Even Sinners Have Souls TOO

by Joy, E. n.

  Micki gave him a suspicious look.

  "Not that." He shooed away her dirty thoughts with the wave of his hand. "I want us to pray. Let's pray together. We have a lot of things to repent and confess."

  Micki got down on her knees, where she joined Vincent at the side of the bed, and the two did something they'd never ever done together. . .pray.

  Chapter Eleven

  It was Sunday afternoon. Micki stood outside, next to Vincent, by the sizzling grill. After church, he had invited new friends over; his two neighbors and the South Korean married couple from across the street. Celisha, Aunt Faye, Claudia and Shana were present as well.

  "Okay, pour a bit of my secret sauce on the steaks." Vincent nodded toward the grill.

  Micki rolled her eyes while adding the sauce to the steaks. "Mixing A-One steak sauce and ketchup isn't a secret sauce, Chef Manor. "

  "Don't hate on the chef," Vincent laughed.

  Micki looked at their guests. They were all enjoying the pleasant weather and the food. She hoped Vincent's choice of music wasn't offending anyone. At the moment, the sounds of Raheem Divine's, "Woman" , was playing. Walking around the pool was Shana, heading straight for her.

  "Um. . .Ms-" Shana started.

  "You can call me Micki."

  "Okay," Shana smiled. "Um. . .thank you for coming to my church today." She looked toward Vincent. "And you too, Vincent."

  Micki looked at Shana, feeling sorry for her. Micki knew how AIDS could kill. Her older sister had died from complications from the deadly disease. It was a family secret she had never shared with Vincent, or any one for that matter. Unlike Shana's unfortunate accident, her sister had contracted the viral syndrome from drug use and prostitution.

  "You're welcome, Shana," Micki replied.

  "I'm glad you and Vincent got saved today."

  "Are you?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Shana nodded. "Now I'll have more friends in heaven when I leave."

  Micki was speechless.

  "I'm not afraid to die," Shana said. "I don't want to, but I'm not afraid."

  "You shouldn't be, Shana," Micki finally said. "But for now, I want you to be happy. Just like Vincent, I'm your B.F.F. now too. Let's let the chef do his thing." She reached for Shana's hand as Vincent looked at them both. "Let me show you a few new things we can do with your hair."

  As the two walked off, Micki's brother walked up drinking a beer. Sierra was in his late thirties with a regulation military hair cut. "What's up, brother-in-law? I see that my sister is a happy woman."

  "Look who she's in love with," Vincent joked. "Hey, Sierra, man, hand me that seasoning salt." "No problem," Sierra obliged. "Hey, on another note, I thought your personal assistant was engaged."

  "She is," Vincent replied.

  "Well, your news must be out of date, because I just heard different."

  "From who?"

  "She just told me. Said the engagement was called off." Sierra shrugged. "Wouldn't tell me why though. I know women. . .and she's stressed out. Look at her." Sierra nodded toward the far end of the pool where Celisha was sitting alone, eyes hidden behind her shades.

  "Sierra," Vincent said, removing his apron, "take over for me. I need to talk to her."

  "Thought you'd never ask." Sierra took the apron and Vincent's spot behind the grill.

  Vincent headed straight over to Celisha, on a mission to get the truth about exactly what was going on between her and Aaron.

  A few minutes after Vincent finished talking with Celisha, Micki sat at the kitchen table with Shana. It was then Vincent came storming in. Micki immediately noticed the anger written on his face. "Baby, what's wrong?" she asked him with concern.

  "I'll be back in a few," he said, snatching up his car keys.

  "Vincent-"

  "I'll explain everything when I get back."

  Vincent was out the door before his fiancee could say another word. He sped directly to Aaron's spacious house in Miramar without calling first. His trip wasn't wasted when he rounded the corner seeing Aaron's two cars in the driveway. Parking behind the silver Audi A8L, he exited his car, making his way toward the front door. The front door was ajar behind the completely closed screen door.

  "Yo, Aaron!" Vincent rang the doorbell. No answer. He waited, pressing the doorbell twice more. He looked over his shoulder across the street. Everything was quiet. Coming up the sidewalk was two Asian women speed walking. When he turned back around, Aaron was standing in the doorway.

