Chasing Sunsets (6 page)

The sun was setting. Darkness gathered in the alleyway. The demons continued to hiss and scream. If they had it their way, someone was going to die tonight. Several people, maybe. And somewhere on the other side of the new Chairos Youth Center, Dwayne Davis was feeling the same way. Ready to kill Marcus Dillinger.

Jag wasn’t afraid.

This time he had a plan that would work.

6

M
ARY CATHERINE AND SAMI
walked into the new youth center just after three o’clock. She felt more like herself again. Now that she had told Sami the truth about her heart. At their apartment earlier Mary Catherine had made Sami promise she wouldn’t treat her any differently.

“I’m not dying,” Mary Catherine had said. “Not yet.”

“But you will . . . too soon.”

Mary Catherine had held up her finger and shook her head. “None of us knows how long we have.”

Eventually Sami had agreed. “God wants us to live today, that’s what you’re saying? He’ll handle the rest?”

“Yes. Exactly.”

Since then they hadn’t talked about it. Sami was a little quieter than usual, but nothing the guys would notice. Mary Catherine was only glad the discussion was behind them. As difficult as it was to share the news with Sami, Mary Catherine had wanted her best friend to know.

They headed through the triple gymnasium into the Virginia Hutcheson Hall, the place where tutoring would happen every school day afternoon and evening. Today, though, tables were set up around the perimeter for the grand opening. Marcus was carrying a box of plates to one of the tables.

Mary Catherine felt it again, the way her dying heart came fully alive in his presence. She chided herself to keep tight control over her emotions. Marcus wasn’t interested, anyway.

“Sami!” Tyler was at the opposite side of the room setting out plastic cups. She hurried to meet him.

Mary Catherine made eye contact with Marcus. At the same time, the box he was carrying broke open and plates started to fall to the ground a few at a time.

She hurried over and began picking them up. “Perfect timing.”

“So you were late on purpose?” Marcus set the box down and helped her gather the plates from the floor.

“Late?” Mary Catherine hoped he couldn’t see the heat in her cheeks. “It’s not fashionable to be exactly on time. You should know that.”

Mary Catherine and Marcus always slipped into this teasing type of banter. Sarcastic and even a little flirty. Nothing too deep. The two of them held the box together long enough to get it to the table.

“Seriously. How can I help?” Mary Catherine kept her tone light. She probably should’ve gone to the other room and helped Sami and Tyler. It did her no good being around Marcus. Not when he had this magnetic pull on her. Like being in his presence caused the oxygen to leave the room.

“I still have to wash down half a dozen tables in the back.” He winked at her. “You can help.”

Mary Catherine looked over her shoulder. “I thought the Waynes were coming.”

“They are.” He grinned. “Even more fashionably late than you and Sami.”

Before they could head to the back for the dirty tables, Coach Ollie Wayne, his wife, and his niece entered the room. “We’re here!” Rhonda Wayne led the way. “Ready to help!”

Mary Catherine took a step back. As she did, Shelly set her eyes on Marcus and came to him. She looked like a hunter eyeing her prey. Mary Catherine felt her frustration rise.
Don’t be catty
, she told herself.
You have no reason to be jealous. Just walk away.

Shelly reached Marcus and gave him a long hug and a kiss on his lips. Marcus looked surprised, and maybe a little embarrassed. He chuckled. “Well, hey there.”

“Help can mean a lot of things, right?” Shelly spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

Mary Catherine was ready for a new location.

She crossed the room to where Rhonda Wayne was helping Sami with the cups. Rhonda was explaining that they’d brought six flats of water bottles. “I’d like to get them in the fridge.”

“That’s another project.” Tyler was bringing in empty jugs. “Someone donated three additional refrigerators a few hours ago.” He made a face. “They work, but they’re filthy.”

“Perfect.” Rhonda clapped her hands and looked at Mary Catherine. “You up for some refrigerator cleaning?”

“Definitely.”

