Joy (10 page)
took thirteen steps to the door and left it wide open, the ticks of the clock following him into the hallway. He bounded down the two flights of stairs, moving into the dawning light of Sunday morning. Relieved that his car was still where he'd parked it, he clicked the remote, deactivating the alarm, and tossed the carton inside. He looked at his watch. There was still time to get a few hours’ sleep in his own bed before he went to her. And he knew just where she'd be—church.
A
nya's eyes were closed as her hand grappled over the nightstand until she felt the ringing telephone. She clicked it on, cradled it to her ear, and waited. “
Baby?”
Even with sleep still filling her body, she smiled at her grandmother's voice. “Madear.”
“Baby, did I wake you?”
“Uh-huh,” Anya groaned, finally opening her eyes. She squinted at the clock. “But it's time for me to get up.”
“I was waiting for you children to call me last night. Did Sasha get in?”
“Yes, didn't she call you?”
“No.”
Her grandmother's tone told her an explanation was expected. “I'm sorry, Madear. Braxton and I went out. I guess she was tired and fell asleep.”
“Well, how is she?” Madear lowered her voice, as if Sasha could somehow hear.
“She's fine, Madear. It was a good idea for her to come.”
“I still wish she was with me. That child can be wild and I don't want her getting in your way.”
Anya leaned against her headboard. “Madear, we'll handle everything.”
“Umph. We'll see. Is she going to church?”
She hadn't discussed it with Sasha, but she knew what her grandmother wanted to hear. “I think so. I'm going to wake her now. We'll come over right after church.” Anya swung her legs over the side of the bed.
“Oh, no, baby. We have our ushers’ brunch today.”
“What time will you be home?” she asked. Then, she crossed her fingers, closed her eyes tightly, and added, “I know Sasha is anxious to see you.”
“Around four. I already started cooking. I wanted to get some of the food done before I left for church.”
“We'll see you then. Braxton will probably be with us.” A flash of last night accompanied her words.
“How is my favorite grandson-in-law?” Madear's voice lightened.
Anya bit her Hp. Her grandmother loved Braxton already, and Madear had a good sense about people. So why should she have any doubts? “He's fine.”
“I hope you're going to tell me some news about the wedding soon.”
“I'll talk to you about it later, Madear.”
“You know, Anya, you can't keep that boy waiting too long. You know how men are.”
“Madear…”
“I know you love your business and believe me, I couldn't be prouder. But that business is not going to hold you at night, or be by your side as you grow old, or get on its knees and pray for you—”
“Madear, don't you have to get ready for church?”
There was a pause. “Chil’, look at the time! Now make sure Sasha goes to church, and I'll see you later. Your brother is coming to dinner too. He wants us to meet someone.”
Anya smiled. She hadn't seen Donovan in a few weeks. “Great, we'll see you later, Madear.”
“I love you, baby.”
Anya ran her fingertips over her face trying to massage away her tiredness. She wrapped herself in her robe and walked barefoot to Sasha's bedroom. With her ear to the door, she tapped lightly.
“Sasha,” she said after a few taps, then she opened the door enough to peek into the darkened room. “We have to get ready for church; service begins at eight.”
Sasha rolled over and removed the satin blindfold from her eyes. “Are you talking about eight in the morning?”
“Yeah, and we only have an hour.”
Sasha moaned. “I'm not going anywhere.”
Anya could hear Madear's voice: I told you. I told you she should have stayed with me.
“Okay …” she said hesitantly. “I was hoping that you would come. I think you'll enjoy my pastor.”
“Anya, not today, I'm tired.”
Anya nodded. No pressure. That was the best way to reach her. “Okay, maybe we'll make Bible Study this week.”
Sasha covered her eyes with the blindfold. “Whatever.” She rolled over, dismissing Anya.
Anya stared at her cousin, sprawled across the bed in pajamas matching the material covering her eyes. She closed the door softly. Sasha had to be exhausted—turmoil did that. I should know, she thought, as she dragged herself into her bathroom. She could use extra rest herself. But no matter what she was going through, she rarely missed church.
