When the choir members took their seats, a tall, late-thirty-something woman dressed in a black and white suit walked up to the glass podium, carrying what looked to be two or three envelopes. “Happy Mother’s Day, everyone,” she said, smiling.
“Happy Mother’s Day,” the congregation responded.
“Don’t you all look absolutely beautiful this morning? Nothing like walking into the sanctuary and seeing the beautiful women of Deliverance Outreach. Amen?”
Amens could be heard throughout the building.
“Well, as many of you know, I’m Cathy Reynolds and the reason I’m standing before you is so I can present our annual Mother’s Day gifts! As always, I have an envelope with a check for five hundred dollars for both the oldest mother in our congregation and the youngest. So, without further ado, our first gift goes to Mother Bessie Mae Jefferson.”
Everyone stood and applauded, and while at first Dillon didn’t see anyone making their way to the front of the church, he now saw a tiny woman being escorted by two of the ushers. Dillon didn’t pay a whole lot of attention to the kind of clothing older women wore, but even he couldn’t deny how classy and beautiful the woman looked in her white suit, white hat, and matching shoes.
The members took their seats as Cathy walked down the pulpit steps to meet Mother Jefferson, hugged her, and then passed her the microphone. One of the ushers held her steady by her other arm.
“Nothin’ but God,” she said, though her voice was weak. “I tell you, I’ve come a long way from workin’ in the cotton fields of Mississippi to now gettin’ ready to celebrate my hundred and third birthday.”
There was more applause and people smiling everywhere.
“There were times when I didn’t know whether I would make it, but God had a different plan for me. This old body of mine has stood the test of time, I tell you. Heart surgery, a gallbladder operation, high blood pressure…but through it all, I’m still standin’. Thank God, I’m still here, and I’m doin’ pretty good for an old lady…and I look pretty good, too, don’t I?”
Laughter resonated from one end of the sanctuary to the other. Dillon laughed, too, and for a moment he wished he had a grandmother like Mother Jefferson. He could tell how loving and kind she was, and that she didn’t have any ill will toward one human being. His own grandmother had passed away before he was born, and then when he’d met his father last year, he’d learned that his paternal grandmother had died some years ago also.
Melissa leaned closer to Dillon. “She’s such a sweetheart, isn’t she?”
Dillon nodded.
“Thank you all so much,” Mother Jefferson said. “I love you, and God bless you.”
As the ushers walked her back to her seat, most people stood up again and Cathy stepped back in front of the podium.
“Isn’t Mother Jefferson the most precious woman you’ve ever seen? Such an amazing woman of God. Well, our next presentation goes to our youngest mother, Mrs. Mikayla Blake. Mikayla just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl two days ago, so she wasn’t able to be here this morning, but our committee decided that she still deserved to receive this year’s gift. She’s only twenty-one, but she and her husband and the baby are doing fine. Because of Mikayla’s type 1 diabetes, her pregnancy was a bit of a struggle, but they’re hanging in there and they’re doing as well as can be expected. We ask, too, that you would please keep their entire family in your prayers.”
Dillon looked a couple of seats down at his father, who smiled at him. Curtis, Charlotte, and their children always sat together in the first row, and Dillon was proud to be a member of the Black family.
“And now for our fabulous first lady!” Cathy continued. “Lady Charlotte, will you please come up here?”
Charlotte waved at their parishioners as they stood in applause and when she strolled closer to Cathy, she walked up the red carpeted steps and embraced her.
When the excitement toned down, Cathy said, “Sister Black, we just wanted you to know how much we love you and appreciate you on Mother’s Day and every day. So, on behalf of our Mother’s Day committee and this entire congregation, we present you, our esteemed first lady, with this check in the amount of two thousand dollars.”
There was more clapping, and Charlotte smiled.
Dillon looked on in amazement and wondered what was wrong with these people. Because to him, Charlotte seemed more like the devil’s wife than she did a first lady. He wasn’t by any means referring to his father as the devil. No, Dillon was referring to the real devil, the one living in hell. Dillon often thought, too, how appropriately Charlotte’s parents had named her. Her name was in fact Charlotte, but the word harlot was mixed in very nicely and it described her to a tee. “Charlotte the Harlot,” Dillon thought and wanted to laugh out loud like a child. Boy did this woman make him sick.
“Oh my,” Charlotte began. “Well, first of all, I just wanna say Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers of this church. And to my own mom, who’s also here with us,” she said, smiling at both her parents. Then, of course, to this entire congregation…you all continue to be the most caring and loving people in the world, and Pastor Black and I will never be able to thank you enough for all you’ve done. I so appreciate this very special gift, and I have to say…it will certainly be put to good use!”
Many of the members chuckled, but Dillon didn’t find his stepmother’s words very humorous. Nothing was funny to him, because Charlotte the Harlot didn’t deserve two nickels from these folks, let alone a whole two thousand dollars.
“As your first lady, I won’t stand here pretending that I haven’t made a lot of mistakes, because Lord knows I have. But for the first time in my life, I’m finally following God’s direction and doing things the way I know He wants me to.”
