Season for Love

By Portland Yetana Daniels

Lavaughn Crawford, a Christian woman who worked as a court reporter at Davis and Loving Law Firm in Washington, DC, had returned from her Puerto Rico cruise with her best friend, Tammy Rogers. Her sail was supposed to be a celebration of her engagement to Samuel Browne. It ended up being a heartbreaking vacation. Lavaughn’s anxieties crept up on her when Samuel abruptly left her six months ago for Japan’s position.

The day she returned from her cruise is when Samuel Browne called her. Lavaughn moved on, and she met a lawyer, Trey Sawyers. While getting to know Trey, she asked him if he went to church. He responded that he was angry with God for his wife’s death. Regardless of Trey’s resentment toward God, Lavaughn was falling for him.

Lavaughn’s timing couldn’t get any worse when Samuel Browne returned to the States and surprised her at their church home, Church of Zionof Waldorf, Maryland. Lavaughn was torn and confined in one of the lawyers at her firm, a handsome English gentleman named Ocean Randall.

Lavaughn was confused about her love for Trey. She needed time to make sure Trey was the man she wanted to continue to be a part of her life, even with his resentment toward God. She confronted Trey to cool things down in their relationship. Lavaughn leaned on her favorite scripture—Proverbs 3. She needed God’s direction for her love for Trey Sawyers, whom she hoped will have a change of heart toward God, and her fondness for Ocean Randall.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9781638744207

Book preview

Chapter 1

Lavaughn Crawford woke up at six in the morning in her Ocean View Stateroom on the Vilia Cruise Ship . The captain of the cruise ship announced, "We will be docking at 8:45 in Baltimore, Maryland, docks. Thank you for sailing the Vilia Cruise Ship . Bye for now."

A sadness covered her face, hearing the announcement in her room, tearing the Macy’s tags off her blue denim shorts and white halter shirt to wear to go home. Her first outfit she wore during the day on her five-day cruise to Puerto Rico.

I’m going to miss wearing my bathing suits, she thought, combing her long brown hair in a ponytail.

Hmm. Tammy already left. She realized the room was quiet, not hearing her best friend and coworker, Tammy Rogers, running her mouth. Talking about the man she met from St. Louis, Missouri, and late-night pizza with the man in dreadlocks from Hackensack, New Jersey.

They were hired at the same time at Davis and Loving Law Firm in Washington, DC, eighteen years ago. Lavaughn was hired to be a court-reporter for Mr. Davis and Tammy Rogers, the administrative assistant for the firm.

The thought of her ex-fiancé breaking off the engagement crushed Lavaughn’s spirit. The tears were welling up her eyes as she looked around the beautiful stateroom, making sure she packed everything before leaving the room.

The tears were flowing down her cheeks, questions racing in her head. What went wrong in their relationship?

Why did Samuel have to leave for a job in Japan? Why didn’t he tell me about the opportunity in Tokyo? Lord, please forgive me, but I don’t wish him the best.

She breathed in and out. Lavaughn wiped her face before grabbing her bag and backpack over her shoulders to leave. She wanted to go on the trip, not thinking about Samuel and their broken engagement. She tried to leave the bad memories of him on the ship.

She knew it would be back to reality in a couple of hours. She was carrying her bag from the Flamingos Floor, as families with their children pulling them hurried to go to the elevators to the dining hall to have breakfast. She walked past a couple all lovey-dovey, walking hand and hand. The man pecks the lady’s lips, the woman gazing into his loving eyes, which made Lavaughn want to gag and feeling jealous.

Yeah, it’s time for me to get off the ship, she thought.

Lavaughn poked her stomach, feeling heavy from eating the mouth-watering foods from the cruise, walking down two flights of steps to the Lido Deck. She felt tempted to have their tasty blueberry pancakes and crispy bacon, but instead, she decided to go and lay on the extended deck chair, and not think about food or Samuel.

She felt the ocean breeze on her tanned face, gazing upon the breath-taking horizon; she didn’t want it to end. She tried to smile and not feel sad, knowing this will be the last time admiring God’s beautiful clear blue ocean waves.

Lavaughn heard Tammy’s loud voice and then a burst of laughter. She looked toward the pool, seeing her best friend, holding a tray, talking with one of the guys who she’d duet with at karaoke night singing Endless Love.

While on the cruise ship, the passengers asked them if they were sisters. They both had a beautiful brown-sugar complexion and in their late-forties—Lavaughn average in height with long shapely legs and Tammy having a petite and an hour-glass-shaped figure.