On the way back to the kitchen, Rhonda introduced herself. “I’ve heard of you. Sami can’t stop talking about how you taught her how to live.” Rhonda smiled. “You’re her hero.”

“That’s sweet.” Mary Catherine felt the compliment to the center of her soul. She had no idea Sami talked about her to other people. God was letting her help other people learn how to live—even while she was dying. “I hear a lot about your family, too. I guess yours is the hangout house.”

“Marcus lives in the neighborhood, and you probably know Tyler’s staying with him for now. They come over for dinner, and then a game of pool breaks out and the two of them stay till midnight. Happens all the time.”

Mary Catherine could picture that. Sami had been there many times with Tyler. Apparently, Shelly was usually there, too. “You host a house church, right? That’s what Sami told me.”

“Yes.” They reached the refrigerators and found a few empty buckets. “Our pastor stepped down so our main church is in transition. For the next few months the staff encouraged us to meet in our homes. Invite neighbors, that sort of thing. Tyler and Sami have been joining us for a while now.” Rhonda found a few rags and she and Mary Catherine filled the buckets with hot soapy water. “Do you have a church?”

“I do. It’s an hour away.”

“Well, then join us tomorrow. We’d love to have you!”

The invitation was tempting. “Thank you. Maybe some other time.” Mary Catherine couldn’t attend. Not when Shelly would be there fawning over Marcus. In that setting it would be almost impossible to focus on God. Besides, the hour drive each way was good for her. Time to pray and sing and remind
herself that true happiness could only come if she busied herself with things that mattered.

Things like this.

She and Rhonda worked for an hour cleaning the refrigerators, until the mold and the mildew were gone. They even found a box of baking soda in the pantry and after a few rinses the shelves actually smelled clean.

The whole time they talked about family and faith, how Rhonda and Ollie liked to think of their home as a church in more ways than one. “We ask God to fill our home, and then He does. Every time.” Rhonda’s laugh came easily. “Not saying it isn’t crazy around the dinner table sometimes, but it’s worth it.”

Mary Catherine tried not to feel jealous. That was the type of home she had always wanted. Instead she’d been an only child raised by wealthy parents. Parents too busy with their social clubs and charities to notice their daughter’s loneliness.

Maybe someday she would take Rhonda up on her offer and attend home church at their house. Whenever Mary Catherine stopped reacting every time she saw Marcus Dillinger. However long that might take.

When they finished, Mary Catherine and Rhonda joined the others in the hall. The place had filled up. Volunteers from the neighborhood had flooded the place and half the tables were full of cookies and cupcakes. In another room, neighbors were helping set up games and filling bowls with candy.

Marcus and Tyler hadn’t missed a detail.

Mary Catherine found Sami working on one of the des
sert tables. Shelly was helping Coach Wayne at the other end of the room. “Where’s Marcus?”

“The police wanted to talk to him and Tyler.” Sami didn’t sound worried. “Probably just figuring out logistics for tonight. They’re expecting a ton of people.”

A few minutes later Marcus and Tyler returned, their expressions concerned. Tyler motioned to Sami and Mary Catherine. “We need to talk to you.” He pointed across the room. “Mary Catherine, could you get Rhonda and Ollie Wayne? They need to be there, too.”

Something was wrong. Mary Catherine could feel it. In this part of town, there was no telling what had happened, but whatever it was the guys were deeply concerned. She found the coach and his wife and they headed to the small room with the others.

Once they were in the small room, Marcus took over. “The police have warned us.” He looked alarmed and more than a little frustrated. “The two largest gangs in the area, the WestKnights and EastTown Boyz, are planning a confrontation tonight. Here. In front of the youth center.”

For several seconds, no one said anything. Coach Wayne was the first to talk. “They should call in backup. You can’t let a bunch of thugs ruin this for everyone else.”

“It’s their way of resisting change.” Marcus pinched his lips together. “That’s what the officers said.”

“Well, that’s not right.” Rhonda stood at her husband’s side. “I agree with Ollie. Let’s get more police out here. Until they figure out that this isn’t a place for gangs.”

