And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25-26
After their little meeting at the bar, Valentine and Christopher are not as loving to each other, as usual. They have been distant from one another while going through the motions of their day. Valentine takes care of the children and home, while her husband, Christopher, takes care of the bar.
Like any other weekday, Valentine and her children carry on with their ritual until bedtime. After everyone has their dinner and their bath, Yvonne-Leigh goes into her room. Meanwhile, Archer plays with his toys in the living room, while his mother watches television. During the commercials, Valentine goes to check on her daughter. Her daughter, Yvonne-Leigh, confides herself in her room for the past few days. Valentine knocks on her daughter's door.
"Yeah," Yvonne-Leigh calls out from the other side of the door.
"It's mommy," replies Valentine, "Are you ok?"
"Yes."
When Valentine opens the door, she cannot believe her eyes.
"Yvonne-Leigh, what have done to your room," Valentine ask?
"I'm working on a special project, but I'll clean it up before bedtime," Yvonne-Leigh assures her mother.
"Ok, but remember to clean this room thoroughly before bed."
"Yes, mommy."
Valentine looks around her daughter's bedroom floor; she sees all of the construction paper, magic markers, crayons, colored pencils scattered all over the floor.
"Um…sweetheart," Valentine says, "it looks like you've been working hard on this project. What is it?"
"It's a gift, mommy, for a special person," Yvonne-Leigh says.
"Really? That's very sweet, angel. Who is this?"
"Uncle Nevin."
Valentine is touched. Her little girl takes it upon herself to make a gift for Nevin. She feels terrible for not taking her to the funeral to say "good-bye" correctly.
"Oh…Vonni…your Uncle Nevin would love your gift," Valentine says, "In fact, we will drive to the cemetery and place it on his grave, ok?"
Yvonne-Leigh is puzzled by her mother's suggestion.
"Mommy, is that where people go to get better and come back from the dead," ask Yvonne-Leigh?
"No, silly. A cemetery is a place where dead people are buried. They never come back to life."
"They…they don't."
"No. Uncle Nevin is never coming back home. He found a new home in heaven, but we can still take your pretty little gift to his grave."
Yvonne-Leigh is immediately saddened by that statement.
Valentine says, "Now, remember. I want this room clean before bedtime. Is that clear?"
"…yes…"
Valentine finally leaves the room to join her son, Archer, in the living room. Meanwhile, Yvonne-Leigh is still in shock and sad by the news that Nevin was never coming back home.
Later that night, Archer fell asleep on the couch next to his mother. She turns off the television and puts the little boy into his bed with his Glow-worm. After she closes Archer's door, she goes to check on her daughter. When Valentine opens the door, Yvonne-Leigh's room is more in disarray than the prior visit; the gift that Yvonne-Leigh diligently put together is somehow destroyed. Valentine is upset with Yvonne-Leigh, but she finds her daughter, crying and sitting on her knees with her head down and her back towards her mother.
"Vonni…," she calls to her softly, slowly walking towards Yvonne-Leigh, "What happened to your project?"
Her daughter continues to cry.
"Vonni, …are you ok," the mother asks, "Are you hurt?"
There is still no reply, only crying.
Suddenly, Yvonne-Leigh feels a soft touch on her shoulder from her mother. She quickly jumps up and faces her mother with tears in her eyes.
"IT'S NOT TRUE," cries Yvonne-Leigh, "HE IS COMING BACK HOME! UNCLE NEVIN IS COMING BACK FROM THE DEAD LIKE JESUS, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE HAPPY AGAIN!"
"Honey, please…," Valentine says, reaching to hold her daughter's hands, but her daughter pulled away from her, "Vonni, Uncle Nevin is dead, and he cannot come back from the dead. Besides, your brother is asleep, and I do not want you to wake him."
"I don't care. You're a liar!!"
"Vonni….try to understand---"
"I do understand," Yvonne-Leigh says, sniffling and wiping her tears with her bare hands, "You…you're saying these things because you don't want him to come back home."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is! You're a mean mommy, and I hate you!"
Yvonne-Leigh covers her face with her hands and continues to cry. Hearing those words from her daughter hurts Valentine's heart. However, Valentine does not get angry; Valentine knows that her daughter is hurt and confused, but she does not know how to help her daughter.
"Vonni…Vonni…I love you. I love you no matter what you say."
Valentine tries to hold back her tears as her daughter continues to cry.
