Chapter 2
Later on in the evening, as Amaryllis slept, Michelle decided to return to the firm to finish paperwork she had put aside when she left to meet Amaryllis at the airport. She was in the middle of looking over a brief when she glanced at the eight-by-ten photograph of her fiancé.
Minister James Bradley was heaven sent and Michelle knew it. God confirmed that revelation shortly after Michelle set her eyes on him for the first time. James had swept Michelle off of her feet the moment he spoke to her.
Michelle picked up the silver-plated frame that embraced the photo of the man that would soon be her husband. Looking at James’ smile, the corners of Michelle’s own lips curled upward. There wasn’t a stress filled day when his dimples hadn’t come to her rescue. She kissed James’ picture as she reminisced about the day God answered her prayer one year ago. It all happened on a Sunday night at the Praise Temple Church of God. Michelle had stood in the vestibule after the radio broadcast, talking to her best friend, Jodie Frazier, when out of nowhere, a perfect gentleman approached her. He gently applied his opened palm against Michelle’s lower back, interrupting her in mid-sentence.
“Excuse me, I’ve been watching you for weeks and trying to get up the nerve to approach you. I’m drawn to your spirit and level of praise. Your true worship shows that you’re a woman after God’s own heart and I like that. And if no one has ever told you before, let me be the first to say that you are one beautiful black woman.”
This stranger’s words had literally knocked Michelle off of her feet. She had only been a member of Praise Temple Church of God for a few months and hadn’t become acquainted with many of the members. She certainly didn’t know the Adonis standing in front of her. Dark brown eyes, skin the color of burnt butterscotch, a freshly groomed goatee blended with a mustache that cascaded upward to side burns stood in Michelle’s presence. She almost lost her balance when she inhaled his cologne, Tiffany’s Man. Michelle recognized the scent. Last Christmas she’d bought a bottle for seventy-five dollars an ounce for her father.
The words that flowed from this gentleman’s lips had never been spoken to Michelle before. “Thank you,” she smiled.
He smiled in return. “What’s your name?”
Michelle saw deep dimples in each cheek and the whitest teeth she’d ever seen. His mother must’ve slapped braces on him at age five. Michelle immediately fell head over heels in love with a man whose name she didn’t know. When she realized his hand was still in place on her back she felt her body temperature rise fifty degrees. “Michelle Denise Price.”
His smile got wider. No doubt, he was expecting only a first name, but she had given him three. “I’m Minister James Bradley. It is certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Michelle Denise Price.”
James greeted Jodie, gave Michelle one last smile and walked away. Michelle’s eyes followed James as he entered the pastor’s office and closed the door behind him.
“Jodie, who was that angel?”
“James is Bishop Graham’s armor bearer. Whenever and wherever you see the Bishop, you see James. You’ve never noticed him before?”
“No. Is he dating anyone?”
“Not that I know of. James’ duties as an armor bearer have him so busy that no one can get close to him.”
“Well, I’m gonna have to do something about that.”
“I see stars in your eyes, Michelle. But you won’t get to James. He appears with Bishop Graham and disappears with him.”
“Oh, I’ll get to James,” Michelle said with confidence.
Driving home from church, Michelle couldn’t get James Bradley out of her mind. She muted the radio and talked to God. “What just happened back there, Lord? Is James the husband I’ve been praying for?”
She reminisced what James had said to her only moments earlier. “I’m drawn to your spirit and level of praise. You’re a woman after God’s own heart and I like that. And you are one beautiful black woman.”
Michelle couldn’t contain herself. She smiled at the recall of James’ words. “Oh God, can I please have him?”
MY DAUGHTER, I’VE JUST DEALT YOU A PROMISING HAND. IT’S UP TO YOU TO PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT.
The following Sunday morning, James was disappointed that he didn’t see Michelle at morning service. He had no clue where she was, but had a good idea who may know Michelle’s whereabouts. After the benediction, he sought out Jodie, who was making her way downstairs to the fellowship hall. “Praise the Lord, Sister Frazier.”
“Praise the Lord, Minister Bradley, how are you?” Jodie smiled.
“I’m fine, thank you. And how are you?”
“Sleep deprived,” Jodie chuckled.
“I can understand why. I just ran into your husband, Michael. He tells me that little Mya is quite active during the night hours.”
“Hmph, like he’d know with all the noise he makes, sawing logs.”
James laughed. “Listen, I was wondering if you know where your friend, Michelle, is.”
Jodie returned James’ smile. “Michelle decided to go to work today.”
“I see. What kind of work does she do?”
“She owns a law firm.”
His eyebrows shot up in the air. “Is that so?”
“Yes, Price & Associates. It’s on Vegas Drive downtown.”
The wheels in James’ head were turning. “Price & Associates on Vegas Drive. Okay, thanks a lot, Sister Frazier.”
James turned to walk away and Jodie called after him. “Shall I tell Michelle you asked about her?”
“If you like,” he smiled.
Monday morning just before noon, Michelle sat behind her desk looking over briefs when her telephone extension rang.
“Guess who asked your whereabouts in church yesterday?” Jodie said.
“Minister Bradley?” Michelle was hopeful.
“Yes. Apparently he’s into you just as much as you are into him.”
“That’s good to know, Jodie. He has the most gorgeous smile I’ve ever seen.”
“I can’t deny that. Hey, let’s meet for lunch.”
Michelle looked at the amount of paperwork on her desk and exhaled. “Sorry, I can’t. I’m preparing for a major trial next week. I’ve got tons of paperwork to—” Michelle abruptly stopped talking. Her eyes were fixed on the masculine figure standing in her doorway. James Bradley was present with a dozen roses in one hand, a picnic basket in the other, and that famous gorgeous smile on his face.
Jodie was still waiting on the other end of the telephone for Michelle to complete her sentence. “Hello? Michelle, are you there?”
Michelle couldn’t move. James walked over to her, set the picnic basket on top of her desk, gently took the telephone from her hand and spoke into the receiver. “This is James Bradley. I’m sorry that Miss Price can’t continue this conversation due to the fact that she’s about to be swept off her feet. She will be out of the office for the remainder of the day.”
Thinking back on that time caused Michelle’s heart to go pitter-patter. She let out a loud sigh, kissed James’ picture again, and placed it back on her desk. It was getting late and she still had to look over two more briefs before she went home to check on Amaryllis. Michelle was also excited that Amaryllis would finally meet her prince. Amaryllis’ past relationships with men were nothing to write home about. Michelle hoped that while she was visiting, Amaryllis would take notes and learn from her and James how a relationship between a man and a woman should be played out.