“Brothers and Sisters, let us welcome our newest members.” Timothy spoke, addressing his congregation. “Come forward.” he gestured, and a handful of people walked toward the pulpit in order to be recognized. A young woman was among them, her medium blonde hair worn in a loose ponytail, her face weary, but her brown eyes hopeful. A pair of jeans and a loose cardigan hugged her petite, 5’7” frame, and she hugged herself as she walked.
“And what is your name, my dear?” Father Timothy asked of her. She smiled slightly, and nervously spoke into the microphone he held in front of her.
“Jenna… Jenna Mitchell.” her voice wavered a little, but she tried to stand proud, though she still felt defeated.
“Welcome Sister Jenna.” he said, carefully placing a small lapel pin onto her cardigan. “You are now one of the Messenger’s chosen.”
“Thank you.” she said, breath catching in her throat for a moment, before following the others back to her seat.
She listened with rapt attention to the remainder of the sermon that evening, before returning to the city to her small, cramped apartment. She thanked the sitter, and proceeded to get together some dinner for herself and her six-year-old son, Elijah. Things had been difficult for the two of them recently, what with the sudden death of her husband. Jenna herself had been a stay-at-home mom, with no job or income, and the marriage itself had been toxic, though her husband had never been abusive toward Elijah that she was aware of.
Since his death, she had struggled to make things work in Las Vegas. Job hunting had taken her out toward Phoenix, though she had lost that job when she couldn’t find daycare for her son. One day, while Elijah was at school, she came across a pamphlet for the Children of the Sign. Wary i initially, simply due to having had bad experience in the past with churches not offering help, she sought them out, as they seemed different from a typical church, based on what she had read.
Initially, she hadn’t gone to sermons due to her work schedule, but it was through them she was able to find work. It was through them she was able to get counseling, and it was through them she was able to get daycare. After all the help she had received, she began to feel guilty for not going to a sermon, and so tonight had been her first. The experience had been eye-opening, and, for the first time in a long time, she felt a sense of peace.
It was a few weeks later when she had been approached by Father Timothy, to be asked a favor. It was simply to occasionally watch a young child that had recently come into his care, a girl her son’s age named Megan. He’d warned her that the little girl might have some trauma related to the deaths of her parents and siblings, but she’d found that the two children got along well.
Not much later, he’d come to ask another favor of her. It was a simple enough favor — give him a ride to town, and wait for him to complete his meeting, and bring him back. She readily agreed, and drove him into the heart of Phoenix’s entertainment district, to a club called Arcadia.
“Is this the right place?” she asked him after they had parked.
He nodded. “I have a meeting with the owner. Shouldn’t be more than an hour or so, I don’t think.” Pausing a moment, he studied her a moment and then spoke. “You’re free to wait inside, if you wish. The atmosphere is interesting, and the food is good.” Jenna frowned a little, but he spoke up before she could protest. “I assure you, Elijah is fine, and you deserve the break. Come now — I’ll even pay.” he said with a warm smile.
Jenna finally nodded in agreement, and stepped out of the car. They chatted while standing in line, though she balked a little at the door due to the presence of the burly bouncer. After paying the cover, she followed Timothy inside, following him across the floor and down a set of stairs to another section of the club, and they sat at the bar down there.
“Order whatever you like. I need to leave word that I’m here. Excuse me a moment.” he said, and then wandered off. After thinking a moment, she flagged down the bartender and ordered a Mai Tai. Idly, she used the stirrer to stir the drink, and sipped slowly at it as she took in the look and atmosphere of the club. It was an interesting place — definitely something she’d call eclectic.
Timothy returned in short order, appearing slightly sour, but his expression returned to a more jovial one by the time he’d returned to the bar.
“Find something you like?” he asked, indicating her drink.
“Mai Tai.” she stated. “I shouldn’t have too much, though.”
“Nonsense. I can always drive back, if you’ll permit it, of course.” he said with a smile.
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Of course. You’ve been a most helpful and devout Sister, after all.” he said.
“Thank you, Father.” she replied, blushing a little. The two of them chatted idly as they waited, Jenna sipping on her Mai Tai all the while.
She had just ordered another drink, when something caught her eye. She turned more fully, in an effort to see what had caught her attention, and she gasped slightly. Moving through the crowded, heading toward — no, past the bar — was a familiar face in the crowd. It had been almost nine years since she had seen him last, but she could never forget those eyes. Those gorgeous blues that haunted her dreams, and had caused jealousy in her husband, who had learned of her massive crush from a mutual friend.
Jenna shuddered at the memory of her husband, but it was soon overtaken by more pleasant ones. She watched as he moved with a small group of people into what appeared to be an office, the door closing behind him.
“See something you like?” Timothy asked in her ear, causing her to jump and make a small squeak. He chuckled as he pulled back. “Forgive me, my dear, but you were staring. I couldn’t help but be curious.”
