Dance Into Destiny (19 page)

“What was your first clue? The way she practically sat in my lap, or her loud, ignorant comments about how great my ‘form' was. No thanks. I know her type. Can't be bothered.”

Shara relaxed a little. She turned the music back up.

Quinton started skipping songs.

“Hey, I was listening to that.” Shara pushed his hand away.

He pushed her hand back. “Woman, don't you know what happens when you touch a black man's radio?” She giggled. He kept flipping. “There's a song I want you to hear.”

It was a slow, worshippy song. Shara relaxed as she listened to the lyrics. It was a song about being in the presence of God. Shara closed her eyes.

Quinton sang a few lines.

“That's nice.” Shara said with her eyes still closed.

“What, the lyrics or my voice?”

“Both,” Shara said shyly. She turned the music up a bit more. Quinton sang the rest of the song.

“How many times have you listened to this? Do you know all the words?”

“Just about.” The next song was up-tempo and funky. Quinton turned it up. “This is my jam.”

“You've said that about almost every song.”

Quinton bobbed his head to the music. “I know. What can I say? It's a nice CD. Hey, have you heard Tonex?”

“Are you kidding? He's the kids' favorite. He's been the start of many a parking lot dance party.”

“Yeah? They dance in the parking lot?”

“You should see them go at it. They're something else.”

Quinton rubbed his chin. “We really should plan a dance party for them. Get a DJ with all gospel hip-hop and rap and stuff. It would be a lot of fun.”

Shara was amused at his excitement. “For you or for them?”

“Both.” He grinned.

They talked about ideas for the party until they arrived at Shara's car. The ride back from the bowling alley seemed quicker than the ride there. Shara knew to wait this time for Quinton to help her out of the car. “Here you are, madam. Safely back at your destination.” He kissed her hand.

She pulled it away quickly. “Thanks, Quinton.” She lowered her eyes.

He held her car door for her as she got in.

“Wait.” He went back to his truck. By the time he returned with the Joann Rosario CD, she had already pulled off.

Q
uinton plunked his keys on the kitchen table. “Quint? That better be you,” Mother Hobbs called out from the living room.

“What are you doing up? Isn't it past your bed time?”

“Boy, I ain't that old. Where you been?”

“Me and Shara and the other youth leaders went bowling.” Quinton sniffed. “Umm, that smells good. I gotta get me a cup of that tea.”

“You don't want any of that. That's my special women's tea. I'll fix you something else.”

“Maybe I need some of that. Will it help me understand women better?” He plopped down in the living room chair and rubbed his hand across his face.

Mother Hobbs slowly closed her Bible and sat it on the couch next to her. She took a deep breath. “Quinton, normally I mind my own business, but since I like you so much, I'm gonna help you out on this one. If you ever mention this conversation to anyone, I'll deny it to my death.”

Quinton leaned forward to hear whatever wisdom she was about to share.

“Imagine the church you just left, but in rural South Georgia. Now make it ten times more conservative and a hundred times more religious. The women can't wear pants, make-up, or jewelry, and wear long skirts every day. They can't even wear their toes out. Now imagine a pastor who preaches Sunday after Sunday against the evils of sex, convincing young girls that men are evil demons lurking in dark corners waiting to take advantage of them. Now imagine that pastor is your father and you grew up in his house and in his church. Does that make things make more sense?”

“Who and what are you talking about Mother Hobbs?”

“I'm talking about the object of your unrequited affection. Although I'm not so sure it's really unrequited.”

“You got some serious herbs in that tea, old woman. I have no idea—”

Mother Hobbs held up her hand to let Quinton know his innocent protest was wasted on her. “Please, boy. Ain't nothing wrong with my tea. And ain't nothing wrong with my eyes, either.”

Quinton crossed his legs, then uncrossed them. He rubbed his hands together. “Okay, so what do I do?”

Mother Hobbs snorted. “If I have to tell you that, maybe you do need some of my tea.”

Quinton gave an exasperated sigh.

“You got it bad, huh?”

Quinton grabbed a pillow off the couch and smothered his face with it. He lowered it to his chest and hugged it. “I didn't know it could be this bad. All day, all night . . . my brain won't focus . . . I feel totally out of control.”

“Um hmm. I knew it. The minute she got this new look, I knew she'd have men chasing after her.”

