Church Boyz 1 (Rod of the Wicked)

by H. H. Fowler

  “Actually, I’m happy you called. I have something I need to share with you. Just tell me where and I’ll be there.”

  “Good. There’s a Chinese restaurant over on Fowler Avenue, just before Nebraska.”

  “I know where it is. Half an hour is fine?”

  “Half an hour it is.”

  Chapter Nine

  In Tayah’s book, the Panda Express was the best tasting Chinese food in the bay area. She smiled to herself. Her father would argue differently, however. He was not impressed by a long shot. The building itself was austere and would not appeal to those who judged a book by its cover. It was practically a word-of-mouth kind of thing. She ordered two sodas as soon as she sat down, then decided to order some food as well. Her watch told her she was five minutes early, but it didn’t matter anyway because her lunch date was making his way in.

  She stood up to greet him. “Thanks for coming Dominic, you are a true friend.”

  Dominic smiled in response before taking a seat opposite her. In his heart, she was more than a friend to him. She had married Phillip, but she was still the love of his life. It was a pity that he would never get the opportunity to express it. He unbuttoned his jacket, staring into eyes that would never be his.

  “Tayah, when have I ever let you down?”

  “Give me a minute and I’ll think of something,” she quipped.

  “Don’t wreck your brain in the process. I know my stats pretty well.”

  She laughed, taking in his appearance. She had always loved his style of fashion – preppy, cool, and outgoing. “How have you been, Dominic?”

  “I have seen better days.” He took a sip of soda. “I missed you in church yesterday. As a matter of fact, I haven’t seen you since the last youth forum.”

  “Three words: Black Heritage Festival. Volunteer work is gruesome work. Thank goodness I got today off from my ‘real’ job. But I like it. I learn a lot about the music and the arts of our black people.”

  Dominic cocked a grin at her. “You and the arts? Come on, Tayah, you’ve been holding out on me.”

  She threw a rolled up napkin at him. “I would have you to know that I am multidimensional. I am not just the pastor’s daughter, you know. There’s a lot to me you haven’t seen.”

  “Tayah, you are a workaholic. Admit it. I’m actually amazed by how you find time to do all that you do. How does Phillip feel about all this?” Dominic noticed the gradual change in Tayah’s expression. “Whoa, what did I say?”

  “I came here to talk about him, but I don’t feel like I want to anymore.”

  Dominic was relieved to hear that. “Then, talk about you. How has Tayah been? We haven’t had a real talk since you got married on me.”

  Her eyes found his. They were so attentive – if only Phillip was that attentive, she thought. “I feel like I can tell you anything.”

  “You can tell me anything. We didn’t click for nothing.” He looked at her, frowning playfully. “Explain to me again why we didn’t get married?”

  She blushed. “Some things never change about you.”

  “I’m not the changing type, girl. What you see is what you get.”

  She shifted gears a bit. “Do you pray for me, Dominic?”

  The waiter brought a huge serving of Singapore noodles and placed it between them. “I ordered before you came.”

  “Thank you. To answer your question – I do, at every opportunity.” Dominic sensed Tayah’s sudden reticence. “Don’t feel obligated to spill your beans. It’s cool if you don’t wanna talk about Phillip.”

  “You read me so well.”

  Dominic smiled. “How funny. I only seem to work the gift of discernment when I’m with you.”

  “Would you stop?” she chuckled. They grew silent for a bit, but she kept her eyes on him. “Do you still wish to share something with me?”

  He chewed his food slowly, then said, “Yes and I know I can trust you with it.”

  “It sounds serious.”

  “I think it is. It’s about Abraham.”

  “Really? Is he okay?” Tayah asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Dominic’s weakness was not gossip, but what he had witnessed had greatly troubled him. He had to tell someone about it – to help him deal with the battle that was going on in his mind. Tayah was the right person. The only person. “I think Abraham is stepping out on the scene.”

  Tayah furrowed her jet black brows. “I hate it when you do that. Speak English, please.”

