by Bailey West
I pulled up to the church and parked my truck. A couple days after Zahria was born, Paxton surprised me with a new truck, a Mercedes GLS 550. It is brown metallic with an espresso brown leather interior and natural grain ash wood finishes. I reluctantly decided to donate Bessie to a charity. I told her how much I would miss her before they loaded her onto the tow truck and took her away.
“Hey Nette,” I said as I walked into the church. We were having a final planning meeting for the ABA gala. Nette has been working tirelessly on this event, and it was finally about to happen.
“Hey, Ollie,” she smiled, but she didn’t look good. She looked sick.
“Sweetie, are you feeling okay? No offense but you don’t look so good.”
“I’m good. I think it’s something that I ate. I threw up this morning, and I wanted to lay back down, but I had to have this meeting.”
“Do you have a fever?” I touched her head with the back of my hand. “You feel normal.”
“Yeah, I’m just a little weak from throwing up, but I will be fine. My breath doesn’t stink, does it?”
“Blow,” I stuck my nose out to smell.
“No, you’re good.’
Now that’s love,” Zanetta’s assistant, Daisy, said as she entered the room. “You know someone loves you when you can blow your hot breath into their face!” She laughed. “Here I brought you some mints and some ginger tea. This should help with your queasiness.”
“Thank you, Daisy,” Nette smiled.
The entire ABA gala team filed into the conference room. Nette sat up straight and tried to pretend to be okay but those of us that knew her knew she wasn’t. Nette said a quick prayer before beginning the meeting.
“Okay, Jocelynn. Can you begin?”
“Yes, I can. We sent out four hundred invites to the gala. As of yesterday evening, we have three hundred confirmed ‘yes.’ I saw some in the incoming mail this morning, but I haven’t opened them up.”
“Awesome. What about the programs?” Nette asked.
“I talked to the printer yesterday and we went over exactly how you want the programs to look. He said he would send over a couple of mock-ups by the end of the week.”
“Thank you, Jocelynn. I appreciate you.”
“No problem, First Lady.”
The meeting continued with everyone giving their updates on the catering, entertainment, VIP accommodations and security.
“Thank you, everyone,” Nette said to conclude the meeting. “I know this has taken a lot of sacrifice, time, talent and energy but both Pastor Roman and I appreciate your help.”
Everyone stood and filed out of the room. Zanetta stayed seated and smiled at everyone as they left. As soon as the door closed behind the last person, Zanetta slumped down in her chair.
“Still not feeling good, huh?”
“No, I’m not, but I don’t feel as bad as I felt earlier, so that’s something.”
“The meeting was a success despite you not feeling well. Jocelynn seems very eager to help.”
“Yes,” Nette laughed. “She is now, but when I first started, I thought I was going to have to catch her outside.”
“Really?”
“Girl, she would speak to everyone in the building except for me. She would accidentally on purpose forget to tell me about meetings. It was a mess. Eventually, I had to sit down with her and ask her what I’d done to offend her. She told me that she felt like I was trying to take her place. What she didn’t realize is that Roman had already made a place for me, I didn’t have to take anything from anyone.”
“Does she like Roman? I mean romantically?”
“I thought so at first, but then I realized that she really didn’t have anything else but this job. I mean she is married, but you know, nothing that is hers. She has authority and influence here. During our conversation, she told me that she didn’t want to be replaced. I assured her that I would not replace her. I didn’t want to do what she does. Roman thinks she is the bee's knees. Shortly after that conversation, Roman and I told everyone that we were married and she has been cool ever since.”
“That’s good.”
“She apologized. So, we’ve moved forward. I don’t have time to hold grudges, you know?”
“Yes, that’s good. She has been very helpful since I have been here.”
“Yeah, she really knows her stuff.”
“So, I have a question to ask you about Paxton’s birthday. You know it's coming up, and I want to do something special but what do you get for a man who has everything? Then I had a wonderful idea, but it would take the whole family to pull this off.”
“According to Roman, they have tried more than once to surprise Pax for his birthday, but he is way too observant and nosey for it to work.”
“Yeah, he is very observant, but I think I have a way to do it. I just need to get everyone together without him knowing.”
“I’m down. It’s right after the gala, correct?”
“Yep. It’s after the gala. We will need to travel to New York for a couple of days.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Paxton
“Can you zip this up for me?” Olivia asked when I came into the bedroom. We were preparing to leave for the ABA Gala. After months of meetings and planning, it was finally happening. I’d heard Olivia reciting her speech to herself all day long. I was still digging her new haircut and color. I loved the way it framed her face and rested on her shoulder. I loved the way it was shaved on one side giving her a little edge.
I pulled her close to me and kissed her neck.
“Are you sure you want me to zip this up?”
“Paxton, stop playing. You know we have to leave soon. Please don’t start something we can’t finish.”
“What if I made it quick?”
“You don’t know how to make it quick, and I don’t want it quick so don’t start, please.”
“Alright, fine,” I said as I tugged on the zipper to close it.
