Blessed Trinity

by Vanessa Davis Griggs

  Brent smiled. “Angel only seems to care about work. When she’s not working at the station, she’s working at the church. She really believes in what you’re doing, and she’s committed to doing her part. I saw that when she first began inviting me to the church.”

  “Well, Brent, when it comes to work, you’re no slacker yourself. That proposal you put together was nothing short of…what’s the word Mr. Busby used? Brilliant!”

  “I like what I do, and I put my whole heart into anything I commit to. That’s why dating has never come up in my conversations with Angel. She and I are too busy working to date anyone. Including, I suppose, each other.”

  “But hypothetically, say if you were interested in dating someone—”

  “If I were, it would definitely be someone just like Angel. In fact, I can’t wait to tell her how our day went. She’ll probably want to buy a piece of land to build a house herself, knowing her. Angel is just as committed to this idea as I am, if not more.”

  Pastor Landris smiled. “Maybe she can help you with your house for the time being. You know…help pick out a floor plan, colors of brick, roof, walls, carpet—stuff like that. There’s a lot to building anything, believe me.”

  “Yeah,” Brent said. “And she would be great with that. If she wants, I may just let her handle all of it for me.” Brent glanced over at Pastor Landris and grinned. “So, what’s Sister Landris going to say when she finds out you two are about to build a brand-new house?”

  Pastor Landris laughed and threw his head back. “I’m not sure. It isn’t like we’ve discussed this or anything. But one of her sisters has been living with us for a few months. Without saying too much, this just might turn out to be a real blessing in disguise. And Mr. Busby did offer his rolodex and any of his resources we might need to make things happen faster than normal, including the actual building of our houses. They say God works in mysterious ways.”

  Pastor Landris had money from the sale of his Atlanta house, which turned out to sell for $1.2 million. There was the alexandrite necklace and the rare-coin money, which had netted him $3 million. He’d used $2 million for the five acres of land and modular building. They had determined the land for the upscale subdivision would likely sell at $350,000 for the three-acre lot. The houses built in this area would have to have a required minimum value of 1.5 million dollars. This house would, for certain, drain all the money he had left.

  And the church still had to come up with $6 million for the thirty-five acres of land it was buying, to be paid in full in sixty days.

  “Okay, God,” Pastor Landris said after dropping Brent off at his car. “We’ve done all we can do. Now the rest is up to You.”

  Chapter 26

  A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

  (Proverbs 17:17)

  Thomas had been going through thousands of dollars every few weeks. He was not any closer to finding work than when he first started looking. Pastor Landris didn’t have a clue what was wrong with his brother, but he’d been acting really strange the entire year. When Pastor Landris arrived from his talk with Mr. Busby, he came home to find Thomas’s car in his driveway.

  “Hey, George,” Thomas said as soon as his brother walked in the den. Rachel’s grandchildren were in there playing—her two children were supposed to be watching them while they played video games. The room looked liked a tornado had hit it.

  Pastor Landris nodded. “Thomas.”

  “Justin, stop it!” Chevon said. “Gimme back the gamote!”

  Justin started laughing at his little sister as he ran around the room holding the television remote control high above his head. “It’s not a ga-mote. It’s a re-mote!” he said. “If you can’t say it, little baby, then you don’t need to hold it.”

  “Keisha, tell Justin to stop!” Chevon yelled to her sixteen-year-old aunt. She started crying. “I was watching that show and he snatched the gamote out my hand.”

  “Boy, I told you to leave her alone one time,” Keisha yelled. “Don’t make me have to get up and come over there. You know you don’t want me to have to do that,” Keisha said, momentarily taking her cell phone away from her ear before returning to her conversation seconds later.

  “Still got a houseful, I see.”

  Pastor Landris looked around. “Yeah.” What else could he say?

  “Look, I know you’re busy. I wanted to come by and pay you back some of the money I’ve borrowed.”

  “Really,” Pastor Landris said with skepticism, but with a pleased expression.

