Drama in the Church Saga (42 page)

“Can we see him now?” Olivia asked.

“Sure.” The doctor pulled out one of his business cards. “If you think of anything you want to ask me later on, call me anytime.” Then he escorted them to Dean's room.

Olivia gasped loudly when she walked in. The sight of him connected to so many machines and breathing into a facemask was much worse than she envisioned. Her light brown eyes filled with tears.

“God, why him?” she cried loudly.

Colin tried to console her, but she pulled away and stroked the side of Dean's face as he slept.

Olivia wondered why this was happening to them. They were the perfect couple. She had finally found the missing piece to make her life complete, and now she felt like God was punishing them. Or was God punishing her?

Olivia had never forgiven herself for breaking the vow she made to the Lord. Giving her virginity to Bryant was a mistake. A mistake she thought she had paid the price for when her son was kidnapped and nearly sold.

She laid her head down by his side and revisited Reverend Simms's speech about sacrifice. She sat up and wondered what Dean would do if she was the one lying in the hospital. Her heart spoke back to her. Dean would do everything humanly possible to make her happy, and she was going to do the same for him.

They sat with him for over an hour before Dean opened his eyes. He lifted his eyelids. This was the first time she could actually see how sick he was. It scared her to see him wither away right before her eyes.

“Let's get married,” Olivia spit out. “Let's get married, today.”

Dean looked at her strangely.

“We already have the marriage license, and Colin is here. He can perform the ceremony.”

Dean shook his head. Then he pushed the breathing apparatus away from his face. “No,” he said gasping for air, “you deserve a real wedding.”

Olivia touched the side of his face. “What I deserve is to be married to you.” She giggled. “Now will you lie back and let your future wife take care of things?” She smiled at him. “I have a wedding to prepare for.”

“Partner, you better listen to her. I wouldn't go against any woman's wishes,” Colin joked.

When Olivia saw the sparkle in Dean's eyes, she knew she was doing the right thing.

“Olivia, I'm going to run home and grab my Bible.” Colin checked his watch. “Do you want me to call Danyelle?”

Dean waved his hand to refuse. “I don't want anyone to know about my illness,” he whispered.

Olivia looked back at Colin. She really wanted her closest friends and family to witness them getting married, but she didn't want to go against her fiancé's wishes.

“No, that's okay. I can find somebody else to be a witness.”

A half hour later, Colin returned to officiate his first wedding ceremony. One of the nurses on the floor agreed to be a witness, and within minutes Olivia and Dean became husband and wife.

The transition between Val and Jonah moving in together wasn't as easy as they'd anticipated. It was Val who insisted Jonah stay with her until he was able to find a job and decent place for him and Hope, but it wasn't until late one night that she realized she was living in sin. Her parents would die if they knew she was living with a man who wasn't her husband. That's why she hadn't mentioned him to anyone, not even Olivia. Livie was her best friend, and they usually shared everything, but she wasn't ready to explain where Jonah came from.

Jonah respected Olivia and her house. That's why he tried to stay out of her way, but it was hard living with such a beautiful sista. He noticed that Val also kept her distance from him, but he thought it was because she wasn't interested in him. She never flirted with him, but her tight clothes, voluptuous curves and perky breasts seemed to address him every time he looked at her.

He was attracted to her but didn't think it was wise for him to try and get close to her. It was obvious by her home, car and clothes that she was definitely out of his league.

During the day Val spent a lot of her time at the mission fulfilling her obligation to the city. At night she would come home and spend hours on the computer trying to help Jonah find a job. Together they must have applied for over thirty oil refinery and construction jobs. Only two companies were interested in interviewing him.

As luck would have it, as Jonah was walking home from the store one evening, he happened to overhear two guys talking. The gentleman talking wore a security guard's uniform, and he was telling his friend that the hospital he was working at was looking to hire a janitor.

Jonah applied the next day and was hired on the spot.

After several weeks, Jonah had finally fulfilled the requirements the judge had set for him. Mrs. Chambers was expected to drop Hope off at any minute.

When they heard a knock at the door, Jonah charged down the stairs with the energy of a boy rising early on Christmas morning. “I'll get it!” He pulled open the front door, and when Hope saw her father, she broke away from Mrs. Chambers' grasp and leapt into Jonah's arms.

Val could hear Hope squeal with joy at being reunited with her father. She watched the two of them embrace from the kitchen. Hope wrapped her tiny arms around her father's neck and wouldn't let go. Jonah kept trying to pull her back to give her kisses, but she was too scared to let go.

Jonah carried her into the living room.

Mrs. Chambers closed the door behind them and followed. “Let me get a good look at you. It seems like a lifetime since I've last seen you.” Mrs. Chambers set down a suitcase full of her things.

