Drama in the Church Saga (43 page)

“Why did you choose to go to school in Turkey?”

“I felt like I would do better studying abroad.”

Judge West was now convinced that this guy was not ready to represent a client in court.

“And my pastor hired you on my behalf?”

The kid nodded.

Judge West was aware of the fact that Reverend Simms knew a lot of prominent experienced trial lawyers. It made him wonder why he chose this kid.

“Yes, when he came to my office he said he was referred by another pastor.” He thought for a second. “A Reverend Baxter.”

“Will this be your first case at the firm?” Judge West asked.

“Yes, sir, this will be my first case to ever present before a jury.” Joseph pulled out a notepad. “Now, sir, can you please tell me exactly what happened, in your own words?”

Joseph looked harmless. Actually he reminded Judge West of an out-of-place country boy living all alone in the big city of Philadelphia.

“Before we begin, why don't you tell me about back home?” Judge West requested.

“Back home?”

“Yeah, tell me about Nebraska. Since we'll be working together, I want to know as much about you as I can, since you already know a lot about me.” The judge was searching for any sign that Joseph may be connected to the brotherhood.

West sat back in his chair and listened to Joseph ramble on about his strict Mormon upbringing. He was raised on a farm and was the first of eight siblings to leave home.

Once he was finished, West was convinced that this kid wasn't associated with the brotherhood.

“Okay, kid, that's enough talking about you.” Judge West looked around. “Where is your tape recorder? Joseph, remember, whenever you meet with a client, you always want to record any conversations you have about details of the charges. It makes it easier for your secretary when it's time for her to transcribe everything.”

“Oh, okay.” He dug through his briefcase. “I have one of those right here.” He set it down in front of them.

West got up to leave. He banged on the door for the guard to take him back to his cell.

“Where are you going?” Joseph questioned the judge as if he were on the stand.

“Listen, kid, go back to your office and call my pastor and tell him I'm all right. I don't need counsel. I'm going to get out of this because I didn't do anything wrong. Please tell Reverend Simms I fired you, and you are free to go.”

Joseph looked shocked and disappointed. He couldn't believe he had just lost his first case before it even got started.

Three days after the wedding, Dean was released from the hospital. Instead of moving into Olivia's small apartment, he suggested that she and Bryce move into his grandpa's Victorian-style home with him. Olivia was hesitant. She didn't want to intrude while Judge West was incarcerated, but Dean assured her it would be all right. Besides, Dean never expected his grandpa to walk freely again.

Their first week in the house, Olivia kept busy. Never one to complain, she cooked dinner, washed dishes, kept the house clean and made certain her husband abided by the doctor's stern instructions to get plenty of rest, take his meds every three hours and drink plenty of water.

Bryce adjusted to the change well. He loved going to a new school, living in a new house and especially having a backyard to play in. Olivia wished Kennedy and Clinton, her dogs, were more open to their new environment. This unfamiliar environment resulted in them going to the bathroom throughout the house. It was frustrating every time she found more dog doo-doo in inconspicuous places.

Thankful that Colin offered to take Bryce for a few days, Olivia planned to spend plenty of time alone with her husband. Dean was getting stronger every day, but he was still not physically able to consummate their marriage. So to compensate for the lack of intimacy in their marriage, Olivia did other things.

She lit scented candles in the bedroom and gave him a sponge bath every night. They would watch a movie or read a book together. Most nights they would simply sit up late at night and talk.

“Livie, when I go, I want to make sure you and Bryce are taken care of,” Dean said.

Olivia lay against his chest. She turned to face him. “Let's not talk about the future. Instead, let's focus on the present.”

“I've set up a trust fund for Bryce when he goes to college,” Dean told her.

“Dean, it's good to know you're saving for our son's future, but you're going to be here to see him graduate from college, get married and even make us grandparents. You're not leaving me yet. You just got here.”

He gave her a quick peck on the lips. “I hope you're right.” Then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

A week later, Olivia sat in the living room folding laundry. Colin had just called her to let her know he was bringing Bryce home. She couldn't wait to see him. She hated being separated from her little boy.

When her cell phone rang she assumed it was Colin, until she looked at the caller ID and saw it was her sister. Olivia pushed the button to send the call straight to voice mail. Danyelle had been calling and leaving Olivia messages all week, each message sounding angrier.

Olivia understood why she was so upset. She had gotten married and hadn't bothered to call anyone to let them know. None of her family knew she was married, except for her son. It bothered her that the people closest to her couldn't be there when she got married, but she had to respect Dean's privacy. He still didn't want anyone to know about the cancer.

