The Other Side of Divine (7 page)

“Please don't,” Darius said. “I really don't care to hear the nagging today, if you don't mind. I just came by to bring the children something for Valentine's Day and to give you a little something to help out. The phone is off and that's fine. I have another phone now anyway so it's no biggie.”

“You have another phone?” Tiffany said. “Well, do you think you'd like to give me that number? I don't have any way of getting in touch with you should I need you.”

He laughed, then grinned big. “Yeah . . . right. Who cares if I need something, but we have to be sure you're taken care of should
you
need something. The phone gets turned off from your end and that doesn't bother you. But when I get a new phone to replace it, then you feel you should have the number in case
you
have a need.”

“Darius, stop being silly. You have children. I was hoping you'd reached your bottom and were on your way back up to being sensible and reasonable. But I see I was wrong,” Tiffany said.

“Yeah. Okay. Well, it was good to see you. I'm going to get out of here.”

“And go where?” Tiffany said. “Where are you living these days?”

He smiled. “Since you didn't want me here, where you would know where I was living these days, I fail to see where that's any of your business anymore. You wanted me gone and out of the house. Well, guess what? I'm gone and out of the house. What happens to me after that is no longer your business or your concern. As for if you should need me, you can always call Big Red and leave a message with him. I'll check in with him from time to time and he'll be able to get me a message.”

“You can't do that. I shouldn't have to call Big Red to get a message to you. What if it's an emergency? What if something happens to one of the kids and I need you immediately?”

“Tell you what: Do what you would have done if my only phone had been cut off and you needed to get in touch with me. Oh, wait . . . that's right. My only phone
was
turned off because you didn't pay for it to stay on. So let's see how that works out for the both of us. Got to go.” He leaned down and tried to kiss her on the cheek. She moved her face just in time to cause him to miss. He laughed. “Bye, love. I'll be checking on you and the children soon.”

—Micah 7:4

 

 

 

D
arius opened the door to his new home, unable to stop smiling as he thought about how blessed his life was. Tiffany had reminded him of what he'd once had and, when he compared it to what he had now, he couldn't help but want to give God a shout of praise for his newfound blessings.

Divine was on the bed with her feet propped up on a pillow watching the fifty-inch flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. He walked in with a large box of chocolates (the fancy, expensive kind with nuts and truffles) and two dozen yellow roses (minus the one he'd given Tiffany).

“Oh my! How lovely,” Divine said, standing quickly to her feet when she saw him come in. “A man after my own heart. You bought me candy
and
flowers . . . with my own money, no less.”

He laughed. “No. Actually, I used
my
money for these. I used
your
money for other things.”

She moved her lips in and out like a fish. “You are a most thoughtful man. I so love that about you!”

“So how was your day?” Darius asked as he watched her carefully snuggle her face into the roses.

“It was good,” she said. “Ouch!”

“What happened?” Darius moved closer to see what was wrong.

She sucked her finger and shook it, then repeated her actions a few more times as she spoke. “I must have stuck my finger on a thorn. You would think they'd ensure all of the thorns are off before they thrust them upon the innocent public.” She laid the roses down on the bed next to the box of chocolates. “So, did you go see your wife and children already?”

“Yeah. How did you know I was doing that?”

“I just figured you most likely would. You seem to be the type of man who would make sure his children got something on a day like this,” Divine said.

“You apparently know me all too well,” Darius said. “In fact, it sort of scares me how well you appear to know me.”

She stepped up close to him with a wicked smile. “Now I
know
you're not afraid of little ol' me.” She put her finger in her mouth where she'd been stuck earlier by the thorn and sucked it again. She then held out her finger to Darius. “Kiss it and make it better.”

He grinned, took her finger, and gave it a soft kiss. “There,” he said. “All better now?”

She skipped back over to the bed and flopped down on it. “Darius, I need to ask a favor of you.”

He nodded, going over and sitting down next her. “Okay.”

“It's pretty simple, really. In fact, you can make some extra money if you agree to do it.”

“Extra money? Sounds like you're talking my kind of language now.”

“You know I work in the pharmacy department behind the counter. And I was wondering if you would consider doing me a teeny, tiny favor and coming in and purchasing a few items that we happen to sell behind the counter, with money I'll provide you, of course.”

He laughed. “What's going on? Are you trying to win employee of the month or something?”

