Sex in the Sanctuary

by Lutishia Lovely

  Maurice looked like the spider when the moth flew into the web. “Touché,” was all he said before walking over to Millicent and patting her head of perfect curls. “Now, once you put the veil on, this flat area will be covered, and you will look like Cinderella herself going to the ball.”

  Millicent turned and looked in the full-length mirror one last time. She could hardly believe it was her staring back at her. It was as if this was happening to someone else. The day she’d dreamed of her entire life was here. And like any bride, her stomach was a bundle of nerves. She jumped when the phone rang.

  “Can you get that, Maurice? I don’t want to talk to anyone right now,” Millicent said, while reaching for her veil and the ivory silk purse that lay beside it.

  “The limo’s here,” Maurice stated as he hung up the phone. “It’s show time, sistah, and you’re the star!”

  “You’re sure you don’t want me to go with you?” Shannon asked. “I was planning to go to the beach, but I can go later if you need me.”

  “No, I’ll be fine,” Millicent replied, going over to hug her new friend. “I’ll have some help once I get there.” Ever since Millicent had gone by the bridal shop and asked Shannon’s assistance in helping her get ready, they had become fast friends. She’d become a confidante of sorts, and while not sharing everything, Millicent had spoken feelings aloud to Shannon that she’d never shared with anyone else. Not even her intended husband. Shannon had thought some of Millicent’s story odd, but she was so taken with this obviously beautiful and successful woman befriending her that she’d just been a quiet, avid listener, keeping her opinions to herself.

  Shannon grabbed the bag holding the dress’s detached train, and Maurice took Millicent’s small suitcase. Millicent looked around the room one more time, took a deep breath and headed toward the front door. A smile spread across her face as she turned to lock the door behind her. When I step through this door again, I’ll be married.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Hope,” Vivian said, smiling warmly. “And I love that suit!”

  Hope smiled. “I love yours, too.” She’d noticed as soon as she and Cy had entered Minister Montgomery’s office that she and Sister Vivian were wearing similar but not identical, ivory-colored suits. Like Vivian, Hope had chosen gold jewelry to accessorize her outfit but had added a splash of color to her ensemble with a gold, slate and salmon-colored scarf. Hope took their being similarly dressed as a good sign. Maybe she and this first lady would get along.

  Hope had been hesitant to accept Cy’s invitation to visit him in California. Aside from the fact that she didn’t have a lot of extra money for travel right now, she didn’t think she could control herself if they ever got alone. The man made rational thinking impossible! Eventually, though, Cy’s reasoning wore her down, and she decided to accept his most generous offer of an all-expense-paid, extended weekend in Los Angeles.

  She’d arrived at LAX on Friday afternoon. The weather was perfect, summer in October. She was whisked by limo to Cy’s penthouse where he, having been called to a meeting at the last minute, had informed her to wait. There was a vase of exotic flowers on the table in the entryway, along with a heart-carrying teddy bear and a card welcoming Hope to his not-so-humble abode. That evening they’d gone to a romantic restaurant nestled in the recesses of Topanga Canyon. The food, company and conversation had been delicious. A movie had followed dinner, and they’d enjoyed coffee and dessert in the lobby restaurant of the Ritz Carlton, where Hope was staying.

  Saturday had been a visitor’s dream and had included an early morning tour of Hollywood, a trip to Disneyland, and an evening of dining and dancing as they sailed on a yacht around the marina.

  And now, here she was, in the private domain of one of America’s most prolific preachers, calmly chatting with him and the first lady. She wouldn’t have been surprised had she looked down and seen glass slippers instead of leather pumps.

  Derrick and Cy had been speaking privately and now came over to join the ladies. Cy cleared his throat and placed a possessive hand on Hope’s shoulder.

  “I know you two are wondering why I asked to meet with you, and I know we don’t have a lot of time so I’ll get right to the point. Derrick,” he began, turning to face his friend fully, “you are more than my pastor. You are my spiritual mentor and friend. Your example in ministry and Christianity is one I work to follow, as you follow Christ.

