Chapter 6

chapter six

nox

" T his is the last of the chicken coming off the grill now," I called out to Brayden.

"Got it," Brayden responded.

"This looks good, Daquan. Remember to check the temperature of every single piece of meat you take off the grill. They'll usually run around the same temperature, but not all of the time."

"Got it," Daquan replied.

After I mentioned my idea to Jordan about hiring help, he got busy reaching out to his sources to see if he could find an employee. After Jordan handled the initial interview process with several candidates, he introduced us to Daquan.

Daquan was a smart kid who had made some wrong choices early in life. Those choices landed him in jail for several years. While in prison, he earned a culinary degree and was motivated to work. Society still had a way of punishing people for their crimes even after they'd served their time, so Daquan had a hard time finding work in a restaurant other than the cleaning staff.

Daquan participated in a program in a neighboring city that assists individuals with felony convictions in finding meaningful employment. He prepared a dish for Brayden and me to showcase his culinary skills. His cooking was not just a meal but a testament to his talent and determination. Impressed, we offered him a job on the spot.

Since Daquan was already familiar with grilling, I'd been training him on my techniques. He was a fast learner and a fantastic employee.

While I still handled a significant portion of the grilling, it was becoming increasingly clear that we needed to start expanding our team. This is not just a necessity for our current operations, but also a crucial step towards realizing our dream of opening a restaurant in the future.

"I'm going to head out if you got this out here. I'm taking my girl and my sister on a date."

"Your girl and your sister?" Daquan asked.

"Yeah. Somehow, they've become best friends. They wanted to go to this escape room, so I'm taking them."

"Yeah, being locked up in a room don't sound like fun at all to me," Daquan said with a chuckle.

"I hear you."

"I'm good out here, though. After I'm finished cooking and cleaning up, I'm going back to the kitchen to prep the meat we just got in," Daquan said.

"Cool. The bins should already be labeled for the days of the week."

"Yeah, they are," Daquan agreed.

"A'ight. Have a good evening. You did great today. I appreciate all your hard work."

"Thanks for the opportunity," Daquan responded.

"Aye," I called out to Brayden. "I'm out."

"A'ight," Brayden returned.

I walked over to the Sweet Reasons truck and found Ami engaged in a lively conversation with one of their customers. Whatever Ami was saying had the woman holding her stomach and laughing. I smiled, not even knowing what they were discussing. I loved watching her interact with people.

Ami noticed me watching and smiled. She said something else to the woman, and the woman waved and walked away. Ami disappeared behind the truck and emerged with a big smile, walking towards me.

"Hey," she said.

"Hey."

We kissed.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yep, I am."

I took her hand and led her to my truck. After we were both inside and headed towards campus, Ami asked, "How did Daquan do today?"

"He did well today. He knows everything he needs to know about food prep. It's just getting him used to how we do things, but he's coming along."

"That's good," Ami said.

"How was your day?" I asked.

"Well, I was late getting started because my boyfriend wouldn't let me out of bed."

"You didn't seem to be trying too hard to leave while you were sitting on my face."

"Before that," Ami responded. "I tried to leave before that."

"Oh, okay."

We laughed.

"The day went well. Our sales have increased daily, so we're excited about that."

"That's good. I'm proud of you."

I glanced over and saw a huge grin spread across Ami's face.

"You have no idea how much those words mean to me. Thanks, Nox."

"Had Peaches talked to you about this lil' dude she's bringing with us to the escape room?"

"Yes, just girl stuff," Ami replied.

"What's girl stuff?"

"Like stuff girls talk about. Stuff you wouldn't understand."

They hadn't been friends long, but Peaches had already confided so much in Ami. I was happy she had someone with some sense to talk to.

"What's his name?"

"Elijah," Ami answered.

"Right, Elijah. I hope I don't have to knock his lil' ass out while we are at the place."

"He's a preacher's kid and majors in Japanese and conflict resolution. I'm sure he'll be okay," Ami explained.

"I don't know. I heard those preachers' kids are the worst," I stated matter of factly.

"Please give him a chance. Peaches likes him," Ami pleaded.

"Yeah, okay. We'll see."

I didn't make any promises.

After arriving at The Escape Room Caramel Cove, we saw Peaches standing out front with a tall, lanky dude standing next to her.

I grabbed Ami's hand after I helped her out of the truck.

"Hey," Ami said and stopped walking.

"What's up?"

"Behave, Lennox."

I looked over at Peaches and the lil' dude, then back at Ami. "Okay." I knew I wouldn't behave, but I agreed.

"No. I'm serious. Peaches really likes him," Ami emphasized.

"I said, okay."

I planned on giving this lil' dude hell. He was lucky Brayden wasn't with me; we would've tag teamed his ass.

"Okay," Ami warned. "If you get in here and give this kid a hard time for no reason, I will not be happy."

"I ain't thinking about your lil' attitude. I got something that can fix your attitude," I said and grabbed my dick.

"Yeah, okay. You'll be thinking about my attitude when my mouth is closed."

Ami gave me a knowing glare.

"Wait," I moved in closer and whispered. "Are you talking about…"

"Sloppy top, head, soul snatching," Ami confirmed.

I wasn't sure if it was because I liked Ami so much or if she was just really good at it, but either way, her head was the best I'd ever experienced, bar none. She knew it because I told her every time she did it. I couldn't help but tell her how fantastic it was.

"Naw, you don't threaten a man like that. That's not fair."

"Well, then, be on your best behavior," Ami said.

I rolled my eyes at her.

Ami laughed. "I'm glad I said something. I knew you were prepared to clown. And I don't care nothing about your little eye roll. You don't know how to roll them anyway."

"Whatever. I can say the same thing about you. If no sloppy, then none for you either."

Ami put her free hand on her hip, tilted her head and said, "Do you really want to play this game, Sir?"

I quickly backed down.

"No, I don't."

We laughed.

She knew I was addicted to her little ass. I'd do anything to make sure we were good, including not scaring the shit out of this lil dude who thought he was dating my sister.

"Hey!" Peaches waved as Ami and I approached.

"Hey!" Ami said as she and Peaches hugged.

Lil' dude walked up to me and extended his hand. "Hello, Sir. My name is Elijah James Arnoult the third."

"Lennox," I replied and shook his hand.

"I'm Ami." She shook his hand. "I love this purple shirt. It's a great color on you."

"Thank you," Elijah replied.

"See, I told you it was a good color," Peaches said.

Elijah's face morphed into a goofy grin. Cornball ass.

A quick, sharp pain shot through my arm. I looked down and realized Ami had pinched me.

"Ouch," I said, while rubbing my arm.

Ami whispered, "Your face is telling on you."

I squinted my eyes at her.

Ami squinted her eyes back at me then turned her attention to Elijah.

"Have you done an escape room before, Elijah?" Ami asked.

"No, ma'am. I heard they are fun, though," Elijah replied.

I maintained a neutral expression while wondering what fun was to this lil soft-ass nigga.

I looked over and saw Ami staring at me. "What?"

