The Resolution

by Michelle Lindo-Rice

  Geneva chewed her gum to keep her ears from popping at that altitude. “He hasn’t called, but I didn’t expect him to either. When Joshua left, things were kind of up in the air.”

  “What about you? Have you reached out to him?”

  She nodded. “I sent him the Scripture on the parable of the rich young ruler to read. I believe Joshua loves God, but his one hesitation is the thought of giving up all he’s worked hard to achieve. He doesn’t know how much he’ll actually gain.”

  “Exactly. And not just spiritually.” Isabella gave her a pointed stare.

  “Thanks, girl. I love him, but I can’t sway from my principles. I did with Josh and look where that got me.” She studied the clouds for a minute. They looked so beautiful. Who knew they could hold so much rain? “I have poor taste in men. One was double-minded and wanted everything but me. Another wants me—I’m sure of that—but he wants to hold me, God and everything else.”

  “What did Joshua say about the Scripture?”

  “He hasn’t answered me yet. I think it’s because he has had performances every night.” She swallowed. At least that’s what she hoped was the reason.

  Isabella bit her lower lip. “Do you think it’s because he didn’t feel the same way?”

  “We didn’t mention love, but there’s no way he could’ve kissed me like that and not felt a deep emotional connection. Because every time I remember, whew.” Geneva released a plume of air. “That chest-to-chest breathing was the most erotic experience of my life.”

  “Yeah, it turned me on and I wasn’t even there.” Isabella cracked up. “When I find the man God has for me, I’m trying that crap. Bet. If we can’t breathe together, we can’t be together.”

  Geneva chuckled. “It’s so much better sharing Jamaica with you.”

  Isabella’s eyes softened. “I have to admit that the thought of leaving the cold and relaxing in the tropics was an extra push. It’s negative ten degrees.” She pulled on the hem of her shorts. “My legs are freezing in this altitude.”

  “Why on earth would you wear shorts?”

  Isabella pursed her lips. “I’m going to an island. Besides, I had my long wool coat on outside.”

  Geneva shook her head. “I wouldn’t trade you for the world with your crazy butt.” She gave Isabella a quick squeeze.

  Isabella yawned. “I’m going to catch a nap because from the minute I get off that plane, it’s on.”

  Geneva gave her a blanket. “We have to get through customs first. My first plans include eating a beef patty.”

  “My first plans include getting la—”

  “Isabella!” Geneva slapped her on the wrist. “I hope you know we didn’t leave God in Ohio. He’s coming with us on this trip.”

  “You’re a killjoy. And I was going to say getting laid out on the beach.”

  “Sure you were.” Geneva joked, knowing Isabella was mostly talk.

  “Whatever, girl. I’m getting my nap. Jamaica isn’t ready for the wave known as Isabella. Just watch me.”

  Geneva had no doubt they would have a lot of fun. She would just make sure they kept it clean fun.

  Isabella drifted off, but Geneva was wide awake. She closed her eyes and conjured up an image of Joshua. She missed him so much she ached.

  She hadn’t eaten or slept well. Geneva had replayed every conversation they ever had. It was sad that during their entire time together, they hadn’t taken any pictures. She hadn’t captured a single memory of them together. She sighed. Over time, the memory would be a blur, a story to tell her children one day. As she yearned for him, she grew teary.

  How could Joshua have moved on so easily without her?

  Ch. 22

  He missed her.

  Joshua opened the door to his hotel suite and stood in the dark in the empty space. He could write a thousand love songs to express how his heart ached for Geneva, but they wouldn’t accurately depict the sentiment. Being away from her was torture. It was as if someone had stuck a knife in his heart and left it there. He was slowly bleeding for her.

  Geez. He sounded like one of those men in a sappy romance. Not that he’d ever admit to reading any.

  Joshua sauntered into this bedroom and undressed. Sean and Mongoose had wanted him to hang with them, but he had declined. It was nearly midnight and the Thursday before New Year’s Day. He still had six shows before he was done.

