A Good Man (24 page)

Justin knows all the songs, John thought. But why am I surprised? He’s a man of many layers.

They sang “Back to Eden” and “I Call You Holy.” They listened to a heartfelt, soul-lifting prayer. They listened to the choir sing “Bread of Life” and “He Saw the Best in Me.” They opened their Bibles to Philippians 4.

Reverend Robert Cox read: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice.”

Thank You, Lord, for another day, John thought. Thank You also that Sonya had a lousy time. I know that’s selfish, but thank You anyway. Please help her sunburn heal.

“Let your moderation be known unto all men,” Reverend Cox said.

Lord, thank You for keeping me from alcohol. And mermaid tattoos. And the sin of pride. When will moderation become a virtue on this earth again? Just asking.

“Be careful for nothing,” Reverend Cox said, “but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

Thank You that Sonya … is now sitting right next to me. How’d that happen? I need to pay better attention.

He smiled at Sonya.

“Justin had to use the restroom,” she whispered. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“No.” Thank You that Sonya is sitting right next to me with … her leg pinned to mine. They need to expand this church! Wait. No. Lord, thank You that this pew is too small. My leg is very happy now.

“In everything,” Reverend Cox said, “let your requests be known to God.”

Lord, here’s my request for today. You know my overall request. You remember. The get-a-wife thing. And now it doesn’t seem so ridiculous. Today I ask that I get a chance to talk alone with Sonya without breaking that stupid rule.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,” Reverend Cox said, “shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Our knees are touching, they’re practically moving in together and looking at carpet swatches, and she doesn’t seem to mind. I think she’s even doing most of the pressing. Don’t look at her calves, don’t look … Wow, those are nice cuts. Look away, look away … She sure does like to get her praise on. I sure do like watching that skirt of hers moving back and forth when she feels the Spirit. And those legs? God, You are so good! And that booty. Hallelujah!

“Finally, brethren,” Reverend Cox said, “whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Sorry, Lord. Sonya is more than a spirit-filled woman swaying in the pew. But You have to admit, God, that she makes even a simple skirt look good. Hallelujah!

After the service, an ancient woman cornered Sonya on their way out. “Aren’t you Jazz?”

Sonya smiled. “Yes. How are you?”

The old woman smiled at Justin, Gary, and Tony. “Such handsome men. How will you ever choose?”

Why isn’t she looking at me? John thought. Oh, yeah. I’m white and wearing a wrinkled gray suit.

Sonya laughed. “God will help me choose.”

“You be sure to pray about it,” the woman said. “And you gentlemen be sure to come back.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Justin said, giving the woman a gentle hug. “I can’t wait to come back.”

“It has definitely been one of the few highlights of my week,” Sonya said. She smiled at John.

Lord God Almighty, make me a highlight of all her days.

I mean, at least make me another highlight today.

And, Lord, let me be on the receiving end of every one of Sonya’s smiles.

And do something about this suit.

Amen.

While John introduced himself to Reverend Cox, Justin talked to a tall, buxom choir member, and Gary and Tony were surrounded by women, Sonya stood alone on the sidewalk outside.

Hello? Sonya thought. Um, I know it’s a free day, but c’mon, y’all, free yourselves and let’s get going.

John broke away first.

Now maybe I can talk to him alone for a few minutes.

John took several steps toward Sonya and froze, returned to Justin, and touched his elbow, nodding at Sonya.

No, John. I just want you. Don’t bring him.

Justin gave a hug to the choir member—the hussy!—and called out to Tony and Gary. The four of them walked up to her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” John said.

Now why did John do that? Sonya thought. He had me all to himself and called in the posse.

On the ride home, Justin couldn’t stop gushing about the soloist. “That girl sanged that song. Whoo. She kilt it. Gave me goose bumps.”

“Me too,” Sonya said.

“I thought the speakers were gonna explode,” Justin said. “What a voice!”

Uh-huh, Sonya thought. What a body, right, Justin? I think Justin has a crush. She glanced at Gary, who was looking out the window. Gary broods a lot. Or maybe he’s just thinking. She looked at John, who was also looking out the window. I know John’s thinking. I just want to know what!

“Arthur,” Sonya said, “what did the reverend have to say?”

John turned to her. “Oh, I did most of the talking.”

