by Shana Burton
The clerk looked confused. “Who, sir?”
“The woman who was here a few minutes ago. She said you told her about a church . . .”
The clerk smiled in remembrance. “Yes, she was bound and determined to get to somebody’s Easter service.”
“Right . . . what’s the name of the church?”
“I’m not sure which one she went to. I gave her the names of three.”
Jamal cursed in frustration. “Did she seem more interested in one than the others?”
The clerk shook her head. “Not really. I just told her about the ones our guests frequent most often.” Jamal pounded the desk lightly with his fist. “Have you tried calling her, sir?”
Jamal wondered why he hadn’t thought of that. He whipped out his phone and dialed Catt’s number. It went straight to voice mail.
“I should just leave her here,” he muttered to himself, but he knew he couldn’t. He wouldn’t make it past the state line before guilt would lead him back to her. “Can you give me directions to the three churches?” he asked.
“Sure.” The clerk drew out a map for him to follow. “The closest is Zion’s Hope. I’d try that one first.”
Jamal thanked her profusely and tore through the front doors.
“God, let me find her,” he prayed quickly and uncertainly. He wasn’t sure if God had taken to listening to him yet.
He strapped on the seat belt and pointed his car in the direction of Zion’s Hope.
Twenty minutes later, Jamal discovered that the Lord does, in fact, answer prayers. He found Catt on the last wooden pew of the antiquated chapel. The church was little more than four walls, twenty rows of seating, and a small pulpit, but the congregation packed into the church appeared high in the Spirit. Even Jamal couldn’t deny feeling the Lord’s presence there.
He brushed past a couple to squeeze in next to Catt. She was so engrossed in the choir’s jubilant singing that it took her a minute to notice he was there.
“What are you doing here?” she asked him in a loud whisper.
“Why do you think I’m here?”
“I don’t know. You seemed quite adamant about getting to St. Louis on time.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “You knew all along that I wasn’t going to leave you here, didn’t you? We’re in a church, you can be honest now.”
She smiled a little. “I’ll only say that I said a little prayer and asked God to soften your heart on the matter.”
“Uh-huh,” he grunted.
“But I am glad you’re here,” she gushed.
The more he listened to the choir minister to the congregation through song and felt the anointing of the pastor’s words during his sermon, the more Jamal felt something move in his spirit. The pastor spoke of the glorious gift of salvation that Christians had received from the Lord and how it demonstrated God’s deep love for His children. He reminded them that the blood of Jesus was strong enough to cover any sin.
Jamal became overwhelmed when he thought about the power in the name of Jesus and the tremendous sacrifice He made to save a sinner like him. It was truly a sensation he’d never had before. It was as if he were one with the presence of the Lord. The feeling of peace and love that enveloped him defied description. He concluded that this must be what Catt meant when she talked about having joy that could only come from the Lord.
At the end of the service, the pastor reminded the congregation that they were having an old-fashioned baptism in the lake behind the church and encouraged everyone to come out and support the candidates for baptism.
“Are you ready to go?” asked Catt once the benediction had been given.
“I don’t know. I kinda want to stay for the baptism.”
Catt was floored. “Really?”
“Yeah. Hey, you think you have to be a member of this church to get baptized?”
“Are you thinking about doing it?”
“I’m not sure yet. I mean, I remember what you said about it being symbolic of Jesus dying for us and dying to your old self. It just feels like something I ought to do.”
“You can always get baptized when we get back,” optioned Catt.
Jamal pondered it some more and shook his head. “I don’t think I should wait.”
Catt beamed. “If you’re serious, I’ll ask an usher or a hospitality member or somebody about getting you dressed and ready for baptism!”
She flitted about with a sense of urgency and excitement that Jamal had never seen before. He figured it must have been infectious because the church officials agreed to allow Jamal to be baptized despite his not being a member of the church once Catt explain their situation.
After being led to a small changing room and draped in white with the other candidates, Jamal hiked down to the creek to be baptized. As they approached the congregation, he could hear them singing, welcoming them.
“Let’s go down, let’s go down by the river,” they sang. “Let’s go down, let’s go down by the river!”
Catt was among them, clapping and singing as loudly as anyone else. She kept a close eye on Jamal. Seeing her quelled the nervousness in the pit of his stomach.
A woman ahead of him stepped into the water, assisted by one of the church deacons.
The pastor extended his hand to her and proclaimed, “In acknowledgment of my sister’s faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
He covered the woman’s mouth and nose, dipped her back into the water, and brought her up again. The deacons quickly came to her aid to assist her getting out of the water and to offer a towel for drying off.
Jamal was next. He was always the cool, levelheaded one in a situation; this time, he was trembling as he was escorted into the water.
“There’s joy . . . by the river. Let’s go down, let’s go down by the river,” repeated the congregation. “Let’s go down, let’s go down by the river.”
Jamal stood before the congregation, knee-deep in water and draped in white, his hands slightly lifted toward heaven. Watching him, Catt felt so full of emotion, she thought her heart might burst.
“In acknowledgment of my brother’s faith, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”
With that, Jamal went down into the water and rose a new being in Christ.
