The Secrets You Keep

The Revival

Travis is knocking at my bedroom door trying to get me to wake up before I'm late to service. I'm half sleep but I reach over to check the time, hop out of bed and go brush my teeth, put my locs up into a half up/half down style and take a shower. I hope that the service isn't as bad as it was when I first met Geneva in person. She decided to send over a fancy car service for me so that I can make it to her sermon on time and ride comfortably.

I reach for my favorite Dior cologne and spray it over my dress shirt and neck, put on my favorite watch and a Louis Vuitton belt that Geneva surprised me with a few days ago in the mail, take the elevator to the lobby and get into the shiny, burgundy Bentley Mulsanne outside waiting for me. Once we arrive at the church, there are dozens of cars and people everywhere trying to enter the church and see the different pastors speaking today, including Geneva's husband Dr.Mitchell.

Once the driver opens the door for me, I make my way through the crowds and try to find a seat in the now cramped sanctuary. I just got a text from Geneva so I check to see what's on her mind.

"My driver let me know that you are here, come to my office."

I slowly stand up from the pew that I'm sitting on and walk towards the lobby to get on the first elevator available that can take me to Geneva's office. The entire trip takes less than 5 minutes and before I know it, we are standing face to face and she is caressing my arm telling me how much she missed me.

"I'm so glad you decided to come, I've been dying to see you." Geneva says.

"It's no problem, I wanted to see you too."

"Listen, after service this afternoon I'm planning to go back to the condo and David is headed out of town again for another conference and a few business meetings this weekend, why don't you come home with me like we talked about yesterday?"

"Okay that's cool with me, but I need to make a stop at Travis' place so I can grab a few things." I reply with a smile.

"That's alright with me, listen we have to start heading downstairs, the service is about to start." Geneva smiles.

We make our way to her office door but before we leave, Geneva kisses my lips softly and pats me on the shoulder to reassure me. The elevator trip is once again quick and within minutes I'm back in the seat I found myself in when I first got here.

Service starts out with a minister from Dallas speaking about keeping strong faith within marriages. Then Geneva gives her sermon about keeping strong faith within the family. love watching the passion in her speaking and every so often she'll pause and grace me with a wink and a smile. Dr.Mitchell is up next and I instantly start to get sleepy and bored. I only enjoyed hearing Geneva speak but, after sitting and listening the different ministers and deacons speak, I'm starting to get annoyed. I text Geneva and let her know that I loved her sermon and that I'll be hiding out in the bathroom until service is over. I walk over to the bathroom and my stomach instantly drops when I realize my mother is in the bathroom too.

"Cameron what are you doing here?" She scoffs.

"I'm visiting someone."

"Well it's good that you're here, you need some good Christian influences to rid you of your....sin."

I turn to face my mother, I'm seething on the inside and before I know it, two decades of anger comes out.

"I'm not doing this with you today!" "You've been giving me so much shit about my sexuality and I'm tired of you trying to harass me straight!" 
"You can even be bothered to be a genuine or concerned parent and ask about my wellbeing, oh yeah that's right, if I'm not straight enough for you, you just don't give a damn!"

I raise my voice but quickly lower it when another woman walks in to use the bathroom.

I won't be able to hide in this bathroom, but service is also ending so I make my way back to Geneva's office and wait for her. After an hour, I spot Geneva walking with the same blonde assistant that I saw the first time me and Geneva met.

"Hey honey, I saw you left during service what happened?" Geneva asks.

"I just got tired after a while so I went to the bathroom to wake myself up then I ran into my mom." I sigh.

Geneva strokes my cheek and looks into my eyes and says "Don't worry about that right now baby, I have a few strings to tie up before we leave for the weekend then we can head out okay?"

"Cool, do you need help with anything?"

"I do actually, can you take these papers and file them in the right folder then put them in my file cabinet please."

"Sure, no problem."

I quickly get to work, filing and sorting the paperwork and making small talk with Geneva's assistant. I look at the clock to check the time only to see Dr.Mitchell walking in the office to check on Geneva.

"Hey baby, did you enjoy today's sermon?" He asks while wrapping his arms around her slowly.

"You did great dear." She says with a strained smile on her face. It's almost like she's looking at me hoping that I can save her from his grip.

"It's good to see you Cameron, I never expected you be here today." "I hope Geneva isn't trying to add you to our payroll." "We already have too many staff members in this place." He laughs loudly.

"Nope, I'm fucking her so good she wants to spend all your money on me." I think to myself, and flash a petty grin.

I wonder what would happen if he found out I'm fucking his wife? He would probably be so salty a butch is treating his wife better than he could ever. For now though, I'm keeping my thoughts to myself and just sitting back, watching them talk. Looking at them together reminds me of my parents and how they interact with each other. They hate each other but keep up the façade for everybody else.

"I'm headed to the airport baby, I'll see you in a few days alright?" He kisses her neck and gives her a hug before leaving.

Geneva wipes the excess sweat and saliva from her neck that the pastor left and grabs a Kleenex to dab around her mouth. I finish the last of the filing and we head out for the day.

"I'm so glad he's gone, he makes my skin crawl Cameron." Geneva says while we walk to the lobby to wait for her driver. She lays her head on my shoulder as soon as we sit down on a couch  and hums a song from the revival.

"I understand completely at least we get to spend time together, I make you a lot happier than him anyway." I reply smiling and gently pinching her left cheek.

"That's for sure." Geneva smiles and holds my hand while we walk to the car and get in. Whenever we're together, I forget about so much of the sadness and bullshit that goes on in my daily life. It's almost like she's is the missing piece that I needed in my life in order to experience life fully.

"Cameron I'm so glad you're here with me." Geneva says snapping me out of my inner thoughts and rambling.

"Thanks I'm glad to be around you, I think you're real sweet G."

I hold her in my arms, allowing her to stretch out in the backseat and melt into my embrace while watch the sunset as we jetting down the highway. This is the type of woman that I've always wanted and now that I have her, nothing  is going to break us apart.