“May I make a suggestion?”
“Sure,” Gabrielle said.
“Call the church.”
“For what?”
“Ask them for some help. Let the people over these type of matters know you’re in need of some assistance,” Fatima said.
Gabrielle shook her head. “No. I’m not doing that. They weren’t the ones who got me into this mess. It’s not their place to get me out.”
“Okay, if you don’t want to call the church, then call Johnnie Mae. Talk to her. Let her know what’s going on. She really is a great listener. She usually has good advice.”
“I’m not doing that either,” Gabrielle said as she sat down. “I don’t want people looking at me like I’m some charity case. Feeling all sorry for me. Everybody has something going on in their lives. Everybody’s dealing with something. My situation isn’t special.”
Fatima flopped down in a chair. “That’s just stupid. If you need some help, then you need to get rid of your silly pride and ask for it.” Fatima said that before she thought about what she was saying, and how she was saying it. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say it was stupid. I suppose I’m just frustrated right now. I know how faithful you’ve been, and this just doesn’t seem right. It’s just not right!”
“Fatima, I’ve prayed. I’ve put it in God’s hands. How many times have we said we have to trust God?”
“I know but—”
“But nothing. I appreciate your coming and picking me up from work today. And if I may ask, I would like for you to pick me up tomorrow and drop me off at work. I’ll need to be there at seven-thirty. I’m just thankful that the company transports us to our cleaning jobs. At least I don’t have to have a car to get there and back. And I’ll pay you.”
“Of course I can. And no, you will not pay me either, not one red cent. I have to be at work at eight. Your job is on my way. So it’s not a problem or an inconvenience.”
“Fatima, if you won’t let me pay you, then I’m not going to let you pick me up. That’s my condition.” Gabrielle folded her arms and sat back against her chair.
“Girl, you’re one crazy, stubborn Christian. But I have to give it to you; I don’t think I could be as cool as you if I was dealing with what you seem to be dealing with right now. And compared to me, you’re still a baby Christian.” Fatima shook her head.
“Baby or not is not the point. The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong—”
“But to he or she who endures until the end. I know,” Fatima said. “And in truth, I do believe God is up to something, so you can’t start speaking negative stuff now.”
“Oh, I know. It can be hard. But God is keeping me in perfect peace.”
“You just have to stand strong.”
“Yes,” Gabrielle said. “Do you know right offhand where in the Bible it tells us to stand?” Gabrielle got up and retrieved her Bible off the bookshelf in the kitchen.
“Ephesians something, at least I think it’s in Ephesians. Look in the concordance in the back,” Fatima said.
Gabrielle flipped to the back of her Bible. “Ephesians sixth, thirteen,” she said as she turned to the scripture. “‘Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. ’”
“Oh, don’t stop there,” Fatima said as she sat soaking up the words.
“I already read down to the fourteenth verse.”
“I don’t care. Keep going,” Fatima said. “I need to hear this.”
“‘And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Praying always with all prayer and supplication.’” Gabrielle stopped while reading verse eighteen and placed her hand over her mouth as she eased back down into her chair. “Fatima, this is a test,” Gabrielle said.
“What?”
“All this happening right now in my life, it’s what Pastor Landris preached on a few weeks ago. It’s only a test. I have to be strong. This is all just a test. Pastor Landris told us these times would come in each of our lives. Some—at times—worse than others. But we are to count it all joy. Even during those times when it looks like we’re losing or even have lost.”
Fatima stood up. She hugged Gabrielle, then headed for the door. She turned and nodded to Gabrielle. “I’ll be here to pick you up no later than seven. And before you have to ask, I’ll pick you up after you get off work tomorrow afternoon. We’ll work this out together, and we’ll continue to trust God for the rest. You just keep standing. Stand.”
Chapter 24
The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
—Psalm 37:32
This is just a test. Gabrielle thought of those words. Her week of things going wrong had seemingly only just begun. When Fatima picked her up from work that afternoon, she told Fatima she’d lost her job.
“Why? What happened?” Fatima asked.
“More workers than places that need us is what I was told,” Gabrielle said.
“So, did you get laid off?”
“Nope. I suppose you can say they officially downsized. I only had a little over six months of service with them. You know how it is: last one hired, first one fired.”
“So, what are you planning to do now?”
Gabrielle scratched her head, then rubbed her jaw. “Let’s see, it’s Wednesday, so I plan to go to Bible study tonight. That’s if I can thumb a ride there.”
“Girl, please. You know I’ll come by and pick you up if you want to go to Bible study. But anybody else in your place right now probably would be thinking about going home and pulling the covers over their head. Definitely not trying to figure out how to make it to Bible study. I know people who don’t make this much of an effort to get to Bible study when things are going perfectly wonderful for them.”
“I’m going to focus on what I can do. I can’t get a job tonight, that’s for sure. I can’t get a car tonight either. But I can go and hear God’s Word.” Gabrielle glanced at Fatima. “I can be with others who love the Lord while God is doing whatever it is He’s doing behind the scenes.”
