Up Pops the Devil

by Angela Benson

  Preacher moved back away from her. “You’re right,” he said. “I was wrong to go through your papers. I won’t do it again.”

  Tanya nodded. “Okay then.”

  “You’ll sign the title?”

  She nodded.

  “To both the Benz and the Porsche?”

  “You’re pushing it.”

  “You can get another car, Tanya, a cheaper one, but the Porsche is unreasonable. You have to see that. You couldn’t drive it if I were back in the business and you know it.”

  Tanya sighed loudly. “All right, already. I’ll sign them both over, but you’d better get me something good in return.”

  Thank you, Lord. He smiled at her. “You can pick it out yourself. We’ll make it a family event. You, me, and the boys.”

  “Yes, the boys. Did you go get them from my mother’s?”

  He nodded. “They belong here with us.”

  “So you said.”

  “And now that we’re selling the cars, we have the money for the school and the home day care, if that’s what you want.”

  Tanya stood, yawning. “Do we have to decide tonight? I’m tired.”

  Preacher shook his head. “I have a few days before I start work, so I’ll keep them for the rest of the week, but we have to decide soon.”

  “Okay,” Tanya said. “Are you sleeping with me tonight?”

  “You know the answer to that, Tanya.”

  She brushed a kiss against his cheek as she walked past him. “Your loss,” she whispered, and then she picked up her shoes and headed up the stairs to her bedroom.

  Preacher dropped down in the chair she’d vacated. “Thank you, Lord,” he whispered. “Thank you, Lord.” As he continued to sit there, a thought occurred to him and he frowned. Hadn’t Tanya given in a bit too easily? He pushed the thought away with a shake of his head, deciding to trust that Tanya’s easy compliance was God at work.

  After Tanya headed to the salon the next morning, Preacher packed up the boys and got started on the full day ahead of them. First, they would head over to the church to meet with Barnard, maybe surprise Tanya by taking her out to lunch, and then meet with Luther later in the day about a business that he thought was a perfect fit for Preacher. After coming clean with Tanya last night, Preacher was again encouraged about the future. As he pulled into the church parking lot he still felt guilty for his sexual encounter with Tanya, but he tried not to let it consume him. Barnard pulled up next to him.

  “Morning, bro,” Barnard said to him, when they were out of their cars. Stooping down to the boys’ level, he asked, “And who are these young men?”

  Proudly, Preacher introduced his sons. Barnard extended a hand to each of them. “Hello, boys,” he said. “Your dad is a good friend of mine and he’s told me a lot of good things about you. I’m glad to finally get to meet you in person.” He looked up at Preacher. “They look exactly like you.”

  Preacher beamed, he couldn’t help himself. “They do, don’t they?”

  Barnard laughed as he stood up. “Proud papa, huh?”

  Preacher put a hand on each boy’s head. “Can’t help it, man.”

  “I understand fully,” Barnard said, with what Preacher thought was a tinge of sadness. Before he could pursue it, Barnard added, “I spoke with Natalie about watching the boys in the Children’s Center while we talk. If it’s okay with you, they can stay with her. The Center is around the corner from my office. We don’t have a school yet,” Barnard explained, “but we do have a preschool and daily child care.”

  Preacher and the boys fell into step with Barnard as he led them to the Children’s Center. “I didn’t know Natalie worked at the church.”

  “My sister is a busy woman,” Barnard said. “She works with the prison ministry and with the Children’s Center, but her real business is the health club she and Serena run together. She’s a volunteer in the Center and today happens to be one of the days she works.”

  “Lucky me,” Preacher said.

  Barnard chuckled. “Your boys are lucky. I hate to say this about my sister, but she’s a pushover where kids are concerned. Once she gets to talking with them and playing, she can’t seem to stop.”

  “I’m going to tell her you said that.”

  Barnard cut him a quick glance. “You wouldn’t dare. Besides, what I meant to say is that she loves kids and she’s really good with them.”

