Sheba agreed. “That means we both need to start going to church regularly.”
“Nathan’s going to love that,” David said.
She and David had been attending church on a more regular basis. Although David didn’t go every week, he prayed daily, and Sheba could see that he had a strong relationship with God, even if he hadn’t been attending church regularly.
“Another thing we need to address is you not spending time with your other kids. I think you should see about having them visit at least once a month. I want Solomon to know his siblings,” Sheba said, batting her long black eyelashes.
David paused a few seconds before responding. “You’re right. It’s time that I do. Their monthly allotment isn’t an excuse for me not spending more time with them.”
“Good. Now we can be one big happy family,” Sheba said as she gave David a tight hug.
Solomon started crying. David got him out of his bassinet. “I think he wants his mommy.” David handed him to her.
She looked at the clock. “Yes, he’s hungry. It is about his feeding time.”
Sheba fed him, and then David helped her give him a bath.
“I’m so happy right now. I feel like I’m going to burst,” she told David as he followed her back into their bedroom.
“This is just the beginning, my love. There will be plenty more days like this one.”
Sheba hoped so. Last year was tragic for her, so the happiness she was experiencing was long past due.
The bedroom phone rang. David answered it.
“Ms. Baker is here,” the butler informed David from the other end.
David responded, “Thank you. I’ll be down in a minute.” David hung up the phone and faced Sheba. “Your sister’s here.”
“Tell her to come on up.” David was about to leave the room when she stopped him. She said, “Nathan’s going to be Solomon’s godfather, but we never discussed who his godmother would be. Do you mind if it’s Delilah?” she asked.
“Truthfully, yes, I do mind.” David didn’t give Sheba his reasons, because then she would know how he and Delilah had schemed behind her back. David compromised and said, “But she is your sister, and I’m going to leave that decision up to you.” Before saying another word, David left her alone to make the decision.
Minutes later, Delilah entered the room, wearing vibrant colors, which complemented her bubbly personality. She was holding a bag. “There’s my favorite sister. Where is my nephew?” Delilah rushed toward the bed. She stopped by the bassinet. She removed the blanket from around his little body so she could get a better view of him. “He’s a handsome little thing. Looking just like his daddy.”
Sheba agreed. He was the spitting image of David. “Don’t wake him up. I just got him to sleep.”
“I’m here to help you out, so he and I will get a chance to bond.” Delilah sat on the edge of the bed. “So how are you holding up? I should be mad at you because Nathan got to see the baby before I did.”
“You’ve been in contact with Nathan? The two of you talk like that?” Sheba asked with a puzzled look on her face.
“Of course. He’s been a real good friend. He’s trying to keep me on the straight and narrow.”
“No wonder he needed a sabbatical, because doing that is a full-time job,” Sheba teased.
“Ha-ha. You got jokes.” Delilah handed Sheba the bag she had been holding. “There’s something for you and Junior in there.”
“He’s not a junior. We’ve named him Solomon.”
“He’s going to be wise.”
Sheba looked at her curiously.
Delilah continued, “Don’t be looking at me like that. I read my Bible.”
“I see.” Sheba removed the tissue from the bag and took out its contents. “This is the cutest little outfit. Thanks, Delilah.” She also had a matching bib with the words I love my aunt written across it and matching cloth shoes to go with the outfit.
“That little, handsome thing is going to look good in that,” Delilah said.
“Let’s see what you got for me,” Sheba said. She retrieved a gold envelope from the bottom of the bag and opened it. She reached over and hugged Delilah. “Thank you, sis. I need this. I’ll have to wait until after my checkup, but I can sure use a day at the spa.”
“I know it’s not much.”
“Please. This is just what I need. And as much as I love my baby, I will be needing me some ‘me time’ soon enough.”
Solomon woke up. Delilah surprised Sheba when she volunteered to change his diaper. Sheba wasn’t going to argue with her. She laughed when Solomon squirted on Delilah. Delilah didn’t find it funny.
Delilah left to go get herself settled into her guest room while Sheba fed Solomon. She sat in the rocking chair David had brought her. “You’re going to be so spoiled, and I’m going to be the main one spoiling you,” Sheba said as she rocked Solomon back and forth.
Epilogue
A month later ...
“Look at our little man,” David said as he played with Solomon’s little hands and feet.
Sheba watched from the distance. “He’s perfect.”
