Soon After (27 page)
Authors: Sherryle Kiser Jackson
Willie shook his head as if he hadn't thought that far. This was not about a story to him; this was a sad reality. He wiped his face with the flat of his hand.
Pastor Kennedy stepped down off the curb in front of Willie, which seemed to take close to a foot off his already small stature. “You're going to do what you do every Sunday, son. You protect the truth and be that lens. Go to the authorities and show them what they couldn't or didn't want to see.”
Chapter 28
A Bishop's Worth
The second Sunday in the month of September in the year of the fateful Easter fire, Willie Green preached a message to his congregation from Genesis where Jacob wrestled with the Spirit of the Lord, saying, âI will not let go until thou bless me.' Willie titled his sermon,
Before, I Let Go
. He had done his own wrestling with the Lord since calling both Chief Rich and Charley's attorney and sharing what he knew. It helped release some of his guilt and hopefully release his guardianship over the Harvest Baptist Church. Then spent four days at home on vacation staring into his wife's wide-nosed face and rubbing her roly-poly belly. It was the first time in the seven months of her pregnancy he got to truly cater to her around the clock.
Before, I Let Go
. He had done his own wrestling with the Lord since calling both Chief Rich and Charley's attorney and sharing what he knew. It helped release some of his guilt and hopefully release his guardianship over the Harvest Baptist Church. Then spent four days at home on vacation staring into his wife's wide-nosed face and rubbing her roly-poly belly. It was the first time in the seven months of her pregnancy he got to truly cater to her around the clock.
Around the same time, Elaine Thompson admitted to setting the Harvest Baptist Church on fire. Her guilt did not totally exonerate her husband of his wrongdoings, but it was out of Willie's hand. He gave Alexis the heads up, and she was able to run another chapter of the Easter Sunday Inferno series. The
Inside 7
segment, the show Alexis was officially the new co-host of, was the only coverage he watched. His congregants let him know that there were several snippets of different courtroom analysts on various channels, speculating as to why Elaine Thompson set the blaze. Theories meandered around her wanting to hurt her husband by burning down his beloved church and setting him up for doing it as payback for the abuse in the process. The only quote recorded from her was, “I did it for Charley.”
Inside 7
segment, the show Alexis was officially the new co-host of, was the only coverage he watched. His congregants let him know that there were several snippets of different courtroom analysts on various channels, speculating as to why Elaine Thompson set the blaze. Theories meandered around her wanting to hurt her husband by burning down his beloved church and setting him up for doing it as payback for the abuse in the process. The only quote recorded from her was, “I did it for Charley.”
By day five, Vanessa was pushing Willie out of the house to a meeting of the Trinity Conference's Steering Committee and Executive Board. He put on one of his designer suits even though it was a Saturday. He didn't want to look like a slouch in comparison to the small league of pastors he was about to convene with. He looked forward to reconnecting with his new friend, Syllas Kennedy.
Reverend Kennedy suggested they meet outside of the Randolph Baptist Church where the meeting was to be held. Willie thought it was a good idea so that he could go over the ropes of what to expect. The old man was already there when Willie walked up.
“Reverend.” Willie extended his hand.
“Pastor, for today,” Kennedy said. “You know, for appearances. Wouldn't want the brethren to think you were talking down to me.”
“I see,” Willie said, taken aback. “Why don't we go inside?”
“It's so nice out, why don't we talk out here? Better enjoy this Indian summer while we can.” Kennedy hobbled over to the gated railing. Willie followed, getting concerned about what his friend might share about the conference that he wanted to keep out of earshot.
“You've been mighty scarce these days. I returned your call to say I've been well, and your associate said you were out in the field. Preparing for another mission?” Willie asked, standing on a lower step that made eye level comparable for the two men.
“Preparing for this meeting, and you know, visiting other ministries.”
“Well, I feel totally unprepared. I called Pastor Cartwright and told him Budget and Finance might have been right up Vanessa's alley, but it was not a good fit for me. I told him I could help chair another committee. So what do you say? Is there room on your committee for me?” Willie asked.
