Through the Storm

by Vanessa Miller

  Chapter 7

  On Sunday afternoon, Nina and Isaac sat in his office waiting on Donavan to join them. When Isaac found him on the floor of his condo with the church secretary, Isaac had told both of them that he wanted to meet with them in his office after Sunday service. He and Nina met with Diana at two in the afternoon. They explained to her that her actions were in violation of the conduct code of the church. Nina allowed Diana to review the employment agreement she had signed two years earlier. Then Isaac said, “We are suspending you without pay for two months. If after that time period you believe that you can conduct yourself in the manner in which God requires of his people, you will be welcomed back to your position at this church with open arms.”

  Diana squirmed in her seat. She kept her head down as she asked, “What am I supposed to do for the next two months?”

  Isaac told her, “We hope that you will seek the Lord during this time and ask Him to cleanse your heart. You are more than welcome to continue coming to this church during your suspension period. But if you would like to attend another church during this time, we will understand that as well.”

  With her head still slightly lowered, Diana asked, “How am I supposed to pay my bills?”

  Isaac answered matter-of-factly, “You’ll probably have to get another job during this time period.”

  When it was Donavan’s turn, he sat across from his father. Nina got up from the couch and handed her son the employment agreement he had signed when he started working for the church. “Please read over this information before your father speaks with you.” She patted him on the back and then turned and reclaimed her seat.

  Isaac saw the tears floating around his wife’s eyes as she turned from Donavan. He hesitated for a moment, giving Nina time to adjust to what he was about to do. Donavan’s head was still bent as he read through the employment agreement. Isaac’s eyes were on Nina. Her head was bowed as she prayed, then she looked at Isaac and gave him a reassuring smile and nodded.

  All right, she had his back, and that was all he needed to know. He and Nina had gone back and forth on this issue over the weekend. They’d prayed, talked and fussed about what they would do with Donavan. They had finally made the only decision that could have been made in this situation. They had to do to him what they would do to any other staff member caught in the same predicament.

  “Your mother and I set this meeting with you this afternoon because we need to inform you that your conduct has fallen below the Godly standard you agreed to uphold at the time of your employment,” Isaac began.

  Donavan laughed nervously, “At the time of my employment? Dad, why are you talking to me like I’m just some employee here? I’m your son.”

  Nina stood and walked over to Donavan and put her hand on his shoulder. “Let your father finish, hon.”

  For as long as Donavan could remember he had both feared and respected his father. Isaac had gone to prison when Donavan was eleven months old for drug trafficking. Donavan had been four years old when Isaac had been released from prison. Prison had changed Isaac to the point where he now wanted to live right and love the Lord. But as Donavan grew older, he began to hear the stories about how infamous his father had been during his drug running days. Knowing what his father had been capable of always made Donavan hesitate and check his words before speaking. Even now, as Donavan looked across the desk at his father, he decided it would be best to just shut his mouth and listen.

  Isaac’s voice was calm but forceful as he said, “We are suspending you without pay from your responsibilities at the church for four months.”

  Donavan shook his head as if he’d just heard something really wrong and he had to get it out of his mind before it somehow became right or true. “B-but you only suspended Diana for two months? I don’t understand how you can do this to me.”

  “You are in a position of authority at this church, and that makes your offense much worse in my book. Therefore, you will pay a higher price for your sins,” Isaac told him.

  Donavan turned to Nina. “Mom, come on. I’m sorry about everything. I’ll do anything to make this right, but don’t send me away like this.”

  Nina wasn’t even trying to hide her tears now. The saltiness of tears tasted bitter as she opened her mouth to say, “We’re not sending you away, Donavan. This is still your church and we are still your parents. We just believe that you need time to rebuild your relationship with God before trying to minister in the children’s church.”

  Donavan turned back to his father. “Is this really what you want, Dad? You know me. You know I love God and you know that I’m good with the kids in Children’s Church.” When Isaac said nothing, Donavan stood up and continued to plead his case. “Don’t do this, Dad. I’m your son. I know I messed up and I’m sorry; I really am.”

  Isaac asked Donavan, “Are you truly sorry, son; or just sorry that you got caught?”

  Donavan stepped back as if he’d just been punched by his father. “Okay, then. Throw me out of here. But tell me this; how am I supposed to pay my bills without a paycheck for four months?”

  Isaac hunched his shoulders. “There are consequences for our actions. You should have had a plan in place since you knew you were living contrary to the will of God.”

  “Isaac, you don’t have to be so harsh,” Nina admonished.

  But Isaac was fed up. “You know what, Nina? I’ve had it up to here,” he lifted his hand above his head then continued, “with this boy’s attitude. He messed up, but then he comes in here and expects us to just act as if it never happened.” He pointed a finger at Donavan as he said, “But you forgot one thing, didn’t you? You forgot that I don’t work for myself. I answer to God about everything that goes on in this church, so even if I did want to forget about it, I can’t. Because God saw what you did long before I walked in and caught you playing house with the church secretary.”

  Now Donavan was fired up. He forgot about how much he feared his dad as they stood nose to nose, and Donavan huffed, “What about forgiveness, huh, Dad? Yeah, you’re so up on what God says and what God wants, so tell me what the Bible says about forgiveness?”

