Silver Lining

by Wanda B. Campbell

  “Yes, Lewis Mason is a low-down, dirty, sorry excuse of a man. I’ll tell you all about that later.” Starla kissed Leon’s cheek, then started for the door.

  “Would someone like to tell me what’s going on?” Officer Grimes asked.

  “Officer Grimes, you can start preparing the necessary paperwork. When I get back, Lewis Mason is dropping the charges, and my husband is coming home with me!”

  When Tyson caught up with her, Starla was already in the waiting room demanding Marlissa’s car keys. “Starla, wait, I’ll go with you.”

  “Girl, what’s going on?” Mother Scott demanded, breaking from the Bible Study session Pastor Drake had started with the waiting room visitors.

  “I don’t have time to explain.” Starla shook her head and reached for Marlissa’s purse.

  Marlissa grabbed the purse before Starla could retrieve the keys. “You’re too emotional, I’ll drive.”

  Kevin didn’t know where they were going, but he wasn’t going to allow Marlissa to go alone. “Tyson and I are coming with you.”

  “I feel trouble in my spirit,” Pastor Drake called after him. “I think we should have prayer before you all leave.”

  “You’re right, Pastor,” Starla said after opening the door. “I want you to pray that the Lord gives me the strength to lay hands on Lewis Mason and knock him out under the power if need be. Pray that I do just what Jesus did: whip his behind clean out the temple.”

  “Well Amen,” Pastor Drake stammered as the four of them left.

  Starla filled Marlissa, Kevin, and Tyson in with the details of Lewis’s pursuit on the drive to her former church.

  “Oh, no, he didn’t!” Marlissa yelled. It was a good thing Kevin was seated in the front with Marlissa, because when Starla mentioned that Lewis had shoved the boys, Marlissa released the steering wheel and snatched out her earrings. Kevin had to reach over and grab the wheel of the Lexus to keep the car from swerving into another lane. Starla was too fired up to notice and Tyson didn’t utter one word. He’d learned from his numerous female relatives never to scold an emotional pregnant black woman. Kevin couldn’t say anything; he was too busy praying.

  “Good!” Starla said when Marlissa pulled into the church’s parking lot. “The monthly business meeting is still in session.”

  The gearshift didn’t make it into park good before Starla jumped out of the car and stormed through the doors of her former church. Tyson hurried after. Kevin followed with a firm grip on Marlissa’s arm to keep her from running off.

  “Lewis Mason, you low-down, triflin’, dirty devil!” Starla screamed in slow motion when she barged into the conference room.

  Lewis was seated at the head of the table. His jaw fell. The remaining twelve people seated around the oval oak table were taken aback by the sudden intrusion. Most stopped what they were doing and dropped their pens and paper. The secretary continued writing.

  Starla started for the stunned Lewis, and Tyson followed close behind. “How dare you accuse a decent man like my husband of stealing your money, all because I refused to marry your tired behind?”

  Murmurs of, “Oh my goodness” and “What did she say?” floated around the table.

  “Sister Scott, I . . . What brings you here tonight?” It was apparent the chairman of the deacon board didn’t quite know how to respond to the outburst.

  “Is that the best you can come up with?” Marlissa said from the doorway.

  The chairman hunched his shoulders. “I had to say something. It’s my job to keep order in these meetings.”

  Starla briefly glared at the chairman, then walked over and stood over Lewis. Kevin and Marlissa remained in the doorway. “You heard what I said,” Starla snarled. “The man you have representing this fine church tried to talk me into divorcing my husband to marry him, and when I refused, he had my husband falsely arrested.” She hit Lewis on the back of the head. “Tell them!”

  The slap brought Lewis out of his trance. “Ms. Scott, you are out of order for bringing this ghetto behavior in here.” Lewis’s voice came across as cold and demeaning. He detested public displays. “You are no longer a member of this church; therefore, you have no right to be here. Now leave!” Lewis tried to intimidate her by standing and stepping to her.

  The murmuring grew and the secretary kept writing.

  Lewis soon learned how ineffective his tactic was when Starla stepped even closer to him, and, with one hand on her hip, pointed a finger in his face. Kevin wasted his breath instructing Marlissa to stay put. She arrived next to Starla the second after Kevin stood next to Tyson.

