The Other Side of Divine

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

“I put his outfit on the dressing table in his room,” Paris said. “Would you like for me to bring it down to you?”

  “Nope,” Andrew said. “I’ll go to his room and dress him there.” Andrew stood up. “He needs his diaper changed. Don’t you, boy?” he said to Braylen as he placed him on his shoulder, walking past Paris without saying anything more to her.

  Paris hated how things had been in their home for the past two and half weeks now. Andrew didn’t have much to say to her unless it was absolutely necessary. And the sad part: She wasn’t sure if he was treating her this way because she’d told him that she’d slept with Darius that one time and that it was possible Braylen wasn’t his son. Or if he’d opened the envelope and discovered the answer to the paternity question and knew for sure that Braylen wasn’t his.

  That was the thing about Andrew: He was a man of true integrity and fortitude. If he promised you something, he worked to keep that promise, many times at his own expense. That was most likely the reason he’d been such a true and dedicated friend to Gabrielle, even years later. Not because he’d promised to stick by her when they knew each other all those years ago. But because he wasn’t one who believed in throwing people who tried to play by the rules under the bus. He was the one person you could count on to fight for the underdog, those Andrew liked to say he believed Jesus was talking about when He referred to “the least of these.”

  So Andrew could very well have opened the envelope and knew that Braylen wasn’t his. But if he had, he hadn’t told her. And if he hadn’t read it, and still possessed it, she had no idea where he was keeping it.

  All of her haughtiness was definitely gone at this point, no matter how folks in the past might have labeled her so. And it was days like today when she wanted to just find the envelope and force Andrew to open it if he hadn’t so she wouldn’t have to wonder anymore. If he hadn’t seen it, and it said he wasn’t the father, she could get a reaction and have a better feel for where she stood with him. Not like it was now.

  Now, all she knew was that he didn’t have much to say to her. He wasn’t being abusive in anyway. And in truth: He was doing more for Braylen lately than she could have ever asked of him. He fed him, changed him, and even got up in the middle of the night with him, before she ever even heard him cry.

  But they were going to a wedding that she knew she personally wouldn’t have received an invitation to were it not, first of all, for her relationship to Andrew, who Gabrielle would never not invite after all he’d done for her. And there was that official announcement of Jasmine into their family that was likely the other reason. Her father would be there to see Jasmine’s participation in the wedding.

  “We’re ready,” Andrew said. “So you can’t blame us if we’re late.”

  Paris nodded, but couldn’t help but smile. Andrew had dressed Braylen in his little white tux outfit with the navy blue cummerbund she’d bought him specifically for this wedding and put on his navy blue suit and a white shirt, which was a perfect match.

  She went to get dressed, opting to change from the silver dress she’d originally planned to wear to a plainer navy blue so she would better match with Andrew and Braylen.

  Chapter 38

  Hear ye now what the Lord saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

  —Micah 6:1

  The female attendants had their own large room with dividers for them to go behind when getting dressed. Gabrielle had a separate room all to herself with Miss Crowe in there to help her early on before she would need to leave and do her other duty. Melissa Peeples popped in to see how things were going and if there were any last-minute changes or instructions. Gabrielle couldn’t think of anything; neither could Miss Crowe. Everything was pretty much set.

  Tiffany was past upset. Darius hadn’t brought the children to the house as he promised. She’d called and left several messages, thankful at least she had his cell phone number now. She’d been late herself arriving at the church waiting on him. Now it was two hours before the wedding and she still hadn’t heard from him.

  What was also exasperating was that she didn’t know where Darius lived. So she couldn’t even go to his house or report him to the police if she had a need to. She was kicking herself even more for not having pushed harder for him to give her his residential address as she’d originally requested. Her only hope was that Jade knew what time they were supposed to be at the church so maybe she’d call and let her know what was going on. She wished now she’d gotten Jade that cell phone Jade had asked for. But Tiffany couldn’t see herself giving a ten-year-old her own cell phone; she didn’t care how many other children Jade’s age had one.

  Tiffany was going to have to let Gabrielle know what was going on, but she was trying to put it off until she honestly had no other choice. All three of her children were in the wedding. If they didn’t make it, Gabrielle’s only flower girl and ring bearer would be missing. Tiffany had their outfits with her. So far, she’d only told Fatima of her worries so Fatima could be praying along with her.

  Tiffany called Big Red and asked him to see if he could track Darius down for her, hoping in truth that maybe Big Red had been to Darius’s new home and could go over there. Big Red said he’d not been to Darius’s new place, but he would see what he could do to find out something and get back to her.

  That had been an hour ago. He’d just called and said he’d turned up nothing. With two hours left until the wedding, and not wanting to burden Gabrielle, she went to the area where the men were getting ready, knocked on the door, and asked for Zachary.

  “I’m sorry to bother you, Zachary,” Tiffany said when Zachary stepped out of his dressing room. “But I need your help.”

  “Sure, Tiffany. What’s up?”

