Doin' Me (5 page)

“Would they hurry up and sit down?” Reyna's irritation neared the boiling point when she shifted in her seat as the praise and worship ministry began the third song. God might be good to some people and His mercy might endure forever, but her tolerance for listening to praises to an invisible God had run out. She was there only to fulfill the condition of moving into Tyson's town house. Briefly she had considered reneging on the deal, then had reconsidered after inspecting the place.

The town house was perfect, with vaulted ceilings and granite countertops. Tyson's decorating budget must have been huge. From the butter-soft cream-colored leather furniture to the plush carpet, everything was top-notch. Both bedrooms were filled with Thomasville furniture, and the gourmet kitchen resembled something from the Food Network channel. The secure off-street parking wasn't bad, either. When she'd questioned Tyson about why he'd invested so much money in the rental unit, he'd explained that the town house was his primary residence before purchasing a home in the Oakland-Berkeley Hills.

“I promise to take good care of your property,” was what she'd told him after the walk-through inspection two days ago. Now, seated next to him and listening to his monotone voice's pathetic attempt to keep up with the praise and worship singers, she wanted to rip the lease to shreds.

She'd grown up in the church, yet she'd never seen a group of people so uninhibited with their praise and devotion to God. Both Kevin and Tyson had told her Restoration Ministries had a membership of over one thousand, and Reyna believed them. As far as Reyna could tell, all the floor seats were taken and most of the balcony was full. The majority of the congregants were on their feet and were clapping their hands to the music. Others were seated with hands raised. In one form or another, it seemed everyone participated.

Reyna looked at the couples seated to her left, and a pang of jealousy jolted her stomach. Kevin stood with one hand raised, while his other hand rubbed Marlissa's back. Leon held Starla's hand while the pair did a two-step dance. Reyna desired what they had: a loving relationship. Just seven days ago, she thought she'd found that with a stranger going by the name of Chase. The good deacon was probably at church with his wife at that very moment. She hung her head in an effort to hide the lone tear that trickled down her cheek as thoughts of shame rushed to the forefront. Why couldn't she find someone to love her the way Marlissa and Starla had?

She felt a nudge on her right arm. “Would you like my handkerchief?”

Reyna reached out and accepted Tyson's offer without looking up and without thanking him. She quickly wiped the tear, then resumed glaring at the praise and worship team. Two songs and a praise dance break later, Reyna stood and clapped as the praise team left the stage.

During Pastor Drake's sermon, Reyna chose to play Tetris on her cell phone. She didn't listen to Pastor Drake, but on more than one occasion she looked up to find Tyson shaking his head at her.

“Finally, I can leave this place,” Reyna grunted as soon as the benediction concluded.

“Could you at least pretend you have some respect for the house of God?” Tyson's face twisted with disgust. “You missed a good Word today, playing that game.”

Reyna slipped the phone inside her purse. “At least I turned the sound off. You know the only reason I'm here is to satisfy the terms for letting me rent your place. I'm sure the Word was good to you, but I don't believe that crap anymore.”

“Reyna!” Tyson's raised voice caught the attention of their friends and Mother Scott. “You grew up in the church. How can you be so callous?”

“You Holy Rollers made me this way!” Reyna yelled back.

“I know y'all are not arguing in church?” Mother Scott asked as the Jenningses and the Scotts looked on with stunned facial expressions.

Reyna's hostile attitude evaporated. She was still adjusting to Mother Scott's forward personality. “I'm sorry, Mother Scott, but he started it.”

“Did not.” Tyson pointed a finger at Reyna. “You're the one who played a game during service instead of listening to the Word.”

Mother Scott's balled fist rested at her petite waist while she pointed her forefinger at the two. “I don't care who started it. Y'all are too old for this.” Her hand gestured in the direction of Leon and Starla's kids. “My grandkids act more mature than you.” She glared at Tyson. “She's unsaved. I expected her to act crazy. But you are saved and call yourself a lawyer. You wouldn't yell in the courtroom, so don't yell in God's house.”

