Soulmates Dissipate (15 page)

“Hello.” Jada’s voice was faint.

“Hi. Are you okay?” asked Candice.

“I just walked in. I’ve got to get some rest before church. What’s up?”

“Everything’s great,” Candice responded happily.

Jada spiced up her voice to conceal her pain.” Sounds like love is in the air.”

“I guess you could say that. Terrell and I have set the date. I’m moving to Los Angeles February fourteenth.”

“February fourteenth? But Candice, that’s my wedding day and you’re my maid of honor!”

“Don’t go getting all upset. I’ll be here to support you through the entire event. You know that. So don’t worry your pretty little head. You have enough to be concerned about.

“Look, I called to say my prison pen pal and I have really developed a good relationship.” Jada wished her relationship with her pen pal were as strong.” She gets out in nine months. I promised her I’d visit this weekend and bring the things she requested.” Jada got a fresh towel and laid it next to her.

“Jazzmyne asked me to speak at the church today about the success in our relationship. So I’m going to read two of our letters. Leslie gave me the green light to read hers.” Jada really admired how Candice followed through on her commitments.

“Well, I’m glad you let me know,” said Jada.
“Mama is riding with Robert this morning. That reminds me—I need to call Jazzmyne to see if they need a ride.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” said Candice.” Brother Dupree is picking them up. Jazzmyne told me yesterday.” Jada was relieved. She could sleep a little longer.” How was your shopping spree with Melanie?”

Jada’s heartbeat felt like it moved to her head.” I’ll give you the details after church. Let me get off this phone. I’ll see you at church.”

“How’s your pen pal?” Candice asked.

“Not well. She’s fallen back into a deep depression. She keeps blaming herself for not protecting her daughter from being sexually molested by her man. It’s unfortunate she trusted her man more than she trusted her own child. I’m going to visit her Wednesday. I’ve
got
to get off this phone.” Jada placed the cordless on the charger. The phone rang again. Damn!

“Hello.”

“Good morning, my Nubian Queen. You left without letting me know.”

“No, I didn’t. You didn’t hear me because you were sound asleep. I decided not to wake you.”

“Are you going to church this morning?”

“You know I’m not going to miss a Sunday in church if I can help it. I’m lying down trying to recover from last night’s activities.” Jada sighed.

“Yeah. I can ditto the recuperation part,” said Wellington.” I’m beat.”

“You going to church?”Jada asked.

“Not this morning,” he responded.” But I plan on going to the seven o’clock service. Call me
when you get back. I’d better go downstairs and eat breakfast before it gets cold.”

“Breakfast sure sounds good. What did you cook?”

“Oh, I didn’t. Melanie cooked. I’d better get going. You know I don’t eat cold food. Call me when you get home.”

“Sure.” Jada placed the phone on the charger. She showered. She really needed to get to church on time.

Jada, Candice, and Jazzmyne arrived at church at the same time. They exchanged hugs and greetings. Brandon eagerly awaited his Sunday morning hugs and kisses from Jada and Candice.

Candice squeezed Brandon real tight.” How are you doing, little man?”

“I’m fine,” said Brandon.

“Come here and give me a hug, Shelly,” said Candice. Candice was in a much better mood than Jada.” Are you still doing wonderful in school?”

“Yes, ma’am! I’m still making straight A’s,” said Shelly. A proud smile accompanied the sparkle in her eyes.

“You know I’m so proud of you. Remember this, everyone is in your corner when you’re doing great but when times get hard, even your best friends may turn their backs on you. I want you to know you can always count on me if you need anything.” Shelly gave Candice a great big hug and a smile and ran off to greet one of her church friends.

“Thanks,” said Jazzmyne.” She needed to hear that.”

“Girl, what have you done to Brother Dupree?” asked Candice.” He’s just beaming and glowing.”

“I haven’t done anything to him,
yet,”
replied Jazzmyne.” He won’t take no for an answer. He’s nice to my children and we actually have a lot in common. I don’t try to counsel him and he doesn’t try to lecture me so we get along quite well.” She laughed. “Jada, you look tired. Are you all right?”

“I’ll be fine. I overindulged last night. I’m going straight home after church and get some rest.”

“Let’s go inside and get a seat before it gets too crowded,”Jazzmyne suggested.

“Yeah, since Pastor Tellings started the pen pal program, the membership has doubled,” said Candice.

“That’s because there are so many of our church members and non-church members with relatives and loved ones in prison. Most of society prefers not to acknowledge their existence, including some congregations,” said Jazzmyne.” More churches should fulfill the needs of the people and their community instead of the desires of the pastors.”

“I hear you,” said Candice.” You mean like the pastor
needs
a new car or we
need
a bigger church.”

“Exactly,”Jazzmyne said.

Jada remained silent. She felt psychologically trapped behind invisible bars. She replayed the prior night’s events.

Jazzmyne sat with Brother Dupree. Jada and Candice sat two rows behind Mama and Robert.

Pastor Tellings opened his sermon with a poem entitled, “The Seed You Sow.”

