by Edwina Fort
And now I was being forced to stay here with a man I hated.
How had my life come to this?
However, I had no more time to ponder it because Jessie’s school bus was pulling up at the house at the same time Lannox brought his truck to a stop. With a forced smile, I thanked Kayla, who was walking toward the house with a few of her friends, telling her that I didn’t need her to watch Jess for me today.
As I listened without hearing to Jessie, who excitedly told me about something that happened at school, I somehow managed to hold back those tears that were now a log in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe.
Lannox walked up the stairs of the front porch with us and waited for me to open the door. Jessie talked to the both of us, so my plan of slamming the front door in his face was shot to hell. He followed us in, shutting the door behind him as Jessie continued with her story.
I couldn’t pretend that I was alright anymore. “Can you please wait outside. I don’t want you in here with us,” I told him without looking at him.
Finally sensing something was wrong, Jessie went quiet as she studied me. “What’s wrong, Tee-Tee?”
I couldn’t speak, if I did, the dam would burst. Plus, how could I explain to my seven-year-old niece that I was broken? Instead, I stood there facing the stairs, waiting to hear Lannox leave my house.
Jessie signed something to him, he signed back and then quietly left.
“Lannox said he’ll be outside if you need him.”
And that was it… That was all I could take. The dam broke. I hurried upstairs, but by the time I got there, I was blinded with my tears and weeping so badly I was scaring the hell out of Jessie. Too weak from grief to go any farther, I collapsed on my bed and wept into my pillow.
Dear God, help me! I’ve never felt so much pain in my life. My mother was dead and this whole time my husband knew it and didn’t tell me.
He’d killed Stan and Trina!
Oh God! What was I going to tell Jessie?!
“Tee-Tee, why you crying?” she asked crawling into the bed with me rubbing my hair.
I couldn't answer her, because I couldn't stop weeping. My son's father was a killer. What am I supposed to tell him?
I don’t know how long I lay there crying, but eventually, Jessie crawled underneath my arm, lying on the bed next to me and nodded off. My weeping turned into silent tears that turned into a soul-quivering numbness.
I just lay there holding Jessie, watching as the sun began to set. It was right as my eyes were getting heavy that I smelled elderberries.
“Greatie…” I whispered as a spark of life ignited in my shattered heart.
Quietly, as not to wake Jessie, I eased out of the bed and then hurried down the stairs. Greatie stood at the table pouring a cup of tea for me. Needing to feel her embrace at this moment more than I needed to breathe, I rounded the table and wrapped my arms around her. Instantly, I was flooded by her warmth, but when I felt her arms come around me, the tears that I thought were surely all gone started back with a vengeance.
“There now, child,” she soothed as she rubbed her hand down my braids like she used to do when I was a little girl. “It’s okay to cry about it.”
And I did. I stood there and cried painful tears that ripped my soul apart. I wanted to give up. Of course, I knew I couldn’t because of Jessie and my unborn child, but I was so discouraged with mankind I no longer wanted to live amongst them. How could anybody be so cruel and hateful?
“Oh sweetheart, you don’t know how many times yo’ old Greatie has asked that same question.”
I was so used to her knowing my thoughts her words didn’t surprise me.
“Here, take a seat and drink yo’ tea. Tell Greatie all about it.”
I eased down in the chair, feeling too weak to lift my cup of tea. “I hate this world.”
I’d cried so much till my voice was barely there, but my Greatie heard me. She nodded as she walked to the oven pulling out a pan of those muffins. Only this time, there was something else added to them, a peculiar spice that I’ve never seen her add to her muffins.
I frowned a bit. “Is that Sumac?”
She chuckled as she slid another pan inside the oven. “Good nose. Yes, it is.”
“Why Sumac? Why not just add lemon?”
“I’ll tell you in a minute. For now, tell me what happened.”
I exhaled as I stirred my tea and then started at the beginning. “I should have listened to my first impression of him when I walked into that gym for the first time.”
I told her about Hitta planting the money for Westly to find and him kicking in my door looking for West. I told her about him forcing me to move in with him and about him forcing me to love him. Had he left me alone and just gone after a woman who wanted him, none of this would have ever happened.
“Why me? Why couldn’t he just leave me alone?” I was crying so badly I know my Greatie was having a hard time understanding me. “I’m not that pretty. There’s nothing really that special about me.”
She took my hand. "Oh, but it is, child. And that man ain’t blind, he saw it and he wanted it. He just went about getting it the wrong way.” She shook her head. “We do that as humans. We sometimes go about getting things the wrong way.”
“He took it too far. He had Trina murdered. He killed Stan.” She had a look on her face that said she wasn’t too heartbroken by that news.
“Greatie!” I admonished snatching my hand from her.
“Oh, don’t Greatie me! You know the world is a better place without those two in it.”
“Yeah, but he lied to me. He lied to me about everything. Stan killed my mom and Hitta knew and didn’t even tell me.”
“Dear Heavenly Father, have mercy,” Greatie muttered as she stood from the table to check on her muffins.
“Westly finally came back and like a dummy, I jumped right back into trying to help him, only for him to turn around and break into my house.”