“Mrs. Chambers, would you like a seat?” Val offered as Mrs. Chambers admired her decorative living room. She and Jonah had spent most of the morning preparing for Hope's homecoming. The dining room table was full of gifts and a huge chocolate cake, all for Hope.

“No, thank you. It's obvious Hope was missed.” She smiled broadly.

“Yes, we are excited to have her back home,” Val replied.

“Mr. Reynolds, there are a few forms I need for you to sign, and then I'll be on my way.” She pulled a manila folder out of her briefcase and set it down on the coffee table.

Hope hung on to her father so tight that he had a hard time signing the forms, but after some maneuvering he got it done.

“This is a beautiful home,” Mrs. Chambers commented.

Val beamed with pride. It wasn't easy furnishing her entire house in less than three weeks, but she got it done. With the help of professional decorators, she selected color patterns and furniture and updated the entire house with the latest in kitchen appliances. The kitchen cabinets were now full of real plates and cups instead of Styrofoam. Pictures of Bryce, Olivia, Danyelle, Tressie and her parents hung throughout the house. It now felt like a real home.

“This is a great neighborhood to raise a child in. The schools are excellent, the streets are clean and there are lots of community events held for children Hope's age,” Mrs. Chambers pointed out.

“I recognize I've been blessed.” Jonah's gaze fell on Val.

When Val realized he was referring to her, she simply gave an uneasy smile and turned on the television for Hope.

“Well, it appears as though I have everything.” Mrs. Chambers gathered the forms. “The background checks that were run on you and Val came back clean, I have three consecutive paychecks, plus references from your supervisor documenting how superior your work ethics are. The only thing I would like to see is where Hope will be sleeping. When I came the first time, the room was still under construction. In my report I documented that she had her own room, but I would like to see the finished project.”

“Sure, follow me.” Val led her up the back steps.

When she opened Hope's bedroom door, Mrs. Chambers looked impressed. Splashes of lavender paint covered every wall and small pictures of ballerina shoes filled the room. Hanging from walls were ballerina shoes, and sitting on the shelves were baby dolls all waiting to be claimed by Hope.

Jonah and Hope followed close behind them. When he stepped in the room, Hope screamed out and struggled to get down from her father's arms.

Hope's positive reaction put Val's mind at rest. She prayed that Hope would approve of the decorating choices she made.

They watched her run over to her bed and pick up a baby doll and cradle it in her arms.

“This room is fantastic,” Mrs. Chambers said.

Jonah walked up beside Val. “I was wondering why every time I walked by this room the door was closed. I thought you were hiding something.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise. I knew you had bought Hope a lot of different clothes and toys, but I wanted to do something special for her. Something that came from me.”

“Val, you didn't have to go through all this trouble, but I thank you, and so does my daughter. Hope, why don't you come and give Val a hug and kiss for buying you all this stuff?”

Hope turned and looked at her father beckoning her over. She slowly walked toward Jonah.

Val bent down to give her a hug, and Hope reluctantly stood as still as a stone. Afterwards, she turned back toward her father and refused to look in Val's direction.

“She's shy,” Jonah replied.

“Well, I'm convinced that I'm leaving Hope in a stable, loving home, but I must remind you that my home visits will continue. If at any time I feel anything suspicious, then your daughter will be immediately placed back in the custody of the state. Do you understand?”

Jonah happily nodded his head. “That was easier than I thought it would be,” he whispered in Val's ear.

The following Saturday, Val watched Jonah and Hope watch cartoons together in her living room. She sighed heavily. It hurt that she couldn't establish the same kind of bond Jonah shared with Hope. She realized that he was her father, but Val had tried everything to get Hope to trust her. The little girl acted like she hated her. Jonah asked Val to be patient, but no matter how hard Val tried, Hope left her hopeless.

Hope soared through the air and landed on Jonah's back. He fell over and accidentally knocked over Val's brand-new crystal vase. It fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

Hope and Jonah looked at the vase, then at Val. Their faces were full of fear. They knew they were in trouble.

“Val, I'm so sorry. We shouldn't have been playing in the house,” Jonah said. “I'll replace it when I get paid on Friday.”

“Don't worry about it.” Val got up to pick up the broken pieces before anyone cut themselves. “I'm not used to having a child living with me. I should have bought cheap vases from the dollar store.”

“I know you're probably tired of having us take up your space.” Jonah helped her clean up. “It won't be long before I have enough money to move us out of here.”

She touched his hand. “Jonah, I enjoy having the two of you here. If it weren't for you, I'd be living in this big house all alone.”

They shared a smile.