“I’m the happiest man on earth,” David said as he rocked Solomon in his arms.
“It’s almost time to leave for church,” Sheba said.
“I’ll carry him downstairs.”
“You don’t want to let him out of your sight, but you’ll have to go back to work sometime, David.”
David knew Sheba was right, but after experiencing such a miracle after losing their other child, it was hard to leave him. He had taken time off from work to be with Solomon and Sheba.
Sheba carried his diaper bag as she followed them down the stairs to the waiting car. The driver held the door open and waited until David had the car seat secured in the back of the car.
“He looks just like his daddy,” Sheba stated as she looked at Solomon and then back at David.
“He gets those dimples from his mother.”
Sheba smiled. “I’m glad he got at least one of my features.”
“Now, when we have a girl, I want her to come out looking like you. Perfect.”
Sheba held up her hand. “Put the brakes on it. I think that’s it for me.”
“I have ways of changing your mind,” David said. Solomon stirred in his car seat. He started crying. Sheba said, “What’s wrong with mama’s baby?” She rubbed his little hand, and Solomon went back to sleep.
Thirty minutes later they pulled up in front of the church.
“Let me change his diaper, and then we’ll be ready,” Sheba said.
David waited outside the limousine as Sheba changed Solomon’s diaper. Nathan walked up to him.
“How are you, my friend?”
“Great. Words can’t express the joy I feel,” David told him.
“God deserves all the praise.”
“Amen,” David said. David reached for Solomon as Sheba exited the car.
“There’s your godfather,” Sheba said as she greeted Nathan.
Nathan peeked at him. “How’s my man doing?” Solomon smiled at Nathan.
Sheba cleared her throat. “Aw, fellows. I’m glad you’re bonding, but it’s almost time.”
Delilah rushed up the stairs behind her. “Traffic on I-Twenty was a mess. I tried calling you to let you know.”
“I forgot and left my phone at the house. I thought you were already here. We’re just getting here ourselves,” Sheba said.
David had been hoping that Delilah wouldn’t make it. He now understood why Uriah didn’t like Delilah. Delilah had some devious ways, but he couldn’t say anything to Sheba about them. For now, he would keep a watchful eye on Delilah and protect his wife and son if she dared to step out of line. David put his personal feelings about Delilah aside for his beloved wife.
They all entered the sanctuary and took their seats. Nathan prayed and spoke of the special occasion of Solomon’s christening. David held Solomon as he and Sheba went to stand at
the front of the altar, next to Nathan and Delilah. Although he didn’t like Sheba’s choice, he reluctantly agreed to let Delilah be Solomon’s godmother. Delilah had her issues, but she had grown to love her sister and she adored her nephew. That he could see.
Nathan had his friend Adam Marks, Sr., come in from Greener Pastures Full Gospel Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, to preside over the regular church service. Nathan took a seat on the front pew, right next to David.
Sheba whispered, “Delilah goes to his church. Maybe when we’re in Shreveport again, we can go.”
“He’s good,” David responded as he rocked Solomon.
After the church service was over, David, Sheba, Delilah, Nathan, and the baby posed for pictures.
“Everyone’s invited back to our place to celebrate Solomon’s christening,” David said.
“I’ll be there as soon as I take care of some church business,” Nathan responded.
“I’ll follow y’all,” Delilah said.
David gave directions to the visiting minister and the other people who were interested in attending the celebration. Twenty guests showed up at David and Sheba’s house for a Sunday feast. David watched as everyone seemed to be engrossed by Solomon. David stuck his chest out like the proud father that he was.
“He’s already commanding an audience,” Sheba said as she stood next to her husband.
“Just like his daddy.” David leaned down and kissed her on the top of her forehead.
“Let’s hope he’s not conceited like you.”
“I’m not conceited. I’m just confident. There’s a difference.”
“With you, they are one and the same,” Sheba teased.
“You got jokes, I see.” David embraced her.
“Love you, King David.” She removed herself from his embrace and went to gather Solomon up in her arms.
“I love you, too,” David said out loud, not caring who heard him.
Soon thereafter the guests left. Nathan lingered. Delilah followed Sheba upstairs with Solomon. When David and Nathan were alone, they sat down on opposite ends of the sofa.
Nathan said, “My friend, I’ve seen you transform into the man God wanted you to be.”
