Divine Intervention (17 page)

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Authors: Lutishia Lovely

BOOK: Divine Intervention
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33
Let’s Stay Together
V
ivian sat in the room with Derrick, marveling at how a shaved head could so change one’s appearance. She’d often wondered how her husband would look bald. They’d even tossed the idea around a time or two—not only when Michael Jordan had made the look popular and acceptable, but also a few years ago when fellow LA pastor Stanley Lee had shaved his head. She’d give anything for the circumstances to be different, but if it were any consolation her husband looked just as handsome without his close-cropped, tight black curls as he did with them.
“I think you look better without hair,” she said, offering her final decision on Derrick’s new look.
Derrick continued to study his reflection in the handheld mirror. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“No, baby, I really mean it. The cut emphasizes your eyes and lips.” Vivian kissed said lips to emphasize the point. “I’ve got my work cut out for me . . . to keep those holy hussies from trying to steal what’s mine.”
Her comment had the desired effect. Derrick blessed her with a smile, though his eyes were melancholy. “This isn’t how I planned to spend my forty-eighth year . . . battling for my life.”
Vivian left the chair where she’d been sitting and perched on the side of Derrick’s hospital bed. “Life is what happens while we’re busy making those plans,” she whispered. She traced Derrick’s prominent facial features with her fingers, remembering a lifetime of experiences with each soulful touch. “I remember the first time I saw you,” she began, a wistful smile on her face. “The Kewana Valley District’s Baptist Convention back in Kansas . . . re— member? Tai had invited me to check out King and to tout her connection to a mini-star. Didn’t matter that I was only on a local channel . . . I was on TV!” Vivian smiled at her own memory.
“Yeah, that was the early eighties,” Derrick said, with a smile of his own. “No one had heard of Oprah.”
“I thought of myself as the black Barbara Walters, ready to shake up journalistic television and put my name on the worldwide stage.” She rubbed her hand over Derrick’s still flat stomach, pausing it just above the manhood that had brought her so much pleasure. “You changed all of that, you know. One look at this brother in the perfectly fitting suit, the snakeskin boots, and the raspy voice and I was toast. I think I fell in love with you that first night, at first sight, before I’d even been formally introduced.”
Derrick covered Vivian’s hand with his own. “Dang, I wish I’d known that. I threw away every sistah’s number in my wallet, just to make sure you didn’t find it. If I’d known I already had you I might have been able to get a couple hits in before the wedding.” Vivian swatted his hand. “Ha! Baby, I’m just messing with you. From the moment I saw your tight body sitting there in that navy blue suit—”
“You remember!”
“Of course. How could I forget? Girl, I could barely remember a scripture, especially since I had to cool down a hard-on while sitting in the pulpit of a crowded auditorium. I knew right then that I had to have you . . . and that it would be more than a simple affair.”
“I knew you were special, too, even though I tried to convince myself that nothing could get in the way of my broadcasting career.”
“Yeah, and nothing could get in the way of my ministry.”
For a few moments, the couple was content to bask in the memories of those early days.
Vivian chuckled. “I remember the first time that I knew for sure that you weren’t cool.”
“Oh yeah? When was that?” Derrick looked at his wife with a skeptical expression, even though he had an idea exactly what she was going to say.
“When it was time to go to the hospital and deliver your firstborn....”
“And I took off in the car with everything but you inside it.”
“Ha! You had the car seat and my overnight bag and the sack of groceries we’d bought for my stay. You were running around like a chicken with its head cut off, trying to look like you were calm and in control.”
“No cell phones in those days. I got a block away from the house and didn’t notice that I’d left you until my question of how you were doing was met with silence.”
“And I’m standing there in the driveway still wet from my water breaking.”
“God takes care of babies and fools. . . .”
“Derrick the second was a perfect child—short labor, sunny disposition.”
“Yeah, he was giving us a break for when Elisia made her appearance.”
“The first time I thought to whup a child less than thirty days old.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “You were a perfect dad back then. Coming off the road from God only knows how many revivals, but you’d take the kids into the den and give me time to myself. Derrick, I’ve never told you how much I appreciate that but . . .” Vivian stopped as tears threatened.