  “I admire the example you set in your personal life with your wife and with your children. I’ve long said that if I ever got married, I would want a marriage like you and Vivian seem to have—one full of love, ordained by God.”

  Vivian thought of the love she and Derrick had shared the night before, and if this Black woman could have blushed, she would have been as red as a beet. As it was, the room suddenly felt too warm.

  “Well,” Cy continued, now turning back to Hope. “I believe I’ve found that woman.” Hope stopped breathing as her head shot up, eyes rounded and filling with tears.

  “And as your marriage has been such an inspiration to me and as your friendship has meant so much to me…” Cy pulled a box out of his pocket and got on his knee.

  “I wanted you and Vivian to witness the moment that will forever change my life, the moment when I ask Hope to be my wife.”

  As Cy opened the box, streaks of gold and pink and blue danced off of the five-carat diamond nestled in the soft, black velvet. Hope was as still as a statue, her hand over her heart, her mouth a perfect “O,” her breath still held. Like Hope, Vivian and Derrick were also shocked into stillness. But they were still breathing.

  “Hope,” he said simply, “will you marry me?”

  Hope exhaled slowly—her answer equally modest, in fact just one word: “Yes.”

  Like the Red Sea, the Kingdom Citizens’ crowd parted as the long, sleek limo glided into the parking lot beside the church. All eyes were on it as the driver stepped out, straightening his jacket and donning his hat before going to the other side to open the passenger door.

  Millicent sat frozen in the backseat as the door opened. Suddenly her calm and resolve and confidence left her. What am I doing? Have I lost my mind? She glimpsed a crowd of people on the sidewalk, their bodies turned in the direction of the limo. A little girl ran up to the opened limo door and peeked inside.

  “Ooh, you’re pretty! Are you getting married?” she asked, her eyes and voice full of awe and admiration.

  It was enough to jolt Millicent out of immobility. She lifted the hem of her wedding dress and, taking the driver’s hand, stepped a satin-covered toe onto the pavement.

  You could hear a pin drop as the gawking crowd held its breath awaiting the answer to the question, “Who’s that in the limo?” As Millicent stepped out of the limo and stood with back straight and head high, a collective gasp went through the Sunday worshippers, followed by a din of chattering whispers as opinions started flying like pigeons to birdseed.

  Millicent dared not look around her. Instead, she walked straight to the side door, the one leading into Kingdom Citizens’ suite of offices. The driver followed, loaded down with her suitcase and garment bag carrying the long train. She breathed deeply as she stepped inside the office building. Inside, everyone stared. No one spoke. Millicent continued looking straight ahead as she walked toward the executive offices. She was almost to the door leading to Derrick’s office area when his personal assistant, Lionel, stopped her.

  “Millicent!” he shouted, quite flustered at what he saw, not to mention that Millicent had come close to interrupting a meeting that Minister Montgomery had insisted not be interrupted. “You look, well, you look, uh, spectacular! I didn’t even know you were getting married.”

  Millicent turned and smiled. “Thank you, Lionel. You look nice today as well.” She turned to continue her journey into Derrick’s office. “Is Pastor Derrick in his office? I left a message to meet with him between services.”

  Lionel’s smile faded and was replaced with a
frown. “Uh, Millicent, Minister Montgomery is, uh, already meeting with someone. He can’t be disturbed.”

  “He didn’t get my message?” she asked, as if that could be the only reason she was not being seen at once. She’d never had any problem accessing either her pastor or Sister Vivian, so had not been overly concerned when, during the past week, she’d been unable to reach them. She’d also tried to reach Cy all week, to no avail. But being sure that she’d see them all in church, she’d simply left messages for the Montgomerys and Cy to meet her in the pastor’s office between services. Once there, she planned to bare her heart and soul before her husband-to-be and her pastor, assured that once they heard “the Word of the Lord,” Cy would quickly agree to be her husband and Derrick would marry them symbolically right then and there. Millicent had taken care of obtaining a marriage license and arranging blood tests so that she and Cy could repeat their vows in a civil ceremony later in the week. This action taken today, with the gown and the limo and the flowers and the veil, was the final feet-to-her-faith act the prophetess had so accurately suggested. After all, she and Cy were already married in spirit; this outward joining was just a technicality.

