It had all started by accident, she had been invited to a party by one of her friends. She had not been told that her parents were out of town and that her older sister was the one throwing the party. Needless to say, the alcohol and the drugs were an integral part of that party which brought the involvement of the cops. She knew them well as they came to see her on her birthday every year.
The loving attention that she received from them was enough to encourage her to break the rules more often. The more rebellious she became, the more attention she received from them. That did not stop until little by little they stopped caring. They gave up on her rudeness, they gave up on her attitude. They gave up on her. She saw it now, she would have given up on herself as well. Only one man had stood by her the longest.
Deputy Gaston had been with her during every facet of her life. He had been the one to take her to church. He had been the one to go with her to the daddy-daughter dances. He had been at her side until she confronted his nephew, and as predicted, he walked away from her as well.
She knew that no matter what life appeared to be at the moment, God had a plan for her. As long as she was alive, she would trust him. If God intended for her to marry, she would find the right man, and if he intended for her to stay single, then she would be okay and her daughter would be okay. One thing she had learned from her time with Jerome was not to settle. So far, every guy she had dated had been immature, and sometimes abusive. From now on, she would set her standards high. Jerome had shown her that there were good men out there. She decided she would wait for God.
Looking back at her life, she realized how lucky she had been. With all the wrong choices she had made, she could have ended up like one of those two girls that had been killed. She understood her mother now, and felt sorry for all the times she had caused her worry. Things were going to be different now. She would sleep trusting in the one God, who loved her, and he had sent her Jerome to protect her. Therefore, she would listen and pay attention to him. She knew this would be hard as she tended to be independent.
Josie got up early the next morning feeling good about life. There was only one problem, the man who wanted her dead. He was probably long gone by now, she reasoned to herself. She hoped he would get caught soon, so no one else would get hurt, but she was confident she was safe. She had made some decisions the night before. In order to get her life back, she needed to move to her place, or if Jerome was so concerned for her safety, she needed to move in with a different bodyguard. It was not a good idea to be in close proximity with a man she found extremely attractive.
She walked out of the room ready to tell Jerome she was done with these living arrangements. She needed to go home. She looked in the living room, bathroom and finally kitchen and Jerome was nowhere to be found. There was only a note on the table.
Josie, I am sorry. I will be back to take you and Vicky out to lunch. Please wait for me. We need to talk.
Jerome.
P.S. Don't open the door for anyone. We do not know who to trust.
So, Jerome what are you sorry for? Are you sorry because you are attracted to me and I am attracted to you, or are you sorry because you are letting the ignorance of a few people influence your decisions? Why in the world couldn't you just leave it alone? I had already made peace with what couldn't be and then you give me hope for what I so desperately want. She crumbled the paper and threw it in the trash.
She knew that God had a plan for her. She needed to believe that. She needed to believe that God loved her and that He would not leave her alone. She was so afraid of being alone, but if her mother had handled single parenthood, she would be able to handle it as well.
As she wiped the table, big fat tears rolled down her face. She wanted to leave before he came to get them, but she knew she had to wait. She needed time to process God's plan and she had promised to trust Him.
There was only one person she knew she could trust and confide in. This one person was also the only one person she knew would stand by her side no matter what. She hoped that her phone was fixed. She called Maria Esperanza.
“Hey! Are you still upset?”
“Of course not. Children are always going to push our sanity to its limits. How are you doing? I've been missing you.”
Josie not being able to control her heartbreak any more burst into tears. “I am so scared and I am tired of waiting.”
“Sweet heart, I am so sorry this is happening to you.”
“I know. Me too. If I could at least understand what I did.”
“You probably did nothing. This is just a sick person.”
“I am so scared. I want to get out of here, but I promised to wait.”
“Do you want me to come see you? I can bring the kids to play with Vicky.”
“I'm sure Jerome won't mind. I'll call him to make sure. Perhaps we can order a pizza or something.”
“It sounds like a wonderful idea.”
Jerome was busy looking at the file, but not seeing anything. He was having a hard time concentrating as his conversation with Josie the night before was weighing on him. He did not like the idea that he had hurt her. He wanted to protect her from the heartache. He needed to speak with his pastor. Right now, he had no one to help him brainstorm the case and he had no one he could confide in about his emotional struggles. His pastor would hopefully know how to set him straight.
As he began gathering his keys and wallet his phone rang. Couldn't his family just leave him alone? He thought, but then felt bad as it was Josie calling him.
“What is it Josie?” Answered Jerome.
“Hello to you too.”
“I'm sorry. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah! Listen. I feel claustrophobic here.”
“I left you a message. Let me finish here and then I’ll take you girls to lunch.”
“Well, actually, you can stay at work. I'm having my girlfriend come over.”
“Which girlfriend?”
