“Man, I don’t know what she crying about. Like I said, I dropped by to get a few things. You got a problem with that?”
Deus, me impedir de bater este homem baixo, Paulo inwardly begged the Lord to keep him from knocking the man down. Paulo needed to pray, because when Paulo’s voice deepened, and Paulo’s accent became magnified in his words, it would take an act of God to keep Him from responding to the anger of his flesh. And when Paulo began to pray in Portuguese, he was close to the edge.
Paulo cleared his throat. “Only,” he growled, “if Phoenix has a problem with it. And judging by her tears and frustration, it seems she does.” Paulo now closed the door to the bedroom.
Cedric crouched. “Yo, Man. What you trying to do?”
Paulo smiled. “I just want to talk to you in private, is all. What’s wrong? Nervous that I will rip your throat out for insulting the woman I care about twice in my presence?”
“Well you could try,” Cedric sneered.
“And I could succeed,” Paulo sneered back. “But lucky for both of us, I am a Christian. God” --Paulo almost choked on the words— “would not want me to fight with you. So I am going to answer whatever questions you have for me. We both know you’re curious about Phoenix and me spending time together. I’m a man and your...a...man,” Paulo tripped over the word the Lord forced him to use. He continued, “So we both know you didn’t care nothing about Phoenix, or your stuff, or checking on her, until you saw her with me. As far as your things are concerned, I have known this girl a couple of months. She has never mentioned you calling or emailing or dropping by for your precious belongings. We both know that as much as you didn’t care for Phoenix while you had her, your ego smarted about her moving on. Men, especially certain men, are territorial that way. So come off it. You’re snooping and trying to reclaim control over this woman you don’t even really want. You told her you were concerned about our relationship, right? So then, have at it.”
Cedric was stunned at the candid way Paulo had addressed him. A part of him, the part that had not been molded and shaped by his arrogance, felt something very similar to...remorse. “Have at what?” he murmured.
“You’ve got questions about my intentions, as it were, because you care so much for the woman. So ask your questions,” Paulo said through clenched teeth. Deus...
Cedric scratched the back of his neck and paused. He finally shrugged. “I guess I just didn’t understand what you saw in her. I know what I saw in her and it wasn’t visible to the eye.”
If I could just punch him one time, Lord. Listen, God, You promise not to let us be tempted beyond what we can handle. So please, send this man, and all his stuff, out of here. If he says one more thing to insult Phoenix, we’ll have a deliberate sin issue because I will knock him out.
My grace is sufficient for you, Son.
Paulo began to pace. “You’re asking me what I see in Phoenix? I see a woman who is strong, smart, loyal, educated, caring, funny, giving, sweet, and kind. She is beautiful on the inside and outside. She may be overweight, but it’s easier to fix imperfections in the body than those of the mind or heart. I am going to help her in the areas where she is weak and she is going to help me where I am weak. But if you really want to know what I see in Phoenix, I’ll tell ya.”
Cedric was astonished and his jaw caressing his collarbone proved it. “What’s that?”
“I see the woman that is going to be my wife one day,” Paulo answered in a low voice.
“Your wife?” Cedric crossed his arms. “You see your wife in her?”
“Just as God intended. And you could have seen your wife in her too, only she was never meant for you. She was meant for me. That’s why you never really saw her. God knew you were never worthy of looking in the first place. Why? Because dudes like you look for the wrong things in life, and when you end up with nothing, it’s everybody’s fault. Sure, you can go out and find a woman with the perfect body or face or clothes or hair. But what about her heart? Would most women have loved you the way Phoenix loved you? I doubt it. Sure, I can see you’re an attractive man. But being attractive is not the first thing women worth their salt look for in a man. Good looks is usually a bonus for women. Women, real women, want a man who can love them, protect them, cover them, provide for them, and nurture them. Real men know how to do that.” He stopped pacing long enough to look Cedric over. “And I don’t mean no disrespect to you, but you asked and I answered. And, hopefully, I also answered some questions you had about you.”
