And one other thing King d.Avid had insisted upon: he wanted to sing at the service. After all, it was the least he could do for one who had given so much of his own self and service to what King d.Avid was doing, especially these seven, almost eight months Unzell had been a part of his concert tour crew.
Sure, Unzell had been paid for his work. But King d.Avid aptly pointed out to Brianna how much Unzell always went above and beyond any monetary amount he received in compensation. How he’d exemplified what Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:41, “And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.”
Brianna had agreed. Unzell would have certainly been humbled knowing that the largest gospel recording artist around would be leading the celebration of his life as he, a humble saint, went marching home. It was definitely going to be a spiritual revival for those in attendance. But what convinced Brianna to agree was her knowing that, even with the grief of their loss, this would be one more opportunity to worship and praise God at the level God so richly deserved. One more time to offer a lost soul Jesus.
Brianna prayed that during the service, someone’s life would be touched. Not because that person was overcome with emotion or grief. But because they would hear the Word of the Lord go forth and come running to the altar asking what they needed to do—just as Unzell had once done—to be saved . . . to know Jesus.
King d.Avid sang a song he’d recorded based on the words found in Psalm 8. “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.” But when he sang the verse from Psalm 8:4, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” people all over the church began to shout and cry out like a roaring forest fire gets out of hand having originated from one tiny spark.
At the end of the song, as King d.Avid sang his final round of, “O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth,” he kneeled down and raised his hands to the Lord. The minister brought the Word, and the floodgates seemed to open as people came pouring into the aisles, down to the altar, to give their lives to this “excellent God” who loved, with an everlasting love, and was most certainly deserving of all the praise.
At the gravesite, Brianna picked up a handful of red dirt and tossed it onto the copper-tinted coffin. King d.Avid rushed over when she broke down. He held her up . . . and she, too exhausted to think about anything at this point, allowed him.
“He’s gone,” Brianna whispered. “What am I going to do?”
King d.Avid held her even tighter.
“What am I going to do without him?” she said as she stumbled away, King d.Avid continuing to hold her. Suddenly, and without warning, she collapsed in his arms.
Brianna came to on the back seat of a limousine. She looked around. “What happened?” she asked. “Where am I?”
King d.Avid rubbed her hand that he held. “You fainted,” he said. “You’re in my limo right now. I brought you here after you passed out.”
She struggled to sit up. “I fainted?”
King d.Avid gently pushed her back down. “Just lie still a few more minutes,” he said. “Brianna, I know you’re grieving. I know you are. But have you been eating like you should? Are you taking care of yourself the way you ought to be doing?”
Brianna began to cry. She knew that he was concerned about her, but she also knew he was thinking about the baby she carried, the baby that was not her husband’s. Once again, she struggled to sit up.
King d.Avid helped her, then hugged her. “It’s going to be all right,” he said, stroking the back of her hair. “But Brianna, you’re going to have to take care of yourself. You know this. I realize you’re hurting. I know you are. And I know right now it’s hard to think of anything else except your pain and the loss you feel. But you must take care of yourself. You understand?” He scrunched down, fixing his eyes with hers. “Brianna? Do you understand?”
She looked down at her open palms. Tears began to fall into them, drip by drip, quickly forming a pool of water. She nodded. Yes, I understand.
“Because if you don’t. . . .”
“I know,” Brianna said softly. She fully recognized that she was pregnant, and that her actions no longer affected only her life. There was another life to consider now. An innocent life she carried inside of her. A life that was depending on her for its very health and survival, whether she was grieving or not.
“Now, I’ve expressed to you,” King d.Avid said gingerly, still crouching down, “that if you need anything, anything at all, at any time, I’m here. And I’m going to be here. I’m not going anywhere. But you have to help me. You have to do your part. You have to meet me halfway. You have to. No ifs, ands, or buts. No matter how hard all of this might be right now, you must—”
“I know,” Brianna said. “I got it. You don’t have to keep repeating yourself.” She then quietly positioned herself back down on the seat, drew her body into a ball, closed her eyes, and allowed the tears to continue to fall. It was then that she felt King d.Avid’s coat to his black Armani suit gently cover her.
Chapter 34
I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
—Psalm 69:2
“Baby, why won’t you just come on home with us?” Brianna’s mother, Diane, said as they sat next to each other on the bed in Brianna’s bedroom.
“I can’t. Not now,” Brianna said.
“Why? There’s no reason for you to stay here.”
“I just don’t want to leave. Not now. Maybe later, but not now. And I really don’t feel like thinking about it at this juncture.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t need to be here all by yourself. Not at this time.” Diane reached over and took Brianna’s right hand. “Come home with me and your father. Come stay with us a few weeks or as long as you need. Get your strength back. Let us take care of you.”
“Mother, I love you. And I appreciate what you’re trying to do. But I just want . . . I need to be alone for a while.”
Diane slowly shook her head as she frowned. “That’s not good. Now is not a time for you to be alone. We’re here to help you get through this. That’s what families do.”
