Church Whore 2 Page 6

  ________

  As the Blanks entered Denard’s hospital room, they were eager to find out what happened. “Denard Watkins, why didn’t you call me!” Mama Eloise fussed. Denard was shocked to see them there and cried.

  “Dag, Mama!” Junior said angrily. “Let us handle this, go check on Bernice,” he ordered.

  Mama Eloise was taken aback by Junior’s tone. “I’m sorry, Denard, I didn’t mean to upset you, baby.” Denard nodded his head as he sobbed silently. Her softened tone did not make him feel any better. “I’m going to check on Bernice, I’ll be praying for you, baby.” Junior shot her the nastiest look. Eloise felt bad and left out of the room.

  The Blanks brothers gathered around Denard’s bed. Edem took a seat in the chair next to him.

  “Brother Denard, can you tell us what happened?” Junior said softly. Denard’s sobs increased.

  “It’s ok, Denard, we are here now.” Edem tried to soothe him.

  “Pastor, I let the devil in,” Denard said in between sobs.

  “Talk to me, tell us what happened,” Junior said, grabbing Denard’s hand.

  “I love the Lord, Pastor, I do, but I’m still a man and I have needs.” Denard wiped his tears

  “We understand, Denard, we’re not here to judge you,” Junior consoled him.

  “Right, Denard, we are all flawed,” Eddie added.

  “Delilah had been staying with me, she said she couldn’t go home, so I let her stay. I know it was wrong, but I really liked her. I have been intimate with her for a while now, again, I know that was wrong, but I thought she could be the one. This particular morning, I woke up and God put it in my spirit that I had to get her out of my house. I thought it was just my guilt, so I didn’t listen. I was intimate with her instead, and I saw something. It was the ugliest thing I had ever seen in my life. It was real quick, but I know what I saw. Her face changed and I caught a glimpse of her spirit. It scared me and I pushed her off of me. I got my anointing oil and started throwing it at her, telling her to get out of my house, and she flipped out. She grabbed the letter opener I keep on my desk and started stabbing me. All I could do was holler Jesus. She looked deranged and kept saying, ‘You can’t get rid of me. You’re turning your back on me, too?’ I couldn’t fight back; all I could do was call on Jesus. After she left, I couldn’t move, all I could do was cry out. I couldn’t get help. I thought I was going to die. It got to the point that I begged God to take me. I was in so much pain. Blood was everywhere. I lay there all day until my neighbor, Marie, showed up. Evidently, Delilah left the front door wide open, and Marie became suspicious and decided to check. She found me on the floor in the living room and called 911. She wanted to call you all, but I was so embarrassed. I told the police I didn’t know who stabbed me. I’m so ashamed. I will step down as deacon at the church. I have disgraced God, my sister Bernice, and the church.” Denard dropped his head.

  “I won’t hear of it, Denard, you are a blessing to all of us. You are just a man looking for love. You’re right, you let the devil in your house but in the end, you listened. That is why God allowed you to see what you were dealing with. Man, we love you, you fell down and you will get back up.” Edem grabbed Denard’s hand as tears streamed down his face.

  Junior was caught up in his own thoughts about his time with Delilah. Mud and Eddie couldn’t help but think of the havoc those women had caused in their own lives. Their heart went out to Denard.

  “My sister warned me about her. My savings are almost gone, I’ve given her most of my money. I’m such a fool.” Denard shook his head.

  “Denard, we stand behind you, but you have to tell the police what really happened. These women are dangerous. You know what her sister did to my me and my wife, not to mention their mother,” Eddie said.

  “Yeah, Denard, you have to tell them what she did to you,” Mud said as his anger brewed. He wanted to do harm to all of them. Denard did not deserve this.

  “Brother, we are your family, we stick together. As your Pastor, I won’t allow you step down. I admire your faithful work at the church. You have worked tirelessly side by side with not only us but also our father. We need you, man. God is not through with you yet, that is why you are still here.” Junior spoke to Denard’s heart.

  “You don’t ever have to be ashamed to tell us anything. Do you understand me?” Edem told him.