She shook her head. “No. Nothing like that. It's just I have these people who are willing to pay top dollar for things like Sudafed, if you can believe that. But you know we have these dumb laws passed in Alabama that make it harder to get your hands on them. You have to purchase them from behind the pharmacy counter now and they make you show an ID and stuff in order to get certain medications that used to sell on the counter.”

“So what is it you're asking me?” Darius said with a stern, yet playful look.

“I'm asking you to come in and purchase some items when I'm there at the store. That's all. I'll give you the money, so it won't cost you a thing. In fact, not only will I give you the seed money to get it, but after you turn the items over to me later, you'll get paid pretty well for doing it.”

“Hey, I don't see any problems with doing that. And I get paid, too?” He nodded his head. “Let's do it.”

She grabbed his face and kissed him. “Oh, thank you! Thank you! You're so wonderful! And you treat me so wonderfully. I'm grateful to whatever providence caused our paths to cross that day back in January.”

“You're grateful? I'm the one. However, I still call mine God Almighty.”

She puckered her lips and rolled her eyes. “So you mean to tell me that you actually think God brought me into your life?”

“You're a blessing. And I was always taught that every good and perfect gift comes from above. These past few weeks with you don't get any gooder or more perfect.”

She laughed. “Gooder? Gooder is not a word.”

“Yes it is. I just used it, so it's a word,” Darius said. “How do you think words become words? Someone says something, other people start saying it, and before you know anything, it's added to the dictionary with the meaning we assigned to it, making it officially a word. If we can get enough people to start saying gooder, I bet we can make it to the dictionary.”

“Okay. But I dare say that God, yours or mine, which I like to just refer to as The Universe, had anything to do with me and you coming together. In fact, if your wife and pastor knew what was going on, I'm certain they would say this is anything
but
God, and in fact, the doings of the devil.”

“Well, let's look at this objectively. My wife had me put out of my own house because of something I did almost a half a decade ago. I tried my best to go back, but she, not me, was the only thing standing in the way of that happening. I went to talk to my pastor and he wanted to put me in some halfway house with a bunch of addicts and losers instead of telling my wife that she was wrong to put me out and to stop the games and nonsense. There I was sleeping in my SUV when there was no reason I should have been outdoors
or
homeless. I mean, these so-called Christian folks will help out folks they don't even know, but when it comes to folks they
do
know, like me, they turn me out on the streets and couldn't care less that I'm without a place to lay my head. I was just about to crack and what happens?” Darius said. “God sends me you. And
now
look at me: I'm here with a beautiful, caring, fine woman—”

She laughed loudly.

“And we're here in a house I hadn't even thought to dream of. All of my needs are met. Sounds like the blessings of the Lord to me. And now you want to offer me a way to make money and all I have to do is buy something I would normally buy in a store anyway? Say what you like, but let me get up and get my praise on
right now
!” Darius stood and began doing a praise dance while Divine threw her head back in sheer delight.

—Proverbs 27:1

 

 

 

D
eidra wrapped her arms around her daughter and gently pulled her toward her after she'd stepped into the house. “Okay, Paris, when are you going to smile again?” Deidra asked as she walked her oldest daughter into the den. They sat down on the couch next to each other as Deidra held tightly on to her hand.

“I
do
smile,” Paris said. “I do. I don't know why you and Andrew say I don't.”

“Because you don't. Not lately. Not from what I've seen. Every time I see you, you look like something is weighing on your mind. Do you want to talk about it?”

Paris had discussed this with Johnnie Mae Landris just two weeks ago. She still hadn't said anything to Andrew about the baby and what was a possibility. “There's nothing to talk about, not really. My stomach is getting bigger, but I'm
definitely
not complaining about that. My feet swell so I'm not able to wear some of my favorite shoes. And you know how I am about my shoes.” Paris laughed, hoping that little joke would set her mother's mind at ease. She held up one of her flats-wearing feet and twirled it in a circle.

“Well, you don't have too much longer before the baby comes and you'll be able to squeeze your little size-seven feet right back into your high-fashion high heels. Although I'm not so sure how the heels you like to wear will work when you're left carrying a baby in a pumpkin seat,” Deidra said.

“Pumpkin seat? Really, Mom, no one calls baby carriers pumpkin seats anymore.”

“Well, I do. And I can't wait until my grandbaby gets here so I can carry
her
in it when I take her to church.”

“Who says the baby is a girl?” Paris said.

