Nobody’s Child (New Life Tabernacle Series Book 1) (23 page)

C
oming off the platform
, Makayla could hardly believe how light she felt. It was as if every weight she’d carried since her grandmother passed, had been lifted away at once. As she followed an associate minister back to Pastor Thomas’ office, she couldn’t stop smiling.

This…
This
was starting over. And there was no other feeling like it in the world.

The minister was to drive her to the bus station and waited outside the office as she gathered her things. Before leaving, she wrote her contact information on the pad on the Pastor’s desk. He’d made her promise to leave it so he could keep up with her and how she was doing.

She walked out of the office, hoisting her new duffel bag on her shoulder and said, “Okay, I’m ready.” But the minister wasn’t the one waiting for her.

“You weren’t even gonna say goodbye?"

Robin still looked as small and tired as she had in the video footage, but now a smile illuminated her face. Like the first time she’d seen her, she was wearing red and her silky hair cascaded around her shoulders like a shimmering black waterfall.

As good as Makayla had felt only moments before, it didn’t erase the regret. Robin knew all her secrets now. Makayla could only stare at the floor.

“I didn’t want—“

“I’ve missed you.”

Makayla looked at Robin. She could live a hundred years and still not understand this. She’d just admitted to being the cause of all the hell Robin had experienced the past week. How could she say she missed her?

“Were you out there? I mean, for
everything
?”

"Oh, I was out there all right," Robin said, taking a step toward Makayla. "And I heard every word."

"I really am sorry."

"I know."

“The thing is, I don’t think it’ll be enough. This was just one tiny press conference and Bree has been telling her story everywhere and for days.” Makayla’s voice shook despite her best efforts to keep it steady. “You should have defended yourself. Your career. Your reputation. Do you have any idea how bad this is? Have you heard what they’re saying? Do you know what could happen?”

Robin shrugged. “What I had, God gave me. If He did it once, He can do it again.”

Makayla wished she had the same confidence. Her grandmother said He was a God of miracles. That’s what it would take to undo the damage she’d done.

Robin took another step toward Makayla, but Makayla took a step back. She still had one more confession to make.

“Um, the bracelet you gave me?

"Yes?”

"Well… It was stolen." Makayla hung her head. “And it was my fault.”

Robin folded her arms. "Do you know how much that bracelet cost?"

Makayla looked up and quietly asked, “How much?"

Robin raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "It doesn't matter."

She came to Makayla and put her hands on her arms. “It’s what I've been trying to make you understand, baby. Things can be replaced. People can't." She took Makayla’s hands into her own. “What you have, what you’ve done, where you came from—none of that matters. You can make a million mistakes. You can run until you find yourself on the other side of this planet. Nothing can ever take your place in my heart. Marcus, either.”

She gently pulled at the strap of Makayla’s duffel bag. “I’m going to keep my word. I won’t fight you. So go if you want to. Be someone else. But if you ever want to come home, we’ll be waiting."

She put her hands on Makayla's face and kissed her forehead, then her cheek. And that’s when Makayla had an epiphany.

Her grandmother had been right. He
was
a God of miracles.

What she’d grown up wishing for, to be loved by her mother, was impossible. The woman was dead before Makayla was even a week old. That should’ve been the end of the story. And yet, who was Robin, if not her mother? A woman who wanted her, loved her unconditionally and gave her a home?

While Makayla had decided He didn’t exist, God was making arrangements, moving pieces, clearing the way. Not only had He heard the secret longing of her heart, behind the scenes, throughout her entire life, He’d been bringing it into manifestation. Bringing
her
to the place she was always meant to be.

There was a bookmark her grandmother kept in her Bible. Makayla must have read it a hundred times. It had a scripture that started out:
I know the plans I have for you…
She didn’t remember the exact phrasing, but the rest of the verse went on to promise goodness, hope, a future.

All the things she thought she'd never have.

"Robin?"

“Hmm?”

"I think I’m done running. I want to come home.”

"
Y
ou start measuring
the dry ingredients and I'll chop the vegetables."

Robin set the various bags, boxes and containers on the kitchen island, then took out glass bowls and measuring spoons. Makayla stood back and watched her for a bit. She liked what she saw.

