Redeeming Waters

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  Alana grabbed Brianna and pulled her into the den where they sat down. “Okay, if you’re trying to be funny, this is not funny. And if you’re serious, then we need to get you to a hospital as soon as possible because you’re obviously suffering from a nervous breakdown.”

  Brianna held up the back of her left hand to show Alana her wedding band. “I’m married. And I’m fine.” Brianna put her hand down as quickly as she’d thrown it up. “This band is temporary until I can pick out the rings I want.”

  “Okay, Brianna. You just sit right here. I’m going to call your mother. Okay?”

  “Alana, you’ll not be calling my mother. I plan on calling and telling her myself. I’m not crazy . . . I’m not having a nervous breakdown. I’m married. That’s all. That’s it.”

  “So exactly whom did you marry?” Alana said it as though she had to speak softly and slowly in order not to set Brianna off, possibly pushing her all the way over the edge. “You know Unzell is gone, right? You were married, but he’s gone now. He died a month and a half ago.”

  “I know this, Alana. I told you, I’m fine. I know Unzell is dead. He’s dead, okay? He died, and I know it because the pain still hurts like all get out.”

  “I know, baby,” Alana said. “And you’ve been having a hard time coping with his death. But we’re going to call a doctor after we call your mother—”

  “I married David.”

  “David?” Alana said with an edge. “David who?”

  “David Shepherd . . . King d.Avid.”

  “All right.” Alana said it softly and without emotion as though she didn’t really believe Brianna. “So you’re telling me that you and King d.Avid got married? The guy you had a crush on when you were a teenager. You and he are married now. And you have the ring—albeit a very plain and modest little thing—to prove it?”

  “Stop it, Alana. Stop talking to me like I’ve lost it or like I’m on the verge of losing it. I’m fine. I’m married. I married David R. Shepherd, aka King d.Avid, the gospel recording artist, psalmist, worship leader, and minister. We married this evening. I came home to let you know, as well as my parents, and to pack some things.”

  “You’re telling the truth,” Alana said, standing up. “You really are married. But why? How? How could you get married so fast? And without any of us being there. I’m your best friend, and you didn’t ask me to come and stand with you . . . to come to the wedding? And you didn’t tell your family . . . your mother or father? This makes no sense.”

  “It makes plenty of sense,” Brianna said, also standing. “It was no big deal. David and I talked. We agreed this was something we wanted to do. I didn’t bother telling you or my folks because I knew that exactly what’s happening now is what I would have encountered had I told anyone before I did it. So we went and got a marriage license, David called his minister, Nate Jones, and we married at David’s house this evening. That’s it. All there is to say on the matter. End of story.” Brianna sat back down.

  Alana eased herself down next to Brianna. “Okay. So I won’t say anything about how much older he is than you—fifteen, close to sixteen years, is it? I suppose this also means that congratulations are in order. Congratulations, Brianna. Shepherd is it? Mrs. Brianna Shepherd.”

  “Thank you,” Brianna said with a quick nod. “Now as for where you’re going to live now.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Alana said, her body slumping slightly.

  “As I indicated already, I’m moving in with David. He and I both agreed that I can decide what I’d like to do with this house. Therefore, I’ve decided to rent it out.”

  “Oh,” Alana said. “So how long do I have before I have to be out of here?”

  “I suppose that’s up to you. But I was thinking I could rent it out to you, possibly even with the option to buy. We could figure out some kind of lease payment that works for both of us.”

  Alana perked up, pulling her shoulders back. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes,” Brianna said with a primped smile. “That’s if you’re interested.”

  Alana cocked her head to the side. “I have nowhere to go. My credit score is in critical condition, on life support, expecting any day for the plug to be pulled. I couldn’t get a place to live using my credit if I tried. Yes, I’m interested! But you don’t have to do the option to buy. Just let me pay rent and that will be a blessing.”

