I only nodded then looked around and saw several women seated and in discussion. When one noticed me looking at them, she said, “We didn’t want to rush you like the men did and overwhelm you. Plus, I could tell that you needed to sit. Menaren’t as attentive at times. I’m Raquel, Noah and RJ’s mother and Ryan’s wife. Everyone around here calls me Raqui, except my husband.” She began introducing everyone near her, all four of her granddaughters, her daughters-in-law, and Nate’s wife.
When she was about to introduce the last lady, she stood and made her way to me. Chozen scooted over so she could sit next to me. “Hi, beautiful. I’m Candace, Chozen’s aunt. I’ve been so excited to meet you. Can I hug you?”
I nodded, and she wrapped her arms around me. The hug was warm and heartfelt, just like Chozen’s were. When she released me, she said, “I can’t wait to get to know you better. I’m going to be here longer than everyone else.”
Grabbing my hand, she squeezed it. Before she could leave, all the ladies had stood and surrounded me. The young lady Mrs. Raquel introduced to me as Noelle, one of Noah’s daughters, said, “The Lord put on my heart to pray. I never take those feelings lightly. He’s given me a gift to hear His voice and sense things, just like my parents. I promised Him that gift wouldn’t go in vain. If Chozen is with you, then I know you believe in the power of God, because he wouldn’t be with you if you didn’t. He surely wouldn’t bring you around his family if you didn’t.”
I smiled as I thought about a conversation Chozen and I had about God and how he wouldn’t put more on me than I could bear. He prayed for me every night, and I prayed for him every morning and whenever he crossed my mind. I found myself uttering prayers for him as much as I did for my baby. A warm feeling came over me as I nodded and said softly, “Thank you.”
I noticed the men joining us in the room, some that I hadn’t met yet, and they intermingled in the circle. While I hated attention, I wouldn’t dare turn down prayer. My mama stood and grabbed Mrs. Raquel’s hand, and Chozen scooted back over to me and wrapped his arms around me. I lowered my head tohis chest, and he kissed it. “I’m sorry if this is overwhelming for you, but they mean well.”
“I know. I’m grateful for your family. I can sense the love and spirituality of everyone here . . . except RJ.”
He chuckled, as did everyone who heard me. I looked around and felt RJ’s eyes on me. When my eyes met his, he nodded repeatedly. “Mm-hmm. Talk noise now, shorty. Like the Lord, vengeance is mine.”
Everyone laughed as his dad slowly shook his head.
“Go ahead, Elle,” Mrs. Raquel said.
Everyone bowed their heads, and she delivered the most powerful prayer I had ever felt. As she finished up, Mrs. Raquel started singing “I Need Thee,” a song I used to hear the deacons sing at church when I was a kid. When Noah and his daughter Noelle began harmonizing with her, I couldn’t stop the tears that fell down my cheeks. It was like I could feel the anointing of God all over me.
When they stopped, Noah’s wife started singing, and she did a polyharmony thing. It sounded like four voices came out of her at once. Noah closed his eyes and nodded his head. When he reopened them, he said, “Get a second opinion. God said, through her voice, that He has the final say. Get more blood work done. Don’t take any of that medicine until you’ve gotten that opinion. I can get you in to see a doctor in Cove City, near Blake U. He’s reputable.”
I broke down. I could no longer contain my cries. Chozen held me tighter and rocked me in his arms. Tonight was already shaping up to be a dayIwould never forget. My faith was strong, and I believed that God spoke to Noah and Noelle. I was grateful that they bombarded their way on Mrs. Candace and Mr. Carrington’s trip here. God orchestrated it all, and I wouldn’t take that for granted.
Azari had taken her pain pill this morning and told me that she would be able to go to class. It seemed after meeting my family, her faith was even stronger, and I was thankful to God for that. The way Raqui, Noah, TAZ, and Noelle sang, I could definitely feel God in the midst. It was like His spirit had settled around them. All the women were shedding tears, and Reverend Charles wasn’t far from shedding tears as well. Everyone seemed caught up in the moment except that damned RJ.