Valentine kneels on the floor with her little girl and says, "…I miss Uncle Nevin too. When mommy…when mommy heard the news about your Uncle Nevin, we were all unfortunate that Uncle Nevin died. Daddy, Cori, Manny, Tina…were all sad too. We wish he would come back home too, but…he is not coming back and…that not only makes you sad but it makes everyone else sad too."
Yvonne-Leigh turns to her mother with her face saturated with tears.
"Does…Tina, Cori…and…and Manny know he's not coming home," Yvonne-Leigh says sadly?
"…yes, sweetheart…"
Yvonne-Leigh begins to cry again. Valentine gently takes her daughter's tiny hands and gently pulled Yvonne-Leigh closer to her.
"I feel sad for them because they don't have a daddy anymore."
"No…but you and Archer still have a daddy, and even though you don't see him that much…he loves us very much."
"Mommy…I…I'm sorry I called you mean and…and…and I hate you."
The little girl hangs her head and cries in shame. Valentine gently wraps her arms around her child, caressing her long, champagne blonde hair.
"It's ok, sweetheart," Valentine replies as she consoled Yvonne-Leigh.
"I want Uncle Nevin to come home so…so we can all be happy again…and…and…I can play with Tina, Manny, and Cori again."
"I know, baby…I know," Valentine replies.
"Will I get to play with them again?"
Valentine wonders about the triplets' well-being too.
"…I don't know…"
The next day, the staff at Newkirk's preps and cleans before opening the doors. However, certain people who are scheduled to work were not present. Christopher becomes concerned about this matter.
"Has anyone seen "Goldilocks," Christopher asks?
His staff is awestruck.
"Do you mean Orchid," Johan ask?
"Yeah. Has anyone seen Orchid?"
Everyone shakes their heads.
"Maybe she is running late," Johan assumes.
Cristopher shakes his head and says with frustration, "Well, lateness must be contagious because Isham is running late, too."
He has no choice but to get the bottles of alcohol, straws, napkins, drinking glasses, and the fountain ready to serve the patrons. As he works, he prays that Isham and Orchid show up for work, but they failed to appear.
When he is done, Christopher announces with frustration, "Someone, please let me know when they arrive; I greatly appreciate it."
He goes into his office, feeling concerned about Orchid and frustrated with Isham. When he comes into his office, Christopher plops down at his desk and takes a deep breath. Suddenly, the phone rings.
"Hello," Christopher answers abruptly.
"Hey, Chris! It is…Father Rector."
"Oh…hey…how are you?"
"Very concern."
"Me too. Orchid and Isham are missing and getting worried about them."
"I cannot speak for Isham's whereabouts, but I can speak for Orchid."
"Alex…dude…what happened to Orchid? Is she ok?"
"Orchid is fine. I am sorry that I worried you. I should have called you last night."
"I have been looking for her all afternoon. Is she ok?"
"She is fine now."
"Now? What do you mean?"
"Orchid revealed to me a lot about herself."
"Did she tell you she has no place to live, and she was abused by her parents?"
"Yes, she did tell me those things. However, she told me something else."
"What did she tell you?"
Father Rector took a deep breath.
"…did you know that she is only fifteen years of age?"
"WHAT!!!!! ARE KIDDING ME????? If you're yanking my chain, this is not cool."
"No, Chis. It is true. Orchid is fifteen years old."
"Fifteen? Fifteen? OH MANN!!! Are you kidding me???"
"No, Chris. I wish this was a joke."
"I don't believe it!!! She lied about her age. Why would she do that? That little girl could have gotten me in trouble with the law, and that would have been the end of my dream."
"Hey. Hey. Chris, I know you are upset, and you have every right to be upset. However, Orchid was in a bad situation, and she sought refuge for you. You and the rest of the staff showed her that the world is not completely evil and sinful. She told me that the other day, Isham showed her a loving and forgiving side of God."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes."
Christopher is trying to take in all of this new information. Orchid is a teenage runaway.
"Al…Father, you don't understand. Orchid is a minor; she could have gotten me in BIG trouble with the law. My business would have over, and my family and I would probably have to live on welfare."
"Chris, relax. None of that stuff happened."
"Father…you don't understand. I am not allowed to hire minors to work, especially in a bar, surrounded by alcohol."
"I know. Orchid knows the error of her ways, and she is deeply sorry. However, you must try to understand, Orchid was lost."
"I would have found her somewhere to go."
