Guilty of Love (19 page)

“
Hi, baby. I was leaving
prayer meeting and the Lord sent me over to check on you.” Her
mother reached up and kissed her cheek. Addison’s
fifty-nine-year-old face was naturally beautiful and youthful with
no need for makeup. Long, black wavy hair with strands of gray hung
behind her shoulders in a tightly curled flip. Confidence mixed
with humility was her trademark. Her aura and modest appearance was
unmistakably that of a Holy Ghost-filled saint. It wasn’t in her
hair, face, or clothes, but her spirit. She had the brightest smile
and a soft-spoken voice that had comforted Hallison many
times.

“
Me? Mama, church is
twenty-five minutes in the opposite direction. We’ve already spoken
once this morning. See, I’m fine, but I got a date
tonight.”

Addison waited patiently to be invited
inside. “I won’t hold you. Mind if I sit a few minutes before I
travel all the way back home?”

She tightly hugged her mother. “You
mean until you’ve met Malcolm?”

“
Well, since I’m here.”
Coming inside, she made herself comfortable on the sofa.

On the way to the kitchen, Hallison
could feel her mother’s eyes following her. “Is grape juice okay?”
The doorbell kept her mother from responding. “I’ll get
it.”

When Hallison opened the door, a large
colorful bouquet blocked her view. Slowly, Malcolm removed the
flowers and captured her in an alluring kiss. She placed her
fingers on his chest before he could deepen it. “Behave. My
mother’s here.”

“
Is she as beautiful as
you?” he whispered as he handed her the flowers.

“
You’re a big flirt, Mr.
Jamieson.”

“
Only with you, Miss
Dinkins.” He handed her the flowers and kissed her hair.

She turned around and led the way to
her mother. Malcolm followed. “Mama, this is Malcolm Jamieson.
Malcolm, Mrs. Dinkins.”

Instead of extending his right hand,
he bent and kissed Addison on the cheek. Hallison smiled, crossing
her fingers.
Brownie point
.

In turn, her mother patted the space
beside her. “Hali, why don’t you give Malcolm and me a few minutes
to chat?”

Hallison groaned and Malcolm winked.
He crossed one knee over the other, folding his hands. “I guess you
want to know something about me.”

“
That would be
nice.”

“
I’m twenty-six years old.
I’m gainfully employed as a CPA at Winfield & Young Accounting
Firm. I earned my business degree at University of Missouri at
Columbia. I have two other brothers. I’m—”

“
But are you saved, young
man?”

“
Saved from what, Mrs.
Dinkins?”

Eavesdropping, Hallison gritted her
teeth as Addison gave him a stern look, no smile was forthcoming.
“Your sins, son. Do you know who Jesus is?”

“
Oh, ah, yes, I know who
Jesus is.”

“
Good, then maybe you and
Hali will come visit my church one Sunday.”

This is not happening
. Hallison
quickly reappeared and handed Malcolm a glass of 7-Up and her
mother a bottle of grape juice. “Mama, I need fresh material, new
ideas, youthful approaches, things like that in a church.” When
Malcolm reach for her hand, Hallison took it for
support.

Tilting her head, Addison said nothing
right away. “I see. A few weeks ago, I counted seven young
ministers heading several youth ministries. You seemed to have
forgotten my church, our church, has something for every member.
Singles, divorcees, teenagers, children, new couples, new
mothers—”

“
Mama, that’s not the only
church in St. Louis. I’m asking God to lead me to a good church.”
I haven’t asked Him yet, but it’s on my to-do list.
She
didn’t believe a word she heard from preachers; therefore, she
questioned everything.

Sipping her juice, her mother wore an
unreadable expression. “Sooner or later, He’ll answer, sweetie. By
the way, when was the last time you two have been to
church?”

You don’t have to answer,
Hallison wanted to scream but it was too late.

Malcolm shrugged. “It’s been a long
time, Mrs. Dinkins, but I do pray before I eat my food.”

Placing her bottle on a coaster on the
end table, Addison stood. “I see. Then, you won’t mind if I pray
for you two right now.”

Malcolm got on his feet, grinning. “Of
course not, do we, Hali?”

Fretting, Hallison bowed her head.
Malcolm just didn’t know what he agreed to.

Reaching inside her handbag, Addison
withdrew an aspirin-sized bottle. She untwisted the cap and turned
it upside down against her finger. “I’m going to anoint you with
Holy Oil for protection against the devil.” She dabbed a spot on
their foreheads. Bowing her head, she began to pray, “Father God,
in the name of Jesus, we come boldly to Your throne of grace,
thanking You for Your mercy and Your goodness. Lord, I especially
thank You for watching over and protecting my only daughter. Jesus,
You said You’re married to the backslider. Let her come back before
it’s too late.”

The more Addison prayed, the tighter
she gripped their hands. “And, Jesus, You know where Malcolm’s mind
and thoughts are. Your Word says,
‘No man can come unto the
Father, unless You draw him.’
Draw Malcolm tonight. Lord, show
him Your way.”

Hallison watched as one of her
mother’s eyes popped opened. “Please lead him to read Colossians
3:2-5. That’s the book of Colossians, third chapter, verses two
through five. ‘
Set your affection on the things above, not on
things on the earth’ and ‘Mortify therefore your members which are
upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection,
evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.’
Again, the Book of Colossians, that’s in the New Testament between
Philippians and 1 Thessalonians.”

Despite being annoyed with her mother
for taking advantage of an open door, Hallison couldn’t help but
smile at her slick way of witnessing to Malcolm. Hallison thought
she was about to preach.

Then Addison’s strong voice dropped to
a whisper, “Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, Jesus
for what’s already done.”

It’s almost over.
Hallison
relaxed and readied herself for the conclusion.

