Dream Angel : Heaven Waits (19 page)

“What’s up with the suit?” I kidded, enjoying the sight of him blushing. “I remember you best in a pair of wave breaker’s.”

We laughed.

“I still surf, but shorts aren’t approved daily attire in the church where I’m employed.”

Church? I turned to my father, who was standing close by with a smirk on his face. As was Heather, I suddenly realized.

“You work in the ministry?” I asked of Jimmy but my focus was on my father.

Daddy held up his hands. “I just discovered this myself on a visit to our sister church across town a few days ago.”

I laughed and then turned to Heather, who grinned like the cat who had just eaten the canary.

“You were in on this, weren’t you?” I comically frowned and she merely shrugged.

I had mentioned Jimmy only once to Heather. It was after the accident, after I’d arrived home from the hospital. I had spent an afternoon ranting on and on about how I’d dreamt an old boyfriend and Elvis were vying for my attention on a stage — Jimmy on guitar and Elvis on lead vocals. I didn’t think she was listening, but her funny little grin told me otherwise.

“Your father said the surprise was a secret, and I can’t go against a man who has a direct line to God.” Heather grimaced, and then took a seat.

My father rolled his eyes at Heather’s antics and everybody laughed. While everyone settled in at the table, I took my seat and began to unfold my napkin in my lap, pausing when I heard my name being called from across the room. It was my favorite waitress, Tammy, and she was headed our way.

“Well, hello there youngins,” she hollered as she approached the table.

Well into her fifties, Tammy wore a blonde wig piled high on top of her head and a pencil that balanced behind her ear. She virtually bounced as she walked.

“Hello Tammy,” I said in an excited voice that surprised even me.

“Well, who do you have with you tonight, Sam?” She grinned as she stood over my father.

I covered up my smile. Tammy imagined herself my surrogate mother, and often saw me as a lamb surrounded by lions. She always kept a watchful eye on me.

“Tammy, this is my father, Pastor Richard Bennett.”

Her eyes widened as my father stood and extended her his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.” My father said as he tenderly took her hand for a light shake.

“Nice to meet you Sir,” Tammy’s eyes clouded over for a brief second, and then she snapped back to the business at hand. “What can I get y’all to drink?”

Heather requested a martini, shaken not stirred. I stuck with water and lemon, which pleased my father and horrified my friend. I was driving, I reminded her. And Jimmy ordered tea, which pleased me. Though, I wasn’t sure why.

“I have a gift for you to take home that will help you celebrate in style later.” Heather muttered close to my ear, but father had uncanny hearing, and his disapproval was evident in his frown.

I couldn’t help but snicker. The differences between my Daddy and Heather were vast, but the fact that he was not already lecturing her about the dangers of drinking suggested she was growing on him.

“Jimmy, what do you do at our sister church?” I veered back to a safer topic.

“I’m the youth pastor,” he said with a brilliant smile that made my heart flutter.

Bemused by my reaction, I averted my gaze and my attention fell to a woman sitting just behind Jimmy. She sat alone at a table near the window. Her long stringy blonde hair casted a shadow across her porcelain like features, but nothing could fully hide her dark expression. And as she sat there gazing at life passing her by, a feeling of hopelessness tugged at my heart.

“I’m sorry, when did you say you joined the ministry?” I looked back to Jimmy, but only briefly.

Enamored, I kept vigil and watched her in sideways glances. I noticed that when the food arrived, the lost woman ate eagerly and without pause. Her desperation was obvious in the way her fork barely touched the plate as she scoped up each bite. It was only when I heard Jimmy say something pointedly and rather loudly that I refocused. I turned to him, about to ask him to repeat his story when a tiny voice whispered in my ear.

Go to her
. My heart jumped up into my throat.

“Jimmy joined God’s fight about seven years ago,
Samantha
,” Daddy said my name in a firm tone that was meant to remind me of my manners. “He’s been with the church now for, what son, two years?”

I cleared my throat, and sat up straighter. I was trying to pay attention to Jimmy as he spoke but my eyes kept drifting away, back to the woman, as if on their own power. My mind was racing, wondering if this was the sign I’d been waiting for all these months. That voice, mine but not mine. The hungry lady sitting there with nothing but a plastic grocery sack between her feet, all suggested “something” special was about to happen.

