Beloved

By Lisa Arnoux-Brown

Nina Bennett was an acclaimed actress and singer, but after the death of her famous jazz musician father, she felt alone until her aunt Elaine opened up her heart and home to her. Ninas star was shining, but her decision to break her contracts and sever all ties to Hollywood was easy.

Church wasnt new to her, but it felt new as she listened to the pastor of Christ Tabernacle Church preach the Word. She began to feel the hole in her heart start to heal. The saints, however, saw her as a wannabe Christian, looking for recognition, and they didnt trust her. Ninas nightly prayer was for their approval and acceptance.

Five years after the tragic death of Pastor Darius Fairchilds wife, he is a highly anointed preacher, and his flock at Christ Tabernacle is growing, but something is still missing in his life. His nightly prayer is for someone to love. Could Sister Elaines niece be the one God sent for him?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781449785710

Lisa Arnoux-Brown

New York City native Lisa Arnoux-Brown currently lives in Massachusetts with her family.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

N ina pulled the door closed behind her and then she walked down the three steps onto the lawn. Caving in, she turned around to look once more at the house she lived in for most of her life. She experienced a lot of good times and bad times in that house. Three months ago, she embraced her new status. She was on her own and was master of her destiny. With her forefinger and thumb, she flicked the For Sale sign planted on the lawn as she walked past it and stepped into the waiting limousine at the end of the curving driveway.

As an entertainer, Nina worked in show business for as long as she could remember. She was an acclaimed actor and award-winning singer. Her parents, who met at the famed Julliard School of Music in New York City, paved the way for her as talented musicians also. Her mother and father decided that California was the best place for them to make their fortunes in the music industry, and they married as soon as their careers took off. Her father was one of the best jazz musicians in the industry and her mother graced numerous stages singing chart-topping songs her dad wrote for her. Catalina and Charles Bennett were an unbeatable duo.

When Nina was just eight years old her mother died tragically in a car accident coming home from a performance in Chicago, leaving her dad sad and a single parent. Nina’s father was a great parent in spite of how busy he was. She traveled with him wherever he performed until he discovered that she could sing too. Then he began to write music just for her and she often performed with him.

Nina and her father were a team until she was thirteen years old. Disney beckoned and the rest is history as they say. She was an instant sensation and as she got older, her star rose and soared.

Charles Bennett did not allow Hollywood to spoil his daughter. She hadn’t fallen victim to the classic child star catastrophes that plagued her famous friends. She didn’t drink or smoke and her father warned her long ago what drugs would do to her if she indulged in them. Now at twenty-five years of age, she was alone. Charles Bennett died a year ago of lung cancer. Apart from her career, he had been her world and she found that without him applauding her, her acting and recording career were not as satisfying as it once was. Feeling lost and alone, she decided that she was going home to her aunt her father’s sister. She was going to New York.

Richard Feldman her longtime friend, agent and manager rode in the Limo with Nina as it ate up the road to the airport. He was the one person besides her father who really appreciated her abilities. He managed her career from the age of thirteen to the present. He was instrumental in helping her transition from singing with her father to acting in Disney’s wholesome movies.

As she watched the scenery pass by, Nina found that she didn’t feel sad.

Nina there is still time to reconsider you don’t have to do this, Richard said trying to reason with her.

Nina turned from the window to smile at him. She realized that she would miss him.

Richard we’ve discussed this before. I know you feel that I should just take some time to regroup, but it really isn’t about regrouping. It’s about what I need right now. I’m no longer happy doing this, she tried to explain.

I’m just saying that it doesn’t have to be permanent. I could keep some doors open for you. All I ask is that you think about it while you’re out there living the mundane life. Richard gestured with his hands as he spoke. He usually did that when he was upset.

Nina looked at the man who’s managed her career ever since she was a very young girl and shook her head sadly.

If I say I’ll think about it you will run with it and before I know it, I’ll be back doing the same old thing over and over again.

No. Richard said shaking his head, I’m giving you the chance to think about it and if you change your mind and want to come back, we can start slow until you’re comfortable again. Okay?

