"Life, Love, and Other Mysteries" -Chapter 5

Life, Love & Other Mysteries
Chapter 5


Bryna sat on the couch waiting for her sisters to come out of their bedrooms so they could get to church. It was going to be her new church and shes was eager to see what it looked like and what kind of music they played. Cambria's bedroom door opened and Ezra and Cami walked out both smiling. She wondered about those two. After their lunch together yesterday they had been acting differant. In the car they had said something about being inspired by the old woman in the restaraunt. She knew they didn't do anything. If anything they were just talking to each other while she got her makeup on and he gelled his hair up. Bronxon sat next to her and put his arm around her and leaned in closer to her ear.

"What's going on with them?" He asked nodding towards Ezra and Cami.

"Your guess is as good as mine, darling." She said with a smirk. He nodded.

"I thought so." He said sitting back.

"Hey where's Jael?" Cami asked as she sat on the couch to put her shoes on.

"She is in her room getting dressed." Maryn said walking into the room holding Jael's daughter.

A knock sounded at the door, and Bryna hopped up off the couch and walked toward it. Quickly, she opened the door and smiled at Elisha and Khalil who stood beyond the door smiling back at her. "Good morning!"

"Good morning." replied Elisha.

Khalil who held Elisha's hand, popped a chubby finger into his mouth and smiled shyly up at her around his finger. "Mo'nin." he said.

She couldn't help but wink at the little boy and try to resist the urge to lift him off his feet and hug him. "Come on in guys, we're waiting on Jael."

"Sounds like everyone else was quick getting ready this morning." he waved to the others who sat around waiting in the living room. Eliana lit up and immediately reached out for Elisha. He swept her up in his arms and kissed her cheeks several times.

Jael came into the hall just then with a smile, "Are we ready?" She leaned in and kiss Elisha's cheek before picking up Khalil.

Bryna sighed and helped Bronxon off the couch, "We are. I don't know about those two, their mooning over each other over there." she indicated Ezra and Cami on the love-seat.

Cami shot Bryna a death glare and hopped up off the couch, "Of course we're ready." She leaned in close to her sister, "You say one more thing like that, and you're out on your butt!"

Bryna giggled and winked at Bronxon and then Cami.

--

Cami tried to forget Bryna's words as they walked out of the house, her cheeks were burning and her anger was beginning to simmer to the top. One more comment about she and Ezra and she just might scream! Ezra touched her elbow gently and tugged her back away from the group who was splitting up into different cars. "Let's go to church in your car, alone. I think we need to talk, and that you need some time away from your well-meaning but nosey family."

She laughed nervously. "Okay sounds good."

Quietly, they slipped away from the group further and walked around the corner to her car. "Do you want to drive?" she asked.

He nodded, and took the keys from her hand as he unlocked the door and climbed in behind the wheel.

She waited for him to unlock her door, then climbed into the passenger seat. Nervously, she fidgeted with her purse and bible trying to work up the nerve to look at him. What did he want to talk about? Was he going to say something about her sister's indicating they were "an item"? Or was he going to ask her out? Really, she couldn't ever read what his thoughts were. He was a quiet man and not as transparent as she'd normally like. Slowly, she cast a glance at his profile. He was handsome, incredibly handsome. She could feel her cheeks becoming more red by the second as she stared at him.

"Say something?" he asked, his voice soft.

Cami swallowed hard, what should she say? She'd thought he'd speak first! "I'm glad you asked if we could take my car, I couldn't take one more minute of their teasing." she finally spoke after what seemed like hours.

"I think we should get used to it." he countered, as he looked at her.

"What do you mean?" hope sprang eternal in her heart.

"Well if things work out, that means dealing with years of their teasing, Cami. Can you deal with it?" he smiled slowly.

Her heart picked up it's pace, racing like a dozen horses racing. "Of course! I've put up with them for twenty-one years teasing about one thing or another, I can deal with the teasing for the rest of my life as long as I have you."

Ezra's smile seemed to reach his ears as he put his eyes back on the road and drove into the church parking lot. "Im glad, Cami." he said as they climbed out of the car.

"Me too." she replied, linking her hand with his as they walked toward the church together.

--

Jael stood next to Elisha enjoying his presence beside her, and the presence of her brothers-and-sisters in Christ around them as they worshipped the Lord together. She held Khalil, who seemed to have a fever this morning and was extra cuddly and clingy. Elisha had passed Eliana on to Bryna who had stolen the baby away to pass her on to one of the women in the church who was oohing and awwing over the chubby little girl. He stood beside her, his hand on her back as the minister welcomed everyone to the service and acknowledged the visitors.

Elisha's cell phone began to buzz in his pocket, and she stepped out of the way to let him slide around her. He winked at her and walked swiftly down the aisle to answer his phone.

Her stomach began to churn with the expectation that something was about to happen. No one who knew him well would be calling during what they knew was church time. Khalil watched after Elisha, and snuggled closer to Jael whimpering softly. Closing her eyes, she rubbed the sweet little boy's back, she needed to realize that it wasn't about just them and their love. These two sweet children that they'd been entrusted with needed their strength and love at every moment; moreso than she needed the assurance of her soon-to-be,whenever they set a date, husband's love.

Just as the congregation was being told to be seated, he returned looking quite unhappy. Elisha slipped past her and into his seat again, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close.

"What's wrong?" she whispered, looking up at him and searching his dark eyes for an answer to her questions.

"I'll tell you after church." he conceded, hugging her as reassurance.

Khalil climbed over into Elisha's lap as if he needed his daddy at this moment, and wrapped his little chubby arms around Elisha's neck.

Her heart thudded with love, worry, and the feeling that her life was complete with them in it. She covered his hand that lay on her shoulder,with her own and sighed settling in for the rest of the service.

After the service had ended, she wished that their church was not so loving and caring, wanting to talk for hours after the service. At this moment, Jael wanted to hurry out of the church and hear what that phone call had been about. What was troubling Elisha? After the phone call, he'd become downcast, refusing to look in her eyes. Finallly, after what seemed like hours they walked out to the car. In silence, they buckled Khalil and Eliana into their carseats and climbed into their seats. "What's going on?" she asked immediately.

"It was my commanding officer, I'm being sent back to Iraq love."

His words seemed to hit her in slow motion, her entire life plans had now been rearranged by a small sentence. "Baby no, please no." she whispered, clasping his hand.

"I wish I didn't have to, Jae." he sighed and kissed her cheek. "I don't know what I'm going to do with Khalil."

"I can take him." she stated, still feeling the sting of his words.

"Yes, but legally you can't make any decisions for him until we're married." he rubbed her cheek gently.

"Then let's get married."

He looked at her quickly, "What?"

"Lets go get married, tonight.." she looked up at Elisha, hoping he could see her insistance. She needed to know that everything was taken care of between them, leaving nothing to chance.

"Are you sure? What about the big wedding you were planning months from now, baby?" he asked as he fidgeted with her engagement ring.

Jael nodded her head, "Of course I'm sure! We can have that wedding when you come home to us. We'll just do the part that counts right now to make sure everything is taken care of."

He smiled and kissed her softly. "Let's do it."

Turning back to the wheel, he turned on the car and took off toward the nearest justice of the peace.