Chapter 21 YellaWood 500 #7
“You know I love you, Mark. I want us to be together,” she said softly then dropped her head.
“But getting married? Now? I mean, I just started this job as a model for Veronique. What happens if I lose this job? Are you going to support me? Are you going to pay for my college education so I can get a better job?”
“YES!” Mark said in such a loud whisper that it almost echoed.
“Yes,” he said again softly. “Tina, I want you by my side forever, no matter what happens. No woman has ever interested me before you, and none will other than you. You have my heart and I will fully support you and pay for your education, a car, our home and whatever else you need. I might not always be able to afford what you want when you want it, but I’ll make sure that we get it for you as soon as possible. ”
“You really are serious about this,” she said slowly. “But I don’t want to be married now.”
“Then just be engaged to me,” he said. “I love you and I want you by my side every day for the rest of my life. We can get married when you are ready.”
“People!” David called out from over by the baggage conveyor.
“Our luggage is circling the drain! We’ve got a dinner to attend and a big photo shoot for Veronique in the morning along with meeting the drivers and maybe even getting to go for a ride with them.
Let’s hustle up!” he called, waving everyone over.
“We’re coming Coach Michaels,” Thomas called as he turned to Greta. “We better do what the bossman says or we’ll be paying for our own dinner.”
“If it’s just us alone, baby, I’ll take it. I’m so glad your parents are watching our son.”
“Yes,” Janet said with a smile. “And I’m glad that Denny’s parents agreed to watch Elizabeth for the weekend. It’s nice to have some alone time with Denny.”
“I’m looking forward to this, like it was in D.C.” he said with a growing smile.
“Hey now,” Greg said. “None of that hanky-panky stuff here. Wait until you get checked in at least,” he teased.
“Oh, come on Greg. You can’t honestly blame me for desiring my own wife, can you?” Denny fired back.
“Actually, I can’t Denny. She’s a first rate PA, and if my suspicions are correct, an outstanding wife.”
“You better believe that, boss!” Janet declared as they arrived to pick up their bags.
“I’ve got five limo’s waiting outside for y’all,” Ben called. “But I’m taking my fiancé with me,” he said happily as he held up her hand with the ring on it.
“I’m all yours, babe,” Cassie said.
“Ben, I’m going to need to talk with you about all the security arrangements,” Keith said.
“Of course. We can discuss that at my place.” Keith looked up at him with some confusion on his face. “Oh, didn’t anyone tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Keith asked.
“Fred?” Ben called. “I thought you were going to tell them.”
“I forgot to, Ben. I was so excited about your proposal I plumb forgot to do it.”
“Everyone. May I have your attention?” Ben called as he stepped up on a bench.
“You will not be staying at some hotel or motel on this trip.” There was a sudden murmur among the people gathered around the baggage conveyor as it finally stopped running.
The perplexed look on their faces was about to change.
“You have all been given rooms in my own home,” Ben confirmed.
“That’s one of the reasons I needed to propose here.
It wouldn’t be right to ask Cassie to stay in my bedroom with me if I hadn’t proposed to her. ”
“Are you saying that we’re staying in the Bama-Jama Mansion?” Molly asked with excitement.
“Just like last time, Molly.”
“WHOOOOOHOOOOO!” she cried aloud. “Everyone is going to love your place Ben. It’s fantastic.”
“Just how big is this place?” Greg asked cautiously.
“Oh, not so big. Only has twenty bedrooms, fourteen full bathrooms, three pools, tennis court, golf course, twelve car garage and over ninety acres of the finest farmland and woodlands in all of the Huntsville area.”
“Not so big?” Keith asked, his jaw dropping. “That’s Texas sized there.”
Billy was up early, dressed and ready to head to synagogue when Carry came over to him. She was dressed in business formal wear rather than her Veronique outfit. She smiled as she moved next to him. “I’m ready to go,” she confirmed.
“But don’t you have a photo-shoot this morning?” Billy asked.
“Apparently, that thunderstorm last night drenched the infield, and we’ll have to wait until at least one pm before we can get in there with all the equipment,” Carry said.