“There’s an old saying,” said Pastor Tellings.” ‘Put your money where your mouth is.’ Well, I want to let you know that this congregation has stepped up to the plate. The male prison facility now has over five hundred
active
pen pals and the women have over four hundred. Many of you are visiting, and let me tell you, you have made a world of difference in their lives.
And
they have made a major difference in yours.

“I can see it in the way you fellowship among
one another,” Pastor preached.” I can see it in the faces of the inmates when I visit the facilities and they’re shouting, ‘Tell Sister Brown I said hello,’ or ‘Tell Brother Johnson I love him, man.’ But I want you to hear from Sister Candice Jordan this morning. She’s going to share with you a letter she wrote to Leslie and a letter Leslie wrote to her.”

Candice walked up to the front of the church. She stood behind the podium and lowered the microphone.” Good morning. First, I would like to say all glory be unto God. My pen pal, Leslie Washington, and I have been writing one another on a regular basis since Pastor Tellings started the program. After speaking with Sister Jazzmyne yesterday, she asked me to share our letters with you.

“First, I’ll read my letter to Leslie and then I’ll read Leslie’s letter to me. Before I start, I want you to know Leslie gave me her blessings to read each letter.

Everyone was in tears by the time Candice finished reading the letters, including Jada, as if her eyes weren’t puffy enough.

Pastor Tellings closed the service.” Actions speak louder than words. If you haven’t signed up for a pen pal, please do so today. There’s someone out there who needs you.”

Jada didn’t want her mother to see how terrible she looked, so she rushed out of the church. In her haste to get home, Jada hurried past Jazzmyne and Candice. She could hear Jazzmyne thanking Candice. Candice yelled, “I’ll stop by on my way home.” Jada waved and kept walking toward her car.

On the way home, she called Wellington from her cellular.

“Jones residence,” answered Melanie. Now wasn’t that cute.” Hi, Melanie. Let me speak with Wellington.”

“You just missed him. He went to his mother’s house. I’m not sure when he’ll be back.”

“Ask him to call me when he gets in.” Jada felt her head pound in her throat.

“Anything for you, darling.” Melanie hung up
the phone before Jada could get the next word out of her mouth. Jada could have sworn she’d heard Wellington’s voice in the background. Maybe it was her imagination.

By the time Jada arrived home, Candice was parked in the visitor’s space. Jada wasn’t in the mood for company. She parked in the garage and met Candice in the lobby.

“Girl, you have got to get some rest,” said Candice. The elevator doors opened. Candice walked straight to the kitchen. She proceeded to pull out a pot, a pan, and a skillet.” Here, drink this glass of cranberry juice and relax. I’ll cook us something to eat and you can tell me what happened yesterday. Then you must get some rest.”

“Thanks,” responded Jada. She didn’t know where to begin. She struggled to formulate a response in her head.

“Would you like grits, hash browns, and turkey bacon or hotcakes and sausage?” asked Candice.

“Grits. I’m not in the mood for anything sweet.”

“Okay.”

While Candice cooked breakfast, Jada busied herself and set the table. She needed to burn off the nervous energy.

After Candice said grace, she looked Jada in the eyes. “Tell me what happened. And I already know whatever it was, it wasn’t good, so give it to me straight.”

Jada didn’t know where to begin, so she started with the shopping spree. Then she told Candice about the champagne. She hesitated and concluded with the games.

“You did
what?”
Candice placed her fork full of
grits on her plate.” Jada, that was stupid and you know how much I dislike using the word. But that didn’t make any sense. What were you thinking?”

Jada knew Candice was going to give it to her straight. She had already kicked herself. The interesting part was, she didn’t regret what she had done, only with whom she had done it.

“Well, it didn’t seem like a bad idea at the time, but now I’m not so sure,” Jada cried. Tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped onto the oriental silk print blouse she’d bought in Japan.” When I called Wellington this morning, Melanie was cooking
him
breakfast.” A lump formed in Jada’s throat. She swallowed hard. She needed Candice to shed some light on the situation.

“I tried to warn you that she couldn’t be trusted,” said Candice.” That whole thing about introducing you to Mrs. Jones’s friends was probably part of her scheme to take advantage of you and your man. I just can’t believe you let that happen, girlfriend.” Candice shook her head and pushed her plate aside. She was angry. Jada wasn’t. She was upset with herself for being oblivious to the big picture. Jada didn’t know what to say, so she figured it was best not to say anything.

“Okay, let me calm down,” said Candice.” Because I realize I’m not helping you. At least she’s leaving today, so we don’t have to worry about the aftershocks of Melanie’s little games.”

The word “aftershock” made Jada’s body tremble with the thought of Melanie’s head between her legs.” That’s true,” agreed Jada.

“I know Daddy would have had something to say about all this,” said Candice. She looked at Jada and waited for a response.

“Daddy always said, never gamble greed against need. You’ll lose every time. In retrospect, I realize there was nothing I needed that I didn’t already have.”