The Favorite Son

by Tiffany L. Warren

  “And I know that was God, because just about everyone in the sanctuary laid a gift on the altar,” the wife added.

  Camden smiled at them both but said nothing. He didn’t know how to respond to them. At least they weren’t angry with him or Blaine. He hoped that everyone else felt the same way.

  When Camden got to the choir room, Blaine was already in full rehearsal mode and on the piano playing the music for their worship song. They also had to do something upbeat to start the service off. Camden was glad that only So G.I.F.T.E.D was in the room; he didn’t want to hear anything more about his father’s supernatural explanation.

  Dawn ran up to Camden and hugged him. “Congrats, babe.”

  Amber gave Camden a fist pound, their customary greeting, but when Camden’s response was less than enthusiastic, she frowned. “What’s wrong, Camdeezy? You know Sarah is cool right? She and your daddy weren’t getting along anyway, so this is definitely a God move.”

  “Sarah had issues with my father?” Camden asked.

  “Yep,” Akil cosigned from across the room. “Supposedly, that’s why we got to sing at the revival. Sarah was about to debut some new … uh … diverse singers, and your daddy wasn’t feeling it.”

  “Come on, y’all, we got like fifteen minutes before service,” Blaine said. “I ain’t trying to look crazy on our first Sunday morning.”

  “We got this,” Amber said.

  Camden walked over to the piano and relieved Blaine from his spot. As he played the song and the group sang, Camden felt his spirits fall. Did his father really have confidence in his leadership or was he just showing Sarah who was boss?

  It seemed like his father had told everyone a different story, and none of it was the truth. But no matter what his father’s reasons, Camden had something to prove. To God, and not to B. C. Wilson.

  CHAPTER 5

  Blaine racked up the pool balls on the custom-made pool table in his father’s entertainment room. He winked at Amber as she twirled her pool cue. He was about to put a hurting on her because she’d been talking smack since church.

  “You sure you wanna do this?” Blaine asked. “I’ll let you bow out now and save yourself from looking foolish.”

  “Whatever, Blaine. Rack them balls up so I can break ’em.”

  From his post on the wall, Akil burst into laughter. “That sounds painful.”

  “Right. Your sister is violent, man!” Blaine said.

  “I know it. I put it on the prayer list, but she ain’t had a breakthrough yet,” Akil said, still laughing.

  The entire group was there for Blaine’s mother’s monthly brunch. Lately, that mandatory meal was the only time Blaine visited his parents’ home. He’d grown up in the mansion, knew every inch of the seven-bedroom, six-bathroom home intimately, but he was happy to be out on his own. Blaine and Camden had both shocked their father by putting their college degrees to work and getting jobs instead of living off them. Of course, their careers hadn’t lasted very long. Pastor Wilson quickly put Blaine and Camden on the church payroll. He didn’t want them to get too used to Corporate America.

  Both Blaine and Camden still lived outside of the family home, though, and it was best, especially for Blaine. His mother didn’t approve of his dating habits, and he didn’t approve of her scrutiny.

  Blaine narrowed his eyes at Camden and Dawn. She was snuggled up to Camden on the leather couch. Blaine didn’t know how Camden could settle on just one woman with all the beautiful women they came into contact with. Their father’s church had thousands of members, most of them women, and most of them lonely.

  Plus, Dawn was okay, but she wasn’t all that. She could lose a few, ten, fifteen pounds and she was entirely too needy. She stayed in Camden’s face so much he could barely breathe, and she didn’t seem to be ashamed of it at all. He preferred a girl like Amber who didn’t chase any man. Well, a girl like Amber, but not her. She wasn’t quite his type. That Afro on her head had to go.

  Amber broke the balls on the pool table and called the solid colors. Blaine grinned as she knocked ball after ball into corner and side pockets without following any of the established house rules. It was okay, though. She was giving him a nice view of her cleavage every time she leaned over to hit the ball.

  “Got them yams out,” Blaine said as she hit another ball.

  Amber chuckled and pushed her breasts up farther. “Always, hon. They got you mesmerized?”

  “Nah. But I do think you’re trying to use them to cheat,” Blaine said. “New house rule. No low-cut blouses at the pool table.”

