Tools of the Devil Page 14

  They sat in silence for a few moments until Lisa reached over from the driver’s seat and gave Sam a searing kiss. Sam’s moan was music to her ears. “I should go in, before things get too, you know.”

  “I know.” Sam opened the passenger door and got out.

  Lisa got out and waited for Sam by the driver’s door of the idling car.

  Lisa enfolded Sam in her arms, and they stood together for several minutes until Sam said, “You should turn your car off; you’re wasting gas.”

  “What?” Lisa was really confused. Was Sam staying longer? She was even more confused at the grin growing on Sam’s face.

  Sam reached around Lisa and opened the driver’s side door. She leaned in and twisted the key in the ignition and turned the car off. She pulled the keys out, stood up, and handed them to Lisa.

  Lisa took the keys, but was more confused than ever. “What are you doing?”

  Sam, still grinning, put both hands in her pockets. Her blue-gray eyes smiled.

  “Hmm?” Lisa still held the keys in her hands.

  “They’re your keys now.”

  “Oh, cool. Thanks,” Lisa said. “Now I won’t have to keep using your keys when you let me drive your car.”

  “Check out the keychain.”

  Hanging from Sam’s keys was a gold medallion. It used to read, “Samantha Rose,” but now it read “Lisa” in ornate script. “Baby, this is awesome. Thank you.”

  “Do you like it?”

  “I love it.” Lisa wrapped her arms around Sam’s shoulders and gave her a quick kiss. Not that she’d run out of steamy kisses, but she’d seen movement near the living room curtains. One or both of her parents must have heard them out front. She still had a few minutes to spare before her curfew, and she was going to use every last second.

  “Thanks for letting me drive your car once in a while. I can use the practice.”

  “You’re welcome.” Sam checked her watch. “Two more minutes of snuggle time.”

  Lisa leaned back against the car and pulled Sam against her. Desire spiraled through her again. “I wish I didn’t have a curfew. I wish I could just drive over to your house anytime I wanted. I wish...” Lisa squeezed Sam. “I wish for a lot of things.” The air was cold, but not bitter cold like it could get in a North Country winter. She could handle a couple more minutes outside.

  The familiar rumble of a certain Toyota disturbed the quiet of their snuggling. “What the heck is Susie doing here?” Lisa said confused again. “Is everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine. She’s my ride home.” There was no mistaking Sam’s grin. Something was up. Sam pulled away from Lisa and motioned for Susie to park at the end of the driveway.

  “What d’ya mean Susie’s your ride home?” Lisa asked. At this point, both of Lisa’s parents were looking out the window. It looked like her curfew was definitely up.

  Sam grabbed Lisa’s hand and said, “It’s yours.” “What’s mine?” Lisa still wasn’t sure what was happening. Sam pointed to the Sebring. “The car. It’s yours.” “The car?” Lisa looked at the car, at her parents, at Susie, and finally back at Sam. “You’re giving me your car?” Sam nodded; her expression was filled with love. “Your parents are in on it.”

  “They are?”

  “Yeah. Truth be known, they wouldn’t let me just give you the car, so they’re making monthly payments for it.”

  “How much?”

  Sam scrunched her face as if deciding whether to divulge her information, but then shrugged and said, “Fifty.”

  “Maybe I can help with the payments, too.”

  “You Browns are so proud. I wish you’d just let me give you things.”

  “Sam, you give me you, and that’s all I want.” Something dawned on her. “Oh, geez, that’s why you gave me my own set of keys. Baby!” Lisa picked Sam up and twirled her around just like she would Bridget. She kissed Sam’s face over and over and finally set her back on the ground dizzy. “Thank you, baby.” She leaned down and said into Sam’s ear. “Really? Are you sure?”

  Sam laughed. “Yes, of course. Daddy bought me a convertible Mercedes for Christmas, and ”“”

  “Your father got you a Mercedes?” Lisa’s eyebrows shot up to the sky. She had never known anyone with such wealth. There seemed to be no end to it.

  Susie shot Lisa a thumbs-up from where she sat in her car. Lisa shrugged back that she was overwhelmed.

