Everybody Say Amen (10 page)

L
ester stared at Rachel, trying to weigh his words carefully. “So explain this to me again,” he said. That little vein in his head was pulsing, so she could tell he was getting angry.

“I said, Jordan got suspended from school and he’s gone to stay with Bobby for a few days, maybe permanently.” They were in Jordan’s sports-themed room. Rachel was throwing her son’s clothes into a suitcase. Lester stood in the doorway staring at her.

“And you didn’t think I needed to be consulted on this?” Lester said.

“I tried to call you several times; you were obviously too busy since all I got was your voice mail. Did you even check your phone?” Rachel snidely remarked as she passed by him and out of the room. She carried Jordan’s suitcase downstairs and set it on the kitchen floor. Lester followed her. She could tell he was upset, but she didn’t care. He hadn’t gotten home from his conference until well after midnight last night and didn’t even realize Jordan was gone until this morning.

“So you sent our son to live somewhere else without even talking to me about it?”

Rachel turned to face him. “It’s not just somewhere else. It’s with his father. And I tried to talk to you about it. But just like my father, you were too busy to tend to your family.”

“Here we go with this again,” Lester said. “I swear, I’m so sick of this argument. I try to take care of my obligations at the church and make sure I’m keeping you and the kids happy. Ninety percent of the time, when you call, I come running. But one of the few times I’m not available, you run off and do something stupid like this.
We
can handle Jordan’s problems.”

“Can we, Lester? Because it doesn’t look to me like we have.”

“Mmph, doesn’t surprise
me
that she would do something like this.” Both Lester and Rachel turned to Lester’s grandmother, Naomi. She was standing in the kitchen doorway holding Nia’s hand. “I rang the doorbell, but I guess y’all were too busy arguing to hear, so Nia let me in.”

“Nia, what have I told you about opening that front door?” Rachel snapped.

“Please. She saw it was me,” Naomi snapped back. She leaned down to Nia. “Sweet Pea, go get your backpack. Grandma is here to pick you up.” Nia giggled and ran to her room. Naomi walked into the kitchen, her gaze directed at Lester.

“I tried to tell you, baby. Not only does she not act like a proper first lady, she doesn’t act like a proper wife.”

Rachel shot the old woman a nasty look. Naomi would never let her live down her past and she’d probably go to her grave thinking Rachel wasn’t good enough for Lester.

“Grandma, please let me handle this,” Lester said.

“Don’t look to me like you know how to handle her at all.” Naomi shook her head.

Rachel bit her lip. She and Naomi had gotten along just fine until Lester decided to marry her. Since then, the old woman couldn’t stand her. She thought that Rachel was too “worldly” for her precious Lester, whom she had raised.

“Please don’t start with me today, Mrs. Naomi,” Rachel said. “I told you if you’re going to come to my house, you need to stay out of my business.”

Naomi glared at Rachel before turning back to her grandson. “It’s a doggone shame you let her disrespect your old, fragile grandmother like this. You need to put a leash on your wife. I never, ever would’ve dreamed of disrespecting your grand-daddy’s mama. Just shows you what type of women the world is producing today.”

Rachel took a deep breath. It was bad enough she had to deal with Naomi in the first place, but she was not about to take this in her own house. “You know what? Lester knew how I was before he married me—”

“Everybody knew how you were. That’s why I told him not to marry you,” Naomi said, cutting her off.

Rachel spun around toward Lester. “Lester…”

Lester sighed heavily. “Rachel, you know how she is when she hasn’t had her medication.”

Rachel was so sick of Lester and his excuses for his grandmother. Like her being on medication gave her carte blanche to say and do whatever she pleased. “I don’t care. I’m not dealing with this.”

“Rachel, I think our problems are greater than my grandmother.”

“Well, get her out of our business.”

Lester turned to his grandmother, who seemed to be enjoying the fight. “Grandma, can you please go check on Nia? I’ll come pick you up and take you to dinner later.”

