Page 75 of Resisting Temptation (Men of Honor 3)
I look down at Ruthie. “Not yet, but he said he would be here for supper.”
Her bright smile is contagious, causing one of my own, but it quickly dies when I open the door and step into my house to hear someone singing a song without instruments. The incredible voice stops me dead in my tracks and I instantly recognize the song, ‘Perfect’ by Hedley. I stand in shock as I hear the lyrics being sung with such passion that I feel it all the way to my soul.
“It’s Twistiphwor. Isn’t he amazing?”
I stare down at Ruthie in utter disbelief before dropping the grocery bags at my feet and heading downstairs toward Christopher’s room. I feel her follow close behind me.
When I see his door is slightly ajar, I push it all the way open. His back is to me and he has his headphones on, blaring the song he is singing, so he doesn’t notice me yet. I watch him; completely awestruck as his hands pound the air with rhythm, playing the drums, while his amazing voice embraces my soul with every word that falls past his lips.
A moment later, he turns around and jumps back in surprise. “Shit!” He flings his headphones off. “Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.” He glances away nervously, his face turning red with embarrassment.
“You can sing,” I whisper in stunned disbelief. He shakes his head but I don’t let him deny it. “Yes, you can. You’re incredible. Why didn’t you tell me?” I’m a little hurt that he would keep this from me, especially when I asked him if there was anything he was interested in. He knew this was a passion we would both share.
He doesn’t answer and continues to stare down at the floor. Ruthie ends up speaking for him, “It’s betause he’s not awwowed to sing. My dad said music is fwor pussies.”
“Ruth Jean!” he snaps, not appreciating her honesty with me.
Anger claws at my chest as I think about his father spouting such hateful nonsense at him.
“It’s Woofie, wemember?” she glares back angrily. I put my hand up to silence the argument that’s about to start between them.
“Can you play anything?” I ask him curiously, craving to know more about his talent.
When he doesn’t respond, Ruthie, once again, speaks for him: “He had a guitar dat bewonged to my mom, but my dad bwoke it. He weally wants to wearn de dwums.” Christopher glares at her again and she shrugs unapologetically.
“Is that true? Do you want to learn to play the drums?”
As he remains silent, I let out a frustrated breath and stand directly in front of him. “Christopher, look at me!” When he does the vulnerability in his eyes has my heart swelling painfully.
“Look, it’s not a big deal okay, just forget about it.”
“I disagree. I think it’s a very big deal.” He attempts to look away again but I grab his face between my hands and don’t let him shut me out. “You have to know you have an incredible talent, Christopher.” He shakes his head but I keep his face firmly in my hands and will him to see the truth in my eyes. “Yes, you do. You could be something amazing. No, scratch that, you already are something amazing, but you could really go somewhere with this if you wanted to. Or if you don’t want to, that is okay too, but you owe it to yourself to explore your possibilities and I’m telling you, Christopher, with a voice like yours, your possibilities are endless.”
It’s true, I have never heard a voice that good come from anyone, let alone a fifteen-year-old boy.
I smile at him as an idea forms. “Sing with me.”
“What?” He rears back in shock, ripping his face out of my hands.
“I said sing with me, at church. We can do an opening for my music school. It would be a great introduction and…”
“No. No way!” he dismisses the idea instantly.
“Why not?”
“Because, Faith, I will look like an idiot.”
“No, you won’t!” I reply heatedly, knowing this is coming from the crap his father spewed at him. “Christopher, you have to know what your father said to you is complete crap. I mean, the majority of the world’s best bands are male singers, and they are the furthest thing from being a… wimp,” I say, not liking the word pussy being used in front of them.
I see the wheels turning in his head about the possibility, but I also see he isn’t ready to accept it yet.
“Just think about it, okay?” He shakes his head and is about to decline but I slap my hand over his mouth, and then giggle at his expression. “Yes. Just think about it. Don’t say anything right now.”
Grabbing Ruthie by the hand, I leave him alone with his thoughts. The entire time I cook supper, my own mind runs with a million ideas on how I can get him on board with this. I decide I’m going to have to pull out the big guns, and I’m starting with Alissa.
*
Later that night after supper, the four of us are sitting downstairs in the living room watching TV before bed. Cade and I sit on the couch while Ruthie sits on his lap, snuggled into his chest. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t desperately want to trade spots with her but I have to admit they are adorable, especially as she is wearing her princess nighty with her black beanie that matches his. She hasn’t taken the thing off since I bought it for her.
I glance across the room at Christopher while he’s zoned into the TV, and feel a huge smile spread across my face. I haven’t been able stop thinking about how incredible his voice is. I excitedly told Cade all about it over supper, which annoyed Christopher to no end, but I couldn’t help myself. I still can’t believe he has a talent like this and kept it hidden for so long.
As if feeling the weight of my stare, he looks over at me then throws his hands up, “Would you stop it already?”