She walked to the full-length mirror and looked at herself. She looked so beautiful in her strapless, floor-length pink ball gown. It had a slit in the front that her leg peeked out of when she walked. I found her a pair of pink, red bottom shoes that tie around her ankle. She wore a little makeup and had on her body oil. I planned on sticking close to her tonight. She is stunning.
“Oh wait, I have a gift for you. You have been so patient with me and helping me prepare for this event. I thought you deserved something.” She opened the drawer on her nightstand and produced a small box. She handed me the small gift-wrapped box. I took it from her and untied the ribbon. I took the top off the box and saw a small black device that had two buttons on it. One button had the power symbol on it, and the other button had a squiggly line. I pushed the power button and looked around. I didn’t see anything. I pushed the squiggly line button and looked around. Nothing.
“Pax,” Olivia called out while holding on the bedpost.
“What?” I said as I hit the squiggly line button again. I thought something was going to pop out.
“PAX,” Olivia screamed. “Stop pushing that button.” She was leaning on the bed post. I was very familiar with the look on her face. I tilted my head to the side and smirked.
“You went back and got them?”
“Yes, turn it off before we miss this event.”
She was wearing vibrating panties, and I had the remote.
“This is the best gift I’ve ever received,” I smiled. I pressed the power button to turn it off. “You have to follow one rule.”
“What is that?”
“You can’t come until I say you can.”
“Please don’t torture me.”
“Torture?” I walked up to her and ran my fingers down her arm. “I’m going to make this a night neither of us will forget.”
I pushed the power button again just to watch her face.
“Pax…”
“Okay.” I turned it off again. “You are so damn sexy. This night ne
eds to hurry up and end.”
I lightly kissed her on the lips and kissed her on the cheek. I tucked the remote in my jacket pocket and led her to the elevator.
“In our endeavor to make this Academy the best it can be, we went on a search to find the perfect candidate to run it. Our search led us to Doctor Olivia Callahan. She has a lot of new and fresh ideas and she is passionate about educating our future generations. Please welcome Doctor Callahan.” Nette said.
I stood on one side of the platform to help Olivia up the steps while Roman stood on the other side to help Nette down. Nette hadn’t been feeling well but no one could tell tonight. She did an excellent job introducing the Governor and now Olivia.
“Good job Lil Sis,” I winked at Nette.
“Thank you,” she winked back.
My brothers and sister and I stood together while Olivia delivered her speech.
“Good evening,” Olivia started. “I am elated to be a part of this magnificent Academy. I was born to a single unwed mother who didn’t have a high school diploma or a GED. She worked as a Domestic. My Father was around sometimes but was never invested in my well-being. My mother didn’t make a lot of money so my clothes were not always the newest or the most stylish. Society had already written my future for me. Society said, oh look at the poor maid that didn’t finish high school’s daughter. She will grow up to be just like her mother. She will have a few babies by several different men and live off the state because she won’t see anything else. Her exposure will be limited.
I started school in my neighborhood. It was not the best school. It didn’t have the best reputation but it was all I had access to. I made it to the second grade and met a teacher whose name was Mrs. Sawder. Mrs. Sawder gave me back a spelling paper that I had worked on. I didn’t do so well on the paper. Then she gave me a paper that I had worked on for math. I got every problem correct but I was still so sad about the spelling paper. She said, ‘Olivia, we all aren’t good at everything. You have to focus on what you are good at and work on excelling at that one thing.’ She started bringing advanced math worksheets for me to work on. I moved past addition and subtraction to more advanced math like multiplication and division by the summer after my second-grade year. I realized, through the love of a teacher, that Math was my passion. I could do any math problem you put in front of me because Mrs. Sawder gave me the confidence to believe that I could live outside my circumstances.
That is the vision for the ABA. We want to teach your children to live beyond their circumstances. We also want to teach those children that society has already labeled as a failure. The ones that don’t have access to any school except for the substandard ones in our poorest communities. We want to create big people and move them into society to make big positive changes, but we need your help. Some families are working hard to create ends but those ends don’t meet. They need that hand-up that will ensure future generations won’t have to suffer the way they are suffering. We need you to donate and create scholarships and grants so we can go and find the next Doctor Olivia Callahan and let her know that just because society may label you, a magic marker can change that label. What is a magic marker? A quality education.”
“Dang, she is killing this speech, isn’t she?” Zora whispered.
“She is,” I said with pride.
“I think we are going to look at doing another education scholarship in addition to the music scholarship,” Ezekiel added. “Let’s talk about that Pax.”
“I got you.”
Olivia finished her speech to a thunderous applause. I help her down the steps.
“You are amazing, Olivia,” Zanetta said.
“Girl, you killed it,” Zora added.
“Thank you. I didn’t really feel nervous once I started talking.”
“Yeah, you owned this room. I was just telling Pax that Z and I will have to sit down with him to discuss our finances and add another education scholarship to our portfolio.”