“You met her. Remember? She was babysitting Vicky.”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Then you don't mind.”
“No, not at all, but what about lunch?”
“We'll have pizza.”
“Okay then. Call me if you need anything.”
I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God: I will sing praise to you with the lyre, Holy one of Israel.
Psalm 71:22
Chapter 26
Jerome took a deep breath. He was glad that he did not have to see her so soon, and this would give him a chance to speak with his pastor. He hated chaos and confusion and right now Josie represented both. Fernando always knew what to do.
“Hey Jerome, I haven't seen you in a while.” Pastor Fernando said.
“I know. Life has become hectic.”
“Since you never give surprise visits, I imagine that you want to talk about something.”
“So perceptive of you.”
“I don't mean to be rude, but I am performing a wedding in a couple of hours.”
“We can talk another time.”
“Jerome, I told you I have a wedding, not because I want you to come back, but because I want you to start talking and not waste thirty minutes on formalities.”
“Okay. There is this girl.”
“What about her?”
“I am interested in her.”
“Is she a Christian? You know the Bible is very specific about choosing your spouse.”
“Yeah! I know. We are supposed to be equally yoked, but that could mean so many things.”
“Jerome, spit it out. You know very well what it means. Now tell me what is it you want it to mean.”
“Fernando, she's white.”
Fernando leaned back into his chair as he lifted a silent prayer for wisdom. How was he going to handle this one? Why in the world did he avoid this subject? This was a real issue in today's society. “Tell me Jerome, what does the Bible say about
color?”
“I don't know what it says about color. I don't think you have taught about it before.”
“I didn't think I needed to teach about it, but perhaps I was wrong. In Genesis, how many people did God create?”
“What do you mean?” Asked Jerome.
“God created Adam and Eve. What race were they?”
“I don't know. The Bible doesn't say.”
“How did he create them?”
“After his own image.”
“What color is his image?”
“The Bible doesn't say.”
“Okay Jerome, for the sake of time and because I see you getting frustrated I am going to spell it out for you. God created you and me from the same generic make up he created Adam and Eve. He created you and me from the same genetic makeup he created Noah and his sons. I have another question to ask you.”
“Shoot.”
“Why did God send his son, Jesus, to die on the cross?”
“To save us sinners. He received our punishment so that one day we could have eternal life and live with him in heaven.”
“Okay. So did He mention anything about color?”
“No.”
“Then understand something. God did not create color. Color happened based on geography. Those who are from the north, need the lighter color to absorb the vitamin D from the sun. Those people who are closer to the equator need darker skin to protect them from too much sun. Me, I am in between.
God does not love one race more than another. Regardless of our different skin colors, He still sent his son to die for me and for you. I am not better than you and you are not better than me. When Jesus died, he had one goal in mind: to save the sinner.”
“Yes, but...”
“There are no buts in here. It's very simple. The barriers are created by people and not by God. Now tell me what does being equally yoked mean to you, as the Bible does mention that?”
“According to your teachings, it means that we have to both be believers?”
“Not my teachings. Read the Bible for yourself; but anyhow, what does it mean to be a believer?”
“That we recognize that we are sinners, and that our sin prevents us from entering the kingdom of God.”
“And...”
“If we want to go to heaven, Jesus is the only bridge.”
“I like how you put that, but I want to hear you say it.”
“Accepting that Jesus is the only Son of God, born to die a death he did not deserve, and asking him to fill us with his Holy Spirit and guide our lives in our own surrender is the only way we can have eternal life. It is the only way that we’ll see Jesus.”
“So you know what it means to be equally yoked, did you say anything about skin color?”
“No.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Go and get your girl and stop worrying about stupid stuff.”
“She is just wrong for me.”
“How?”
“She is willful, and doesn't follow directions. She never stays were I tell her to stay. She drives me crazy.”
“You don't want a human companion, you want a dog.”
“Very funny.”
“Sorry, couldn't help it; but on a serious matter, if you were to find a woman who never challenges you, you'd be bored out of your mind.”
“What about the Nay-Sayers?”
“Who cares about them? They are just a bunch of people that need to search their hearts and the Bible for answers.”
Jerome was quietly processing what Fernando had said, when his phone beeped. He looked at the phone, as his eyes closed for a second. Then he looked at his friend and Pastor and felt the need to explain his circumstances.
“My mother and my sister have been texting and calling nonstop for the last couple of days. I am afraid to tell them that I have a woman, a white woman at that, living in my apartment.”
“Well, you haven't said any of that to me. You know my opinion on that.”
“It’s not like that Fernando. She is in the bedroom, I am on the sofa, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want that to change.”
Fernando raised an eyebrow in response.
“Well, you have a wedding to perform and I have a killer to catch, and I’d better do it soon, or Josie is going to take matters into her own hands.”
