The silver two seater Mercedes S class roadster slowly rolled into the parking space directly across from 1218 Crossroads Avenue. First Lady Bryn-Reese bowed her head enough to see over the designer sunglasses but not too much that her eyes were exposed to the harsh rays of the afternoon sun.
This must be the place. She sighed as she rechecked the information stored on her Samsung Note III.
Crossroads Avenue. Frowning as she thought of the irony. Her life was at a crossroads.
Dr. Denise McNair, Psychologist. The letters in bright gold three dimensional lettering screamed out at her. What was she doing sitting outside of a shrink’s office? She battled with herself numerous times about this foray into unknown territory, but she knew if something didn’t soon change, the suicidal thoughts that she’d been having could possibly escalate into actions. She had to do something. The first step was to talk to a professional and she heard that Dr. Denise McNair was one of the best in her field. Rubbing her skirt with her hands, Bryn-Reese tried to wipe away the excess moisture that had now pooled in her palms.
This is ridiculous. What am I doing here? Bryn-Reese shook her head in disgust. The demons of rage, fear, shame and rejection rattling their chains in her mind had made her second guess her decision all morning. Looking over the rims of her Ray-Bans again, her eyes scoured the parking lot and the sidewalk in front of Dr. McNair’s office. What if someone sees you? The question ringing in her ears was accompanied by maniacal laughter and the unmistaken accusatory voice of the evil one. Shaking her head, Bryn-Reese tried to clear her mind of the fear that tried to grip her. It doesn’t matter who sees me, I’m here to get help. Bryn-Reese shouted at the mirror in the sun visor, trying to convince herself that she really was doing the right thing.
Well you might not care who sees you, but what will this Denise McNair think of you, a renowned evangelist visiting a psychiatrist? After all, ain’t you supposed to be one of the ones with all the answers? It was the ugly voice of the evil one again. She tried to ignore it, but it was a valid point.
What was Dr. McNair going to think of me being here? Bryn-Reese wasn’t a snob, however because of her locally syndicated television program she did enjoy some level of celebrity in the Atlanta area, she had even been approached by one of the producers of the Housewives of Atlanta series. Even if Dr. McNair was not one of her regular listeners, it would not have been unreasonable for Dr. McNair to have some knowledge of who she was simply because they were both successful women at the top of their field.
The thought made her shudder. The idea of visiting a psychologist made her head swim. Hundreds of women looked to her every week for words of encouragement and empowerment.
She poured her heart out every week to hurting women in the greater Atlanta area and was even on the verge of taking her ministry national. What would it look like if the very women she ministered to on a regular basis knew she herself was in trouble too deep to get her own self out of?
Bryn-Reese pulled down the small mirror from the visor for one more peak. Studying herself closely she concluded that she didn’t look the part of a battered, bruised abuse victim, but how easily looks can deceive. Her expertly applied make-up and freshly coiffed hair belied any traces of trouble in the Johnson home. Only Bryn-Reese, God and her husband Hayden knew the secret that lay under the flawless outward appearance. As she inspected her reflection in the mirror for the last time, the demons of shame pulled her mind back into the nightmare of what was the night before. The images of the latest episode of violence bum-rushed her thoughts, she jerked. I don’t want to think about that. Lord if there’s any way, could you just erase that from my memory? Not a chance, the piercing sting of bruised ribs screamed. Not a chance. Her mind was unwillingly pulled back into the chaos of the previous evening that all started with a simple telephone call.
“Who was that on the phone?” Bryn-Reese knew if she answered that question honestly it might lead to an argument. If she lied, she’d feel the weight of guilt for the rest of the evening, but the payoff of peace was worth it.
“Who was that on the phone Bryn?” Hayden repeated the demand this time there was a little more edge in his voice.
“Nobody important just business.” She hoped that answer would suffice but she had a strange feeling that it wouldn’t.
“What kind of business?” She was careful to measure the tone of her delivery, she didn’t want to say anything that would increase his interest.
