by Faith
“That is true, but they really love the fact that Ruthie and I came together because of the singles ministry. I don’t see an issue with that right now, do you?” Edem looked at Ruthie.
“No, I don’t. The ladies tell me all the time that we give them hope. They are struggling as well. They love the Lord, but they want a man, plain and simple, and in the process of looking for love, they fall into the hands of the wrong man.”
“Don’t I know it?” Elisea mumbled. Lizzie elbowed her and told her to hush.
“Is there anything else we need to discuss? I wanted to pick the kids up early today and spend some quality time with them,” Junior told them.
“That’s good, son, that’s good. Where is Lacey today?”
“She wasn’t feeling that great today, so I told her to rest.”
“I’ll stop by and take her something to eat,” Mama Eloise said.
“Ma, just let her rest,” Junior said, getting up.
“I said I’m going to take her something to eat.” Mama Eloise shot Junior the evil eye.
________
She used her key to let herself in Lacey and Junior’s residence. She placed a pot of beef and vegetable soup on the stove. She knew Lacey loved her soup. She walked through the house like she owned it before finding Lacey in the den curled up on the couch watching TV.
“Mama Eloise.” Lacey was surprised to see her.
“Hey, baby,” She sat down next to her. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m ok,” Lacey lied.
“The devil is a lie! Don’t lie to me, young lady.”
Lacey smiled. Mama Eloise knew her all too well.
“Listen, I have been where you are. Your heart is in pieces and you don’t understand what you did to deserve such betrayal, and you really don’t understand why God just won’t make your husband act right.” She rubbed Lacey’s leg. “Baby, give it God and leave it with Him. You will drive yourself crazy trying to figure a man out.”
“Mama Eloise, how did you ever trust him again?”
“I trusted myself, of course. Over the years after I saw a complete change in him, I learned to trust him again, but, baby, it starts with you. Now, I’m not proud of what I did with the boiling grits, but I had a point to make.” She laughed.
“Maybe I need to make a big pot of grits.”
“Maybe you do.”
“Mama Eloise!” Lacey laughed.
“What? I’m just saying. I love my son, but I was a woman before I was his mama. This breaks my heart seeing you in so much pain.”
“He loves her, Mama Eloise, how do I compete with that?” Lacey’s eyes filled with tears.
“You don’t! She wants to be where you are not the other way around. Being a woman is hard and you have to know what battles to fight. You can fight them all, but, honey, it will leave you tired, beaten, and bruised. You have a calling on your own life. Being a first lady comes with a lot of stress and responsibility, and that’s fine, but what does Lacey want? What are your aspirations?”
“Women like you? You just described yourself, baby.”
That statement hit Lacey in her spirit and she sat straight up. “I did, didn’t I?”
Mama Eloise busted out laughing. “Revelation is a great thing, ain’t it?”
“It sure is!” Lacey hugged Mama Eloise. “Thank you so much.”
“I’m just being a mama, baby. Now, you get up and rise! This is your life and I can’t tell you what to do.” Lacey gave her a look. “Oh hush, you know what I mean. But, let me just say it would be a cold day in hell that I would roll over and play dead, and let some church whore replace me, I don’t care how much he thinks he loves her. Have you ever wondered why if he loves her so much, why he didn’t leave you to be with her? That boy is not going to leave you. I know he’s a mess, always has been, but he’s your mess. Have you ever asked him what his attraction is to her? Does she swing from the chandeliers or something, or does she listen to him? Let me tell you something, when dealing with a preacher, they are expected to be perfect. You know these church folks expect them to walk on water. They are not Jesus Christ. Baby, they need a safe place to fall, they need to be listened to, they need to be taken care of because they are taking care of everybody else twenty four seven. I’m telling you what I know. Now, I know that you take good care of my son, I’m not saying that, but just don’t forget to take care of his heart, too. The word says that a virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Baby, not only do you have a crown on your head because you a daughter of the Most High, but, baby, you are his crown. Yes, God!” Mama Eloise clapped her hands. “Be who you are called to be, baby. Take care of his heart; protect his heart. Baby, sometimes you have to massage his heart with your love and that, my dear, is how you live a good life. He’ll notice, trust me, so get up off this couch, go wash your butt and come on, and I will heat up this soup.”
