Blessings From the Father (11 page)

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Authors: Michelle Larks

BOOK: Blessings From the Father
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“He's not Carson, by any stretch of the imagination. He seems to be a good guy, he makes me laugh. I plan on seeing him again. In fact,” Raquel said slyly, “I asked him to help us move next weekend. You can never have enough manpower. I also gave him my number.”
“You really don't waste any time do you?” Sonyell said half jokingly.
“Don't you two ever listen to me when I say life is short? You got to go for what you want.”
“Remind us never to get in your way.” Sonyell shook her head.
“You two don't count. But on the real, I like him. I'm not trying to settle down or anything. We'll see what comes of it.”
“Good. Then I'd say today was a good day.” Sonyell nodded and raised her glass. “We got Mari moved to Hammond. She's ready to embark on new career goals, and she found a man to boot. Life doesn't get any better.”
The friends changed into their nightclothes and talked into the wee hours of the night. Mariah was the last to fall asleep. Her last conscious thought was,
Raquel had better stay away from Carson.
Shivers tingled up and down her spine as she speculated on her date with Carson the following evening.
Chapter Thirteen
Church services were coming to a conclusion at the St. Mark AME Church located on Field Street in Hammond. As Carson and the ushers, clad in uniform dark suits with white shirts and blouses, opened the exit doors to the church, the congregation sang in harmony “God Be With You.” After the organist struck the final chord, the members streamed out of the church.
Carson whispered to his mother that he planned to stay late and speak to Reverend Cambridge. After that he would stop by his parents' house. The ushers busily collected the hymnals left on the church pews, and put them back into their slots on the back of the pews. Carson dimmed the lights in the sanctuary. He glanced at his watch and hurried to his minister's office.
Reverend Cambridge, a brown-skinned, burly man with salt-and-pepper gray hair and the same colored beard had just finished changing from his robe to his suit. He was tying his tie when Carson knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Reverend Cambridge said. He sat down at his untidy desk after he and Carson shook hands.
“Thanks for seeing me,” Carson said after he sat in the chair across from the minister. “Pastor, I wanted to talk to you. Brother Ellison's daughter has moved to Hammond. She is on a mission to learn about her father. I feel torn because a part of me wants to tell her everything I know. As fate or maybe divine intervention would have it, she had car issues. I was able to help her get home. We ended up talking. She moved to Hammond to Brother Ellison's house yesterday,” Carson explained.
“You've learned a lot in a short period of time, haven't you, brother?” Reverend Cambridge observed after wiping his glasses with a white handkerchief. He planted the glasses back on his nose. The minister smirked as he gave Carson a knowing look.
“I guess so; opportunity presented itself and I rose to the occasion,” Carson said. He sheepishly shrugged his shoulders.
“What type of woman did Brother Ellison's daughter appear to be? Or were you able to tell in that short period of time?” The minister leaned forward and placed his arms on his desk.
“She is very attractive. She looks very much like Brother Ellison. She is bitter that he didn't spend time with her while she was growing up. From what I can tell, her family hasn't told her about the events surrounding her birth.”
“That's unfortunate. Still events unfold in life in God's time, not in our own. Praise God that Brother Ellison put some mechanisms in place that will help explain his actions. I just hope his daughter is receptive. What is her name?”
“Mariah Green.” Carson's tongue seemed to caress Mariah's name.
His soft tone of voice didn't go unnoticed by his minister. “You seem impressed with her. Or is ‘smitten' the word I should use?” Reverend Cambridge grinned as he teased Carson.
“I, ah, liked what I saw. She doesn't seem to have let her inheritance influence her. By that I mean she didn't seem snobbish. I met several of her childhood friends. She and her friends all seem firmly rooted. I would say we shared a vibe,” Carson admitted.
“That kind of puts you in an awkward position, son. As Harold's story comes to light, Mariah might feel you deceived her. I would suggest you tread lightly,” Reverend Cambridge cautioned Carson. He folded his hands together in a triangle.
