Still, Paulo had continued to fast and intercede for Phoenix, as led by the Spirit of God.
A full two weeks since their first session, they met in the morning as scheduled. During their breakfast date, Paulo congratulated Phoenix on lasting the past two weeks in their fitness regimen, and for losing eight pounds. She beamed when he took her hand and delivered a soul-stirring kiss to her knuckles. She couldn’t resist delivering a quick kiss to his cheek, and thanking him again for his help.
Paulo felt a flutter in his heart when Phoenix kissed him, but quickly cast off the feeling. There was something more pressing on his heart that he had to share.
Rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, he smiled and looked into her eyes for a moment. “Phoenix, I want to say something.”
Phoenix finished chewing her mouthful of eggs before nodding. “Yeah?”
“As proud as I am of you for hanging in there these past two weeks, there is something that you haven’t done…”
“What?” Phoenix frowned. “I’ve been sticking to your diet. I’ve even lost eight pounds. I—”
“Haven’t been to church or Bible study, as you agreed,” Paulo said, gently finishing her sentence. “I love that we have been praying daily together. Still, you didn’t make it to the group studies, our personal session-slash-study on Saturday evenings, or to a church service on Sundays. You haven’t even tried to attend at least one of the three. Remember, we are a Christian fitness program. We just can’t work without God.”
Sheepish, Phoenix looked down at her plate of scrambled eggs and fruit. “I know,” she said, addressing her food. “I wanted to, but things kept coming up.”
Paulo lifted her head with his finger under her chin. He held her gaze with his golden eyes until she began to feel flushed. His eyes caressed hers, then her nose, then her lips, before making their way back up. He leaned close. “If you let things come up, they will keep coming up. This is a priority…should be a priority, Phoenix. I can’t force you to accept these beliefs. I am, however, asking you to come and listen. If you’ve heard the Word and don’t want to believe—”
“But I do believe, P. I do. I don’t need church or Bible study to believe in God or serve Him.”
“That’s not true, Phoenix, and don’t let the devil lie to you. In addition to personal prayer and Bible study time, God commands us to continually learn about Him from our church leaders, and to fellowship with other members of His flock. A person may be part of the Church of Jesus Christ, but they must attend a church body gathering to abide in Him. It is impossible to remain in Christ on your own. Look, will you come to Bible study tonight, or what?”
Phoenix took a breath, and looked away. She knew that Paulo was exactly right. Besides, Paulo had done so much for her in the short time they’ve known each other, and never asked her for anything in return. Except that. This was the least she could do for him. A few Bible studies and church services wouldn’t kill her. It’s not like she didn’t believe in Jesus. She used to love church and didn’t fully want to admit why she was putting it off. Furthermore, as much as she had loved and sacrificed for Cedric, he’d never cared to bring her anywhere.
She smiled at Paulo, who was sitting there with his eyebrows raised. “I’m sorry. You did ask and I have dodged it. I can’t imagine why. But I’ll be there tonight. I’ll let you know about Sunday morning though.”
Paulo’s smile brightened the room and filled the empty spaces in her heart. “Fair enough. You can come to my home at six. Still have the address, right?”
“Yes,” Phoenix said, thrilled at how she had made this handsome man smile. “I promise I’ll be there tonight for sure.”
At exactly five-fifteen, Phoenix’s front doorbell rang. She had just gotten out of the shower and was changing into a fresh pair of jeans and button-down blouse that she hated. It was a little snug around the bust line, but Phoenix had cast aside everything she had tried on. Everything had made her look larger, shapeless, and rumpled. She yanked off the blouse, threw on her muumuu over her jeans, and raced down the hallway.
“Coming!” she shouted.
Flinging open the door, she was startled to find Paulo’s wide grin and a single pink rose waiting for her. “Wow,” he chuckled. “Didn’t I burn that thing while I was cleaning up?”