Trust me to know what I want just this once Richard, please just this once. Nina begged him.

Because he cared about her and because it was hard to refuse her anything when she fixed those sea green eyes at him, he nodded and reached over to pat her hand. Fine, but do me one favor while you’re out there. Call me every now and then, I worry about you sometimes, he replied finally.

I’m going to miss you too, Nina murmured and she reached over to hug her friend.

They didn’t speak the rest of the ride to LAX. The driver parked as close as he could to the terminal doors while Richard helped Nina with her luggage. It took over an hour to check in with all the security precautions. The fact that she was a celebrity made every step longer. Nina felt frazzled by the time she boarded the plane to New York.

The flight was uneventful and since she wasn’t the only celebrity on board the plane, celebrity hounds didn’t bother her too much. After the inflight meal, Nina slid her sunglasses on like a diva and slept. The flight attendant shook her gently to wake her and to let her know that the plane had landed. Nina thanked her and stood up to grab her carry-on bag.

Following the signs, she arrived at the luggage bay to watch out for her suitcases. She had three big ones plus the carry-on.

She tipped the airport attendant handsomely for loading the cab for her and even waved at him as it took off. Nina promised her aunt that she would see her the following day and booked herself into a hotel. Richard almost had a stroke when she told him she was staying at a hotel in Queens. Nina reasoned that since her aunt lived in Queens she didn’t want to travel very far to get to her. They planned to meet in church the following morning.

The hotel wasn’t a four star but it was clean and it was close enough to the church. She even lucked out with the timing; it was late and the staff didn’t recognize her.

Her first Sunday morning in Jamaica Queens dawned clear, sunny and cold. She accounted for March weather and dressed accordingly. Her plan was to check out early and to arrange for a rental car. When she stepped off the elevator, she made it to the front desk without recognition. Unfortunately, the desk clerk recognized her right away and Nina had to sign her autograph before she could obtain information about the rental.

Guests and staff alike crowded around her as she waited for the car. After what felt like hours, Nina took possession of a black Cadillac Escalade and once her luggage was stored in the back, she took off. She could hear Richard’s voice in her head telling her that she should have rented the car when she booked her hotel room. Sunday school was out of the question now.

Nina drove the half mile or so it took to get to the church. It was ten o’clock and if she remembered correctly, the worship service would be just starting. The church was located in a secluded area behind a row of townhomes. The stain glass windows gleamed brightly in the harsh winter sunlight. Taking a deep breath, Nina parked in the church parking lot and stepped out pulling her scarf firmer around her neck. As she reached the door, people who were arriving just as she was were pointing and whispering. Nina paid them no mind and walked right in.

Nina was sure that her aunt had already arrived and was about to walk through the double doors that separated the vestibule and the sanctuary when a woman dressed in black and white stopped her.

Praise the Lord, sister. Welcome to Christ Tabernacle, and she handed Nina a program. Nina thanked her and inquired about Sister Elaine Bennett-Hughes. The usher nodded and opened the doors to the sanctuary for her and pointed.

Her aunt it seemed sat very nearly to the front. The usher noted her hesitation and took her arm to lead her to her aunt. If the usher was waiting for a commotion, she was disappointed as Sister Elaine merely smiled and grabbed Nina’s hand to pull her close. Afterwards she went right on singing and clapping her hands.

Aunt Elaine was a tall brown-skinned woman in her sixties. She was a little on the plump side with laugh lines on her smooth face. Nina’s aunt and her father resembled each other a lot, which brought a small lump to her throat. Nina smiled back at her aunt and then turned her attention to the front of the church.

Again, some people recognized her and stared while others acknowledged her then returned to worshipping. Nina realized that she arrived at the very beginning of the service. It was praise and worship time.

Praise and worship was where a group of men and women led the congregation in song and worship until it was time for the Word part of the service.

