Mercy, Mercy Me

by Ronn Elmore

  “What is going on?” he asked, impatient in his tone. “Where are the lights?”

  Suddenly, light beamed throughout the room.

  “Surprise!!”

  It took a moment for Dwayne’s eyes to adjust. “What?”

  Beverlyn rushed to his side. “The other night I realized that today would be the seventh airing of Higher Ground. And seven is a special number—God’s number of completion. And, Dr. Grandison, you have completed a good work. In seven weeks, the ratings are where we’d hoped to be this time next year.”

  “Well, I couldn’t have done that without all of you,” Dwayne said, holding out his hands to the group.

  “But you are the leader. Last night I realized that we needed to celebrate. So congratulations, Dr. Grandison.”

  As the Higher Ground production team applauded, Beverlyn smiled and squeezed his hand. At that moment, Dwayne realized it was no coincidence—what had happened between them two nights ago and this celebration.

  “This is my way of saying thank you… for many things.” Beverlyn leaned toward Dwayne and whispered, confirming his thoughts.

  “Congratulations, son.”

  Dwayne turned at the sound of his mother’s voice. “What are you doing here?” He hugged her.

  “Beverlyn called last night and invited me.”

  “She called me too.” Dwayne’s smile widened at the sight of Monique.

  “Well, I’m glad you’re here,” he said to both his mother and Monique.

  “I hate to drag him away,” Beverlyn interrupted, “but he needs to chat with the rest of the team.”

  “Of course,” Bernice said.

  “Go on,” Monique added. “We see him all the time. Oops,” she said, covering her mouth as if she’d made a mistake. “That was how it used to be,” she added in jest.

  “Now, be kind, Monique,” Beverlyn chided playfully. “Dr. Grandison is busy changing the world.”

  Beverlyn hooked her arm through Dwayne’s and led him away. As Dwayne shook hands, chatted, and thanked each person on the team, Beverlyn never left his side. Dwayne kept looking over his shoulder at his mother, but her eyes assured him that she was enjoying the impromptu gathering.

  When the waiter asked all to take their seats, Beverlyn directed Dwayne to the center of the table, where she sat on one side and Bernice on the other. Dwayne glanced around the room, stopping when he saw L.W. holding a chair for Monique. But then, he thought, Monique could more than handle Linson Lejohn, who was flanked by Kim Steele.

  “Dwayne, this is so nice.” Bernice smoothed the oversize napkin on her lap, thinking that Lafayette had been right. She’d seen why he declined the invitation, leaving just her and Monique to be there in support of Dwayne. She didn’t get a good vibe from L.W., and while Beverlyn was nice, there was something amiss… something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.

  Dwayne wasn’t sure if his Mom was just being nice. Though loving and supportive, she wasn’t easy to win over, and though she was Baldwin Hills bourgeois, she could spot a fake a mile away. Before he could respond, he felt Beverlyn reach for his hand under the table.

  “Mrs. Grandison, what do you think of the show?” Maria, the show’s producer, asked.

  Dwayne turned toward Beverlyn.

  “I hope you’re not doing anything after this,” she whispered, leaning close to him.

  Dwayne shook his head. “Not really.”

  “Then I hope you can reserve the entire night for me.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “I have something incredible planned for you.” Her voice was sensuous. “I want to take you back to my office,” she said slowly. “Close the door and then …” She paused and leaned away. “Interview the five men I’ve arranged for you to see as potential drivers.”

  Dwayne threw his head back and laughed. When others looked at him, he lifted his cupped hand to his mouth and pretended to cough.

  As the waiters served the brunch of scrambled eggs with sautéed spinach, artichoke omelets, French toast, and fresh fruit topped with whipped cream, Dwayne turned back to Beverlyn. “Why, Dr. Grandison,” Beverlyn teased, “you couldn’t have thought I meant …”

  “Don’t you try it, Ms. Boudreaux. You aren’t as innocent as you look,” he interrupted. “I guess I’m just starting to see your point. And if you think a driver is a good idea, then I do too.”

