This afternoon I and my mother are preparing bedrooms for family that are coming over to stay. My mother’s youngest sister is coming over to stay with her boyfriend who she has been dating for 4 years now. I help do laundry and set new sheets for the beds, while my mother goes and sets up the guest bathroom. Although we did not have enough rooms for everyone, we usually had them staying with my parents close friend Mary. Since Mary moved for the holidays, Caden’s mother has offered a place for them to stay … What a coincidence.
My father went off to work for the day and is coming back just in time when everyone else comes over. I offer my mother to help start dinner, but she insists I relax; after all it’s only been my second day back. While she is busy in the kitchen I find myself taking care of Israel when he started getting fussy.
**********
6:30 PM came around and by the chatting on the other side of are door house, I could hear my Aunt Angie talking the night away. I open the door and when she sees me she has a mile wide smile on her face.
“Kaysly! It’s so wonderful to see you!” She says throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me tightly. It feels good to see some happiness.
“Not as wonderful as seeing you!” I say cheerily back. She’s dressed in red boots, with a black inspector like coat. Her hair is fairly the same color as my mother’s but hers are in big shiny curls.
“It’s so much warmer here than it is in New York!” She exclaims while quickly taking off her coat.
“Well this is Florida.” My mother says coming to embrace Aunt Angie. My Aunts boyfriend Allen comes in with his hands full with luggages. I help out since Aunt Angie in the living room to busy running her mouth as always.
“Hey kiddo.” Allen says while handing me a luggage.
“Hey.” I say giving him a grin.
“So how’s the college life going? Been to any parties yet?” He says jokingly.
“It’s … Okay.” I say shrugging my shoulders.
“Just okay? Have you made any new friends? How are your classes going?” As he puts the last of their things inside the house, his attention is towards me now.
“No, no new friends and my classes are great.” I say simply.
We both take a seat on the couch as we watch my mother and Aunt Angie go up the stairs, she’s probably showing her around, I thought.
“So how’s the new boyfriend!” He says elatedly.
“Um … We aren’t dating …” I say not giving him eye contact. I wonder how much people I have tell now.
“I’m sorry, kiddo.” He says rubbing my shoulder. I try to shrug it off.
"I'm okay." I lied
Caden’s POV
I got plenty of feedback for my testimony; I must have talked it over with a dozen of people by now. From what I’ve heard all is well.
I met up with Pastor Jeff and Pastor Ken to film my testimony I must of practices it a billion times. I was worried about what people will think of me, will they think I’m some fake? that only fooling myself. Will they think it was for love? … Will they see Kaysly differently? Or will I just make things worse for myself and her?
I just want God to be glorified through it all.
I came into Pastor Jeff’s office and he explained what was going to happen, and all I could think about was remembering what I wrote down.
“Ready?” Was all I heard Pastor Jeff say.
“For what?” I asked curiously.
He and Pastor Ken started laughing.
“For the film.” He exclaimed, still laughing.
“Oh yeah.” I say, aware of what is going on.
**
It’s Sunday morning and doubts about my testimony are haunting me. I’m up before anyone else at the home and the personal chef has kindly offered to make me breakfast before I go. I gingerly eat my breakfast as I think back to when I filmed my testimony.
It’s weird now thinking about how I still have the church shoes that Kaysly genuinely bought me. I decided to wear them today, one because they are all I have, and second is because they still fit.
I get to the church early and up on the over head it reads that church will start in 4 minutes. I take a seat in the 5th row, and I look around me I could see many people here from town. I feel more nervous at seeing all the familiar faces around me. I’m known for having a reputation for who I was 2 years ago, and that is what they remember me by. I have the erg inside of me to hide before someone sees me but the spirit inside of me tells me to stay,
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this you will experience Gods peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
I bow down my head and began to pray.
Kaysly’s POV
Yesterday was awfully an exhausting day; I stayed up all night meeting and greeting friends and family.
We were all meeting up for church and I was especially in the need of God’s word. I felt like I lost myself this past year, I don’t think I know who I am or what I am becoming.
When we arrived to church a bit late we got caught up on the testimony and someone getting baptized, but we missed the name of whom the pastor was talking about. The video started, and as my mother quickly gave Israel his bottle before he started crying again.
