Guilty By Association

by Pat Simmons

  Eva smiled and nodded that she understood. “It’s just the beginning. God will show you things that will make the Bible come alive in your life. Now you mentioned a bargain? What were you talking about?”

  Kidd shrugged and reached for the butter. “The last time I was at your church and got prayer, I made up my mind that I would take the plunge—no pun intended—but I wanted my mother to witness my new birth. I guess it was my tribute to her, since she birthed me into the world. So the deal I made with God was, if He would let me hold off the whole commitment thing until I came back home, I wanted my mother to be present when I received Christ.” He smeared butter on his bread and took a bite.

  Eva frowned. “Kevin Jamieson, you played a dangerous game with God. Not only did God give you grace, you had a whole lot of mercy going for you since your so-called bargain with God. Do you realize you could have died in your sins before receiving the Lord’s salvation? We’re not promised tomorrow. God didn’t have to allow you to live to see this day. That’s why salvation is so urgent. When you hear His voice, you must not harden your heart. It’s the most important step you can take in your life. You truly have a lot to be thankful for,” she fussed. Then she praised God for His grace.

  “He did say it, and here I am.”

  “Thank You, Jesus.” Eva wasn’t aware the boat had set sail until the music started to serenade them. A DJ was onboard, along with live singers. Their repertoire was impressive—from line dancing to country music to Motown.

  Eva had never seen Kidd smile so much. He seemed so relaxed. They talked about silly stuff, laughed at nothing, and flirted with each other. Although they were stuffed, they nibbled on an array of desserts that were served at each table.

  “Let’s take a walk on the deck.”

  Lulled by the music, Eva followed him outside and admired the beauty of Boston’s skyline. What seemed like a million lights twinkled from inside the tall buildings. Snuggling in Kidd’s arms, Eva leaned back and closed her eyes. She was content with their moment of quietness.

  Too soon, Kidd was steering her back inside. “Come on. It’s getting chilly.”

  The entertainment was jumping when they returned to their seats. Minutes later, the DJ played an R&B tune, “Let’s Get Married” by Jagged Edge. Kidd stared at her like he never had before. Eva’s heart pounded, not sure of what was happening.

  “I asked you once if you were getting married, and your exact words were, ‘It’s none of your business.’ I didn’t like that answer, but I respected your privacy. What was that all about?”

  She shrugged. “I enjoy anything with a happily-ever-after ending—romance novels, romantic comedies, the weekly Bridal Bliss showcases from Essence.com, bridal magazines, and movies with a tender love story. If I mentioned my fascination to my mother, she would have ideas in her head that I’m either desperate or keeping a secret. I’m neither. I believe every woman wants to get married, but when a man hears the ‘m’ word, he assumes he’s the prey and takes off running. That’s a good way to lose the best thing in the world.”

  “Baby, you have never chased me away. I may have physically walked away when we argued, but you had already taken control of my heart. And there’s no way a man can live without a strong, beating heart.”

  Eva’s eyes misted. “I love you when you speak from that strong, beating heart of yours.”

  Kidd leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her lips. “Let’s Get Married” was still playing in the background. “Recently, when I was over at your place, I saw a stack of bridal magazines stuffed into a bag. And I started wondering … hmmm, is she feeling what I’m feeling? If so, then it’s time for me to get down on my knee. I think we should give both of our mothers something to talk about.”

  Kidd stood, reached into his pocket, and took out something small that he concealed in his hand. Then he bent on one knee. Tears instantly streamed down Eva’s cheeks, and he brushed them away with his free hand. With one flick of his thumb, he opened a velvet box.

  “I saw this brand in one of your magazines I shoplifted from your place. Don’t get angry—that was before Jesus cleaned me up! I am no longer a thief. Since I bought this at Jared’s, I’m assuming I did good.” He grinned sheepishly.

  Eva was almost breathless as she managed to utter, “It’s beautiful.”

  “Eva Savoy, you took a chance on this bad boy from Boston. I’m asking you to search my heart and know that deep down inside, I’m a good man who will love and protect you like no other man can or will. I’ve fulfilled all my requirements, including surrendering to the Lord and getting permission from your father. So now I ask you, will you marry me?”

