The Favorite Son

by Tiffany L. Warren

  Blaine stared at Camden in utter disbelief. “No. That can’t be true. You’re lying. You’re lying! Get out of here! You’re still angry at Dad. You just wishing he died! It wasn’t him! Dad can’t be dead!”

  Blaine made such a commotion that the nurses rushed into the room and gave him drugs to sedate him. Camden sighed. He knew Blaine would take the news harder than anyone, and the worst part was yet to come.

  Camden stepped out of Blaine’s hospital room and into the hallway. He sent up a quick prayer and tried to feel a little peace.

  “Hello, Camden.”

  Camden looked up and saw Dawn standing in front of him. Five years had changed her immensely. Her Afro was pulled away from her face, and she was at least thirty pounds overweight. But that wasn’t the biggest change Camden saw. There was no joy in her eyes. Dawn had always been the one to look on the bright side, but now there was only sadness.

  “Dawn.”

  “It’s funny how it happened, huh? A tornado levels an entire building and only two people are hurt. Your father and Blaine. And then the tornado dissipated. That’s crazy, right? It’s like God sent His finger down from heaven and struck them both.”

  “Is that what you believe?”

  She nodded. “Your father was the devil himself, and Blaine is his spawn. I don’t know why God didn’t take him too.”

  “Dawn, you don’t mean that. That’s just the shock talking.”

  “I mean it. Yes I do. Amber told me Blaine’s mistress was up here, acting a damn fool. I thought she was trying to be my friend, warning me about Blaine’s cheating, when she was the one sleeping with him.”

  “Wow. I don’t know what to say to that.”

  “You don’t have to say anything, Camden. You’re probably happy all this has happened to me. I don’t blame you.”

  Camden shook his head. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone, Dawn. I would never wish this on you.”

  “Well, thank you, for being here and handling this. You can tell your brother when he wakes up that I’m leaving him. I’m not nursing him back to health. I don’t have it in me. I might wind up killing him.”

  “So no in sickness and in health?”

  Dawn laughed. “Are you kidding? Tell him to have one of his mistresses wipe his behind and teach him how to walk again. I’m filing for divorce.”

  “Maybe you should wait before you make that decision. You might change your mind after the dust settles. Think about your children.”

  “I am thinking about my children. I don’t want Blaine raising my sons.” Dawn took a few steps and closed the distance between her and Camden.

  “You know I never stopped loving you,” she said. “Maybe that’s why it’s so easy for me to leave Blaine.”

  “Well …”

  “I know that you’re with Amber now. I’m not trying to get back with you or anything like that.”

  “Good.”

  Dawn looked at the ground and then back up at Camden. “You and Amber deserve to be happy. If anybody should be happy, it should be you two.”

  “Thanks. I want you to go and get some rest, though, Dawn. Don’t make any decisions until after my dad’s funeral. Promise me that.”

  “I should stay by Blaine’s side during all that, huh? Goodbye, Camden. I’ll take what you said under advisement. Come by your mom’s house and meet the children. The oldest looks just like you.”

  “That’s what everybody tells me.”

  Dawn walked away from Camden looking like she was carrying the same heavy burden that Camden had. His father was gone, and if Dawn’s theory was correct, it was by the hand of God. Camden didn’t know if he believed that, but he did know that their family needed the power of God if they would ever heal. Camden knew they couldn’t do it on their own.

  CHAPTER 57

  Pastor Wilson’s homegoing service was a star-studded fiasco. Camden felt so much relief when Regina, Stephen, and Delores took over the planning of all the events. It was like a church conference, with just as many attendees and just as many guest speakers. Camden was overwhelmed with the logistics of it all.

  At least Camden didn’t have to worry about his mother. Amber shadowed Lady Rita day and night and anticipated her needs before she even spoke them. But after her first emotional breakdown at the hospital, Lady Rita had been extremely strong concerning the death of her husband. What caused her to have a setback was when anyone asked about Blaine.