Go to her, and give her what you have
. The voice rang again, and this time I choked on my water.

“Are you, ok?” Heather touched my arm.

I forced a broad smile. “Absolutely!”

What was this, I wanted to scream, and my hands instantly began to shake. Was this my condition, getting worse, or was it God? It didn’t sound God-like, I thought. But then, how would I know what he sounded like anyway? I remembered that my father had once shared how the Holy Spirit speaks to him, or was it that it speaks “in” him? I couldn’t remember. Was there a difference?

“So, it must be very fulfilling to help with the youth.” I was nodding, squinting at Jimmy as if paying close attention.

Next to me, I could feel the weight of Heather’s gaze. And even my father was now scanning the room, while next to him Jimmy chatted away happily, none the wiser.

“Yes it’s very rewarding. And I even manage to catch a few waves in between stirring young minds for God.” He lightly chuckled. “Did you ever give surfing a try, Sammy? I remember you said you wanted to one day.”

I continued to nod, completely oblivious to Jimmy’s reproachful look that I hadn’t responded to his inquiry. And it was while I was grinning away that Heather decided to kick me from under the table, to which I quickly responded by scowling at her and kicking her back.

“What is going on?” My father suddenly growled, and instantly I was twelve.

“Nothing,” I dusted off that princess expression that had served me well in my youth. “I need to excuse myself to the ladies room for a moment, father,” I said, batting my eyes and giving a respectful nod as I stood.

I was a grown woman, I didn’t need permission to go the bathroom but he was still my father.

“Me too,” Heather added too quickly, and shot up from her chair.

I cringed. Even Jimmy seemed to remember my father’s fondness to manners as he picked up a menu and considered it intently.

“Girls!” Daddy barked.

Heather and I were both standing, me inspecting the floor and Heather staring at my father, clearly unaware of the dangers of making direct eye contact.

“I don’t know what is going on right now, but you sit,” he pointed to Heather, “and, you go take care of what you have to and hurry back to your dinner guest.”

I didn’t wait for Heather’s reaction. She was on her own. I grabbed my purse, and all but ran to the restroom. I craned my neck, trying to get a closer look at the woman as I passed her table, my heels clamoring against the aged wood floor disturbing the other patrons. Everyone that is, except the woman with an empty plate and a look of despair on her face.

Entering the powder room, I slapped my purse on to the vinyl counter top. What did I have that she needed? I stared at myself in the mirror. Looking down to my quaking hands, I wore nothing of value. I had on a pair of dime store bangle earrings and a sterling silver thumb ring. That was the extent of my bobbles.

Think, think!

I opened my purse and took inventory. Lip gloss, a cell phone, and a small change purse. No help there, I considered, and my hand froze over my wallet. The memory of an empty plate, and the woman’s face filled with dread flooded back. I counted my money. $30. My spirit sank. That wasn’t enough to pay for her meal and mine.

Give as I have given to you!
The voice suddenly blared and I let out a loud shriek.

My voice echoed off the walls, and I quickly slapped my hand over my mouth.

This better be God or I’ve officially gone crazy!
Closing my eyes, I laid a hand over my racing heart. Deep breath in, deep breath out, I coached.

Relax and don’t let the
, I paused. Don’t let the miracles rattle you? My eyes flashed open.

A moment later, I was out the door. I briefly glanced to my table, taking note that only Heather was watching. Good. I only wanted to explain this once, if at all. With the money clutched in my clammy hand, I headed straight for my destiny. When I got close, the troubled woman looked up to me. Her sad-filled eyes seemed to beg me to sit, and hear her story, but that’s not what I’d been asked to do, and I was afraid to veer from my instructions, so I kept it simple. I smiled, hoping to convey friendship and kindness while also picking up the black leather case on the table and slipping the money inside.

“God wants you to have this,” I spoke close to her ear, and gave a soft touch to her shoulder. Then I left and never looked back.

Heather watched me as I crossed the room, and when I arrived back at the table, she said nothing. Thankfully, the evening continued smoothly, and my whole body exhaled with relief. I’d passed my first test.