  “You can’t put fame over your faith, or a female.” Geneva’s words haunted Joshua more than once. He wasn’t doing that. He had an obligation. Joshua believed God understood.

  He picked up his cell and scrolled to Geneva’s last message. All she had written was: Matthew 19: 16-23. Read it aloud. Nothing else. He knew from a picture posted online of her dragging her small suitcase into the airport alone that she had gone to Jamaica.

  The Internet had come for him. They called him outside his name for not going with her after his very public appeal. Brandon had wanted to post an explanation on his behalf, but Joshua had stopped him. He deserved all that they had to say about him.

  Joshua showered and massaged his shoulders. He wished he had visited the spa, but when he wasn’t performing, he rested.

  Joshua slid under the covers and opened the Bible. He had avoided the Scripture, instinctively knowing he wouldn’t like what it had to say.

  He flipped to the book of Matthew and cleared his throat. “Good master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” He knew that. You have to follow the commandments. He read on. Jesus told the young man that same thing. Then Joshua read verses19 and 20 where the young man asked if there was more to salvation. Joshua straightened. “Exactly, that’s what I want to know. What else is there besides believing and following the commandments?”

  He read verse 21. “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” Joshua’s eyebrows furrowed. “Say what? To serve Christ, I’ve got to be poor? That makes no kind of sense.”

  He looked around the room, but no one was there to answer him. He continued reading. The young man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. Joshua frowned. Geneva was wrong for this. He wanted to serve God. He just had his obligations. Joshua’s eyes stood transfixed on verse 22. His voice cracked. “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”

  Joshua’s own words came back to him. It was as if they were being recited in his ear. “I worked hard to get here. I can’t give it up with a snap of my fingers. Why can’t I have God and fame?” Goose bumps rose on his arms. Joshua swung his legs off the bed and put his head in his hands. The truth pierced his heart. He was just like that young man. His words said as much.

  Joshua reached behind him for the Bible. He had to man up and finish the text. His voice filled the room. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

  Joshua’s heart pumped with such force that he placed a hand over his chest. He had ditched the woman he claimed to love because he was afraid to lose millions. Millions, when Geneva was worth so much more.

  And what about God?

  Joshua shook his head. He couldn’t calculate a sum for God’s worth.

  The restitution he might have paid in a contract hearing wouldn’t have hurt his net worth. Joshua rubbed his head. Dread pranced around his stomach. “Oh God, I made the wrong choice. I made the wrong choice.”

  Joshua picked up his cell phone. Maybe it would all be worth it if Brandon came through with that movie script. It was close to one a.m. but Joshua called Brandon anyhow. He swore Brandon was a bat or an owl.

  “How’s it going?”

  “I’m calling about the movie. Any word on that yet?” Joshua asked.

  “Uhm, no. Er, I was… I was going to be, uhm, making that call tomorrow.”

  Joshua’s grip on his cell phone tightened. “D
on’t jerk me around. You’re hedging.” His left eye ticked. “Brandon, level with me. Is there really a movie deal?”

  “No. Not yet. I plan on setting up something—”

  “So you lied to me.”

  “No. I’m telling you, your chances are pretty good.”

  Joshua stood. “Chance? You made me give up going to Jamaica with the woman I love over a chance?”

  “No, I didn’t make you do anything. You had a choice.”

  “You said I had to come to Vegas or you’d take me to court.”

  Brandon snorted. “As if that would’ve stopped you. Who do you think you’re fooling? You wanted to be here. You were running from something or someone. Maybe Geneva said something you didn’t like, I don’t know. But you’re not going to throw blame my way. You’ve been in this business long enough to know the drill. I called your bluff. You gave in. Own up to it and don’t call me at this hour with this nonsense.”

  Joshua ground his teeth and bunched his fists. “If you were here right now, I’d—”

  “You’d do what?” Brandon taunted.

  Joshua hunched his shoulders and emitted a roar that would make the king of the jungle proud.