Cedric stood there stunned. He knew he was being insulted but it didn’t quite feel like it. He felt like this dude was playing mind tricks on him, but he wasn’t sure, because Paulo’s tone was without anger, or even much of a challenge.
“And about your stuff? Phoenix has an appointment to get to right now. She’s actually late,” Paulo said glancing at his watch. “I am going to send her off and help you get your stuff out of here. That way, you can just close the door on this relationship that you didn’t even want in the first place. Let’s just make sure we get it all out because I don’t think you’ll have access into Phoenix’s home, or her heart, ever again. I’ll allow this today but Christian or not, ain’t no way I am letting her go through this again.” Paulo chuckled, in awe that God’s grace allowed him to keep his cool after all. “Cedric, let’s make this final visit count. Be right back.”
Paulo walked out of the bedroom to where Phoenix was still trembling on the couch. “Baby, give me your keys. You go on up to Cara’s and I will meet you up there in an hour or so. I am going to stick around and make sure Cedric gets everything he needs. I am going to help him into a cab and I am going to make sure we close this door for good.”
Phoenix was shocked. She stood. “What? What did you say to him? You’re going to help him too? I can’t even believe that son of—”
“Phoenix,” Paulo’s tone was firm. “Go.”
As if commanded by some unseen force, she nodded without a word. She grabbed her bag, and a tissue to dab at her face, and left.
Paulo walked back into the room with a clenched fist he kept close to his side. “Okay, so what belongs to you and what doesn’t? And please, Dude, take whatever you want because whatever you steal, I’ll just replace...”
Phoenix trembled all the way to the elevator and all the way to the eighth floor. She had no idea what was going on, but she felt the hatred swirling within her all the way to the depths of her soul. She would make Cedric pay. She would get revenge. As she looked her best, she would show him what he was missing and he would regret ever trying to hurt her.
She was grateful to Paulo, but she knew the door he was trying to close could never be until she repaid Cedric for his treatment of her.
She started to feel giddy thinking about it as she walked to Cara’s apartment.
Chapter 18
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listens to advice (Proverbs 12:15).
“He did what?” Cara shouted, as she helped Phoenix try on a short, baby doll dress in fuchsia and pink with a fitted top and flowing skirt. Before Phoenix could continue the story about what had transpired that afternoon with Cedric, Cara cut her off. “Wait, hold that thought,” she said as she struggled with Phoenix’s new dress. After Phoenix got into the dress, she quickly searched through a bin labeled “Size 16/2X” before shrieking a satisfied, “Found it!”
Cara came over and helped Phoenix get into a short leather motorcycle jacket, similar to the one she had worn the first day Phoenix met her. She watched Phoenix get into a pair of black wedge sandals that were stylish and comfortable. With her nose wrinkling in concentration, she placed three silver bangles and another bracelet covered with mini fuchsia butterflies. She handed Phoenix a matching ring for her index finger. A pair of large hoops completed the look.
Phoenix was marveling at her new friend’s talent. “Where did you learn how to do this, Cara?”
Cara smiled, “It’s all God-given, Babygirl. Oh, and my degree f
rom FIT don’t hurt neither!”
After they shared a laugh, Cara said, “You can continue now, Phoenix. But sit over here while I do some make up on this pretty face.” She sat Phoenix down and threw a smock around her shoulders.
Phoenix rolled her eyes. “Do you even have makeup to match my skin tone?”
Cara pursed her lips. “What’s wrong with you? You really must got a complex or something. Girl, I have make up for chicks white as chalk and chicks black as tar and everybody in between. Look what I did for my friend, Susan.” She handed Phoenix a picture of an extremely tall, buxom woman who was wearing a large, curly afro. Her skin was the color of dried prunes, and she was large, but quite pretty. “She models for me sometimes for the site. This was a picture of her before her engagement party. I styled her of course.”
“She’s pretty.”
“And so are you! It don’t take two minutes to look like that or to look like this,” Cara said gesturing at herself. “You got to put some effort into it. Even Halle Berry don’t look like Halle Berry in the morning, Girl! After we figure out your best looks, I will teach you how to apply the makeup. Now finish telling me about your ex.”