“Someone called about the ministry, nothing important. I’ll handle it.” Once again she hoped that answer would suffice.
“Oh was it Benjamin Thomas?”
“Benjamin Thomas who’s that?”
“He’s the pastor of World Ministries, he’s supposed to be contacting me about our upcoming community revival.”
“No.”
“Well who was it then?” His tone laced with a new level of inquisitiveness.
“It was the program director of WWCN.”
“Who is WWCN?”
“World Wide Christian Network.”
“Why would they be calling you?” Knowing her confession would probably bring on an argument, Bryn-Reese braced herself for confrontation.
“They have some air time that just became available and they wanted to know if the ministry would be interested in acquiring it.” She concentrated on keeping her eyes away from his piercing gaze.
“That’s wonderful, when were you going to tell me World Wide, what did you call it, wanted to put us on their network?”
Silence
“Bryn?”
“Hayden…they don’t want our ministry, they want my ministry, Manifesting Your Destiny, Women’s Ministries.”
“What do you mean your ministry? The last time I heard we were in this together?”
“We are in this together, but they would like to build a program around my preaching and ministry to women.”
“What about our church’s weekly broadcast? Doesn’t that account for anything?”
The emotional barometer in the room signaled the silence before the storm. She could sense what was about to begin. The accusatory questions were just the beginning of what was to come. Hayden continued his interrogation. “When were you planning on telling me about this?”
“Hayden honestly I hadn’t really put much thought into it” She lied. There hadn’t been a day that gone by since she was initially contacted that she hadn’t thought about the impact of having her ministry syndicated on national television.
“You never answered my question. Did you tell them that we already had a local television broadcast that they could use?”
“Hayden I did suggest they use our current broadcast, but they said that format wouldn’t fit their audience profile.”
“Did you even suggest that we could make changes to make it more acceptable for their format?”
“Hayden I did but…”
“But what Bryn?”
“Hayden they wouldn’t budge. They know what they want.” Fatal mistake. Bryn-Reese knew it the second the words left her mouth.
“And what they want is you?”
Silence. If she affirmed that accusation it would surely lead to confrontation.
“Answer me Bryn.” Hayden’s voice now unmistakably laced with anger. “What they want is you?”
Her instinct told her to walk away, but the last time she turned her back to walk away from Hayden, the next morning she was barely able to walk.
“Hayden, all I know is that they offered the available time to me. I haven’t even discussed it with anyone since the initial phone call. Nothing’s written in stone. I’m not even sure if I want it.”
“What is it? I ain’t man enough?”
“Hayden, what are you talking about? This is not personal, it has nothing to do with you, and it’s about the ministry. It’s about getting the word out to minister to hurting broken people.”
“And you’re the one to do that?”
Silence. She knew she was on a slippery slope. At this point no answer was going to appease him.
“Hayden…I.”
“I wonder if you would have gotten that call if they knew the great Evangelist Bryn-Reese Johnson was…”
“Was what Hayden?”
The beep of her Samsung Note III appointment calendar chime snapped her back into the present.
Ten forty. Bryn-Reese frowned looking at her watch. If I’m going, I’d better go.
Stealing one more quick glance in the mirror, Bryn-Reese pulled the lever and stepped out into the warm heat of the hot sun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dr. Denise McNair’s brows furrowed deeply as she looked through her rhinestone studded designer glasses. She absent mindedly twirled the pearl encased Mont Blanc writing instrument between her perfectly manicured thumb and page finger while she half listened to her patient Shelly Burgdoff. She only had three more minutes with her animated client until her next appointment. This was to be her first meeting with Bryn-Reese Johnson, local evangelist and wife of Atlanta’s own renowned Bishop Hayden Johnson. Denise had viewed her ministry program on television from time to time and was highly impressed with what she heard. Denise didn’t consider herself a full blown Christian, nor did she think of herself as a sinner either. She agreed with some of the teachings she heard on her broadcast, she thought this Bryn-Reese sounds like a woman I’d like to get to know.