Brianna’s eyes were weak. But she used her eyes, as best she could, to help plead her case. “I just don’t want to leave here yet. I need some time to think. So much has happened, so quickly, I haven’t had time to even think.” Brianna balled up her left hand.
“Well . . . then, I’ll just stay here with you,” Diane said, folding her hands into each other.
“You really don’t need to do that.”
“I know,” Diane said. She reached over, put her arm around Brianna, and pulled her to her. “So, it’s settled then. I’ll tell your father to go on back to Montgomery without me, and I’ll be home later.”
“Mother, I really don’t know what I’m to do at this point. I feel so lost.”
“That’s natural. You’re still in shock. Your mind needs time to process all that’s happened,” Diane said. “I understand you wanting to stay here for now. I promise I’m not going to get in the way of whatever you feel you need to do to heal or, at least, get to a place where you can cope with everything.” She pulled her daughter even closer.
“But I don’t want you to have to stay here while I’m doing whatever it is I’m doing,” Brianna said.
Alana rapped on the doorjamb and walked into the bedroom. “Hi,” she said, and sat down at the foot of the bed. “Can I get you anything?” Alana asked Brianna.
Brianna moved out of her mother’s arm and shook her head.
“I was just telling Brianna she should come home with me and her father,” Diane said, directing her gaze at Alana.
“I think that’s a great idea!” Alana said.
“Well, she won’t listen to me,” Diane said, obviously happy for reinforcement.
“Why won’t you, Brianna?” Alana said.
Brianna sat up straighter. �
�I want to stay here. This is my home, at least at this time. I want to be in my own home right now.”
“Well, since she won’t come home with us, then I’m planning to stay here with her,” Diane said.
“And I told her I don’t want her to do that,” Brianna countered. “She needs to go home with Dad. He hasn’t been feeling all that well. I’m a little worried about him. I’ll be all right here by myself.” Brianna sat Indian-style, leaned forward slightly, and rocked before stilling herself.
“I don’t want her here alone. Not now. I know that’s what she says she wants.” Diane shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not right now, anyway.”
“You know . . . I could stay with her,” Alana said.
“Oh, no”—Diane began to shake her head slowly—“I couldn’t impose on you like that, Alana. I’m her mother. I should be the one to stay. I don’t mind.”
“And I’m like her sister,” Alana said. “And I don’t mind. I already live here in Atlanta. Actually, you know: I could move in with her for as long as she needs me to.”
Diane shook her head again, this time faster. “That’s admirable of you, Alana. But you shouldn’t have to disrupt your own life when it’s not a real problem for me to stay.”
“But you’ll be disrupting your life . . . and Dad’s,” Brianna said. “And you’d be doing that, even though I’m telling you that I’ll be fine and that I really don’t need you to do it. I love you, Mother, and I appreciate you so much. But why don’t I let Alana come and stay with me.” Brianna looked at Alana. “It’s like she said: she already lives here in Atlanta. And if I need anything, she’ll make sure that I’m okay.”
“Is this really what you want?” Diane asked Brianna.
Brianna nodded. “Yes. This way I’ll have the space I need, but someone will be around . . . just like you want.”
Diane looked at Alana. “Are you sure about this? Because it’s not a problem for me to stay.”
“I’m positive,” Alana said.
Diane turned to Brianna. “Now, you know if you need me, all you have to do is pick up the phone and say the word. I’ll be here as quick as the freeway will let me.”
Brianna forced a smile. She was developing a slight headache. “Thanks, Mother.”
Diane hugged Brianna as she rocked her. “My baby. My sweet little baby. I just don’t understand why things happen, but I know that God is able to keep you. Let the Lord minister to you, Brianna. There is a balm in Gilead. I found that to be true when I lost my mother; then two years later, my father. The pain can be intense at first, even when you know the one you love is with the Lord. I still miss my parents, but God is able. And it really has gotten better over time. You just have to force yourself to keep going. You can’t stop living just because they’re gone.”
Brianna started to cry as her mother spoke and kept her wrapped up in her arms.
“Oh, baby. I didn’t mean to make you cry. I just want you to know how much I love you and how much God loves you. I may not be able to always be with you, but God is always there. No matter where you are, no matter where you go, God is there. Through it all, God is there. He’s there during the good times and the bad. And I know God is going to bring some good back into your life real soon. I know He is. And I know right now it doesn’t feel like He is or that it’s possible, but I know that God will.”
“Can you leave me with Alana?” Brianna said to her mother, wiping her eyes.
Diane stood up, then leaned down and, with a tissue, wiped some of the tears from Brianna’s face. “Sure.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead, then left.
Alana got up and went to sit beside Brianna.
“I told her I wanted to be by myself right now,” Brianna said, almost mumbling the words.
“Well, I think it will be good for you to have someone around, at least at this juncture,” Alana said.
“Alana, you know me. You know there are times when I need to be alone. Then again, I know you.” Brianna looked sternly into Alana’s eyes. “Alana, I’m going to ask you this one time, and I want you to tell me the truth.”
Alana scrunched her mouth. “Okay,” she said, almost sounding like she was surrendering before the question even came.
“Do you have a place to stay right now?”
“You mean today?”