  “Who you mad at?” Brandon shouted through the line. “You’d better keep calm and control yourself.”

  “I’ve got to get out of here!” Joshua yelled. “I don’t belong here!”

  “Then quit the tantrum,” Brandon bellowed. “There are no chains holding you except for the ones you use to bind yourself. Now if you’re calm, we can have a conversation.”

  Some of his anger dissipated. Brandon was a jerk, but he was a right jerk. Joshua took deep breaths. He stomped to the bed and sat down, forcing himself to relax. “I’m calm,” he said in a cool tone.

  “Good. Now, what’s with you? Or should I ask, who?”

  “Geneva.”

  “Then go to her.”

  “It’s not that simple,” Joshua groaned. “She wants more than I can give.”

  “What on earth could she want that you can’t afford?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “I specialize in complicated. Tell me.”

  Joshua put the phone on speaker and massaged his temples. “I don’t know how to please God. She wants a man who makes God his priority. Her exact words were, ‘You can’t put fame over your faith or a female.’” Then he explained the parable he had read earlier that night.

  “Let me see if I understand what you’re saying. You can’t be with Geneva because she wants someone who will treasure her and God more than anything in the world.”

  “Yes.”

  “But you’re already that man.”

  “I don’t see it.”

  “Let me ask you a question. If you had to give up every single dollar you had for Zoya to come back to life. Would you?”

  “Yes. In a heartbeat. I wouldn’t even hesitate.”

  “Then you are that man. You would if you had to. It didn’t sound like she said that you must. And I’m sure God isn’t saying that either. Look at men like T.D. Jakes and DeVon Franklin. No one doubts those men’s commitment to God. And they get paid. It’s about priorities. As Toby Mac said, ‘you can’t gain the world and lose your soul’.”

  Joshua’s tension eased. Priorities. He scrunched his nose. Geneva had mentioned priorities. “I get it. I need to make God my priority, and I’m pretty sure that song is based off a verse.”

  “Probably. The point is, I don’t even believe in God and I get that what He wants is to be valued about all else. I grew up around church folks. My memory is fuzzy, but doesn’t God say something about helping you with everything anyways? So what are you worried about?”

  “Yes, He promises to carry all our burdens.” Joshua pursed his lips. Brandon’s memory was clear as crystal. “I was overwhelmed. I should’ve given that feeling to God. I feel stupid.”

  “I agree. You were an idiot. That girl doesn’t deserve you.”

  “No, she doesn’t.”

  Brandon sighed. “Consider yourself released from the contract. You’re free to leave. I’ll send Big Wheezy to finish the rest of the shows.”

  Joshua perked up. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, I see I can’t stand in the way of you and your God and your woman. I overreacted because I know I’m losing one of the best friends I’ll ever have.”

  Joshua suddenly felt light. The coil around his heart loosened. He started packing haphazardly. “Now who’s the idiot? You’re not losing me. I’ll help you with whatever you need.”

  “Maybe I need to start a gospel label.”

  Joshua’s heart soared. “That’d be cool. We’ll talk about that when I get back. Right now, there’s a girl who I hope hasn’t run out of patience.”

  “Go get yours,” Brandon said.

  “For sure. If she takes me back, she’s stuck with me for life.”

  Ch. 23

  Someone banged on the suite door. It was close to three o’clock in the afternoon. Her heart rate escalated. What was going on? Geneva shoved her feet into her flip-flops and rushed to open the door.

  “Joshua?” she asked, though she saw him standing there. And he wasn’t alone.

  Isabella trudged out of her room with her bed head. They had gotten in from the beach and had returned to their suite to relax before going out to dinner. “What’s all the commotion?” Her mouth dropped when she spotted their visitors. “Joshua?”

  “Hey, Isabella,” he said.

  “Hey!” Isabella waved. “I’ll be inside my room.”

  “What are you doing here?” Geneva asked. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Las Vegas?”

  “My boss released me from my contract and I knew where I needed to be. It took me almost fifteen hours to get here. I had to connect in Fort Lauderdale. My flight landed about an hour ago.” He cocked his head. “Can I come in?”

