Let the Church Say Amen (14 page)

D
ON’T DO IT
.
Rachel heard the little voice in her head. The one that always tried to keep her out of trouble. The voice of reason. The one that she usually ignored.

Rachel looked at Bobby and Shante’s wedding program that she had swiped from inside her father’s Bible a week ago. She had the whole thing memorized, including the names of all the bridesmaids, the groomsmen, even the musician.

Rachel looked at the black line drawn through Shante’s name. Above it she had written her own. She knew if anyone saw the program, they would think she was crazy, but she wasn’t. She was just in pain and imagining what could have been.

I’ve got something that can make you feel better, too.
There went that little voice again. Rachel had been fighting it all afternoon. As usual, she was sprawled out on the sofa at her parents’ house. Her electricity had been cut off for nonpayment, which was really trifling because for once she had the money to pay it. She just had been so depressed that she never made it down to the light company. Since it was Friday, she would have to wait until Monday to get it turned back on.

Just do it.
The little voice was driving her crazy. For two days the idea to do more damage to Bobby and Shante had been haunting her. She was trying to heed her mother’s words to move on, but she wasn’t having any luck.

Rachel finally decided the only way to get the voice out of her head was to go forward with what it wanted. She threw back the afghan she’d been lying in and eased quietly off the sofa, making sure not to wake Nia at the other end. Jonathan had taken Jordan to the circus. They had tried to get Rachel to go, but Nia had an ear infection. Besides, Rachel was in no mood to sit up in a circus and act like everything was peachy-keen in her life.

Rachel made her way over to the telephone. She hesitated before punching in the 800-number.

“Good afternoon, Reliant Energy. This is Carla, may I help you?”

Rachel took a deep breath. No turning back now. “Um … yes, this is Shante Wilson, I mean Clark. I live at 25 Northwest 51st. And um, I need to have my electricity cut off. I just got married and we’re moving out.”

“Okay, Mrs. Clark. For security purposes, we’ll need your mother’s maiden name.”

Rachel smiled. Good thing Lethora Stewart-Wilson was a modern woman who used a hyphenated name. “It’s Stewart.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Clark. Is there an address you’d like this service moved to?”

“No, not right now. We’re staying with family. We’ll call back when we’re ready to get service hooked up again.”

“Mrs. Clark, we’ll get you all taken care of. Thank you for being a valued customer of Reliant. Have a great day.”

Rachel hung up the phone with a look of satisfaction across her face. She knew Bobby’s lease was up at the end of the month, so they were most likely staying at Shante’s condo. Now let them stay in the dark, Rachel thought.

Rachel decided not to stop there. She picked up the phone again and called information, asking for the number to the gas and phone companies.

She repeated the process for both places. She ran into a snag with the phone company because they wanted the last four digits of Shante’s Social Security number, which she didn’t know, but Rachel managed to convince them that she just couldn’t remember it. She gave them Lethora’s maiden name again and they seemed content with that.

Rachel relaxed in her father’s recliner. She was pleased with her handiwork and glad she had listened to that little voice. Granted, this would only be an inconvenience to them (a big one), but not a matter of life or death. It would, however, fulfill Rachel’s goal to piss off Shante.

“What are you sitting in here grinning about?” Loretta asked as she walked into the den. “What have you done now?”

Rachel looked at her mother standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. She realized she was still holding on to the phone. She slammed it down in the cradle. “What are you talking about, Mama?”

“You’ve been walking around here depressed with your lips to the ground for the last week. Now, you’re sitting in here with an amused look across your face. So I repeat, what have you done now?”

Rachel let out a deep breath. “Mother, you underestimate me. Maybe I just realized it’s time to move on.”

“And maybe I’ve got some swampland in Florida to sell.” Loretta eyed Rachel suspiciously. “Come on in here and help me with these dishes.”

Rachel rubbed her stomach. “I don’t feel too good.”

Loretta threw her daughter a stern look. “Don’t debate me on this. I don’t ask you for much. You come over here to eat, drop your kids off, and wash your clothes. I never say a word, so the least you can do is help me with the dishes. Now come on.”

“But I have to watch Nia!”

“Girl, if you don’t get on in here. Nia is sound asleep.”

Rachel stomped behind her mother into the kitchen. “Why don’t you all get a dishwasher?” Rachel complained.

“We have one, you.”

“Where’s the almighty Reverend Jackson?” Rachel asked as she started running dishwater and stacking up the mounds of dishes from their dinner.

“He’s taking a nap. He has the revival at Greater St. John in about an hour.”

Rachel peered under the cabinet for some rubber gloves. She had just had her nails painted with little intricate designs, and didn’t want to risk them wearing off.

“Why do people have revivals on Friday nights anyway?” she asked as she put on the gloves, shut off the water, and started scrubbing a dish.

