“That wouldn’t be far from the truth,” he admitted. “Miranda is a straight-A student, and she’s always had a good head on her shoulders. Gladys joined Freedom Temple when Miranda was just five years old. When she got around thirteen I can remember Miranda coming up to my office every Sunday after church. She would always say, ‘Bishop, you preached me happy today.’ I’ve watched her grow into a smart young lady. So, of course, I was disappointed to learn that she was pregnant. It broke my heart.”
“And she senses that, Lance. You know you’re gonna have to speak with Miranda eventually.”
“Yeah, I know. There’s no use in crying over spilled milk. The baby is coming, so we may as well get ready for it. Who did she choose as the godfather?”
“No one. I guess I’ll be standing at the altar alone when you dedicate him. Oh, that reminds me. I need Mother Myrtle to add Miranda’s name to the baby dedication list for next month.”
“I’ll have to dedicate Miranda’s baby in my office, Cheeks. Because she’s a single mother, it can’t be done in the sanctuary.”
Arykah shook her head from side to side vigorously. She needed to dismiss the words Lance had just spoken to her. “What?”
“That’s a tradition in the Church of God in Christ. Only babies whose parents are married are allowed to be dedicated in the sanctuary.”
“Lance, that has got to be the most dumbest, most ignorant, most craziest crap I’ve ever heard. That’s some Mother Pansie and Mother Gussie bull right there.”
“It’s been that way for as long as I can remember.”
“Lance, you are the pastor of this church. Why do you allow such foolishness to go on?”
“What foolishness, Cheeks? It’s tradition.”
“It’s a stupid tradition. Just because Miranda isn’t married to her baby’s father doesn’t make the baby any less important than all of the other babies that are getting dedicated. He’s still God’s creation, he’s still God’s child. Why punish the baby because he was born out of wedlock?”
“No one is punishing the baby. He’ll still be dedicated; just not in the sanctuary.”
“Why? Isn’t every baby pure when they come out of the womb? Babies can’t commit sins, Lance. There is absolutely no reason at all why Miranda’s baby shouldn’t be dedicated in the sanctuary with all of the other babies. If you can dedicate him in private, then you can dedicate him openly. There was a time when the Church of God in Christ didn’t allow women to wear pants in the sanctuary. Now I see women preaching in the pulpit wearing pants. What happened to that tradition?”
Lance didn’t respond.
“God says that no sin is greater than the next. You got folks smoking weed and shooting up dope, but they are still allowed to partake in holy communion—in the sanctuary. I don’t see you trotting upstairs to give out crackers and an ounce of grape juice in your office to the folks that are sprung out on dope. And what about Sister TiQuandria Sprawls? Everybody knows she moonlights as a stripper at night. Swinging on that pole keeps food on the table for her six kids. Why is she allowed to take holy communion in the sanctuary?”
He still didn’t respond.
“Romans, chapter five, verse twelve says, ‘Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.’ And moving on up to Romans chapter three, verse twenty-three, ‘For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.’ And Ezekiel chapter twenty-eight, verse fifteen says, ‘You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you.’”
If Arykah had a microphone in her hand, she would have dropped it and exited the stage.
Lance sat in the presence of his wife in awe of her. He had no reply. She just preached to the preacher. Arykah stood up and grabbed her purse. “There is no way I’m gonna allow this church to treat Miranda’s baby, my godson , like he’s an outcast. Now I caved in with the baby shower thing. I’m not gonna host Miranda’s baby shower in the fellowship hall. But I’m not caving in on this, Bishop. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. You need to research these traditions and find out who started them and where they came from. You’re gonna mess around and lose souls trying to hold on to traditions that ain’t about nothin’.” Arykah put her purse on her shoulder. “I don’t know what you’re gonna do about this baby dedication thing, but you need to figure it out, Bishop. I’m going to pick up Diva Chanel from doggie day camp. She and I will see you at home.”