“Sammy, remember that summer when you told Danny Mcknolty that if he climbed that big willow tree behind your church he’d reach heaven?” Jimmy turned to the past.

“I remember Danny fell and broke his arm!” I said right in beat, as if I’d never left the conversation.

“Yup, and then you told him God doesn’t like unexpected visitors!” Jimmy roared. Even my father laughed, though he was shaking his head.

All through diner, we reminisced. It seemed I had forgotten so many wonderful childhood memories. Long summer days, spent in blissful innocence and purposeful mischief, had become over shadowed by the dark realities of life. I was happy Jimmy had brought them back into the light so that I could enjoy them. They were worth remembering.

With every story our laughter grew, and by diner’s end I had the sore stomach muscles to prove that I’d had a good time. The best in a long while

“All this remembering has tuckered me out,” my father said with a satisfying sigh over an empty plate. “I think I’ll head home.”

“Already?” I whined.

“Yes, already, baby girl. Six in the morning comes early for these old bones.” He sighed exaggeratedly, while placing money to the table and grabbing his coat to leave.

“Let me get that Mr. Bennett,” Jimmy fumbled for his wallet.

“Put your money away, boy. The man who marries my Sam can pay for her, until then that’s my job.” He winked and leaned over to kiss me lightly on the cheek.

“My sweet daddy, I love you.” I stood up and wrapped my slight arms around him as far as I could muster.

“I love you too.” He whispered in my hair.

My father shook Jimmy’s hand one more time, gave Heather a friendly hug, and departed with his bible firm under his arm. We all watched him as he walked away. He was so much wiser than I’d ever given him credit for, and I thanked God that I still had him.

“That man has carried a bible everywhere since I can remember,” Jimmy murmured.

“He’s something,” Heather agreed.

“That’s my daddy.” My tears swelled.

There was a time, after momma went away, when Daddy and I were at such odds, I would have avoided a night like tonight. Thankfully, those days were long gone, I thought as I turned, and found Heather and Jimmy also gathering their coats to leave.

“Is everybody leaving me?”

“I have a date, Sam. I’m sorry.” Heather said.

“Oh, that’s right.” I sighed, and began to collect my things as well.

“I wish I could stay longer, but I have a date for Bunco every Friday night with the senior ladies of the church.” Jimmy said.

“You play Bunco every Friday night?” Heather paused in mid-stream. She had one arm in and one arm out of her coat.

And while I internally thanked her for changing the subject, Jimmy was laughing at the horror-stricken look on her face.

“Ignore her. She cuts liquor vouchers from the Sunday paper.” I joked.

Heather’s attention shifted. “There’s alcohol coupon’s in the paper?”

Everyone paused, and then Jimmy and I exploded into a fit of laughter. Heather just rolled her eyes.

“I can see you and Ms Betty Crocker here are going to have loads to talk about,” she groaned and did what I’d wanted to do earlier — flipped me off — then headed for the door.

“She’s a colorful sort,” Jimmy said.

“You have no idea!”

The three of us walked out into a mild Atlanta evening. The sun had dipped below the horizon more than an hour earlier and a chill was in the air. Off in the distance, I could see the storm that I had predicted, looming dark and vast. I hugged myself tight, wishing I had thought to bring a sweater.

“I have a jacket in the car if you’d like to borrow it for your drive home?” Jimmy spoke at my side.

“Thanks, but it’s not far.”

“Oh!” Heather suddenly hollered from up ahead. “I have something to give you. I almost forgot, hold on.”

She raced to her car leaving Jimmy and I alone. And while I was watching her, Jimmy’s eyes were on me.

“How are you, really?” He reached out and tenderly took my hand.

It had been months since a man had touched me in such a personal way, and I couldn’t help but tense from the contact.

“I’m ok.” I said while slowly slipping my hand free.

He studied me closely. “Good.”

“Wait till you see this!” Heather said excitedly as she returned, carrying a light green plastic container with a make-shift foil top. She was only two steps away, but I could already smell the scent of chocolate in the breeze.

“You got me an edible gift?” I was as excited as Heather would have been over a well made drink.