  Since Blaine was still in critical condition, he wasn’t going to be able to attend the homegoing service. Someone had suggested that they postpone until Blaine was out of the hospital, but the doctors couldn’t even estimate when he would be released or even well enough to leave his hospital bed. The tissue surrounding his injured spinal column had to heal, and the swelling had to go down before he would have any feeling in his lower extremities, and that was when the true rehabilitation would begin. Talk of a prosthetic leg and learning to walk again left Blaine depressed, so Camden stopped trying to talk to him about it.

  Camden had arrived at the church with his mother, Amber, Dawn, and the children in a stretch limousine, specially ordered by Stephen.

  They filed into the sanctuary through a sea of well-wishers. So many people had loved Pastor Wilson, and Camden could feel that love in the air. These people didn’t really know the man he was. They only knew the man he portrayed to them. Camden wondered how they’d feel if they knew the truth.

  When they got to the seats reserved for them, Delores came up to Camden and whispered in his ear. “Are you going to speak? We have you in the program, but you don’t have to if you aren’t up to it.”

  “I’m going to do it. I prayed about it, and I’ll do it.”

  “Okay. I’ll let Pastor Brennan know.”

  Just as she was about to walk away, Camden grabbed Delores’s hand. This time he whispered to her. “Are you okay?”

  Delores gave Camden a tiny, sad smile as she shook her head. “No. I’m not,” she whispered back.

  Delores glanced at Lady Rita before she fled to some place behind the scenes, where she always stayed. No matter how much Delores had loved his father, Camden was glad that she always respected his mother. No one could ever accuse her of not knowing her place.

  Camden sat down next to his mother and put his arm around her. He could see his father’s body in the casket, but couldn’t go up and look at it. Amber and Dawn walked up to the casket hand in hand, paid their respects, and came back to their seats.

  “Mom, do you want to go up?” Camden whispered.

  “I can’t. I just can’t do it.”

  Camden nodded. “It’s okay. Neither can I.”

  The service started soon after the family arrived. There was standing room only in the huge sanctuary, built to hold five thousand attendees. Camden saw friends and congregation members crying and dabbing their eyes with tissues.

  The service went by in a blur. Amber sang a lovely rendition of one of his father’s favorite songs, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand,” and the choir did a full medley of Pastor Wilson’s other favorites. Minister after minister got up to give words about how his father had impacted their lives and their ministries.

  Finally, it was Camden’s turn. He slowly rose from his seat when he heard his name called, and he paused in front of his father’s casket before he ascended into the pulpit. Suddenly, he was flooded with regret for not coming home sooner. His grief almost overwhelmed him, but he continued on up to the podium.

  Camden cleared his throat and looked out over the audience. He took a deep breath and began.

  “If you knew my father, B. C. Wilson, then you would know that he would be very impressed with this turnout at his celebration of life. He was a man who loved being loved, and he gave it back to so many of you sitting in attendance. My father counseled some of you, bailed some of you out of jail, paid some of your mortgages, and put groceries on your tables. He did this without any fanfare, and sometimes without thanks. He believed that God had blessed
him with so much only to be a blessing to others.”

  Camden paused for a moment to let his words sink in. He had chosen to stay on the positive side of Pastor Wilson’s character. No need to disparage him in front of those who loved him most. Maybe he was already paying for his misdeeds in the afterlife; perhaps he’d been forgiven. Camden didn’t know.

  “He was a man who believed in honor, a man with a heart for ministry and with a passion for this church. You never knew his struggles because he didn’t want anything to detract from the message. He wouldn’t want you mourning him now—well, not for too long, anyway. He’d want you to continue his work. He’d want you to help with the tornado relief efforts in our neighborhoods that were damaged by the storms that took his life. He’d hope that his life wasn’t in vain. He’d want someone to accept Christ as their personal savior before they leave this sanctuary. My father didn’t know he was about to draw his last breath when he sat down with my brother for one of his favorite meals. He would tell me and Blaine to always be ready. That was the way he lived his life. Ready for whatever challenge he might face. I challenge you to be ready as well. On behalf of my family, we ask for your prayers for my brother Blaine, who is still hospitalized. Thank you for your support.”

