by Dijorn Moss
“Heavenly Father—” Will began, but he felt someone grab his hand. He looked up to see his father with his head bowed. “Thank you, Jesus!”
Chapter Forty-two
Jamal
New Year’s Eve / Wedding Day
Jamal preferred Italian-cut suits to penguin suits. He had deviated from the traditional tuxedo, and his best men had followed suit. His black tailor-cut suit was accentuated by a purple tie and matching handkerchief. A purple scarf was draped around his shoulders, and the transformation was complete. Jamal was hesitant to wear purple. He preferred a color that was more masculine; however, he had discovered through studying the scriptures that purple was more than the color worn by the Lakers and the Ravens. It was a color of royalty. Kings wore purple, and Jamal felt like a king.
“You know what? I’ve been down, like, four flat tires for these past couple of months, but now I got my swagger back,” Quincy reported as he checked himself out in the mirror and adjusted his tie.
“We all got our swagger turned way up.” Will inserted his handkerchief into his front pocket.
“Some more than other,” Quincy noted, referring to Chauncey, who was having difficulty with his handkerchief.
Jamal found delight at the sight of Will in a suit. Will had made a complete transformation from a skilled car thief to a fierce warrior for God. Jamal admired Will for his courage to change his life in spite of his obstacles.
“I see you, Will,” Jamal said.
“Oh, you know, I can’t wear a ProClub T-shirt and khakis on my boy’s big day.”
“Cherese is looking good. You been seeing a lot of each other lately,” Jamal said.
“Yeah, you know we’re trying to take it slow, but she’s real cool,” Will said.
“I can’t wait until I get married.” Chauncey put on his jacket.
“We can’t, either,” Quincy said. “I’ll be glad when you can experience the fourth heaven so you can loosen up,” he added to the chuckles of Jamal and Will.
“You know what, Brother Page? I spend hours praying for you to get right. I know you’re a Christian, but you got some ways about you,” Chauncey said.
“I love you too!” Quincy said, and everyone laughed.
“I love you too,” Chauncey said and shook his head.
Love was not a word that Jamal uttered to other men, but Jamal loved his brothers like King David loved Jonathan. “Hey, I love you guys. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for you guys.”
Titus entered the dressing room in a white robe, with a kente cloth draped around his shoulders. “Okay, game on. Let’s do this.”
The moment had arrived, and butterflies had a meeting in the pit of Jamal’s stomach. He would be a husband, and finally, he would be a father to Jamir. Jamal followed Titus out of the dressing room and down the hall. His knees felt a little weak, but he refused to stumble while walking to the altar. Instead, he thought about his president and tried to adopt the swagger walk that President Obama used.
“What’s wrong with your walk?” Quincy said.
“Nothing.” Jamal looked back and laughed, slight embarrassed.
The sanctuary had been transformed with white flowers and purple ribbons. Young and old, family and friends were in attendance. Jamal walked along the side of the sanctuary, with his brothers behind him, as he made his way to the front of the altar.
After a few minutes at the altar, Jamal wanted to pass out if he had to stand there any longer. The mixture of excitement and anxiety made the room spin. A pat on the back from Quincy stopped the spinning, and Jamal returned to relaxed mode. The musicians started to play Eric Benét and Tamia’s duet “Spend My Life With You.”
Jamir came out first as the ring bearer. Only three years old, he walked down the aisle by himself and stole everyone’s hearts. Jamal gave his son a kiss on the forehead when Jamir made his way to the aisle and stood in front of him. Next, the flower girls made their way down to the altar, tossing purple and white petals on the floor.
Jamal had three best men, because there was no way he could rank the importance of each man in his life. Quincy was Jamal’s ideal of success, and he had helped Jamal to exude excellence in every area of his life. Chauncey’s faith was strong enough to guide anyone through turbulent times, and Will was the most genuine person Jamal had ever met.
Groomsmen in black suits and bridesmaids in purple gowns swayed to the music as they made their way down to the altar and positioned themselves alongside the bride and alongside the groom. The ushers closed the doors, the music stopped, and then the longest moment passed before the sanctuary doors reopened. The music began playing again, which meant one thing: Chantel was prepared to make her way down the aisle. She had on a white veil and a smile that could be seen from a distance through the veil. Every doubt had been wiped from Jamal’s mind, and he saw the one woman who understood him the best come down the aisle.