“Hello, Billy,” Veronica called as she walked in, also fully dressed in business formal. “I’ve asked Greg to join us,” she said. “That’s alright, isn’t it?”
“Anyone can come keep the Sabbath with us,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
“Good,” Cassie said as she led Ben in by the hand. “We’re coming too.”
“That means we’re just waiting on Greg,” Billy said.
“Not any longer,” he called as he stepped into the hallway and started walking toward them. “I wasn’t really given the option on this,” Greg said as he looked first at Carry and then at Veronica. “They’ve been plotting together.”
“Well, I think you’ll like today’s lesson. It’s Sampson and the Jawbone of the Ass.” Billy walked forward to meet Greg and whispered in his ear. “Are you really going to do this?”
Greg whispered back. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Billy. They’d never let me live it down that I chickened out of their challenge.”
“Glad to have you along, Greg.” Billy turned to the others then paused. “Umm, I didn’t order a big enough Uber.”
“I already cancelled the Uber, Billy,” Ben called. “We’re taking my cars. You can drive the Lincoln Continental, and I’ll drive the Caddy.”
“Are you sure, Ben?”
“Well, I don’t know where we’re going, so I have to follow you,” Ben fired back. “And my woman has said that this is the best kind of Church she’s ever attended, so I have to see this for myself.”
“It really is, Ben,” Cassie said. “The lessons that Carry and I’ve learned the past several weeks have really been inspirational.”
“Alright then,” Billy said. “I don’t know where the garage is, so we’ll all just follow you. Let’s go everyone.”
The synagogue filled up fast as Rabbi Steve moved up to the stage and greeted everyone.
They sang several hymns then the ceremonial scrolls were brought out.
Rabbi Steve found the passage and read the scripture in Hebrew to the congregants.
Then he read the passage again in English.
He then explained how Elohim had used Sampson to exact revenge on the Philistines for their heavy handed overlording of the Israelites.
He’d arranged for the Philistines to search for this Judge of Israel under a Nazarite vow.
When it appeared there was no escape and no weapon, Elohim guided Sampson to the jawbone used to slay a thousand.
Greg was stroking his chin as Rabbi Steve went on to explain how it was the power of the Spirit of Elohim rushing upon Sampson that gave him the extraordinary strength to strike down more than a thousand Philistine soldiers that day, and make his escape.
When Rabbi Steve picked up the jawbone he had for a visual effect, the girls gasped.
Rabbi Steve then demonstrated how fiercesome a weapon the jawbone could be by striking through a ceramic pot, shattering it in pieces.
Veronica grabbed Greg’s left hand and leaned right, tight against Greg while Carry instinctively grabbed Billy’s left hand and leaned right onto him.
“That weapon is brutally efficient,” Greg observed.
“Extremely deadly,” Billy confirmed.
The girls realized they were leaned against the two men during the demonstration and sat upright.
Rabbi Steve finished the sermon with more examples of how the Holy Spirit of Elohim had rushed upon Sampson at just the right time, then they had the closing hymn and prayer.
Greg thought back to how Carry had turned to Billy when frightened and Veronica had turned to him.
‘Why did she lean on Billy and not me?’ he thought as they were making their way out of the synagogue.
“Greg, what did you think?” Billy asked.
“I’ve never heard that story told in that manner before,” he mused. “That explanation that God was guiding everything to do His will was new to me as well. The Baptist’s explanation has never been that in depth before.”
“Did you like it?” Veronica asked.
“It is very intriguing to me,” he admitted.
“I can see why you two have been going to synagogue with Billy. It’s a deeper explanation of the things we all have faith in.
” He looked at Carry. “Thank you,” he said then turned to Veronica, “And thank you for making me join you today. It helps me understand you both a little more.”
“That was the point,” Carry replied. “You need to understand our beliefs and faith to understand who we are, Greg.”
“This alone won’t change things,” Veronica said softly. “But it will begin to make things clearer for your choice.”
“I admit, this has been very enlightening,” Greg somberly stated. “I think Ben enjoyed this with Cassie,” he added with a smile watching Keith follow them out.