“So you believe that Jesus Christ was a real person but also God? Not much sense in that concept for me. I am sorry but does not every religion have a similar story? How do you know He exists, what proof can you offer?”
Honey remembered what Jacks had said to her the night before and smiled.
“Last night you told me that you knew what you feel for me is real, though it is not something you can see, taste, smell, hear or touch, remember? I know that God is real in the same way.”
Jacks stood, took her hand and pulled her up and for a split second she thought he might kiss her right there inside the church. But he did not.
“We best be getting back to the hotel. We have a visit with Asa, remember?”
Neither mentioned the conversation again but both reflected back on it while back in the taxi and while they freshened up to make the trip to the stone house.
TWENTY-SIX
Sheila helped Dwight get little Gem down for the night so that when Alice arrived she would already be sleeping and Alice could concentrate on her studies. She was enrolled at the community college that was nearby and since she had been replaced as a nanny she loved to fill in any night or weekend she could.
They were going to see a new movie that had just come out called The Blind Side. It was a true story and Dwight knew some of the people the movie portrayed. He was anxious to see it and Sheila loved anything with Sandra Bullock in it. Afterwards, they were to meet Joe and Brenna for a late dinner.
Sheila was comfortable with the relationship she had with Dwight. She adored him and she adored Gem. It was what she had waited for all her life and she knew her parents would be proud that she had pulled herself up by the bootstraps after Morgan, instead of wallowing in self pity. She often thought that if she had not met Morgan then she might have never met Dwight either.
Dwight could not be happier. He would always love Kim but Sheila was becoming more important to him every day. He never doubted that God had sent her to him. He had plenty of room in his heart to love Sheila as she should be loved without feeling guilty. He also knew that Kim would want him to be happy again and would want Gem to grow up with a mother’s love. It would soon be two years since she had gone. It had been a lonely time until Sheila showed up and changed everything. He knew he was ready to ask her to marry him and he was thinking that she would say yes.
The movie was an emotional one which made Sheila cry and brought tears to Dwight’s eyes as well. They left the theater and walked down to the Mexican place in the same plaza to meet Joe and Brenna who laughed when they saw her red eyes.
“I told Joe you would cry! Wasn’t that the best movie?” Brenna hooked her arm through Sheila’s and they walked in ahead of the guys.
Halfway through dinner Brenna’s cell phone rang.
“I’m sorry ya’ll but I can’t hear….” She got up and walked out of the building for better reception. When she came back in she looked disturbed and told Joe, “Marley said that Carol woke up with a 102 temperature. She gave her Tylenol but I think we should leave soon.”
Sheila asked, “Has she been feeling bad?”
“Not really, it’s probably one of those virus things everyone has been having and no big deal. It’s just that….”
Dwight pitched in, “We understand, you both have been through a lot with Carol and I don’t blame you at all. I…we feel the same way about Gem.”
The other couple did not notice the look that passed between Dwight and Sheila nor did they notice the ‘we’ in his statement. They rushed to finish their meal and with apologies for cutting the evening short they headed home to check on Carol. Back at the restaurant Dwight humbly asked Sheila if she would be his wife and mother to Gem. She did not have to think about it, because she already knew this was her destiny and she said, yes. Dwight was the man she had dreamed about and prayed for her entire life and Gem was a thrilling bonus. It was a night forever etched in both their memories and the night Dwight finally kissed her as he left her at her door. It was a tender first kiss full of promise and Sheila delighted in his shyness, refusing to think on her own unpleasant past marriage. She was determined not to let her experience with Morgan ruin her life but as she prepared for bed she felt a tingling of fear and attributed it to those unhappy memories. The devil would not want her to be happy and she chased away the fearsome feelings with prayer, the Lord has not given me a spirit of fear but power, love and a sound mind, Amen.
TWENTY-SEVEN
The car waited. At the last minute Honey ran back in her room to retrieve her newly charged cell phone. When she slid into the back seat with Jacks, the sun was already down and the night was replacing the day.
She was apprehensive about meeting this person Asa. She was curious. A grandfather popping up after forty years had to be about as shocking as it gets. Though she was happy that Jacks had discovered a relative after all those years, the story he had told her was one for the books.
Their conversation was light during the drive for they both were thinking more than talking but Jacks kept her hand in his the entire time. He was excited to see Asa again and even more excited that Honey was going with him. He knew she was harboring doubts, but he was sure when she met Asa, she would understand how much it meant to him to have family.
Honey was beginning to think they were never going to arrive, when the car pulled up in front of the huge black iron gates that stood defiant in the middle of a stone wall. It reminded her of a fortress and as the car crept through the gates that opened mysteriously, she felt a shiver go down her back.
“Wow, this is….something else! Where are the lights?” She whispered to Jacks as if anyone could hear as they wound down the curvy drive with which Jacks was now familiar. “There are none, not outside the house anyway and not much inside. Asa does not like a lot of lights. He says it hurts his eyes.”