Catt clapped and rushed to greet him as he stepped out of the water. She threw her arms around him.
“I’m so proud of you,” she whispered.
He blushed. “Thanks. I’m kind of proud of me too.”
“Do you feel any different?”
“I do. Not ‘I-want-to-go-out-and-save-the-world’ different, but different.” His eyes fell downcast. “You know, I never would’ve done that if it hadn’t been for you.”
“Don’t give me all the credit. It was you who made the decision to accept Christ into your life. You also chose to get baptized. I just encouraged you.”
“This trip has already changed my life forever. You do get the credit for that.”
“I don’t think either one of us is returning home as the same people that left from Charlotte.”
Chapter 27
“Daddy, the most amazing thing happened today!” Catt rambled that afternoon to her father on the phone.
“Of course! That’s what Resurrection Sunday is all about,” he replied.
“No, I’m not talking about that—I’m talking about Jamal. Out of the blue, he decided to get baptized today.”
“What brought that on?” Jeremiah asked, surprised.
“Well, we went to this little country church for service this morning and—I don’t know—I guess the Spirit must’ve moved in him because he just announced that he was going to participate in the baptism.” Catt sighed. “When I saw him go down into that water, Daddy, I felt so full, so proud of him.”
“Wow, that’s good. I’m glad you were there to experience it. It’s always a blessing to be able to witness a new member being added to the body of Christ.”
“There’s so much more to Jamal than I gave him credit for in the beginning. He’s introspective, kind, funny, and brilliant, just so many things,” she blabbed.
“It sounds like you’ve turned a corner in your relationship. It wasn’t even a month ago that we were binding the demons inside of him!”
“I guess I just needed a chance to get to know him,” conceded Catt.
Jeremiah cleared his throat, not wanting to linger on the subject of Jamal too long. “Eldon tells me that the two of you had a wonderful time in D.C. I’m glad that you were able to run into each other.”
Catt’s enthusiasm waned. “Yeah, it was nice. I wouldn’t call it life-changing, but it was cool.”
“Oh, no love connection, huh?”
She could almost hear his smile crumble. “Eldon is a very sweet young man. He’s just not what I’m looking for right now.”
“And I take it that this Jamal is,” Jeremiah stated.
“I don’t know . . . maybe,” she admitted for the first time aloud.
“Whoa, I didn’t know things had gotten that serious!”
“They haven’t, but I think this trip has changed both of us. It’s challenged us in ways that neither one of us could’ve predicted.”
“Now, I don’t want you to go and get your hopes up, baby girl,” cautioned Jeremiah. “You said yourself that this dude is a player. Of course, I’m glad to see he’s making some strides, especially where his spiritual life is concerned. But unless there’s been a supernatural cleansing and intervention, I’d hold off on him. Don’t you remember Jesus’ parable about the farmer and his seeds? The seeds that fell on rocky soil grew quickly but scorched when the sun came out because they had no roots. That boy doesn’t have any roots yet.”
“I don’t have any illusions about us, Daddy, but I know he feels something just like I do.”
“I still think your time would be better spent trying to get to know the minister a little better. He’s proven to be faithful, to love the Lord, and to want to try to build a life with you. You would do well to sit up and take notice.”
Catt gave in to appease her father. “I’ll think about it.”
“You do that, baby girl.” He noted the time. “Well, I guess I better let you get back to doing your thing. You remember what I said, though! I know you’re grown and you’re going to make your own decisions, but I don’t think this guy is someone you want to get caught up with. Keep it professional.”
“I always do,” Catt assured him before telling Jeremiah she loved him and hanging up.
Eldon knocked on Jeremiah’s door and barged into his office. “Pastor, you may want to come outside and intervene. I think Sister Owens and Sister Jackson might come to blows! Little Tykeith kicked Gerrilyn’s Easter basket, and her mother is ready to send Tykeith and his mama to their Maker!”
Jeremiah was so deep in thought that Eldon’s words flew right over his head.
Eldon grew concerned. “Sir, is everything okay?”
Jeremiah shook his head. “I just got off the phone with my daughter. She was going on and on about this lab partner of hers. It appears that my Catt is rather sweet on him.”
Eldon’s heart dropped to his feet. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure, and I don’t approve—not one bit!”
“What are we going to do about it?” asked Eldon in a slight panic. “We can’t let Catt get entangled with a man like that. He’ll break her heart. Believe me, Pastor Cason, I’ve seen him in action. He’s a womanizer. Catt deserves so much better.”
“I tried to tell her that, but she’s an adult, and she’s out there on that road alone with him. She’s gonna do what she wants to do.”
“That’s it? You’re just giving up?”
“Son, all I can do is pray that the truth be revealed and that Catt does the right thing. That’s all either of us can do at this point.” He pushed himself out of the chair. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to stop Sister Owens and Sister Jackson from turning Easter Sunday into the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre!” Jeremiah left Eldon in his office.
Eldon was seething. Catt was slipping away from him, that much was apparent. And with her went his chances of becoming lead servant of Faith Temple. He needed something that would solidify his place in her heart and his standing in the church, but what?