  L.W. peered at his niece and the doctor over the rim of his water glass. Something had changed. He knew everyone in the room could feel the electricity between the two, and he wondered how far Dwayne and Beverlyn’s personal relationship had progressed. Beverlyn hadn’t mentioned anything to him, though L.W. was sure she wouldn’t, knowing he would disapprove.

  “Beverlyn, it’s not that I don’t think you should have a life, but you are Beverlyn Boudreaux. You have to be careful about relationships.”

  “Uncle Linson, I know who I am. A relationship is not a corporate merger. God has blessed me with so much. Now I pray that He will bless me with a family.”

  Her words made him cringe. He was all the family she needed. If anyone else came into the picture, he wasn’t sure where he’d stand. Visions of Country Baptist in Mississippi haunted him like the monster nightmares he’d had as a child. There was no way he’d go back. He would step aside for no one, at least no one as spoiled and privileged as Dwayne Grandison.

  L.W. shook his head. A few weeks ago, this obvious display of affection between Dwayne and his niece would have made his blood curdle. But now he just leaned back in his chair and watched. Beverlyn whispered something into Dwayne’s ear, and Dwayne laughed, just as he’d been doing all morning. Laugh now, Grandison, L.W. thought. These are your final days.

  L.W. almost wanted to stand up and make the announcement now. He would bring Dwayne Grandison to his grubby knees in front of his mother. L.W. twisted in his seat as the thought tempted him. That would work—he’d destroy the entire family and maybe even bring down his brother’s church. He couldn’t stand how much Dwayne always talked about it.

  On the other hand, Beverlyn would be hurt. And L.W. loved his niece too much to bring her that embarrassment, at least right now. No, the right time would reveal itself. He was sure he wouldn’t have to wait long.

  “Mr. Lejohn, would you pass the water pitcher, please?”

  L.W. reached across the table and poured water into Monique’s glass. As he settled the pitcher back, he said, “I want you to call me L.W.” He leaned closer to her. “After all, you work for Mr. Grandison. That makes us almost family.”

  “Thank you, L.W. What a nice man you are,” Monique said with a hint of sarcasm, trying to figure out just what his angle was. She just didn’t get a good vibe from the old geezer. In fact, she didn’t like him and wasn’t all that sure of Beverlyn either.

  “That’s what they say. I’m just a charmer.”

  Catching Dwayne’s eye, Monique signaled her distaste for L.W. Dwayne’s gaze then locked in on L.W., and they held their stares. L.W. knew that Dwayne realized they were at war. Seconds passed as the sound of clanking silverware filled the room. And it was Dwayne who was first to drop his gaze.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Beverlyn laid her head in Dwayne’s lap. He looked down at her and smiled. She held the book she was reading above her head, while Dwayne read the proposal. Nina had given him two days to review the expansion of both the men’s and women’s ministries.

  The light summer wind whistled through the magnolias and Chinese elms that provided privacy to Beverlyn’s grounds. Only the sounds of an occasional passing car or the distant traffic from Wilshire Boulevard disturbed their backyard retreat.

  They swung gently in the wide-seated swing Beverlyn had installed over the Memorial Day weekend, enjoying their first Saturday together without a scheduled event, and with L.W. out of town on a business trip. Beverlyn turned over, knelt on the seat, then kissed him softly. He looked up from his papers and smiled. “What was that for?”

/>   “For making me happy.”

  Dwayne laid the papers on the patio table in front of the swing.

  “When you say that, I know it means either you’re very happy or you want me to do something.”

  Beverlyn sat back on the swing and laughed. “I could be insulted.”

  “Or you could tell me what’s on your mind.”

  “You’re going to have a break this summer?”

  Dwayne folded his arms behind his head. “Yeah, and I’m looking forward to relaxing a bit and spending more time with my clients and at New Covenant. This has been some ride, but I’ll go back to the life I had before—at least for a moment.” He reached out for her.

  She rested her head on his chest and they swung silently for a few minutes.