So Phoenix did as Cara worked. She talked about Cedric and their relationship and finding him cheating on her. She talked about meeting Paulo in the park after the fight with her mother.
“I can’t believe your mom said to stay with him! My mother would have handed me the knife to cut James, had it been me! And she still isn’t speaking to you, almost two months later?” Cara shook her head as she applied mascara to Phoenix’s lashes. “You got some nice eyebrows now that I’ve shaped them, and beautiful lashes too, Chica. Girls pay for what you got. Anyway, so your mom told you to stay…”
Phoenix flushed with pleasure. “First, let me say thanks for the compliment.” she said sweetly. “Anyway…” she continued her rant about her mother.
Phoenix then discussed ducking and dodging Paulo for six weeks before he found her just a couple of weeks prior. “I don’t know how or why, but I feel like I’ve known him for years. We met a couple of months ago, and hung out for the past couple weeks, working out or praying, but I feel like I—” She closed her eyes, feeling the brush on her cheekbones. “Naw, it’s crazy.”
“What?” the brush stopped as Cara straightened up to look at her. “You love him, don’t you?” Cara giggled. “I can’t fault you. I would fall in love too if I didn’t have my better half. That man is Godly, gorgeous, tall, exotic, kind, sexy, funny, down-to-earth, patient, loving—”
Phoenix cast Cara a look. “Um, you sure you’re not in love with Paulo?”
Cara sucked her teeth. “I’m just saying, Chica. I’m married, not dead! But the question is, are you in love with Paulo?”
Ashamed, Phoenix remained silent.
“Listen, Chica, ain’t no reason to be bashful. I fell in love with James’s picture before I even met him. We were both on that site, Christianlove.com? I read his profile and said, ‘I want this man.’ Didn’t even hear his voice, but I knew. Anyway, I wanted to reach out but I was scared, being a big girl and all. I didn’t know if I was his type ‘cause not every man likes a full-figured woman. So, I prayed. Before I knew it, James had sent me a message the same evening. We emailed back and forth for the entire evening, before going on instant messenger. Normally it would scare me to move fast, being from the internet and all, but he asked to meet and I agreed. We met the following day for coffee. We went to his church, Paulo’s church, the next week. I left mine and joined his, loving being in Times Square for church every week, especially since we got to meet so many people and have a lot of fun after service. Plus, I couldn’t wait to get out of that strict Pentecostal church my family attends. Anyway, we got married seven months later. Been together, like, eight years.”
“Wow.”
Cara chuckled. “When God puts it together, Phoenix, it ain’t on our timing. It’s on His, believe that. I was single for, like, five years. Never even went on a date. I focused on finishing school, building my dream career, and held on to Jesus. When He got ready, it was like, bam! It moved so fast, and I was scared sometimes, but again, it is not on our timing.” Cara paused. “Especially when you build a relationship God’s way, without all that premarital sex and all the things the world encourages in relationships these days. When you enter a courtship, put together by God, it’s for marriage. Paulo just has to figure out if he feels the same about you. And if he does, it’s on, Chica!”
Phoenix considered her words for a moment before continuing her story. “And now, Paulo is downstairs supposedly helping move Cedric’s things out of my apartment.”
Cara laughed. “You mean he’s moving Cedric out of your life! Well, praise God. It sounds like Paulo does feel that way about you. That man is a good, Godly man. He takes charge and he handles business. I love that dude. James and him are so alike in that way. I guess because they are becoming more like Christ in that way. And he’s been through so much with his wife dying—”
Phoenix sat up straighter. “Yeah, he’s mentioned her, but I never knew how she died.”
Cara laughed. “And you won’t know until he shares it with you. Sorry I brought it up.”
Phoenix groaned as Cara ignored her and continued blending and swiping on her face.
“So what you gonna do now?” Cara asked.
“I guess I am going to work out with Paulo, take better care of myself, and one day, I’ll make Cedric pay.”
Cara frowned. “What you mean by that? Only God can make him pay.”
