Lead Me Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams Page A

married twelve years, but he has never required me to study. He does his thing and I do mine. We pray together, but we read the Bible on our own. I guess I need to do a little more studying before I lead our Wednesday sessions. It’s important for me to be a part of this group, Shiloh.”
    Shiloh wasn’t sure how to take this vulnerable version of Jade. She was convinced more than ever that Jade’s hormones were raging and she must be expecting. When Jade wanted her to know, she’d tell her.
    “You
are
a part of this group, Jade,” Shiloh said. “Don’t feel obligated to lead the group just to belong. Chime in when you want, or sit there and soak in the wisdom and the Word. Just come and be you.”
    Shiloh hoped Jade didn’t think she was nudging her toward a lesser role to regain sole leadership of the Bible study. She was sincere about Jade getting acclimated, and maybe once she began reading herBible more, and got used to the format of the study, she’d feel more confident about teaching.
    Jade sighed. “You’re right,” she said. “I need to come for a while to get to know everyone better, and what you all do. Our church is so large that it’s easy to see people Sunday after Sunday and not really know them. It’s better to take it slow, for that reason alone. I guess I was jumping the gun in trying to step in stride with you right off the bat.”
    Shiloh was tempted to remind Jade that she’d been at St. Stephens Baptist for nearly two years and teaching the Bible study that entire time. The fact that Jade had chosen to come to a few studies before declaring herself a lead teacher of the class was only part of the reason Shiloh and some of the other women had become resentful; her sudden interest in even attending after all these years had also left them questioning her motives.
    “Plus,” Jade continued, “you’ve known this Bible stuff since you could talk; you’re a PK, which makes you the perfect preacher’s wife. I’m learning on the job.”
    She flipped her hair and in the process, seemed to switch on her confidence. “So thanks for moving forward with the Bible study class as you have been,” Jade said and gave Shiloh a light hug. “I’ll pop in as often as I can, but only as a student for the time being.”
    Jade’s megawatt smile returned, and Shiloh marveled at the transformation. This woman was a work of art, and certainly not a piece that could be easily understood.

twenty
    Monica strolled into class the following morning and almost made it to her seat before Shiloh recognized her.
    Shiloh strode over to the girl and bent low, to peer into her eyes. “Who are you?”
    Monica giggled. “What?”
    Her usually mile-high soft afro had been replaced by copper brown straightened hair that flowed past her shoulders to the middle of her small back. She had one side swooped across her forehead for a dramatic bang, and the other tucked behind an ear, which bore a small pearl earring, and she wore a hint of sheer lip gloss. She could pass for the teenage sister of Jada Pinkett Smith, in a taller, but otherwise just as petite, package.
    “Wow.”
    Shiloh had noted the girl’s beauty when she met her on the first day of class. With this transformation, Monica was stunning. “Who are you? Where is Monica?”
    Monica laughed. “Did I look bad before or something? You didn’t like my afro?”
    “I loved your afro,” Shiloh said. “It was beautiful and artsy. This is the sophisticated, grown-up version of Miss Monica, I guess. And you look great either way.”
    Monica smirked. “Hmm, hmmm. You adults like this straightened hair, corporate look, don’t you? The other is just so much easier to take care of. But I could get used to this.”
    Phaedra sidled over. “And especially all of the attention you’re getting from the fine boys, right?” The girls grinned at each other.
    “Did you see Trey Holloman checking you out?” Phaedra whispered the question in amazement.
    “You’re