  "What's up, bruh?" Vincent was unable to hide his anger.

  "Look, man. . ."Aaron rubbed his face. "I know why you're probably here, and the issue I have with Celisha is my business and not yours. Matter of fact, maybe you should just-"

  Vincent exploded by roughly pulling open the screen door and stepping inside, causing Aaron to stumble. They started to tussle. Aaron's body was fit, but nowhere near the prison formed body that Vincent had.

  "Have you lost your mind?" Aaron was on his back with a torn shirt and a bloody lip.

  Vincent sat on his chest, ready to rain blow after blow toward his face.

  Aaron knew he was defeated. He remained on his back even when Vincent got up.

  "Celisha is like a sister to me, Aaron. And this lame-"

  He halted himself from cursing. "What's up with you?

  Why you dissin' her? She told me what you said."

  Aaron slowly sat up rubbing his jaw.

  "You ain't got nothing to say?" Vincent shouted.

  Aaron lowered his head. "What can I say?" he muttered.

  Vincent's cell phone rang. By its chime, he knew it was Micki. She'd been calling him repeatedly since he'd left out the house. He didn't answer. He wanted to finish his conversation at hand. "It's not what you can say. It's what you can do. What can you do to fix things between you and Celisha. Do you still love her?"

  Aaron looked up with blood lightly flowing from his lip. "I. . .messed up, bruh."

  "Answer the question."

  Aaron nodded. "I do love her. Of course I do, but it's too late."

  "Is that what you think? See, this is what I think. You don't seem to understand how much Celisha loves you. And if you really loved her so much, why have you been dragging out the engagement?"

  Aaron moved to his feet. "Because. . .I was jealous of you. I thought you two had something going on when those rumors started."

  "Jealous of me?" Vincent exclaimed. He looked at Aaron closely. "Man, this is crazy. Look, Celisha is an attractive woman, but I'm not attracted to her."

  "I see that now." Aaron flopped down in his recliner.

  "Guess I look real stupid, huh?"

  Vincent sat down as well. "Aaron, during all this mess, did you ever once pick up the Bible you've so enjoyed telling me about whenever you got the chance? Celisha is going to have the baby with you or without you, and I hope it's not the latter. For what it's worth, she still loves you. I made her look into my eyes and tell me how she felt before I came over here. She's hurting real bad, man. She is willing to forgive, but you got to take that first step," Vincent explained.

  Aaron thought for a minute and then looked at Vincent. "Why did you bring up the Bible?"

  "Micki and I got saved today."

  Aaron looked at Vincent with deeper respect. For so long, he had been playing the role of a Christian, a witness, always the first to suggest folks read the Bible, and here hadn't even followed his own advice when it came to his situation. He knew he was wrong for what he had said to Celisha, and the fact that she still loved him was powerful.

  "Do you think she'll take me back?" Aaron asked Vincent.

  Vincent stood up. "Aaron, she has never let you go."

  Chapter Twelve

  Micki was ticked when Vincent finally walked through the door an hour and a half after he'd left. "Where have you been, and I know you ignored my calls, Mr. Manor!" She blocked his path with her arms folded. Rocky D stood beside her, wagging his tail.

  "I'm sorry, baby," he said, circling
his arms around her waist, resting his chin on top of her head. "Celisha still here?" He had noticed that her SUV was still parked out front.

  "She's in the guest room." Micki unfolded her arms.

  "She told me about that sorry Aaron."

  "Don't judge him, Micki."

  Micki smacked her lips. "I know you're not taking his side, Vincent," she vented. "Because he is not," she paused when someone entered the front door. She leaned over to find Aaron standing in the doorway holding a large bouquet of long stem, red roses.

  "Shhh," Vincent said. "Let's let them talk." He reached for her hand and led her outside where he apologized to his guests for his disappearance.

  Once Micki and Vincent were outside, Aaron made his way to the guest room where Celisha was laying in bed with a troubled heart. She looked up when someone knocked on the door. She figured it to be Micki. She wiped her eyes, sitting up. "It's open," she said.