I thought Ami had graduated to reading my thoughts. I was fully prepared to be pinched again.

"I asked if you were ready to go in," Ami said.

"Oh, yeah."

We walked into the business and read through the room options. We chose the Time Travel Laboratory room. I would've preferred the Haunted Manor, but I was overridden.

"I would like to pay for all of this, Sir, if you don't mind," Elijah said.

"Where did you get money to afford to pay for all of us?" I asked.

"I'm a musician at my dad's church. They pay me. Plus, I get gigs at other churches in the area," Elijah answered.

"Oh, that's nice. What instrument do you play?" Ami asked.

"I play the bass guitar. I'm learning the keyboard, but it's been a slow learning process," Elijah responded.

"I don't think I know any musicians personally, so that's cool," Ami said.

"It is cool, right, Nox?" Peaches asked.

"It's cool," I said and shrugged. "If you can afford to pay, then I'll let you pay."

"Thank you," Elijah said.

After purchasing our tickets, we were escorted to the room.

The employee explained, "You have one hour to escape. You can begin with any of the puzzles in the room. At timed intervals, especially if you're stuck, we will send you clues on this monitor over here. You will hear a chime play right before the clue is revealed. Good luck. Your time will start once the door locks behind me."

The employee stepped out of the room and the door clicked shut. We all moved around the room, reading the clues and working on puzzles.

"Do you need help over here?" Ami came and joined me.

I was trying to figure out the answers to clues about pop culture in order to get the numbers to activate a control panel that held another clue.

"Yeah. I thought I had all of these correct, but it's not opening."

"Okay, the first clue says where the king ascended. It has these black shoes and white socks, so I'm figuring it's Michael Jackson?" Ami said.

"Right. When he did the first moonwalk performance."

"We weren't born yet!" Ami said.

"I know. It was the early eighties. I think it was 1984."

"Okay. I'm going to agree with you because I have no idea. Then it says, in the time of fresh prints, and fresh prints is in the same font as the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," Ami said.

"Yeah, I know that one is 1990. That's the year the show premiered."

"How do you know that?" Ami asked.

"I watched the special about it not too long ago," I answered.

"My baby be knowing stuff," Ami said, and did her little shoulder shimmy dance.

I chuckled.

"Then this one is easy. When Black Panther roared, the answer is 2018."

"Okay, so put the numbers in again," Ami said.

1984

1990

2018

I pushed the button; nothing happened.

"Hey," Ami called over to Peaches and Elijah, who were working on a puzzle together. "This is a long shot, but do you know when Michael Jackson first performed the moonwalk?"

"1983," Elijah confidently called out.

We all paused and looked at him.

Feeling three sets of eyes on him, he looked up and said, "Oh, I'm a huge Motown fan. He performed that at the twenty-five-year television special. Motown was founded in 1959. I know it's a lot of useless information in my brain but 1983 is the answer," Elijah said.

"Well, it's super useful right now. Try 1983 instead," Ami said.

1983

1990

2018

I pushed the button. The entire board lit up, and a little drawer popped open with the next clue.

W ith our exit time of forty-five minutes and twenty-two seconds, we set a new record for the fastest escape for that room. We took pictures for the Wall of Fame. Ami wanted a copy, so I paid for her and Peaches to get a print.

"That was so much fun!" Peaches said.

"It was fun. We'll have to come back and do the more difficult one," Ami said.

"Um, Lennox, can I talk to you in private for a few minutes," Elijah asked.

"Why?" I shot back.

Ami hit my arm.

"Why are you so violent?" I asked while holding my arm.

"Go," Ami instructed.

I followed Elijah to the end of the curb.

"So, I want to first say thank you for coming out with us tonight. This meant a lot to both me and Mielle."

He paused and looked at me. I looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Okay… so I wanted to come to you man to man and express my interest in Mielle. I like her a lot. As her guardian and older sibling, I wanted to show you the respect you deserve. I'm starting my fifth semester at Eldridge University. My major is Japanese and business. I love God, and I was raised by both my father and mother. I love spending time with Mielle. I think she is smart, funny and intelligent. I don't do illegal drugs. I drink responsibly, and I never operate a car under the influence. I will protect her and keep her safe when you're not around. I want to know if you're okay with that?"

I never thought ahead to a time in my life when some man would talk to me about dating my baby sister. My heart hurt a little. I couldn't lie. It was hard realizing my little sister wasn't little anymore.

My mind flashed back to her first softball game when she was in elementary school. I cheered for her as she ran the bases and scored for her team. I thought back to the first time I saw her crying because some little boy had hurt her feelings. I recalled the rage that coursed through me. My mother reminded me that a broken heart was a part of a young woman's journey. I had held on so tight to Peaches for so long. ButI knew it was time to give her some space and allow her to be a young woman.It was an essential part of her journey, and I had to accept it.

"I'm not going to pretend to like you or like the fact that you like my sister. However, I will give you credit for showing up like a man. I appreciate that. You don't have to win me over. Just don't do anything to hurt my sister, or I'm going to hurt you. It's just that simple."

"Got it," Elijah responded and extended his hand.

I gripped his hand firmly and said, "Make sure you got it."

ami

Peaches and I waited while the guys stepped away to talk.

"Are you excited about school starting back soon?" I asked.

"Yes, I am. I'm also excited about all the back-to-campus parties. I've purchased a new outfit for every party."

"Does Elijah go to the parties?"

"No, he's not the campus parties type. He will go if I ask him, but he doesn't enjoy it."

"Does he try to stop you from going since he doesn't like them?"

"No, he encourages me to have fun. He plays for churches a lot, so most of the time, he's out doing that when the parties are happening," Peaches explained.

"I like that he lets you be yourself. You should be able to enjoy the things you want to do and have fun."

"What do you think they're talking about?" Peaches asked, looking around me at the guys.

"Elijah asked for the conversation. He didn't tell you?" I replied.

"No. I was on the edge the whole time we were in the room thinking Nox was going to say or do something weird, but he didn't," Peaches said, sounding relieved.

"I was surprised, too. I guess Elijah made a good impression on him. Maybe he's letting you grow up."

I didn't mention that I threatened Nox.

"I guess. It does feel like Nox has eased up a little bit. I keep waiting for him to flip out, and he hasn't."

"People can change. You just have to give them time and space to do so."

"And patience," Peaches added.

"Yes, patience is key."

"This is my first legit double date. I had a good time," Peaches said.

"It was fun. I like the way Elijah treats you. He seems like a good person."

"He is," Peaches swooned. "I like him so much."

"It's nice to find someone who you feel comfortable with," I said, referring to her and me at the same time.

"Is that how you feel about Nox?" Peaches asked.

"It is. Lennox is my walking wish list. He's everything in a boyfriend I knew and didn't know I wanted," I confessed.

"Aww," Peaches said, a soft smile spreading across her face. "You think you'll be my sister-in-law?"

I laughed. "I don't know about all of that. We haven't talked about things that far ahead, but I hope to be around for a while."

