by E. N. Joy
“Yeah, and Tyler Perry is the leader. He’s redoing Madea’s Family Reunion, and he wants you to play the part of the girl who slapped the snot out of her mother played by Lynn Whitfield.” Unique could barely get her laugh out when Lorain went barreling out of the hospital door.
“Call me when you’ve come down off the high from whatever meds they’ve given you up in here,” Lorain said as she walked out the door, closing it behind her. She was genuinely upset, but as she stood outside of Unique’s hospital door, she had to let out a chuckle or two. Who was she kidding? Unique had pulled some funny stuff in there. Besides, people say that laughter is the best medicine. Maybe laughing about the situation would help her feel better about it. But that reasoning was quickly thrown out of the window when Lorain’s laughter turned to tears.
What was going down between her mother and herself was no laughing matter. It was a praying matter. So Lorain decided that’s just what she would do; pray and fast until God put His hand on the situation. But just as Lorain went to walk off so she could go get started, she felt a hand on her all right, but it wasn’t the hand of God.
Chapter Twenty-one
At first Mother Doreen was speechless. She shook her head and blinked her eyes as if she could shake away that very moment. As if after each and every blink, Pastor Frey would no longer be standing there right in front of her. Neither the shaking nor the blinking worked, because there he still stood in front of her, proclaiming he’d come all the way from Kentucky to Malvonia to get his wife. Supposedly that wife was Mother Doreen.
“Well, aren’t you going to say something?” Pastor Frey asked a stunned Mother Doreen.
Mother Doreen opened her mouth, but it took a few seconds for words to actually come out. “Wha ... what do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know, whatever God is leading you to say would help.”
“What’s God got to do with it?” Mother Doreen put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. With puckered lips and squinted eyes, she repeated, “What’s God got to do with you coming all the way here to Malvonia, then showing up on my doorstep talking about you came for your wife ... blah, blah, blah?”
“Oh, Doreen, surely I don’t have to explain that one to you. I mean, certainly you know what it’s like to be on an assignment from God, don’t you?” He looked at her knowingly with a smirk.
“Don’t play with me, Pastor Frey. What’s your deal? I can’t see you traveling all this way to hit me with this when a phone call would have sufficed.”
“Would a man propose to a woman over the phone?” Pastor Frey went into his pocket.
Mother Doreen sucked in a huge pocket of air, placing her hands over her mouth. Was this man about to do what she thought he was about to do?
Pastor Frey began to kneel down as he fished around in his pocket. “Doreen, will you ...” One knee was already on the ground when he retrieved the mini Bible from his pocket. “... pray with me?” His other knee hit the ground.
Mother Doreen exhaled loudly. Her hand drooped down to her side, and disappointment covered her face.
Pastor Frey gave a knowing little grin. “What? What did you think I was going to ask you?”
Mother Doreen stared at the man, now down on both knees, who was over ten years younger than she. To be in his upper fifties, the man didn’t have a gray hair on his head. He was, though, balding on top, but it was kind of, sort of, becoming. His shiny brown face housed a beard and mustache and sideburns. It also housed the deepest, brownest eyes Mother Doreen had ever stared into. They were hypnotizing. And right about now, she was being caught up in their spell. Realizing she was being pulled in by Pastor Frey’s antics, Mother Doreen pulled back... her feelings ... her emotions.
“Look, I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’m not down with it,” she spat. “I’ll pray with you. But I’m gonna do it from a distance. Now, my pastor and I were about to have dinner, so I think you better get to getting. . . all the way back to—”
Catching the tail end of what Mother Doreen was saying, Margie entered the room and cut her off. “Oh, Mother Doreen. This man says he’s your friend all the way from Kentucky. A friend of yours is a friend of mine.” She looked at Pastor Frey, who was still down on his knees. She then looked back at Mother Doreen. “I don’t mind if he joins us for dinner.”