Frowning, Phoenix looked down at herself. “Um, you’re making fun of my grandmother’s muumuu, are you? Oh no. Wait a minute, what are you doing here? I thought I was meeting you at your house at six?”
Paulo shrugged and held out the rose. “I know, but I thought it would be nice to walk you over there.”
Phoenix stared at the rose, refusing to let her feelings overcome her. “But you live literally around the corner.”
“I know.” Paulo repeated, as he walked past Phoenix and closed her door. “Are you going to take this thing or should I make perfume out of it?”
Phoenix giggled and grabbed the rose. “I don’t know what to say. I guess I don’t know why you felt it necessary to come here just to walk back over there.”
Paulo sighed, saddened that this woman was so unused to the slightest courtesy. “I wanted to walk you over, alright? Can I be a gentleman, please? It’s how I was raised.”
“Okay, but are you sure it wasn’t so I wouldn’t miss the Bible study?” Phoenix smirked before heading into the kitchen to find a small vase to house the rose.
“Well, yeah, there is that.” And I couldn’t wait to see you again, Phoenix!
“Uh huh. You don’t fool me. Anyway, thank you for the rose. I was just getting ready, so have a seat wherever,” she said, leading him down the hall. “And don’t you ever make fun of my favorite muumuu again, alright?”
“Sure, but only if you promise to throw it out.”
Phoenix giggled again as she headed into her bedroom to finish changing. “Help yourself to something in the fridge if you want it,” she called out.
“Thanks, but we’ll have lots of refreshments at the Bible study, so…” Paulo said, browsing Phoenix’s bookshelves for the first time. He was dismayed at the fact that she had so many books on everything from the psychology of pets to the history of world civilizations, but nowhere on any of the shelves, could he locate a Bible. He made a note to give her one of his.
When Phoenix came out, she was wearing a big smile. “You know, it hit me just now. You are really being sweet to me. Is this how you treat all your clients, or do you just feel sorry for me?”
Her question caught Paulo off guard. His eyes lingered on the bookshelves as he struggled to find the right answer. With a sinking feeling, he resigned himself to the fact that the only right answer was the truth. “I am sweet to you because you’re sweet…at least when you want to be. And no, I don’t treat my clients like this at all, but I think you’re past the point of being my client. Don’t you agree, Phoenix?” Paulo finished the question with his eyes bearing down into hers.
She swallowed and walked to the closet to grab her shoulder bag. “Uh, I guess we’re friends, like you said.” Her heart thundered in her core as she told herself to be grateful she had such a gorgeous, sexy, helpful, kind…friend.
Paulo walked over to Phoenix and placed a hand on her arm. Startled, she flinched, dropping the bag. “I think,” Paulo said, leaning into her, “that you’re getting past the point of being my friend. Don’t you agree, Phoenix?”
She gulped. He’s not interested in me. No way! I mean we have so-called breakfast dates every morning. We haven’t been dating for real, though, have we? Phoenix don’t get carried away thinking—
“Did I ever tell you that I love your eyes? I found myself thinking about them all day.” Paulo reached down to grab her hand.
“What?” Phoenix blinked. “What?”
Paulo chuckled. “Why are you so surprised? I was complimenting your pretty eyes.”
“Uh—” Phoenix turned away. If this was some kind of joke, she could not bear to be the punch line. “What is this, some kind of self-esteem bui
lding aspect of our work together?”
And just like that, the moment was gone.
Paulo tilted his head, even as he rolled his eyes. “It is so hard for you to accept a compliment?”
“No. It’s just hard for me to believe a compliment.”
“I know,” Paulo said quietly, looking down. “But I did mean it. I meant everything I said.”
“You meant everything you said, but I still can’t figure out what you’re saying,” Phoenix quipped.
“I am saying I love your eyes.”
Silence.
“I am saying that I thought about your eyes…thought about you all day.”
A sigh.
“I am saying that I like you as more than a client…and more than a friend.”
A gasp.
“And I am saying that we should talk about this later.”
A groan.
