“Can I sit there?” he asked, pointing to the empty seat beside her.
She scooted over so that he would have the aisle seat. “I'm surprised to see you.”
“You invited me, remember?”
“Weeks ago.”
“So I'm a little slow. And now that we're friends,” he whispered, “I thought it would be a good idea to visit the place that makes my friend so strong. Dianna gave me the address.”
Before she could respond, the Praise Team began to sing and they both stood. Anya clapped, swayed, raised her hands to the Lord, and sang. But her eyes kept a vigilant watch on the door.
“Who are you looking for?” David asked, though she could tell by his smirk that he knew.
She turned her attention back to the choir.
Anya shared her Bible with David as the services continued, and at the end, she introduced him to friends as they made their way outside the church where the bright noon sun greeted them with open arms.
“I'm glad I came. Your pastor relates God to everyday living and I never heard Him talked about in that way before. I'm impressed.”
“I hope that means you'll be coming back.” She smiled.
“Yeah, it's a bit of a drive so early in the morning. Are there any other services besides this one?”
“There's an eleven o'clock, but this is the one I come to.”
“Then this is the one I'll be attending.”
She lowered her head. “That's not what I meant … I have friends who go to the second service. I can introduce you.”
“No need.” He grinned. “I'll be coming with you.” They stopped in front of her car. “So … what are you going to do now?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Go home … maybe go to the office … I'm going to my grandmother's later this afternoon …” Her eyes surveyed the street, looking for Braxton's car.
“Let's get something to eat.” When she hesitated, he said, “Come on, I came all the way up here to visit you.”
Before she could protest, he took her arm leading her to his car. “We'll pick up your car on the way back.”
They had to wait for almost an hour at the Soul Train before they were finally seated at a corner booth.
“Now I remember why I haven't been here in a while,” Anya chuckled. “Just inhaling adds two inches to my hips.”
“Your hips look fine to me.” He grinned. “Anyway, it's our birthright to have some catfish and collard greens, macaroni and cheese, with a little rice with gravy, some cornbread … this is the way Black folks are supposed to eat on Sundays.”
She laughed, as they walked through the long buffet line, piling their plates high.
When they sat down, David waited while Anya bowed her head, and for a few seconds, he even closed his eyes.
Before she had a chance to savor her first forkful, David said, “I'm surprised that Braxton doesn't go to church with you.”
She lowered her fork, still filled with yams, back onto her plate. “He does … normally.”
“Today wasn't normal?”
She shook her head and looked out the window.
“I knew it wasn't a normal day when I noticed that you had forgotten your ring.”
Anya glanced at her bare finger. “I gave it back to Braxton.”
“Oh!”
“We're postponing the wedding.”
“Oh!”
“Is that all you have to say?” She finally looked at him.
“Well, I don't want to be nosy.”
She chuckled. “Yeah, right.” She paused, then said softly, “Good friends can be nosy.”
He placed his fork on his plate and leaned toward her. “Are you okay?”
She picked up her water glass and took a small sip. “I'm fine.”
They ate for a while in silence, as others chattered and laughed around them.
It was Anya who spoke first. “Come on, Mr. Montgomery, you're dying to ask what happened.”
“I don't want to know unless you want to tell me.”
She breathed deeply, knowing that once she said these words, her reality would be in the atmosphere forever. “I'm pregnant, and it's not Braxton's.”
“Ooohhh!”
“I got pregnant when I was raped.” Her matter-of-fact tone hid the pounding in her chest.
There were seconds of silence. By the stiff look on David's face, and the way his jaw muscle jumped, she knew he wanted to ask her about Braxton. How could he leave you? was what she expected him to ask. But the only thing David finally said was, “Anya, I'm sorry.”
“There's nothing to be sorry about. I'm fine with the baby.”
His face showed his surprise. “You're going to keep it?”
She nodded.
He let out a low whistle. “I shouldn't be surprised.” David pushed his plate aside and tapped his fingers on top of the table. “So what does this mean … for us?”
She leaned across the table and laid her hand on top of his. “It means that I have a very good friend whom I'm going to lean on now. And I thank God because I'm going to need my friends.”
His dimple disappeared, but then he gave her a slight smile. “If that's what you want, that's what I'll be.”
They allowed their conversation to drift back to business—the safer ground for now.
Anya took a deep breath, and stepped into the house. “Madear.”
A few seconds later, Madear appeared in the hallway arch, smiling widely. Still wearing the cream dress she'd worn to church, Madear had small smudges of flour covering her face. She wiped her hands on her apron.
“Baby, what are you doing here so early?” Madear hugged Anya. “Are you all right?”
Anya smiled. “Yeah, but I wanted to talk to you before everyone got here.”
“Well, come on back.” Madear started down the hall to the kitchen. “You know I like to do this by myself, but I'll let you in this time,” Madear chuckled.
Anya could smell the aroma from Madear's preparations at the front door. But as she neared the kitchen, her nostrils were assailed with the familiar fusion of scents. By the time she walked into Madear's cooking chamber, she was twelve again, returning home from church, and sneaking in to get a peek at the goodies that awaited.