“Oh, now, I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Pastor Frey said, lifting one knee and placing his foot flat on the floor. He extended his hand to Mother Doreen, hoping she’d assist him up off the floor. She simply folded her arms and turned her nose up. Chuckling, and attracted to the older woman’s actions, Pastor Frey managed to get up all by himself. Mother Doreen knew he could all along. He had the body of someone ten years his junior, who’d taken good care of himself.
“Nonsense. You won’t be intruding,” Margie assured him. “Isn’t that right, Mother Doreen?” Not waiting for her roommate to respond, Margie grabbed Pastor Frey by the hand and led him toward the kitchen. “Now let’s go. You can save your prayer to bless our meal. How’s that sound?”
“Sounds fantastic,” Pastor Frey smiled as Margie led him across Mother Doreen’s path. His smile was one of victory.
Mother Doreen remained in the living room with a frown of defeat. She didn’t like the way she was feeling right now, and it had nothing to do with Pastor Frey. It did, though, have everything to do with her pastor. For the first time ever, Mother Doreen was slightly upset with her pastor. How could she interfere like that? Just inviting this man to have dinner with them? Not just any man, but Pastor Frey, a man who was interested in making Mother Doreen his wife.
“A pastor’s wife,” Mother Doreen said under her breath. “The devil sho’ is a liar, because, God, I know you don’t have nothing to do with this. You know better than anybody that I’m not fit to be no pastor’s wife ... to be a first lady. I mean, with the way congregations rip apart, dig around, and try to find stuff on the first lady ... Why, it wouldn’t take long at all for folks to find out that I—”
“Mother Doreen, you coming?” Margie asked, peeking her head into the living room. She’d just interrupted the conversation Mother Doreen intended to be having with God, but was actually only having with herself.
“You know what, Pastor? I’m not really hungry. Why don’t the two of you go ahead and enjoy the meal?” Mother Doreen turned and walked to the guest room she’d been staying in. “Give Pastor Frey my regrets.”
Mother Doreen stomped by with such an attitude, Margie could sense that there was some tension in the air, and it was directed toward her. With a downcast look on her face, she returned to the kitchen.
Pastor Frey stood from the chair he’d been seated in upon Margie entering the room. Noticing the look on her face he asked, “Is everything okay?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She was honest in answering his question. “It looks like Mother Doreen won’t be joining us after all. She sends her regrets. And to be honest with you, I think she’s a little upset with me that I asked you to stay.” Margie sat and looked at Pastor Frey. “Is there something going on between you two that I don’t know about? Because, forgive me for saying this, but she doesn’t seem nearly as excited about seeing you as you do her.”
“I’m sure you know Doree ... Sister Dor ... Mother Doreen,” Pastor Frey had a time figuring out just how to refer to Mother Doreen under these circumstances. She was no longer the woman attending the church he had temporarily pastored. She was now the woman he was seeking to be his wife. So what he really wanted to call her, and some day soon, was First Lady Frey.
Margie put her index finger up, cutting Pastor Frey off. “Sorry, Pastor Frey. I don’t mean to cut you off. But will you excuse me for a minute?” Margie didn’t really even wait for Pastor Frey to respond before she rose up from her chair.
Pastor Frey stood as Margie stood and exited the kitchen, making her way to Mother Doreen’s room.
Approaching the door, Margie tapped softly on it. There was no response. She
tapped again, this time while simultaneously saying, “Mother Doreen, it’s me, Pastor.” Within seconds, the door opened and Margie could see Mother Doreen’s back as she walked away.
Closing the door behind her, Margie stepped into the room. “Are you feeling okay?”
“Sure, Pastor, why would you ask that?”
Was that a hint of sarcasm Pastor was detecting from Mother Doreen? Mother Doreen was one of the most respectful people at New Day. She was one of the most respectful people Margie knew, period. She was truly surprised by her tone.
“Well, for one, you decided to skip dinner. Is it because you don’t want to have dinner with your gentleman caller, or is it because you don’t want to have dinner with me?”
“Would I offend you, Pastor, if I said it was a little of both?”