  “And,” Sam continued, “Daddy loved the idea of me giving you the car. Well, he didn’t want me to just give it away. He said that wasn’t sound business practice or something, but he was happy that I could help you guys out. Of course, it’s not brand new or anything.”

  Lisa playfully smacked Sam on the shoulder. “Who cares?” Lisa looked back at the car. “Wow, Sam. This is really going to help. My mother’s gonna make me drive the kids everywhere in this. I can’t believe you did this. Are you sure?” Lisa asked again because she was still dazed by Sam and her family’s generosity.

  “Lisa, you’re my life. I knew it before, but coming home to an empty house made me realize it even more. ‘Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die ”“ there will I be buried.’”

  “The book of Ruth. You just quoted scripture to me.”

  “I know how important God and church is to you, Lisa, so I’ve been trying to learn more.”

  Lisa couldn’t help it. She didn’t mean to, but all the pent-up anxiety of being outed at school, the mind games with Alivia, her church turning against her all came crashing in on the love Sam showered her with. She buried her face in Sam’s shoulders and cried.

  “Oh, my,” Sam said rubbing Lisa’s back over her coat. “You’re okay, baby. You’re okay.”

  “I know,” Lisa choked out. She pulled back and wiped at the tears in her eyes. “I have you, so I’m more than okay.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “He heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wounds.” — Psalm 147:3

  LISA USED THE GPS feature on her new iPhone and directed Marlee to The Church of God of Love on Trinity Street. Lisa had never heard of the church before, but Pentecostals, according to her mother, were a little fanatical about feeling the Holy Spirit. She said they adhered to the infallibility of scripture and translated the Bible literally. They were waiting for the imminent second coming of Jesus, she’d said. Lisa wasn’t sure what Sam had gotten them into, but they’d all be together, so it would be okay no matter what.

  The parking lot was quite full, and Marlee had to drive to the farthest part of the lot to find a space. “Too bad we couldn’t have taken your new car,” Marlee said as they got out of the van and started the hike to the church.

  “I’m still in shock that Sam gave me her car. It’s crazy. I can’t even legally drive yet.” Lisa talked it over with her parents, and they were okay with it, just like Sam said. They, like Lisa, had often protested the gifts that Sam constantly brought them. Books and games for the kids, a camera and printer for Lisa’s father, and various household goods for Lisa’s mother. At first it was little gifts, but they had been getting bigger lately. The car was the biggest of all. Lisa had to find a way to make sure Sam truly didn’t think she needed to buy their attention or affection. Lisa also worried that the kids would get used to Sam bringing them things every time she came over. She wanted them to stay humble.

  With the exception of the huge letters above the door reading CHURCH OF GOD OF LOVE, it looked like any other church. The brick walls stood sturdy in faith, the steeple stretched high toward God, and the entryway welcomed with warmth. Sam and Susie weren’t there yet, so Lisa texted Sam. A quick reply said they were two minutes away.

  The people going into the church seemed friendly. Every single one of them smiled as they went past. A middle-aged balding man greeted them. “Are you new to our church?” The giant cross hanging around his neck bounced off his ample belly.

  Close-lip
ped, Marlee simply nodded, so Lisa answered, “Yes, we’re expecting two more friends.”

  “You’re going to love The Church of God of Love.” He reached behind him to get two pamphlets. He handed one to each of them.

  Lisa read the title, “Getting Acquainted with the Church of God of Love. Feel the Spirit With Us!” She tucked the brochure in her coat pocket. “Thank you.”

  An older woman with a similar dangling cross came over to them. The curious glint in her eye told Lisa that the woman was on the prowl for gossip. Lisa thought of Mrs. Maynard and the other gossipy ladies at her own church, and vowed never to become one.

  The woman held a couple of “Getting Acquainted” brochures in one hand, but upon seeing that Marlee already had one, put her stack on the table. She sidled up next to the man and placed a hand possessively on his shoulder. Her polyester dress was long and cut at a weird, not-instyle hemline. The polyester woman tilted her head “Who do we have here, Joe?” She looked Marlee over from head to toe, looking mildly annoyed, presumably by Marlee’s short hair and the fact that she was wearing pants to church. Lisa had noticed that all the women and girls wore dresses or skirts.