“Wow, Zeke. That’s will be wonderful! Thank you both.” Olivia hugged Zeke and Zora.
“We are going to get out of here. Zeke is almost having a panic attack because we have been away from Zahria for a couple hours,” Zora laughed. “Plus, I need to go and pump. These breasts are starting to feel like bricks,” she whispered.
We laughed.
“Thank you for coming,” Olivia said.
Olivia shined the whole evening. I was so proud to be introduced as her fiancé. She worked the room and spoke with the people in attendance. I was letting her do her thing until I saw a couple of men starting to circle around her. I went and tapped her on the shoulder.
“May I dance with the Director the Academy?”
“Yes, you may,” she smiled and followed me onto the dance floor.
I pulled her close to me on the dance floor and pressed the power button on the remote she gave me.
“Pax,” she moaned as she rested her head on my shoulder.
“You didn’t think I forgot, did you? I was trying to give you some time to mingle, but now you are all mine.”
I pushed the squiggly line button to increase the vibration.
“Baby,” she whispered, “You are going to make me come.”
“No, you cannot until I tell you can,” I whispered back.
“Baby please,” she whined turning me on even more than I already was.
“No, Olivia. It’s almost time for us to leave. You can hold on until then. Hold on for me baby. I want to be inside you when you do.”
I pushed the power button, turning off the device.
“Go ahead and say your goodbyes. I got us a room upstairs.” She lifted her head from my shoulder and looked at me. “Hurry up, or I am coming for you.”
Olivia
‘You are amazing God…’
The church stood on their feet applauding the dance ministry. They had just finished ministering to Indescribable by Kierra Sheard.
I wiped my tears with the tissue Paxton had just passed me. I cry every time the dance ministry performs. This performance was beautiful because the children danced with the adults. It was visually stunning with rich hues of blue, orange, yellow and white in their costumes and props. They used flags and ribbons and danced down the center aisle of the church as well as the stage. It was amazing. For the last verse of the song, everyone left out except one little ballerina. She was small but intense. Her moves were precise and perfect. I could have watched her dance all day.
“Good morning family!” Roman said as he walked to the podium.
“Good morning,” the church responded.
“Can we give our dance ministry another round of applause?”
The church clapped again.
“I have the distinct pleasure this morning of bringing to you someone who will feed you the word of God correctly divided and broken down so that you can not only hear it but digest it and apply it, amen?”
“Amen,” the church responded.
“My destiny partner, my wife for life, Minister Zanetta Bluette.”
The church applauded while Zanetta walked to the podium, placed her book on it and embraced Roman. Roman went back to his seat.
“Good morning ABC!”
“Good morning,” we all responded.
“I am so happy to stand before you this morning. I know it’s been a long time since I ministered on Sunday morning. I don’t know if you know, but a lot has changed in my life since the last time we talked.”
The audience laughed.
“I met a guy and fell in love. He asked me to marry him, and I said yes,” she laughed. “I think most of you know him. For those of you who don’t, it’s the really handsome Pastor of this church, Pastor Roman.” The audience laughed again. “So, yeah, a lot has changed for me. They have all been good changes but changes none the less. Even good change can be hard. When Roman and I talked about life after the wedding, I told him that I wanted to lay back for a while. I didn’t want to kick the door down as the First Lady of ABC
Houston. I didn’t want to be on the ministry schedule, and I didn’t want to take over any auxiliaries. He became my first ministry, and I wanted to learn how to be his wife and his respite from church and ministry. I asked if I could hang back for at least a year to learn my first ministry, then move into ministry with the church. We agreed that would be the case. Since I have never been a wife, a Pastor’s wife at that, there was a lot to learn, and I’m still learning, but my husband and our church have been wonderful and patient. I am so grateful to be a member of ABC, and I’m proud to be Roman’s wife. I love you, Sweetheart.”
“I love you too,” Roman returned.
“Like I said, we discussed me playing a background role until after I’d had a year of marriage under my belt. We scheduled this Sunday for my first Sunday to be back. After today, I said I would put my hand to the plow. I would take a Sunday for ministry if he needed me to, or whatever. I said I would do what was necessary to help, then this happened.” The picture of her ultrasound appeared on the screen behind her. The audience stood and started clapping and cheering. She and Roman smiled at each other. “So,” she spoke as the clapping died down, “I am carrying our first child. I just started the second trimester of the pregnancy, and things are going well. They call it morning sickness, but I had all day sickness! I couldn’t keep anything down, but my mothers and sisters fed me remedy after remedy until we found the one that worked for me. It turned out to be ginger tea first thing in the morning and saltine crackers. It did the trick! So now I am eating everything! I’m always hungry.” The church laughed.
“Pastor Roman says we are having a boy, so I refer to baby Bluette as he. So, as it turns out, I’m still going to be hanging back. I have a new aspect of ministry to learn with this little person inside of me, but I’m so ready for the challenge, amen? I’m always around and ready to help, but I understand my purpose in this season of my life and I’m more than okay with that.