A secret's worth depends on the people
from whom it must be kept. Carlos Zafon
Nervously rubbing her left arm and breathing heavily, the mysterious woman waltzed through the airport terminal like she was a jet setting millionaire. Her stride revealed confidence and she had a certain air of sophistication about herself as she prepared to board her flight to Memphis.
She'd been silent for forty-one years, forty-one years too long. Now was the time for her to step out of the closet, show her face, claim her place, and shock the Grahams, especially Pastor. Her sister, being the mean conniving control freak she was, had played her, taken advantage of her illness, and like a fool she had allowed her to do it. The witch had forced her to keep her silence back then by threatening to tell everyone about her illness. But now there was no longer a reason to hide because the wicked old witch was dead.
As she approached the airport boarding ramp, the woman carried on a conversation with herself. “Chauncey Graham, I’m going to show you that I’m not one to play with. And while I’m there, it will be the perfect time to pay my dear sweet boys a visit. Certainly, they’ll be glad to see me.” A disturbed look engulfed her round, full cherub-like face as she thought, This visit to Memphis is going to be good. It’s going to be real good.
‡
Pastor was elated that he was going to render a message during the Jubilee service. It had been years since he’d graced the pulpit and delivered a Word from the Lord. Accepting Hezekiah’s offer to share a word gave him a sense of renewed energy. To think that once again, God had shown him favor to the point that he felt like his old self again was incredible. Two strokes, the death of his soulmate, Audrey, the secrets that had been unearthed after her death, and of course the tragic death of his granddaughter, Baby Audrey, were all enough to crush a man's spirit and make him question his trust and faith in God. But not Pastor. He held strong to his faith and refused to believe that God had forsaken him. His wife, Josie, was in good health too and for a couple who had both recently celebrated seventy years on earth, they were living quite well. They travelled occasionally and entertained frequently.
Speaking on Jubilee Sunday wasn't the extent of Hezekiah's generosity. He had recently asked Pastor to return to Holy Rock as one of the five associate ministers he had on staff, and again, Pastor humbly accepted the role. He would oversee the Seniors' Ministry. He and Josie already taught a senior's class on Sunday mornings. It was something he'd always wanted to do with Audrey, but Audrey had always been into being a trophy wife and a showpiece for Pastor. As for Josie, she loved teaching just as much as she loved God. She had served in the church all of her life and had been a Sunday School teacher for years up until the year she fell and broke her hip. She was incapacitated for quite some time but when she met Pastor, she was on the mend and back to being the vibrant Josie she once was.
Josie was right by Pastor's side, supporting him, helping him with his study notes, and similar to Audrey, she kept her man dressed sharp. They made a good couple.
"Honey, I printed your notes for Sunday School and your speech for Sunday."
Pastor walked over to Josie and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Thank you, baby."
"I guess we'll do some shopping later today. I want to find something special to wear for Jubilee. And you could use a new suit yourself," Josie told Pastor as she stood up from the computer and faced him.
"Nothing to it, but to do it,” Pastor jovially said. "We can have lunch while we're out. How about that?"
"Okay, I'd like that. I’ve been wanting to try that new Italian restaurant in midtown."
"Anything you want," Pastor said, patting Josie on her rear and kissing her again, this time on the lips and with deep affection.
As they got dressed and ready to go out, they talked about Hezekiah and Fancy. "What do you think about Pastor McCoy's expensive taste?" Josie asked Pastor. "Some of the senior ladies, who attend the Golden Friends monthly luncheon, say that he and the first lady spend far too much time away from the church. They say when you were senior pastor, and even when Stiles was pastor, that neither of you believed in gallivanting around like him and First Lady Fancy."
"That’s none of our business, and what people need to keep in mind is that everyone is different. None of us are the same. Pastor McCoy and Sister Fancy happen to love exploring new places. That’s on them."
"I guess so," Josie said hesitantly. "But the trips are so lavish, and it's not like he's going on these trips because he has to speak at other churches. He and Fancy seem to be travelling the world on the church's dime. I'm just telling you what folks are saying."
"Are you sure you don't feel the same way these folks feel?" Pastor questioned.
"I just think that they both should be more considerate of the church's expenses and what people say."
"And I say, if they are taking advantage of the church and its benefits, then that's between them and God. God will bring to the light anything that's not of him."
"You always say that, Pastor."
"I say it because it's true. Let God handle it. We're here to serve Him and trust in Him. Now to change the subject; I can't wait to see my children. Stiles should be arriving Friday morning and if Francesca and Tim decide to come they'll drive down early Sunday morning."
"I'm so glad that you and Francesca talked. It's an answered prayer. And her health, she's doing well, isn't she?"
"Well, we’ve only spoken a couple of times over the last few months, but she did call last week to tell me that they might drive down for Jubilee.”
“That’s still good for Francesca. You know she shuts herself off from you and Stiles so whenever she does decide to reach out, it’s a blessing. That’s all I’m saying.”
“Yes, you’re right, and God is good. For someone with AIDS, Francesca defies the odds every day. No one but God can do that. No one but God."
"Well, are you ready to go?" asked Josie.
"Yes, I'm ready."
They locked up the house and walked out into the two-car garage. Pastor proceeded to walk spryly toward his black on black Lincoln Continental.
"Honey, I think we should go in the Mini Cooper. You know how difficult it can be finding a parking space downtown, and at least with the Mini we can ease into the smallest of parking spaces."
"You're right," Pastor said. "The Mini it is." He opened the door to the green and black, four door Mini Cooper and waited for Josie to get inside before closing her door and walking around to the driver's side.
"Babe, do you think Stiles is bringing his new girlfriend with him?" Josie asked, as they headed to their destination.
"He didn’t say anything about bringing anyone with him. And according to him, he's not involved with anyone. He says he and that woman I think you’re talking about, uhhh, I can’t call her name right now, are friends. Her daddy was the pastor up until he died. She works at the church," Pastor replied.
"Yeah, I remember you saying that her daddy died and that she works at the church. I'm just glad to hear Stiles laughing again. When I talked to him last week, he sounded like the Stiles I knew before his divorce and before, well you know, before poor little Baby Audrey died." Josie's sadness resonated in the tone of her voice and the expression on her face.
"Yes, he's come a long way," Pastor added. "And he still has a long way to go. But all I can do is trust that in time God will heal his heart totally and completely."
"Enough of that. I’m just excited about Jubilee. I know the church is going to be packed; if that's even possible since it's almost always at overcapacity on Sundays already."
"That's one thing I can give Pastor McCoy credit for; he knows how to draw the people to the church. He has some powerful, life altering sermons. I'm sure he's going to deliver another one on Jubilee Sunday."
"I'm sure he will," Josie said.