  Camden was glad that Stephen had jumped up from his seat as he finished speaking, because Camden wasn’t sure he’d be able to make it back to his seat. He felt like he was falling apart. He’d held it together long enough to do the speech, and now he was spent. Stephen and Pastor Brennan helped him back to his seat.

  Lady Rita took Camden’s hand when he sat down. She whispered, “Your father would’ve been proud of you.”

  Camden nodded and stared straight ahead. If only he could’ve been proud during his lifetime. Camden had lived honorably, was marrying a woman he loved, and had chased and caught his dreams. But it had never been good enough for him.

  Camden moved silently through the rest of the day. He held his mother’s hand as they closed the casket on his father. He shed a few tears at the burial and made sure that his mother was okay. He received guests at his parents’ home.

  When everyone was gone, Camden sat in his father’s study. In his father’s honor, he poured himself a glass of bourbon and sat down at the desk. He imagined his father’s laugh, his baritone voice when he was giving a lecture. It was as if he could feel his father’s presence in the room.

  Camden scanned the room and looked at the awards and plaques on the walls. His father’s many accolades. Then a smile spread onto Camden’s face as he looked down at the framed photographs on his father’s desk. There was a picture of Pastor Wilson and Camden taken at his college graduation. Pastor Wilson had the proudest smile on his face. As a matter of fact, Camden and Pastor Wilson had identical smiles in the picture.

  Seeing this photo placed where his father could see it every day made Camden’s heart swell. Maybe Blaine was his favorite son, but Pastor Wilson had a place in his heart for Camden as well. In that moment, Camden vowed to lead their family to a place of healing and victory. After all, grace and power was the Wilson brand.

  EPILOGUE

  Camden straightened his bow tie and stroked his goatee. He couldn’t be more ready to marry the love of his life. Amber. His Amber.

  He was anxious to get the day over with, especially since they’d honored Amber’s vow of celibacy. He was beyond ready to get to that part of the evening. He and Amber probably wouldn’t even make it through twenty minutes at the reception before they dipped out.

  Dawn poked her head into the groom’s preparation area and delivered B. J., Camden’s mini-me, who was all set to be the ring bearer.

  “Is Blaine here?” Camden asked her.

  Dawn shrugged. “I’m not sure. You know it’s not my job to keep up with him these days. You should ask Akil.”

  “Okay.”

  “I gotta go put on my bridesmaid dress. See you shortly.”

  Although it felt strange having Dawn as the matron of honor at their ceremony, Amber had insisted on it.

  Camden had asked Blaine and Akil to be groomsmen, but Blaine had only half committed. He’d gone as far as getting fitted for the tuxedo, but he complained about going down the aisle in a wheelchair. Plus, Dawn still had nothing to do with him, so he wasn’t thrilled about being paired up with her.

  Camden almost wished they’d just gone away and gotten married on an island somewhere.

  Lady Rita walked into the room with a big smile on her face. “My God. You look just like your father on our wedding day. He was a handsome man, but I think you might be just a tad bit more handsome!”

  “That’s because I’ve got your genes mixed in.”

  “Yes, baby. I am the icing on the cake.”

  “You are. Do you think Blaine is gonna do it?”

  “He is so stubborn, and he doesn’t want to do it if it doesn’t come easily. Just like he could get Dawn back if he really tried.”

  Camden laughed. “I don’t know, Mom. I think you’re reaching on that one. You want them back together, but you might be the only one.”

  Dawn wasn’t playing when she left Blaine. She filed for divorce the day after their father was buried. Then she proceeded to take half of Blaine’s assets. She was a millionaire bachelorette and completely content with her status.

  “Well, as long as she takes care of my grandbabies, that’s all I could hope for. I just hate to see him battle this alone.”