"Where, Chris? Where were you going to send this girl?"
"I…I don't know."
"Let me ask you something. What made you believe Orchid was of legal age? Did she tell you?"
"…no."
"Why?"
"Well…I assumed---"
"OH! I see. You assume she was older than her actual age, and whatever age she wrote on the employment form, you accept it as the truth…am I right?"
"I guess."
"Let me ask you another question. While Orchid worked at Newkirk's, did she show any kind of irresponsible behavior, including intoxication?"
"No, I guess."
"You guess?"
"…Ok. Ok. You're right. I hate it when you are right. Where is Orchid now?"
"I took Orchid to the Saint Dymphna Counseling Center. She is in the inpatient program."
"Inpatient program? Why?"
"Years and years of abuse from her parents. Plus, she is homeless and an orphan. Due to her age and state of being, foster care is probably an option."
"I thought they only had an outpatient program."
"No. The counseling center had inpatient and outpatient programs."
"Oh. You know…something is still bothering me?"
"What's that?"
"How did she know about "jobs"? She told me she never left her home."
"Well, her father was the breadwinner. He was the only one who was employed."
"…and the "Help Wanted" sign."
"Bingo."
"Did you try getting in contact with her parents?"
"I did…after literally pulling teeth to get the phone number out of her."
"…and…"
Father Rector takes a deep breath.
"Let's say it was a very…interesting conversation," Father Rector confesses, "Overall, I do not think they cared."
"Too bad."
"I hate to say it, but I think she is better off without them. When I spoke to her mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby are on a whole different wavelength from a…religious perspective."
"Let me guess...religious fanatics."
"Yes. My parents' teachings of the Bible are darker and more restricted. However, she will no longer have to worry about that. Orchid is in a safer and more caring place where she could, in time, find peace with her inner demons and herself."
"So she was right about her parents. Are people in the inpatient program allowed to have visitors?"
"Sure. The inpatient program is similar to a hospital with visiting hours and all."
"Ok. I will try to see Orchid in the morning."
"I am sure she will like that."
"Hello," answers Chauncey on the phone.
"Hey, Chauncey, it's Sabine."
Chauncey rolls his eyes with disgust; he is not looking forward to hearing from her.
"Are we still on for our date tonight," she asks?
"Um…yeah," Chauncey confirms, "Absolutely! I thought we could have dinner at "Magdalena's Kitchen."
"Oh, this sounds nice."
"I'm glad you think so because there's something important, I need to tell you."
Sabine's eyes light up like a light bulb. Is it possible that perhaps that Chauncey wants to propose marriage to her?
"Really? Like what," she asks happily?
"Tonight, baby. Telling you over the phone would be…very impersonal."
"Ok…Baby."
Sabine blows Chauncey a kiss over the phone, but Chauncey is turned off by it.
"I'll see you then," he insists.
"Ok. Bye, Chance."
"Bye, Sabine," Chauncey replies and hangs up the phone.
Later on that night, they meet for dinner at "Magdalena's Kitchen." "Magdalena's Kitchen" is one of the many upscale restaurants in the city. A person who made a modest living would have to schedule about a month in advance for a reservation. However, a person, like Chauncey Francis, who made more than a decent living, has the advantage of getting a reservation a week in advance. Chauncey and Zora arrive at the restaurant, the couple has to wait for a few minutes, but Sabine is getting impatient to complain.
"This is ridiculous," Sabine said with disgust, "What kind of place is this?"
"Sabine…this is a trendy restaurant," Chauncey replies calmly.
"Half of the people sitting in this restaurant, don't belong here. They need to go back to the ghetto and enjoy their greasy, $2.00 chicken dinner because that is all they are worth."
Sabine is the only one laughing at her insult. She looks at her boyfriend, who is not amused and quite embarrassed by her behavior.
"What is wrong with you? Laugh! It's funny," Sabine says, with a punch to his arm.
Sabine punches him so hard, he almost fell on the door. When he gains his balance, Chauncey looks at her with disgust.
"What now? Are you going to cry," she teases, "Aww, did I hit my baby too hard? Aww, I'm sorry, but you have to be a man. That was nothing. I could hit harder than that, but I won't do it. Do you know? I need to teach you how to take a punch. You don't know how to take a punch, especially from a woman. That's a shame, but that's ok. I still love you. I had to learn how to fight from my Father and my brothers. They told me that I was not going to grow up as a punk who cannot defend herself…"
Chauncey has to get away from his date for a minute. He goes to speak to the hostess.