“I'm sorry, that's not going to be possible.”
Willie tried not to be offended. He felt like a kid being rejected by the neighborhood clubhouse. He knew this affiliation was a bad idea. “Is your committee super exclusive or something?”
“Actually it is, but not in the way you think. It's what I want to talk to you about before the meeting. I am on the Bishop Selection committee. Three of us have been interviewing pastors on everything from faith, family, and ministry worldview to come up with our nominees for the opening conference. Each one of us had to come up with one name.” Pastor Kennedy gave him time to let it sink in. “I choose you. I'd like to submit your name today as a candidate for bishop of this conference.”
“Bishop?” Willie said, bracing himself on the railing to keep himself from falling down the remaining stairs from the shock. “You want me to join the ranks of those with self imposed titles?”
“This is not a self imposed title, but one granted on merit,” Kennedy corrected. “Is the title Bishop mentioned in the Bible?”
“Yeah, but interchangeably with pastor or elder,” Willie said.
“Faithful, sober, husband of one wife, hospitable, apt to teach, is that not you?” He raised one over-grown eyebrow at his inquiry.
“Or anyone else on the Executive Board.” Willie realized he didn't know those people, and they didn't know him. “Probably?”
“I've watched you, Willie Green. The Lord allowed me to visit on one of the most hectic and chaotic days for you, and you still came out smelling like a rose. You were caring and compassionate even when you didn't want to be. You minister everywhere you go. You minister with your heart. You're my man.”
Willie stared at the man standing above him as if he were a Jedi Master telling him he was the chosen one. It was humbling and hard to digest.
“Don't I have to accept this nomination?”
“Yes, then there is a six month vetting process. Campaigns can officially begin three months prior to conference. At the conference you will be elected and serve a two year term. Don't worry, the first year you don't even lead, but get a healthy endowment to develop your platform and approve conference-wide ministry projects.”
“We're talking three years of my life.” Willie did the math.
“Maybe more if we get the right man in. We're hoping to push the term to the limit to set a precedent.”
“I have a wife and a child on the way. I can't forge that kind of time,” Willie said.
They paused to say hello to a couple of colleagues who also got there early. Kennedy took great care in introducing Willie. He waited until the men were inside before beginning again.
“It's because you have a wife in ministry with you and such a supportive team that you are able to do this. The endowment will help you hire some people to help you keep it all on track. I think Vanessa will be ecstatic. Huh?”
Apparently he didn't know Vanessa either, Willie thought. Trinity was her idea and reaching peaks of leadership was her dream. Ecstatic would not be the right word to express Vanessa's reaction.
Willie shook his head. “You tricked me, old man. All the time you've been spying on me. I invited you into my cave, and you keep a secret like this.”
“Caves are tombs, and you can't continue to bury yourself inside one. You've shown and proven you have a broader definition of ministry. C'mon, don't fight me on this.” This time it was Pastor Kennedy's turn to act offended. Willie sort of felt like a heel for disagreeing with him.
More and more pastors ascended the steps making it apparent that the meeting was about to start and Willie needed to make a decision. He already felt like he was campaigning with his fake smile frozen into place as he was introduced to the stakeholders of the conference.
“This is not something you spring on a man. It's a lot to think about, and you know my personal feelings about those self-aggrandizing hierarchies,” Willie whispered as a few others followed suit and took in the warmth of the day before sitting in the brisk air-conditioning throughout the meeting.
“That is why out of all the people I interviewed, you are the man for the job, because you question the status-quo. I believe in you.”
Willie laughed. “This is irony at its finest.”
“God's intervention. Maybe it is your destiny to prove a bishop's worth.” He turned on unsteady hips to make his way inside. “I can submit your name now or not. It's your call unless you need to talk it over with Vanessa and clear it with her first.”