“Oh…umm…” she blushed. “I saw someone I know”
“Really? Why don’t you say hello?” he queried.
She gestured vaguely to the office. “He’s in there.”
“Ah. A friend of the owner’s, perhaps.” he mused. “Why don’t you tell me about him?”
“It can’t be him, though — last I knew, he was still back in Las Vegas.” she stated.
“And when was that?” Timothy prodded.
“A year and a half ago. I saw him perform at a small club before he went off the radar.” she sighed, thinking of how he’d looked as he performed onstage.
“A lot can change in that time. Tell me, which of those that entered the office was he?” Timothy asked, curious.
“The tall one, with the short blonde hair and gorgeous blue eyes.” she smiled. Then, “the one in jeans.” she added quickly, realizing that vague description could have referred to the two men that had entered the office.
“You know Nicholas?” he inquired, somewhat surprised.
“Nick.” she corrected automatically. “He hates being called Nicholas. And yes — we went to school together.”
“You two date, then?” he prodded.
“I wish.” she sighed, taking a bigger sip of her forgotten drink.
“He turned you down?” Timothy asked, curious now. After all, he had nothing better to do until Tavi had time for him.
“He’s gay.” she pouted.
“Hmmm…” he said thoughtfully.
“What?” she asked, sipping more of her drink.
“It’s that I’ve heard he was in a…what do you call it…a polyamorous relationship that included women.” he stated.
“You’re joking.” she said, staring at him in disbelief.
“Not at all.” he replied.
“Huh.” was her only response, sipping more at her drink until she heard the slurp of an empty glass and pouted.
Timothy turned slightly, indicating to the bartender to get her another, and waited until she had a fresh drink in hand before speaking again. “What can you tell me about him?”
“Plenty — up to a point.” she admitted with a pout. “I lost track of him after he joined the military.”
“I’m all for listening, if you need to unload.” he offered, turning on the charm.
Jenna took several sips of her drink, considering his offer. “It’ just… I’ve always had a crush on him, you know?” she started. “He was always nice to me, even if his friends rolled their eyes a lot. They think I never noticed, but I did.” she rolled her eyes. “He always insisted he was gay, and I guess he was dating one of his friend group, but I always wanted to believe he’d see me and choose me someday — especially after the big blow up.”
She took a few more sips, as Timothy waited patiently for her to continue. He was more than content to wait — after all, Tavi kept putting him off, and getting information about one of the people close to her was a good way to get to her, even if it was by proxy.
“He and Ryan got into a massive fight over Nick’s choice to join the military, as I understand it. They broke up shortly before he shipped out to boot camp. I know that when he came back home after a few years away, he was different. He went to bars a lot. I’d see him at University, so I know he attended, and I know he worked at one of the casinos for a while.”
“I think it was two, maybe three years after he got back, he disappeared for a few months again. Back for a little while — seemed better, and he was performing at smaller clubs. I caught some of his performances, but never got a chance to speak to him because I was busy with married life and Elijah.” she shuddered a little at remembering her husband, then took a few hefty drinks before continuing.
“I lost track of him after that. I guess he’s here now.” she said finally. “But I know a lot about him personally.” She looked sheepish. “In high school, I once snuck into his house when no one was home, and went through his room.”
“Well, aren’t we sneaky.” Timothy chuckled.
“Yea, well — I really, really wanted him to like me back.” she sighed, feeling almost near tears.
Timothy snaked an arm around her in an effort to be comforting. She leaned against him, and the tears began to flow. “If he had just liked me back, I’d have had him, I wouldn’t have ended up with Corey.”
“There, there.” Timothy said soothingly. “I know things with Corey were difficult, but you got Elijah out of it. You’ve both come out stronger for it, and are safe with the Children now. You are saved.” he assured her.
“You have a point.” she mused, reaching for a bar napkin to wipe away her tears.
“Jenna, are you will to take on an assignment? For the sake of the Children, of course.” he queried.
“The Children have done so much to help me — of course I’ll help.” she smiled. “What can I do?”
“I want you to reconnect with Nick. Become friends — perhaps get him to come to service, see how beneficial we can be. Show him what the Children can do for him. Or, if need be — what he can do for the Children. Do you think you can do that?” he asked.
“Oh…yes! I’ll do my best.” she promised, excited about the chance to reconnect with Nick. “When should I start?”
“As soon as you feel comfortable.” he smiled at her.
She nodded, finishing her drink as the door to the office opened, and three people exited.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to remind someone I have an appointment.” Timothy said, and departed the bar.
Jenna watched Nick as he headed upstairs, marveling that he had gotten better looking as he had built up muscle. She couldn’t wait to get started reacquainting herself. Chugging the last of her drink, she got up, and followed.