  “Or in the sanctuary,” Akil added. “I’m gonna start throwing prayer cloths over you.”

  Amber scoffed. “Um … Camden. Mr. Minister of Music. Can you tell your underlings to leave me alone?”

  Camden looked up from his private conversation with Dawn and smiled at Amber. “My underlings?”

  “Yes. Praise team lead singer Blainesky and praise team doowop pop boy Akil. Your underlings. They answer to you, right?”

  “Technically, I guess so. But that’s just in name only. Nobody is my underling. We’re doing God’s work,” Camden said.

  Blaine didn’t like where the conversation was going. He was the lead singer of So G.I.F.T.E.D not because Camden was in charge, but because he was a better singer and a better worship leader than Camden. This Minister of Music title did not put him in charge of anyone. Blaine hoped he wasn’t getting a big head, because Amber was clearly confused.

  Just as Blaine was about to raise objections, his father’s assistant, Stephen, walked into the game room. Even though no one was doing anything out of pocket, they all fell silent. Stephen always felt like an undercover narcotics officer, just spying and waiting on something to report to Pastor Wilson.

  “Lady Wilson wanted you all to know that brunch is ready.”

  Camden rose to his feet. “Thank you. We’ll be right there.”

  We’ll be right there? So now Camden was speaking for everyone regarding brunch too? Blaine laughed to himself and put up the pool table supplies.

  Blaine purposely hung back while everyone except Amber left the game room. He sat on the edge of the pool table and folded his arms across his chest.

  “What’s wrong, Blainesky?” Amber asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing. I’ll be up in a minute.”

  “You look angry, Blaine. You were okay until we started talking about Camden being the Minister of Music. You feeling some kind of way about that?”

  “No. Why would I want that headache of a job? It’s all good. I’m not angry.”

  Amber twisted her full lips to one side. “I don’t believe you. Don’t be mad at Cam, though. You know he probably is only doing this because your father asked.”

  “Not. Mad.”

  “Okay, then. I’m going to eat. Come walk in with me. Pretend that I’m your date,” Amber said.

  “You would want everyone to think we’re together. Are there any honeys up there?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe Delores.”

  Blaine frowned. “I look like Pastor B. C. Wilson to you?”

  “Actually, no! You look like your mama. And you know you are beyond messy with that comment.”

  Blaine smiled and jumped down from the table. He locked his arm in Amber’s. “Maybe a little messy. Come on, sweet potatoes. I’m ready to eat now too.”

  “Good.”

  Everyone in Pastor Wilson’s inner circle was seated at the table. His assistant Stephen, Delores, and Lady Wilson’s evil assistant Regina were all present, along with the members of So G.I.F.T.E.D. Assistant Pastor Damon Brennan was there with his wife, both looking hungry as ever. Blaine thought Pastor Brennan would be buried one day with a chicken leg in his hand. There were only two available seats for Blaine and Amber, one next to Pastor Wilson and the other between Dawn and Akil. Blaine wanted to dash for the latter, but he wasn’t going to play Amber out like that.

  The seventy-five-degree sunny day was perfect for din
ing outdoors. Late April in Dallas was usually a beautiful time of year, and Blaine’s mother loved having her outdoor parties before the weather got too hot.

  “Thank you for finally joining us,” Pastor Wilson said.

  Blaine didn’t reply. He wasn’t trying to get embarrassed. He just took a seat while his father rose to pray over the food.

  While everyone’s head was bowed, Amber leaned forward and winked at Blaine. He smiled. If he hadn’t planned on hooking up with Trina later, he maybe would’ve tried to see what was up with her—even with that wild Afro.

  Delores was seated directly across from Blaine at the table. Instead of having her eyes closed like everyone else, she frowned at Blaine and shook her head as Pastor Wilson continued his excessively long prayer. Blaine grinned at Delores. She lifted an eyebrow at him and grinned back.

  When he was done, Pastor Wilson sat down and cleared his throat. “You all did a good job this morning,” he said, “but it could be stronger. I didn’t fire my whole praise team for nothing.”