Fatima shook her head. “You’re undeniably teaching me something. I don’t think I could take what you’re taking—car problems, house problems, job problems. And you’re not the least bit upset with God? Not even a little? I don’t know if I could do it.”
Fatima dropped Gabrielle off at home with the promise of picking her up for Bible study. As soon as Gabrielle walked inside her house, the phone started ringing. When she looked at the caller ID, she saw it was Tiffany. Cheerfully, she answered the phone. There was no reason to let others know she had reasons to be down in the mouth.
“Hello,” she said in a cheery voice.
“Well, hello to you,” a male voice said back just as cheerily.
“Who is this?” she asked.
“Whose name popped up on your caller ID?”
“Darius Connors,” she said dryly, having seen his name on the caller ID, but having thought it was his wife. “Why are you calling? What do you want?”
“Is that the way you talk to a fellow brother in the Lord? Members of the same church where we’re admonished, encouraged even, to show each other love?”
“Look, I’ve had a bad day today, okay? In fact, I’ve had a bad week. I just got in from work, and I really don’t feel like playing games with you today. Okay?”
“Hold up. So, are you planning to come to Bible study tonight?”
“Why?”
“Lighten up, will you? I was only asking. Thinking maybe I could come by after Bible study is over. You know, we could talk a little more, in private.”
Gabrielle sighed, making sure he heard her. “I told yo
u I’m not interested in having any discussions with you. We have nothing to talk about.”
“Oh, now, I wouldn’t be so sure about that. You see, I just so happen to know this teeny little secret about you. And, I’m wondering what might happen if this little secret somehow starts to make its rounds throughout the congregation.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” Gabrielle said incredulously. “That would just be . . . wrong.”
“Who said I would be the one to spread it? I mean, I might in passing mention something to one or two people. You know . . . tell them we need to pray for you so God will keep you strong. There’s nothing church folks love more than to hear a good, juicy story that others aren’t supposed to know about while being asked to pray for that person. Of course, they’ll pass the word on to others as they solicit prayers for you. They might even preface it by saying that they don’t believe in gossiping. But trust me, a lot of church folks love secret prayer services.”
“What do you want?”
“I told you. I just want to talk, to hang out maybe. We could get together, play it by ear. I don’t want to brag, but I’m quite flexible, in more ways than one. And I promise, I wouldn’t ever pressure you to do anything you don’t want to,” Darius said.
“And what about Tiffany? You remember . . . your wife?”
“What about her?”
“She and I are friends. Even if I was interested, which I am not, I wouldn’t do anything like that to her. And to think you call yourself a Christian. You really should be ashamed of yourself,” Gabrielle said. “It’s people like you who give Christians a bad name.”
“See, now, that’s the difference between you and me. You actually buy into this Christian stuff. Do you have any idea how many Christians wear two faces? The one they let other Christians see and the one they display when they’re doing things with the world. Where do you think the phrase ‘He’s just a man’ originated from? I’ll tell you: some Christian trying to explain away, justify why this preacher or that deacon, this sister, that brother, the pastor’s wife, that darling Mother of the church, the choir director, choir member, usher, or the musician, low and behold, fell and ended up in sin.”
“Well, I’m not interested in getting with you. Not now, not ever. And frankly, I believe you have too much to lose to try to push this any further. So, let it go, okay? And you know what? I’m going to pray for you. Now, don’t call my house again, okay? Bye.”
“Don’t you hang up this phone!” he yelled as Gabrielle clicked off the phone.
She went to take a shower. It had been a long and emotional day. When she was almost dressed, the phone rang again. Although it was obviously from a cell phone, her caller ID read “Darius Connors.” Tempted not to answer it, she decided she was going to let him have it with both barrels this time. Once and for all!
“Hello,” she said harshly and with a definite I’m-not-playing attitude and voice.
“Well, hello,” a mild and timid voice said in return. “What’s wrong with you?”
Gabrielle’s voice quickly adjusted. “Tiffany, I’m so sorry. I thought you were . . . someone else.”
“Well, I feel sorry for whomever you thought it was,” she said. “I know you’re getting ready to go to Bible study. I just wanted to call and let you know that we were running a bit behind, but that we’re en route. We should be there in about fifteen minutes.”
“Excuse me? But did I miss something somewhere?” Gabrielle asked.
“Fatima called. She said you were having car trouble and asked if I could pick you up and take you to Bible study,” Tiffany said. “Dana, stop it!” she said. “I’m sorry.”
“Did something happen with Fatima? I just saw her a little while ago. Why didn’t she call me?”
“She called and told me she had an emergency. She asked if I was going to Bible study and asked me if I wouldn’t mind picking you up and bringing you back home. That’s all I know,” Tiffany said. “It’s not a problem. We were just running a little late, and I didn’t want you thinking I’d forgotten about you. I’m on my cell phone now.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready when you get here,” Gabrielle said. When she hung up, she saw where she had two messages on her answering machine. The first message was from a debt collector.