Right before Lavaughn’s eyes, the sky had changed from bright and sunny to gray and dreary. Tammy walked over to her and handed her the iced tea. She saw the gloom look on Lavaughn’s face. She lay down on the other lounge chair.

I know how you feel, girl. I feel the same way. I don’t want it to end.

Lavaughn sighed. Yeah, I know. But we went for a good cause. Even though it probably would have been a celebration of engagement and planning for the wedding, but instead, it’s a goodbye Samuel Browne cruise.

Boy, bye, Tammy said in her loud voice, throwing her hands up.

The cruise ship docked, and everyone got off with that same sad look. Lavaughn and Tammy followed the crowd for their debarkation process. It didn’t take long for them, settling their financial matters the night before. They showed their tag number to the clerk, and the baggage carrier handed them their bags. They rolled their travel bags, exiting from the Baltimore Maryland Port.

Lavaughn noticed Marco’s jeep. She decided to honor his father by naming him Marco Scott Timmons Jr. Tammy and her maneuvered their way through the crowded sidewalk of cruisers, leaving their Uber’s and Lyft’s to go to the deck for the next sail and passengers leaving the deck with a sullen look on their faces going to their destinations.

Lavaughn realized she hasn’t seen her son in over a week since he dropped Tammy and her off for the trip. He resembled his father, Marco Timmons, a police officer for the Waldorf Police Department in Waldorf, Maryland. The thought of him crept up in her mind, trying to forget about Samuel. Seeing her son from afar, having the same features as his father, tall and slim and short cut, with a beard, her son made it hard for Lavaughn not to forget his father.

As she and Tammy got closer to his jeep, she only wished the cruise was a family cruise or a second honeymoon. A sad countenance on Lavaughn’s face as they walked, dragging their bags closer to his jeep.

The unforgettable thought of the phone call from Marco’s mother calling her on that horrible evening came to mind. She tried her best not to think about Samuel Browne and their broken engagement six months ago to thinking about another devastation in her life.

She remembered how she and Marco were excited about the pregnancy, even though it happened at the wrong time before their wedding. How they were going to wait and tell their parents, an early new grandparents gift, on their wedding day. His mother’s voice still haunts her and she will never forget. She was sobbing and trembling over the phone from the phone call from the chief of police at the Waldorf Police Department. His partner and Marco were responding to a 911 domestic phone call. Marco was shot and killed by the estranged husband. That being the worse day of her life and now the broken engagement was her second worse day.

Lavaughn fixed her face from not trying boil over with tears, as she and Tammy rolled their traveling bags to his jeep. Marco got out of his vehicle, walked over toward them, happy to see his mom and Tammy, but not understanding them with the in-the-dumps looks on their faces.

Hey, Mom and Tammy. Did you ladies have a good time? Marco asked.

Not hearing a response back, he picked up their bags to put inside the truck as the ladies got into the jeep.

Marco drove off the Baltimore Port driving on Route 95 S Highway to his mother’s townhouse in Waldorf, Maryland.

Marco glanced over at his mom, seeing her elbow on the window. The air from the vent was hitting her tan face, twirling her ponytail. So, ladies, how was the trip?

We had a wonderful time. Didn’t want it to end, Lavaughn responded.

The food was awesome. I met people. No, a few nice single men, gorgeous men. They were from New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Missouri. We had a wonderful time. I’m going to have to lose weight.

Lavaughn nodded in agreement as she pokes her stomach. Marco was laughing at Tammy in the reflection in the rear-view mirror.

It was a long ride home from Baltimore. Tammy was taking a nap, and Lavaughn’s mind was drifting toward her ex-fiancé, Samuel Browne. The thoughts of him racing in her mind; she only wished she could stop.

Why did he have to take a Security Analyst job in Tokyo, Japan? Why did he have to leave so abruptly? Could he have stayed here in Maryland and continued working at MT CyberSecurity? We will be married. Why, Lord, why did Samuel had to leave?

She didn’t want Marco to see the tears about to come. Even though the air-conditioner was on, Lavaughn pretended to wipe the sweat from her brow and then rubbed her eyes.

Marco made a left turn, driving through his mother’s townhouse community on Westdale Court. One of her neighbors drove by, beeping the horn heading to church. He finally pulled into his mother’s driveway of her townhouse. He parked his jeep alongside her cherry-red Mustang. Lavaughn got out of her son’s vehicle, seeing her neighbor, Mrs. King, in a pretty teal sundress getting in her car with her son, Dre. She waved at her as they were about to leave for church. Tammy was getting out of the back seat to go and sit in the front.