That’s hard to believe, Sonya thought.

“I introduced myself and gave him my regards from Reverend Wilson back home,” John said.

By the book, Sonya thought. John is always going by the book. The world needs more people like him.

“Gary, what did you think of the service?” Sonya asked.

Gary wrinkled up his nose. “A little low-key for me.”

“Low-key?” Sonya said. The man is tripping. “We were jamming in there.”

Gary shook his head. “At Mississippi Boulevard in Memphis, they get down, get funky, and get loose. That choir was small. We got at least three times as many in our choir. And service sometimes doesn’t end till two. It’s only one o’clock.”

Gary the brooder likes church. Interesting. “Tony, where do you attend?”

“Second Free Mission Baptist in New Orleans,” Tony said. “Bethel kind of reminds me of Second Free.”

She stared at Justin.

“Oh,” Justin said. “I go to Zion AME.”

“And you have to sing there,” John said.

“Yeah, they’re probably missing me,” Justin said. “I’m in the chancel choir, the male choir, and the Zion ensemble.”

Very interesting, Sonya thought. Everyone in this limo attends and participates in church. “We will go every week no matter what. Okay?”

Justin smiled. “Deal.”

When they returned to the mansion, two of the Crew whistled at them, but Tony set them straight. “Y’all are just jealous that we got to spend four hours alone with Jazz while y’all were still sleeping.”

Sonya approached one of them, and though she tried to remember his name, she couldn’t. Booker? Timbo? “Um, where is everybody?”

“Out shopping mostly,” he said. “What you have in mind, baby?”

I am not your baby. “And when did you get up?”

“Dude, I just woke up.”

And I am not your dude, dude. “Is Aaron around?”

“Man, I don’t think you’ll see him until tomorrow, yo,” he said. “That boy is still unconscious.”

You snooze, you lose.

After John and Gary made hot ham and cheese sandwiches for everyone, Sonya tried to corner John at the sink.

“I didn’t see you this morning,” she said.

John drifted to the entrance of the great room. “I slept in a little.” He waved at Tony.

Tony nodded.

What’s going on? “And you don’t jog on Sunday?”

“No,” John said. “My body needs to rest.”

Why does he keep looking at the TV instead of me? “Can we … go somewhere … to talk?”

John looked at the floor. “There’s a new house rule, Jazz. We can’t be alone with you at any time unless we win a date.”

What a stupid rule! “Whose idea was that? Bob’s?”

“Aaron’s, actually,” John said. “I didn’t vote for it, and neither did Tony, Gary, or Justin, but majority ruled.”

Sonya sighed. “How can I get to know anyone if I can’t talk to them alone?”

“You’ll have to be gregarious and let us suck up to you, I guess.” John winked. “As if you’d ever let that happen.” He looked at the game again.

“You know I don’t operate that way,” Sonya said. “And I’m over here, man.”

John turned to face her. “Sorry. I’m trying to keep the rule. And I’m also trying to keep the Sabbath.”

“By watching a football game?”

“By not looking too long into your eyes,” John whispered. “Makes me crazy.” He looked at the TV again.

“Oh.” And that was a compliment. “Um, what are you going to do all day?”

“I plan to rest, relax, maybe even watch a game, I don’t know,” he said. “I’m glad we all got our praise on today. I needed it.”

“So did I.” I wish he’d look at me! This is making me crazy! When John looks at me, I feel sane. “I’ve never heard so many hallelujahs.” She stepped closer and whispered, “I like to hear you say it to me. Just to me, though, remember?”

John nodded. “I miss the reason I say it.” He blinked. “And now I’m not respecting the Sabbath again.”

“You aren’t?”

“I’m seeing you running ahead of me and thinking about your, um …” He stared into her eyes briefly. “I better finish the dishes. Enjoy your day.” He moved past her to the kitchen.

And he thinks he can just get away that easily? She moved next to him as he worked on a frying pan. “Is that all you see, John?”

John shook his head. “Justin!” he called. “Gimme a hand with these dishes!” He glanced at Sonya. “I also see your smile, your ponytail, your legs, your calves, and your eyes,” he whispered quickly. “I see all of you, Sonya, whenever I close my eyes.”

“Then why’d you call Justin just now?”

“He walks the slowest,” he said with a wink. “I miss our alone time, too, more than you’ll ever know.”

