Love at Sukkot

By Valencia Lloyd

Issa Chambers is the executive assistant for the richest black man in Jackson, Mississippi. She's a hard worker, but she's given up on finding a faithful, Yah-fearing man. Dominik Yates is a member of the hated Abrahamic Elites, looking for a place to call home. When fate brings them together at the Feast of Tabernacles, things are electric betw

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sunflowers and Romance Publishing
• Release date: Sep 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798891456518

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Love at Sukkot

Valencia Lloyd

Copyright © 2023 by Valencia Lloyd

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Sunflowers and Romance Publishing

P.O. Box 661

Forest, Mississippi 39074

www.sunflowersnbooks.com

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 979–8-89145-651-8. The main category of the book —Romance —Contemporary — Christian —African American. Lloyd, Valencia. Ms.

HF0000.A0 A00 2010

299.000 00–dc22 2010999999

First Edition

14 13 12 11 10 / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

To my Honey who was shown to me in Dominik before I ever knew who you were. You were shown to me. Here is to our forever promise.

‘On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of Yahuah for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before Yahuah your Elohim for seven days. You shall thus celebrate it as a feast to Yahuah for seven days in the year. It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Leviticus 23:39-41 NASB1995

CHAPTER ONE

Welcome to Sukkot

ISSA

He grabs her around the waist, pulling her tightly into his body. Her short, round stature molds into his larger, muscled frame. Her eyes, hidden away by black and gold aviators, lift up to him as her head falls back. The mass of her thick, kinky curled hair defies gravity as she welcomes the embrace of her husband with every fiber of her being. His smile is luminous as he gazes down at her. His words are too soft to be heard, the wind refusing to carry them away from their sweet embrace. Her body arches further into him as laughter bubbles and explodes from her belly. The look in his piercing green eyes is envy-making as his hard, chiseled jaw bone relaxes into a soft and tender look. As she catches her breath, she lifts up to him on tiptoes. His long braided hair shields his face as he moves. The distance between them in height is negligible as he quickly closes the gap to taste the sweet nectar of her lips.

A hard shove to my shoulder pulls me out of the vision of the Towers, my boss and his newlywed wife, embracing at the edge of Creed Lake.

Issa! Girl! I’ve called your name fifty-eleven times.

I turn and give my attention to Ashanti. Her beautiful brown eyes dance with amusement as she quirks one eyebrow and peeks over my shoulder to catch a glimpse of the Towers, one of the wealthiest and most beautiful black couples in New Way, Mississippi.

Aren’t they something, girl? Man I would sell a liver to get a bae like that. He ain’t even gotta have money like that. Girl, if he comes with a face and a body like that. Oowee. She bites her bottom lip and continues to look at the happy couple with starry eyes. I laugh softly as I glance back at the larger of the two lakes on the grounds.

Christian and AnnMariah Tower have their backs to the registration stand. Christian has his arm firmly around his lovely wife’s waist as they gaze out over the scenery.

Ashanti, you only have one liver, I respond to the excitable twenty-year old. But I would sell mine, too, for a love like that. I try to mask the longing in my voice as we both continue to check out the happily married couple. Frustration and hurt bubble in my stomach. Christian presses a kiss to his wife’s forehead before leading her back to the six large cabin buildings to our left. Turning away from the visible golden calf in my life, I berate myself internally.

No more idols, Issa. You are content in your single hood. You are obedient to Yahuah in your singleness. Lust and desire have no place here.

I grab my bottle of water from the check-in table and take a quick few gulps as I take captive the errant thoughts in my mind.

Do you think there will be any single men here? The few that have shown up already are taken.

I’m not sure, girl. But we aren’t here for that.

No, you aren’t here for that. I am most definitely here to find a Sukkot fling. What better place to find love or a good time than here?

Ashanti isn’t wrong. Feast of Tabernacles is the foreshadow of the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. What better place to find the person Abba Yahuah has given you to marry than here? I sigh deeply and force my thoughts away from romance and lust and desire for a second time.

