After making idle chatter for a few minutes, the ladies stopped whispering when the music started.
Carlton approached the podium after prayer and several songs from the choir.
Avery felt a lump form in her throat. Each time she laid eyes on Carlton, he looked finer than before, and this morning was no different. His black Armani suit and Ferragamo loafers matched his captivating swagger. It was enough to make her dizzy with lust as he stood in the pulpit.
Eva thought about the secret Avery had shared as she listened to Carlton’s message about second chances.
“And the word of God says, then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, I called out to the Lord out of my distress and He answered me.”
Carlton spoke freely, pulling from his vast memory of an abundant number of Bible passages. “Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me. All your waves and your billows passed over me. Perfecting Your Faith, Jonah was disobedient. He refused to follow God’s instructions. What happened to him because of his disobedience? You know the story.”
Carlton looked around at his attentive congregation. He had them just where he wanted them, glued to his message and the words God had given him to speak. Each time he stood in the pulpit before his congregation, he was reassured that he was doing what he had been called to do as a youngster. He felt right preaching and teaching about God.
“Jonah landed in the belly of a whale,” He continued as he began to slowly walk back and forth across the podium. “He was destined for death—destined for his life to end. But I’m here to remind somebody today that the God we serve is a God of second chances.”
The congregation shouted praises and hallelujahs as Carlton delivered yet another powerful, soul-stirring, spirit-changing message.
“Has anybody here ever messed up? Have you messed up so badly that you just knew there was no way you would be forgiven, that you would ever recover? Did your friends, your family, and your loved ones turn their backs on you and kick you to the curb?”
People in the sanctuary began praising God, shouting, and the organist played musical scales that further ignited the on fire congregation.
“I’m standing before you today to say that we all have messed up at one time or another in our lives. But the good news is that we serve a God of second chances. I know I’ve told you this before, but my spirit says that somebody in here needs a reminder of the goodness of God. Just like God gave Jonah a second chance by rescuing him out of the belly of the fish, he will do the same for you.” Carlton’s voice boomed. “His mercies are new every morning.”
Avery sat in her seat with a slight smile on her face. Arms folded, and body rigid, she thought about the results of the DNA tests.
Carlton, like always, preached with fervor as he walked back and forth across the carpeted floors of the sanctuary.
At the end of his message, he invited people to come forward and they did. They came forth in droves—youth, young adults, middle aged, and seniors came. Carlton had that kind of drawing effect. They came to the front of the church to dedicate their lives to Christ, seek prayer, or join Perfecting Your Faith.
“Wow, your husband’s sermons just get better and better,” Harper said at the end of service. “The man is a dynamic speaker. God is using him.”
Meesha blushed. “Yes, he is. Thank you, Harper.”
Eva stood next to Harper, his arm securely around her waist where she couldn’t ease out of his firm grasp even if she wanted to. Here they were, standing in front of Meesha like they were the perfect couple with the perfect marriage when things couldn’t be farther from the truth. She stood next to Harper with a fake smile plastered across her face, but hurting and confused on the inside.
Harper continued talking. “I’m sorry that Eva and I couldn’t accept the offer to be your little girl’s godparents.”
“No need for apologies. I understand that Avery and Ryker asked you first. It’s not a problem, really. His brother, Martin and his wife, agreed to be her godparents. They’re a wonderful couple.”
“Yes, we know Brother and Sister Porter, and you’re right, they are good people so that’s good to know. For what it’s worth, I’ve never told you that I appreciate you.”
Meesha cut her eyes briefly at Eva. Eva rolled her eyes up in her head.
“Appreciate me. For what?”
“For being a good friend to my wife. I know you didn’t agree with me when, well when she and I had our disagreement, but like Pastor Porter preached today, thank God we have a God who doles out second chances. I’m thankful I listened to him,” he said and kissed Eva on top of her head.
“Yes, his message was quite timely. One thing about Carlton is he lets God use him and speak through him.” What in the world is wrong with Eva? She’s acting like a zombie or something.
“That he does,” Harper said while Eva remained unusually quiet.
Meesha couldn’t get over Eva’s odd silence but thought it was not the proper time or place to address her concerns.
The nanny appeared with Makena and the boys and Avery walked up. Eva looked relieved.
“Would you like me to go get Heather and Lexie so they can be in here for the christening?” Eva turned and asked Avery.
“I can go get them,” Avery answered.
“I don’t mind. Really,” Eva said. “After all, I am RJ’s godmother. Let me do something to help.” Eva smiled. “You and Ryker go on and get in place for the ceremony and I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, thank you, Eva.” Avery smiled back.
Eva excused herself, pushed slightly against Harper’s hold, and walked away. Everyone else made the short walk to the altar from where they were gathered.
Holding his sleeping son, Ryker appeared, turned, and then said to his wife, “You about ready?”
“Just as soon as Eva comes back with the girls, but we can go and get in position at the altar.”
Avery looked around for Eva as she and Ryker made their way down to the altar. She saw Heather followed by Lexie and Eva. The three of them were laughing and chattering away. Avery wished that Eva would be able to one day have a child of her own, but she didn’t think that would be possible as long as she remained with Harper. Harper didn’t strike her as the type of guy who would get his vasectomy reversed or even adopt a kid. Poor Eva.
