Church Whore 3

by Faith

  “We need you to make another identification.” He was staring a hole into Poe, and watched as he became antsy.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “We found a body in a hotel room, and I’m sorry to say, it’s one of your sisters.”

  “No! No! You’re wrong!” Poe cried out.

  “I’m sorry, Poe, but—”

  Poe became visually upset. “Which one? Which one of my sisters is it?” Poe begged.

  “That’s why we need you to make an identification.” Officer Hudson looked over at the detective working the case and nodded for him to come over.

  “If you could follow us this way,” the detective said walking off.

  Officer Hudson tapped Poe on the shoulder, who seemed to be in a zone. “This way, Poe,” he said.

  Poe walked slowly behind the officers. He couldn’t believe this was happening. Not his sisters, He loved them so much.

  They watched as Poe identified the body of his sister, Delilah Harlot. He seemed heartbroken.

  Officer Hudson took note of the difference in his demeanor. He was cold as ice when looking at his mother and brother. There was an obvious disconnect there, but not this time. He was not only shocked, but in pain. His heart went out to Poe, and as he gave his condolences he wasn’t lost on the fact that the dude was still weird as hell, and could possibly have murdered his mother and brother. “Let us know about the arrangements so we can pay our respects. And once again, I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Poe exited the building without saying another word.

  ________

  Eddie received a call from O, who informed him about Delilah’s murder. Eddie placed a call to Junior since that was his conquest.

  “Hello?”

  “Are you sitting down?” Eddie asked.

  “Yeah. Wassup, Eddie?”

  “O just called. They found Delilah strangled to death in a hotel room.”

  Junior spit out the soda that he was drinking. “What?”

  “Yeah, you heard me. Somebody killed her.”

  “Oh wow! That’s sad!” Junior said. He couldn’t help but think about their time together.

  “Yeah. I just wanted you to know first. I’m about to call everyone else.”

  “Do they think Poe killed her too?”

  “O doesn’t think so, but he said anything is possible with that family. He did say Poe was messed up about it.”

  “Maybe I should call him.”

  “Shiiiid, I’m not calling him!”

  “Eddie, I said maybe I should call him. I didn’t ask you to.”

  “Do what you feel.” Eddie wasn’t trying to argue with him.

  “I always do, Eddie… I always do.”

  “A’ight holla.”

  “Love,” Junior told him.

  “Love.”

  ________

  “Junior, what’s going on?” Lacey asked, meddling in his conversation.

  “That was Eddie. They found Delilah Harlot strangled to death.”

  “Oh my God! That’s terrible!”

  Junior gave his wife a look.

  “What? Come on now, Junior. You know that I didn’t want her dead; I just wanted her to go away.”

  “Well, she’s gone away for eternity.” He gave her a suspicious look.

  “Don’t look at me! I’ve been with you all day!” Lacey laughed.

  “I know, baby. I know. But I think I should reach out to Poe. Eddie said he was pretty messed up about it. What do you think?”

  Lacey smiled on the inside because Junior had asked her opinion. “I think it’s the Christian thing to do,” she said.

  Junior scrolled through his phone until he found Poe’s number.

  “Hello?” Poe answered. He sounded like he’d been crying.

  “Hey, man, this is Junior; Junior Blanks.”

  “I know who it is.” Poe’s voice sounded dry.

  “I just heard the news, man, and I wanted to give my condolences from the family.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Have you talked to Deacon? I’m sure he would want to be with you at this time.”

  “No, I haven’t talked to him since before the test. He keeps calling though.”

  “What’s up with that? Are you having second thoughts about taking the test?”

  “No. I just need some time to regroup from everything, you know?”

  “That’s understandable. Just try not to shut him out. Deacon is a good man, and if you just tell him to give you some time, I’m sure he will. He’s also a patient man.”

  “I’m a little messed up in the head right now, so next time you talk to him just tell him that I need some time.”

