Allen shifted his weight impatiently. “And? She’d be your wife because?”
“I’m getting to that. The paralytic didn’t answer Jesus, but he told Him that he couldn’t get well because he had no man to help him into the pool when the angels would stir it. And that’s how she got her title, ‘I Have No Man.’ Isn’t that clever?”
Joseph saw the look on Allen’s face that seemed to ask, And? So he continued talking. “She was saying that she gets lonely and sick of being single sometimes when she dwells on the fact that she doesn’t have a man to come home to, or to spend time with, or to help her care for her son. But—”
“Wait a minute, your wife has a child? You’re willing to marry a woman who has a child that ain’t yours?”
“Just as Joseph did for Mary, and raised Jesus.”
“Whatever. Just tell me what thus sayeth the Lord,” Allen mocked.
“God hasn’t said anything. I just feel—believe, that she’s the manifestation of my prayers. She’s everything I prayed for in a wife. I asked God specifically for someone who has been through something; she’s divorced. I asked God for Juanita Bynum, but seeing that she’s married now, I’ll settle for a woman in the ministry. Now, tell me this ain’t God.”
“I know better than to challenge you when you’re bent on a revelation.”
“I’m just attracted to the anointing on her. The way she writes, how she interpreted the Scripture, and she didn’t mind exposing herself and telling her testimony. And to top it off, the woman is beautiful. My heart thumped the whole time I read her message.”
“So, you think she’s your wife because your heart thumped?”
“Never mind, man. You don’t understand.”
“You’re right, I don’t understand what you’re saying. But I do understand what it feels like to be out here with no family and no one to love. I do understand the desperation to do anything to get rid of loneliness and the aching for someone to call, to write, or to have them visit. I understand that. I just don’t want you to believe something stupid and make it worse on yourself. That’s all.”
“I am going to write to her. I just want her to know that her missive blessed me.”
“Write her?” Allen took the magazine. “What kind of magazine is that where you can write to people?”
“It’s Today’s Gospel. And her address isn’t in here.” He snatched the magazine back. “It says here that she’s a minister at Damascus Road Baptist Church in Charlotte. I’m going to send a card for her there.” He continued as if he could read the perplexed expression on Allen’s face. “What makes it all more ironic is that my baby sister lives in Charlotte. I’mma ask her to look the address up for me.”
“I should’ve known you already had a plan.”
“Can’t you see God’s hand in all this?”
“You’re a better man than I am, that’s all I can say. So while you’re doing all of this are you going to tell her that you’re at least six hours away? I mean if she as lonely as it sounds, don’t you think she’ll be disappointed to know where you are?”
Joseph dropped his head. “Okay, how about I do this? How about I bring the situation to intercessory prayer team tonight and see if something comes from there before I proceed?”
“I think that’s the smartest thing you’ve said since you’ve been here.”
Joseph turned to leave the room.
“Wait,” Allen stopped him. “I still wanna read that article. I want to witness this anointing for myself.”
Joseph tossed the magazine to his friend. “See ya in about thirty minutes.”
At 7:30 p.m., Joseph answered the knock on his door and let the nine members of the intercessory prayer team into his room. The men were always on time, starting and ending promptly. For those of them who had wives or girlfriends back home, 8:00 p.m. was the best time to call and if they were going to get a good place in the phone line they needed to be there at 8:00 on the dot. The lines for the phones could be ridiculously crowded.
Brother Hankins delegated devotional tasks to two of the intercessors. As the men joined hands, Hankins asked for prayer requests and concerns.
“I have a prayer need,” Joseph said. “I would like to ask God for wisdom about how to handle a situation. Please pray for God’s wisdom and His will concerning me and a minister friend of mine named Charity Phillips from Charlotte, North Carolina.” He closed his eyes and waited to hear the next prayer request.
Joseph listened as a few others submitted concerns and needs. Brother Hankins asked if there was anything else to consider for prayer. No one said anything. Joseph opened his eyes to observe the group. Every head was bowed and every eye closed. Most of the brothers were still holding hands. Some were swaying from side to side, some were waiting, and some were already praying quietly. One of Joseph’s friends, Brother Hunting, was praying in the Spirit.
“Brother Hunting,” Brother Hankins called to him. “Will you pray for us tonight?”
Brother Hunting could still be heard praying in tongues, but he acknowledged the request by nodding. “Thank you, Jesus,” he said, beginning his prayer. “Heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for being so awesome and wise. Thank You for Your righteousness, provision, and loving kindness. Thank You for allowing us to come to You tonight by Your grace and mercy. We have requests to lift up to You tonight, Father. We promise to trust You with the outcome of them, Lord. You are faithful and just and Your ways are perfect. I come to You on behalf of my brother, Lord. Thank You for preserving a wife for him in Charlotte, North Carolina…”
Joseph’s eyes popped open. Did he say what I think he just said? He looked over at Allen to see if he had heard him too. Allen was looking at him with the same expression. Joseph took it as confirmation, smiled, and bowed his head to focus on the rest of the prayer.