“Let me get your bag,” Paulo said as he bent to retrieve it, and its spilled contents, from the ground. He was filled with joy. “You do own a Bible!”
Phoenix grinned. “Is that what you were scanning my bookshelves for so carefully? Of course I own a Bible! Who doesn’t? I just put it in my bag earlier so I wouldn’t forget it.”
Paulo grabbed her hand. “It’s a good start.”
Paulo’s Bible study group consisted of seven other people from his church. There was Sven, a middle-aged Swedish man and Kwi, his Nigerian wife. There was Mariana, Paulo’s cousin and her husband João, as well as their young adult daughter Giovanna. Also, Phoenix was surprised to discover that Cara and James, the mid-thirties couple, lived in her own building.
They had blessed the food, and what Paulo called “fellowshipped” together, while eating the sliced fruit and veggies, blue corn tortilla chips, various dips, mini quiches, and whole grain veggie quesadillas. Following the time of refreshments, Paulo began to read from the Song of Solomon, Chapter one.
“Please, everyone let us turn to Song of Solomon—also known as the Song of Songs. The Lord laid this scripture on me this morning, during my prayer and study time. I know it represents the way the Lord sees romantic love between a man and a woman, leading from courtship and later marriage. It is also believed to be a parable that represents God’s love for His people Israel and also Christ’s relationship to His Church. The Spirit laid it on my heart that we should study these verses tonight as well.”
“I love Song of Solomon,” Kwi breathed, glancing lovingly at her husband.
“Me too,” Giovanna sighed. “I only wish the Lord will see fit to send me a husband who sees me as Solomon sees his Shulamite wife.”
“Which is how Christ sees his church,” Mariana added, “just as Paulo said.”
Phoenix could not wait to see what the fuss was about.
After Paulo asked Sven to lead the group in prayer that the Spirit of God would edify and touch each member of the group, teaching each what they needed to learn, Paulo read.
His eyes fell on Phoenix before he read the passage from the Young Woman, in chapter one, verses five and six, “I am dark but beautiful, O women of Jerusalem— dark as the tents of Kedar, dark as the curtains of Solomon’s tents. Don’t stare at me because I am dark— the sun has darkened my skin….” After reading from chapter one, Paul scanned the room, before bringing a searing gaze back to Phoenix. “I love this passage. I especially love how the young woman tells the women of Jerusalem that she is dark from working in the fields, but she is still beautiful. I love that. She reminds me of my mãe, who is very dark-skinned. Mãe is so dark, her skin almost looks blue. But she is beautiful and no one can tell her otherwise. I wish more dark-skinned women felt that way about themselves.”
Phoenix’s stomach twisted as she held his gaze.
It wasn’t until Mariana cleared her throat that Paulo began reading from the text again.
But even as her ears listened to his lilting, accented voice reading the scriptures, her eyes remained on the words “I am dark, but beautiful.”
Following a discussion about Godly love, Phoenix continued to “fellowship” with the group. She spoke briefly to Mariana, who explained that she and her family had just moved from California to assist Paulo in opening a second fitness center in New Jersey, where they lived, within the following year. Giovanna was also studying Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers, and would follow in her Tio Paulo’s footsteps, becoming co-director upon her graduation. She spoke to Sven and Kwi, IT Specialists who had lived in London until the previous year. Phoenix liked all of them.
Phoenix learned that James was a Marketing Consultant who also ran a non-profit, Christian organization for troubled teens. She and Cara, however, bonded right away, becoming instant friends.
“Girl, I have heard so much about you!” Cara said, reaching over to give Phoenix a hug after she and James had finished talking. “How was the study? Paulo didn’t twist your arm to get you here, did he?”
At first, Phoenix was taken aback at Cara’s open affection, but then she relaxed when she realized how much she enjoyed it. “Uh, yeah, you could say that. And I mean that literally.”
Cara waved a hand. “You ain’t got to tell me. He is me and my husband, James’s, best friend. We know how he gets down. He doesn’t play about two things: God and exercise.” After a quick laugh, Cara gestured at herself. “I guess he got one down, one to go.”