"I would love for you to be around for a while. I think he's happier when he's with you," Peaches expressed.

I blinked, trying to hold back unexpected tears. "I'm definitely happier when I'm with him."

Just then, Lennox and Elijah walked back towards us.

"Alright, Babe. You ready to eat?" Lennox asked.

"Yep, I'm starving."

Lennox grinned. "Good."

" W hat did you think of Elijah? I thought he was nice," I said.

Nox and I were relaxing in his bedroom after finishing our dinner.

"He seemed to have good home training," Nox answered.

"Does that mean you like him?"

"No, it doesn't mean I like him. It means he has good home training. He's still a young man. Young men are always looking for one thing," Nox responded.

"Sex?"

"Yep."

"Is sex a bad thing?"

"With my sister? Yes."

"I'm Caeli's sister, and you have sex with me," I challenged.

"That's different," Nox said.

"It's really not. I'm just saying you don't have to like him. That's fine, but treat him how he treats her. If he does right by Peaches, then give him a break."

"I'll think about it," Nox replied.

"Thank you for at least listening to me, Baby," I said and kissed Nox.

"I appreciate your opinion. Of course I will take it into consideration."

We sat silently for several minutes before Lennox asked, "What do you think about church?"

"Like going to church?" I asked.

"Yes," Lennox answered.

"I don't know. I don't think about it much. What about you?"

"I don't either. I didn't grow up going to church except when Bray and I went down to visit our grandfather. It was hot, long and boring."

"My parents only went for show and status. We would go to one of those quiet churches. It was also long and boring. What made you ask about that?"

"When I was talking to Elijah, he mentioned that he loved God. It sorta struck me as odd until I remembered that you said his father was a preacher. As we were walking back over to you and Peaches, I told him I wanted to meet his, since he's so serious about being in Peaches' life. He invited me to their church."

"Are you going to go?" I asked.

"Do you want to go?" Lennox replied.

"I mean, I'm not against it. I think Elijah is a good kid. I like him for Peaches. Maybe we should see his world, just to be sure."

"I'll think about it," Lennox answered.

"So, I've been thinking about some names for the cupcakes that will be a part of the Buzzed Bites cupcake line."

"Is that the official name?" Lennox asked.

"My boyfriend said it was a great name and Caeli loved it, so, yeah, that's the official name."

"Your boyfriend sound smart," Lennox said.

"Meh," I replied.

"That's what we're doing?" Lennox said with a devilish grin.

"Don't you do it, Lennox!"

Before I could finish my sentence, he'd launched a full-on tickle attack. I hated that he'd figured out how ticklish I was.

"Okay!" I said through my laughter. "You're smart!"

"That's what I thought," Lennox said.

He tickled me a few more minutes before he finally gave me a break.

After I fully calmed down, I said, "You made me forget what I was talking about."

"Buzzed Bites," Lennox answered.

"Right, these are some of the flavors. Tell me what you think."

"Okay. Let me hear them."

I started, "Cosmopolitan Crush."

"What would that flavor be?" Lennox asked.

"It would be a mixture of cranberry and lime."

"Oh, yeah, I like it."

"What about Amaretto Amore?" I said.

"Will they all begin with the same letter like that?"

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked.

"No, actually, it's cute and brilliant. Probably because you're brilliant," Lennox said.

I gave him a quick kiss.

"Thank you, Baby. I still have to figure out the recipes, though."

"I have no doubt that you will."

"Why do I feel like the lucky one right now?" I asked.

"I don't know because I'm beyond the luckiest man alive. I don't go to church, and I know I don't pray like I should, but God loves me because he gave me you."

I started crying before I could suck the tears up.

"Nox! What the heck! Is it make me cry day or what?"

"I'm never going to stop telling you how I feel about you, Camilla. I don't ever want there to be any doubt in your mind about my feelings. It's like my feelings came from out of nowhere, but at the same time, they feel old, like I've had them for years."

"I want my future to be with you, Lennox. Does it scare you when I say that?"

"No, it gives me peace because I feel the same way."

nox

If I took a couple hundred dollars out of my check every two weeks and put it into a savings account, how long would it take for me to purchase a nice sized diamond ring?

Does she want a diamond or some other stone?

I need to find out if she likes gold or platinum.

"Shit, Camilla," I moaned while watching my wet dick disappear into her mouth.

It didn't matter she could have whatever she wanted. Her head game was unrivaled. It didn't matter how many times I experienced her; the experience felt brand new every time.

Camilla lifted my hands and placed them on the side of her head. I loved it when she did that shit. That meant she was giving me control.

I pumped into her mouth a couple times and felt my climax start at the tips of my toes. With building pressure it traveled up my body, tightening my muscles as it went. I continued to pump, holding on to her head until I exploded.

I didn't realize I was up on my toes until the ringing in my ears stopped and I was able to open my eyes.

I looked down at Camilla. She had a smug grin knowing once again she'd taken another piece of my soul.

" W here are we going?" I asked.

"You will see when we get there," Ami responded.

We were driving down the highway in her Mini Cooper, which had way more space than I thought it would.

Ami told me to be ready by nine in the morning and pack an overnight bag because we wouldn't return until tomorrow evening.

She didn't tell me where we were going, but she seemed excited about it. We exited the highway onto a two-lane road.

"I've never been out this far. It is beautiful out here," Ami said.

"It is. I don't get to come out to the countryside often either. I honestly didn't do too much on the other side of the Woodson Bridge unless I was going to visit my grandfather."

"You talk about your grandfather often. Do you think you want kids one day so you can eventually be a grandpa?" Ami asked.

I quickly looked over at her.

She glanced at me then back at the road.

"I'm not pregnant, Nox," Ami chuckled. "I was just wondering."

"Would you be sad if you were pregnant?"

"I have some goals and dreams that I would like to achieve before being a mom, but I want to be a mommy. If I had to be a mom and a dreamer at the same time, I wouldn't be mad at that either. I will take it as it comes," Ami answered.

"I didn't think I wanted to be tied down to a family when I was younger. I guess my idea of a family was warped by my environment. I didn't know dudes who stayed and raised their kids. I only knew the ‘hit it and quit it' dudes. The ones that did have kids complained about how expensive the kids were and how much they didn't want to pay child support. Since then, I've seen a successful marriage model in my mentor and his wife. He adores his wife in her face and behind her back. He talks about how important it is to have someone with you that understands and supports you. So yeah, I want all of that now."

I looked over and saw a huge grin on Ami's face.

"Why are you smiling like that?" I asked.

"Sometimes you say things that seem to come from my brain. I just thinking about my perception of marriage and family versus reality. I think if both people are willing to make the necessary adjustments and give each other space to grow, marriage can be a beautiful thing."

I grabbed her hand and kissed it. I knew at some point in the future, she would be my wife.

"I agree."

Following the GPS prompts, Ami turned onto another two-lane road. Ahead, I saw a large black barn and other cars arriving at the same time.

"Tech and Smoke Mastery?" I said as I read the large sign with an arrow pointing to the parking lot. "No way."