Maybe this was his destiny, Willie thought. Pastor Kennedy had raised many strong arguments. None were as convincing as his last off-handed comment about his wife, and for that reason alone did he say yes to the nomination of Bishop.
Epilogue
Vanessa went along for the ride with her family on a drive-by. Willie, Keisha, and Paul were her accomplices as she once again broke the rules her obstetrician put in place for her bed rest. Typically they would take Vanessa to her bi-weekly, turned weekly, appointments, and then off on some excursion that usually ended at some restaurant.
Vanessa was playing a game with her condition. Each time her doctor would report how pleased she was with Vanessa and the baby's progression, she would also warn her to be diligently well-rested as she neared her due date. She felt like a player in the game of baseball, sneaking off base and hoping not to get caught. One time they drove by the bridal shop so that Vanessa could see her baby sister in her top two choices of bridal gowns. She sat in a chair provided by the boutique the entire time while the guys sat in the car. Another time she met the wedding entertainer, a guy by the name of Phil Harmonic, who could play “Handel's Messiah” and a host of classic love ballads like Billy Preston's, “You Are So Beautiful” on the harmonica. Just last week, they drove past the reception hall for a cake tasting. Most times she was so far off base she slid into home exhausted and barely able to make it up her stairs to bed.
Each time, Willie would forbid another eventful outing, and each time, Vanessa would rationalize that the activity required limited mobility, and that it was okay since they were already out. Plus, her sister's wedding was two months away. Although she was five weeks away from delivery, it was Vanessa's duty, being her closest relative, to celebrate each milestone leading up to her sister's big day.
Today was not the typical joy ride. It was Vanessa and Willie's anniversary, and since she was limited physically by the pregnancy, she figured she was due a special outing. They started off the day at the doctor's. Vanessa didn't know whether it was her fluid samples or if it were because her legs were the size of tree trunks that led her doctor to threaten to induce labor before her due date. The plan was to go with Keisha and Paul to the courthouse so that her sister and soon to be brother-in-law could file for a marriage license. As it stood, any celebration would be limited to driving past the colonel for a bucket of his southern fried hospitality to go.
Vanessa reclined the seat on the passenger side of Willie's car. Baby Green was turning somersaults in her belly. She couldn't get comfortable as she waited with Willie outside the courthouse. She was anxious and eager to get back home, prop her feet up and maybe work on her book before dinner. Her tunnel vision, as it related to working on translating her spiritual advice into a helpful guide for the modern day Christian, gave way to the light. She was seeing the end. Soon she and Luella would have the tedious job of editing the manuscript and making connections in the publishing world. She hoped to birth the completed manuscript around the same time she birthed her son. It appeared he would beat her manuscript to the punch.
“You never told me what committee you ended up joining?” Vanessa said to Willie. She was thinking about how a published book would hallmark her triumphant return to the Trinity Conference leadership in time for the Inaugural session and boost her credibility among her colleagues.
“Huh?” Willie responded.
Vanessa readjusted herself again to sit sideways and address her husband. “Trinity. You told me about Pastor Cartwright's concerns and gave me the notes from the Budget and Finance committee, but you never told me what committee you either joined or are chairing.”
“Oh, I'm helping with Public Relations with Pastor Mason from Colonial Beach.” Willie waved it off like it was no big deal without as much as a glance in Vanessa's direction.
Vanessa let out a puff of air. “I know you don't appreciate me getting the church, and now, you, personally involved in the conference. You were right; this is my deal. You know if circumstances were different, I would be representing Pleasant Harvest myself.”
“I'm in it now.” Willie patted her leg although she noticed his focus was still out the front windshield.
“Willie?” Vanessa said to break her husband's apparent trance, her left hand pulling at his forearm. “Look at me, honey.”
Vanessa figured he was upset, but was unprepared for Willie to meet her stare with what she could only describe as grave concern. She felt the equivalent of a gail force that sent a chill through her. It remained after he looked away.
“What?” Vanessa asked, rubbing her belly, now in hopes of calming the activity in her womb.