Arykah left Lance sitting alone. When she walked out of her office she looked at Myrtle sitting at her desk. Myrtle nodded her head, winked at Arykah, and gave her two thumbs-up. She had heard their entire conversation.
Lance exited Arykah’s office and walked past Myrtle.
“You sure you don’t want any lunch, Bishop?”
“Not right now,” he said. “I need to figure something out.” Lance went into his office and shut the door. Myrtle clicked on the icon on her desktop to open the list of parents for the baby dedication ceremony. She added Miranda Blackmon to the list. There was no doubt in her mind that Miranda, her baby boy, and Arykah would be standing at the altar with all of the other parents.
From her cellular telephone Myrtle sent Arykah a text.
U go, girl. I’m very proud of u.
Seconds later Arykah responded with a smiley face.
When Lance arrived home that evening, he found Arykah and Diva Chanel snuggled up on the sectional in the great room. He sat down next to them and kissed Arykah’s cheek. “I listened to everything you said about dedicating Miranda’s baby boy in the sanctuary.”
Arykah looked at him. “And?”
“And I’ve decided to do away with that tradition. You were right. Babies are innocent and pure no matter how they’re conceived. They shouldn’t be judged by the actions of their parents.”
Arykah leaned over and kissed Lance’s lips gently. “Thank you, Bishop.”
“That tradition should’ve been cancelled a long time ago.”
“That one and all of the other stupid traditions as well.”
“I’m looking into every tradition Freedom Temple has.”
“That’s good. After I left the church, I called Gladys and explained why I wasn’t gonna give Miranda a baby shower at the church. She understood and thought it was a great idea that we do something small at her house tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
Arykah nodded her head. “Mmm-hmm. I called Babies ’R’ Us and set it up to have everything on Miranda’s registry delivered to Gladys’s apartment in the morning. I’ve also called the team, and all the ladies will be there.”
“Did you order the cake?”
“Yep. I had to pay extra because it was short notice, but I didn’t mind that at all.”
“What about food?”
“Don’t worry, Bishop. I’m not gonna ask you to cater the shower. Since it’ll just be the team, we’re gonna order pizza.”
Lance nodded his head. “Sounds like you have everything under control.”
“I called Sister Saminta Williams.”
“That’s Titus’s mother,” Lance said.
“Uh-huh. Well, she won’t be at the shower. She said that neither she, nor her husband, want anything to do with Miranda or the baby their son fathered.”
That news shocked Lance. Saminta, and her husband, Douglas, had been members of Freedom Temple for as long as Lance could remember. They were upstanding members, they tithed faithfully, and seemed to be the all-American family. “Wow.”
“Wow is right,” Arykah said. “Saminta says Titus will be graduating high school next year. He’s the captain of the football team, and she says she will not let a careless girl like Miranda interfere with her son going to college with a promising career in the NFL. Can you believe that, Lance? I really wanted to tear into Saminta for calling Miranda careless. It’s obvious that Titus didn’t mind screwing without a condom. Wasn’t he careless as well?”
Lance knew Arykah held a special place in her heart for Miranda. She defended the girl at all costs. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t get into an argument with her. You can’t make folks do right, Cheeks. If the Williams’s don’t wanna know their grandson, and if they want to keep Titus away from his son, there’s nothing we can do about it. But it’s terrible. With no support from Titus or his parents, Gladys and Miranda will need all the help they can get. It’s a good thing they have us, right?”
“Mm-hmm,” Arykah said again. “We appreciate those that wish Miranda well and those that don’t can go to hell.”
Lance frowned and looked at her. “Cheeks,” he shrieked. “Really? Was that necessary?”
“I’m just saying. Church folks make me sick. My operative words were ‘church folks,’ not ‘Christians.’ Although some of them get on my nerve too.”
Ten
Saturday morning was chaotic in the Howell home.
Arykah lay on her stomach. She moaned and complained. “You act like this is the first time you’ve done this. What’s wrong with you?”
Lance straddled Arykah on the bed. He was sweating. “Pull your meat in, Cheeks.”