Chapter 12
IT WAS TUESDAY MORNING and the Word of God wasn’t the only thing that quickened Charity’s spirit. A 5:30 telephone call from Emmitt had been just as jolting. She was studying her daily devotional Scriptures when the ringing phone startled her.
“Hello?” she answered expecting an emergency.
“Good morning, Charity. It’s me, Emmitt.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Yeah, I just wanted to catch you before you started your day.”
“For?” She was annoyed when his voice did not sound as urgent as a phone call at this time of morning should.
He paused. “I was calling to ask you for your work address… I would like to send you something.”
“Did Xavier leave something?”
“No, this is something for you.”
“For me?” Her response was between blushing and disbelief.
“Uhm hum. Where do I send it to?”
Before she could answer she had a flashback of anger about Shawanda and their daughter Destiny. “Look Emmitt, I don’t have time for any games. I’m not interested in receiving a wedding invitation. Nor am I interested in a family photo of you and your new family.”
He chuckled. “Girl, you’re crazy. Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t ever getting married again?”
“Oh, don’t act like I ruined it for you.”
The tone of his voice changed. “Sweetie, I didn’t call you to fight. I called to see if I could get your work address. Are you going to give it to me?”
There were certain things about him she couldn’t resist, little things that made her want him. Like the tone of voice he was using; it was a decibel above a bedroom whisper. She squeezed her legs together so that she would think only with her head. A big part of her still loved him and would do anything to have her marriage restored. What she wouldn’t give to have her son’s father in the home with him. She softened, “Emmitt, I’m afraid to trust you. Every time I do, I get hurt. Which means my trust is in the wrong place anyway. So, I’m going to trust God on this one.”
“That’s the way it should be anyway.”
At least they agreed on th
at one thing. And to Charity that was evidence that God was performing His Word concerning their reconciliation.
“What is it that you’re sending?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. Now would it?”
She praised God silently. “Is it good or bad?” she asked with a chuckle.
“I’ll let you be the judge of that.”
“I can’t wait to see this. Are you ready for the address?”
“Uhm hum.”
“It’s a long address, so I’ll give it to you slow. On the first line put Charlotte Executive Park… Present Day Office Building.” It sounded like he gasped for air. “Emmitt, are you there?”
“Yeah, uhm. I just got the hiccups.” He made another noise but it was different from the one she heard at first.
“Oh. Did you get the first part?”
“Yeah, go ahead.”
“On the second line put Horizons, Suite 505… care of Charity Phillips… and lastly the zip code is 28269.”
“When should I expect the surprise?”
“What’s today?… Tuesday?… You should have it by Monday.”
“I’ll tell Iesha to look out for it.”
“Iesha?”
“Yes, she’s my admin—my secretary,” she said, remembering that Emmitt used to accuse her of relaying bigger words to intimidate him.
“All right then. I know you gotta get ready to get Lil’ Man up and get ready for work, so I’m going to let you go.”
The throbbing between her legs started again. “Emmitt, when are we going to talk?”
“Soon. You go on and do what you have to do. Don’t be late on my account. Wrap up; the Weather Channel says that Charlotte’s morning low is twenty-eight degrees out there. Don’t forget to lock up and drive carefully.”
She crossed her legs and pressed them together, hard. It felt good to know he still cared. “Thank you.”
He sounded like he was smiling. “No, thank you.”
She wanted to end the conversation with a confession of her love for him, but Emmitt hung up before she could. It seemed abrupt but the way he thanked her did sound like he was saying good-bye.
She looked at the clock and noticed she was running behind, but this was worth it. She knelt and thanked God for answering her prayers concerning her husband. “And whatever You send through him, Lord,” she confessed. “Be it flowers, a check, or a ring. I receive it in Jesus’ name.”
By the way Iesha set up the conference room, it looked like a second open house was about to take place. She wanted their first staff meeting to be memorable. On a purple linen cloth that she had centered on the executive meeting table, she placed three goblets she had brought from home, a pillar candle, cheddar cheese, crackers, a fresh fruit tray, and a bottle of sparkling white grape juice. She lit the candle and turned on the flash for the disposable camera.
“Charity’s going to be so surprised,” she announced, clapping her hands.
“It’s not good to be seen talking to yourself, young lady.”
It was one thing that Harmony’s voice annoyed her, and another that it took her forever to say whatever she had to say. Iesha pivoted on one foot to face her. “You’ve got some nerve to be talking, Ms.-tap-into-the-potential-within.”
Harmony walked past her to put her belongings on the table. “Oh, darling. The power of quiet time can be profoundly healing. It’s like showing up for an appointment with God.”
Iesha looked her up and down. Harmony was dressed in a lavender tie-dyed frock with black tights and brown moccasin-looking shoes. “I’m sorry I gave you the impression that I have time to talk to you. But this conversation will take more time than I have to give. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go get the rest of what we’ll need for this meeting.”
By the time Iesha reached her desk to retrieve the agendas she had typed, she found herself praying. “I’m sorry, God. You’re going to have to help me with that woman. I just can’t do her. But … that doesn’t give me a right to be nasty. Forgive me.” She untaped the paper from her computer that held a list of scriptural verses, which Charity had made for her. She read from the paper. “I am a new creature in Christ. Old things have passed away. I am redeemed from the law of sin and death. In all these things I am more than a conqueror. Amen.”