“Nothing, Vanessa. I've got to get you home. As far as I am concerned, all Trinity Conference business and conversations about said business can wait until after my son is born.” He huffed. “Where are they?”
“I have no idea. Apparently, a lot of people want to get married.” She turned her attention to the front windshield also.
Vanessa sat forward when she saw a couple exit from the front door of the courthouse, thinking it was her M.I.A. sister and fiancé. They had been inside for well over the thirty minutes they said it would take. She sat back against the seat when the elegantly dressed pair proved to be complete strangers. She felt Willie hunch her to take a closer look at the couple that she had dismissed. The man was in a tasteful black pinstripe suit with a thin red tie. The woman was in a meticulously tailored, yet delicately detailed off white suite. Her skirt barely concealed a pale blue garter she wore on her right thigh. They were headed toward a Toyota Avalon parked not too far from them with a sign that read
Just Married
in the back window.
Just Married
in the back window.
This made Vanessa sit as far forward as her stomach would allow. The man was Abe Townsend, the pastor who took Willie's place. The woman was Blanche Seward, Vanessa's nemesis who had dated Willie before her and maliciously blabbed Vanessa's financial blunders to Willie's entire congregation before their churches combined.
“Townsend and Blanche?” Vanessa exclaimed.
“And the preacher says, âJudge not,'” Willie said. “Besides, I told you that they were together.”
Vanessa watched Willie slouch down in his seat so not to be seen. Vanessa did the same until she realized it was ridiculous to do so. “Yeah, but I didn't know you meant together, together.”
Willie and Vanessa watched the couple almost eye level to the dashboard. Abe opened the door for his new bride who clutched a small mini bouquet of off-white lilies. He brought her forward in an embrace that ended in a passionate kiss before assisting her into her seat. Abe jogged around to the driver's side as if he couldn't wait to whisk his bride away. They watched Pastor and First Lady Townsend until they pulled off and the sign was no longer readable from their windshield view.
“Like boiled eggs and peanut butter; a weird combination.” Willie said, using his forearm to push himself up.
“What's that, preacher? Did I hear, âJudge not,'” Vanessa said, although she wanted in on this game too. “I think they're more like pot roast and pancakes.”
Vanesssa noticed her husband of exactly one year soberly staring at her before saying, “September twenty-second.”
The smile that crossed Vanessa's face quickly got compacted into a scowl. “That harlot stole my wedding day.”
He reached out and stroked the cheek of her outraged face. “But she didn't steal your man.”
They kissed like two teenagers on a date. Vanessa squirmed against the armrest, cup holders and even her own belly that did not allow her to get as close to her husband as she wanted. She was both chilled and on fire. They were startled by a slam on the driver's side window. Keisha and Paul had returned and her sister had slapped the official document up against the glass for them to see.
Vanessa was jostled. Her heart rate seemed to escalate. Keisha opened the door to the backseat and was talking a mile a minute. She'd asked Willie to get out and take a picture of her, Paul, and the license for her memory book. Everyone seemed to be moving so quickly. The door was ajar and Vanessa felt a rush of wind that didn't exist. She pulled her jacket around her as best she could and held it. She wanted someone to close the door. She wanted someone to tell her why her head was suddenly spinning.
“Did you see Minister Townsend and Blanche Seward?” Paul asked from directly behind her as he entered the car first after the photo shoot.
“Now you know I am too through,” Keisha said, poking her head into the backseat and into their conversation before sitting down. “How dare they get married before me?”
How dare she get married on my day
, Vanessa wanted to chime in, but she couldn't speak. She was attuned to chaos, noise, and how weak she was feeling. Vanessa felt the jolt of each car door as it slammed shut; one, two, three. She wished they'd stop slamming doors. She wished they'd stop talking. Something was wrong.
, Vanessa wanted to chime in, but she couldn't speak. She was attuned to chaos, noise, and how weak she was feeling. Vanessa felt the jolt of each car door as it slammed shut; one, two, three. She wished they'd stop slamming doors. She wished they'd stop talking. Something was wrong.