I looked around, not believing my eyes. I'd wanted to attend this accelerated cooking class for a long time. I could never get a seat, or the class was being held during my business hours. I had basically given up on the chance to experience it.

The Tech and Smoke cooking class was the premier class for pit masters who were looking to move into the tech space and learn more modern barbecue techniques. There was also an added incentive of a brand partnership for one participant.

I wasn't moved by the brand partnership; I was more interested in the techniques, but I wouldn't be mad at a partnership.

"We're going to this class?" I asked.

"You're going the first day. I'm going to the spa in town. I will see you tonight. We have a room in town. I will be your sous chef tomorrow for the signature dish development portion," Ami said.

"How did you get this seat? They never have space."

"I mean," Ami shrugged and popped her imaginary collar. "I also have connections."

"And you paid for this?" I asked.

"Lennox Andrew Young, please get out of my car and enjoy the day. I will see you this evening."

I was speechless, which was crazy.

"Do I need to walk you in for your first day of class?" Ami asked.

I leaned over and kissed her.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Have fun."

I was exhausted and exhilarated after the first day of the class. I stood shoulder to shoulder with pit masters I'd admired from a distance, like Marcus Williams, who was a second-generation pit master. He'd taken over his mother's small restaurant and turned it into an international barbecue brand.

I'd met other small business owners and some competition pit masters who I'd heard of in passing. I was in a room full of influence and knowledge.

For the group activity, we were split into teams of two to prepare a cut of meat using one of the modern techniques we'd learned.

All the other teams went super ambitious with fast-cooking ribs or tomahawk steaks. My partner, Jerry Knowles from Sable Falls, and I chose a more straightforward cut of meat but infused it with as much smoke and flavor as possible. We were able to pull off and showcase two of the techniques we learned: smart thermometers and infrared cooking. With the smart thermometers, we were able to monitor the internal temperature of the meat, ensuring it was perfectly cooked. The infrared cooking technique allowed us to sear the meat, locking in the juices and flavor. We prepared chicken breasts, chicken legs, and small tenderloins.

The judges were not just impressed; they raved about our meat. In the end, we won the competition. It was a proud moment for both of us.

Walking out to the parking lot, I saw the little pink car waiting among the other vehicles.

"Hey," Ami said after I was seated in the car.

"Hey," I leaned over and kissed her.

"Do I smell like smoke?"

"You smell edible," Ami replied. "How did it go?"

I filled her in on the day, including Jerry and me, winning the competition.

"Thank you again, Baby. This was an amazing day."

"We have one more day to go!" Ami said.

ami

After we returned to the hotel, Lennox talked about everything he'd learned and the people he'd met. He was not only excited but hopeful about the future of Smoked and Spiced. His excitement rubbed off on me, and I was anxiously anticipating day two of the class.

Witnessing Lennox's enthusiasm for the more advanced smoking and grilling techniques was even better than him talking about it after the first day.

I was excited to learn about the flavor infusion techniques that I might be able to use on desserts, especially the cocktail line I'd been working on.

After the morning session, we had a break, and then it was time for the signature dish development portion. We had eight hours to come up with a unique barbecue dish that focused on presentation, flavor balance and innovation. There was a level of pressure, but both Nox and I worked well under pressure, so we could handle it.

"Okay, what's the game plan, chef?" I asked Nox after we arrived at our cooking station.

"Of course, I'm doing brisket. There is a small one in the meat cooler. It should take about five or six hours to cook. That will give me prep time and some wiggle room just in case it needs more time. I want to cold-smoke the coffee beans and then grind them up to rub on the brisket. That should enhance the smoke flavor. I'm going to use the pellet grill to make some Asian-inspired ribs and make a batch of Bray's sauce for the side. Can you prepare that quinoa with the vegetables and spinach that you made before?"

My mind raced with possibilities. "Yep, I can. We can smoke the vegetables before I cut them up to add to the quinoa."

"That's a great idea," Nox said.

"I saw a barrel of peaches out there. What if we smoke some peaches, and I make my peach cobbler cupcake infused with rum?"

Nox paused his writing and looked at me; a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Are you just making this up as we go, or did you think about it?"

"No, I'm just throwing out ideas. We don't have to do that. I'm here to help you."

"No, Baby, your ideas are brilliant."

I smiled. His validation meant the world to me. "Thanks, Babe. Now let's cook and piss off all these people."

"Let's do it," Nox agreed with a wink.

The afternoon progressed well. I made the batter for my cupcakes while working on the quinoa.

Nox muttered, "Damn," after returning to our workstation from outside.

"What's wrong?"

Nox sat on the stool facing the countertop.

"The temperature on the smoker keeps dropping. I'm catching it, but I don't know what to do to maintain the heat. The brisket will not be tender if I can't maintain the heat," Nox explained.

"Hey," I stepped between his legs and softly said, "Take a breath and think through the process. Yes, this is a competition, but you've prepared brisket just about every day for over a year. If this were happening at Smoked and Spiced, what would you do?" I placed his face between my hands, blocking his view of all the other frantic pit masters, and continued, "Focus on right now. What advice would your grandfather give you? What advice would you give yourself if you were standing back watching this?" I was there to support him, and he knew it.

Lennox took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He sat quietly for a few minutes, maintaining his composure, before his eyes popped open, and he smiled.

"There must be another vent that I missed. It's impeding the airflow. Let me go and check," Nox said.

He stood and hurried out of the building to check. After a few minutes, he returned.

I smiled, knowing he had found the solution, and felt a wave of relief wash over me.

"Yep, it was a vent," he announced, a note of triumph in his voice. Meeting my gaze with gratitude, he added, "Thank you, Baby."

"Of course."

I stood back smiling as Nox posed for pictures holding his first-place trophy. We won the competition. The point range wasn't even close. Nox's meal blew all the other competitors out of the water.

The judges said his use of the coffee on the brisket and the cook on the brisket were perfect. They also raved about the smoked peach cobbler cupcake.

Not only did he win bragging rights in the barbecue community, but Smoked and Spiced will work closely with the barbecue brand as their official ambassador. They will receive products like a state-of-the-art pellet grill, smoker, and smart grilling device. Additionally, the brand will promote Smoked and Spiced on their social media platforms. The national exposure alone was enough to push their business to the next level.

Ami:

Nox won the competition!

Sissy:

Congratulations! I'm not surprised. His food is fantastic.

Ami:

I'm not surprised either.

Sissy:

Plus, he has the best partner by his side. That's why I'm consistently winning because I have you.

Ami:

??thank you, Sissy. I love you.

Sissy:

I love you, too.

Nox freed himself from the group of people wishing him well and approached me. There was no need for words as he effortlessly lifted me off the ground and wrapped his arms around me.

"Thank you, Camilla. This is the best thing anyone has ever done for me."

"You're an amazing man. You deserve it."

"I love you, Baby."

"I love you, too, Nox."