Well, Tammy, this is it. See you at work tomorrow—the start of another work week. I love my job, but I don’t want to go to Davis and Loving. I will rather be on the cruise. Soaking up the sun, drinking sweet teas, staying up all night, enjoying the night festivities, and eating their awesome food all day long.

I know what you mean, girl. I’m sure I have a million e-mails waiting for me to open, someone at the law firm needing my assistance. Tammy was exaggerating.

Lavaughn exhaled. Who are you telling? Try dictating one case after another. Then having to go to the courthouse because Mr. Davis only trusts me and would rather have me there then have someone else dictate his cases. I guess you can tell we love our jobs.

Tammy looked up, seeing Lavaughn’s sad eyes and chattering nervously. She opened her arms to hug her. Love you, girl. I know you are sad, but look on the bright side. He paid for our trip.

Lavaughn cracked a smile. Love you too.

Lavaughn lowered her head, walking to unlock the door and feeling the cold air as soon as she and Maroc were inside the townhouse.

Marco followed behind her, placing her carryon and other bags beside the couch in the sitting room. He went to the kitchen and came out with a bag of food from his restaurant, Blue Bayou, for Tammy.

What’s this?

I made breakfast and lunch this morning. Dinner is leftovers from the restaurant. I knew you guys wouldn’t have food in your houses. There is also a bottle of raspberry iced tea. This bag is for Tammy.

Lavaughn looked at her son with awe. She was hugging him.

Thank you, son. You know Tammy will be thrilled. Thank you for watching out for us. She pulled away from him.

No problem, Mom. See you at the restaurant soon.

Marco turned from his mother and opened the door to leave. She stood in the doorway, seeing him getting in his jeep. He pulled off from the driveway, beeping his horn. Lavaughn was waving as Marco drove off to take Tammy to her home in Brandywine, Maryland.

Lavaughn lifted her bags, taking her time walking upstairs to her bedroom. She sat the bags near her walk-in closet and flopped on the bed. I don’t want to be here.

The evening was upon Lavaughn, as she sat at the white marble counter eating her Caesar salad and taking the sip of her iced raspberry tea. She was contemplating whether to go to work tomorrow after returning from her wonderful time on the cruise. She cleaned her kitchen and decided to put the tea kettle on to make a cup of her favorite hot tea of choice, raspberry tea, before showering and then bed.

She dreaded getting up at four-thirty to catch the Park and Ride at the Waldorf Bus Terminal, but she hated dealing with the downtown Washington, DC, traffic to and from work. Either way, she knew traveling from St. Charles County to the city was a monster.

Lavaughn finished showering and dried off, seeing the bags near the closet and thinking about the fun time Tammy and she had—eating pizza all day long, playing bingo, and losing and eating popcorn while watching Avengers: Endgame on the Lido Deck, feeling the night breeze and watching the sunset. She breathed out, putting on her nightshirt and shorts, and went to the kitchen to make her tea to drink before bed.

Lavaughn lay in the bed to say her prayers. She knew if she knelt to pray, she wouldn’t be able to get up. Lord, thank you for traveling mercies to and from the cruise. Thank you for keeping our houses safe and sound. In Jesus’s name, amen.

She drifted off into a deep sleep.

The ringing of the cellphone scared Lavaughn. She felt as if she was in a dream until the phone rang again. Her eyes were blurry. She tried to pick up her phone and knocked over her coffee mug unto the light gray carpet. Someone called not knowing she had to get up at four-thirty in the morning to catch the bus at the Waldorf Park and Ride to Washington, DC. She squinted to answer the phone.

Hello. She was shifting her body to position herself to talk on the phone. I hope this is important, she said in her sleepy voice.

Hey, Lavaughn. It’s me, Samuel.

Samuel. Aren’t you supposed to be in Japan? Where are you?

Lavaughn then sat up in the bed, leaning her head against her lilac headboard. She was in shock hearing his voice. But she was too tired to argue with him about why he has broken off the engagement for a job in Tokyo, Japan.

I’m still in Tokyo. It’s morning here. Samuel was talking in his Maryland accent. I’m just calling to let you know that I will be in Maryland in a couple of days. I have good news, and I’m hoping I can see you, maybe have dinner.

She couldn’t believe him. He was asking her to dinner after abruptly leaving six months ago.

Samuel, I have to get up at four-thirty in the morning, she said, rolling her eyes up at the ceiling.