“No, it's not that. I mean, that's nice and all but . . . I've never met a woman like her. I'm used to gold-diggers and empty-headed women with no idea what they want out of life other than a husband. Even when I got saved, most of the women I met in church weren't really serious about God. Some of them come to church just to find a man. They're no different from women out in the world. But Shara . . .”

His voice softened when he said her name. “No, it wasn't her looks. When we were sitting at the dining room table that night and her hair was all over her head and she had on her big jeans and big sweatshirt—she was showing me her journal and showing me her soul. She stole my heart. I couldn't stop thinking about her the whole time I was in Chicago. And then when I came back and she came ringing the doorbell . . . the look was the icing on the cake.”

He put the pillow over his head and moaned. “I have to admit, I'm not used to a woman not falling at my feet. I swear, if she doesn't feel anything for me . . . I'm gonna have to find a new job in another city.”

Mother Hobbs chuckled softly. “My, oh my. Ain't this something? Now Quinton, I told you I don't meddle in other folks business. All I'll say is don't pack your bags.”

Quinton sat up on the edge of his chair. “Has she said anything about me?”

“No.”

He flopped back in his seat, putting the pillow over his face again.

“But she doesn't have to. I know her very well.”

Quinton pulled the pillow away from one eye and peeked out at Mother Hobbs. She laughed, shaking her head. She patted the seat on the couch next to her. He moved his lanky body next to her, hugging the pillow tightly.

“You're going to have to be patient, loving and gentle.”

He listened intently for her to finish. She didn't say anything else.

“That's it? That's all the advice you're gonna give me? Patient, loving and gentle? You're supposed to be helping me here.”

“Quinton, I promise, that's all the help you need.” She winked at him and patted his cheek.

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

S
hara ran into Keeva leaving the education building after class. They were finishing up finals and were about to start their summer classes.

“Hey, wanna get something to eat?” Shara asked.

Keeva smiled the biggest smile Shara had ever seen on her face. “Nope, can't make it. I have a dance class.”

“What?”

Keeva looked like her face was going to burst open. “Yep. I'm starting modern classes twice a week for the whole summer. I wanted to do a little African and jazz too, but I figured I better start slow.”

“That's great. I'm proud of you.” Shara gave Keeva a hug. “Listen, speaking of dance. We're having this big summer kick-off dance party for the kids at church. Quinton and I wanted to know if you would help chaper-one.”

“Quinton and I?”

Shara punched her arm playfully. “Don't start. He's the youth pastor, I'm a youth leader. That's all there is to it.”

“I don't know. I kinda like the way it sounds.”

“Stop playing, Keeva. Do you want to help us out or what?”

“When is it?”

“Friday night.”

Keeva frowned. “Why the short notice? Mark and I already have plans.”

“Come on. You have to come.” Shara bit her lip. “Can't you go out with Mark on Saturday?”

“What's up with you?” Keeva's eyes widened. “Oh, I get it. You don't want to be there alone with Quinton. I'm the buffer person.”

Shara punched her again playfully. “It's nothing like that. We have to have a certain number of chaperones per kid and we're expecting a lot of kids to show up. Pleeeeease!”

“Mark would kill me. Do you know how many times I've blown him off to hang out with you? I already told him you and I would be working on a summer project on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I could go to my dance classes.”

“Why?”

“I don't know. I didn't feel like having that conversation with him I guess. I'm excited about dancing again and I don't want anything to mess that up.”

Shara had long made a policy never to press Keeva about the things in her relationship with Mark that seemed
so
wrong. She pressed her lips together to keep the question from slipping out.

“I know, Shara. Please, just don't say anything.”

Shara made a zipping motion over her lips. “Your secret's safe with me.”

 

On Friday night, Shara changed clothes four times before getting exasperated. She pulled off her jeans and laid them across the bed.
What does one wear when chaperoning a youth party?
Why did she care anyway?

She finally settled on jeans and a blue knit top with spaghetti straps. She admired herself in the mirror for a second. “You go, girl, with yo' fine self.”

As she was heading out the door, the phone rang. “Hello?”

“Shara?”

“Keeva? I thought you were going out with Mark.”

“I sorta told him one of my little white lies. I wanted to be there for you tonight. Can you pick me up on your way?”

“Yeah, that's great.” Shara let out a deep breath. “I mean not about lying to Mark, but great that you can go. I'll be there in about twenty minutes.”

“Great. I'll be downstairs when you get here.”

Keeva was pacing back and forth muttering to herself when Shara drove up. She slammed the car door when she got in.

Shara raised her eyebrows. “Are you okay?”