  Aaron entered the room and closed the door behind him. Celisha stood up from the bed and was standing there speechless.

  Aaron got down on one knee. "Celisha, I want to prove that I'm sorry. I know I caused you a ton of pain with my words and my actions. I'm so sorry for hurting you. I beg of you to forgive me, and take me back, please. I promise-" He paused as she reached out to tenderly touch his bruised lip.

  "What happened?" she asked.

  "Uh, some sense got knocked into me." He tried to smile.

  "I love you, Aaron." She caressed his face. "I forgive you."

  Aaron laid the flowers on the bed, then stood up. They hugged each other and started to cry. He felt blessed to have her. She silently thanked God for answering her private prayers.

  "House and riches are the inheritance of fathers and a prudent wife is from the Lord," he whispered, quoting Proverbs chapter 19 verse 14. Two weeks later, they became husband and wife.

  Vincent kept his promise to be a B.F.F. to Shana. It saddened him that she would not experience the simplest of life's pleasures, so he did something about it. He rented a helicopter for two hours and she rewarded him with an endless smile. He took her out on a jet ski and on an airboat ride in the Everglades. Although it was a first for him as well, he even took her fishing.

  Shana was speechless when she fed and touched two playful dolphins at Sea World. Her greatest joy came when Vincent printed one of her poems in his book.

  Celisha and Micki added smiles as well by having an all girls' pajama party with Shana.

  With all the fun and activities outside of Vincent's busy career schedule, the summer moved in quickly. It was time for Vincent to make Micki his wife. He was still out of touch with his mother. The burden hadn't been helped by her, by any means. It wasn't as if Vincent hadn't taken the first step to reconciliation. After she ignored his countless emails, he had given up.

  Micki was his life now; his wife, whom he cherished daily. She took his name and became Micki Nicole Manor. They continued their growth in knowing God and having Him in their life. Vincent's writing was on a new level. He found a way to keep his readers hooked and in the truth of life. With Micki and Celisha's encouragement, he reached a dream that he had once given up on. He started his own publishing company. He was now his own boss!

  Chapter Thirteen

  "Four more months," Vincent smiled as he and Micki laid in the bed on Christmas Eve, "and my baby boy will be here."

  "You mean, your baby girl will be here," Micki corrected him.

  Their private bet was still going. Vincent was learning about life and love. It was all based on trust and communication. He treated his wife with respect. He did not understand how some men seeked fear from their women. Their reasoning was sad.

  "Yo, my woman won't cheat on me 'cause she knows I'll beat that behind," he had heard one time too many in the jail house.

  Vincent's stance was this: "My wife loves and respects me."

  Life was not perfect. Vincent certainly grew tired of Micki's mood swings, but he never ignored her. They focused on never going to bed upset with each other. Some nights he would rub her belly, or feet, until she fell asleep. She enjoyed it when he read the Bible to her. Her favorite was Proverbs chapter 31.

  "You'll make a great father," Micki told her husband.

  "You think so?"

  "Yep. Look at how you act with Shana."

  "In all honesty, at first I thought I'd make a good pops too. But since I never knew my father and the issue I have with my mom, I've been having doubts lately." He paused for a moment. "What would you have done if I had tripped on you like Aaron did when Celisha told him that she was pregnant?"

  "Hmm. . .call the hospital to see what time I could visit you." They both laughed. Vincent's iPhone started ringing. Micki was closest to it, so she picked it up and answered it. "Hello?...For Real?...Yes. . .Okay, thanks!" Micki laid the phone down. "Baby, that was Celisha's aunt. Celisha just went into labor. She's at Jackson Memorial Hospital."

  Vincent and Micki hurried out of the bed, got dressed, and went to the hospital.

  "Because of you, Vincent," Aaron said, holding his newborn baby girl, "I now have diaper duty for eight months."

  Vincent laughed at how Aaron had presented the same bet he and Micki had to Celisha.