“What does that mean?”
“I already told you, she never follows directions. I have to go.”
“I'll be praying.”
“Thanks.”
For he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Proverbs 2:8
Chapter 27
Josie went to the room, pulled the sheets out, and stuck them in the washing machine. She did not know what Jerome was going to say when she proposed to go home or to the protection of a different cop, but she was ready to argue her point. They needed space to think. She needed space to pray and meditate.
She would praise God for every gift. She would thank God for every day. He was good to her and He was good all the time. If He meant for her to be single, then so be it, but if He meant for her to marry, she would never settle for anyone inferior to Jerome. He would be the standard she used from now on. She tried to convince herself that things were going to be okay. If she repeated this enough, she might actually remember it when life became unbearable.
Just as the night before, placing her trust in God gave her an overwhelming sense of peace.
The doorbell rang and she found herself glad that her friend was finally here to distract her from all the confusion in her head. She was a bit surprised at how fast Maria had made it, but she also knew how Maria drove. If Maria caught all the lights green and hit no traffic, it was doable. She approached slowly as she continued to be reserved. Would she ever feel the freedom to just open the door again? This psycho had stolen something precious from her – he had stolen her peace of mind.
Her daughter, not understanding the danger they faced, ran to the door. Before Josie could say anything, the door had been opened. There went his first warning, “don't open the door for anyone.”
On the other side of the door was a tall, black, beautiful woman, whose smile disappeared as soon as she saw Josie and Vicky.
“Who are you?
“Hi, may I help you?” Both women said at once.
“I thought this was Jerome Park's apartment.”
Josie forgot to be afraid as she understood her predicament. She could never compete with this beauty. No wonder he had turned her down. She had misread the whole thing. It was not race as she thought. It was much worse. It was another woman.
“It is. Please come in.”
“Who are you, and what are you doing in my brother's apartment?”
Josie must have looked like a fool to the other woman because as soon as she heard the word ‘brother,’ she straightened her shoulders, smiled, and did a victory dance. She did not care that she was in the middle of the foyer, she did not care that the younger woman was looking at her as if she were crazy, Oh! She was definitely crazy and so very happy.
“I've been in the car for a long time, I need to use the bathroom.” The woman pushed in, ignoring Josie and disappeared into the back room and curious Vicky followed her. Josie knew that her daughter was going to interrogate the younger woman until she was satisfied with all the answers. Josie did not need to do anything but wait and listen. Perhaps she was being stupid by hoping again, but she could not help it. She still wanted the happily ever after with him.
As Josie leaned in to close the door, the door was pushed open by a meaty hand. For a second, she froze… and then she saw him.
“Uncle Ken what are you doing here?”
“Is that how you say hello young lady? Did you forget your manners?”
“I’m sorry, I was not expecting you.”
“You are not going to invite me in?”
She remembered Jerome's warning: Do not open th
e door for anyone, don't leave this apartment, but it was too late now; what was she supposed to do? Then she remembered Jerome next words: Right now I don't trust anyone, but even though she did not like this man very much, she had known him all her life and did not think he could hurt a fly. He was not the kind of person that would get his hands dirty.
Ignoring his question, she asked one of her own. She was trying to figure out how to ask him to leave without sounding rude.
“Uncle Ken what are you doing here?
“I came to take you out to lunch.”
“But I can't. Jerome will...”
“But nothing. I've come to take you and Vicky out to lunch.”
“Where to?”
“It's a surprise.”
“I cannot go, I'm waiting for someone.”
“If it's the cop, don't worry about him. He knows I'm here. Let's go.”
At her hesitation, he continued, “Listen kiddo, your mother's waiting for you and the two of you need to talk.”
“I don't think I can speak with her right now.” There were so many things she had to set straight in her head first.
“Josie, your mother needs you right now. Let's go.”
“Uncle Ken, I don't think I can. Please don't push.”
“You can and you will. Now be a good girl and let's go.”
At her hesitation, Kenneth Smith grabbed her by the arm, and pulled her toward the door with him.
“Your mother has finally agreed that we should become a family. The only thing stopping us is you, so you are going to be a good girl and fix it.”
“Uncle stop! You are hurting me.” Josie pulled her arm away.
Ken Smith was caught by surprise when she pulled her arm away, but not deterred – he immediately moved his hand to her hair.
“Ouch! You are really hurting me.”
“Let's go, you brat!”
Josie hesitated for a second and he jerked her harder against him. Josie had no idea what was going on. She was so frightened, she had never seen her uncle act in this manner. For a second she wondered about her daughter and Jerome's sister, but realized that if she called attention to them, her uncle may hurt them. Did he lose his mind? She had never seen him act like this.
He couldn't be the killer, could he? Did Jerome suspect him? Why hadn't Jerome said anything to her?