  “Abraham is sleeping with prostitutes,” Dominic deadpanned.

  Tayah stopped chewing. “Pastor Abraham? The Youth Minister?”

  “Imagine when I saw one of them in his place. It threw my world in reverse. I thought I walked up in the wrong crib.”

  Tayah found herself getting angry with Dominic. “I don’t believe it. Who else have you told this to?”

  “C’mon on girl, you know me better than that. I walked off the organ yesterday.”

  “You did what?” Tayah stared at Dominic to see if there was a hint of fallacy in his words. “You are serious, aren’t you?”

  “Dead serious. Right when Abraham was making his big announcement about the mentorship program. I couldn’t stand to hear him talk about purity and accountability when he wasn’t living any of it. I couldn’t even sleep that night … after I found about his mess.” Dominic looked away to gather his thoughts. “Last Friday, my boy, Sanchez and I were at Abraham’s place, chilling for ‘lil bit. We left, but I ended up leaving my Accounting notes there, which I needed for my mock exam the following morning. So I turned the car around and drove back to Abraham’s place. The door was unlocked and I went in, as I usually did. That’s when I saw her.”

  “Who?” Tayah was thinking about how her father would react to such news. Abraham was his right-hand man.

  “The prostitute – she was, um…”

  “She was what?”

  “She was naked. Butt naked, smoking a cigarette.”

  “And where was Abraham?”

  “I don’t know. I think she told me he was in the shower or something…”

  “How did you know she was a prostitute?” Tayah was still not convinced.

  “You would have assumed the same thing if you had seen her.”

  Tayah disagreed. “But how could you be so sure she was with Abraham?”

  “C’mon on, Tayah. What other explanation is there?”

  “Maybe there is, Dominic. You shouldn’t be too quick to judge a circumstance at face value. I do believe Abraham is a sincere man of God.”

  “Tayah, I’m not judging. I’m struggling to keep a pure mind. I have no reason to hurt the man.” Dominic took another sip of the soda, looking directly into Tayah’s brown eyes. As it was with her younger brothers, she strikingly resembled Leroy. Her thick, flowing hair softened her features. “I’m really having a hard time coming to terms with this.”

  “Have you confronted Abraham about it?”

  “No, I bolted for the door before I saw him.”

  Tayah was not sure how to feel about this. “You know, none of us is perfect. We all have some stuff inside of us we don’t want the world to see. So don’t nail him to the cross if this turns out to be the way it looks.”

  Dominic grew silent on that, appreciating Tayah’s perspective on the situation. She always saw the good in everyone. That alone won big points with him. Unfortunately, however, Tayah had warned him a little too late. He had condemned Abraham the minute he saw that naked woman parading around in Abraham’s living room. His next plan of action was to remove his name from Abraham’s mentoring program. “Believe me, Tayah, I’m praying that I’m wrong.”

  Chapter Ten

  Mount Moriah Baptist Church

  “I don’t see any cause for alarm. The scans look good…”

  Leroy switched the receiver to his other ear, frowning as if he wasn’t too sure he should take his neurosurgeon’s words as go
od news. Lately, he’d been having severe off and on migraines and just for precautionary measures, he wanted to make sure the bullet that’d struck him in his head five years ago, hadn’t anything to do with it. Last week, his neurosurgeon took a few x-rays and told him he would call when the results were in.

  “If the scans are clear, then why am I still having these migraines?” Leroy asked.

  “Could be an unrelated reason. How are your stress levels?”

  “Well, I have resumed my duties here at the church,” Leroy said. “If that’s what you mean?”

  “Anything else?”

  Leroy paused. There were several things sending his brain into overdrive, but how did he explain to his neurosurgeon that his stress was related to poor decisions he’d made in his past?

  “Mr. Paxton,” Leroy heard him say, “I’ve been involved in some of the most devastating neurological cases, and have seen the brain’s amazing ability to create new brain cells and stronger electrical connections to heal itself. But I’ve also witnessed patients not being able to adjust after traumatic experiences, which can be equally devastating.”

