by Pat Simmons
“Okaaaay,” Talise said, drawing out the word. Eying her friend suspiciously, she added, “And please don’t tell me that sorry line, ‘you just saved a lot on your car insurance.’”
“How did you know? No seriously, I’ve got a solution to the rent problem.”
“Sinclaire said she would work it into her budget to—”
Tsking, Lois shook her head. “Didn’t I tell you to stop worrying your sister? One of my coworkers needs temporary shelter, and I offered her our apartment.”
Somehow, Talise had the strangest feeling she wasn’t going to like hearing the rest of her roommate’s idea. Unable to ignore that she was the cause of the problem, Talise had to hear Lois out. Her choices were definitely limited, so she asked, “Okay, for how long does she plan stay?”
“Six months.”
That’s temporary? It sounds like she’s a day away from permanent to me. “Six months!” Talise exclaimed in protest. “Our shared living space is large enough, but our bedrooms aren’t.”
“Hey, beggars can’t be choosy. I’m giving up the privacy of my bedroom for you.” She stuck out her tongue.
“Thank you. I know. I’m just cranky, I guess. I feel guilty putting you in yet another predicament because of my condition.”
“Nonsense. I’ve got this.”
“Thanks again. So when is she moving in?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow! So soon? Dr. Sherman is going to have to check my blood pressure as soon as I get to her office.”
“Myra already gave me her first and last month’s rent money, so hey. When we come back from the doctor’s, I need to clean out my room and my closet. I’m also going to rearrange my bed. That’s something I’ve been planning to do for a while. I may have to store some of my stuff in your closet, if that’s okay.”
“Sure. You’re really going above and beyond what you signed up for when we became friends.”
“Girl, we’re friends to the end, and don’t you forget it.”
When they walked through the building to Dr. Sherman’s office, Lois was still pitching the benefits of a short-term third roommate. She only had one unspoken concern in the back of her mind. By now, Lois was used to her mood swings, heavy appetite, and restless nights. Would Lois’s friend be so forgiving?
“She does know I’m pregnant, right?”
“Of course.”
“How come I’ve never met her?” Talise didn’t get an answer. Just then, her name was called and she was shown to a room. Lois trailed.
“So how’s Mommy today?” Dr. Sherman greeted Talise, as she came into the room. She and Lois then exchanged greetings. As soon as the doctor placed the stethoscope on Talise’s stomach, the baby moved. All three women laughed.
Dr. Sherman went down a checklist of what Talise should expect going into her twenty-second week. “You may experience some slight contractions. Don’t be concerned unless they become regular or painful. Otherwise, they’re harmless. Braxton-Hicks contractions occur when your uterus begins to practice for delivery.”
“This early?” Talise asked.
Her doctor smiled and nodded.
“I’ll be so glad when this is over, so I can move on,” Talise said, staring up at the ceiling.
Dr. Sherman consoled her before asking more questions. “How’s your stress level?”
“Stressful. I just knew my blood pressure would be sky high …”
That’s when Lois jumped in and informed the doctor of the latest happenings. Listening to her chattering on and on, Talise thought, If this new roommate is half as irritating as Lois is being at the moment, then I’m in some serious trouble.
The rest of the examination was uneventful.
At work on Friday afternoon, Talise was relieved when Gabrielle arrived. Talise knew she’d be there because the coworker who was sick actually quit and Gabrielle was in the process of hiring someone.
Even with that stress, Gabrielle was all smiles. The woman truly had a calming effect. Talise wished Gabrielle could be her “temporary” new roommate. The idea had been making her anxious all morning, thinking about another person living with them.
“You are free to move about the cabin,” Gabrielle said, as she waited for Talise to sign off her terminal.
Kendall was standing next to them with a slight scowl and an evil eye. She was waiting impatiently for her replacement. Since it was almost time for her shift to end, she asked to be excused for a quick potty break.