N ox was still excited, even though a few weeks had passed since the Tech and Smoke class. Every day, he would eagerly share new ideas that he was itching to try. "I'm going to add the coffee-rubbed brisket to the menu since I have the equipment to do it," he'd say, or, "What if we experimented with a cold-smoke technique for the ribs?"

He also hadn't missed a day telling me he loved me. His ‘good morning' text always ended with I love you, even if we'd spent the night together. He didn't miss an evening without expressing his love. It wasn't just his words, but his actions also proved his love. It was crazy how I'd lived my whole life without hearing him say those words, but now I knew I didn't want to go a day without hearing them.

Sweet Reasons continued to surpass our own sales records. Our food truck stood proudly among the best in Food Alley. Things were going well, and we had every reason to be proud.

Ms. June, Nox, Elijah and I had helped Peaches move into her new dorm room on campus. Even though her old dorm didn't have an elevator and she lived on the third floor, I still had a blast moving her from the old room to the new one.

The new dorm had been recently updated and included an elevator. The rooms were larger and had their own bathroom, which she shared with the room next to her. She was able to get a single room, so she, in her words, ‘didn't have to deal with a roommate.'

Nox and Elijah did all the heavy lifting. At the same time, Ms. June, Peaches, and I worked on putting everything away and decorating. We made about three separate runs to Target to get things for the room. Once we were finished, her pink, yellow and green room was super girly and super cute.

Watching everyone coming together to support Peaches made me think of my own family, particularly my parents. It had been over a month since I last reached out to them. I found myself wishing that they could have shown the same affection and attention to Lee and me as we were showing to Peaches. Every child deserved praise from their parents, even when their path diverges from what their parents had hoped for them.

Lennox and I planned to have dinner at my house, so after we finished with Peaches, he went home to change clothes. I went home, changed clothes, and found some food to order.

I sat on my living room couch and took a deep breath before I pressed the button to call my parents. I hated the way they made me feel, but I also knew they were the only set of parents I would get. I had to at least check on them to make sure they were still alive.

The phone rang several times while my heart beat out of my chest. Just as I was about to disconnect the call, my mother answered.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, Camilla."

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm fine, and you?"

"Things are going well. The business is thriving," I responded, trying to sound upbeat.

"The business?" Mom asked.

"Yes, our cupcake truck," I clarified, even though she knew exactly what I meant.

"Humph…"

Unlike Lennox, I didn't care to know what caused the humph. I continued like I didn't hear it. "How is dad?"

"He's fine. He's out golfing with the mayor. You remember the mayor's son, Chadwick?"

"Yes, I remember Chadwick."

I wondered if he'd come out of the closet yet.

"Well, he just finished his residency. He's going to California or New York to work in one of the big hospitals. He's doing so well," Mom said.

Lennox knocked on the front door before opening it and coming in. I put up one finger and mouthed, "This is my mother."

"Okay," Lennox responded and took a seat in the recliner.

I continued the conversation with my mother, "Caeli and I are doing well also. We really like it here in Caramel Cove."

"But you could be doing so much better!" Mom interjected.

Here we go…

"Chadwick was always so fond of you. You could've finished your degree and be on your way to a big city like San Francisco or New York City with him. Instead, you and your sister have chosen to live like poor people and peddle cupcakes to strangers. Cupcakes aren't even healthy!" Mom complained.

"But my cupcakes are phenomenal. People come back all the time asking for more," I asserted.

I was proud of myself for finally allowing my confidence to shine through.

"Only low-class people eat cupcakes from a food truck. Caeli sent me the link to the little article that mentioned your little business."

Little Article? Little business? Taste Divine was a national publication.

I'd had about enough of her and her snide remarks about my life. I had one last nerve, and she was learning the Tamia line dance on it.

I could feel my anger bubbling up inside me as I responded, "I would rather be around these low-class people than around a bunch of stuck-up, unhappy, judgmental, ignorant, miserable people who only find joy in tearing down other people. If this is going to always be our conversation, then I will stop calling. I will just love you from a distance."

"I beg your pardon, young lady," Mom shouted.

"You don't need to beg anything," I spat. "You heard me correctly. I'm tired of this, Mom. How can you love someone but always have something negative to say about them?"

"Love is correction, Camilla," Mom replied.

"You're not correcting me. You're insulting me. Until you can learn the difference, please lose my number just like I'm about to lose yours."

I disconnected the call and dissolved into a ball of tears. Nox came and scooped me up in his arms. "Why, Nox? Why can't I have parents who are just proud of me for being me?" I cried into his shoulder.

"I don't know, Baby. Just get it out, though," Nox said, rubbing my back gently.

"It's just so unfair! I've never done anything except live my life, and that makes them not want to be around me? That's stupid!" I cried.

"It is," Nox agreed. "It's their loss, Babe."

Nox held me as I continued to cry.

"Look, we can make about six or seven babies, and we'll let them grow up to be whatever they want to be," Nox said.

I burst out laughing, tears still streaking my face.

"This is a serious moment! I'm sad!" I said though I couldn't stop laughing.

"I'm serious, too. One can be a doctor. Another one can be a street performer – they do really well with tips…"

"Babe," I smiled through my tears.

"I just want to see you smile, Baby. I know those people hurt your feelings, but we got a lot of life and a lot of plans. They'll either come around or get left behind. Either way, you are going to be okay," Lennox said. His words wrapped around my heart, easing the ache. "Besides, I need you at your best to raise all these kids."

We laughed together; the lingering sadness lifted as our conversation continued.

" H ello?"

It was a little after one in the morning. Nox and I called ourselves watching a movie on one of the streaming services, but the movie ended up watching us. We'd both fallen asleep.

My ringing phone startled me awake.

I could hear background noise, but no one said anything. I looked at my phone and saw Peaches' name as the caller.

"Peaches?" I said.

My heart began to race. Phone calls at one in the morning were never a good thing.

"Ca...Cam…" I heard Peaches' voice, but her words were slurred.

"Peaches! What's going on?"

"What?" Nox sat up and asked.

"I don't know," I responded.

I put the phone on speaker and tried again.

"Peaches."

"Am…Aye-me…I…don't…some…something isn't right," Peaches slurred.

"What the fuck?" Lennox growled. "Where are you?"

Peaches started crying. "I'm so lost. I don't know…"

I answered, "She said she was going to a party tonight, remember?"

"Yeah," Nox said while pushing buttons on his phone.

"Are you checking her location?"

"I'm trying," Lennox answered.

"Come on," I said standing from the couch. "I'll stay on the phone with her while you figure that out."

We both found our shoes and Lennox grabbed his keys.

"Peaches, keep talking to me. Does anything look familiar? Nox and I are coming to get you."

"It's so loud…" Peaches mumbled.

I didn't wait for Lennox to open my door to the truck. I was seated with my seatbelt on almost before he could get to his side. Luckily, my place wasn't too far from campus.

"Did she say where the party was?" Lennox asked.

"No, she didn't."

"Her location is pinging in a general location on the campus," Lennox said.

"Peaches, do you remember where you are?"

"Some…some…body…somebody's house? Hey, is this…this place is somebody's house?" Peaches said.

