by Pat Simmons
I taught you to fight with weapons that aren’t carnal through My Word. Your soul is in a spiritual battle. Fight to win, Kami. Fight. God’s voice faded away.
Stunned by what the Lord Jesus said more than what just happened, Kami froze.
Finally, Susanna’s voice broke through her trance-like state. “Come on, let’s go.”
Blinking, Kami shot Todd warning darts that she was armed with more if he tried something like that again.
Back outside, Susanna couldn’t contain her giggles. Kami was too mad at Todd to see the amusement and too concerned by the Lord’s warning to say more. Out of nowhere, she mumbled, “Snake.”
Susanna thought she was talking about Todd, but the only imagery she could conjure was the serpent that deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Who was deceiving her? she wondered.
All was forgotten as they strolled along the poolside until they spotted a couple of empty loungers. The two claimed them to soak up more sun and relax until Queen announced it was time to go. She never saw the guys again.
On the ride back to Gilcease Hills, Kami pushed the incident to the back of her mind and chose to talk about the good time she’d had with Susanna.
“What about those young men? One looked like he was interested in getting to know you,” Queen said in a teasing tone.
Shifting in her seat, Kami glanced out the window with a smirk of her own. “We didn’t hit it off after all.” She quickly changed the subject. “I had a chance to see the second-floor library. It was so cool.”
“Really, when?”
Fumbling with her fingers, Kami didn’t look at her aunt. “Ah, your boss’ nephew took me and Susanna there to get a better view. It was magnificent.” She didn’t mention that Todd tried to disrespect her.
“I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, but next time, wait to be offered a tour from the host. If something gets broken or comes up missing, Blacks are always the default suspects. Okay?”
Kami bowed her head. “Yes, ma’am. Sorry.”
“Hey.” Queen reached over and lifted her chin as they waited at a red light. “I’m not scolding you. As People of Color, even with your fair skin, society has taught us to proceed with caution.”
“Sorry.” She bobbed her head. “My parents have drilled that into all of us too. I guess I kinda forgot. It won’t happen again.”
That or the likes of Todd.
Chapter Ten
A few days later, Parke was relaxing in his man cave and an emotion came out of nowhere. He became angry all over again thinking about the tattoo that marred Kami’s body for a boy who would forget about her before summer officially started in a few weeks.
“Stop obsessing,” Cheney said as she took a seat next to him in his hideaway place to mediate, pray, or as his wife called it, obsess. She rested her head on his shoulder. He loved their quiet time when they would guess what the other was thinking.
“And what makes you think that?” He grunted and rubbed his nose in her hair. A soft fragrance still lingered from her recent hair appointment with Talise. He kissed the top of her head.
“Two giveaways. One, I know your moods as if I were your wife.” She lifted her head and stared at him. That was another truth he couldn’t deny. “Oh, yeah. That’s right, I am your wife! Babe, we’ve reared our children in the fear and love of the Lord, we’ve guided them and taught them how to pray. It’s time to let them go.”
Parke frowned. “I’m struggling with the last part. You’re too calm. It’s scary, because I know you’re grizzly mama when it comes to our children. I know this as if I were your husband, and I am—your first and last husband.” Lifting her hand, he brushed a kiss on it. Parke would love Cheney until his last breath, vow or no wedding vow. “What’s the other thing that gave me away?”
“The commercials.” Her eyes twinkled. “When you watch TV, the remote is usually in your hand like a baby holding on to his pacifier, so you can fast forward passed them. I’ve seen three since I came in here. Where is it?”
He snatched the remote next to him on the seat. “Two points for the pretty lady.”
When Cheney pulled her knees to her chest, Parke admired her feet with the fresh pedicure.
“Seriously, how are you coping with all of this sudden rebellion?”
“Let me just say I’m not her best friend anymore.” Cheney gnawed on her lips, deep in thought. He didn’t disturb her, but waited patiently for her to continue. “Since the family meeting, I’ve been fighting the devil every day to trust God that He is working behind the scenes on our behalf. If Jesus doesn’t do anything else for us, He has shown us His grace, mercy, and power.”
