by Pat Simmons
Mackenzie: “Why do I need 2 close my eyes? U scared 4 me 2 watch u kiss my hands? Maybe I’ll cook a dish with plenty of onions. LOL”
See what I mean? She was a beautiful, curly haired tease. “I’ll email when I’m home.”
To show me she was in control, Mackenzie always had to get the last word. “Maybe.”
I never appreciated Instant Messaging until Mackenzie. It seems like nothing was better in my life until Mackenzie. Even the cereal in my bowl tasted better in the mornings.
One night, I had to attend a PRESERVE-St. Louis soiree. The event was a big deal for fundraising, and without my presence, the donations would suffer. I was no fool. I wasn’t about to miss a fundraising event my staff had worked so diligently on over a woman, but I thought about Mackenzie—often—who was doing something at a theatre.
It was after eleven Tuesday night when I arrived home, shook off my overcoat, and kicked off my shoes after I locked the door. Nothing was keeping me away from my computer, even as I almost slid into a wall as my silk socks skated on my wood floor.
Usually a neat person, I flung my clothes and let them land wherever as I booted my computer. I was hopeful Mackenzie was still awake as I signed on. She didn’t disappoint me when a message flashed at the bottom of the screen. I opened the window.
Mackenzie: “Hi.”
“I was hoping you’d wait up for me. I’m sorry I’m late. I know you’re probably tired.”
Mackenzie: “I am tired, but reading your words is like hearing your voice. Plus,
I wanted to tell you about my day.”
“I want to know about it too.” I’m sure that made her smile. Just typing the words brought a smirk to my mouth.
Mackenzie: “I’ve only been home for about an hour. After school, a few of us went downtown to this historic home that was about to be demolished. The owner said we can take anything we found.”
My eyes were strained and my body demanded rest. I rubbed my face and rotated my neck, but reading the excitement behind Mackenzie’s words rejuvenated me. “What could you find in a vacant house? It was a vacant house.”
Mackenzie: “We removed a door off a bedroom. A few ceiling lights, some panel sections of a wall, and other stuff.”
I shook my head. “Woman, you are amazing. I had no idea such treasures were hidden in a house that had nothing in it.”
Mackenzie: “Actually, an empty house can be a gold mine for theater set designers. Since this house was built in the early 1900s, we’ll have authentic pieces for plays from that era. We could’ve used it for “Guys and Dolls” that’s currently playing. We did our best.”
After her words slowed and my eyes blurred, I was too tired to tell her about my evening. “Maybe I’ll invite myself to one of your plays.”
Mackenzie: “Is that a hint?”
“When have you known me to hint at anything? LOL. Get some rest. We’ll see each other tomorrow at Bible class. If we were on a date, I would kiss you.”
Mackenzie: “Nite, Noel.”
I took that as a yes.
***
An hour before Bible class, I sat in Pastor Coleman’s office. The wood was dark and books lined the shelves. The man had library. I wondered if he had read each book.
Pictures hung neatly on two walls, depicting church events. Stacks of programs, booklets, and others rested in several piles. Surprisingly, his massive L-shaped wood veneer desk was clutter free.
Pastor Coleman didn’t frown, nor did he smile. He rocked back in his massive cushioned chair behind his desk as he grabbed a note pad. With his pen poised in the air, he asked. “What can I do for you, Mr. Richardson? You have visited us a few times.”
Leaning back, I crossed my ankle over my knee. “I have and I want to join your church.”
“I see. Have you been baptized in Jesus’ Name?” he asked with an exaggerated slowness.
“Yes. It was about fourteen or fifteen years ago.”
Folding his hands, the pastor asked, “Where?”
I bit my lip, racking my brain to recall the exact name of the storefront church. Personally, I didn’t think it was razed years ago. “I believe it was The Last Days Church of God.”
Assessing his features, I waited for his response. Thick, graying hairs matched patches springing up in his short afro. The wrinkles on his forehead and between his brows aged him.
