Too Much of a Good Thing

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

  “Okay, Deacons. I respect both of your opinions, but I’d also like to hear from the rest of the board. And let me just say right now that I’m not trying to propose any schemes here and that all moneys collected will still be deposited directly into the church account the same as always. I’m only proposing these ideas as a way to make giving more convenient for the members. And let’s be honest, we can’t run this church without the support of our tithes and offerings, so this will ultimately benefit the church as a whole.”

  “Well, I will say this,” Deacon Taylor finally said. He was Curtis’s favorite deacon and friend. “An ATM would definitely be convenient for me, because I’m always short on cash and then don’t think about it until I really need it. And there probably are some members who just might appreciate having access to one inside the church. Especially on those days when they just don’t have quite enough time to stop at another location.”

  “Well, I guess the next thang we’ll be doin’ is tellin’ people they can pay by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover,” Deacon Thurgood said.

  “Mmm-mmm-mmm,” Deacon Winslow said, laughing. “Paying the Lord with a credit card. Now ain’t that a notion.”

  Deacon Thurgood joined him. “Ain’t that somethin’? So, unh-unh, there ain’t no way I can ’gree to nothin’ like that.”

  “Naw, me neither, Fred.”

  Curtis wondered if Deacon Winslow always agreed with everything that Fred had to say. These two were running the entire meeting and he wondered when Deacon Gulley, the so-called chairman, was going to speak up.

  “Mr. Chairman, how do you feel about my ideas?” Curtis asked.

  “To be honest, Reverend, I really don’t know. I do hear what you’re saying, but I don’t think the congregation is ready for ATMs and direct deposit. Or even financial planners for that matter. I know there are a few other churches out there that are already doing some of the things you’re talking about, but I think we have to take things slow with our congregation. Because the one thing we don’t want is for people to feel pressured into giving or like the ATM is an electronic guilt trip.”

  “I don’t think they’d see it like that at all,” Curtis said.

  “It’s really hard to say whether they would or wouldn’t, but that’s just how I feel,” Deacon Gulley said.

  “Well, what about everyone else? Deacon Jamison, Deacon Pryor, Deacon Evans?” Curtis polled the three youngest deacons in the room.

  “I think you have some pretty good ideas, Pastor, but I just don’t know if they’re appropriate for this church,” Deacon Evans stated.

  “I second that. I don’t totally disagree with what you want to do, but I’m not sure the timing is right,” Deacon Jamison answered.

  “And for me,” Deacon Pryor said, “well, I guess, I’m just old-fashioned, so I don’t see anything wrong with leaving our system of giving the way it is.”

  Cowards. Pure, unadulterated cowards. And what could Deacon Pryor possibly know about being old-fashioned? He couldn’t have been more than thirty-three. Curtis didn’t even want to think about the rest of the members sitting in the room and what they thought, let alone the ones who weren’t able to attend the meeting. He was starting to feel like this was Faith Missionary all over again. Back then, the opposing ring leader was Deacon Jackson, but now he had Andy Taylor and Barney Fife to contend with. He wanted to tell all of them how backwoods their way of thinking was and how they were never going to get anywhere by being so complacent. Didn’t they know that change should be seen as something positive? Or that taking risks was very necessary in order to succeed?

  “Well, if that’s all you have, Pastor, then I think we should move on to the next order of business,” Deacon Gulley suggested.

  Curtis felt like a defeated heavyweight champion. He’d had so much more control and influence at Faith, but these deacons here at Truth seemed to be a little more on the stubborn side. He wasn’t giving up, though. It was just going to take a little longer than he’d thought in terms of making them see the light.

  And he had all the time in the world to wait.

  Chapter 6

  Mariah sliced two pieces of German chocolate cake, slid them on two separate plates, and walked back into the family room. She’d invited her mother over for a visit shortly after Curtis informed her that he wouldn’t be home for dinner.

  “Baby girl, this cake is too good,” Jean told her.

  “Isn’t it, though. And it’s not even homemade.”

  “Stop it. Are you serious?”

  “Yes. I get it from the bakery down the street, and pretty much everything they make tastes wonderful.”

  “Well, it’s a good thing my big ole self don’t live anywhere near it, because I’d gain at least a pound or two every single day if I did,” Jean said, chuckling.

  “Mama, please. You’re not nearly as heavy as you claim to be.”

  “Oh yes I am. Two hundred thirty pounds and only five six? That’s way too heavy for any woman. But that’s okay, because I’m about to try me another fad diet in a minute.”

  “When exactly is a minute, Mother?” Mariah asked.

  “Just as soon as Easter, Memorial Day, and the Fourth of July are over with.”

  They both laughed.

  “You are too, too much,” Mariah added.

  “I know. But tell me this. How is that fine-ass husband of yours doing?”

  “I can’t believe you.”

  “Girl, you know your mama calls everything the way she sees it. So it’s not my fault that Curtis has that beautiful smooth chocolate skin and a body that screams sex every time I see him.”

  “Mama, you know you’re embarrassing me.”

