It's in the Rhythm (15 page)

Pastor Martindale frowned. “You don't think I understand?”

“Everything with you is scripture. I'm not saying that's not important, but life is much more complex.”

Pastor Martindale stood. “Life doesn't have to be complex. Everything you need to make life easier is in the word. Man makes life difficult. Not God. When people's lives veer off course, it's my job to point them in the right direction.”

“Dad, you don't have to beat people over the head to get your point across.”

Pastor Martindale didn't get a chance to answer; Taj suddenly hurried through the door with Brian bringing up the rear.

“Grandpa,” Taj exclaimed, holding his arms up for his grandfather to pick him up.

Pastor Martindale was beaming. He held onto Taj tightly as if he'd disappear. “I'm so glad to see you, Taj.”

Garrett walked over, patting his nephew on the back.

“He's looking good,” he said, turning to Brian. “Where's Tamara?”

“Mommy is at Nina's,” Taj volunteered.

“Who's Nina?” Pastor Martindale inquired.

“She's the woman Tamara is staying with,” Brian answered.

Pastor Martindale stood Taj to his feet, holding onto his small hand. “You spoke with Tamara? How is she?”

“Yeah, we spoke,” Brian said in a low voice.

Garrett wondered just how much Tamara told him about the relationship between her and Nina.

“What did she say? How did you find out where she was?” Pastor Martindale inquired curiously.

Brian's eyes came to rest on Garrett. He had “attitude” written all over his face. “Tamara is fine. I followed her home the other night after Garrett had dinner with her at Cadence.”

Garrett's feet were rooted to the floor. “You followed me?” was all he could say.

“How else was I going to find out where my wife was? You knew all along where she was staying,” Brian snapped.

“You don't know what you're talking about,” Garrett said sharply.

Pastor Martindale stepped between them. “Let's not do this, especially in front of Taj.”

Ginger knocked on the door, and then stuck her head in. “What's going on in here? I can hear your voices clear down the hall.”

“Grandma!” Taj took off, running toward his other grandparent.

Ginger clapped her hands together in excitement and gathered Taj up in her arms. She gave him kisses on both cheeks. “Taj! Hey, baby.”

“Ginger, can you take Taj into your office for a minute?”

“Come on, Taj.” Ginger took Taj's hand. As she led him through the door, he was chatting nonstop.

Facing Garrett, Pastor Martindale asked, “You saw your sister again and didn't tell us? You have some explaining to do.”

Garrett had never seen his father angry, but from the look on his face, he was serious.

“Dad, I don't—” Garrett began to say.

Pastor Martindale held up a finger, letting him know he'd better come clean. “What did Tamara say?”

“He's protecting her,” Brian threw in.

Garrett swallowed the lump in his throat. Maybe Tamara did tell Brian the truth.

Pastor Martindale looked puzzled. “From what?”

Garrett prepared himself for the bombshell Brian was about to drop.

“Tamara is having an affair,” Brian revealed. “She's not coming back. She made it clear to me the marriage is over. She wants to be with him.”

Pastor Martindale's eyes widened in disbelief. He appeared to be a little shaken, but kept his composure. “Is that what she said? She wants to be with this other man?”

“Yes.” Brian's voice was shaking. “She said she loves him.”

Garrett couldn't believe it. Tamara still didn't tell Brian the entire truth.

“I'm sorry, Brian,” Garrett said.

Brian glared at Garrett, his lower lip trembling. “Your apology isn't worth jack,” he said. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“What are you mad at me for?” Garrett retorted.

“Because you knew what was going on and didn't tell me,” Brian answered.

“It's not my responsibility to tell you,” Garrett replied. “It's Tamara's.”

“You could have told us,” Pastor Martindale said. “We had the right to know.”

“Tamara wanted to tell you,” Garrett explained. “She wanted to tell you in her own way and time. That is her right. I'm tired of everyone beating up on me like I'm the guilty party.” He turned and headed for the door. “I don't have to listen to this.”

“Wait a minute, Garrett,” he heard his father call as he closed the door behind him.

