A House Divided (A Reverend Curtis Black Novel)

by Kimberla Lawson Roby

“Can I speak back to Dad?”

  “Of course. And honey, I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Charlotte handed the phone over to Curtis.

  “Son, don’t worry,” he said. “We just have to trust and believe that God is going to protect Racquel and the baby. We have to stay prayerful.”

  Curtis chatted with Matthew for a few more minutes and then told him he’d call him back as soon as they knew something. Charlotte phoned her mom and dad, her friend Janine, and then her aunt Emma to let them know what was going on. Curtis had dropped their daughter, Curtina, off at Aunt Emma’s before heading to the hospital, so Charlotte had wanted to check on her, too.

  Finally, after another twenty minutes or so, a thirty-something nurse walked into the waiting area. “Hi, I’m looking for the Anderson family.”

  Racquel’s aunt Laura spoke up. “We’re the Anderson family.”

  “And the Black family, too. We’re the baby’s other grandparents,” Charlotte said matter-of-factly, but when Curtis glanced at her disapprovingly, she regretted it.

  “It’s good to meet all of you,” the nurse said. “I’m here because Racquel wanted me to let you know that she’s fine, and that she just gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.”

  Everyone blew a sigh of relief, and tears streamed down Charlotte’s face. Everyone hugged the person sitting next to them, and Charlotte squeezed Curtis as tightly as she could. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord,” she said.

  The nurse smiled at everyone. “Okay, well, I just wanted to give you the great news, and Dr. and Mrs. Anderson will be out shortly.”

  “Thank you for the update,” Curtis said.

  “No problem. We all love Dr. Anderson here, so we sort of feel like little Baby Anderson is our baby, too.”

  You mean little Matthew Curtis Black the Second. Charlotte wished she could yell those words out loud for the whole world to hear, but she knew Curtis wouldn’t like it, and that it would likely infuriate Vanessa’s friends and family members, so she didn’t.

  “We really do appreciate everything you’ve done for my great niece and great-great nephew,” Aunt Laura added.

  “You’re quite welcome. You all take care now,” the nurse said, turning and leaving.

  Curtis pulled out his iPhone, preparing to dial Matthew. “Wow, God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”

  One of Vanessa’s friends—one of the ugly “teenage schoolgirls” who’d spoken to Curtis when he’d first walked in—said, “You are so right, Pastor, and I just know it helped having a true man of God like yourself praying the way you were. A man like you must have the absolute best relationship with Jesus, and I’m sure that’s why He answered your prayers so quickly.”

  Curtis smiled, and Charlotte was glad Matthew had answered his phone on the first ring because had this woman continued her flirtatious looks and comments, Charlotte would have had to set her straight, and the scenario would have been worse than it had been between her and Vanessa. Charlotte hated feeling this way, but she just couldn’t stand it when women blatantly came on to her husband, letting him know they wanted him and that they didn’t care whether he had a wife or not. This woman acted as though Charlotte wasn’t even sitting there.

  “Hey, son,” Curtis said. “Great news. You have a beautiful little boy, and Racquel is fine, too….Yes, they’re both doing well. We’re just waiting for Racquel’s parents to come out to give us more details.…No, I really don’t think you need to come, unless you maybe just want to fly in tonight and then right back out tomorrow. That way you won’t miss your classes on Monday.…Yeah, that would work, too, so just let me know what you decide once you speak to Racquel. I’m sure you’ll be able to talk to her soon.…Okay, I love you, too, son.”

  “What did he say?” Charlotte said. “And why did you say, ‘that would work, too’?”

  “Matt was saying that since Racquel and the baby are fine, maybe he’ll just wait and miss class on Friday only. That way, he can fly home Thursday night and stay until Sunday.”

  “He really shouldn’t miss any classes at all.”

  “I know, baby, but he has a new son, and I totally understand why he wants to see him. He’s a father now, and if I were him I’d want to get here right away, too.”