  Isaac calmed himself and sat back down. “We are more than willing to bring you back to your current position after your suspension period, if you are willing to conduct yourself as a man of God.”

  “Are Godly men homeless, Dad? Because that’s what I’m going to be without an income for the next four months.”

  Nina wiped away her tears as she told her son, “Why don’t you move back home for the next few months and rent your condo out?”

  That idea earned an angry, bitter laugh from Donavan. “I wouldn’t step foot in your husband’s house,” he told his mother. He put his hand on Isaac’s desk and leaned down so that he was in his father’s face again. “You win, Pastor Walker, I’ll get out of your church, but I want you out of my life. Do you hear me, old man? Don’t you come near me.”

  Donavan stepped away from his father. Nina tried to hug him. He brushed her off by saying, “Not now, Mom. I just need my space right now, okay?”

  Nina’s blubbering response indicated that she understood.

  Donavan angrily strutted by his mother and father. When he reached the office door, he swung it open and then turned back to them and said, “Matthew 6:15 says ‘if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins’. Can you afford to not have your sins forgiven, Dad?” With that, Donavan slammed the door behind him.

  Chapter 8

  Donavan was throwing his personal belongings in the open boxes on his desk and floor of his office when Johnny walked in. “Man, what’s going on around here? Diana and the other ladies on the administration team are in the front office crying; you’re in here throwing all your stuff in boxes. What gives?”

  Donavan turned to his friend, actually he and Johnny had been best friends since Johnny came to the church two years ago. Donavan threw the ‘Best Coach of the Year’ plaque he’d received for coa
ching the peewee football team in his box as he told Johnny in a very loud voice, “My father, the pastor of this great church, fired me!”

  A look of astonishment crossed Johnny’s face. He closed the door and said, “Donavan, please tell me you’re kidding?”

  Donavan sat down and put his head in his hands. He rubbed his face and then looked up at his friend. “My mom didn’t even have my back, man. Do you know how that makes me feel?”

  Hurt and pain was etched on Donavan’s face. Johnny wanted to back away and let Donavan deal with his pain, but he had to know, so he asked, “What did you do?”

  Shame replaced hurt on Donavan’s face. He lowered his head and turned away from his friend.

  “Man, what happened?” Johnny pressed.

  Donavan turned back to Johnny and said, “Dad caught me with Diana.”

  Johnny pointed in the direction of the front of the church. “Diana Milner?” Donavan nodded. “Well what exactly did he catch you doing?”

  Donavan gave his friend a look that said, “What do you think we were doing?”

  Johnny backed away from Donavan. “I don’t believe this. I mean, I know you’ve been struggling with this, but you told me that you had it under control. And you promised me that you would not approach anyone at this church. Do you remember promising me that?”

  A year ago, Donavan confided in Johnny about the woman he had been sleeping with. Donavan had told Johnny that he was going to stop seeing her, but most of all, he’d promised that he would never approach a woman at his father’s church until he had gotten himself together.

  “I didn’t approach her. Diana came after me. I kept telling her I wasn’t interested, but she wouldn’t let it go. You see how she looks; how could I just let it go?”

  Johnny folded his arms. “Oh, so it’s her fault? Boy, you are an elder at this church and old enough to know better than that.”

  “Now you sound like my father.” Donavan mimicked Isaac as he buttoned his suit jacket and sat stiffly behind his desk. “Your penalty is greater because you are in a position of authority.”

  “So what was the penalty?” Johnny asked.

  “He suspended Diana for two months and me for four.”

  “You said he fired you. That doesn’t sound like you’ve been fired.”

  “It’s without pay, Johnny. He knows I’ll have to get another job in order to pay my bills. Who would leave a new job to come back to a place they were basically in exile from?” Donavan pointed at his door as if someone was standing behind it. “He knows I won’t come back here, but he can still keep a happy home by telling my mom, ‘I didn’t fire him, honey. I gave that son of yours a chance to repent – he just won’t do it’.”

  “Donavan, excuse me for saying this, but you’re acting as if you didn’t do anything wrong.”

  Donavan lifted his hands to the heavens. “I know I was wrong,” he yelled. “But where is the forgiveness that my father always preaches about?” Donavan shook his head. He picked up some of the papers on his desk, crumbled them, and threw them in the trash. “I’m just angry right now.”

  Johnny ran his hand over the top of his head. He stood in the middle of the floor, not sure what to do, then he made a decision. “I’m going to talk to him.”

  “Talk to who? “Donavan asked.

  “Your father; I’m going to tell him how you’ve been struggling with this situation.”

  Standing, Donavan asked, “Are you crazy? You can’t go in there and tell him that.”

  “Well then, tell me what to do, because I don’t know how to help you with this one,” Johnny said.

  “If you really want to help, I do need you to do something for me.”

  “You name it, buddy; I’m there.”

