My Wife My Baby...And Him

by Shelia E. Bell

  Detria turned into the driveway of her home while at the same time pushing the overhead remote in her car. The left side of their three-car garage opened and she drove inside.

  “Mommy,” Audrey said.

  Detria turned around. “Audrey, did you hear that? Mommy got her dream house.” Detria was elated.

  As usual, when the garage door opened, Stiles’ side of the garage was empty. Detria gathered her packages, ran inside, and put them on the kitchen island. She came back out to the car and unbuckled Audrey from her car seat. As soon as the buckles came loose Audrey slid out of her car seat and jumped out of the car.

  “You are such a big girl.” Detria told her as she reached on the middle console and grabbed the two fruit smoothies she had stopped and bought for her and Audrey on the way home.

  “Gimme…joosh,” Audrey said and reached up toward Detria.

  “Okay, when we get in the house mommy will give it to you. Okay?”

  Audrey wasn’t having it. She started crying. “Joosh, joosh,” she cried. “Joosh.”

  “Audrey, calm down. Go on in the house. I’ll put you in your high chair and then I’ll give it to you.”

  Audrey screamed louder.

  Detria rolled her eyes up in her head, and pursed her lips. “Audrey, I am not in the mood. Now get in the house!”

  Audrey continued crying. She wouldn’t budge. Instead, she held her head down, put her hands to her face, and started screaming like she was being tortured.

  Detria snatched her by the arm. “Shut up. I don’t want to hear all that screaming. Now get your butt in this house!”

  Audrey still didn’t move. She screamed even louder and then started stomping her feet. “Joosh, joosh,” she screamed repeatedly.

  Detria leaned down, swatted Audrey on her bottom a couple of times, and then practically drug the girl inside the house.

  “Just for that, you’re not getting anything. Cry as long as you want to. That temper tantrum mess might work with your daddy, but all it’s going to get you from me is a good spanking. That’s why your little butt is going to start going to daycare. I don’t have time for all of this hollering.” Detria picked up her shopping bags and stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Audrey screaming in the middle of the kitchen.

  She went upstairs and put everything away. Afterwards, she sat on the edge of her bed and removed the small box out of the Zales bag. She opened it, removed the bracelet, and smiled as she studied it. “This is sooo fiyah,” she said, talking to herself. “You are going to be so surprised.” She studied the bracelet for a few seconds longer, and then put it back inside the box and the Zales bag. Standing up, she placed one hand on her hip. “Umm, let’s see. Where can I hide this so you won’t find it?” She walked over to the walk-in closet, looked up and down the shelves, then turned and walked back out. “Nope, that won’t do. Let’s see.” She stood in the middle of the bedroom, and then turned and paraded downstairs with the Zales bag in her hand.

  Detria disregarded Audrey’s screams. Sometimes that little girl could work her last nerves. She seemed to think that pitching tantrums would get her her way, but Detria could be just as stubborn as Audrey. Sometimes she would let her cry for what seemed like hours while she went about doing whatever she had to do or wanted to do around the house. Today was one of those days.

  When she went back downstairs, Audrey was sitting on the kitchen floor, looking rather content. She had somehow managed to get both smoothies from off the kitchen island. Raspberry and pomegranate smoothie was smeared all over the kitchen floor, all over her face and all over her clothes.

  “Aaaahh,” Detria screamed. “You little monster.” She stormed over to her daughter, placed the Zales bag on the island counter, snatched Audrey up off the floor by her arm, and proceeded popping the child on her legs and bottom. Audrey screamed so loud and cried so hard until she started jerking.

  “I told you not to mess with me, little girl!” She picked her up and carried her upstairs to her bedroom, put her in her crib, and stormed back downstairs. Grabbing the Zales bag, she went outside to her car, opened the trunk, and placed the bag inside.

  When she got back upstairs, she ran some bath water and in a flash, she undressed Audrey, bathed her, and took her back to her crib, closed the little girl’s bedroom door and went back downstairs to clean up the mess Audrey had made.

  “I know I said I’d give you another child, but we’ll just have to see about that. We’ll definitely have to see.”

  Chapter 2

  “Everyone deserves a chance to clean up their mistakes." Unknown

  “Pastor Graham, God is good. Thank you so much for entrusting me to serve as your associate pastor. I will make you proud. That’s a promise.”

  “You don’t have to make me proud. Make God proud.” Stiles patted Hezekiah on the back.

  “You know, since me and Fancy have been members of Holy Rock, nothing but favor and blessings have been raining down on us. God has truly shown us that this is where He wants us. Who knew that moving to Memphis from Chicago, finding a church like Holy Rock, and getting to know you and First Lady Graham would turn out to be our biggest blessing. It’s all a bit overwhelming.”

  “You know when God moves, He moves in a mighty way. Sometimes we think we’re doing something for one reason, when God has another plan. I’m glad that the Lord led you and Fancy to us. You’ve done an outstanding job here; you’ve made a difference. You know the Word and the people of Holy Rock love you and Fancy.”

