Chapter 19
Jabari
It’s a good thing we’re required to wear suits on game days because I have plenty to pick from to wear to church.
Mom insisted I wear one instead of the pair of khakis and polo I’d prefer.
Of course it helps that I wonder if Val would find me attractive in a suit.
Though she may feel more relaxed around me and not pressured to look her best, I don’t feel the same ease.
I head to her room, clippers in hand. “Would you mind trimming my goatee?”
“Sure. What about the other scruff growing on your face?”
“You might need a razor for that.”
I need to stop being a chicken and just shave by feel. All the years I’ve maintained a goatee and shaved everything else has to have accumulated some muscle memory, right?
She places a towel around my neck, then trims until she pronounces me “handsome.”
I go back to my room and don my favorite blue suit and a pale pink tie.
“Oh, that’s a fantastic suit,” Mom says when I meet her in the hallway.
“You think?” My neck heats up.
“Val will love it.”
It’s like she can read my mind, or is she merely plotting? Mothers.
By the time we get in the car, my stomach feels like it did right after my concussion. I don’t know if I should ask my driver for a motion sickness bag or chalk it up to nerves.
Why are you nervous?
It’s not like I’ve never stepped foot in a church before.
I’ve been to weddings, but we never attended when I was young.
Mom believes in God but doesn’t see attendance as necessary.
And me, well, I definitely don’t think church is necessary.
You either live a moral life or you don’t.
You don’t need to believe in some unknown deity in order to make that decision.
Yet my mind recalls how often Javier has prayed for me. Other guys on the team are Christians as well, and if I admit it, their lives do seem different. Just not in a way I can point out. I hold back a sigh and stare vacantly out the window.
“Will we be sitting with Val?” Mom asks.
“Um, no.” I clear my throat. “Her family doesn’t know we’re friends.”
“Why not?” Shock fills her voice.
“They believe I cheated on Jackie.”
Mom sputters. I’m not sure if she’s going toward indignant or unhappy tears, but I reach for her hand, hoping to stave off either extreme.
“I’m okay. Val knows what really happened.” Still, I have no clue if she trusts my version or not.
All I got last night was a text she made it home.
This morning, she simply voice texted, “I hope to see you at church.” No mention of us talking later on or if she’s still processing.
I want to respect her wishes and let her have the space to absorb the information, but I also want to know if we’re truly good.
Did the truth change anything between us?
“It’s not fair.” Mom sighs.
“Life’s not.” Because if it were, I’d still have the same vision as last year.
Mom makes a snuffling noise that doesn’t sound like true tears, so I let go of her hand. She’ll be fine once she realizes Val and I are. I hope we are.
We arrive at the church, and I’m ready to crawl out of my skin. What I wouldn’t give to be back on the ice and feel the freedom of the wind rushing past me. Just the thought alone settles some of my nerves.
Mom hooks her arm through mine, and we walk forward.
My footing is a little unsure, making me want to hide from the crowd.
I can’t wait for the day when I can just walk without wanting to flinch at things coming my way or move to the side, thinking something is there that’s not.
Should I ask Mom to call out any obstacles?
Do I let go of the pride preventing me from asking for more help, so I don’t fall and humiliate myself in front of the Elliott family?
Like anyone will be watching you.
“This seems like a big church,” Mom whispers.
“Does anyone look famous? I don’t want to stand out.”
She chuckles. “I think I just saw a senator, so I’m sure you’re okay.”
My shoulders relax. If I’m not the only semi-famous person, then I’ll be fine. “Any sign of Val?”
“No. But I imagine we won’t find her in this crowd.”
She quiets as a greeter welcomes us and hands her a paper.
“What does it say?” I ask.
“It looks like announcements and has some Bible verses on it.”
She leads us toward the back to sit. I’m totally not conscious of my surroundings.
Instead, my mind is a mix of questions. Churches have announcements?
For what? I want to ask Mom, but instead I remember an app I downloaded that will read whatever it scans.
Grabbing my AirPods, I whisper a command into my phone and then ask Mom for the paper.
A voice in my ear tells me about the spring picnic coming up, the worship tent service they’ll do at the National Mall, volunteer opportunities at local shelters, and other events.
I’m surprised by how much is going on in March, but in a good way. They don’t seem to be one of those churches that are all talk and no action.
“Jabari Hall?”
I look up at the sound of my name, but I can’t make out the face in front of me. Hiding my embarrassment, I come to a stand. “Hi.” I hold out my hand and another man shakes it.
“What are you doing here?”