After pressing the delete button, she heard Fatima’s voice on the second message stating that she had to rush out of town. She had called Tiffany and asked her to pick Gabrielle up for Bible study. Tiffany had said she would be delighted to. So Tiffany was coming to get her.
“I’ll call you later and let you know more about what’s happening on my end,” Fatima said. “It’s my mother. She’s gravely ill. Say a prayer for us.” She’d hung up.
Gabrielle hurried so Tiffany wouldn’t have to wait on her. She looked out the window so she would be in position to run out when Tiffany pulled up. A white Denali drove up into her driveway. Gabrielle grabbed her purse and Bible and trotted out. Tiffany opened the passenger’s side and got out just as Gabrielle approached the SUV.
“You can sit up front,” Tiffany said, meeting her and greeting her with a hug.
Gabrielle stood, stopped in her tracks. If Tiffany is on the passenger’s side, that can only mean one thing: Darius is likely behind the steering wheel. That’s why Tiffany was in the Denali. Darius was protective of his precious SUV. In fact, Gabrielle couldn’t remember hearing Tiffany say she’d ever driven it.
Gabrielle hesitated. She tried arguing with Tiffany about taking her seat, but Tiffany wasn’t hearing it. Gabrielle stepped up on the running board and got in.
“Well, hello there,” Darius said, as though he hadn’t just called her not an hour ago that evening, practically threatening her.
“Hi,” Gabrielle said to him, and then, “Hi, kids” to the three sitting in the back now with their mother in the mix. That was pretty much all she could manage to say their entire twenty-minute ride to the church.
She helped Tiffany get the children out. They were always happy to see her, having spent so much time together over the past few months.
Bible study was absolutely worth all the trouble she’d gone through to get there. Even Darius seemed affected by the message. On the way back to Gabrielle’s house, he’d gone on and on about what Pastor Landris had said. When Darius pulled into her driveway, Gabrielle turned and thanked Tiffany for the ride to Bible study. She offered them money, which they flat out refused to accept, then told the children how much she enjoyed hanging out with them, and not as enthusiastically, she finally thanked Darius.
Darius opened his door and ran around to her side before she could get out completely. “You don’t think I’m going to let you go inside by yourself, now, do you?” he said. “What kind of a gentleman would I be if I sat here and just dropped you off without making sure I saw you to your door?” He grabbed her by the hand.
“Oh, it’s fine,” she said, trying to take her hand out of his without it being too obvious. “I do this all the time. It’s not necessary for you to help me down or to see me to my door,” Gabrielle said. “Really.”
“Daddy never helps Mommy get out of the car,” Dana said.
“Hush that,” Tiffany said with a snap in her voice. “Daddy has opened the door and helped Mommy down plenty of times before. He’s being a gentleman now, which means all of you need to pay attention and take notes.”
“Including me?” Jade said.
“Especially you. You need to know how you should be treated so you won’t end up with some deadbeat,” Tiffany said.
“It’s really not necessary for you to walk me to my door. I’ll be fine. Thanks for the ride. I appreciate it,” Gabrielle said. She took off, trying to distance herself from him.
“Oh, you must be one of those independent women who cut us men off at the knees,” Darius said to her back. “I’m sorry, but I wouldn’t be able to look myself in the mirror if I sat here and just let you go in your house by yourself.” He turned back toward his Denali. “I’ll be back s
hortly,” he said to Tiffany. “This won’t take but a few minutes.”
“We’re fine,” Tiffany said, scooting out of the middle row of the Denali to get out, and then back to the front seat vacated by Gabrielle.
Gabrielle walked even faster. He jogged and caught up with her. “I didn’t need you to walk me to the door,” she said with much hostility and under her breath.
“Oh, cut me a little slack, will you? Look how awesome God is. I call you today trying to come to your house after Bible study and look what happened? I’m here at your house after Bible study. Now, tell me God isn’t trying to tell you something?”
“Yeah, He’s trying to tell me something, all right. He’s telling me to resist the devil and he will flee.” Gabrielle reached her door and pulled out her key. She started for the keyhole.
Darius took her keys out of her hand. “Allow me,” he said.
“I can do it myself,” she said, her teeth clenched tight as she spoke.
Darius unlocked the door, pushed it open, stepped inside, felt the wall for the light switch, then flipped it on. When he fully went inside, he grinned at Gabrielle. “You really need to learn to chill out more. All I’ve done is walk you to your door. That’s what thoughtful and caring Christian brothers do for their Christian sisters.”
“Okay, so you’ve done your Christian duty. You can leave now.”
“What a lovely home,” he said as he scanned the area.
That’s when it hit Gabrielle. Now he knew where she lived. That was the last thing she had wanted. She maintained her composure. “Thank you and good-bye,” she said, holding the doorknob as she stood waiting on him to get out.
“That guy you were talking to tonight at Bible study, you know, the one who was all giddy when he saw you walk in and couldn’t wait to come over and speak to you.”
Goodness and Mercy Page 17