God Has Spoken

by Theresa A. Campbell

“Hopefully dead,” Big Dread said with a smirk on his face. “She would be doing the world a favor.”

  Eleanor looked at him in shock. “Did you hurt her?” She had a terrible feeling in her gut. “Did you kill Dolly?” Her eyes pleaded with him to say it wasn’t so.

  Big Dread threw his head back, his dirty, long, thick dreads fanning out behind him and hooted with laughter.

  Eleanor looked around self-consciously as a few passersby stared at them. “Where is Dolly?’ she asked again, watching as Big Dread tried to compose himself, wiping his face with a stained, brown-looking face rag that had been white at one time.

  “That old jezebel is probably somewhere selling her body so she can get high,” Big Dread said without remorse, his face screwed up like he smelled something bad.

  “Wha . . . wha . . . What did you just say?” Eleanor stuttered, tears swimming in her eyes as she listened to Dolly’s demise. “Dolly is a prostitute?” She shook her head in denial, glaring at Big Dread. “No way. I bet Dolly left you, and you are just jealous,” she said.

  Big Dread chuckled and stared at Eleanor as if she was as stupid as a goose. “Do you really think stripping was all that Dolly was doing?” He emphasized the word “stripping.” “Baby, Big Dread had to get that money and you better believe that heifer did whatever I told her to.” His lips rolled back, exposing his long, yellow teeth.

  “You are evil.” Eleanor felt like she wanted to throw up. “One day you are going to get yours. You mark my words. God is going to deal with you in His own way.”

  Big Dread laughed out loud like he was at a comedy show. “Look at you talking about God,” he said to Eleanor. “Big Dread fears no one. No man. No God.”

  Eleanor cut her eyes at the fool. It was time to go.

  “By the way, now that Dolly was let go, Big Dread is looking for a new queen,” he said, his eyebrows rising and falling as he winked at Eleanor. “You and Big Dread can make it happen, baby.” He struck a pose; legs wide apart, his bulky arms across his broad chest. His head was pushed a little back, his left hand under his chin, a nasty-looking smile plastered on his face. A real candid moment.

  Eleanor looked at him in disgust. “Ridiculous,” she said aloud and hurriedly walked away.

  “Yo! Little! Where you going?” Big Dread shouted at her back. “Baby, come back here to Big Dread.”

  Eleanor walked even faster, her heart aching with the news she received of Dolly. Images of when they were young in Falmouth, drinking rum and smoking marijuana popped up in her thoughts. She saw Dolly as she laughed so carefree, making plans for a fairy-tale life in Kingston, which was never to be.

  Yes, in the end, Dolly had turned her back on Eleanor for a man that she now learned was pimping her out, leaving her out on the streets, exposed to all kinds of danger. Eleanor was angry for a long time as she ate scraps of leftovers she snatched from restaurants or found in the garbage. She was furious with Dolly when she slept in the old abandoned car. But look at her now. It was as if Dolly actually did her a favor.

  “Merciful God, wherever Dolly is right now, please protect her,” Eleanor prayed under her breath as she sat on the bus heading home. “Please do for her as you are doing for me.” She quickly used her hand to wipe away the tears that sneaked out the side of her eyes. “Please send Dolly a guardian angel to rescue her from the streets as you did for me. She is your daughter. Please don’t forsake her, Lord. Please, I am begging you to save Dolly and give her a chance to live a happy and fulfilling life according to your will. Amen.”

  Eleanor got off the bus, dragged her feet down the street, then up the driveway and into the house.

  “So? Did you get it?” Mama Pearl greeted her in the hallway, a hesitant smile on her face, rubbing her hands together anxiously.

  “Yes. I got it,” Eleanor said in a nonchalant voice. “I start in two weeks.”

  “That’s great,” Mama Pearl said more like a question than a statement, walking closer to Eleanor, looking intently at her face as if she was trying to read her mind. “Why do you look like someone has died instead of celebrating your new job?”