“Soup?”
“Oh yeah, I made you some beef and vegetable soup.” Lacey clapped her hands. “Go wash your tail, because this,” she pointed to Lacey, “is not the Lacey I know. Lacey Blanks is a fierce woman of God with so much class, you wouldn’t believe what she’s been through because she’s always together. Hold up.” Mama Eloise opened her purse and pulled out her anointing oil. She anointed Lacey’s head. “I plead the blood of Jesus over my child. Stir up her gifts, Lord, stir ‘em up!” she screamed, and Lacey jumped. “Now, go on and I will meet you in the kitchen.”
Lacey went upstairs to shower. Mama Eloise smiled as she watched her walk away. Once she was out of sight, she anointed every room in the house. “In the name of Jesus, I bind the spirit of depression in this house, I bind the spirit on un-forgiveness, I bind the spirit of lust, and I bind the spirit of confusion. Get out of this house now, you are no longer welcomed here. In the name of Jesus!” As Mama Eloise finished anointing the house, she returned to the kitchen to heat the soup, still fussing at the enemy. “I done told you to keep your hands off my children. You don’t have a clue who you messing with! I have my foot on your neck and I won’t take it off until I break it!”
Lacey walked into the kitchen. “Mama Eloise, who are you talking to?” Lacey looked around, expecting to see someone there.
“Oh, nobody important. Sit down, baby, and let mama feed you.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lacey did as she was told and took a seat at the counter.
Mama Eloise fixed a big bowl of soup for the both of them. lining the edges of the bowls with Townhouse crackers.
I know it was the blood,
I know it was the blood,
I know it was the blood for me
One day when I was lost,
He died upon the cross,
I know it was the blood for me
“You are always singing. All of y’all do that, just bust out in song.” Lacey laughed.
“Baby, sometimes you run out of the words to say and a song can say it all.
Mama Eloise sang as she set the bowl of soup in front of Lacey, she joined her and they said grace.
“So, tell me about this new venture you are planning.”
“How did you know I was making plans in my head?”
“Girl, I didn’t birth you, but you have been my daughter for a long time. I know you and, by the way, welcome back. Now this is the Lacey I know.”
Lacey looked down at herself and chuckled. Mama Eloise was right; she had been laying around for days feeling sorry for herself, “Okay, this is what I was thinking…”
Chapter 19
It was the middle of the night, and Eddie was making a run to Walmart for gas drops for the baby. As he was busy shopping, he saw Lilith with Jezebel, he presumed. He stepped back because the last thing he wanted to do was see Lilith. He had to fight the urge to snap her neck after what she had done to his child. His blood boiled and he began to make his way over to them.
“Eddie!” Eddie turned around and saw Edem walking down the aisle. “What are you doing here so late?”
“I w
as just about to ask you the same thing,” Eddie replied, still watching Lilith.
Edem followed his brother’s eyes. “Oh, Lord, Eddie, don’t do it, brugh.” Edem saw Eddie’s jaw clinching tight. “Eddie, look at me.” He hit Eddie to make him look at him. “So, you’re going to let the enemy win? After all the things God has brought you out of you just going to spit in His face and let the enemy win?”
Eddie looked at his brother with a strange look on his face as he pondered what Edem had just said to him. “I want to snap her neck, Edem.”
“I know you do, but you’re not because if you do, you will never go home to your wife and daughter again. So choose, and we all know what happened the last time you didn’t choose wisely.”
Edem’s words stung Eddie, but he knew that he was right. “You’re right, but can I at least run her over with my buggy?” Edem and Eddie laughed.
Edem put his arm around his brother. “Come on, man, let’s go this way.” Edem guided him in the opposite direction. As he looked back at them, he noticed that the woman that was with Lilith was not Jezebel; it was Tamar.
