My Sister My Momma My Wife

by Lipsey, Shelia E.

  My Sister

  My Momma

  My Wife

  A novel

  Shelia E. Lipsey

  NorthStar

  www.BonitaAndHodgePublishing.com

  Cover Designed by TyWebbin Creations

  www.tywebbin.com

  Shelia E. Lipsey

  Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2012 Shelia E. Lipsey

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to www.smashwords.com Smashwords Store and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Other Titles by Shelia E. Lipsey

  Beautiful Ugly Series

  Beautiful Ugly

  True Beauty

  My Son’s Wife Series

  My Son’s Wife (Trade and Mass)

  My Son’s Ex-Wife: The Aftermath

  My Son’s Next Wife

  Stand Alone Titles

  Sinsatiable

  Into Each Life

  Always Now And Forever Love Hurts

  Nonfiction Titles

  A Christian’s Perspective –Journey Through Grief

  Anthology

  Bended Knees

  Show A Little Love

  Dedication

  Nathaniel and Sharney Batts-Thomas

  True love stories never have endings....Unknown

  Acknowledgements

  To Book Clubs and Avid Readers Everywhere!

  To each and every one of you

  out there in literary land…

  I love You for loving Me!

  And of course to

  My Mommy

  My Sons

  My Grandchildren

  My Sisters

  My Friends

  But most of all to

  You, Father God!

  People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason the world is in chaos, is because things are being loved, and people are being used. Unknown

  1

  "What feeling is so nice as a child's hand in yours? So small, so soft and warm, like a kitten huddling in the shelter of your clasp.” Unknown

  Twenty-three hours, forty-five minutes, seventeen seconds. Hard, horrendous, harrowing, and horrific were some of the adjectives that described the worse pain First Lady Detria Graham had ever experienced in her life. It was almost impossible to put into words.

  Stiles could barely contain his composure when Detria asked his thoughts about naming their child after his deceased mother, First Lady Audrey Graham. He shed tears like a baby smacked on the fanny after coming out of his momma’s womb. And Pastor. Well, Pastor was just as big of a baby as his son. He too loved the idea that his first grandchild would be named after his precious, sweet Audrey, and he never hesitated to remind his daughter-in-law how grateful he was for her gesture.

  Detria stared at her baby girl as she lay sleeping in her crib. Unfortunately, her elation over being a mother and wife quickly started to fade within weeks of giving birth. Audrey would be nine months in a few days. Time seemed to escape faster than Detria had time to blink.

  Detria stretched and yawned. She still hadn’t gotten quite used to all of the time it took to raise an infant. By her sister, Brooke having two boys of her own, Detria often turned to her for questions she had about parenting. Being a mother was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She took another look at her sleeping baby before she turned and walked into her and Stiles’s bedroom. She sauntered over to the chaise sofa and eased her thin frame into its curves.

  During her pregnancy, she had gained close to fifty pounds, but without trying to, and in less than three months, she had gone back down to her regular size eight in clothes. No one would ever be able to talk about her behind her back. If the weight hadn’t come off effortlessly, Detria was geared up and ready to work her butt off to regain her curves. She had never stopped working out during her entire pregnancy. And she still did the same thing since giving birth. Five days a week she packed Baby Audrey’s diaper bag, and off they went to the Y. She left Audrey in the on-site, childcare center while she attended her daily round of exercise classes.

  The clock on the table showed a few minutes after seven p.m., still at least a couple of hours or more before Stiles would be home. With Stiles being either at Holy Rock or teaching his evening Religion class at the University of Memphis, Detria and Baby Audrey were alone most of the time. She tried to be as understanding as possible about his long hours. But there were nights like this when she felt lonely, somewhat depressed and maybe even a little agitated with Stiles. After all, Baby Audrey was growing fast, and Stiles didn’t always seem to understand that he was missing out on some key moments in his daughter’s life.

  Detria was the one who had seen her crawl for the first time. She was the one who was around her day in and day out. She and Stiles had agreed that she would stay home from her job as a nutritionist for at least the first year of Baby Audrey’s life. Both of them managed money well, so finances were the least of their worries. The church took good care of them, and she still received a portion of her salary, and would keep getting it for an additional six weeks.

  Detria laid her head back against the cushiony soft back of the chaise lounge. She tried to relax while Audrey slept. Lord knows that she wouldn’t get any help from Stiles when he came home. He would be too tired, as he often reminded her.

  Detria looked at the caller ID when the phone rang. It was Pastor.

  “Hello, Pastor. How are you tonight?”

  “Blessed, baby, blessed. I was calling to check on my little one and you too, of course.”

  Detria’s tight lips relaxed into a half smile. “You don’t have to try to make me feel better. I know your granddaughter is the only girl on your mind. But you don’t have to worry, I’m not jealous.”