  “Fine,” Brianna said. “Then it’s all settled.”

  Alana grabbed Brianna by her shoulders. “But are you sure about this marriage? Are you sure? Because you know I’m here for you. If you need me to help with something, I’m here for you. I’m your girl.”

  Brianna smiled. “It’s all good.” She hugged Alana. “But I appreciate you. You know that I do.” She let go. “Now, I need to call my folks and break my glorious news to them.”

  “If I could give you one piece of advice before you tell your folks or anyone else, for that matter.”

  “What’s that?” Brianna said.

  “Try to sound a little more like you’re happy about it. Because honest and truly, you positively sucked when you told me.”

  Brianna chuckled. “Okay. I’ll be sure and keep that in mind when I tell them.”

  Brianna went to her bedroom and called her mother. She concluded she must not have succeeded in sounding too happy when she told her, since her mother had pretty much the same reaction as Alana to her blissful news.

  Still, she was married to King d.Avid now. And that was that!

  Chapter 38

  And the Lord sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor.

  —2 Samuel 12:1

  It was February and Brianna had just given birth on the fourteenth to a beautiful baby boy. King d.Avid was so excited, he could hardly contain his joy. Three days later, mother and son were home and doing well.

  Minister Nate Jones took off his black Stetson hat and set it on the coffee table as he sat down on the couch in the living room.

  “Congratulations,” Minister Nate said.

  King d.Avid grinned big. “Thank you.”

  “Yes,” Minister Nate said. “A son.”

  “Yep. A healthy baby boy.”

  “Well, I was just thinking when I got the word a week ago that the baby had come,” Minister Nate said, seeming to measure his words. “How can this be your biological son? You married in August. That means you and Brianna have only been married for six months. Not the nine months required to produce a full-term baby. And at five pounds, twelve ounces, I believe that’s what you told me the baby weighed, he’s definitely not a preemie.”

  “Does it matter?” King d.Avid said. “In every sense of the word and in every sense that matters, I’m that baby’s father.”

  “Please don’t misunderstand. Let’s just say that if you stepped in to be sure the baby had a father after his father died, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all, now would it? One might even applaud such an act.”

  “Well, I’m just happy the baby is healthy, and here, and doing well. Brianna has been through a lot these past several months,” King d.Avid said. “Too much.”

  “Yes, yes,” Minister Nate said. “You know, I was just thinking of a story I heard the other day. There were these two men: one was rich; the other was poor. The rich man created a small investment stock fund practically out of nothing more than his sheer talent alone. His business soon became mega. The fund was said to be making money hand over fist, while other investments were losing or merely remaining stagnant.”

  “Why does this have a smell of a setup about to happen?” King d.Avid said.

  “Anyway, the poor man, like any good man as stated in the scripture who wants to leave an inheritance for their children’s children, didn’t have the kind of money to invest like the now megarich man. He had scrimped and saved his whole life just trying to make it . . . trying to get by. And he’d managed, through sacrifice and dedication, to put
a little something away. He’d been putting back a little here and a little there into a savings account for years, trying to store up something for his family to have later down the road. Believe me: this man sacrificed for the little he’d acquired. But what he’d acquired was solid, built on love, and it was his very own.”

  King d.Avid began to shake his head. “Oh, I can definitely see where this is going. I’m starting to get a bit upset already just from hearing the little I’ve heard so far.”