  “I thank y’all. I look at y’all like y’all are my boys, too. I love your father, he was good to me and he would be so proud of the work you guys are doing. I just thought…” Denard started to sob again.

  “Denard, we are family and we will see you through this,” Junior comforted.

  “We sure will, but again, you need to speak to the police. As a matter of fact, I will call my boy, Otis. He’s handling my case with the crazy Tamar. Is that ok?” Eddie asked. Denard nodded. Eddie stepped out to make the call.

  “O, you won’t believe this, the crazy sister of Tamar has stabbed up one of our main parishioners. Deacon Denard.”

  “What?”

  “Yeah, man, but he was too embarrassed to tell the cops what happened, but we talked him into telling you what happened.”

  “I’m at Women’s hospital, Toya just had baby Cam.”

  “Aww, man, congrats!”

  “What hospital are you at? Moses Cone or Wesley Long?”

  “We’re at Wesley Long.”

  “I will call someone to get Denard’s statement.”

  “Aight, O, I appreciate that. I’ll be over later to see y’all.”

  “Yeah, you better come see your goddaughter.”

  “For real, O? I’m honored, man. Cam and Faith can grow up together just like we did. Wow, man, how does it feel to be a daddy?”

  “Blessed, man, blessed. Now I’m ready for a son.” Otis laughed.

  “You better not let Toya hear you say that,” Eddie teased.

  “Right! She’s asleep right now, so I’m good.”

  “Oh, ok because you know short stuff carries a shank.”

  “Don’t I know it?” Otis and Eddie shared a laugh before ending the call.

  Chapter 9

  Lilith, Jezebel, and Delilah hid out in an apartment. Jezebel kept checking the news to see if anything was on it about a stabbing that took forever to get Delilah to talk about. She could not believe the mess her family was in. Blackmailing people had been the hustle she grew up in, but it had never been deadly.

  “Anything?” Lilith asked, walking into the room.

  “Nope, Mother, all of this has gotten out of hand.”

  “I’m not trying to hear that right now. What I want to know is when are you going to hit that Mud up for some money so you can have this abortion?”

  Jezebel was quiet for a moment. “I’ve been thinking and I want to keep my baby.”

  “That was not the plan!” Lilith screamed. “Ain’t nobody paying you to think; I think for you. Do you see what happens when you idiots think for yourself?” Lilith was enraged, how dare Jezebel go against her.

  Something in Jezebel snapped. “I have done everything that you asked. All of us have! All our lives you have treated us like puppets, you pull the string and we dance. I have had five abortions and I am keeping this baby!”

  “What did you say, girl?” Lilith jumped up and got in Jezebel’s face. “You think you can defy me? I run this family, not you!”

  “And, look where this has gotten us. Tamar is in a padded cell because of you! You stopped giving her, her meds. She kidnapped a baby, a baby! Then, you were going to kill the baby. And, look at Delilah, she’s about half crazy now!”

  “Would you two shut the hell up!” the male voice screamed as he entered the room.

  “You shut up, Damien! This needs to be said!”

  “Who are you talking to?” her brother screamed. “That’s why I can’t deal with yall fools, but who do you come running to? Me, that’s who!”

  “I didn’t ask for your help, she did!” Jezebel screamed, pointing at
Lilith.

  “Well, get out then!” Damien screamed.

  “You ain’t said nothing but a word!” Jezebel stomped off to grab her things. Delilah was on the bed sleep, and Jezebel leaned down and kissed her sister. As she walked through the apartment, she had no words for her family. She slammed the door behind of her.

  Damien and Lilith looked at each other. “What?” Lilith screamed.

  “Don’t start with me, you can go, too,” Damien said, walking out of the living room.

  ________

  Tricia settled on her couch with her cashmere throw, ready to watch Lifetime. She had a great time with the family, but she enjoyed her me time. Mud was still out with his brothers, and Lifetime ended up watching her as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep. She was awakened by her doorbell ringing; she groggily got up and walked to the door.