“Zoom in,” Bob said.

A video operator pressed a button.

“Man, she looks … What is that look, Larry?”

“I think she really likes him, Bob.”

“How can you tell?”

“She seems to be pining for him.”

“Pining?”

“That’s a face that is yearning for her man, Bob. That’s a face of longing and desire. She craves Arthur’s attention. She seems to need his attention, too.”

“I didn’t expect this. Of all the young, ripped flesh in the house, she falls for the oldest and hardest to focus on.”

“And she may try to change that silly rule so she can be alone with Arthur more often.”

“We won’t let her. It won’t matter after tomorrow anyway. She has to dump either Arthur or Justin.”

“Does she? She could send any of the Crew packing. That’s explicitly in the rules. The challenges are just there to—”

“I know, I know, Larry. But she should dump one of them for losing. That’s what the audience expects.”

“And Jazz has certainly done the expected since she’s gotten here.”

“Yeah. Hmm. Well, she needs to keep Aaron. We need him.”

“Do we? I think Jazz would send Aaron packing today if she could.”

“They had a great time.”

“She wasn’t having any fun with Aaron at all, Bob. She just wanted to get back here to see Arthur. You saw her wandering around looking for him this morning.”

“Maybe she just couldn’t sleep.”

“She was searching for Arthur.”

“Or she just couldn’t sleep because of her date with Aaron. We’ll cut yesterday to make it look like she had the time of her life.”

“I’m sure we will.”

“I just don’t understand! Out of all the beef in the house, she has to latch on to Arthur.”

“They’re kindred spirits.”

“There are no such things as kindred spirits, Larry.”

“Then they’re soul mates, and it took them forty years to find each other.”

“You’re making me sick, Larry.”

“I know, Bob. I know.”

Kim arrived at the mansion Monday afternoon.

The Crew playing in the pool noticed.

While Sonya watched Kim dragging her suitcase up the driveway, several of the Crew stood at the gated entrance to the pool area and gawked.

It’s shameful the way they lust after her, Sonya thought. Of course, she is only wearing a black sports bra and tight jean shorts with her cheeks hanging out. Throw in her new hair and—what’s that? A dragon tattoo? Geez! Throw in all that and my daughter’s a certified—Sonya didn’t want to think it, but she did. She’s a certified hoochie, and this Crew sure loves a hoochie. Put your tongues back in your heads, fellas. Eww. That man is actually drooling. Nasty!

Sonya raced out of her room and down the stairs, meeting Kim in the foyer.

“It’s about time,” Kim said.

Sonya put a finger to her lips. “Shh. We’ll talk upstairs.” She picked up Kim’s suitcase. “Geez, it’s heavy,” she whispered.

“I did some shopping,” Kim said. “Why are you whispering?”

“Cameras are everywhere,” Sonya whispered, pointing at the ceiling and walls.

“So?”

Sonya rolled her eyes and carried the suitcase up the stairs, Kim following.

Once inside Sonya’s room, Kim threw herself onto Sonya’s bed. “Is that all the Crew does all day?”

“Basically,” Sonya said, rolling Kim’s suitcase to the dresser. “They drink all night and play all day. You want to unpack?”

“Eventually.” Kim pulled a pillow under her. “Sonya, where’s your hair?”

Sonya closed the curtain to the balcony and sat on the edge of the bed. “I ditched it. I’m not going diva anymore. No makeup, no hair, no fancy clothes. I’m just doing me from now on.”

“Scary,” Kim said.

“Hush.” No scarier than that dragon you’re letting the world see. “I called you a couple times.”

Kim rolled over, the pillow still covering her chest. “I was busy.”

“You could have spared a minute or two to return my call.”

Kim looked around the room. “Um, there’s only one bed.”

And she ignores me. She seems to do it most when I try to act motherly. “I’ll get Larry to put in another bed.”

“Not a rollaway, okay? Those things are murder on my back. That bar in the middle is a pain.”

I’m not gonna ask about that. “So … what’d you see? What’s Tijuana like?”

Kim rolled to her side, sliding the pillow under her head. “I didn’t go to Tijuana. I liked San Diego.” She smiled. “Like my tattoo?” She traced the tail of the dragon that started at her shoulder and disappeared between her cheeks. “The dragon’s head took the most time.”