  “I don’t know why. He’s your husband and you should be proud of it. You did well for yourself, young lady, and your mama couldn’t be more happy for you.” Jean scanned the elegant cherry-wood china cabinet and eight-seat dining room table.

  “Yeah, I guess I’m pretty happy, or at least I thought I was,” Mariah said.

  “Now what is that supposed to mean?” Jean set down her empty plate.

  “I don’t know, Mama. He’s just not being as attentive as he was in the beginning, and he’s always coming home well after dinner.”

  “Now, Mariah, you know that man is a big-time preacher with a lot of responsibilities, so you can’t expect him to be at home with you all the time. If he was, you wouldn’t have this house and everything in it.”

  “Maybe, but still something isn’t right with us. And sometimes he speaks to me so harshly.”

  “Well, baby girl, I hope you’re not nagging that man to death when you know all the pressure he must be under, trying to run that church.”

  “I don’t nag him, Mama. I just want him to spend more time with me. And actually he was until maybe a couple of weeks ago.”

  “What you need to do is get out of this house more often. You were never a housewife before you married Curtis, so why are you hanging around here now waiting for him to get home? Because I’m telling you, baby girl, you’re going to push him away if you keep doing all that complaining.”

  “What? Are you saying that I should go back to work?”

  “No, I’m not saying that at all. I’m just saying you need to find some other interests. Get yourself a hobby of some kind or join some women’s organization. You like helping people, so you could even volunteer for some charities. Anything that would get you out of here a few hours a day.”

  “I head up a young women’s organization one day a week at the church, and I also teach a women’s Bible study group every other Saturday morning.”

  “That’s all fine and whatnot, but I’m talking about doing something outside of the church. You need to do something that’s just for you and you only. Because even though you know I believe a man should take care of a woman, I also think she should have her own identity and do some things on her own.”

  “I guess.”

  “You’ve got yourself a real good man, but you�
��ve got to let him have a certain amount of freedom. You can’t start making him feel all caught up. If you do, you’ll end up forcing him into another woman’s bed.”

  “But Curtis isn’t perfect, Mama.”

  “Well, nobody is, baby girl. You know that.”

  “No, I mean, Curtis has some serious issues from his past that I just found out about.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like an illegitimate five-year-old son that he never told me about. And the worst part of all is that the mother was only seventeen when he first started sleeping with her and this was all while he was married to his first wife.”

  “I know that probably hurt you, Mariah, but the past is exactly that. Everybody makes mistakes, but people do change.”

  “Well then, why didn’t he tell me on his own instead of letting me find out from someone else?”

  “Who told you?”

  “Nobody really. I heard Alicia say it when she was yelling and screaming at him about how he’d ruined their family.”

  “I know this is a little off the subject, but is she starting to warm up to you any?” Jean asked.

  “No, and now she’s totally disrespecting Curtis, too.”

  “She’s just hurt because her parents aren’t together anymore. And as wonderful as you are to her, she sees you as someone who’s in her way.”

  “I know, but I wish she would just realize that I only want to love her like my own child.”

  “She will eventually. You’ll see.”

  “I’m just starting to wonder what I got myself into when I married Curtis. Sometimes I think we can pray for the wrong things.”

  “Now look. I don’t ever want to hear you talk like that again. Because I know you haven’t forgotten that run-down, roach-infested shack we used to live in. It saddens me every time I think about it, but what makes me so happy now is that one of my babies got an education, married a wealthy man, and made it all the way to the top. Both your sisters are almost forty and still living at home with me, one of your brothers is serving a life sentence for being a drug dealer, one is barely two steps from joining him, and the other is living with a woman and using her. So I’m telling you, baby girl, you might be the youngest, but of all my children, you have the best head on your shoulders and the biggest heart. I know I may not have been the best mother in the world, but I loved you and tried to take care of you the best I could. So that’s why I don’t want to see you give up what you have. I don’t want you to be unhappy, and I don’t ever wanna see any man walking all over you, but please try to make your marriage work if you can.”

  “I am trying, but Curtis has to meet me halfway.”

  “I’m sure everything will be fine,” Jean said, reaching out for her daughter. “And no matter what, I’ll always be here for you.”

  Mariah hugged her mother and wished she never had to let her go.

  “I know that, Mama, and I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too, baby girl. And don’t you ever forget that. Not for as long as you live.”

  At that moment Mariah realized how strong a mother’s love could be and decided that maybe it was time she became one herself. Yes, Curtis had said he wanted to wait, but starting a family would bring them so much closer. And she wouldn’t have to spend so much time alone when he had business to attend to. She’d finally have another human being that she could love unconditionally and spend all of her time with. She’d have a baby that would love and appreciate her until the end.

  She’d finally have everything.

  Curtis drove into the subdivision and saw his mother-in-law’s car parked in his driveway. But just as he did, his phone rang. He figured it was Mariah, until he saw the word “unknown” displayed on the screen.

  “Hello?”

  “All I can say is that I must be completely insane to be calling you back,” Adrienne said. “And I know that I’m going to regret this for the rest of my life.”

