Technically speaking, Gabrielle was an only child, born Gabrielle Mercedes Booker. Her mother and father were married before she was conceived. That was a big deal to her since it was the only thing she actually held over the four cousins she’d grown up with who could—and rightly so—be considered more siblings than cousins.
“Thanks for the information, but I hadn’t planned on asking if you were married or not,” Fatima said. “Not at this point, anyway. I wouldn’t want you getting the wrong impression about us here.”
In fact, Fatima had noticed the slight cut above Gabrielle’s right eye. She couldn’t help but wonder what the real story was behind that. And that pukey green, bright sunshine yellow, hot fuchsia, orange, and red scarf carefully tied around her neck didn’t seem to match the classy outfit. Fatima pondered whether Gabrielle had possibly worn that scarf to merely cover up some infraction surrounding her neck. That cut above her eye had given Fatima plenty of reason to pause. And Fatima was leaning more toward some act of violence having been done to her than any act of love.
“Well, I wanted to come and personally welcome you to the body of Christ, as well as to Followers of Jesus Faith Worship Center,” Fatima said, maintaining her upbeat manner. “I’d also like to give you my phone number and possibly get yours. That’s if you don’t mind me having it. With thousands of members, Pastor Landris wants to ensure any new people who attend here have at least one person they can easily reach, in case they need something or have any questions. A point of contact, if you will. And I am indeed delighted to say that I am your contact.”
Gabrielle flashed Fatima a quick smile. Indeed. She’d caught Fatima’s glance at the cut above her eye that honestly she’d forgotten was even there. And had she known she would end up going forward to be saved, ultimately placing herself visibly in front of other people instead of the come-in-and-leave-without-talking-to-anyone plan she’d originally had, she might have put off coming to church altogether. At least, until her impossible-to-hide-without-big-shades cut had completely healed.
Gabrielle touched the scarf she’d tied around her neck—happy now she’d chosen to wear it. Scarves were definitely not her thing. They were too old fogey for her. And she was not a scarf person. But leave it to her aunt on her father’s side, Cecelia “Cee-Cee” Murphy, to give her something she didn’t want but would later possibly need. The only time Gabrielle ever considered wearing a scarf was on her job, and only then if it was requested. Truthfully, even then, she didn’t keep it on long enough for it to irritate her the way this one was beginning to do. She pulled at the knot to loosen it a little more, careful that it not become too loose and expose the black and blue bruises on her neck.
After leaving the building, she slid into her pearl-colored, automatic five-speed, V6, 2008 Toyota Camry Solara SLE convertible. She draped her off-white wool coat on the passenger’s side headrest. She then placed on the passenger’s seat her new Bible and the New Convert/New Member’s Handbook she’d received from another person who came over right before she left the conference room. She cranked the car, turned the heat on full blast, and pressed a separate button to heat up her tan leather seat. The seat began to warm quickly. When she’d bought this car, that was one feature the manual spoke of that she thought she’d never use, especially living in the South. But on a cold day like this, she absolutely adored this benefit of her car.
Gabrielle reached for the Bible, retrieving the handwritten card Fatima had given her with her contact information along with a message she’d written. Gabrielle couldn’t help but smile as she read it.
You are now a new creature. Those old things are officially passed away. It’s time to let go of past mistakes made by you and even those made against you. It’s time for you to walk in your godly call. If you need anything, have questions as you embark upon this new and wonderful faith journey, or you just need a friend, please trust me when I tell you that I’m only a phone call or an e-mail click away.
Fatima had included her home and cell phone numbers, as well as her e-mail address.
Following that were the words P.S. Read Jeremiah 29:11.
Gabrielle looked at the Bible and suddenly realized she’d never really opened a Bible before, and especially not to seek out a specific scripture. Those few times as a child she had gone to church, the deacons usually read from their Bibles while the congregation passively listened, and nodded with occasional amens. When the pastor stood and read his selected scriptures before giving his text, the congregation was neither required nor encouraged to open their Bibles and read along with him.
Even her beloved Miss Crowe, who had told her some things about God, had never opened the Bible or read anything out of it in her presence. Miss Crowe merely quoted a scripture when she felt the need.
Starting at the front, Gabrielle turned in search of a table of contents. Most nonfiction books contained one. Surely the Bible had to have one. Surely it had to.
She smiled when she found it. Old Testament. Jeremiah. Page 1099.
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Copyright © 2010 by Vanessa Davis Griggs
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The Truth Is the Light Page 31