Greatie shook her head as she pulled another teacup out of the cabinet and began to plate the muffins. She’d made three pans, way too many for me, her, and Jess. The last time she’d done this, she prepared muffins for Hitta. That thought angered me.
“Are you expecting someone?” I couldn’t help the stank in my voice. But I swear if she’d made those muffins for my lying husband, I was going to get up and throw them in the garbage.
She turned around and faced me with her hand on her hip. “Now you get that sass out yo’ voice. I know what I’m doing.” She pointed at me. “Do you know what you doing?” Dejected, I shook my head.
“Well then, let me do what I’m doing!” she snapped.
I bowed my head, good and disciplined. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing?”
She lifted her cup of tea that sat on the counter and took a sip. “I figure you ready to go, right?” I nodded.
“And that priest out there is standing in the way of you leaving, right?”
“Priest?” I asked frowning.
She chuckled. “Oh yes, the mute is of the Zedekian line. He’s a priest of the Ancient of Days, one of the deadliest men you’ll ever meet. And if we’re going to get past him and keep yo’ husband from tearing up the streets looking for you, we’re going to need some help.”
My shoulders slumped. For just a moment, I felt a spark of hope that my Greatie was going to get us away from here. But there was no one who could get me away from Hitta. He was too powerful in both the streets and thanks to Wayne and Kennedy, the system.
I exhaled. “Aww, Greatie… There’s nobody that can handle Hitta. Not even the cops could help me now.”
She chuckled as she brought the plate of muffins and the spare teacup to the table. “Don’t you want to know why I added Sumac in the muffins?”
I lay my head on the table. Suddenly my neck felt too weak to hold it up on my shoulders.
“Why?” I asked her, looking at her through fresh tears.
“Because the Prea
cher can’t resist my elderberry muffins when I make them this way.”
Dear God, give me the strength. My grandmother would pick this time to start rambling.
She chuckled patting my hand. “There is only one man that can deal with these slayers, and it’s probably because they all came from his loins,” she muttered the last of her statement before looking up and smiling just as the back door opened.
“Tabby girl…” That deep powerful voice caused my head to jerk up. “I heard you were looking for me.”
“Oh my Go---” My words trailed off as I watched the big dark man duck under my door frame just like Hitta had to do when coming into the kitchen. I couldn't believe what my eyes were telling me I was seeing. This man looked like a bonafide cowboy, so much so he could have stepped right out of an old western on TV.
Except there were a few things about him that set him apart from any cowboy I’d ever seen. His long hair was braided in cornrows that fell to the center of his back. The black hat that he wore cast the top half of his face into shadow, but his piercing dark eyes still managed to stand out as he studied me. Y’all, there was something about this man’s eyes that made me feel inferior. Something about his eyes had my mind racing to remember what my Greatie had told me about him the last time she was in my kitchen.
Power exuded from him in waves. As he walked toward us, the black duster he wore opened a bit and I saw that a real sword hung low on his hips. Greatie reached over and put her finger under my chin, pushing it up. I snapped my mouth shut, realizing I’d been sitting here staring at the man as if he was some kind of mystic creature walking through my door.
Heck! That’s how it felt…
“Preacher…How are you?” Greatie said, beaming as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
“I’m good, Tabby girl. Praise Yah! How long has it been?” he asked as he took a seat at the table with us, reaching for one of the muffins at the same time.
Guys, I probably looked like a little kid that had spotted a real-life action hero because I still stared at this man trying to comprehend what I was seeing. And he must be used to folks looking at him this way because he never faltered in putting his muffin on the plate in front of him. He picked up the little knife Greatie had placed there for him, cutting his muffin open and smearing some butter Greatie had softened for him on both halves. Then he picked up one of the halves and took a massive bite out of it, reminding me so much of my husband. In fact, he even favored Hitta as well.
“Shucks, Preacher, it’s been a good while. I don’t think I’ve talked to you since our paths crossed in '09 when I made that coat for you.”
He reached for another muffin, nodding his head. “I think you may be right. I’m glad you mentioned this coat. I need you to make two more for me, one ruddy like the great king Dawid and the other white like our Master’s hair.”
She nodded as she stirred her tea. “How soon do you need them?”
He thought for a moment as he chewed. “We have a little time, they’re still just boys. It will be years till they become who they’re meant to be.”
Something in my spirit told me the ‘09 Greatie mentioned was not 2009. I made eye contact with her.
“’09?”
She chuckled. “1809, I believe. Those coats were in high fashion back then.”
The Preacher chuckled nodding his head. “That was a good year.”
Okay, so that explained why he looked like a cowboy. Apparently, he was like Greatie and had walked the earth for many years. He must have really enjoyed the wild west days.
“Preacher, I called you because we need yo’ help. My daughter here has gotten herself tangled up with one of yours.”
“Uh oh,” the commanding man muttered.
Greatie nodded. “He’s a little rough around the edges and don’t quite know how to treat her yet.”
When she said he was a little rough around the edges, the Preacher chuckled, shaking his head a bit. His gaze came to me and it took everything in me not to fidget under the weight of it.
