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times its normal size.
    Garcelle moved from the doorway to sit on the
top step, beside him. She licked her lips as she
knocked her leg against his. "There's nothing
wrong with not wanting to get over your wife. I
think it's beautiful how much you loved-"
    "Love," he stressed.
    "Right." Garcelle touched his arm lightly. "My
father hasn't remarried since my mother passed away,
and it's been close to five years," she told him. "Now, I won't say that I don't want him to find love again,
but it has to be in his own time ... just like you."

    Kade shrugged. "I'm just sick of people making
me feel like I'm crazy out my ass because I'm not
out sexing women and acting a fool. Damn, can't a
brotha just chill?"
    Garcelle nodded, but her mind was momentarily
stuck on something else. Did he admit he hasnt had
sex since his wife died? Garcelle pursed her lips. I feel
for the woman he drops all that pressure on.
    "Most men would probably head trip off the females chasing them, but it's not what I need right
now, for sure," said Kade.
    Garcelle bumped her shoulder against his.
"Don't worry. I got your back, and those hoochies
and hags are gonna have to get through me," she
said, pointing to her chest, as Kade dropped his
head and laughed.
    "You don't look like much of a bodyguard ... for
me, anyway," he said as he turned his face to look
at her.
    Garcelle felt breathless. Kade really was a goodlooking man, with his square, angular features and
caramel complexion, which the sun had deepened to
a bronze. His eyes were deep set, and so very intense,
above sharp and high cheekbones. His features were
hard and handsome, in perfect contrast to his soft
and curly hair.
    "Garcelle?"
    "Huh?" she asked, her eyes focusing in on his.
    "Thanks for the talk," he said. "I never had a
female friend-besides Reema."
    She forced a smile. "That's me. Your buddy," she
joked, even as the disappointment she felt surprised
her.

     

4
Two Weeks Later
    "See, Daddy, we're late for church," Kadina
scolded him as she double-checked her ponytail in
the passenger-side window.
    "God will understand," Kade told her as he
turned his Expedition onto the unpaved driveway
of the Holtsville Baptist Church. Cars filled the
yard, and Kade had to park near the ditch running
along the side of the road.
    They made their way inside, and Kade saw that
his usual seats in the row with his family were taken.
    Tsst ... psst."
    Kade turned his head to find Portia Minton, an
old classmate and the ex-wife of one of the men
from his hunting club, patting the empty seat next
to her in the pew. She had "gotten saved" a few
weeks ago, and everyone mockingly called her
Sister Portia because she seemed to be saved only
on Sundays. Every other day of the week, she did
plenty to repent for.
    Kade waved and kept on moving.

    He saw his brother Kaeden trying to discreetly get
his attention near the front. Kade gripped Kadina's
hand tighter and headed that way. Feeling like all
eyes were resting on him, Kade was glad when they
finally were in their seats.
    As the church service continued on, Kade became
more and more confused. Wherever he happened to
rest his eyes, a woman smiled, winked, waved, or even
blew kisses to him! Just when he thought he had to
have imagined it, another woman would make her
presence known to him. After Hazel Rogers, a divorcee with six kids-all under the age of seven-gave
him a more than friendly smile, Kade focused his
eyes and his full attention on the minister.
    The weirdness continued after church. He could
have sworn he saw the twins, Pita and Rita, shoving
people out of the way to head in his direction. Kade
rushed Kadina out of the church, behind Kaeden.
    Everyone mingled outside, on the church grounds,
and Kadina went running over to Kade's parents as
soon as she spotted them. Kade and Kaeden followed
at a slower space.
    "Everything going good at the house?" Kaeden
asked as he removed his rimless spectacles