Okay, Lavaughn. See you soon.

Lavaughn hung up. She tossed and turned all night. She was wondering about Samuel’s good news that he had to tell her. She felt the anger rose in her heart because he called on the night she returned from the cruise, which was supposed to be a celebration and planning their wedding.

Chapter 2

Before Lavaughn knew it, the alarm went off at four-thirty. She pressed the Snooze button an extra five minutes. She then yawned and stretched. She was dragging herself to make up her bed. She knelt to pray to God for another great day and traveling mercies to and from work, giving thanks to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She picked up the remote on her nightstand to turn on the news.

It’s Monday. The start of the hot and humid work week, 95 degrees. You will need sunglasses, sunscreen, and drink plenty of water, the weatherman said.

Her mind was on Samuel, which she didn’t want to go there in her head, wondering what the good news he wanted to tell her. She slipped on her yellow and white sundress and slid on her yellow sandal heels. She got nervous, thinking about Samuel. She picked up her everyday black leather purse and purple handbag off her chaise to leave for work.

Lavaughn hurried to blast the air-conditioner in her car, driving to Waldorf Park and Ride Bus Terminal to go to Twelfth and G Street, NW, in Washington, DC, to her job at Davis and Loving Law firm located on 1204 and F Street, NW.

She found a parking space and walked to the number 174 bus. She stepped onto the bus, shivering as the air hit her bare arms to find a seat.

It’s an icebox in here, she thought. She got settled in her chair, taking out her purple scarf to wrap around her bare shoulders. Lavaughn saw the same passengers who will take the Waldorf Park and Ride the bus to Washington, DC, to their destinations. She didn’t see the particularly good-looking guy that morning returning to work after her cruise. He reminded her of the actor Morris Chestnut but not as tall. Baldhead, average weight, and broad shoulders. Lavaughn glanced over at the window, not seeing the handsome guy’s gray Infiniti. The last person paid on the bus, and the driver drove off the terminal.

Lavaughn looked away from the window, and her mind drifted while the driver headed to DC. She was trying not to think about Samuel. She felt her eyes getting heavy and took an hour nap.

She felt the bus slowing down and then stopping on the 1200 Block and G Street, NW. Lavaughn wiped her face, taking off her scarf and stuffing it inside her bag. The passengers hurried to leave the coach, saying goodbye to the bus driver, heading to their destinations. She was walking down to leave with her bags. Have a wonderful day, Lavaughn said, covering her mouth, so she wouldn’t yawn in his face.

You too. The bus driver smiled.

Lavaughn took her time walking to work. She reached into her purse, taking out her cellphone to see the time. Six-fifty-six, she said. She had plenty of time before starting work at seven-thirty to enjoy the window displays of the beautiful summer clothes in one of her favorite stores, Macy’s.

Lavaughn wished she was back on the cruise, smelling the salted ocean and feeling the ocean breeze. The sun beaming as Tammy and her lying on the white sandy beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They had googly eyes at the tan, muscular Puerto Rican men, walking barefoot, flirting in their naïve tongue. Now they were smelling smog. To hearing people yelling and using foul language, telling their personal life on the cellphones. People were rushing off the Metro buses to catch the train at the McPherson Square Metro Station. The noises of the traffic of an early Monday morning.

Excuse me… So sorry. Lavaughn was distracted, walking past Macy’s. The beautiful off-the-shoulder red dress caught her eye, hitting a businessperson talking on the cellphone on F Street, NW to work.

Lavaughn could feel the humidity from the sun on her hair. She was praying as she approached the glass doors of her job that it didn’t fizzle. She then yawned.

Ah. The air-conditioner feels good, she said, wiping the sweat off her brow.

Good morning, Mr. Garrett, Lavaughn greeted the security guard.

The stocky older man stepped away from his security desk, his eyes recognizing her suntan from her sundress. He grinned, walking toward her. Good morning. I missed you, pretty lady. Did you go away or had a staycation, hanging out at the poolside. He has a bashful look admiring the visible suntan line from her sundress.

Lavaughn noticed him checking out her tan and gave him a polite smile. I came back from my cruise yesterday. I would rather be on the ship than here.

You look great. Have a good one. He smiled, turning away from her in embarrassment.