“You know you're having a little girl. As much as you want to put a little girl in pageants and things, this baby
has
to be a girl. You've never forgiven me for not allowing you to do those things on the level you wanted to. I can see you now: You'll have your little girl dressed in all those cute, frilly little things,” Deidra said. “Tutus, lots of shimmy, net, and glitter. Me? I'm just looking forward to being Grandma or Granny, I haven't quite settled on which one I want to be called yet. And enjoying my grandchild while you get to do all the work, like changing diapers and waking up in the middle of the night.”

“Well, I'm not having a girl.”

“I thought you said you didn't know what you were having. So have you found out since the last time we spoke? Because if you know, then you need to tell me so I can start buying clothes and things in the appropriate gender and color. They have the cutest little things for little boys these days. You know I only had the one boy so a grandson would be absolutely delightful.” Deidra winked. “On another note: You and Andrew have joined a new church. So I won't get to see all of you at church the way I'm used to doing. I'm still floored to hear that. I never thought, in a million years, you'd leave our church and join another.”

“Mother, please, let's not go there again. Okay? We did it, it's done.”

Deidra held up her hands in surrender. “I'm not, I'm not. I get it, and I'm fine with it. I was only bringing it up because it was a shock to me and your father when you told us. That's all. But we realize most of you young people seem drawn to places like Pastor Landris's church. In fact, Imani has been trying her best to get us to visit there for several months now.”

“Well, I think you should visit,” Paris said. “And now that Andrew and I are members, we would love for you to go with us one Sunday. But for sure, you'll be there when we have our baby dedicated.”

“Absolutely we'll be there.”

Paris laid her head on the back of the couch.

“Baby, what's the matter?” Deidra asked. “Come on; talk to me.”

Paris sat up and looked at her mother. She wanted to tell her so badly. But if she were to tell her, what would her mother say?

Deidra grabbed Paris's hand and squeezed it. “Talk to me. I'm your mother. Whatever is going on, you don't have to go through it alone. That's what mothers are for. You'll see when your little one gets here. There's nothing that hurts a mother more than to see her own child in pain and not be able to make it better.”

“I know, Mom. I just don't know if you'll understand or you may even decide you gave birth to a horrible person.”

“A horrible person?” Deidra said. “You're my child, Paris. A mother's love is a lot stronger than you know. No matter how bad, I'm still going to be your mother and your father is
still
going to be your father. And the Lord knows your father is not going to judge. Not with his history. You see what I've had to deal with when it comes to his past sins. But I'm still here, still hanging in there with him.”

“You've been through a lot, that's for sure. I don't know if I would or could have handled it quite as graciously and forgiving as you. Tell me, Mother: How exactly
does
one forgive their spouse after they've cheated on them?” Just putting those words out there caused Paris to cringe a little. What she was actually asking her mother was: How was she supposed to get her husband to forgive her if she was to disclose to him her own truth of her
own
past sins? It was ironic how much she and her father were turning out to be so much alike.

“Is there something going on with Andrew? Is he not treating you right? Have you learned that he's cheated on you or something and you've retaliated?” Deidra said. “You can tell me, Paris. You know you can tell me anything.”

“No.” Paris chuckled nervously. “No. Andrew has been great. He truly has.”

“Then what is it? Are you having second thoughts about the baby? Is that it? Because I can understand you being apprehensive about becoming a new mother. When I was pregnant with you . . . oh, my goodness, I was terrified that I would mess up. I wasn't sure what labor would actually be like. I mean, you can read about it, hear others talk about it, but once you're physically in it, you're in it. There's no turning back. But baby, I'll tell you this much: After you lay your eyes on that beautiful little bundle of beauty, your life will never ever be the same. You'll wonder how you ever lived without that precious little being in your world.”

“I'm not worried about the baby, not in that way anyway.”

Deidra began to nod. “Are you afraid something will be wrong with the baby? I know about that, too. But we
know
this baby is going to be fine. Do you have any idea how many people have been and are right now praying for this little one?” Deidra placed her hand on Paris's taut, almost seven-months-pregnant tummy. “Oh!” she said with a slight lift in her voice. “The baby just kicked me! I do believe that was a nice, strong, roundhouse kick.”

Paris smiled as she placed her hand on her stomach. “Isn't it something? I'm still amazed at the wonder of it all. There's actually a little person growing inside of me.” Paris glanced down at her black and white striped knit-covered belly.

“Well, just know that you're going to have plenty of help when this baby arrives. And
I
. . . am going to be
right
there with you every step of the way. I'll try not to smother you too much, but you're still my baby.” Deidra grinned, then bit down on her bottom lip. “My baby is about to have a baby. I'm so excited!”