  Preacher laughed. He was still laughing when Barnard opened the door to the Children’s Center and Natalie greeted them. “What’s so funny?” she asked. Instead of waiting for an answer, she smiled down at the boys and introduced herself. They immediately took to her, or was it the lollipops she offered them? When she took them around the corner and the boys saw the other children and the toys, Preacher knew they’d be okay.

  “Would you boys like to stay here with me while your dad and Mister Barnard go have a talk?”

  The boys looked up at their father. “Can we, Dad? Can we?”

  Preacher smiled down at them. “If you promise to obey Miss Natalie.”

  “We promise,” both boys said.

  “Okay, then,” he said to them. Then he looked up at Natalie and added, “Thank you.”

  “No problem at all. You’ve got a couple of good ones here,” she said to him. She winked at the boys. “Come along,” she said, “let’s join the fun.”

  Preacher watched as his sons followed Natalie into the circle of children. She introduced them to each of the kids and then suggested they join the little boys playing with trucks.

  “You ready?” Barnard asked, forcing Preacher’s attention away from his boys.

  Preacher nodded and followed Barnard back to his office. After they were settled in chairs in front of Barnard’s desk, Barnard asked, “So how’s it going?”

  Preacher shrugged. “Things are going great, man. A glitch here, a glitch there, but overall I’m encouraged.”

  Barnard lifted a brow. “Glitch? What happened?”

  “What makes you think something happened?”

  “This is me you’re talking to, Preacher. I know you. So tell me.”

  “It’s Tanya,” Preacher finally said.

  “You slept with her.”

  Preacher jerked his eyes up to Barnard. “What makes you think that?”

  Barnard looked at him a long moment before asking, “Am I right?”

  Preacher nodded. “I don’t know how it happened, man.”

  “I don’t believe that,” Barnard said. “You were in prison for two years without a woman. I bet you can tell me very clearly what happened. Let’s not play games here, Preacher.”

  Preacher stood and shoved his hands into his pockets. “All right, man,” he said. “It happened. I let it happen. I wanted it to happen, and God help me, I enjoyed it. I thought I could handle it, her, myself, but I was wrong.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “Boy, was I wrong.”

  “Yeah, you were,” Barnard agreed.

  Preacher turned to look at his friend. “You don’t sound surprised.”

  Barnard shrugged. “I’m not.”

  Preacher sat back down. “Well, I am. I thought God could keep me safe. I thought I trusted Him more than I did.”

  Barnard shook his head. “Do you remember the story of Jesus going into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil?”

  Preacher nodded.

  “Well, one of the temptations was for Jesus to toss himself off a mountain to prove that God would send his angels to protect him. That’s sorta what you did.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “You deliberately put yourself in a situation with all sorts of potential for a bad outcome.”

  “No, I didn’t,” Preacher declared.

  “Come on, man, at least be honest. You’d been in prison for two years without a woman, and then you move back into the house with the woman who has shared your bed for more than six years and you tell yourself you’re not going to sleep with her. I don’t know what kind of dream world you w
ere living in. It was only a matter of time. Sure, God gives us an escape every time, but why put yourself in a situation that you know is so full of temptation? It didn’t make a lot of sense then and it doesn’t make a lot of sense now.”

  “Fine time to tell me,” Preacher said.

  “I tried to tell you before you left prison, but you weren’t hearing me. You had it all figured out.”

  “I wanted to be close to my boys,” Preacher said in his own defense.

  Barnard rested a hand on Preacher’s shoulder. “I know you did, man, and I’m not trying to beat you up about it. But I want you to be honest about what happened and why. If you’re not honest with yourself, it’s going to happen again and again.”

  Preacher closed his eyes as he accepted the truth of Barnard’s words. Yes, he could see it happening again. When he opened his eyes, he asked, “What makes you so smart?”

  “I figured out a long time ago that God treats all His children the same. If He’s a certain way with me, I figure He’s that way with you, too.”

  “But you’re married.”

  Barnard laughed. “Yes, I know.”