No, she
loved
it.

It was just a regular ol’ day and she and Robin were doing regular ol’ things. And Makayla absolutely loved it. Preparing meals was one of the many activities they did together now. She was turning Robin into quite the chef.

It had been two months since the impromptu press conference and Makayla couldn't have been happier with the outcome. Most of the news outlets that ran Bree’s story, picked up the footage of Makayla’s speech and aired the most relevant parts. Robin's book sales not only went back up, they surpassed all previous releases. The conference that had “requested” that Robin not attend, issued a public apology.

All of her more famous friends took to Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to talk about how much they admired her sacrifice and how refreshing it was to see someone walk the talk. Best of all, she was in negotiations to have a show on OWN.

That was all Makayla had wanted when she came forward, to somehow fix the damage she’d done. What she hadn’t unexpected, was getting the family she’d always dreamed of in the process.

But even with all the blessings God had given her, for the past two months, one thing still bothered her. She hadn't brought it up because it meant admitting, yet another, terrible action. But she knew she wouldn't have complete peace until she put it out there, so…

“There's something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Robin was at the counter, laser focused on chopping celery.

"All right. Shoot."

"You might want to sit down for this."

Robin stopped chopping. She slowly turned around.

"Makayla…”

"Please."

Robin sat, but with an expression of terrified anticipation.

"When you were out of town that first time… Well, I went into your old room."

Robin eyed her with guarded curiosity. "Okay."

“And… Well, I found this." Makayla took out the old Planned Parenthood pamphlet, unfolded it and slid it across the table.

Robin frowned and picked it up. "What is this?" But before Makayla could speak, Robin said, “Oh…” She let out a sigh. Then, almost to herself, she whispered, "I remember this.”

Looking up at Makayla, she said, “How in the world did you find it? Where was it?"

“Under the bed. Behind one of the bedposts.”

Robin closed her eyes, nodding. "Yeah, okay. Carrie must’ve tried to hide it behind the headboard when mama came in." Robin leaned back in her chair. "Carrie had come over that day, eyes red and puffy. I asked her what was wrong. She had this," Robin held up the pamphlet. "She told me she'd skipped classes that day. A friend took her to a clinic, but she couldn't bring herself to do it."

Robin shook her head and wrapped her arms around herself. "I'll never forget how desperate she was. How panicked. My mother came in to put my folded laundry away. She saw Carrie's face and wanted to know what happened. I told some story about her and Junior being in a fight.”

Robin and Makayla sat in silence for a few moments.

"You once asked me if I regretted anything. I didn't think so, but I suppose if there were one thing I could change, it would be that. I wouldn’t have kept quiet. I don't know if she would’ve spoken to me again, but maybe she'd still be here. You could have been raised with us instead of that—“ Robin looked heavenward and said, “Forgive me, Father. That heifer, Kim."

Makayla doubled over with laughter. If Robin had to pray for forgiveness for calling Kim a heifer, Makayla needed to set up camp under the altar.

"But listen," Robin continued. "Don't be too hard on Carrie, when you think about her. She was barely older than you. She was scared out of her mind and did the best she could."

If Makayla knew only one thing, it was she was in no position to condemn anyone.

"And Marcus? Give him a chance."

Makayla wrinkled her nose. Not for any other reason than to give Robin a hard time.

Robin lowered her chin and arched her eyebrow. "I'm serious, brat. He loves you. He always has."

"Okay, okay. I'll be nice to the dude."

Robin looked exasperated.

"I will! I promise!" Makayla got up from the table and crossed her heart. Robin shook her head and rolled her eyes, returning to her food prep at the kitchen counter.

Makayla swiped the pamphlet off the table and tossed it in the trash, happy to finally put that last piece of the previous few months to rest.

“Did I hear you in there on the phone with Trey last night?”

“You did. And no, we are not dating. Please stop asking.”

Robin snickered as she grabbed another stalk of celery. “Fine by me. I’m in absolutely no rush to be mother of the bride. Remember that.”

"So," Makayla said, leaning against one of the counters, "do you think you'll ever get married?"

