Page 42 of This: Blake & Emon

This morning had proved that again. Blake had turned to him in bed and muttered, “Let’s go to church.” It had been on her heart heavily to get back to the Lord’s house because if this wasn’t God’s unchanging hand moving, she didn’t know what was. This was the type of favor we all prayed for. Even though she felt undeserving, she felt so much joy knowing that God still showed up for his children, even when they were distant. He was gentle, gracious, and faithful like that.

He tilted his head back and looked into her eyes because he was moved.

“Yeah, let’s do that. I’d like that.” Neither of them had been in a while, but it felt right today and maybe moving forward. Living together these past months showed them how much better life was when they faced it together and adding their heavenly father in would only make it better.

She’d been a member of Greater Praise Missionary Baptist Church for years. It was Taylor’s church also and where she’d been baptized many summers ago. She’d missed being in the house of the Lord, and she was done making time for everything and everyone else but Him, when he was the reason for it all.

Blake chose a tan wide-leg jumpsuit that made Emon’s mouth water. She was dressed modestly enough for church but still killing it. Her soft curls framed her face, and her minimal makeup let her glow shine through. He watched her get ready, taking in how natural this felt, them preparing for Sunday service together, and how Blake wanted him for who he was, even the parts he was still working on.

Who was he to deny what God could do? Especially when the ring in his pocket felt like it was burning a hole straight through his hands. He’d picked it out weeks ago, a three-carat oval diamond that he knew she would love. Well, at least he hoped. He’d had some help from Paige and Taylor and believed they hadn’t steered him wrong.

“Baby, you ready?” she called out from downstairs. Four months of living together and her voice still made his heart skip. Their home, because that was what it had become, was filled with evidence of their shared life: her medical books spread across the office desk, her candle obsession displayed in every room and corner, their photos from ViceAnne’s cookout displayed proudly on the walls.

Greater Praise was a small brick church with a spirit bigger than its walls. When they walked in, hands clasped together, Sister Bradshaw’s eyes lit up seeing Blake.

“Don’t act like that. I see you all the time.” Taylor’s mom was about as dramatic as her daughter, but she loved them both tremendously. Taylor’s parents had stepped in and helped take care of her father’s and mother’s funeral services. They prayed with her mother and the family and even checked on them afterward.

“Lord, look who the cat done dragged in!” she exclaimed, pulling Blake into a hug before eyeing Emon. “And who is this fine young man?”

“This is my Emon,” Blake said proudly. The ‘my’ made the ring feel even heavier in his pocket.

“Nice to meet you, Emon. Y’all go on in. Taylor’s up front.”

“Same to you. I’m looking forward to service,” he replied.

Blake and Emon slowly made their way to the front, and Taylor was so surprised that she jumped up to hug her friend, almost knocking her over.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Mission accomplished. Sit. Service is about to start. Look at God.”

The service moved them both in unexpected ways. When Pastor Bradshaw spoke about divine timing and building foundations on faith, Emon squeezed Blake’s hand. She’d been his foundation, his something to land on, his peace.

Back at their home, the aroma of Blake’s baked chicken, mac and cheese, greens, and dressing filled the air as their closest friends and family filtered in. She’d insisted on cooking, saying it was about time she hosted properly in their home. The word ‘their’ still made Emon smile every time.

“Damn, sis, you went all out,” Brooks said as he walked through the front door. Taylor walked in behind him, and though they tried to play it cool, everyone caught their subtle glances at each other.

“It’s my first time hosting, so I wanted to make sure I did it right and there was enough food.”

“Well, sis, you did good. Proud of you and Emon.”

“It’s time you get your shit together with Taylor, no? This could be y’all.”

“Taylor needs to get her shit together with me, ya dig?” he said, following the woman he had been chasing for months as she moved through the living room.

“Yall, the house looks good as hell,” Paige admired, taking in how Blake had transformed Emon’s bachelor pad into a proper home. Her touch was evident everywhere, from the artwork she’d carefully selected to the plants bringing life to every corner.

“That’s all your cousin,” Emon said proudly. “I just move furniture where she tells me or buys what she tells me.”

“More like arguing about moving furniture,” Blake corrected with a laugh.

Gio watched them with longing. “Man, how you get so lucky?”

“Good question,” Paige said, turning to the newest face in the mix.

“Wasn’t luck,” Emon replied, watching Blake move around their kitchen. “It was kismet. Divine timing.”

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