  Lionel was obviously uncomfortable. What was wrong with him? Once again, Millicent tried to go around him and head for her pastor’s private domain.

  “Like I said, Millicent. Pastor cannot be disturbed right now.” He cleared his throat. “For any reason. He was explicit. Maybe if you wait here, I can have a word with him before he starts the next service. Can you wait?”

  Millicent didn’t want to, but she nodded her head in the affirmative. She’d waited a lifetime to become someone’s wife; a few more minutes wouldn’t hurt. She instructed the driver to place her bag near the couch and then told him to wait in the limo for further instructions. She thought that maybe she and Cy would go have a celebratory brunch after their ceremony, then maybe they could take a drive along the ocean-edged Pacific Coast Highway. She knew their honeymoon would have to wait, but tonight…. She smiled, and a bit of her nervousness vanished, just thinking about a night with Cy—as his wife.

  “No, come this way,” Derrick directed as Cy started to lead Hope to the entrance that would take them through the executive offices and toward the front of the church. “We’re already late, so you guys might as well come through the pulpit entrance.”

  Cy grabbed Hope’s hand and kissed it as they followed Derrick and Vivian through a second set of doors that led directly into the pulpit of the sanctuary. Rodney, the head usher, was standing just outside the door and led Hope to a seat on the front row. As he walked back toward the pulpit, he was almost run over by a harried-looking Lionel, whose eyes were searching the pulpit anxiously. Seeing Derrick, he made a beeline for his side. Sister Vivian had already taken a seat on the bench she shared with Derrick and their assistants. Derrick was conferring with one of the other ministers as the choir was finishing their offering selection. Lionel waited, shifting his weight from foot to foot, while Derrick concluded his discussion.

  “Pastor,” he whispered while Derrick was still standing. “I need to talk to you.”

  Millicent paced impatiently, waiting for Lionel to return. Her nervousness was turning to anger. Where were they? Then she remembered. She’d mentioned only Minister Montgomery to Lionel; she hadn’t told him she needed to see Sister Vivian and Cy as well. Darn! What should she do now? She could hear the choir singing and knew the taking up of the offering was almost over. There would be only one more song before Minister Derrick began his sermon. What do I do? She continued to pace and ponder her options. She could wait until the service was over and speak to them then. That, however, was a risky proposition since after the last service Minister Derrick and Sister Vivian usually made a beeline for their office before heading home to rest. She also didn’t want to risk Cy’s leaving without her being able to see him. She thought about leaving and coming back in the evening but quickly nixed that idea. It was now or never. She knew if she left the church grounds, she’d never get up the nerve to do this again. No, Millicent thought as she headed for the doors and the front of the church. “This is my wedding day,” she vowed. “And I will not be denied.”

  Vivian rose and walked from the pulpit with as much restraint as she could muster. Inside, her mind was reeling. What in heaven’s name is Millicent doing in the church office in a wedding dress? No, she can’t be thinking what I think she’s thinking. “No!” she whispered aloud, and once the door was closed firmly behind her, she sprinted to the lobby of the executive offices where Lionel had left a would-be bride. Before she reached the door that would take her into the lobby, she stopped, took a deep breath and said a quick prayer. She would need some divine help to get through these next few minutes with Millicent. Lord knew she’d never encountered this situation before. “Help me, Lord Jesus,” she whispered. She took another breath to steady herself and nodded to Lionel. He opened the door, and they stepped out into the lobby of the executive offices.

  It was empty. Vivian looked around, noticing the garment bag and suitcase sitting near the couch and a satin purse resting on top of them. She looked at Lionel, who was also looking around.

  “She was right here a minute ago,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “Wait right here, First Lady. Maybe she went to the rest room or something. I’ll check it out.”

  Vivian was too keyed up to wait. She wasn’t getting a good feeling about this. “Thanks, Lionel, but I think I’d better come with you.”

