The Believer

by Kym Davis Boyles

  Chapter 81

  After putting her CO uniform on, Charlotte hummed while checking her cell phone for messages. Leon texted her a “good morning” but she hadn’t received Jess’ usual morning text yet and the midwife was usually pretty consistent about checking in on her.

  She couldn’t get the tune from a crazy cereal commercial out of her head and it was annoying at this point. Charlotte walked to the kitchen and got a bottle of water out of the refrigerator and headed back into her living room to listen to the news. She opened the vitamin packet that Jess gave her and emptied in into the water bottle. Standing in front of the TV, she shook it well as instructed.

  She was sticking with the plan consistently, now drinking up to 6 bottles of water a day and running to the bathroom frequently but she was willing to do anything to have a healthy baby. Charlotte brought the bottle of water up to her lips and drank almost half of it before coming up for air. She took a second to breathe then turned the bottle up again, finishing it off. Charlotte walked back into the bathroom to apply her foundation. She was getting used to applying makeup after watching a few YouTube videos and she found herself becoming more confident. Leon had noticed and said as much.

  Charlotte continued humming and applying the crème foundation to her face when she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She grabbed her stomach and bent over, dropping the foundation in the bathroom sink. Charlotte yelled out as the pain grew worse, causing her to slowly bend until she was on the floor. Lying in the fetal position with her face scrunched up in pain, Charlotte took quick breaths through her mouth. She lay there for a few moments until the pain subsided.

  From the floor, Charlotte reached up, grabbed the sink and slowly pulled herself up. It was times like this that being overweight made everything harder. Once she stood up, she put her hands in her pants to see if there was blood. There wasn’t. She closed her eyes and thanked the Lord as tears began to stream down her face. She walked out of the bathroom to her bedroom and grabbed her cell phone. Sitting on the bed, she dialed Jess’ number and rocked back and forth as the phone rang, becoming more emotional the longer it took.

  “Hello,” Jess said.

  “Jess,” Charlotte said in a panic. “I’m so scared. I had this sharp pain in my stomach.”

  “Calm down,” Jess said. “Breathe.”

  Charlotte began inhaling and exhaling loudly. “I’m so scared. I don’t want to lose my baby.”

  “Are you bleeding?” Jess asked.

  Charlotte shook her head as if Jess could see her through the phone. “No.”

  “Okay, listen to me; I want you to go drink another bottle of water and make sure to put the vitamin packet in it. Drink all of it.”

  Charlotte was scared that the water and vitamins might not cut it this time. “Okay, but I think I need to go to a doctor.”

  “You’ll be fine. You don’t need a doctor but going in to work today is out of the question. Lie down and I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Okay,” Charlotte said, her hand shaking. “Please hurry.” Charlotte lay back on her bed and rubbed her stomach. There was still a dull gnawing pain but nothing like earlier. She really did think she needed a doctor and a hospital with machines and medicine. But then again, if Leon trusted this woman enough to hire her then she’d trust Jess as well.

  Taylor had stepped outside of Elliot’s office to take Charlotte’s call. She felt hot pricks all over her body. Charlotte was still carrying that baby. This nightmare she had been living was continuing and taking longer than expected. She refused to let this go on much longer. She walked back into Elliot’s office and saw his mouth moving at the same rapid pace that it was before she walked out.

  “Taylor, is everything okay? You look like you just saw a ghost.” Elliot laughed a little.

  “No, it’s not,” Taylor said, “I’ve got to go.”

  Elliot looked confused, staring at her. “Now? We’re almost finished.”

  Taylor looked at him then at Xia, the young Asian project leader whose nose had been turned up the entire meeting. “Yes, now.”

  “Oh, okay, well then…” Elliot said clapping his hands.

  “I apologize,” Taylor said, “I just received a call and it’s an emergency.” She picked up her large peach Hermes bag that was placed against her navy blazer on the chair. “We’re almost done anyway, right?”

  Elliot looked around his desk. “Yes,” he said with his pale face looking distinctly worried.

  Taylor slid her arms into her blazer then put her bag on her shoulder. “Look Elliot, you’re doing a great job. It’s almost as if you don’t even need me.”

  Elliot sat back and smiled. “But I do.” He tapped his pen on his glass top desk. “Call me later.”

  “I will and thank you,” Taylor said, hurrying to the office door. She turned around to apologize again when she caught a glimpse of Xia’s expression which clearly said that she loathed Taylor’s abrupt departure. Taylor’s narrowed glare at Xia caused the girl to turn her head. Not today Xia.

  Chapter 82

  Hearing the banging on the door, Charlotte walked as fast as she could to answer, taking small steps and hoping that the sharp pains wouldn’t return. “I’m coming,” Charlotte said, placing her hand on her stomach. She opened the door and Jess rushed in.

  “How are you? Any more pains?” Jess asked, frantically looking Charlotte over.

  Charlotte closed the door and placed her hand on her forehead. “I think I should go see a doctor. I think I have a fever.”

  “Have you started bleeding or cramping?” Jess asked, moving Charlotte’s hand and feeling her forehead.

