A New Day, A New Life, An Old Love
Four months had passed since the incident with Percy, and although he never paid back the money he owed, Kanesha was as happy as she had ever been in her adult life. Percy stayed away from her home and her job; that fact alone was priceless to Kanesha.
The seasons had changed from spring to summer and a new routine had begun. Shakayla spent every summer with her dad, Malisha with her 'Dea, and Jordan with his dad's mother and sisters. Brianna split her summer between being at home and spending time with Byron's family. The fact that her parents were working on getting back together did not alter her schedule.
Kanesha began attending Sunday morning church services with her mother on a regular basis. Cynthia beamed with pride every Sunday when she walked through the church door with her daughter by her side. She had no idea what happened between Kanesha and Percy, but Cynthia praised the saints when she found out that dead weight was out of her daughter's life. Two months after attending Sunday morning services, Kanesha shocked her mother by asking for a ride to evening services. Cynthia was so pleased with the transition that she cried.
Cynthia thanked God for getting through to Kanesha. She was forever grateful for having her daughter back. Kanesha gained much strength in her Bible studies and decided to start visiting her father's grave site with her mother. The first Sunday of each month following the accident, Cynthia took a fresh bouquet to her husband's resting place. Malisha always accompanied 'Dea and listened intently to the stories 'Dea told about the grandfather she would never know.
Kanesha was on a spiritual walk with Jesus. It showed in her face, her smile and her actions. She felt free, safe and proud of herself. Her life was finally worth waking up to each blessed morning. When Kanesha had a question about the Bible, she would call upon her mother for advice and God for the answer.
"Mommy, do you think it's wrong for me to keep working at the bar now that I'm trying to live right?" Kanesha stared out the passenger side window as her mother drove away from Todd Cemetery.
"No, I don't think it's wrong. Why do you ask?"
"Sister Freeman said I was undoing the good God was trying to bless me with by surrounding myself with sinners down at that drinking hole," explained Kanesha.
"Listen to me, Kanesha," began Cynthia after pulling the car to the side of the road and putting it into park. "Every Christian ain't saved and every sinner ain't lost. What I mean by that is sometimes people will tell you what they believe and not what the Word says. There are some who believe you must be dressed to impress when you enter the house of the Lord. But they forget that Jesus was a carpenter and says, Come as you are. Man will tell you it's a sin to drink, but Jesus turned water to wine and God's word teaches it's a sin to drink to get drunk. You are doing a wonderful job staying on track with your devotion, so don't you let no busy body Christian discourage you. We all fall because we're human, but Jesus walked this earth so that He could die for our sins. Jesus knows that being in the flesh is a battle." Cynthia spoke with such pride and joy when Jesus was the subject. She had prayed for so long to be able to talk with her daughter about the sacrifices Jesus made for her, that she often pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
"Sister Freeman said no Christian should be surrounded by a room full of sinners like when I'm serving drinks at that bar." Kanesha spoke with an air of shame in her voice.
"Oh, did Sister Freeman offer you a job? See, baby, a true, faithful Christian does not have to tell you she's a Christian, because you will know it by the way she carries herself, and by the way she lives her life. We are supposed to win souls for Christ. How can we do that if there are no sinners around to teach the word of God? His word will always blanket you, so you keep working hard to provide for your children, and God will lead you to the right job for you," said Cynthia sternly.
"Yes, ma'am," smiled Kanesha and Malisha echoed her mother from the back seat causing them to laugh.
Against Byron's objections, Kanesha began working full-time at the bar and part-time at the dollar store. Byron was helping her take care of home, but the new Kanesha wanted to have her own money. She needed to feel as if she were trying to do something with her life. Though she loved and appreciated everything Byron was doing for her, Kanesha never wanted to be totally dependent on a man again. She had no intentions on working at the bar forever, but it was a good gig for the time being. After the talk she had with her mother, Kanesha didn't feel like a hypocrite working at the bar, but she did intend on putting in her two weeks notice soon. She was determined to find a job she could be proud of and prayed on it daily. She considered going back to school to earn a certificate or degree in the health field. She figured it would be a great first step toward providing her children with a better life.
Kanesha had been showing up for work early just to update Miss Yolanda on the way things in her life had improved since getting rid of Percy and attending church regularly.
"Girl, you been smiling for weeks now. It's good to finally see you happy."
"Miss Yolanda, I never thought my soul could feel so free. I'm taking things slow with Byron this time around, but being without a man in my bed every morning feels good," declared Kanesha. "The best part is we've become close friends and sex is not the foundation of our relationship."
"When it's right, a man can make heaven on earth seem possible, but baby ain't it good when you can have that feeling all by yourself?" Miss Yolanda hugged Kanesha and kissed her cheek like a proud parent might do on report card day. "So, is everything with you and Byron going that well?"