  Detria’s words were soft and kind. She understood how much Pastor adored his only grandchild. She had lost her and Stiles’ first baby, all because of him, something she wrestled with still from time to time. However, she had come to understand that she had no right to physically abuse him. He couldn’t help that he had a stroke. She really had no right to blame him for her miscarriage either, but she couldn’t help it.

  “What is my precious one doing?” asked Pastor. His question jarred Detria from thoughts of the past.

  “I just put her down not too long ago. She should sleep most of the night. At least I hope so. Most babies start sleeping all night at around four months. That’s what Brooke told me, but I guess Baby Audrey didn’t get the message.”

  “She’s her own person, already,” Pastor laughed. “I’m glad she’s good though. Is there anything she needs?”

  “No. You’ve already managed to spoil her rotten. I don’t know what you’re going to do when she starts walking and talking.”

  “I’m going to give her the moon if I can. I’m just thankful that the Lord has seen fit to let me live to see my first grandchild. I tell you, it’s a blessing. A real blessing,” he repeated. “I take it Stiles hasn’t made it home yet,” he said slightly changing the subject.

  “You’re right; he isn’t here. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays like clockwork.�
�� Detria sighed before she realized it. “If it’s not noon day service, it’s mid-week Bible study. If he isn’t holding Bible study, he’s at the university. If not there, he’s counseling someone or visiting the sick. Sheez, it never seems to end. And it’s rare for him to release his class before ten. He holds those students until the very last second.”

  “That’s Stiles for you, but are you all right? You sound a little down.”

  “No, I’m fine,” she lied. “Just a little tired. You know this granddaughter of yours demands a lot of time and attention.”

  “I’m sure she does. I wish that son of mine was around more than he is. Does he even come home during the day? There is no way he has to stay at church every day, all day long. And you told me that he seldom comes home before going to the university.”

  “No, he doesn’t bother to come home, well maybe ever once in a blue moon, but then again that’s Stiles for you. One thing I can say about my husband is that he is definitely committed to his calling. I know I shouldn’t complain, even though sometimes I want to. He’s doing God’s work. I knew before I married him that I wouldn’t be first in his life.”

  “Well, I’m going to have a talk−”

  “No, don’t do that, Pastor,” Detria interrupted. “I’m fine. Everything is fine. Stiles is doing what he needs to do to take care of his family, and that family includes the sheep he leads at Holy Rock. Who am I to complain? It’s not like I have to get up and go to work every morning. It’ll be at least a year before I return to work. And I’ve decided that I’m going to assume a more visible role in the church anyway. I am the first lady, you know.” Detria said almost flauntingly.

  “Yes, you are indeed. You remind me of my dear, sweet Audrey. I still miss that woman. It’s been almost three years since she went to be with the Lord.” Pastor sighed. “Well, maybe by the time you do go back to work, Holy Rock’s daycare center and academy will be in full swing.”

  “See, that’s what I’m talking about, Pastor. Stiles has so much on his plate. This new project to open a daycare and Christian academy takes a lot of planning and time. Not to mention the entire revamping of the children’s ministry.”

  Detria felt like she was forcing her words. If she voiced what she really wanted to say, she would be telling Pastor that she was fed up with Stiles being away from home all the time, tending to his church family, teaching at the university, and going about his life like absolutely nothing had changed. Her life, on the other hand, had been turned upside down. She had really enjoyed her job as a nutritionist, and she missed the people she worked with on a daily basis, but she had agreed to stay home with Baby Audrey.

  Since being on leave, her client base had been assigned to another nutritionist, and she rarely heard from anyone at her job. Her life was all about Baby Audrey and her needs now, and at times Detria felt mounting resentment. She loved her little girl, but she also missed life as she’d known it before she became a mother and a wife.

  Detria cocked her head to the side when she heard the sound of the door opening downstairs. “Pastor, Stiles is here. I just heard the kitchen door opening. I guess we talked him up; he’s home early.”

  Pastor chuckled lightly. “Okay, baby. I’ll let you go. Go tend to your husband, and kiss the little one for me. Goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Pastor.” Detria pushed the End button on the phone and dashed down the stairs.

  “Hi,” Stiles said as he met her just before she made the last step. He held his briefcase in his hand, and his suit jacket rested over the bend of his arm. He leaned forward and brushed her lips. “Baby, I’m so tired. It’s been a long, long day.” He sighed and passed his briefcase to her like she was his maid instead of his wife.

  Detria took hold of the briefcase, pursed her lips for a second in an attempt to hold off on losing her temper. He stood at the edge of the steps and without asking how her day had been, or about his daughter, he started loosening his tie and walking up the stairs. “I’m famished,” he said while slowly climbing each step. He looked back at Detria who stood right behind him. “Any dinner?”

  “Don’t I always have dinner ready for you?” It was getting harder not to go clean off on him.

  “Whoa, what’s with the raised voice? I just asked about something to eat.”

  “I did not raise my voice,” she answered and remained stationed on the step behind him. “Like always, your plate is in the microwave.”

