Johny Boy: Are you coming to church or not?

Mikey: I am not sure . 

Mikey's phone rings a split second after the message is sent. He sighs. "Yes?"

"Look all you get is one week. I let you have two because you are needy. But i'll be damned if you get three weeks! I don't know what happened the week before and I do not care. Church is not something you are going to just give up because you are having  rough time. You need it now more than ever. If anything, church is all you need. So i am going to ask you again Michael, are you coming to church or not?"

"Sigh. I am coming"

"That's my man. I'll pick you up in an hour".

Mikey walks onto his balcony to admire the view. He has his cup of tea in hand and the morning is still a bit dewy but the sun is beginning to warm the earth. I love this time of morning. The week before had been interesting. Mikey had had lunch with Cheyenne every single day last week. It was... good. Aside from the fact that she was so beautiful that it sent chills down his spine every time she smiled up at him, and that she looked amazing in everything she wore... and that she was extremely smart and intelligent and basically the perfect woman. Could he really try to be friends? Or more? No not more.  Mikey could not stand to involve her in his disaster of a life. He still hadn't told her that he doesn't have a girlfriend yet. Maybe it is for the best. Maybe it will stop her from kissing me spontaneously again. Even though I want her to. Maybe I will one day. No Michael. 

He smiles as he recalls their conversation after they returned to the office from lunch on Friday. Every day she would insist on paying for half the bill, and everyday after "putting her foot down" she would leave to go to the rest room. He took the opportunity to take her cash and ensure the waiter collected before she returned. On Friday, while she was distracted talking to Jamaal, he so discretely left an envelop on her desk and walked out. He remembers the sternness in which she called is name.

"Michael!" 

" Hmm?" He asked nonchalant.

" What is this?" She asked showing him the brown envelop. 

" Shh quiet, let's go in the copy room" Mikey said dragging her to the room across the hall.

" Right what is this?"

"It's an envelop"

"Yes. its an envelop but why, what and how?"

He smiles. " You didn't think you won did you?"

" Ugh. I can't believe you!" She shouts shoving him. " And I thought I was-"

Cheyenne backed into a pile of files on the floor behind her. Mikey reached out just in time to grab her waist before she fell over and steadied her. He held her close to him. Both of them feeling the warmth of each other's breath.

"You thought what?" he said observing her lips as she moistened them. She clears her throat and straightened herself. Mikey slowly released her, ignoring the overwhelming urge to pin her against the wall and claim her mouth.

" I thought I was being an independent and self sufficient woman. Then you had to go be a man about it" She turned up her nose and started towards the door. Mikey doubles over in laughter. He hadn't laughed so hard in a while. Cheyenne turned to look at him, his laughter quickly infecting her. Soon they were both chuckling.

Mikey chuckles at the memory I had to be a man about it. What a way to say it. 

An hour later Mikey is showered, and ready for church. He chose to go without a jacket today, just a blue shirt and a black tie will do to go with his black formal pants and shoes. A few moments later his phone rings. He answers and Johny let's him know to get downstairs before they are late. 

" Hey guys, happy Sunday. Raquel you are looking lovely" Mikey greets his best friend and  his wife as he enters the backseat of their grey Toyota.

" Morning Mikey, jeez it feels like forever since I've seen you" Raquel chirps from the front.

" I know I am sorry. Things just haven't been peachy. But Johny and I have been in the gym so it's not that bad. I know you know all that has happened" Mikey says looking at his best friend in the rear view mirror. 

" I know. But we are praying for you." Mikey notices as Johny rolls his eyes.

" Yea. Thanks. This is weird." Mikey says staring at his friend. Usually he would be all smiles and happy that I am going to church. Johny looks in the rear view mirror and their eyes make four. Something is up.

" What's weird?" Raquel asks looking over at her husband. They look at each other. Mikey senses they aren't telling him something. But decides to leave it for after church.

" Nothing, I thought I saw a weird looking... umm... thing.." 

The ride to church is a little bit too quiet even though they have a medley of lively choruses playing. Some of his and his father's favourites were in the list Hear my Cry o' Lord, That's Enough, and Sweet Jesus,  just to name a few. They reminded him so much of his father and the morning of church. These tunes would be playing loudly all throughout the house from 6 am. He recalls his mother constantly yelling at them to turn it down because she was trying to get her beauty rest. Mikey snorted at the memory of her. They never turned down the gospel. 

The weird chemistry in the car was still building and seemed to amplify as they approach the church. Johny exhaled audibly as he put the car in park. He turns to look at Mikey. 

" Look I did not know. I am sorry in advance. Blame the women" then he exists.

Mikey sits confused for a beat then opens the door as Raquel is closing hers. " What was that about?"

" Hmm, oh nothing, he is just being weird. Come lets go in, they are starting" She starts chasing after her husband. 

Oh Lord what is going on? 

Mikey enters the church that is quickly being filled with the congregation. The choir assembles on the stage and begin to sing " Welcome, welcome, welcome" in an up beat tune. Signalling the start of the service. They are dressed in their long dark blue gowns and sway rhythmically to the beat. The church boasts its high ceilings and large stained glass windows that let all the natural light in. The stage is at the center at the front of the church with the pulpit at the forefront. The pulpit is fully wooden made of oak with the long blue draped altar running across it. The church is old, you could see the history. However, Mikey enjoyed the few updates they made with the mouldings at the ceiling and base, new tiles and cushioned comfortable pews for seating.

He spots Raquel and Johny at the fourth row to the left of the church and goes to join them at the end of the row. Church is in full swing within a few minutes, when the choir begins to sing " Joyful Joyful Lord we Adore Thee". Everyone including Mikey is singing and clapping along. Even the late arrivals walk in singing, because church is already in such high spirits. I missed this.  He admits to himself. Nothing like a good  service to get you feeling good. 

