“Speak today,” a woman said.
“That’s all right, son. We’ve all made mistakes,” Brother Dixon stated.
“But I stand before you with much humility and shame,” Curtis continued. “I stand here feeling more pain than I have in years, and I ask that you would all please pray for me. I went into deep prayer this morning, but I know now that I need all of your prayers if I am to successfully deal with what I am going through. I won’t go into details, but I will say that my mother’s passing is not the only problem I’m dealing with and that my plate is very full. It seems as though Satan is on a serious mission to destroy me. It has happened to me before, but right now, at this very moment, I feel weak. I feel as though all my faith and work in the ministry is in vain.”
There were sounds of love and sympathy throughout the congregation and some of the female worshippers were in tears. The members of Deliverance loved their pastor, and it was obvious that they were prepared to stand by him. Curtis tried not to become emotional, but he couldn’t help it. He stood for a few minutes longer in silence and then took a seat in the pulpit. One of the associate ministers reached for the mic and assured Curtis that they were all there for him. He told Curtis to feel free to take as much time off as he needed, because they sincerely understood. Thankfully, everyone else agreed with him.
Curtis wiped his eyes with a white handkerchief, stood up, and prepared to walk out of the sanctuary. He stopped when he saw Aaron strutting down the center aisle. Curtis’s mind quickly flashed back to Adrienne and the Sunday she’d showed up at his other church.
“Well, well, well,” Aaron said, smiling. “Doesn’t everyone look so nice this morning.”
Curtis couldn’t believe this was happening all over again. He didn’t know what Aaron was up to, but he knew it wasn’t good.
“I apologize for interrupting the service, but I just didn’t know when I would ever find the perfect time to get all of you together. I wasn’t at the picnic last Saturday or here at church on Sunday, but it’s only because I’m feeling a lot of pain. Isn’t that right, Miss First Lady,” he said, patting Charlotte on top of her head. Curtis felt those violent tendencies again. At the same time, he was worried that Aaron was feeling the same way.
“How are you, Pastor? I’m sorry to hear about your mother, and I wish you’d called me last night to let me know.”
Curtis glanced at some of the church members and noticed the shock on their faces. Charlotte looked as white as a ghost. He was glad that Matthew was attending the children’s service over in the educational center. The church held a separate service for the children, twice per month, and this was one of the Sundays.
“Don’t worry,” Aaron said to Curtis. “I know you’re upset with me for obvious reasons, but I’m only here to let this great congregation in on a secret. Actually, it’s one of the best-kept secrets in this city. You see, Miss Charlotte and I have become special friends. Actually, we became close friends a good while ago. However, now we’re in love with each other, but unfortunately, she’s confused about everything. We’d been spending a lot of time together, but all of a sudden, after I confessed some information to Pastor Black, she sort of tried to cut me off. And I have to say that while I will accept living without her if that’s what she wants, I still thought I’d better let you, the tithing and offering contributors of this church, know who your first lady really is. So, Charlotte, baby, I ask you, once and for all, are you going to come with me or stay with Pastor?”
“Looorrrd have mercy,” one woman said.
“Mmm, mmm, mmm,” another added.
“Aaron, you need help,” Charlotte said. “There’s something wrong with you, and Curtis and I are more than willing to find some help for you if you want us to.”
Aaron laughed loudly. “Help? The only person who is going to need any help is you,” he said, turning and walking back down the aisle. “Again, everyone, I apologize for the interruption. I didn’t mean any disrespect to any of you.”
That Negro was completely insane. Curtis had seen Aaron stroll into the church, he’d heard every word that Aaron had said, and still, he was astounded. There was whispering throughout the entire building and most eyes were fixed on Charlotte. Curtis wasn’t happy with what Charlotte and Aaron had done, but he hadn’t wanted any of their personal business disclosed to the congregation. He hadn’t wanted one soul to learn that Charlotte and Aaron had been sleeping together or that Matthew might not be his son. At least Aaron hadn’t gone as far as exposing any particulars on that subject.
“Church, I’m sorry for what just happened,” Curtis said. “I don’t know what has gotten into Brother Malone, but we will make sure that nothing like this happens again. And while it’s unfortunate that all of this has occurred, I think it would be best if I gave the benediction so that all of you can go home.”
Curtis finished the last sanction of service and watched as each member left the church. Some of them came up and expressed their sympathy regarding his mother and their concern for whatever Aaron had been talking about. One woman told Curtis that he should call the police if there were future incidents. Charlotte stood speaking to two of her female acquaintances in private, but Curtis was sure that both women were only trying to find out what they could from her. Their concern had nothing to do with compassion and everything to do with nosiness. What they wanted was a hot topic to gossip about.
“Pastor, Pastor,” one of the male members yelled, rushing toward him.
“What is it?”
“These flyers were stuck on the windshield of every car in the parking lot.”
Curtis grabbed the fluorescent pink sheet of paper and read it.