Then an unexpected knock at the door pulled Val away. When she answered the door she was surprised to see Mrs. Chambers standing on the other side, accompanied by a police officer.

“Hello, Val, is Jonah here?”

Mrs. Chambers' official demeanor scared her. She could feel her heart pump faster. Uneasiness filled her stomach. “Jonah!” She hollered for him.

When Jonah reached the door and saw the cops, he instinctively ran back for his daughter.

Mrs. Chambers and the police officer barged past Val and into the living room.

“Jonah, don't make this any harder than it has to be,” Mrs. Chambers tried to reason.

“Is there a problem?” Val could see something was wrong.

“Why don't you ask Jonah that question?” Mrs. Chambers kept her eyes on Jonah. “Someone has made a claim that Hope isn't really your daughter. Is that true?”

Jonah held back the tears and momentarily closed his eyes, as if his worst nightmare had come true.

“Hope will have to remain in our custody until the matter is resolved.”

Val couldn't believe what she was hearing. This had to be a mistake.

Mrs. Chambers looked disappointed. “I'm sorry, but we have to take Hope back with us. We have a court order signed by the judge.” She pulled out a slip of paper from her pocket and handed it to Val. Then she reached out for Hope.

Hope must have sensed that something was wrong because she screamed out.

Jonah stepped back from Mrs. Chambers and held onto his daughter even tighter.

Then the police intervened. “Sir, don't make this any harder than it already is. We could have you arrested and then take the child.”

Val could see that the papers had been drawn up earlier that morning and signed by the judge. She walked over to Jonah and whispered, “Jonah!” She placed a loving hand on his arm and slowly shook her head.

Her eyes said there was nothing they could do. He had to give Hope up. He reluctantly loosened his grip.

Mrs. Chambers pulled Hope from him, and she kicked and screamed for her father. They quickly took her out of the house and put her in the police car that was waiting at the curb.

After they left, Jonah paced the living room floor until his anger couldn't be contained any longer and he slammed his fist into a nearby wall. He hit it so hard that he made a hole.

Val had never seen Jonah this angry before. She watched him for moment. The release of all that anger made him stagger over to the fireplace.

“I should have left when I had the chance,” he cried. “I stayed too long, and now they've taken my daughter.”

Val watched from a distance.

He knew she wanted answers to questions he prayed he would never have to acknowledge.

“Biologically, Hope is not my daughter.”

Val listened closely.

“My best friend was a soldier in the army. He was deployed to Iraq, but never came home. He was a casualty of war, leaving behind a wife and baby. They adopted Hope a few months before he left. Once my friend was gone, his wife had nowhere to go. So I invited her to stay with me in New Orleans until she got on her feet.”

“Is that who was lost in the storm?” Val asked.

“Yes. After we were rescued, I went to my momma's house in Baton Rouge. We stayed there a few weeks, until one afternoon the police came looking for us. They told my momma that they wanted to talk to me about Hope's parents. I thought the state had found out she didn't belong to me and was going to try and take her from me. I couldn't allow them to place her in foster care. I'm the only family Hope has. So I skipped town. We hid out like thieves, living from town to town, until I caught the bus here.”

“I wish you would have told me all of this sooner,” Val said.

“I was scared,” he replied.

“Is that everything? You didn't leave anything out, did you?”

“No.”

“These kind of legal technicalities are beyond my legal expertise, but I'll call a few of my professors and see if they can recommend a lawyer who specializes in family law.” Val went to her home office.

 

 

West watched a kid who looked like he was fresh out of law school tussle with a mound of files and papers. “I don't understand,” Judge West spoke up. “Didn't they tell you that I already have a lawyer?”

“Yes, a court appointed attorney, and I was hired by the pastor of your church. He insists he only wants what's best for you.”

“Who are you again?”

“My name is Joseph Morris, and I work for Myers and Kittering law offices.”

“Are you sure you're a lawyer and not a law clerk?”

This kid didn't look polished enough to handle his case. The judge already knew that his was a high profile case and that the lawyer who represented him would have to have experience on how the system worked.

“That's funny, sir.” Joseph finally found what he was looking for. He pulled out a pen from the inside of his jacket pocket and sat across from the judge. “I may have just graduated from college, but I did graduate at the top of my class.”

“Well, that's good to hear. Where did you go to school?”

“Ankara Law School.”

“Where? I've never heard of it? Where's it at?”

“It's in Turkey.”

“Are you referring to the country of Turkey?” Judge West laughed to himself. “This has got to be a joke. Are you licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania?”

“Yes, sir. I took the bar exam for Pennsylvania and passed. I'm not from Turkey. I am actually a United States citizen. I was born and raised in Nebraska.”