Back to Me (4 page)

As Paige drove down Highway 13 after Sunday worship service, she considered how deceptive the Bay Area's weather could be. The bright sun and the cloud-free blue sky gave the appearance of a warm day. However, the thermostat in her car registered forty-eight degrees. To local residents, the low temperature was near freezing. A scarf, gloves, earmuffs, knee-length boots and her long wool coat kept her warm.

In many aspects her life mirrored the deceitful weather. From the outside, Paige's life appeared to be in order, but inner peace was beyond her reach. Regret and pain resided in her spirit daily, and she had occasional bouts of depression. Two weeks had passed since the anniversary of the abortion, and she was sleeping through the night again, but not restfully. Every morning tense muscles greeted her, accompanied by a headache, which would leave after her daily dose of Starbucks.

This morning, instead of drinking Starbucks, Paige prayed until the pressure subsided enough for her to prepare for church. Today wasn't her assigned Sunday on the praise and worship team, so she was able to arrive for the service an hour later. As fatigued as she was, Paige should have gone straight home after the service, but being a glutton for punishment, she found herself headed to Kevin's house for the celebratory dinner following the christening of Tyson's daughter.

Kevin and Tyson were best friends, so the fact that they were godparents to each other's children wasn't a surprise. What did surprise, and to some extent hurt, Paige was their insistence on including her in their happy lives. True, she had befriended both of them in college and had kept in touch over the years. They even attend the same church. She had handled both Kevin's and Tyson's real estate transactions. And yes, she was happy that Reyna, who was her former employee and was now Tyson's wife, had rededicated her life to the Lord, but they just didn't understand how miserable their happiness made her. Yet she couldn't bring herself to turn down the invitation. If she were truthful, she enjoyed the fellowship. Hanging with Jenningses and the Stokeses and their extended family was the extent of her social life outside of work, church, and community service.

As the Moraga Avenue exit approached, she considered going home, but something compelled her to continue on to Kevin's house. Once she had parked her car, her unexpected anticipation motivated her to practically skip to the front of Kevin's house. She rationalized that her excitement was due to the chance she had to spend time with little Destiny. She had observed the baby during the ceremony at church and thought she was adorable. Even from three rows back, she could see the hazel eyes the baby had inherited from her father, and had wondered if her baby would have had Tyson's eye color also.

“God, help me enjoy this day,” she prayed before pressing the doorbell. “Help me to be happy without feeling pain.”

“Hey, Paige.” Kevin leaned in and, after a brief hug, stepped aside to allow her entrance. “I'm glad you could make it to see my beautiful goddaughter.” He held out his arm. “Let me take your coat.”

Before the coat had completely fallen from Paige's shoulders, Kevin's wife, Marlissa, joined them with their eighteen-month-old son on her hip. “Hi, girl. I hope you're hungry.”

“Actually, I am.” As a rule, Paige fasted until after service on Sundays. The two women left Kevin as he was hanging the coat.

“Good, because you know we always have too much food,” Marlissa stated and steered Paige into the formal dining room, where a buffet covered the ten-foot mahogany table.

Paige's stomach growled, but before she satisfied her hunger, she looked around the room. Just as she expected, everyone was there–maternal and paternal grandparents, extended family, several church members, people she didn't know, and, of course, those bossy prayer warriors from the church. About fifty people were packed into Kevin's house.

“Hello, everyone,” Paige said above the friendly chatter and then made her way to the guest of honor.

“Paige,” Tyson said, standing with baby Destiny in his arms and Reyna by his side. “We're glad you made it.”

Paige briefly studied her old friend and her former employee and coveted their genuine love, but only for a moment. “You know I wouldn't pass up a chance to hold this gorgeous baby,” she said, looking down at Destiny. “Reyna, I swear all you were was an incubator. She looks just like her daddy.”

Reyna smiled and conceded, “Well, at least she has my complexion.”

“And your temperament,” Tyson added. “And just like her mama, she has me wrapped around her finger.”