  “You know what I’m saying.”

  “I wasn’t always married,” he said, “and marriage doesn’t mean the bedroom problems go away.”

  Preacher didn’t want to hear that Barnard and Serena were having those kinds of problems. It seemed to add to his sin of omission to even probe, but it appeared Barnard wanted—needed—to talk about it. “You and Serena having problems?” Preacher asked, all the while praying the answer was no.

  “Let’s just say that things could be better.”

  “I’m sorry, man,” Preacher said. “I thought everything was great between you two. You seem so happy together.”

  “Looks can be deceiving.”

  Preacher didn’t know what to say. Given the huge secret that lay between him and Serena, how could things be great between them? Not knowing what else to do, he placed his hand on Barnard’s shoulder. “What can I do, man?” he asked.

  “Pray,” Barnard said. “Pray that my wife realizes how much I love her.”

  “I’ll pray,” Preacher said, feeling like a big hypocrite. His past with Serena loomed before him so large as to be suffocating. He wanted to unburden himself and tell Barnard the truth, but the truth wasn’t his alone to share. No, it was his and Serena’s. He sighed deeply. He’d tackled Tanya; now he had to tackle Serena. He didn’t look forward to it. “Let’s pray now,” Preacher said.

  Barnard lowered his head and began. “Father, we come to you in Jesus’ name, thanking you for the life you’ve given us and asking forgiveness for the many ways we’ve fallen short of what you want for us. I pray for my brother, Preacher, that you forgive him for his fall and show him how to live godly among Tanya and his boys. If it means moving out, Lord, please give him the courage to do so. Teach us to be grateful for what we have, even as we yearn for more. Take the desires that stem from what we want and turn them into desires for what you want for us. Help us, Lord, to see the difference. We love you, Lord, and we want to do your will. Guide us in your way. Amen.”

  Preacher cleared his throat, still not as comfortable praying aloud as Barnard was. “Father, I thank you for my brother, Barnard. I thank you for the example of a godly man He has been for me. I pray now for his marriage, Lord, knowing that you already recognize the need. I pray that you bind Barnard and Serena’s hearts even closer, that they might experience the full joy of marriage. I pray, too, Father, that one day Tanya and I can have a godly marriage. Help me to be a better example to her. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

  When Preacher opened his eyes and lifted his head, Barnard said, “We have to get Serena and Tanya together. I think Serena will be a good influence on her.”

  Preacher didn’t doubt that Serena could be a positive influence on Tanya, but he did doubt that his friend’s wife wanted to spend time with Preacher’s girlfriend. That was asking a bit too much. “I’m not too sure about that,” Preacher hedged. “Tanya’s not very open to things of God yet. I’m afraid she might feel she’s being cornered and I definitely don’t want that.”

  “If you say so, man. Then what about your sister? How are things on that front?”

  “Not much better.” He thought of Loretta’s penchant for revenge and Big Boy’s lack of progress in locating the guy G-Money said set him up. He certainly hoped Big Boy found the guy before Loretta did. Unfortunately, there was no way Preacher could share any of those happenings with Barnard.

  “Do you think Loretta would like to meet Natalie? They’re both single women, about the same age, accomplished. They might hit it off.”

  Again, Preacher wasn’t too sure, since Barnard wasn’t aware that Loretta was in the drug business. He’d met Natalie and liked her a lot. He didn’t want to chance putting her in an uncomfortable position with his sister. No, if the two women met, he’d have to warn Natalie of his sister’s business. It was the least he could do. “Let’s not rush it,” Preacher said. “I think they’re going to need some time.” And Preacher knew he needed some time to deal with the secrets that lay between him and Barnard.

  “All right, then. Just let me know when. By the way, what plans do you and your boys have for the day?”

  Preacher grinned. “We’re going to surprise Tanya and take her to lunch, and then I’m taking them with me when I meet Luther this afternoon.”

  “So Luther’s found something for you?”