Sami stood next to Tyler. She looked terrified. “Maybe we should call it off. We can do this next week, right? Let the
police figure it out and try again when the gangs aren’t threatening.”

“We can’t do that.” Mary Catherine’s words came before she could stop them. “We need to pray. God will keep us safe. We just have to ask Him.”

Marcus looked at her and his eyes softened. “I like it.” He held his hands out to the others in the room. “Let’s pray. The police will keep a watch out front, and here on the inside we’ll just love on whatever kids come through the door.”

A quick discussion broke out about whether they should cancel, but in the end everyone agreed on moving forward and praying for protection. God was with them. Who could come against them? As they formed a circle, Mary Catherine realized too late that she was standing closest to Marcus. He reached for her hand. As he did, he whispered, “Thank you.”

She smiled and gave him the slightest nod.

Then it happened. His hand was around hers, his fingers warm and strong. Something about the feeling felt familiar and breathtaking all at once.
Dear God, help me think. Help my heart get back in line. Please.

Coach Ollie was praying, asking God for protection, asking that He place His angels around the building to keep them safe at tonight’s open house.

Mary Catherine could barely concentrate. When the prayer ended, Marcus gave her hand a slight squeeze. He smiled at her. “Seriously. Thank you.” He allowed a brief laugh. “I can’t believe no one else thought to pray.”

“No big deal.” She needed to get away from him. Falling into his gravity wasn’t going to do her any good. “I’m going to check on the game room.”

“Okay.” He looked like he might ask her to stay. But instead he hesitated and then he turned to Coach Wayne and his wife.

Moving as quickly as she could, Mary Catherine returned to the game room. A new volunteer had arrived, a willowy young black woman who didn’t seem to have come with anyone. Mary Catherine came up to her. “Hi. I’m Mary Catherine.”

“Hi.” The new woman held out her hand. “I’m a parent in the neighborhood. Aspyn. Thought you could use the help.”

“Aspyn. That’s pretty.” Mary Catherine checked the time. It was close to five o’clock. The pizza would be there in an hour. “Let’s work on the corn hole boards.”

They walked over to a part of the room where six corn hole games needed to be set up. Someone had left a set of directions, so together she and Aspyn got to work. “How long have you lived in the neighborhood?”

“Not long, actually.” Aspyn smiled. She had the greenest eyes. Something about them looked almost otherworldly. “I figured no time like the present to jump in and help.”

“Do you know Marcus?”

“Not well.” Aspyn smiled. “I know he plays ball.”

“Yes. That he does.” They both laughed and Mary Catherine was grateful to talk with someone new.

Across the room, Marcus and Shelly set up a small plastic basketball hoop. Mary Catherine tried not to watch, but it was impossible. The girl was hanging all over Marcus.

Aspyn seemed to notice. She looked that way and then turned her eyes back to Mary Catherine. “She’s not his type.”

“Who?” Mary Catherine wasn’t sure what her new friend meant.

“Shelly Wayne. She’s too young. Too much growing up to do.” Aspyn smiled. “If you ask me, Marcus Dillinger needs a girl like you.”

The heat was back in Mary Catherine’s cheeks. “How do you know what he—”

“Be right back.” Aspyn dusted her hands off on her jeans. “I’ll get us some water.”

Mary Catherine watched her go, confused. Aspyn said she didn’t really know Marcus, but then . . . how could she have known whether Shelly was right for him? And what would’ve made her say that last part about Marcus’s needing a girl like her? Mary Catherine could’ve been married for all Aspyn knew.

For a moment she watched Marcus and Shelly across the room. Marcus worked on the hoop and Shelly mostly flirted with him. Truthfully, Marcus didn’t really look interested.

After a few seconds, Marcus turned her way and their eyes met. Mary Catherine looked away, embarrassed at having been caught. What was she doing? Even if Marcus had been single, she wasn’t interested. He wasn’t her type. Besides, she had no time for love. Just as well that God didn’t bring along the sort of guy who could really turn her head.