  “No problem, man. I just wanted to touch base and to let you know that we’re all praying for you. Have you made arrangements yet for your mother?”

  “I did, but I had changed them considering what just happened. I have to wait for the coroner to release Delilah’s body before I can reschedule the service.”

  “I understand. And please feel free to call if there is anything we can do to help.”

  Lacey hit Junior’s arm, shaking her head no.

  “Okay. Thank you for calling.”

  When Junior hung up the phone he looked at Lacey and asked, “What did you hit me for?”

  “You don’t tell crazy people to feel free to call if there is anything we can do!” she said, imitating him.

  “Baby! That was not godly!” he teased her.

  “No. It’s reality though. That family is cray-cray!”

  Junior chuckled at his wife. “Let me give Deacon a heads up on what’s going on.”

  “Okay. I’ll be upstairs in the bed waiting!” She winked at him.

  Junior watched her wobble out of the room. He wanted to hurry up and get through with this call so that he could get some loving.

  He called Deacon and explained everything. Deacon was upset, but Junior talked him through it. He also explained that Poe needed some time to adjust to everything, and with all that has happened he might need even more time.

  He was finally able to get Deacon off of the phone and he headed upstairs. When he entered the bedroom, Lacey was laying on the bed in all of her naked glory, and her big belly consuming most of her body. He became instantly turned on and quickly stripped own in record time. Tonight there would be no foreplay; just some good plain ol’ loving.

  The couple became entangled in each other’s love. Sweat dripped from their bodies and as the love they shared for each other filled the room. They both went into a cosmic zone.

  ________

  In the middle of the night, Junior was jolted out of his sleep by Lacey screaming at the top of her lungs. “Baby, what’s wrong?” he asked her.

  “I’m in labor! What do you think?” Lacey hissed.

  “Gee… okay. Let me get your bag and call somebody to watch the kids.” He jumped out of bed to get his phone. He called Elisea, waking her up out of a sleep and asked her to come over to sit with the kids.

  “Aaaaaargh!” Lacey groaned, twisting and turning trying to get out of the bed.

  Junior rushed to her side and helped her into the bathroom and into the shower. They both quickly showered as Lacey screamed in agony.

  She sat on the bed drying herself off as Junior stood in their closet looking confused. “What do I get for you to put on?” he asked.

  “Just get me my muumuu, Junior!” she snapped at him.

  “What is a muumuu?”

  “That ugly thing your mother bought me with the big flowers on it!”

  Junior still looked confused.

  “Junior, it’s right there hanging on the back of the bathroom door for goodness sake!”

  Junior ran his hand over his face. Lacey was already aggravating him. He retrieved the muumuu and brought it over to her. As she put it on, Junior got the pre-packed hospital bag out of the closet, and then he rifled through her panty drawer trying to decide what kind of panties to hand her. “What kind of panti
es do you want?” he asked.

  “Junior, I’m about to have a baby! I don’t need any panties! Let’s just go now!” she barked.

  “Okay, hold up. We just can’t leave the kids in the house alone. Elisea hasn’t gotten here yet.”

  “Well, she needs to hurry the hell up!”

  Junior wanted to get to the hospital so that she would shut the hell up. She had never acted like this before with their other two. Just then the doorbell rang, and he darted out of the room to let Elisea in.

  Opening the door for his sister he said, “Boy, am I glad to see you! She’s driving me crazy!”

  “Well, I’m here now, so y’all just go have a healthy baby.”

  “The kids are sleep so you can lay down in one of the guest rooms.”

  “I’ll be fine right here on the sofa. That way the kids will know I’m here when they wake up.”

  “Good thinking. Okay, let me go get ‘Evilena’!”

  “Stop it! You try pushing a baby out your coot!” Elisea laughed as she made herself comfortable.

  Lacey came down the stairs, she was holding her hospital bag.

  “Baby, I was just coming to help you.”

  “You’re moving too slow! Come on!” she demanded as she wobbled down the stairs.