“Seriously,” Paige said once she stopped laughing, “I'm happy for you, and not just because of Destiny.” She locked eyes with Reyna. “I'm proud of how you've turned your life around. How are your plans for school coming?”

Reyna leaned against Tyson and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Thanks to my wonderful husband providing me with a housekeeper and tuition, I start school in three weeks.”

“Being married to a lawyer has its benefits,” Paige teased.

“It sure does.” Reyna got up on tiptoe and kissed Tyson's cheek, then grabbed Paige by the arm. “Let's get something to eat.” She led Paige to an empty seat to hang her purse.

Paige's purse strap had barely draped the chair before Mother Scott's voice rang out. “How are you doing? And don't say, ‘Blessed and highly favored,' and don't speak in tongues.”

“We ain't in church now. You can talk normal,” First Lady Drake added.

The room erupted in laughter.

Paige wasn't sure if she preferred to be accosted by the prayer warriors privately or to be embarrassed publicly. One thing was certain. It was useless to confront them, because although their delivery could be harsh, their assessment was correct.

“Besides hungry, I'm fine,” Paige answered through a forced smile.

“There's plenty to eat,” Mother Scott responded. “I'm just happy to see you someplace other than church. Make sure you get some of that potato salad. It's good. I know because I made it,” she added as an afterthought.

“It ain't as good as it used to be,” First Lady Drake said, butting in, “but it's all right.”

“Ain't nothing you make half as good as it used to be. That's why you got that German chocolate cake from the bakery,” Mother Scott shot back. “And you had the nerve to try to pass it off as homemade.”

First Lady Drake's jaw fell. “What are you talking about?”

Mother Scott leaned back and wagged her index finger. “You had the nerve to remove the cake from its original box with the label on it and wrap it in foil, but you forgot to take the doily from underneath the cake. The bakery's logo is plain as day.”

First Lady Drake rolled her eyes at her prayer partner. “So what? It must be pretty good, since you're wearing half of it on your hips.”

Mother Scott smacked her lips and snarled at the first lady. “Well, at least I don't need a water hose to measure my hips.”

Paige couldn't prevent her mouth from hanging open as she listened to the two women who were supposed to be holy prayer warriors. Their behavior was reprehensible. They had the nerve to complain about how much time she spent at church. Given their ungodly behavior, the prayer warriors needed to live inside the sanctuary.

“Lord, have mercy! I don't believe this—” Paige began, but the mothers cut her off.

“You don't believe what? That's it's possible to have fun and still be saved?” First Lady Drake questioned.

“You're too deep for me. Everybody knows Drake and I are the very best of friends and we poke fun at one another all the time.” Mother Scott gestured around the room. “You see ain't nobody paying us any attention but you. Maybe you should stop praying for mercy and ask the Lord to help you relax.”

“Yeah,” the first lady added. “You gon' mess around and give yourself a stroke.”

Paige couldn't believe it. In a matter of seconds the dynamic duo had gone from attacking each other to double-teaming her. She looked at Reyna for help, but the other woman just shrugged. Paige continued on to the buffet table without offering a rebuttal.

“I know they come across as harsh, but trust me, they got your back,” Reyna offered once they were out of earshot. “Those sisters are some real ride-or-die chicks in both the spirit and in the natural. Trust me, I know.”

“That's what Tyson keeps telling me,” Paige replied dryly.

“You know lawyers don't lie, so you should believe him.” The two shared a laugh. “Seriously,” Reyna said, sobering, “just about everyone in this room has benefited from their fervent prayers and their rebukes. You remember how torn up I was, don't you?”

Paige surveyed the crowd once again. In the room were former alcoholics, drug users, manipulators, gamblers, and sex addicts, and those were just the ones Paige knew from church. All had testified about how the mothers had helped them find deliverance. Even Kevin's mother—a former pastor—credited the mothers for helping her see the light. That might be the case for them, but Paige thought the mothers could use a refresher Bible lesson on drawing in people with love and kindness.