Parke agreed.
“I’m still in awe that I had Paden and Chance after the doctor damaged my womb during the abortion. Grace, mercy, and power were all tied up in that. If God can perform that miracle, then nothing is impossible to fix.”
“Yes, He can.” At a stupid point in their relationship, Parke had considered walking away from her because she couldn’t have his heir. He shook his head. He didn’t want to think about almost missing his blessing. He tugged on a strand of her hair and began to twirl it around his finger.
“Before that miracle, the Lord had set in place, regardless of the circumstances, that you would have a son to carry on the Jamieson legacy—” her voice became soft—“whether he came through me or not. Pace was your first begotten son.”
The ink was dry on the adoption papers, Pace’s name had been changed to Gilbert Jr., and the child was on his way to begin a new life and culture. But God rules high and looks low, overturning man’s rules, Parke thought about that passage in Psalm 138.
“Amen, wife.”
“We can’t smother a seventeen-year-old.” Cheney threw her arms in the air in a defeated gesture. “Something good has got to come out of this.”
How could good come from a permanent marking on his daughter’s skin, or the loser boyfriend, or her disowning him—although she did apologize and he accepted. “Do you really believe the last part that came out of your mouth?”
“I’m trying.” She swallowed. “Kami holds a special place in every Jamiesons’ life, but...” She choked. “The special place you have in your heart for Pace is equal to the one reserved in my heart for Kami. She is my second-chance daughter, and God knows I’ve tried hard not to mess it up.” When she was about to become emotional, Parke wrapped her in his arms.
Every now and then, his wife had melancholy moods over the abortion she underwent in college. God had showed her it had been a daughter, so he knew how much Kami meant to her—and him.
“I’m good.” Cheney straightened and mustered a smile. “Plus, I gave Queen a checklist of okays and definitely not okays.”
“That’s my wife.” He lifted his hand for a high five. “I don’t know what’s harder, Kami being gone for the summer or Pace leaving for college in two short months. After we take him to Tuskegee, we won’t see him until Christmas. Whew.” Parke rubbed his face. “I feel like I didn’t get enough time together with my firstborn.”
Leaning over, he anchored his elbows on his knees, so his hands covered his face. Cheney rubbed soothing circles on his back.
“You’ve used your time wisely with Pace. He walks like you, is a critical thinker like you, sounds like you when he laughs, and of course, he’s handsome like you.”
Parke looked up and grinned. “Yep.”
Cheney popped his head. “Vanity. You’re supposed to be humble and say thank you.”
“That’s what I said, but in a shorter version. Seriously, where did we go wrong with Kami?”
Cheney stood. “That was a hundred percent you, Mr. Jamieson. You spoiled her rotten.”
“Thanks for rubbing salt in my wound.” He lifted an eyebrow. “But you, Mrs. Jamieson, edged me out by another one hundred.”
Parke hadn’t ruled out driving to Tulsa and bringing Kami back home, then homeschooling her until she was twenty-three. He wasn’t about to let any low-life ca
use his daughter to go astray, break her heart and leave her as a single young mother. Kami Jamieson deserved better than that.
What gave him pause from taking drastic measures was overhearing his wife in their prayer room, petitioning God on Kami and all young girls’ behalf. He joined her in spirit from afar. He didn’t participate in an all-day fast, but he did forgo breakfast, his most important meal of the day.
On Sunday, God had a message for him, even though Pastor Baylor delivered it to the congregation. “Have you surrendered your all?”
Parke had answered, “Yes.”
No, God swiftly rebuked him.
