For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Psalm 84: 11
"Hey little mama," Jabari greets Zora.
"Hey, what's up?"
"I was about to grab something to eat. Will you still be here?"
"Yeah…for a while. Then, I have to go to class."
"Okay. I'll be right back."
"Okay. Cool."
As Zora waits for Jabari, she continues to write her notes for her upcoming class. Then, she hears a voice called to her.
"Zora."
She looks up. It was Anton.
"What do you want, Anton?"
"I…I wanted to say…"Hi." "
"Hi."
She goes back to writing her notes. Anton feels like he is talking to a brick wall. Zora is very cold and uninviting. He senses that he walks into an awkward moment but he has to tell Zora how he feels about her.
Anton starts, "I miss you, Zora. If it was not going through this arranged marriage, we would still be together. I know you hate me for hurting you. I will not fight that argument. I hurt the love of my life but no matter what happens, you will always live in my heart."
Zora continues to write her notes and says Nothing. Anton eventually walks away. Her anger tries to fight her true emotions but her true emotions won. Zora puts her head down and begins to cry. She gently puts her hand on her stomach.
'I'm having a baby, Anton. Our baby,' Zora thinks to herself.
She takes a napkin from the dispenser to wipe her tears. Then, out of the blue, Jabari comes and sits with her.
"Z.Z., are you ok," Jabari asks.
"Yeah. I'll be fine."
"Is it about Anton, again? I mean it is hard to not see him around campus."
"No. I guess it's my hormones. I read that pregnant women cry from the littlest things."
"Well…ok. So…I guess this means you won't be here long, huh?"
"Yeah…"
"How long do you have until you leave Holy Chalice?"
"About a month and a half?"
"Okay."
"Why?"
Jabari is so nervous, he can feel his throat pulsing. However, he takes a deep breath with caution to the wind.
"…How would you feel if I told you that I had a plan to keep you in Holy Chalice?"
"What plan is that?"
"…Marriage," Jabari says with hesitation.
"Marriage? To whom?"
"…Me."
"You????? Jabari you're a great guy and all…but you're like a brother to me."
"No! It…It won't be a big deal. We'll get married at Metro Hall and when we graduate, we will get the marriage annulled."
"I don't know."
"Zora…"
"Yeah…"
"Do you want to leave?"
Zora looks at her friend and she can see the sadness and heartbreak in his eyes.
'Wow! Jabari is serious,' Zora thinks to himself.
"No," Zora finally replies.
"So let's get married! Besides, we don't have to live together and we don't have to have sex with each other."
"So…basically…this would be an open marriage?"
"Um…pretty much…Yup."
"O…ok. Wait. What about our parents? They are not going to agree with this plan, in an instant."
Meanwhile, Isaac comes to Zora's table with a breakfast platter.
"Dude, are you going to the electric chair? That's a lot of food," Jabari says.
"I'm a growing boy," Isaac explains, taking a bite out of his buttered toast, "That's what my mom tells me."
"Zora's a growing girl," Jabari mentions.
"Oh, do you---"
"---No thanks. However, I will take that apple for later," Zora replied, grabbing the apple from his tray.
"So what's going on," Isaac ask, "Did I miss anything?"
"Why do you ask," Zora asks?
"It looked like the two of you were having an intense conversation."
"Well," Jabari started, sitting back in his chair, "I asked Z.Z. to marry me?"
Isaac almost chokes from the news, he has to drink his orange juice to wash his food down.
"What did you say," Isaac ask?
"I asked Z.Z. to marry me," says Jabari.
"For real? You're marrying Jabari," Isaac asked, "Cool! Now you can forget Ajay."
"I didn't say "yes"," Zora intercepts, "Plus, it was more like a suggestion than an actual proposal."
"Why not," Isaac asked?
"We cannot get married without telling our parents."
"Yeah, that's right…What if I ask your mother for your hand in marriage? It would be more respectable that way," suggests Jabari.