Thank you. Have a great day, Mr. Garrett. Lavaughn headed to the elevator doors. She stood near the entrance, pressing the Up button to go to her job at Davis and Loving, Esq. The elevator door opened, and Lavaughn stepped in, pressing the number 3 of the floor where she worked and other administrative offices. Mr. Davis and Mr. Loving worked on the seventh floor and top lawyers and their executive secretaries. Junior lawyers, paralegals, and interns occupied the fifth and sixth floors. Mr. Davis and Mr. Loving are longtime friends. Their fathers were best friends also. Soon after, their fathers went home to be with the Lord, leaving their sons, the law firm, and ownership of the building. Davis and Loving LLC is one of the top prestigious law firms in the Washington, DC, areas, having closed to one thousand lawyers working at the firm.

Lavaughn felt sluggish as she got off the elevator and opened up the double glass doors. She yawned, not seeing the receptionist sitting at her desk. She dragged her feet to her office. She opened her mouth wide, unlocked the door of her office, and turned on the light switch. She took notice of the piles of folders in her two bins for transcribing and filing. She knew she would have much work on her desk. She shook her head in disgust, walking over, glancing down at the neon pink Post-It note on the top file from Nina Lane, the other court-reporter for Mr. Stan Loving.

See you in two weeks when I returned from Nicaragua.

Lavaughn got settled at her desk and heard Tammy’s loud voice talking to her other best friend and spiritual mother, Mrs. Esther Harley, who worked on the fifth floor. She was one of the paralegals at the firm.

They walked in Lavaughn’s office. Good morning, lady, Esther said in her bubbly voice, with her coffee mug in her hand. Her radiant smile lit up her office, wearing her favorite colors in a beautiful white and black striped bell sundress and red sandals.

Lavaughn yawned. Good morning. I need some coffee this morning, not tea, to wake up.

Lavaughn was contemplating whether to tell them about Samuel’s surprise wakeup call last night. In her heart, she knew she had to tell them. Her mind drifted away, while Tammy was talking Esther’s ear off about their fun cruise as they headed to the kitchen. They were with her when she first met Samuel Browne six years ago, at the Church of Zion’s Family Fun Day. Samuel asked her to be his partner in playing the three-legged race against them and the next day going on their first date—a Washington football game, playing against her favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers at FedEx Field Stadium in Landover, Maryland.

Lavaughn covered her mouth, as she poured the coffee in the mug, took sugar and creamer to pour, and stirred her coffee.

You okay? Tammy noticed Lavaughn yawning as she waited for her to finish making her coffee.

I’m good. I will tell you in a minute. Her voice was soft.

You all right? You didn’t go out clubbing from coming back from your cruise. I thought you were a Christian woman. Esther danced as she watched Lavaughn yawning. Lavaughn glared at them, shaking her head.

They headed back to Lavaughn’s office. She sat down at her desk, placing her mug near the bins. Tammy went to lean up against the file cabinets, and Esther was sitting on Nina’s chair. Their eyes were pierced on Lavaughn, as they waited with a curious look on their faces for Lavaughn to tell them her drama.

Guess who called me last night? Lavaughn blurted out.

Oh boy. No, he didn’t call. Esther was shaking her head, with her eyes shut.

Yeah, Samuel. He called to tell me he will be in Maryland in a couple of days, and he wants to see me take me out to dinner. He has good news to tell me.

Good news… Be careful, girl. Samuel left you for money. You are now just getting over him. Did he say what the good news was? Tammy said, her eyes focused on Lavaughn.

No, but I will go to dinner, and I will be careful. I’m curious to know what the good news is all about. I’m over, Samuel.

Esther looked at her in disbelief. Tammy knew she’s in denial about Samuel. Are you sure? Esther asked in a soft-spoken voice.

I’m over him. He is dead to me.

Esther was raising from Nina’s chair, and Tammy walked away from the file cabinet. They glanced at each other, Tammy squishing her lips.

Will you ladies be over for the Fourth of July cookout? Esther was trying to change the subject.

We will be there, they said to her.

What do you want me to bring? Lavaughn asked as she turned on the computer.

Lavaughn, you know what I want you to bring. Your famous hot crab dip.

Chapter 3

The air-conditioner was blowing, and tension boiled in the shabby Courtroom 7 as the bright corporate lawyer Trey Sawyers of Franklin and Wilson LLC from Washington, DC. He was one of the top law firms in Washington, DC, areas. He represented his client, an accountant, accused of extorting monies from the company, Bynum and Company Internationals of Antigua and Barbuda, to a nonprofit organization in Elkridge, Maryland. Trey Sawyers was defending his client at the Howard County Courthouse, Ellicott City, Maryland. He was there since last week, and Monday was the final trial day for his client, Mr. Ralph Fanning.