“What do you think about that, Dr. McNair?” Shelly Burgdoff leveled her eyes on the doctor expectantly waiting for a response.
Dr. McNair turned her thoughts back to the present, convincingly side stepping Shelly’s question.
“Well Shelly, I think we’ll wait for your next session to delve into that area of your problem, after all I think we’ve made great progress these last few weeks, I don’t want you to go too fast. We want to make sure we uncover every hidden place in your memory.
“Is it that time already?”
Dr. McNair answered her quickly.
“Yes Shelly, our hour is over. But don’t despair, like I said, we’ve come a long way in the past few weeks and you’re making exceptional progress. Next Tuesday will be here before you know it.”
Dr. McNair was already standing by the door when Shelly removed herself from the overstuffed brown lounger.
“Until next week.”
Dr. McNair gave Shelly a generous hug. She made it a practice of embracing her clients when they left the office. Once Shelly left, Dr. McNair had just a few minutes to prepare for her next client.
“Evangelist Bryn-Reese Johnson” she exhaled. Looking briefly over the notes she had taken over the phone. “Needs to talk about some issues she cannot discuss at home, dealing with feelings of depression, thoughts of suicide.”
Hmph, looks like Bryn-Reese has some pretty weighty problems. Denise leaned back in her chair and slowly turned it toward the window.
“Dr. Mc Nair, your next client is here.” The soothing voice of Stephanie the receptionist cooed over the intercom.
“Thanks Steph, I’m ready. Send her in.”
This is the moment Dr. McNair had been waiting for since her office got the frantic telephone call last week. She walked calmly to the door and opened it up to reveal a strikingly beautiful woman who looked to be the epitome of perfection.
“Dr. McNair?”
“Yes, and you must be Evangelist Johnson?”
“Yes, but please call me Bryn-Reese.”
“I will if you call me Denise.”
The two ladies briefly shook hands as Dr. McNair directed her to the mocha brown suede overstuffed lounger located near her desk.
“Bryn-Reese, I must say that it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard many good things about you and your ministry. Every now and then, I even get a chance to catch some of your programs on TV. I must confess I’m very impressed with some of your teachings.”
“Thanks, I work very hard in the ministry, it is truly my life. I feel blessed and privileged to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. ”
“Well it shows.”
“Thank you.”
Aware of the strained silence that blanketed the room after the exchanged pleasantries, Dr. McNair guided the conversation along.
“So Bryn-Reese how is it that I can help you? I must confess I am excited to meet you, however I didn’t think I’d have the privilege of meeting you in my office.”
“You are?”
Choosing her words carefully Dr. McNair continued. “Yes it’s always interesting to meet television personalities. I think its human nature to be just a little curious about people in the spotlight.”
“Well Dr. McNair, I mean Denise, as long as we are confessing, I must confess I never thought I’d ever be speaking to a Psychologist about my problems. As a matter of fact, I still can’t believe that I’m here. You don’t know how many times I started to call and cancel my appointment.” Bryn-Reese paused inhaling a deep breath before continuing.
“I’m just so tired of carrying around this weight.” Her voice trailed off into a whisper.
Dr. McNair could sense the difficulty Bryn-Reese was having as she talked, but it was her job to keep her talking. It was glaringly apparent that she needed to.
“Well if it makes you feel any better, just think of me as a friend who is here to lend a listening ear, we all need that sometimes in our lives, it’s very normal. Dr. McNair tried to alleviate as much of Bryn-Reese’s fears as she could. “Let’s start slowly. Tell me about your family.”
“What would you like to know?” Bryn-Reese asked without shifting her gaze.
“What would you like for me to know?” Dr. McNair immediately countered.
“Well” she started. “I guess we’re like any other American family. We eat, sleep and watch TV.”
Dr. McNair was glad she sensed a little humor in the voice of this otherwise troubled woman.
“Well surprise, surprise, you are like any other American family. Is there anything special that sets you apart from the rest of us?”
Dr. McNair noticed that the previously relaxed face suddenly seemed to cloud over.