Garrett stomped toward the front of the church, running into a bewildered-looking Imani. “Honey, what's wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing. Let's just get out of here,” he huffed, grabbing Imani by the hand.

Trinity had been talking with Keisha when she spotted Garrett racing from one of the back rooms. He was moving as if he wanted to be anywhere but at the church.

As he and Imani waltzed out the double doors, Trinity and Keisha looked at each other. “Trouble in paradise?” Keisha asked.

“I don't know.” Trinity was baffled by the scene. “Whatever it is, Garrett isn't very happy.”

Chapter 12

When Trinity arrived home, she slipped an album by one of her favorite inspirational artists, Mary Mary, into the CD player. She turned up the volume and played “Shackles.” She sang along with the verses. She was feeling good as she pulled out other CDs–Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, and Fred Hammond. Her spirit felt right.

“I miss this feeling.” Choir practice left her with a renewed spirit. It was a good day. She felt so alive. She replaced the CDs in the entertainment center when the doorbell rang.

She went to the door and peeped through the peephole. It was Darius. What did he want at ten o'clock at night? She leaned against the door before opening it.

“Darius, it's ten o'clock. What do you want?” She shot him a look and added, “It better not be what I think it is.”

“Of course not. I'm sorry to stop by so late. I just want to talk to you about something.”

Trinity glared at him, not moving from the door.

“Don't you want to know what it is?”

She crossed her arms across her chest, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling. “Look, Darius, I don't have time to play games with you. So tell me what you have to tell me and leave.”

Darius wasn't moved by her outburst. He smiled. “You really know how to cut a guy.”

“I'm not in the mood to go through this with you.” She moved away from the door, heading into the living room. “I just got in from church. I'm tired. I was just about to turn in.”

“Can you just listen to what I have to say?” Darius followed behind her, watching her hips swinging from side to side. He groaned inwardly. He didn't want to blow it. Since moving back, his number-one mission was to win back her heart. “Just give me a few minutes.”

She turned around, facing him. “We have already been through this.”

“Trinity, I know you still love me.”

“No. I don't.” She didn't blink.

“You are lying.”
She can't mean that
, Darius said to himself. Trinity didn't just give herself to any man lightly. When she did, it was all or nothing. She gave herself completely to him. He took her love for granted. He didn't realize it until she was out of his life.

“Believe whatever you want.” She was beginning to regret opening the door.

“Is there someone else?” he asked.

“Darius,” She had to remain calm. “I don't have to explain anything to you. We are no longer a couple, remember?”

Darius ran his hand down his face in frustration. “Trinity, I love you. I miss you,” he pleaded. “I want you to take me back.”

Trinity turned away from him. She felt trapped in her apartment. Darius was right, she was still in love with him, but she wasn't going to admit it. She had trusted him once, and he'd broken her heart.

“You don't love me, Darius,” she said over her right shoulder. “You don't know what love is.”

“How can you say that?”

She forced herself to turn around and face him. “Easy. When we first met, I was honest with you about the relationship I wanted and what I was looking for.” She could feel herself getting angry. She took a deep breath. “You said you understood, you were looking for the same. Even when things were falling apart, I still wanted to work things out, to be a part of your life. Then you left me.”

“I'm sorry, Trinity.” Darius's voice was soft. “I didn't mean to hurt you.”

“You didn't mean to hurt me?” she repeated. “It's partially my fault. I should have trusted my instincts; they told me you were not ready to be in a serious relationship.”

“Trinity, that's not true. You are the only woman for me. I knew it when we first met. I just got scared when you begin to talk about marriage. I thought I wasn't ready to take that next step with you. I wasn't sure.” Darius took her hands in his. He looked directly in her eyes. His voice was low and sincere. “I have never stopped loving you. I'm ready to make that commitment to you.”

Trinity removed her hands from his. “Why should I believe you? Why should I take you back?”

“Because I'll do anything you want me to. I know just saying I'm sorry isn't enough.”

She laughed a disgusted laugh. “You got that right.”

“What can I do?”

“Nothing.”

“Trinity, no man will ever love you the way I do.
Nobody.
”

She stood rooted to the floor. Darius had never expressed his feelings like this before.