  Geneva noted Joshua’s weary stance and stepped back. “Of course.”

  The two men with him entered.

  “This is Pastor Luis and the notary…” He frowned and then snapped his fingers, “Miguel.” Joshua looked proud for remembering his companion’s name and dropped into a chair.

  Geneva gestured toward them. “What’s going on?”

  “Miguel and Pastor Luis are from a chapel in Las Vegas.” Joshua yawned. “They’re here to perform the ceremony.”

  Geneva shook her head. “What are you talking about?” She stormed over to where Joshua sat and pried his eyes open to see if they were dilated. “Are you high on something?”

  “No. Unless you count my being high on love.”

  Geneva rolled her eyes and begged God for patience. “Joshua, start over and explain because you’re talking in riddles.”

  He straightened. “Forgive me. I’m jetlagged. I’m making a muck of things.” He waved the men over. “Please have a seat. This will only take a minute.”

  Joshua got on one knee.

  Geneva’s mouth popped open. Was Joshua about to ask her to marry him?

  “Geneva Samson, I know I haven’t known you that long, but I Googled people who met for a short time before getting married and apparently, there are thousands. A lot of them have been married for over thirty years.” He cleared his throat. “I’m rambling.” He wiped his brow.

  Geneva put a hand over her mouth to keep from giggling. Joshua was acting like he was in a video shoot.

  “I haven’t done this before,” he said. Then he stood. “Give me a minute,” he told her holding up a finger. Joshua looked at the men and said, “Take two.” He took her hand and began again. “Geneva, I read the Scripture you sent…” Joshua trailed off.

  Isabella yelled out from her room. “Get on it with it already, Joshua. You’re killing me.”

  “Right. Yes.” Joshua straightened and then yelled, “Maybe you need to come and record this! We can post it live!”

  “Good idea. Let me get my phone,” Isabella shouted back.

  Geneva’s eyebrows rose. Some
body was real sure of himself. Thank goodness her hair was on point. She had washed, dried and straightened it when they had returned from the beach.

  Isabella bustled out to the living area with lip-gloss and mascara in her hand. She touched up Geneva’s face. Joshua took that time to visit the restroom.

  Isabella surveyed her handiwork and smiled. “You look beautiful. Now act surprised for the camera.”

  Geneva shook her head. “This is crazy.”

  Joshua returned and Isabella gave him a thumbs-up sign.

  He squared his shoulders. “Take three.” Isabella pressed the record button and gestured for Joshua to speak.

  Joshua strolled over and dropped to his knees as if he was on stage. “I know we just met, but the way I feel about you is realer than real. It would be my honor if you agree to stay with me forever.” He pulled out a ring out of his pocket. It was a peach-colored diamond. His hand shook.

  Geneva’s heart raced. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Geneva Samson, will you marry me?” Joshua asked.

  She nodded, knowing her face beamed brighter than a light bulb. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

  She tugged Joshua to his feet and the couple shared a deep kiss. Isabella whooped before turning the camera on herself. Geneva didn’t know what she was saying, but she cuddled close to Joshua.

  “You came back,” she said, as the tears flowed.

  “I love you, I love you,” he said, kissing her face. He gestured for Isabella to turn the camera back to him. Then he said, “Let’s get married on New Year’s Day.”

  Her eyes grew wide. “This New Year’s?”

  He nodded.

  She shook her head. “But my father isn’t here.”

  Joshua tucked a curl behind her hair. “I have a surprise for you. Your father’s waiting in the chapel downstairs. I knew you’d want him here to walk you down the aisle.”

  Geneva broke down. He was such a thoughtful man. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”

  Joshua wiped her face and kissed her on the lips.

  Isabella turned off the camera and wiped her face. “Dang. You guys made me do the ugly cry.” She rushed over to hug Geneva. “So, I guess you’ll be leaving me in this suite all by myself, after you made me come down here,” she teased.