Through a hazy fog of fear and pain, Aujanae asked the question that burned deepest in her heart. “Do you love her, William?”
Just as she pushed the question out, she began to audibly sob, even before she heard the answer. It was as if she was one hundred percent certain what his response would be, but she had to hear it spoken in order to exemplify the treachery.
Here again, William battled with whether he should continue to be brutally honest with his wife. He seriously considered minimizing his relationship with April, especially since it had now come to an end.
“My feelings for you are not affected by what happened between me and April, Aujanae.” William knew his retort was shallow with regards to his wife’s deep question, but stating the truth would be as painful for him to say as it would be for her to hear.
“Do I look stupid to you, William? Answer the question. Do you love April? Yes or no?”
“Yes.”
The blood-curdling scream followed by the loud sobs that tore from Aujanae’s throat could probably be heard by the neighbors in at least a four-house radius. William expected, at the very least, a knock on the door any moment. He would not be surprised if the police showed up to investigate.
William jumped up and rushed to Aujanae’s side. He attempted to wrap his arms around her shoulders, but was met with violent opposition. He had to admit he was taken aback when his normally demure wife started swinging her small fists at him in an effort to keep him from touching her.
“Get away from me, you bastard. How dare you touch me right after you have been having sex with your whore? I hate you, William! I hate you,” she screamed.
William could count on one hand the number of times he heard his wife call him by his given name and not Billy, and never before had it sounded so detestable. His ears burned, and the portion of his heart that had not been torn to pieces in his final farewell with April now seemed to virtually evaporate.
William stood in front of the loveseat, looking down at the crumpled heap on the floor that was his wife. He dared not reach for her again for fear of her knocking him out, or worse, somehow hurting herself in the process. He decided to speak to her from exactly where they were at that moment.
“Aujanae, baby, I know this is rough right now, horrible even, but we can get through this and past this. I want to try to somehow work this out with you. I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose our marriage. Perhaps we can go and talk to Pastor Abraham for advice and counseling on how to overcome this thing,” William said sincerely.
Aujanae looked up from her slumped position on the floor and stared menacingly at her husband. “Oh, so now you want to talk to Pastor Abraham. Did you think about talking to Pastor Abraham and asking him his advice on whether or not you should start sleeping with your whore behind your wife’s back? I would be willing to bet my son’s life that you didn’t do that,” she spat sarcastically.
“You know what, William, I don’t want to go and see your pastor. Your pastor is Satan. Just like him, you lied, you tried to kill, steal, and destroy. I foolishly aided you in your efforts too.”
Aujanae pulled herself from the floor, anger still radiating from every pore in her body, and she got in William’s face. He backed up a few steps in an effort to be in a better position to protect himself if she started swinging again.
The fight had gone out of Aujanae, as she now began to blame herself.
“I knew something was going on, but I kept ignoring what my spirit was saying to me. I lied to myself to protect myself, and I only ended up making a fool of myself.” She sat down wearily again on the loveseat.
William recognized that Aujanae was depleted, so he sat down next to her on the loveseat to continue his attempt to plead his case.
“Aujanae, listen to me, please. I know I messed up tremendously, but I love you and—”
“You also love your whore, too, remember? So your declaration of love means very little to me right now,” she sniped.
William shook his head. He did not know why now, but when he sat down, he imagined this would be easier than it was turning out to be.
“Okay, Aujanae, what is it you want? What do you want me to say or do to help change this thing and get our marriage pointed back in the right direction?” he asked, exasperated.
“First of all, I would like you to acknowledge what has happened, William. You keep downplaying your mess by calling it a thing. I want you to call it what it is, William. I want you to say affair. I want you to say cheated. I want you to acknowledge that you lied and destroyed our marriage and loved another woman. It is not a thing, William. It is a disgusting display of your obviously horrible characteristics. You are a pig, and I want you to acknowledge it.”
Aujanae sat on the loveseat with her eyes squinted and her arms folded. She looked at William with nothing but disdain and contempt, daring him to either apologize or trying to speak around the subject of his infidelity again.
Although Aujanae’s new derisive posture was foreign to William, he knew better than to ignore her and risk who knew what kind of retaliation. The statement, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, screamed in his head as he looked squarely at his wife.
“Aujanae, I acknowledge that I was wrong beyond measure for cheating on you with April. I acknowledge that I was selfish and showed no respect for you or our marriage. I even acknowledge that had April not given me the ultimatum, I may have even continued being a low-down, dirty dog and continued in the affair. I did it. It was horrendous. But I am really sorry, and I want to make an attempt to save our marriage.”
Aujanae did not respond to William for a few moments. She stared off into space, as if contemplating what she wanted to do, what she should do, what she should say. After a while she spoke.
“William, the obvious question for me now would be to ask you why. Why you did this to me. But truthfully, I don’t care why you cheated. There is no good explanation. I know I was a good wife to you, and I am a good mother to our son, so there is nothing you can say to justify this; therefore, there is no reason to ask why. And since you have no good reason to have done this to me, I can’t think of a good reason to forgive you, at least not now. I mean, despite the fact that you are a jerk, I am still a Christian, and I still love God, so I know I have to eventually forgive you. But right now, I just want you out of this house and out of my life. Now! Tonight! Get out.”