  “I realize that, but Matt worked hard to get straight As all the way through high school. I just don’t wanna see him ruin his scholarship. It’s not every day that any child receives a four-year academic scholarship to Harvard University, and the last thing he needs is to be missing classes. Not to mention jeopardizing his grades.”

  Charlotte looked over at Aunt Laura, along with the hussy who was still gawking at Curtis, and wished they’d mind their own business. They’d been listening to her and Curtis’s entire conversation, and there was no doubt they would take every bit of it back to Vanessa. They’d twist and exaggerate Charlotte’s words and have Vanessa thinking Charlotte didn’t want her own son to fly home to see his new baby, when in reality, all Charlotte wanted was what was best for Matthew and her grandchild.

  After an hour had passed everyone started to get worried, and finally Vanessa and Neil came out to the waiting area and led them all to a large executive conference room. Charlotte assumed that since Neil was on staff there, he could use whichever room he wanted.

  “Everyone, please have a seat,” he told them. “Overall, Racquel and little MJ are fine. But I figured it would be better to speak to everyone in private instead of disturbing the other families.”

  Little MJ? Charlotte kept her mouth shut, but if she’d said it once, she’d said it a thousand times. Her grandson’s name wasn’t Matthew Jr., it was Matthew II. Matthew…the…Second. Matthew…Curtis…Black…the…Second.

  “The reason it took us a while to come out here,” Neil continued, “is because little MJ stopped breathing two different times, and they had to intubate him, start an IV, and place him in an incubator.”

  Charlotte covered her mouth with both hands. “Oh no.”

  Curtis shook his head with sadness, and everyone else’s spirits dropped dramatically.

  “I know this sounds bad, but when babies are born prematurely, even with only a month to go like little MJ, sometimes they’re not able to breathe on their own and need more time to develop. But the good news is that I believe with everything in me that little MJ is going to be fine.”

  “Can we see him?” Charlotte asked.

  “I’m going to arrange for the incubator to be moved close to the window so that all of you can see him there,” Neil said. “But for now, I think it’s best that not a lot of people go into the actual room where he is. Maybe in a few days when he’s better.”

  Curtis nodded in agreement. “Totally understandable.”

  “We just have to keep praying for little MJ is all,” Vanessa said.

  What is it with everybody and this “little MJ” nickname? It was as if everyone was calling him that because they knew Charlotte didn’t want them to. What was so wrong with calling him “little Matt”? Or “little MB”? And why on earth did Racquel and Matthew want such a common suffix as Jr. when they’d both been brought up with a certain amount of class and culture? She knew most everyone she’d mentioned this to likely didn’t understand why it was such a big deal to her, but it was a big deal, because it was like she’d been thinking all along: the end of his name would make a difference for him when it came to schools and certain levels of employment. It was just the way things were, whether folks wanted to admit it or not. Sometimes a certain kind of name preceded you, and it was the reason you got your foot through various doors, even if no one had ever laid eyes on you before.

  “Do they know why Racquel went into labor so early?” Aunt Laura asked.

  “We all know why,” Vanessa spat, then glared at Charlotte. “This never should have happened, and it’s all your fault.”

  Charlotte raised her eyebrows. “Excuse me?”

  “You heard me. This is all
your fault. You just had to show up at the shower, even though none of us wanted you there, and then you started all that drama. You completely disrespected me and my daughter in our own home, and then you had nerve enough to push me.”

  “Only after you poked me in my shoulder.”

  Vanessa moved closer to the side of the table where Charlotte was sitting. “And that was only after you slapped my finger away. You had no business touching me, and when I told you to get out, that’s exactly what you should’ve done.”

  “Whatever, Vanessa. You’re just mad because you can’t get rid of me. You’re mad because I have just as many rights as you do.” You’re mad because when I’m around your husband, he can barely take his eyes off me.

  “Rights?” Vanessa said. “Hmmph. Think that if you want.”