No response
“Bryn-Reese are you all right?”
No answer.
The two women sat quietly in the deadening silence. Dr. McNair scribbled inconspicuously, quietly watching her client.
“No I’m not all right. That’s why I’m here.”
The adamant but timid statement was accompanied by hot tears spilling from the sad eyes of Bryn-Reese Johnson.
“Are you able to talk about it with me?” Dr. McNair offered slowly gently steering her client while handing her a tissue
“I don’t know.”
The two women macerated in the silence of the moment again, Dr. McNair studied her client closely. The perfectly groomed beautiful woman sitting across from her was by all accounts one of the most successful people she knew, or at least that was the façade she lived behind. Dr. McNair was captivated by her image. Bryn-Reese’s flawless dark chocolate skin perfectly framed by high cheek bones that showcased her blue-brown eyes, eyes that normally radiated hope and life through the television screen. But sadly today, those same eyes seemed empty and hopeless. Her perfectly coiffed sable colored hair, ever so subtlety accentuated with flecks of blond, attractively framed her oval face, falling gently to her shoulders. The decadent black jersey dress she recognized as a Piazza Simpione original, not because she herself possessed such extravagant clothes, but she had admired them each time she walked through the Neiman-Marcus designer gallery, clung tightly but tastefully to her statuesque frame. Such a stunning woman she thought. From Bryn-Reese’s expertly manicured nails to her one of a kind Manolo’s she was the epitome of success.
But here in my office sits an emotionally bankrupt woman. Why? Dr. McNair deftly scribbled again hoping her client wouldn’t notice.
Denise repeated her question.
“Bryn-Reese can you talk about your family?”
Slowly the woman opened her mouth to speak.
“I love my fa-family very much.” Bryn-Reese managed to answer defiantly before the next round of tears spilled over her eyelids onto her perfectly powered cheeks.
“I don’t doubt for a moment that you love your family, but obviously there’s something about your family that brings you a great deal of pain. Can you talk about that?”
Her chest swelled as she heaved a great sigh, almost as if she were in pain. Bryn-Reese dabbed at the corners of her eyes trying to stop the flood that was about to spill from its banks.
“I absolutely adore my girls, Gabby and Giselle. They are my reason for living.” The woman continued, still dabbing at the corners of her eyes.
“You and your girls are very close, that’s wonderful. You’re to be envied. That in itself is a testament to your success as a mother.”
“I know. I have friends that have children that they haven’t spoken to in years. I’d die if I didn’t spend most of my day with my girls. It’s one of my must haves, like ice cold Pepsi.” Bryn-Reese managed a weak smile.
“Okay, so why don’t we start there?” Denise started, attempting to lighten an otherwise dark moment.
“What other pleasurable indulgences would you include in your list of top five ‘must haves’? We know spending time with you girls is number one on the list, what else can’t you live with out on a daily basis?” Denise gently guided the woman deeper into conversation.
Scrunching her nose Bryn-Reese looked out of the window as she focused her thoughts to answer the question.
“Well of course spending time with God goes without saying.”
“It does?” Dr. McNair asked trying to hide the surprise in her voice.
“Of course.” Her tone now positive and powerful.
“Even though I have problems, I still talk to God every day. It’s just that some days, I feel like He’s not talking back.”
Dr. McNair nodded her head in agreement as she mulled over the woman’s answer.
“Okay, so what’s next on your list of daily must haves?”
“I’d have to say my late night conversations with my mom are right there at the top of the list. At eighty-three, she’s still the most intelligent conversationalist I know.” Bryn-Reese paused long enough smiling to reveal an absolutely perfect set of pearly whites.
“My mother cracks me up. She knows just what to say.” Bryn-Reese looked as though she had just remembered something marvelously funny.
“Again you’re to be envied. Eighty-three? God has blessed your mother with a long life. Is she in good health?”
“Yes, well most of the time.” Bryn-Reese smiled again. “She’ll probably out live me, even though she says she close to seeing the pearly gates from time to time. She’s had some close calls, but God always delivers.”