"…Hey, where are you going," Sabine ask, as Chauncey walked away from her?
"Excuse me, miss. Is our table available," Chauncey ask.
"What is the reservation's name?"
"Chauncey Francis."
The hostess looks up his name on the list.
"Ah, here you are. Right, this way, please."
"Thank you, but I need to get my date."
"Of course."
As the hostess waits for the couple, Chauncey goes to retrieve Sabine. She is sitting on the bench, staring at herself in her compact mirror.
"Sabine," he softly calls her, "Sabine…Sabine."
Then, he softly taps her on her shoulder; Sabine jumps out of her skin.
"Boy, you scared me half to death," she exclaims, "Why did you leave me, while I was talking to you?"
"Our table is ready…dearest."
"It's about time. You need to put in a complaint about this place. The service is terrible."
"Sabine, it is not that serious."
"The hell is," Sabine replies.
She marches to the hostess, and Chauncey walks behind her.
"Excuse me, but I like to put in a complaint about this place," Sabine rants to the hostess.
"What seems to be the problem," the hostess ask?
Before Sabine has the chance to rant like a raging lunatic, Chauncey interjects, "Um…I am so sorry, but we understand that it tends to get busy."
Sabine is in awe.
The hostess replies, "Well, it was about to apologize to me, but thank you for understanding. Please, right this way."
Sabine and Chauncey walk with the hostess to their table, which is set for two people. They sit at their table. The hostess is very kind to the couple, but Sabine continues to give dirty looks until the hostess leaves to tend to other guests.
"Why did you apologize to her," Sabine ask angrily.
"It is not her fault," Chauncey, replies, defending the hostess.
"She works here. She is part of the staff here. Therefore, it is her fault."
"Sabine…"
"Sabine, what?"
"I am not going to let you do this to me."
"Do what? Embarrass you? Please. The only person who should be embarrassed is me."
"Are you kidding me?"
"You were upset about telling a joke. You cried like a girl from a little tap. Then, you want to play peacemaker to someone who is clearly at fault."
"Whoa! First and foremost, you were not joking. You were being insulted. Second, when did I cry?"
"You cried when I tapped you."
"I did not shed one tear when you HIT me."
"I tapped you."
"You hit me. My arm is still throbbing."
"Fine. I'm sorry I hit you, big baby."
"That's another thing. I am more man than you will EVER imagine in your miserable life. Plus, I don't need you, your brother, or whoever to teach me to throw or take a punch."
"Ok. Ok. Ok. I'm sorry. Stop it. I know you are a real man…that is why I pick you as my man."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes! I would have never given you the time of day if you weren't a real man. Besides, you should be lucky. I gave you some of my time that day, even though I was in the middle of work."
'…one of my biggest regrets,' Chauncey thinks to himself.
"You don't say?"
"I DO say. I was…hoping…maybe…"
"Maybe…what?"
"We can take our relationship to another level."
"What level?"
"Come on, Chance. Stop playing!"
"Sweetheart…are you talking about…marriage?"
"Yes! Imagine that! Living in wedded bliss. The triplets will have a new daddy AND…with your nightclub and my catering business, we could be unstoppable!"
"Oh…wow…you have this planned and ready, don't you?"
"Yes. So, who do you think?"
"I think…I think I am not ready. I don't think I will EVER be ready."
"So you want me to continue to wait for you? How long do you want me to wait, Chauncey? Six more months? A year? Do I hear two years?"
"Sabine, we have known each other for a while…but not long enough to make that kind of commitment."
"I can't believe this."
"Try to understand---"
"Oh, I understand. I understand you don't want to get married….or maybe you don't want to get married to me. Is that it? You don't want to marry me?"
"…no. I feel we should part ways."
"Oh, …ok, fine! Have a nice life."
"Fine."
Chauncey leaves the table and walks out of the restaurant."
"…YEAH! THAT'S RIGHT, LEAVE! LEAVE YOU, WORTHLESS PUNK BASTARD! I CAN DO BETTER THAN YOU! WHEN THE RIGHT MAN FINDS ME, HE IS GOING TO LOVE ME BECAUSE I AM A RARE GEM! YOU MESSED UP BIG TIME WITH ME, BABY!"
She looks around the restaurant and sees the other guests staring at her. She feels shameful because Chauncey broke up with her for her rudeness. However, she deflected that shame towards the eyes on her.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT, HUH? IF YOU WANT TO SEE A SHOW, GO TO THE DAMN MOVIES!!!!"