“Souls need saving seven days a week,” Loretta said. She was wiping down the stove.

The doorbell rang and Rachel seized the opportunity. “I’ll get it,” she said, racing out of the kitchen.

When she pulled back the little curtain on the door and saw the figures on the other side, her mood became sour again. Rachel snatched the door open.

“Hello, Miss Rachel.” Delilah spoke first, displaying a big fake grin. Carrie was standing next to her, looking innocent. Rachel couldn’t believe they had the audacity to show their faces at her mother’s home.

Delilah’s eyes made their way down to Rachel’s gloved hands. “Did we interrupt your domestic duties?”

Rachel’s attitude was written all over her face, and she didn’t care what they thought about it. Both of them looked taken aback by her cold demeanor. “May I help you?” she asked.

Delilah and Carrie glanced at each other with confused looks. Delilah shrugged her shoulders and turned back toward Rachel. “We’re here to see Simon, I mean, Reverend Jackson.”

“He’s asleep.” Rachel didn’t move from her spot.

Delilah held up a stack of papers. “Well, he wanted me to drop these scripture copies off for the revival tonight.”

“I’ll take them.” Rachel stuck her hand out.

Delilah grasped the papers close to her chest. “There’s some things on here I need to personally explain.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Just tell me and I’ll tell him when he wakes up.” Her attitude was getting more intense.

“Rachel, let our guests in.” Loretta had walked up behind her daughter. Rachel turned around and her mouth dropped open. Her mother’s long, thick hair was down, hanging past her shoulders. Rachel hadn’t seen her mother wear her hair down in years. She always wore it pinned up tightly in a bun or a French roll. She had also taken off the apron that had become her domestic staple.

Rachel stepped aside and let the women pass.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” Loretta said.

“Good afternoon to you,” Delilah responded. “I do love your hair like that.”

Carrie nodded. “Yeah, I didn’t realize it was that long. It looks good.”

Rachel felt like she was going to be sick.

“I was just telling Rachel I needed to get these papers to Reverend Jackson,” Delilah said. “And there are some things I needed to go over with him, because they didn’t quite come out the way he wanted them to.”

Rachel stared at Delilah’s outfit. As usual, her cleavage was showing. She also wore a skintight, leopard miniskirt. The woman had to be forty-five years old and still dressed like she was seventeen.

“Well, I’ll go wake Simon. I’m sure if he has any questions, he’d like them answered before the revival tonight.” Loretta turned toward her daughter. “Rachel, you can go finish what you were doing.”

“Thank you,” Delilah remarked.

“Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

Loretta went upstairs to wake Simon.

Rachel cut her eyes at the women before heading back down the hall. When she was out of sight, she stopped within earshot of their conversation. She knew she was eavesdropping as always, but she wanted to find out why they were really there.

“Did you check out Miss Thang’s hair?” Carrie whispered.

“Girl, yes. It don’t matter though. She still looks like somebody’s grandmother in that frumpy old housecoat.”

“She is,” Carrie said, laughing. “You know her scandalous daughter has all those babies.”

It took everything in Rachel’s power not to go back in there and give them a piece of her mind.

“And get a load of this house,” Delilah continued, rubbing her hand along the sofa. “She has it decorated like a funeral parlor. It’s horrible. This hard sofa, those old antiquated tables. I would be living large if I was the first lady.”

“But you’re not.”

Both women jumped up at the sight of Loretta. She had entered the living room through the kitchen entrance. Rachel broke out into a big smile. Her mother must have come down the back stairs that led to the kitchen. Loretta knew exactly what she was doing. Rachel had to see this up close. She stepped out from behind the door where she had been listening, walked into the living room, and leaned against the wall with a triumphant look across her face.

Loretta gently walked within inches of Delilah’s face. “You know, for years I have been listening to you degrade me, talk about me. I have watched your worthless attempts to steal my husband. And I have remained a true Christian, just turning the other cheek, because I have faith in my husband. You can consider yourself the most glamorous, sexiest diva there is. But the bottom line remains. I still have what you want.” Loretta had a smooth, confident look across her face. Rachel had never been so impressed. Delilah, however, looked stunned.

“I
am Mrs. Simon Jackson. I am the first lady of Zion Hill.
You
are nothing but a lonely, bitter, washed-up wannabe who cannot keep a man, and must therefore try to steal everyone else’s.”

Rachel wanted to give her mother a high five. She wished she were taping this. David and Jonathan would never believe it. Her mother was telling Delilah off with such dignity and class. Rachel knew that if it was her, she and Delilah would be rolling on the floor.

Loretta stood firm, not taking her eyes off of Delilah. “I’m about fed up with you. Therefore, I would advise you to begin looking for another job, because I will be speaking with my husband regarding your dismissal and finding someone with morals, values, and respect. And much to your dismay, I guarantee you, my feelings will come before yours. Now, if you would kindly hand over those papers and get the hell out of my house!”

