Barnard didn’t look like he believed her, but thankfully he left the topic alone. “I invited him and his fiancée to dinner.”
Serena sucked in her breath, almost choking on her egg roll.
“But Preacher declined the offer.”
Serena breathed a sigh of relief before taking another bite of her egg roll.
“Something tells me you could be a positive influence on her. Any chance of your dropping by her salon and introducing yourself? Nothing formal, no pressure. Just extend the hand of friendship.”
No, Serena thought, there was no way she could do that. “If Preacher wants us to leave her alone, I think we should honor his wishes. No use making Tanya even more uncomfortable with his newly found faith.”
Barnard popped the tab on one of the cans of diet soda he’d brought. “I don’t see how offering friendship can hurt. Preacher is keeping his family too close to him. He needs to let them interact with other Christians so they’ll know what Preacher’s gotten himself into. Take today for instance. He brought his boys with him to the church, and they spent the morning with Natalie and the other kids in the Children’s Center. In fact, they’re still there and they’re having a ball. Until today, I don’t think it ever occurred to Preacher that he could put his kids in day care right there at the church. You know as well as I do that it’s the services that first bring many people to church. It could work that way with Preacher and his family if he’d allow more interaction.”
Serena knew Barnard was right, and if they were talking about anybody but Preacher she’d be hustling herself right over to Tanya’s shop. But given the circumstances, she wasn’t sure she could pull it off. “What you’re saying makes sense, Barnard. Why don’t we pray about it and see where the Lord leads. Maybe Preacher will make a move and we won’t have to.”
“Okay,” Barnard said, “but we can’t just let this hang. Preacher needs our help with his family even if he doesn’t realize it yet.”
Serena nodded. Preacher wasn’t the only one who needed help.
Luther, Preacher, and George, a man about Luther’s age who was one of the funeral home caretakers, finished their tour of the facilities in about an hour’s time. Preacher had no idea of all that went into running the place. While he still wasn’t sure if he wanted his life’s work to be managing a funeral home, he now had a greater appreciation for the work they did.
“So what do you think?” Luther asked him when they entered the office that Luther had commandeered for himself after purchasing the place a few months back. Apparently, the owner had only sold because his son had no intention of continuing the family business. The way Preacher understood it, the old man was still pretty angry with his son for turning his back on his inheritance.
“It’s more interesting than I thought it would be.”
Luther chuckled. “I know what you mean. I never thought I’d be into funeral homes, either, but there is a lot of potential here. I’ll be honest with you, I have some other businesses you might think you’d like better, but this is the one the Lord has put on my heart for you.” He lifted his palm when Preacher tried to interrupt. “Before you say anything, I’m not so arrogant that I think the Lord will put it on my heart and not put it on yours as well. That’s why I brought you down here today. I wanted you to see the place, begin to get a feel for it and the people. This is the kind of place that would allow you to dig deep roots into the community, Preacher. Funeral homes have always been, and I believe the good ones will continue to be, a cornerstone of the African American community. These guys perform a service and touch a family in a way that few businesses do. Just think about it.”
“I will,” Preacher said. “When do I need to make a decision?”
Luther leaned back in his chair. “I’d like to know in a day or so. If you want to give it a try for, say, six months, we can start next week. If you’re not interested, we can start looking at other options. How does that sound?”
Preacher nodded. “I can work with that.”
“Good,” Luther said. He pulled a green folder out of the middle desk drawer. “I had this packet put together for you. It gives you some information on the formal training you need for the mortuary business. Yes, you have to be licensed and to get a license you have to have formal college preparation.” He pushed the folder toward Preacher. “It’s all in there. Take a look at it and we can talk more when we meet again.”
Preacher picked up the folder, opened it, and skimmed its contents. This folder represented his future and the future of his family. He thanked God he’d taken those classes while he was in prison. Otherwise, the idea of going to college would be more daunting than it was. “I’ll give it some serious consideration.”
“That’s all I ask,” Luther said, standing up. “If you have any questions, give me a ring. Anytime. Also, if you want to drop by again between now and next week, you’re free to do that, too. I’ll let George know to give you the run of the place when you’re here. Sound good?”
Nodding, Preacher took the hand that was offered him. “Thanks again, Luther. I appreciate the way you’ve extended yourself to me and the genuine concern you’ve shown for my future.”
“You’re welcome,” Luther said, “but don’t thank me. Thank God. He’s watching over both of us.”
“Well,” Preacher said. “I thank God for you. How’s that?”
“Sounds good to me.”
With that, the men said their farewells and Preacher left the office. As he strolled to his car, it settled in his spirit that he would try the funeral home for six months the way Luther had suggested. He had nothing to lose by doing so, and if Luther was right about God’s hand in this, Preacher didn’t want to miss out on a blessing.
“Hey, Preacher, hold up.”
Preacher turned at the sound of his name and saw a young man about nineteen or twenty jogging toward him.
“It is you,” the boy said when he reached Preacher. “I didn’t know whether to believe George or not when he told me you were here.”
Preacher searched his mind but couldn’t place the young man. “And you are?” he asked.