After a moment of prayer and reading of the Scriptures, an elder introduced the pastor. He came up to the pulpit to welcome everyone. The elder whispered in his ear and immediately the pastor’s eyes strayed to where Nina sat.

Sister Bennett-Hughes has her niece visiting with us all the way from California this morning. Welcome to Christ Tabernacle Miss Nina Bennett, he said. All eyes turned to Nina and with the urging of her aunt, she stood up to modestly wave at those around her then she sat back down.

The sermon the pastor preached was very moving and Nina sat riveted in her seat. She was no stranger to the Word, but Nina had never heard it delivered so powerfully before and found herself shouting Halleluiah or Amen along with everybody else. Filled with power as the pastor spoke, Nina couldn’t stop smiling. This was what she had been searching for she realized suddenly, this was what had been missing in her life.

Her father and she attended services in L.A but it was never like this. The power behind the words and the sincerity in the man who delivered it was authoritative and compelling. By the end, Nina had tears in her eyes and her aunt urged her to go to the altar for prayer, but she couldn’t and shook her head. For the first time in her life, Nina felt shy. She felt that what she wanted was too personal for others to witness. Maybe when she was settled she would go, but for now it was enough that she could listen.

After service, she tried to be as inconspicuous as she could but didn’t quite pull it off. The older people merely stared or smiled at her, but the younger set walked right up to her to shake her hand. Finally, at the insistence of her aunt, Nina approached the pastor.

Sister Bennett, it was a pleasure having you worship with us, he said as he took her hand in his.

Thank you. I am really glad I had the opportunity, I was really moved by your sermon. Nina told him honestly.

Praise the Lord, that’s what it is all about, sister. He pumped her hand once again and released it.

Next, her aunt introduced Nina to two of her friends, Sister Dorothea Jackson and Sister Rachel Winston. They smiled graciously at her but Nina recognized the phoniness in it. They had that look her father once described to her. It was a look that meant (you aren’t all that).

Once they were outside, those who were waiting for her to come out flanked Nina. Nina shook her head and smiled apologetically at them then led her aunt to the rental.

You don’t expect me to ride in this monstrosity do you? she asked.

The SUV was fully loaded with heated leather seats; power everything to name a few. Nina explained that she needed it because of her bulky luggage and further explained that she normally drove an SUV. She was having her Lincoln Navigator shipped later.

After making sure that her aunt buckled her seatbelt, Nina walked over to the driver’s side and hopped in much to the amusement of the men eyeing her from the church’s steps. Nina was only five feet five inches tall.

She flipped her reddish brown hair out of the way and started the car. Following her aunt’s directions, they were soon parking in the driveway. Sister Elaine lived in Cambria Heights in a modest one family A-frame house. She has lived in that house forever and it hadn’t changed one bit. Nina felt comforted by that.

Sunday brunch was a tradition in the Bennett family and her dad kept the custom in California too. She tried not to feel sad, but Aunt Elaine saw her shiny eyes and reached across the table to pat her hand.

I miss him too baby, she confided to her.

It’s been a year but it still feels like yesterday. Almost everything reminds me of him, Nina explained.

One day it will get better but for now we have to take it one day at a time. Now eat your food before it gets cold. Then we need to have a little talk. Go on eat, Aunt Elaine said gesturing with the hand holding her fork.

After eating the first real meal since she made up her mind to leave California, Nina was glad to help her aunt do the dishes. If she continued to eat this way, she would have to start going to the gym again, she thought.

Once the dishes were in the drainer, Aunt Elaine took her by the hand to lead her to the rooms upstairs. The house contained three bedrooms and she had a choice of the remaining two. The few times she came to New York were work related and if her dad accompanied her, she stayed in hotel in the city while her dad stayed with his sister. Nina asked for the room her father used when he visited and claimed it as hers. Side by side, they unpacked the suitcases and when they finished, Nina heaved a huge sigh.

What was that for? her aunt asked her.

Unpacking makes it final. It’s real and I’m here not there. Nina explained.

That’s something we have to discuss but if you’re too tired from your flight, we can talk about it tomorrow or whenever you feel like talking, her aunt told her.

