Keeper of My Soul. Keshia Dawn

the entire church band’s ensemble collaborating, the praise going forth left people on their feet, praising the Lord right along with the sister with the testimony. Not in a rush to settle God’s praise, hand clapping and foot stomping made a tune.

      Keithe loved the praise going forth and joined right in until Mike cooled the organ keys down. Before long, the senior pastor of the church made his way to the pulpit, following protocol. Announcements, tithes, offerings, and a and B selections rendered from the choir readied the sermon for the day.

      Trying his best to stay focused on the oration that Bethel’s senior pastor began, Keithe fought to get his mind focused on the scripture at hand, but couldn’t help glancing at the young woman who must have had the same problem as he had, as she was squinting over her glasses.

      Although still true to his feelings for his wife, Keithe couldn’t help but wonder who the young lady was who kept stealing glances at him from the front of the church. Ever since she had sat down from directing the choir, her full eyes had been one of the main attractions for him. Shaking his head, hoping that it would clear his mind so he could receive more of the word, Keithe stared down at his Bible, searching for the passage.

      “Scoot over,” Keithe heard from a familiar voice just as he was about to re-read the scripture for clarification. Moving a foot over, Keithe rolled his eyes at Mike. “’sup, dude? why you didn’t tell ya boy you were coming through?” Brother Mike whispered.

      “I see he still talking in third person,” Keithe joked around, whispering back at his friend as they did a silent brotherly handshake. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the organ? sounds like your pastor’s getting ready to gun it.”

      Throwing a wave toward the pulpit, Mike rolled his eyes. “Anyway. Yeah, I just wanted to see what was up. You cool? what you doing here?”

      “I’m chill. We’ll talk about it after church. I’ll be here for a few days.” Keithe knew it was only because of his seizures, and doctor’s recommendation, that he had the flexibility to take time off from work. He was allowed a lighter workload once his illness started getting the best of him. With all of the ruckus he’d been going through with Michelle, there was no better time to relax than the present.

      “That’s what’s up. We were just talking about you Friday night, looking over my pictures at the house,” Mike nonchalantly said while peering around the church. “So this is how it feels to sit out here with you people. Hmm.”

      “Dude! shut up.” Keithe knew his friend to be out-spoken and more than arrogant. It was always true what others said about the two: opposites attract. “Who else was talking about me?”

      “Huh, oh. Stoney,” Mike said as he pointed in her direction. Just as Mike looked up toward the front and laid eyes on her, Stoney was giving him the evil eye. “Oh snap, let me get back up there.” Just as he was about to get up, Mike made sure Keithe would be staying with him. “You know I got you, right?”

      “You know it,” Keithe agreed as he slammed his knuckles toward his friend’s awaiting fist.

      Scooting back in his original spot, Keithe closed his Bible, and his eyes roamed toward the front of the church once more. Bypassing the pastor, who had been in full swing, Keithe’s gaze landed right back at the lady he had been mesmerized with since service first started.

      “Stoney,” Keithe barely mumbled as he intertwined his fingers and placed them in his lap.

      CHAPTER 5

      Stoney

      It took everything within Stoney to stay on beat at the beginning of service. While leading praise and worship, it wasn’t until she was halfway through giving God praise that her eyes landed on him, far off in the back of the church. It was an unmistakable gut feeling that told Stoney what her mind wondered. Is that him? it was the raw realization that the photo she had become acquainted with at Brother Mike’s home had become her reality. Nudging her sister in Christ, who was a part of praise and worship also, Stoney had her take over with the rest of the songs.

      She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t know if God was working on her behalf or if it was a trick of the enemy. What Stoney did know was that she dared not give the enemy any victory. It had only been two days prior when her eyes had landed on him at Brother Mike’s home. The face she had seen then had stayed in her mind the entire time they were at choir practice, and she had even dreamed about him that night. And the next night, for that matter. And, low and behold, here he was in Sunday morning’s worship. Keithe, whatever his last name was, was at her church.

      For a split second she almost forgot that his picture wasn’t the only one that was in the photo. Halfheartedly wanting to see the wife in the physical as well, to get a closer look at the possible competition, Stoney didn’t bother making her request for her presence known to the Lord. Sitting in the bleachers, Stoney twisted and turned and even stretched her neck to see if he had been accompanied by her, his wife. When there was no sight of Keithe’s spouse, Stoney knew she had to pray extra hard.

      Lord, you are going to have to help me through this. If this is a trick from the enemy, keep me, dear Lord, from his presence, Stoney prayed silently as she walked from the choir’s stand after service. After service, Stoney thought it was best for her to get as far away from the church as possible. Rounding the banister, she headed toward the exit.

      “Stoney, don’t even try it,” Brother Mike called out to her.

      Jumping from her name being called, Stoney stopped in her tracks.

      Turning as slowly as possible, she put in a quick extra plea to the Lord for help. “Please, Lord, please, Lord, plea…” Opening her eyes and pushing her glasses back in place, Stoney held her lips closed tight.

      “Girl, where are you running off to?” Brother Mike asked as he stepped closer to the shy twenty-one-year-old, leaving his guest behind. “I thought we were going to do brunch, lunch, or just eat a bunch of food?” Laughing at his own corny remark, Mike bypassed anything Stoney was thinking to come up with to say. “Anyway, girl, come on. Leave your car here and ride with me.” he turned, almost bumping into Keithe.

      “Oh. Keithe, I almost forgot you. This is Stoney, my assistant, more like a little sister. Stoney, this is Keithe, more like a brother…a long-lost brother who only comes to town when something is going wrong.” Mike crunched his eyebrows toward Keithe, who was shyly scratching at his eyebrow. “Anyway, y’all come on.”

      “Nice to meet you, Stoney.” Keithe spoke in a confident tone.

      “Hi,” was all Stoney could mutter as she found the floor with her pupils. The butterflies in her stomach must have launched toward her eyes. Batting her eyes as if she were taking advantage of a flirtatious moment, Stoney, in her pointy Nicole pumps, led the way.

      When she took off behind Mike, and bypassed Keithe, Stoney’s eyes landed on Keithe holding out his hand. Figuring him to be the gentleman he seemed to be, Stoney thought she would just scream. When she felt his hand on the small of her back, she thought she’d just die.

      Stopping in her tracks, Stoney held tight to her new international Version Bible and made her plea, which she knew wouldn’t be easy to pull off with Mike. He never let her down on any level, and she hated to disappoint him, but today she had no choice.

      “You know what? I think I’m going to pass. Really.” Stoney took a step to the side in order for Keithe to make his way closer to her and Mike.

      “What? Oh goodness. What is it? Because of Keithe?” Mike asked as if Keithe hadn’t been standing there. “Girl, you better come on now. Keithe ain’t nobody.” he made a crazed “You know what I mean” face toward his friend, who just shook his head.

      Halfway humiliated, and hoping her lighter-than-caramel complexion didn’t give her away by turning a shade of red, Stoney squinted and looked over her glasses. Fumbling with the belt on the front of her wrap dress, Stoney thought of something to come up with.

      “No. Not at all. I’m