  “Doc, in my line of work, I find it a bit of a challenge to mitigate my stress levels,” Leroy said. “What do you suggest I do?”

  “You must take in consideration your ‘new’ normal,” he said. “It’s been five years since you’ve survived a catastrophic injury. Mortality from a gunshot wound to the head is as high as ninety percent. And if I may say so, I am extremely pleased with your recovery. The brain has incredible plasticity. But with the same token, I expect you to live a healthy lifestyle, as stress-free as possible. Try to delegate the taxing areas of your life, take time to rest, and eat properly. I will fax this prescription to you for your headaches.”

  “Thank you, doc, I will try to take your advice.”

  An hour later

  When it came to his attire, Leroy Paxton was the ultimate debonair man. He reclined in his spacious, oak-paneled office, wearing a pinstripe black Armani suit with a silk crimson-stained tie, perfectly snug between the stiff flaps of his white shirt. His 24k gold cufflinks shimmered as he moved his wrist back and forth while signing documents from the Tampa City Council

  Leroy Paxton’s talents did not end in the pulpit. Preaching to his flock was one aspect of his role as pastor, taking care of church business was another. Poor management of the church’s finance, vision, and a lack of ecclesiastical discipline could bring a ministry to utter ruins. Had he not answered the call to lead God’s people he could have become one of the greatest secular moguls of his generation. Truth was, any way it was spun, he was quickly becoming one.

  “Yes, Brenda,” Leroy responded to his secretary of fifteen years via their state-of-the-art intercom system.

  “It’s 2:00,” Brenda said. “Are you able to keep your appointment with the multimedia department?”

  “Give me several minutes.” Out of habit, he looked at his Rolex, admiring its beauty for a fleeting second.

  “Yes sir, I will relay the information.”

  “Brenda?” Leroy prompted.

  “Sir?”

  “How is the rest of my day fitted?”

  She pulled up Leroy’s schedule on her computer. “You’re booked up until 7:00 tonight, sir.”

  “Perfect! Call the boys and let them know I’ll be late. Michelle’s flight has been delayed.” Leroy cringed at how corny the lie seemed. “And Brenda?”

  “Sir?”

  “Did you get in contact with Dominic yet?”

  “I tried, but he’s not answering his phone.”

  “Leave it then, I’ll see him at the youth forum this week.”

  Leroy had had so much practice fabricating lies that he rarely felt culpable. To him, being in his position it was almost a necessity. He pushed back from his desk and walked over to his full-length mirror. He stood in front of it, admiring his form and beauty. He examined his face. It would have been flawless if it weren’t for the minor indentation above his left eyebrow. He rubbed his finger alongside it.

  He now brutally understood that behind every scar there was a story – a story that had taken him through the gates of hell. Every now and then, he got nightmares about the incident that could have been the end of him. But it must have been God’s pity that preserved his life. He may be alive, but he was still terrified that he had only survived to reap the consequences of his sin. His neurosurgeon was right; he had to take it easy.

  “You are as vain as you were the first day I met you.” Shaniece had been watching him for a bit.

  Leroy almost jumped out of his skin when he heard her voice. The office was so spacious, he had not been aware that she’d walked in – unannounced.

  “How did you get past Mrs. Wesson?” he asked her. “You know that woman can’t stand you.”

  Shaniece took in Leroy from head to toe, sidestepping his question. “I can understand why you are so enamored with yourself. The years have not taken away your vitality.”

  “Shaniece, we’ve had this conversation. Please don’t go there.” He sat back down, busying himself.

  “Don’t pretend, Leroy. You are happy to see me.”

  “I am never happy to see you, Shaniece. You are a serious problem to my family. Heaven knows, I regret the day that you walked into my life.”