“C’mon, now, baby. I need you to stay strong for both of us. Remember what D2 said, that no weapon formed against his old man would prosper. . . .”
“Proof of your legacy . . . live and in living color.”
“I know we don’t want to talk about it but, baby, if for some reason I don’t—”
“You’re right. I don’t want to talk about that, or think about that, or entertain any thought other than the fact that you will come out on the other side of this operation an even better and more godly man than you are right now.” Vivian knew her voice was firm and harsh, but it was all that she could offer without totally coming undone. To change the focus of his thoughts, she leaned into him and whispered, “The way you licked my pussy last night? Can’t nobody give it to me like that, baby. And nobody has that thick, curved dick that fits so perfectly inside me. You have no choice but to come back to me, love. We have some unfinished business in the bedroom. And I fully intend to see it done.”
Derrick gazed at Vivian with a look that could only be described as love personified. When his First Lady talked nasty, it totally turned him on. Even now, even under these dire circumstances, he felt himself harden. “Have I told you lately that I love you?”
“Yes,” Vivian said, her own eyes shining. “But you can tell me again.”
“I love you, Vivian Stanford Montgomery. And I won’t leave you. You have my promise.”
“I’m going to remember these words,” she said, gingerly caressing his face in her hands. “And if for some reason you die on me . . . I’ll kill ya.”
Shortly thereafter, the nurse came in to take Derrick’s vitals, and to tell Vivian that visiting hours had been over for quite some time. Vivian dutifully nodded and allowed the woman to do her job. After the nurse had left, Vivian watched as her husband’s eyes became droopy. “Stay with me,” he whispered, “until I fall asleep.”
As she watched her husband’s peaceful slumber, Vivian’s heart clenched.
I can’t imagine life without him, God. Please let him be okay.
She stood, but could not get her feet to walk away from his side. Instead, before even really thinking about it, she positioned herself in the only place she could imagine—beside him. She barely noticed the less than comfortable bed as she snuggled up against Derrick and placed her head on his chest. “Stay with me,” she whispered as a lone tear fell from her eye. “For the rest of my life.”
34
Let It Be
T
ai sat in the Four Seasons lobby, rereading the article about her daughter’s whirlwind marriage to Arizona’s NBA darling. It was almost as if she were reading the story of a stranger. That’s exactly how Princess felt to her right now. Even with the intuitive feelings she’d had regarding Kelvin, Tai never thought that her levelheaded (or so she’d thought) daughter would leave a smart, handsome man who was as steady as the second hand on London’s Big Ben clock and marry a cocky, irreverent professional athlete who’d proven to be unfaithful.
How could that have happened?
Tai sighed, inwardly acknowledging that she knew exactly how this had happened. It was the same reason why she and King were still married, even after all he’d done and all they’d been through. Crazy love.
Princess entered the lobby, saw her mom, and immediately walked over to where she sat. About midway she saw what her mother was reading. For a second this revelation slowed her pace, but after a slight lifting of her chin, she decided to keep on going and face the music. Understandably, her mother was disappointed. There was never going to be a good time to have this conversation.
Tai looked up as her daughter approached. She closed the magazine, suddenly wishing that she were anywhere but here. As much as she loved Princess, she didn’t have too much “like” for her right about now. Still, she put a smile on her face and vowed to try and be civil. Like her daughter, she knew that there would never be a good time for this conversation.
“Hello, Mom.”
“Hi, Princess.”
They hugged. Tai stepped back and examined her daughter’s face. It was the first time seeing her since the quickie marriage almost a week ago. There was no denying the glow that was there. “You look happy.”
“I am.” Princess looked at her mother. “I wish you could be happy for me.”
“You know how I feel about all of this, baby. But I’m going to try. Where is he?”
“At the hospital. He said to tell you hi.”
Don’t roll your eyes, Tai.
“Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
They walked to the sunny, breezy Cabana restaurant, the crowd of which was surprisingly sparse on this Friday afternoon. For a moment, conversation centered around the menu choices. Princess settled on mahimahi tacos. Tai chose the turkey club sandwich.
Once the waiter had placed down their drink orders and walked away, Tai spoke. “I talked with Phyllis.”
Princess’s regret was visible. “How is she?”