“What’s next on your list? We’ve got three, your relationship with your daughters and your mom, and ice cold Pepsi. What else can’t you live without?”
“I would say number three would be my daily intake of chocolate.”
“Any special kind?”
“Reese’s cups.”
“By any chance does your affinity for Reese’s cups have anything to do with your name?”
“No, I was born Bryn-Reese, named after a girlfriend of my mother’s. I developed the love for the candy-bar later.”
Dr. McNair acknowledged quickly moving on not wanting to squelch the flow of the conversation.
“Okay we’re down to the last one.” Dr. McNair asked twirling the pearl tipped Mont Blanc writing instrument in her fingers.
“Mmm….”
“Mmm what?”
“A good book, I like to end my evening reading a great book.”
“A good book? That completes the list of your top five daily must haves?”
Dr. McNair scribbled the answers on her pad noting that Bryn-Reese didn’t even mention anything about her husband Hayden. Surely he would be on her list of top five must haves somewhere. From what I’ve seen he looks like he would be the perfect complement to her, but looks are obviously very deceiving. But why wouldn’t she even mention her husband?
“Yeah a good book. I love to read. And if it’s a really good book, I can get so caught up in it that I can block out all the foolishness going on around…” Bryn-Reese’s voice trailed off as if she had just remembered she was going to reveal a secret.
“Block out what foolishness? What’s so distressing that you need to block it out?” Denise eased the question out.
“Is it time for my session to be over?” Bryn-Reese asked nervously looking around the walls of the modestly decorate office for a wall clock.
“No, not unless you don’t feel like talking anymore.”
Bryn-Reese hesitated slightly. It was evident she had more to say, but something just wouldn’t let her continue. Dr. McNair desperately wanted the woman to continue, but she knew she had to handle this situation with kid gloves. She couldn’t risk spooking her already nervous client.
“I guess I’m all talked out for today. But thank you for listening.”
“That’s what I’m here for. Anytime you need to talk, I want you to know I’m here for you.”
“Thanks.”
“Can I pencil you in for same time next week?” Denise was slow to ask. She usually left it up to her clients to make arrangements with her receptionist Stephanie, but she wanted to make sure her newest client was going to make a return visit.
“Honestly I’m not sure. I’ve probably said too much already. I’ll have to pray about it.” Her response was deliberate and calculated.
“You know Bryn-Reese, it is okay to talk to others about your problems. We can all go to God in prayer, but sometimes you just need to be able to talk to a pair of ears you can see.” Dr. McNair smiled broadly hoping to relay her sense of commitment.
“I know, thanks. I’ll be in touch.”
As Bryn-Reese turned to leave, Dr. McNair embraced her.
“What was that for?” A startled Bryn-Reese looked quizzically at her.
“Oh, I’m very big into touch therapy. I believe giving every one of my clients a hug, sometimes it does more for them than a whole hour of talking. You’d be surprised at the response it brings.” Dr. McNair continued. “I hope I didn’t offend you, but if you choose to become a regular here, I think it fair to warn you that hugs are part of the treatment here. It’s so much more personal than a handshake.”
Bryn-Reese managed another weak smile before she turned and left the office. Once outside she ran to the safety of her two seater Mercedes S class roadster. It had served as her refuge as well as the chariot to freedom many nights. She tried to prevent her mind from wandering back to those horrible nights she fled from the verbal, physical, and emotional abuse inflicted upon her by her husband. Closing the car door behind her, the silver grey cocoon shielded her from the prying eyes of the world. Once inside, the dam of hot tears bursted. She couldn’t have held them back even if she wanted to. Bryn-Reese’s body shook under the weight of the release of the wave of emotion. She sat motionless in the car until her soul emptied itself of all the pain she had locked away so deeply in its core.
Whew, I do feel better. Bryn-Reese pulled down the flap of the sun visor exposing the lighted mirror. Surveying her face she frowned at the puffiness caused by this latest round of emotional release.