  “First of all”—Starla’s neck rolled rhythmically—“it’s Mrs. Scott, and as long as my husband is in jail behind your lies, I will stay here. If you think my behavior is ghetto now, see what happens if you don’t march down to the police station and drop those phony charges. You didn’t know I am from the hood, did you? I’m saved, but I ain’t forgot nothing!” Starla gestured around the room with her hand. “I will tear you and this place up and repent later!”

  “Hold on a minute, Sister Scott, we don’t want any trouble,” the chairman stuttered, then turned to Lewis. “Mason, what is going on here?”

  “Tell them, Lewis. Tell them how you sexually assaulted me and attacked my boys,” Starla demanded.

  Lewis’s nostrils flared and his jaw flexed with the rapid pace of his breathing. “What did you say?”

  The secretary spoke for the first time. “She said, ‘Tell them, Lewis. Tell them how you sexually assaulted me and attacked my boys.’”

  The murmurs instantly transformed into full voices and text messages were transcribed at a rapid speed.

  Starla walked around Lewis and stood at the head of the table. “Go on, Lewis, tell the board how you pursued me and came to my townhouse and forced yourself on me after I refused you. Tell them how you physically attacked three- and six-year-old boys who were only trying to protect their mother.” Starla folded her arms. “Tell them, Lewis, because when I get back to the police station, I and Officer Grimes are going to have a long talk.” Starla cocked her head. “I wonder if Montel left any teeth marks.”

  Tyson and Kevin grabbed Lewis’s arms before his clenched fist could strike Starla. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Starla kicked him in the groin.

  “Mason, you’ve gone too far this time!” the chairman said, and pounded his fist on the table. “This is the third time you’ve run a good member away with your obsessive behavior. This time I am not going to look the other way. We don’t need this type of mess.” The chairman motioned to Tyson and Kevin. “Take him down to the police station. Mason, you’re going to clear this up now!”

  Lewis attempted to break free, but it was useless. He wasn’t any match for Tyson and Kevin. “I’m not going anywhere!”

  “Shut up, Haman!” Starla yelled back. “You’re going to hang in the same gallows you set up for my husband.” Her eyes narrowed. “I assume you read that big Bible you carry to know who Haman is,” Starla said in reference to the man who’d plotted to kill God’s chosen people.

  Lewis grunted and jerked some more to no avail.

  “Sister Scott, I am so sorry about this,” the chairman apologized. “Mason promised he wouldn’t do this again and I believed him.”

  Starla didn’t have any words for the chairman or anyone else in the room. She turned to Tyson and Kevin. “Let’s get back to the station. I want my husband home before midnight.”

  “Excuse me,” the secretary called after Tyson and Kevin. “Can I have your names for the minutes?”

  “Whew!” Marlissa sighed and leaned against the back passenger door of her car. “This has been some day.”

  After the confrontation at the church, Tyson and Kevin dragged Lewis down to the police station. After Lewis explained that he’d made an accounting error, Officer Grimes released Leon two hours later, but detained Lewis. Marlissa guessed it was for filing a false complaint.

  “Tell me about it,” Kevin rep
lied while opening the door for her. “This has been the most chaotic day—week, actually—that I’ve ever experienced.”

  “At least Leon is free.” An awkward silence followed. Momentarily, Marlissa surveyed her surroundings. The police station rested on the border of Oakland’s Chinatown and Jack London Square. Surprisingly, the landmarks were overshadowed by the homeless population living on the streets. Thank you for your grace, Marlissa prayed. I was almost one of them.

  She turned back to the man who’d given her the greatest pleasure and had also caused her the most agonizing pain. “Thanks for helping Leon. I didn’t realize the two of you were that close. He didn’t mention the business loan to me, and I thought I was his friend.”

  Kevin smiled. “I know you didn’t think all of our conversations and meetings were about you.”

  Marlissa shrugged. “What do you know, I was wrong again. I’ve been wrong about a lot of things lately.” Marlissa paused before asking, “Kevin, why did you come here today?” This was Kevin’s chance to finally level with her.