“Hurt, angry, embarrassed.”
“I called, but she didn’t want to talk to me. Neither does Rafael.”
“Can you blame him?”
Princess shook her head. “I wrote him a letter, saying how sorry I am about what happened. Mom, Rafael and I have been friends since we were kids. I never wanted to hurt him. But when Uncle Derrick collapsed and I saw Kelvin at the hospital, I knew that I couldn’t go through with the marriage, knew that my heart was still tied to him.”
“But it had been a year since y’all even saw each other. If you still had these feelings, why would you say yes to Rafael’s proposal? Why didn’t you try and get back with Kelvin before now?”
“Because I was fighting these feelings, Mom. I didn’t
want
to still be in love with him!” The waiter arrived, and sat down their plates. At the moment, neither woman had an appetite. The food went untouched. “The night before the wedding,” Princess continued in a soft voice, “I prayed and asked God’s blessing on our marriage. I asked for His guidance, and for assurance that I was doing the right thing. I believe that what happened to Uncle Derrick was God answering my prayer.”
“Well, God definitely works in mysterious ways. And why you chose Kelvin over Rafael will always be a mystery to me.”
Princess didn’t even want to go down that convo road. “I told Mr. Stevens that I’d reimburse them for the honeymoon tickets, and any other monies they spent on the wedding.”
“I guess Kelvin having money counts for something.” Tai finally picked up her sandwich and took a bite.
“My being with Kelvin isn’t about his money,” Princess angrily retorted. “I’m going to use my money to pay them back!”
Tai took a calming breath. Knowing she had no power to change the situation, it was time to let it be. “I’m sorry for saying that, Princess. I really don’t want to argue with you. What’s done is done and you’re the one who’s going to have to live with your decision.” And then, because she couldn’t resist bringing up her nemesis: “Does Tootie know?”
Tai didn’t miss the smile that scampered across Princess’s face, before she replaced it with a blank expression. “Yes, she knows. She wants us to come over as soon as both of our schedules allow it, have a ceremony for his stepfather’s side of the family.”
Just like her to appreciate this messy situation.
“Hopefully you’ll save one of the holidays for your family. We don’t really know Kelvin and”—Tai forced the words out of her mouth—“we’d like to.”
Best to fake it till I make it. That’s the only way to weather this storm.
Tai looked at her watch. “We probably should finish our lunch and head over to the hospital. King’s plane should be landing any minute now, and Vivian hasn’t called. I want to make sure she’s all right.”
Shortly afterward they left the restaurant. Tai rode with Princess to Cedars-Sinai, a mostly quiet ride. Tai’s concern was not only for her best friend, but for her daughter. She wanted Princess to be okay. What Tai didn’t know then, was that in time, she would be wishing this for herself as well.
35
Ring My Bell
M
ama Max hadn’t been on a date in, well, ever. And that’s what she’d told Henry when he came up with the cockamamie idea for them to go to dinner and then on to the movies.
“It’s not a date,” Henry had argued.
“Well, what is it?” Mama Max had asked, hand on hip, brow raised.
“Two good friends enjoying each other.”
She did enjoy Henry Logan’s company. This, Mama Max could not deny. And that’s why she’d said yes and even now was putting on one of her signature oversized tops and a pair of wide-legged jeans. She’d balked when her granddaughter, Tabitha, had brought the jeans over, saying she’d seen them on a sale rack and thought they’d go perfectly with Mama Max’s big tops. Mama Max had told her that jeans were something that you donned to go fishing or hunting or maybe picking greens. But then she’d put them on and the soft, stretchy denim was not only surprisingly comfortable but stylish as well.
“Thank you, Jesus, thank you, Lord. Yes, you’ve brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way. A mighty long way!” Mama Max interrupted her own song as she remembered her friend Nettie’s earlier phone call. “Oh, shoot. I plumb forgot about calling Nettie back.” She looked at the clock on the wall, figured she had a good twenty or so minutes before Henry came over, and went into the kitchen to use the phone there. “Hey, Nettie Johnson.”
“Hey there, Maxine Brook!”
“Sorry I’m just now getting back to you. I got busy cleaning up the house and am on my way to dinner in a little bit.”
