Page 44 of Mafia Kings & Wedding Rings
“Good.” Coach Reeves nodded. “Y’all got plans today after this?”
“I’m having lunch with a friend then going to work. Sapphire has plenty of homework he can get to.” I half turned in my seat and looked my brother over.
“That’s right. Stay on top of that. I told you it’s one thing to get a scholarship to play, but you have to maintain your grades too. If you need a tutor, there are resources in the counselor’s office for that.”
“Yeah. You don’t have to be scared to ask for help,” I reminded him. “You’re very smart and capable?—”
“She’s about to go on a rant listing off all my best qualities.” Sapphire rolled his eyes.
Coach chuckled and looked my way as he maneuvered the car into traffic.
“I won’t do all that today.” I threw up my hands in surrender.
“Amen to that,” Sapphire jested, which we all laughed at.
Arriving at Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Coach Reeves parked in the lot on the side of the large building. I was nervous. When we were young, we went to church all the time, but Sapphire was right to mention that we hadn’t stepped foot inside one since our father died almost a year ago. Sighing, I lifted my eyes to the brick structure with the white wooden cross on top. There were people pulling up, gathering at the double front doors and catching up. Pastor Evans stood out front, shaking hands and smiling too. I didn’t have any expectations for this day. For all I knew, God was going to strike me down for having sex with a married man.
“Good morning, Blaine. Welcome to Sunday service,” he greeted us, holding his hand out for him to take.
“Good morning, Pastor Evans. This is one of my hoopers, Sapphire Crane, and his sister, Emerald,” Coach Reeves introduced us.
“Crane?” The Pastor frowned and canvassed me and my brother. “Are you David Crane’s children?”
“We are,” I replied.
“Very sorry to hear about your father. We went to school together, and he often sent donations to the church. I’m glad that you could make it. Why don’t you all have a seat up front? We’ll be starting soon.”
“Thank you.” A warm smile captured my lips.
“Come on.” Coach Reeves rested a hand on the small of my back and led me inside with Sapphire behind us.
The service was somehow exactly what I needed. My faith had been shaken far too long, but listening to Pastor Evans speak was reassuring. I even found myself tearing up at some of the Bible verses he selected. I guess everyone sometimes feels like God is talking right to them through the preacher. The choir sang, but it wasn’t too much. I appreciated hearing the word more than all that singing, but the numbers they chose were beautiful. By the time the service let out, I had a renewed sense of hope. My smile was uncontainable too.
“Seems like you had a good time,” Blaine declared once we were in the car.
“It was nice. I didn’t expect to feel like this after leaving, but it was kind of cleansing.”
“Yeah. Pastor Evans was on point,” he agreed, nodding.
The familiar buzz of my cell in my purse alerted me. Digging around the side pocket, I whipped it out and saw that Jordan was texting. It was already fifteen after twelve. I hadn’t gone home to change or anything and it was going to take longer to do that then catch the bus to her.
“Everything okay?” Blaine checked with me.
“Yeah. My friend I’m meeting for lunch just let me know she’s there and I don’t have time to go home and change then meet her.”
“I can drop you off if you want. Where you heading?” he asked, his big hand gripping the steering wheel.
“You don’t have to do that,” I objected.
“Emerald, I offered. It’s cool. I can take Sap and go have a bite and shoot some hoops too. I’ll make sure he gets to his homework.”
Hesitant to accept his help, I checked on my brother behind him, ear buds in while bobbing his head to music on his phone. We just got out of church and he couldn’t wait to bump some trap music.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I don’t have anything else to do today. So where to?” he asked.
“The Hazelnut Café.”