“Guys, guys, I think I am going to be sick, or I'm already sick,” Vanessa said, clutching her head with one hand and her belly with another.
“Huh? What?” came the peanut gallery in the backseat.
Vanessa looked down at her stomach and held her belly as she rode a wave of either nausea or a sinking feeling of dread. All she wanted to do was go lie down. She thought about what her obstetrician had said about delivering early. Her face must have given it away, because Willie began to look around frantically as if the courthouse somehow had a medical wing.
“Sick as in put in a call to Dr. Ryan, sick, or sick as in get you to the hospital?” Willie asked.
“Both,” Vanessa replied.
Her announcement caused a wave of hysteria among her fellow passengers.
Vanessa could feel that her sister had moved over right behind her left shoulder, “Oh my goodness, sis. Is it you? Is it the baby? Is it labor? What's the doctor's number?” Keisha asked, pulling out her phone.
“I got it,” Willie cried out. But he didn't. He looked around as if the number fell from the sky onto the ground. Twice he reached for his wallet in his back pocket, but never retrieved anything.
“It's . . .” Vanessa began, but no one was listening.
Paul was busying himself with the touch screen and GPS on his phone, “The nearest hospitals are in Cheverly or Greenbelt.”
“Don't you dare. Willie, I want to go to DC, Washington Hospital Center, where my doctor does her deliveries. We can make it. They will more than likely have to induce my labor if it is serious,” Vanessa said more adamantly than she wanted due to an unexpected cramp. “I want my luxury birthing suite!”
“You think the baby may comeâtoday?” Willie asked.
“Oh my God,” Paul said as if Vanessa were delivering right there, right now, in the car.
“If this baby shows off and comes this early, he's getting put in the wedding party, even if someone has to roll him down the aisle in a wagon.” Keisha was serious.
“Not now, Keisha,” Willie shouted over his shoulder.
Vanessa imagined this was how it felt to be on the ship with Apostle Paul to Malta when the tides suddenly changed and shipwreck was imminent. People panicked. Vanessa remembered preaching in her sermon that everything would be all right, and that God would deliver the crew safely on shore. That's what Vanessa chose to believe. She had done her own battling with fear during the entire pregnancy. She believed whatever was going on inside her belly would be okay. It had to be. Fear would not win.
“Willie, honey, I need you to snap out of it and drive. Paul, put the GPS away and pray. And Keisha, stop thinking about only yourself and that doggone wedding of yours and hold my hand,” Vanessa ordered with a quiet strength.
The foursome arrived like a mass tidal wave in the emergency room of Washington Hospital Center along with Luella and Mrs. Grant who were called by Paul at the onslaught of the frenzy. Willie and Vanessa were removed from the crowd, triaged, and moved to the Labor and Delivery floor. Vanessa tried to ignore the prodding, the tests, and the monitors. Willie, on the other hand, paced the floor
.
Vanessa wondered
If Willie was this nervous now, how would he manage when the baby got here?
.
Vanessa wondered
If Willie was this nervous now, how would he manage when the baby got here?
The nurses attending to Vanessa had little to say as they carried out the orders of Dr. Ryan. When Dr. Ryan had arrived, she scanned Vanessa's chart and monitor tape before talking to the parents to be. “Remember we talked about the possibility of delivering early? We calculate the baby to be about four pounds, which is small, but a good weight as far as preemies go. Don't worry about the baby. I've seen a four pound baby nursed, monitored, and ready to go home in a week's time. But it is just too dangerous with your rising pressure to continue the pregnancy until you deliver naturally. We'll have to induce labor.”
Dr. Ryan must have seen the look of concern on both of their faces, so she assured them, “We'll start an IV of a drug that will send you into active labor. It's like kicking the little tike out early. I hope you've made room for him at home.”
“He's sending us a message that he can't stay in there. He must be about his Father's business,” Willie added, moving to Vanessa's side to hold her hand.
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