She Who Finds a Husband

by E. N. Joy

  Deborah couldn’t get past Helen insinuating that she was trash. “I’m sure a man like Lynox Chase can get any woman he wants, but rest assured, sweetheart, I am not that woman.” Although it really wasn’t necessary, once again Deborah wanted to fight fire with fire, and she did so by saying, “And I don’t know when he has the time to ring your phone when he’s constantly ringing mine.”

  “You trying to say I’m lying?” Helen said, pulling out her cell phone. She pushed a couple of buttons. She’d saved Lynox’s number from the day he’d called her during the Singles Ministry meeting. She called herself pulling it up on her screen to tease Deborah. She held the phone up in Deborah’s face.

  Deborah’s mouth dropped when she viewed the screen of Helen’s phone. “So you’re the one?”

  “That’s right. I’m the one standing in the way of you and Mr. Chase. But don’t worry, honey. I don’t want him anymore. You can have him. And when you’re finished with him, I’m sure you’ll throw him out too.” A mischievous grin covered Helen’s face. “After all, you know how we like to throw things out.” A shrieking laugh escaped Helen’s lips.

  Deborah just continued staring at the cell phone screen, shaking her head. After a couple more seconds, she shoved Helen out of the way and stormed out of the conference room.

  “I got the victor-victor-victory,” Helen sang as she watched Deborah go storming out of the church. She’d expected to get a reaction from Deborah when she flashed Lynox’s number on her phone, even though the message he’d left that evening was one last attempt to tell Helen that there was nothing between them, and to apologize if he had led her to believe there ever could be. But Deborah didn’t have to know all that. Once again, Helen felt just showing Deborah proof that Lynox was still ringing her phone was enough, although she hadn’t expected such a dramatic reaction.

  Helen turned her phone back to her in order to put it back on its regular screen. That’s when she realized why Deborah had reacted the way she had. With what Deborah had just seen on her phone, Helen knew she had to hurry up and think fast, or everything could blow up in her face.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “I didn’t see you in church this Sunday,” Deborah said to Tamarra. “See, you’re not the only one who can do drive-bys.” Deborah smiled at Tamarra, then invited her into her humble abode.

  “I’m not even going to lie to you and make up any excuses,” Tamarra said, flopping down on her couch, wearing a night robe and scarf tied around her head. “I had absolutely no desire to be up in that place today at all.”

  Tamarra had a feeling someone was going to do a drive-by when she was a no-show at church today. Typically, Paige probably would have been right there on her doorstep too, but she had no idea that her best friend hadn’t shown up for worship because she hadn’t even been in church today. Today was one of those rare occasions where Paige had to go in to work. She’d made it a point to inform her superiors prior to their giving her a promotion that working on Sundays was out of the question. They honored Paige’s wishes as best they could, but there were rare occasions, like today, when it was mandatory for her to be there.

  “And to be even more truthful, I don’t know if you’ll see me up in that place next Sunday, or the Sunday after that either,” Tamarra told Deborah. “The drama is just too much.”

  “Tamarra, don’t say that.” Deborah sat down next to her. “Don’t even speak those words into the atmosphere for the devil to hear. That rascal will do every trick under the sun to make sure you keep good on that word.”

  “I can’t help it. That’s just how I’m feeling.”

  “Look, I know the whole thing with the pictures of you and Maeyl and the rumors and stuff are getting to you, but it soon shall pass. Troubles don’t last always.”

  “But those pictures will. And so will the rumors and the lies.” Tamarra beat her fist down on the couch. “And the hurt and the pain.”

  “Don’t let church folks get to you. Don’t let the people run you off. And don’t hold the church accountable for the people inside of it. Remember, you’re there for one thing; and that’s to worship God.” As the words spilled out of her mouth, Deborah knew that the message God was allowing to flow through her to give to Tamarra was for the messenger first. She, too, needed to take heed to those very words.

  “It’s not the people, Sister Deborah.” Tamarra turned to look at her. “Not all of them, anyway. Just one to be specific.” Tamarra shook her head. “I’m not really hurt about some of those diva-fied busy bodies up in New Day. It’s Maeyl. I really wanted for him to be the one; not the one to hurt me.”