  “Yeah. I thought I would have had more of it by now, but I have this project I just signed on to do. I’ve started my own business. I’m doing tapings for preachers who want to be on television and sell their own tapes. In fact, I just signed a huge contract with this pastor who has a pretty large church. You may have heard of him—Reverend Walker?”

  “I’ve heard of him. Never met him, though.”

  “He’s a pretty sharp guy. In fact, he was so impressed with me, he offered me a job. I told him I really wanted to do my own thing. He respects that, but money is hard to come by when you’re starting your own business. I know you can appreciate that,” Thomas said.

  “Absolutely,” Pastor Landris said.

  “Anyway,” Thomas took out his billfold and pulled out some cash, “I wanted to give you something back on the money you’ve loaned me. I feel bad never returning anything. I was thinking today—that’s probably why I’m having such a hard time getting more of the money I need. I should learn how to give in order to receive.”

  Pastor Landris nodded. He knew this was leading somewhere, and he didn’t care to be sucked in too quickly.

  “Well, thank you.” Pastor Landris reached out to receive the money Thomas still held in his hand.

  “Yeah, I really want to give this to you, because, George, you’ve been wonderful to me. I don’t know many brothers who would have treated their brother the way you have me, especially considering all that’s happened. I’m so close to my breakthrough. If I only had $2,000 now, by next week, things would be right.”

  “Thomas, do you need to keep that money?” Pastor Landris looked down at the dollars still gripped in Thomas’s hand.

  “Man, do I. But I want to do right by you.”

  “Keep it, Thomas. You can give it to me later.”

  Thomas let out a sigh. “For real? Thanks. You’re the best, George. I mean that.” Thomas stood up. It was an awkward moment as he and his brother were eye to eye.

  “Is there anything else?” Pastor Landris asked, sensing there was more.

  “Yeah. I kind of hate to ask, but you know the Bible says we have not because we ask not.” Thomas put his wallet back in his pocket.

  “What is it?”

  “I was wondering if I could possibly borrow $2,000?”

  “You want to borrow some money from me now? Right now?”

  “Just until next week, George. I promise—I promise this will be the last time. I’m so close to my breakthrough. I feel the wind shifting. But my rent’s due, and I have other bills I’ve got to pay this week. But next week, man, things are going to be right.”

  Pastor Landris shook his head. “Sorry, Thomas. I’m going to have to say no.”

  Thomas looked at him in total disbelief. “What? Did you just say no?”

  “Yes. I said no.”

  “George, didn’t you hear me? My rent is due. I’m on the verge of a breakthrough here. I know I’ve promised you your money back before, but it’s been hard trying to find a job. But now this is working for me. I don’t want to throw all my hard work away. Not when I’m this close.” He rubbed his face. “How about $1,000? I can make that work.” He looked at Pastor Landris. “Come on, man. What kind of a brother are you?”

  “What?” Pastor Landris said. “‘What kind of a brother am I?’ Is that what you just asked me?”

  “Okay, I can see I went too far with that one. But I’m desperate here, George. Okay, let
me come totally clean with you. My rent is past due. I have this eviction notice I need to handle this week.” The television was blaring and the children were getting louder. Thomas reached out and grabbed his brother by his wrist. “I told you I’ll give it back next week. I promise. What more do you want me to say? Do you want me to beg? Is that what this is all about?”

  Pastor Landris pulled his arm out of Thomas’s grip. “It’s never been about anything. Do you even stop and think about the amount of money I’ve lost because of you? The radio deal was not my idea. You and I both know I’ll probably never recover a dime of it. Yet, you’ve been in Birmingham for two whole years now, and you haven’t managed to find a job. Who’s been footing your bills since then, brother?”

  “I know…you, George.” The noise was getting louder. Thomas looked at the children, then back at Pastor Landris. “Can we can get out of this room and talk about this somewhere else? I can’t take this racket…” Thomas walked out of the den into the hallway. He started inhaling deep breaths.