“Oh.” Honey was thinking how much she liked lots of light and had a feeling she was not going to like the stone house or the man Jacks called his grandfather.
The car pulled up and she could barely see the yellow looking stone with which the house was made of. It looked huge and when they climbed out of the car, she clung to Jacks in the darkness as the driver opened the great wood door to let them in. As Jacks had the first time he was there, she felt an eerie feeling of anticipation.
Honey nearly jumped out of her skin when the door slammed behind them and then again as a woman appeared in front of them. As Jacks said, the lighting was dim at best inside the house and as Honey’s eyes adjusted she took in the large hall they were being led down. The furnishings were sparse and she noticed they passed doors that were closed and she drew a gasp of breath when they came to the wide stairs that seemed to go into nothing but darkness, until a light switched on suddenly.
“This is all underground, that is why it is cold in here.” Jacks explained as he felt Honey shiver but it was not the cold that had caused her body to react and she said so. He laughed at her fright and reproached her. “You do not seem the fearful type to me, though I have to admit the first time I came down here, it spooked me too. It is better when we get to where we are going. Lighter, not much more but you can see much better. The whole place is self sufficient and runs on natural sources. Asa has no use for outside utilities and he is very conservative in his living, though he has wealth he chooses to put it to better use.”
“Okay, I can understand that, but Jacks do you not find all this odd? The seclusion and I have no idea where we are even. Do you?”
“I have never been here in the daylight but I am pretty sure we are due north of the city, maybe even across the state line into Vermont. Asa has not chosen to share that with me, for my own protection he says.”
This alarmed Honey even more. “Your protection. Jacks this is sounding worse all the time. I am thinking that I do not want to be here.”
“Hey, quit worrying. Here we are anyway. The stairs had led to another great hall which led to the great room where they found the agin
g old man sitting comfortably in a deep leather chair. It was rare that he was not already settled in bed whenever Jacks would arrive. Jacks walked across the vast floor to stand beside him.
“Ah, I see you brought company. Please sit.” He waved at the variety of seating choices and Jacks pulled Honey to a settee which would hold the both of them for he did not think Honey was going to let go of him but before he did that he leaned over Asa, kissing his cheek.
“Honey and I decided at the last minute that she would come with me, I hope you do not mind.”
In reality, Asa did mind for with her came entities that were not welcome but he was too wise to show his anger.
“Of course not, for who could mind such a lovely woman called Honey, was it not?”
Honey braced herself and leaned forward to take the hand he offered, hoping he could not feel the shudder of dislike that ran through her entire body. When he brought it to his lips and kissed it, she thought she would die but managing a smile she gently pulled her hand away.
“Jacks told me much about you Asa, I am happy to meet you.” She was lying and he knew she was but again his age old wisdom was at work. He would work on her with his wiles a bit later. Women were the easiest to seduce, it was that way from the beginning. First, he must bring Jacks back into the web he had already woven for him and causing him to look into his eyes the spell began to work and Jacks was seeing through Asa’s eyes and feeling thoughts that was put into his head. When this happened he wondered why in the world he had brought Honey with him and wished he had not. Honey knew something had changed but was not sure what. She saw Jacks transform into a different person right in front of her and was astounded. She was sure the power was not coming from a good source and she silently prayed as to keep any from affecting her.
She really wanted to get out of the house and away from the man but she waited hoping Jacks did not plan to stay very long.
Asa was well aware of her uneasiness and turned his attention to her. Her answers to his questions were short and curt. He could not get through the thick wall of protection she had surrounding her because she was a believer. The beings that her presence allowed to enter his domain were terrorizing his troops and he was becoming agitated. His attempt to draw the woman into a seductive conversation was failing and his body was tiring fast. He must assure that Jacks would come alone the next time and to do that he needed to be alone with him.
“My dear, would you mind so terribly if my boy here put me to bed? I find that I tire easily these days and fear my time is upon me. I trust you can entertain yourself for a short time and it was my…. privilege to meet you.” His lie rolled off his tongue with practiced ease.
Honey started, “I…yes, certainly.” If it meant they could get away from him and his home she was for it. She nodded at Jacks who immediately helped Asa into his rolling chair.
“I will not be long.”
He rolled the chair to the door which opened up to Asa’s bedroom. It shut behind them leaving Honey alone to contemplate on things. She had no idea of what was happening but she was sure that it was something Jacks was aware of.
Behind the closed door Asa worked on his protégé with urgency for it was time to make the transfer and there was the matter of the woman.
Jacks lifted the man onto his bed and the women servants fussed with his covers until he shewed them away. His colorless eyes caught and held Jack’s own and with powers unknown to Jacks he planted within him a strong desire to please the man before him.
“What else can I do for you?”
Asa slyly prompted him, “The time has come my boy for you to take your inheritance. Tomorrow night will be the night I will hand over the reins to my vast wealth and power. You will then be in a position to do all that your heart desires. Your dreams will come into being and you will never again want for anything. The world will be yours.”
