Keeper of My Soul. Keshia Dawn

her to wallow in self-pity. Stoney told herself that keeping the only picture she had of her mother was for the just-in-case moments. Just in case she ran across someone she thought could be her mother, Stoney wanted the proof close by.

      It hurt in a different spot in her heart, not having a mother around and not knowing if she was dead or alive. At times she felt that if she knew her mother was dead, seeing a grave or something, it would bring closure to her burdened heart.

      All Grandma Susie could tell Stoney about her mother was that the woman had dropped Stoney off within two weeks of her birth. She had brought Stoney to Greenville from Lord knew where, with the best baby clothing, the most expensive baby furniture, and Pampers galore. Stoney’s mother didn’t leave a birth certificate, social security card, or anything that would link them. It was even up to Grandma Susie to name her as she had. When asked about her name years later, Grandma said exactly what Stoney had figured: “Ya mama had such a stony heart, girl, I couldn’t see ya being named anything else.”

      Only God had slowed down the process of the pain of not having a mother or a father. But being alone in a city where girls frequently shopped the malls with their mothers, Stoney’s heart often pained as if she were a kid again.

      Staring one last time at the picture of her mother, Maeshell, Stoney parked her car in front of Brother Mike’s mini-mansion. When she got out of her vehicle, Stoney dusted invisible particles onto the ground, knowing he would give her a once-over. It made her laugh how attentive Brother Mike was about her hair, clothing, or anything having to do with fashion. Always saying how he liked “His girls” to look nice, Stoney thought he’d make someone a good husband one day, and couldn’t for the life of her understand why Vicky was so against being friends with him.

      After adding her khaki jacket back to complete her Anne Klein outfit, the very one that Brother Mike had picked out when he accompanied her on a shopping trip, Stoney retrieved her songbook folder and purse, and headed toward the door.

      It wasn’t until she had reached the front door and looked back that she realized she must have been the first to arrive, being that no other cars were parked out front. Wanting to reverse her steps and sit in the car until someone else drove up, Brother Mike, one of her new best friends, opened the door with a smile.

      “Hey, Stoney. Come on in. Ugh.” he threw his hands up to his mouth. “Is that a ponytail, or better yet, was it?” he escorted her through the threshold and locked the door behind them. Knowing that Brother Mike had never made a move on her, and was more like a brother than friend, Stoney tried her best to relax, but couldn’t stop thinking how Grandma Susie had told her about putting herself in certain predicaments. Without realizing he had asked how she was doing, Stoney asked, “Am I the first to arrive?”

      “Um, yeah.” By the way Stoney’s brow furrowed, and the way she had been clutching her belongings, Brother Mike could tell she was a bit uptight. Having had plenty conversations with Stoney, he knew that Stoney held her guard up high, and he respected that, especially since she seemed to be in the world all alone. “Look, I’m going to go finish putting the finishing touches on the appetizers and beverages. If you don’t mind, make yourself at home, and please answer the door if anyone shows up.” not waiting for a response from a dazed Stoney, Brother Mike pushed up the sleeves of his button-down, crisp canary yellow Ralph Lauren shirt, and headed toward his kitchen area.

      Taking minor steps around the front part of a home almost the size of their medium-sized church, Stoney didn’t know where to begin. It seemed as though the windows made up the majority of the house, but not in an awkward way. Peering out one of the windows a distance away, she could see the sparkle of a ground pool through the wood blinds. Hot as the early May’s day was, and with having no working air conditioner in her car, Stoney wondered how the water would feel against her warm skin. As soon as she thought about swimming, she then remembered a swimsuit would have to be worn in order to do so.

      “Don’t worry, I’m not even thinking about it,” she spoke confidently, as if she were talking to someone in the very room with her. Grandma Susie, to be exact.

      In the living area, Stoney walked a short distance to a curio housing family photos. Unlike Grandma Susie’s house, where she had pictures covering the majority of the walls with nails and tacks, Brother Mike had the type of taste that Stoney hoped to be able to one day afford. Taking a glance at the walls and seeing no photos tacked on, Stoney remembered when she moved out of Grandma Susie’s house. In order to have it rented, she had no choice but to take extra money off the deposit for the sake of all the holes punched through the paint. When she thought about her own place, her studio apartment, Stoney realized that she hadn’t thought about complementing her space with art, pictures, or anything, for the fear of messing up her apartment complex’s property. Stoney made a mental note to ask Brother Mike to help her with that portion of her life as well.

      “You need anything?” Brother Mike called out from behind a wall. Not knowing which direction he had disappeared to, Stoney responded with uncertainty.

      “Ah, yeah. A cup of water, please,” she replied.

      Through the glass, there were pictures of him and his fraternity brothers that were displayed in the medium brown elevated curio. Other photos of the choir members and different conferences they had attended over the years were crowded in as well. Stoney even recognized herself in some of the newer photos. As she glanced at another photo of Brother Mike and who seemed to be a friend, she wondered if he was another frat brother, and out of nowhere wondered if the nameless fellow was single. Thinking he was a handsome something, Stoney’s eyes glistened as she wondered if Brother Mike would even introduce her to someone special.

      “Oh my goodness, Stoney.” She scolded herself by slapping her mouth with her open hand. Feeling guilty about thinking that very thought, Stoney blinked her eyes shut and said a quick sinner’s prayer. “Lord, forgive me for my sinful eye and my sinful thought. Amen.”

      As she kneeled down to focus on other photos, her lingering question about the guy’s attached status was soon answered as she saw the same guy in a wedding photo with his bride.

      My dear Jesus, I was pining for a married man, she prayed to herself, for fear of Brother Mike hearing about her disgusting sin.

      That alone didn’t stop Stoney from staring at the photo the best she could with it being housed behind glass. Overlooking her weakness, Stoney needed a closer look, especially at his wife since her face looked vaguely familiar. Just as she was about to open the curio, Brother Mike walked in with most of the choir members trailing him. Too wrapped up in her own hunt, Stoney never heard the chiming of the doorbell.

      With her stare evident, Brother Mike welcomed a question from Stoney, once he trailed his eyes to where Stoney’s gaze had been focused.

      “You know him?” he asked with his chin almost landing on his chest. He handed her the water she had asked for.

      Quickly standing erect from her crouched position, Stoney didn’t dare try to pretend she wasn’t interested. “Uh, no. She…Um, is he one of your friends?”

      “Yeah. That’s my frat brother. He lives in Houston, though. You know that’s where I’m from, right? h-Town,” Brother Mike barked as he put his curved hands around his mouth to make his chant louder. Everyone laughed.

      “That’s his, um, wife.” he smiled and patted Stoney’s shoulder as he started walking to where the others had gathered. “The wicked witch of the south if I shall say.” he looked back at Stoney with an even bigger smile.

      Looking more at the picture of Keithe, but not forgetting his bride, Stoney chose to hold the rest of her questions in until after she and Mike were alone.

      CHAPTER 2

      Keithe

      He stood in one place the majority of the night while his wife made rounds kissing up and making herself seen throughout the party. If there was one thing he was tired of, it was being an arm piece, escort, and a friend with benefits.

      Keithe was mad at himself, again, for even considering chaperoning