When I woke up, everything was dark. I stretched as I slowly sat up to see the light from outside peeking inside the beach house. I got out of bed and walked over to the rail to look downstairs. That's when I saw the sofa had been turned into a bed.
I see why A.B. wanted me to sleep upstairs. The best bed is down there.
I walked down the stairs and turned on the main light. I rubbed my arms as I looked around for A.B.'s presence. The bathroom door was open, but the light was off. I walked over to the front door and twisted the knob. The door was locked. Just checking. I went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. I grabbed a bottle of water instead of a bottle of juice. Still gotta watch those calories.
Finally, I walked over to the sliding door and pulled on the handle. It slid open. I poked my head out the door and that's when I saw someone standing on the beach, looking out at the dark ocean.
I took a sip of my water before putting it down and going outside. I closed the door and walked barefoot on the ground that soon turned into sand. I should've worn my sandals, but the sand did feel cool and soft under my feet. I hugged myself as I walked up behind A.B.
"Did you sleep well?"
I nearly stumbled. "How did you know it was me?" I asked him.
A.B. turned around. "I heard you coming."
"Well, I slept mighty good if I say so myself. I feel energized, too." I asked him, "Why are you out here?"
A.B. answered, "Just enjoying the view and how peaceful it is."
He was right. The beach felt and looked peaceful at night. I walked passed him to get closer to the water. What a beautiful thing God made!
"Did we say everything that needed to be said?" He asked me.
I turned to face him. "Like what?"
"Our wants and needs for this relationship," he stated.
I thought to myself before responding, "I just want to be cared for, supported, and treated right. And I need your presence, communication, and unwavering faith in God. As long as you can do that, I'll be okay."
A.B. took a few steps toward me. "I want and need the same thing."
I giggled, "No, you can't have the same wants and needs as me."
"Why not? Wouldn't that make us a perfect match?"
I slowly shook my head. "If I wanted to date myself, I would've stayed single. Just remember, I could have dated another guy, but I chose you." I arched my brow.
A.B. took my arm and gently pulled me to him. "Stop trying to be mean to me. You are mine now, baby."
Why did it feel like my stomach dropped? And why was his voice all low and deep when he said that?
I pointed at the beach house. "I think I need to head back in and get some more rest."
A.B. wrapped his arm around my neck. "Let's get you back inside before you freeze. I notice you get cold quite easily."
"Sir, it is cold out here! Even if I had a jacket on, it wouldn't help."
"It's not even windy out here," he teased me as we walked back to the beach house.
I smacked my lips. "Just so you know I'm sleeping downstairs, and you're sleeping upstairs."
He corrected me, "Rules of the beach house states that the owner sleeps downstairs and the guest sleeps upstairs."
I chuckled as A.B. opened the sliding door. "I know you just made that up, but technically, I'm part-owner." I flashed my rings.
We walked inside the beach house together. A.B. closed and locked the door. "Not until the real engagement."
Oh, he trying me? "Now I know where Baby Monica gets her traits from. You know, y'all do favor. Is she actually your daughter?"
A.B. was laughing so hard, he fell onto the couch bed.
I stared at him and folded my arms. Maybe I was slightly joking, but it definitely wasn't that funny. "Are you done?" I asked him.
A.B. cleared his throat, "Monica has two great parents. As much as I love kids, being a parent is not happening until I'm married... to you." He kissed the air between us.
"Don't look at me with those eyes like that! I'm going to bed before you get yourself in trouble. Goodnight, sir!" I jogged to the stairs.
"Goodnight, baby! I love you!"
"I know!" I ran up the stairs and hopped in bed. Once I was under the cover, I closed my eyes and whispered, "I love you, too."
I slowly opened my eyes after my nose caught the beautiful smell of food. I sat up and stretched. As I was yawning, A.B. walked up to me, carrying a tray of food. My brows merged.
He grinned, "Good morning, baby. You ready to eat?"
Music to my ears. I smiled as I nodded my head. "Good morning, bae. Yes, I am."
A.B. put the tray before me as he sat on the bed. The tray was bigger than I thought. There were two plates of breakfast food.
"Don't make this a habit, because I'll expect this every morning," I warned him.
He glanced at me. "Even if I don't feel like it, I'll volunteer to be persuaded by you."
I lowered my head asking God to forgive me, because this man and his words are doing something to me. Also, it's too early! I need to eat. "Bless the food," I told A.B.
After A.B. prayed, he opened a small jug of orange juice and filled up our glasses. "Let's eat!" He rubbed his hands together.
I picked up my fork and poked the eggs. After one bite, my entire plate was empty. I don't know how I consumed it all so fast, but it hit the spot.
A.B. was still eating. I started eating off of his plate.
"I can cook more if you're still hungry."
I pointed at him. "Don't start Baby Monica's daddy. I'm fueling myself for today's activities."
A.B. agreed, "We'll be leaving in an hour. You can start getting ready."
I clasped my hands together as I danced out of bed, making A.B. laugh.
After a shower and a fresh face, I walked out the bathroom wearing a knee-length, flared white dress with my hair in a side-part with loose curls. So glad I brought my flat iron, even though this would be the only time I would use it here.
A.B. stood up from the sofa, dressed for the summer weather in his short-sleeve white shirt and white shorts. He smiled at me, "You look beautiful."
I crossed my arms. "Wait-a-minute! Did you know I was wearing white? People are gonna think we planned this."
He walked over to me. "We can match every day. It won't bother me."
I lowered my head as I grinned.
"Besides, you dressed perfectly. Today, we're going dancing."
I quickly raised my head. "Dancing?"
I glanced at A.B. as he and the other participants applauded the dance instructors. Yeah, this is definitely not a beginner's level dance class.