  “No,” Charlotte answered, walking into her living room, “but I’m scared and I don’t want to lose my baby.”

  “Calm down, you’re going to be fine,” Jess said, placing her bag on Charlotte’s sofa. “I want you to lie down on the sofa and I’ll take your vitals.”

  Charlotte sat down then put her legs up on the couch and closed her eyes. “Is this normal?”

  “It can be,” Jess smiled, placing the blood pressure cuff on Charlotte’s arm.

  Charlotte lay perfectly still as Jess checked her vitals and lifted her shirt, pressing on her stomach. After a few minutes of silence, Charlotte opened her eyes. “How does everything look?”

  Jess touched her arm. “The only thing I see wrong is your heart racing like you’re running a marathon. You need to calm down.” Jess stood up.

  Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.”

  “I’m going to prepare a few more bottles of water for you. Where are the vitamin packets?”

  “I have some on the kitchen counter and a few in my purse that I take to work,” Charlotte said.

  Jess walked in the kitchen, “Okay, just lie still,” she said.

  Charlotte was relieved. She wanted this baby more than anything. She needed to speak to Leon so badly. She hoped that he would call her today since she wasn’t going to be able to go to the prison to let him know what was going on. Charlotte looked in the kitchen and saw Jess opening more than one packet of vitamins to place in the water bottle. She shook it up then walked back into the living room.

  Jess handed her the bottled water. “Okay missy, drink up.”

  Charlotte sat up and took the bottle. She placed it to her mouth and began drinking it fast. Jess watched her and smiled. “Good job,” Jess said. “Now, I want you to relax.”

  “Are you leaving?” Charlotte asked.

  “No, I want to make sure that you’re okay first.”

  “Thank you,” Charlotte said, turning to the side to get comfortable.

  “Is this station okay or would you like me to find you something else to watch?” Jess asked, picking up the remote control.

  “It’s okay,” Charlotte answered curling up and feeling at peace on the couch.

  Jess sat down in the chair across from her as Charlotte eyed her. “Do you like what you do?”

  “It’s rewarding,” Jes
s said.

  “I bet,” Charlotte said, closing her eyes. Her eyes had only been closed a few seconds when a jolt of pain shot through her belly. She grabbed her stomach, in too much pain to speak.

  “Are you okay?” Jess asked sitting forward in her chair.

  Charlotte let out an ear deafening scream.

  Chapter 83

  Greg sat on the sofa bent forward with his elbows on his knees and his head down. He was exhausted. He had little sleep since being at the hospital and it was taking its toll on him. But as much as he needed to sleep, he also needed to know who it was that was behind Ben being beaten to within an inch of his life. Greg groaned, sitting up and leaning his head back on the sofa. Evan walked in with a plate.

  “Here baby, eat this,” she said, handing him a turkey sandwich with cut up carrots and broccoli on the side.

  “Thanks baby,” Greg said, taking the plate from her hand. He bowed his head and prayed over it before placing the plate down on the coffee table without touching anything on it. “Where’s everybody?”

  Evan sat down on the chair opposite of him. “Mom and Dad took Gracie to the park. They wanted to give us some time.”

  Greg rubbed his face, “That was nice.

  “Baby, you need to eat. You can’t live off of coffee.”

  “I will, I just don’t have much of an appetite,” Greg said with his head resting back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

  Evan looked concerned but didn’t press the issue. “What did Ben find out before this happened? Did he tell you?”

  Greg sat up and looked at her. “He followed one of James’ officers to a warehouse which may be the key to solving Devon’s case.”

  Evan had a look of concern on her face. “So you think that someone knows about Ben finding the warehouse and that was why he was attacked?”

  “I don’t know but somebody doesn’t want us to know something. That young man is in jail for the murder of his best friend and he’s implicating police officers in Devon’s death. That’s huge. And if what he’s saying is true then Ben might have been closer to finding out the truth then even he knew.”

  “Greg, that’s scary.”

  Greg looked over at her. “Baby, what’s done in the dark will always come to light. I believe that God is allowing us to see all of this for a reason although I’m not even sure what I’m looking at.”

  The doorbell rang. Evan looked over at Ben. He closed his eyes; he wasn’t in the mood for company. “I’ll see who it is,” Evan said, standing up and walking through the foyer to the front door. She walked back into the living room. “It’s James,” she said in a whisper.

  Greg’s eyes opened and he sat forward. The doorbell rang again.

  “Do you want me to tell him that you’re resting?” Evan asked.

  Greg shook his head. “No.”

  Greg stood up and waited for Evan to open the door for James. He could hear what seemed like elation in James voice as he greeted Evan, kissed her on the cheek, and walked into the house. James walked into the living room but still seem surprised to see Greg. “Pastor Greg,” he walked up and gave him a hug. “You don’t look so good. You must have been at the hospital all night.”

  “I was; how are you, James?” Greg asked, sitting back down on the sofa. “Please have a seat.”

  James sat down on the loveseat. “I just left the hospital. That’s terrible what happened to Ben. I didn’t stay long but wanted to make sure that his family knew how concerned I was.”