Late that night, after Yvonne-Leigh finally went to bed, Valentine sits in the living room and watches television. She waits for her husband to arrive home. Valentine hears the front door unlock; she only turns her head to the front door for a few seconds, but Valentine returns her attention to the television. Christopher walks into their apartment and found his wife sitting on the couch.
"Good evening," he greets, hanging his messenger bag in the closet.
"Good evening, Chris," Valentine replies, showing attention only to the television "…How was your day?"
"Fine," replies Christopher as he walks into the bedroom with no eye contact.
Valentine knows there is still tension between her and her husband, but she has to talk to him. She rises from the couch and follows Christopher into their bedroom. Valentine stops at the threshold of their bedroom door. She watches her husband get undressed to take a shower. He briefly looks at Valentine but continues to ignore her. It does not take long for him to get annoyed at her, staring at him.
"…If you have something to tell me, say it," Christopher says with no eye contact.
Valentine does not care for Christopher being so short with her, but she understands that they are not that much on speaking terms. Instead of giving her husband the foreplay of the situation, Valentine goes to the heart of the matter.
"…You know…you know that project Vonni has been working on for the past week," Valentine ask?
"Yeah. What about it," Christopher asks, continuing to get undressed with no eye contact?
"It was a gift for Nevin."
"Ok. Great. Vonnie can put it on his grave when we visit him at the cemetery."
"Yeah well…that's what I told her at first, but…she was deeply confused about the concept of death."
Christopher stops getting undressed.
"What do you mean," he asks, looking at her strangely?
"…she thought that Nevin was coming back from the dead, like Jesus."
Christopher gave Valentine a bewildering look.
"That's the craziest thing I ever heard," he said.
"Not to her. Vonni was upset Tonight…very upset. She was so upset that…that she destroyed his gift. Then she said that…I was mean, and she hated me. Chris," Valentine continues, "she could not stop crying after telling her that he was not coming back home. It killed me to see her little heartbreak, but…she had to know the truth."
Christopher took a deep breath.
"Vonni…," he says, shocked by the news, "My poor little girl…How could I have been so selfish and stupid? I had no idea. Is she ok?"
"I was able to calm her, after a while...which was not easy. Then…I cleaned her up and put her to bed. I…I cleaned the mess on the floor too."
"Vonni…my baby girl."
Christopher sits on his side of the bed.
"Chris…about the other night at the bar---"
"---No. No, Val. I was the idiot. Now…now I know what you meant."
"I was not trying to be a pain in the ass. We miss you. We want you home."
"….it seems…my family needs me too. We should have been able to explain to her the concept of death."
"She thought that Nevin was coming back from the dead like Jesus."
Christopher became misty-eyed.
He said, "If it were only true, but…Jesus came back to Earth as a spirit."
"Yeah,…he sure did."
"Now that I think about it….maybe all of this was my fault."
"How?"
"I was the one who convinces him to do the singing thing."
"You were helping your best friend achieve his dream. There is nothing wrong with that."
"…yeah…but I am the one who told Nevin to dress like a woman."
"Nevin could have been dressed as a clown. People came to see Nevin because he had a beautiful voice, not for his appearance. Although…I had to admit…he did not look bad for a woman."
Christopher and Valentine share a little laugh.
"What have I done? I ruined everything…that's it," exclaims Christopher leaping off the side of the bed!
"What's it?"
He paces back and forth to the bed and the bedroom door.
"I…I need to hire a manager."
"Really? You're going to look for a manager."
"Yeah."
"Oh honey, thank you," Valentine exclaims, stopping her husband's pacing and throwing her arms around her husband.
He wraps his arms around his wife and kisses her on her cheek.
"Val…I'm so sorry, baby. I hate it when we're fighting. I see the error of my ways, and I'm going to be a working man and a family man."
"Awesome."
"I miss my wife, my best friend, and my lover."
"She misses you too, baby."
Suddenly, Christopher gives her a coy look.
"What? What's that matter with you," Valentine asks with a coy smile, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Well…now that we addressed the problem…"
"Yes…"
"…and we found a solution to the problem…"
"Yes…"
"…let's kiss and make-up."
Valentine giggles and takes a good look at her practically naked husband.
"It looks like you're more prepared than me."
"Oh, that's no problem. I can take care of that."