
“Thank you, God,” he couldn’t remember the last time he had even gave Him the praise that He was due. He was shamed.
All his blessings, his riches…he was an orphan for goodness sake…God had kept him from birth.
“Thank you, God,” he said it again as he clapped boldly.
Everyone around him was in their own conversation with Christ. He had never an encounter such as this before.
Then someone tapped him, “P, I think he’s talking to you.”
His eyes landed on the podium. He pointed to his chest.
“Yep, you. Young man, God told me to tell you that today is the last day that you worry about the past. God told me to tell you that you have cried your last tears and He is about to double your portion. For your hard work, he’s going to bless your business. For your tears, he’s going to make you laugh. For your sadness, he’s about to make you smile. Receive it today.”
And that was all he remembered before he collapsed to his knees.
After service, he stood in the parking lot with the gang.
“Can we go eat?” Carmen was so happy that everyone showed up and it seemed as if they were all swell with joy from God showing up for them.
“Me and P gotta go check Burke,” Casey let her know that they had prior plans.
She pouted, “Send him my love. Well okay, what about the rest of y’all tri
cks?”
“Ma’am, we are still at church, even if we aren’t inside,” Teka reminded her.
“Girl, it was tricks in the Bible. What y’all got a taste for?”
η
They had been hella busy and should’ve been checked on Burke, especially since he had gotten the call two days ago, but Sunday was the only day that worked with he and Casey’s schedule.
“Church had a nigga feeling like a lil girl,” Casey snickered.
Porter had no comment. What took place earlier was spiritual and he felt…clean. Renewed. Rejuvenated. It was sort of like he had run a marathon and had reached the end. Only now, his adrenaline was increased, and he wanted to run another one.
“Did you get a chance to see if she was going to meet us today?” he changed the subject and refocused on Burke and his present issue.
Casey shook his head as he drove them to the rehabilitation center where their friend was housed.
“These were his exact words, ‘FUCK HIM AND HE BETTER GET HIS SHIT TOGETHER BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE’.”
He added, “Then she hung the phone up. I didn’t bother calling back.”
Porter sighed, “What happened to him?”
Burke was one of his smartest and strongest friends, if not the smartest.
He was a calculated guy, this wasn’t like him at all.
“Do you know if his parents suffered from addiction?”
Casey shook his head. “He don’t talk about them much, but shit, do any of us?”
None of them had come from ideal situations, which is what pushed them to become the made men that they were presently.
“This nigga gotta kick this demon…I’m not letting him go out like this.” He refused.
They made it shortly after four and the receptionist told them that visiting hours would be ending soon.
“All the money we’re spending and they gon tell us when we gotta leave?”
That was absurd.
Porter mumbled under his breath, “Motherfuckers.”
Burke was shooting hoops in the gym.
“Oh, they was able to revive you. Perfect.” Casey’s sense of humor was extremely dry.
Porter cringed at the look on Burke’s face.
“Bitch, fuck you.” Burke threw the basketball in his direction, but he dodged it.
“Nah, fuck them drugs and get your shit together. We’re rich, we don’t do crack.”
Burke turned the other way and then before anyone could say anything, he rushed Casey and a fist landed on his jaw.
“Come on, y’all tripping.” Porter tried to break it up, but they went at it for a few minutes, so he let them have that shit.
“YOU GOT US OUT OF A FEW MILLY!”
Burke didn’t care about no money. “You want that shit back? When your ass ain’t have a place to lay your head or wash your ass, who gave you a home?” he spat.
“Alright, alright.” Porter wanted him to chill out. Words hurt, they all were crossing lines.
“Who helped you clear the balance for you to graduate from law school? Come on homie, don’t forget.” He was seething.
Casey wiped blood from his mouth.
“I gave you that shit back twice over, so don’t you ever throw that shit in my face.” He wasn’t playing with him.
“Casey, on my kids, I never want to see you again.” He had tears in his eyes.
Porter hated raising his voice.
“Aye, ain’t nobody cutting nobody off. We’re family. Y’all both went too far, so fuck that shit you spittin’. Burke, you can’t be in here overdosing. Who the fuck brought you drugs anyway?” he asked him.
He wanted them to get the hell on.
“Y’all don’t know what I’m going through,” he complained.
“Man, get your shit together. No more pity parties for you. Your wife is pregnant. That’s what we came to tell you.” The cat was out of the bag. He didn’t have time to hold his hand. He needed to get clean, point blank period. He had a whole family to live for and if that wasn’t enough motivation to pull it together then that was on his stupid ass. Casey no longer had sympathy for him. Porter understood where he was coming from, but his approach was wrong.
“Pregnant?” Burke seemed taken aback. “Tee is pregnant?”