  “Oh, Mama Pearl,” Eleanor took a deep, exhausted breath, her shoulders drooped like a withered plant. “I don’t know how—”

  “How you are going to do the job?” Mama Pearl finished, drawing the wrong conclusion. “That’s what you are worried about, isn’t it? You are questioning yourself because you have never had a corporate job before. Baby, let me tell you something.” Mama Pearl placed her hand under Eleanor’s chin, forcing her head up so she looked her in the eyes. “You were born for this job. You hear me? This is your destiny. God didn’t bring you this far to leave you now. In a few years time, you will be a force to reckon with in that company. You are blessed, Eleanor. Don’t ever question God’s blessings, sweetheart. Just embrace them and give Him all the glory.”

  “Thank you, Mama Pearl,” Eleanor whispered, hugging the woman she owed so much. “You always know what to do and say to make me feel better.”

  “You are welcome, my dear.” Mama Pearl squeezed Eleanor tight before letting her go. “I also know that there is some other place you need to be and other people to see.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously, a sly grin on her face.

  Eleanor blushed. “Yes, I’m going to change and take a cab to see Dwight.”

  “Okay, ma’am. Don’t let me stop you.” Mama Pearl laughed when Eleanor ran off toward her bedroom. “Congratulations!” she shouted at her back.

  “Thank you!” Eleanor yelled before she dashed into the room.

  Eleanor left the house moments later and caught a cab on Red Hills Road. It wasn’t long before he was pulling up in front of Dwight’s house. Eleanor paid the cabdriver and stepped out of the car, closing the door. She noticed a shiny, white BMW parked behind Dwight’s car in the driveway. “It seems as if Dwight has company,” Eleanor muttered, feeling a little skeptical about going inside.

  Straightening her red strapless dress that flirted above her knees, she flicked her hair before it bounced back into place around her shoulders. Blowing air through her glossed lips, she inhaled and exhaled before she walked up the driveway, passed the cars, up to the front door.

  Eleanor was just about to ring the doorbell when she heard loud voices coming from inside. Looking closer at the door, she noticed that it was slightly ajar. Curious, she gently pushed on it and softly crept toward the hullabaloo in the living room.

  Careful not to be seen, Eleanor peeked inside the room. A tall, slim, beautiful, light-skinned woman wearing a very short, white, tight-fitting dress was standing inches away from Dwight, waving a glass picture frame with a photograph of Eleanor and Dwight in his face. It was one of Eleanor’s favorite photographs of them; they were sitting on the lush, green grass at Hope Gardens, having a picnic on their first real date, sporting gigantic grins.

  “So this is the little black gal that you have been wasting your time on,” hissed the woman as she stared at the photo. “That’s why you are not interested in Melinda, huh?”

  Appalled, Eleanor drew back from the doorway, a hand covering her mouth in dismay.

  “Mother, you better watch your mouth,” Dwight said angrily. “Or you will have to leave.”

  Outraged, Eve Humphrey spat, “Boy, you are giving up a pedigree for a mongrel?” Her beautiful face was now distorted like a dried prune. “What the heck is the matter with you?”

  Eleanor gasped loudly, but no one heard her, too caught up in the argument. She rested her hip against the door for support, a hand still over her mouth to stifle her cry, tears running down her face.

  “That’s it.” Dwight’s face was flushed with fury. “Please leave, Mother. Now.” His voice was firm and decisive.

  “You are throwing me out?” Eve Humphrey placed a delicate hand on her chest, her eyes wide in disbelief. “Because of some low-class, underprivileged ghetto rat?” She stepped closer to Dwight. Standing nose to nose, their fuming eyes clashed and held in battle. “I’m you
r mother,” she hissed, poking him repeatedly in his hard chest with her finger.

  “That’s why I’m asking you to leave instead of physically throwing you out,” Dwight said in a low, dangerous voice. “Eleanor is a beautiful woman, inside and out, and I love her. If you can’t show her some respect, you are not welcome here.”

  Eleanor jumped when Eve threw the picture frame against the wall, shattering it to pieces. “That’s what I think about your so-called love,” she said to Dwight, her chest rising and falling. “I will never accept the likes of her in my family, and neither will your father.”

  Dwight looked at her sadly and shook his head. “It’s your loss, Mother.”

  Eve glared at him before she stepped over to the couch and snatched up a white, rhinestone clutch purse. Angrily she trotted toward the door on high, stiletto heels.

  Eleanor was frozen in place as she came face-to-face with Dwight’s mother for the first time. But instead of a smile, she got a frown. Eve Humphrey certainly didn’t think it was a pleasure to meet her.