  “And he could be the one,” Deborah assured her, resting her hand on her knee.

  “Oh, no.” Tamarra quickly stood up. “There is no way on God’s green earth the good Lord would send someone to hurt me so bad, not twice. My ex did a good job of that himself. I didn’t need Maeyl to pour salt in the wound. I mean, what could he have been thinking? I know he might have meant well, seizing the opportunity to let the world know he was kickin’ it with a fine sista such as myself.” Tamarra forced out a little joke to cover up her pain.

  “Diva-fied,” Deborah said. “Sounds to me like I’m sitting in the living room of a diva.”

  “Girl, I know . . . I’m just joking.” Tamarra sat back down next to Deborah. “Trying to laugh to keep from crying. But I just don’t understand what good Maeyl thought could possibly come out of posting those pictures of us on the church Web site. And on top of that, lying about it, saying that he’s not the one who did it.”

  Just then, Deborah remembered the other reason why she was there. Not only to check in on Tamarra for not showing up at church, but to share with her the information she had regarding the pictures; information that initially she wasn’t even going to tell Tamarra.

  “About those pictures.” Deborah stood up. “I know how they ended up on the church Web site, and I’m almost certain Maeyl didn’t have anything to do with it at all.”

  Tamarra was all ears as she stood up as well. “Wha . . . what do you mean?” The thought that Tamarra had once again jumped to conclusions and shut Maeyl off for no good cause began to tug at her belly.

  “I had a meeting with one of the members of the New Day congregation. She attended one of our singles meetings for the first time this past month and wanted to learn a little bit more about the ministry before officially joining. Mother Doreen was supposed to meet with her, but as you might know, she had to go back to Kentucky to see about her sick sister.” Deborah paused.

  “Yeah, but what does any of this have to do with me and Maeyl?” The anxiousness could be heard in Tamarra’s voice.

  “Well, during my meeting with the person, she accidentally showed me a display on her cell phone. I’m sure it wasn’t the display she intended on showing me, but nonetheless, there it was, a picture of you and Maeyl. At first I thought, okay, maybe she just downloaded the picture from the Web site to her phone, but then I realized that it wasn’t one of the pictures that was posted. But it was still you and Maeyl, nonetheless.”

  “But how can you be so sure she’s the one who took the pictures?”

  “Where else would she have gotten that picture? Besides, her character is a dead give-away. I have somewhat of a history with this woman. She has evil ways. I don’t know, she could have even been trying to get to me by hurting my friends. Or maybe she’s just trouble with a capital ‘T’. I personally think she has some underlying issues.” Deborah thought for a moment. “As a matter of fact, I know she has some underlying issues. She probably can’t forgive herself about something, so she’s taking it out on the world; on anyone who crosses her path.”

  “You sound like you know an awful lot about this person. Who is she?”

  “Remember the woman who came into the last meeting late? Sister Helen?”

  Tamarra thought for a minute. “Oh yeah. She’s been attending New Day for a minute.”

  “Well, she’s the one.”

&
nbsp; “But why? I don’t understand. I’ve never said two words to that woman before,” Tamarra pondered. Her emotions were that of confusion and curiosity. She had no idea why someone would do something so low. But then her emotions turned to anger. “I’ve got two words for her now though. Just wait until I confront Miss Thing and tell her a thing or two about herself. How she has perhaps destroyed the chances of me ever having a relationship with the man I love.” Tamarra paused. Had she heard herself correctly? Had she just confessed her love for Maeyl? Not spending too much time on that thought, her anger arose once again. “I’m going to go slip something on, and then we’re going to go hunt down Miss Helen.” Tamarra began to untie her robe as she headed for her back bedroom.

  “Wait! Tamarra, this has to be done decently and in order.”

  “I know,” Tamarra agreed, still storming down her hallway. “I’m about to go get myself decent, so we can go bring some order to that crazy, deranged mind of hers.”