  Kidd talked to her dad? Was the song still playing and were the voices getting louder? Tears blinded her vision. She couldn’t look around. Through tiny bits of clarity, Kidd came into focus. She nodded in the affirmative.

  “Umm-umm. Not good enough.” He smirked, still on bended knee.

  The live singers, a two-man and one-woman trio, made their way to the table. They began singing the lyrics to “Let’s Get Married.” It had to be a setup. One guy handed Kidd his microphone.

  Eva held her breath. Was Kidd about to serenade her?

  “I’m waiting,” Kidd whispered, inching the microphone to her lips.

  “Yes, I will marry you,” she said softly.

  The place erupted in claps, whistles, and cheers. The DJ struck up the 1980s hit by Kool and the Gang, “Celebration.” The singers bounced to the rhythm and danced away.

  When Kidd got to his feet, he pulled Eva into his embrace where she cried uncontrollable tears of joy. She was still sniffling when the two-hour excursion came to a close and the ship returned to the harbor. A line of well-wishers congratulated them until they walked off the ship.

  By the time they made it back to their vehicle, Eva startled Kidd and initiated a tender kiss that left him moaning.

  “Wow!” Leaning against the car, he took a few minutes to catch his breath. “Woman, your subscription to those bridal magazines is about to pay off. You have forty-eight hours to plan our wedding.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Kidd’s mother cried and screamed her happiness at the news that her son was an engaged man. Sandra put the food fiasco on the back burner, as she and Eva hugged each other.

  “Sorry to break up this tender moment, Ma, Eva, but we have a plane to catch. We’d better grab our bags.”

  Half an hour later, they were out the door and heading to Logan Airport. Today had been an extraordinary day. Kidd had gotten engaged to Jesus and his woman. Could it get any better? He was definitely a happy man.

  On their return flight back to St. Louis, Eva snuggled up next to him. In the sexiest tone he had ever heard her utter, she sweetly gave him a piece of her mind. “Kevin?”

  “Yeah, baby?”

  “Although I agreed to be your wife,” Eva sassed him, “you will not bully me into marrying you, as if I was nine months pregnant. It’s mid-August now. I need at least until October, and that’s a rush. After all the magazines I’ve studied, I really do want a fairy-tale wedding.”

  “Our first disagreement as an engaged couple.” Kidd was amused, but succumbed to her terms. “Babe, I want you to have the wedding of your dreams. Whatever your parents can’t foot, I will. That’s just how much I want you.”

  Eva’s eyes misted.

  Uh-huh. Kidd couldn’t take any more tears. He just knew how much he loved her, so he kissed her.

  It wasn’t even five minutes later when Eva voiced another concern. “I’ve been thinking.”

  “That’s scary.”

  She slapped him on the knee. “Seriously, the fall semester starts in a few weeks. I can’t do both—study for a degree and plan a wedding.” She gritted her teeth. “Is there any way possible we can hold off until next fall? I can get through the semester, then—”

  Kidd’s mouth dropped open. “How much willpower do you think I have? No, that’s not possible for a saved man, bar
ely a worldly man. Absolutely not. I’m in love with you. I’m attracted to you physically, which increases my libido. Now, taking those things into consideration, how fast can you speed up the process?”

  Her look of realization was priceless. His woman actually hadn’t considered that men didn’t hold out for sex unless they had power from God. Kidd had that now, but how long would it last?

  “I told you a while back that I graduated from junior college. After that, I just wasn’t motivated to go further. At least, until I saw your passion. I’ve decided to go back to school. It may surprise you that I like being in control—”

  “Not you,” Eva teased and wrinkled her nose.

  “I know. Who would have guessed?” They laughed. “I’m going to get a business degree with an emphasis in management. Let’s sit out a semester, or a year. Let’s invest in our marriage first; then we’ll enroll together next year.”

  “Now I’ve got a wedding to plan in six weeks … thanks to a fiancé who seems to have control problems,” she mumbled.