  She came and stood in front of a distressed Eleanor, her hazel eyes crossed with outrage, her nose lifted up in the air like a peacock. Looking up and down Eleanor from head to toe, her face was screwed up as if she stepped in human waste. Eve Humphrey rudely sucked her teeth before she stormed off, her long, fragranced hair flying behind her.

  The slamming of the door echoed in Eleanor’s head. Feeling weak, she staggered back, right into Dwight’s arms. “I got you, babe.” Dwight lifted her up in his arms, took her into the living room, and sat on the couch with her on his lap.

  Eleanor rested her head on his shoulder, shivering, tears leaking down her face.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” Dwight whispered, stroking her hair. “I don’t know how much of that you heard, but I see it was enough to really upset you. I’m so sorry for the way my mother treated you.”

  Eleanor sniffed her nose, raised up her head, wiping her face with her hand. “Maybe your mother is right,” she hiccupped. Her wet eyes met his sorrowful ones. “I’m nobody. We should just stop fooling ourselves.”

  “Sweetheart, don’t say that.” Dwight looked at her in surprise. “I love you. We have something special.”

  “Your mother—”

  “My mother is a bitter woman who doesn’t know what it’s like to love and to be loved. She thinks she has it all, but yet, she has nothing because she doesn’t know the love of the Lord.”

  Eleanor looked at him skeptically.

  “We just have to pray for her, baby,” Dwight continued, eager to ease the emotional pain inflicted on her by his mother. “You are with me, not her. It’s our relationship. Okay?”

  Eleanor looked over at the opened window, a barrage of emotions splashing across her face. Eve Humphrey’s words had sliced through like a meat cutter, shredding her dignity to threads.

  “Hey, look at me,” Dwight said, pulling her closer to his chest. “I love you,” He spoke softly after she turned around to him, kissing her all over her face; lips, nose, forehead, eyelids and cheeks, punctuating each kiss with an “I love you.”

  Eleanor couldn’t stop herself from giggling at his antics. Only Dwight could put her back together after coming apart. “Are you sure this is what you want?” she asked him, halting his kissing spree. “I don’t want to come between you and your mother.”

  “I have told you everything about my parents and our strained relationship,” Dwight replied. “If it wasn’t you, my mother would have found something else to nag me about. They want everything to be done their way, and I won’t allow it. I also won’t let them ruin what we have. I hope you feel the same way.” He searched her face anxiously.

  Eleanor looked at him, and her heart swelled with love. “No, I won’t let them ruin what we have,” she shook her head. “Mama Pearl told me earlier to count my blessings, and I’m starting right now. I love you.”

  Dwight grinned and pouted up his lips. Laughing, Eleanor kissed him.

  “Oh, by the way, you are looking at the new assistant human resources manager for BDO Jamaica,” Eleanor said proudly, opening her arms wide, bowing her head.

  “Yes! You got it!” Dwight stood up with Eleanor in his arms, spun around and around, both of them laughing until they got dizzy.

  “You are so crazy,” Eleanor said when they fell on the couch exhausted, trying to catch their breath.

  “We are going to be okay, sweetheart,” Dwight glanced at her. “Everything will eventually fall into place. Just wait and see.”

  Eleanor looked at him, praying in her heart that it was so.

  Chapter Forty-one

  It had been a year since Eleanor started her job at BDO Jamaica. She quickly grasped everything that Mr. Wallace taught her, combined it with her theoretical knowledge, pleasant personality, and the drive to succeed as she performed her duties in an effective and efficient manner.

  Today was a celebratory day, in more ways than one. Eleanor was twenty-five-years-old, and Dwight was promoted to general manager for the Treasury Division of NCB.

  Mama Pearl wanted the family to have dinner in Port Royal for the special occasions but Dwight requested that it be postponed until the weekend.

  “I got plans for my baby tonight,” he had told Mama Pearl. “I hope you understand.” Mama Pearl understood.

  So later that day, Eleanor left work early. She took a cab directly to Dwight’s house. Her eyes twinkled mischievously as she walked up the empty driveway, excited to put her plan into action before Dwight got home. Taking the keys from her handbag that Dwight had given her a few weeks ago, she opened the front door.