  “Are you all right?” Pastor Landris asked.

  “Fine, not that you really care.”

  “Thomas, don’t even start. I’m not going to allow you to make me feel guilty. I always bail you out, and what do you learn?”

  Thomas looked into his brother’s eyes. He laughed. “Yeah, I get it now. I’m responsible for my own self. Coming here was a waste of time. Trust me, you won’t have to worry about me making that mistake again.”

  Thomas stormed toward the entrance door.

  “Thomas! Thomas!” Pastor Landris yelled. Thomas slammed the door behind him.

  Johnnie Mae came to the foyer. “Was that Thomas leaving like that?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  Pastor Landris shook his head. “Can we not talk about him right now?”

  “But you’re upset, Landris. I’m here if you want to talk about it.”

  Pastor Landris smiled at her. She had flour on her face. “What are you cooking?”

  “Okay, I’ll play along. Blackberry cobbler.”

  “For real?” Pastor Landris couldn’t believe it. He loved blackberry cobbler.

  He put his arm around her waist as they walked to the kitchen together. “How did your meeting for the land go?” she asked.

  “It went exceptionally well, in fact. We’re getting the land for the church.”

  “Yes!” She pumped her fist. “I knew it, I knew it. I…knew it!” she sang.

  “And you and I will also be building a new house in a brand-new subdivision associated with the church’s property.”

  “What?” she asked in a tone Pastor Landris wasn’t sure how to appraise.

  “We’re getting a new house, Johnnie Mae. Our house.”

  “Landris, that’s not necessary. This house is fine.” She grabbed him and pulled him to a corner as she whispered, “My sister will be gone soon. I promise—this arrangement is only temporary.”

  He kissed her. “Regardless, we’re still getting a new house. Our house. One that you and I will build together. And J. M., just for the record…”

  “Yes?” she said, smiling. He rarely called her J. M. unless he was about to say something really significant or special. “For the record…I absolutely love you,” he said.

  She continued smiling. “Yeah? Well, I absolutely love you, too. I guess this means you’re going to tell me the whole story eventually, just not right now.”

  “Yeah,” he said with a devious smile. “Eventually, I’ll tell you the whole story. You wouldn’t happen to have an extra six million dollars lying around, would you?”

  “Oh yeah—you’re going to tell me the whole story before this night is out.”

  He kissed her again.

  “Mommy!” Princess Rose called out from the kitchen. “I’m still waiting!”

  “The blackberry cobbler,” Johnnie Mae said. “Princess Rose is helping me in the kitchen.”

  He kissed her again before she left. “Yeah…blackberry…cobbler. The blacker the berry,” he kissed her again, “the sweeter the juice.”

  She blushed as she walked into the kitchen. “Hey, baby girl, Mommy’s back.”

  “Daddy Landris,” Princess Rose said in her sweet little singsong voice as soon as she saw him. “We’re making a blackberry cobbler.”

  “So I heard.” He looked at Johnnie Mae and winked. “Is there enough room for me to help?”

  Princess Rose giggled. “Sure, Daddy Landris. There’s always room for Daddy-o!”

  They all laughed.

  Chapter 27

  Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

  (Proverbs 16:18)

  “Brother Thomas, to what do I owe the pleasure?”

  “Reverend Walker, thank you for seeing me on such short notice,” Thomas said. “Your secretary wasn’t out there, but the receptionist told me it was all right to come on in.” He shook Reverend Walker’s hand and sat down in the chair on the other side of the pastor’s colossal desk. Thomas did a quick perusal of the room again. “Nice. Really nice.”

  “Thank you. My staff tries.” He sat erect in the tall, jet-black office chair. “Again, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit so soon after our last conversation?”

  Thomas cleared his throat. “I’ve been thinking about your offer.”

  Reverend Walker leaned forward. “Yes, the one I made offering you a position to come work here for me. The one you turned down flat.” He placed his fingers together and tapped them. “Don’t tell me God has answered my prayer, and you’ve had a change of heart?”

