Chapter Three

Gabby stayed in her apartment the rest of that day. She wasn't sure where that man lived but she didn't want to run into him again. When she heard her neighbor leave sometime around 3pm and decided that was a good time to practice her song for church that next day. That brought a smile to her face, singing made her happy…. But most of all, it made her feel less lonely. She went through her trunk for one of her church dresses while singing her song out loud. She ironed the long sleeved purple dress filling apartment with her sweet melody of love.

As she did so, Patty made her way down the hall hearing the beautiful sound. She smiled and shook her head wondering why Gabrielle hid this talent from everyone.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Gabby frowned at the sound of someone knocking at her door.

"Who is it?" she asked sweetly.

"it's Patty dear,"

A smile returned to her face as she gladly went to open the door for the only friend she had in this city. Patty hugged her warmly when she did and then walked into the apartment and took a seat on the freshly cleaned futon.

"So how are you today?" Patty asked.

Gabby shrugged, "I'm OK… just getting ready for service in the morning."

Patty smirked, "Have you met that new guy in the building? He's a little taller than you with short light brown hair and blue eyes."

Gabby nodded as she remembered the awkward encounter.

"What did you think?" she asked, noticing how quiet she got. "Don't tell me he's officially scared you out of dating anyone."

Gabby couldn't help but giggle, she knew that Patty always looked for opportunities to hook her up with guys. "He scared me but not too much…he's definitely in need of a lesson in manners and decency."

Patty laughed as Gabby walked to the kitchen to get a pot of coffee started. "Oh my what happened?"

Gabby blushed, "He doesn't mind walking around in his boxers…."

Patty's eyes widened in shock, "Wow… was he good looking under there? "

"Patty!"

"What? Look girl you're too pretty to be hiding yourself away from these men." She said as Gabby returned to her ironing board. "I think this guy is just what you need."

"Are you kidding me? Patty the man doesn't even seem like the type to bring home to mom…. Sorry but I'm not really trying to get into a relationship right now anyways. "

Patty nodded in defeat, "Alright sugar calm your nerves you know I'm just teasing you. I met that guy personally and there's no way I'd ever set you up with him…. He's very rude."

"Glad you see things my way, Pat."

Patty smiled, "So...how long have you had such a pretty voice?"

Gabby looked up from ironing, "U-Uh...what do you mean?"

"Ooohhh don't try to play dumb little missy...I heard it as I was coming down the hall."

"My voice echos?" she asked as her face turned a light red. "Good thing only a few people live up here..."

Patty shook her head, "No no girl, it's only you and that man that live up here."

Gabby sighed, "Well let's hope he doesn't know that. I'm sure he's probably annoyed hearing me sing like that."

"Honestly Gabby, your voice could melt the coldest of hearts...you should let me take you to the karaoke bar sometime."

Gabby blushed, "Let me think about it OK? The only people I sing for is the people who attend my church..."

"Fair enough," Patty said as her friend returned to the kitchen to prepare some coffee for them.

The two women spent the rest of the evening together laughing at joking around. After Patty left around 8, Gabby once again ran herself a bath preparing to relax for the rest of the night. As usual she sang to herself unaware that her voice could be heard by the uptight AJ living next door.

He had been having a rough day trying to find a job and was angrily chopping up carrots when he heard that beautiful voice once again. This time it was a Gospel song… something near and dear to his heart. Before he was incarcerated, he and his buddies had gone to church every Sunday. He was involved with the youth group, often doing things to make a difference in the lives of the kids who attended his church. Those were the good old days...a time when his life had meaning...

As he continued to listen to her sing, he imagined this tall woman with hair like a goddess and glowing beauty radiating from her face. He wasn't sure who this girl was but he had to find out. It had been a long time since he was in contact with a beautiful woman...and his hormones were beginning to kick in...He quickly sat down the knife and wiped off his hands. A quick glance at his watch made him rethink his choice to go see this woman. It was almost 9 now which meant it would soon be her bedtime. Maybe he would introduce himself in the morning, he thought… that is if he decided to get up.

That following morning, Gabrielle's alarm went off around 7am. She got up and carefully got herself dressed in the purple dress before putting her long hair up into a high bun. She brushed her teeth, put on a little chapstick and placed her glasses on her face. After petting Simon and feeding him, she grabbed her long brown trench coat and apartment keys from the counter and put them in her small black purse.

"I'll be back around one," she told her cat before leaving the apartment. As she locked her door, a tired AJ slowly opened his door and watched her walk down the hall.

He couldn't tell what she looked like from behind, but he wanted to know so bad, he decided to follow her to the church. The church wasn't too far away from their building. The crossed a few streets until finally coming to a small building on a corner. Gabby was gracefully let inside by the who AJ assumed was the pastor. He waited a few moments before deciding to cross the street and enter the church.

"Oh hello there," the pastor said when AJ approached the door. "Are you new in town?"

AJ looked at him with a smug look on his face, "What's it to you?"

The pastor smiled brightly, disarming the smug man that stood before him. "Well I can see someone has a rough past he'd like to forget...why don't you come inside son?"

AJ glared at the pastor feeling annoyed by his happiness. Still he couldn't deny he still was a Christian...and needed God in his life desperately. With pursed lips, he walked into the church and followed the other people into the sanctuary. It was a bright place, with white walls, green curtains, and brown pews. The carpet was a worn out red color that covered the entire floor.

Behind the three chairs on stage was the choir stand...and there stood the woman he'd followed there. She was facing the back, reading out of the Bible as he took a seat in the last row. He kept his eyes on her waiting for her to finally turn around so he could see the beauty that she was.

Gabby sat the Bible down on the chair and took off her long coat as lots of people filed in. The pastor approached his seat, tapping her on the shoulder as she turned around.

"How are you darling?" he asked.

"I'm OK Pastor Lowney." She answered.

He smiled, "I hope you're not nervous about your solo today. You're a beautiful singer."

"Thank you," she said as she took her seat.

As for AJ, he was floored when he saw the woman's face. It was the woman he ran into just the day before...He sighed heavily thinking to himself, "There's no way that was her voice I was hearing!"

He was about to get up and leave, but the doors were shut and the ushers were locking them.

"Damn," he whispered. "I can't believe I'm stuck here..."

The Pastor lifted his hands, giving the signal that service was beginning. Everyone stood to their feet, and opened their hymnals to beginning singing Amazing Grace together with the choir. When the song ended, the congregation took their seats and the pastor made a few announcements before letting Gabby take the mic. She smiled and closed her eyes as the opening to her song began to play. AJ looked on hoping to God that her voice wasn't the one he'd been hearing. Unfortunately for him...when she opened her mouth the sound was so sweet and enticing, he couldn't stop listening. As she sang she made eye contact with everyone she was familiar with. Luckily she never notciced AJ in the back row until the song was over.

When their eyes met, she froze as everyone else gave her a standing ovation. He stood up and also clapped for her wondering how someone as nerdy as she was could have a voice like that...