Aujanae got up from the sofa and headed for the bedroom. She went in and slammed the door behind her, giving William the impression he need not bother to gather anything that may be in their bedroom.
Chapter Thirteen
“How much more stuff do you have to move, Darrin? I pray this is a one day job, because I only took today off work for this,” Maleeka huffed in annoyance as they were in the process of moving things from Darrin’s former residence to her apartment.
The nagging is starting already, and I have not even gotten my stuff in the apartment yet, Darrin thought.
“This is a one day job, a job that I told you did not require you to take off work. All I needed was the spare key you have yet to give to me. Besides, I only have to make one more trip back to the house to grab my computer equipment. I’m leaving all the furniture, including my bedroom set, in the house for David.”
On Monday, Darrin and Maleeka agreed to move into Maleeka’s apartment together. They worked out the preliminary details of their cohabitation over a celebration dinner that evening. They would each pay half the rent and utilities. Darrin would pay the cable and internet bills, and Maleeka would purchase the groceries.
On Monday night, Maleeka was almost as happy as if she and Darrin were planning their wedding instead of just plotting their sin. Today, one week later, she was feeling a little irritated. She wanted to pretend she did not know why she was experiencing increased stress and pressure, but she could not fool herself. She knew God was not pleased with her actions; therefore, she found it hard to remain pleased with them.
While she was not happy with herself, she remained steadfast in her decision. Maleeka rationalized that this was a means to an end. She was not joyful now, but in due time she would persevere and receive a blessing in spite of her tribulation. She halfheartedly thought of the scripture in James 1:2-4 that says:
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
She just hoped that God still spoke to people like her who were doing wrong through His Word.
“What’s wrong with you, Mal? You seem uptight. This move was your idea. Now you’re acting like I’m inconveniencing you.” Darrin too was beginning to feel a little annoyed.
Maleeka could feel his irritation. She knew she should not be taking anything out on him. Darrin was right. This was all her idea. She just hoped he would come to his senses and decide they should get married quickly. She did not know how long she could handle the conviction of her choices on this matter.
“I’m sorry, Darrin. Moving is just not one of my favorite things to do. It always brings out the worst in me.”
Maleeka decided not to talk to Darrin about the spiritual misgivings she was currently having. When they carried the loads they had in their arms into the apartment and put them in the spare bedroom, she gave her fiancé a hug to seal her apology.
Darrin returned the embrace, hoping to invoke some feelings of peace between him and Maleeka. He committed to this, praying that being with her full time, coming home to her after work, would eradicate his fears of marriage.
He had not told his parents about his decision to move in with Maleeka. They liked her well enough, but he knew they would not like the two of them living together without the benefit of marriage. As far as Deacon and Deaconess Osborne were concerned, Darrin still shared a house with his friend David Mathis. Darrin planned on keeping it that way.
Maleeka was raised by a single mother, who had actually only been living for God for a few years now. It was actually Maleeka, along with her cousin Tammy, who helped lead her mother to Christ. They urged her to attend King David Christian Tabernacle with them for years. She finally relented and attended when Maleeka was scheduled to be on the program one Sunday to give the altar prayer. Tracey Davis had given her heart to God that Sunday and had been a faithful servant for the past three years now.
Maleeka and Tracey had no secrets between them. Tracey knew all about Maleeka’s decision to move Darrin in with her in an effort to prompt him to want to get married. She did not agree with it any more than David’s parents would have, but had resigned herself to the fact that her daughter was a grown woman and had to answer to God for her own actions.
Maleeka did find a little solace in Darrin’s arms. She loved this man with all her heart. She thought him to be brave when he consented to her request. She wanted to understand his fears, and she hoped to help alleviate them as they shared their lives together daily.
“Let’s go and get the rest of my things so we can begin our new lives together, Miss Davis,” Darrin said as he gently pulled from their hug.
“Okay, Mr. Osborne. Let us go and do that.” Maleeka pulled her arms from around his neck and palmed the side of his face as she kissed the tip of his nose. “But don’t get too used to calling me Miss Davis. I like the sound of Mrs. Osborne much better.”
When Maleeka and Darrin arrived back at Darrin’s former house to pick up his remaining things, Maleeka was extremely surprised to see Gerald Miller at the house with David. She was not aware that there was a friendship between the two.
“Hey, Darrin. Hello, Maleeka. Gerald and I were just passing through on our lunch break. We spoke in church yesterday and decided to meet to discuss some Men’s Ministry business,” David said.
David almost reminded Darrin not to start missing meetings now that he was moving in with his lady, but he stopped himself. He did not want to spread Darrin’s business in front of Gerald.
“Even though I will be living with Maleeka now, I still want you to call and remind me about the meetings and events. I still plan to be a viable part of the ministry.” Darrin was intentionally and shrewdly laying a possessive claim on Maleeka in front of Gerald Miller. Something in his gut told him that Gerald had an interest in his woman, and he did not appreciate it.