David responded, “God left me no choice.”
“Oh, you had choices.”
“True. I just chose to do things God’s way for a change. The last time he whipped me, it almost left me defeated.”
“God’s a merciful God.”
“Thank God for that, because I would hate for Him to remove His hands of mercy from over my life ever again.”
Nathan said, “Continue to do right by your son. God’s going to bless him and the generations to come.” On that note, Nathan got up, headed to the front door, and bade his friend farewell.
David stood at the door and watched Nathan leave. He looked out at the still sunny, cloudless blue sky. He thanked God again for his wife and his son. David couldn’t help but smile. He smiled from the inside out. It felt good to know that God had redeemed him. He shut the front door, knowing that a new chapter of his life was about to begin.
Reading Group Guide
1. Uriah loved Sheba. Do you think he was too naive when it came to their relationship?
2. Sheba and Uriah seemed to disagree about her spending habits. She had her own job, so do you think it was fair of Uriah to make a big deal about her shopping?
3. Do you think Uriah was justified in feeling the way he did about Delilah? Do you think she had an ulterior motive for being around Sheba? Would you have trusted Delilah?
4. Why would Delilah agree to help David manipulate her sister? Do you think she was harboring resentment about being given up as a baby?
5. David was attracted to Sheba from the moment he saw her. David could have any woman he wanted. Why do you think he lusted after Sheba?
6. Do you think David really felt remorseful when he set Uriah up for the kill?
7. Do you think Sheba suspected David of any wrongdoing when it came to Uriah, and if so, do you think she just turned a blind eye?
8. If Sheba loved Uriah so much, why do you think she slept with David?
9. Nathan tried to warn David about his bad behavior.
10. Why do we ignore warnings when we get them?
11. David’s lust for one woman caused a multitude of bad things to happen in his life. Do you think our behavior can cause our lives to spin out of control? How can we get them back under control?
12. God showed mercy for David in the end. When you do wrong, do you go to God and repent, or do you just expect your situation to change automatically?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shelia M. Goss is the Essence magazine and Black Expressions Book Club best selling author of Delilah, My Invisible Husband, Roses Are Thorns, Paige’s Web, Double Platinum, His Invisible Wife, Hollywood Deception, and Savannah’s Curse, as well as four titles in the teen series The Lip Gloss Chronicles, namely, The Ultimate Test, Splitsville, Paper Thin, and Secrets Untold. Ruthless is her thirteenth novel and second Christian fiction novel. Besides writing fiction, Shelia is a freelance writer. She is also the recipient of three Shades of Romance Magazine Readers’ Choice Multi-Cultural Awards and is honored in Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature. To learn more, visit her Web site, www.sheliagoss.com, or follow her on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/sheliagoss.
UC HIS GLORY BOOK CLUB!
www.uchisglorybookclub.net
UC His Glory Book Club is the spirit-inspired brainchild of Joylynn Jossel, Author and Acquisitions Editor of Urban Christian, and Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Author for Urban Christian. This is an online book club that hosts authors of Urban Christian. We welcome as members all men and women who have a passion for reading Christian-based fiction.
UC HIS GLORY BOOK CLUB pledges our commitment to provide support, positive feedback, encouragement, and a forum whereby members can openly discuss and review the literary works of Urban Christian authors.
There is no membership fee associated with UC His Glory Book Club; however, we do ask that you support the authors through purchasing, encouraging, providing book reviews, and of course, your prayers. We also ask that you respect our beliefs and follow the guidelines of the book club. We hope to receive your valuable input, opinions, and reviews that build up, rather than tear down our authors.
WHAT WE BELIEVE:
—We believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God
—We believe the Bible is the true, living Word of God
—We believe all Urban Christian authors should use their God-given writing abilities to honor God and share the message of the written word God has given to each of them uniquely.
—We believe in supporting Urban Christian authors in their literary endeavors by reading, purchasing and sharing their titles with our online community.
—We believe that in everything we do in our literary arena should be done in a manner that will lead to God being glorified and honored.
We look forward to the online fellowship with you. Please visit us often at www.uchisglorybookclub.net.
Many Blessing to You!
Shelia E. Lipsey,
President, UC His Glory Book Club
Urban Books, LLC
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Deer Park, NY 11729
Ruthless Copyright © 2012 Shelia M. Goss
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-5998-3253-1
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living, or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
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