Her stomach growled. Oh, no, she remembered all she'd eaten at brunch. She hoped she wasn't going to be the walking cliché of eating for two.
Madear pulled a muffin tin from the oven, and Anya lifted the pot covers, drowning in the black-eyed peas and, then, collard greens.
“Get away,” Madear playfully slapped Anya's hand. She dropped the pan on top of the stove. “Come over here.” Madear led Anya to the small round table. “So tell me, baby. How are you really feeling?” Madear's eyes searched Anya.
Anya shrugged her jacket from her shoulders. “Fine.”
Before Anya could add another word, Madear's eyes moved to her fingers. She lifted Anya's left hand and held it. “You're going to keep the baby, and he couldn't deal with it.” Madear wasn't asking a question.
Anya nodded.
“Oh, Braxton,” Madear whispered, as she continued to rub Anya's fingers. “Baby, I'm sorry. I'm not surprised though, I just hoped …”
“He never gave this baby a chance.”
Madear nodded. “It's a hard thing for a man, but Braxton Vance should know better.” She paused for a moment. “I need to talk to him about love and family and the Lord—”
“No, Grandmother. Braxton and I have talked about all of that and there's nothing more to say. He gave me a choice and I made it.”
Anya pulled away from her grandmother and stood, leaning against the wall. “I'm a little relieved, Madear. I can't explain it, but it was getting hard with Braxton.” She looked down at her bare finger. “I still love him,” she said, feeling the soft surge of tears behind her eyes. “But … I know I'll make it.”
Madear had been slumped at the table, and now suddenly, she pulled her shoulders back and went to Anya. “You're from strong stoc
k baby. You and I wouldn't be here today if my great-grandmother had aborted her baby. No matter how this happened, this is something wonderful because it's God's idea. You're going to come through this standing tall.”
Anya tried to smile through lips that had begun to tremble.
Madear held her for several long moments, before she stepped back, and placed her hand on Anya's stomach. “That's my great grandbaby.” Madear quivered with emotion.
Anya had planned to tell Madear about Alaister's arrest, but now she felt that news could wait. Instead, she leaned on her grandmother, and treasured the comfort she felt as Madear's strong arms held her.
“Madear, I'm scared.”
“I know, baby, but as long as there is breath in me, I will be here for you.” She leaned back and smiled. “You might not even get a chance to take care of this baby with me around.” Madear's face turned somber. “But the most important thing for you to know is that the Lord is with you. God is not a spectator, Anya. He'll be all up in your business with this baby. God chose you for this because you are special, you are wonderful, and you are loved.”
They held each other until they heard Donovan's voice boom through the living room. With the tip of her apron, Madear gently wiped the tears from Anya's face. “Use the back bathroom, sweetheart. We have to make sure the mother-to-be looks fabulous when we make this wonderful announcement to the world.”
Chapter 51
The ringing would not stop, and Braxton peeked through the blinds. He couldn't see who was at his door, but Carlos's car was parked in the driveway. He waited a few more minutes, but the ringing continued, as if Carlos had no intentions of leaving.
Finally he went down the stairs. With one click of his lock, Braxton opened the door, and headed toward the living room, leaving Carlos still standing outside.
“Hey, it's good to see you, too, mi amigo. Qué pasa?” He followed Braxton. “Man, it's dark in here. What have you been doing?”
“I'm not in the mood for company, Carlos. I answered the door because you wouldn't go away.” Braxton slumped onto the couch, and stretched his feet onto the table in front of him.
Carlos loosened his tie, then sat next to Braxton, matching his posture. “So how're you doing, my friend?” Carlos asked, ignoring Braxton's words. “I've been calling you for a week and you haven't returned any of my calls.”
“I guess that means that you can't take a hint.”
Carlos chuckled. “No, because I know what you really need is your best friend. Man, you've messed up big time.”
Braxton looked at Carlos for a moment, then rolled his eyes. “Anya couldn't wait to tell you how I did her wrong, huh?”
“That's not your woman's style. What happened was, I called Madear to see how she was doing. She told me that you walked out on your pregnant fiancée.”
“Remember the pregnant part has nothing to do with me.”
“No one is going to forget that. You won't let us. But, man …” Carlos shook his head. “To leave her now, that was wrong.”
Braxton brought his legs down and leaned forward. “You don't understand. I love Anya. I want to marry her. I just wanted her to make the right choice.”
“The world according to Braxton.”
He ignored Carlos's remark. “Anya was the one who told me that I wasn't part of her future and she gave me back the ring.”
“So you left because she said she was choosing the baby over you …”
“She didn't say that.” Braxton sighed, remembering the moment when she stated her choice. “She said she was choosing God over me.”
Carlos whistled. “I knew she was a smart woman.”
With a quickness, Braxton stood and stomped to the other side of the room. “I don't want to talk about this with you,” he shouted, pointing his finger at his friend. “It's none of your business.”