  Junior exhaled as he helped her down the stairs, and then he ran back upstairs to put on his shoes, and get his phone and keys. When he made it back downstairs he looked around for Lacey.

  “She’s already in the car. She’s not playing with you. You’re moving to slow,” Elisea laughed as she imitated Lacey.

  “God help me!”

  “Just go before she bites your head off. Oh, I need a blanket.”

  “Everything you need is in the linen closet. I’ll keep you posted. Pray for me!”

  “I will. Now go!”

  At that moment the blare of horn being honked filtered through the house. Junior looked at his sister and shook his head.

  ________

  Lacey didn’t waste any time. Within thirty minutes of being at the hospital she gave birth to a bouncing baby girl who was six pounds and three ounces.

  Junior was relieved that her labor went so easy. He was almost expecting his wife’s head to start spinning and green stuff to shoot from her mouth. Now she looked like an angel holding their baby girl and smiling as if she wasn’t the devil incarnate just a few moments ago.

  “You see your daddy, baby girl?” Lacey sang to the baby as he snapped pictures of them.

  Junior couldn’t help but smile at the precious little life in front of him. “What do you want to name her?”

  “I think I’ll let you decide.”

  “Me? Are you okay? Do you have a fever?” He touched her head.

  “No, silly. I know I acted a little… you know…”

  “Crazy? Deranged?”

  “Just a little bit.”

  They laughed.

  “So, you can name our daughter.”

  Junior reached down as Lacey put their daughter into his arms. He stared at her for a long time. He was in deep thought, and sat down on the chair in the corner holding his new born baby daughter. He looked over at Lacey who drifted off to sleep. “I love you, baby girl!” he whispered.

  The baby opened her eyes at the sound of her daddy’s voice. The brightness of her eyes had a sparkle in them that seemed to radiate a brilliant light that touched his heart. He held her close and began to rock her. With every child, he would always sit and sing to them when they had their first bonding moment. So, in keeping that tradition, started to sing to his baby girl:

  “When I’m with you,

  I hear a sound that makes me laugh and smile and sing to you.

  When I’m with you,

  I feel so free.

  I love that love is going to take control of me.

  When I’m with you,

  I wonder why people do stop and stare and smile at us.

  When I’m with you,

  The sun shines my way.

  Baby, our love reflects its rays of light on everyone in the world.

  When I’m with you,

  It’s for real what I feel.

  When I’m with you,

  Hey, hey, hey…”

  After Junior serenaded his baby girl, her name came to him. “Saniya. Saniya Blanks. Yeah, your name is Saniya. Happy birthday, Saniya!”

  “Baby, who are you talking to?” Lacey asked. She was still very groggy, and she squinted her eyes trying to focus.

  Junior got up and walked over to the bed. “I was talking to the baby.”

  “Oh. How long have I been asleep? I had the weirdest dream that we were at a Tony Terry concert.”

  Junior started to laugh. “Baby, that was me. I was singing to Saniya.”

  “Who’s Saniya?” She looked confused.

  “That’s what I named her. Saniya. Saniya Renee Blanks.”

  “Saniya,” she mumbled to herself.

  “Yeah. When I looked in her eyes my first thought was how radiant they are. Saniya means radiant, brilliant.”

  “Saniya,” she repeated. “I like that. Saniya Renee Blanks.”

  “Yes. I know you didn’t want to give any of the kids your middle name, but it fits her don’t you think?” He held the baby up so she could get a good look.

  “Yeah, it does fit her. Good job Daddy!”

  Saniya began to cry.

  “Give her here. I think she’s hungry.” Lacey pulled out her left breast so that she could get her baby to latch on. It took a minute, but she finally got the hang of it.

  “I’m going to step out and call the family.”

  “Baby, you haven’t called anyone yet?”

  “No. I was bonding with my daughter.”