"Well, my mom likes you," adds Zora, "and this would be a burden off her shoulders, knowing that her daughter and grandchild would no longer be a "single parent" unit…ok."
"Okay. Can we do it tonight?"
"No. Not tonight; she's working late at the hospital tonight."
"So when?"
"I don't know. I'll let you know before I get fatter."
Zora looks at the time and sees it's time for her to get to class.
"Guys, I have to go," Zora, said, "I will catch up with you later, okay?"
"Okay," said Jabari.
"Later," Isaac replied, eating the rest of his breakfast.
"Thanks for the apple."
After shoveling more for in his mouth, Isaac said, "I don't get it."
"Get what?"
"This marriage thing with Zora. What's the deal?"
"The deal is if we get married, she can finish college."
"Man, I will never understand these rules in this school. It's a great school but my family had to go through so much to get me here."
"Yeah? I thought you didn't have a father."
"I don't but I have an uncle who made a fake birth certificate for me."
"Word?"
"Yup. He was able to use the same paper, manufactured in Puerto Rico, typed it up, and ta-da! Instant birth certificate. My uncle put his name and his wife's name as my parents. I have to verify that they were my parents. So, I had to fly to Puerto Rico, when the recruiters from the school came to visit my aunt and uncle so that it will show that I was their son. A few days later, after the recruiters left, I came back home. It was crazy, man."
"It sounds crazy. Right now. Zora needs a husband. I want to marry Zora to keep her in school; it has nothing to do with love. It's all about friendship."
"That's great but how could you marry someone you do not love. I plan to marry Fabiola…someday."
"I do love her, as my friend."
"What did your mother say?"
"She said, "NO."
"What if you and Zora want to go your separate ways?"
"We will get an annulment."
"I don't know, man. I hope it works out."
"Me too."
For Christians, Sunday is a day of rest. Most businesses are closed on this day, including Newkirk's. Therefore, when Christopher is not being a successful proprietor of his own business and is a doting husband and father…he is playing basketball with Isham and his childhood friends in his childhood basketball court.
It is a weekly ritual for Christopher and his friends. After church, on Sunday, the men will get together and play a few rounds of basketball. This is their day to bond and is themselves. Christopher and his friends are playing ball, joking with each other, and having their usual playful banter. They always have a great time and always work up a huge appetite. They gather their things and leave the basketball court to have some lunch.
"Man, I am starving," Christopher says, "What would like to eat?"
"I am craving burgers and fries," Isham says.
"Sounds good to me. Hey Alex, I will cover your tab," Chris says.
"Oh no. I'll eat something later," Father Rector rejects.
"Stop it. You always say that. Let me treat you…please."
"…ok. You twisted my arm. I have no---"
"You could pay me back by being my good friend."
"…Deal."
The friends start walking down the block to the nearest diner.
"Great game, gentlemen," Isham says sarcastically.
"Gentlemen? We were playing basketball, not golf," says Father Rector.
Father Alexander Rector is one of Christopher's childhood friends. He and Christopher have known each other since they were altar boys. He performs Christopher and Valentine's wedding.
"True. True. So what made you join the priesthood," Isham ask.
"I don't know. I guess it was embedded in me since I was a boy," Father Rector starts, "My parents thought that being an altar boy would keep me out of trouble; I thought it would bore me out of my mind. Then, I met Chris and he made it more bearable. Next thing I know, we became buddies."
"Cool…but why did you not become a priest like your homeboy, Chris," Isham ask?
"Being an altar boy was okay because of Alex but the priesthood was not in my plan," Chris says, "I wanted to be a businessman. Then, along the way, I met Val. I thought I had to choose between my dreams and my dream girl but Valentine has been more than my wife and the mother of my children. She has been a supporter, my partner, and my best friend. Valentine is my "everything"."
"There was no ill will," Father Rector adds, "We may lead different paths in our lives but our friendship is still strong. I performed their wedding ceremony and as you can see, I slay him on the court."
