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Authors: Shelia M. Goss

BOOK: Ruthless
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Chapter 15
It had been two weeks, seven hours, and five minutes since Sheba had had any physical contact with her husband. They had been Skyping several times a week and communicating via e-mail daily. Every morning—which was actually night where he was—they found time to chat. It had taken them both time to adjust to the ten-hour time difference.
Sheba turned on her computer and logged into Skype. After a light exchange with Uriah, Sheba said, “Are they treating you okay over there? It looks like you've lost some weight.”
“I'm fine.” Uriah shifted in his chair.
“You don't look fine,” Sheba responded.
“I'm still on our time zone, so my sleep pattern is still a little off, baby.”
“I miss you so much. I'm so bored without you here.” Sheba tapped her pen on the desk.
“Stay out of trouble. You know how you are when you get bored.”
“Let's see. There is a sale going on at Kohl's.”
“Sheba, we're supposed to be saving money, remember?”
“You're getting a bonus for being over there, and you did say I could do more shopping, remember?” Sheba flashed him her Colgate smile.
“Yes, I did, baby. Just don't do too much damage, okay, sweetie?”
“I won't. I promise.”
“I'm serious, Sheba. This money is extra, but I don't want it all going to credit card bills.”
“It won't. Besides, Kohl's sends me these coupons, and I'll be saving at least twenty percent on my purchases.”
Uriah laughed. “Baby, you're something else.”
“That's why you love me, right?”
“You know it.”
Their Skyping session was about to end when Uriah asked, “How is Delilah?”
Delilah had been a sore subject between the two, so she was surprised he asked about her. “She's fine. She'll be getting out of the hospital soon. I was thinking about having her move in here.”
Uriah frowned. “Maybe you should think twice about that. You don't know anything about that woman. It's not wise to have her come live in our house.”
“She's my sister. She has her own house, but she'll still need medical care, and I am a nurse, or have you forgotten?”
“Baby, all I'm saying is, I've talked to some people, and there are rumors about Delilah that don't put her in a favorable light. What if she is like folks are saying she is? Do you really want that type of woman around you?”
Sheba threw her hands up in the air. “Delilah is not as bad as people make her out to be.”
“So you think.”
“Before this gets out of hand, let's end this discussion about Delilah.”
“Promise me you won't move that woman into my house,” Uriah said.
Sheba crossed her fingers. “We'll talk about it later.”
“No, Sheba. Promise me now.”
Sheba shook her laptop. “Baby, I think we have a bad connection. Love you.”
“I love you, too. But—”
Sheba hit the switch on the power cord so the computer would turn off. She had no intentions of listening to Uriah. He had left her alone, and she could use this time to get to know Delilah better. Besides, with him being in another country, he would never find out Delilah was there, anyway. She had made up her mind. She would ask Delilah to move in with her. And stay until at least the doctor gave her a clean bill of health.
She called the hospital. When Delilah picked up, Sheba said, “Delilah, you're moving in with me when you get out of the hospital, and I'm not taking no for an answer.”
“You weren't going to get one from me, either, because I was just sitting here wondering how I was going to take care of myself once I got home. I have money in the bank, but I can't afford a live-in nurse to take care of me. But since I have a sister who is a nurse, I might as well take advantage of the resources around you.”
“You're something else,” Sheba said.
“That's what they tell me.” Delilah laughed.
Sheba hung up with Delilah and went about cleaning up her house. She took extra time in the guest bedroom to get it ready for Delilah. She later went grocery shopping to ensure Delilah would have everything she needed while she was at work.
Sheba's cell phone rang while she was unpacking the groceries. Delilah was on the other end of the phone. “The doctor just signed my release papers. Is the invitation still open?
Sheba responded, “Yes, of course. I'll be there in about thirty minutes.”
Sheba thought she had a day or two to get ready for Delilah, but fate had intervened and she was being released today. Fortunately, she had cleaned up and gone shopping. After unpacking the groceries, she grabbed her keys and purse and headed to the hospital.