  “I don’t know about God answering your prayer, but I have reconsidered.” Thomas rubbed both his hands on his thighs in a quick, back-and-forth motion. “Look, this is kind of hard for me. You know Pastor Landris is my brother.”

  “I’m aware of that, but that fact has no bearing on the offer I made you.” He leaned in closer to Thomas. “You’re a talented man. Gifted. You have ideas that, frankly, blow the people presently on staff around me out of the water. I need someone like you on my team. How do you think your brother will feel about you coming to work for me?” Reverend Walker asked.

  “My brother doesn’t own me. George is not like that, anyway. He’ll be happy that I’m doing something I enjoy and am being well-paid to do it.”

  “Great segue into the money part of the conversation.” Reverend Walker smiled and nodded. “Yes, I can see you and I are going to get along famously. Famously. Okay, so let’s talk dollars and benefits.”

  Thomas smiled and returned the nod. This was going to work out fine. When he heard what the good reverend was paying for this full-time position, he was even more pleased he’d come to this decision.

  “One more thing,” Thomas said. “As an act of good faith, do you think I could get an advance on my first check? There are some things I’d like to have for this new position prior to coming onboard officially. And since this is for your organization, I wouldn’t want to take any of my money—”

  “Or your brother’s,” Reverend Walker said. “I’m sure he has paid you well for the service you’ve provided.”

  Thomas snickered. “Yeah. He’s taken good care of me this far. But now it’s time I head in a new direction. As you know, I have some cutting-edge ideas. I believe I can help you and your congregation catapult into the next level.”

  Reverend Walker picked up the phone and buzzed his secretary. An older woman walked in, which surprised Thomas.

  “Ms. Jeanette, would you please cut a check to Thomas Landris. Also, he’ll be coming on staff, starting…” he glanced at Thomas, “tomorrow?”

  Thomas gave a nod of agreement.

  “Tomorrow,” Reverend Walker said. “You can catch him on the way out to fill out all of his paperwork. And be sure he signs the standard confidentiality agreement.”

  “Yes, Reverend,” Ms. Jeanette said. “How much should I cut the check for?”

  “How’s $
2,000?” Reverend Walker said, looking at Thomas.

  “That will work,” Thomas said with a huge grin. God is good all the time!

  “Make it $2500, Ms. Jeanette—equivalent to his first semi-month paycheck. We want to be sure we start our new brother here off right. He’s part of the family now. We’ll consider this seed money,” he said to Thomas. “So of course you know—we’ll be expecting a return when harvest time rolls around.”

  “Absolutely,” Thomas said, sitting up even straighter.

  Ms. Jeanette left the office.

  “She seems nice,” Thomas said, being polite.

  “I know what you were thinking. You thought I would have some young thing handling my secretarial functions.”

  “Well, in truth, I did expect someone like I thought you would have. The receptionist is something else. She’s the one who has always announced me when I’ve visited. Your secretary was away from her desk both times I’ve been to see you. This is my first time meeting her.”

  “The receptionists are all volunteers,” Reverend Walker said. “I never know who’ll be guarding the door from one day till the next. But Ms. Jeanette has been with me for a long while. She’s good, and I need people around me who know their stuff. I don’t mind teaching folks, but successful people surround themselves with people who can handle their jobs with minimal supervision. Ms. Jeanette runs this place.” He leaned in to whisper to Thomas. “In fact, she’s really the brains behind most of this operation. If she ever left, we’d be sunk.” He snickered. “But don’t tell her that, though.”

  “Your secret is safe with me,” Thomas said, mockingly zipping his lips.

  “I’m liking you more and more,” Reverend Walker said. He stood and extended his hand to Thomas. “Welcome aboard, Brother Landris. We’re going to be a better organization, I do believe, because of you.”

  Thomas stood and, with a firm grip, shook Reverend Walker’s hand. “Thank you. To be honest, I was a little apprehensive about doing this at first. But now, I’m glad I made this decision. You won’t be sorry.”