  Blaine watched Camden clench his jaw and stare straight ahead. So the new Minister of Music wasn’t going to say anything in defense of his group?

  “We didn’t get to prepare,” Blaine said. “We’ll slay them in the aisles next week.”

  “You should always be ready,” Pastor Wilson said. “No excuses.”

  “No excuses,” Blaine repeated back.

  Regina smirked and looked directly at Blaine. He knew she was enjoying watching him get reprimanded by his father. Blaine didn’t care. He still wasn’t planning on dating her, which was what she really wanted.

  “Well, I think they sounded good,” their mother said. “I was proud to see my sons walking in God’s anointing.”

  Pastor Wilson gave his wife an irritated glare. “I agree that they’re anointed. That’s why my sons are going to be co-laborers in the vineyard with me. We’re going to start having weekly services in Dallas as well as in Oklahoma City. It’ll be Graceway Worship Center, the church in two locations.”

  “Who’s going to pastor the Oklahoma City church?” Regina asked.

  “Initially, I will, but then, when he’s ready, I’ll pass it on to Blaine,” Pastor Wilson explained.

  Blaine looked around the table and took in everyone’s facial expressions. The only one who didn’t have some sort of shocked or disapproving look was Camden. Camden had a tiny smile on his face. Regina’s look was especially amusing to Blaine. She looked like she’d just swallowed a mouthful of crushed glass. Take that, Blaine thought as her face cracked and frowned.

  “Aren’t you going to say something?” Pastor Wilson asked.

  Blaine blinked a few times and nodded. “Yes, of course. I’ve always wanted to follow in your footsteps, Dad, but it just seems like a lot.”

  “It won’t come all at once. I’m going to start using you more, giving you more responsibilities, putting you out there more. The praise team is just a start. Another part of the Wilson brand.”

  “Look at God,” First Lady Wilson said. “I knew God had a plan when He gave me these sons. To God be the glory.”

  The Wilson brand. Blaine repeated the words over and over in his mind. He’d do it, whatever his father told him to do, because the thought of being the senior pastor of his very own congregation gave Blaine a rush. He imagined a queen at his side. Not the women he’d dealt with in the past, but royalty who would be on the covers of magazines with him.

  It felt like a dream, but Blaine was sure Pastor B. C. Wilson would make it a reality. His father always got exactly what he wanted. He never failed.

  CHAPTER 6

  Blaine sat in the big leather chair in his father’s study, still high off the announcement Pastor Wilson had made at brunch. When his father pulled him to the side and said he wanted to speak with him after brunch, Blaine assumed it would be a planning session of some sort. Since Camden wasn’t there too, Blaine knew it was about his being a pastor.

  “How are you feeling, son?” Pastor Wilson asked from the other side of the desk. He was sitting in an equally large leather chair.

  “I’m excited,” Blaine said. “I know I have a lot to learn, but just the fact that you chose me and not your assistant pastor speaks volumes about your confidence in me.”

  Pastor Wilson chuckled and stroked his goatee. “Damon is not senior pastor material. He doesn’t have the balls for it. He can’t even stand up to his wife. He’s a follower, not a leader.”

  “Oh.” Blaine didn’t even know how to reply to that, or if he should. He’d known Pastor Brennan since he was a baby, and he’d never heard his father speak of him this way.

  “You probably wonder why I have him in a leadership position at my church, if I hold him in such low esteem,” Pastor Wilson said.

  Blaine nodded slowly. “The thought did occur to me. He’s been with you a long time.”

  “That’s why he’s in leadership. Damon would never betray me. He’s been with me since before I started. Outside of your mother and Stephen, he’s the only one I trust to always have my back. Actually, I might trust him more than I trust your mother.”

  Blaine’s eyes widened as his father laughed. He couldn’t possibly mean that, but he sure looked like he did, as hard as he was laughing.

  “We’ve got a lot to work on, Blaine, before you can pastor a church.”

  Blaine nodded. “I know. I was thinking that maybe I should go to seminary or get a master’s degree from a Bible college. I can do that while I sing with So G.I.F.T.E.D.”

  “Seminary is a good idea, but that’s not my primary concern with you.”