"Whatever, Whatever. I let you slay me. It would be right if I school a priest on the court," Chris says jokingly.
They all laugh.
"Wow, man," Isham says, feeling sentimental, "I hope the woman of my dreams is as great as Val."
"Patience is a virtue, my friend," Father Rector advises.
"There is someone I…sort of like."
"Really? Who?"
"…never mind. You'll laugh at me."
"No, we won't. Tell us," badgers Christopher.
"I…I don't know."
"Ish, you have already opened the bag. Let the cat out of it," Father Rector said.
"Okay. Okay. Fine. It's…Orchid."
"Orchid?"
"Yeah."
"…are you referring to "Goldilocks", the waitress at my bar?"
"That's the one."
"Are you serious, dude?"
"I'm dead serious."
"Who is Orchid," Father Rector ask?
"Orchid is one of the waitresses at the bar. She's a sweet girl and very pretty."
"What's wrong with her?"
"There is nothing wrong with her. I don't think she and Ish are compatible."
"Opposites attract, Chris," Isham retaliates.
"Isham has a point. Opposites attract every day and if two opposites are attracted to each other, it is no one else's business," Father Rector says.
"I guess you're right. I'm sorry, Ish," Christopher apologizes.
"It's cool," Isham accepts, "it's your opinion."
"So what brought on this attraction to Orchid, besides her looks?"
"You know that picture of Jesus on the wall by the front door?"
"Yeah."
"She was so intrigued by it because she never saw Jesus that way."
"That way? I don't understand."
"I don't want to get into details but…all of her life, she was taught that Jesus was a being to be feared. She was never taught that Jesus was a loving and forgiving God."
"…so you are attracted to her because of her negative outlook on Jesus?"
"No. I saw…a beautiful human being who was misguided and mistreated so badly. Now, she only wants to start her life over with a clean slate, leaving her past behind her. I want to be part of her new beginning."
"That's very beautiful, Ish but…what if the feeling is not mutual?"
"Well…I hope it is but if it's not…I hope we could stay friends."
They finally reach the diner. They find a booth and proceed to look at the menu. After a few minutes, a waitress comes to their table and their choice of drink. Chris orders a soda, Isham orders a milkshake, and Father Rector orders ice water. The waitress takes their order for their drinks and asks if they are ready to order their food. They're still indecisive. So, the waitress leaves the table to give them more time.
"Wow. Everything looks so good," Isham says, looking at the menu.
"Yeah. Hey! This Chicken Club Sandwich looks good," Christopher says, "I'll have that. What are you having, Alex?"
"I haven't had a cheeseburger and French fries, in a long time. I'll have that."
"That sounds awesome. I'll have the same thing," Isham says.
"Well, my son," Father Rector says, "I hope it works out for you and this young woman."
Isham's mind began to wander….
The sound of high heels shoes attached to a pair of smooth, silky legs walked towards his table. Then, a soft, dainty hand placed a tall milkshake on the table.
"Here's your milkshake, sir," a dainty voice said.
"Thank you," Isham said, as he looked at the waitress but he had to do a double-take. He was not only shocked that Orchid was waiting on him but the fact that she was half-naked. A white orchid laid in the golden ringlets of her hair. She wore a silk, white teddy with matching high heels.
"Orchid…hey baby."
"Hello, Isham. I am so glad to see you."
"Not as much as I am to see you."
"Is there anything else I can…do for you?"
"Oh yeah, baby. There's something I can do for you."
Orchid giggled…
"Ish…Isham…Isham Mejia," Christopher exclaims!
"Huh???"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah…why?"
"You had a humongous, goofy smile on your face. It was creepy."
"Oh. Sorry about that."
"He was probably thinking about that waitress, Orchid. Am I right," Father Rector concludes?
Isham blushes.
"Hey, guy," Father Rector says, "I did not mean to make you feel bad."
"Yeah," Christopher adds, "We were only yanking your chain. Quick being so sensitive."