“Your son is going to need his father.”
I swallowed. I wanted to shake my head and say no, but this wasn't the kind of person you said no to if you guys know what I mean. When he spoke, everything inside of you that was wise encouraged you to listen.
“However, sometimes my children have to lose what they unwisely take for granted as continual in order to know just how much they’ve been blessed.” He’d gone back to buttering his muffins.
Goodness! It was the third one he’d consumed since sitting down at the table. Greatie was right, just like Hitta, he loved her muffins. Seeing this man who reminded me so much of my husband was a little surreal.
“He has a Zedekian priest loyal to him. He’s been ordered not to allow her to leave the house.”
The Preacher nodded, clearly impressed. “Now, I’m looking forward to meeting this young man, what’s his name?”
“Everybody calls him Hitta, but his real name is William,” I told him.
He grinned. “Hitta?”
His grin was infectious. I didn’t think I would ever smile again, but here I was. “Yeah, Hard Hitta.”
“Okay… I see.” He signaled toward the stairs with his knife. “Go on, child, pack your bags. You can go. I’ll take care of the Zedekite for you and have a little talk with your husband.”
I sat there for a moment stunned. Surely, it can’t be that easy.
“Go, girl…pack you and Jess a bag. Hurry now, I know the perfect place for y’all to go for a little while,” Greatie said, gesturing for me to hurry along.
“That’s it?” I asked them both, feeling like I was stuck in the twilight zone. They both nodded at me.
“That’s it, and I suggest you hurry. Your husband will be here shortly,” the Preacher said before stuffing another half of a muffin in his mouth.
They didn't have to say anymore. I hurried upstairs and woke Jessie.
“Sweetheart, I need you to pack a bag. Get your pajamas and underwear. Pack a few outfits and your toothbrush. Hurry.”
“Where we going?” she asked as she rubbed her eyes.
“It’s a surprise. Hurry now, go on!” I gave her a little shove out the room before quickly packing me a bag.
When we got back downstairs, the Preacher and Greatie were still sitting at the table catching up on old times. And surprisingly, Lannox stood by the stove helping himself to a muffin and a cup of tea. I froze in fear when I saw him.
He turned to face me and there was a sad smile on his face.
“He says he’s sorry you had to witness the things that you did today,” the Preacher said before sipping his tea. “He also wants you to think about not leaving his master because Hitta needs you.”
I lifted my chin. “I don’t care what he needs. I have to think about me now."
Lannox nodded before his gaze went back to the powerful dark man at the table. He just looked at him for a while and then the Preacher nodded.
Oh my God! He was communicating with him the way that he does Maddox.
“He says he prays that you can one day understand why Hitta is the way that he is. He’s been created to destroy evil. He’ll never hurt the innocent.”
“What’s your excuse?” I spat my words at Lannox.
He put his hand on his chest, but it was the Preacher who spoke. “I have been made the same way. But I’ve never killed a man. My brother won’t allow it. He won’t allow me to have blood on my hands.”
Hitta’s truck pulled up out front. The sound of loud rap music bled through the front door. My frightened gaze shot to it.
“Lannox, why don’t you take Tabby girl and her beautiful granddaughter to wherever it is they need to go. I’ll take care of your master.” All this the Preacher said while still sipping his tea. I wanted to warn him that Hitta was really dangerous, but I had a feeling that he could take care of himself.
Lannox nodded and gestured for us to follow him out the back door. Greatie hurried to the
Preacher and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you, Ach. I will have those coats for you the next time I see you. Come, child…” she told me as she hurried out the door behind Lannox.
“Thanks again,” I muttered to the powerful man as I followed behind her, pulling Jessie with me. However, Jessie had not stopped looking at the Preacher since we came into the kitchen and as I pulled her past him, she still stared. At the last minute, she broke away from me and ran to him hugging him.
“I love you.”
He chuckled. “Thank you, baht. I love you too.” She nodded and hurried after me.
Before I left, my gaze came to the Preacher’s one last time.
“Have faith, daughter.”
“About what?”
“That he will become the man you need him to be.” I stared at him for a moment before I nodded. As I closed the back door, I heard Hitta’s keys in the front.
Chapter 24
Cleansing
There Is A Sacredness In Tears. They Are Not A Mark Of Weakness, But Power. They Speak More Eloquently Than Ten Thousand Tongues. They Are Messengers Of Overwhelming Grief…And Unspeakable Love…
Washington Irving
Hitta
As soon as I pulled up to the house, I knew my light was gone. I felt it like I felt the hair on my face. This time was different from the last time she left. I’d broken her heart and by default, mine too. Somehow, she’d found out the truth about everything, and now she saw me for the piece of sh*t that I am.
I clutched my head as the pressure built behind my eyes. My temples were beginning to throb and my heart felt like someone had taken a f**king sledgehammer to it.
F**k! I felt like I was getting ready to have a heart attack!
I messed up!
I saw it in her eyes. I messed up bad and I had no idea how to fix it. I’ve been f**king up since our honeymoon.
I know!