  “And what is that supposed to mean? Because if you even think about trying to keep my grandson from me, I’ll have you in court so fast you’ll—”

  “Ladies, ladies, ladies,” Neil said. “That’s enough. Our grandson is fighting for his life, and our daughter just gave birth, so let’s keep things in perspective.”

  “Exactly,” Curtis said. “Ladies, this really does have to stop.”

  Charlotte turned away from Curtis and stared at the wall. Vanessa folded her arms and turned in the opposite direction.

  Charlotte was so livid, her head ached. That witch, Vanessa, clearly didn’t know who she was dealing with, but if she kept taunting Charlotte and trying to dismiss her like some child, Charlotte would show her a thing or two. If Vanessa forced her, she would make Vanessa’s life a living hell. End of story.

  Chapter 3

  Charlotte stepped out of the shower, drying herself with a velvety, oversized bath towel. Finally, she sawed her back from top to bottom, smoothed shea butter across her skin, and slipped on a full-length, floral satin robe. It was Sunday morning, and while she was thankful to see another day, she was slightly exhausted because she’d barely slept a wink. Partly because she’d worried about her grandson and wondered how he was doing, and partly because she hadn’t had a chance to hold him or even get close to him. It had been a blessing just to see him, even through the maternity ward glass window, but what Charlotte had longed for was to at least touch him and look into his eyes. She did understand Neil’s suggestion about everyone allowing the baby some time to get better, but this was her grandson and she wanted to be there for him; let him know how much she loved him and how she couldn’t wait to do everything she could to keep him happy.

  Charlotte walked toward the bed and saw Curtis standing in front of the dresser mirror, buttoning one of his custom dress shirts, and it was at that moment that she decided she was skipping church. “I think I’m gonna head over to the hospital.”

  Curtis looked at her reflection but never turned around and never said anything.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “I heard you. Just don’t know if that’s a good idea. Why don’t you wait until I get back from church, and we can go together?”

  “That’ll be hours from now. And why don’t you think it’s a good idea?”

  Curtis wrapped his tie around his neck, but he was silent again.

  “Hello?”

  “Because the last thing I wanna see or hear is you and Vanessa going at it again. Racquel doesn’t need that, neither does little MJ, and the hospital isn’t the place for it.”

  “First of all, the only reason Vanessa and I don’t get along is because of her. She hates when I come around, and she treats me horribly. And let me ask you something, Curtis: why are you calling the baby ‘little MJ’? You know what we discussed.”

  Curtis sighed. “Baby, I just don’t understand you sometimes.”

  “Why?”

  “Because if Racquel and Matt want to name their baby Matthew Jr., then everyone should be fine with that. We should call him what they want us to call him. Either Matt Jr. or little MJ, since that’s what Racquel called him last night before we left the hospital. That’s also what Matt called him on the phone. Baby, it’s their child and their decision, and we should honor that. Plus, there’s not a single thing wrong with having Jr. at the end of your name. It’s tradition.”

  “That’s all fine and well, but I like what I like and for good reason.”

  Curtis laughed and shook his head. “There’s just no getting through to you, is there?”

  “I don’t see what’s so funny. Matthew the Second sounds so much more prestigious and important, and I wish all of you realized that.”

  Curtis shook his head again.

  “Oh, and did you know Vanessa has already chosen someone else to christen the baby?”

  “No, but if that’s what Matt and Racquel want I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

  Charlotte scrunched her face. “Baby, he’s your grandson. You’re the only person who should even be considered.”

  “But whether I christen him or not, he’ll still be my grandson.”

  Curtis was frustrating her to no end, and Charlotte couldn’t understand why he was so calm about this. Couldn’t he see that if they didn’t stand up for themselves now, Vanessa would push them completely out of their grandson’s life?

  She opened her mouth to say just that, but there was a knock at the door.

  “Who is it?” Charlotte asked.

  “It’s me, Mommy,” Curtina said.

  “Come in.”

  Curtina walked over to her father. “Good morning, Daddy.”

  “Good morning, pumpkin.” Curtis leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. “How are you?”

  “Good.”