  “Is that so?” Curtis said rather coolly, and pulled his car to the side of the street. He wanted Adrienne to think he was still angry about their earlier conversation.

  “Yes. But while I hate admitting it, you were right about everything you said. I am still in love with you, and I’m completely miserable with Thomas. He’d make the perfect husband for someone else, but he’s just not for me. I’ve really tried to be happy with him, but it’s just not working.”

  “I’ve told you before that not every married couple is compatible or meant to be together. And no matter how hard you try to make it work, it won’t get any better. Because even though I’ve tried to be happy with Mariah, she’s just not enough for me. She’s not the woman I’m supposed to be married to, and it’s like I told you before, she’s not you.”

  There was a pause and then Curtis heard Adrienne sniffle.

  “Baby, what are you crying about?”

  “The fact that I’m so confused and I’m so afraid that if we start seeing each other again, it’s going to end up a total disaster. I’m scared to death that things will turn out worse than they did five years ago.”

  “But I promise you they won’t. This isn’t like before, and as soon as I divorce Mariah, you and I can finally be married.”

  “I want to believe you, Curtis. I really do. But you know that’s hard for me after all that has happened.”

  “I understand that, but if you just give me this one last chance, I’ll prove everything to you.”

  “But what if Thomas finds out? Or Mariah for that matter?”

  “Nobody’s going to find out anything. We’ll be even more careful than we were in the past, and it will only be for a short time.”

  “I just don’t know.”

  “Why don’t we talk about this face-to-face,” he said, rolling the dice again.

  “When?”

  “Tonight?”

  “I don’t know. It’s already after eight.”

  “Where are you now?”

  “Still at my office.”

  “Why don’t we get together for maybe an hour or so?”

  “But Thomas knows that even when I work late, I’m usually home by eight-thirty.”

  “Tell him you’re going out with some coworkers. Tell him anything, because, baby, I really need to see you.”

  “Curtis, what are we doing?”

  “We’re about to stop being miserable.”

  “Where do you want to meet?” she said.

  “The usual place?”

  “Fine. I’ll see you in about forty-five minutes.”

  “See you then.”

  Curtis gazed at his house again, did a U-turn in the middle of the street, and drove back out of the subdivision. To his surprise, he felt a tad bit guilty and somewhat sorry for Mariah. He’d honestly tried to be faithful to her. He’d tried to do what he knew God wanted him to, but it wasn’t his fault that Mariah couldn’t satisfy him or make him happy. In actuality, it wasn’t her fault either, because she couldn’t help being the person she was.

  He picked up speed after entering the interstate and said out loud, “Lord forgive me for what I’m about to do.”

  When they arrived at the hotel, Adrienne went in, checked into a room, phoned Curtis on his cell phone, and gave him the room number. They’d agreed that it was best to walk in separately just in case they saw someone they knew. Curtis had been somewhat nervous when they’d gone to the restaurant last week, but he’d decided it was well worth the risk. Rarely had they eaten together out in the open during their first affair, so he figured taking her to a public establishment would be impressive. And impressive it was, because he was sure it had helped convince her that she needed him more than ever.

  Curtis took the elevator up to the eighth floor and walked down the corridor to 803. Adrienne opened the door, and he grabbed her in his arms instantly. They kissed madly and Curtis unzipped the fitted gray dress she was wearing. He slid it off each shoulder and pushed it down toward the floor. She stepped out of it, and Curtis unsnapped her bra
and laid her on the bed. They kissed again and he removed everything else she was wearing. Then he removed his own blazer, all the while admiring her body and shaking his head in amazement. She hadn’t aged one day, and her body was still just as beautiful as he remembered.

  He loosened his tie and began shedding the rest of his clothing. He continued staring at her, barely able to contain himself, and Adrienne lay there watching him with tears streaming down her face. They hadn’t said one word to each other, and they both agreed silently that there were no more words to speak. At least not now, anyway, because they’d come here solely to express their feelings and desire for each other.

  Curtis made love to her like he never had before. He moved his tongue between her legs like an artist twirling a paintbrush. She moaned and groaned and wept, and Curtis turned up the intensity a whole other notch. He could tell he was driving her wild, and loved all the juice her body was producing. He buried his head deeper and deeper until she screamed at the top of her lungs.

  He lifted his body away from her and she sat up and reached her hand toward his crotch. She pulled him into her mouth and Curtis thought he had died and gone to heaven.

  “Oh dear God,” he declared, closing his eyes. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

  Adrienne was still a master when it came to oral sex, and now he knew he had to say and do whatever it took to keep her in his life.

  She moved her lips upward and downward, slowly and then more rapidly, tightening her grasp.

  Curtis felt himself preparing to come and pulled away from her.

  Then he laid her down and slid inside her.

  “Baby, I want you to promise me that you won’t ever give yourself to another man for as long as you live,” he said.

  Adrienne groaned with much satisfaction as he eased in and out of her.

  “Baby, did you hear me?” Curtis asked, entering her a bit harder than before.