I turned the volume up on my phone, trying to hear who she was talking to in the background. I couldn't make out what they said.

Lennox drove onto campus and stopped at the first group of black kids he saw.

"Aye, my dude. Excuse me. Where is there a party at tonight?" Lennox asked.

"Uh," One of the guys in the group started. "I saw you moving stuff into the new dorm earlier today. There's one over on Clairmont, and there's one on Berhost."

"Yeah, I was helping my sister. I'm actually looking for her," Lennox said.

"Oh, she's at the one on Clairmount," the guy answered.

"Where is Clairmount?" Lennox said.

After receiving the directions from the guy, Lennox said, "Good lookin'."

My stomach was in knots as we approached the enormous house. Three Greek letters were on the front that I was not familiar with.

Lennox pulled a case from under his seat and typed in a code. The box opened, and a black gun appeared. He tucked the gun in his waistband.

"Open that glovebox. There is a green envelope with my lawyer's number, a bail bondsman and an atm card to an account with enough money to take care of business if necessary. There is a copy of my birth certificate and my driver's license in there, too. Use it if you need to," Lennox explained. "If something goes down and you need to use that stuff, call Brayden."

"Okay."

The knot in my stomach tightened even more. I was nervous about what we would find, and I was nervous about what Lennox would do once we found it. I was down, though. Lennox gave me the keys to the truck and his wallet. I put them in my pocket and got out of the truck.

Loud music pumped from the house. College-aged kids were all over the property. Some were on the grass, while others were hanging out on the massive porch. Lennox took the concrete steps two at a time. I had to do a little jog to keep up with him.

We entered the dark house that was jam-packed with people. Flashing lights, people dancing, and the smell of liquor and weed sent all my senses into overdrive.

Peaches had stopped talking right before we stopped to ask for directions, but I hadn't disconnected the call.

"You look down here. I'm going upstairs. Call me if you find anything," Lennox said.

"Okay. And, hey, we're going to find her, okay?"

Lennox nodded and took the stairs to the top floor, two at a time.

I weaved my way through the crowd, looking at every person and trying to see if I recognized them from the dorm. Kids were dancing, yelling, and making out everywhere. Red Solo cups and beer cans littered the floor as I walked through.

Walking into the kitchen, I found several guys encouraging another guy to drink what I assumed was alcohol through a funnel while lying on the kitchen counter. My adultness kicked in, and I was ready to dial 9-1-1. This party was out of control.

I needed to stay focused and find Peaches. Just as I was about to give up on the lower level and join Lennox on the second floor, I thought I saw something in the kitchen pantry. I pushed the door open and there lying on the floor was Peaches.

"Peaches!" I yelled as I fell on my knees beside her. One million thoughts ran through my mind in a split second.

Oh my God.

Is she dead?

Should I touch her?

What if she's cold?

Did someone hurt her?

Do I try to help first or call Lennox first?

"Peaches!" I yelled again and shook her.

Her eyes halfway opened, letting me know she wasn't dead. I did a quick once over to see if there was any blood or if she'd been hurt. I didn't see anything.

I quickly pulled out my phone and called Lennox.

"I found her. We're in the kitchen pantry."

It felt like seconds later, Lennox burst into the pantry.

"What! What happened? Mielle!" Lennox called out as he quickly secured her in his arms.

She was still fully dressed, and her cell phone and purse were next to her. She'd thrown up all over herself and still hadn't fully opened her eyes.

Lennox stood to his feet, holding Peaches. I took the gun from his back and tucked it in my jacket while I secured the rest of Mielle's things and followed Lennox to the truck.

"I'll drive," I announced.

Lennox got in the backseat with Peaches, and I pulled from the curb and headed to the hospital. On the way, I called 9-1-1 and reported the party, hoping the police would go and shut it down.

"Mielle," Lennox said. "Please wake up, baby girl. Did someone do this to you? I need you to tell me so I can handle it. I can't lose you. Please wake up. I need you to fight for me the same way I fight for you. Please, Mielle."

Tears streamed down my face while I sped through the city to the hospital.

"We're almost there," I announced.

Turning the corner virtually on two wheels, I pulled to the front door of the trauma center. I jumped out and opened the door while Nox collected Peaches and carried her through the automatic doors.

"I'm parking and coming right in."

I found a parking spot and was about to climb out of the truck when I remembered I still had the gun. After securing it in the black box and tucking it under the seat, I put the envelope back in the glove box. I noticed several text messages on Peaches' phone.

Elijah:

Why aren't you answering my texts?

Elijah:

Are you still at the party?

I'd gotten Elijah's number earlier in the day during one of our trips to Target.

"Ami?" Elijah said as soon as he answered the phone. "Something's wrong, isn't it?"

I explained the situation.

"Okay, I'm on my way," Elijah said after I finished.

After walking through the trauma center's doors, I found Nox standing at the front counter with the phone to his ear and trying to fill out paperwork.

I took the phone from his ear.

"Hello?"

"Ami?"

It was Ms. June.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"What's going on? I couldn't understand what Lennox was trying to say," Ms. June said.

"We are at the hospital with Peaches. I don't know anything yet. They took her to the back. You should probably come here. Do you need me to send an Uber?"

"No, thank you. My neighbor will bring me," Ms. June said.

"Okay. I'll call you back if something changes."

Nox completed the paperwork, and we sat in the waiting area.

"What do you think happened?" Lennox asked.

"I don't know. It could be alcohol poisoning, but she doesn't drink like that. Maybe she didn't eat anything today and had some reaction to something? I don't know. I'm just glad we found her."

"Thank you for finding her, Baby," Nox said.

I grabbed his hand and smiled.

Not soon after we sat down, Ms. June arrived.

"Have they said anything yet?" Ms. June asked.

"No, they haven't," I answered.

"What do you think happened?" Ms. June said.

Lennox and I ran through all the possible scenarios we discussed.

"I wish they would come out here and say something," Ms. June said.

"I'm sure they will soon," I said, rubbing Ms. June's back.

"Yeah, they should let us…" Lennox paused. Something behind me caught his attention.

His eyes had an unmistakable look of fury. Lennox jumped from his seat. I turned and saw Elijah walking towards us.

I jumped up and grabbed Nox. "No! No, Baby. Stop. He wasn't there. He wasn't there!"

I was holding on for dear life, trying to stop Lennox from attacking Elijah. It felt like I was trying to stop a full-speed locomotive with my bare hands.

"Lennox! Please!" I pleaded. "Elijah wasn't there!"

Elijah paused in his tracks, a look of terror on his face when he saw Lennox moving towards him.

"I called Elijah. He wasn't at the party!" I pleaded.

That finally made Lennox pause. He was within arm's reach of Elijah but didn't touch him.

"I thought you said you wanted to protect her?" Lennox snapped.

"I did! I do! I had a gig. She was supposed to wait on me but decided to go early," Elijah pleaded. "I'm sorry. I should've been there."

"Yeah, you should have!" Lennox growled and walked away.

"Should I leave?" Elijah quietly asked.