“Oh, yeah? You going over to your son and daughter-in-law’s house?”
“No, we’re going to the Golden Corral. It’s a buffet-style restaurant.”
“They have one of those in Dallas.”
“Good to eat out for a change.”
“Pastor Montgomery must be doing a lot better with King and Tai already back home.”
“They’re not here. They’re still in LA.”
“Oh, when you said ‘we,’ I just assumed . . .”
“Watch out there now, Nettie Johnson. You know what they say about that word. Making a you-know-what out of you and me!”
Nettie chuckled. “Hush your mouth, now, Mama Max. ’Cause I’ve sure gotten into trouble for that very reason, more than a time or two. So who are you going to dinner with? One of the sisters from the church?”
“No.” Mama Max felt girlish all of a sudden and chided herself for feeling so. She’d battled this feeling off and on for about a week now, ever since Henry had talked about her looking young and cooking good and falling in love and other such nonsense. “It’s Beatrice Logan’s son, Henry. Remember I told you about him moving back home to care for her after the stroke?”
“I sure do. Bless his soul for taking care of his mama.” Silence, and then, “How old is Henry?”
Again, that giddy feeling. Mama Max chided herself for entertaining notionss best left to young girls. “Sixty-two.” She cleared her throat.
“And you say he’s staying next door, in Beatrice’s house?”
“Yes. He’s holding out hope that she’ll come back home, I know he is. He’s keeping up the place while she’s in that assisted-living complex.”
“With God all things are possible.”
“Yes, and it will take the hand of the Almighty for that woman to come back home. The stroke was a bad one, bless her human heart. I just keep praying.”
“I’ll add her to the prayer list at Gospel Truth.” And then, “Obadiah was supposed to be here this coming Sunday. I understand that something came up, and he’s sending an old retired preacher friend from Dallas instead.”
“Oh.” This was said with all of the excitement of watching a bird fly.
“I know y’all are still . . . unsettled.”
Mama Max snorted.
“But it’s not good for a man to be alone, Mama Max.”
“He’s ain’t alone! He’s with that hussy!”
“From what I hear, he’s in his apartment more than not.”
“And just who are you hearing this from?”
“Somebody who’d be better served minding their own business. But people talk.”
“Ain’t no business of mine what he does. When King and Tai get back from tending to Derrick, I’m going to have them help me find a lawyer.”
“Lord, Jesus, Mama Max. You sure?”
“I’ve been living a lie long enough, Nettie,” Mama Max responded behind a sigh. “Never thought anything but death would separate me and the reverend, but it looks as though I thought wrong.”
“But I thought that your kids wanted you to wait this out. Obadiah has to come to his senses before long. It don’t matter that your children are long gone and grown, Mama,” Nettie softly continued. “No child wants to see their parents divorced.”
“We don’t always get what we want, Nettie. You know that better than anybody!”
Silence, as both women remembered just how well Nettie Johnson knew this fact. Officially, she’d lost her husband, Daniel Thicke, to a tragic car accident. But in reality, she’d lost him years before . . . to Dorothea Jenkins’s sister, Katherine Noble. Her late husband and Katherine had an affair that lasted for years and some believe had he not died, he would have divorced Nettie to be with her. “Old man Jenkins is in the hospital,” she said at last.
“Sho’nuff?”
“Yes.”
“Man ought to have somebody he loves around him in his time of need.”
“Dorothea’s been around. Word has it that she’s staying at the Fairfield Inn, though I haven’t seen her as yet.”
“Where’d she get that bone?”
“Excuse me?”
“The one needed to visit the sick and shut-in. Lord knows if she got one it’s nigh unto brand new.”
“Mama Max, you’re a mess.”
“Just telling the truth and shaming the devil.”
“Folks say he hasn’t been the same since she divorced him. Thank God for his faithful church members. They’re rallying around him, along with the rest of the community.”
“I’ll keep him in my prayers.” Mama Max’s doorbell rang. “I need to run, Nettie. Henry’s at the door.” After hasty good-byes, Mama Max left the kitchen, humming a verse of “Search Me, Lord” on the way. She opened the door, unlocked the screen, and asked in righteous indignation . . .
“Obadiah, what are you doing here?”

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