  “The rich guy made folks believe the investment fund was exclusive, that not everyone was privileged to invest money in it unless they were recommended to be approved, by someone who was already a member of the fund. The rich man convinced the poor man—along with other poor, unsuspecting folks—to take their money and invest it in this fund upon his recommendation.” Minister Nate readjusted his body. “The rich man took every dime of those folks’ money before it finally came to light that his fund was nothing more than a Ponzi scheme. The rich guy, on the verge of being found out, first tried to cover up what he’d done, doing things to hide it. And when everything did finally come out, he simply said, ‘That’s life. A lesson learned. Deal with it.’ ”

  King d.Avid frowned and began shaking his head profusely. “You know . . . that really makes me mad. That is just as wrong as wrong can be! That rich man should go to jail and be locked up for the rest of his sorry excuse for a life. Just like that Bernie Madoff guy who made off with all those folks’ money. They should also give this guy 805 years and put him under the jail. That’s pitiful! Doing that poor man like that. I hope they take everything the rich guy has and then some, and give it to the guy and others he stole from. That rich man should have to pay the poor man fourfold. It’s a shame and a disgrace that people who do things like that are allowed to walk around this earth free!”

  Minister Nate looked sternly and directly into King d.Avid’s eyes. “God spoke to me, King d.Avid. God said you are that man. God anointed you to do great things through your gift of music. He delivered you from the hands of your enemies. He gave you this mansion.” Minister Nate made a show of slowly looking around the room. “The Lord said for me to tell you that if what you already had wasn’t enough, He would have gladly given you more. But for some reason, you chose to do evil in His sight. Now, the Lord didn’t tell me exactly what took place. But you know. So that’s between you and God. But I do know, by His Spirit, that something is not right. And then, you so quickly took Unzell’s wife to be your own.” He shook his head.

  King d.Avid put his hands up to his face and covered it. “Oh, God. Oh, God.” He shook his head as he cried out. “Lord, oh, Lord! Oh, my Father God!” He cried.

  “The Lord said that what you did, you did in secret. But what He does will be done in daylight. They say sunshine is a great bleach and the best disinfectant.”

  King d.Avid fell to his knees and began to cry even more. “Minister Nate, I have sinned against the Lord. And when I asked Him for forgiveness, I really wasn’t sincere. I wasn’t. I was merely being religious, simply going through the motions of what I knew was right to do. I was wrong, so wrong. But I’m asking God to forgive me now. I am . . .”

  King d.Avid continued to cry as he bowed before the Lord. “From my heart, O Lord. Please, forgive me. Please forgive me. Please!”

  After King d.Avid settled down, Minister Nate helped him to his feet. “David, the Lord has forgiven you of your sin. But because of it, and the way you tried to hide it, you have unwittingly opened the door for Satan to have entrance and access.”

  “Then what do I do to fix it?” King d.Avid said. “Please tell me: what do I need to do to make things right again?”

  Minister Nate picked up his hat off the table. He placed his hand on King d.Avid’s shoulder. “On this one, and at this point, I believe it’s out of all of our hands. I will keep you and your family in my prayers.” He patted King d.Avid’s shoulder twice.

  King d.Avid escorted Minister Nate to the door. After he left, King d.Avid went to his study, closed the door, got down on his knees, and began to fervently pray.

  Chapter 39

  Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

  —Psalm 51:1

  Brianna burst into King d.Avid’s study with the baby in her arms, having searched throughout the house for King d.Avid. “David, the baby is sick! We have to get him to the hospital.”

  King d.Avid got up off of his knees. “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He has a fever. And he’s not breathing right . . . his breathing is labored.”

  “Let’s go,” King d.Avid said, hurrying with his wife out of the door.

  They got to the hospital and the baby was immediately admitted to intensive care.

  Brianna and King d.Avid waited for hours before finally seeing the doctor and receiving word that the baby had neonatal sepsis.

  “It’s an infection infants can get during the first twenty-eight days of life. It’s also known as sepsis neonatorum. It attacks the lungs,” the doctor said. “Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat or hide anything from you on this. This is life threatening. The baby’s white blood count is abnormal, another indication of what we’re dealing with. It’s like blood poisoning. Adults get this in the form of MRSA sepsis.”

  “So what are you going to do to make him well?” Brianna asked as King d.Avid held his arm tightly around her, essentially holding her up at this point.