"I'm not sensitive…but I dig this chick. She is not like these other chicks; she's special," Isham confirms.
"I don't know, Ish. Mixing business with pleasure is a deadly combination…a rule people foolishly ignore. I don't want you and Orchid to turn my bar into a "real-life" Soap Opera."
"Chris, I haven't asked her out on a date…not yet, at least."
Christopher shakes his head.
"…I still don't know about this, Ish but promise me one thing. I only ask that you and Orchid leave your romance outside the bar. Got it," Christopher says.
"Fine. Fine."
"I mean it!"
"I hear you. I hear from you."
After having lunch, the three friends leave the diner together. Isham looks at his watch and sees it is almost 2 pm.
"Hey guys, I have to go," he tells Christopher and Father Rector.
"So soon? Where are you going," Christopher asks?
"I…I have to meet with someone."
"Is it Orchid?"
"No, man…look…I'll see you later."
Isham hurries the opposite direction to the bus stop.
As Isham runs to catch the bus, Christopher shouts, "Okay. Remember you have work tomorrow. Don't be late!"
Christopher and Father Rector continue walking the rest of the way.
"What is going on with Isham," Father Rector ask?
"I wish I had the answer," Christopher says, "He has been acting very strangely and being very irresponsible with work."
"Do you think it has anything to do with Orchid?"
"No. Ish's weird behavior started before I hired Orchid."
"Maybe he is still mourning over Nevin."
"I don't know the situation but he needs to fix it."
"You have to have faith and keep being a good friend to him."
"Alex, I have been more than patient…whoa."
Suddenly, Christopher sees Orchid walking into a motel.
"What? What is wrong," Father Rector asked?
"It's her," Christopher exclaims!
"Who?"
"Orchid, my waitress. She saw her walk into that hotel."
"Why would she be at a motel?"
"I don't know. Not many good things happen at a motel and she is too much of a nice girl. What is she doing there?"
"Does she have to work tomorrow?"
"I think so."
"Well, if she works tomorrow, I think you should talk with her. If she is doing something illegal, not only she is in danger but others might be in danger too."
"Yeah. You're right."
"Okay people! It's time again to break into groups," Sister Mary Hoyt announces.
It is the "Biblical Studies" class, later that day. Jabari, Isaac, and Anton form their group to discuss and analyze the "Pentateuch". Instead, they discuss and analyze Anton's potential love connection.
"That was quite a shin-dig your friends and family put on for you and um…your wife," Isaac says sarcastically.
"She's not my wife, man," Anton says offensively, "and it was okay."
"Are you kidding? Fab said that it felt like she was in a Bollywood movie."
"She watches those?"
"I was shocked too."
"Oh! My homeboy told me about those movies," Jabari adds, "He had to do a research paper on the culture of India. So, not only he went to the library to do the research, but he also watched the movies."
"Oh really? So what did he get on his paper," Isaac ask?
"He aced it! Now, he's hooked on Bollywood."
They laugh.
"It's nice to know that your friend appreciates my culture," Anton says.
"He watches the Bollywood movies because he loves the women, in the movies," Jabari confesses, "Now, he tells me that he wants to marry a girl from India a country surrounding India."
"Does your friend know that we are not all the same?"
"What do you mean?"
"For example…an Indian, a Bengali, and a Pakistani are different. They are from the Southeast but different countries."
"You have a point but I don't think he reads too much into that. He likes that type of woman because they are exotic to him."
Isaac and Anton laugh.
"I cannot lie," Anton agrees, "the women in my culture are…hot…especially ones with British accents."
Isaac and Jabari look at each other with dismay.
"So, your "soon-to-be" is British," Jabari asks.
"…yeah…well, she was born in the UK, shortly after her family migrated from India. Her older siblings were very young when they came to the United Kingdom," Anton explains.
"And…you think that she is hot," Isaac asks?
"…I guess…" Anton confesses.
"In other words, you like her," Jabari determines.
"She's okay."