She walked down the aisle by herself. For years Chantel had been estranged from her family, and she had not grown up with a sense of family and unconditional love. That all would come to an end today. Jamal and Jamir would love her unconditionally, and Jamal would be her hero, and Jesus would be her Savior.
When Chantel was close enough, Jamal took her by both hands, and the two faced each other. The warmth of Chantel’s hands quickened Jamal’s heart as if it were the first time he had touched her.
“Let us pray.” Titus placed his hands on Jamal’s and Chantel’s shoulders.” Lord, we come to you to celebrate the union of this couple. As they make a commitment both to each other and to you, I pray that we are all reminded of the commitment we have made both to you and to each other. Amen.”
“You’re beautiful,” Jamal whispered to Chantel.
Chantel flashed a big smile, and Jamal could barely contain his desire to kiss her and place everything at his wife’s feet.
“Marriage carries such significance that when Jesus was on the earth, he attended a wedding. So therefore marriage is not a simple union between man and woman, but a commitment that involves man, woman, and God.” Titus turned toward Jamal. “Jamal, do you take Chantel as your wife?”
“I do.” Jamal let a chuckle slip, because he was certain that there would be days when he wished he didn’t.
“And, Chantel, do you take Jamal as your husband?”
“I do,” an ecstatic Chantel said.
The ceremony was traditional, but Chantel and Jamal had decided to take communion together. With each vow exchanged, Jamal knew he was ready to go the distance with her.
“You may kiss the bride,” Titus said.
Jamal kissed Chantel, and though it wasn’t the first time he had kissed her, it was the first time he had kissed her as his wife, and that distinction alone was special.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Jamal Taylor,” the DJ announced over the microphone in the grand ballroom of the Carson community center.
Jamal and Chantel walked out into a ballroom filled with family, friends, and members of the church. Jamal was amazed at how many people had chosen to spend their New Year’s Eve celebrating his and Chantel’s vows. The year had been filled with highs and lows for Jamal, but this night nullified all the lows.
The ballroom was decorated in Jamal and Chantel’s wedding colors. Some guests dined on a simple meal of herbed chicken and red potatoes, while everyone else danced, as they had come to party.
“I love you,” Chantel uttered into Jamal’s ear over the boisterous music.
“I love you too.” Jamal snuck a kiss before Chantel could respond.
“I want to dance.” Chantel stood up in her formfitting white gown.
“Man, I’m retired. I get out on the dance floor and I might hurt myself.” Jamal took a sip of his iced tea.
“Come on, old man.” Chantel took Jamal by the hand.
Jamal and Chantel made their way to the dance floor. They danced to a song from the new jack swing era. Jamal and Chantel laughed they pe
rformed popular dances from the early nineties. Then the music changed to a modern song, and the younger people got on the dance floor and started dancing.
“We’re not about to let them outdo us,” Chantel said to Jamal.
Chantel started to dance as best she could in her dress, while Jamal danced his way to exhaustion. The young adults responded by dancing more energetically, and a battle ensued, with Jamal and Chantel gracefully bowing out to the more vigorous group.
“We’re going to party like this for the rest of our lives,” Chantel shouted over the loud music as the DJ switched to a slower tempo song and more people started to dance.
“With God’s blessing,” Jamal said.
“Congrats,” Chauncey said as he and Rachel danced around them.
“You’re next,” Jamal said.
Quincy and Karen danced and exchanged laughs. Even Will managed to get out on the dance floor and allow Cherese, the young lady he met in Palm Springs—and who, it turned out, lived in Los Angeles—to guide him through a dance. The four brothers of God were still intact. Jamal had vowed to be a good father to Jamir, a good husband to Chantel, and a great friend to his brothers.
Epilogue
Will became fidgety as the line stood still for several minutes. He preferred a nice evening instead of this cattle call of an environment.
“I told you we should’ve gone to the one in Gardena,” Odell said as he looked on.
“The one in Gardena is usually busy as well,” Cherese said.
“I’m saying, though, in a minute I’m going to cut out of line and get my own plate,” Odell said.
“Dad, be cool. We’re going to eat soon enough,” Will remarked.
“Man, I’m about to get it in.” Joshua rubbed his stomach.
Carroll was too wrapped up in a game of peekaboo with Elisha to worry about how slowly the line moved. Will had noticed that he had passed at least three Home Town Buffets before the family decided to come to the one in Hawthorne.