Dillon wondered when lightning was going to strike. This woman was faking and lying through her teeth. Who in the world did she think she was kidding? And the sad part was that while not all seemed to approve—specifically those who stared at Charlotte with stoic faces—he could tell many of these people supported her completely. They were blinded by her smile, good looks, and charisma, and Dillon was stunned. He couldn’t believe it was this easy to con and deceive hundreds and hundreds of people. There must have been at least two thousand people present today, and that didn’t count the two thousand who had likely attended the early service. He hadn’t been there for that one, but he’d attended the early service a few times in the past, and the church had been pretty full.
“Thank you all so much for everything. I love you, I love you, I love you. Also, before I take my seat, I have a very important announcement to make, and actually, it’s a truly wonderful surprise for all of you.”
Dillon lowered his eyebrows, wondering what she was about to say.
“I guess I should begin by saying that this has by far been one of the toughest years in our family’s life, but today, praise God…” Charlotte’s voice trailed off with tears. “Today marks the return of my husband as senior pastor of Deliverance Outreach. So ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to introduce the man you’ve known and loved for years, your pastor, Reverend Curtis Black.”
Dillon was flabbergasted. He could sort of hear all the chattering and clapping taking place, but at the same time he was sitting in his own world, trying his best to figure out how his father could have made such an important decision and not mentioned it to him. More important, he couldn’t help wondering if Alicia had been told and possibly other family members. Dillon was so beside himself, he wanted to storm out of there, but he mentally calmed his nerves as best as he could and appeared unaffected by what was happening. Melissa grabbed hold of his hand, and he knew it was because she’d figured out how hurt he was over this.
The congregation was still in standing ovation mode, and now Curtis stood at the microphone. “Thank you,” he said, holding either side of the podium. “Thank you all so much…God bless you…Thank you…Thank you so much…I love you all…God bless you.”
When everyone had quieted down and finally taken their seats again, Curtis took a long, deep breath. “My, my, my. Well, today is the day the Lord hath made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it. And I guess it goes without saying that today I am a very happy man and I am also a very humbled and grateful man of God. As my wife mentioned earlier, this has been one of the toughest years of our lives, but thank God it has also been a wonderful learning period for all of us. It has been a process that we truly needed to experience. A little over a year ago, I stood here, letting you know that because I’d made a ton of mistakes it was time for me to step down as your pastor. And that’s exactly what I did. I attended service each week the same as you, I participated in Bible study on Wednesday evenings as a member, and I read and studied my Word daily. Sometimes I studied from my home office for hours on end, and I’m here to tell you, it was very well worth it. Then there were days when I turned out all the lights and closed the shutters in my office and got down on my knees so I could meditate. I did this so I could listen and hear from God without any distractions. I spoke to Him regularly because I still had a lot of repenting to do. And it is because of all of this that I am totally recommitted to God’s work and this entire ministry. I now see things completely different than I did before. I’ve learned so much and improved so many things in my life, I really wish more pastors would step down and take a backseat when they know they’re not walking in God’s purpose. When they know they’re not doing all that God wants them to do and what He expects from them.”
Dillon looked down the row at Alicia, who was all smiles, so again, he wondered if she was just as surprised or if she’d known about this newsflash all along.
“I finally feel as though I’m not just on the right path this time around,” Curtis continued, “but instead I’m now on an eternal path when it comes to my relationship with God. And believe me when I tell you that there’s definitely a difference.”
“Amen,” many of the members said.
“I’m also feeling very good about my relationship with my wife and children. Something that has taken a lot of soul searching and praying. My oldest son, Dillon, has been with us for a while now, and he and I have certainly come a very long way.”
Obviously, we haven’t come too far if you felt the need to hide this great news of yours from me. Dillon forced a smile, but he wasn’t happy with his father at all.
“Son, I love you, and thank you for being patient with me. You’re one of the most patient people I know, and thank you for allowing me to not only get to know you better but to do what I can to make things up to you. Had you not forced me to deal with my past and own up to my sins, I never would have stepped down and checked myself. I never would have spent this last year completely focused on God,” Curtis said, smiling. Then he looked at Alicia and Curtina.
Actually, now that Dillon thought about it, Curtina normally attended the children’s service over in one of the large seminar rooms, so he should have known something was up when he saw her sitting next to Charlotte. He could just about guess, too, that Alicia had been told very early on and that this was the reason she and Phillip were there as well, as were Charlotte’s parents. They all drove over from time to time, anyway, but Dillon couldn’t imagine Alicia preferring to spend Mother’s Day with Charlotte versus spending it with her own mother in Chicago. No, Alicia was here for one reason: she’d been told that their father was returning to the pulpit.
“My two baby girls,” Curtis beamed. “What would I do without you? It is true that one of you is well in her twenties, but Alicia, sweetheart, you will always be my baby girl, the same as my little Curtina.”
Curtina and Alicia hugged and held hands, smiling.