“Ooooh, can you take me to Pappadeaux?”

“Yes, Granny.”

Naomi squeezed her grandson’s cheek, sneered at Rachel, and wobbled out of the room.

Rachel folded her arms and glared at her husband. “Pappadeaux? When’s the last time you took
me
to Pappadeaux?”

Lester took a deep breath. “Rachel, why do you insist on making things difficult?”

“Lester, I’m about tired of you!”

“The feeling’s mutual, Rachel.” Lester shook his head as he grabbed his keys off of the bar.

“What? What is that supposed to mean?” Rachel followed behind him.

Lester spun on Rachel like he’d been waiting to get some stuff off of his chest. “Do you know how many women at that church would die to have your spot? Who would love to say they’re first lady and would work every day to uphold all that that entails?”

No, he is not threatening me
. Lester used to be meek and shy, but since he’d become pastor of Zion Hill, he’d been getting beside himself. “Let me tell you for the thousandth time, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, wants, says—nothing. And no you didn’t just threaten me with another woman.”

“I wasn’t threatening you. I was merely stating a fact,” he replied defiantly.

“Oh, now that I done helped you get rid of all the zits, beef up, and get some braces to straighten out your crooked teeth, now you think you’re Denzel or somebody and can get whoever you want?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then what are you saying, Lester? Because if you think there’s someone out there better than me, then I suggest you go find her.”

“Stop being dramatic, Rachel, and let’s get back to the issue at hand. How dare you send Jordan out of this house without talking to me? Even though you don’t act like it, I am the man of this house.”

Rachel stared at her husband trying to flex. Being a big-time minister must have empowered him or something. She couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing.

“What in God’s name is so funny?”

“You are.” Rachel leaned in toward her husband. “Contrary to you and your grandma’s belief, you can’t put a leash on me, and trying to do so would be a big mistake. If you want some say-so in what goes on with Jordan, then you need to be around when something needs to be said.”

Rachel reached over and grabbed her purse before picking up Jordan’s suitcase. “I’m going to drop Jordan’s stuff off. This conversation is over.” Rachel left before Lester could get in another word.

R
achel rubbed her feet as she sat in the driver’s seat of her car. She was exhausted after spending the day with Nia and her friends at the Galleria. This morning, she’d taken Nia to a Girl Scout meeting, then driven five of the girls to a birthday party at the ice skating rink. She’d ended up staying and actually had a great time. Nia was now in the backseat, knocked out.

Rachel glanced at her watch. It was still early and she didn’t feel like going home and dealing with Lester. He was still mad at her about Jordan and hadn’t spoken to her in the two days since. “Let me go check on Daddy,” Rachel muttered as she pulled out of the mall parking lot.

It didn’t take long for her to arrive at her father’s house. She parked and tried to wake Nia up. After realizing Nia had no interest in moving, she smiled and gently picked her daughter up. Rachel let herself in and carried Nia back to her father’s bedroom. She laid Nia across the bed and lovingly smiled as she watched her daughter sleep. Nia was her heart. If she hadn’t done anything else right in her life, she definitely had done good with her little girl.

Rachel flicked the light out and headed to the den to look for her father. She found him in his usual spot, in front of the TV. He didn’t get around much anymore. In fact, he looked like a shell of his usual vibrant self.

“Hey, Daddy,” Rachel said as she walked over and kissed her father on the head. He must’ve been dozing off, because he jumped up, startled.

“Hey, baby girl,” Simon said, as he squeezed her hand. “I’m just watching a little
Sanford and Son
.”

“It looks like
Sanford and Son
is watching you,” Rachel responded. Their once tumultuous relationship had improved dramatically over the years. Now, Simon was constantly trying to make up for the years of neglect.

“I didn’t know if you were asleep so I just let myself in. Nia’s in your room asleep. I came to check on you…” Her words trailed off as a tall, middle-aged woman walked into the den carrying a tray of food.