Arykah inhaled and held her breath as Lance tried to stuff her back fat in the Spanx. He pulled the nylon material up as far as it would go, just above Arykah’s waistline. “It ain’t going no higher, Cheeks.”
“The heck it ain’t,” she fussed. “I gotta get into that dress, Lance. Stop being weak and pull this thing up higher. We go through this all the time.” Arykah inhaled and held on for dear life.
Lance pulled and tucked, then tucked and pulled. Finally the Spanx was pulled all the way up until it reached beneath Arykah’s breasts. Lance fell over onto the bed panting for air. “That was a workout.”
Arykah rolled over onto her back and sat up. “Why do you gotta put on a show?”
Lance’s eyebrows rose. “Do you see the sweat on my forehead? I can’t fake the sweat, Cheeks.”
“Whatever,” Arykah said. She stood and went toward her closet. “Now you gotta zip me into this dress.” She returned with an ivory-colored knee-length cocktail dress. Arykah slipped into the dress, and Lance was able to zip it with no problem. “My stilettos have ankle straps, Lance. I need you to buckle them for me.” Lance exhaled. “Arykah, I can’t be late. I told you we tee off at nine.”
“Well, you know I can’t bend over in this Spanx.”
Lance thought of an easy solution. “Then take off the Spanx.”
“Then I wouldn’t fit into this dress.”
“Well, put on another dress,” he fussed.
“All of my dresses require Spanx.”
“How are you gonna go to the bathroom?”
“Women don’t eat or drink when we have to wear Spanx. We know what to do. What’s the problem?” she yelled. Lance was being inconsiderate, and it irritated her.
“The problem is that I still have to pick up Deacon Marshall and get to the golf course before nine, and you got me stuck here with you. I gotta get dressed myself.”
Arykah didn’t care what Lance had to do or who he had to pick up. He could complain and fuss all he wanted. He was her husband, and Arykah needed Lance to help her look her best. She slipped on her ivory-colored six-inch platform stilettos. “Just buckle my straps, please.”
Lance knelt before Arykah and honored her request. She knew he was fit to be tied with her.
“You know I love you, right?”
Lance stood, exhaled, and looked at her. “You look beautiful.”
“Then why all the fussin’ and moanin’?”
“Because, you’re so extra, Cheeks. You’re not a normal chick, and it drives me nuts.”
Arykah kissed his lips. “You wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She was right, but he wasn’t going to admit it.
“Give Natasha my love and let her know that her pastor is very proud of her.”
Arykah put the envelope she prepared for Natasha in her purse. “Yes, I will. And don’t forget, after Natasha’s graduation, I’m going straight to Gladys’s.”
“Okay,” Lance said. “Is Diva Chanel ready?”
As soon as Lance said her name, Diva Chanel came to the doorway of their bedroom dressed in an ivory lace dress with two ivory satin bows on the top of her head.
“I need one more favor,” Arykah said to Lance. “Scoop her up and put her in my bag.”
“Are you kiddin’ me?” he asked.
“Just do it.”
Three hours later, Arykah sat with Natasha’s parents, Regina and Keith Browning, and her younger brother, Keith Jr. They all cheered for Natasha. When the principal called her name, Arykah stood and screamed, “Yay, Natasha. Woo-hoo!”
She completely ignored the request that was made to friends and family of the graduates. The program director had pleaded with everyone to wait until after every graduate’s name was called before any cheering took place. But Arykah, being Arykah, was one to never follow any rules. “Yeah, Natasha!” she screamed as Natasha walked across the stage and received her high school diploma. When Natasha moved her tassel from the left to the right, Arykah went crazy. “Go, Natasha. You did it!”
After the graduates tossed their caps in the air, the entire audience cheered. When Natasha had finally made her way through the crowd to her family and Arykah, she ran straight to her mother’s arms.
“I did it, Ma. I did it.”
Regina was overly excited. “Yes, you did.”