Tyson's head dropped. “Sorry, Mother.”

Instead of apologizing for her behavior, Reyna rolled her eyes at Tyson, then turned and walked away. “I'll see you in the car,” she said over her shoulder to Tyson.

 

 

Tyson entered Kevin's home without knocking and walked straight to the kitchen for the ceramic container that stored rice cakes instead of cookies. He'd nearly completed two whole cakes before he realized Kevin and Marlissa were staring at him. During nearly every visit in the past Tyson had voiced his dislike for Marlissa's healthy snacks and had begged her to bring back the Oreos. Now here he was, eating the rice cakes like sliced bread.

“What?” he asked, reaching for another caramel-flavored rice cake. “So what if I didn't knock? It's not like you didn't expect me.”

Kevin retrieved a serving dish from the top shelf for Marlissa, then turned to his friend. “I see you and Reyna didn't resolve your issues on the ride over,” Kevin smirked. “What did you do? Drop her off at the nearest bus stop?” Kevin laughed.

Tyson stopped chewing and discarded the remaining rice cake in the trash, but didn't answer. Kevin's laughter ceased.

“You wouldn't,” Marlissa said.

Tyson pounded his fist against the granite countertop. “I didn't drop her off, but I should have. That stubborn goat is out in the car.” Tyson winced at the sound of the doorbell.

Kevin stepped back. “Whoa, man. Reyna has really gotten under your skin. I've never heard you revert to name-calling. Maybe you should rethink this tenantlandlord thing.” Tyson had shared his plan with Kevin two days ago.

“There's nothing to rethink,” Reyna said upon entering the kitchen after Marlissa let her in. “I held up my end of the bargain. Now he's stuck with me.”

Tyson whirled around to face the woman he cared about but at the moment found difficult to like. Reyna had publicly embarrassed him again, causing him to lose his placidity. He glowered at her from head to toe and then silently berated himself for admiring the yellow pantsuit she wore. Even though Reyna had a smug look on her face, her beauty excited him. She wore more makeup than he thought necessary, but it was what he saw beneath the surface that twisted his heartstrings into agony.

“How can you be so callous toward God?” Tyson asked through clenched teeth. “You once had a strong relationship with Him.”

The doorbell sounded again, and Kevin left the kitchen.

Reyna planted a fist against her waist and stepped closer to Tyson. “What I had was a bunch of lies fed to me by people claiming to be His mouthpiece.”

“It wasn't people, Reyna. It was one person,” Tyson corrected. “And you need to forgive Pastor Jennings so you can move on with your life.”

Reyna scowled. “You may forgive seven times seventy per day, but I'm not there yet.”

“Well, at least you remember one scripture,” Tyson shot back just has Leon and Starla joined them in the kitchen. Instead of greeting one another, the couples stood back and watched the interaction between Reyna and Tyson.

“I remember more than you think, but it would do you some good to remember the one about drawing people with love and kindness,” Reyna sneered. “All you do is judge me for not wanting to serve
your
God anymore.” She turned toward Kevin. “Sorry if this offends you, but your mother destroyed my life.”

Tyson erupted before Kevin could respond. “You are not a child! You're a grown woman with a mind of your own. No one can make you do anything you don't want to do. You're just as much to blame for your bad decisions as Pastor Jennings. You were a willing participant.”

Reyna's fist pounded the granite countertop. “Shut up! You're self-righteous, just like Pastor Jennings!”

Tyson's cheeks burned, and he lost control. The words tumbled out before he could stop them. “Come off it, Reyna! Were you a victim, and was Pastor Jennings the reason you spent the night at the Claremont with a man you barely knew?”

Tyson heard the collective gasp of his friends behind him, but the pain etched on Reyna's face held him captive. In seconds the arrogance and bravado evaporated, and tears welled up in her eyes. Tyson hadn't meant to expose her, but her careless act had hurt him to the core. Her boorish behavior only added salt to the open wound.

“Who I spend my nights with is none of your business!” Reyna blessed Tyson with a string of expletives, then stomped toward the front door.