  “They’re new,” Joe said. “They’re here to check out the incredible word of God.” His sentence lifted at the end. It was a question Lisa supposed she should answer.

  Lisa nodded. The lobby was getting warm, so she took off her winter coat and draped it over her arm.

  “It’s so nice to see young people answering the call of God so early,” the woman said. “Isn’t it, Joe?”

  Joe probably nodded, but Lisa didn’t know, because she was smoothing out her dress, hoping it hadn’t wrinkled too much on the way over. When she looked up, Joe was staring straight at her breasts.

  “Pfft.” Lisa rolled her eyes and grabbed Marlee by the arm. “I think our friends are here.” Lisa spun them around and dragged Marlee toward the door. “Geez,” Lisa said when they were out of earshot, “all men are alike. Creeps.”

  “He reminds me of Bernie the Bee Man,” Marlee said. “Hey, there they are.” She pointed to Sam and Susie running up the walkway. They slowed down when they made eye contact.

  Lisa didn’t dare take Sam’s arm, although she desperately wanted to. Giving her a hello kiss was definitely out of the question, too. It was something her mother had warned her about before she left. She’d told Lisa to “feel out the water” before diving in head first. Even Marlee and Susie didn’t embrace or hold hands. Lisa’s stomach tightened. It sucked always having to be on your guard, never knowing how people would react.

  “Ready to go in?” Sam said a little out of breath.

  “Still jetlagged, eh?”

  Sam nodded.

  Lisa led her friends through the door farthest away from Joe the Jugs man. They found a pew toward the back of the church and settled in, their coats jammed up into the corner next to Marlee.

  Parishioners milled about the room, and it reminded Lisa of the Unitarian Universalist Church service where everyone was free and comfortable. Maybe her church was the only church that was quiet and somber. Nah, she suspected Susie’s Catholic Church was quiet, too. Different strokes for different folks.

  “There’s a band?” Susie pointed toward the raised platform in the front of the church.

  They craned their necks so they could see. There was a drum set, four or five guitars, a few music stands, and several microphones scattered about. Lisa couldn’t figure out where the preacher’s pulpit was. Maybe he was going to use a music stand or something. It was weird.

  “That’s wild,” Sam said referring to the instruments. “I should have brought my violin.”

  A clock counted down on a giant screen behind the instruments. Several young men walked onto the platform, each one dressed in a suit and tie. One by one they picked up the instruments and tuned them silently. A group of women walked onto the platform and stood behind a microphone that sat center stage.

  When the clock hit zero, one of the guitar players stepped up to a microphone and said, “Worship with us.” The band started playing immediately.

  Lisa knew the song instantly and leaped to her feet along with several other people in the congregation. This was not a traditional song she’d heard at her own church. Oh, no, it was a song on one of her CDs of praise songs. “Shake the Foundation” had to be one of her all-time favorite songs.

  Lisa joined the other parishioners as they sang along. She smiled as Sam leaned over her to exchange a glance with Susie. Susie threw her a thumbs-up. Apparently they were well-pleased with themselves that they had found a church for Lisa. Lisa moved from side to side in rhythm to the steady beat. Marlee stood up and grinned. She was obviously moved by the music, too. Sam and Susie stood and fell into the rhythm of the beat, although Susie’s movements had a salsa flair to them. God, you had to be dead not to feel the energy in the room.

  Marlee leaned all the way across Susie and Lisa to say to Sam, “What is that instrument?” She pointed to the guy playing a guitar near the drums.

  “It’s a bass guitar.”

  “Bass guitar?” Marlee asked again. She probably couldn’t hear because the music seemed to be getting louder and faster.

  Sam nodded.

  Lisa laughed when Marlee said, “I want to play the bass guitar. That is so cool.” And it was cool. The bass groove rocked the church. You could feel it in the floorboards and in the seats of the pews. The Church of God of Love was rocking.