Robin stopped chopping and shot a sideways glance at Makayla. "Now where in the world did that come from?”

"I want you to be happy. Especially after all the mess I put you through."

Robin's face relaxed and she went back to chopping. “Aww. I
am
happy. I have everything I want. Don't you worry about a thing."

"Soooo," Makayla said, backing away to the archway leading out of the kitchen, "secretly creating an online dating profile for you wasn’t a good idea?"

Robin’s shoulders dropped. "Makayla, you didn’t…”

Makayla grinned, looking every bit the little imp. "Gotcha!”

Robin fell back against the counter, her hand over her heart. “Girl, if you were any smaller, I’d put you over my knee."

Makayla bounced to Robin and kissed her on the cheek.

"Don't worry," she said, as she left the room. "When I find you a man, I'll do it the old-fashioned way!"

Then she ducked, barely missing the kitchen towel Robin sent flying at her head.

R
obin brought
the platter of garlic roasted chicken into the dining room and set it in the middle of the long, mahogany dining table. The chicken, along with the delectable side dishes, filled the room with mouth-watering aromas.

Everyone at the table—Marcus, Denice, Rodney and Makayla—couldn’t say enough about how incredible it all looked.

Everyone, except Mr. Jones.

"I see you," Robin said to him, her hand on her hip.

"I'm just sitting here. Minding my own business," he replied, with perfect innocence.

“Uh huh.“ Robin pulled out a chair and sat, cutting her eyes at him. "Who's going to say grace?"

"With my Olive Oyl doing the cooking, it better be someone who can get a prayer through."

Without missing a beat, Makayla said, “That rules you out, doesn’t it?“

Mr. Jones howled and slapped his knee. He pointed at her, a grin on his face. “That's my girl!”

Robin sighed. Rodney and Denice exchanged glances. Makayla had told them, despite the fancy cars, Grammy awards, and church background, her family was down to earth. Still, it was obvious they were unprepared.

Marcus folded his hands together and said, "I'll pray. But whatever happens next, nobody panic. There's a Popeye’s just down the street."

He shot a mischievous glance at Robin. She narrowed her eyes at him, but smiled. Of course, Makayla noticed.

"God always has a ram in the bush,” Mr. Jones said.

"Preach!" Denice shouted, laughing out loud.

"All right, all right. Is somebody going to pray or not?"

Marcus prayed over the food, but Makayla whispered her own offering of thanksgiving. She had a family. It wasn’t bound by blood, but it was just as solid as any other out there. And for that, she was eternally grateful.

Plus, she had one additional request she wanted to run by her heavenly Father. A request that involved a happily married mom and dad.

"So Mr. Thomas—“

"Now, I already told you, call me Marcus."

"Okay, Marcus. This gospel gig. It pay well?"

Robin nearly choked on her chicken.

Marcus smiled and nodded, clearly amused. "You could say that."

Makayla pointed her fork at him. "You married?"

"No."

Makayla could see Robin out of the corner of her eye. She was trying to get her attention, but Makayla pretended not to notice.

"Are you gay?"

"Makayla!" Mortified. Robin was absolutely mortified.

"Look," Makayla said, turning to Robin. "The man is practically my daddy. That's what
you
said. Shouldn't I be able to ask him a few simple questions?"

"She's got a point,” Marcus said.

"That she does," Mr. Jones added, shoveling back dressing as if it were the last dish on earth.

Rodney laughed so hard, tears sprang from the corners of his eyes and Denice gasped between cackles. She patted an exasperated Robin on the shoulder and said, "You have my sympathies. You really do."

Robin put her face in her hands.

Makayla turned back to Marcus to resume her interrogation.

"Well?"

"Am I gay? No. I'm not. Why do you ask?”

"Robin's single."

Robin threw her linen napkin on the table. "Little girl, I'm warning you...”

Makayla shrugged and stabbed a broccoli floret with her fork. "Just sayin’…”

Oh, she was going to get an earful that night. The minute company was gone, Robin would let her have it. But even knowing that, Makayla smiled.

Robin and Marcus were perfect for each other. They just didn't know it. But if Makayla had anything to do with it, they would soon enough.