“My bad on the wait, but this one is supposed to be really good,” Will said to Cherese.
“I’m not tripping. It’s okay.” Cherese flashed Will her award-winning smile.
“I am. These people are playing with me, walking around with their salads and chicken, teasing me,” Odell said.
They arrived at the front of the line just when Will’s father was about to go off. Will paid for the entire family with his debit card and followed Cherese through the salad bar. Cherese was a down chick, and Will loved that about her. Moments later, Will and Cherese made it to the table where Odell, Carroll, Elisha, and Joshua sat with plates of food.
“Like I said, bro, we’re about to get it in,” Joshua said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation of his first bite.
“But first . . .” Will took Cherese and Joshua by the hands. Odell and Carroll joined in, and even Elisha, with her petite hand, held on to his mother’s hand. “Thank you, Father, for family and for your grace, which sustains. Bless this food, and bless those who prepared it. In Jesus’s name, amen!”
They ate as a family, with Cherese giving Joshua firm smacks on the hand whenever he tried to reach over to her plate.
“Please, Lord, let it be a boy. Please, Lord.” Quincy could not recall the last time he had prayed so hard. He suspected it might have been when the Cowboys were in the Super Bowl.
“Relax, Q,” Jamal said as he patted his friend’s shoulder in the waiting room.
“I can’t relax, and where is this fool at?” Quincy groaned, referring to Dwight, who had vowed to be there at his child’s birth.
“He’ll be here,” Chauncey said as he put away his magazine.
Karen came in, frantic. “The baby is crowning. Where is he?”
“I don’t know, but I’m here.” Quincy stood up and made his way toward the door.
Just as Quincy reached the door, Dwight ran in.
“I’m here, Mr. Page. I’m sorry I’m late, but—”
“Save it, and get in there.” Quincy turned Dwight around and ushered him to the door.
“I told you,” Chauncey said.
“Yeah, you were right. Now, all I need is for my grandchild to be a boy, and I’ll be happy. I can’t handle another girl in my life.”
“Whatever is the case, we’re here for you,” Jamal said.
Moments later Karen emerged with a smile on her face. “Your daughter gave birth to a healthy baby girl.” Karen embraced a stunned Quincy.
“I figured that. Congrats, Brother Page.” Chauncey patted Quincy on the back.
Jamal was smart enough to keep his distance, because Quincy proceeded to haul off and smack Chauncey upside the head.
“Go look.” Karen pointed toward the delivery room.
Quincy took slow steps toward the delivery room. He tried to catch his breath, for once he saw his granddaughter, his nightmare would become an official reality. Quincy entered the delivery room and walked around a curtain that shielded his daughter. Nurses were working to clean up the area, and Dwight stood over a physically worn Sasha. Dwight looked like a proud father, and Sasha had a maternal glow that superseded the sweat and tears in her eyes.
“Dad, come on and meet your granddaughter,” Sasha said as cradled the baby in her arms.
Quincy got close enough to give Dwight a handshake and take a look at his grandbaby. Her eyes stole Quincy’s heart. It was like he had witnessed the birth of Sasha all over again.
“We named her Faith.” Sasha extended the tiny baby to Quincy.
Quincy held Faith in his hands as she fussed and cried.
“Faith! That’s all right!” Quincy said as he pondered how faith and love went hand in hand.
Readers’ Questions
1. In The Retreat 2 Chauncey tries to find love through the Internet. Is online dating an appropriate venue for Christians to meet?
2. In The Retreat 2 Jamal and Chantel live together for a while. Can a couple live together before marriage and resist temptation?
3. Quincy has to deal with his daughter being pregnant. What degree of responsibility does he and Karen have with respect to Sasha’s decisions?
4. Is Will too judgmental toward his parents?
5. In The Retreat 2 Jamal and Chantel attend premarital counseling. Is premarital counseling necessary in this day and age?
6. Chauncey falls for Rachel, a nonbeliever. Can a believer and a nonbeliever have a successful relationship?
7. Should Quincy continue to support and financially back Sasha?
8. Is Pastor Titus Dawkins in the right when he confronts the women of the church?
9. Which character do you feel grew the most by the end of The Retreat 2?
10. Would you want to see a third Retreat?
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The Retreat 2: Men After God’s Own Heart Copyright © 2012 Dijorn Moss
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