All day her coworker had made comments about Talise’s weight. At one point, Kendall stopped just short of coming right out and asking her if she was pregnant. It was obvious for even a blind man to see that her waistline had expanded. Talise was growing increasingly uncomfortable about it. Already under stress, this wasn’t the day for her to get into a question and answer period with her coworker.
Watching Kendall walk away, Talise whispered to Gabrielle, “Do you have a few minutes to pray for me … silently? I don’t want a pilot coming in for a landing to hear us.” Her eyes pleaded along with her indirect request that Gabrielle not make a scene.
“I don’t do things for show.” Grabbing hands, Talise didn’t bow her head or close her eyes. Instead, she anxiously scanned the terminal. Very soon, Gabrielle finished with a soft Amen.
Bewildered, Talise stared. “That’s it?”
Smiling back at her, Gabrielle nodded. “God is already here. He was waiting for us to petition Him for what He was already going to do anyway. Now you go on and start your weekend.”
Gabrielle reached into her purse and felt around for a pen. As a passenger walked up to the counter, she scribbled her number on a piece of paper. “Call me if you need to.” Dismissing Talise, she greeted the customer with a dazzling smile.
Talise’s bright spot on the way home was her baby moving around more. She found herself smiling when she wanted to frown at the unexpected. Lois was a good judge of character, except for Ace. Actually, Talise blamed that infraction on Cameron.
Getting off at her bus stop, she strolled the short walk to her apartment. When she turned the corner on Durham, a U-Haul truck was double-parked in front of her building. “She’s here.”
A few minutes later, Talise climbed the stairs to the third level where she could hear hearty laughs and music in the background. She groaned. The only thing she longed for was a quick bite, a shower, and her bed.
“Excuse me,” a sweaty, short guy said, passing her on the stairs.
She almost gagged from his odor, as he beat her into the apartment. The door was ajar and Talise pushed it open. Boxes littered the living room. Talise eyed the large pieces of furniture she was going to have to navigate around to get to her bedroom.
A group of three women were chatting near the kitchen. “Hello, I’m Talise, Lois’s roommate.”
Immediately, all eyes traveled to her stomach. When it looked like her “temporary” guest wasn’t going to identify herself, Talise asked, “And which one of you is Myra?”
“Oh. Hey girl, I’m Myra.” A petite dark-skinned woman stepped forward and identified herself. Now it was Talise’s turn to do the scrutinizing. Myra was definitely not dressed for moving—in her strappy sandal heels, shorts, and tank top. But then, judging from the two taller guys taking orders from the short, musty one, she didn’t need to lift a finger.
After politely listening to Myra’s mindless chatter for longer than she should have, Talise excused herself to her bedroom and closed the door. Changing out of her uniform, she washed up and slipped on a sundress instead of the pajamas she preferred. Opening her door, she walked hesitantly to the kitchen.
“Help yourself, there’s plenty,” Myra offered.
“Thank you.” At least they brought food. Maybe, this will work, she thought. Opening the boxes, Talise would have helped herself if there was something healthy to eat. Thick pan pizza oozing with cheese and various pasta dishes were the only choices. She declined and warmed up some chicken stir fry leftovers.
By Sunday, Talise had to escape. Sitting in her car in the parking lot of Sandra’s church Talise needed a good cry but contained herself to sniffles. Rubbing her stomach, she wondered how her mental state was affecting the baby.
She had long ago abandoned those five-minute prayers Sinclaire had suggested. The prayers and Bible reading helped some, but her utopia feelings didn’t last very long. Unfortunately, she didn’t know what to do to hold on to them.
To be truthful, Talise hadn’t expected to return to Sandra’s church so soon. However, she had nowhere else to turn to escape the chaos at home. A few minutes later, she turned off her car and repaired her makeup. At least this time she remembered to bring her Bible. Talise got out and started walking toward the church. It wasn’t long before she spotted Sandra’s minister friend. He stood outside the door, as if he was waiting for someone.