That's why it was taking her so long to return any calls. She was avoiding their questions. She didn't want to lie to them, but she couldn't tell them the truth.

Olivia folded the last of Bryce's clothes and put them away in his room. She looked in on Dean, who was sound asleep, and walked back into the living room. Then she walked toward the laundry room, took clothes out of the washer and headed out the back door to hang clothes on the line.

She whistled for Kennedy and Clinton to follow her. She thought it would be good for them to get some fresh air.

Taking a few white T-shirts out of the basket, she hung them by clothespins on the line. She failed to notice her sister standing right behind her.

“Why have you been ducking my calls?” Danyelle shouted in Olivia's ear.

Startled, Olivia looked around. When she realized who it was, she realized it was time to face the music. It was only a matter of time before Danyelle came looking for her.

“I was going to call you, but I've been busy.”

“You left me a message telling me to leave Bryce over Aunt Stephie's. That was the day of the wedding. Since then I haven't heard from you. You couldn't even call and update me on Dean's condition? I would have thought he was dead if it hadn't been for the fact that Reverend Simms told everyone you two had gotten married at the hospital.”

Olivia turned her eyes away and stepped farther away from her sister. Again, she started to hang up clothes, but Danyelle stopped her.

“What is going on with you?”

Olivia was an awful liar. The one thing she hated doing was keeping things from those she loved, but this was one secret she couldn't share with her sister.

“Livie, you owe me some kind of explanation. You can't ignore me.”

“What do you want me to say?” Olivia shouted.

“I want you to explain why I had to find out through a third party that my sister was married,” Danyelle screamed. “Tell me why you moved out of your apartment and didn't bother to tell me”—She pointed to herself—“Val”—She counted off on her fingers—“or Aunt Stephie. Why is this such a big secret?”

“It's not a secret. I told you I've been busy.”

The two sounded like they were at a screaming match.

The sound of Olivia's back door opening caught both of their attention. Bryce stuck his small head out the screen door. “Hey, Mommy! I'm home.”

“Hey, honey.”

Bryce ran out to give her a hug. “Reverend Colin is looking for you. Hey, Auntie Danyelle.” He ran back toward the house and yelled out to his mother just before he went inside. “Oh! Mommy, I forgot to tell you that Dean is calling for you.”

“Okay, baby, tell him I'll be right there.”

Olivia stepped forward, but Danyelle blocked her path.

“Is Dean here? If you won't tell me what's going on, then maybe he will.”

Olivia dug her fingernails into Danyelle's arm. “Danyelle, I think you've overstayed your welcome.” Olivia stared her sister in the eye. “Please leave. I won't have you bothering my husband.”

Danyelle had never heard her sister sound so cold. Olivia tried her best to disguise the fear on her face as overprotectiveness, but Danyelle could see through her façade.

“Fine, but don't think we're finished.” Danyelle marched off.

 

 

Colin peeked into the storage closet. Danyelle stood in the midst of church supplies. “You summoned me?” Colin stepped inside the closet with her. “I knew you'd come looking for me one day. I just didn't think it would be this soon.” He took and kissed her hand.

She snatched it away. “Would you stop it? I called you down here for answers.” She pulled a hanger from out of the closet and slid on one of the children's choir robes.

“Oh! Is that all? I thought you called me down here to smoke a blunt with you. I mean, this is where you go to sneak in a few puffs on those days when we have morning and afternoon services.”

“Colin, we are not talking about me, we are talking about them.” She picked up another robe from out of the pile left on the floor and tried to put it on its hanger, but she was so mad that the hanger slipped out of her hand and she ended up throwing the robe back on the ground.

“Why don't you calm down?” Then he pulled Danyelle out of the closet and pointed for her to sit in a nearby chair. “Why don't you tell me what the problem is?”

“It's my sister's marriage.” Colin studied her facial expressions. He tried to figure out what was bothering her. “My sister is hiding something from me, and I need to know what it is.”

“Have you tried talking with her?”

“She won't talk with me. I want to let it go, but something is nagging at my soul. I can't let it rest.” He grabbed a hold of her hands. “I wish she would talk to me.”

“She will when she's ready. Don't push. Give her some space.”

“She's telling everyone that Dean passed out from exhaustion. Is that true?”

Colin stared into the eyes of the woman he loved. He was sworn to secrecy by Dean. “The doctor says that Dean was overexerting himself and that he needed plenty of rest.”

“Well, I'm glad to hear that. I was beginning to think he had some kind of life-threatening disease,” Danyelle replied.