Oh my gosh! I am so humiliated, Maleeka thought.
So much for discretion, David thought.
Gerald Miller voiced his thoughts aloud. “Oh! So you two got married? What did you do, elope?” He directed his question at Maleeka. His surprise was only slightly more evident than his disappointment.
Maleeka’s embarrassment quadrupled. She was too mortified to even answer the question, but she knew she had to. Gerald was waiting with glaring eyes.
“No. Not yet, Gerald,” Darrin said, “but we will be setting a wedding date in the near future. We’ll be sure to send you an invitation.”
Darrin knew he was biting off more than he was prepared to chew by indicating a wedding was close at hand, but at the moment it was more important for him to put Gerald Miller in his place than to run the risk that Maleeka would be all over him about actually setting the date as a result of his statement.
“Wow!” was the barely audible response uttered by Gerald. He then trained a sympathetic eye on Maleeka, who looked like she wanted the floor in the kitchen to open up and swallow her whole.
“I’m sorry, Gerald. Did you say something, man?” Darrin asked, irritated.
“Not really. I was just expressing my shock. Maleeka is the kind of woman you marry, not shack up with, Darrin, but I guess you’ll find that out soon enough,” Gerald said as he continued to stare at Maleeka.
Gerald’s sarcasm escaped Darrin completely because of his irritation; however, both Maleeka and David heard and understood Gerald’s meaning completely.
“Well, how about you let me worry about that, all right? It is really of no concern to you.” Darrin snorted at Gerald. “Come on, Mal. Let’s get the last of my stuff. David, I’ll talk to you later, guy.” Darrin grabbed Maleeka’s arm and practically dragged her from the kitchen into his old bedroom.
Once they were in the bedroom, Maleeka expressed her disappointment. “Darrin Osborne! I cannot believe you embarrassed me and yourself like that. Why did you have to play that pissing game with Gerald and tell him we are living together? Tell me! What did you accomplish?” Even though Maleeka did not raise her voice, her fury came across loud and clear.
“I don’t like the way he looks at you, Maleeka. I get the feeling he wants you even if you are too naïve to see it for yourself.” Darrin’s voice was just a bit louder than Maleeka’s. He sounded more whiny than angry.
Maleeka was definitely aware of Gerald’s desires toward her. She just never found it necessary to share his sentiments with Darrin, and she reasoned that now would probably not be a good time to do so, either, as she tried to calm herself.
“Darrin, you do not have to worry about what Gerald Miller thinks of me or wants from me. Or not,” she added as an afterthought to not arouse any more suspicion. “I am with you, engaged to be married to you. You don’t have to defend my honor or your pride.”
Darrin paced around the room, gathering his computer equipment in a hasty manner. It was obvious he was still boiling, even if only slowly. Maleeka approached him just as he threw an extension cord into a box. She grabbed his arm and wrapped it around her waist as she attempted to hug away his stress.
“Darrin, you have nothing to worry about from any other man, okay? I love you. I have been with you for six years, and I’m not going anywhere now, especially after hearing you declare that we will be setting our wedding date soon,” Maleeka said soothingly. She knew Darrin well enough to know that he only said that to get at Gerald, but she was not going to pass up an opportunity to use it to her advantage.
> Darrin suspected he would have to hear about his declaration from Maleeka, but he did not realize it would be this soon; however, he thought it best not to challenge it one way or the other right this second.
Still locked in his fiancée’s embrace, he instead said, “Let’s hurry and get the rest of this stuff, baby, so we can get back to your place. Scratch that. I mean our place.”
Maleeka knew Darrin was stalling, placating her even, but she remained cool. She would definitely be pressing him again in the very near future.
April walked into her doctor’s office behind his nurse on pins and needles. She had gone in for her annual checkup about ten days ago. Dr. Palmer contacted her on Friday to tell her he found some abnormalities on her pap smear and would like to talk to her as soon as possible about it. She spent the entire weekend thinking about the horrible possibilities. Add that stress to the stress of her still-wounded heart from the breakup with William, and it all equaled a terrible three days for her. She added those three to the four prior to that, and it all made for a mighty bad week.
April sat in the chair in front of Dr. Palmer’s desk as the nurse instructed. The nurse left the office and the waiting game began.
Cancer! The word continued its blatant dance on the eyelids of her closed eyes. The doctor had given her no clues as to what the abnormalities were on her test, yet her pessimistic mind kept circling around the disease. Cancer! April had all but completely convinced herself that the deadly disease would be her diagnosis.
April did believe in God, even though she did not attend church much until she joined King David’s Christian Tabernacle to spy on William. The only time she ever really went was for funerals, one of which was for her mother, who died from ovarian cancer, and the two weddings she attended.
Though she did not worship in the building or read her Bible often, she still knew God and believed in Christ. As a result, she also believed that this dreaded disease would be her punishment, her consequence, for the affair she had with William and all the affairs she had prior to him. She definitely believed her broken heart was a penalty from the Lord.
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