“Congratulations, daughter,” Keith said to Natasha. He gave her the dozen roses he held in his hand. “Daddy is very proud of you.”
“Thanks, Daddy,” Natasha said.
Keith Jr. stepped to Natasha and wrapped his arms around his big sister’s waist. “I guess you’ll be going to college, huh?”
Natasha chuckled. “Yep, but you still can’t have my room.”
“Aw, man,” Keith Jr. whined.
Natasha saw Arykah standing next to her parents. “I’m so glad you came, Lady Arykah, and you brought Diva Chanel.” Natasha took the Yorkie from Arykah’s arms and cooed her nose. “Oh, her dress is so pretty.”
“I told you I’d be here with bells on.”
“Yeah, I heard you screaming for me.”
“Bishop Lance sends his love. He wanted me to be sure to tell you that he is super proud of you.” Arykah reached in her purse and pulled out the envelope she had for Natasha. “This is a token of my and the Bishop’s love.”
Natasha was happy to receive anything from Arykah. She knew her first lady gave great gifts. Natasha gave Diva Chanel back to Arykah and tore open the envelope.
“You don’t have to open it now,” Arykah said.
Natasha ignored her and pulled out a card and read it out loud. “It’s Your Graduation Day.”She opened the card and saw cash. “Ooh,” Natasha cheered. She took the money out of the card and read the words inside. “The easy part is behind you, now the hard time begins. But as long as you stay with God, you’ll forever win.”
“That’s nice,” Regina said.
Natasha counted five one hundred dollar bills and became excited. She wrapped her arms around Arykah. “Oh, thank you, Lady Arykah. I thank you and Bishop Lance so much.”
“You know where half of that is going, right?” Keith Sr. asked his daughter.
She frowned and sighed. “Yeah, I know. I gotta put half in my savings account for college.”
“Don’t be so sad about that,” Arykah said to her. “Do you know how many kids can’t afford college? Learn to count your blessings and appreciate them.”
“That was so nice of you and Bishop Lance,” Regina said to Arykah. “And we’re so sorry that we didn’t have a ticket for him to be here, but we left it up to Natasha to choose which of the two of you she wanted here more.”
“She made the right choice,” Arykah said smiling. “But the bishop understands.”
“I’ll give him a great big hug at church tomorrow,” Natasha said.
Arykah looked at her wristwatch. “I’d love to, but it’s Miranda’s baby shower this afternoon, and I need to get over to Sister Gladys’s house right away.”
“Ooh, can I go with you, Lady Arykah?” Natasha asked excitedly.
“We made reservations at your favorite restaurant,” Regina said to Natasha.
“But I didn’t know Miranda’s baby shower was today. Can I go with Lady Arykah? Pleeease?”
Arykah was uncomfortable. She knew Natasha’s parents really wanted to celebrate their daughter’s graduation. “Why don’t you go ahead with your folks? Miranda’s shower was planned at the last minute. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
“No,” Natasha whined. “I gotta be there.” She looked at her parents. “Please can I go?”
Regina and Keith knew that Miranda and Natasha were close friends. The girls did everything together. Natasha was one of the few girls at church that hadn’t shied away from Miranda when her pregnancy was discovered.
“Well, okay,” Regina said. “If you really wanna go—”
“Yes,” Miranda cut her mother’s words off. “I really, really, really wanna go.”
“We can celebrate your graduation after church tomorrow,” her father said.
Natasha hugged him. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“We better get going,” Arykah said to Natasha.
“Thanks again for coming, Lady Arykah.”
Arykah hugged Regina. “It was my pleasure. And I’ll be sure to bring Natasha home after the shower.”
When Arykah and Natasha arrived at Gladys’s apartment a half hour later, the entire team was already there.
“Natasha!” Miranda screamed when she saw her friend walk through the front door. She rushed to Natasha. “You came.” Miranda saw that Natasha wore her blue graduation gown. “Congratulations.”
Natasha hugged Miranda. “I just found out about your shower. I had to come.”
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