  Preacher nodded. “A funeral home. He’s pretty excited about it but I’m not sure.” He shook his head. “A funeral home?”

  Barnard laughed. “Luther’s a wise man. Hear him out. He’s never steered me wrong. If he sees you in this business, I’d wager God wants you there. Keep your heart open.”

  “I’ll try, man.”

  “You’re taking the boys with you?”

  “No other choice. I promised Tanya I’d care for them this week, so that’s what I have to do.”

  Barnard stood. “Let’s talk to Natalie. She may be able to keep them this afternoon.”

  “I don’t want to put her out. She’s already helped me out by keeping them for this short time. The entire afternoon would be asking too much.”

  Barnard waved off his concern. “Don’t worry about it. If she can’t do it, she’ll tell us. Let’s go ask her.”

  Sitting in her lawyer’s office, Tanya thought about the lie she’d told to start the day. After having breakfast with Preacher and the boys, she’d headed off to work, or so she’d told Preacher. She’d gone to the salon, all right, but it wasn’t to work; it was to make a few phone calls. She wasn’t as stupid as her mother, Loretta, and Preacher thought she was. And one day soon they’d find out. Two hours later, here she was, seated in her lawyer’s office, listening to the options that lay before her.

  “He has no legal claim on any of your assets,” Allan Richards explained. “He’d only have a claim if he gets custody of the kids, which is highly unlikely given his criminal record and probation status. I don’t see any court awarding him full custody.”

  “You’re sure? He can’t touch my money?”

  Allan shook his head. “The only money he can touch is the account with his name on it. The other accounts are untouchable. You took my advice and moved your accounts to a different bank, so I’m assuming you also kept this information from him.”

  Tanya nodded. Her mother would be proud of the way she’d schemed against Preacher while he was in prison. That is, if Tanya would tell her, which she wouldn’t. She had plans for her mother, too. “What about the house in Decatur and the salons?”

  “Preacher has no claim on them, either. The house in Decatur is yours, your salon is yours, and you have a fifty-one percent interest in the salon your mother owns.” He closed the folder in front of him. “Why are you asking me these questions, Tanya? We’ve gone over all of this before.”

  Ignoring him, Tanya asked, “What if Preacher bought into a new business. Would I have any c
laim on that?”

  “It depends on how he finances it and how he sets it up. If he uses funds from your joint account, you might have some legal standing. Of course, it would be better if you or your boys were listed as co-owners. Then again, as long as you have custody of the boys, there’s not much Preacher’s going to get that’s not going to come through your hands first. The child support laws in Georgia are clear. So what’s this about, Tanya?”

  “Just double-checking my options,” she said.

  “You have more options than Preacher’s leavings. I hope you know that.”

  Tanya wanted badly to roll her eyes, but she fought the desire. She’d met Allan at some party. He’d pursued her, but she hadn’t thought much of it, since men always pursued her. She enjoyed the game, but she hadn’t really been interested. In fact, she hadn’t really thought that much about him until one of her girlfriends told her he was a hotshot family law attorney. After that, she’d begun to give him enough attention to make him think there might someday be a chance for the two of them. “Preacher is the father of my kids,” she reminded him, as she always did, when he pushed for more of a relationship with her. “I have to think of my boys.”

  “Your concern for your children is admirable, Tanya, but you have to think about yourself. I know your children’s happiness is your primary concern, but you have to know that kids are happiest when their parents are happy.”

  “I know that, Allan,” she said, “but it’s hard, especially now that Preacher’s back. The boys love him so much. I can’t bear to separate them. Not now.”

  “But soon?”

  She nodded, hating that begging tone in his voice. “I’m making sure that everything is ready when I make that decision.”

  “Are you sleeping with him?” Allan asked.

  Like it was his business, Tanya thought. “Of course not,” she lied. “I told you I’m not interested in him that way. I’m only there for my boys. Preacher understands and accepts the boundaries of our relationship.”

  “You’re a beautiful woman, Tanya,” he said. “Preacher would have to be crazy not to be attracted to you.”