Can’t go home looking like this. Pulling a compact from her Hermes bag, she frantically dabbed foundation and concealer around the corners of her eyes.
This isn’t working. After several attempts, Bryn-Reese gave up.
I’ll just sit in the car until this puffiness goes down.
Resting her head against the buttery soft leather of the custom covered car seats, Bryn-Reese tried to will herself into a state of peacefulness. Just relax Bryn. Oh Lord, Lord you’ve got to do something for me today. I’m running on fumes.
Reluctantly Bryn-Reese closed her eyes. But the images of last night’s latest episode of violence burst into her mind savagely taking control of her thoughts. Jerking her eyes open, she tried desperately to still the menacing voices in her head, but it was too late. Bryn-Reese brought her fists to her ears, trying to shield them from the accusatory verbal barrage of Hayden’s latest tirade.
“I wonder if you would have gotten that call if they knew the great Evangelist Bryn-Reese Johnson was…”
“Was what Hayden?”
“Hooked on pills.”
The announcement stunned her to silence. A hurtful unbelieving glare was all she had to counter his accusation with.
“Thought your little habit was a secret didn’t ya?”
“Hayden how did…?”
“How did I find out?” He seemed to gloat as he hissed his response.
“You forget Bryn-Reese, I know everything about you.”
Humiliated she fought back with the only weapon she knew even though she knew all hell would burst wide open.
“Just like I know everything about you?”
Hayden grabbed her five-foot four frame and slammed her into the bedroom wall. His hot breath assaulted her as he spewed obscenities, forcing her face into the wall as he forced her arm behind her back.
“Hayden, please…you’re hurting me.” Bryn-Reese whimpered holding back a scream.
“What’s that supposed to mean? What do you know about me, Bryn?” He continued his assault ignoring her pleas for mercy.
Felling like all the life was being pressed out of her, she whispered again “Hayden please let me go, you’re hurting me.”
“Tell me Bryn-Reese what do you know about me?” Hayden leaned his two-hundred and fifty eight pounds harden into her body. Fear combined with the sheer force weight of his body now caused her breathing to become labored. Bryn-Reese could feel herself slipping away.
“Hayden, please, please. I can’t breathe. Please. Hayden let me go.”
“Oh I’m going to let you go, but first tell me what you know about me.”
“Owww. She moaned. Careful not to scream too loud she told herself. The last thing she wanted to do was to involve her daughters in this.
“Hayden please, please. I don’t know anything about you.”
“Are you sure you don’t have anything to tell me?”
“Hayden I swear I don’t know anything.” Her words interrupted by gasps of air as she tried to breath.
“Are you sure you don’t know anything about me?”
His arm now pushing against the back of her neck, burying her face deeper into the wall, she could feel warm blood now pouring from her nose, Bryn-Reese felt her consciousness slipping away.
“I…,I’m..su-re. Please let me go.” She spat as blood mixed with tears and saliva pooled in the corners of her mouth.
Releasing her from his grip, Hayden threw her limp body onto the king sized bed.
“That’s just what I thought, you don’t know squat about me. And I’m going to make sure it stays that way.”
Knowing the threat wasn’t an idle one, Bryn-Reese prepared herself for what she knew what was coming next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Owww. Bryn-Reese silently grimaced in pain as she rolled on her side turning her back to her attacker. She made sure Hayden was asleep lying perfectly still in the pitch black room for the better part of an hour before she even thought about moving. Bryn-Reese eased to an upright position on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb Hayden, she made her escape to the bathroom. Navigating her way through the blackness, she stumbled as fierce stabbing pain radiating from her throbbing vagina accompanied each step. Once inside the room she flipped the light switch. Gingerly lifting her ripped blouse while steadying her body against the antique marble pedestal sink she surveyed the damage.
