Saint's Sacrament - Sins of the Father (104 page)

“I sure will. They’re having a great time. Thanks for inviting us.”

Saint nodded and made his way back inside. He looked at his watch and realized he wanted to check on Isis, make sure she hadn’t woke
n from all the ruckus. He sprinted up the steps and reached for her knob, turning it slowly before creeping inside. He closed the door quietly behind himself,then moved cautiously to her crib, practically tiptoeing in his Nike shoes. Gripping the walnut railing, he stared down at the sweet child. He cocked his head to the side, and his smile grew.

She’s so peaceful. So perfect.

He couldn’t help himself. He reached inside and gently swept a wayward loose curl out of her face. Her eyes fluttered and before long, she was staring up at him. Once it seemed to register in her mind that Daddy was there, she sprung alert and sat up, babbling and talking almost immediately. Saint reached inside the crib and picked her up, held her close to his chest.

“Hi
, baby,” he whispered. “Did Daddy wake you? I’m sorry.” He kissed her forehead as he bounced her about in his arms, taking tiny steps around her room. Her eyelids drooped a bit as she fought the desire to fall asleep once again.

“Let me help you get back to sleep…hmmm
…” He raced his mind for new ideas. “Daddy doesn’t have as good a singing voice as Mommy. You’d beg me to stop as soon as I got the first lyric out.” He grinned. “Oh, I know. You want something to drink, baby? Are you thirsty?”

Her pink bow shaped lips arched upward in a syrupy sweet smile.

“Okay, Daddy will be right back.” He placed her back in the crib, causing a brouhaha of tears and protest. “Isis, I’m coming right back, sugar,” he soothed, but she kept right on. He exited the room and high-tailed it down the steps. In typical fashion, people called his name and pulled his shirt, slowing his descent. He didn’t want to be rude, so he’d stop and offer a few forced laughs when all he could do was think about getting to that refrigerator to pour his baby a cold drink in her favorite sippy cup. He arrived in the kitchen five minutes later and quickly grabbed the organic strawberry juice from the back of the shelf. Caterers drifted past, dressed in their white smocks with flat buttons, serious faces and carrying trays of small sandwiches and fancy devilled eggs. An outburst of applause burst as a magician stood in the middle of the backyard, performing his varied tricks under a spotlight. It was a night to remember, but Saint was missing key portions of it for a date he had with a lovely
almost
two-year-old…

He made his way back to her, and there she sat, her eyes soaked in tears and her cheeks moist. She hop
ped up, gripping the sides of her crib as he approached. Her nightlight was a mellow yellow, making her look soft around her outline. Taking her into his arms, he cradled her close and offered the semi-sweet concoction. She immediately grabbed it with tiny fists and placed the cup to her mouth. Her gulping was loud and obnoxious, and Saint found it absolutely adorable. Then, suddenly, she stopped. A rascally grin creased her face as she looked up at him with those big, golden eyes.

“What is it, baby?”

Isis shook the cup vigorously.

“No, no, honey
,” Saint said calmly, gripping it. “Don’t spill it.”

She did it again, determined
to cast the thing on its side then completely upside down. Saint grabbed it, then stopped. He realized in that moment, she was trying to communicate. Suddenly, the room glowed with plasanta, catching the fallen red juice drops and rotating them around like gel. It was the best magic show in the entire house. Saint laughed as he watched her control their movements with the help of the pink crystallized haze.  As it continued, he had an idea.

He dropped down to his knees with her, and the red droplets followed. Cradling her to his chest with one hand, he took his other and began to swirl the juice around midair, creating pictures.

“I’m no artist, but I’ll do my best.”

First, he drew a picture of a teddy bear, causing Isis to laugh giddily.

“Beeeeeaaaaar!” she shouted, full of excitement.

“That’s right!” Saint grinned.

Next, he created the face of a cat.

“Kitty, Dada!” She pointed at it, stretching on her tippy toes.

“Good job, Isis, you got it!”