With that, Rachel couldn’t help but laugh. She had never heard her mother curse. This was too much.

Delilah looked dumbfounded, but didn’t move.

“If you can’t find the door, my foot would be happy to help you,” Loretta said calmly.

Carrie took the papers from Delilah, threw them on the table, then grabbed Delilah’s arm. “We’ll be leaving now.”

She pulled Delilah toward the door. Rachel had raced over and pulled it wide open. The women scurried out without looking back.

Rachel closed the door and turned toward her mother. “Oh, my God, Mama. That was off the hook! I can’t believe you finally said something to them.”

Loretta looked at her daughter and smiled. “Even Christian women have their limits. Now let’s go finish the dishes.”

Rachel proudly beamed at her mother. “Gladly, Mama. Gladly.”

She draped her arm through her mother’s arm and led her back into the kitchen.

A
NGELA SAT ON
the floor of the Jacksons’ home. She was playing with Nia, looking so happy. Jonathan, on the other hand, had never been more confused. He believed without a shadow of a doubt that he loved Angela, so why did his insides feel like they were all jumbled up?

These last three months with her had been wonderful. He had forgotten just how much he enjoyed her company. For a while, she actually made him forget his troubles with Tracy. Jonathan didn’t think anyone would ever be able to do that. He started telling himself that this was all part of God’s master plan.

Simon appeared in the doorway. “How is my most favorite granddaughter?” he asked, bending down to kiss Nia.

Nia giggled. “She’s wonderful, Reverend Jackson,” Angela replied.

Simon smiled, before turning to Jonathan. “Can I talk to you a minute, Son?” He motioned toward the patio door. “Let’s just go out on the deck.”

“Are you going to be all right?” Jonathan asked Angela as he got up.

“We’ll be just fine,” she replied, tickling Nia’s stomach.

Jonathan followed his father outside. Simon had a huge grin across his face as he turned to face his son. “Jon, since the day you entered this world, you’ve made me proud of you. The only way you can make me happier is to take this.” Simon opened up his hand to reveal a stunning one and a half carat ring encased in white gold.

Jonathan’s eyes narrowed. “That’s Mom’s ring.”

Simon grasped the ring between his index finger and thumb and lifted it. “This belonged to your Grandma Naomi. And it belonged to her mother before that. She gave it to me; I gave it to Loretta, and now we want to give it to you. It would make us both proud if you would take this ring and make Angela your wife.”

Jonathan gazed at the ring in amazement. He knew everyone expected him to marry Angela; he was even seriously considering it. But by no means had he intended on doing anything anytime soon. He and Angela had never discussed marriage, although he knew she desperately wanted it. She would sink into these silent bouts and Jonathan knew it was because she was wrestling with her feelings about having a baby out of wedlock.

“Dad, I don’t know if we’re ready for this,” Jonathan said. “We’ve only officially been back together a few months.”

“It’s not like you don’t know her, have a history with her. You two had solid years together. I know you were in high school but you both have always been so mature. You need to do right by that girl and make her your wife before that baby is born. That child deserves to come into this world with two parents … parents who are married.”

Jonathan thought about what his father was saying. The last thing he wanted was for Angela to be a single mom. Granted, he would always be there for his child, but it wasn’t the baby’s fault he had pressured her into having sex. It’s not like he didn’t love Angela. Maybe this was the sign he was asking for to help him get his head together.

Jonathan took the ring and stared at it briefly, before easing it into his pocket. Simon smiled broadly and patted his son on the back. “I knew you’d do the right thing.”

“Let’s go back inside. I’ll get your mother and you can propose to Angela in front of everybody,” Simon said.

His father wasn’t wasting any time. He wasn’t even giving Jonathan time to digest everything. Before Jonathan could respond, Simon was gone.

A few minutes later, his parents walked back into the den.

“Let me take Nia,” Loretta said to Angela, trying to conceal her excitement.

Angela looked like she wanted to protest, she was having so much fun.

Jonathan touched her arm. “Let Mama have her just for a moment.” He looked over at his father, who gave him a reassuring nod.

Angela handed Nia over to Loretta, a look of confusion across her face.

Jonathan turned back toward Angela. “I know this isn’t how we planned on anything happening, but obviously this was God’s plan. I don’t want to bring a child into this world without the Jackson name. So,” he hesitated, pulling out the ring, and dropping to his knee. Angela stood before him, her eyes wide. “Will you marry me?”

Jonathan took the tears forming in Angela’s eyes as a yes. She eased her hand out, her face beaming with excitement, tears welling up in her eyes. As he slid the ring on her finger, Jonathan said a silent prayer that he was doing the right thing.