As the thought crossed his mind. A beautiful blond with curly hair comes and stands beside him. She is dressed in a along white flowing dress and silver adornments. She touches his arm. Mikey is stunned. He turns to his best friend with a look of that said I do not know what is happening but you better explain. She touches his arm again and smiles. She looks at Jonathan then at Raquel " Happy Sunday everyone!" and passes the men to go stand beside Raquel.

Mikey looks at Jonathan in despair.

" What is Chrissy doing here?!" he whispers to his former best friend.

Johny shrugs in an apologetic manner. 

"Not good enough".

" OK. I didn't know until right before we picked you up. Raquel invited her." Jonathan whispers as the choir had stopped singing and the moderator for the day stepped up to the pulpit.

" You may all be seated" his deep voiced rumbles through the speakers.

" So you just let me walk into the trap without any warning?"

Shh, an old lady whispers as Mikey is getting a bit flustered.

" Look. we are both in the trap. Trust me. Let's just talk after church. Take a few breaths. You are getting angry"

Mikey looks down at his clenched fists and relaxes them. Sigh. I should not have come to church. 

                    ........

 The rest of the service went by very, very, very slowly. The worship songs seemed to drone on. And the sermon was a bit too long and drawn out for Mikey's liking. Even though church ended at the regular time of 11 o'clock. The peace he felt at the start of the service was replaced with sudden unrest that had solely to do with the gorgeous blond sitting two seats away. How could one woman, inspire so much confusion and disgruntlement in a man? Chrissy had the power to be his undoing, just by being present. She was the love of his life and his demise, all wrapped up in a petite curvy body. Throughout the sermon Mikey tried to focus on the message for what it was but every word the preacher spoke seemingly represented a sore spot in his life. It was difficult to sit through. He could no longer feel the inspiration, but only the doubt in his life.

As the service ends, people start to file out through the entrance of the church. Anxious to get away he quickly slips into a line but not quick enough to evade Jonathan as he joins in right behind him.

" You're angry" he says. Mikey ignores him. As they slowly move toward the entrance, now exit at the front.

"I should have warned you, I am sorry". Mikey looks back  to see an emotional Chrissy being consoled by Raquel. All through the service, she had been crying out, for redemption and forgiveness. During the sermon she sobbed. Mikey couldn't see her but he heard and felt her a little bit too much. He wanted to run away and console her all in one. 

This woman. 

"You are damn right you should have!" The same old lady as before turned to look up at him, seemingly appalled at his choice of language.

" Sorry."

They finally make it outside. Usually there is a serving of lunch available for the congregation that he would usually indulge in. This time he headed straight for the car. 

" I am ready to leave now"

" Come on Mikey, you are acting like my wife when she is upset and plus I cannot leave without my wife, she'll be upset" 

Mikey sighs heavily and leans against the hood of the car. " I just do not get it. One minute I am happy to be here and the next she comes and I am in a whirlwind of emotions over her. Its. Just. Her."

Jonathan nods his head. 

"That's why you all were acting weird, or I could sense the weirdness in the car between the both of you"

" Yea. It was. Why do you think it is so difficult to get to a point where you aren't so affected that you want to punch me?'

" I didn't want to punch you. I would never. She just has me. ... ahh ...its hard to explain."

" Try me." Jonathan says leaning against the hood next to him.

They talk another ten minutes about the situation. Mikey does his best to explain his confused thoughts about Chrissy and his unintended attraction to Cheyenne. Jonathan nods mostly, taking it all in, knowing his friend only needed a listening ear. It felt good just to say his thoughts aloud. It has been a while.

" Look man I would never try to tell you what to do, even if I did you wouldn't listen. So all I will say is, never leave God out. Or me"

Mikey laughs at his friend. " Yea yea. I think I'll help myself to some Sunday snacks in the cafeteria".

He walks off as he sees Raquel approaching. Chrissy is nowhere to be seen. He walks past her, nodding slightly. He isn't ready to forgive her yet.

......

He joins the line in the cafeteria for the food. The smell of the room is enticing. It felt homey with a mix of fried chicken and the sweet smell of roasted corn captivating the air. Person are lining up at the first table to collect plates and napkins. He joins in behind the same elderly woman from before. As the line starts to move and extend behind him, he feels a gentle touch on his arm. An all too familiar one.

"Can I join you?" She stands there staring up at him, her eyes big and slightly puffy. Her eyeliner is a bit smudged from where she wiped her tears. She still manages to look beautiful.

"Mikey you are staring" she smirks. She has the nerve to smirk.

" Sorry. Um yes. I guess" He steps back to allow her to stand before him careful not to bounce the young lady standing behind him.

" Thanks" She grabs a plate for each of them and hands him his own. " So did you enjoy the sermon?"

Really?  " Um yes. It was good."

" How about the choir's performance of Psalm 21?" She asks as she picks up a piece of fried chicken.

" I liked it."

" I know it was one of your favorites" She turns to look at him. Mikey's jaw tenses at her comment.

"It was". She opens her mouth to say something but decides against it. Mikey saw that and something in him wanted to know what it was.

"What is it Chrissy?"

" Nothing. I just uh I miss you Mikey" Tears start to well in her eyes again and her breathing shortened. 

"Chrissy , I... " Mikey cannot bare to see her cry. " Please don't"

She takes a few deep breaths. " I, I'm sorry. It's just the way we left things that morning at your place. And all that happened afterwards" She sighs heavily. "Matt and I broke up."

Mikey stands stunned by her words. I  really should not have come to church. 

Hello There virtual readers! I would really love to know how much are enjoying the story (hopefully!). So if you are, leave a comment on a chapter you liked. Please... feedback needed.