  Kidd groaned. “Okay, princess, but if I won’t kiss you until then, don’t blame me. I can only take so much stimuli for so long. Let’s see how much self-control I’ll have on our honeymoon.”

  Eva swallowed hard. She looked out the window, but Kidd could tell by her expression that her mind was still ticking.

  “Well, one thing off our checklist is house hunting,” Kidd said with a sigh.

  Eva whipped her neck around. “What do you mean? That’s your house.”

  “Huh? You said you liked my house.”

  “I do, for you. The kitchen is too small and so are the rooms.”

  Women. Kidd would never understand them, especially the one he was about to marry. However, he had a whole lifetime to try. “Okay, we’ll move as soon as you have our firstborn,” Kidd countered. When she didn’t respond, he teased, “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

  Eva shook her head. “Nope. I guess I’d better start picking out names.”

  He was speechless.

  On the way to work Monday morning, Kidd stopped by Walgreens to browse through the bridal magazines. Considering his selection, one cover in particular caught his attention. He plucked it out of the rack and, with a smirk, walked to the counter to pay for it.

  The clerk lifted a brow. “Never seen a man buy one of these,” she said, ringing up his purchase.

  Kidd shrugged and slipped his wallet out of his back pocket to pay her. “Hey, there are some romantic guys around. I just happen to be one of them.” Eva wasn’t going to get the upper hand on him when it came to a fairy-tale wedding—he hoped.

  At work, the news of a third death of a resident floated throughout the facility—Mr. Johnston. Kidd reflected on his former nemesis who had suffered a massive heart attack at the dinner table on Sunday evening. The attending nurse said he died before the paramedics arrived.

  Kidd wished he had one more chance to try and be pleasant to Mr. Johnston, whether they respected their differences or not. It could have been his first act of kindness. He didn’t know the whereabouts of Mr. Johnston’s soul. But regardless of the man’s belligerent attitude, he didn’t want to see anybody end up in hell. It was a place Eva’s pastor had described as “a never-ending remix of horror and suffering.”

  The second breaking-news item at Garden Chateau was his engagement to Eva. The report about Kidd’s salvation seemed to take a backseat to most, except his break buddies. They had question after question on why Kidd lost his mind for Jesus. He answered as best he could.

  Once when he passed Eva in a corridor, Kidd pulled her aside and looked in both directions before taking the liberty to deliver a quick peck on her lips. He was proud to have put a rock on her ring finger.

  Every now and then, Kidd got a chance to stay out of sight. He would hide out in his office, pull his Bible out of the drawer, and continue reading in Luke where he had left off the night before. He couldn’t quite put it in words, but he felt good about himself. Then when he decided to call Parke to share his news, he was denied the chance.

  “Praise God, Kidd, on your salvation! It’s a lifestyle change, but you’ll never regret it. Knowing Jesus is your backup will surely make life easier when the trials come,” Parke rambled on without saying hello.

  “Cameron,” Kidd stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

  Parke laughed. “That’s Cam. Whenever there’s news to get out, you would think he was a CNN correspondent instead of an electrical engineer. Also, congratulations on your engagement to Eva. She’s pretty and smart and knows how to tame the big bad boy.”

  Kidd smiled to himself and nodded. “She does. Let me clear the air.” Parke tried to interrupt him, but Kidd barged ahead. “I’m sorry I was a thorn in your side, foot, and anyplace else. I was consumed by anger. I felt that I’d been left out of the benefits of life because of what I didn’t have—a father named Samuel. Once the rage took hold of me, I nourished it. But now things have changed. I’ve changed. I might as well get it over with. I need to confront my father. I want to have closure on my old life, so I can live this new life in Christ to the fullest.”

  “You got it. One important thing to remember, you’re an eleventh generation of a royal African tribe—”

  “Parke, just show me on paper. Okay? The other thing I want to say is thank you; or rather, I should thank Grandma BB in a twisted sort of way. If she hadn’t had the stroke, and you hadn’t admitted her to Garden Chateau, and you hadn’t suckered me into working there, I never would have met Eva.”