"No, sweetheart. It's not your fault. We don't even know what it is yet. Come and sit down. Lennox will calm down once we know something," I said.

"Okay, my parents are parking the car," Elijah said.

"Good, okay."

Mr. and Mrs. Arnoult arrived and joined us in the waiting room. Lennox calmed enough to shake their hands but paced the floor until the doctors finally came out and spoke with us.

"Young family?" The doctor asked, looking around the waiting room. We all stood.

"I'm Doctor Holston," the doctor introduced himself, then paused. "Pastor and First Lady Arnoult. Are you with the family?"

"She's my girlfriend," Elijah announced.

"Hi Elijah," Doctor Holston said.

"Hi, Greg," Mr. Arnoult said. "This is her family. We can hang back if they don't want us to hear what you have to say."

"It's fine. Just please tell us what happened," Ms. June said.

"I want to start by saying that Mielle is physically fine, and she's safe now," Doctor Holston began.

"What happened to her, Doctor Holston?" Ms. June asked.

"After running several tests, we discovered that Mielle was given a substance called GHB, which is commonly known as a date rape drug."

"What?" Lennox said.

"How could this happen?" Ms. June asked.

"GHB is often slipped into drinks without the person's knowledge, causing them to lose consciousness or memory for a period of time. The good news is that Mielle's body is processing the drug. It will be out of her system soon, and she will be fine," Doctor Holston explained.

"Did anyone hurt her?" Lennox asked.

"No, we ran a full kit on her. There are no signs of any trauma. She was smart to call when she started feeling bad. She saved herself," Doctor Holston finished.

"Is she going to be okay mentally?" Ms. June asked.

"It's understandable to be concerned about the emotional impact. While Mielle's physical health is stable, there can be some psychological effects. I recommend she speak with a counselor or therapist who specializes in trauma. You happen to be standing next to one of the best therapists in Caramel Cove," Doctor Holston nodded toward Mrs. Arnoult.

"Speaking to someone with training in this field will help her process what happened and begin to heal emotionally," Mrs. Arnoult said. "I will be more than happy to help."

"Thank you," Ms. June responded.

"We are going to finish Mielle's IV and release her to you. Let her rest. When she's ready to talk, she will. Again, she probably won't remember much from this evening. Still, I would encourage you to report this to the police so they can investigate the incident. The nurse will be out with your paperwork and get Mielle ready for discharge. The angels were watching over Mielle tonight. This doesn't always end this way," Doctor Holston finished.

"Can I go back with her?" Ms. June asked.

"Of course. I'll take you back," Doctor Holston said.

Lennox and I hugged. I could feel the tension leaving his body. I'm sure he felt my body relax as well.

"Is it okay if I stay until they release her? I just want to see her," Elijah asked.

"It's fine," Nox responded. "Aye, I apologize for earlier. I was upset and didn't mean anything I said. I'm glad you're in her life."

He extended his hand. He and Elijah shook.

"Thanks, Sir," Elijah said.

"Like I said, whenever Mielle is ready, I'm available. I've experienced something similar, but it turned out differently for me. So not only do I have the letters behind my name, but I also have the testimony," Mrs. Arnoult said.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you for being here with us," Nox said.

"It's our pleasure. Mielle is an exceptional young lady," Mr. Arnoult said.

nox

We got Peaches to my house and settled in one of my guest bedrooms. She was quiet but seemed to be okay. I wanted to talk to her about everything, but I chose to give her some space.

My mother decided to stay at my place as well so she could be close to Peaches.

Ami went to Peaches' room to get her some clothes and to inform the residential aide that Peaches would be gone for a couple of days.

I sat at my kitchen island, sipping on some bourbon. It was early in the morning, but I didn't care. Bourbon felt like the best choice at the time.

My mind raced with all the things that could've gone wrong; Peaches could've been hurt or dead. Ami could've been afraid of my reaction to Elijah or scared of guns. We could've not run into the kid who told us where the party was. So many things could've gone wrong.

Jail was not in my future plans, but if I had caught the person who tried to hurt my sister, I would've been gone for a while. But none of that had happened, and I was grateful.

"Lennox, can we talk?" Mom asked.

"You want a drink?" I responded.

"No, I'm good, "Mom replied.

I nodded to the seat across from me.

Mom sat down and said, "I know some of this is my fault."

"What are you talking about?"

"All of this. I haven't been the best mother to you or Peaches."

"What does that have to do with what happened?"

"I mean, I know my mothering couldn't have stopped this particular thing, but there are a lot of things I could've stopped. For instance, I could've stopped you from growing up so quickly to take care of Mielle. I could've been around more and paid more attention. Maybe you wouldn't have been hustling trying to survive. I would like to use the excuse and say that I was young, but that's not the reason. I just didn't want to grow up," Mom said.

I took another sip from my cup and let her continue.

"I know it's too late to mother you, but I want to be here for you. Not just in my own way like you always say. I want to be here for real. I also want to step up and help more with Mielle. I know she's grown, but I can be more present in her life."

"Do you think that's something you can do? You've been a mother for thirty-four years, and you haven't really stepped up," I responded.

"I know. I own that, but I really want to do better," Mom said."

"You feel that way because this situation happened?" I asked.

"No, I've been thinking about it. I just didn't know how to approach it, but after tonight, I know I have to change and do better," Mom answered.

"I'm not stopping you, Mom. You have space to do whatever you want to do. I'm not going to hold my breath because you've let me down before. I won't hold that against you. I guess time will tell if you really mean what you say."

"Thank you, Nox. I'm going to show you," Mom said.

"Hey," Brayden said after entering my place.

He walked over and gave my mother a hug.

"Hey, Bray," Mom said.

"How is Mielle?" Brayden asked.

"She's resting," I answered.

"I'm going to go back and check on Peaches," Mom said. "I'll see you later, Bray."

"Alright, Auntie."

"So, what went down?"

I ran down the whole story.

"Damn," Bray said after I finished. "You don't have any idea who may have done it?"

"You know I don't have any idea. If I did, he wouldn't be here anymore."

"Facts. What did Ami do when you pulled out the box?"

"Nothing, she didn't even flinch. I gave her the speech and the green envelope. She said, okay. She even took the piece from my waist when I picked up Peaches. I checked the box once we got home to put the safety back on and clear the chamber. She'd already done it."

"Really?" Brayden replied.

"Yeah. She surprises me all the time. She held it down for me tonight. She managed the entire situation without saying much. Hell, Peaches called her instead of me or Mom."

"She's a good one," Brayden responded.

"She's going to be my only one."

"Word?" Brayden said.

"Yeah, I'd been thinking about it, but after tonight, I'm positive."

"You're definitely in your grown-man era," Brayden said.

"I've been telling you," I said with a chuckle.

I t took a near tragedy for me to finally go to church. Thurston had invited me on several occasions, but I never attended.

Sundays were typically reserved for me to relax and take care of things I couldn't get done during the week. However, after Peaches' ordeal, she said she wanted to attend the Arnoult's church and asked me to go with her. I couldn't say no. Mom and Ami agreed to join us.