They checked out and headed home. He followed behind Eddie, and watched him pull into his driveway and go in the house. He arrived at his house in seconds. He ran up the stairs to Ruthie, who was sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Did you get it?” Ruthie asked.
“Yeah, I got it.” Edem handed Ruthie the bag. “Sorry I took so long, I ran into Eddie in the store, just in time too because he was about to snap on Lilith and …”
“And?” Ruthie stared at her husband. She knew when his wheels were turning.
“Baby, I swear girl with Lilith wasn’t Jezebel.”
“Maybe it was Delilah. Aren’t the police still looking for her?”
“I really think it was Tamar. I have always been able to tell them apart.” Edem was in deep thought.
“Ok, well, no offense, but we have more pressing measures right now.” Ruthie reached inside the bad to grab the contents.
“You’re right, baby, I’m sorry.”
Ruthie went into the master bath with Edem behind her. She spun around. “Ummmm, I’m pretty sure I’ve got this.”
Edem threw his hands up, and said, “Sorry!” as Ruthie closed the door behind her. He stood by the door and put his ear to it, trying to listen.
“Edem, move away from the door!” Ruthie screamed. He covered his mouth to keep from laughing and tip toed over to their bed.
The bathroom door opened and Edem jumped up. “Well?”
“Calm down, we have to wait three minutes.”
“Three minutes?” Edem paced back and forth while Ruthie watched him with a raised eyebrow. Over the next three minutes, he asked if it was time yet every thirty seconds.
Ruthie got up and went into the bathroom. Edem stopped pacing and watched her from behind. He saw her stand in front of the sink, but she didn’t make a sound. Finally, she turned around and walked back into the bedroom.
“Baby, if you don’t tell me something!” Ruthie handed Edem the pregnancy test. He stared at it for a while without speaking.
“Baby, if you don’t tell me something!” Ruthie said, imitating him. He moved closer to her and kissed her.
“We’re having a baby?” Edem was all smiles.
“It looks like that way.” It gave Ruthie so much joy watching her husband so happy. Edem grabbed his cell phone from his desk.
“Hey, hey what are you doing?” Ruthie grabbed his phone from him.
“I was about to call my family.”
“No, sir. Now, you know I love your family, but can we just keep this between us for a while, at least until the second trimester. Plus, we need to go to the doctor and it get confirmed. I told you my cycle is off, so we don’t even know how far along I am.”
“Oh, I know you got pregnant on our honeymoon.” Edem pulled her close to him.
“Whatever you say, Papi.” Edem loved when she called him Papi. He grinned again.
“Papi needs some attention.”
“You are definitely making up for lost time,” Ruthie teased. Her husband had a very high sex drive. She wasn’t complaining, but he wanted it several times a day. Ruthie pushed Edem down on the bed. He watched as Ruthie did an impromptu strip tease for him. He quickly took his clothes off like a teenager in heat. Ruthie busted out laughing at his silliness. She climbed on top of him. “I love you so much.”
She placed kisses on his chest and let her tongue flick his nipples. She knew he loved that. She proceeded to kiss her way down his body until she reached her prize. She took him into her mouth and made love to his manhood as if it was an extension of her goodies. Edem moaned and whimpered as pleasure filled the room. Ruthie enjoyed pleasuring her man and it showed in her performance. As she sucked him into satisfaction, she took her time as she devoured every last drop that he had to offer.
________
Jezebel was prepared to put her plan into action. She just hoped that her mother had not confused Delilah, who was not completely back to normal. She sashayed into work and put her purse in her locker. Carl walked up behind her and grabbed her around the neck.
“What are you doing?” Jezebel tried to act irritated, but she loved the attention.
“It’s pretty quiet tonight, let me get some.”
Jezebel rolled her eyes, but gave it a second thought after she realized she didn’t know where she was going and how long it would be until she was able to get some. “Aight, I guess.”