We can talk now Auntie and as a matter of fact, I would prefer we do it now because once we are through, I can move on. Nina sat on the bed next to her to wait.

Her aunt shook her head, Well I don’t know about all that, but I wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing, she began.

Did Richard call you? Nina asked quickly.

Who’s he? asked Aunt Elaine.

He was my agent. He’s been trying to change my mind ever since I told him that I wanted to quit. He couldn’t understand why I needed to do this, Nina replied.

"Why are you doing this? You were living this wonderful life, having a ball from what I read in those magazines and a career that was making you a fortune," her aunt elaborated. Nina noted that her aunt’s expression was one of concern.

This time it was Nina’s turn to shake her head. Auntie I wasn’t happy. The money and the fame, none of it was worthwhile anymore if I wasn’t happy in here, Nina said placing a hand to where her heart beat. After Dad passed, it hit me. He was gone and I was alone. I realized that I did what I did because I could share it him. I enjoyed it but it was more for him than anything else because it made him happy and proud.

What about your husband? Aunt Elaine asked.

What husband? Nina countered. You would know if I was married.

Aunt Elaine tapped a finger into the palm of her other hand. I’ve kept every magazine that mentions you and in one of them it said that you had secretly married. Why would they print something like that if it weren’t true?

Nina got up to pace the length of her father’s old bedroom. She was flabbergasted that her aunt believed the tabloids. Nina remembered the one to which she referred.

Richard advised her to ignore it because everyone would soon realize that it was not true when no husband materialized. There had been a lot of things printed about her that Richard advised her to ignore and now she was beginning to understand that he was using them for publicity. It might even be possible that he was planting those stories himself. To him, if she was in print then she was popular.

I’ve never been married and there is no boyfriend either. It was just Dad and me. We didn’t live as most celebrities did. We lived in a big house of course because that was what was available, and I had a nanny and a private tutor when I was younger. After I grew up, Dad and I took care of each other. We shared the housework and cooking. Nina’s posture had taken on a proud stance as she spoke.

I have magazines with pictures of you at parties and such. They have you dancing and drinking and carrying on; those pictures made me so sad Baby. Aunt Elaine said.

"There were pictures of me at parties and while there, I networked as Richard wanted me to. There was no drinking or carrying on. If there was a picture of me with a drink in my hand, you had better believe that it was Ginger Ale. You see Richard thought that if I were associated with the right people having fun, then I was what they called ‘in’. Nina gestured quotation marks with her fingers.

So you did all those movies to please your dad? What about the albums, did you sing to please him too? Aunt Elaine had a frown on her face.

Nina thought for a minute and then shook her head. No. I enjoyed making the movies they were fun. The singing was too but it seemed that after Dad died, the fun was gone.

Wasn’t there anything you did that you did for yourself? asked her aunt.

I didn’t mean to make it sound like that. I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do. I made movies and sang because I wanted to. Dad didn’t force me and neither did Richard. I had a choice. It’s just that one day I woke up and I didn’t want to do them anymore. She told her aunt.

So you just told everybody that you quit?

That wasn’t easy either. I had to break my contracts, which cost a lot of money. Richard was upset about that. He’d been with me a long time and I truly believe that it wasn’t about his percentage anymore, that he really cared about me. Still I had to fight to be free.

So there’s not going to be strange people knocking on my door looking for you? Aunt Elaine asked pointing a finger at her.

No. I severed all ties. I’m a New Yorker now. I’m going to stay with you for as long as you can stand me and maybe I’ll find someone to marry and make you a great-aunt. What do you think of that? Nina asked with a smile.

That’s right you are 25 years old now. Why aren’t you married yet? You aren’t one of those male/female types are you?

Nina threw back her head to laugh long and hard. When she laughed herself out, she dried her eyes then hugged her aunt. Auntie, what can I do for you, now that I’m here?

I don’t need anything Baby.

Nina looked around the room taking in the peeling paint and old furniture.