SUNDAY MORNING NEWSFLASH:
Pastor Marries Ex-Mistress
Pastor Moves To Mitchell
Pastor Starts Deliverance Outreach
Pastor’s Wife Sleeps With Pastor’s Best Friend
Pastor’s Wife Sleeps With Pastor’s Best Friend A Lot!
Pastor’s Wife Falls In Love With Pastor’s Best Friend
Pastor May Only Have One Child—Not Two
Poor, Poor Pastor
Pastor And First Lady Divorce
First Lady Marries Pastor’s Best Friend
They Live Happily, Happily Ever After
Curtis was numb. He couldn’t feel a thing if he wanted to. Charlotte looked over at him as did the remaining members. Everyone else had rushed outside to see what all the excitement was about. Matthew walked into the sanctuary and over to his father. Curtis’s worst nightmare was happening.
“Dad,” Matthew said, batting away tears. “Who’s not your child? Me or Alicia?”
Curtis wondered why he’d ever been born. Not Matthew, but himself.
Chapter 23
THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE BLACK HOUSEHOLD WAS AS COLD AND awkward as a hundred-year-old mausoleum. The ride home from church, Curtis in his car and Matthew and Charlotte in hers, had seemed much quicker than normal. It was probably because Curtis dreaded facing Matthew and needed more time to figure out what he was going to say to him. He didn’t want to lie to him, but how could he tell him the truth? How could he tell an innocent little seven-year-old that his mother wasn’t sure who his father was? How could he tell his son that he could no longer live in the same house with him? Because Curtis just didn’t see how he could stay with Charlotte after all of this. Not with all the lies and deceit and the fact that everyone at Deliverance knew the complete low-down regarding them.
Curtis went straight up to the master bedroom and removed his clothing. He slipped on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts. It was the first of July and the temperature had to be almost ninety. The central air was running full force, but Curtis still wanted to dress in cool clothing. Charlotte changed out of her dress and high heels and into a shorts set but didn’t say anything. Still, he saw her staring at him on and off through the dresser mirror. Curtis was on an emotional roller coaster. He could barely stand the sight of her, but he didn’t want to hurt
Matthew. Not to mention the pain he was still feeling about his mother or the rage he was feeling toward Aaron. It was one thing for him to sneak around with Charlotte, but humiliating Curtis during his own church service was another. It was enough to make Curtis consider something drastic. He wanted Aaron out of the way once and for all. Curtis had asked God to remove these unholy thoughts, but for some reason, these thoughts and desires were growing stronger. They were beginning to consume his mind in a scary sort of way.
“We have to sit Matthew down and talk to him right now,” Curtis said.
“I know. But what will we tell him?” she asked.
“I’m not telling him anything, but you’re going to tell him that his uncle Aaron is very sick and that he needs medical treatment. Then I want you to tell him that those statements in those flyers are not true and that you don’t know why Aaron did what he did.”
“I’ve never lied to Matthew since the day he was born,” Charlotte said.
“Well, as of this moment, you’re going to start, because I won’t stand to see him hurt. It’s bad enough that we may have to break the news about him not being my son, but I keep praying that things turn out fine with that. Still, there is no guarantee, and, Charlotte, as much as I love Matthew, I don’t think I can stay married to you.”
“I’m telling you, he is your son.”
“Time will tell soon enough.”
“I still hate putting Matthew through all of that.”
“Well, Charlotte, you should have thought about that before you spread your legs open to all those men.”
“Curtis, we were both sleeping around back then.”
“You’re right, but the difference between you and me is that I didn’t lie about the father of my child, I didn’t sleep with my cousin’s husband, I never slept with anyone else the night before our wedding, and I certainly haven’t been sleeping with your best friend.”
Clearly, Charlotte knew she’d lost the argument, and Curtis was glad because he didn’t want to talk about it anymore.
“Let’s go,” he said, heading toward Matthew’s bedroom.
“Son, are you okay?” Curtis said, when they walked in. They both sat down on either side of him.
“Not really,” he answered.
“I know today was sort of confusing, but your mom wants to explain it to you.”
“Matthew, sweetie, your uncle Aaron is very ill. He has a mental condition and that’s why he did that crazy thing at church today. He didn’t mean to do it, but he couldn’t help it. He needs to be hospitalized.”
“But, Mom, he didn’t look real sick to me.”
“I know. When people have a mental illness, you can’t always see how sick they are.”
“But why did he say that Dad only had one child?”
“Well, actually, sweetie, he didn’t say that. He typed up some crazy note on those flyers and stuck them on everyone’s car. And even though you were over at the children’s service, he walked into where we were, said some strange stuff, and then walked right back out. No one understood what he was doing or why.”
Curtis had to give it to her, she was good. And oh so convincing. She was good at telling lies, almost as good as he’d been back in the day, and it was the reason she’d been able to betray him so easily. He’d believed every excuse she’d told him, including her claims of having to work all those overtime hours and her many stories explaining why she couldn’t make love to him. It was all so ironic.
“I wish he would go back to being the uncle Aaron who used to come over to play my games with me.”
“I know you do,” she said. “And maybe he will when he gets better.”