Carl pulled her over to the corner, and pulled down her turquois scrub pants and panties. He propped her up on the windowsill and feasted away. Jezebel closed her eyes as Carl sucked on her clit that seemed to be extra engorged since her pregnancy. She wanted to grind in his face but she didn’t want to fall, so she gripped the side of the windowsill and let Carl feast away. He ate the pussy sloppy. As her juices exploded out of her, she looked down at him and his beard was covered in her juices. Carl slurped and sopped on her as his tongue did all kinds of tricks inside of her. Jezebel contained the volume of her moans, but it felt good. She always needed a good nut. She relaxed her mind and allowed herself to enjoy his tongue, and her volcano erupted into his mouth.
________
Jezebel pretended to make her rounds. Most days she actually did some work, but the last few days all she could think about was getting the hell out of there. Her phone vibrated and she saw that she had a text from the bank. Yass! she thought as she looked at the amount that her Dr. Feel-good had deposited into her account. She would make sure to pay him a visit before she left. He was a nice enough dude; he was freaky as all get out, but nice.
Jezebel snuck into Delilah’s room. “Hey, sis, how are you feeling?”
“I’m ok.”
“I saw mother here yesterday, what happened?”
Delilah shrugged. “She was talking crazy about killing people.”
“Killing people? What people? Who was she talking about killing? Me?” Jezebel became frantic.
“I don’t know who she was talking about.” Delilah spoke slowly and it aggravated Jezebel.
“Come on now, Dee, I need you to tell me her plan. Tell me exactly what she said.”
Delilah sighed. “If I tell you, can we go then? I don’t want to be here anymore.”
“That’s if your ass remembers.” Jezebel wanted to slap Delilah. She told Jezebel everything about her conversation with Lilith.
Jezebel told her that she would be back, and returned an hour later to get her. She timed it perfectly when the nosey nurses were on a smoke break. She snuck back into Delilah’s room. “Come on!” She pulled Delilah along behind her. They went into the employee’s bathroom and she pushed her into the stall. Jezebel went into the last stall and stood up on the toilet. She grunted as she pushed back the tile in the ceiling. She felt around and pulled a grocery bag out. “Here, put these scrubs on,” Jezebel said, going over the contents of the bag. “Move faster, damn, Delilah!”
“Stop f
ussing at me! Ugh!”
“Look, this is not the time for this. Hurry up, we can argue later.” Delilah was almost dressed, and Jezebel pulled out an identical wig and matching lipstick to the one she wore. She helped her sister move faster, as if she was a child. Once she got her together, she put her duplicate badge on her. Jezebel stepped back and admired her work. “Ok, when we leave out of here, just head straight to the exit and use the badge to open the door. Go to my car and wait for me. I will be right behind you.”
“What if something goes wrong?” Delilah asked.
“Ugh! Nothing is going to go wrong. Just do what I told you, and here.” She handed Dee a cell phone. “Call me once you are in my car. Now, come on before those busy bodies come back from their smoke break.” Jezebel peeked out of the bathroom. “Go!”
Delilah did as she was told and walked extremely too slow for Jezebel’s comfort. She watched as she used her badge to open the door. She waited impatiently until her phone vibrated with a text. I’M IN THE CAR. HURRY UP, I’M HUNGRY.
Jezebel rolled her eyes. “Now her slow ass wants me hurry up?” she said out loud to herself. She peeked out of the bathroom door and saw one of the busy bodies walking through the corridor. She slipped out of the bathroom, and went to her locker to get her purse and jacket.
“Dag, girl, didn’t I see you leave out already?” the security guard said, walking up to her.
“Oh, hey, babes. Yeah, I forgot my jacket, silly me. Hey, why don’t we hook up this weekend?” Jezebel said, playing with his emotions to distract him.
“Word? Yeah, we can kick it.”
“Look, I’m running late, but tomorrow we can confirm our plans, ok, cutie?”
“Yes, ma’am, and you have a good night.”
“Aight, now stay sexy for me,” Jezebel said, giggling as she swiped her ID badge headed to her car. She couldn’t get to car fast enough. As soon as she opened the door and got behind the wheel, she peeled off. “We did it! Can you believe it?”
“I’m hungry,” Delilah said, sounding half dead.