Paris nodded, wiping her eyes as she began to cry, upset with herself because she hadn't been able to hold it together.

“Baby, what's wrong?” Deidra pulled Paris into her arms and began to gently rock her. “I'm not going to let you go until you tell me what's wrong, so you might as well tell me.”

Paris began to really cry. “Oh, Mom. I've got to do something, and I'm scared. I'm so scared of how it will all turn out. I'm scared Andrew will leave me.”

“Leave you? Why would Andrew leave you? Andrew's not like that. There's nothing you likely can do that would cause him to leave, especially not at this point.” She hugged Paris. “Do you have any idea how excited that man is about this baby? He's about to drive me crazy, talking about this baby all the time. He walks around with his chest all stuck out like a proud peacock, grinning like he just won the lottery or something.”

Paris opened her mouth to tell her mother. If she could tell her mother, then she would be one step closer to being able to tell Andrew. “I-I-I—”

“Mom, where's my blue pullover sweater?” Imani said, practically running full speed into the den. “Oh! Paris! I didn't know you were here.”

Paris sat up and quickly wiped her face with her hand. “Hi, Imani.”

Imani went and hugged Paris. “What's the matter? Why are you crying?”

Paris shook her head and sat up even straighter. “It's nothing.”

“It
is
something,” Deidra said. “So go on, Imani and let your sister and me finish talking. I'm sure your sweater is in your closet and you just overlooked it as usual.”

“No. Don't go, Imani. I'm all right. It's just hormones; that's all. Babies and menopause have a way of messing with women and their hormones, causing us to cry for no real reason.” Paris chuckled although it was obvious she was faking it.

“That's true,” Imani said. “Because when Mom is crying for no reason, she has these sudden burst of anger moods that have the rest of us dodging for cover.”

“What? I don't have anger mood bursts,” Deidra said. “Do I?”

“Yes, Mother dearest, you do. That's why I stay in my room as much as I do these days,” Imani said. “Daddy has been taking the brunt of it. Mom has been extra brutal on him.”

“Well, Imani, since you don't know of what you speak, you probably shouldn't go around repeating things like that,” Deidra said.

“Oh, I don't say a word to anyone else. But we're all family here, and I'm sure Paris already knows, and she's not going to broadcast it. We all seem to be great at keeping and hiding secrets, especially family secrets.”

“O-kaaay. That's my cue to leave,” Paris said, struggling to get up off the couch.

“But you just got here,” Deidra said to Paris, trying to help her in her struggle to get up. “And it sounds like your father is home.”

“I know. But I wasn't planning on staying long anyway. Andrew has plans for Valentine's Day today.”

“I know, and you came by to get your box of candy from Daddy,” Imani said. Lawrence stepped into the room after coming in from the garage. “And right on time, here comes Daddy!” Imani ran and hugged her fifty-one-year-old father, who seemed to have aged ten years, actually looking closer to his true age since he'd ceased dying his hair after dropping out of politics last year.

“Hello, hello!” Lawrence said, placing the familiar large paper brown sack on the kitchen counter. He reached inside the sack and pulled out a red heart-shaped box and handed it to Imani. “For you, Imani.”

Imani took the box and grinned, giving her father a quick peck on his perfectly positioned, awaiting cheek. “Thank you, Daddy!” Imani left in a hurry, headed back up to her room.

Lawrence picked up the sack and pulled out another red heart-shaped box, handing that one to Paris.

Paris took the large box and smiled. “Daddy, I keep telling you that I have my own man now and that you don't have to keep doing this every year.”

“Yeah . . . well. I just want you to know that even when you have your own ‘man,' I was the first
man
to ever really love you, unconditionally I might add, and that's never going to change
or
grow old. So deal with it,” Lawrence said.

Already on her feet, Paris pulled the box close to her, then pulling herself just a little bit taller, gave her father a peck on his cheek just as Imani had done. “I love you, Daddy.”

“I know,” he said with a nod and a smile.

“And now, I need to make my way home.” Paris hugged her mother good-bye.

“We still haven't finished our little talk,” Deidra said.

“I know.”

“And you're going to tell me what it is,” Deidra said. “Right?”

Paris smiled and started out of the room. “Bye, you two. I love you.”

“Bye, baby girl. Love you, too,” Lawrence said, watching her as she walked away. The front door closed. “Love you,” Lawrence whispered, before turning back to his wife, who was no longer smiling.