  Some people clapped to the music, while others threw their hands up high over their heads and rocked back and forth. Although she couldn’t see them, she knew many probably had their eyes closed. Lisa couldn’t help it, she had to join them. She was feeling it, too. She put her hands up to feel the energy and was instantly rewarded with tingling hands. The Holy Spirit. It had to be. She swayed back and forth like the others, and felt the energy rush straight into her heart. The only time she’d ever felt anything like it was when she was alone with Sam. She leaned to the side until her body pressed against Sam’s. Knowing she was grounded, she drew in more energy as the music got even faster and louder. She was not surprised when a familiar ache clutched at her chest and her eyes welled up with tears. She didn’t even care if her friends saw her crying. She let the Holy Spirit flood her senses.

  As the music slowed down, she opened her eyes and stood up straighter. She hated to lose the warm contact she’d had with Sam, but she wasn’t sure how accepting this church was. Many people still swayed with their hands raised, but there was a calmness overtaking the church as the music softened. It almost felt like the calm peace that overtook her after she and Sam had their alone time.

  Sam reached for her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. Lisa smiled and was saddened when Sam’s hand went away, but she understood.

  A few people got up to speak, and there were a few more songs of praise. Lisa wasn’t hit as hard by the energy during those songs, but they were powerful nonetheless.

  “Hey,” Susie whispered to Sam, “isn’t that Freddie?”

  Lisa looked where Susie pointed with her chin. Sure enough, Freddie sat in a center pew. His girlfriend Rebekah, the girl who’d worn the yellow dress, sat by his side. As if feeling four sets of eyes on him, Freddie turned around and his mouth fell open when he saw them.

  Susie waved at him and smiled. Marlee pulled Susie’s hand down and yelled at her silently with wide eyes. Freddie said something into Rebekah’s ear and then she turned around to look at them. She looked as shocked as Freddie at their presence. Lisa prayed that Freddie wouldn’t do something like shout scripture at them the way he’d done at the dance. She breathed a sigh of relief when he and his girlfriend simply turned around and focused on the introduction to the preacher. One of the guitar players stepped up on stage and placed a small wooden table near a lone free-standing microphone

  The preacher was good looking in a middle-aged Brad Pitt kind of way. He stood quietly in the center of the stage dunking a tea bag into a cup. He took a si
p, seemed to be satisfied with it, and pulled the tea bag out. It was kind of odd, actually. After the high energy of the praise songs, the preacher steps onto the stage and makes tea. Maybe he was setting the mood. Getting the worked up crowd to calm down inside. It was working on Lisa. She felt quite content.

  “Marriage,” the preacher said quietly, “is like the perfect cup of tea. It’s the careful and practiced balance of tea leaves, sugar or honey, cream if you like, but it takes time to perfect it. As Jesus said in Mark 10:6-9, ‘But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’”

  Lisa’s heart sank. Here it comes. She should have known this church would be like every other. Condemn the gays. Don’t let them get married. “Well, too bad, bucko,” Lisa muttered under her breath. “Marriage is legal here, and one day I am going to marry this beautiful girl sitting next to me.” She looked at Sam and was saddened by Sam’s angry face. Sam must be feeling it, too.

  Lisa wasn’t the only one muttering to herself. Susie’s steady stream of quiet, but angry, Spanish was almost comical. Marlee rubbed Susie’s arm and Susie closed her mouth, but did not look at Marlee. Her glare was fixated on the preacher.

  Unable to focus, Lisa half-listened to the sermon. She reached for the “Getting Acquainted” brochure that Sam still held in her hand. One section of the brochure gave an overview of the church’s beliefs. She smirked when she read the lines stating that marriage was strictly between a man and a woman until death parted them. As the sermon went on, Lisa realized his sermon was about the evils of divorce. Lisa felt that divorce was a personal thing between the two people involved and the church should back off in that regard. Not that Lisa ever planned on getting divorced.

  She skimmed the rest of the pamphlet, knowing she would find the words she was looking for, and she did. Right there in black and white it read, “The Church of God of Love condemns homosexuality as a moral sin.”