"Ark, if you're attracted to her, it's okay."
'I bet it is okay,' Isaac thinks to himself, 'marrying your homeboy's ex-girlfriend who's having his baby…Damn!'
"Besides, she is going to be your wife and the mother of your children," Jabari concludes.
'Zora already blessed that pond,' Jabari thinks to himself.
"What's her name anyway," Isaac asks.
"Nataline."
"Nataline. That's different," Isaac says.
"Wow! That's new! I've heard of Natalie or Natasha," confesses Jabari.
"So, you like her because she has a British accent. British accent? I thought she was Indian," Isaac says.
"Nataline is Indian but she lived here in the city until her family moved to the United Kingdom."
"Oh, okay …so how long is she staying in the states?"
"A year."
"A year? What about school?"
"Nataline is taking a year off from school."
"Oh. So, you like her because of her accent and she's hot."
"…yeah…"
"When you danced with her, did she come across as stuck-up, down-to-Earth, or a tomboy?"
"Isaac," Jabari exclaims.
"What?"
"You should know. You were there."
"Yeah but…Fabiola and I did not get the chance to talk to Tony because he was too preoccupied with Natalie."
"Na-tan-line…and she was nice. She seemed to be just as nervous as me."
"So now you met the woman who you are going to marry, what happens next," Jabari ask?
"We will go out on dates and spend some time together, until the engagement…with a chaperone, of course."
"A chaperone," Isaac asks, "So…you and she are not allowed to…"
Anton shook his head and says, "Not until we are married."
"Oh no. I can't and will not do that. See, when a man finds candy as delectable as my Fabiola or in your case, Anton, Zora, and…G.G., he cannot help but take a bite."
The three friends laugh.
"True but if a man waits for the right time to take that bite, it would be more meaningful," Anton explains.
"Drop that science, Tony. Drop that science," supports Jabari.
"What are you saying," Isaac asks, feeling somewhat offended, "I love Fab less because I did not wait, until our wedding night? She was down, too!"
"I am telling you how it is in my culture. Besides, our divorce rate is very low."
Anton realizes that he just predicted his future.
'We might be together for the rest of our lives,' Anton thinks to himself.
"So when is the date," Isaac asks?
"…Huh? Oh. I do not know yet. Maybe this weekend," Anton replies.
"Are you excited," Jabari asks?
"Sort of," Anton says, "...honestly, I am a nervous wreck."
"Don't sweat it, Tony," Jabari advises, "Think of her as another girl and not your future wife. That way, you won't be so nervous."
"You…think that will work?"
"I don't see why not but it's only a suggestion."
Anton had wakened from his nap on his family's couch. He sat up and stretched his arms. Suddenly, he heard the water from the bathroom.
'Who is in the bathroom,' he thought.
"Mommy…," Anton called out, "Daddy…Monik…"
There was no answer. Anton's curiosity began to grow. He arose from the couch and started his path to the bathroom to satisfy his curiosity. As he walked towards the bathroom door, the sound of the water became louder and louder. When he opened the door, he saw a woman with long braided hair, sitting on the edge of the tub and bathing a baby. When the woman turned around, Anton became white as a ghost.
"Hiya, sleepyhead," Nataline said when she turned around.
"Nataline? What are you doing here?"
"We live together, silly."
Anton was puzzled.
"Come. I need help bathing the baby."
"A baby?"
"Oh come on Anton. Quit messing about now."
The baby playfully splashed in the water.
Nataline said to the baby, "Yeah. Daddy's messing about now. Yeah…yeah."
"I am not…what you said. Is…this for real?"
"Look, if you're going to mess about, forget it."
"Alright. Alright. I am sorry."
Anton walked towards the bathtub. As he walked closer and closer to the tub, his eyes grew wide to the size of a dinner plate.
"Hi daddy," the baby said…
…Anton immediately opens his eyes and jumps up from the couch. He breathes heavily and quickly places his hand over his heart because it's beating hastily.
'Damn. What the hell was that about,' he says.