  Shaniece laughed, positioning her body behind Leroy. She bent to his ear. “And by your family, you mean your wife? I must commend her on such a stellar performance yesterday. “

  Leroy flinched, annoyed by Shaniece’s blatant attitude. “If I wasn’t a man of God, I would have cussed you out.”

  “As a man of God, you’ve have already done more than that,” she reminded him. “Profanity just won’t suit you.”

  “Please move away from me. I’m certain you left the door unlocked.”

  “What’s it been? Four, five years?” She rubbed her fingers alongside the back of his neck. “And you’re still as terrified as a fish caught in the net.”

  Leroy swatted her hands away. “What do you expect? Every waking moment you’re reminding me about what I did.”

  “You should relax, Leroy, before you have a stroke.” She edged his desk with her buttocks. “If your nosey wife hadn’t interrupted us on Sunday, we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. But being the impatient woman of God that I am, I’ll just get right to the point. We need more money.”

  Leroy’s blood pressure almost shot through the roof. “We?” He pushed himself up from his desk, away from her. “I’ve given you people enough!”

  “I’m the one who will decide that.”

  “I’m calling the police – something I should have done years ago…”

  Shaniece smiled, displaying an incredible amount of placidity. “Put the phone down, Leroy; it will serve you no purpose. Both you and I know that the sins of your past will attract greater attention. You wouldn’t only have the police breathing down on your back, but you’ll have this entire county to answer to – a juicy scandal for the media. I can see it now.”

  “Your name will be plastered all over the Tampa Tribune. And that crazy woman you married, she’ll leave you in a heartbeat when she finds out. How will your children see their father after they discover that you’re no saint? They will see that you’re just like every sin-riddled pervert. They’ll hate you for bringing embarrassment to the family. You see, the list of casualties can go on and on. You don’t have a choice; the cards are stacked high against you. What did Psalms 125 say? The rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; except the righteous put –”

  “Must you further the disgusting cause of your father, the devil?” Leroy asked.

  Shaniece folded her arms, and enjoyed the pleasure of watching Leroy fall to pieces in front of her eyes. She felt privileged, because she was almost certain that no one else ever saw this side of Leroy – as a weak pathetic fool who was begging mercy from a woman who was not his wife.

  Leroy sat back down and hid his face
in his hands. “How much?” he said quietly. “How much do you people need to leave me the hell alone?”

  “My dear boy, we are not going anywhere anytime soon,” she chuckled. “We’ve hit the jackpot.”

  “You are a disgrace. How can you live with yourself?”

  “I can say the same about you, Pastor Leroy Paxton…”

  ****

  When Brenda noticed the number on the caller ID, she picked up the phone immediately, and then turned away from her computer.

  “A pleasant good afternoon. This is Mount Moriah Bap–”

  “This is me, Brenda. Why do you go on with all that knowing where the call is from?”

  “Michelle?” Brenda whispered.

  “You sound surprised.”

  “Err – just a bit off my rockers,” Brenda laughed. “Your husband should be happy to know your flight made it in earlier than he had expected.”

  Michelle held the phone away from her and wondered if her hearing had deceived her. “My flight?”

  “Yes, he mentioned that it had been delayed. Where were you coming from, dear?”

  “Brenda, transfer me to Leroy please.”

  “I could, but he’s in a meeting…” Brenda looked around furtively, lowering her voice. “…with, you know who.”

  “Shaniece?”

  “I couldn’t stop her from going into Pastor’s office. She practically shoved me back into my chair. You know how I feel about her.”

  All of a sudden, Michelle felt hot from head to toe, but was far from experiencing a fever. She kept her voice calm, cool, and collected. “Brenda, let’s make this one a surprise. I’ll be at home waiting for him.”

  Chapter Eleven

  At precisely seven thirty, Abraham quietly rolled the Escalade onto the Paxton’s driveway. Leroy jumped out and then shuffled around to the driver’s side with his briefcase in one hand and his coat in the other.

  “Remember what we discussed.” Leroy looked Abraham dead in the eye. “I love my wife and we don’t need questions raised about our marriage.”