The voice is wholly unfamiliar. Since I can’t tell who’s talking to me, I go with a broad answer. “I heard about the service and thought I’d check it out.”
“Who invited you?”
I turn to Mom, silently begging her to read my mind and interject.
“Hi, I’m his mom, Paula.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Isaac Harper.”
Dread pulls into my stomach. Jackie’s husband? Great, no telling what he thinks about me.
“Oh, have we met before?” Mom asks.
“No, ma’am. I know your son, well, know of. My in-laws have spoken about him.”
I hold in a snort. They probably don’t speak well of me, that’s for certain. “Are the Elliotts here today?”
All I care about is hearing Val’s voice, but I don’t want to be obvious.
“Oh yeah, we come every Sunday. In fact, my sister-in-law is waving me down now.”
I instinctively turn, hoping it’s Val. A floral scent envelops me, and my heart sinks. Val doesn’t wear that perfume.
Since when do you know what Val smells like?
“Ms. Hall, this is my sister-in-law, Fran. Fran, this is Paula Hall, and I’m assuming you know Jabari.”
The way he says that makes me wonder if he’s silently cursing my name and wishing lightning would strike.
“Yes. Nice to see you again.”
There’s amusement in her voice, and I’m starting to think she knows about me in terms of more recent events. I blink. If she knows, does that mean everyone in the family does or just Fran? How much has Val said?
“Great seeing you again.” The choice of greeting is horribly ironic. I don’t see a hand in my peripheral view so hopefully she doesn’t think I’m rude if she’s actually holding one out.
“You just missed Val. She went to the bathroom with Jackie to help Ollie.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Isaac says. “Do they need help?”
“Nope.” Fran pauses. “Ms. Hall, Jabari, what are y’all doing after church?”
“Oh, I don’t know if we have any plans.” Mom hooks her arm through mine. “Did you have any suggestions for us, Fran? Any place I need to sightsee while I’m here visiting?”
“You’re visiting?” Fran practically coos. “Why don’t y’all have lunch with us?”
“Fran,” Isaac snaps.
“What?” Fran asks innocently.
I clear my throat, trying to fight the laughter welling up. Fran is still a firecracker.
“What’s going on over here?” a deep voice asks.
I stiffen. The commanding voice that just ruined my laughter belongs to Val’s father. There is no mistaking that boom.
“Daddy, I just invited Jabari and his mother to lunch with us.”
“Is that so?” Controlled fury rolls in his voice.
If what Val says is true, Fran will get away with this faux pas. Val paints a picture of her sisters always getting away with murder. The way Don Elliott sounds, I’m definitely facing a grave crime.
“I appreciate the invite,” I interject. I’m not sure if they’ll actually argue in front of me and my mom, but I don’t want to chance it. “But we already have reservations.” It’s a bold-faced lie, but one I’ll tell again to save Fran’s skin and make it less awkward for Val.
“Where at? We have standing reservations after church at Le Diplomate. It shouldn’t be a problem to add two more people.”
Come again? Don Elliott wants us to join him? Or is he trying to see me squirm?
I straighten my shoulders. “Thank you, sir. We appreciate the offer.” I look down at Mom. “How does that sound to you?”
“If that’s what you want to do,” she whispers.
It may not be the best decision, but I’m known for going after what I want. After Raimo and Javier helped me brainstorm last night, winning over Val’s family was put on our strategy list.
“We’re happy to join you,” I tell Mr. Elliott.
“Good. I have a feeling we have a lot to talk about.”
Can I just declare I never cheated to the whole family, or will that back Jackie into a corner? Saying nothing, I merely nod.
“Meet us outside by the book statue. You can follow one of our cars to the restaurant,” Fran says.
“We actually have a driver,” Mom says. “So we’ll meet you there.”
I scan the room, but only get impressions here and there. I’m not sure what I’m searching for.
Don’t lie. You’re looking for Val. She deserves a warning about lunch, but it’s probably not good etiquette to voice text in church.
After the Elliotts leave, I pull out my phone. “Mom?”
“That was unexpected, wasn’t it?”
“Very. I have a feeling Val’s going to get ambushed.” I hold out my cell. “Will you text her for me? Tell her we’re coming to lunch and not to be shocked.”
“You want me to text her?”
“Yes. If I could send a voice text right now, I would.” Though with all the talking we’re doing, I probably should’ve done so in the first place.
“All right, tell me what you want it to say.”
So I do.
“Done. Feel better?”
Not really, but I’m glad to have the opportunity to show my better side—the true side—to the Elliott crew. Maybe they’ll believe what’s in front of them and not take Jackie’s account at face value.