“I recall Elder Quinn. I believe he passed away some time ago. Did you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?”
“Yes, although I couldn’t hear myself, nothing could’ve moved my mouth like that unless it was God,” I said with conviction.
Pastor Coleman released the ink pen and clasped his hands on top of his desk. “A letter from The Last Days Church of God should confirm there were witnesses that the Lord had poured His Spirit upon you. After I receive it, then we can talk about membership. You don’t need to be baptized again once you have been in the Name of Jesus.” A red light flashed on his phone, but Pastor Coleman ignored it.
“I haven’t been back to that church or any church in years. Honestly,” I admitted. “I didn’t know I needed such a thing to be at member at any church.”
“That’s understandable. In the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World organization, all of our churches require the letter as a precaution.”
He wasn’t making sense, and my face must’ve reflected my bewilderment.
Flipping through the pages of his Bible and locating the desired scripture, he turned it around and pointed to Jude: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I shifted in my seat. Now wait a minute. What was the pastor trying to say? I looked up, squinting. He met my stare with equal concentration.
“Noel, as saints of God, we can’t take any chances, assuming every person who walks through those doors is saved. The proof is in the baptism and filling of the Holy Ghost. I’m just following orders from the Master.” He pointed his finger in the air. “Please don’t take that as a personal offense.”
He folded his hands again. “It’s a simple letter, but we read between the lines for any warning of a person who has stirred up mischief. This is what I’m going to do. I’ll have my secretary call and see if their secretary can locate a record.”
I nodded my thanks.
Closing his Bible, he stood and I followed. “Until then, I recommend you go to the prayer room with some of our ministers as soon as your schedule permits. One thing about the Holy Ghost, He never leaves us, we leave Him. If God spoke through you once, He’ll speak again and someone from our congregation will have witnessed it.” After shaking hands, I left his office.
The foyer was busy with people scrambling to prayer before Bible class. As I opened the door to the sanctuary, I reflected on what Pastor Coleman had said. Did he really think I was ungodly? Choosing a pew, I knelt, and prayed.
As I got up and made myself comfortable, a soft tap on my shoulder preceded mysterious sticky fingers, covering my eyes. Mackenzie, I thought, smiling and praying it wasn’t the onions she promised.
When juicy lips smashed into my face, my heart pounded. Mackenzie was becoming bolder with her affections, and in church. She was really trying to get me put out. I reached behind me to wrap my fingers around her hands; instead I clinched two tiny wrists. They weren’t Mackenzie’s.
“Surprise!” Keisha, the younger of the two sisters, signed, giggling. I tickled her ear as Mrs. Campbell put a finger to her lips, hushing the child and offering me an apologetic smile.
Minutes later, with Keisha on my left and Daphne on my right, their mother sat directly across the aisle from us in the hearing section. I sensed Mackenzie’s presence. Turning, I looked over my shoulder. “Wow.”
Tonight a brown cap held back her curls, highlighting her cheekbones. A brown turtleneck sweater and a long velvet skirt covered her curves
. Boots added height. Casual for her was sophisticated to me.
She stepped into the row in front of me and knelt to pray before sitting in the designated interpreter’s chair. The sisters signed excitedly at Mackenzie. She gave them her undivided attention. After a few minutes, she gave me her undivided attention.
“You haven’t been at this church a month and already you’ve got two girlfriends,” she scolded, signing.
After appraising her beauty, I smirked. “I thought I settled that.”
“That’s still in negotiation.” She teased as her eyes twinkled with mischief.
“It’s just a matter of time before I seal the deal.”
CHAPTER 13
Our attraction was growing with every look, touch, email, and text message. I waited all day to smell her fragrance, to hold her slender fingers, and brush my lips against hers when Lord knows I wanted more. The scripture in Jude came back to nag me. Since I was convinced that it didn’t pertain to me, I dismissed it.
Just as I had felt Mackenzie’s closeness, I could sniff out Valerie as she strutted into the sanctuary. She darted her eyes in my direction. I sighed. She needed to let it go. I was not to be her husband. As she approached the section, I assumed she was about to take her seat.