Who do we have left to check in? I turn back to the work at hand with my whole mind and body. Tomorrow begins the observance for the Feast of Tabernacles, which is more fondly referred to as Sukkot in the original Hebrew language. The New Way Torah Keepers decided to come together and invite torah keeping Christians all over the state of Mississippi to join us. The resulting flood of registrants was astounding. It is all because of the tender love of Abba that we were able to get space at the prestigious Double Waters Campground just fifteen minutes south of Jackson, Mississippi. The owners gave us access to the east side of the property to host events during the eight days of Sukkot.

I think we have just five more checking in today. The rest will check in on Friday.

Not every family who registered was able to take off work or school to come observe the full feast day here at Double Waters. The rest are slated to join the festival experience before the sabbath. They will get to experience the end of the feast and the very last high holy day of the year.

That’s great. I’m ready to get in and get warm. Ashanti looks me up and down.

I bet you are, wearing just a skirt and sweater. I shake my head at her. Ashanti is still new to the Way. I’ve been mentoring her for several months now, but she is still hesitant to begin wrapping her loosely waved hair or wearing clothing with tassels as is the way for many awakened Israelites. And she still balks at wearing dresses that don’t show every line and finely designed curve of her body.

I pray regularly for this dear soul, but I recognize her age. She is already dealing with living set apart on the campus of a historical black college. I cast a glance down at myself. The deep heather grey of my sweater highlighting my favorite anime character Deku matches well with the deep, almost army green of my maxi skirt. The curves of my body are hinted at, but are in no way exposed through the outline of the sweater and the fit of my skirt. And contrary to Ashanti’s opinion, I do happen to have on a thick pair of leggings, and a pair of fluffy socks tucked into my brown leather ankle boots.

I feel beautiful in my modesty, even if it’s in opposition to the popular dress for young, successful black women of today. My face is lightly made with just eyeliner, mascara, and a well-lined and colored matte lip. An intricately wound head wrap covers and protects my head and ears, helping to block out the nip of the early October weather.

Yeah whatever, girl. My fit is just as warm as your leggings.

You know I’m playing with you, Issa. You know, next year we should do picture IDs with registrations. That way we can scout out the cute, single men before they even get here.

I roll my eyes in laughter at her.

What? You know that’s a great idea. We can have a roster set up for each of us beforehand, I know I would personally plan my wardrobe accordingly. She runs her fingers through her long, moisturized curls and strikes a pose. She has an auburn fleece sweater that flows beautifully over her slim hips. Her legs are encased in thick black tights almost like my own. Her heeled black boots complete her outfit and add three inches to her 5’1" frame.

The sound of closing car doors sounds in the distance as I cackle a bit and reply, If I didn’t love you, I would throw you back to the streets!

Not to the streets. Her elongation of the word combined with the exaggerated shock on her face makes me laugh even harder.

Yes! The streets. We gone get you delivered from that boy craziness you got going on before we leave here.

You know the perfect cure for boy craziness?

I laugh and roll my eyes at her. I’m afraid to ask.

A diamond ring on my finger. That would cure it expeditiously.

I can’t argue with her logic, that’s for sure.

Our banter is interrupted as an older black couple dragging a medium-sized wheeled suitcase behind them approaches from the parking lot.

Shalom! We’re here to check in. The gently lined face of the woman stretches wide as she moves closer to the table. Her hair is wrapped in a beautiful blue and silver material that contrasts her warm, chocolate skin tone perfectly. Her long sleeved, cable knit dress with a blue sash sways around her as she and her husband moved quickly towards Ashanti and I. Her husband is tall with an outline that indicates that he was a well built man in his youth. His grey-streaked beard and friendly brown eyes exude a gentle, kindness that makes me automatically adore him. Upon reaching the table, the older woman skirts the table to embrace first me then Ashanti. Her husband follows quietly behind her exuberance and embraces us as well with a soft, Shalom, sister.

We are so glad that you’re here to join us at Tabernacles!

We are so glad to be here! My husband and I have been keeping the statues and ordinances together for 7 years now. We’ve beseeched the Most High many times to lead us to a community. It was only by his grace that we came across the ad for this congregation. Barak Hashem.

Barak Hashem, I echo her praise to the Most High eagerly. Her energy is infectious.

I’m so glad that the Most High led you to our little community. This is our first time congregating for a holy feast so we are very excited. Ashanti and I walk the couple who we found out are Michael and Cynthia Magee through the rigmarole of checking in. As we check them in, a caravan of cars and trucks pulls into the lot. Tendrils of awareness begin to work their way down my spine. I hear the voice of the Spirit in my heart is a command to pay attention. At first I believe my attention is being demanded so that I can go assist a new participant in registering for the camp. Then I begin to see familiar faces. My stomach drops.