  “Tyson told me what happened and I knew you would need me.”

  Marlissa rapidly blinked back tears. Once again, Kevin refused to give the one answer she needed to hear. “Kevin, we need to talk,” she announced while discreetly rubbing her belly.

  “I know.” He nodded. “But not tonight. It’s after midnight and we’re both tired. We’ll talk tomorrow.” Kevin motioned for her to get inside the car. “Buckle up. I’ll follow you home.”

  Too drained to argue, she obeyed. Before closing her door, Kevin attempted to kiss her and didn’t appear disappointed at all when she offered him her cheek and not her lips.

  Chapter 34

  Marlissa studied the room and debated how she was going to tell Starla she was pulling out of the wedding. Marlissa just couldn’t do it. Throughout the night and all morning, Marlissa tried to convince herself she could do this, but standing at any altar without Kevin wasn’t something she looked forward to doing.

  The small, intimate setting resembled the wedding she’d always wanted, but wasn’t allowed to have. Starla had chosen the Yacht Club for its 360-degree exquisite views of the bay. The hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings gave the illusion of a much bigger space. The guest list was only fifty people long, but Starla decorated like she was expecting to have a spread featured in Ebony magazine.

  Starla’s color scheme was sage, cream, and silver. Cream-colored netting was draped through hooks on the ceiling, forming an impression of clouds. Across the center of each “cloud” was a silver ribbon. Starla selected this particular design to signify that there is a silver lining behind every cloud; good could come out of every situation. Marlissa thought the fragrance extracted from the cream-colored vanilla candles and the sage-colored cucumber melon candles, which centered the tables and lined the walls, was heavenly. The archway where Leon and Starla would stand was conservatively lined with cream netting and sprinkled with artificially dyed sage-colored roses and cream-colored tulips. Cream and sage tablecloths draped round tables of six with matching chair covers. The catered celebratory sit-down meal included prime rib and salmon, Starla’s favorites. They were also Marlissa’s favorites.

  “I’m sorry, Starla,” Marlissa whispered, heading toward the dressing room while squeezing the garment bag that contained her gown.

  The hairstylist was putting the finishing touches on Starla’s hair. Marlissa had never seen Starla without her braids. Marlissa had assumed the single braids were mostly added hair. It turned out that Starla’s hair was just as long as the braids she wore. “Your hair is beautiful.” Marlissa’s voice communicated her surprise.

  “Didn’t know I had hair, did you?” Starla started to muse, but stopped abruptly when she noticed Marlissa wasn’t dressed at all. She didn’t even have on makeup. “Do you know what time it is?” Starla barked. “You better hurry up and get dressed. This is not a CP Time wedding.”

  Marlissa bit her lip before saying, “Starla, I’m sorry, but I can’t do this.”

  “Why not?” Mother Scott appeared suddenly from behind a curtain.

  “It’s too hard,” Marlissa whimpered.

  “What’s so hard about putting on a dress and walking down the aisle for your friends?”

  Before Marlissa could answer, Mother Scott grabbed her by the arm, pulled her behind the curtain, and continued with her tangent. Starla never got a chance to say one word and she didn’t mind at all, because when the curtain opened again, Marlissa was fully dressed.

  Mother Scott was getting on her nerves so bad, Marlissa practically ran to the vanity and applied her makeup in record speed.

  “Marlissa,” Starla said, placing her freshly manicured hand on her shoulder. “I know this is hard for you. I saw how difficult it was for you to handle Kevin’s presence yesterday at the police station. I just want you to know that I love you for pushing your pain aside and being here for me.”

  Marlissa had a list of sarcastic and bitter remarks she could say, but didn’t. She simply smiled and said, “I love you guys too,” then asked, “Where’s my bouquet?” before leaving to prepare for her entrance down the aisle.

  Starla frowned. “Marlissa, I should have told you earlier. When I went to pick up the bouquets, yours wasn’t there,” Starla explained regretfully.

  “Great.” Marlissa smirked. “What will I use now?”

  “Here.” Marlissa didn’t complain. She took the single rose from her friend and quietly exited the room.