Colin loved looking at her. He wished he could be this close to her all the time. He pulled her face closer to his. He wanted to kiss her. He stroked the side of her face.

“Ms. Danyelle,” a child's voice screamed. Then the patter of little feet ran through the church hallways. A young boy came to a halt when he saw the adults so close. “Ooooh, Ms. Danyelle and Reverend Colin are in love,” he shouted. He sprinted up to where they were sitting and dropped his robe in Danyelle's lap before disappearing out of the room.

Colin and Danyelle laughed at the little boy's reaction.

 

 

Danyelle stood on the front steps at Judge West's home. It was the Friday before Mother's Day, and she was ready to make amends with her sister. The last time she left, Danyelle was so angry she vowed to never return until Olivia called and apologized. That was two weeks ago, and she was still waiting on that call.

Danyelle had no idea how she ended up back at the judge's house. She had a strict itinerary set for the day. Her plans were to study for her finals, get some laundry done and meet Colin for dinner later that evening. Then as she drove to the cleaners she heard a commercial on the radio advertising the release of
Horton Hears a Who
. It was in the movie theaters, and Bryce had been bugging her to take him when it came out. She couldn't break a promise to her nephew. Before she knew what she was doing, she turned the car around and was pulling into Judge West's driveway.

She rang the doorbell. No answer. Danyelle placed her ear up against the door. She could hear music blaring in the background and Olivia hollering for Bryce. Danyelle tried the front door and it opened. She stepped into a maze of boxes. Again, she heard her sister screaming for Bryce to bring her a rag.

Danyelle stepped around and over huge boxes. They were piled so high on top of one another that Danyelle thought she would never find her way out. Fortunately, Olivia had a habit of talking to herself when no one was around and it led Danyelle straight to her. She found her sister on her knees scrubbing the inside of the oven. Through the sliding glass doors Danyelle could see Bryce in the backyard playing with Clinton and Kennedy.

Here was the perfect opportunity for them to make up while there was no one around to disrupt them. “I've come to make a truce.”

Frightened by the sound of her sister's voice, Olivia lifted her head and banged it hard against the inside of the oven. She crawled out of the oven, rubbing the back of her head.

“I'm sorry. I overreacted the last time I was here.”

Olivia heard the sincerity in her sister's voice. She was glad Danyelle had come by because she couldn't take another day of them not speaking. Olivia opened up her arms, and the two hugged.

“I'm sorry, too,” Olivia said.

“I knew you missed me,” Danyelle boasted. “Now where is my new brother-in-law? I would like to properly welcome him into the family.”

“He and Colin are moving boxes from my place.”

Danyelle smiled to herself when she heard Colin's name. Their relationship was still a secret, but she wondered how much longer they were going to be able to keep it up.

“They should be back any second.”

“Well, can I take Bryce off your hands?” Danyelle didn't want to be there when Colin returned. “I promised him we would go to the movies to see
Horton Hears a Who
and it was released yesterday.”

“I know. That's all he keeps talking about. I'll go get him for you.” While Olivia was gone, Danyelle snooped in a few boxes. The boxes were full of things from Olivia's apartment.

She was still looking for a clue that would explain why Olivia and Dean married so quickly, but to keep the peace she decided to let the issue rest for the moment.

Hours after Danyelle left, Dean held the front door for Colin as he stumbled in with an armful of boxes. “Colin, do you need any help?” Olivia cleared boxes out of Colin's path so he wouldn't trip over anything. “I told him I could carry something, but he wouldn't let me.” Dean sounded agitated.

“Thank you for telling my husband no,” Olivia said. “He doesn't seem to understand that just because he's not laid up in the hospital or in bed that he's still sick.”

“No problem, Livie. Where would you like these boxes?” Colin asked.

“You can set them down right here.” Olivia pointed to the only open spot in front of her. “I might as well try to empty as many boxes as possible.” She dug through and revealed a vast collection of paintings and prints. “I love Cidne Wallace's work. She immortalizes the attributes of every black woman so tastefully.”

She placed the print to the side and searched the box again. “This painting used to belong to my daddy. It's called ‘The Resurrection of Lazarus.' ” Olivia held it up so the guys could get a good look at it. “It's a reprint done by Henry Tanner. He—”

Colin cut her off. “He was a prominent African American painter in the country who was raised in Philadelphia and his father was an A.M.E. minister. His mother escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad.”

“You've heard of him.” Olivia was glad someone loved art as much as she did.

“I studied his work while in college.” Colin had never seen an actual reprint this close before. He studied how Tanner captured the realness of Lazarus wakening from death. “This is priceless.”