“Proverbs 12:25 says, ‘Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop, but a good word makes it glad.’ Isn’t this why you’re at church today to hear the Word?” He waited for responses before continuing, “Jesus is the Word. Everything we need is in Jesus—healing, deliverance, peace, safety, blessings, and more is in the Word. First Peter 5:17 says, ‘cast all your cares.’ I think some of you, without realizing it, want to hold on to the worry, fear, and depression. Surrender them to Jesus. Now, this very moment, today,” he said, pounding on the podium, “leave your burdens at the altar, and walk out of here in victory.”
Even the next day, that message hadn’t left him. Parke was savoring his freedom from worry. What also helped was he was so busy at his office, updating clients’ portfolios that when he arrived home, he ate, kissed his wife, then headed to his man cave to relax. He hadn’t realized he had dozed until he heard movement in the room and opened one eye. Pace. He smiled.
“Hey, firstborn.” He rubbed his eyes, yawned, and did a double take.
Pace had made him a sandwich from the leftover baked chicken from dinner. Shaking his head, he chuckled. “Hopefully, our grocery bill will go down while you’re away at school.”
“Hey.” He patted his stomach. “I’ve got to maintain my strength.”
“So what’s going on, man? How was work today with Ace?”
For the second summer in a row, Pace worked at Healthcare Concepts in its IT department. Last year, Parke helped him buy a car. Pace paid the note in the summer, then he and Cheney made the payments during the school year.
His oldest son was responsible and smart. He seemed to be very calculated in his decisions. He was an all-around good guy, which made his mother and aunts try to set him up with all-around good godly young ladies.
Finishing his “snack,” Pace rested his plate on the ottoman, which also served as a table, and stretched out his legs. “I read in the paper that organizers are bringing back the parade for the Juneteenth celebration.”
Parke bobbed his head. “Yeah. Every year, the festivities keep getting bigger and better.”
“I invited a coworker to tag along with me this year. She seems excited to come.”
Tilting his head, he studied his son. “Whenever you invite a lady anywhere, my interest is always piqued. Is she more than a coworker?”
“Nah.” Pace leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees and faced Parke. Pace was a mirror image of him as a teenager. “A group of us were chatting about our upcoming plans for the week and weekend. That opened the door for me to talk about the country’s second Independence Day. All my coworkers dismissed the subject, except for Janice, so I invited her to come along. I want her to see that the celebration is more than Blacks freeing Blacks, but Whites dying alongside our ancestors to free another human being too.”
Proud, amazed, and thankful could only describe Parke’s admiration for Pace who at times seemed to possess wisdom beyond his years. “You know, I’m glad to be your father. You’re going to make a good husband and dad one day.”
“Thanks, but I’m not in a rush.” Pace blushed. “I’ll know who I want to spend the rest of my life with when I see or find her, then I won’t let her get away.”
“Have you looked?”
“Only from the sidelines. I’m attracted to Latina and biracial women. Since Kami and I are both biracial, we want someone who understands what it’s like to be part of both worlds. She has to be pretty.”
“Of course.” They chuckled and bumped their fists.
“Dad, you haven’t asked me, but I’ve kept myself clean, free from sex and drugs.”
Humbled by Pace’s admission, Parke silently praised the Lord that his son had overcome temptations at his age. So he and Cheney had done right by at least one child. “Thanks for sharing that with me. You didn’t have to. It means something to see your children growing up in the fear of the Lord and respecting His Word.”
His son cleared his throat. “But as much as I want to be like you...” Pace paused and looked away. “A part of me is striving not to be like you.”
Talk about an implosion. Parke frowned and waited for his son to explain. “What do you mean?” He braced for another dart aimed at his heart.
“I can’t see myself sleeping around with women and one of them having my child and I don’t know about it. You’ve taught me how important the Jamieson legacy is at home, and during every family meeting it’s reinforced again.” He pounded his chest. “I want to see my children grow up from birth to adulthood. Second to my birth mom, I wouldn’t want to have any other mother besides Cheney.”
Whoa. Parke grabbed him in a bear hug. “I love you.”
“Love you back,” Pace mumbled.