Suddenly, her mother came back with
renewed strength. “God, we know the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord.”

Without a doubt, Hallison knew that
wasn’t an idle hint. It was for Malcolm. Her message was probably
next.

“
Lord, You told the saints
in Romans 12:1: ‘
I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service’.”

She got it—the message from her mother
and the Lord.
Please close the prayer,
Hallison silently
pleaded.

It was not to be as her mother added,
“Verse two says, “ ‘
And be not conformed to this world but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.’
In
Jesus’s name. Amen.”

Amen. Finally, it was over. Hallison
was afraid to look at Malcolm as they released hands. Her mother,
however, seemed exceptionally happy as she reached to retrieve her
purse off the sofa, but Malcolm beat her to it.

“
Well, I came and did what
the Lord had me to do, pray. You two have a blessed night in the
Lord. Malcolm, it was a pleasure meeting you. Take care of my
daughter.”

Hugging Hallison, her mother whispered
in her ear. “I love you, and Jesus loves you, too. By the way,
Malcolm is very handsome and very unsaved. Be careful.”

Hallison sniffed, hoping Malcolm
wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes. “I love you, Mama. I’ll find my
way,” she whispered, walking her to the door. But Hallison wasn’t
looking. She had seen with her own eyes, church folks stealing and
sleeping around. And they got blessed anyway with cars, jobs, and
homes. She’d heard with her own ears, gossiping and cursing.
Lightning didn’t strike them dead. They were in excellent
health.

What she was feeling for Malcolm and
what she planned to do about it was her business. No pastor was
going to tell her what not to do with her man like the advice given
to Tavia, an old friend. God wasn’t in control. Sinners got blessed
while children of God suffered and died. When she was ready to fool
herself again, she would return to church.

With tenderness, Addison brushed a
kiss against her cheek. “Jesus is the only way, the truth, and the
light. I know He will lead you if you allow Him.”

Malcolm came to her side. “Mrs.
Dinkins, let me walk you to your car.” Then turned and gave her a
loving look. “I’ll be right back.”

Hallison paced the wheat-colored
carpet in her living room, waiting for his return. “I’m sorry. I’m
so embarrassed.” Hallison’s hands covered her face.

“
Why, baby?”

“
My mother’s beliefs aren’t
mine anymore.”

Pushing her hands away, Malcolm guided
her chin to his face. “Hali, I like your mother. She’s beautiful,
sweet, and a strong person, like the woman I’m crazy about who
promised to spend some time with me and my family tonight.” He
trapped her in a secure embrace. “You’re the woman who has had my
attention for the past six months, two weeks, and one day. I
haven’t counted the hours and minutes yet.”

“
Can I share something?”
When he nodded, Hallison continued, “I chose not to have God in my
life. I detest dictatorship or censorship of my
decisions.”

“
Baby, don’t get upset. I
can take or leave God. We’ve got each other. That’s what’s
important.”

Hallison encircled his neck with her
arms. Through blurred vision, she met him in a soft kiss. “You’re
too much of what I want and need. Thank you for understanding.” She
exhaled. Thank God Malcolm had not been swayed. What a
contradictory thought.

“
C’mon, my parents, Parke,
plus his woman of the hour are waiting.”

As Hallison locked her apartment door,
Malcolm chuckled. “You know, sweetheart, if I ever get deathly
sick, please have your mom pray for me.”

“
Believe me there would be
no way I could stop her.”

***

Parke walked through the front door of
his parents’ Paddock Estates ranch home in North St. Louis County
yelling, “Hello.”

Charlotte Jamieson opened her arms for
a hug. “PJ, welcome home, it’s been lonely without you and your
brothers.” Releasing him, she stepped back, giving him a curious
look.

“
What?”

“
Where’s your date? You
didn’t bring anybody?”

A strong baritone voice grew louder.
“What’s that, Charlotte? PJ’s alone?”

Father and son, stood shoulder to
shoulder and embraced.

“
I just didn’t feel like
being bothered.” Parke shrugged his shoulders.

His parents froze. Charlotte looked
bewildered and reached up several inches to touch his forehead. “Is
something wrong, son? You aren’t sick or dying, are
you?”

“
I’m sure if anything were
wrong, PJ would let us know.” His father nodded.

Parke received his father’s message,
which meant there were no secrets within the Jamieson family. He
and his parents headed toward the great room in the back. Flopping
in an oversized recliner, Parke elevated the foot rest. “I’m losing
my mind.”

“
Actually, your dad and I
felt you lost part of it years ago,” Charlotte said in all
seriousness.

“
Huh? You’re
joking?”

“
She’s right,” his father
answered. “We’ve always thought your mental facilities needed
adjusting when you’d walk in here with some of your dates. What’s
going on?”

“
Physically, nothing,
mentally, I’ve been thinking.”

“
We don’t need to have an
intellectual conversation,” his dad advised.

“
I can’t figure this out,
but I’m getting a kick out of irritating this woman I’m not
attracted to. I can’t stop thinking about or comparing others to
her. She represents so much of what I don’t want, yet she seems to
connect with spiritual needs, if that makes sense,” Parke
confessed. “The only thing I like about her is her
eyebrows.”

“
For me, it was your
mother’s hazel eyes.”

“
He was annoying at first,
but he got my attention.” Giggling, Charlotte left the men alone
and walked into the kitchen. Parke didn’t miss his dad’s wink at
his mother.

Charlotte returned a few minutes later
with a platter laden with sliced deli meats.

His dad stood and quickly retrieved
the tray. “Sweetheart, I told you I’d carry those. You relax.” He
bent down and smacked a kiss on her lips.

“
I take that back. Her lips
are enticing enough, especially when she smiles. Her face lightens
up,” Parke said more to himself.