  “I’m going to take a shower and then if you don’t mind, would you warm it up and bring it to the study? Believe it or not, my day still hasn’t ended.” Stiles didn’t wait on a response. He took the last steps two at a time and disappeared into Baby Audrey’s room. Detria followed.

  She watched from the doorway. Stiles leaned over the crib and kissed his daughter gently on the forehead and then turned around and exited the room without saying anything else to Detria.

  Detria planted herself in front of him, his briefcase still in her hand. “I was wondering if you were going to remember that you had a daughter.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” His brows gathered and he looked at Detria with a scowl on his face as he whizzed by her.

  “I mean, you come waltzing in here and the only thing you can think about is whether I have your dinner ready or not? It’s not like I’ve been sitting here all day twiddling my thumbs, you know. I do have to take care of our daughter, and that is not easy.”

  “So now you’re complaining? Is that what you’re doing, Detria? You’re the one who agreed to do the full-time mommy thing. You could have easily gone back to work after you had Audrey, but you said it would be a good idea to spend at least the first year with your daughter, which was fine with me.” Stiles’ temples began to throb.

  Detria watched each beat of his temple. She knew he was ticked off, but so was she. She was the one who had the right to go off, not him.

  Stiles looked down at her short stature, his arms wrapped inside the other. “Listen, all this lip you give me just about every time I step through the door has got to stop. I can’t get a good word out of you. I hardly have a chance to set foot inside before you meet me with attitude.”

  “I am not about to argue with you tonight, Stiles. I’m exhausted too. You are not going to make light of me being a stay at home mom as some kind of, kind of,” Detria repeated and raised her arms out toward him. Up the hall and down the stairs she went. She’d had enough of his insensitivity.

  She pushed Auto Button 7 on the microwave as soon as she stormed into the kitchen. She could hear Stiles’s shuffling upstairs. On the verge of tears, she stood in front of the microwave and thought about how difficult the last few months had been.

  Stiles was like prince charming when he found out she was pregnant again. The miscarriage she’d had before Audrey was conceived had almost been the catalyst that broke their marriage apart. She hated to think about the drastic effect it had taken on her. She’d taken her anger and frustration out on Pastor by physically abusing him. What kind of person was she back then? If it had not been for Pastor forgiving her, and talking to Stiles, then she probably would have been his second ex-wife. Lord, I hope that part of me never comes out again.

  The microwave beeped and brought her back to the present. She opened the door and removed the plate of green vegetables, Italian sausage and red beans and rice.

  After she retrieved silverware and paper towels, Detria went into the family room and got the TV tray, and went back to the kitchen and put Stiles’ plate of food and a glass of homemade Arnold Palmer tea on it. Before she could head toward the stairs, she heard Audrey crying. “Why is she awake? Lord, I hope Stiles didn’t go back in there and wake her up. I do not need this tonight.”

  She hurried as fast as she could up the stairs with the tray of food and drink. “I’m coming, sweetheart,” she said out loud to Audrey.

  “Did you say something?” Stiles asked from their bedroom. The sound of his voice let her know he was still in the bathroom.
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  “Audrey is crying,” she yelled so he could hear her.

  “You got her?” he asked.

  “Uggh,” she said and did not answer him. She took the tray of food and drink to his study and rushed to see about Audrey.

  “What is it, sweetie,” she said as she picked her up and cradled her in her arms. She took two fingers and felt around inside her pamper to see if she needed changing, but she was dry. “Audrey, it’s not time to eat. It’s time to sleep. Sleep for the night.” She walked around the nursery and then went to the rocking recliner in the corner of the room and sat down. “You want your pacifier? Huh? Is that what mommy’s baby girl wants?” Detria stood back up and went over to Audrey’s crib. She didn’t see the pacifier, so she began to feel around the sides of the bed. She found it wedged in between the crib and the mattress. “Here you go.”

  Audrey latched on to the pacifier like a pit bull.

  Stiles came in with his bath towel wrapped around the lower half of his well-defined body. “She all right?” He walked over to his daughter and reached for her. Detria gladly passed her to him.

  “She couldn’t find her pacifier. She’s fine now.”

  “Hi, daddy’s girl. Hi, my sweetpea.” Stiles talked to his daughter and cuddled her in his arms. Detria, with folded arms couldn’t help smiling. Watching him with Audrey, reminded her of the Stiles she’d fallen in love with. That Stiles was kind, sensitive, loving and compassionate. Audrey cooed and grinned until her pacifier fell from her mouth, but this time she didn’t seem to miss it at all. It was like she was in baby heaven because she was in her daddy’s arm. “You’re daddy’s girl, aren’t you? Aren’t you, pretty girl?” He kissed her chubby cheeks and made funny faces at her before he walked back to Detria. “Daddy’s got to work and eat now. Be a big girl for mommy, okay?” he said in a gentle, loving tone. “I’m going to finish putting on my pajamas. Did you bring my food up?”