“I’m Patrick Owens,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you and I wanted you to know that if you need anything, I’m your man. I’ve always admired you and the way you handled your business, man, and I want to run with somebody like you, somebody who knows what’s what.”
Preacher stared at the boy for a long second, but the boy didn’t back down. “You know I just got out of prison, right?”
The boy nodded. “It’s cool, man. You did two easy. And kept your business running all the while. You’re the man, Preacher.”
Preacher shook his head. “I’m no longer in the business,” he said. “I’ve left the life.”
The boy took a sly glance around. “I know you have to lay low while you’re on probation. That’s why I wanted you to know that I’m your man. Anything you need done, I’ll do. I’ll take the risk for you, man. You won’t get sent back up if I’m around. I’ll take the fall for you.”
Preacher’s heart ached at the young man’s words. This was a line he’d been given many times before and what made it sadder was that it wasn’t a line. This young man was ready and willing to turn his life over to Preacher to do whatever he wanted with it. There’d been a time when he’d welcomed this blind loyalty, required it even. Knowing there was no use trying to make this kid believe he was no longer in the business, Preacher asked him, “You work here?”
“Off and on,” he said. “One time I thought we were going to be doing business here, but it didn’t work out. The old man wouldn’t go for it, but now that you’re here, we could turn that around. Make this place a distribution and drop center. Do a lot of business. The police would never suspect.”
Preacher shook his head. “No business will be done out of here,” he stated. “None. Do you hear me?”
“I hear you, man, I was just saying—”
“I know what you’re saying and I w
ant to be clear. You tell everybody who asks exactly what I told you. No business will be done here. Got that?”
The boy practically stood at attention. “I got it,” he said. “Whatever you say. I’m with you however you want to roll.”
What Preacher wanted to do was roll this boy upside his head, but he knew it would do no good. “Well, right now, I’m rolling home and you ought to roll home, too. You want to hang with me, you have to keep yourself out of trouble. You got that?”
“Got it.”
“Good.”
Preacher turned to get in his car. “When you coming back?” the boy asked.
Preacher looked over his shoulder. He didn’t have much experience in signs, but he knew that meeting this boy was one. “Tomorrow,” he told the teen. “I’ll be back tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 12
Preacher hoped against hope that Barnard was still at the church when he returned there after leaving the funeral home. He wanted to share his excitement about the sign he’d received from God and his resulting enthusiasm about the funeral home gig. He made a beeline to Barnard’s office, even before stopping to check in on his kids. That’s how eager he was to share his news. Disappointment reigned when he found Barnard’s office door closed and he got no response to his knock.
“Man,” he said in frustration.
“Something wrong?” Natalie said from behind him.
He turned to her. “Nah, nothing’s wrong. In fact, I wanted to talk to Barnard because something is so very right. It’s news he’d appreciate.”
She smiled at him. “Well, I’m not Barnard, but I like good news as well as he does. How about telling me instead?”
Preacher hesitated for a moment, not really sure of the reason for his reluctance. He brushed off his concern and said, “I think I had a sign from God today.”
Natalie tugged on Preacher’s hand. “I want details,” she told him as she led him to a small room directly to the left of the Children’s Center. “Lots of details.”
As they passed the Center, he waved in the direction of his sons, who were actively engaged in serious play, but he didn’t even get a notice from them. “Guess they’re okay without me,” he murmured.
Natalie finally got him to a chair and pushed him down in it before sitting herself down in one facing his. “They’re fine. Now tell me about this sign of yours.”
Preacher began to laugh, a full belly laugh, the first he’d had with an adult in as long as he could remember. Natalie’s enthusiasm was refreshing and freeing.
“What’s so funny?” she asked. “Was the sign funny?”
Preacher laughed harder, and then forced himself to sober a bit. “You’re wonderful. Do you know that? You’re absolutely wonderful. Your response to my news couldn’t have been better if I’d asked God to plan it for me.”
Her smile told him that she understood. “Sometimes we don’t have to ask. He just answers. That’s the kind of guy He is.”
“You’re right,” he said. “You’re so very right.”
Natalie slid toward the edge of her chair. “Now gimme those details before I have to hurt you.”
Preacher forced himself not to give in to a fresh bout of laughter. Instead he told Natalie about Luther, the funeral home, and Patrick, the teenaged boy he’d met there. “As that kid was talking to me, Natalie,” he said, hearing the awe in his own voice, “I knew, I just knew the funeral home was the place God wanted me to be. I was going to give it a try anyway because Luther was so sure it was right for me, but I didn’t have to go on Luther’s word. God let me know directly.”
Natalie placed a hand on his. “I’m so happy for you, Preacher.”
“Then you think it was a sign, too?”
Natalie nodded. “I think God gives us physical assurances sometimes, and this was one He gave you. He won’t always be as blatant as He was this time, but you’ll still be sure it’s Him. He has that way about Him. We really do learn to hear His voice.”
Now instead of laughing Preacher felt like crying. Tears of joy were building behind his eyes but the man in him forced them back. He couldn’t sit there crying like a baby in front of Natalie, could he?
She patted his hand. “It’s okay, Preacher. I’ve never thought tears meant weakness in a man. Actually, I think it shows strength and depth of character for a man to shed tears of joy at what God is doing in His life.”