An hour later, she and Delilah were seated in her car, heading toward Sheba and Uriah's place. “Do you mind swinging by my place so I can get some clothes and stuff? Besides, I need to check on my house,” Delilah asked Sheba.
Sheba was hesitant, but she turned her car around and took the I-49 ramp to get on the interstate. “Are you sure it's even safe to go back to your house?” she asked.
“I'm not letting anyone scare me. The only reason I even agreed to go to your house is because I figured it would give us both a chance to get to know each other better.”
Delilah's words touched a soft spot in Sheba. Sheba smiled. “Well, now that I've found you, I don't want to lose you to another bullet.”
“I spoke to the police, and they are doing everything they can to find out who shot me.”
“Do you remember anything?” Sheba asked.
Delilah's voice trailed off as she spoke. “I had just left the church and was thinking about the drama that had just taken place at church. But, anyway, as I was driving, I heard this voice, and it said, “Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
“Mama used to say that all the time. That's a scripture from Galatians six, seven. She recited it so much, I know it by heart.”
“Well, I don't know who said it, but before I blacked out, those were the words I heard in my ear.”
“Girl, that was the Holy Spirit talking to you.”
Delilah adjusted her seat belt. “I wish the Holy Spirit would have talked to me sooner. Maybe I could have avoided that bullet.”
“Fortunately for you, the doctors were able to remove the bullet and no more damage was done.”
Delilah's hand flew to her face and landed on a huge scar. “I have this to remind me of that day.”
“With a little cocoa butter and aloe vera, that scar will go away.”
“I hope so. You know, if I don't have my beauty, I don't have anything.”
“I used to think that, but Uriah's made me feel differently.”
“You really love Uriah, don't you?” Delilah asked.
“Of course. If I didn't, I wouldn't have married him.”
“Tell me more about you two. How did y'all meet? How long have you been married?” Delilah asked.
By the time Sheba reached Delilah's house, she had given Delilah the condensed version about her and Uriah.
“You have a nice house,” Sheba said when she pulled up into the empty driveway.
“Thanks. Now, if I can find my keys...” Delilah fumbled through her purse. “Bingo.”
“Don't move. You can lean on me, and I'll help you up the stairs.” Sheba got out and went to Delilah's side of the car.
One of her neighbors walked over. “Delilah, is that you?”
“Yes, it's me, Ms. Mabel.”
Ms. Mabel was an older woman who looked to be in her sixties. “Child, I didn't think I was going to see you ever again. I've been meaning to come see you up in the hospital, but with my arthritis and being blind in one eye and can't see out the other, I couldn't drive up there to see you.”
“That's okay, Ms. Mabel. I know you prayed for me, right?” Delilah said as she leaned on Sheba.
“Wasn't a day gone by that I didn't send up a special prayer for you. God is good. He answered my prayers. Just look at you.” Ms. Mabel raised her hands up and looked up toward the sky.
Sheba helped Delilah up the stairs. They left Ms. Mabel outside, still talking.
Delilah said, “She'll be on the phone in a few minutes, calling everybody in the neighborhood. She's the neighborhood gossiper.”
“I can tell,” Sheba responded as the two laughed.
Chapter 16
David was thrilled to get the call he had been waiting for. Delilah's voice boomed through the room. He was in the middle of his morning workout, so he had her on speakerphone. “My sister has allowed me to stay with her while I recuperate. I don't know how long I will be here, so if you're going to make your move, I suggest you do it soon, so I can at least be around to get in her head.”
“I'm leaving for New York in the morning. I wish you would have called me sooner. I could have been there tonight.”
“That wouldn't have gone over too well with her. Let me work on her for a few days. When do you think you can come through?” Delilah asked.
David stopped working out and picked up his iPhone. He scrolled through his calendar. “I'll be in New York, and then I'm flying to Milan. I'll be back in the States on Wednesday.”
“You go, boy. I see why you're the king.”
“And you know it,” David responded.
Nathan walked in the room but remained quiet when he saw David hold up his hand.