  Lacey smiled at Junior. He seemed different to her. And she thanked the Lord for that. See, there was a time when he didn’t look at her, but past her. Now a days he gives her full eye contact. He looks into her soul, and she looks into his.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

  “I’m just thankful for you, that’s all,” Junior said before he walked back over to the bed and kissed both of his ladies on the forehead. “I’ll be right back.”

  Chapter 15

  After Elisea dropped the kids off at school she pulled up in front of Taylor’s house. Taylor had put off talking to her mother long enough. She took a deep breath as she walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

  “I’m coming! A voice screamed in a nasty tone.

  Dag! I only rang the doorbell once! Elisea thought to herself.

  Taylor’s mother, Jackie flung the door open like she was aggravated. When she saw Elisea standing there she straightened her face. “Oh, Pastor Blanks!”

  Elisea could see right through her fake demeanor.

  “What brings you by?”

  “May I come in?”

  “Oh course. Come on in. Excuse the mess.”

  Elisea scanned a living room that was neat and orderly. Why do people do that? They’re always saying excuse the mess when the house is immaculate.

  “Please, sit down,” Jackie said, and sat down across from her.

  “I just wanted to check on my girl, Taylor and have a little talk with you.”

  “Okay. Taylor!” She hollered up the stairs. “Get down here!” Jackie’s face had a scowl on it, as if she had forgotten that Elisea was sitting right there in front of her. When she felt her staring at her she quickly plastered a fake smile on her face.

  Taylor came bouncing down the steps. A nervous look came across her face as soon as she laid eyes on Elisea.

  “Hello, Taylor. You’re a busy woman to get ahold of,” Elisea said to her.

  Taylor had been avoiding her calls for days. She waved and sat down next to her mother.

  “So, what do you want to talk about?” Jackie asked.

  “I was really just checking up on Taylor. How are you?”

  “I’m fine.” Poor thing looked scared to death.

>   “Do you feel like talking?” Elisea asked her.

  Taylor shrugged. “It’s up to you.” Then she shook her head no.

  Elisea stood up. “Well, I just wanted to see if you needed me.” Elisea picked up her purse and started towards the door.

  “Wait!” Taylor called out after her.

  Elisea turned around.

  “I’m ready,” Taylor said.

  “Okay then.” Elisea sat back down.

  “What is going on? Something’s up.” Jackie said, getting irritated.

  “Jackie, Taylor asked me to be with her when she talks to you.”

  “About what? What did you do now, Taylor?” Jackie shouted at her.

  “Taylor’s pregnant, Jackie.”

  “What?” Jackie jumped to her feet and attacked Taylor, beating her in the head.

  “Jackie, no!” Elisea jumped up and tried to pull her off of her. Jackie was strong, but Elisea was stronger. She was able to pull her off of Taylor and push her down on the couch.

  “Calm down! Calm down! Beating her isn’t going to solve the problem.”

  Jackie sat on the couch huffing and puffing like a deranged woman. “How could you? I told you not to have sex. I told you! Do you want to end up like me, slaving every day at a 9 to 5 just barely making it? Huh?” She then mugged Taylor upside the head.

  Taylor was crying uncontrollably.

  “Taylor, baby, calm down. I told you we would work through this.”

  “We? What do you mean we? Are you going to pay all the baby’s bills? Are you going to get up in the middle of the night with this idiot and a baby? I don’t think so! I bust my ass every day, and this is the thanks I get? I don’t even have the extra money to get her an abortion. Ugh!” Jackie pulled at her hair. “And who is the damn daddy? Huh?” She mugged a crying Taylor again. “Answer me!” Jackie screamed.

  Taylor was crying so hard that she was almost hyperventilating.

  Elisea went to her to comfort her. “Just breathe. It’s going to be okay. Just breathe.”

  “You weren’t crying when you were had your legs open!” Jackie spat.

  “Do you not see that your child needs you right now? I know you’re upset, but this is not helping.” Elisea was ready to slap her. She contemplated calling Edem. He was good at talking to irate people. She, on the other hand, was ready to fight. Help me, Lord!