He turned his back and went into the foyer, heading toward the stairs.
Carlos jumped up but by the time he reached the landing, Braxton was already upstairs. “Let yourself out,” Braxton shouted down coldly.
“Okay, I will. You can soak in this stuff by yourself, but let me ask you one question. Would you really want a woman who would choose you over God?”
Braxton looked back but only for a moment, then slammed his bedroom door.
Carlos shook his head, then walked out the door.
Chapter 52
Anya measured the passing of time in pregnancy weeks. She had her first official prenatal appointment in the seventh week of her pregnancy—the same week that she and Braxton broke up. In her ninth week, her agency acquired the Zytec account, which brought in a half million dollars in revenue. In the thirteenth week, at the coaching of Sasha and Madear, she bought her first maternity outfits. The fifteenth week was when she found out that Alaister had been sentenced to ten years on a plea bargain. And the seventeenth week found Anya working long hours, trying to for-get that this would have been the week of her wedding. Now twenty-eight weeks had passed, and Anya was settled into preparing her life and her business for the baby.
“David's gone?” Sasha sang her question as she sauntered down the stairs. She was still twisting her hair into the tiny braids that she had perfectly squared off on her scalp.
Anya was sitting on a pile of pillows in front of the couch. Her new laptop and piles of paper were spread out in front of her.
“He just left.” Anya didn't look up as she posted numbers onto a spreadsheet.
Sasha sat across from Anya and watched her cousin. “Don't you think it's time for a break?”
Anya removed her reading glasses and stretched, placing her hands in the small of her back. “I can tell by your tone you're not going to leave me alone, so … what do you want to do? Get something to eat?”
“Yeah, let's order in.”
Anya replaced her glasses. “Good idea. Order anything. It doesn't matter to me.”
But Sasha remained in place and said, “You and David have been working like crazy.”
“We're trying to get everything ready so that I can take as much time as I need.”
Sasha was silent for a moment. “Is it just about business with you two?”
Anya looked up, but said nothing.
“I really thought something would've happened between you guys by now.”
Anya let her eyes drop to her bulging middle. “I'm not in the position for much to happen.”
Sasha dismissed Anya's words with her hands. “That means nothing to David. He doesn't care that you look like the Goodyear blimp.”
“Nothing is going to happen with me and David.” Anya smiled.
“Don't be negative. You could drown your tears right into the lap of that fine man. You want each other anyway.” Sasha stated her words as fact.
“Get over it, Sasha. We've already tested the waters and decided we'd do better as friends.” Anya laughed when Sasha's mouth opened wide.
“I can't believe that you actually slept with David.”
Anya made a face. “You should know me better than that. It wasn't sex, but one day … our lips kinda met.”
Sasha chuckled.
“But as a friend, he's been a blessing …” Then she added softly, “Just like you.”
“Girl, I live to bless other people's lives.” Sasha smiled. “I'm going to order Chinese.” In her stocking feet, Sasha scurried into the kitchen to make the call.
Anya leaned back and closed her eyes. Indeed, her life was full of blessings. Her business was prospering, her doctor marveled at the ease of her pregnancy, and her family and friends were standing by. And then there was Madear, who called every day with a different scripture reminding her that she was surrounded by the favor of God— Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13 had become one of her favorite verses.
She opened her eyes and reached for the Bible on the table. “I think it's in Ephesians,” she said to herself.
“Did you say something?” Sasha came back into the room.
Sasha shrugged her shoulders. “What does it mean?”
“I was just thinking about how God gets us through life. A few months ago, I was putting on a big-time front. I acted strong because that was the only way I could become strong. But I was scared. Now I see nothing but God's hands. Everything in my life is growing, especially this …” She put her hand on her stomach. “God is faithful.”
Sasha squinted. “So you think it was worth it? Braxton was a good man. And he did love you.”
Anya paused in thought. “Braxton is a good man … he was just the wrong good man. Or maybe he was the right man at the wrong time. I don't know.”
“Aren't you afraid that you won't find that special love again?”
“It will take time because I'm still in love with him. So I'm not anxious to move onto anything else right now. But I'm not thinking about the future in those terms. There're so many other things on my plate … maybe one day I will be in a special relationship again.”
“You're not angry at Braxton?”
“No, and never have been. He did what he had to do.”
“But he was wrong.”
“I don't know that. I'm not judging him or what he believes. We are all going to have to answer for ourselves. All I can worry about is what I'm going to say to the Lord about me.”
Sasha looked thoughtful. “Umm, that's what being a Christian is really about, isn't it?”
Anya nodded slightly.
Sasha sat on the edge of her chair. “What about the baby though— aren't you a little scared to be doing this by yourself?”
“To tell the truth—I'm terrified!” she screamed playfully, and kicked her legs on the floor.
Sasha laughed too.
“But I don't feel alone because I'm truly standing on my faith and believing everything that God says.”
“Believing in God gives you the perfect life, huh?”
Anya searched her cousin's face for signs of sarcasm, but there were none. “You can look at me and know that's not true.”
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