“How could you put Reyna's business on Front Street like that?” Marlissa said, letting Tyson have a piece of her mind at the same time the front door slammed.

“I didn't mean to, but that woman drives me past crazy,” Tyson replied, defending himself.

Starla joined in. “You were so wrong for that. I never thought I'd see
you
stoop so low.” She planted her balled fists against her waist, which caused her swollen abdomen to stick out even farther. “Now, you go outside and apologize!”

“Now!” Marlissa added, while pointing at the door.

Kevin and Leon didn't offer any support.

Sure he was wrong, but apologizing to Reyna for bringing out the worst in him was getting old. He detested public scenes, yet in less than one hour, he'd allowed Reyna to pull him out of character twice. As much as he wanted to cast the blame on her, deep inside Tyson accepted full responsibility for his lack of self-control. Not to mention his efforts to steer Reyna back to the household of faith had just been derailed. Exasperated, Tyson threw his hands up, then went to find Reyna.

He assumed she'd be sitting in the car, but she wasn't. He was about to panic when out of his peripheral vision he spotted yellow fabric floating down the slope. Kevin lived atop a hill.

“Reyna!” he yelled and caught the attention of Kevin's neighbor. “Sorry,” Tyson offered when the older gentleman dropped the water hose, then proceeded to trot after Reyna. “Reyna, wait!” he huffed as he picked up momentum. When he purchased the tailored suit and dress shoes, chasing Reyna down a hill was not what he had in mind. The spiked heels that minutes earlier had adorned Reyna's feet were now swinging wildly in her hands.

Reyna turned and paused long enough to tell Tyson to take a permanent trip to the dark side, then continued trekking down the hill.

When Tyson caught up with her and grabbed her from behind, Reyna whirled around and swung her heels at him. “I can't stand you!” she screamed.

With ease, he held her hands stationary and steadied his breath. “Would you calm down and listen to me?”

“Why? You just told all my business.” Reyna yanked her arms free and glared at him. “How did you know what happened at the Claremont? I didn't tell you that.”

“I saw your car in the parking lot on Saturday, when I went to retrieve my coat,” Tyson answered, still hoping his deductive reasoning would prove incorrect. Tyson observed the anger seep from her, only to be replaced by shame. Her shoulders slumped, and she turned away. “So I was right?”

“Yes,” she answered just above a whisper. “You were right about more than you think.” The stilettos slipped from her hands and clanged against the cement the second her shoulders started to heave.

Tyson grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. “Baby, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry.” Seeing Reyna shed tears because of his behavior made his insides quiver. The last thing he wanted to do was cause her pain in the literal sense. He reached inside his jacket pocket for a handkerchief and wiped her face. “Please forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt you.” He searched for words. “You're my friend and I care about you, but sometimes you drive me crazy and I don't know how to handle that,” he admitted.

Reyna snatched the handkerchief. “Would you shut up and let me talk? This is hard enough, but since you put it out there, you might as well know the whole truth. I only got mad because somebody found out about my stupid mistake.”

“Go on.” Tyson nodded, wondering if he would ever understand this woman.

Reyna didn't hold his gaze as she confessed, “You were right about everything. I spent the weekend with that guy from the dance floor. He liked me, but not enough to tell me about his wife and kids until after I'd gotten drunk and given him my virginity.”

Tyson flinched but didn't respond verbally.

“From my clothes, he thought I was a hooker, and paid me for my services before he left.” Reyna covered her face and shed silent tears. “I feel so stupid. I actually thought he cared.”

Lost for words, Tyson molded her against his chest and held her. When Reyna didn't resist, his heart acknowledged the truth. He was really in love with Reyna. What else could explain why he felt the urge to shield her from an opportunist like the guy from the dance floor, although she'd purposely set out to use the man to hurt him.

“Reyna, you're not stupid. You've just been making bad decisions lately,” Tyson said, attempting to comfort her.

Reyna raised her head and met his gaze. “You don't consider what I did pathetic?” she questioned.