Part 24 (1/2)
”I didn't go to work today.”
”Why not?”
”I just didn't feel like it,” Tia struggled to get the words out. ”I just don't feel good.”
”I thought you just said you were fine.” Mavis was quiet for several seconds. ”Something don't feel right,” she said.
”I just don't feel good, Grandma. That's all.”
”Where's the pain at?”
Tia wiped her eyes. How could she tell her that the pain was not physical? What words could she use to describe the ache she felt in her soul? There were no words to describe it. Only tears.
”What's wrong, child?”
”It's just too much,” Tia said grabbing a tissue from the nightstand.
”What's too much?”
”Everything!” she cried out. ”The stuff that happened with Serenity, the stuff that's been happening with Lorenzo, the neigh-” she stopped. She hadn't divulged everything to her grandmother and mother. They did not know she'd been unfaithful to Lorenzo or that the neighbor who'd kidnapped Serenity was also the man she'd been unfaithful with.
”Give it to the Lord,” her grandmother said. ”You got to give it to the Lord. Whatever it is, let it go.”
”I know, Grandma,” she said wearily.
”How are Serenity and Lorenzo doing?”
Tia grabbed another tissue and wiped the remaining moisture from her eyes. ”Well,” she said, ”Lorenzo's getting counseling now at a Christian-based treatment center.”
”Because of those pills he's been taking?”
”Yes.”
”Praise the Lord,” Mavis said, ”because He is the true deliverer!”
Tia smiled slightly.
”And what about Serenity?”
”Serenity's at Bible Study right now, and I think she's getting back to her old self,” Tia tried to chuckle. ”I don't know if that's good or bad. But I'm trying to spend more time with her.”
”Tell my baby I said hi.”
”I will.”
”And tell her to call me sometimes. That girl don't never pick up the phone and call n.o.body.”
”I know,” Tia said. ”You're right. How's Mama doing?”
”She's doing all right. She's downstairs now keeping herself happy with all those flowers.”
Tia smiled.
”You know, you've got a lot to be thankful for,” her grandmother said. ”I know you're going through some rough times right now, and I'm not trying to diminish that. But it could be a lot worse. So if you can't be thankful for nothing else, be thankful for that.”
”I'll try, Grandma.”
”Yeah, and get rid of those secrets.”
Tia's eyebrows arched. Before she could say anything, Mavis continued.
”Secrets are a lot like sad souls. Both of them slowly eat at you from the inside, and either you gon' kill it or it's gon' kill you. It's your choice,” she said. ”It's always your choice.”
Serenity sat in the makes.h.i.+ft cla.s.sroom listening to the youth pastor at First Temple Church. The small room was filled to capacity with boys and girls ranging in age from twelve to seventeen. Everyone was seated at long tables or individual chairs as they began the weekly Bible Study.
It was hard for Serenity to stay focused in the chilly room, and she scooted closer to Cookie.
”I'm cold,” she said. ”Look.” She pointed to the many raised b.u.mps on her arm. ”I need a sweater.”
”Don't look at mine,” Cookie said. ”I told you to bring one.”
”Hey, you're cold?” Jonathan, the boy sitting behind Serenity, asked.
She exchanged looks with Cookie before answering him. ”Uh-huh,” she said.
”Here, you wanna wear my jacket?” he asked.
”Yeah,” Serenity said, waiting for him to take it off and give it to her.
He began to take off his jacket, then stopped. ”Psych!” he said loudly and began laughing.
”Ooh!” Serenity said as she threw her pencil at him.
He dodged the flying object and laughed again.
”Excuse me,” the youth pastor said, ”but can I get some quiet back there?”
”Sorry,” both Serenity and Jonathan said.
The youth pastor continued. ”Like I was saying, we are not perfect people. That's why we need a Savior.”
Some of Serenity's peers s.h.i.+fted in their seats.
”Just like you're not perfect,” he said. ”Neither are your parents.”
Serenity exchanged a look of doubt with Cookie.