Finally, he drew the outline of a huge heart. It glistened and shined, vibrant, flowing in its form. He commanded it to ‘stay’ as he removed his finger from the design, and took her tiny hand in his. Together, they traced it until she turned her tiny face to him and said in almost a whisper,
“Heart. DaDa. Heart.”

He looked at her for a long while and kissed the top of her head. “That’s right baby, you are DaDa’s heart and don’t you ever forget it.”

He sat there and held her while she looked at it in amazement. He drifted in thought.

Xenia and my children are my heart, all right. Tonight everyone is gathered here celebrating
. Only a few know what this party is really about, and that’s okay. This party is about rejuvenation, restoration and revival. It’s about survival, of not necessarily the fittest, but the chosen through perseverance and determination. It is amazing how one or two people can get a hold of your life and shake it so hard, the damn filling falls out. I could concentrate on everything horrible that happened, but I’d rather focus on the positives right at this moment. Jagger met the love of his life. He was afraid, but with encouragement, he got past that and is now the happiest bastard I’ve ever seen. He is married to that woman, and I believe they will be together for the rest of their lives. My father, a man closed off to love as well, allowed a sweet little Korean librarian into his life and I know Mama is proud and happy for him. It was time and I don’t want him to hurt anymore. I want the loneliness to stop, and I’m thankful that it finally did. Xenia got the vocational opportunity of a lifetime. Unfortunately, it came at a hefty cost. Now, she tells me she will not be renewing her contract once it expires.

The whole experience left a bitter taste in her mouth and she was much happier with radio. I’m trying to talk her out of it, but I don’t think I’m winning. Regardless, right now, she is happy and that’s all that really matters to me.

Then there’s the rather peculiar letter from Payton… Though carefully crafted, the letter had slithers of truth and sincerity. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Payton, but I do sincerely wish her some peace, whether she receives it in this lifetime or another, I have no idea and don’t care to exert the energy to find out.

My big brother, Bomb, has lived most of his life as a refuge
e of the streets. His heart is hard, and his head harder, and he had the biggest fight of his life on his hands. I didn’t do the work, he did it, and I’m so proud of him. I know it won’t be easy, that his sobriety is no magic pill, but it’s a start. He deserves this. He needs a place to call his own, inside of his mind, and out. It’s time for him to get to know himself and actually like that person again.

Dakarai and Hassani are growing so fast both physically and psychically. It is amazing to watch them. I love seeing them interact, even if half the time, it is due to quarrels. That’s just normal sibling rivalry. I know in my heart, they will always be close and Hassani is the type of boy who won’t let anyone hurt his brother and sister. Despite his tough act, he has a soft spot for both of them, and he won’t stand for anyone trying to hurt them.

I believe Donna will be having her baby soon, in the next sixteen hours, to be exact. She won’t need to be induced; he is on his way. Yes, a boy. They didn’t want to know the sex, but I know and Xenia seems even more excited than they are. That baby boy will be showered with so much love and affection, calling him spoiled would be an understatement. I’m so happy for them. Lawrence will get a ‘father of the year award’, for the rest of his life.

Raphael is moving back to Brooklyn. He says the trees are pretty, and the front lawns big upstate, but that’s not where his heart is, and Latrice and the children agree. There is just something about being in the heart of it all, getting back to your roots. They found a gorgeous brownstone and had it updated. I can’t wait to visit when it’s all done. One day, I hope it
will not be just a visit, I hope I’ll be there for good. L.A. for the most part has been good to me, but it’s not home. Xenia has known for a while—though I tried to deny it—that I feel like a square peg in a round slot here. My heart is on the East coast. I don’t know when or how, but one day, I and my family are going back. We are going back, and that’s the place where I am determined to take my last breath. My father is getting up in age and the Rainbeau Knights can be in more than one location. L.A. was James’ spot; I think I need to find my own. I’ll see, nothing is written in stone, but what I do know is that any place is hell on Earth without my family.