Harmony was reading the newspaper when Iesha returned. Iesha sat across from her. “Hey, Harmony.” Harmony lowered the paper. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for the attitude I just gave you.”
“That’s okay, young lady.” Iesha cringed at the sound of her voice. “I know it’s hard when you have a lot on you.”
Iesha raised her eyebrow. “What makes you think I have a lot on me?”
“I’m a therapist, remember?”
“Oh.” Iesha felt relieved for a sensible answer.
“I guess it’s a gift. Charity has it too. Seems like she can see right through me.”
“Is that so?”
Iesha figured she didn’t have anything to lose and decided to open up to Harmony. “Yeah. I’ll never forget the time we went to this Chinese shack on the west side for lunch. These two dudes walked in and stood behind us while we were looking at the menu boards. I turned around to tell them they could order their food because we couldn’t make up our minds. Charity turned around to let them know she agreed. Before they could even move forward, she nudged me and told me we needed to get out of there. I thought she was just paranoid because we were on my side of town. But as soon as we got into the car, we heard yelling, screaming, and a couple of gunshots. I drove like crazy while she called the police on her cell phone. Ever since then, she’s only got to tell me something once, and it’s done… She calls it listening to the Holy Spirit.”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about, tapping into the power within. All of us possess that ability.”
Iesha shrugged her shoulders. “I guess.”
“You guess? There’s a piece of God within us all. I’ve been reading this great book, A Course in Miracles. I’m going to have to let you borrow it because it’ll help you along your spiritual journey. I’ve learned that man is God and God is man, and that we have so much potential within ourselves. The only thing that stands between us and God is ignorance of who we really are.”
Iesha shook her head as if she were trying to shake water out of her ears. “Let’s change the subject, because you’re making my head swim.”
Harmony’s face disappeared behind the newspaper again. “What’s your zodiac sign?”
Now this was a subject Iesha could relate to and have a decent conversation about with Harmony. “I’m a Leo to my heart.”
“Leo,” Harmony read from the paper. “What you neglected forty-eight hours ago commands immediate attention. Family, employment spotlighted. Love walks in today.”
Iesha cocked her head back. “What? That’s why I don’t go by those things anymore. They don’t make any sense. Let the horoscopes tell it, I meet a new love every day.”
Harmony bent the paper back enough to see Iesha. “What it’s saying is that whatever you did forty-eight hours ago is consuming you, it has all of your attention. And it has to do with your family or your job, or both. And that you will meet someone today.”
“Okay, I’ll give you the first part. That’s true. But if I meet someone I could fall in love with today, you and I are gonna be buddies for the rest of our lives.”
Iesha watched Harmony’s mouth turn up into a grinch-like smile.
“You shouldn’t smile like that, makes you look like evil. See what Charity’s horoscope says, she’s a Capricorn.”
“Capricorn. Long-awaited news can relate to one who played an important role in the past. Spiritual values surface; you adopt a philosophical attitude where family, loved ones are concerned. Don’t let past interfere with future success.”
“Can you translate that, please?”
“Charity is waiting for something from someone who used to be important to her. Because it’s been a long
time coming, she questions what, or whom, she believes. She’s still living her life in the past and people are concerned about her.” Harmony lowered the paper.
“I don’t know about that one, Harmony. I don’t know anyone who is as strong in their faith as Charity. If any of us are concerned, it’d be about her being too strong in her faith, but not because she ain’t strong enough. So I don’t know about that one.”
“It didn’t say specifically what you’d be concerned about. It just said that you would be.”
Iesha looked at the clock. It was only 9:50. Ten o’clock, please come on. Harmony must’ve seen her look at the clock, because she said, “Besides, it’s too early to say it’s not true. It’s just nine fifty. The universe is still in motion, orchestrating and aligning things to push us toward being our higher selves. Only some of us won’t go. Too afraid. Too busy holding on to hurts and pasts we can’t change. If only we knew how great we were. How divine we are. If we’d only quit holding on to this sin-sick-soul mentality.”
“Earth to Harmony. Girl, do you ever have plain conversations? Hel-lo, we were talking about horoscopes.”
Harmony picked up the newspaper again. “I’m a Gemini, the twins. It says that I am no longer plagued by indecision. I know what I want and what I have to do to get it. Proceed with my plans. Don’t hesitate to pull strings.”
“Yours is pretty cut and dry.”
Harmony reached into her pocket. “I know, but I got my lucky rabbit’s foot just in case.”
“Iii-uh.” Iesha cringed. “What in the world is that?”
“A rabbit’s foot. The kind they sell in the stores are not real, this one is an orig—”
“Well, well, well.” Charity strolled in. “What did I ever do to deserve such a wonderful staff?” Iesha was glad that Charity’s eyes were focused on the food on the table, because if she had caught Harmony slipping that dingy rabbit’s foot back into her pocket, she would’ve had a fit. “Look at this spread,” she heard Charity say.
“I wanted our first staff meeting to be special.”
“Thank you, Iesha.” Charity walked over to hug her sister. “This is special.”
Good to Me Page 11