| |
Arlana was looking forward to scouring off any traces of their passion before going back to church. Filling the claw foot bathtub with steaming hot water, she added fresh-cut roses to the warm bathwater. Already bathed and dressed, Aziel played in the hall outside the washroom door with his miniature truck, giving Arlana a few moments alone with her thoughts.
Stepping into the scented milk bath, she slipped down until the water engulfed her neck, dampening her long hair.
A refreshing breath of fresh air, the freedom had been good for her spirit, Aziel blossoming into the boy he had been meant to be. Moving was a decision she didn't regret.
Arlana washed her leg with a bath mitt until blood came to the surface just beneath her skin. Tender, she scrubbed much too hard. One step forward, two steps back. The flesh is weak.
She should have known better than to be alone with Josiah although he'd treated her like porcelain. Arlana couldn't quite put it into words. Josiah had made her feel so precious, in fact, she felt treasured even as her conscience condemned her. What had Josiah said? He claimed her. That was it. There was a greater meaning that bonded them to each other, he explained. Josiah would take care of her from that moment on; Arlana and Aziel would have nothing to worry about.
Arlana rested her forehead on her bent knees. He'd made her feel so precious to him, yet why did her heart cringe at Rivkah's evident disappointment in them? No matter what Josiah said, her conscience condemned her. Then there was Arlana's family...oh gosh. Her heart was a tangled web of turmoil, her thoughts exploding.
She had no choice but to face one obstacle at a time. Tears pricked the back of Arlana's eyes as she stepped out of the tub, leaving all evidence of her shame behind. Dressing quickly, she ran down the stairs as a knock shattered the hush.
Josiah stood in the doorway dressed in a black suit, shirt, and a matching black silk kippah on top of his damp, blonde hair. His eyes skimmed over Arlana's beige, flower-embroidered dress then reached out his hand to Aziel. Pride was glinting in his clear eyes as he led his family to the waiting car.
****
JOSIAH LOCATED A SEAT for his family while Arlana and Rivkah lingered behind in the car. Rivkah worked her fingers through Arlana's wavy hair, winding the tichel around the younger woman's tresses.
"You are a married woman now," Rivkah explained as her fingers nimbly worked, fastening the head covering into place. "Married Jewish women wear a head covering at all times. Other Jews will know you have been claimed when they see you tonight."
It was highly improbable that any other Jews would be in the service, but Arlana kept quiet, listening to Rivkah's first lesson.
Lowering her hands, Rivkah murmured, "Let me see you."
Rivkah's eyes twinkled as they watched Arlana turn her head slowly from side to side. Arlana assumed Rivkah desired to see if she had made any mistakes in the small confines of the car or to delay having to walk into church doors.
"You look so beautiful," tears misted Rivkah's eyes as she beheld her Jewish-looking daughter-in-law. "Come, let us go in together," Rivkah stepped out of the car first.
Arlana and Rivkah ascended the front steps of the mission, entering the darkened sanctuary together. The sound of prayer greeted them as they stood quietly at the back of the church.
A deep voice sprinkled with a rich Jamaican accent led the prayer meeting. Arlana scanned the meagre group sitting in the first few rows, head bowed.
Mrs. Mosely stood beside her husband, hands raised in supplication. Lachlan sat in the first chair on the end, Josiah alongside him holding Aziel on his lap. Arlana swallowed, wishing they hadn't chosen the first row.
Stepping noiselessly in the row beside Josiah, Arlana remained on his right side. Josiah quietly transferred Aziel onto his mother's lap, sidestepping Arlana's legs before disappearing into a side room with Lachlan and Pastor Mosely between prayers. Arlana rested her cheek on the top of Aziel's head, unable to bring herself to pray with the rest of those assembled.
No sooner was the last "Amen" expressed, Aziel waved as his cousins filed in the door.
"I'm back!" Aziel beamed, his joy tangible. "Come sit with us!"
The children and siblings filed into the row alongside Aziel, Adelaide joining them. Arlana introduced her sister and the children to Rivkah who smiled warmly.
"I'm sorry about last night," Arlana's voice was soft.
"Me too," Adelaide agreed. "Gavin will be arriving soon," she whispered, glancing at the clock on the back wall before pulling a French beret from her purse. "Do we need to save a spot for, I'm sorry...Lachlan was it?"
Arlana shook her head. "I'm not sure, to be honest. They didn't say anything."
Gavin bustled in a moment later, slipping into the seat beside Adelaide.
"Hi," Arlana smiled at her brother-in-law, her smile fading a moment later when she saw Darren and his wife Veronica join him along with their two daughters.
Arlana watched as Isabella waved to her friends, a burning worse than indigestion flooding Arlana's chest. She had no issues with Darren. In fact, she had always believed he could have done better, but Vernie...did she have to come? Of course, they were Gavin's best friends, but Arlana found forgiving her sisters so much easier than she did Veronica.