“I am ready.”
“Yes, yes you are but you must leave the woman, she will not be welcome.”
“Yes sir. Will I come here?”
“No. The ceremony must take place at a tabernacle.”
“A church?”
“Of sorts, but not used as such in many years. The ceremony will happen on the rooftop when the moon crosses with Saturn at exactly nine-twenty pm. It is imperative that we have everything ready by then.”
“Will it just be the two of us?”
“There will be six witnesses. Now go, for I want you to be well rested for this event. The car will come for you when it is time.”
“Good night then.”
“Good night, my boy.”
Jacks left the room and Asa gasped for his breath. There was no way he could last until the next crossing. It must be now. Damn that woman, she almost ruined everything. She was the reason Jacks had become stronger since his last visit and his control over him, weaker. Well, he would take care of her after everything was over and Jacks’ body belonged to him. He cackled out at the thought and went into a coughing fit so bad that the doctor was summoned from his quarters and remained with him throughout the night.
While in the car headed back to the city, Honey was concerned for Jacks. He was quiet and remote, barely speaking. She did not pressure him for she too had a lot to think about. Something was wrong, terribly wrong and she had no idea what to do. Her first instinct was to get the first plane back to Mississippi and away from the feeling of dread that she was feeling. What power did Asa hold over Jacks? She was feeling inadequate to deal with the situation and wished she had someone to talk to about it. Silently she did just that, she talked to God and asked for guidance.
They had a light meal in the hotel’s restaurant where both were too preoccupied with their thoughts to talk much and when they got to their rooms, Jacks placed a kiss on her forehead and said goodnight. It was a good thing, for Honey was exhausted and was asleep minutes after she crawled into her bed.
The next morning Jacks knocked on her door and she reached for her robe and opened it. He was carrying a tray with coffee and bagels.
“I thought you might want some coffee about now, so I had them bring this up.” He sat it on the table and poured two cups, handing her one and sat down in one of the chairs. She was surprised at the change in him for he was more the Jacks she had come to know, as he helped himself to the bagels and joked around about their visit with Asa the night before. Honey was reluctant to treat the whole affair lightly and when he asked what she thought about his newly discovered grandparent, she was blatantly honest with him.
“I did not like him Jacks. I’m sorry, I know you do not want to hear this but I am not so sure that I believe he is truly your relative. I mean, how can you know he has not made this whole story up? You have jumped into this awfully fast and I think you really need to reevaluate everything.”
Jacks’ was thoughtful for a minute and as if talking to himself he said, “It is the truth. There is no way he could make these things up. The letter could be fabricated but the marks we share cannot be.”
“But you told me that he received the letter after your mother died. If she didn’t want him part of your life while she was alive, I do not understand why she would want him to after she was gone. Maybe he is your grandfather, but that doesn’t mean he is a good person and I do not think he is. As a matter of fact, I think he is repulsive.”
Jacks laughed at her. “Damn woman, he only wants to give me everything he owns because in case you did not notice, he is not in the best condition. The man is dying, how can I not do this special thing for him if it will make him feel better before he goes.”
“Wait a minute; what special thing does he want you to do?”
Jacks flushed slightly, “It is just a ceremony that has been in his family for generations that he wants me to take part in tonight. It sort of passes the inheritance to me.”
“Does money and power mean so much to you, Jacks I thought you did not care about all that. Was I so wrong?”
“No,” He took her hand and
held it, looking at it instead of her. “No, you were right, I don’t care about all that for me but I am thinking about the positive things I can do if I step into Asa’s shoes so to speak. He has worldwide recognition and he has the wealth to do a tremendous amount of good on a world level. Don’t you see Honey, we….you and I….could wipe out a lot of misery with this. Look at the good Sheila did with Morgan’s money and Asa’s wealth is far greater, I assure you.”
“What time is this thing and where do we have to go?” She relented reluctantly, for she could see he had his mind made up.
“Uh….not we, it is a…a private affair and I will go alone. Asa said around nine and it should not take very long.
”You are going back to his place then?”
“No, there is a church building on Oak and Third Street, it will take place there. Like I said, I will indulge the old fellow’s request even though it does sound bazaar, huh?” He grinned and stood up stretching. “You get dressed and we can do some sightseeing if you like.”
“I like.” She got up too and as he left she shut the door and headed for the bath. On the way she picked up her phone. She needed to talk this out with someone who knew Jacks, so she dialed Sheila’s number.
“I was just going to call you!” Sheila said when she answered her phone.
“Really?” Honey said surprised.
“Yes, really. I have some exciting news….Dwight and I are engaged!” Sheila was bursting with excitement. “Last night he asked me to marry him and of course I said yes! I was going to call and tell you before we made it public. Isn’t this the most amazing news?”
Wings of Deception Page 17