  “It’s Darius. He didn’t bring the children to my house at ten o’clock this morning like he promised he’d do. And he hasn’t brought them here to the church, either,” Tiffany said. “I’ve called him more times than I can count and left messages, but nothing.” She shrugged as she wrung her hands. “And we don’t have but two hours until the wedding. Do you think something bad may have happened? You know, like maybe they were in a car accident or something?”

  “If something like that had happened, I would think you would have gotten a call,” Zachary said.

  “Yeah, but what if something like that happened, and they can’t call. Or maybe they called but called my house? I only have an answering machine, not voice mail so I can’t even check it from here. I never figured out how to check messages when I’m away, although I believe my answering machine has that capability.”

  “Well, I don’t think anything like that has happened,” Zachary said. “Darius is probably just messing with both you and Gabrielle. I know you likely don’t want to hear this, but Darius is known to be petty like that. He’s most likely doing this to worry you. But if you need to run home and check, you should do that. If there’s not a message on your answering machine, I’d forward my home number to my cell phone so at least you’d know you won’t be missing any more calls that may come in.”

  “That’s a good idea. I can get home in about twenty minutes if the traffic lights work for me. That’s forty minutes both ways plus the time to get in and out of the house. That would give me an hour after I get back before the wedding starts.”

  “You go and take care of what you need to at home,” Zachary said. “Someone will be here. In fact, why don’t you give Melissa your cell phone number and if the children show up while you’re gone, she can call and let you know.”

  Tiffany nodded. “I’ll do that. I just didn’t want to worry Gabrielle.”

  “Just tell Melissa not to say anything to Gabrielle about what’s going on,” Zachary said. “I’m sure everything’s going to end up being fine. In fact, I wouldn’t doubt if when you get out to the parking lot, you run into Darius along with the children.”

  “I hope you’re right. And I’m sorry to have bothered you. But I needed
a sounding board and I didn’t want to dump any of this at Gabrielle’s doorstep. Not now.”

  “This was fine.” Zachary hugged her. “Listen, it’s going to be all right. Okay? We’re going to pray and believe that God has worked everything out.”

  Tiffany nodded, hurried and found Melissa, told her what was going on and what she was doing, grabbed her purse, and left.

  One hour and forty-seven minutes left and counting . . .

  Chapter 39

  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

  —1 Corinthians 7:20

  Zachary was on his way back to his dressing room. His beeper was not with him on purpose as he’d told everybody he wasn’t taking any emergency calls no matter what happened. This was his wedding day and that was going to take priority over everything and everybody. There were other burn specialists available, and he expected them to be fully used on this day.

  So he was slightly perturbed when his cell phone rang. He’d been planning to put it away and only had it on him in case someone from either his family or the wedding party had a need to reach him for whatever reason in conjunction with the wedding.

  He looked at the caller ID and smiled. “Hey! What are you doing calling me? Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t taking any emergencies? Unless you’re calling because you’re crashing my wedding and you’re trying to find the church.” Zachary became quiet as he listened intently to his doctor friend, who was hurriedly telling him about an explosion at a meth lab with multiple incoming casualties and chatter of possible children involved.

  “Zachary, we have staff available to do our job. But with the numbers I’m hearing that are being brought in any minute and the talk of children possibly involved, I don’t know,” Dr. Stephens said. “I told you we had you covered. But you know if this wasn’t something of this magnitude and specifically involving children who may not have time to wait, I wouldn’t be calling you. I wouldn’t.”

  Zachary glanced at his watch. One hour and forty minutes until the wedding. If he left right now, he could assess what was needed, start administrating medical protocols, leave, get back in time for the ceremony, and after saying his long-awaited I do and taking a few pictures, he could zip back to the hospital if necessary, with his new wife’s full understanding and most assuredly blessings.

  “I’ll be there in about ten . . . fifteen minutes maybe.”

  “That’s good because they’re bringing them in even as we speak. In fact, if you could shave some of those minutes off the ten, I’d appreciate it,” Dr. Stephens said. “If the police stop you, tell them it’s in connection with the meth lab explosion. I’m sure they’ve all heard about it by now.”

  “On my way right now.” Zachary clicked off from Dr. Stephens. He hurriedly called Gabrielle’s cell, praying her phone was on and that she’d pick up so he could tell her what was going on and for her not to get married without him. But seriously for her to know that if he was late getting back, she shouldn’t cancel or postpone the ceremony because he was definitely coming back. They were getting married, and it would be this day. And nothing and no one was going to stop it.

  Gabrielle didn’t pick up the call. He hung up and called her number again. Still no answer. Deciding three times would be the charm and would convey to her that this was not just some excited groom who merely wanted to hear his soon-to-be-wife’s voice, he called one more time. When she didn’t pick up the third time, he left a message on her voice mail.

  He’d now lost two of the ten minutes he’d promised Dr. Stephens. But he had to be sure he got a message to Gabrielle. He turned to go back to the women’s dressing area.

  “Zachary! Don’t you look spiffy,” a twenty-something-year-old woman’s voice said. She had three children with her. “And you’re not even totally dressed yet.”

  “I’m sorry, but do I know you?” Zachary said, not having time to chitchat. “I’m sort of in a hurry right now.”

