Excerpt

Chapter One

Trinity Blake pulled her hair into a long, flowing ponytail. Blowing out a breath, she appraised her image in the bathroom mirror.

"This is pathetic," she muttered. She had to make an appointment to see Lucas, her beautician as soon as possible. She had to make due until then. A jog around the school’s track where she worked, three times a week kept her body in shape.

Trinity glanced one last time and headed into the living room. She moved over to the entertainment center and pushed the play button on the VCR. A fifth grade mathematics teacher, Trinity missed the NAACP Award’s show when she attended a dinner with fellow colleagues. She fast forwarded the award tape until she spotted Garrett’s live performance. The two sang in the Praise & Worship Gospel Choir at his father’s church. A former music director, Garrett led the choir to great stardom. The choir won competitions, performed concerts, and even landed a recording contract. After one CD, Garrett left to sing secular music, a decision his father was against, but one Garrett always wanted. After Garrett left, the choir lost the hype he’d generated and choir members began to leave the choir, including herself.

She watched as he performed, Love Ballad, originally done by Jeffrey Osborne. Garrett admired the crooner. Spellbound, she couldn’t take her eyes off the television as his fingers tickled the piano keys in sync with the hypnotic words of the song. It was like he was singing to her and her only. She couldn’t look away. Maybe it was because they had gone out on a date two years ago. Of course, that was before he moved to Los Angeles and became a celebrity. He’d invited her to dinner to celebrate his recording contract and was a perfect gentleman throughout the date, giving her a kiss on the cheek at the door.

A slow smile appeared at the corner of her mouth, remembering the times when they just hung out as friends. Trinity dismissed the memories. She met Darius Childress six months after Garrett moved. She was sure Garrett wasn’t lonely for company. The last she heard, he was dating Imani, whose face graced magazines covers, billboards, television commercials, and runways from New York to Milan.

Still, Trinity often wondered what would have happened between them if Garrett had remained. Would there have been many more dates after the one and only date? A needling thought entered her mind. She was sure not all men were afraid of commitment, but since she ended the relationship with Darius, she’d been leery about entering into another. One thing she knew for sure, the next time she gave herself to a man, it would be on her wedding night.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted her thoughts. She picked up the remote and clicked off the VCR. A moment later, she opened the door to her father, Lyle Blake on the doorstep.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Trinity turned and headed back into the living room.

Lyle followed. "You didn’t make it to church this morning. I stopped by to see if anything was wrong."

"I’m fine. I just couldn’t get up this morning."

"Couldn’t get up?" He repeated. "What kind of excuse is that?"

"No excuse. It’s the truth. I was out late last night at the annual faculty party. I slept in this morning."

"God has been good to you. He blessed you with the job. The least you can do is give Him thanks, one day out of the week."

Trinity took a seat on the sofa. She folded her legs underneath her.

"God knows I appreciate everything He has done in my life. Missing one Sunday isn’t going to piss Him off."

Her father’s blue eyes stretched. "Trinity, stop talking like that. It’s blasphemy."

She looked up toward heaven and raised one hand in the air, showing God respect. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. I meant to say ‘anger.’"

"That’s better," Lyle softly scolded. "Your mother and I raised you better than that."

Trinity made a face and rolled her eyes. She was not in the mood to hear another one of her father’s religious spiels. It was getting old. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe in God. She did. It’s just that she didn’t want to hear a sermon twenty-four hours a day.

Since her mother’s death ten years ago, Trinity’s father, a deacon at the James Martindale AME Church, was always preaching to her about the way she lives her life since he became a born again Christian.

He first began attending church to help deal with the death of his wife, Elizabeth. Before her death, Lyle never stepped foot inside a church in twenty years. Ordained as a deacon four years ago, his main focus has been working with the youth department.