  Finally, Beverlyn said, “You know, you can’t go back. Nothing is the same.”

  While he didn’t want to face it, Dwayne realized Beverlyn was right. Though Higher Ground was on hiatus, biweekly repeats of the ten original shows kept Dwayne’s image in millions of households. And with the more than 100,000 videos sold, it was hard for Dwayne to walk the streets without being recognized.

  “I know,” he said, finally responding to her statement. “Still, I want to spend the summer with as much normalcy as I can before we rev up again in the fall. So what’s on your mind?”

  “I think you should do some speaking this summer. And before you say no, remember the show.”

  There it was. Use the show to get him to add still more to his already full plate.

  “Anytime you speak it’s free advertising for you and Higher Ground. Though we’ve done advertising, we don’t have the budget for more. We have to do whatever we can to build and maintain viewership.”

  “I take it you have something specific in mind.”

  She paused, taking a deep breath. “I want you to be a featured speaker at my New York Crusade.”

  “Oh, no, Beverlyn.”

  “Speaking at the New York Crusade will put you on the front lines.”

  “That’s what I don’t want.”

  “There will be over eighty thousand people there, mostly women …”

  “Not a selling point, Beverlyn.”

  “This will be added exposure to our target market. You’ll be a live commercial.”

  He was still shaking his head, but not as strongly. He stood and walked to the edge of the redwood deck, scanning the vast grounds. A minute later, Beverlyn came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  “Sean is going to be singing, and we might be able to spend an extra day or two and hang out—just the three of us.”

  He remained silent.

  “Just think about it?”

  He still didn’t turn around, keeping his eyes on the petunias and sunflowers planted around the yard’s perimeter. Their colors were brilliant, almost blinding. “There’s not much time to decide. The crusade is in a month.”

  “I don’t want to pressure you …”

  “Yeah, right.”

  His sarcasm caught her off guard. She stepped in front of him with her arms folded. “Dwayne, I was talking about Higher Ground, but what about you? You haven’t come close to reaching your potential, and speaking will put you on the right road. There is so much I see that you can’t.”

  Dwayne turned away and returned to the swing. He dropped his face in his hands.

  Beverlyn frowned. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing,” he said, looking up and half expecting to see Yvette. “Beverlyn, I need you to do something for me.”

  “Okay.”

  “Stop trying to direct my career. I know what I want and was doing fine before you came into my life.”

  “Dwayne, I’m not trying to—”

  “Yes, you are,” he interrupted her, straining to keep his voice even.

  Beverlyn held up her hands. “Is there something wrong with making suggestions?”

  “No, the problem comes when you try to manipulate me by using Higher Ground.” He was yelling now. “I know the importance of the show. I’m committed to its success. End of discussion.”

  “There are just some things that you may not know.”

  “Then bring them up in a production meeting,” he shouted.

  Beverlyn drew back from his anger. “I’m sorry.”

  He nodded, then began packing papers into his weekend backpack.

  “I thought we’d spend the day together,” she said. “This is the first Saturday I’ve been home.”

  He turned away, gripping the handles of his backpack tightly, and walked to the back door without looking back.

  “That’s game, man. What’s on your mind today?”

  “Beverlyn.”

  “What about her?”

  “Sometimes I just feel that she’s trying to control my life.”

  “So what’s new?”

  Dwayne put down the racket and motioned for a glass of the lemonade Sean Wiley’s maid was approaching the two of them with.

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “Got any ideas?” He paused for a moment and then got serious. “Enough about me, man. How are you?”

  “Up and down. Had a minor complication, but I think it’s the stress of all the traveling, so I may be cutting back. I go to the doctor this week, so we’ll see. And before you pick up the latest copy of one of the tabloids, I just want to say that I’ve been spending some time with a lady that I’m coming to like a lot.”

  “And does this lady have a name?”

  “Ashley Allen.”

  “Do I know her?”

  “No, she’s a non-pro, but when and if the time is right, I want you to meet her.”

  “I’d love to,” he said, pausing. “Have you told her …”

  “Not yet.”

  “I’m sure it will all work out, man.”

  “Now, let me ask you something.” Sean looked directly at Dwayne. “Do you think it’s time for you to give up Man-to-Man?”

  “Are you kidding? I love working with the men.”

  “I’m not talking about walking away totally. But you’re sure juggling a lot. You’ve trained Deacon Miller and the others. They’re doing great. It might be time for you to step down and concentrate on what’s happening with the network.”

  “I don’t want to do that.”

  “Perhaps I used the wrong word. Not step down, but step back.”

  Though he didn’t want to admit it, he agreed. His schedule had become too full, and Man-to-Man was the most logical place to cut time.

  “It’s an option, Dwayne,” Sean offered. “Still see Nina?”

  The words elicited a sarcastic chuckle from Dwayne.

  “Oh, is that why you don’t want to give up Man-to-Man?”

  “Man, I don’t know. But you were right. Something’s going on with her. I just wish I knew what it was. At any rate, she’s not ready, she says, for a relationship with anyone.”

  “And Beverlyn …”

  “Oh, she’s more than ready. And there’s something about her… We’re getting close, but sometimes I just feel like I’m getting swallowed up when I’m with her.”

  “Well, you take it easy. Just remember to think everything through. There’s a lot on the line.”

  “Yeah,” Dwayne said, now standing. “And you keep me informed about everything, including Ashley.”

  Returning to his high-rise penthouse, Dwayne picked up the cordless in the foyer and then put it back down. He had been thinking about Beverlyn all day. Dwayne walked to his bedroom, took off his clothes, and settled into bed with his Bible. As he read, he felt his eyes being drawn from the pages. He looked up and Yvette’s eyes stared back at him from her photo. He gazed at the picture, letting himself feel the moments of her last breath, and wondered what death snatched from them.

  Ten minutes passed before he picked up the phone and dialed Beverlyn’s number.

  “Beverlyn, I’ve decided to do the New York Crusade.”

  “Yeah!” she s
creamed so loud he had to pull the receiver from his ear.

  “What’s the topic?”

  “Oh, no. This is your career. You decide.”

  “Very funny,” he said.

  “Tell you what. Tomorrow I’ll give you all the information on the workshop topics, and if you need some help …” She paused and added softly, “You can let me know.”

  “Good night, Beverlyn. I’ll call you in the morning.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  As the flight attendants secured the jetliner’s door, Dwayne took his cell phone from his suit jacket and dialed Sean’s cell number once again. Still just voice mail. His concern for Sean had now grown serious. Dwayne looked out the window as the L-1011 backed away from the gate. What could have happened? He’d called his friend countless times over the last few days, and though he’d left messages, he hadn’t received a return call. That was not Sean’s way, but until this moment, Dwayne had been too busy to be concerned.

  Dwayne pushed the first-class leather seat into the fully reclined position, declining the flight attendant’s offer for dinner or a snack. Even the opportunity to watch a movie didn’t interest him now. His mind was filled with images of Sean. By the time the plane landed five hours later, Dwayne’s concern bordered on panic.

  He was met at baggage claim by a uniformed driver holding a placard that read, “Dr. Grandison.” Within fifteen minutes, Dwayne and his bags were secure in the limousine and headed into the city. As they crept through the afternoon traffic on the Long Island Expressway, Dwayne checked his messages. Sean had not called.

  The car stopped in front of the Trump International Hotel and Tower. As Dwayne checked in at the front desk and signed the registration paperwork, he wondered how many five-hundred-dollar-a-night suites Beverly Boudreaux Ministries was paying for.

  “Will you be needing one key or two, Dr. Grandison?”

  Dwayne thought about Beverlyn. “One key will be fine.”

  Within minutes, Dwayne opened the door to his one-bedroom suite and was instantly struck by the smell of fresh-cut flowers. As he stepped inside, the grand vintage buildings that lined Central Park West came into view. The bellman disappeared into the other room when Dwayne glanced out of the nine-foot-high windows. Central Park stretched out before him.