Man, how am I going to handle this?” Curtis asked Tyler. He’d tried to keep his cool, but the farther he drove away from the church, the more nervous he became. Normally he would never discuss his relationship troubles with anyone, because he was his own man. But he knew he had to be very careful this time and needed all the advice he could get.
“First of all, you have to stay calm,” Tyler said. “You can’t let them think for one minute that you’re afraid of them.”
“I’m trying, but you should have seen the looks on their faces when they heard that tape. I mean, they actually heard me having sex with Adrienne. And I have to tell you, man, I never would have expected something like this from her.”
“Maybe, but it’s always been my experience that you can’t trust any woman you’re having an affair with. It’s even worse for men like you and me because we’re ministers. And unfortunately, most people thrive on trying to bring us down. They have no respect for God’s disciples.”
“You’re right about that, because look at all the books and magazine articles that do nothing except bash ministers. It’s almost like they’ve been hired by Satan.”
“Well, you know the devil is always busy, and he’ll do anything to stop the preaching of God’s Word.”
“That he will.”
“But what I think you should do is first go home and tell Mariah about everything that happened, but stick to your story. You have to categorically deny everything, no matter how much she or the deacons try to corner you. You have to deny that tape recording until the end.”
“I’m already a step ahead of you on that, because I will never admit that I’ve been seeing Adrienne again.”
“And then the next thing you have to do is beg Mariah to forgive you. You have to stay married to her or this thing with Adrienne will look even more credible.”
“But, man, that’s my biggest dilemma, because I refuse to be without my son. The church is important to me, but I won’t rest until he’s in the same house with me. And the only way to make that happen is to divorce Mariah and marry Charlotte.”
“But why do you have to marry her? Why can’t you just be a father to your son?”
“Because Charlotte won’t have it any other way. She’s made it very clear that if I even want to see him, these are the conditions.”
“Then that’s a problem. Because the last thing you want right now is to end your marriage to Mariah and then immediately bring another woman into the picture. Those deacons at Truth just won’t go for that. Especially not after hearing that tape.”
“Well, there’s got to be another way out,” Curtis said, but didn’t bother telling Tyler about his deal with Mariah and what she was going to tell the deacons.
“There is,” Tyler said. “We just have to find it. But even putting all of that aside, the one thing you have to do is ignore this so-called suspension they’re talking about. You have to walk right into that church on Sunday morning, business as usual.”
“That’s what I’d like to do, but I’m not sure how they’ll react.”
“I wouldn’t worry about them, and as soon as I got there, I would walk into the pulpit, ask for everyone’s attention, and I would tell the congregation that any rumors they’ve been hearing are all lies. Because if you can get the majority of your members to support you, the deacon board will keep quiet. At least during service.”
“Yeah, I think you might have something.”
“Because, see, the thing is, you have to let everyone—not just the deacons—but everyone know who’s running that church. Remember we told you before. That’s your church. And you have to treat it as such if you want them to back down and respect you.”
“Well, we’ll see what happens, but I’ll definitely be there on Sunday morning with Mariah. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about Charlotte, but maybe for the time being she’ll be willing to wait for me.”
“Maybe, but I wouldn’t tell her the reason why, because it’s like I just told you. You can’t trust any of these women.”
But Curtis really did think he could trust Charlotte. He didn’t know why exactly. But even though she was giving him an ultimatum and basically forcing him to marry her, he felt he could trust her.
“Well, man, thanks for listening,” Curtis said. “And I’m sorry I had to call and bother you with this, but I really needed someone to talk to.”
“Don’t even think twice about it. This pastor, deacon, congregation thing is a war, and ministers like us have to stick together. If we don’t, we’ll all be out on the street.”
Both of them laughed.
“I’ll give you a ring tomorrow or the next day,” Curtis said.
“You take care, man,” Tyler said. “And be careful.”
What a day. First it was another cold shoulder from Alicia, then Adrienne had played him for a knucklehead and dropped off that horrific tape. He cringed at the thought of his entire deacon board listening to the way he made love and the things he’d said. It was the worst thing that had ever happened to him—even worse than when the deacons at Faith had watched that videotape. Because at least then he wasn’t there to view it with them.
Curtis drove into his driveway earlier than he had in weeks. He coasted into the garage, shut off the car, stepped out of it, and went into the house. Mariah was pulling out what looked to be some leftover spaghetti. Curtis threw his jacket on the chair, loosened his tie, and walked toward her. Mariah gathered her food and left the kitchen. She was candidly ignoring him. Now, he wondered if he should do what Tyler had suggested. He would still find a way to get rid of her, but for now maybe reconciling with her was the answer.
She sat on the sofa, pulled her legs under her body and turned the TV to Lifetime Movie Network. Curtis deplored that channel, because all he ever saw were women being abused by a man. Either that or they were being cheated on. It even seemed like they used the same actors for every story. What he’d like to see was a channel that condemned women. One that proved how terrible women could be—specifically those like Adrienne.
“So you’re not speaking?” he said, sitting opposite Mariah.
“Hello,” she said, chewing and staring straight ahead. Then she looked down at her plate and forked up another helping.
“That’s all? You don’t have anything else to say to me?” he said.
“Curtis, why are you doing this? Last night you physically abused me, you called me a fat-ass, and now you’re acting like you’re happy with me again?”
“I’m sorry about all that. I don’t know what came over me, and my actions were totally unacceptable.”