“Mark got mad at me for canceling. We had a
huge
argument. That means I'll have to make it up to him later.”

“How?”

Keeva stared at her. “What planet are you from?” She shook her head. “Let's just go have a good time. I hope the music is good because I really need to dance.”

“How were your dance classes this week?”

Keeva's face changed from dark to bright. “Absolutely awesome! It was like I never stopped. It felt soooo good. I felt like I was me again. It felt like I—”

“Came home from a long journey after being away for a long time?”

“Yeah.” Keeva thought and smiled. “Yeah.”

Shara slapped her palm to her forehead. “I can't believe I did that.”

“What?”

“Finished your sentence. That's one of Quinton's annoying habits I guess I picked up.”

“Quinton's habits, huh?”

Shara narrowed her eyes. “Do you get a special joy out of teasing me about him or what? I told you, he's the youth pastor, I'm a youth leader. We work together. That's all.”

“Am I sensing an ‘I wish it was more than that' in your voice?”

“No! What is it with you and Mother Hobbs? We've become friends and we work well together. That's all, and no, I don't wish it was any more than that. That would really complicate matters.”

“That means you've thought about it then?”

“Keeva! Don't say another word until we get to the church.”

“What—am I on punishment or something? Am I one of your kids now?”

“Yes, you're on punishment. Sit there and don't say anything. And wipe that smirk off your face, too.”

“Okay, but thou protesteth too loudly.”

“Keeva!”

“Okay, I'm shutting up. I won't say another word about you and Quinton. Except that I think—”

“Keeva!”

“OKAY!”

They were silent for a few minutes until Shara couldn't help herself. “Except that you think what?”

“Unh uh. I'm not saying a word. Lips are sealed. Keeva Banks is quiet as commanded.”

“I'm taking you right back to your apartment to be with Mark if you don't tell me what you were about to say.”

“Nothing. Except that I think you guys would make a great couple.”

“Whatever, Keeva. It's not like that.”

“Come on, you have to admit it. Being around you guys is weird. You think alike, you're passionate about the same things, you're both so into God, you love the same music. I won't mention the fact that he is FINE! You can't tell me you haven't thought about all that.”

“No, I haven't.” Shara was silent for a few seconds. “Okay, maybe a little. Okay, maybe a lot. Okay, maybe it's starting to completely and totally take over my every thought.” Shara squeezed her forehead as if she was trying to squeeze the thoughts out of her mind.

“I knew it!” Keeva smirked.

“Whatever, Keeva.”

“I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I
told
Mother Hobbs—”

“You talked to Mother Hobbs about me and Quinton?”

“We really didn't talk about it. She pointed to you staring at Quinton in the pulpit with these dreamy eyes and I nodded at her and gave her one of those ‘yeah, I noticed it too' looks and that was it. I promise.”

“When was I staring at Quinton in the pulpit? I wasn't staring at Quinton in the pulpit. Oh my goodness! Do you think anyone else noticed? I'm never going to church again.”

Keeva laughed. “Would you chill out? Look at you. You're a nervous wreck. I shouldn't have even said anything. I should have let you two go on, playing this ‘I don't really feel anything' game until you both implode. Now you're gonna be all goofy tonight.”

Shara knitted her eyebrows. “You're right. I
am
going to be all goofy and then he's gonna notice and . . . oh I just can't go.”

Keeva giggled. “You are hilarious.”

“Keeva, this isn't funny! Help me! I don't want to be all goofy.”

Keeva stopped laughing and patted Shara on the arm. “Shara, just be yourself. Don't be afraid of the way you feel. I'm sure he feels the same way about you, too.”

“I can't believe you said that! You're supposed to be helping me, not making it worse. Now I'm going to be watching him to try to figure out how he feels about me and then I'll be all goofy because of how I feel about him. Thanks a lot. You've set this evening off to a great start.”

Keeva giggled, but patted Shara again, sympathetically. “No you're not. You're gonna relax and be yourself, and you're gonna have a good time tonight.” She gritted her teeth. “And I'm gonna have a good time tonight and dance and not think about Mark James not even one time.”

Shara kept shaking her head and mumbling to herself until they pulled up in the church parking lot. She turned off the car and sat there. “I'm not going in.”

“Stop being silly. Yes you are. By the way you look great. Those jeans really fit you nice—they show off all your curves and stuff.”

Shara's mouth flew open. “Keeva, I hate you with every fiber of my being.”

“Yeah, I love you too. Now come on.”