“I will say, though,” Curtis went on, “there’s still someone missing. Someone I love with all my heart. My precious son, Matthew. I have never missed anyone as much as I miss him, and our family won’t be complete until we have him back in our lives for good. Don’t get me wrong, I know my wife and I are the reason he turned away from us, but ever since then, nothing has been the same. So I’m asking all of you to pray for our reunion with him and our little grandson.”
Dillon’s heart thumped wildly, and his breathing got heavier. Why couldn’t his dad stop stressing over a son who didn’t want anything to do with him? Why couldn’t he just be happy with Dillon? Why wasn’t one son enough for his father? Matthew had certainly been enough for many years, well before Dillon had come into the picture. So to Dillon, his father had simply lost one son and then gained a new one—end of story. But for some reason, his father wouldn’t let it go—wouldn’t forget about Matthew and move on the way he needed to. Maybe once he realized that Matthew would never forgive neither him nor that that witch, Charlotte, he would eventually give up. Maybe he’d finally forget he even had a son named Matthew.
Yes, that’s what Dillon would hope for. He’d hope and wait for things to work in his favor. He just hoped it didn’t take too long, though, because whether his father realized it or not, he wasn’t as patient as Curtis believed him to be. Truth be told, he didn’t have much patience at all…not when it came to getting what he wanted.
Chapter 5
Matthew drove his fire-red BMW—the one his parents had given him during his high school years—into the bank’s parking lot. Then he coasted down the second aisle and pulled in next to a white SUV. Matthew was thirty minutes early, yet his boss had still made it there before him. She was a workaholic to say the least, and Matthew wouldn’t have been surprised if she’d gotten to work before daylight. She’d done it before, and with the low interest rates they were offering on car loans, they had definitely been very busy.
Actually, Matthew was the opposite, though. He was the kind of employee who never walked in late, but he also never sat at his desk until about five minutes before start time. Today, however, he’d left the apartment a whole lot earlier because he hadn’t been able to stand another minute with Racquel. A whole other day had passed, yet she still wasn’t speaking to him. She was wallowing in anger and dwelling on the arguments they’d had over the weekend, and Matthew was tired of her attitude. Even as they’d driven over to her parents’ yesterday afternoon for dinner, she hadn’t said one word to him, unless you counted the curt answers she’d given him when he asked her certain questions. It was as if the only words she knew were yes, no, maybe, and whatever.
So, this morning he’d left as soon as he could and now here he sat, trying to gather his thoughts and waiting for the nervousness in his stomach to settle. He was starting to feel as though he couldn’t cope, and that nothing in his life was right except the love he had for his son. He was actually beginning to feel depressed, and suddenly he wished he could talk to his father. Hear his voice and maybe ask him to pray for him and Racquel—ask his father, the wisest man he knew, for some good solid advice about his marriage. His father hadn’t been the best husband to any of his three wives, including Matthew’s mother, but nonetheless, his father had still been able to advise other couples with sheer excellence.
If only Matthew had the courage to pull his phone out and call him. If only he could find the words to say to his dad after all this time. But he couldn’t, because his pride wouldn’t let him. He couldn’t just give in to his parents so easily, because they’d done too much. They had caused a massive amount of pain and humiliation in his life, and they didn’t deserve to hear from him or ever see him again. Matthew wrestled with his decision, but then it dawned on him: he had to stay away from his mom and dad because if he didn’t, they would soon start causing problems for MJ. That was the one thing he flat-out wouldn’t tolerate.
Matthew relaxed against the headrest, weighing his troubles back and forth, until there was a knock at his window. It was Nicole Jordan, a gorgeous woman who was seven years older than he was and the same age as his big sister. She must be five foot ten and didn’t wear more than a size eight. Her clothes always fit her perfectly, and married or not, a man would ha
ve to be blind not to notice her.
Matthew rolled down his window. “Hey, good morning.”
“Good morning,” she said, smiling. “Is everything okay?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Because you’re sitting here with your eyes closed, and you’re never here this early.”
“Got a lot on my mind.”
Nicole glanced at her watch. “You want some company?”
Matthew unlocked the passenger door. “Sure.”
Nicole went around to the other side of the car and got in. “So what’s wrong?”
“Everything.”
“Wow, that’s a lot.”
“You’re tellin’ me.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
Matthew rarely shared his personal business with anyone, let alone one of his coworkers, but if he didn’t open up to someone he wasn’t sure how he’d make it through his work day.
“My marriage is a mess, and I’ve never been more unhappy in my life.”
“Gosh, I’m really sorry to hear that. Have you told your wife how you feel?”
“Yeah, but she basically couldn’t care less. All she does is sit around the house, day in and day out.”
“What about your son? I mean, is she a good mother to him?”
“Yeah, actually, she’s too good.”
“I guess I don’t understand.”
“He’s all she cares about, and she doesn’t think anyone else can take care of him. She doesn’t even like it when I take him places. She’s a nervous wreck from the time we leave until the time we get back. She calls my phone every fifteen minutes.”
“That’s not normal.”
“You’re telling me.”
The Prodigal Son (A Reverend Curtis Black Novel) Page 3