  Celisha was in the hospital bed, looking drained. Micki sat next to her, rubbing her hand. "Don't worry, Aaron," Micki told him, "Vincent is going to lose his bet too."

  "Let me see my new niece." Aunt Faye had joyful tears in her eyes as she walked over to Aaron and took the baby from his arms.

  Everyone was happy for Celisha and Aaron. "What's her name?" Micki asked Celisha.

  Celisha held out her arms for her baby. "Natabia," she answered.

  Everyone stood around the bed as Celisha held Natabia to her bosom. Vincent was still the funny man by whispering in Micki's ear. "Hey, think your hair is gonna look that bad when you have my son?"

  "It won't make a difference," she replied. "You'll still love me!"

  The New Year came with Micki on her knees in church. Vincent was with her, along with Shana and her mom.

  "I'm going to be a father this year," Vincent said later while driving Shana and her mom home.

  "And changing diapers for half the year too," Micki added.

  Shana was silent. She understood life and death. She was happy for Micki, even though she knew her own time was short. Shana hid her tears knowing she would miss her family and her two BFFs. "I love you, Vincent. And you too, Micki."

  Vincent glanced in the rearview mirror at Shana. This was the first time she had spoken those words. Shana's life was not fair. Vincent believed that some assumed that being saved would amount to the perfect, carefree life. Didn't preachers get sick? Being saved too, Vincent was acknowledging that what he read in the Bible was true. And this meant the laws were a way to live by. Was he able to love everyone? No, that was an issue that he dealt with each day. His actions were changing slowly. He found peace of mind through knowledge and prayer. Life, Vincent's life, was a journey he would take day by day.

  "We love you too, Shana," Micki said, reaching back for Shana's hand.

  "Sure do," Vincent added. "And keep those eyes dry and your heart easy."

  EPILOGUE

  Three years later

  Vincent stood under the cloudy gray sky trying to keep his promise to Shana. He was looking down at her grave. His B.F.F. had left him. He missed her smile and heartwarming giggles. She had died in her sleep after being hospitalized for phenomena. Vincent had made a promise to her before she died that he had every intention on keeping. His promise was not to be sad.

  His watered eyes blinked rapidly. Carefully he laid some flowers at the grave.

  "Daddy, rain coming look!"

  Vincent looked down at his daughter, Vincentia, as she held his finger. "I see it, baby."

  "Daddy, why you sad?"

  "Daddy is not sad. He's just upset. Come on, let's go home. Say bye-bye to Shana."

  Vincentia released his finger and waved. "Bye-by
e, Shana. We go home now." She turned and held up her tiny arms, wanting to get picked up.

  Vincent carried his daughter to the car.

  "Daddy, Mommy is crying." Vincentia pointed at her mother.

  Micki sat in the passenger seat wiping her eyes. She missed Shana too.

  "Mommy, I'm hungry." This came from Vincentia's fraternal twin brother.

  Vincent and Micki's gender bet was a tie since she had fraternal twins, Vincentia and Michael. Since Micki was now seven months pregnant. . .all bets were on again.

  Vincent drove away from the cemetery trying his best not to be sad. When he looked in his rearview mirror at the beautiful blessings from God, he realized he had so much to be happy about. Although he hadn't had a good relationship with his parents, he was going to be the best father God would have him to be to his own children.

  Before putting his eyes back on the road, both his son and daughter locked eyes with him in the rearview mirror. Each shot him a huge smile.

  "Thank you, God," he mumbled, returning his eyes on the road. It had been Shana's smile that had softened his heart and moved him to start going to church, but it would be his children's smiles that would move him to live the life God had for him all along.

  The End

  Personal Invitation

  If you have never made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, God Himself extends this invitation to you. If you have not trusted Him and believed Him to be the giver of eternal life, you can do so right now. We do not know the second, the minute, the hour, the moment or day that God will come to claim us. Will you be ready? The Word of God says, "If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are SAVED." (Romans 10:9-10 NIV). Being saved is just that easy. It's not some formal ceremony. It is simply being obedient to the scripture above by confessing with your mouth out loud that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Jesus from the dead to cleanse away your sins. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth the following: