Delilah

by Shelia M. Goss

  No one cared about the skinny teenager with thick wavy hair. She was now seventeen—too old for the system and not old enough to be the head of household on her own case file. With no one to support her and a need to survive, Delilah got a fake ID and started dancing at an area strip club when she overheard some women brag about how much money they made.

  At first she didn’t make much money, but when Mercedes, one of the highest paid strippers in the club, took her under her wings, it didn’t take Delilah long to learn the tricks of the trade. She made enough money to rent out Ms. Shadows’ house from her surviving relatives, and she lived there until Ms. Shadows’ nephews decided to sell the house.

  As she got older, Delilah realized she wouldn’t be able to make money with her body for the rest of her life, so, like Mercedes, she enrolled at one of the local colleges. That’s when she ran into Keisha. Keisha remembered her from her old neighborhood, and their friendship rekindled.

  She had to credit Keisha for getting her away from the nightlife because she didn’t have the courage to leave it on her own. Keisha not only encouraged her, she helped Delilah get a regular job. The pay was far less than what she was accustomed to making, but the benefits outweighed the pay. She no longer had to deal with men who fawned over her like she was a piece of meat.

  Delilah would never admit to Keisha that with stripping she offered other services on the side. Those services were the ones that William had found out about. How, she didn’t know. She never mentioned any of it when she applied for a job at Trusts Enterprise. Making twenty dollars an hour at a regular job was a dream come true for her; little did she know that it would come with a price.

  The water in the shower turned lukewarm, bringing Delilah back to the present. Through most of her twenties, Delilah lived the fast life filled with men, money, and booze. Whenever Delilah felt she’d turned her life around for the better, something evil lurked and attempted to draw her back in. Her life always seemed to spiral out of control. This time, though, she had come too far to lose it all. She had lost Samson. Could she afford to lose her soul as well?

  Chapter 26

  Samson and Julia’s honeymoon ended before it ever got started. Only two days back from their trip to the Bahamas and Julia was giving him the cold shoulder. Disappointed in how his married life had started, Samson headed to the altar as soon as he got to church Monday morning.

  “Father God, I come to you with a humble heart.” Samson prayed for the sick and shut-in. He ended his prayer on a personal note. “I know my actions before I got married were not pleasing to you. I don’t want my wife to pay for the sin I committed. Please restore me physically so that I can please my wife in every way possible.”

  Samson ended his prayer and slowly made his way toward his office.

  Elaine, sitting at her desk, greeted him when he entered. “Pastor Judges, William Trusts called.”

  William was the last person Samson wanted to talk with. “If he calls again, don’t take a message.”

  Samson sat in front of his computer and got caught up with his e-mails. Many of them were congratulatory messages from other ministers and people he knew who were unable to come to the wedding.

  Elaine stepped in his office. “I have a doctor’s appointment at one o’clock, so I probably won’t be back today. Is there something you want me to do before I leave?”

  “Just leave the door open. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Trusts called again, so you might want to look at the caller ID before answering the phones.”

  “I’ll let the calls go to voice mail, and you can check them tomorrow.”

  “I’m out,” Elaine said before closing the door behind her.

  “What in the world?” Samson said as he clicked on an e-mail in his inbox. A video of Delilah swinging around a pole played. At the bottom of the e-mail, the note read, “Can your wife do this?”

  The e-mailer with the name of “Deedancer” sent him an instant message. “I see you got my e-mail.”

  “Delilah, anybody could have checked my mail.”

  Delilah responded: “But they didn’t. Do you miss me yet?”

  Samson typed, “Unless it’s church-related, I suggest you don’t e-mail me.”

  “You never did answer my question.”

  Samson hated to admit it, but he did miss Delilah. He missed how her back arched when they made love. He was tempted to watch the video she sent again.

  “How have you been?” he asked, hoping to change the subject.

  “As well as can be expected after losing the man I love,” she responded.

  Samson hated that he had to hurt Delilah, but he didn’t love her. He was now married, and she would have to move on. “Other than that, how have you been?”

  “Do you really want to know?” she asked.

  “I sincerely want you to be okay, Delilah.”

  “Well, I’ve been having nightmares lately. I’ve tried to forget my past, but the dreams won’t let me.”

  “Set up an appointment, and I’ll have one of the associate pastors talk with you about it.”

  “Can you do it?”

  “Now, Delilah, you know our track record.”

  “I promise I won’t try anything.”

  Samson wasn’t worried about Delilah. He was more concerned about how his wife would react if she found out he was counseling Delilah, especially in light of the problems they were having in the bedroom. “Delilah, I won’t be able to do it.”

  “Please,” she wrote, adding a few frowning faces for effect.

  Samson felt torn between his pastoral duties and his responsibility as a husband. He had prayed about Delilah and felt he was strong. He would not allow the devil to win. “I have an opening this evening at four, but I have to be out of here by five,” he typed.

  “I’ll be there.”

  “Hi, hubbie,” Julia said. She entered his office holding two brown bags.

  “What a surprise.” Samson remained sitting as he determined Julia’s mood. Julia shortened the distance between them.

  Julia removed two plastic containers from the bag and placed one in front of him. “I know I haven’t been the nicest person to live with, so this is a peace offering.”

  Samson turned the monitor off. “My favorites.”

  “I know how you love my mama’s macaroni and greens, so I bribed her into cooking it for you.”

  “I’ll have to call my mother-in-law to thank her.”

  “She put you some peach cobbler in there too.”

  “I married the wrong Rivers.”

  “Watch it now,” Julia said.

  For the first time in days, they were actually laughing again.

  “I left my phone in the car. Can I use your computer to check my e-mail?” Julia asked.

  “Uh, well I was in the middle of doing something. Can it wait?” he asked.

  “It’ll only take a minute.”

  Samson had to think fast. He felt around on the floor for the plug. Julia moved the mouse around. The screen remained blank. Samson’s heart rate increased. His foot hit the button on the power plug at the same time Julia hit the power button on the monitor.

  “What’s wrong with your computer?” she asked.

  “It has a mind of its own sometimes.” Samson used his foot to turn the power back on. The computer beeped. “See. It’s working now.”

  “I’ll check them later. I told your mom I would meet her.”

  “You sure? Because it’s not going to take long to log back on.”

  “I’m sure. I’ll see you tonight at home,” Julia said. She kissed him and left his office.

  Samson didn’t exhale until Julia had left his office. He logged back on to his account. Delilah had logged off. He sent her an e-mail canceling their four o’clock session. He didn’t know what he was thinking making plans to see Delilah without anyone else being in the office. The two of them alone equaled trouble.

  Chapter 27

  Delilah sprayed her body
down with her favorite designer fragrance. Instead of wearing a skirt, she changed into a pair of hip-hugging jeans and a satin low-cut blouse. Satisfied Samson would be salivating before she left him, Delilah drove to the church.

  Delilah was thrilled when she noticed Elaine’s car was not there. She zoomed into the parking spot next to Samson’s SUV. She applied some more ruby red lipstick, puckered her lips, and blew a kiss at herself in the rearview mirror. “Are you ready for me, Samson?”

  She exited the car and walked briskly up the walkway to the church. She jiggled the knob on the church front door. “He should keep this door locked,” Delilah’s voice echoed as she entered the church. She headed straight to Samson’s office.

  He seemed to be in deep thought as she stood in the doorway and watched him for a few minutes. “Knock, knock,” she said.

  “You came.”

  “Yes, four o’clock, remember?” She pointed to the clock on the wall.

  “I sent you an e-mail to cancel.”

  “But I didn’t get it,” Delilah lied. She got it, read it, and hit the delete button without responding.

  Samson stood up. “Well, you’re here now.”

  Delilah reached for the door and closed it.

  “It’s just us here, so you can leave it open.”

  Delilah did as she was told and re-opened the door. “Thank you for taking time to see me today, Samson.”

  “Like I told you before, I’m here for you in a pastoral capacity if you need me.”

  Delilah sat down in the chair across from his desk. She fanned herself. “It’s so hot. I don’t know how I’ll be able to get through the summer.”

  “Would you like something to drink?” Samson asked.

  “Water would be fine.”

  Samson retrieved a bottle of water out of the mini-refrigerator in his office and handed it to Delilah. She took several sips before placing the bottle on the desk in front of her.

  He took a seat and picked up a pen and began writing something on a yellow steno pad. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you taking notes of our session,” Delilah said.

  “You don’t have to worry about anyone else seeing this. As you talk, the notes will help me better counsel you.”

  Samson seemed to be in control of things. His reactions were totally opposite of what Delilah expected. She wanted him to sweat. She wanted to feel the heat that normally materialized whenever they were in the same room. Right now, she was feeling nothing. Maybe he really was happy with his new wife.

  Melancholy sat in her spirit. She had lost so much. Tears formed in the corner of her eyes. Samson passed her a tissue. “It’s okay. Get it out.”

  She dabbed her eyes with the tissue. “It all started when my mom died. I’ve never told anyone this, but my foster parents weren’t the nicest of people. In fact, some were downright cruel to me. People think I’m selfish, but I’m really not. I’ve had to fight for everything I’ve gotten. Life hasn’t always treated me right.”

  “Sister Delilah, you appear to be doing well for yourself now, so you have to stop holding on to those ill-gotten feelings. Let the past bury itself.”

  “I wish it were that easy. Everything could be going great, but when something life-changing happens, those old thoughts return.” Delilah revealed a part of herself to Samson that no one else got to see. “Your wedding made me remember some things.”

  He placed his pen down.” I know you were disappointed about my marriage, but you knew beforehand I was getting married.”

  “I’m in no way blaming you for this last episode, Pastor. I was just hoping you could help me exorcise these demons once and for all.” Delilah thought she deserved a Best Actress award for faking sincerity.

  “The first thing we need to do, and I should have done this before you started talking, is pray.”

  Samson didn’t see the smile that replaced Delilah’s frown, due to his head being bowed. Delilah added, “Yes, Lord,” in various places as Samson prayed.

  “God, we know with You all things are possible. Your daughter needs some supernatural healing, Father, healing of the mind. Heal her so that she can find peace—peace that only you, Lord, can give her.”

  Delilah followed his prayer with an “amen.”

  Samson ignored the ringing office phone. Seconds later, his cell phone rang. After checking the caller ID he said to Delilah, “That’s my wife. Hold on for a minute.”

  Delilah crossed and uncrossed her legs as she waited for him to end his call. Samson’s demeanor seemed to change. His forehead tensed up. He swiveled his chair around. Delilah could tell something was wrong.

  Samson turned the chair back around and faced her. “Sorry about that.”

  “Everything okay?” she asked. She really was concerned. He had just gotten married, so there shouldn’t be any problems at home. She leaned forward, revealing some cleavage.

  Samson’s eyes were glued to her chest. He cleared his throat. “This isn’t about me, Delilah. It’s your time.”

  “If there’s something you need to take care of, we can do this another time.”

  He looked away. “Maybe you’re right. But before you go, I want to give you scriptures to read when you get home.” He scribbled on his steno pad and handed a sheet of paper to Delilah.

  Delilah reviewed it. “Matthew fifth chapter and the sixth chapter of Luke.”

  “I want you to think about forgiving the people in your past who have wronged you. Reading those scriptures should help. Read them daily and meditate on them.”

  “Can I come back tomorrow around the same time?” Delilah asked.

  He glanced through the calendar on his desk. “I don’t see anything scheduled, so four tomorrow is fine.”

  “Great.” Delilah extended her hand to shake his.

  “Be careful,” Samson said as he shook Delilah’s hand.

  “I will.” She bent over to retrieve the paper she let slide onto the floor. “See you tomorrow,” she said before leaving the room.

  Chapter 28

  Samson remained seated. He didn’t want Delilah to see the effect she had on him. If Julia ever found out, she would be devastated. The last thing Samson wanted to do was commit adultery in his heart. Once his office door was closed, he picked up his Bible, and the pages automatically flipped open to Proverbs chapter six, verse twenty-five: “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.”

  He knew in his heart this was a sign from God. “Lord, I love my wife. I want to build a life with my wife.”

  Samson continued to read more scriptures. As he read, his sermon for the following week came to him. He jotted down some notes. Time had crept by. The phone ringing jolted him out of his deep thoughts of meditation.

  “What time are you coming home?” Julia asked from the other end of his cell phone.

  “Baby, I’m sorry. I started reading and praying. Time just got away from me.”

  He couldn’t tell if Julia was upset from her tone. “I’m almost through cooking. It should be ready by the time you get here.”

  “Give me at least thirty minutes. I’m almost through working on my sermon.” They ended their call, and Samson typed up some more notes on his computer before logging off. He locked up his office and the church and jumped in his SUV.

  Traffic stood still on I-49. He called Julia to alert her. This time there was no mistaking what mood she was in.

  “Is this something I should expect every night?” she snapped.

  “Julia, you know better than that. I got lost in time, that’s all.”

  “I’ll have to warm the food up when you get here.”

  Samson didn’t want to argue. He said good-bye and discontinued the call. He listened to a gospel CD as he weaved in and out of traffic. When he finally made it home, Julia greeted him at the door with a hug and kiss. “Sorry about earlier,” she apologized. “I’ve had time to cool off, and I don’t want to argue.”

  “All’s forgiven,”
Samson responded.

  “Go get washed up, and I’ll bring the food to the table.”

  Being married to Julia was definitely different from dating her. Her demeanor had changed. He tried to understand her frustrations, but what she didn’t take into consideration was that not being able to consummate their relationship also affected him. He pulled the printout he had about Viagra out of his briefcase. He laughed out loud. He was only thirty years old and never thought he would need a pill to help him perform. If his friends only knew. He threw the printout back in his briefcase.

  The aroma of the food filled the air when he entered the dining room. Julia filled his plate with food and waited for him to take her hand in his to say grace. The conversation over dinner reminded him of a bad date. Julia’s recounting the conversations she had with his mother earlier that day bored him. Maybe when Julia went back to work as plant manager she would have something more exciting to talk about.

  “The food was good,” Samson said.

  “Thanks,” Julia responded.

  Samson went to his study while Julia cleared the dinner table and went to wash dishes. He retrieved his medical insurance information. He wrote down the information he needed so he could make a doctor’s appointment the following day.

  He leaned back in his chair and placed his legs on top of the desk. He owed his father a call. He picked up the phone and dialed his father’s number. Regis answered on the third ring.

  “Kelly tells me she feels something isn’t right with you and Julia. Y’all having problems already son,” Regis had asked after their greeting.

  Samson closed his eyes. “We’re okay. Trying to get adjusted. I forgot to thank you for helping to move her stuff in while we were gone.” Samson hoped it would steer the conversation in another direction.

  “That’s what family’s for. Now back to you and Julia. You know I do have a little experience under my belt when it comes to women.” Regis chuckled.