  When she opened the door, Jezebel stood in front of her. Tricia rolled her eyes. “What do you want?” She sucked her teeth.

  “I’m not here to argue, I just need help.”

  “And, why would I help you after…” Tricia shifted her weight from one leg to the next.

  “I guess your husband didn’t tell you.”

  “Tell me what?” Tricia’s heart raced.

  “That I’m pregnant with his baby.”

  Tricia laughed in her face. “Mkay, so what is it you want?”

  “You don’t seem surprised.”

  “When you have the peace that passes all understanding, you don’t get rattled by the flare of the enemy. Oh, I forgot, you wouldn’t know anything about that because you are so busy doing the devil’s work. So again, what is it you want?” Tricia’s voice was calm and unshaken.

  “I need help, I don’t have anywhere to stay and I need help.”

  “You’re a bold one, aren’t you? Not only do you sleep with my husband, but you taunt me about it, and now here you stand asking for help.”

  “I didn’t know where else to go.” Jezebel’s voice shook as she spoke.

  “Oh, I bet. I don’t know if you if you are carrying my husband’s baby or not. The woman in me wants to slam the door in your face, but the God in me is much stronger. The church has housing program available for our church members in transition, meet me at the church tomorrow at noon. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me, thank the God I serve. You have a blessed night,” Tricia said before closing the door. She walked back into her living room and plopped down on the couch. “My God, my God, thank You for stepping in because I wanted to drag that heifer. I’m sorry, Lord, for the language, but how much can on woman take? I don’t know what you are doing, but I can’t do this without you. Lord, help me keep my hands off of Mud’s throat when he walks through this door. We were finally getting back on track and now this? God, I need You, order my steps, Father,” Tricia cried out to God as tears fell from her eyes.

  After Tricia cried, prayed, and read her word, she felt better until Mud walked into the house with ice cream and donuts.

  “Hey, baby!” Mud leaned down and kissed Tricia, noticing her vibe. “What’s wrong?’”

  “How’s Deacon Denard?”

  “Oh, babe, he’ll be ok, but that Delilah stabbed him up and left my dude for dead. Can you believe that?” Mud went into the kitchen, fixed his wife a bowl of ice cream, and topped it with two glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme. He walked back into the living room and handed Tricia the bowl.

  “Thank you. Mud, sit down, we need to talk.”

  “What’s wrong, babe? I told you; Deacon will be fine. He’s hurt and shook up, but his neighbor found him just in time. He lost a lot of blood and a few hours more he would be gone, but God! That’s your saying, right? But God.” Mud smiled.

  “I’m grateful he is ok, but I had a visitor tonight.”

  “Who?”

  “Jezebel.”

  Mud rubbed his face. “Oh, God.”

  “Oh, God. Yes, call on Him! Call on Him! Matter of fact, call on somebody you know!” Tricia screamed. “Why didn’t you tell me that thing was pregnant? No secrets, remember? We’re starting over, remember?”

  “Baby, calm down! I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry, plus, how do we know it’s even mine?”

  “Mud, how do we know it’s not? You slept with the thang, so it might be yours! Lord, help me to calm down, Lord, be a mouth guard, and, Lord, calm my nerves,” Tricia mumbled as she paced back forth. Tricia closed her eyes, took in a long breath, exhaled, and sat back down on the couch.

  “Baby,” Mud dropped to his knees in front of her, grabbing her hands as he explained, “I swear to you, I have been really trying since we got back together. I haven’t had any dealings with that woman that way. Has she popped up on me? Yeah, and I went off on her. I even saw her I after I had to handle that situation with Elisea. But, believe me, I have been faithful.”

  “I know, Mud. I’m just angry, that’s all. I know you aren’t the same man. I know you have been trying, I know that.”

  “Why did she come here, anyway? Just to upset you? To tell you she was pregnant?”

  “No, she was actually really pitiful. She looked sad and she said she needed help, that she needed a place to live.”

  “A place to live? Get out of here!” Mud said angrily.

  “I think she was serious, so I told her to meet me at the church tomorrow at noon and that we would see about the housing program the church has.”