She didn’t. Valerie stood in front of Mackenzie and blocked my view. She might as well have been standing in front of a TV right before the quarterback scores his touchdown. Man, Valerie was really beginning to annoy me.
If she wanted to feud with Mackenzie over me, it was too late. She had already lost. However, that didn’t keep Valerie’s presence from making my life miserable. My nostrils curled as I tried to control my breathing. Lord, there’s got to be someone else who can talk to Valerie because I’m not feeling it.
As the class started, Valerie signed, shooting daggers at me and everyone else, she even rolled her eyes at Pastor Coleman. I mentally fought to concentrate on the pastor’s teaching from Romans 8, which seemed to be timely: flesh versus spirit, sin and death versus holy and life, and fear versus faith.
I was relieved when Mackenzie took over, but her interpreting flair seemed downgraded from astounding to mediocre this night. What was going on?
Later on, Valerie’s skills went from mediocre to awful. Even the Campbell girls became fidgety, drawing cartoons on their Bible covers. No one seemed to be interested. More than a few heads bobbed from dozing.
Suddenly, when the class ended, everyone seemed alert. Many dumped their offerings in the plate and bolted for the door. I lingered for Mackenzie to walk her to her car. I was interested in finding out if she felt the distraction.
One minute we were flirting with each other, the next we barely made eye contact as she haphazardly signed. A heavy pound to my back caused my back muscle to tense and prepared for retaliation. Whirling around, Nick stood, grinning.
“What’s up, man?” Reluctantly, I shook his hand. I couldn’t believe I was agitated after a night spent at church. I got very little out the class and it wasn’t because Mackenzie distracted me.
“I don’t know about you, Noel, but I had a hard time getting into the message tonight.” Nick scratched his hair, perplexed.
“Yeah,” I had to agree.
“Hey, you want to grab a bite to eat?”
“Don’t take this wrong, but if I eat, it’s going to be with Mackenzie.”
Nick smirked. “So you and Mackenzie are getting that close, huh? You work fast.” He wiggled his brows.
“That’s where you’re wrong. If I move too fast with Mackenzie, I’ll miss something, and that’s not going to happen.” I glanced over my shoulder to the spot where Mackenzie last stood, and it was bare.
Scanning the sanctuary, I saw Mackenzie walked swiftly to the door and out. I didn’t tell Nick goodbye as I snatched up my things and stormed after Mackenzie. If I caught her, I caught her, if I didn’t, so be it, but I wasn’t about to chase her. An elderly mother intercepted.
“Glad to see you, young man,” she greeted before wobbling away on her cane.
Nodding, I patiently returned her greeting as I watched Mackenzie’s retreat without a word to him or a glance back. What was wrong with her? Once outside, I scanned the parking lot for her coat.
Then I withdrew my earlier statement. I was about to hunt her down for some answers. “Mackenzie,” I yelled, not caring if I drew attention. She never stopped or slowed her steps. I took off, dodging between church traffic. “Mackenzie!”
She twirled around, irritated. “Why are you yelling?”
“Considering that you kept walking, it’s because you didn’t hear me.”
“I heard you, people inside and outside the church heard you, and I would be surprised if Pastor Coleman didn’t hear you.”
“Excuse me?” My anger began to rise as Mackenzie resumed her trek to her car.
I easily caught up with her steps. “I can’t say that I know what’s going on in that head of yours, but since we’re building a relationship, let’s set up some perimeters. The first is when you’re talking to me, I suggest that you don’t turn your back on me again.”
She froze and slowly pivoted on her heel to face me. In the darkness, I could see her deep breathing by the cold air evaporating near her.
“Glad I could finally get your attention. Mackenzie, you have a slight advantage over me.” I slowly walked to her that we were so close that our breaths mingled. Her apologetic eyes searched my no nonsense expression. “That small advantage is you can hear. It’s your turn not to disrespect me. Now,” I paused. Reaching out, I brushed my hand against her cheek before lifting her chin. “What’s the matter, baby?”