  On cue, Marlissa inhaled and started down the aisle. With a pasted smile she strolled and almost tripped upon seeing Reyna seated next to Tyson. What is that about? she wondered. She quickly regained her composure by focusing on Leon and the boys. Montel and Jaylen were too adorable in those cream tuxedos and sage cummerbunds. What could she say about Leon, whose attire mirrored the boys’? She loved him. He was a God-given friend and her big brother. Marlissa took her place, then after Pastor Drake instructed everyone to stand, directed her attention to the door.

  Starla was beautiful in her sage dress, and the love that radiated between her and Leon was so evident, even Tyson appeared moved. His bright skin had turned a shade of red. Before interlocking his arm with Starla’s, Leon stole a quick kiss, causing the audience to chuckle. Marlissa was too busy laughing to notice that Leon and Starla had moved three steps to the left. Marlissa continued laughing until a song very familiar began playing through the sound system. It was the song she’d originally desired for her wedding march. She looked over at Starla and Leon for an explanation, but all Starla and Leon would do was smile. Montel and Jaylen were smiling too. Pastor Drake touched her shoulder and nodded toward the door. Marlissa still didn’t understand what was going on.

  “Turn around, baby,” Mother Scott called from the audience.

  Marlissa did as she was instructed and thought she was dreaming. The image of Kevin in a cream tuxedo and carrying her tulip bouquet, walking down the aisle to her, was better than any fantasy.

  “Y’all set me up.” Marlissa sniffled, accepting Leon’s handkerchief. But to Kevin she didn’t say anything; she couldn’t, not yet. She bit her lip and her hands fidgeted with the single rose as she waited for him to approach her.

  Kevin removed the rose from her shaky hands and placed it on an end seat. “I love you,” he began after taking her hand and tenderly kissing it. “I never stopped loving you. I should have told you that a long time ago, but I didn’t, and for that I am sorry.”

  Marlissa sucked in her breath.

  “You asked me for forgiveness but I refused to grant it because I was afraid of being hurt again. You were right. I took advantage of you by making you prove your commitment to me repeatedly without once fully committing to you.”

  Marlissa inhaled deeply in an effort to control her breathing and to delay the tears, but it was too late. Tears pooled and streamed down her cheeks.

  “’Lissa, I am so sorry for every hurt I selfishly inflicted on you, and I forgive y
ou for everything that happened in the past.” Kevin held out the bouquet to her. “Let’s start over.”

  Marlissa released her hand and shook her head from side to side. “How can we do that? Too much time has lapsed; aren’t we divorced?”

  “We are not divorced,” he answered plainly. “I rescinded the petition the day you walked into Tyson’s office. I realized that day I loved you too much to live without you. I just didn’t know how to tell you that. I was afraid.”

  Marlissa moved her mouth to say something, but then changed her mind. She calmly removed the bouquet from Kevin and placed it on a chair, then in one quick motion sucker punched him.

  The entire audience gasped almost in unison.

  “Hit him again,” First Lady Drake called out.

  “Yeah, you deserve that one, son,” Mother Scott added.

  “Kevin Hezekiah Jennings, I could kill you! Do you know how much heartache you’ve caused me? Do you have any idea how many tears I have cried over you?” Marlissa tried to soothe the throbbing in her hand by shaking it. Kevin’s rock-solid stomach caused her more pain than the punch did him.

  “Can you forgive me?” Kevin managed once he was upright again and the initial shock of being punched by his wife while wearing a tuxedo wore off.

  Marlissa went off on a tangent, rolling her neck. “I have been going out of my mind for five days, waiting for you to come clean about the divorce. Not to mention the days and weeks I tried to regain your trust. I can’t hardly hold any food down and can’t sleep at night because I’m too busy praying for you to come to your senses.” Marlissa snarled at him. “Kevin Hezekiah Jennings, you had better be glad I love you so much!”

  Marlissa was scowling and Kevin was smiling.

  “I love you. Will you marry me, again?” Kevin asked once more.

  Marlissa wasn’t ready to give in just yet. “Tell me again and say it loud enough to be heard in Mexico!” Marlissa softened, listening to Kevin repeat the statement and question again.