“Don't, Darius.”

“Don't what?” He placed his hand to his chest. “Tell you how I feel? Tell you I never meant to hurt you? Tell you I miss my best friend?”

Trinity's head snapped up. “Best friend! Oh, come on, Darius. That's low, even for you.”

Darius closed the small space between them. “I want you back in my life.” He reached up, lifting her chin up. “I want you to be my wife. The mother of my children.” She was afraid to look in his eyes.

Trinity's eyes began to mist. She wouldn't allow herself to cry. Not here. Not now. She'd done enough crying over Darius. She needed to compose herself. She was confused. Right now she needed time to think.

“Just go, Darius.”

Darius let out a long sigh. “All right. I'll go. But I want you to seriously think about what I said.” He leaned down in an attempt to kiss her on the cheek, but she turned away. From the look in his eyes, Trinity knew he was hurt by the gesture.

Darius closed the door behind him. Trinity just stood there. She didn't know what she was feeling. One part of her said to give him another chance. The other said not again. All she knew for sure was that she still had feelings for him.

* * *

Garrett turned over in the bed, trying to find a comfortable position. It was useless. He flopped over on his back and stared up into the darkness. One would think he had it all. He had a rewarding music career, but his personal life was out of control. His family was falling apart, his girlfriend was pressuring him to marry, and the woman he wanted would have nothing to do with him.

At least the choir was doing well. The best part was Trinity. She sang so beautifully during rehearsal. The atmosphere was as if he'd never left. Though they wouldn't be together, he'd at least be in her presence for the next couple of weeks.

His mind drifted to Brian. He felt sympathy for his brother-in-law. It must be tough to accept that your marriage was in trouble. Maybe that was part of his reason for not hurrying into matrimony.

“Can't sleep?” Imani's voice asked in the darkness.

Garrett glanced over at Imani, who was raised up on one elbow. “No.”

“You want to talk about it?”

Garrett shook his head. “No. It's not your problem. It's family.”

“What do you mean? Whatever bothers you, bothers me.”

Garrett bit his lower lip to curb his anger. He threw the covers back and slid out of bed, naked. He slept in the nude. Once he and Imani returned from church, they made love. It helped him release the stress. His body was into it, but his mind wasn't. The routine was getting old.

He slipped into a pair of black silk pajama bottoms. “Imani, let's not do this now.”

She jumped out of bed. “Do what? I just want you to talk to me. Tell me what's on your mind. Don't keep shutting me out.”

Garrett turned to face her. “Don't you get it? I don't want to talk about it. Stop pushing me.” He headed into the sitting area of the suite. Imani followed.

“Is this the way you treat someone you supposedly care about?”

Garrett spun around to face her. “There you go again, blowing everything out of proportion.”

Imani looked at him, her lower lip trembling. She folded one arm across her slim chest. “I'm getting tired of you treating me like a nobody, and shutting me out. Lately your time, your focus, has been on your family and the choir. What about me? Your woman?”

“Imani, you knew before you came here that I came to spend time with family and to relax, remember?”

Imani shook her head. “Relax? You've been working since you got here.”

Garrett dropped his eyes from hers. She was right. How was he to know family and church issues would need his attention? “Some things came up. My family needs me.”

“I need you.”

Garrett didn't respond.

Imani sighed. “It's not just that,” she said. “If I didn't follow you, I never would have met your parents.”

“That's not fair. You know our situation.”

She stepped closer to him. “I think it's fair,” Tilting her head to one side, she continued, “Especially the reason why I came.”

“I have already explained that to you. Let's drop it.”

“That's how you deal with everything. You shut down.”

“So now you're Oprah?”

Imani winced. She folded her hands together and stared at them for a moment. Then, finally, she raised her head. “Garrett, I know you told me you and Trinity are just friends, but I think there's more to it.”

Garrett froze. She suddenly had his undivided attention. “What are you saying, Imani?”

“I'm saying, Garrett, that she wants to be more than friends. It's obvious. She didn't want to have anything to do with you before you became famous. Now she's trying to get her hooks into you.”

