Good to Me

by LaTonya Mason

  Joseph fell to his knees and thanked God for His faithfulness. He was crying like a baby when he went to hug the counselor. “Thanks for everything. Thank you, thank you.”

  “You better get going, Nelson—I mean, Joseph. I’ve only got three hours to get you to the bus station.”

  With that, Joseph ran at lightning speed to the canteen where Allen and Hankins worked. He was out of breath when he reached them. “I’m… going… home… today.”

  Even though he would confess his immediate release every day, they could tell by the tears streaming down his face that he was really going home. They all shouted with praise and hugged and cried together. The life they’d helped one another get through had already changed. “I only have three hours before my bus leaves, so I have got to get moving. Hankins, I want you to carry on with the intercessory prayer meetings. Don’t let no one stop you. Allen, you are an encourager, keep the bros encouraged. You know how I did it, you used to imitate me and play the part, now I want you to be the part.” Then, he started crying. “I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything you’ve done. You’ve stood by me, tolerated me. You taught me so much. I love you.”

  Hankins and Allen were crying just as hard. Allen spoke first. “I will do as you’ve said. You go out there and show them. Don’t ever forget me, man.”

  “Never. We’ve got business plans, remember?”

  “It’s busy out there. You make sure you make time to write and send wedding pictures.”

  “I won’t have to. You’ll be at the altar with me. I’ve seen it in the vision and I know it will speak.”

  “Lord, what are we going to do without Brother Word?” Hankins joked.

  By this time everyone in the canteen was crowded around them and rejoicing with them, even the guards.

  It became a little easier to depart when he pushed thoughts of what he was leaving behind and thought of where he was going. Joy filled his heart when he envisioned the look of surprise on his family’s faces. He fought the urge to call them. He’d rather them be surprised. Once he was on the bus, he enjoyed every minute of his twelve-hour ride. By the time he got to Virginia, he had told the driver his whole life story and talked out his plans to surprise his family and future wife. He arrived in Virginia, just as scheduled, at 5:45 a.m. on the dot. That was perfect timing because his mother is an early bird and was probably already up cooking breakfast for his father.

  He used his gateway money and took a cab to the house. He was so excited he couldn’t wait for the driver to count out his change. “Just take the whole thang.” He grabbed his one box and walked around to the back door, where he saw the light on in the kitchen. He knocked on the door. Through the sheer curtains he could see his mother tiptoe out of the kitchen. Momma’s still the same, he thought. He knew she was going to get his father. It was too early for anyone to be knocking at their door, and he knew she was not going to answer it.

  “Who is it?” his father’s voice boomed.

  Joseph knocked again without answering.

  “Who is it?”

  Joseph knocked again. He was about to burst with excitement when he heard the chains being taken off the door. Joseph could hear his father fussing, “Who is this knocking—”

  Joseph threw himself into his father’s chest. “It’s me, Daddy.”

  “Beverly, Beverly. It’s Joseph. Joseph’s home.”

  “Oh my Lord. Hallelujah.” She ran into his arms.

  “Hey, Momma.” The only person’s hug that could be sweeter than his mother’s was Charity’s.

  He was sure that all of Virginia was at his home church for Wednesday night Bible study. The news about his homecoming traveled quicker than he did. There were phone calls and visits he had not yet made. He defied the fatigue that was trying to weigh him down since he had been up for twenty-four hours. But there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity to let his church family know that their prayers had been answered. Although people swarmed around him, he couldn’t help but wonder about how his friends were doing in the intercessory prayer meeting back in Kentucky.

  “I don’t know how far we’ll get tonight,” the preacher’s voice broke through the loud buzz of laughter, praise, and conversation. “God has answered a prayer we’ve lifted up to Him for two years.” The congregation went wild. “I know some of us had given up,” he said, cutting them off again. “I know there were times I wanted to throw in the towel and stop praying, but God said ‘No, I will do this. Hold on to your faith.’ And Saints, He has. I want to present to some, and introduce to others, my very own nephew, who is now a minister of the Gospel, Minister Joseph Nelson Jr.” He applauded with the rest of the church as Joseph rose to his feet and waved. “Come on up here, son. There’s a word of deliverance in your mouth. Tell us your testimony.”

  When Joseph reached the pulpit, the church’s praise was cut off instantaneously like a light with a light switch. He gave honor to God, acknowledged his family, and then his church family. He thanked them all for their prayers and testified how God heard them and how he received his salvation the first day he walked into the prison. He told them everything, from how he used to play one role in the church on Sundays and “live like the devil Monday through Saturday,” to how prison had humbled him so much that all he had was the Word of God. He knew that their hearts were being convicted and they were also being encouraged. He ministered to the young and old folks alike. “This walk is not for naught. You keep fighting the good fight of faith, the diligent shall be rewarded.”

  It was almost eleven o’clock when they got home. He was beyond exhausted. He couldn’t even call Charity, and he hoped that Sharon had not called her. No matter how much sleep came upon him, he knelt beside his bed and prayed unto God as he had done nightly for the past two years.

