Chapter 10 Cozy

Gabriel spends that day and the next helping Alex get his bus on the road, taking care of his housing project, checking on his buses, and buying an old run-down plaza which he plans to fix and rent out to barbers, hairdressers, and anyone else who was looking for a place to do business. He also up-dated his books and making sure everything runs smoothly. But as busy as he was, it didn't stop him from going back to that massive white gate at five pm that very evening hoping to see her and saw her he did, then spend the next two hours watching her doing all she did that very morning in rewind, ending with her picking up her daughter from what appears to be a daycare center and walking back home, entering her yard.

She looks tired and his heart went out to her. He wanted to help her but didn't know how to begin doing that. Even on Friday as he continues to help Alex, Diane wasn't far from his mind. While updating his books he also realizes that the more businesses he opens the more he makes. He had come to Jamaica with a hundred million U.S dollars. He had used some of it to start his apartment complexes and buy his coasters. But with the amount he had made off his businesses, he knew he was very much still in that category. Multi-millionaire was an understatement when it came to him.

On Friday night Alex came over after Gabriel had dropped him off at his house an hour before. "Hey prince, are you ready?" "Ready for what? What are you doing here? Didn't I just leave you at home?" "Yeah, but it's Friday night. We are going to party, aren't we?" "Actually I have somewhere else I need to be." "Hell no! Not tonight. Tonight we party. Don't leave me hanging tonight prince I need you." "What about that girl you were so close to the other night. Call her, maybe she wants to go out." "That's ancient history brother. I'm free and single and I need to mingle." Gabriel knew he promised Diane he would be coming to youth service but he also didn't want to let his friend down. What was he supposed to do? "Okay, let's go," Gabriel said taking up his keys.

The moment he steps into the club he knew something was different. He felt different. "Time to party!" Alex said walking over to some girls who were standing at the bar. And as usual, girls began surrounding him telling him how hot he is and giving him their number. Gabriel used to live for these moments. He had an endless supply of money and girls. So what was wrong with him? It wasn't the same, it didn't feel the same. He starts walking towards the bar but his heart was beating so hard he could hear it in his ears. What was all this about he wondered as he continues to move towards the bar? He was only a few feet away when a wave of nausea hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't breathe.

He felt as if someone had put a bag over his head. Cold sweat washed him. Then the room began to spin. What the hell was wrong with him? He thought as he turned and ran from the club. Once outside he sucked the cold air into his lungs and breathes out slowly. He bends over placing his hands on his knees as Alex came up beside him. "You okay prince?" "I don't feel so good." "What happens?" "I don't know." "You have your pills with you right?" "Yeah." "Then take one, it will make you feel better."

Gabriel takes the bottle of steroids from his jacket pocket and puts one in his mouth. Alex gave him a bottle of water, he took it, put it to his lips, and empty the bottle. During that time Alex had called one of the girls over and told her to take care of his friend. Thinking it would make him feel better Gabriel took the girl into one of the outside restrooms, slips on a condom, bends her over forwards, and began doing what had once come naturally to him. Ten minutes later he stops and pulls away from her. "What's wrong baby?" She asks puzzled. "I can't do this." He buckles his pants and left the restroom. He then calls Alex on his phone and Alex came running out of the club. "What now?" Alex asks annoyed as Gabriel gave him the keys to his vehicle. "I have to get out of here." "Where are you going?" "Anywhere but here." "Do you want me to come with you?" "No, just drive my vehicle home I'll see you later." Gabriel went out on the road and took a taxi home. Entering his house, he grabs his keys to the Escalade, a bottle of water, and left the house again.

The Minister was just announcing alter call when he walks into the church. He walks right up to the Alter and bends down on his knees. Two ministers came over and prayed for him. He could feel the tension leaving his body. His heartbeat going back to normal. By the time the ministers finish praying for him and he got up he felt like a great load was lifted from him. He found an empty bench and sat on it. Diane came and sits beside him. "I thought you weren't going to make it." "I almost didn't." One of the church brothers came and stand beside them. "Hi, I'm Brother Josh Peterson. Brother Josh for short. He extends his hand and Gabriel shakes it. The man then turns to Diane. "Sister Diane, could I please have a word with you?" "Sure." she replies, turning to Gabriel she said. "I'll be right back."

Brother Josh led her outside but Gabriel could still see them from where he was sitting. "Listen Diane I know you are just trying to make him feel welcome. But I think you should ease up off the guy for a while, let him breathe, mingle and get to know the other church members. Stop breathing down his neck so much." With that, he walks away from her. Feeling embarrassed she slowly walks back to her seat. Taking her bags off the seat and picking up her daughter she turns to leave the church again. But Gabriel blocked her path. "Are you okay?" He asks. "I'll be fine." But Gabriel could see that she was upset. Whatever that guy had said to her had upset her a lot. "Can I give you a ride home?" he asks. "No, I'll take the bus." "You don't really think I'm going to let you take the bus home again, do you?" "Look brother Gabriel I've been doing it for years. I'll be fine." She turns and walks away from him but he catches up to her and holds onto her hand to stop her from going any further. Again current ran through him.