“Alana, I’m not in the mood to play games. You know exactly what I mean. My last time asking you: do you . . . have anywhere to stay . . . right now?”
Alana diverted her eyes from Brianna’s unrelenting stare. “No. I don’t have anywhere to stay right now.” She looked at Brianna. “After Vincent came back home and politely thanked me, and helped me carry my things to my car, I went back to Dre’s. That’s why I was so close and got here so fast when they called and told me Unzell had been killed. I’ve been crashing at his place for the past week while all of this has been going on with you. But I can’t stay there.” Alana began to shake her head. “I have to get out of that place! Dre is crazy. And after those two months of experiencing peace and serenity, I just can’t do crazy again. I can’t!”
“All right,” Brianna said. “Then you’re more than welcome to stay here with me. My folks are leaving tomorrow because my daddy has to get back. You know my mother was insisting on staying, but I need time to myself, and I truly don’t feel like having people hovering all over me.” Brianna quickly wiped her face with her hands, then locked eyes with Alana again. “And that includes you as well.”
“You don’t want hovering? Done! I can oblige,” Alana said with a smirk.
“Okay. So pack your things, and tomorrow you can move in here.”
Alana hugged Brianna. “Thank you, thank you, thank you! I know it looks to your mother like I’m doing you the favor, but you and I know that you’re actually the one blessing me by doing this. Thank you.” She let go.
“Alana, you’re really going to have to get your life together. You’ve played around long enough. You either need to enroll in college or get a job. Or both. Something.”
“Now you’re starting to sound like you think you’re my mother,” Alana said.
“I don’t mean to. But I love you. And the way you’re living right now is going nowhere. You can’t bounce from one man to the next looking for someone to take care of you. You say you want a good man? Then you need to be what you desire for your own life. This way you’ll attract a good man while also bringing something to the table.” Brianna stretched her legs back out. She closed her eyes and laid her head back. She wasn’t feeling well at all.
“Are you okay?” Alana asked, springing to her feet. “Do you need something?”
“I just need to eat something,” Brianna said. “I haven’t had an appetite much. But I need to eat.” Brianna sat up straight. “Would you mind fixing me a little something to eat and bringing it in here? Not a lot; just something to keep my strength up.”
“Sure. There’s a lot of food in there. People have been dropping things by since we came back from the cemetery. You and Unzell are definitely loved. There were so many people at the funeral today. I couldn’t believe the number of people that were there. And then to have King d.Avid, of all people, to think and care enough about Unzell that he would sing at his funeral.” Alana stood there shaking her head. “It was absolutely wonderful. And then to see Vincent Powers there. And to learn that he actually works for King d.Avid, oh, my goodness . . . that he’s King d.Avid’s actual manager, no less—”
“The food,” Brianna said. “My food.”
“Yeah”—Alana clapped her hands once—“right.” She pointed at Brianna and made a quick clicking sound. “Your food.”
“Not a lot now,” Brianna said. “I’m really not that hungry. But I know I have to eat.”
Alana had a quizzical look on her face, but she didn’t say anything. She left to get Brianna’s food.
Brianna positioned her hand on her stomach and gently cradled it. She then put her other hand on the bed, on Unze
ll’s side where he usually slept. She rubbed her hand over his pillow sham a few times, then burst into tears once more. Lying on his pillow, she pressed her face into it, effectively muffling her cry.
Chapter 35
Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul.
—Psalm 124:4
King d.Avid called Brianna and told her he was sending the car for her. She told him she appreciated him caring so much, but she still didn’t feel like going anywhere just yet. Unzell had died a little over a month ago, and she was nowhere near pulling herself together. But King d.Avid insisted; told her this time he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
The Escalade drove up. Chad came to the door and escorted her to the vehicle. Having secured a job a week after she moved in with Brianna, Alana was at work. Brianna had planned to attend college in the fall, but knowing that she was pregnant (something only she, her doctor and his office, and King d.Avid presently had knowledge of) had caused her to reevaluate those plans.
It wasn’t that pregnant women couldn’t attend college; she knew that old-fashioned way of thinking had long ago lost its life of usefulness. But having buried her husband and being pregnant . . . she didn’t know if her mind would be on the lessons as would be needed.
King d.Avid didn’t mince his words. He absolutely didn’t want her worried about doing anything right now. All he wanted was for her to concentrate on her heart healing and to make sure that she took care of herself and the baby she was carrying. That’s it.
King d.Avid had been great. He had checked on her every single day, sometimes two to three times. Brianna didn’t have to worry for money; the insurance policy Unzell had on him was more than enough to take care of her for years to come. Still, King d.Avid wanted to do for her.
At first, she thought the reason was because he’d felt guilty that Unzell had been killed while working on the set for his concert tour. She quickly learned that the investigation of the accident had cited an error that could be partially attributed to a decision Unzell may have made. Something a production manager with more experience might have known; something all new production managers generally have pointed out and emphasized to them in the beginning of new appointments. But without Unzell there to answer, no one would ever know for sure whether or not he’d been told at all or whether he’d been told but still ended up possibly miscalculating.
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