  “Your journey started long before you came to St. Louis. Although Samuel Jamieson wasn’t the example you needed, God used him to set in motion your steps in life. Your destiny is unfolding.”

  “Speaking of Grandma BB, how is she coming along at home?” Kidd glanced up when there was a light knock and someone opened his door. When Eva appeared, he smiled at his fiancée and waved her in, tuning out his cousin.

  “Parke, I’ve got to run. Eva and I will probably see you this weekend. We might stop by and check on Grandma BB too.” He disconnected, then realized he hadn’t said good-bye.

  “Are you busy?” Eva asked.

  “Doesn’t matter. You’ll always have priority in my life.”

  “I can’t believe you’re getting married,” Dawn said, ecstatically to Eva as she and Angela combed through Eva’s arsenal of bridal magazines. “Hey,” she said, lifting up a page with cake designs. “I vote for cupcakes by Helfer’s Pastries!”

  Eva was on a ripping frenzy as she tore out pages of hairpieces, dresses, jewelry, and other accessories that had caught her eye over the years. “Definitely, Dianna Castner for headpieces,” she determined.

  “This is so exciting!” Dawn gushed. “Finally, after all the weddings I’ve attended, I’ll be center stage and—”

  “The bride is the main attraction,” Angela corrected. It was her turn to hold up a page. “Whoa, whoa … Eva, check out this feather and lace gown by David Tutera. It is absolutely gorgeous!”

  “Yeah, I know that, Angela,” Dawn interrupted. “What I meant is that it’ll be more exposure for me … besides the bride, of course. My doomed marriage at the courthouse should have been my omen to run out the back door. Do you know what the odds are for meeting your soul mate at a friend’s wedding?” Dawn rattled on.

  “No, what is it?” Angela and Eva said almost in unison.

  Dawn shrugged. “I don’t know, but it has to be near one hundred.”

  The three women shared a hearty laugh.

  Lord, please help Dawn find a good man—soon. Eva prayed for her friend and turned to the next page of her magazine.

  Chapter Forty-Five

  The following Saturday, Kidd sauntered up the winding pathway to Mrs. Beacon’s front door with Eva by his side.

  He recalled his last visit to her home being under semidangerous circumstances. And that didn’t even describe the bust. Kidd could still see the expressions on the faces of the true-to-life thu
gs when he snapped their pictures. Every time he thought about it, he would have to hold back an explosion of laughter.

  Adjusting the basket he was carrying filled with various toiletries, they walked hand in hand. It was Eva’s idea to bring a gift. Women, he thought as he struggled with the heavy load. They climbed the steps to the porch, and Eva pushed the doorbell. Minutes later, a bigger, blacker, and taller man than Kidd opened the door.

  Automatically, Kidd became suspicious. Parke said Grandma BB was on her second nurse’s aide. He hoped this bear of a man surely wasn’t the replacement.

  “Good afternoon. May I help you?” The man greeted, as if he was the homeowner.

  “We’re here to see Mrs. Beacon,” Eva said, as Kidd and the man were in a stare-down duel.

  “Sure.” He turned, and Kidd opened the screen door for them to follow, leaving Eva to trail behind them.

  “And you are?” Kidd asked.

  “I’m Dino. Grandma BB’S live-in nurse.”

  “Live-in nurse or live-in lover?” Kidd glanced back at Eva and whispered.

  With her mouth swinging on its hinge, she swatted him. “That’s just plain gross. Maybe she got him off the runway after a Chippendale performance.” Eva whispered back.

  “Don’t drool, sweetheart. You’ll have your very own Chippendale on our honeymoon night.”

  The front door slammed behind them. Eva jumped. Grandma BB’S boisterous and high-strung neighbor, Imani, glided in wearing stilettos, tight jeans, and a suggestive halter top.

  Eva pinched his arm.

  “Ouch. What did you do that for?” He frowned in shock.

  “Oh, just to keep you focused until our wedding night.” Her smile was sweet and mischievous. Kidd didn’t trust her for a moment.

  Imani mumbled a greeting and turned her attention toward Grandma BB’S nurse. “Hey, Dino. I brought homemade soup. I hope you’re hungry.”