  “That’s not what I mean, Tamarra.” Deborah made her way toward Tamarra. “We can’t operate off of our emotions and flesh. We have to address this situation correctly.” Deborah studied Tamarra’s facial expression to see if her words were sinking in. They appeared to be. “With the way you are feeling right now, how can you possibly hear from the Holy Sprit over your loud and boisterous flesh?”

  Tamarra’s shoulders slumped as she released some tension. “I suppose you’re right. But Deborah, if you think I can just sit back and—”

  “Turn the other cheek like the Bible says,” Deborah finished her sentence.

  “Let this go,” Tamarra finished her own sentence. “I can’t.”

  “I’m not asking you to let this go. I’m just asking you to let God. Let God guide you. First and foremost, I know we need to share it with Pastor. The church may have some type of procedure in place to deal with things like this; people like this. We don’t know. So let’s go to the shepherd of the house and see what Pastor has to say. Amen?”

  Tamarra hesitated, but then reluctantly said, “Amen.”

  It was as if Deborah could breathe again. “Thank God. Because I haven’t fought since Big Belina in eighth grade. And even then she kicked my butt. I did not want to have to have your back and chance another beat down.”

  The women erupted in laughter and embraced.

  “Girl, you got my back in more ways than one. You just helped me to upper cut the devil and knock his tail right out.” Tamarra pretended to be upper cutting an opponent in the boxing ring.

  “Now that’s the kind of fighting I can do,” Deborah said as she shouted, “Praise God! Jab.”

  “Hallelujah. Low blow!”

  “Worthy is the Lamb! Left jab.”

  The two women danced around the hallway punching the air and fighting the devil with their praise. Throwing blow after blow until they were confident that Satan was flat on his back and they could declare the victory.

  After Deborah and Tamarra finished up their bout with the devil, they decided to go grab something to eat, since they’d both worked up an appetite. Tamarra was following Deborah in her car, as after their meal, she had some business to take care of.

  Deborah led the way to the restaurant they’d decided upon, feeling as though she’d just defeated the heavy weight champion of the world. She was on cloud nine.

  Ever since seeing that picture of Tamarra and Maeyl on Helen’s cell phone, Deborah had thought long and hard about whether to share it with Tamarra. She knew what ratting Helen out could mean. It could mean payback on Helen’s part. But Deborah had prayed on it, and in her spirit, she knew she couldn’t just sit by and let someone sabotage the people at her place of worship, even if it meant sacrificing herself. So she made it up in her mind that she’d tell Tamarra what she knew at church on Sunday, then ultimately they’d have to take it to the pastor.

  When Deborah didn’t see Tamarra at church on Sunday, she suspected why. She, herself, had allowed people to keep her from the temple not too many Sundays ago. She knew she had to go see about Tamarra the same way Tamarra had come to see about her. On the way to Tamarra’s house she’d prayed the entire time, non-stop, not allowing the devil any room to talk her out of doing what she knew was right.

  As Deborah drove toward the restaurant, she felt relieved, in spite of what Helen might do once she and Tamarra took the incident to the pastor. “Hopefully she’ll run back to the pits of hell where she belongs.” Deborah chuckled out loud before repenting.

  Meanwhile, following close behind Deborah, Tamarra was in total bliss as well. She was thankful the truth had been revealed, not just about who had posted the pictures to the church Web site, but the truth about her feelings for Maeyl. She couldn’t wait to get to his apartment after she and Deborah ate. Prayerfully, he could find it in his heart, once again, to forgive her.

  Tamarra began to dig down in her purse when she heard her cell phone ringing. Without bothering looking at the caller ID, she answered. “Hello.”

  “Tamarra, honey, it’s me, Mama.”

  “Hello, Mom,” Tamarra said cheerfully. Not even a phone call from her mother could steal her joy today. “How are you today?”

  “I’m doing good, sweetheart,” her mother said, surprised at how courteous her daughter was being. Usually she had to press to get words out of her daughter’s mouth, and when she did, they weren’t always words spoken so kindly and gently. “You sound good today.”

  “Mother, I am good today, because God is good.”