I know exactly what I’m going to do for you.

What are you going to do for me? Aunt Elaine asked her with a suspicious tone to her voice.

I am going to wait until my belongings arrive and then I’m going to give this house a make-over. Nina told her with a gleam in her green eyes.

Does that mean that you are going to fix this old place up?

Nina nodded and her aunt hugged her tight. Then she told her to lie down and get some rest even if she didn’t feel like it, her body had traveled a lot.

CHAPTER TWO

T he following couple of months were busy ones for Elaine and her niece. Nina got her aunt excited about the renovations and she gave Nina free reign. While painters worked on the outside, Nina had the kitchen, bathrooms and all the bedrooms redone. Elaine wouldn’t part with her old bedroom furniture though. She insisted that it was still good. She and her husband bought the furniture just before they moved into the house. Nina didn’t push the issue anymore because there were a few pieces of furniture she had shipped to her that she couldn’t part with either. There were things that she and her father shared like the baby grand piano and all of their awards. She arranged them in the room off the living room. Her aunt insisted the room was just a room she used to do her crafts. Nina couldn’t find any crafts in the room and suggested that she use the other spare bedroom upstairs for her crafts since it was closer to her bedroom. Her aunt agreed.

Spring was giving way to summer and Nina continued to go to church with her aunt. The congregation had finally settled down to accepting her presence as status quo. She didn’t have to rush to her car anymore and only worried about shopping. She figured that if she didn’t visit the bigger store chains that she would do fine, but word does get around. Most times, she signed more autographs than she shopped.

It’s been three months and Nina was finally starting to feel good about her choices when she found out that Richard had one more trick up his sleeve. He had been trying to get her to release a greatest hits CD. At the time, she agreed only to get him off her back, but didn’t really intend on doing any recordings. She was feeling lost and just wanted to wallow in self-pity and sadness. She now realized that Richard ignored her and went ahead to commit her to several engagements. Perhaps he hoped to snap his client out of her funk.

She hadn’t been able to pull out of an appearance he’d booked two weeks later, nor could she back out of a tribute to her father one month after that either.

The greatest hits CD must’ve been the other thing he had in mind for her. Richard didn’t need her to record the CD. The record company just pulled a collection of all her more popular releases and placed them on two CDs.

When Nina called to speak with him, he very succinctly reminded her that she had agreed to it and signed a release form.

Richard is there anything else I agreed to that I don’t remember? she asked him. She was being magnanimous because she honestly could not recall whether she signed a release or not.

No. You turned down the cameo on that Bond movie. I was hoping that you had gotten bored by this time, but you even sound happy. Richard answered her.

I am happy Richard and I’d like to think that you are glad for me, Nina told him not bothering to hide the annoyance in her voice.

I am glad this is working out for you, really I am. I just think that we should keep in touch just in case you want to come back. I’ll give you a ring next week.

The release generated another few weeks of autograph and CD signing after service, that even Nina felt a little uncomfortable. Her aunt’s friends smiled their smiles and this time her aunt caught the look and commented on it.

It was late summer and the church was getting ready to have revival services. Her aunt explained that they did it every year after which they would have a picnic to end the summer season. The service and picnic was for the last two weeks in August with invited speakers and choirs from neighboring churches.

Christ Tabernacle had a great choir and Nina enjoyed listening to them sing. The choir director was young and he had vision. She thought that he could take the choir far if he wanted to. Elaine asked her about joining the choir and Nina answered that maybe someday she would.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to sing, she did very much. She felt that if she sang with the choir, the director would feel obligated to have her sing lead. She didn’t want that. The lead singer they had was fine with a powerful voice.

Just before the first service, Nina was home in the award room as her aunt had dubbed it, playing the piano. She displayed awards of every description and size on shelves and stands in the room. Before long, she lost herself in the music and didn’t realize that she had been singing as well. She was singing one of her favorite Yolanda Adams songs. At the end of the song, the applause startled her. Elaine and the choir director were standing in the doorway clapping. Her aunt had tears in her eyes and the choir director stared at her with a gleam in his.