Phoenix pressed her lips together, unsure if she should continue. She felt so comfortable with her new friend already, but wasn’t sure she could handle any sermons right then, not after everything Cedric had done to her. Deciding she needed support, she took a breath and continued. “I plan to make Cedric pay because I am going to get him back and—”
Cara stopped her application. “What do you mean get him back? As in return to the relationship? Didn’t you just say you’re falling in love with Paulo?”
Phoenix looked away from Cara’s astonished stare. “I am falling for Paulo, but I plan to get Cedric to pay for what he did to me. I won’t be able to move on unless I do.”
“Or you can move on with God’s help. You can forgive Cedric and focus on what God is doing in your life now. And you could be careful with Paulo’s feelings,” Cara kept her tone light, mindful to keep condemnation out of her tone. She knew from Paulo that Phoenix had not dedicated her life to Christ—yet. She knew that Paulo felt that the Lord had brought him into Phoenix’s life to minister to her, and to help her. She also knew what Paulo did not share. That he was already developing feelings for her. She had been delighted at the look in Paulo’s eyes as he shared information about this woman, Phoenix, whom he believed God had brought into his life. She and James had been excited to see Paulo moving forward, but now she was worried. If Phoenix was determined to allow bitterness to drive her to get revenge, she knew any potential that Phoenix and Paulo had to move forward would be hindered. Help them, Lord. And please help me to be the friend You want me to be to Phoenix.
“I know I don’t want to do anything to hurt Paulo. I know what he’s already done for me. It’s just that this is something I have to do!” Phoenix was startled at the vehemence in her own voice as she punched her fist. She struggled to calm herself. “He broke my heart. He used me. He told me I was too ugly to love…twice! I have to do this.”
Cara let out a hollow chuckle. “No, Chica. The only thing you have to do is stay black, find Christ, and die.” Deciding it was time to lighten the mood, she dropped her brush onto her makeup table. “Enough talk about the past and revenge.” She pulled Phoenix out of her chair. “Now take a look at the new you!” She turned Phoenix to the full-length mirror with a flourish.
Phoenix stood in that mirror for at least five minutes without a word.
Cara, noticing the bewildered expression on Phoenix’s face, became anxious. “You don
’t like it?” Her voice was shaking as she raced to find a tissue to wipe off Phoenix’s face. “I can change it, but—”
“Don’t you dare!” Phoenix snapped. “You are so—” Phoenix’s words became strangled as tears flooded her eyes.
“Oh no! Don’t cry. I’m sorry, I thought—” Cara’s own lips trembled as she dabbed at Phoenix’s eyes. “Let me fix what you don’t like. I can try—”
Phoenix threw her arms around her friend’s neck. “It’s perfect. You are a genius!”
Cara’s relief flooded her so powerfully she almost drowned in it. “You like it?”
“I can’t believe you are able to do this… with me!” Phoenix released her friend to take a closer look. Her eyes searched her face. She could not see the mineral makeup that flawlessly covered every open pore and dark mark on Phoenix’s face. The mascara stretched her already long lashes another few centimeters while the light bronze eye shadow made her large, almond-shaped, brown eyes sparkling and bright. Her lips looked full and lush with the Mac Lipglass Cara had used. The knee-length, baby-doll dress highlighted Phoenix’s full bust, while hiding the bulge in the middle. The waist cincher Cara had given Phoenix was not uncomfortable and gave her a more defined waist. The jacket made Phoenix look chic, but not over the top. The short length of the dress and the slight height of the wedge sandals elongated Phoenix’s very strong, sexy legs.
As if reading her mind, Cara said, “You do have nice legs. You need to show them off more.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me,” Phoenix continued to stare. “The team on What Not to Wear couldn’t have done a better job.”
“You got that right!” Cara said, pleased. “I am thankful you trusted me to try this on you, Phoenix,” Cara said graciously. “And you know what else? I didn’t add nothing or take nothing away. We worked with what you already had. I mean we used Spanx, but girl, I don’t see nothing wrong with that!”
The Makeover Page 22