  Blaine swallowed hard and sat back, allowing the oversized chair to swallow him. He thought he knew what his father was going to say, and he didn’t know if he was ready or willing to change that part of himself.

  “The women, son. You’re going to have to get that under control.”

  “I don’t know what you mean, Dad.”

  Pastor Wilson threw his head back and laughed. “Well, at least you’ve got the deny, deny, deny part down. Never admit guilt when it comes to affairs of the heart.”

  “Right.”

  “You’re going to have to find a wife. I see you and Amber have a good rapport. She’s a little rough around the edges, but …”

  “Wait, Dad. I’m not going to marry Amber or anyone right now. Marriage is the last thing I’m thinking about.”

  “Why? You’re going to be a pastor. No one trusts a single pastor, Blaine. Women may flock to your church, but they wouldn’t stay.”

  Blaine exhaled loudly. This was not what he expected when his father wanted to talk to him. He was looking for his father to pass the torch.

  “Dad. Didn’t you say it was going to be a while before I even took over the new church? Let’s cross the marriage bridge when we get to it.”

  “This is not a request, Blaine. If you want me to consider you for this church, you need to get an exclusive girlfriend and plan on marrying her within the year. Let me know right now if I need to find someone else for this vision.”

  Blaine bit his bottom lip and nodded slowly. His father was serious about this marriage thing. Problem was, Blaine couldn’t see pretending that any of the women he was dealing with were anything close to marriage material.

  “What about your mother’s assistant, Regina? You’ve slept with her.”

  Blaine frowned. “No. Absolutely not her.”

  “Why not? She’s good for the ministry. Your mother loves her, and we trust her.”

  Blaine shook his head. “She’s been running around the church bad-mouthing me already. I’m not dealing with her evil self.”

  Pastor Wilson shook his head. “You’ve got to start thinking in terms of what is good for the church. Regina has great credentials. Her father and grandfather were pastors.”

  “Even if I wanted to date her, she wouldn’t want me. She hates my guts.”

  “I’ll have your mother talk to her. She’ll come around, especially if s
he thinks she’s going to be a Wilson.”

  Blaine couldn’t believe they were actually having this conversation. Regina. Regina? Blaine didn’t want to go there. She wasn’t even good in bed. She cried every time they did it, talking about she needed to repent.

  “Dad, why don’t you let me see if I can find someone else?”

  Pastor Wilson’s top lip quivered and he cracked his knuckles. Blaine knew he was frustrating his father, but he couldn’t see himself with Regina, even if it was for show.

  “Graceway is my church, Blaine. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you. I don’t care what else you do or who else you do, but Regina is my choice for you right now. There is a strategy to this thing. I know what I’m doing.”

  “Dad. You married Mom and built your ministry with her, but you loved her.”

  Pastor Wilson stared straight ahead, but said nothing. The silence was saying too much for Blaine.

  “Dad?”

  “What?”

  “You did love my mother, didn’t you?”

  Pastor Wilson cleared his throat. “I do love your mother. She gave me my sons. I couldn’t have built this ministry without her.”

  Blaine wanted his father’s declaration to be enough, but it wasn’t. It sounded rehearsed, as if his father had been called on the carpet about the subject before. It sounded like a cover story. Blaine didn’t want to have a scripted response about his wife. He wanted to brag on her and for everyone to brag on him for having her.

  Pastor Wilson continued, “When you give your life to God and dedicate it to ministry, you make sacrifices. That is why it is perfectly fine for you to enjoy the blessings that are going to be poured out on your life.”

  And by blessings, Blaine knew his father was talking about finances.

  “One day, you’ll have everything I have and even more. But you have to trust me and follow my lead. I know how to do this thing.”

  Blaine nodded and believed. How could he not?

  CHAPTER 7

  Camden sat at the keyboard in his apartment and played the chords of a new worship song. He played to keep his mind off his father’s announcement at brunch earlier. He tried to convince himself that he didn’t care about his father choosing Blaine to pastor the Oklahoma City church, but it wasn’t the truth. Camden did care about it, not because he wanted the position himself, but because he thought it was a horrible decision.