He was watching everyone, making sure nothing went left, as he would say. He was always on guard for bullshit, especially when people he wasn’t as familiar with were present. I didn’t think he was expecting anything foul to happen. It was just habit for him to do that. I didn’t know how he didn’t succumb to the spirit in the room like everyone else. The way Azari cried, I couldtell it came from her soul. They weren’t tears of defeat though. They were tears of victory.
As I headed to the class she and I had together, I silently thanked God for family that had a direct line to Him. While I was a spiritual person, I was nowhere near the level Noah and his family were on. They were truly God’s vessels. He once said whenever his wife executed her polyharmony vocals, he could hear God speak in an audible voice. I hadn’t told a soul about her multiple myeloma progression diagnosis from Friday. It had to be God to reveal that to him.
As I rounded the corner, I saw Azari on her scooter. She was smiling. God, that was a wonderful feeling. When I could see her smile, everything was alright in the world. It seemed like the prophetic word from Noah had her in better spirits, and as soon as I could get her another prosthesis, she would really be doing better. She didn’t complain of any pain not once after we left Nate’s house. God had healed her. I could feel it in my soul.
“Hey, baby,” she said when we got close.
“Hey, beautiful. You acting like you hadn’t seen me today.”
I smiled and bit my bottom lip. We rode to school together and stopped at Lyrie’s Everything Café, near campus, for coffee and breakfast. It was my first time actually going there, because I usually ate at home then headed to the gym. However, I woke up a little late because last night, I chose to cater to her before taking her home. X had gone with her mother, so I took her to my place, bathed her, and massaged her. I focused on the places her prosthesis was bothering her, gently soothing the pain with the CBD oil I’d gotten for her. After all that, we picked X up, and I took them home.
When I got home, my mind was racing with ideas of how I could build our house. It didn’t help that Uncle Carrington was helping me with plans. We were up until nearly two o’clock this morning. Tonight, Azari and X would be staying at my placewith Aunt Candace and Uncle Carrington. We would also be eating dinner with everyone since the rest of the family would be leaving in the morning. RJ had to get back to Baltimore, Noelle, TAZ, and Noah would be on tour later this week, and Nate had to get to Boston for a preseason game.
“It doesn’t matter how many times I see you. I will always be excited to lay eyes on you.”
“Well, damn. I feel the same way. I’m excited that you let all inhibitions go when it came to being with me, baby.”
“Me too. I found myself judging you through my past experiences. That wasn’t right. If you had red flags, I feel like they would have presented themselves by now. I’ve gotten to know the amazing person you are. If anything came up, at this point, I believe my first reaction would be to seek a resolution that would keep us together. Your dominant traits are the ones I’ve already seen. I feel that with my heart.”
I smiled at her and said, “Damn, baby. Let’s get in this class so we can get shit done. Then I can love on you for the rest of the evening.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Watchingthe tears fall from her eyes once again had me softer than cotton. I took her prosthesis and gave it to the guy who owned this shop. I wanted to throw that shit in the dumpster, but he said with work, it could possibly be a good fit for someone else. Azari didn’t understand just how much I meant the things I said. She stood from her seat and walked around without issue.
“Oh my God, Chozen. This is perfect. How did you do this?”
“It’s beneficial to have connections, baby. I did all the measurements for your leg while you were napping Saturday. Noah called in and got things expedited for me. With my family in our corner, you don’t have to worry about or wait for a thing. They already consider you family because of how I feel about you. Uncle Carrington said he could see that you were the one for me. Noah sees it too. Baby, we are meant. Why would I not take care of this precious gift He’s blessed me with?”
She walked over to me as one of the workers looked on. Once she was directly in front of me, she placed her hand on my cheek. “I’m so overwhelmed and overjoyed to have a man as caring as you, Chozen. You are one of one. I’ve never met anyone like you, baby. Thank you so much. This will improve my quality of life so much.”