Ashanti will you take the Magees to the campground so they can start unloading? Mrs. Magee’s attention is drawn to the onslaught of new arrivals.

Oh wow. Look how many people are coming to join us.

In her excitement, I see her move to start towards the incoming crowd. Her husband holds her fast with a stern command, No, Cyn.

My respect for this man skyrockets. He may not have the strong, infectious personality of his wife, but his spiritual perception is keen.

What’s going on, Issa? Who are those people? My young protege must also sense the tension coming from Mr. Magee and I. She wraps her slim fingers around my arm and presses in close to me.

I’ll explain later. Go take the Magees to camp.

Car doors continue to slam and the octave in our surrounding increases as more people pile out of the cars.

Mr. Magee leads his wife by the arm towards Ashanti.

You go with these nice volunteers Cyn. I’ll go unload the car.

Are you sure, Michael? What’s going on?

Don’t worry about that, sweetheart. You just go on over to the cabins and I’ll be right there. He gives her a hard look before turning his attention back to the parking lot. Loud curses and conversation can be heard over the sounds of woodland animals in the surrounding trees and the members of the new group begin to move towards the west side of the campgrounds. From the corner of my eye, I see Ashanti grab the handle of the wheeled suitcase in one hand and Mrs. Magee’s arm in the other. The older and younger women walk away. Mr. Magee remains standing by the table and I turn to him.

Do you need any help unloading the car, Mr. Magee?

Thank you little sister, but I can handle it. He skirts to the left of the group flowing into the parking area. He brushes by one particular man with a quiet, Excuse me, son, and moves to his car.

My breath catches and my palms begin to sweat in the nippy October air as my gaze locks onto this particular individual. Standing at a good 5’9," his slim frame doesn’t take up much space, but his presence, energy, and spirit have the ability to suffocate a football stadium full of people. I begin to mentally speak against fear and panic to ill affect. His eyes turn and track Mr. Magee as he moves quickly towards his vehicle. I watch as Fletcher James, the leader of the Abrahamic Elites, spits on the ground after the kind, older man. Small flicks of panic ignite in my chest as he turns and locks his disgusted gaze on me. I stand hands clenched, as Fletcher’s moustached mouth twists into the form of what most would consider a smile. However, I take it as what it truly indicates: a predatory warning.

CHAPTER TWO

Setting Up Camp

Dominik

I shrug into a navy blue hoodie as I step outside of my Lexus. The heated seats and air left me comfortable while driving, but now that we’ve reached the Double Waters site for Tabernacles, the air out here will likely cut through the thin layer of protection from these tents. I gaze around at the beautiful forest scenery. Towering pines, oaks, and sweetgum. The trees create a cradle for the large lake with various buildings and structures on each side. The sense of peace that washes over me from the beauty and sereneness of nature begins to crumble as the sounds of harsh words begin to crop up across the parking lot.

I shake my head resolutely. I will not allow my peace and joy for this holy experience to be trampled on. This week isn’t like Christmas or Thanksgiving, which can easy have a large family dispute and people think nothing of it. It’s a biblical command to not weep or have sorrow for the next eight days and I need this break. Sharing with my parents that I wouldn’t be engaging in the usual holiday fair this year put strain on an already fragile situation. My mother lives, breathes, and sleeps Christmas. She is one of those people who begins watching Christmas movies in July, takes a break for Thanksgiving, and picks right back up on Black Friday. Thinking back to one of our last conversations, I can’t help but wonder if I was out of order. Was I wrong for speaking up against the love of my Mama’s heart? Was I right in saying something about her obsession with Christmas and just said the wrong words?

I resolutely push those thoughts away as I finish pulling out the tent, luggage, and supplies I packed to last these next eight days. I had doubts about coming out here for the next week with the Abrahamic Elites camp. I mean, I’m grateful to have some form of community on my new walk, but I still have doubts around keeping a civil head and tongue when having to be with them exclusively for a whole week. I begin moving towards the edge of the lot. I see Almighty Fletcher James and his boys holding conference on the sidewalk.