"You are not taking the bus. I'll take you home. Besides I need to talk to you about something." "Brother Gabriel please…." "Stop calling me that." He said cutting her off. "Drop the brother, just call me Gabriel. Now, will you please let me take you home or do I have to lift you and put you in my vehicle?" He asks crossing his thick muscular arms across his chest. "I'm sorry, I can't." Diane said and walk away from him." But once again he stops her. "I did say I needed to talk to you remember." "Oh yes, okay we can talk here, what's wrong?" She asks stopping by the gate. "Not here, we can talk in my car while I drive you home." He said not backing down but neither was she? "It's either here or not at all, your choice." She said tiredly. "Okay then, have a safe trip home." He said and walk back to his car. He thought she would relent and come after him but he was wrong, she just shrugs her shoulders and crosses the road.

"Maybe after a good night's sleep, you'll be in a more relenting mood." He said to himself as he again for the fifth time tail her home. And again at about 9:00 am the next morning he found himself parked a few blocks away from her gate. Was she going to work this morning? He hadn't a clue. Was she already gone? Damn, he really needed to talk to her and what's more urgent he really needs to get inside that house. So without knowing what to expect he took a deep breath, drive up to her gate, got out with a box of Pizza, enter her yard walks up to her door, and knock, all the while holding his breath.

He was about to turn away and walk back to his car when she opens her door and her mouth literally drops when she saw him standing there. "Gabriel." She breathes out his name and he could've sworn he just had a mini climax at the sound of his name on her lips. "What are you doing here? How did you know where I lived?" She asks, the questions rolling off her lips in disbelief. "Good morning I really need to talk to you. May I come in?"

"I'm not properly dressed to entertain visitors." She said hiding behind the door. "I don't mind standing right here and wait while you get dress." He said leaning against her door frame. "Oh dear, okay wait there, I'll be right back could you please look away for a moment?" She said and when he did she quietly closed the door. "Oh dear Lord, what was this extremely sexy, gorgeous man doing on her doorstep at nine in the morning? What did he want to talk about so badly? And how did he know where she lived? Did he follow her home last night and if so why? What did he want from her? Should she let him in? Scream for help? No that would be ridiculous. Call one of her sisters? No, too many questions. Oh man, I'm so not prepared for this. She thought straightening the sheet around her daughter and checking her appearance in the mirror once again before opening the door and leaving it open as she told him to come in and indicate for him to sit on her one and only white plastic chair.

"This's for you and your daughter." He said handing her the box. "Thank you, so what's on your mind?" She asks sitting on the edge of her bed. She left her door open, safe move, she didn't want to lock herself and her sleeping daughter in a house with a strange man; smart but was it necessary for everyone who passes her gate to strain their necks to see who was the driver of the vehicle parked there? Because of where he was sitting they couldn't see him but they could see her and man were they curious as to who she was talking to right now." He smiles to himself. "Gabriel," His name on her lips brought him out of his daze, damn, he had never heard anyone called his name quite like she did and she wasn't even aware of what she was doing to him.

Her apartment consists of a large bedroom, a small bathroom, and a kitchen, small and cozy, unlike his massive mansion. "Earth to Gabriel," She said again drawing his attention to her cute chubby face. "What was going through your mind when you didn't see me show up at church last night?" He asks His intense blue eyes burning into hers; she had to look away before she could answer. "Not much, I just thought you were busy." "Busy being an ass, you see, my best friend guilt me into going to a club with him last night because it's what we do on a

Regular basis. I even tried hooking up with a girl but it wasn't the same." He stops, took a deep breath then continues.

"Something didn't feel right, I felt like I was suffocating. I mean I know I got baptized but what am I supposed to do now, I just feel so damn confused." He said running his fingers through his beautiful blond hair. Blond hair, wow, there was a drop-dead gorgeous blond hair man sitting in her one-bedroom apartment. What didn't happen in like ever, happen in a day? She thought to herself.

Okay, listen, I think you're trying too hard, just take it one day at a time and let the Holy Spirit leads you." She said warmly. "That's what my aunt said too." "And she is right. Your flesh is fighting against your spirit. Your flesh is telling you that you're the same but the truth is you're not. You're no longer one of God's creations but a child of God, he has erased every bad thing you've already done and now you've to learn how to embrace your new life in Christ." She said with confidence.

"I don't know how." He said with his head down. "The Holy Spirit will lead you, teach you and guide you, just let go and let it do its job." He was about to say something else when a text came in on his phone from Alex saying that he was on his way to his house. "Thank you for your time and advice, can I please give you and your daughter a ride to church tomorrow?" He asks. "She looks as if she was about to say no but then change her mind and nods. "Okay, I'll see you at eight." He said and left. She watched him drive away before closing the door. He was like a tornado of handsomeness and he also had the ability to disappear as quickly as he appears.