“Do what you do. You got my number. Just call me when you're on your way, and I'll do the rest.”
David ended his call.
Nathan said, “Hey, man, you're a hard person to catch up with.”
“Trying to keep a roof over my head,” David replied.
“You mean, a couple of roofs. You got property in every state.”
“No, man, not in every state. Twenty-five of them, but not every.”
Nathan threw his hands up in the air. “See? That's what I'm talking about. You need to hook a brotha up with a job so he can share in the wealth.”
David knew Nathan was joking. Nathan was doing well on his own. His wealth didn't compare to David's, but as the pastor of one of Dallas's mega churches and the author of over ten
New York Times
best-selling books, Nathan was far away from the poorhouse. He was a sought-after speaker and had traveled the world. He repeatedly showed up on the
Forbes
and the
Black Enterprise
millionaires' list as one of the top paid authors in the United States.
“Who was that woman with the sexy voice?” Nathan asked as he took the liberty of getting himself a bottle of water from the small refrigerator in David's office.
“That's Delilah,” David said as he went back to lifting weights.
“Is she as sexy as she sounds?” Nathan asked while sitting down with his drink.
“Just as sexy as her sister.”
“Do I know her sister?” Nathan asked.
“Not yet, but you will. Remember Sheba, the woman I was telling you about?”
“The one married to one of your directors?”
“Yes. Delilah is her sister.”
“Well, what is her sister doing talking to you?”
“She's helping me out with something.”
Nathan finished his water and placed the empty bottle on the coaster on the table. “Man, you're playing with fire.”
“After I get Sheba where I want her, the first thing I'm going to do is tell her not to trust her sister. Because as much as I want Sheba, Delilah shouldn't be scheming behind her back.”
Nathan laughed. “Man, you're a trip. What do you call what you're doing? You're scheming behind her back. In fact, you sent the woman's husband to Afghanistan. Come on, man. Afghanistan. I hope she's worth it.”
David slammed the weight down on the floor. “Why do you always have to be so judgmental?”
“As your friend, it's my role to keep you on the straight and narrow.” Nathan looked David directly in the eyes.
“As my friend, I need for you to mind your own business.”
“I wish I could do that. Remember when we were in college?” Nathan asked.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Oh, I don't think you do. Remember when I walked up to you and told you that God wanted to do great things in your life, if only you would submit to Him?”
“Yes, I remember. I started going to church more because of you.”
“Well, David, you must have forgotten what else I told you.”
David tilted his head from side to side as he tried to recall the conversation Nathan was referring to. “I honestly don't remember what else you said.”
“God sent me to you that day. I had no intentions of coming to the student union. I was napping when I heard God tell me to seek you out. The description I got of you in my head was eerie. That was one of my most vivid visions. So when I saw the light-skinned black man with curly red hair sipping on a cola like in my vision, I knew you were the one.”
“Oh yeah, I remember now. I thought you were just kidding.”
“No, man, I was serious then, and I'm serious now. God sends me visions. We've talked about some of them before.”
“I know. God speaks to me, too.”
“He would speak with you more if you would stop and listen.”
“I listen.” David wouldn't look Nathan in the face. “Well, most of the time.”
“Are you listening now?”
David didn't say a word.
Nathan stood up. “You don't have to answer me. This is between you and God.”
“Then see your way out of my business.”
“Don't shoot the messenger,” Nathan said as he retrieved another bottle of water from the refrigerator. “I got a date, anyway, so I'll catch you later.”
“For a preacher, you sure go out on a lot of dates,” David said.
“I'm trying to find a first lady, because I'm tired of the single women coming to church with their dresses getting shorter and shorter and their blouses cut lower and lower.”
“Man, I need to be coming to church more often if that's the case.”
“Yes, you do, but you need to be focused on the word, not the women.”
“Then what's the fun?”
“Lord, what are we going to do with him?” Nathan said as he looked up toward the heavens.
After Nathan left, David thought about his own life and his weakness for women. Would God forgive him for what he had set in motion?

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