  “Well, I’m glad to hear that. I need to talk to you about something. Maybe that God of yours has softened your heart enough to receive it. I need to talk to you about your brother.” The line was silent with the exception of a far off crashing sound and brakes screeching, followed by a loud scream. “Tamarra? Tamarra, honey, are you all right? Tamarra, say something. Say something, please,” her mother cried into the phone until it went dead.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “Doctor, is she going to be okay?” Tamarra asked in a panicked voice. “I mean, we had just left my house not five minutes before it happened. I was following her, then all of a sudden she just went off the road. I slammed on my breaks and just screamed.”

  “Tamarra!” she heard someone yell out, then turned to see the face of the first person she thought to call. “How is she?”

  “Oh, Maeyl, I don’t know,” Tamarra replied. “The doctor was just about to update me on her condition.” Tamarra turned her attention back to the doctor. “I’m sorry, Doctor, this is a brother from church.” The doctor shook Maeyl’s hand. “You were saying, Doctor?”

  “Well, like I was saying, Miss Lucas appears to be fine. She’s lucky that the ambulance that brought her here was on route back to the hospital when the driver saw Miss Lucas’s car veer off the road and into the ditch.”

  “I know, and I was in such a panic, I couldn’t be any help to them. They ended up taking me back to my car just to get my praying, hooping and hollering self out of their way.”

  “Well, I’m glad you calmed down enough to be able to make it here to see about your friend. Anyway, besides a knot on her forehead and a busted lip, she looked fine. But the EMTs on the scene made the call to bring her in to X-ray the knot just to be on the safe side.”

  “And the knot?” Tamarra asked. “Is it serious? Does she have a concussion or anything?”

  “Oh, no. Everything is fine. It’s nothing a Ziploc bag of ice can’t take care of. So in short, Miss Lucas is going to be fine.”

  “Thank you, Jesus!” Tamarra let out the breath she’d been holding for the last forty-five minutes and collapsed into Maeyl’s arms. “Praise God.”

  “I do have some bad news though,” the doctor added.

  “What it is, Doctor?” Tamarra asked.

  “Unfortunately, the squirrel she was trying to dodge didn’t make it.” The doctor winked, and then walked off after telling Tamarra that her friend was being discharged and should be out in about a half hour.

&
nbsp; “God’s grace and mercy is so sufficient. Yes, it is,” Tamarra declared as Maeyl escorted her over to a chair in the waiting area. He then sat down next to her. “Thank you so much for coming.”

  “No problem. I called Pastor like you asked me to. As a matter of fact, I should call back since Deborah is already being discharged. No need in Pastor wasting gas to come up to the hospital.” Maeyl placed the quick phone call, and then hung up the phone. “I tell you, I was scared to death when you first called me. All I heard were the words ‘car accident,’ ‘Mount Carmel’ Hospital, and ‘come now.’ I’m glad you called me back to let me know what was going on once you’d settled down. Until you did, I thought you had been the one in the accident.”

  “I was just so freaked out. I mean, she’d just left my house where we had been shouting and praising the Lord. I guess when praises go up, blessings do come down. Because it is a true blessing that she’s okay.”

  “Well, I’m glad you got your praise on today after all, seeing that you weren’t in church.”

  “Yeah, well, about that,” Tamarra started, searching for the right words. “Maeyl, can I talk to you?”

  “I think we do need to talk.”

  “I know you’re probably starting to think that my first name is ‘I’m’ and last name ‘Sorry.’ But once again I have to humble myself and apologize for my behavior, when I stormed out of your living room without explanation. And then avoided your calls like the plague. I’ve really been acting like a part-time Christian lately.”

  “You’ve got that right.”

  Tamarra was shocked at Maeyl’s stern response. But she knew his statement was nothing but more confirmation of what she already knew.

  “And I’m sorry for that. It’s just that when you had me check your cell phone to see if that was Pastor’s call you had missed, I pushed a couple of buttons trying to clear the screen, and that picture of us that was on the Web site was on your phone. My mind started thinking up all kinds of things. I honestly thought without a doubt that you were the one who had posted the pictures. But then Sister Deborah came to my house today and shared with me that she’d found out the true culprit. You don’t know how awful I felt.”