  “He’s not alone. Me, Akil, and Amber have been there for him.”

  They had all helped Blaine during his rehabilitation, even though his mistress Kenya had moved to Atlanta and started working on her solo project. Camden guessed she was cutting her losses, and since only their inner circle knew about her affair with Blaine, she was still viewed as a gospel songbird. She just better hope that Blaine never got well enough to want revenge or that Dawn would never serve it up either.

  Blaine’s progress had been slow and steady, and in the year since the tornado, he had done things the doctors said he’d never do again. But he hadn’t walked with his prosthetic yet, even with the extensive physical therapy.

  Camden looked at the clock and raised his eyebrows. The ceremony was supposed to start in thirty minutes, and he still hadn’t seen Blaine.

  Then, just when he was about to start making phone calls, B. J. ran out of the room shouting, “Daddy!” Blaine had arrived.

  Blaine rolled into the room in his motorized wheelchair with B. J. sitting in his lap. “Hey, Camden. You ready to get your ball and chain?”

  Camden laughed. “Yep. I sure am.”

  “Okay. Well, you can’t say I didn’t try to talk you out of it.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  Blaine smiled. “But in all seriousness, I wish y’all the best. I love y’all.”

  “Love you too, man.”

  Blaine set B. J. on the floor. “B. J., go find your grandma. I need to talk to Uncle Camden for a minute.”

  When the little boy ran out of the room, Blaine motioned for Camden to close the door.

  “What’s up? Is everything okay?” Camden asked.

  Blaine nodded. “Cam. I want you to know how much I appreciate you and how much you’ve blessed me over this past year. I have done so much to hurt you, and I never even apologized for it, but you were still here for me when I didn’t even deserve it.”

  “We’re brothers.”

  “We are. But you could’ve given me the cold shoulder for what I did to you. I am so sorry for what happened with Dawn. If there’s one thing I could take back, it would be that night.”

  “It all worked out, right? God had a different plan. I forgive you.”

  “Thank you, Camden. God bless you.”

  Camden leaned over to hug Blaine, and they embraced for a long moment.

  “So are you going to do it? It’s okay to use your wheelchair going down the aisle. Everyone’s just happy you’re still here.”

  “Yeah, I’m gonna do it.”

 
There was a knock on the door. It was the wedding planner coming to rush Camden to the altar. It was time.

  Blaine slapped him on the back. “Go get your woman!”

  Camden rushed down the aisle and stood proudly waiting for the ceremony to start. Two other groomsmen and bridesmaids made their way down the aisle to a beautiful medley of songs composed by Camden.

  Camden knew he was supposed to be quiet, but he leapt for joy and shouted when he saw Blaine using a walker to proceed down the aisle. Dawn walked patiently beside him with her bouquet as he slowly took each step. Camden could see the struggle and effort on Blaine’s face, but he smiled the entire way. At the front of the church, Dawn led Blaine to a seat in the front row, because he was exhausted. She then went and took her place with the other bridesmaids.

  Then, at the back of the church, Amber emerged, holding her father’s arm with one hand and a microphone with the other. Camden heard the introduction to “At Last” by Etta James and grinned from ear to ear. Amber serenaded him as she came down the aisle.

  When she got to the last line, “And you are mine … at last,” Amber was standing in front of Camden at the altar.

  One year ago, Camden thought that with all the pain he felt over the loss of his father he’d never feel joy again, but now his heart was about to explode with it. He and Amber were proof that ashes could be traded for beauty and sorrow for laughter.

  As tattered and broken as their family was, the Wilsons were surviving the storm. And as Camden glanced at his once-arrogant brother who had today asked him for forgiveness, Camden knew God wasn’t finished with them yet. There was more story to be told, more chapters to unfold.

  God was writing His own ever after.

  A READING GROUP GUIDE

  THE FAVORITE SON

  Tiffany L. Warren

  About This Guide

  The following questions are intended to enhance your group’s reading of THE FAVORITE SON.