Mmm…heavy tears welled up in her eyes rolling off her cheeks as she looked at the reflection of her battered body in the mirror. Pink-purple and blue marks resembling fingers and fists and an indentation that looked like a perfect set of teeth covered her torso. Her attacker had long ago perfected his abuse. He never hit her above her neck or below her knees. But it was brutal just the same and always capped off by a particularly vicious sexual assault. Although Hayden Johnson was skilled at bringing pleasure with his tool, when he wanted to he could use it just as easily for torture. And tonight had been one of those nights.
Bryn-Reese's battered body slid onto the marble floor. Its coolness brought relief to the pain that screamed throughout her body. She didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t keep the tears corralled behind her eyelids any longer. Whimpering softly, as the flow intensified anger began to roll from the pit of her stomach.
Why Hayden, why? She knew there was no answer to that question, and even more aggravating was the fact that she knew in the morning, he would apologize, begging her forgiveness. And like always, she would give it to him.
That was last night.
Why am I so weak? Bryn-Reese wanted to scream at the top of her lungs. She ministered to abused women all the time, she had witnessed their hurt and turmoil on countless occasions, she had even laid hands on and prayed for hundreds of women who suffered all kinds of abuse.
Why can I not heal myself? How is it that I’m such a failure?
The thoughts brought a new stream of tears to her eyes.
Fake. Counterfeit. Hypocrite. The words whirled though her mind like debris in an out of control tornado.
“No I’m not!” Bryn-Reese shouted at the silence. “I know I’ve been anointed to bring deliverance to hurting wounded hearts.” Her response now accompanied by full blown tears.
I just don’t know how to heal myself.
Then the quiet stirring of her spirit that signaled that she was not alone.
My daughter Bryn-Reese, know that even though you don’t understand it now, all thing work together for your good. I promise, soon you will have peace in the midst of this storm.
“But Father why…”
Daughter in due season, you will have peace in the midst of this storm. Rest only in me.
Bryn-Reese closed her eyes and let her head slip back on the headrest as she basked in the peaceful presence of her Father. When she finally turned on the ignition to leave the purple gray of dusk was slowly covering the fierce red orange glow of the early autumn sky. A half hour later she arrived at 202 Devonshire Lane, her dream mansion. The six bedroom five bath, two point six million dollar home situated on twelve and a half acres of prime land located on the southwest corner of Fayette County Georgia. Coming home to the beautifully styled Mediterranean should have been one of the highlights of her day. But unfortunately for her pulling up in the driveway each day reminded her of the terror that lay behind the picturesque walls of her home. Bryn-Reese paused momentarily in the driveway. For a brief instant she toyed with the idea to throw the car in reverse getting as far away from the house as she could, but she quickly dismissed the thought knowing she’d never see her girls, Gabby and Giselle again if she did.
God give me strength. She breathed.
Pressing the garage door opener, she took a deep breath as the black Manolo sling-back sandal pressed on the accelerator inching the car forward into the garage. The calming ringtone of That’s what Friends are For pierced the quiet.
“Hey Lady.” It was Hope Washington’s bubbly voice on the other end of the phone.
“Hope. What’s up girl?” Bryn-Reese was thankful for the momentary interruption.
“Just callin’ to remind you about lunch. You haven’t forgotten have you?”
“Girl are you kiddin’? I look forward to that meal every month.”
“So the food is the only reason you hang out with us Mrs. Johnson?”
“Hope don’t even trip like that. You know better. If I didn’t have my sistas’ I wouldn’t make it.”
“Is everything okay?”
“I ain’t gonna’ complain. It doesn’t do any good anyway. You know how it is sista’.”
“Girl, you know I know. Call me if you need me. Gotta run. See you later.
Hope’s call was like a calming summer breeze lifting Bryn-Reese out of her darkness. She loved Hope’s in your face realness and her explosive personality. And she always looked forward to meeting with her First Lady friends. It was an absolute God-send when they all met at the Holy Convocation last year. And they had been inseparable ever since.
Her attitude decidedly better after her telephone call with Hope, Bryn-Reese exited her automobile proud of herself for the huge step she made today and excited about her plans to hook up with her First Lady friends.