  Chapter 31

  IT WAS THURSDAY. Charity was already two days late in responding to Emmitt’s proposal. Even though she had prayed for her marriage to be restored, she still thought about Joseph. She could see God’s hand in both situations. How else could she explain Emmitt’s transformation or the way in which Joseph found her? She truly loved and believed that they could make their remarriage work, but she felt a deeper connection to Joseph. But I know God wouldn’t bring me a man I can’t have right now. She considered asking God for a sign, but knew better than to test God. She laughed at her foolish thoughts. “God, I’m grateful for where You have me. I just want to please You. I will not move until You tell me to. Thank You for clarity, wisdom, and patience. Amen.”

  Expecting that it was Emmitt on the other end of the ringing phone, she picked it up and answered, “Publishers Clearing House.”

  “I’m sorry,” the voice chuckled. “I have the wrong number.”

  Charity thought she recognized the voice. “No, I’m sorry. This is the Phillips’s residence. May I help you?”

  “Charity?”

  “Yes?”

  “It’s me, Joseph.”

  “Joseph, how are you? I was wondering when you would call, I thought you’d forgotten the number.”

  “Oh no, it’s etched in my heart now. I’ll never forget it.”

  “Oh,” she said simply. “Joseph?”

  “Yes.”

  “When my dad calls me from prison I have to go through an automated message. Your calls don’t have one?”

  “Yes.”

  “I didn’t hear it.”

  “Wonder why that is?”

  She held the phone out in her hand and looked at the caller ID. “This area code is Virginia? You’re not in Kentucky? How? … When?…”

  “Whoa! Slow down. I thought surely Sharon would call you and spoil my surprise, but I guess she didn’t. I was released on Tuesday.”

  “And you’re just now calling me?”

  “My family had me busy. Seemed like the whole city came to church last night and welcomed me back. I didn’t get home till late.”

  “How’d you get out? What happened? Tell me all the details.”r />
  “It was your visit and your prayers that did it.”

  Charity hoped she wasn’t being modest. “It wasn’t anything I did. I can’t take credit for any of this.”

  “I’ll tell you all about it when I see you in person.”

  “When will that be?” she asked. She couldn’t believe she was just thinking about Emmitt and now she was wondering when she would see Joseph.

  “This weekend?”

  “Friday or Saturday?”

  “Saturday.”

  She felt her heart drop. “Saturday might not work because my sister’s having her engagement party here at my house. She’s getting married. I won’t be available Saturday at all.”

  “How about Sunday?”

  “Actually, I guess you can tag along on Saturday but I have to warn you, I’ll have another man with me.” Sensing that he was not catching her joke, she added, “I’m talking about Xavier.”

  “Girl, don’t play with me like that.”

  They laughed. “Two more days before I can see you, huh?”

  “Since being in prison, I don’t even go by time anymore. What seemed like a two-year impossibility happened in just the twinkling of an eye Tuesday.”

  “You’re right about that,” Charity said.

  “Well, I’m going to call you back later tonight, and definitely tomorrow. I have to get ready to go and face my ex to see my daughter.”

  “Okay. I’ll lift you up in prayer.”

  “Please, it’s going to take that and then some,” Joseph said.

  Charity hung up and danced all around the house. God was not playing. He was meaning business and she made sure she let Him know she was in agreement with what He was doing. She stopped dancing when she thought about Emmitt. What do I tell him? How do I tell him? This is going to break his heart.Oh man, I’m going to have to tell him no. She prayed, “Please, God, don’t let him use this to turn his back on You.”

  She wished she had her best friend to talk to. April would know exactly what to do, but Charity hadn’t talked to April since their misunderstanding about Minister Adams. Charity made up her mind to call her. She knew April was at work and considered leaving a message for her at home. “No, I want to talk to her and get this over with.” She dialed her work number.

  “This is April.”

  “April, are you busy?”

  “Not really. Is everything all right?”

  “Yes. I’m talking fast because I can’t talk long. Iesha’s having her engagement party at my house on Saturday and I have to go and help her get some things ready today.”

  “She is?”

  Charity tried to say everything in one breath. “Yes. We haven’t talked in over two weeks, you won’t believe all that’s happened. Iesha is saved and has a saved husband-to-be. Anyway, I need to apologize to you. I’m sorry that you and I fell out. I never meant to let anything come between us. You are my best friend and I love you. If I had known that Minister Adams liked me, I would not have gone to that ceremony with him—”

  “I know, Charity. I was just beside myself, and too prideful to call you sooner than I did. It’s water under the bridge. Let’s just pick up where we left off.”

  “You think you were beside yourself. I was beside myself. You see where I ended up? Mom told me you visited.”

  “Yes, she called me after it happened and asked me to come to the hospital,” April said. “I was there on the first two days but you were out of it. I stopped coming, it was hard to see you like that. You were hooked up to all of those machines. I’m just glad you’re alive and well.”

  “I’d been trying to reach you beforehand. Did you get my messages?”

  “Yes, but I was so angry it was good that you didn’t catch me.”