“Mrs. Brenda?” Rachel asked in confusion. Why was Deacon Baird’s sister, a longtime Zion Hill member, up in her father’s home?

“Hi, Rachel.” Brenda flashed a smile and walked over to Simon. She set the tray down next to him, grabbed a napkin, fluffed it out, and placed it on Simon’s lap. Then she picked the tray up and placed it on Simon’s lap. He smiled at her.

“You need anything else, Reverend?” she said.

Simon gave her a genuine smile, not the fake one Rachel was used to seeing him give the women of the church. “Nothing—at the moment.”

Rachel gazed back and forth between the two. She looked closer at Brenda. “Ummm, is that my mother’s apron?”

“Oh, I just pulled an apron out of the pantry while I fixed Simon, I mean the reverend, some dinner,” Brenda said.

Rachel looked at her father in amazement. “Daddy, she’s wearing Mama’s apron.”

“Baby, calm down. I’m sure Loretta wouldn’t mind. Brenda is just here fixing me some dinner. You wouldn’t want her to get this wonderful lasagna all over her clothes now, would you?”

Rachel glared at Brenda, who suddenly seemed uncomfortable. She started untying the apron. “Well, I’m finished now anyway. I’ll put it back.”

Rachel couldn’t even say anything as Mrs. Brenda scurried back into the kitchen. A few minutes later, she rushed back out. “Well, Reverend, I really must get going. I hope you enjoy your supper.”

“Thank you. I sure appreciate it,” Simon replied.

Brenda lingered for a moment like she wanted to say something. She finally just smiled and left.

Simon dug into his food, smiling. He slowly chewed his food like he knew Rachel was waiting on him to say something.

“Well?” Rachel finally said.

“Well what?” Simon said, pulling his napkin off his lap and dabbing at his mouth.

“You want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Nope.”

“Daddy.”

“Brenda was just bringing me something to eat. But I know that’s not what you came here to discuss.”

“Can’t I just come visit my daddy?”

“Sure you can. But you don’t. So tell me what’s going on,” Simon said as he took another bite.

“Can you answer my question about Mrs. Brenda?”

“Nope.” Simon chewed his food slowly.

Rachel sighed. Her father was as stubborn as they came so she knew there was no point in pressing him. She sat down, debating whether she should say anything about Lester. Finally, she decided she needed to get it off her chest.

“Lester and that church are getting on my nerves.”

Simon laughed. “Why does that not surprise me?”

“I’m serious.”

“I am, too.” He set his fork down. “You know, Lester is a good man. He just needs you to stand tall next to him. Don’t push him away.”

Rachel rolled her eyes. Why in the world did she ever think her father would understand? He lived by the church, neglected his family for the church, and in the end it didn’t matter because they almost voted him out anyway.

“Daddy, I’m not about to deal with any mess from Lester. Jordan’s acting up. And since Lester was all caught up in church business, I made the decision myself to let him go stay with Bobby awhile.”

Simon nodded. “Hmm. So you made that decision all by yourself, without consulting your husband?”

“I told you, he was too busy so I had to handle it myself.”

Simon bit down on his bottom lip, like he was contemplating whether he wanted to speak. Finally, he said, “I know you ’bout to get mad at what I have to say, but you know I’m gon’ tell it like it is. It’s time for you to grow up.”

She frowned. Her father was talking nonsense. Anybody could see how much she’d grown over the years. “Uh, I resent that. I am grown.”

“Not in age. In mind,” he said matter-of-factly. “Sometimes you are so wise, like your mother. But sometimes I see that same nineteen-year-old who was wreacking havoc on everyone in her path. I’ve seen you with your husband. You don’t treat that man like you should. A man needs to feel like a man. He doesn’t need his wife shooting him down and talking to him all crazy all the time. He needs his wife to support him, stand by his side. I know you didn’t agree with your mother’s philosophy that the man should be in charge of his household, but can you at least make him
feel
like he is?”