"Thank you very much!" The woman spoke, "Now, we understand that not everyone would call themselves a dancer, but in this class there's only one thing you need to have. Does anyone know what that is?"
A.B. spoke up, "A partner who is a dancer like mine."
A few people laughed as they looked at us.
I lightly slapped his arm. "I'm not a dancer," I told them.
"That helps, but the one thing you really need to have is confidence," the instructor told us.
I clapped my hands. "I agree!"
"Okay, everyone! Partner up, and we're going to give you a fun, slightly complicated routine, but it's only one minute long. And trust me, this one minute will help you burn calories and get a little closer. Do you know what I mean?"
"Wooo!" Everyone responded.
A.B. and I looked at one another. What did he sign us up for?
"Come here, partner," he winked at me.
"Partner? Don't you mean 'baby?'" I stood in front of him as he took one of my hands and locked it with his and placed his other hand on my waist. "Mmm-hmm, you better keep up, sir."
"Sir? Don't you mean 'bae?'" He teased me.
As time went on, my heart only beat faster. The instructor was right about burning calories, because I had sweated out my curls. Finally, we'd reached the end where each confident couple danced in front of the class. And who just had to volunteer to go first?
A.B. and I stood in the center and waited for our queue. The music began, and we moved like we were auditioning for the biggest roles of our lives. He surprised me with his ability to keep up. For a moment, I forgot where I was and I felt like I was performing as Jae A.B. again.
When we posed for the finish, everyone applauded us including the instructors. Honestly, I missed performing.
After class, A.B. and I took a walk along the beach even though he drove to the dance class which was about a seven minute drive from the beach house.
"Did you have fun?" A.B. asked me.
I smiled at him, "I did. What made you choose a dance class?"
He replied, "Because you're good at it... and I was hoping it would make you happy. You've seemed a bit different ever since you came back from L.A. It made me think about how I would feel if I could no longer do my dream job."
How did he know?
"Then, I thought what is something that we could do that's similar to you dream job. Just like your performances, your music videos, and when you practiced your choreography at my apartment, you shined today. I don't want you to forget that moment. I don't want you to forget about your dream job, because God gave you those skills and that beautiful voice. You just have to use it the way He wants you to use it."
I stopped walking and shook my head.
A.B. ceased to take another step.
"Is this what life will be like with you?" I inquired.
He took my hands in his and caressed them. "I don't know... I still can't believe that we're back at Yellow Sand Beach. I hope life with you is like this every day."
Ugghhh! He was definitely trying to make me cry with those words. I looked out at the water, and I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a group of people lined up in the water.
"Follow me." I led A.B. to them.
"You know you don't have to do this now," A.B. whispered to me as he held my hand.
I whispered back, "If I don't do this now, who's to say I'll have tomorrow or the next day?"
He nodded his head in agreement.
A few minutes later, the man wearing a robe looked at me and smiled. He asked me my name.
"Jamie Sawyer," I told him as I left A.B.'s side and walked in the ocean toward him.
"God bless you, Jamie Sawyer. I'm Pastor Ray Henry. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You, too."
Pastor Henry asked me, "Have you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?"
"Yes," I answered.
"Will you obey and serve Him as your King for the rest of your life?"
"Yes."
"Jamie, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Pastor Henry with the help of another person immersed me under the water and brought me back up.
Everyone cheered and the first person I saw was A.B. clapping.
"Thank you!" I walked out the ocean and A.B. met me with a hug.
"I did not expect you to do that," he told me.
I couldn't stop smiling as we started walking. "I feel so good."
A.B. commented, "I thought I was gonna have to help that pastor when those waves started getting higher, but it was like he was a stone."
My brows merged, "He had some help. The other man that was next to me."
A.B. raised his brow, "The other man? I didn't see anybody else except for you and the pastor."
I quickly looked back to see the pastor preparing to baptize someone else, but there was no one else there to help him. Was I seeing things earlier?
A.B. said, "God is amazing."
I asked him, "Do they always have baptisms here?"
"Their church is over there," he pointed. "I've been here a lot, and this is my first time seeing a baptism in the ocean."
I looked up at the sky. God is amazing.
"A.B., wait. Can we pray together?"
Without hesitation A.B. took my hands and bowed his head.
I did the same. "Heavenly Father, I thank you so much for blessing us with another day. You didn't have to wake us up this morning, but I'm so glad you did, because I get to spend more time with my boyfriend... and I got baptized. And I don't know if that was you or one of your angels with me, but I thank you for your presence.
I added, "Sometimes, I'm quick to think there's something's wrong with me, but I have to learn to seek you first. You've taught me so much, and I pray that you continue to teach me and help A.B. and I navigate this journey together according to your will. I believe you will remain faithful to us. I pray to have unwavering faith and to grow and mature for you. I ask that you lead us, Oh God! Please watch over us, protect us, and mold us to be the people you created us to be with wisdom, discernment, and the understanding of the truth. Even when things get hard, I pray that we endure to the end. Thank you for loving and choosing us, Father. All glory, praise, and honor belongs to you. Bless your holy name. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray these things. Amen."
"Amen," A.B. lifted his head. "That was a beautiful prayer."
"I meant every word, and I love you, A.B."
"I know y--" He froze as he stared at me.
I giggled, "What?"
"Nothing. I'm just glad we're finally together."
With our fingers intertwined, we walked off the beach to his car headed back to the beach house where we ate my mom's cooking and had our first Bible Study together. Together. Yeah, I can get used to that.
Here's a little of what we studied: 1 Peter 4:6-11 (NKJV)
6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does. 7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The topic was about living as representatives of God. I'd never thought of a believer that way before, but I'm glad I do now. Doesn't it make sense that if you believe in God, you also represent Him? I hope I never forget this day.