His mind wandered back to the night he and Catt had gone to dinner, and she’d gotten drunk and came on to him. He snickered to himself—who knew ol’ Goody Two-Shoes had it in her? Most of the congregation probably thinks she’s still a virgin; I did. Who knew that she was getting her rocks off behind closed doors?
That’s when the answer came to him. The solution was so obvious that he was almost ashamed of himself for not thinking of it earlier. What better way to secure himself in the Cason family than to give Jeremiah and Catt the one thing they didn’t have—a son or daughter for Catt and a grandchild for Jeremiah.
The scenario played out before him like a movie in his head. He’d invite Catt to dinner and suggest that they have a drink. After all, what was the sin in one harmless drink? Only he’d let one drink become two, possibly three. He didn’t want her completely intoxicated, just relaxed and in an amorous mood.
Then he’d take her home because she’d be too drunk to drive and offer to help her into bed. Stroke her ego—among other things—and with a little luck and the right timing, she’d wake up carrying his seed.
Of course, they’d have to come before the church and acknowledge their sin, especially once Catt realized that she was pregnant. But he was skilled at making speeches of the emotional variety. Jeremiah would almost insist that they marry right away to avoid Catt’s humiliation and their actions hindering anyone’s Christian walk. Once the baby was born, all would be forgotten and forgiven, and Jamal Ford would be a mere wrinkle in history that no one took the time to notice or care about anymore.
Chapter 28
Catt’s face was still aglow with joy once they reached St. Louis and checked into their respective rooms.
Jamal put down his suitcase to unlock his door. He got a peripheral glimpse of Catt, who was grinning from ear-to-ear. “What are you so giddy about?” he asked.
“It’s just been such a wonderful day, the best Easter ever!”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He opened the door and turned on the light. “I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
She called to him just before he shut the door. “Wait . . . you don’t want to stay up and talk awhile?”
He yawned. “I really am beat, Catt. It was a long drive, and I got no help with the driving.” Jamal shot her a side-eye glance.
“I think I’m too wired to sleep right now. So many wonderful things have happened today.”
“You could’ve burned some of that energy off by driving.”
She rolled her eyes. “Good night, Jamal.”
Impulsively, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “See you in the morning.”
A few hours later, Jamal was back at Catt’s doorstep, much to her chagrin. By this time, the excitement of the day had worn off, and she was ready for bed.
“Look, Jamal, if you came over to drag me out to shoot hoops—”
“I had another nightmare,” he blurted out. “I was sort of hoping we could talk about it.”
Upon hearing that, Catt immediately flipped into nurturing mode. “Sure, come in.” She tightened the belt on her robe and closed the door behind him.
Jamal sat on the bed. She wiped the sleep out of her eyes and plopped down next to him. “Was it the same as all the others?”
Jamal nodded.
“Tell me about it.”
Jamal heaved in and out. “Just give me a minute, all right?” He was gathering his thoughts, trying to mentally articulate what it was that he needed to say.
“Take your time.”
“This is not easy to talk about. I haven’t told anyone the whole story, not even Tonya.” He looked down at his hand
s and away from Catt like a scolded child. He was still searching for the right words to tell his story and expel his grief.
“What’s this about, Jamal?”
“Do you remember that day at the park?” She nodded. “I had a nightmare. When you asked me about it, I just brushed you off. I wasn’t ready to talk about it then. The truth is that I couldn’t.”
“Why not? We’ve told each other just about everything over the past two weeks.”
“I know, but I guess at the time I didn’t know whether I could trust you.”
Catt pulled the comforter around her for warmth. “What about now? Have you changed your mind?”
“I have to tell someone,” he asserted. “This thing is eating me up inside. I think the only way to get rid of these demons is to talk about it. That’s why I came over.”
“Go on,” urged Catt, lowering her voice to an almost whisper.
Jamal closed his eyes for a moment. “I hardly know where to begin.” He stretched out on the bed. “I guess the best place to start is with my father.”
“Okay, well, start there.”
“I’ve already told you how close my dad and I were. He was my hero, and I wanted to be just like him. I loved him. I loved my mother too, but the bond that my dad and I had was really special.” Catt nodded, reached out and gently seized his hand.
“I guess part of the reason that we were so close is because most of the time it was just the two of us. My mom was always chasing her dream to be a singer. That was something she’d fantasized about since she was a kid, but she got pregnant with me at seventeen and got married soon afterward. She couldn’t move out to L.A. like she’d planned, so she settled for whatever work she could get singing here and there. Most nights, she was performing at this club or that one until one or two o’clock in the morning. Every once in a while, she’d land a role in some musical, which also kept her out late at night. Then in the morning, she went to work and slept when she wasn’t working. I didn’t get to see a whole lot of her because of her crazy schedule. Of course, now that I have my own dreams, I can understand that drive, that passion to do something that you love. But, then, I just thought she was being selfish, so I clung more to my dad. Since she wasn’t there much for him either, I think my dad really appreciated having me around. I think he needed me as much as I needed him.