Anton staggers to the window to get some fresh air. The cool air caresses his face as it obliges the follicles of his hair to dance. It soothes his heart to its normal rhythm. However, his heart is still at a tug-of-war between Zora and Nataline and his head is wrapped with confusion from his dream.
'It's so hard to let go of Zora; she is…and always will be my first true love…and yet…I'm becoming more and more attracted to Nataline,' Anton thinks to himself, "O Lord, please show my heart the direction to my rightful path. Might as well. Nataline is going to be my wife, I guess…and mother of my children.'
Anton takes a deep breath and walks away from the window and into the kitchen. He goes into the refrigerator and takes a small bottle of juice. After taking a drink, he takes a deep breath. He is still trying to process that dream. What does it mean? Should it mean anything?
"Anton," cried out a voice!
"Huh," Anton exclaims, as he turned to see the owner of that deep voice! He realized it was his father, Agnelo Braganza.
"Oh…hey daddy," greets Anton.
"Are you okay," Agnelo asks with concern?
"Sure."
Anton takes another drink from his juice.
"Hey, are there any more of those little juices in the icebox," Agnelo ask?
"It is called a refrigerator, daddy," replies Anton.
"Refrigerator…icebox…the same thing," Agnelo Braganza replies, opening the refrigerator door.
Before he goes to retrieve the item in the refrigerator, Agnelo warns Anton, "By the way, do not tell mommy. She thinks I drink all of the little juices and I leave none for her. She would have my head."
Anton shook his head. After retrieving a juice of his own, Agnelo closes the refrigerator door and popped open the top immediately. After taking a drink, he noticed something was troubling his son.
"So, what's on your mind," Agnelo asks?
"Nothing. What makes you say that?"
"You are my son. I have known you, since birth."
"Well, I had this…strange dream about Nataline."
"Really. What was it about?"
"She was giving our baby a bath."
"A baby? A baby!!! It is a sign for the Lord! A "baby" dream! What a wonderful sign! I knew you and Natalinei would be a perfect match."
Agnelo places his juice on the table. He is so overjoyed, he grabs Anton's head and gave him a big kiss on his forehead.
Agnelo cups his face and says, "Ah my son! I cannot wait until you and my future daughter-in-law bless us with grandchildren. Was it a boy or a girl?"
"I…I do not know. I did not get a good look."
"Oh, no matter. Let's pray that he or she will be blessed with good health, intelligence, and beauty. I remember vividly the days your mommy birth you and Monik. What a sight. You and your sister were perfect in every way. Now, you have grown an honorable young man like your father and are on the verge of starting a family of your own. As for Nataline…she is growing to be a beautiful and dutiful young lady. Soon, we will be arranging for her to be married."
'This is a wonderful sign,' Nataline thinks to himself, 'the accusation of Anton being the father of another woman's baby has to be a fallacy. Thank you, Father, for answering my prayers.'
Agnelo pats his son on his back. Anton gives his father a faint smile.
"Now that you have told this beautiful sign from God, I could enjoy my drink. Let's make a toast," Agnelo says, raising his juice bottle in the air.
Anton is so overwhelmed but he raises his juice bottle in the air with his father.
"Let's make toast…," Agnelo starts, "to new beginnings of love, laughter, and happiness."
"Cheers."
They cling their bottles together and drink their juices.
"Aaahhh," Agnelo replies, "So satisfying."
Agnelo then proceeds to leave the kitchen, leaving his son alone with his thoughts. When his father finally left, Anton put his head down on the table.
"Don't forget," Agnelo exclaims, popping his head back into the kitchen, "Don't tell mommy about the little juices."
Anton lifts his head, turns to his father, and says, "I won't daddy."
When Agnelo goes off to enjoy his drink, Anton sits at the kitchen table. He cannot shake the image of the baby out of his mind.
Anton thinks to himself, 'How could anyone understand the baby in our dream looked exactly like Zora? I…I don't understand.'