Vernie and Arlana eyed each other as Arlana pasted on a smile, thankful for so many seats separating them. If Veronica hadn't changed over the years, Arlana was in for a sermon the moment a chance presented itself. There would be no escape as she had to wait on Josiah. Arlana was highly uncomfortable.
Terrel Mosely, the pastor's son and one of Arlana's first crushes, strolled to the front of the room, tapping the microphone.
"Testing 1-2-3, Testing 1-2-3," Terrel's words echoed around the room.
Satisfied, he took his place behind the drums, beginning to tap out a rhythm.
Gavin spoke to Darren in low tones, "Last night was about the New World Order. Get ready to take notes. The speaker was Lachlan - he knows his stuff."
Adelaide's husband was a natural leader and had taught Darren a lot about eschatology over the years. Perhaps that was why the men were best friends, or perhaps it was because they were both Caucasian - the only ones in their predominantly African-American church and, as a minority, they stuck together. Whatever it was, they were inseparable for over thirteen years, godparents to each other's children.
Lachlan appeared at Arlana's side. He'd noticed from where he'd stood at the back of the church that the sisters had made up. Bygones were just that - bygones.
"It is so nice that you could come out again tonight. I hope you enjoyed last night's meeting."
"Enjoyed? Was that the word to use?"
Lachlan frowned a moment before moving down the family-filled row, greeting each in turn with a handshake until he reached Aziel, tousling his hair. Aziel grinned at Lachlan before turning back to his cousins. At the end of the opposite row, he came to Gavin, who had brought guests. Lachlan was more than a little impressed. Was Gavin an evangelist?
"Hello, I'm Lachlan," he greeted Darren and Veronica with an unmistakable Scottish accent.
Gavin spoke up, "Lachlan is the speaker I was telling you about."
Lachlan grinned, "Thank you, Gavin. Well, tonight I'll be sharing the pulpit with others, but I believe you will enjoy the message if you liked last night's message."
Gavin nodded his head.
"Alright then, I hope you will stay after the service. We will have more time to talk, so don't run off," Gavin encouraged before proceeding onto the next row to introduce himself.
Josiah's sky-blue eyes met Arlana's from across the room, although he continued to speak to the senior Moselys. Arlana flushed. Josiah looked exceptionally handsome, a commanding presence, or maybe it was due to her hormones that continued to rage for her husband. Arlana's cheeks grew warm. Josiah nodded at whatever Pastor Mosely was saying but winked. Just that fleeting acknowledgement sent Arlana's heart fluttering as though a swarm of butterflies trapped in her chest.
Adelaide glanced from her sister to the Jew standing near the front exit, not missing a beat, but Arlana immediately attempted to distract her.
"Are you going to stay after the service tonight?"
Shrugging, Adelaide reiterated the question to her husband. He suggested it to his guests and they agreed.
Down the row, the answer came, "I guess Gavin wants to stay tonight," Adelaide relayed the answer, "are you?"
"Josiah has to stay and he is our ride," Rivkah explained.
It would be nearly midnight before they'd arrive home. The band was already playing as others arrived, taking their seats. The room started to fill, a greater turnout than the previous night.
"Welcome my dear!" Pastor Mosely clasped Arlana's arm, "It has been so long! And who are these little ones?"
"Hi, Sister Mosely," Arlana forgot her new, preferred title, 'Pastor.' "It is wonderful to see you again! This is my son, Aziel, and my friend Rivkah. Do you remember my sister Adelaide? These are her children."
Adelaide smiled shyly before introducing her children and husband.
"Hello, Adelaide! 'So nice to see you again! I remember when you were just a little girl yourself and now look at your beautiful family."
Adelaide thanked her for the compliment before Pastor Mosely moved down the row as Gavin introduced his friends and their daughters.
"I hope I will see you after the service," Mrs. Mosely flashed the group a motherly smile before disappearing out the back exit.
Pastor Mosely still stood to the side of the room with Josiah, gold rings glittering in the dim light as they spoke with enthusiasm. The men stood out in stark contrast to each other.
Arlana didn't have time to pursue that thought further, not noticing everyone had sat down or when Josiah slipped out the side exit just behind the pulpit.
Leaving Josiah's side, Pastor Mosely stood and encouraged the crowd to join her in worship.
"Come, now is the time to worship..." He sang.
With hands raised in worship, after forty-five minutes, the room was charged with an atmosphere of worship. Pastor Mosely was in his late 70's. He was a favourite, his smile genuinely warm.
"Thank you for coming back tonight to this second day of meetings. I trust you were blessed last night and we believe God for greater things tonight. I see several new faces - welcome to Angel Wings Mission! Please stay after the service so we can get to know you. Refreshments will be served downstairs immediately following the service. I'd like to welcome once again our guest speaker, Lachlan McFayden."
Lachlan joined him on the platform, shaking the elderly man's hand.
"Thank you, sir, for having me, Lachlan paused a moment for Pastor Mosely to take a seat beside his wife in the first row before he continued.
Josiah sat down beside Arlana, lifting Aziel from her lap. He smiled at Adelaide - it was nice to see Arlana's family together.