My Father's Gift (15 page)

“Okay, now you can tell me what you did this afternoon.”

While Angela changed clothes, D’Cerner filled her in on her bizarre dream.  When she had finished, Angela didn’t say anything, but her brain cells began to zing around like atoms that were energized by some unknown force as she sorted through what D’Cerner said.  They left to go swimming only to discover that a number of other people had the same idea and the pool was too crowded.  So they went up to the Lido deck to lounge for a while.

Chapter Nineteen

Angela was wearing an apple-red swimsuit with a matching print wrap and D’Cerner wore a two-piece black and white diamond patterned suit with a matching wrap.  Unlike Angela, D’Cerner didn’t really care for the sun, so this time she had brought a large white straw hat to wear.  Several men turned to look at them when they got off the elevator and nodded appreciatively.  Neither Angela nor D’Cerner appeared to have noticed the men at all, but Angela certainly noticed.  She smiled, more to herself than to anyone in particular. 

They didn’t notice Cal, who was talking with a group of people sitting around the buffet.  But he had definitely noticed D’Cerner and immediately forgot about the conversation around him.  He had been perplexed since he first saw her come aboard yesterday.  Knowing she was going to be on the cruise, he had deliberately planned to be here.  When he mentioned the cruise to his pastor, she thought the cruise would be a good idea for him to take his mind off her. Cal didn’t know that Pastor Thomas knew that D’Cerner was one of the speakers.  All he knew was his pastor had decided that the leadership cruise was worthwhile and the church would pay for it.  She had also decided to come.  Her coming along was not part of Cal’s plan, but there was no way he could stop her.  He had been trying to find a way to get D’Cerner’s attention since last night and failed to do so because his pastor was always near. 

Noticing, like Angela, that D’Cerner had paled slightly yesterday, he guessed it was because she had caught sight of him.  Seeing her had made him even more determined to settle the matter between them.  He thought if she didn’t care at all, she wouldn’t have cared about seeing him there.  Looking at her now caused strange sensations to permeate his body.  Just as he was about to break away from the group, his pastor spotted him and found her way next to him, blocking his view of D’Cerner and spoiling an opportunity.

Apparently, D’Cerner did not see Cal, but Angela did.  As D’Cerner lay back in a deck lounge, Angela wondered how she could manage to help this situation along to reach some type of fruition.  She thought that introducing D’Cerner to other men would help temporarily, but that was not going to change the mushrooming hurt she saw in her friend’s eyes.

“Daddy,” Angela prayed, “you’re going to have to help me with this one.” 

She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she did know that something was going to have to happen; either to make this relationship work or end it forever.  D’Cerner’s nonchalant attitude was an act and she knew it.  Like the sexy lingerie she loved was kept from public view, so it was with her pain. 

Watching Cal’s pastor, Angela began to believe she was intentionally trying to make sure that Cal would not have a chance to speak to D’Cerner alone. 

“Well, Angela thought, “two can play that game.”

Weary and hot, D’Cerner decided she had had enough sun and informed Angela she was going to change for dinner.  Angela told her to go ahead and she would be along shortly.  Not too long after D’Cerner left the deck, Cal and his pastor headed for the elevator.  Angela headed in the same direction, intending to introduce herself and latch onto Pastor Thomas.  She overhead them make plans for dinner and to join some others later to take a walk around the running deck.  Cal had been asked to lead the praise and worship the next morning and Angela heard him say he needed to get the music to rehearse.  Just as she heard this, Angela interrupted their conversation on a pretext of being excited about meeting Pastor Thomas.

“I understand that you’re Pastor Covey Thomas,” Angela smiled sweetly.  “I’m Angela Worthall.  I’ve heard great things about your ministry in Michigan.”

“Really?”  Pastor Thomas beamed with pride.  “That’s good to know.  This is Calord Recinoire, one of the ministers at my church.”

“Hello,” Cal said, disenchanted with the small talk.

“How are you?” Angela responded, thinking that if he was in as bad a shape as D’Cerner, they both needed hospitalization to start the healing process.