“Oh, I will.” Carson nodded. “She's been hurt badly by what she perceives as her father's defection. I can tell she puts up walls. I feel other than her grandmother and friends, Mariah doesn't let people get too close. Complicating matters is her mother's drug addiction. One can't help but feel Mariah's anguish and be moved by it. If, and I think it will, our friendship progresses, I plan to invite her here to worship here with us at St. Mark.”
“That sounds like a good idea. I just hope that her faith in God is strong enough, that she can understand Harold's actions in time.”
“I think if she weighs the good against the bad, Harold will come out okay. But, I don't know her well enough to say that with certainty.” Carson held out his hands.
“God in His infinite wisdom brought the two of you together, so I have a feeling you will be the vehicle God uses to enlighten Mariah about her father. I will pray for God to give you guidance. Who knows what might come of this new friendship?” Reverend Cambridge commented lightly, though his eyes twinkled.
“Well, it's time for me to go. I don't want to take up too much of your time. I plan to stop by my parents' house, visit my girls, and then Mariah and I are having dinner.” Carson rose from his seat.
“Is that so?” The minister's eyebrow arched upward. “Be careful, son.” The minister's face and tone became stern. “This matter has to be handled gently and with sensitivity.”
“I will, Pastor,” Carson promised. “Have a blessed week and I will keep you posted on Mariah.”
“Thank you. You too have a blessed week and enjoy your date.” Reverend Cambridge rose from his seat. He and Carson exchanged farewells.
Carson departed. After he entered his black Cadillac STS, he fastened the seat belt. Carson decided to pick up his daughters and take them to his parents' house. The family hadn't seen his daughters in a while. He couldn't keep a smile from filling his face as his thoughts traveled to Mariah.
 
 
In anticipation of her date with Carson, Mariah had suffered a bout of indecision. She had changed her outfit several times. At 7:30
P.M.
, Mariah and Carson were seated inside a cozy leather booth at Freddy's Steak House. The restaurant was located at 165th Street and Kennedy Avenue.
The waitress had taken their orders and left a basket of warm bread at the table, along with glasses of water.
“Are you sure you don't want anything to drink?” Carson asked Mariah. He wore khakis and a polo pullover with a lightweight sports jacket. His locks were held together with a thick rubber band and Mariah thought he was the most handsome man she had ever laid eyes on. His green eyes enthralled her.
Mariah, not to be outdone, looked very attractive as well. Raquel had hooked up her hair before departing to Chicago. Mariah had finally settled on a pair of dark leggings, with a belted, tomato-red oversized top. It brought out reddish tones in her dark skin. She wore multiple bangles on her wrists along with a tiny gold watch. Her feet were encased by short black leather boots. Mariah wore a black leather cap pulled over her head. She loved caps. Mariah had an extensive collection of them.
“No, I'm good. I'm not much of a drinker,” Mariah confessed. “My girls and I tend to imbibe on special occasions and yesterday was one of those days. That's my quota for a while.” Her eyes stole around the restaurant.
“I'm not a heavy drinker myself. I like to have a beer every now and then, but with girls in the house I try to set a good example.” Carson commented, “You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Carson.” Mariah dipped her eyes. She then sipped from the glass of water and placed the glass on her left side.
The waitress returned to the table with French onion soup for Carson and a Caesar salad for Mariah.
Carson blessed the food. They chatted easily and dined until the waitress brought their entrees. Mariah had chosen salmon with rice pilaf and steamed broccoli. Carson had a T-bone steak, with a baked potato and asparagus.
Mariah had just eaten a piece of salmon when she asked Carson if he was a Christian.
He wiped his mouth on his napkin, laid it back on his lap, and answered, “Yes, I am. I was raised in an AME church. I still attend my childhood church here in Hammond. What about you?”
“I definitely am. I think I told you that I attend Christian Friendship Baptist Church in the city. My minister, Reverend Dudley, stopped by yesterday to bless the house. I teach a children's Sunday School class. How do you serve?”
“I am a member of the usher board and head of the beautification committee,” Carson answered. He cut a piece of steak and placed it inside his mouth.
“What is that exactly? The beautification committee?” Mariah asked with a puzzled expression on her face.