“Yes, B. Pregnant. I know you wanna be there, so come on man…” He patted his shoulder.
He shook his head. “That ain’t my baby.”
Casey’s eyes got big. “Word?”
He wouldn’t lie about that. “Man, I haven’t fucked her in like three years.”
The fuck.
“I gave her ass five racks to take the kids to Disney World next weekend,”
Porter said aloud.
Casey thought to himself, “See, shit like this…I’m never getting married. Lying ass hoe.”
η
“Oohhhhhhhh...” She was so happy to take those shoes off; her dogs were barking.
“Nobody told you to try and get sexy for me in the middle of the week,” he chuckled as she flexed her toes back and forth.
She flung him her middle finger. “I’m going to freshen up and I’ll meet you on the balcony, k?”
Porter nodded his head. “Let me find out that you got a lil’ connection with the deck. Would you like some wine and cheese madam?”
Him and that accent did something to her, “Sounds divine,” she gave him her best French voice.
Mahogany removed the makeup she wore for their dinner date. Tonight, he wined and dined her, and the restaurant was so nice. She tried escargot and some five-hundred-dollar steak that was bigger than the table. It tasted good but was way too much. Porter told her that he didn’t eat leftovers, but she did, so she had the waiter pack it up for her to take home.
Once her face was bare again, she washed it with a facial cleanser and then added a nighttime serum. The red dress that she wore made P do a double take when she walked down the steps of her building. He got out of the car, whistling and carrying on, causing the few people who hung outside to get a good look at the girl who they were used to seeing in baggy sweats and sneakers.
Her hair was back in her signature long blonde extensions and her stylist wand curled them, so instead in of it hanging past her buttocks, the curls stopped mid-shoulder. She fingered through them as she waited on her face to dry.
After she washed up quickly in the sink, she slipped on a black satin nightie that came past her thigh. It was sexy but not overdoing it.
“Bae,” he called out, loudly through the halls.
“I’m coming.”
She hadn’t even been gone long. Mahogany gathered all her things and threw them in her bag, then stuck it under the cabinet. She’d retrieve it when she left the next morning.
“Yes, Mr. Bavay.”
He was on his laptop.
“How did you start working that fast?” She hadn’t seen him in a few days and missed him tremendously.
“I was trying to tell you that your phone is ringing.”
She picked up her iPhone that was on the end of the table and saw the four missed calls from an unknown number. It was no one but her stupid ass ex.
“Nobody important. Where is the wine?” Her mood had switched that fast and he noticed it.
“Did you enjoy dinner?”
She nodded her head as she walked into the kitchen, not waiting on him to get up and pour her a glass. It shouldn’t have been hard to find the bottle.
“I got it babe.” He hopped up and followed behind her. He kissed her forehead “Relax.”
Her mind was somewhere, but it wasn’t the present.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” He didn’t like seeing her so down.
“Nothing.” She let him hug and hold her, although she wasn’t reactive to his touch.
“I don’t believe you.”
Porter let her go to grab a glass from the cabinet near the sink.
“Red?”
“I want whatever I had the last time.”
/> He poured her a little more than what would be considered a normal serving and handed it to her.
“He who angers you, controls you.” His mom used to tell him that all the time.
She closed her eyes as she sipped the wine, loving the spicy taste that greeted her taste buds.
“You ever wish you could…un-fuck somebody?” She was being real tonight.
He smirked, “If only you knew…” There were plenty of bitches that should’ve never even saw what he looked like below the belt.
“But what would life be like if we didn’t have those lessons? That’s what I call mistakes or things that I regret. They’re lessons.”
He wouldn’t let her sit in sorrow, not after the laid-back night that they had. Wasn’t happening on his watch.
Porter lifted her chin to him, coaxing her, “Smile.” He hated to see her frowned up. She was too gorgeous not to keep a cheerful expression on her face.
She gave him a hearty smile, saying, “Thank you.”
Although it was still the beginning, she often wondered what she would do without him. He was good for her sending encouraging messages throughout the day and overall, making her feel better about a person. He didn’t let her wallow in her misery. He told her that complaints resolved nothing, so she was becoming more conscious about what she let leave her mouth and furthermore, what she thought about. He shared with her that in the morning before he did anything, he meditated. He didn’t care if he had a million meetings, meditation was important. She had slowly begun to incorporate that into her morning ritual. Before she allowed everything to plague her mind; bills, debt, the past, hurt, pain, regret, disappointment or even setbacks. She thought about the positive things in her life at the time. Life wasn’t about how you started but how you finished. She set the pace for the day that she wanted to have. It ultimately started with YOU.
“Why don’t you tell me about your dreams?”
She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth. “Because I know you already know.” She wasn’t into playing games.
“Huh?” Had he heard her correctly. He did.