“And I love you both,” Cheney rushed in the room, sniffing. “I wasn’t eavesdropping, but I heard the last part. I’m glad to be your mom.”
“I meant that,” Pace said.
Parke opened his arms to include his wife in a group hug. He tightened his hold around them, grateful. His son had no idea how deep his heartfelt words touched Cheney. “If only your sister had your head sense,” he said. “As her father, I’ve tried to show her how a man treats a woman he loves. I wasn’t expecting someone like Tango to surface.”
Pace shook his head. “I’ve seen him around recently. He’s bad news for any girl, especially my sister. I kinda miss her being around here, so I was thinking about taking a day off work next week and driving to visit her for a weekend.”
“I’ll book your flight,” Parke and Cheney said at the same time.
Chapter Eleven
Tuesday was buzzing all day at the salon. While the stylists and other staff were distracted, concentrating on their clients for the upcoming Juneteenth festivities, Kami took a chance and called Tango on the salon’s phone.
Her heart pounded with excitement at hearing his voice. That overpowered any anxiety at being caught. Technically, she wasn’t disobeying her aunt, and Miss Pearl never said she couldn’t, she reasoned.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Do you even know it? God whispered Jeremiah 17:9.
Kami considered the question and believed the answer to be yes. She knew her heart.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life, God thundered.
She swallowed. Wisdom from Proverbs. She couldn’t recall the chapter, but it was a book filled with warnings for the wicked and a reminder to others to seek wisdom. Shaking her head, she understood the Scripture, but refused to believe that her Tango was evil and it was a lack of wisdom to want to be with him.
Not when her heart told her Tango cared for her. She glanced over her shoulder to double-check the coast was clear. Nothing seemed to get past Miss Pearl, so she had to make it quick as she tapped in his number.
“Hey. Who this?” Tango answered.
Her heart fluttered. “It’s me.” She smiled, excited to hear his voice.
“Me who?” He seemed annoyed.
Had he forgotten about her already? She pushed back the hurt and identified herself.
“Oh, hey, Kami.” He covered up the phone to hush someone in the background. “How’s Oklahoma City treating you?”
“I’m in Tulsa,” she corrected, irked he didn’t remember her whereabouts.
“I knew you were somewhere in Oklahoma.” He chuckled
, then she heard what sounded like giggles in the background.
“Is someone there with you?”
“Yeah, just a friend.”
“Who?” she demanded.
“Listen, I don’t ask you to name your friends. Why you asking me?” he snapped.
Huh? What did she say that made him act rude? She was taking a risk to call him, and he wanted to pick a fight? “I didn’t call to argue. I just missed you and wanted to hear your voice.”
“Yeah. I’ll talk to you later.” Tango disconnected the call.
Kami blinked in disbelief as her vision blurred. She bowed her head to hide her misery and regulate her breathing. His meanness crushed her.
When the bell alerted her that more clients had arrived, she had to do one of her mother’s numbers—regroup and refocus on the task in front of her. Kami greeted them with the biggest smile she could muster, considering her heart was cracking every second, and she was surprised no one heard it. She repeated her performance at the sound of each bell until the last customer walked through the door, then she mentally collapsed.
On the ride back to Gilcease Hills, Queen chatted non-stop about Juneteenth.
Kami had nothing to add. She was still bummed out because of Tango. She hated being moody, and whenever she was down about anything, she could always rely on family to cheer her up. Her aunt asked her a question about June 19th.
“Yeah, Juneteenth is a big deal at home.” Kami coaxed herself to smile. “You know my dad and Papa P commemorate like it’s New Year’s.”
“Our celebration here kicks off on Wednesday with a mixer. It’s sponsored by a group called the young professionals, so you’ll get a chance to meet more people around your age. That should cheer you up.”
I doubt it, she thought, but smiled anyway.
“Besides admiring the colorful attire and dancing to the rhythm of the drums,” Queen chatted away, “I like sampling the African dishes.”