Trey remained calm and confident as he glanced over at Mr. Fanning lowering his eyes. Trey patted his shoulder as they sat anxiously for the jurors to give their verdict, which can change his client’s life for the worse.

Judge Grayling raised his eyebrow as he gave a stern look over at Trey and Mr. Fanning and then at the juror’s box.

Will the defendant please rise.

They rose, and Trey breathed in and out. The client lowered his eyes for a second and then looked over at the jurors with remorse. The judge then asked in a stern voice to the jurors. Have you reached a verdict?

The presiding juror got up from their seat to give his verdict to the judge. He was holding the paper with the judgment in his hand. He laid eyes on the judge with a disappointed look on his face. Unfortunately, we haven’t reached a verdict, Your Honor.

The courtroom gasped, and their voices rose talking at once. Judge Grayling picked up his mallet and struck the mantel hard.

Order in the courtroom… Order!

The courtroom suddenly grew silent. Judge Grayling gave a stern look at Trey Sawyers and his client, Mr. Ralph Fanning.

In the matter of the State versus Mr. Ralph Fanning for extortion, this case is dismissed, and, Mr. Fanning, you are free to go. Judge Grayling was striking the mantel with the mallet.

Mr. Fanning shook Trey’s hand. Trey gave the prosecutor and his client, the vice president, and director of the accounting department a winning look, seeing their disappointed faces. He started to put the folders inside his designer black and white briefcase. Trey lifted his briefcase, leaving the courtroom to the elevator doors with his client.

Well, Mr. Fanning, you may want to start looking for another job.

Mr. Fanning smiled with guilt on his face. My family and I are moving to Dallas, Texas. I start my new job there in two weeks. Less stress. Thank you for everything, Mr. Sawyers.

Trey opened the door of the courthouse and saw from a distance the parked metallic gray Acura. The driver drove from the parking lot, and Trey walked down the stairs to the car. He got in, and the driver took him to the Courtyard Hotel where he stayed while in Ellicott City for the case.

I’ll be back in a minute. I need to get my bags.

No problem, sir. Take your time.

Trey got out the car with his briefcase, with a brisk walk toward the Courtyard Hotel’s front door. He opened the doors, as he picked up speed to the elevator doors. He saw the doors were open and stepped in, pressing the number 7 button for his floor.

He slid the door card to unlock the room door. He changed out of his suit and hung them in his suit bag with his two other designer suits. Trey pulled out his folded blue jeans and a white tee shirt. He went to use the bathroom and to wash the sweat off his brown face and bald head. Trey walked over to the bed, sliding on his jeans over his muscular legs, putting the tee shirt over his six-packed stomach, and sliding on his Jordan’s sneakers to tie them. He lifted his bags and slung the briefcase over his broad shoulders, leaving the room.

Trey smiled as he walked toward the hotel desk. He caught sight of the pretty young lady to return his hotel key.

I hope you enjoyed your stay, Mr. Sawyers. She smiled back at Trey.

Yes, I did. Thank you much. His smile widened.

She handed him his receipt, giving him a flirty look. Have a wonderful day.

He took the receipt from her and left the front desk, heading out the doors to the car.

Trey sat comfortably in the back seat and rubbed his bald head. He then opened his briefcase, taking out his cellphone.

Hello, Mr. Franklin.

Trey, what was the verdict for Mr. Fanning?

It was hung. He smiled.

Ah. I kind of figured it would. Good job, Trey. I will see you in the office tomorrow.

The phone went silent, and Trey put his cellphone back in his briefcase. He knew he had a long ride ahead of him to his house in LaPlata, Maryland. He drifted off to take a nap.

Trey felt the car stopped and then the driver’s voice. You are home, sir.

The driver parked his car beside Trey’s gray Infiniti. Trey breathed out, wiping his face to wake up. Thanks, man. Take care.

The driver opened the truck to take out Trey’s bags. He gave a half smile. You too, sir. He was getting back in the car and drove off Trey’s driveway.

Trey unlocked the door of his ranch-style house. The mugginess of his home hit him as soon as he walked in. Trey turned on the air-conditioning before going to his master bedroom. He dragged his feet with his bags in his hands to his bedroom, which was across from his son’s old bedrooms and full bathroom. A sadness covered his face as he flopped the traveling bags on the bed. The thoughts were running in his mind of his wife, Jewell, and him, laughing, pillow talk, and making passionate love. His mind wandered as he wished he could turn back to seventeen years ago when she was alive and full of life. His eyes got misty, and his mind was racing, taking the briefcase off his shoulders to sit it on his wife’s cream-colored vanity chair.