She let hot water run into the tub for several minutes and thought about filling it so that she could soak her tired bones. But there was not enough time. She'd overslept, probably because she had tossed all night, finally falling into a restless sleep sometime after four.
Her weary skin welcomed the shower's warm mist and she relegated thoughts of Sasha and Braxton to the back of her mind. Instead she thought about her business and her thoughts wandered to David.
“David Montgomery.” She didn't know why she said his name aloud, and was even more surprised when her mouth curled into a wide smile. But just as quickly she shook her head, scolding herself. What are you thinking, Anya?
She stepped from the shower, and in a short time was ready to leave. With her Bible in hand, she knocked on Sasha's bedroom door once again. There was no answer, but she stepped into the room anyway.
Sasha was hiding under a pillow.
“You can answer the phone if it rings,” she said, knowing her cousin heard her. “I'll call you when I get out of church. We can go to brunch, if you'd like.”
“I'd like to sleep,” Sasha grumbled.
“You wake up cranky, don't you?”
Sasha didn't respond.
“Well, get some rest, because we're going to Madear's later.”
She could hear Sasha's groan, even after she closed the door.
Anya sighed deeply. Her life was filled with complicated people and she wondered if that said something about her. It was a good thing she was on her way to church. She needed to talk to God.
T
his is not just a book.” Pastor Ford strutted across the platform in a black knit suit. She held her leather-bound Bible in one hand and the wireless microphone in the other. “This is the Word of God talking to
you.”
Echoes of Amens swirled through the air. “And you need to hear what God is saying every day.”
A single bead of perspiration ran slowly down her back and Anya leaned forward, hoping it wouldn't seep into her knit dress. She glanced around and wondered why no one else seemed to be melting in this sweltering air. Fanning herself with the bulletin, she tried to soak up a bit of the thin breeze flowing from the vents above.
Braxton placed his hand on hers and she stiffened. He smiled and cupped her hand into his. She didn't pull away, but kept her gaze focused straight ahead. She tried to follow the pastor's words, but her mind kept drifting to what had happened last night.
The tug of Braxton's hand brought her back to the present, and when she looked around, everyone was standing for the benediction. She stood, and then, as if on automatic pilot, she hugged the person standing next to her, like she did at the end of service every week.
As the congregation dispersed, Anya stepped into the aisle, barely stopping to greet the other parishioners. Once outside, she quickened her step.
“Hey, why are you walking so fast?” Braxton trotted to keep up with her.
“I'm just—” She stopped in front of her car and fumbled with her keys.
“I was hoping that we would go to Madear's.” Braxton stuffed his hands into his pockets. “And tell her about …our wedding date.” He sounded tentative.
“Madear said for us to come over this evening.”
Braxton exhaled with relief. “That's good. Do you want to go somewhere now so that we can talk?”
She turned to him with angry eyes. “I'm not going through this anymore, Braxton.”
He held up his hands. “Not to rehash last night. I want to …explain some things.”
She fidgeted with the key in her car lock, but it didn't seem to fit. “Nothing for you to explain. I understand exactly where you're coming from.”
The beeper clipped to his belt vibrated and Braxton checked the message. “It's Junior. Wait while I get my phone.”
“No, call him. I'll see you later.”
Braxton hesitated and looked at his beeper once again. “Okay,” he said reluctantly. “What about meeting me in an hour?”
“I'm going to the office, so I'll meet you at Madear's at six.”
His eyes narrowed and he stared at her for a long moment. “I'll see you later,” he said tersely as he walked away.
“Thank God for beepers,” she sighed, looking to the heavens. This time, when she put her car key into the door it opened immediately. She sat inside for a moment, reflecting.
“When are you going to admit that this is not going to work?”
The voice was so clear that, for a moment, she thought there was someone else in the car. It took a few seconds for her to realize it was coming from deep inside of her.
“The bad times will pass,” she said aloud, starting a conversation with herself. “When we're married, all of these issues will disappear.”
“What planet are you living on?” her inner voice argued back.
“We'll be fine. I want to marry Braxton.”