  ***

  By the time Diana Milner left the House of God, she didn’t feel angry like Donavan. Diana was repentant and humbled by the way the staff at the House of God treated her. When she walked out of Pastor Walker’s office and told her office mates that she’d been suspended, they didn’t look at her as if she was a leper. They huddled around and prayed for her. Then one by one each of them hugged and wished her well. By the time they were finished they were all in tears.

  Pastor Walker even called her back into his office and apologized for what his son had done to her. If only he knew.

  What she remembered most clearly was Pastor Walker telling her that although men make mistakes, God would never fail her. And then he admonished her to put her trust in God.

  Diana had not come to the House of God for some big spiritual experience. She’d had a job to do and that had been her single focus. However, each Sunday as she listened to Pastor Walker deliver the word of God, she felt something stirring in her heart. But she hadn’t allowed the stirring to grow into a meaningful relationship with God. She had been too busy chasing after Donavan to worry about developing a relationship with the Lord.

  But now, as she sat at her kitchen table with the Bible in front of her, Diana decided to find her way back to God. The telephone rang and she almost let the answering machine pick it up, but then decided to just get it over with.

  “So how did it go? Did he fire you?” the voice on the other end of the phone asked.

  “No he suspended me and Donavan,” she said.

  After a slight pause, the caller said, “It doesn’t matter, we can still sue. I’ll get you one of the best lawyers. That church will be closed and penniless by the time we get through with them.”

  “He had just cause to suspend me. I violated the rules of conduct in the employment agreement I signed,” Diana told the caller.

  “It doesn’t matter. We might not win the case, but we will bankrupt them with litigations.” The caller laughed and then told her, “And if you get a jury of people who like to fornicate and don’t want some Bible thumping preacher telling them it’s wrong, you just might win.”

  “I’m not suing Pastor Walker. I’m done with this whole mess. Do you hear me?”

  “Look, we had a deal. You can’t just quit now.”

  “I don’t want anything else to do with your little plot. Don’t call me ever again or I’ll call the police.” She hung up the telephone, took a deep breath and then opened her Bible.

  ***

  Betrayal happened all the time. This was a fact of life that he was only too aware of, but he still hadn’t expected Diana to back out of their deal. Forget honor among thieves, he knew all of her dirty little secrets and could expose her anytime he wanted to. That was the reason he thought she would do as he said, when he said. And she had followed his instructions line upon line, precept upon precept – until now.

  Diana had joined the House of God Christian Fellowship Church, applied for the administrative assistant position and gotten it, then she started cozying up to Donavan just like he’d told her to do. But he doubted if that part of the assignment had been a big hardship for her. Donavan looked like Morris Chestnut with a Bible and youth group followers instead of star struck fans following behind him. Now it had all blown up and he thought this would be his moment of glory, but the turn coat refused to bring charges against the House of God Christian Fellowship.

  He shook his head as if shaking off a bad dream and picked up the phone. He might be down, but he was certainly not out. There were always two jokers in a game of spades. Diana had been his little joker, the most expedient means to an end, but he was about to play the big daddy joker; the card that always made the other players gasp as it was smacked down on top of their punk bust-a-move-thought-you-won-this-hand-but-you-didn’t cards. He dialed the numbers that he’d promised not to call until the time was right.

  When his big joker answered he said, “It’s me. We need to talk.”

  “I’m not so sure about that,” the big joker told him.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I don’t think I will be able to help you.”

  “Haven’t you been doing the things I asked you to do?”

  “Yes, and he�
��s totally clean. The man doesn’t have a corrupt bone in his body.”

  This had to be some kind of record. Twice in one day he had been refused. That just didn’t happen to him. People got in line and did what he told them to do or he exposed them. “I don’t think you want to disappoint me. You know what this could mean for you, right?”

  His big joker might as well have been a deuce as he told him, “I refuse to harm an innocent man just to save myself. So you do what you have to do.” He hung up.

  The man put the phone back in its cradle after being hung up on by yet another betrayer. Someone would have to pay for all that had gone wrong. Yes, he would take care of Diana and his big joker, or big joke as he turned out to be, but first he had to make Isaac pay.

  Everyone seemed to think that Isaac Walker was some sort of prince, but he knew the preacher to be a monster, and he was going to expose that fact to the world.

  Chapter 9

  Iona grabbed her suitcase from the baggage claim and stepped outside of the Dayton Airport terminal to look for Donavan. She hadn’t talked with him since she left for Chicago but he had agreed to pick her up before she left town; and Donavan never forgot an obligation. As Iona stood outside waiting on Donavan’s black Oldsmobile to pull up, her thoughts were still in Chicago. She just couldn’t get her mind off of all those posters she hung in the family room of Cynda and Keith’s house.

  Iona smiled as she remembered one of the scriptures on healing that she hung on the wall that seemed as if one half of the scripture was for her mother, but that God was speaking to her with the other half of it. Jeremiah 17:14 read, Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

  It was as if God was reminding her that she had given her life to the Lord when she was a child; and if God saved her, she was saved. How could that be? She certainly hadn’t felt saved for a good seven years. But maybe what God was trying to show her with that scripture was that He hadn’t taken His salvation away from her. And that the ball was still in her court. Like God was saying, come back and you will be saved. But saved from what? And did she really want or need what God could offer her at this point in her life?