  “Good morning, sweetie,” Charlotte said.

  Curtina embraced her. “Good morning, Mommy. Are we going to church or to the hospital?”

  Charlotte had known the hospital question was coming, because this was all Curtina had talked about last night when Charlotte had picked her up from Aunt Emma’s. “Well, I’m going to the hospital, but you and Daddy are going to church. Daddy’s going to be leaving soon, and then I’ll drop you off when we get dressed.”

  “Why can’t I go to the hospital with you? Why can’t I see the baby?”

  “Because you’re not old enough to visit mothers and their newborns.”

  Curtina’s lips curved into a pout. “That’s not fair. I wanna see little MJ.”

  Even Curtina was calling her nephew by that name. She’d only heard Curtis say it a couple of times, but it had obviously stuck with her. “You’ll get to see him when he comes home.”

  “When will that be?”

  “When he’s a lot stronger.”

  Curtina didn’t argue any further, which was a bit unusual, but Charlotte was relieved. “Let’s go pick out something for you to wear,” she said.

  “Okay,” Curtina groaned. “But can we call Matt first? I wanna talk to him.”

  “We’ll call him on the way to church. You can talk to him while I’m driving.”

  “Is he coming home?”

  “Not right away.”

  “I miss him.”

  “We all do,” Charlotte told her.

  “He’ll be home again soon,” Curtis said.

  When the landline rang, Charlotte glanced over and saw that it was Matt. “I guess we talked him up.…Hey, son, how are you?”

  “I’m good, Mom. How are you guys?”

  “We’re good, too. Have you spoken with Racquel this morning? How’s little Matt?”

  “Just got off the phone with her. She’s doing fine. And so is little MJ. He’s hanging in there very well.”

  Charlotte debated whether or not this was the time to bring up this name dilemma, but she took a chance. “Honey, I know this isn’t my business, but are you really going to name your son Matthew Jr.? I mean, remember what we talked about?”

  “Mom, are you still trippin’ about that? We told you months ago that if we had a boy, we weren’t naming him Matthew the Second.”

  “I know, but—”

  “Mom, ple
ase! Listen to me. The baby’s name is Matthew Curtis Black Jr., and that’s that. So, you can call him ‘Matt Jr.’ or ‘little MJ’ like everyone else.”

  Tears filled Charlotte’s eyes. His tone was so curt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “You’re upsetting me because even though little MJ’s lungs haven’t fully developed, you’re more worried about his name than his health. It’s so petty and shallow, Mom, and I’m tired of hearing about it. All I want is to see my son and for him to get well.”

  Charlotte swallowed hard. “I won’t bring it up again.”

  “Is Dad there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’ll talk to you later,” he said.

  Charlotte passed the phone to Curtis and the tears she’d tried holding back flowed across her cheeks. It was official: everyone was against her when it came to little Matt—or little MJ, the name Matthew had basically demanded she call the baby. Yes, everyone was dead set against her. Even her own son.

  Chapter 4

  Charlotte strolled through the hospital’s main entrance, dressed in a pair of skinny jeans, a pure white, wrinkle-free, button-down shirt, and a brown and tan cashmere wool blazer. It wasn’t overly cold, but she also wore her brown lambskin leather gloves and Burberry scarf that her mom had given her for Christmas. She walked into the elevator, rode up to the maternity floor, signed in, and headed toward Racquel’s room. She’d hoped Vanessa wasn’t in there visiting with her, and thankfully she wasn’t.

  “So how are you this morning?” Charlotte said, walking in and hugging Raquel.

  Racquel smiled, but it was obvious she wasn’t ecstatic about seeing Charlotte. “Pretty good. How are you?”

  “I’m fine. I’m so glad you were still able to have the baby naturally, because a C-section would have meant a ton of pain.”

  “I’m glad, too.”

  “So how’s my grandson?”

  “About the same, but his doctor says he’s definitely a little fighter, and he’s already made progress. He’s down there now examining little MJ and going over more test results.”