“At what price?”
She popped a cassette from a previous sermon into the player and listened to her pastor's comforting words. She was not going to allow doubt to overtake her. With counseling, all of their problems would be gone.
The street was almost empty of cars by the time she pulled away from the church. As she turned onto Prairie, she clicked on her cell phone.
It took several rings for Sasha to answer.
“You wanna grab something to eat?”
“Anya, I just want to rest,” she whined.
“I thought you might be hungry.”
“I know I'm cranky, but I'm tired.”
“No problem,” Anya said quickly, wanting to end the conversation. “But remember, we
have
to see Madear this evening, no matter how tired you are.”
She hung up before Sasha could offer another complaint. She needed to be alone anyway and ran her mind through the places she could go—to the beach, up the coast, to the Beverly Center. But she cast all those away and turned her car onto LaBrea, heading toward her office. That was one place she knew she could find some peace.
D
avid had seen dawn break but, even though he was exhausted, he couldn't sleep. Now, as noon approached, he decided to get out of bed and go outside.
He dressed quickly and walked the two blocks to the ocean. Clouds hung low, shrouding the sun's light, and the ocean breeze blew cool. For the first time in days, David felt calm. He kicked off his shoes and enjoyed the tugging sand under his feet, as the tide threatened to pull him into the ocean's arms. But minutes later, peace disappeared, and once again, the voice swirled around him.
In the past, he'd only heard his mother. But, over this weekend, his father had relentlessly taken him back to that night.
Barefoot, David sprinted down the coast, but he could not out- run the voice. Stopping suddenly, he threw his shoes onto the ground, took off his sweater, and leapt into the water, swimming to the caution buoys. He turned south, taking stroke after stroke, until fatigue took him. He treaded for a while, his head bobbing in the waves, and then he swam back, using the tide to propel him.
Totally spent, he sat on the sand until his breathing steadied. When he stood, his jeans were heavy with the ocean's water. He started down the shore, shivering as he walked back to where he'd left his clothes.
After he put on his shoes and sweater, he stared into the Pacific. The bombarding waves of the afternoon surf, and a few muffled voices, were welcome sounds to his ears. He had drowned his father's voice in the depths of the Pacific. It was safe to go home.
In his condo, he stepped from his wet clothes, leaving them dripping in the living room. It didn't take long for him to shower and dress. He moved hurriedly, eager to get to his next task. Grabbing his wallet and cell phone, he sprinted from his apartment, jumped into his car, and headed into the city.
Anya sighed when the phone rang. She'd come to the office for peace, but apparently someone had another idea.
“Hello.”
Through the silence on the other end, she could hear slight breathing. She waited for a few seconds, then dropped the phone into its cradle, and returned to the computer. A moment later, the ringing interrupted her again.
This time when she picked up, she listened. Hearing nothing, she slammed the phone down.
“Just some kid playing games,” she muttered, as she punched numbers into the computer.
But minutes later, when she heard a key in the front door, her fingers froze above the keyboard. She remained still as she heard the door open, then close.
“Who's there?” she called out.
There was no response.
She listened for footsteps but the only sound was the hum of the computer. She stood and walked around her desk, peering into the hallway. “Hello,” she said, trying to control the slight shaking in her voice.
Finally he appeared through the vestibule.
“Why didn't you say anything? I am not into playing games,” Anya snapped, holding her hand over her heart.
“I'm sorry.” David followed Anya into her office. “I thought I'd be here alone and, when I heard you, I thought about turning around.”
“Gee, thanks.” Anya sat behind her desk. “Don't worry, I won't get in your way.”
“That's not what I meant. I'm just not good company today.”
“Join the club.”
David saw the deep frown on her face. “Is there something I can help you with?”
She lifted her eyes and, for the first time, took a good look at him. She'd never seen him without one of his tailored suits, and she approved of this casual attire. The tight black short-sleeved turtle- neck and very well-fitting jeans revealed his daily workouts.
“If it's one of the accounts,” David continued, “I can give my input. I'm looking for something to take my mind off…some things.” He sat across from her.