  “You forgive me?”

  “Already done… nailed to the cross… dead and stanking.”

  “I have so much to tell you. I know you know my business closed, but you don’t know that Emmitt was suing me for child custody.” She kept talking over April’s sighs and “you lyings.” “Emmitt’s mother died, he got saved, and last week asked me to remarry him. But before you start shouting, Minister Joseph Nelson from Kentucky—”

  “The one in jail.”

  “Yes, he has been released and will be here Saturday.”

  “Girl, this is too much. I got to excuse myself so I can go get my shout on in the bathroom. Call me later tonight. Oh, how’s my godson?”

  “Missing his godmother.”

  “Kiss my baby for me. I’ll see you later.”

  That was easier than Charity thought. She had feared April would still be upset, but now she was glad that she called her. She had missed two Sundays of church and hadn’t seen or heard from Minister Adams, even though his phone number was on her caller ID.

  She changed into some better clothes than the ones she threw on to take Xavier to school. She was running a little late and was supposed to be at Iesha’s house within fifteen minutes. She knew that it was Iesha on the other end of the phone calling to curse her out.

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “Hey. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

  “Hi, Minister Adams. I’m sure you’ve heard that I’ve been in the hospital.”

  “Yes, Pastor announced it to the congregation. Are you doing okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” There was a moment of silence, “So, how can I help you?”

  “I just wanted to clear the air between us.”

  “It’s clear. And I just talked to April for the first time in two weeks.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that you and April had a falling-out.”

  “Well, there were things you and I both didn’t know.”

  “Like?”

  “Like, you didn’t know she liked you, and I didn’t know you liked me. Had we known those things from the beginning, the ending would have been different.” She glanced at her watch. “Uhhh, Minister Adams, I really have to be going. I’m supposed to be at my sister’s. She is running on nervous energy and I do not want to be cursed out.”

  “Okay, I just wanted to let you know that I’ll be leaving at the end of the month, next week.”

  “Oh. Where are you going?”

  “I’ve been offered a church to pastor in Indiana.”

  “Congratulations,” she offered.

  “Thank you, I’m very excited. Well, I know you have to go. I’ll leave you with all of my contact information. Hopefully, we can keep in touch.”

  “That shouldn’t be a problem.”

  “I’d feel even better if I could pack you up with me.”

  “Sorry, that can’t happen.”

  “It could if we married.”

  This man doesn’t know when to quit. The silence was deafening, but she broke through it. “Let me go before you get yourself in some trouble. I’ll see you at church on Sunday.”

  She sped out to her car and over to Iesha’s. Just last week, she thought to herself, I couldn’t get a man, and in one week alone, I’ve gotten one proposal, one semi-proposal, and a man that I could fall in love with. What in the world is going on?

  Charity was in her bedroom, between helping Iesha and looking out the door every five minutes to see the guests who were arriving. The engagement party was due to start in less than an hour and she and Iesha were both nervous.

  “How are you going to be the matron of honor and you’re more nervous than Iesha is?” April asked Charity. “Get away from that door and help her finish getting dressed so I can start with her makeup please.”

  “Okay, First Lady.” Charity helped Iesha put on a formal, plum, halter-necked, beaded gown with a faux two-piece fitted bottom. “Ooooh, Iesha, this color looks good on you. You should get married in this gown.”

  Iesha hugged her. “The way y’all acting, it’s like this is the wedding day. Ya’ll making me nervous. Am I doing the right thing?”

  “Do you have peace?”

  “Yes, I’m just scared. What if—”
/>   Charity didn’t have to answer because April knew exactly what she was going to say. She quoted 2 Timothy 1:7 in a question, “For God hath not given us the spirit of what… ?”

  Charity and Iesha both answered, “Fear.”

  “But, He gave us the Spirit of what?”

  “Love, power, and self-control.”

  “Amen.”

  They were interrupted by a knock on the door. “Iesha, get back in the corner so no one will see you.” April and Iesha moved to an inconspicuous spot and April continued applying her makeup.

  “Who is it?” Charity answered the door.

  “Delivery for Iesha.”

  Charity cracked the door. Terrence had sent his best friend over with a card and a single red rose to give to her.

  “Ooooh, that’s sweet. Tell him we said thanks and she’ll be out in about thirty minutes.”

  Before she could close the door, Mama Lorraine barged her way in to shoot some pictures. “Oh, Esha, you look so beautiful. Smile…” She took a picture of them. “I just got through with the men, the kids, and the house. Can I get some pictures of y’all?”

  Mama Lorraine took several pictures. “All of the food is ready. Your aunties are down there preparing the tables. We should be ready to roll soon. Y’all need to hurry up. People starting to show up.”

  “Yes, Momma,” Iesha whined.

  They were sure that the knock on the door was their exodus notice.

  Charity answered the door. “We’re ready.”

  “And you look it, too.”

  “Joseph!”

  He kissed her softly on the lips. She didn’t protest.

  “Hey, Sharon,” Charity greeted. “Your memory is remarkable. I can’t believe you found your way back here.”