Garrett sucked his teeth. “Trinity is not a gold digger. She's not interested in how deep a man's pockets are.”

“Don't believe it. Women want a man with financial stability. The more money, the better. If he happens to be today's hottest R&B singer, it's icing on the cake.”

“You're off base.”

“Marc told me she rejoined the choir after you asked her, when he couldn't get her to come back.”

“Marc talks too much.”

“You two looked quite cozy this evening.”

“We have always been able to talk.”

“Did she tell you why she came back?”

Garrett could hear the firmness in her voice. He had heard enough of the conversation. Leaning down, he picked up the music for the Gospel Explosion off the table. He knew the music, could perform it in his sleep, but he wanted to avoid discussing Trinity as much as possible.

“She came back because the choir needs her,” he answered. “Shannon is out for six weeks. With the Gospel Explosion coming up, it's good to have someone familiar with the members and the music. You heard her, she's an awesome singer.”

Imani bit the inside of her mouth. She had to be cautious in her approach. Not only had Marc told her of Trinity's previous refusal to return to the choir, he told her that Garrett had a crush on Trinity, had been in love with her for years. They were not together because of her engagement to Darius. Now that relationship was over.

Innocent kiss, my foot
. There was more going on than Garrett would admit. Was Trinity standing in the way of her happiness with Garrett? It would explain why she didn't have his heart. It belonged to someone else.

Imani stared at Garrett as he went over the music. He knew the music like the back of his hand. It was his way of ending the conversation, but it was far from over.

“I'm going back to bed,” she said as she padded out of the room.

An hour later, Garrett realized trying to concentrate was useless. He didn't bother going back to bed with Imani. When he fell asleep on the sofa, Trinity's face was the last thing he saw.

* * *

Ginger pulled the car up in front of the address Brian had given her. She wanted to hear from her daughter's own lips what was going on. She took a few minutes to pray that what Brian told them wasn't true.

A moment later, she strolled up the sidewalk. She rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer the door. What if it were true? How would she react? What would she say? What would the church members say? Couples divorce. But when it was the pastor's daughter, it would raise questions about his teachings.

Ringing the doorbell again, she heard movement inside. A second later, she stood face-to-face with her daughter. Tamara's eyes stretched wide at her mother's presence.

“Mother,” Tamara squealed. She reached out and threw her arms around her mother's neck. Regardless of the circumstance, she was glad to see her. “What are you doing here?”

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Ginger patted her on the back, clinging to her tightly. She stepped back to examine her closely. She looked tired. Her eyes were puffy. She had been crying.

“I'm fine, Mother,” she lied.

“No, you're not. Let's go inside. You can tell me what's going on.” Ginger grabbed her hand, steering her inside. They moved further in the room, taking seats on the sofa. Tamara sat close to her mother, continuing to hold on to her hand.

“Garrett told you where I was, didn't he?”

“Don't blame your brother,” Ginger said. “He was just looking out for you. It was you who should have told us what was going on. Brian is telling us that you left him.”

Tamara ran the back of her hand across her eyes. She was still upset Brian had taken Taj. She cried all night. She phoned her job at the radio station this morning to tell them she would be out for a couple of days.

“How is Taj? Have you seen him?” Tamara questioned.

“Taj is fine. Brian brought him by the church last night. They spent the night at the house. Don't worry about Taj. We will take care of him,” Ginger explained. “I want to know if what Brian says is true.”

“Yes, it's true.” Tamara finally answered after what seemed like forever.

Ginger sat still for a moment. “How could you allow something like this to happen?”

“It just happened.”

“Adultery doesn't just happen. You need to break it off as soon as possible. Ask forgiveness from God and go back to your husband.”

Tamara stood to her feet. She strolled over to the window, looking out at nothing in particular. The view was of the neighbor's backyard. It didn't matter. Her mind was in turmoil. She had come to terms with her sexuality. Now she had to face the reaction from the remainder of her family. She doubted if they would be as open-minded as Garrett. It was going to be difficult. It was bad enough to have a child out of wedlock, but for this sin she was looking to be banished from the family.