“I’ve seen you with D’Cerner Everett,” Pastor Thomas remarked.  “Are you a close friend of hers?”

“Yes, I am.  She’s more than just a friend though.  She’s a true sister in the Lord.  I was glad I could make this trip with her.  We’ve been planning this for over a year and so far, it’s been worth it.”

At the mention of D’Cerner’s name, Cal’s countenance visibly changed.  He didn’t say anything.  He just listened.  The more he listened, the more he realized that this was the friend that D’Cerner talked about so much.  Suddenly, he was very interested.  Angela and his pastor were in an animated discussion about D’Cerner’s books and her morning presentation.  Although earlier Pastor Thomas had found several things about the presentation she disagreed with while talking to Cal, she seemed quite conciliatory about everything talking to Angela.  Angela stayed on the elevator with them to the Seabreeze deck where the pastor’s stateroom was.  Then she continued walking down the stairs with Cal.  She didn’t want Cal to know how she knew about his situation with D’Cerner, so she didn’t say much about D’Cerner at all.  She appeared to be very interested in him.  When they got to his stateroom, Cal stopped outside the door politely and informed her that this was his stateroom and he would love the opportunity to continue their conversation later.  Angela took the hint and turned to leave.  She made a mental note of his stateroom number on the Horizon deck, two decks below the Penthouse deck where she and D’Cerner were.  She also noticed that it seemed to take Cal a few minutes to actually open the door, but finally he went inside. Angela headed for the elevator smiling.

When she got back to their stateroom D’Cerner was already dressed and waiting for her.  She was wearing a floor length sleeveless yellow print dress with a matching midriff jacket and yellow sandals.  The color accentuated everything about her; enhanced the shape of her eyes, her coloring.  Her diminutive stature was also enhanced. Everything about her seemed to bask in the warm glow of yellow, except her eyes.  Angela was glad she was wearing such a festive color and hoped that some of the sparkle from the outfit would transfer to her eyes.  She mentioned to D’Cerner she had met Pastor Thomas and Cal.  At the mention of Cal’s name, she immediately became suspicious.

“You didn’t say anything to him, did you?” D’Cerner asked suspiciously, unable to control the panic she felt.

“And what was I supposed to say?  No, I didn’t say anything, other than we have been more than friends for years.  He’s really very nice when he wants to be.”

“Yes, I know and a bear when he doesn’t.”

“Dee, I know you’re still ticked off because he didn’t show up for that lunch meeting, but that was over six months ago.  Give him a chance.”

“It wasn’t just his not showing up. It was why and what he could have done to prevent it.  I’ve given up on this situation.  His pastor can have him if that’s what she wants.”

Knowing that it wouldn’t do any good to press D’Cerner any further, Angela wisely kept quiet and changed her clothes.  She wore a brilliant red native print dress from the islands she had purchased that afternoon and put on red sandals to match.  After grabbing their purses, they left to go to the dining room.

After they had ordered dinner, the praise leaders who were their tablemates, informed D’Cerner they had changed the rehearsal from after dinner to before breakfast the following morning.  There was some kind of mix up and the songs were temporarily misplaced.  When Angela heard this, she wondered if Cal was informed. 

D’Cerner, on the other hand, was too busy concentrating her efforts in devouring a huge lobster tail.  The new potatoes and Caesar salad were just as delicious as the lobster.  While she debated over what dessert she wanted, their server brought her a slice of cheesecake.  She smiled and thanked him.  He had obviously noticed cheesecake was her favorite since she came aboard.  After dinner, D’Cerner informed Angela she was going back to the stateroom to freshen up a bit, but she could tell Mr. Hollins to meet her on the Tiffany deck in about twenty minutes.  She then left.

Angela found the group that Melvin Hollins was dining with and informed him that D’Cerner had agreed to meet him and they were to meet on the Tiffany deck in twenty minutes.  She also happened to run into Cal and his tablemates and invited them all to join them on the Tiffany deck for an evening of fellowship.  She heard Pastor Thomas excuse herself and she was hopeful she wouldn’t show up with the others.  She stayed, talking to the others until they were ready to leave, then they all decided to walk up together.