“My group helps with church repairs, cleaning up the inside and outside of the church. We mow the lawn in the summer, and shovel in the winter. We paint and do whatever is necessary to keep the Lord's house in order.”
“That's cool,” Mariah replied enthusiastically. “It's kind of like one of those behind-the-scenes ministries.”
“Exactly. Most people want to sing in the choir, whether they can carry a note or not, or be seen walking down the aisle. My family has served on the usher board, and I didn't want to break tradition. Truthfully, I'm more a low-key person, so that committee was another way for me to serve the Father.”
“You continue to surprise me. I haven't met many men who admit to going to church. Or if they do”—she crinkled her nose—“it's not for the right reasons. Most of the time they want to hook up with a sista.”
“Oh, I told you”—Carson put down his knife and fork—“to stick with me. There are more surprises in store for you. I should also tell you that Mr. Ellison also attended my church.”
Mariah dropped her fork. It clattered as it fell on her plate. Her smile turned to a frown. “Is that right?” She was clearly flustered; her hand fluttered to her throat. Mariah swallowed and deftly changed the subject. “Speaking of church and trying to do all things pleasing in His sight, this might be a good time to mention that I am practicing celibacy,” Mariah told Carson after sipping water.
Carson nearly choked on the water he just swallowed. “Is that so? How long have you have you been celibate? And, yes, this is a good time to mention that.”
“Truthfully”—Mariah dipped her head—“a little over a year. I had a bad experience with the last guy I dated. It became a physical relationship and I was looking for more. So after I manage to shed him like a bad haircut, I decided to treat my body like the temple it is.”
“Okay,” Carson quipped. “I can't say I've met many women who practice that theory.”
“I'm sure there are some of us out there. So if you can't hang, Mr. Palmer, then we will need to keep this relationship on a friendship basis.”
“I've never been one to shy away from challenges and keeping my body in check will definitely be a challenge.”
“Just so you don't view me as a challenge and try to change my mind,” Mariah declared ardently. “Like the old song my granny sings, ‘I Shall Not Be Moved.' That is my position and I am sticking to it.” She thumped on the top of the table for emphasis.
Carson held up his hands. “Gotcha. Just don't get an attitude if I slip up accidently. You know a man likes to show affection for the woman he is interested in.”
“There are ways to show affection other than sexually. You seem to be smart, I'm sure you can think of some of them,” Mariah teased him.
“You're right, but I'm still a man. Seriously, I respect your position, and I'll try, no, do my best, not to defile that lovely temple.”
“Deal?” Mariah held out her hand to shake Carson's. She sighed and thought,
that hurdle is over. Thank you, Lord.
Instead, he took her hand in his and kissed it. “Deal.” He smiled wickedly.
They continued to enjoy the meal, the ambiance, and getting to know each other. Mariah hadn't enjoyed herself with a man in a long time.
“So, my father attended your church. What type of member was he? Did he tithe? I suspect he did. Did he attend church most Sundays? What was his ministry?” The questions flew from Mariah's mouth.
“Whoa.” Carson held up his hand. “Let's see, the answers are as follows: He was a faithful member. He rarely missed church. And, yes, he did tithe. He also donated money and his time equally as needed. Officially he was a member of the finance committee. But truthfully, he served wherever there was a need to be filled. My minister, Reverend Cambridge, was very fond of Mr. and Mrs. Ellison.”
“Somehow, I'm not surprised. I figured he was a big shot in church. I saw the many awards from the church as well as business-related ones,” Mariah commented.
“That's true, he was especially proud of the ones from the church. Reverend Cambridge believes in giving credit where credit is due. There were times he planned to borrow from Mr. Ellison, and Mr. Ellison would tell him that the monies were gifts. Mr. Ellison was a charter member of the church.”
“Hmm, that's interesting. My father sounds like a saint, if we don't include how he wasn't a part of my life,” Mariah stated bitterly.
“Oh, no, I don't want to give you that impression. He was a man with flaws like most humans. He did a lot of good with his money. Mr. Ellison admitted to me that there were parts of his life he wasn't very proud of,” Carson told Mariah.
“It sounds like you knew him quite well,” Mariah commented as her eyes probed Carson's.

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