"Yes, ma'am, I think I can trust him this time. With the kids being gone most of the time, we've been able to spend a lot of time together. He's taken me to the movies, out to eat, shopping and even for walks through the rose garden at Mill Creek Park. The best part is I never have to ask him to spend time with me."
Kanesha was smiling from ear to ear and the sparkle in her eyes glistened brightly. Miss Yolanda and Kanesha hugged before returning their attention to the thirsty customers seated around the bar. It was Saturday night and the bar was busy. When Kanesha looked up from storing beer into the freezer, she gasped.
"What is he doing here?" This was her first time laying eyes on Percy since their violent break-up. Kanesha could have gone on with the rest of her life without laying eyes on Percy again but as small as Youngstown was, they were bound to bump into each other sooner or later.
"I hadn't noticed him come in," answered Miss Yolanda. "Do you want me to have Wilson put his sorry behind out?"
"Only if you expect me to serve him. I have nothing to say to Percy, and he has nothing to say to me." Kanesha glanced in Percy's direction and rolled her eyes at him before returning her attention to Miss Yolanda.
"Is Byron picking you up from work tonight?"
"Yes. He said he would probably be in tonight for a few drinks before closing time."
"Well, the last thing I want is for a fight to break out in here. I'll have Wilson throw Percy to the curb," laughed Miss Yolanda.
Kanesha watched Miss Yolanda walk through the crowd toward Wilson. Before the two could get back over to where Percy was seated, he had left on his own accord.
"Thank God he left before Byron got here," Kanesha whispered to herself.
Wilson didn't need to be asked to keep a watch on Percy. He had been keeping watch over Kanesha since he'd started working there. He was happy when Kanesha cut Percy from her life, but disappointment set in when it became obvious that Byron had taken his place. Wilson knew that Kanesha was selling herself short by having such low expectations.
Time flew by, and before Kanesha knew it, the D.J. announced last call for alcohol. Byron and his boy had arrived just in time to toss back a couple of drinks. Kanesha's heart smiled when Byron paid for their drinks instead of assuming they were free.
"Hey, sexy, we gon' be out in the car waiting for you, cool?" slurred Byron with a silly smile plastered to his face.
"Okay, I won't be long," promised Kanesha.
Wilson eyed the way Byron looked at Kanesha and couldn't help but feel jealous. For months Wilson had been waiting in the shadows, longing for Kanesha, watching while she settled for men he knew did not deserve her. Being a man of few words, Wilson felt the direct approach with Kanesha would be very difficult for him. He feared pouring out his heart to her, only to have the doors slammed shut in his face. Each night before closing his eyes, Wilson thanked God for the passing day and asked Him to bare watch over Kanesha and her children. Kanesha didn't seem to notice Wilson was alive, and that caused many sleepless nights for him.
"Wilson, do you hear me talking to you?" asked Miss Yolanda.
"I'm sorry, Miss Yolanda, what did you say?" Wilson answered, embarrassed. He was so deep in thought about Kanesha, that he had failed to hear Miss Yolanda and Kanesha calling his name.
"I don't know what you were thinking about, but it must be important," laughed Kanesha.
"I apologize for that. My mind was somewhere else. Did you ladies need anything else before we call it a night?" Wilson waited for a response.
"Wilson, you are always the gentleman. Men like you are becoming an endangered species," said Miss Yolanda.
"I think so too, Miss Yolanda. You better watch out, Wilson, because I just might scoop you up and marry you one day." Kanesha smiled at Wilson, making him blush.
If Wilson didn't know any better, he would have sworn they could read his mind. "All right, gang, the place is cleaned up, the drawers cashed out to the penny and the safe is locked up tight. Let's hit the road," said Miss Yolanda. "I don't know about the two of you, but I'm tired and my bed is calling out to me." She looked to Wilson. "Did you check both bathrooms to make sure they were empty?"
Wilson nodded in the positive.
Yolanda then looked to Kanesha. "Do you need a ride home tonight?" Miss Yolanda walked around the bar, turning off lights and turning on the alarm system.
"No, ma'am, Byron is outside waiting for me," replied Kanesha.
The three walked outside and headed toward the parking lot. Only three cars remained; Miss Yolanda's new Nissan Maxima, Wilson's old school Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Byron's souped up twenty year old Impala. Byron's car speakers were blasting the new Scarface CD. He appeared to be asleep with his head tilted back on the head rest.
"Is he asleep with the music playing that loud?" asked Miss Yolanda.
"He can sleep through a tornado if he has enough liquor inside of him," Kanesha replied. "I don't know how he does it, because my surroundings have to be as quiet as a church mouse for me to even doze off to sleep," joked Kanesha.
As usual, Wilson remained silent as the ladies talked amongst themselves. That is, until it became clear that Byron was not in the car alone.