  “You did what?” Mud screamed, jumping up.

  “Look! I’m doing my best to clean up a mess you made, not me. What if? What if it is your baby? That girl didn’t come here on some rah-rah mess. I felt compassion for her. So, you talk to God about that because that is how He made me.”

  Tricia’s word softened Mud’s demeanor and made him love her more. “I’m sorry, I just don’t trust her, that’s all.”

  “I understand. I don’t trust her, either, but it was the Christian thing to do.”

  “Well, do we have to meet her at the church?”

  “Come on, Mud.” Tricia tilted her head to the side.

  “I’m just saying.” Mud laughed.

  Tricia picked up her bowl of ice cream that was now half melted with the donuts soaked in ice cream goodness. As she ate her food, she hummed as if it was the best thing she had ever tasted.

  ________

  Junior entered into the bedroom and kissed Lacey on the cheek.

  “Wow, you look tired.”

  “I am exhausted, Lacey. I’m going to jump in the shower.” Junior disappeared into the bathroom.

  After Junior showered, he picked up his pajamas that Lacey laid out for him. She watched him intently. They had been in constant communication, so she knew he hadn’t slipped off to be with Sheila. She climbed into bed with him and placed her hand on his heart.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Junior let out a long sigh. “The joys of being a pastor.”

  “I know it gets hard sometimes, but you were built for this, don’t forget that.”

  “Denard almost brought me to tears. He was so worried about disappointing me, we had to talk him into pressing charges on Delilah.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing that she didn’t stab you up, too. I knew she was crazy.” Junior looked over at his wife with a shocked look on his face.

  “What did you say?”

  “Junior, I know you two had a thing. She’s a bold one, though. Most don’t have the nerves to approach me and throw it in my face. Most of them just stare at me with envy in their eyes, but that one, I knew she was crazy. She almost made me lose my religion, but God.” Lacey chuckled.

  Junior sat straight up. “I don’t know what to say. I’m sorry, Lacey.”

  Lacey sat up next to him. “Yeah, well, I’m not sure about that. I think you are sorry that I just busted you.”

  Junior looked Lacey in her eyes. “I am sorry, I struggle with this, I really do. These women don’t mean anything
to me.”

  “Oh, I know that. These church whores are just that, whores, but don’t mistake my calmness for acceptance. I just see the bigger picture. I helped you build this and no little trick is going to take my place. And, with that being said, I need you get it together. You need to have a talk with Jesus and see if this marriage is not what you want because if it’s not, then you need to move on and allow me to live on. Coming second to church is one thing, but I will not continue to play second to one of your side chicks. Did you forget that when a man finds a wife, he findeth a good thing and finds favor with God? Honey, I am your good thing, so get your mind right. I love you dearly, but I’m a good woman and I deserve all of you.”

  Junior couldn’t believe his ears. Lacey wasn’t screaming, she wasn’t angry. Her voice was as cool as ice. It almost screamed to him to be honest. He reached over, grabbed her hand, and kissed it.

  “You are my good thing.” They held each other, both contemplating their futures.

  Chapter 10

  Eddie and Felicia had their first outing without baby Faith at the hospital to visit Officer Hudson and Toya. “She was so cute!” Felicia sang as they drove to Mama Eloise’s to get the baby.

  “Yeah, she is. I’m excited for them.”

  “I can’t wait for Mama to come back and visit.”

  “Felicia, I know, but she had to get back to work. She’ll be back.”

  “I know, I’m just saying.”

  “Can you believe the change in Mama? She’s in love with the baby.”

  “Thank God!”

  “You aren’t going to believe this….” Eddie said, looking over at Felicia.

  “What?” Her left eyebrow went up.

  Eddie relayed the story of Jezebel being pregnant and showing up at the house. He told Felicia how Tricia handled it, how they meet at the church with the members of the housing board, and how they put Jezebel in an apartment.

  “Are you serious? Wow, Tricia is a good one.”

  “Jezebel claims she doesn’t know where her sister is, though. You know she’s lying,” Eddie said.