Chapter Fifteen
Sarah
MOTHER ELSIE SAT in the sixth row pew, her body aching from strain, but her spiritual mind on a high, as the congregation joined together in praise led by Traiah Spikes, a local Missionary Baptist music director. Occasionally, the Baptist forces joined together in worship, but today was like joining two chemicals to create a fiery passion for the Lord, and Mother Elsie was no exception as she jumped, her bad hips swinging to the beat of the music.
The lady to her right, a visitor, was no doubt terrified by the aliveness of the moment, but to her left sat Sarah Towson, the young lady who’d gone to California. When Sarah had first told her where she was going to college, Mother Elsie did not judge or even say anything in the dark pit of her mind: What do you mean, those bozos! Instead, she allowed a rich spirit to guide her, and she had said, “If the Good Lord is leading you to California, you better go.”
Now that she was back, Mother Elsie could see she’d changed. The girl had filled out more, and she oozed a greater confidence, but she also saw hurt and shame coating the rims of her icy blue eyes. There was something at play in Sarah’s life, and Mother Elsie was going to see what it was. If she had to do some digging herself, she would.
As Traiah Spikes sat down, the congregation did as well, affording their pastor the opportunity to stand and pray for the flock. The interspersion of diversity added a new element for both churches, where strife had driven them crazy only years before. Healing came from God, Mother Elsie knew; and this healing could be awarded to Sarah, if she only looked for it.
“I pray for the souls hurting here today,” Pastor Randy Boomington began, as women fanned themselves in the heat of late May. Unfortunately, even with the air conditioning circulating, the abundance of souls in the room was stifling, at least physically. Emotionally, it was a joyride. “Because even in this moment right now, God, we are searching for you, there are some who are searching for guidance, and how to harness pain into Your goodness.”
Mother Elsie sinfully opened an eye, and guiltily realized she’d unlocked Sarah’s pain. The girl was shyly staring at the back of Joel Sealet’s head.
WHEN CHURCH LET out, Mother Elsie took Sarah by the arm, using her for support. She and Sarah talked to countless individuals, which wore the girl out, but Mother Elsie knew it would be good for her muse to meet some of the M.B. churchgoers. Finally, around one o’clock, Sarah and Mother Elsie pooled out onto the street, where Zach and Sarah’s parents waited holding Bibles. “Mrs. Elsie!” called out Helena, who pulled the old woman into a wide hug.
Sarah was socially drained and was forced to grin when Tom Boomington, the youth pastor, draped an arm around her neck. She hugged him back, feeling the stares from her family and Mother Elsie, but eventually, the old woman swatted Tom and shrieked, “What are you doing!”
Tom turned red with embarrassment. “Mother Elsie?”
“Inappropriate touching on God’s holy ground! Some people might do this in the city, but we’re from Breezewater, Georgia. What do you think your daddy would say?”
Tom smiled, pulling Mother Elsie into a hug. “Whatever you’re up to, I still love you, Mama Elsie.”
She shrugged and hugged him back. This offered a momentary respite for Sarah, who glanced down at the rugged sidewalk near the ancient sign reading FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH BREEZEWATER, EST. 1837. Joel passed by the church then in his eclectic Jeep, his sunglasses plastered on the bridge of his nose, and the rush of wind playing with his hair. He glanced over just in perfect time to see Sarah staring at him, and he stared back.
Sarah turned, feeling something stir inside her. Mother Elsie watched it all, and she grabbed onto the girl’s arm at the next available opportunity as the group made their way to the parking lot. “You, dear, have it bad, I think.”
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked, watching as Tom and her father had a deep conversation on a crisis in Eritrea. Helena was watching enthusiastically, because she took this as a sign Scott would accept Tom as a great son-in-law.
Mother Elsie leaned in, whispering in Sarah’s right ear canal. “Joel Sealet. Who would’ve thought… You and that boy.”
Sarah straightened and was about to deny any of those facts when the old woman smiled. “My husband was a character too, Sarah, and when he finally straightened out, I was fifty-six years old. But I knew he was the one for me, and for the first time in my life, I had done something of my own volition by marrying Aaron Brandon. He was crazy, and you know what, so was I.”
“Mama Elsie…”
“No, Sarah. Hear me out. Something’s happening in his life. I can sniff it. He’s changing, and I wonder if that’s because of you. Are you two twiddling around together?”
“Not really. Just once, and it ended badly.”
Mother Elsie was huffing and puffing, but she croaked, “Do me one favor. One favor is all I ask: Give that boy another chance.”
WHEN SARAH ARRIVED home, she found a bundle of orchids on her nightstand, the window slightly opened. No note this time.
THE FAMILY ARRIVED in Destin, Florida, the first weekend of June. The sea-green ethereality of ocean met the Towsons with the embodiment of dazzling wonder where the rich waves met the white, sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle. The only thing missing from the display, at least to Sarah, was orange soda, which she drank tons of while at the beach. It was a tradition between her and Helena.
They spent the first afternoon sunbathing at the point where ocean meets earth as the rich sun sprinkled its rays on thousands of visitors flocking to the crystal clear beaches. The Towson family brought blankets and a few peach-colored beach umbrellas, along with ham sandwiches and bottled waters. Sunscreen had dripped into their pores, protecting them from the deadly crisp of the sun, but heat was on the forefront as the villain to their limited reserves of energy.
By four o’clock, Sarah had tanned for an hour with her mother, listening to the woman’s accounts of town gossip, including a lecture about Karli, whose mother Sarah decided to tell about her journey with Joel. It was time for Stacy to hear what Sarah had experienced: John’s absence, and his presence causing problematic strife; the drug dealing; Karli’s mental and physical health. The list could go on and on about that day in Savannah.
Sarah stood up and took a boogie board out to the waves, playing with it at the crest of a few miniscule whitecaps. Her best friend in California had taught her the basic principles of surfing, but Sarah was still an extreme novice, even being from the coast herself. Surfing was never her shtick, no matter how many times she tried, but judging from Zach’s attempts nearby, he would learn quickly how to succeed in the Pacific tides.
She paddled around on the board for a few minutes, allowing the coolness of the water to mesh with her hot skin. She looked around at the beach, at the countless individuals from their same resort, and wondered what their lives were like. Did they worry about stuff from their past, or even the boy who worked at the aquarium?
She tried to stick thoughts of Joel out the window, but he came back in her dreams, revealing her intense subconscious view of him. She liked him, a lot, and she knew she shouldn’t. They hadn’t seen each other since church the previous weekend, and now, she wasn’t sure if they would ever talk again. Maybe she reacted the wrong way, without giving him a chance to explain, but her stubbornness had set in, her unforgiving spirit. It was a flaw in her character, the inability to forgive, even when she expected others to forgive her.
Joel was not a bad person, Sarah thought. He needed guidance, but he was handsome and playful. He worked at church sometimes, for heaven’s sake, and seeing his ability to connect with students at the aquarium had heightened his appeal to her. Of course, Sarah was still expected to stay away from the Sealet family. He was off-limits.
But why?
She glanced over her shoulder at Scott and Zach pushing each other at the face of the ocean, the mirth between them radiant. When Scott put down his phone and news apps, he was a gen
erous, fun-loving guy. Helena was soaking up the sun nearby, lying on her back, allowing individual rays to paint her skin. She looked much younger than she really was, but Sarah wondered if this was a bad thing.
A school of fish darted around her toes, tickling her. Eventually, she gave up swimming, and headed back to the sand, feeling the grainy individual pieces stick to her. And try as she might, she couldn’t help but think of a guy back home.