  “Of course, he’ll have to remain in the hospital. We’ve already begun administering antibiotics intravenously,” the doctor said. “But this infection can all too quickly cause organ damage, so we’re in for a fight here. We’re in for a fight.”

  “What can we do?” King d.Avid said, alternating his glance from the doctor to Brianna. “I have plenty of money. We need to get the best in here. Whatever our baby needs, I want it done. Money is no object. We just want our baby to get well.”

  The doctor looked at King d.Avid. “I assure you, we’re going to do everything within our power to make him well. Money is not the issue. But let me say this to both of you: if you know how to pray, then I would suggest you do it. I’m not going to lie to you: this is going to be an uphill battle. And even though I’m a doctor who deals in science and medicine, as a Christian I also know the power of what God can do. And at this point, in addition to our efforts, we can use all the help down here we can get.”

  Brianna broke down and began to cry. King d.Avid fought to keep his tears at bay.

  “I’ll leave you two, but if you need me . . .”

  King d.Avid nodded without saying anything more. The doctor left them alone.

  “Oh, God, please help my baby,” Brianna said. “David, I can’t believe this is happening. He’s such a tiny little thing. God has to hear our prayers. He has to!”

  “I know. And our baby is going to be all right,” King d.Avid said. “I know God is going to heal him and bring him through. I know it. We just have to have faith in God.”

  They stayed at the hospital through the night. King d.Avid was able to get Brianna to go home a little after noon, if nothing else but to shower and change. Brianna’s mother had also arrived at Alana’s house. Diane and Alana came with Brianna when she returned to the hospital with her overnight bag in hand, determined she wasn’t leaving again until her baby was completely out of danger.

  “I’m going to stay here with him. I’m not going to leave him,” Brianna said first to King d.Avid and then to her mother and best friend. “I’m not.”

  King d.Avid went home that night. He hadn’t eaten anything since learning that little Jason was sick. Fasting now, King d.Avid was determined he would do whatever it took to ensure his son was healed from this sickness he’d been informed could very well take his life. He prayed, lying on the floor at times, as he stayed before the Lord in prayer.

  The next morning, he was still on the floor praying. He stayed in his
room all day and night, into the following morning. Vincent came into his bedroom, without knocking, and found him face down on the floor.

  “King, now I know you’re hurting. But you have to pull yourself together. You need to get up from here,” Vincent said. “Everybody’s worried about you now. They say you won’t eat. They say it’s been at least two days since you’ve eaten anything at all. Brianna’s asking for you and about you. She’s already frantic about the baby. Now she has to worry about you. Her mother is also inquiring as to what’s the deal with you.”

  “Is there any change in the baby’s health?” King d.Avid asked as he sat up and stared into nothingness.

  Vincent shook his head. “No. They’re saying, so far, he isn’t getting any better.”

  “I’ll call Brianna in a little while. You can leave now,” King d.Avid said, kneeling down again.

  “But you need to eat something,” Vincent said. “If you like, I’ll have Chef bring something up here to you. You don’t even have to go downstairs—”

  “I said you may go.”

  “But King, this is not rational. I know you’re upset. I know you’re worried. But what good are you to Brianna or the baby, if you get sick yourself?”

  “I’m going to stay before the Lord until He heals my son. I will fast and I will pray for as long as it takes. I know God can heal him, and I’m going to stay on my face and before the Lord, and do whatever is necessary until God raises that baby up from his sickbed and brings him back home to us again,” King d.Avid said. “Do you hear me?”

  Vincent nodded. “Well, I’m praying for all of you.” He placed his hand on King d.Avid’s shoulder. “But will you at least shower and shave, then go over to the hospital and see them? Brianna’s mother is wondering why you’ve not been there in the last two days. And Brianna doesn’t need to be worried about you along with Jason, she doesn’t.”

  “I’ll talk to Brianna. But right now, all I know is that I have to get God to hear my plea. God can heal Jason; I know He can. Then everybody and everything will be okay.”