When he glanced her way and recognized her, he left his post and met her halfway. “You came back.”
“Yes. I don’t really know why, but I’m here.”
“God knows before we know.” Falling in step with her, Minister Thomas escorted her the rest of the way.
“How are you? Talise, right?”
“You remembered my name,” she said, somewhat impressed. By the same token, she didn’t know if she was unconcerned or embarrassed that she didn’t remember his.
“How could I forget a person so unique and fascinating? How is the baby?” He grinned, which made him more handsome, even though he didn’t have a dimple.
Talise almost tripped, but he reached out and steadied her. Forgetting that was the last thing she had told him when she was there a few weeks ago, she replied, “My baby’s fine, Minister…”
“My name is simple, Richard Thomas. After church, do you mind having dinner with me?”
“Huh?” She stopped and stared. Talise wanted to say Are you crazy? I’m pregnant, but he already knew that. “Why?”
“Maybe because I find you lovely, mysterious, and so much more.”
“What you should find me is pregnant, dumped, and friends with my child’s grandmother. Not to mention I’m hormonal and hostile at times. If that isn’t enough to run you the other way, then I don’t know what is,” she said as Sandra drove by, waved, and turned into the parking lot.
Sandra hurried through the parking lot to meet them. She and Minister Thomas went through their greeting ritual before he smiled at Talise and walked away.
“What was that all about?”
“He wants to take me out to dinner.”
“Really?” The color seemed to drain from Sandra’s face. She swallowed and held her breath. “What did you say?”
“I didn’t.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sandra couldn’t believe her eyes. Her heart rejoiced when she drove into the parking lot and saw Talise at the entrance to the church. Although Sandra spoke to Talise during the week, Talise never mentioned she was coming back.
Praise God. Sandra didn’t need to know everything God had in store for the young woman. She was just excited to see that Minister Thomas was welcoming Talise back.
Discovering that he asked Talise out, only after the second time he’d seen her, gave Sandra a sinking feeling. The young man of God was like a son to Sandra. But Ace was her son, who she might add, wasn’t interested in Talise.
God, I signed up to be a witness for You, but not to witness this. Sandra wanted nothing but happiness for Talise, but Richard didn’t know that she was pregnant. While inhaling and blinking several times, Talise seemed to wait for her to recover. Sandra added a swallow and then stuttered, “W … w … wow.”
Talise chuckled. “That’s what I said. I wasn’t expecting it, especially after I told him I was pregnant.”
Sandra’s mouth dropped open. She couldn’t believe Talise had told him but then realized that she was starting to show. It was only a matter of weeks before it would be obvious to everyone that she was pregnant. “Wow,” was all she could say again.
Talise had to know what was going through her mind as Ace’s mother, but Sandra dared not to voice it. As they continued on their way through the foyer and up to the second level, neither of them said another word. If only Sandra had telepathy with her son, she would shout, Ace, get up here and fix this mess!
This time, an usher met them at the entrance, and Sandra allowed her to find them two seats. As she knelt at her seat to pray, Sandra’s heart was heavy.
“Lord, I have led her to You and this is Your plan, but is this Your will?” When Sandra realized she was scolding God for what she considered “getting a wrong end of the stick” deal, she repented.
“Lord, I only ask that You save my son,” she whispered, as she stood and stretched out her hands.
The praise team seemed to know just the right song to sing when they began an old spiritual hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” The words brought comfort to replace the agony in her soul. She wanted to do the right thing for Talise, and for Ace. That meant she could only focus on doing God’s will and then step aside.
Sandra didn’t know how long the praise team repeated the words, but she found renewed strength by the time the music stopped and the hand claps ceased. Then she took her seat.
“I am not slow in keeping My promises, but everyone must come to repentance.” Jesus spoke from 2 Peter 3:9.
“Hallelujah!” Sandra shouted when she heard the voice of the Lord. Talise covered her mouth and smiled.