The christening ceremony was beautiful. Surprisingly, Carlton didn’t seem to raise one iota of suspicion as he removed a still sleeping RJ from Ryker’s arms, prayed over the baby boy, and then lifted him up toward the heavens as a symbol of returning him to God.
Carlton could only pray that the anxiety he felt when he picked up the little boy was not evident on his face or in his words. He looked at the sleeping baby, searching for any resemblance to himself. He saw none. He quickly looked at Avery whose gaze was fixed on him like concrete. It looked as if she had the slightest Mona Lisa like smile on her face. Was she gloating? Demon, he thought. Wicked woman.
He prayed over the little boy and then said a silent prayer to God that the child, like Liam, was not his. As long as Avery kept her crazy, delusional mouth shut, everything would be just fine. If she knew what was good for her, she wouldn’t want to push him because he could be very unpleasant when he was pushed. So far, he had been able to keep her quiet, but the way she did little slick things from time to time to get under his skin was starting to aggravate him.
Eva and Harper stood on each side of Ryker and Avery. Eva watched the exchange between Avery and Carlton. The expression on his face showed guilt and worry. Maybe nobody else saw it, but she did, and glancing at Avery, she could tell that Avery sensed it too. Good for him. He should be squirming, Eva thought and flashed a smile his way.
He placed RJ back in Ryker’s arms and moved on to his precious little girl and repeated the ceremonial blessing and christening over her life.
Meesha beamed wi
th inexplicable joy as the godparents and her four boys stood before her husband and their father.
The couples, godparents, and their children went to lunch after the ceremony. The men talked mostly sports and work while the housewives discussed family, children, Eva’s love of culinary school, Peyton’s positive recovery, and other small talk.
The children, minus Liam, were somewhat mischievous, but that was normal. Liam kept his head glued to his phone, seemingly oblivious to everything going on around him.
By the time the final course of their meal arrived and they indulged in the scrumptious food, the afternoon was drawing late and the babies were starting to get cranky. Meesha’s nanny tended to Makena when she began to fuss. RJ followed with a bellow of his own. Ryker comforted the little boy by removing him from his stroller and cradling him in his arms. He pulled out a bottle of fresh pumped breast milk from the portable cooler. He asked the server to warm it. When the server returned with the warm bottle of milk, Ryker fed his son.
Avery felt herself becoming moody and suddenly demanded that they leave the restaurant.
Ryker didn’t put up a fuss. He gathered the girls, the baby…and his wife. They said their goodbyes and were the first couple to depart.
Chapter 18
“Secrets are lies by another name.” Michael Murpugo
Peyton spent hours online and, on the phone, talking to Adverse City’s most sought after party planner. Derek’s thirty-ninth birthday was in a few weeks. It may not have been a milestone birthday, but it was his birthday nonetheless, and she was going to make sure it was the best birthday bash in Adverse City.
Entertaining had never been quite her forte, but when she did entertain she pulled out all stops. Because Derek was more of a reserved type of man with a select number of what he considered true friends, she limited the ‘invitation only’ list to one hundred people consisting of family, friends, coworkers and a select number of his biggest bank customers.
“I will have everything just as you requested,” Lawrence Jakobe, the million dollar party planner assured her on video chat. “The invitations have gone out. You’ve tasted the cake and chosen it. You have all the decorations selected, and the color scheme is going to be perfect. Outside on the back lawn will be a huge decorated party tent. All you need to do now is finalize the food. You haven’t changed your mind about a sit down dinner have you? I know you were thinking of a buffet too,” Lawrence went on and on.
“I think it would be more sophisticated and more to Derek’s liking if we have a sit down dinner. However, I still want h'ordeuvres, finger foods, and a variety of desserts and beverages, but please, remember there is to be no liquor of any kind.”
“Are you sure? What’s a party without at least a little alcohol?” Lawrence said, raising a questioning eyebrow.
“A safe party and a fun party. I’m sure you can make it work. You can have all sorts of virgin drinks.”
“Oh, certainly. Do not worry. I’m on it,” Lawrence agreed.
“As you should. I’m paying you enough,” Peyton barked slightly, but reined her rising attitude back in. She had been doing most, if not all, of the planning while Derek was at the office since it was going to be a surprise. Liam was in on it and helped to keep his dad occupied on the occasions when Derek was at home and Peyton needed to handle something concerning the party.
The doorbell rang. “Okay, Lawrence, I promise to finalize the food choices later this evening or first thing tomorrow.”
“Yes, Mrs. Hudson. That will be fine.”
“Great. Well someone is at the door. We’ll chat later.”
“Yes, of course,” Lawrence replied and they disconnected from video chat.
Peyton’s personal assistant knocked on the door of the study.
“Come in.”
“Mrs. Hudson, Mrs. Stenberg is here.”
“Oh, great. Please show her in.”
“Of course.” The assistant disappeared and returned with Eva.
“Please bring the other ladies in here too when they arrive,” Peyton told the personal assistant.