  “I’m Angie—Gabrielle’s sort-of sister but actually her cousin. Although you wouldn’t know by the way we got dissed for this wedding that she even grew up in our house.” Angie was working hard to keep a handle on two of the children, who seemed determined to break away from her grip. She jerked each of their hands, which she held in one of hers. “Be still! I done told y’all! And I ain’t gonna keep telling y’all.”

  She looked back at Zachary. “Sorry. I didn’t want to bring these bad kids, but my mother said she wasn’t going to stay home and keep them. And I can’t afford a babysitter, so here we are, on time for a change, which was not an easy feat—”

  “Actually, you’re closer to an hour and forty minutes early. But listen—”

  “Early? I don’t do early.” She shook her head. “Somebody must have given me the wrong time. I thought the wedding started at one o’clock, which I guess would actually mean if it did I would have been late then, huh?”

  “Yes. But the wedding doesn’t start until three. Listen, I really—”

  Angie sighed hard. “I guess that’s what happens when you up and crash a wedding. You get all kinds of bogus information. I definitely wouldn’t be here this early. Not with these rug rats in tow. Oh, well, I guess at least we’ll get nice seats. That’ll be a kicker if my always-late mother comes and sees us up front.”

  “Angie, is it?”

  “Yeah. We met that time we were at Gabrielle’s house for that week or so. You remember, don’t you?” Angie popped her gum three times in a row.

  Zachary was annoyed after just a few minutes of being around her, but decided she might be of some help. “Angie, I have an important errand to run. Gabrielle and the rest of the women are in a special area getting ready. There’s a woman named Melissa Peeples who would also be a great one to tell if you can’t get to Gabrielle, although I need this message to get to Gabrielle. Understand?”

  “Yeah. Sure. I can deliver it for you. What’s the message?”

  “Tell Gabrielle that Zachary had to leave for an emergency at the hospital, but that I’ll be back, hopefully before the wedding is scheduled to begin. But that if I’m not back by then, to not postpone or cancel the wedding for another day, but to wait on me to get back because we’re going to get married today if there’s nobody left here but me, her, the preacher, and one witness.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet and so romantic.” Angie smiled and popped her chewing gum. “That’s what happens when you’re a doctor on call, right? Emergency calls.”

  “Yes. But just get that message to her for me. Will you do that for me please?” Zachary was already backing away so he’d be able to redeem the time he’d lost now.

  “Will do,” Angie said. “You can count on me. I got you, Dr. Zach.”

  “Thanks! Now don’t forget. In fact, go right now. They’re that way.” He pointed toward the back and to the right.

  Angie looked in the direction he pointed. “Count it done!” she yelled. “Bye!”

  Zachary turned around and jogged out the door and to his car, which he was planning to let his brother drive to the reception since he and Gabrielle would be riding to the hotel in a limousine. He was glad he hadn’t given his brother the key yet.

  Now to make it to the hospital in record time and make it back for the wedding in the same.

  Chapter 40

  The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

  —Song of Solomon 2:8

  Gabrielle heard her phone ringing as she was getting her makeup applied and was about to reach to pick it up from the table where it lay. They’d eaten lunch around noon, everybody except Gabrielle, who didn’t want to eat anything until after the ceremony. Now everyone in the wedding party was getting hair and makeup done.

  One concern was that Tiffany’s children hadn’t arrived yet. Gabrielle wasn’t supposed to know this since most members associated with the wedding were trying hard to keep anything negative from reaching her ears. But she’d overheard one of the greeters
say that a few of the wedding party members hadn’t shown up. The one talking had a problem with that since everybody else had seemingly complied.

  But Gabrielle knew the situation likely behind all of that. Darius had the children and was doing this to mess with Tiffany, and even possibly her since he didn’t care for her much, especially these days. She was more concerned for Tiffany as she knew this had to be tearing her up inside, worrying about what he was up to. She’d wanted to reassure Tiffany but didn’t want anyone fussing at her about things they were desperately working overtime to keep from her.

  In about an hour and thirty-nine minutes, the wedding would be starting. All of the work and effort put toward this wedding would finally come together and she’d be walking down the aisle on her way to marry her beloved Dr. Zachary Wayne Morgan. She wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. But she wasn’t, and it was going to actually happen.

  So when Gabrielle’s phone rang and Sandy (one of two makeup artists sent from Jestina’s company and the person working on Gabrielle’s face at the time) saw that it was Gabrielle’s fiancé, she quickly moved the phone out of Gabrielle’s reach so she couldn’t answer it.

  “Let him just wait until three o’clock,” Sandy said. “He’ll be all right.”

  “But it might be important,” Gabrielle said. “Besides, I’d like to hear his voice. I don’t want to make him just wait.”

  “Trust me. I do this all the time. Grooms love to call and hear their bride-to-be’s voice just like you’re saying you want to hear his. Not giving in will up his anticipation that much more. Listen to me; I know what I’m talking about. You just watch: he’s going to call right back. Watch and see.”

  The phone rang again.

  “See, there. What did I tell you?” Sandy said. It stopped. Sandy smiled. “Now if he’s really, really in love, and I’m talking about the sick in love, he’ll call back one more time.”