God, why did you take my wife and mother of our sons away from us? You are supposed to be a loving God. A loving God doesn’t take a young, beautiful woman with so much life to live and love away so soon. Why God? he thought.

The angry thoughts of God provoked him to take off his clothes for a cold shower. He stepped inside, closing the shower door as the Wall Mount Waterfall shower head hit his muscular body. He lathered and moved directly under the shower head to wash away the stress of the day and the thoughts of his wonderful wife not in his life anymore.

Trey started to tear up, remembering his wife lying fragile in hospice care from battling stage 4 breast cancer. His young sons, Trey Jr. and Trevor, sobbing as they took turns to hug their mother’s limp body one last time, and they told her, I love you.

Trey turned off the shower, grabbing his royal blue towel off the rack to dry off. He wrapped the towel around his waist, dripping out of the bathroom. He put on his green and white sweat shorts and a green tank top, grabbed his cellphone, and walked to his kitchen to cook dinner.

His cellphone rang as he was taking the box of hamburger patties and cheese to fry cheeseburgers.

Hello, Trey said in his baritone voice.

Yo, man. What’s up, his friend, Quinten Avery, said in his New York accent. He was his best friend since Harvard Law School and coworker at the firm. He sensed the melancholy of his voice as they talked.

Nothing, man. I just got in from Howard County Courthouse. It was a hung trial. Trey was trying to sound enthused.

Cool, man. I got tickets for a baseball game. I need to get you out of the house.

Baseball… Trey put him on speaker as he plugged up the George Foreman Grill and waited for the grill to get warm.

I know you are not a fan, but at least you have something to do. We can eat expensive hotdogs and drink their overpriced soda.

Trey smirked. All right, man. He then unplugged the grill, returning the hamburgers’ box in the freezer and package of cheese slices on the refrigerator shelf.

Man, I love you like a brother, and I hate to say this, but you need to let go of Jewell’s death and live. She would want that for you. She’s with God now. You can’t be angry and bitter. It’s not healthy, man.

There was silence over the phone as Trey sat on the stool at the island. Trey had too much pride to tell him he was right. In his heart, he felt he had the right to be angry with God for taking his wife from him.

Chapter 4

The workday went by fast for Lavaughn as she was filing one of Nina’s cases from her bin. She filed another claim, hearing Tammy’s voice from outside her office door.

Knock, knock, Tammy said, entering Lavaughn’s office, seeing her with her back turned to file. Lavaughn turned to her, sitting on the edge of Nina’s desk.

Hey, Tammy. Lavaughn was walking to sit at her desk to get ready to leave for the day.

I probably will not be at Bible study tonight. I haven’t unpack from the cruise.

Lavaughn then gave her an odd look and continued to gather her things.

Don’t judge.

I’m not judging. I need to hear from God. Dinner with Samuel on Friday will be here before I know it. She exhaled, picking up her cellphone to hold in her hand.

Tammy rose from the edge of Nina’s desk heading back to her desk. Lavaughn lifted her bags, turned off the lights, and she left her office.

The elevator doors opened, and she stepped in. She pressed the first floor. The doors opened, and she headed out, walking to the front doors to leave, waving goodbye to Mr. Garrett.

It was rush hour, bumper-to-bumper traffic. People were running to catch their buses and to the Metro train station. She took her usual five-minute walk to Eleventh Street and H Street NW to take the bus to go home. She heard a deep voice from afar yelling at her, Hold the bus!

The gentleman approached Lavaughn, out of breath, who she sometimes saw and rode with her to and from work.

You all right? Lavaughn asked, concerned. She smiled at the bald head man, with a black trim goatee. Her bright brown eyes caught his attention. He looked debonair in his dark blue pinstripe Italian suit, light-blue dress shirt, and blue multicolored paisley tie.

I’m fine. Thank you. Lavaughn heard his New Jersey accent, looking down at the cellphone. She wanted to take another look at the handsome man.

We still have time till he pulls off, she thought.

The cold air on the bus felt good to Lavaughn. She smiled at the bus driver, tapping her Smartrip card. She could feel the handsome man’s eyes on her, walking up the aisle to find a seat. She saw an empty seat near the window and sat down to get settled, taking her purple scarf out her bag to wrap around her shoulders. She tried not to be noticeable at the distinguished man, sitting across from her at a window seat.