Preacher laid his hand atop hers and they shared a smile. “You know,” he said, “I’ve often wondered, why me? Why did God choose for Barnard’s path to cross with mine and why was I ready to hear what he had to say? There are better men than me that God could use, men who have done far less damage to others than I’ve done. So why me?”
Natalie moved her hand and cupped his chin with it. Looking directly into his eyes, she said, “There’s no use asking yourself those questions, Preacher. God chose you because He loves you. He chooses us all because He loves us. It’s just that some of us are ready to follow Him and others of us aren’t. But make no mistake about it, He’s always there choosing.”
Preacher placed his hand on top of hers again. “Thanks for reminding me, Natalie. I’m glad you were here today.”
She slid back in her chair and he allowed her hand to fall from his face. “I’m glad I was here, too. I get encouragement from hearing what God is doing in other people’s lives. Those things remind me that He can work through the trials in my life as well.”
“I doubt you even have trials.”
She glanced away. “We all have trials, Preacher, and we will as long as we’re alive.”
Preacher leaned forward and turned her face to his. “I didn’t mean to make you sad or discount what you go through.”
She shook her head. “I’m not sad,” she said, but he didn’t fully believe her. “Not now. I’m coming out of a bad time and into a good one. I’m seeing hopeful possibilities again. That’s a good thing for me. For a while there, I was afraid to even think about possibilities.”
Preacher grinned at her. “Something tells me this good thing has to do with your friend that I met on Sunday.”
To his joy, she blushed. “Am I that transparent?”
He shrugged. “It looked serious. On both sides.”
“Dante’s genuine. With him, what you see is what you get. I like that,” she said. “It’s what I like about you as well.”
He lifted a brow at those words.
She chuckled. “Okay, maybe I draw conclusions about people a bit quickly. But it’s true, I do get that vibe from you, that you’re not trying to be anything but what you are—a loving parent and husband-to-be, and a man who’s truly trying to serve the Lord with his all.”
Preacher pushed away thoughts of the contradictions in his life. The way Natalie saw him was the way he wanted to be deep in his heart. He wished Tanya saw him the way that Natalie did. A man could go far with that kind of faith by his side. “I’m trying,” he said.
“And you’ll be successful,” she said. “With God’s help we both will.”
He squeezed her hand. “From your mouth to God’s ears.”
There was a relaxed shared silence between them that had Preacher feeling he’d known her for a very long time. It was similar to the feeling he had about Barnard, but different.
“Your boys have had a great time here today,” Natalie said, breaking the silence. “Why don’t you bring them back tomorrow, or better yet, enroll them for the summer? They’ll enjoy themselves and be introduced to some basic Christian teachings at the same time.”
“I like the idea,” he said, “and I’ll talk to Tanya about it tonight.”
She nodded. “Why not bring her over and let her see for herself? Once she meets the staff and sees how much the children enjoy themselves, she’ll be sold. I know she will.”
Preacher couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face. “Are you always this positive?”
“Only when I know I’m right.” She winked. “And that’s most of the time.�
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Preacher laughed. “That guy of yours is one lucky dude. I hope he knows what a gem he has in you.”
“I think he does,” Natalie said confidently. “And I know what a gem I have in him. It goes both ways, which makes it all the better.”
“Don’t I know it,” Preacher said, thinking about his relationship with Tanya. The two of them had a long way to go to reach the level of mutual respect Natalie apparently shared with her guy.
Natalie stood and drew Preacher up with her. “Bring Tanya by the Center tomorrow,” she said, as if she knew his thoughts. “Your kids will make friends and through them, you and Tanya will make friends with other couples in the church.” When he didn’t immediately respond, she said, “It’s a start, Preacher, and you have to start somewhere. Now let’s go get your boys. I have a feeling they’re going to want to extend their time here.”
“And that’s bad?”
Natalie chuckled. “Actually, it’s funny. Some of my best laughs have come from watching parents trying to drag their kids away from here.”
Natalie had been right and Preacher had the headache to prove it. He also had a greater appreciation for the staff at the Children’s Center. Not only had his boys begged to stay longer, their new friends had joined in with them. That was too much noise for any one man, so naturally he’d given in to their wishes. The upside was now the boys were tuckered out and getting them down for a nap after they’d gotten home had been pretty easy. He wouldn’t let them sleep too long though, or he’d be up all night with them. Ah, the joys of parenting.
He was about to start worrying about Tanya’s whereabouts and what he was going to do about dinner when he heard her car pull into the garage. She breezed into the house, kissed him full on the lips, and then stepped back and said, “I heard you came by the shop today to take me to lunch. What a nice idea! You should have called first though. I had a meeting over at Bronner Brothers.”
“Bronner Brothers, huh?” Preacher didn’t really believe Tanya had a meeting at Bronner Brothers, one of her hair product suppliers, but he decided not to challenge her on it. Besides, he could be wrong. Maybe Wanda was right and Tanya had grown more responsible while he was away. Maybe, but he doubted it. His instincts told him she’d spent the time shopping or out gossiping with her girlfriends. “Well, I hope the meeting went well.”
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