“I hope so, because I miss him.”
Curtis breathed deeply and realized just how devious Aaron was and how he’d quietly gained both trust and admiration from everyone in their household. Curtis’s fury rose to a whole new level.
Curtis hugged his son, and both Curtis and Charlotte left the room in opposite directions. Curtis went downstairs to the family room, and Charlotte headed to the kitchen to warm up leftovers. Now Curtis was dialing Alicia to tell her that her grandmother had passed away. With everything that had been going on, he’d totally forgotten to call her this morning. He hoped she wouldn’t be upset about him not contacting her immediately, but she would probably be fine since she didn’t even know her.
“Hey, Daddy,” she answered.
“Hi, baby girl. How are you?”
“I’m good. We just got home from church though, so I’m starving. Can I call you back in a little while?”
“Sure. But I did want to let you know that your grandmother passed away. You know, the one you never met.”
Alicia didn’t respond, but he could tell she was still there.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine. But there’s something I have to tell you.”
“Which is?”
“I met Granny Pauline a long time ago.”
“What? When?”
“Mom thought I should meet her, so when I was fourteen, she looked up the phone number one day and called her.”
“Well, it certainly would have been nice if someone had told me.”
“We thought you would be mad, because you never called Granny Pauline or went to visit her even when you lived here in Chicago. And, Daddy, please don’t be angry, because I’m really glad I got to know my other grandmother. She was so nice to me, and now she’s gone already.”
“Did you know that she had passed?”
“Yes, Aunt Trina called us last night.”
“Really? Well, even though I’m hurt, I’m not upset with you or your mom. I was the one who was wrong, because I never should have kept you away from your own family in the first place. I never should have treated them the way I did, and now I’m going to have to live with that mistake until the day I die.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’m really sorry that you didn’t get to see her.”
“It’s all my fault, so don’t feel bad. Trina said she was making the arrangements today, so if you want, I can pick you up on the day of the funeral.”
“Okay. I think Mom is going, too. But I’ll still ride with you guys.”
“Is your mom there?”
“Yep. You want to speak to her?”
“If she’s not too busy.”
“Okay, hold on. Mommmm,” she called out. “Bye, Daddy.”
“I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Hello?” Tanya said.
“How are you?
“I’m fine. How are you?”
“Not well. You already know about everything else that I’m dealing with and now my mother has passed away. Alicia told me that she’s been visiting with her for the last couple of years.”
“She has. I wasn’t sure if you would be okay with it, so I decided it was best if we didn’t tell you. I’m sorry for going behind your back, but I have to tell you, Curtis, with Pauline dying at sixty, I’m glad I tried to find her. Otherwise, Alicia never would have gotten a chance to know her.”
“I’m glad you found her, too. I just wish Matthew could have had the same experience.”
Neither of them spoke for a few seconds.
“Well, I know you just got home from church, but I’ll let you know when the funeral is unless you end up hearing first,” Curtis said. “I don’t have to tell you how cold and short Trina was with me, so I’ll be surprised if she even calls me back.”
“It’s a tough situation, but try and be patient with her. She was very close to your mother and so were her two children. So she’s really hurting over this.”
“I know. And, Tanya, thanks for connecting my mother and Alicia. I probably would have been upset if you’d told me about it two years ago, but that’s because I’m sometimes too stubborn for my own good.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“But hey, I want you to know that you’re still the best in my book. You always will be.”
“Thanks. And keep yo
ur head up, okay. Stay prayerful.”
“I will.”
“Take care.”
“You, too.”
Curtis sat the phone on its base and looked over at Charlotte. She’d come into the room and had been listening to his every word and didn’t look too happy about the conversation he’d just had with his ex-wife. But it wasn’t like Curtis cared one way or the other. It wasn’t like her opinion or feelings mattered to him in the least little bit. She had to know that and if she didn’t, she might as well get used to it. She might as well get used to a lot of changes because life as she’d once known it was over. It would never be the same again for her or them as a couple.
Chapter 24
THE DAY HAD FINALLY ARRIVED. CHARLOTTE WAS A BUNDLE OF NERVES and couldn’t wait for this whole DNA business to be over with. She couldn’t wait to hear the good news, maybe a week from now, that Curtis was in fact Matthew’s biological father. It would definitely make a whole world of difference. Curtis still wasn’t speaking to her unless he had to, but she was sure his attitude would drastically improve once those test results were in.
Charlotte heard the doorbell ringing and walked toward the front door. When she opened it, a young female postal carrier asked her to sign for a box she was holding. Charlotte wrote her signature, brought the package inside, and immediately saw that it was from Anise. At first, she debated opening it, but since Curtis had gone to the church for a couple of hours and Matthew was upstairs watching cartoons, she took the box into the kitchen, pulled out a knife, and cut it open. Enclosed were a ton of credit card statements and the white gold and diamond heart she’d given Anise for her last birthday. Underneath, there was a note inside an envelope. Charlotte pulled it out and read it.
The Best-Kept Secret Page 18