  “Thanks, Pastor Graham. I can’t wait to tell Fancy the news. You know my wife is my rock. She supports me and prays with me and for me. The woman is remarkable. I’m telling you, Pastor, when she hears this, she’s going to be up in Holy Rock dancing all over the place.” Hezekiah McCoy smiled.

  “Yeah, she knows she is not ashamed to celebrate the Lord in song and dance. She’ll run around that sanctuary in a minute, won’t she?” Stiles laughed.

  “You got that right.”

  “What about your boys? Xavier, and uh…”

  “Khalil,” Hezekiah stated.

  “Are you still planning on moving them here?”

  “I’m not sure. They both love Chicago and they’re really close to Fancy’s parents. So, I guess for now everything is still up in the air.”

  “But I thought you wanted the youngest one to come here and attend school.”

  “You know how these young people are, Pastor Graham. He has friends; he loves his school.”

  “How old is he? Fifteen? Sixteen?”

  “No, fourteen, going on fifteen. Khalil is the one that’s sixteen. “Xavier is into his books. Khalil, well,” Hezekiah shook his head. “Let’s just say he’s at the stage where you can’t tell him a thing. Thinks he knows it all.”

  Hezekiah didn’t tell Stiles that Khalil had been addicted to heroin since age fourteen. The boy was currently serving time in a youth detention center for troubled teens for breaking into the home of one of his grandparents’ neighbors. He would be incarcerated until he turned eighteen.

  “You know how kids are. I’m sure you were the same way when you were coming up. I know I was.”

  Hezekiah crooked his head to the side. Raising his eyebrows he said, “Maybe, but anyway, at the end of the day I’m proud of Xavier. He does well in school, but he already says that he doesn’t want to go to college.”

  “Oh, and why is that?”

  “He says he wants to go to a trade school to be an electrician. To tell you the truth, I wouldn’t mind if he didn’t go to college. If he can take up a good trade, he can start his own business, and that’ll sure save a lot on my pockets. Don’t get me wrong, I value a good education, but a good education doesn’t always equate to having a four-year degree or a doctorate. As long as he can get out into this world, provide for himself, position himself to take care of a family somewhere down the line if he so chooses, and make an honest living, then I’m fine with that.”

  “You can only lead them and g
uide them. The final choice of what a child does with his life is on that child,” Stiles responded. “I’ll be in prayer for both of them to make wise decisions about their futures, but as for now, they’re still young. And Xavier, he has a few years ahead of him. Between now and the time he graduates, he’ll probably change his mind a thousand times about what he wants to do.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure you’re right about that.”

  “I was thinking that I would make the official announcement Sunday at both services. Then after church service, I want you and Fancy to join me and Detria for a celebratory dinner. I’ll probably invite the deacons too.”

  “Sounds good, and I’m sure Fancy would love it. She and First Lady seem to get along well.”

  “You and I both know that’s a plus. Think of the alternative.”

  “I don’t want to,” answered Hezekiah and laughed.

  “Neither do I,” Stiles agreed.

  ***

  Stiles decided to let Hezekiah lead midweek service. There were times like tonight, when he wanted his soul to be ministered to. Whenever he went on sabbatical, which was rare, he often visited the churches of some of his minister friends in order to be spiritually fed. Since Hezekiah McCoy’s arrival, Stiles found him to be not only a confidante, but also an anointed speaker who could deliver a powerful, soul-stirring word.

  Hezekiah, the total opposite of Stiles, was average height, thin as a wafer, with honey colored skin, a thin, carefully clipped mustache and a balding head.

  “Holy Rock, first John chapter five, starting with verse four, states, ‘For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.’ Where is your faith? Where is your trust in God?” Hezekiah preached. “Holy Rock, keep your eyes on the prize. Speak good things over your own life. Release the negative, usher in the positive.”

  Fancy sat in the audience second row from the front. She raised both hands in the air, and stood to her feet. “Preach, Reverend. Say it.”

  Hezekiah was thirty-eight and Fancy was two years younger. They’d been a couple since their teens.

  Fancy McCoy lived up to her name. She was a sharply dressed woman with a petite, size six or eight frame. One could probably count on one hand the times she wore any kind of shoe other than her signature stiletto heels. Fancy also had a melodious voice, and there were times when some of the senior members of Holy Rock requested she sing one of their favorite songs or hymns.

  “Don’t look back,” Hezekiah preached. “Keep moving forward. Keep looking ahead at the author and finisher of your faith.”

  Where is that woman? Stiles asked himself. Probably in the church nursery with Audrey or in her office. He refocused himself on Hezekiah’s preaching.

  ***

  “Skip, no.” Detria pushed him away using very little force. He didn’t budge. “You know we can’t do anything in my office,” she moaned as Skip planted traces of kisses from her lips to her neckline all the way to her cleavage.

  His hands caressed her curves, and he held her close to him. “You know you miss me. Tell me you miss me, Detria.”

  “I do, Skip, but, but…”

  “But what?” he asked as he continued to kiss and fondle her.

  She pushed him back gently and looked into his eyes. “Why do you do me like this?”

  “Like what? Tell me what I’m doing that’s so wrong?”

  Detria laughed. “Are you serious? You and I both know everything about this is wrong.”