Sniffing, she relaxed and wrapped her arms around me. I embraced her, completing the hug. Rubbing her back, I tried to comfort her. Somewhat composed, she stepped back.
“I’m sorry, Noel. When I’m upset I don’t think. I do want your respect and I’ll never violate yours again.”
When her eyes watered, I grew concerned. What happened between our last text and church service? “Hey, talk to me, Mackenzie.”
“I almost lost a friend tonight.”
“What’s your friend’s prognosis?”
Her eyes widened in confusion. “I don’t mean health wise. I’m talking about Valerie.”
That wouldn’t be a loss, but a blessing, I shamefully thought. I nodded, but didn’t respond.
“I know Valerie’s doesn’t come across as the most likeable person, but we’re still friends. Sometimes, we don’t pick our friends, God does, and when she’s hurting, so do I. I have the habit of saying the wrong thing when I’m upset so I thought it was best if I left without facing you.”
“Listen, for the past few weeks, we’ve always waited for each other after church. I can’t say I’m very good at handling mood swings. I have two brothers, but for you, I’ll try. It’s getting late. Hungry, do you want a salad or sandwich?”
She shook her head. “I really can’t. I have a long day tomorrow between school and working on the set of Guys and Dolls.”
“Okay, email me when you get home?” I warmed her cold cheeks by cupping them with my hands.
“I will.” When she wrinkled her nose and smiled, I knew the real Mackenzie was coming out. “Do I have permission to leave now?” she teased.
As I twisted my lips thinking, she swapped my chest.
“Good, I’m leaving.” She spun around without waiting for my answer then looked over her shoulder and laughed. “Noel, you may think you run this show, but you forget I’m the executive producer. You may set up perimeters, but I have to approve them.” She resumed her walk, knowing I wasn’t about to let her have the last word.
I stayed rooted in my spot, enjoying her strut to her car. As her headlights flashed, I closed the final distance between us. “One more thing.”
“And that is?” Mackenzie lifted a brow.
“I want us to pray because about now, God’s the only person keeping me from hugging and kissing like I want to.”
/> Her expression changed to admiration. “I like your honesty.”
“Good, because I expect the same from you.”
With the cascading light from the light pole, I watched as Mackenzie’s hands led us in prayer. Her slow, soft strokes built to forceful movements as her lips trembled. Realization hit. God was interceding for us and took over our prayer, speaking through Mackenzie in an unknown tongue.
That’s when I bowed my head and prayed, but she touched me. When I looked up again, tears crept from her eyes and slid down her cheeks. “Thank you. I needed that.”
I gently brushed the tears from her cheeks. “You were the one praying,” I reminded her.
“You didn’t let me pray alone. Something just wasn’t right tonight. Spirits of confusion were fighting against us within the church walls.”
Yeah, and one spirit was sitting right next to you, I thought.
CHAPTER 14
“Wait for me?” Mackenzie asked after Pastor Coleman dismissed the following week’s Bible Class. “This won’t take long. Our church puts on the Nigh of Miracles every year.”
“You never have to ask.” Retaking my seat, I prepared for a long wait. Surprisingly, Mackenzie returned fifteen minutes later. When she took her coat off the pew, I plucked it out of her arms and held it open for her.
Twirling around, she buttoned it up while thanking me. “I’ve been invited to a Christmas party on Saturday night. It’s given by some of my friends from the theatre. It doesn’t start until 10:30. I know this is short notice, and it’s late, but honestly, I forgot. I would love for you to escort me. If you can’t, I’ll still go.”
“If I don’t escort you, no other man will. That’s my honor. I don’t care about short notice or the lateness of the event.” I accepted with a counter-invitation to attend a Deaf Movie night and a holiday party with me. Since meeting Mackenzie, I hadn’t thought of the activities I enjoyed within the Deaf culture.