Zenith Temple Church was one of the larger churches in the Carmel Cove area. It sat close to the Woodson bridge so people from both sides attended. The building had been a part of Caramel Cove for generations based on the cornerstone with 1819 etched into it.

The inside of the church was more modern than its exterior and looked nothing like I thought a church would look.

"Welcome to Zenith!" One of the women at the door greeted.

"Thank you," I said, while accepting the offered program.

We followed the rest of the people into the large sanctuary. There were theater-style chairs instead of wooden pews, there weren't any chairs across the stage, and I didn't see any pictures of white or black Jesus hanging up.

Thurston smiled broadly when he saw me and my family approaching him.

"Well, look at this!" Thurston said. "Welcome!"

"Thanks," I replied. "This is my mother, June Young, my sister Mielle and my lady, Camilla. Everyone, this is Thurston, my mentor."

As everyone exchanged greetings, the service started right on time. I had expected a more subdued atmosphere, but to my surprise, the service was lively and engaging. The full band and great singing made the experience resemble a concert, very different from what I had imagined a church service to be.

When Mr. Arnoult stepped onto the stage, he was dressed in a blue pinstripe suit. He greeted the crowd and began his message.

"In First Chronicles thirteen, there is a story about King David, who, after becoming King, had the idea of bringing the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, which was the newly established capital of Israel. There was a mishap along the way, and the Ark of the Covenant ended up at Obed-Edom's house. Look at your neighbor and say Obed-Edom's house."

The audience repeated the phrase.

"Today, I want to take a few minutes to talk about the blessing of the presence of God. Obed-Edom was an ordinary man, one of the gatekeepers—a role that held significant responsibility. Gatekeepers were tasked with guarding the entrances to the sacred areas, ensuring that only those who were ritually pure could enter. They were like modern-day deacons, dedicated to maintaining the sanctity of the holy places and assisting in various temple duties.

David was afraid to take the Ark any further because he wasn't transporting it the way it should've been transported. So, Obed-Edom was like, yeah, bring it on over. It can stay here until we figure out something else. Obed-Edom made himself available for the presence of God to dwell in his house.

So, Obed-Edom wasn't high on the totem pole. Still, he was available and willing to accept the presence of the Lord in his house even when other people probably told him it wasn't a good idea. What do I mean by accepting the presence of the Lord in his house? The Ark symbolized God's presence among the Israelites and was kept in the holy place where only priests could go. It was sacred.

So, look at this in First Chronicles thirteen and fourteen, it says: The Ark of God remained there in Obed-Edom's house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he owned.

And the Lord blessed the household… that's what I want to draw your attention to, the household. It doesn't say the Lord blessed Obed-Edom. It says the Lord blessed the household and everything he owned.

Making room in your life and your home for God to dwell is not just for you but also facilitates generational blessings. When God blesses us, his blessings aren't just for right now. They are generational. Your decisions today will impact your great-great-grandchildren. That's why it's crucial to make room for the presence of God in your home. When I say home, I don't mean your physical house or apartment, but I mean in your life. How do you make room for God? It means being kind to your neighbor or strangers. It means making God a part of your daily routine. It means seeking God's advice and direction through prayer and meditation. Because God is love, loving others demonstrates his presence in your life.

Look at First Chronicles twenty-six, verses four through eight. It shows the generational blessings of Obed-Edom and describes his sons and grandsons as valiant men. Why? Because he made room for the presence of God.

I'm sure if Obed-Edom were here today, he would say: Now unto him, that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think!

Obed-Edom's story reminds us of the incredible power of welcoming God's presence into our lives."

" I 'm glad you could make it," Mr. Arnoult said.

He approached me while I was talking to Thurston.

"Thank you. I didn't know what to expect, but the service was nice," I replied.

"We try to keep it low-key so everyone can get something out of it. Mielle seems to be doing well," Mr. Arnoult replied.

"She's one tough girl. I'm so proud of her. We weren't sure if she wouldn't want to go back to campus, but with your wife's help, she's thriving."

"And EJ is glued to her hip," Mr. Arnoult motioned towards Elijah, standing next to Peaches.

"And there's that," I agreed.

Peaches stayed with me for a week following the incident. Elijah was there every day. He was around so much that I put him to work on the food truck.

"He's a good kid, though. You and your wife raised him well," I said.

Mr. Arnoult said, "I have to go and greet some other guests. Please come back again."

"I will," I answered.

After Mr. Arnoult walked away, Thurston said, "It's great to see your mother here with you."

"Yeah, she said she wanted to step up and be more present in our lives. It's too late for her to raise me, but it's not too late for her to be a mother. She's been around a lot more for me and Peaches. I appreciate it."

"That's great. What about Ms. Ami?" Thurston asked.

I immediately replied, "She's my wife."

"Oh yeah?"

"No doubt. I'm not even going to wait too long to ask her. I thought men were just talking when they said, when you meet your wife, you'll know. I've experienced it firsthand."

"That's true. It's not just talk. When you know, you know," Thurston confirmed. "I'm proud of you, Lennox."

"Thanks. I feel good about my decision. I love her."

"You believe you can build a life and partnership with her?" Thurston asked.

"I know I can," I answered.

"Good. Then make her your wife," Thurston said.

ami

"Babe!" I yelled out for Nox.

"What? What's going on?" Nox said, quickly entering the kitchen.

"I think I figured it out! Taste this."

I handed him one of the cupcakes I'd just baked.

I had been working for weeks to come up with at least six introductory flavors for the new cocktail cupcake line. We settled on Buzzed Bites for the name. Caeli had the logo made and put together a business plan based on my suggestions. Of course she put her Caeli sparkle on it.

We thought that six flavors for cupcakes would be a good introduction to the line. I'd already created the mojito twist, bourbon bliss, strawberry daiquiri, champagne charm and limoncello love. The last flavor, appletini adventure eluded me. Like the mojito twist, I'd gone through several brands of vodka until, with the help of Nox, I landed on the right one.

Nox saw me struggling with the recipe, so he took me to a vodka distillery. We took a tour of the operations then sat down with a master distiller who taught me all about vodka and the different tastes. I told him about my recipe, and he recommended one of their vodkas.

Nox took a bite of vanilla cake infused with sour apple flavoring. It was topped with a light green frosting flavored with apple, lemon, and lime. I added a caramelized apple slice to the top for decoration.

I studied his face as he chewed the first bite. He didn't say anything before he went in for a second bite, finishing off the cupcake. He finished chewing and took a drink of water.

"So?" I asked.

I was on pins and needles waiting for his reply.

"I don't know, Babe," Lennox said and shook his head.

My heart dropped. I just knew I'd figured it out.

"I don't know," Lennox continued. "If I like this one or the mojito more."

My eyes lit up.

"What? You like it?"

"I love it! It's the best one yet!"

I hugged and kissed him.

"Thank you, Baby! You're always coming to my rescue."

"Always have. Always will," Lennox proclaimed.

The End