Margie was offended. “In all honesty, yes, it would. I’d like to know where all this is coming from.”
“Pastor, you know where all this is coming from. Remember our talk the other day in your office? Remember everything I shared with you about my past?”
“Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?” Margie was truly confused. She recalled the story Mother Doreen had shared with her; an intense story it was. But she had no idea what that had to do with Pastor Frey.
“It has everything to do with it, Pastor.” Mother Doreen pointed at the door. “That man isn’t just a gentleman caller. That man is someone who, during my stint back in Kentucky, I got close to.” Mother Doreen turned her back to Margie in embarrassment. “Too close.”
Margie cleared her throat. “Are you saying that you two—”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, no, Pastor,” Mother Doreen replied sharply, turning back around to face her pastor. “I mean, I took a strong liking to the man, and he took one to me as well.”
“Still, I don’t see anything wrong with that.” Margie paused and thought for a minute. “He’s not already married, is he? He’s not one of those men of God who claim that God told them even though they’re already married, that another woman is their wife, is he?”
“No, Pastor Frey is a decent man,” Mother Doreen confirmed.
“Then, once again, I’m in the dark on this one. I need you to shed some light on it for me.”
“Pastor, that man wants me to be his wife.”
“And let me guess. You being his wife would mean you can’t head the Singles’ Ministry that you have all these big plans for.”
“No, well, uh, yeah ... I guess I never thought about that.”
“Oh, Mother Doreen, I was just kidding.” Margie swished her hand. “What’s really going on? What is it that scares you so much about that man?”
“He only knows this Mother Doreen; the one he met in Kentucky,” she answered. “He doesn’t know about the other one.”
“And good thing too because it’s this one that he wants to marry.” She pointed at Mother Doreen while saying, “Not the other one.”
“Pastor, you know what I mean,” Mother Doreen pouted.
“Mother Doreen, I’ve known you for years. And that woman you used to be, I thank her.”
“You thank her? For what?”
“Because I know she has everything to do with how the woman standing in front of me now turned out.” Margie shook her head. “I’ve seen it once, and I’ve seen it time and time again—folks running from their past. You don’t have to run from it. All you have to do is just leave it behind. Period. If someone decides to pick it up and remind you of it, what you do in return is show them who you are today.”
“And that’s all fine and dandy when it’s just you, Pastor,” Mother Doreen countered. “But I can’t bring someone else into it, especially not no pastor. I just can’t do it. I can’t take the chance of someday ruining that man’s ministry because of a stupid, stupid mistake I made in my past.”
“So, I guess you think he doesn’t have any mistakes he’s made. I guess you don’t think I have made mistakes in my past that I once thought could ruin my ministry,” Margie explained. “I assure you, that is the furthest thing from the truth. Remember when I jokingly mentioned something about feeling like I was back in my college days? Well, the woman of God standing before you now is definitely not the same young woman who used to sell drugs on the college campus back in the day.”
This information about her pastor was not news to Mother Doreen. Pastor had given her testimony a time or two to the New Day congregation.
“Not only did I sell them, but I used them. I used to eat pills like they were Sweet Tarts from the penny candy store. But that’s not who I am now. And had I let my past keep me in bondage and keep me in fear, then I would not be a part of the ministry I’m in today.” Margie looked at Mother Doreen. “You’ve not let your past keep you from doing what God has called you to do before. Perhaps God is calling you higher. Perhaps God wants to put you in a position to minister to even more people. As a first lady, just think of all the women you could bless and all the women you could save with your story.
“Remember the first time I gave my testimony? All the folks who got saved and rededicated their lives to Christ? There is a time and a purpose for everything under heaven, Mother Doreen. Perhaps your time is now. I’m sorry if I upset you by inviting Pastor Frey to stay for dinner. I honestly didn’t look that far back into your past and that far ahead into your future to connect the dots. I honestly didn’t mean any harm, and I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Pastor.” Mother Doreen embraced Margie. “It’s okay. I overreacted. I let the devil do something I haven’t let him do in a long time, and that’s to get inside my head and influence my thoughts.”