  With a puzzled look on her face, Eleanor closed the door behind her. She sniffed loudly when a delicious aroma tickled her nostrils. “Dwight?” she called as she walked slowly toward the kitchen. “Are you home?” No response.

  “Surprise!” Dwight yelled when Eleanor walked into the kitchen. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, arms folded, sporting a sexy grin. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

  “What are you doing here?” Eleanor was surprised.

  “Huh? I live here.”

  “Dwight Humphrey!”

  “Okay. I came home earlier than you to surprise you,” Dwight said smugly. “And I did.”

  “I was going to surprise you.” Eleanor playfully sulked. “I wanted to make dinner, but it looks as if you beat me to it.” She glanced over at the covered dishes on the kitchen counter.

  “Thanks, babe, but it’s your birthday.” Dwight walked over to her, pulled her into his arms. “Happy birthday.” He wrapped his hands around her small waist and kissed her.

  “Thank you,” Eleanor replied when they broke the kiss. “Congratulations, Mr. General Manager,” she hugged Dwight again, “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered into his ear.

  “Thanks. And I’m proud of us,” Dwight remarked, giving her a tight squeeze. “Do you want to freshen up before dinner?”

  Eleanor nodded and walked toward the doorway. “I’ll be right back,” she said over her shoulder, then gave a little wave with her fingertips before she sashayed toward the bathroom, Dwight’s love-filled eyes followed her until she disappeared from sight.

  Eleanor returned a few minutes later. “Something smells good in . . .” She paused and looked around the dining room in amazement. The windows were closed, curtains drawn, making the tapered candles on the dining table shine brighter. The gigantic bouquet of red roses sitting in the middle of the table set for two seemed to be swaying to the soft music that permeated the air.

  “Oh my,” was all that Eleanor could mutter. She glanced over at her man who was leaned over on a chair that was already pulled out, watching her. The pair of blue jeans sculpted to his hard thighs, his T-shirt stretched taut over his broad chest, his dreamy brown eyes enhanced by the glow of the candles, his dimples deepened in his handsome face. He was the epitome of masculine sexiness. “Oh, my,” Eleanor repeated.

  Dwight smiled, pleased at the rea
ction he got from his girlfriend. “After you, madam.” He waved his hand toward the chair.

  Eleanor giggled, walked over to him, and sat down. As Dwight took his seat across from her, she took in the many saporous dishes of food, anxious to dig in. They ate in a comfortable ambiance, talking about her job and his new promotion.

  Feeling like she was about to burst, Eleanor leaned back in her chair, looking at the damage that she and Dwight had done. Almost all the dishes on the table were empty. “I’m not eating another bite for at least a week,” she groaned.

  “I think I’ve heard that before,” Dwight teased her. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “I’ll be right back.” He winked at her before he turned and walked out of the room.

  “Oh, Lord. What is he up to now?” Eleanor muttered under her breath. She had come to know that look very well. Dwight was up to something.

  Suddenly the music changed. “Now and forever, together and all that I feel is my love for you . . .” crooned Air Supply, reverberating throughout the house, knocking forcefully on Eleanor’s heart.

  Wide-eyed and totally speechless, Eleanor watched as Dwight reappeared in the doorway, his hands behind his back. She watched him slowly approach, singing the words to the song, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. She searched his face for a clue, but Dwight had his poker face on.

  He walked up behind Eleanor and pulled out her chair. Robotically she turned to him, peering at him intently. “Oh my God,” she whispered when Dwight fell to his knees in front of her. Her heart pounding, she swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes locked with his.

  “Eleanor, you are the most amazing woman I have ever known,” Dwight said and held up a small, square box to her. “You came into my life when I least expected it,” he opened the box and the huge diamond ring sparkled. “I am so in love with you,” the tears ran down his face. “I can’t imagine my life without you. Will you do me the honor and be my wife?”

  Eleanor sobbed. With her face buried in the palms of her opened hands, her body shook from the heavy sobs. Moments later, her face still streaking with tears, Eleanor fell to her knees in front of Dwight. “I . . . I . . . I love you too, Dwight Humphrey,” she wrapped her arms around his neck, “I don’t know what I did to deserve this but, yes, I’ll be your wife.”