Sister Nina that was absolutely wonderful, he said walking further into the room.

Baby girl that was some mighty fine singing, Aunt Elaine agreed. She walked around the piano to sit next to her. She pointed to the choir director to introduce him.

This is Brother Jonas our choir director.

Hello Brother Jonas. Did you give my aunt a ride home from bible study? Nina asked. Her heart was beating fast because she recognized the look in the man’s eyes. She knew that he was going to ask her to sing.

Yes I did. Sister Nina, I was wondering if you had any thoughts of joining our choir and if so I wanted to give you the schedule for our rehearsals. He was already sifting through a folder he held in his hand.

Nina pulled the piano lid down to rest her elbows on it. She regarded the man facing her with suspicion.

I was under the impression that one had to be a member of the church before they could join the choir, is that not so? Brother Jonas sputtered and nodded.

Well yes that’s right. I attended this months’ administration meeting and Pastor mentioned that he had gotten your request to transfer from your old church in Los Angeles. I took it as an affirmative that you would become a member of Christ Tabernacle soon. Brother Jonas explained.

Nina nodded. I haven’t heard that it was granted yet Brother Jonas, but please don’t take this the wrong way. I am very interested in joining the choir but I want to be comfortable as a member first before doing so.

Brother Jonas was clearly disappointed. He looked to Sister Elaine and shrugged. Please be assured that when you decide to join the choir that you will be welcomed warmly. Goodnight Sister Nina. He turned to leave and Elaine got up to escort him out.

When she returned, Nina was still sitting at the piano and her aunt sat beside her once again. You know Nina this isn’t one of your shows where you make them wait. You are giving everyone the impression that you are a diva and unapproachable. We can’t have those in our church, she said quietly.

You told him that I would join the choir didn’t you?

Of course I did. I remembered you mentioning just the other day how you wanted to join. I had the man give me a lift from the church just so he could talk with you about it. Why did you turn him down?

Aunt Elaine I didn’t turn him down. I merely explained that I wanted to feel comfortable first. Besides there are too many people who still see me as a diva as you say. They won’t want me to minister to them. I want to sing for the right reason not because Brother Jonas wants to impress the choirs visiting from the other churches these next couple of weeks.

Aunt Elaine nodded. Okay, but can you do me a favor? The mother’s board is leading the Wednesday night service and I am presiding. If I ask you to sing that song you just sang would you do it?

Nina leaned toward her aunt to kiss her soft cheek. Yes Auntie I would be happy to, but you have to do me a favor too. Don’t tell anyone that I’ll be singing that night.

But I have to put you on the program, she protested.

I won’t do it if everyone knows. Brother Jonas will feel really bad if you do, Nina pointed out.

How will the musicians know to play the song for you if it’s not in the program? she asked.

Auntie I can play the song well enough by myself. Don’t worry I won’t embarrass you. Nina said with a smile and stood up.

Her aunt looked up at her expectantly. Nina told her that she was going out to her hair appointment and left.

Nina drove twenty-five minutes to the only hair salon she could find that did her hair right. It had been a nightmare these past few months finding anyone who could do it properly.

The salon was on the busiest part of Linden Boulevard. Nestled between a Farmer’s market and a Real Estate office was Sophie’s Hair Salon. She paid extra to go after hours because the first time she went there, it had been a fiasco.

Sophie herself insisted that she would stay open to do her hair if only she would come after hours. As a matter of course, Nina went every other Wednesday to have her hair done.

Nina had waist length locked hair. She wore her hair in that fashion since she was a young girl. Her dad told her that he had gotten tired of doing it and being a man who was rather busy with a career, he thought it was for the best. It wasn’t easy trying to keep a young girl’s hair looking neat, especially a bi-racial girl with red curly hair. He lucked out because Nina liked it.

As a teen, she tried different styles long and short and many colors in between before she realized that it was more becoming simple. The waist length became her unique signature style copied all over Hollywood and beyond. Today however, wearing locks was very fashionable and not the curiosity it had once been.