As Pastor Lane took his time stepping up to the pulpit, the Spirit continued to stir throughout the sanctuary. More “Hallelujahs!” echoed, followed by a series of “Thank You, Jesus!” praises.
The wave of praises swept through the auditorium with such magnitude that the noise was like a hurricane. The pastor stepped back from the podium and instructed the musicians to cease, and then he led the congregation in thunderous hand praises to God.
Minutes later, while the praises quieted down, he made a second attempt to approach the podium. This time he opened his Bible. “Praise is the key. Praise is your strength. Praise will get you out of bad situations. It delivered Paul and Silas. Praise will get God’s attention.”
A few more “Hallelujahs!” vibrated through the church. Pastor Lane chuckled and said, “It’s all right.” He turned a few pages. “If you will open your Bibles, I will read one Scripture, Matthew 18:20: ‘For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them’. In case you didn’t know it, Jesus is here. He never misses a praise party.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Talise could feel Him. God was there. While Sandra and others around her were on their feet and caught up in worshipping God, she sat quietly. Although her Bible was open, Talise couldn’t read a word. She was too busy dabbing her eyes.
The next thing she knew, Sandra was sitting and had wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
Shaking her head, the only thing Talise could barely say was, “I want to be saved. If praise has this much power, I want it.”
As she continued to quietly sob, Talise heard Sandra mumble something like “hurry, altar call.”
But it was a while before Pastor Lane asked the congregation to stand. “God is not slack concerning His promises. If you want to be saved today, it’s simple—repent. Acknowledge you’re a sinner and confess your sins. Make up your mind that you want to be permanently in the midst of His praise. Next, I ask you to walk down one of these aisles. Our ministers are waiting to pray for you.”
“That’s your cue, Talise. Do you want me to walk with you?”
“Yes, please.”
With Sandra’s arm around Talise’s waist, they walked together to the altar. Sandra didn’t leave her side.
&n
bsp; “Have you repented?” the minister asked.
She nodded.
Female altar workers took over and led her and Sandra to the chapel, which was in another part of the church complex. Extra care was given when the women saw she was pregnant.
“Your baby’s going to rejoice with you, sweetie,” one worker commented.
“That’s my grandbaby and you’re right, Sister Georgia,” Sandra chimed in with pride.
“I love you, Sandra,” Talise heard herself say out of nowhere, but she meant it. The woman had truly been sent to her by God.
“I love you too,” she responded with tears in her eyes. As God would have it, Minister Thomas came out of nowhere to pray for her. He smiled warmly and said, “You’re on the right path, Talise. Your child will rejoice with you.” That was the second time she heard that.
Sure enough, she felt her baby leaping and rejoicing inside her.
Amazing, unbelievable, exciting, were just some of the words to describe her present state of mind as Talise reflected on the complete salvation experience.
Some time later in the prayer room, she couldn’t stop crying, praising God, and talking to Jesus. Her emotions were still astronomically high. Sandra had held her hand and softly prayed with her. She encouraged her to commune with God and fellowship with Him in His presence. Whew! Her words ignited the praises in Talise once again, and she released them with a new round of glorious praises.
Finally, she had been able to collect herself. “I told myself that I had to cash in on God’s promises. I’ve been so full of anxiety and stress over my life, but somehow, at the moment, it all seems like a blur. I now believe if I keep praising Him, my situation will change,” she said confidently to Sandra, who nodded in agreement.
Neither of the ladies was in a hurry to leave the chapel. Minister Thomas strolled back into the room larger than life and smiled warmly.
“So ladies, dinner? To celebrate?” He glanced from Talise to Sandra.
Talise didn’t answer right away. Her thoughts were preoccupied. She was curious why he asked her to dinner when she first arrived. Did he know what God was going to do? Sandra appeared thoughtful for a few moments. She told Talise she liked Richard, so surely she trusted him. When she sucked in a deep breath and exhaled, it seemed as if she had an answer.