“Yes, I sure will,” the assistant responded.
“Hey, girl. How are things going?”
“Good, I guess, considering the party is in a few weeks and I still have a ton of things I need to finish.”
“Everything is going to turn out just fine. Avery and Meesha should be here in a few minutes. We’re all going to sit down and together we’ll make sure everything is the way you want it to be. Derek is going to be so surprised and happy.”
“I sure hope so, Eva.”
The doorbell rang again and this time Meesha was led into the study.
“Hi, ladies,” Meesha said as she entered the room.
“Hi, Meesha,” Peyton and Eva said.
Eva’s text notifier chimed. She looked at the phone in her hand and read the message.
Sorry, I don’t feel up to coming. Need some me time. You girls go on without me.
“Avery just texted me. She’s not coming. Says she doesn’t feel up to it.”
“She’s still battling with PPD, huh?” Peyton acknowledged.
“Yes, she is. Some days are better than others for her,” Eva stated.
“I’m blessed and thankful that I didn’t go through it as tough as she’s experiencing. I mean I got the blues for a few days with the boys, but nothing like what poor Avery is experiencing,” Meesha said.
“Well, I don’t know a thing about it,” said Peyton. “And from the sound of it, I don’t want to ever know about it.”
“Neither do I,” Eva added.
“If you were just talking about depression, which I’ve heard PPD has similar symptoms, then I can identify with that,” Peyton chimed in.
“Yeah, it is similar,” Meesha agreed. “We have to continue to pray for her and be there for her as her friends.”
“Right, and she’ll be fine. She’s still seeing a therapist. I think because of that she’s getting better every day,” Eva said.
“I’d hate for her to try to kill herself like she tried before,” said Peyton.
“Peyton?” Meesha said.
“Well, I’m just saying. I hope she doesn’t try to take herself out. It would be a shame to leave those children motherless.”
“Let’s change the subject,” Eva said.
Meesha clapped her hands, laughed, and said, “Yes, you’re right. Enough of this Debbie Downer talk. Let’s get this show on the road. We have the best birthday party ever to pull off for your man.”
“Oh yeah, you got that right,” Peyton agreed and laughed and so did Eva.
“I still want to prepare a dish, something delectable, for the party,” Eva told Peyton.
“I appreciate the offer, but this is going to be a one hundred percent catered affair, and I already have the caterer. When you get your own restaurant, you already know you’ll have my business. Your food is delicious, at least the one dish I’ve tasted.” Peyton laughed.
“Don’t play,” Eva said and chuckled.
“Seriously, you can cook.”
“Thanks, Peyton. That’s the first time I’ve heard you give a compliment.”
Eva and Meesha laughed again.
“Don’t you all start,” Peyton said and laughed with them. “Okay, come over here. What I need from you ladies is help deciding on the food. Let me pull up the sample menus.”
At home, Avery hid away in her bedroom. She didn’t have to pick up the girls today. They had dance class after school, and Ryker offered to pick them up, which was fine by her. The nanny was tending to RJ.
Avery curled up in her bed where she’d been ever since the girls and Ryker left earlier that morning. At first, her intention was to go over to Peyton’s and help with the planning of Derek’s surprise birthday party but the more she thought about it, the less she wanted to go. She didn’t want to look into Meesha’s face and pretend that all was fine when she couldn’t stand Meesha right now.
Today was als
o the day she was supposed to be able to go online and view the results of the DNA test by using the preassigned password she received when she purchased the kit.
She channel surfed and stopped when she saw an episode of Paternity Court. Her eyes and ears became glued to the show. What was she going to do if RJ was Carlton’s kid? Better yet, what would Carlton do? Surely, he would leave Meesha then—he had to. Her mind felt all jumbled and confused. She really didn’t want to leave Ryker and chance losing her girls. What was she thinking? She shook her head from side to side as if she could shake some sense into her thoughts. She wanted to tell her therapist about what she was going through but she didn’t feel she could trust her like that. Not with a secret like this.
She stopped when she saw the woman on the TV screen start crying when the judge told her that the man she had accused was not her twins’ father. Avery watched the show often. She’d seen similar outcomes over and over again. How this show, like Maury, could still be on the air was a mystery, but she guessed it was people like her who fed its ratings.
On the bed next to her, Avery reached for her MacBook. She was nervous but she was ready to find out who RJ belonged to. She pushed the Power button on the laptop and while waiting on the screen to light up, she whispered a prayer. “God, if this baby is Carlton’s let him do right by me and by his son. If the DNA results show that RJ belongs to Ryker, help me to accept it and move on with my life. Amen.”
She went to the site, accessed the results, and read them carefully. When she read the results just like the woman on Paternity Court, Avery began sobbing and pounding the bed with her fists repeatedly. She could hear in her mind the judge telling her, “This man is not your baby’s father.”
“You have to be the father, Carlton. This can’t be right. This cannot be,” she screamed and cried. She and Ryker hadn’t had sex during that time. Had they? Obviously they had because the tests showed that Ryker was RJ’s daddy.
The Real Housewives of Adverse city 3 Page 11