Her mother, Liz an African-American followed the Baptist faith. Her father who was white was raised Catholic. The two met as students at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, fell in love, and were married. The color of their skin was never an issue to them. Living in the Bible belt in the early seventies, interracial dating, let alone marriage was taboo. Everywhere they went there were stares, whispers, and racial remarks. Her parents learned to accept the behaviors and refused to allow prejudice to come between them. For twenty-years, their love remained strong until her death. Lyle’s family never accepted the marriage or Trinity, and didn’t attend the funeral. Liz’s parents attended the funeral, but it was the last time she saw her grandparents.

A year later, Lyle, then an engineer, took a job in Washington, D.C. A college sophomore, Trinity transferred to American University to be with him; ultimately, she received her bachelor degree in education and two years later, her master’s degree. Believing she was about to hear aother sermon, Trinity stood and headed into the kitchen. Not having breakfast, she was famished. She rambled through the refrigerator, removing lettuce, tomato, broccoli, red onion, and cucumber. She placed the vegetables on the counter for a salad.

"This is the Sunday you should have been there," Lyle said, wandering in the kitchen.

Trinity opened the refrigerator door again, grabbing a bottle of Italian salad dressing. "Why? What did I miss?"

"Not what? Who?"

Trinity frowned. "Okay. Who?"

"Garrett Martindale, that’s who."

Trinity stood motionless for a moment before she spoke again. "Garrett is in town?"

The last time Garrett was home was over a year ago. She and Darius were still a couple. Darius attended church with her and she introduced the two men. Garrett was cordial but wasn’t very sociable.

"Yes. He got in last night from California," Lyle arched a right eyebrow, "and still managed to make it to church service this morning."Trinity sighed. She gave Lyle a look. She knew how her father received the news of Garrett’s arrival. Garrett’s presence always caused a stir. Women who haven’t been to church in ages managed to show up. She removed a knife from the utensil drawer.

"After service, Garrett asked about you," Lyle said, watching his daughter’s expression.

She removed a salad bowl from the cabinet. "What?"

"He wanted to know how you were. If you were married, things like that."

Trinity moved over to the sink to wash the vegetables.

"You don’t seem too excited."

"Nothing to get excited about," Trinity said over her right shoulder. Deep inside, she was doing her best not to let her emotions show.

"I agree," Lyle replied. "I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Word must have leaked out that he was here. The pews were full with women this morning. All dressed up. Some half dressed. I guess he wants to pick up where you two left off."

Trinity turned the water faucet off. "Dad, we’re just friends." "Well, your friend, uh said, he will call you." Lyle opened the cabinet, removing a glass. "Singing that music," he mumbled. "Thinks he’s Sam Cooke. Long way from it."

Trinity had to laugh. "Garrett does not believe he’s Sam Cooke. "He’s…" she shrugged a shoulder, "…just Garrett."

Lyle opened the refrigerator door and poured himself a glass of water. "I know how he used to be. Since he began singing that secular music, he’s a bad influence on the young people in the church. Some of them even want to follow in his footsteps." He took a sip.

."Garrett is not a bad influence," Trinity argued. "I admire him for following his dream. What is wrong with that?"

"See what I mean?" He tilted the glass toward her. "Everyone admires him for turning his back on gospel music."

"Garrett hasn’t turned his back on inspirational music," Trinity stressed the new name for the genre. "Both of his albums include several inspirational tracks."

"I hope you avoid him."

Trinity gasped. She looked at Lyle like he’d grown two heads. "I will not."

Lyle walked around the counter. "You make your own decision."

"Thank you," Trinity quipped.

He kissed her on the forehead. "Just remember that I gave you the same warning about Darius. I was right."

Trinity raised a hand in midair. "I don’t want to hear anything about Darius."

All right." He turned and headed toward the door.

"Are you staying for lunch?"

Lyle swirled back around. "What are you having with the salad?"

"Nothing. You’re supposed to watch what you’re eating." Lyle was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago. Part of his treatment is to change his diet.

"I’m following doctors’ orders. Don’t worry about me." With a wave of the hand, Lyle closed the door behind him. For a moment, Trinity stood still, letting her father’s words sink in. As far as Garrett visiting home, she hoped to hear from him, but she wasn’t going to hold her breath.