  “Okay.” Skip stepped all the way back and showed his palms. “First, tell me that you honestly do not want me, that you don’t want me to talk to you, to see you, to hold you, or make love to you,” he began to whisper. “If you can look me in the eyes and tell me all those things, then I promise you, I will walk out of this office and never bother you again.”

  “Skip, please.”

  “Say it. Tell me you don’t want me. Just say it, and I’ll go. I swear I will.” Skip’s face was rigid. He stared at Detria, not flinching once.

  “I…You…,” she began to say then she rushed into his arms and planted her lips on top of his. “I will, but not now, not tonight.”

  ***

  Detria jumped, smoothed down her dress, and started wiping her sweaty face when she heard someone trying to open the door to her office. Thank God, it was locked.

  “Detria? You in there?”

  “Oh, my God. It’s Stiles. What’s he doing here? Bible study shouldn’t be over this quick. What are we going to do?”

  “Think. Be cool. He doesn’t have a key, unless you gave him one.”

  “No, he doesn’t have one.” Detria watched the knob turn again. “Go to my bathroom; close the door. I’ll get rid of him.”

  Skip dashed off to the bathroom.

  Detria slowly walked to the door, taking one glance at herself in the wall mirror in her modern styled office. She patted her hair in place then opened the door.

  “Hey,” she said as soon as she opened the door and Stiles walked in. She kissed him on the cheek and walked toward her desk.

  “What’s with the locked door?” he asked, looking around like he expected someone else to be in the office with her.

  “Because anybody can just up and walk in here. I know we’re in church, but criminals come to church too, you know.”

  Stiles nodded. “Why aren’t you in service?”

  “I had some paperwork I wanted to finish.” It appeared that he didn’t notice the nervousness in her voice.

  “Where’s Audrey?”

  “In the nursery.” Detria sat down at her desk, and started pulling up files on her computer. She stole a look over her shoulder toward the bathroom. “Is church over?”

  “Yeah, we got out early. I let Hezekiah preach tonight. You know he gets right to the point.”

  “Why did you let him preach? I mean, I have no problem with it. He’s really a great speaker, but it’s unusual for you to let someone else carry on the service unless you’re away.”

  “I know, but since he’s going to be the associate pastor, I thought I might as well get used to the idea of having him fill my shoes every now and then.”

  Detria looked up from her computer. “Associate Pastor? When did you make that decision?” Her furrowed brows revealed her concern.

  “I’ve been thinking about it and praying on it for a while. I told you that.”

  “Thinking and praying is not the same as doing, Stiles, and you know it.” She sounded agitated.

  “I discussed it with the deacons and they supported my decision. The main thing is I believe that God directed me to do it. You know we have some fantastic ministers at Holy Rock, but we’ve never offered a full-time paid position to any of them.”

  “Exactly. Which is why I can’t understand why you would make him the associate pastor when you have other ministers who have been here far longer than him.”

  “Look.” Stiles rubbed his head back and forth with his hand. “I don’t want to get into this right now. It’s been a long day. I’m ready to go home.”

  “See, that’s what I’m talking about. When it comes to sharing what’s going on at this church, you never want to talk. You could have told me. That’s all I’m saying. Why do you have to make stuff so difficult?” She stared at him with contempt, jumped up from her chair, shuffled some papers around, and walked from behind the desk.

  “So, now you got an attitude?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Should I have one? You know what? Do what you want to do. I’m through with it.”

  Stiles turned and walked toward the door. “I’ll go get Audrey. I’ll see you at the house.”

  Detria flipped him off. “Whatever.”

  As soon as Stiles left out of her office, she closed the door and locked it again, then ran back to the bathroom. “Okay, you can come out.”

  Skip came out with a big smile on his face.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  “You an
d preacher boy always into it about something. But I have to admit, you know how to handle dude.”

  “You know how Stiles is. He can be an arrogant jerk.” Detria smirked. “Look, you better leave. I’m getting ready to get out of here myself. I’ve had enough of Holy Rock for one night.”

  Skip grabbed her, pulled her into the bathroom, pushed her against the cold tile wall, and resumed doing what they were doing before Stiles interrupted.

  Detria didn’t resist. What was it about Skip Madison that captivated her so? Why couldn’t she just say, no? Detria’s eyes connected with his, and the fat lady began to sing.

  Chapter 3

  “Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.” Proverbs 30:20KJV

  Detria walked in the house and heard the sound of the blaring television. She walked into the family room; it was empty. She hated when Stiles left the television on. He had a bad habit of leaving it on for hours at a time. She turned it off and headed upstairs to the bedroom.

  “Hey,” she said when she walked in the bedroom and saw him and Audrey laying in the middle of the bed. Of course, the mounted flat screen was on. Detria looked at the television screen. “You left the television downstairs on, again.”

  “Sorry about that. You better?”

  “Better? What are you talking about?”

  Stiles looked at her questioningly. “Never mind.”

  Detria was so caught up in Skip back at the church that she had forgotten all about their little shouting match. “Since when did you start watching Love and Hip Hop?” she asked with a slight smile etched on her face.