God Has Spoken

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Table of Contents

I dedicate this book to my mother, Maxine A. Allen.

 

You are a beautiful woman of strength, courage, and faith.

 

Thank you for your love and encouragement and for always reminding me that it's not over until God h spoken.

“Every praise is to our God . . .” (singing and dancing). Lord, thank you for taking me on this wonderful, soul-fulfilling journey. I have faith that you will finish the wonderful work that you have started in me!

Thanks to my biggest fans, my brothers, Warren Osbourne and Gregg Allen, for rooting me on when I need it the most. You guys are the best!

How do I say thanks to my editor who brings out the best in me in writing? Mrs. Joylynn M. Ross, you rock!

Warmest thanks to all the readers who supported my first novel,
Are You There, God?
and are holding this one in their hands. I know you have a lot of choices out there, and I appreciate you giving the “little guy” a chance. God bless you!

“God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to you.”

 

Psalm 62:11

 

New Living Translation

“They are hypocrites! Big fat liars! Traitors!” Dupree yelled furiously as she hammered her fists into the leather couch on which she perched. “Tiny! Officer Gregg! You are disgusting! I hate you!” She spoke as if both parties were present.

Sitting on the other couch across from Dupree, Jas, Dupree's friend and roommate, nervously nibbled on her thumb.

“All these years I wondered if my mother was dead or alive. And all this time she was here in Kingston, living the big life without any concern about the daughter she left behind or the woman who had raised her,” Dupree said angrily.

By now Dupree's voice had raised a few octaves higher. She jumped up off the couch and began pacing the carpeted floor like a restless monkey.

“We suffered, Jas. My aunt is confined to a wheelchair and is living with strangers, while Tiny is here living it up.” The word “Tiny” was said with distaste and disrespect. “Then she thought if she gave me a job and an apartment to live in, everything would be okay. I don't think so, Tiny!”

Dupree's voice grew higher and louder with every word she spoke. Her eyes lit up with fury as she pounded her right fist into the open palm of her left hand. “Oops.” Dupree placed her right hand over her mouth dramatically; her eyes widened as if a light bulb just went off in her head. “I forgot that she is no longer Tiny.” Her hands now rested on her small waist as she rocked back and forth on her heels. “She is now the big shot executive, Mrs. Eleanor Humphrey. Who knew?”

Jas watched her friend helplessly.

“And what about the
kind
police officer who suddenly decided to help me after I was almost raped and murdered? The
Good Samaritan
who paid my college tuition for me to attend NYU next spring? That's right.
He
is my
father
. Yup, meet the great and wonderful, Officer Gregg,” Dupree spat nastily.

“Where were you, Daddy, when we struggled to find food?” Dupree screamed. “Where were you when I needed money to pay for my college entrance exams? When I had to work from sunrise to sunset so my aunt and I could survive?”

“Dupree, please try to take it—”

“I don't want to take it easy!” Dupree turned fiery eyes on Jas before she continued on the warpath. “Where were you, Daddy, when the man I trusted like a father brutalized me? Huh? Where were you when I needed
my
father? Nowhere.” Dupree answered her own question. “
That's
where you were, Officer Gregg. You were
nowhere
to be found.”

Jas slowly stood up and carefully approached Dupree. Dupree ran into her friend's arms and began sobbing on her shoulder.

“Even Tony, who I thought was my best friend, deceived me,” Dupree said of Anthony Gregg, Jr., the boy she'd just found out was her biological brother.

It was the last summer of high school during Daily Vacation Bible School (DVBS) as Dupree got ready to watch the play,
Little Baby Jesus,
when Tony asked to sit beside her and officially introduced himself.

“Okay, let it all out,” Jas said as she gently rubbed Dupree's back. “Let out all the pain.”

Dupree followed her friend's instructions and continued to vent. “Mrs. Eleanor Humphrey aka Tiny, where were you when I trusted the first man I thought loved me and he betrayed me?” Dupree whispered into the back of Jas's neck. Her body felt drained and weary as the fight gave way to despair. “Where were you, Tiny, when I needed my mother?”

Jas held her, and the two friends wept.

 

 

“Where was I when my daughter needed me?” Mrs. Eleanor Humphrey sobbed on her husband's shoulder as they lay in the middle of their king-size bed. “I have failed her and Aunt Madge. Oh God. I didn't even know that my aunt had a stroke years ago and was confined to a wheelchair. What kind of person am I?”

“Sweetheart, you had it pretty rough yourself in the beginning,” Dwight said in her ear as he soothingly ran his fingers through her long, straight hair. “This is not your fault but the monster who took advantage of you.”

By now Dwight was getting worked up as he talked about Officer Gregg, Dupree's natural father.

“Baby, I was also a willing participant.” Eleanor lifted her head and turned wet eyes to her husband.

“You were a misled child,” Dwight spat as he raised himself into a sitting position. “He was a grown man and should have known better. You are a good person. Back then, you were Tiny, the young, confused fifteen-year-old girl. Today, you are Mrs. Humphrey, the woman I am proud to call my wife. If I'd been there to protect you back then . . .”

“Okay, okay, sweetheart. Please calm down,” Eleanor said. “I know how much this upsets you.”

“
Upset?
I'm
furious!
” Dwight shouted. “I still would like to get my hands on that scumbag. And he called himself a police officer. There to protect and serve. Well, he served himself all right.”

Eleanor gently reached up and pulled her husband back into her arms. He inhaled and exhaled deeply a few times, allowing his tensed body to slowly relax in her embrace.

“I'm going to run you a warm bath,” Dwight said to his wife a few seconds later. “By the time you get out, I'll have something ready for you to eat.” He popped himself up on one elbow and looked down at her with concern.

His wife mutely stared back at him with sunken, solemn eyes. Leaning over, Dwight kissed her softly on the lips before he hopped off the bed. Walking quickly, he entered the adjoining bathroom.

I have to make my daughter understand,
Eleanor thought.
I have to explain to her and Aunt Madge why I left and stayed away.

“Okay. I'm ready for you.” Dwight's voice interrupted the thoughts in Eleanor's head. “Lift up that cute little butt so I can slide you out of this skirt.” Dwight attempted some humor.

His wife gave him a small smile and helped him undress herself. He lifted her into his arms and took her to the huge bathtub, where he gently lowered her into the warm, sudsy, scented water.

“This feels so good,” Eleanor purred in pleasure. “You knew just what I needed.” She touched his cheek with the back of her hand. “Like always.”

“Yeah, this will help you to relax,” Dwight said. “Later, we need to figure out where we go from here.”

“I have to make my daughter understand.” Eleanor began tearing up again.

“Baby, I strongly believe that the Lord is going to work out everything for you and Dupree,” Dwight replied tenderly.

His wife searched his handsome face for any doubt, but saw only his love and confidence staring back at her.

“I love you,” Eleanor whispered. “I don't deserve you.”

“No. I'm the one who doesn't deserve you,” Dwight replied softly. The couple smiled at each other, their strong love transparent in their eyes.

“I'll leave you to enjoy your bath,” he said. “When I get back, we'll have dinner.”

Eleanor watched him walk away and sighed wearily. “What am I going to do now?” she said to the silent room as she slid down lower in the bathtub, suds reaching up to her mouth. Eleanor remembered asking that same question many years ago and the response she got had sent her on a journey to hell.