“Of course I remember your rebellious days, but let's not talk about that now. I'm starved.” Paige had had enough of the rude church folks.

Once she was at the buffet, Paige felt the magnitude of her hunger. The spread for the six-month-old baby's christening was a smorgasbord of her favorites. In record speed she was balancing one plate loaded with tiger prawns, barbecued ribs, and fried chicken wings and another plate piled high with salads, fruit, and macaroni and cheese.

“You really are hungry,” Reyna teased and then filled a cup with punch for Paige.

“You know how it is when you have to fast until after service every Sunday to hear a word from the Lord,” Paige answered matter-of-factly, as if every Christian abstained from food on Sunday mornings.

Reyna's face twisted before she started back to the table. “I thought pushing the plate back on Sunday was optional, not mandatory.”

“Oh no. We're supposed to eat from the spiritual table first, then from the natural table. That's how we learn what God's will is for our life,” Paige explained, but inwardly she admitted that the regimen hadn't cleared up her foggy life.

“Well, I usually just ask Him, and He directs me on what His will is for me. Since that's working, I'm going to stick with that for now,” Reyna said after placing the punch on the table for Paige.

“You sound like my mother,” Paige mumbled as Reyna walked away.

Casual Christianity was something she'd never get used to. Her hunger caused her to cut her usual three-minute grace down to one minute, and she vowed that she'd add the two missing minutes to her bedtime prayer routine. Within seconds, Paige had tuned everyone out and was gripping a barbecued rib in one hand and a tiger prawn in the other. Within five minutes the first plate was piled high with clean bones, and barbecue sauce dripped from her fingertips. She'd just finished wiping her hands with a wet towelette and popping a jumbo shrimp into her mouth when she heard a commotion behind her.

“If that's the only vacant seat, no thank you,” a familiar voice said. “I'd rather stand.”

Paige ceased chewing and snapped her head around. It couldn't be, but it was. Standing next to Kevin, in a dark brown tailored suit, a tan shirt with gold cuff links, and alligator shoes, was the stranger she'd come to detest. He was holding a loaded plate.

Kevin's head tilted toward his male guest. “You're kidding, right?”

“No. I'm not sitting next to that mean, judgmental, rude woman.”

“Man, are you serious?” Kevin asked.

The man's presence and his assessment of her discombobulated Paige to the point where she forgot she'd just popped a jumbo shrimp into her mouth, and attempted to swallow. The shrimp got lodged in her throat, obstructing her airway. Instantly, her hands flew to her throat, and the gasping began. After several failed coughing attempts meant to dislodge the shrimp, frantically, she grabbed Kevin's arm.

A throbbing pressure in her head caused her eyes to slam shut at the same moment that she heard someone begin to pray in a tongue she didn't understand. She guessed that Kevin understood her dilemma, because almost instantaneously, rock-solid arms lifted her from the chair and spun her around. What felt like the heel of a hand struck her between her shoulder blades several times before the arms encircled her and then a fist pressed into her torso, just above her naval. After three powerful thrusts the shrimp became dislodged and landed on Kevin's shoe.

Partially bent over, Paige didn't wait to say a prayer of thanks. Between each labored breath she thanked God for sparing her life until her breathing returned to normal. When she finally opened her eyes, the brown alligators came into focus. It was then that she realized it was the stranger's arms that were wrapped around her and not Kevin's.

He released her at the same time that she stood upright. The clapping and praising from the crowd distracted Paige long enough for her to gather her thoughts before expressing her gratitude to the man in the brown suit. She turned to face him, only to discover that he had removed his suit coat and was eating, as if nothing life altering had just happened.

“Here. Drink this.” Kevin had returned with a bottle of water and was now offering it to her. In the commotion she hadn't seen him walk off.

Moments later Reyna and Marlissa joined them.

“Are you sure you're all right?” Reyna asked, also handing Paige a bottle of water.