D’Cerner was standing at the rails, her dress billowing behind her, looking out at the open sea.  It would have been a touching scene if she hadn’t looked quite so lost and vulnerable.

When Cal spotted her his heart rate quickened as well as his pace.  She turned to face the group and spotted him immediately.  He reached her before anyone else, his mouth already open to plead with her, and then he felt a tug on his arm.  Pastor Thomas very neatly hooked her arm into his and smiled sweetly at D’Cerner.

“Sister Everett,” she exclaimed.  “How nice to get a chance to see you again and talk to you.  I can imagine you’ve been very busy lately with all the good things I’ve heard about you.”

“Yes, I have been,” D’Cerner responded indifferently.  “Would you please excuse me, there are people waiting for me.  Do have a nice evening.”

Cal was dumbfounded when she didn’t even acknowledge his presence.  He had originally agreed to join the others, but he quickly changed his mind and decided to spend the night in his stateroom.  Pastor Thomas walked with him to his deck and returned to join another group on the Lido deck. 

Angela was furious.  She had thought that Pastor Thomas had retired for the evening.  Now she had to introduce Melvin and D’Cerner even though she acted as though she would have rather walked a gangplank.  D’Cerner and Melvin had both noticed her reluctant behavior and raised their eyebrows, but refrained from making any remarks.  The evening passed quickly enough when they settled down to talk.  They had started a highly charged debate on casino gambling and other issues plaguing urban cities and then found their way to the Lido deck for the midnight buffet.  D’Cerner was not really interested in eating anything else, so she bid the group good night and returned to their stateroom.  She was asleep before Angela returned.

The following morning, D’Cerner made a mad dash for the breakfast buffet to get a cup of coffee and a croissant so she wouldn’t be late for the rehearsal.  When she got to the lounge where they were to meet, she was surprised to see Cal there, but she easily ignored him.  The other praise leaders were not even aware they knew each other, so someone made the introductions.  They greeted each other in such a perfunctory manner that some thought they were rather rude to each other.  However, as soon as the musician began playing, the mood changed.  Listening to the two of them sing gave someone the bright idea they sing a song together.  Neither one of them wanted to cause anyone to speculate about their behavior, so they agreed.  When they sang a love song to Jesus, it seemed as though they were singing to each other.  The two of them were meant to be a team.  However, when the music stopped, the magic ended.  They became as they were.  Silent and distant.  After the rehearsal as they were leaving the room Cal whispered to her, “Are you ever going to be civil to me again?”

She responded by saying, “you could have told me that you had been asked to sing.”

“And what would you have done?” he asked.

“Declined,” she retorted and walked away.

She was moody all through breakfast.  Angela knew they had been in rehearsal and gathered it had not gone well.  She was prepared to wait out D’Cerner’s moodiness so she didn’t ask any questions.  She amused herself by thinking sooner or later, one of them would have to give in.  The moment she thought about it, she wanted to laugh.  She knew it would not be D’Cerner.

Chapter Twenty

Back in the theater, ready to start the morning session, Cal and D’Cerner took their places on stage with the other praise leaders.  When it was time for them to sing,
How I Love You,
they moved closer together, facing first the audience, then each other.

When I was blind

You helped me to see

When I was broken

You came and healed me

When I was sinking,

So deep in sin

You came and rescued me

Oh, How I love you Jesus

I really love you Lord

For all that you are

To me

Oh, How I Love you,

I really love you

For find—ing me wor—thy of love.

When I was void

Of understanding,

You came and taught me

When I thought

I was all alone

You were right beside me

Sometimes in front of me

Leading me on

To the path of righteousness,

Oh, how I love you Jesus

I really love you Lord

For all that you are

To me

Oh, How I love you

I really love

For finding me worthy of love

Your love has restored me

Your love has lifted me

Your love full of mercy

Your love overflowing