Surprisingly, Rachel found herself at a loss for words. When she thought about it, she knew she could be ugly to Lester sometimes. It wasn’t anything intentional, it was just her frustrations with that church and his commitment to it. And she was definitely having major problems with that whole submissive thing. But Lester knew she had been trying.

“Are you still pining after Bobby?” Simon asked pointedly.

Rachel’s eyes grew wide. “What? Where’d that come from? Of course not. I mean, I only talk to Bobby for Jordan’s sake. I love my husband. I really do.”

“Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?”

Rachel sat in silence as her father picked up his fork and resumed eating. She let her eyes wander around the room as she took in what he said.

Rachel squinted when she saw a Royal Caribbean Cruise envelope on the end table. She walked over and picked the envelope up.

“What is this?” she asked.

“Nunya,” Simon responded as he chewed his food.

“What?”

“Nunya business. Put it down.”

Rachel shot her father a suspicious look and turned the envelope over. It was open so she pulled out the contents: two tickets, which read “Mr. Simon Jackson and Mrs. Brenda Bailey.” Rachel looked up at her father. “You’re going on a cruise with Mrs. Brenda?”

“I guess, if that’s what the tickets say.”

“Daddy, you can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because…you’re sick.”

“I’m sick. Not dead. And that’s all the more reason to enjoy myself while I can.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Simon finished the last of his lasagna, then set his fork and napkin on his plate. “Rachel, have a seat.” Rachel plopped down. “Aren’t you the one who told me you were a mature woman?”

“And?”

“And you’re acting like a spoiled child. I don’t know what you think I’m supposed to do. It’s been eight years since your mother died and I get very lonely.”

Rachel didn’t know why she was feeling this way. “I know, Daddy. It’s just…”

“Don’t you think your mother would want me to enjoy what little time I have left?”

“Don’t say that.”

“I’m just being real, as you young folks say.” Simon weighed his words before continuing. “Rachel, you know I’ve never had too much to do with any woman since your mother died, but I really like Brenda. She’s a sweet woman who lost her husband ten years ago. She’s lonely, too. We find comfort in each other. I’m asking you to respect that.”

Maybe she should be happy that her father was finally getting interested in something other than church, Rachel thought, but she just couldn’t get used to the idea of her father with another woman.

“Fine, Daddy.” She threw the envelope back on the table. “Date all the women you want.”

Simon sighed. “Now, why you gotta be like that?”

“Because my mother devoted her life to making you happy, tending to your every need,” she replied defiantly.

“How long do you think I should wait before I entertain another woman? Before I’m entitled to happiness again? Ten years? The rest of my life?”

When he said it like that, Rachel realized how stupid she sounded. Of course her father deserved to be happy. They all had their lives now. Why shouldn’t he have one, too?

“You’re right,” she finally admitted. “I’m sorry for trippin’. I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Yeah, you need to worry about your own business and stay out of mine,” he joked.

Rachel grinned. “Okay, Daddy.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah?”

“Go home and tend to your husband. You’ve neglected that boy for too long. Only so long a man can take neglect.”

It was Rachel’s turn to smile. “I’m not neglecting him. I admit, I may need to do better in making him feel like a man, as you say. But Lester’s a different type of man. He loves me.”

“Yep, more than you love him.”

That was sad, but true. Rachel had hoped to fall deeply in love with him but it never came. She did love him, just nowhere near as much as she’d loved Bobby.

“Pray on it, baby girl. Ask for strength to help you nurture your husband, because while you’re saying, scat, cat, someone else is around the corner saying, here kitty, kitty.”

Rachel couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, where do you come up with this country stuff?”

Simon wagged his finger at her. “I’m just trying to tell you. If you don’t take care of your husband, well, sooner or later, he’s just gon’ find someone who will. Take care of him. Because Lester may be a man of God, but he’s still a man.”