Mariah turned back toward the television.
“Something real terrible happened at the meeting tonight.”
“Yeah, I know,” she said, glancing at him.
“Who told you?”
“Deacon Thurgood’s niece called me right after she spoke to her uncle.”
Unreal. If the deacon’s niece already knew, how many other people had been told?
“Well, you do know I’m being set up, right?” he said.
“I don’t know anything. I wasn’t at the meeting, and I certainly wasn’t with you and your woman when she made that tape.”
“But I was never with her. She called me over a month ago, trying to get me to meet her, but I told her no. I told her I was married, and that I wasn’t the same man I used to be.”
“Uh-huh. So what’s her name, Curtis?”
“Adrienne.”
“Not the Adrienne you messed around with on Tanya?” she said, setting her fork on the plate.
“Yes. And the only reason she’s doing this is because I married you and not her.”
“So you were never with her?”
“No. But now the deacons are saying they don’t want me in the pulpit on Sunday.”
Mariah raised her eyebrows, and Curtis could tell she didn’t have much sympathy for him.
“So, Mariah, you have to stand by me. I know I don’t deserve anything from you, but—” Curtis was saying when the doorbell chimed. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No.”
Curtis stood, walked down the hall past the living room, and opened the front door.
“You lying no-good son of a bitch,” Adrienne said.
“What are you doing here?” Curtis yelled.
“Because I have every right to be. I’m your next wife, remember? You love me, remember?”
“I think you’d better leave before I call the police.”
“Huh. And you think I care about that?”
“Who is that, Curtis?” Mariah said, coming toward him.
“Nobody,” he said, closing the door.
But Adrienne stuck her foot in the way of it.
“Hi, Mariah. I’m Adrienne.”
“If you know what’s good for you, Adrienne, you’ll get back in your car and leave here,” Curtis ordered.
“Not until I talk to Mariah.”
“What do you need to talk to my wife about?”
“The fact that you’re planning to divorce her and marry me. The fact that you’ve been sleeping with me every chance you get. The fact that you went on and on about how terrible she is in bed.”
“Curtis, is this true?” Mariah asked.
“No!” he exclaimed. “I told you she’s trying to set me up.”
“Now why would I do that, Curtis?”
“Because you’re jealous of my marriage to Mariah, and because you know I don’t want anything to do with you.”
“Whatever. But, Mariah, I really need to talk to you. You and I need to compare notes.”
“Curtis, how does she know where we live?” Mariah asked.
“I don’t know. She probably followed me.”
“You’re damn right I did,” Adrienne admitted. “I followed your ass because I’m sick of you playing games with me.”
“Look. That’s it. I’m closing the door, and if you don’t leave, I’m calling the police. Or better yet, I’m calling your husband.”
“What husband?” Adrienne said, laughing. “I don’t have a husband, remember? He kicked me out years ago because of you.”
Curtis didn’t know what she was talking about.
“Yeah, that’s right, I lied to you, too. We’re divorced. And the only reason I told you I was still married was so you wouldn’t think you could be with me anytime you wanted. And I definitely didn’t want you thinking I’ve been waiting around for you all these years.”
“You’re sick,” he said. “You need professional help, and I suggest you try to get some.”
“No, I’m perfectly sane. You’re the sick one.”
“I’m calling the police,” Curtis said.
“Mariah, please call me. I work at KTM Corporation, and all you have to do is ask for Adrienne Jackson in marketing.”
Curtis slammed the door shut.
“I told you she was crazy,” he said.
“So is that why you all of a sudden wanted to divorce me?” she asked.
“No. I keep telling you, she’s lying. I don’t know why she’s doing this, but none of what she’s saying is true.”
“Then where did that tape come from? Because Deacon Thurgood’s niece told me that everyone in the meeting agreed that it was your voice they heard.”
“I can’t explain that, but you know how advanced technology is now. And for all I know, Adrienne called my cell phone, somehow recorded my outgoing message, and then had some professional put that tape together.”
“Well, if that’s true, how did she get your cell phone number?”
Curtis could kick himself. It was so unlike him to slip up like this.
“I don’t know that either,” he said. “Maybe she knows somebody at the phone company.”
“Curtis, you are so unbelievable,” she said. Her tone and smile were sarcastic.
“But, baby, I’m telling you the truth, and you have to stand by me. I’ll do anything you want, but you have to help me convince the board that Adrienne is schizo.”
Mariah dropped back down on the sofa.
“You know the other thing that Deacon Thurgood’s niece said was that the letter Adrienne wrote talked about your five-thousand-dollar weekly salary and your housing allowance. So how would she know about that?”
“Because it’s public information. Everybody at the church knows what I earn, so it would be pretty easy for her to find that out.”
Mariah was quiet.
“Baby, I’m sorry that this is happening,” he said, sitting down next to her.
She still didn’t look at him.
“You do believe me, don’t you?” he said, and didn’t know how much more begging he could do. Especially since he didn’t feel the need to beg any woman.
“Curtis, I can’t think about this now. So, please, just leave me alone.”
He thought about making one more plea, but decided he would go upstairs. He would talk to Mariah in the morning when things had settled down. Because he needed her to back him up on this thing. He needed her to stand by her husband.
He thought about Alicia and the fact that he didn’t go see her today as planned.
He thought about Charlotte and Matthew and how he wanted to be with them.
He wondered if Mariah would have the nerve to call Adrienne.