At the church, a few young girls approached her about starting locks and she told them that it was just a matter of taste and commitment. Her hair was long and evenly locked. It was hot in the summer and in the mild winters in California; she hadn’t needed a hat as she did in New York.

There weren’t many men in Los Angeles who liked the style either. They preferred the sleek style of processed hair. Since moving to New York, she found that it was very appealing to the men here. They called out to her on the street and if they happened to recognize her, she had to get away quickly. She stopped going for walks by herself for safety concerns.

As she sat under the dryer, Nina thought more about the church choir. There were a few new members in the church since she arrived and they were publicly welcomed into the fold. What Brother Jonas did was underhanded. She knew that he hadn’t meant any harm, but in his enthusiasm in trying to get her to join the choir, he would have overstepped his bounds in not allowing the pastor to have the church welcome her as a member. It was something she wanted badly.

Being a celebrity was bad enough without having to seem to get special treatment. She knew that half the congregation felt that she wasn’t a true Christian. Her perceived Hollywood past hindered them from seeing the real person that she was which bothered her a great deal. It was something she wanted to speak with the pastor about sometime, but he was busy man.

Pastor Darius Fairchild was a man she admired greatly. He had accompanied her aunt to California for her father’s funeral services. Even though he was there to lend support to her aunt, he was respectful of her father’s pastor and when asked to say a few words, was gracious and brief. He was a great source of comfort to her aunt then and Nina appreciated that of him.

She also found him to be intelligent and quite a powerful personality. She tried not to wonder too much about him fearing that it was some type of sin somewhere.

She felt sorry to learn that his wife died a few years ago. Once she had been attending services at Christ Tabernacle for a few weeks, she amused herself trying to spot the single women in the congregation who felt that they could be a great comfort to him. They sat up front, wore seductive clothing and always had to greet him after service.

It wasn’t that she didn’t find the young pastor attractive as well, she did but she also felt that her background and all the Hollywood hype stuck to her and no matter how hard she tried, she knew that it was going to take a very long time for her to shake it. Besides, the pastor barely gave her the time of day.

When Nina returned home, she found Elaine sitting in the living room reading the bible. Nina sat next to her listening. Her aunt read the Scriptures with confidence and ease that Nina vowed to follow her example to read the bible nightly for herself. She didn’t read it on a regular basis because the wording confused her. Her aunt suggested that she buy a more modern version. Nina took her advice and now most nights she fell asleep reading. When Elaine finished reading, she patted Nina’s hand and motioned for her to get on her knees for prayer.

Aunt Elaine’s prayer was simple and to the point. Nina felt the tears burn behind her closed eyelids. Her dad used to pray in the same fashion. She realized that although her father left New York as a very young man searching for his place in the world, he carried what his parents taught him and his sister with him.

Her dad instilled strong moral values in her too and she never strayed from them. One of her dad’s famous sayings was ‘Do as I say and not as I do’. Hollywood changed him a bit especially after her mother died. He started drinking and smoking. He wasn’t a very heavy drinker, but he smoked a great deal. Even after the diagnosis of lung cancer that claimed his life, he continued to smoke until the end.

After the prayer, her aunt told her that she was going to bed and headed up. Nina went to the award room to sit at the piano. She wanted to play but didn’t want to disturb her aunt. Instead, she pulled out the photo albums she had of her past life in Hollywood from the piano bench.

There were many pictures of her parents at work in the album and of her as well on various stages singing. During those awful last days of her father’s life, she sat beside him in his hospital bed looking through them. They talked and reminisced about all that they had done together. On his very last day, her dad told her that he would be very happy if she continued to sing. He said that was where her true talent lay.

He also told her to find a cause and to sing for it, not to let those bozos push her into anything she didn’t want to do. That’s what he called the producers, bozos. She sang Jazz with her dad because that’s what his passion was, but what was hers?

She had one of those versatile voices that pulled off most any genre. Her dad helped hone her talents with piano and voice