Phoenix eyed the beautiful woman, who was the same height as she and at least twenty pounds heavier. Phoenix guessed her to be a size twenty or twenty-two to her own new size fourteen. What amazed Phoenix, as she stared at the extremely pretty Latina woman, was how her size did not hinder her beauty in any way. Cara’s hair cut was sleek and sassy, a feather-style that framed her round face. She wore a light gray eye shadow, a hint of blush and a pretty lip gloss. Her dress, a long empire-cut pink maxi dress, flattered her busty, round frame. She wore a cropped, sleeveless, leather jacket over the dress that gave it the right amount of pop. Her costume necklace and bangles bore tiny crystals that caught the light at a thousand angles, and her matching earrings grazed her shoulders. She was sexy, stylish, and sleek.
She was full-figured and gorgeous.
And Phoenix had no idea how Cara managed to look so good.
James, Cara’s husband, was a big and tall dude, African-American, at least six-two and a good two hundred seventy pounds. His caramel-hued, bearded face, topped by his shiny bald head, reminded Phoenix of rap mogul Suge Knight.
“Let me tell you, Chica, I had no idea you lived in our building! When Paulo mentioned how he was working with someone from our spot, and he tried to describe you, I had no idea who you were. Now that you’re here, I realize I have seen you before. You used to hang out with that tall, Indian-looking guy right?”
Surprised, Phoenix nodded. “That was my ex-fiancé.”
“Oh okay, well, sorry it didn’t work out. But everything happens for a reason. God is in control.” Cara smirked.
Phoenix nodded again, not knowing what to say.
“So how do you like working with Paulo? He’s been trying to help me and James get in shape for the longest, but with our new baby, James trying to finish his MBA, and me starting a business, it’s been hard.”
“Oh, what kind of business?”
Cara ran a hand through her hair. “I run an online beauty and fashion blog and magazine for plus-size women, Chica. It’s been great. I used to work as a fashion buyer for a plus size fashion chain, but my husband hated my being away so often. When I realized I didn’t need to have tons of start-up money like I would need for a print magazine, I asked myself why not? James had been waiting ages for me to be ready to start a family. I prayed on it, and the Lord gave me a release to start this business. It’s been wonderful! I work from home. I get to raise my son while still making an income. Best of all, I get to keep all the free samples the plus-size designers send me, not to mention the makeup, shoes, and accessories galore! More and more women are subscribing every day and I get to work toward my ultimate drea
m freely.”
“What’s that?” Phoenix asked, in awe of the energy this woman emitted from her every pore.
“I want to design clothes for women like us. Funky, youthful, chic clothes for plus-size women and teens that don’t make us look twenty years older, like some of the clothes they sell us out there. Just because you may wear a size fourteen or twenty-four, don’t mean you can’t look trendy!” Cara’s eyes scanned Phoenix quickly before she averted her gaze.
“I agree with you,” Phoenix said slowly, wondering what Cara saw when she had scanned the outfit she had on. “I always want to look nice, but can’t ever figure out what to wear.”
“Girl, say no more,” Cara exclaimed, with twinkling eyes. “We live in the same building, right? I am on the eighth floor, you?” Cara asked, as she waved goodbye to Sven and Kwi.
“Sixth, why?”
“’Cause I got plenty of clothes, more clothes I know what to do with. I know you’re working out with Paulo and that’s fantastic, but there is nothing wrong with looking your best now. Let me give you a makeover. Now, I am not saying this to offend you, but—”
“Are you serious?” Phoenix’s eyes began a tremble that matched the ones on her lips.
“Listen, I’m sorry if I said something to—”
Phoenix was already shaking her head. “No, please don’t apologize. I know I need some help. Are you serious? Are you actually offering to help me?” Before she could stop herself, she grabbed Cara’s hand and squeezed.
The Makeover Page 19