  Hope was quietly taking in the scene around her, still in shock from what just happened. She was engaged! This was what she’d wanted her whole life. And Cy was the type of man for whom she’d prayed. During those first weeks as she’d gotten to know him, an inner voice had begun to whisper things to her—things she felt too good to be true. After her mistaken assumption of Shawn being her future husband, she hadn’t dared listen. Now she knew, without a doubt. It had been God. She stared at the platinum and diamond ring. I’m getting married!

  Smiling at this thought, she looked up to find Cy’s eyes resting comfortably on her. He smiled and winked. She smiled back. Not a few women in the audience caught the interaction, and suddenly Hope was the center of some unwanted and unfriendly attention. A couple of the women in the choir were looking at her with disdain, and the attractive woman who’d engaged her in such wonderful conversation moments before suddenly leaned in the opposite direction, placing her large purse between them. Church folks are church folks wherever you go, Hope thought. But they were just going to have to get over it. Because she was going to become Mrs. Cy Taylor whether anybody liked it or not!

  Millicent hesitated for just a moment as she stood at the back of the sanctuary. A small stirring began as the people in the back few rows began to notice her. The choir had just begun to sing another D&C original called “Perfect Love.” Millicent felt it was a sign from God. She couldn’t have chosen anything more appropriate. The song gave her the push she needed, and she began to glide down the middle aisle. The song’s melody was perfect, and she kept her eyes straight ahead, not looking to the left or to the right, as she walked toward her destiny.

  “She’s not in any of the offices or in any of the classrooms on the other side.” Lionel continued to look around as he spoke to Vivian, as if Millicent would reappear out of the air around him. “I looked outside,” Lionel continued, “and the limo she came in is still there.”

  Limo? Vivian shook her head. This was getting more ridiculous by the moment. She stood in contemplation when suddenly it hit her. “Lord, have mercy!” she whispered and headed down the office hallway toward the front of the church. Walking quickly from the side door of the office suites, across the lawn and through the doors to the foyer, she entered when Millicent was already halfway down the aisle. Vivian froze in shock as she watched the unthinkable unfold.

  While Vivian stood frozen in the foyer, Derrick maintained a similar position in the pulpit. He’d felt some type of commotion as he
sat behind the podium and stood up to see what the fuss was about. By this time, the entire church was talking, and those in the front rows had turned to see what had those in the back rows so excited. Some people had stood to get a better view with many of the members smiling broadly as they watched what they thought was a previously planned affair. “You look beautiful,” one whispered as Millicent passed her in the aisle. “I ain’t mad atcha!” said another.

  Millicent’s eyes were still staring straight ahead, although she’d taken note of Cy as soon as she’d entered the sanctuary. Just let me get down this aisle. Just let me make it to the front. Millicent’s legs were trembling so badly she thought for a moment she wouldn’t be able to make it. But when she heard the encouraging comments from the women she passed, it bolstered her confidence. She was only three rows from the front of the church now. She looked into the eyes of her pastor, who had an unreadable expression on his face. Finally, she turned to look at Cy. Had she been buck naked, he couldn’t have been looking at her more incredulously. Had Millicent looked down and to her left, she would have seen that Hope’s face mirrored Cy’s.

  Derrick gave an almost imperceptible signal to Darius, and the choir stopped singing even as the music continued to play. Everyone was frozen in suspense now. Derrick, Cy, the ministers in the pulpit, the members out front. Vivian was poised at the door to the sanctuary, her eyes glued to Derrick, waiting for a clue or a cue, whichever came first. Hope was transfixed, along with everyone else who sat in the pews.

  “Millicent,” Derrick began softly, appropriately discerning that he was dealing with a very delicate situation. He motioned toward the back of the church. “Sister Vivian is waiting for you. She’d like to discuss this with you privately.”

  Millicent took a few steps toward Cy. She almost felt separated from what was taking place, as if she were watching her own movie, as if this were a dream. Slowly, dramatically, she raised her hand toward him, her once shaking body now remarkably calm. “Husband!” she called out with a loud voice. “It is our time. The time that God ordained for us before the foundation of the world. Come, darling. Come to your bride.”