  Greg nodded, staring at James. “Did Maria say what happened?” James asked.

  “He was attacked as they left a restaurant by a bunch of cowardly goons,” Greg said keeping his eyes fixed on James.

  “That’s awful,” James said, looking at the floor.

  “I don’t know who’s responsible but I won’t rest until I find out,” Greg said.

  James nodded his head. “I don’t blame you. It was a senseless crime and I’ve got a few guys on the case already.”

  Evan walked into the living room with a cola and a glass of ice, placing them in front of James.

  “Thank you dear but I didn’t come to stay,” James said.

  “No need to rush,” Evan said, then looked over at Greg, “Baby, I’m going to be in the office. Nice to see you James.”

  Greg watched Evan walk out of the living room and looked over at James. “Do you have any leads?”

  “Not yet but it could have been anybody since Ben made any number of enemies. He’s a cop after all,” James sneered, “and it’s no secret that he’s a bit of a hot head.”

  “He’s good at what he does. He always catches his man,” Greg said.

  “Well that might have cost him this time,” James said. “I mean, the streets are tough; gotta watch out.”

  Greg stood up and put his hands in his pockets, getting agitated with James. “He mentioned that he came to see you the other day.”

  James sat forward. “He did and I think it went well. I couldn’t help him but I told him that I’d be more than happy to share any of my department’s information. I just can’t imagine why the DCI would be interested in this case though. It’s closed.”

  “You know that Ben is the consummate detective.”

  James shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t say he wasn’t but for some reason that I could never figure, the man just doesn’t like me; you know that.”

  “But this has nothing to do with you,” Greg said. “Right?”

  “Of course not; I was just saying,” James explained.

  “I know he’s a good cop and an even better friend. I want whoever did this to pay for it.”

  “You need some rest, Greg. You may be a pastor but even God rested.” James stood up from the chair. “I do hope that you’re not planning on preaching Sunday.”

  “N…” Greg’s lips started to tell James that he wasn’t. That was his plan but his decision had just changed. “Not exactly. Yes, I am.”

  James looked at him. “You really are Superman,” he said. “I need to get back to the station but please keep me posted on Ben’s condition. I really hope he comes out of this.”

  Greg followed him into the foyer. “He will.” James placed his hand to the door knob. “Let me ask you a question,” Greg said. “Do you think Leon had anything to do with the attack on Ben; after all, Ben was the one that arrested him?”

  James laughed. “You still think that Leon is the source of all of your problems, huh?”

  “No, I don’t,” Greg answered, glaring at James. “I just know what he’s capable of but you wouldn’t know that because you don’t know him personally, right Chief?”

  James shook his head. “I can’t say that I do, Pastor.” He gave Greg a quick hug. “I don’t associate with known criminals. Get some rest my friend.” He opened the door and walked out.

  Chapter 84

  Greg sat in his office praying and reading scripture. He had been preaching on a series for the last few weeks but today was different. He had been having doubts about preaching up until his discussion with James but he decided that he would preach, and that he would preach whatever the Holy Spirit gave him. He could hear the choir singing and the musicians playing in the sanctuary and would normally be in his seat by now but he needed more time alone with God.

  Greg walked out into the sanctuary during the final wrap up of the worship program. He didn’t get a chance to sit down beside Evan who smiled at him he walked straight to the podium. He looked out over the faces of the hundreds perhaps thousands in front of him and thousands more watching online. He saw James sitting on the left side of the sanctuary with fellow trustees looking up at him. He saw Evan’s parents on the right side of the sanctuary smiling proudly with Gracie lying across their laps.

  “Good morning,” Greg said with the crowd answering back with a unanimous good morning in return. “Let’s pray. Father God, in Jesus' name we come to you. Let our hearts and minds be clear, and may our ears be open that we may receive your word tha
t is sent forth. Have your way Holy Spirit and use me for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

  Greg looked out at the congregation. His heart was pounding; he thought about Ben, he thought about Leon and then he thought about Evan and Gracie. He turned to look at Evan. He could tell by her smile that she understood and it gave him strength. He looked back out at the many eyes watching him. “I didn’t know if I was going to stand up here today but that just shows you how good God is. When you have no strength, he supplies it.”

  A round of amens rang through the crowd.

  “Please open the word to Matthew 7:24 and 25. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man which built his house upon a rock; And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. If you’re wondering why this scripture isn’t on your program as part of the series I’ve been preaching, I will tell you that the Holy Spirit has prompted me to veer off today. The title of today’s sermon: Things may shake your world but they can’t shake your foundation.”

  “Amen,” Evan said loud enough for him to hear her.

  “The enemy has been on full attack mode in my life, the lives of my family members and friends, and in the lives of born again believers all over the world. These attacks aren’t new. I don’t know what attack you’re under but if you serve the Lord Jesus Christ, most likely you will be at some time or another.”

  Greg looked down at his bible and back up at the congregation, “The words that Jesus spoke about the rain descending, the floods coming and the winds blowing then beating upon your house gives us an indication of what happens when you’re under attack.”