“So what are you saying, Mother Doreen?” Margie waited excitedly for Mother Doreen’s response.
“I’m saying that no devil in hell, on earth, or in high places is going to keep me from what God has for me.” Confidently, she walked past Margie and went over and opened her door.
“Are you referring to your ministry?”
“Heck, no. I’m referring to my man!” And on that note, Mother Doreen whisked out the door, leaving an elated Margie with hands clasped.
“Yesss!” Margie said, pumping a fist in the air. This was a victory for both her and Mother Doreen. Mother Doreen would get her man, and Margie would get out of having to partner with Mother Doreen in the Singles’ Ministry... or so she thought.
Chapter Twenty-two
“It felt good having you back, Sister Paige,” the choir leader said to Paige after closing prayer. They’d just wrapped up their Saturday morning choir rehearsal, and Paige was now on her way to work.
“And you have no idea how good it feels to be back.” Paige meant that with all her being. Singing to and for the Lord had just done something to her. It had ignited the fire in her belly again; renewed her spirit. Without a doubt, she knew that God was going to bring her out of her trials and tribulations unscathed. She just had to trust Him. And that’s just what she declared after singing “I Trust God” by Johnny Sanders. “See you guys at service tomorrow,” Paige said smiling as she left the church.
“Hey, I heard you in there singing,” Sister Nita said, coming out of the women’s bathroom with mop and bucket in hand. “And I believed you. I believed your every word.”
“Me too, Sister Nita. Me too.” Paige smiled, and then exited the church. “Glory,” she said under her breath. “Hallelujah. I thank you, Lord. I thank you, Jesus.” The anointing was still on her, and Paige couldn’t shake the feeling of admiration she had for God. But in a moment’s time, she’d be needing to shake off something else—the devil.
“That’s right, praise Him.”
A chill seized her as Paige heard a familiar voice coming up beside her. She turned to see Blake approaching her.
“He’s worthy to be praised,” Blake declared. “After all, it is He that I give all the honor and glory to for blessing me with such a wonderful wife. You know what the scripture says, ‘He who finds a wife finds a good thing.’”
&nbs
p; “Yeah, and she who finds a husband should have never been looking for him in the first place,” Paige shot back.
Blake chuckled. “That was a good one.”
“It wasn’t a joke,” Paige snapped.
“And neither is our marriage.” Blake was serious. “So don’t treat it like a joke with this frivolous charge that’s pending.”
“Look, Blake, I think you better go. There’s a restraining order on you, you know,” Paige reminded him nervously.
“Oh, you mean this?” Blake pulled out a pink and yellow piece of paper. “This thing that tells me that I’m supposed to keep away from your job and Tamarra’s place?” Blake looked around. “Well, it didn’t say anything about the church.”
“You know what it means, Blake. Don’t try to play games. It means stay away from me, period; wherever I am.”
“But this is my place of worship. It doesn’t say I can’t come to my place of worship.” Blake chuckled. “Oh, so what? Does God have a restraining order against me too?”
Paige shook her head in disgust. “Tamarra was right; you are egoistical, and I don’t know why I never saw it until now.”
“So that’s what this is all about. Tamarra is over there feeding you garbage. This is why you haven’t come back to me. You’re over there taking advice from a bitter, middle-aged woman who couldn’t keep her own husband, or even her fiancé, for that matter. She’s just jealous.”
“You know that couldn’t be the furthest thing from the truth,” Paige retaliated on her friend’s behalf. “She’s the one who hooked us up in the first place, and boy, oh boy, does she regret it.”
“I bet she does,” Blake said with a raised eyebrow.
“And just what is that supposed to mean?” For some reason, a knot the size of a peach pit formed in Paige’s belly. She suspected that she was treading water that, if she got any deeper into, she’d need a life jacket.
“You’re stupid. You used to be fat and stupid, but now you’re just plain old stupid.”