He looked down and felt Isis
get heavier in his arms. Her eyes closed, her dark, thick lashes danced across the tops of her plump cheeks. Carefully, he picked her up and gently laid her back down in the crib, placing her head on the soft, salmon colored pillow. The door cracked open revealing Xenia’s silhouette. She closed it behind her and made her trek over to him, her hugging lavender dress flowing around her. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head on his shoulder.

“I figured you were in here when I couldn’t find you downstairs
,” she whispered. “How are you doing?”

“I’m great, baby. Better than great.” He looked into her eyes, tilt
ed her chin upward as he studied her intensely. Without wasting another second, his lips met hers, and he kept them there, his breathing steady and slow, as he meditated on the moment. Their breathing soon was in tune, feeding one another life. He took her hand and led her to the door to rejoin the party. Then he paused. He put his finger up to her to wait and he made a dash toward the crib. He looked down at the slumbering baby, reached in and kissed her cheek.

“Goodnight
, Isis. Daddy loves you. Sweet dreams.”

He turned back to Xenia who stood there smiling in the doorway. He lightly patted her back, took her hand, and descended the steps. The crowd was even more animated as
copious amounts of liquor and alcoholic beverages were consumed. Saint grabbed two glasses of champagne from a tray and handed one of the flutes to his beautiful bride. He raised the glass high in the air, while Xenia screamed out, “Hey everybody, listen! Saint is making a toast.” She snapped her fingers at the DJ. The music came to a halt.

Everyone r
aised their respected drinks high above their heads, echoing Saint’s gesture.

“May tonight and the rest of your evenings be sparkling and sweet. May you be blessed, and not stressed, and always a winner! May you stand tall, against the odds, and give thanks to your Creator, and be happy to be a Saint, but never forget, you are also a sinner! Let’s celebrate!”

The cheering was deafening. Confetti was thrown in the air and the music started up again, boasting the sounds of the Bee Gees’, ‘More Than a Woman.’

Xenia took a sip of her glass and leaned in close to him, her eyes begging for a kiss, her body swarthy and warm against his as she slyly grinned up at him, in good cheer. He held his glass away from her, dipped low to meet her height and gave her what her heart desired, a sensual kiss on her sweet, plush lips.

She swooned in his embrace, and moved her mouth close to his ear, “I’m so happy for you, baby. Happy for us. You mean the world to me, Saint. I love you so much.” She smiled as she gripped his shirt delicately between her fingers.

He carefully moved several curls away from her ear
. “How much do you love me?” he whispered over the music and laughter.

“
More
than five minutes ago, and
less
than five minutes from now.”

She hugged him tight, so
tight he could hardly catch his breath. And that was all right with him. If he had to lose oxygen and meet his demise just then, he’d want it to happen just as they were, with her in his arms…

THE END

BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS

1.  In this fourth novel of the ‘Saint series’, there are more challenges, this time steming from the past, for both Saint and his wife Xenia. In what ways did you see each of their characters grow?

2. Bomb and Payton have made a return to this 4
th
novel of the series. Bomb was originally featured in the 3
rd
book, “Saved and SAINTified”, and Payton appeared in the 2
nd
book, “When Saint Goes Marching In.” In what ways do each of these characters change Saint’s life for better and for worse?

3. Sinclair is attracted to beautiful women who are a bit rugged around the edges, due to past traumas. In some circles, he’d be considered a relationship predator. In what ways does Sinclair’s character help demonstrate some of the problems in modern day relationships?

4. Saint and Xenia’s children, Hassani, Dakarai and Isis, are growing and maturing in their gifts. What were some things about the children you enjoyed?

5. Osaze, Saint’s father, meets someone special. Jagger has to battle his own self to get what his heart truly desires. Osaze compared Jagger and Saint; however, the two of them also have commonalities. In what ways do these two men mirror each other?

6. Traci is forced to comfront some upsetting information about the man she is madly in love with—Jagger. If you were Traci, do you think you would have reacted the same or differently?

7. Lawrence and Donna’s marriage was detailed in this book. How do you feel about Donna and do you believe Xenia and Traci can be a positive influence on her?