It wasn’t time for the bus driver to pull off to leave to go back to Park and Ride at Waldorf, Maryland. Lavaughn was looking down at her cellphone to see the time. Four-ten. Eight more minutes to leave, she mumbled.

She smiled, glancing at the gentleman with his hand over his black and white briefcase. He returned a smile. She bashfully looked away and then glanced over at him, again. She felt the urge to say something to him. The handsome man caught Lavaughn gazing at him, and his smile widened. Her palms were sweating as she tried not to look over into his deep brown eyes. She felt the urgency to say something to the gorgeous man.

Hello. She gave him a friendly smile as she spoke in her silvery voice.

Her cellphone rang, interrupting her moment to strike up a conversation with the gorgeous guy. Lavaughn felt the mischance hearing the phone ringing. She looked down, seeing Samuel Browne’s name appeared on her caller ID. She didn’t answer the phone, and before she knew it, his text message came across the phone screen: See you on Friday.

She put the phone in her purse and closed it. By then, the gentleman was looking out the window. She breathed out as if he was intervening.

The bus driver left the stop on Eleventh and H Street, NW. It was the usual busy traffic as the driver maneuvered around the cars during rush hour. He made a few more stops before heading to the Park and Rides in Waldorf, Maryland. Lavaughn drifted off for an hour nap. Her mind on the handsome guy sitting across from her.

She felt the bus slowing down. She then opened her eyes and saw the guy gazing at her. She gave him a sheepish smile, unwrapping the scarf from her arms. The passengers in front of her were rushing to get off the bus. She walked closer to the bus driver and said, Have a good evening.

He nodded at her as she was taking her car keys out of her bag. The heat smacked her in the face. She hurried to her Mustang to get out of the scorching sun.

Lavaughn was about to unlock the door when she heard a man’s voice a few cars down from where she was parked. She squinted, looking toward where the yelling was coming from to get her attention.

Have a good evening. The handsome gentleman was smiling at her.

Lavaughn saw his cheesy smile. You too.

Lavaughn drove straight from the bus terminal to church on St. Peters Drive in Waldorf. She desperately needed to hear from the Lord. Her emotions were on fire. She was hurting from the breakup, angry with him for not telling her about the job in Japan and still in love with Samuel.

She smiled as she drove, thinking about Tammy and her on the cruise. It was around this time they were wearing their bathing suits, having delicious Guy’s Burgers, with toppings before dinner at the poolside. The energy from the Lido Deck was electrifying. The children and adults were splashing and laughing around in the pool. People with drinks in their hands, reggae dancing to the DJ playing Calypso music on the top deck. The cruisers were bopping, making their way to get closer to DJ Bird. The cruise director, Chuck, in his loud yellow Bermuda shorts and flowered shirt, got the crowd excited for Treasure Hunt.

Lavaughn pulled onto the parking lot, parking near the entrance of the Church of Zion. She grabbed her purse and Bible case out of her handbag on the passenger seat.

She walked past the tall bushes where one of her ministries, Expressions of Love, would hang Christmas lights on for the holidays. The brick and white stucco exterior and exquisite stain glass windows, which was Reverend Vanessa O’May’s favorite of her founding parents, Dr. Frank Parker, III, and his beautiful wife, Reverend Mildred Parker. Reverend Vanessa O’May’s parent’s picture hung in the vestibule to the right when you entered the building. The church was large, but not like the mega-churches she will see driving to Prince George’s County.

Lavaughn opened the door of the vestibule, feeling the air as soon as she walked in. She stopped to greet a church member with a hug heading out.

It was still and quiet as Lavaughn was walking down the aisle to sit in her favorite section of the church. In the middle, toward the back, in the end. She knew it was too early for Ms. Esther and her husband, Mr. Gerald, to come to Bible study.

She felt the Holy Spirit leading her to go to the altar. To pray to a Holy God, to be closer to Him. To pour out her heart with her emotions and angry thoughts toward Samuel and dinner this Friday. Two choir members were chattering quietly past Lavaughn as she was making her way to the altar. Her eyes were misty, hugging her stomach to kneel.

She prayed, Heavenly Father, I’m casting all my cares unto you. Not knowing what the good news Samuel Browne will be telling me and how I am going to react. I pray that whatever the outcome is, Lord, that you will guide and strengthened me. Letting the Holy Spirit give me peace of whatever the news may be. I pray your will would be done for Samuel and I. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Chapter 5

Lavaughn was distracted at work, dropping the files on the floor near the cabinet. She bent to pick them up and filed them. She breathed in and out,