Chapter Eleven

All Keithe wanted to do was drop Stoney off at her dad’s and keep it moving, especially with so many cars parked in their driveway for a Monday afternoon. Whatever was going on, Keithe didn’t want to be a part of it. He just didn’t feel like being social today.

It had been a little while since Keithe last spoke with Bishop Ky Perry. Over the last three years, he had sporadically spoken with the bishop over the telephone, just holding casual conversation, especially since they had Stoney as a common denominator. The two were nowhere near being best friends, but cordial associates indeed since they both loved and cared for Stoney and her well-being.

Keithe had no ill feelings toward the pastor, whom he looked up to. Neither man could help they’d been drawn to Michelle; that is, the Michelle before Christ. Upon his initial move to the city, Keithe even debated joining Bishop’s congregation. But because Keithe knew he would still befriend and be connected with Michelle and her possible visits, he thought it better to keep his distance. Keithe didn’t want to bring any more drama to Bishop Perry’s clan. He figured Michelle had done enough.

Before Keithe’s marriage to Michelle, it had been apparent Michelle had had a former life that would be just the story an author needed to make the New York Times Bestseller List, get a movie deal, and an Oscar nod not far behind.

In this midst of her life, pre-Keithe and during for that matter, Michelle had had several relationships. The short-lived union with Bishop Perry, who was not a minister at the time, was what brought forth Stoney. And even then, though he was the father, Michelle held the information at bay for twenty-one years.

Now that life was on the straight and narrow, Keithe hadn’t dared to bring anyone any more pain and went on a search for a church of his own. He still couldn’t believe he was in the middle of the nightmare. If he hadn’t been married to Michelle he wouldn’t have believed everything that had happened involving her.

“Looks like a lot of cars here. I hope everything is okay,” Keithe said, referencing maybe someone passing away. He couldn’t figure out what else could possibly be going on.

“Oh.” Stoney shared one of her giggly laughs, seeing the worry on Keithe’s face. “It’s just Monday. The family chose years ago for Mondays to officially be family day. Because just about the whole family is in ministry,” she explained, “they get together and catch up with one another. Plus Mercy and Grant are putting the finishing touches on their wedding plans in the next couple of months. Everyone is pitching in since April is only two months away.”

Stoney’s stepsister, Mercy, started out as a stranger, turned confidant, then best friend. They found out just how small the world was when Stoney realized the man who Mercy called Dad was indeed the Bishop Ky Perry, who was married to Mercy’s mother, Kendra.

Getting out of her stepfather’s car, Stoney hesitated when Keithe didn’t move a muscle. It was as if his hands had been glued to the steering wheel.

“Pops.” Stoney leaned down sideways on the outside of the car so that her eyes connected with his. “You can come in, ya know?”

“I thought you said your dad wouldn’t be back until tonight.” Keithe relaxed.

“Right, but you can at least say hi to everyone else ...” Stoney said, standing back to her full stance once she heard the front door open. “Mercy!”

“Stoney!” Mercy squealed and ran for a hug. With her short strap purse falling off of her shoulder, Mercy slowed down for a quick second and lunged a department store bag she’d been holding at a silent Grant. Continuing her stride, Mercy yelled out, “Hey, girl,” as the two embraced. “I’m so happy you could come up this weekend,” Mercy exclaimed.

Giving a wave off to Grant, who was still standing in place, Stoney turned her attention once again to her stepsister and chatted it up a bit.

With his window already down, Keithe thought it proper to speak to the young man who wasn’t more than fifteen feet from his vehicle. “Hey, dude. How’s it going?” Keithe asked and then felt a déjà vu feeling come upon him.

With a short nod and a one-sided smirk, Grant said, “What’s up?” and, just as quick, turned and walked toward his own car.

As if an epiphany had fallen upon him, Keithe saw the familiarity in Grant and heard it in his voice. He knew him. He didn’t know where he knew him from, but he knew him nonetheless.

“Hey there, Mr. Keithe. How are you?” Mercy knelt down so she could expose her face to Keithe through the passenger side window.

“I’m good, Mercy. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. I will have to send my gift by Stoney,” he offered.

“Well, thank you, sir.” Mercy did a curtsey and grabbed at Stoney.

“Oh.” Keithe hurriedly opened his door and headed to the back of his vehicle. Almost forgetting about Stoney’s luggage in the back of his trunk, Keithe added pep to his step in order to retrieve the heavy travel bags for his stepdaughter. Closing his trunk, Keithe rolled the twenty-something-pound bag to the front of the house. On the way back to his car, Keithe stopped and gave both ladies quick hugs.

“See ya, Pops. Love ya.” Stoney gravitated toward Mercy and the house as Keithe drove off.

“Where’s Grant Jr.? Hey, Grant?” Stoney mouthed as she waved toward Grant sitting in his car, waiting for his fiancée to join him.

“Just a minute, Grant,” Mercy threw his way while opening the door to the house. Almost running head-on into Kenya, who was on her way out, Mercy slowed her tracks.

“Oops,” Kenya said. “I didn’t see you all coming in,” the older lady said to her nieces; one biological and the other through marriage. Although Kenya hadn’t had the chance to bond with Stoney due to her travels in the ministry, she treated them just the same. Peeping around the two giggle boxes, Kenya squinted her eyes at the car that was making its way out of her sister and brother-in-law’s circular driveway. Thinking he resembled her church peer, Kenya thought herself silly to think Keithe would have any business being at her family’s house.

“Oh, was that your father? I’m sorry I missed him,” Kenya said.

“Oh shoot,” Stoney allowed to fly out of her mouth.

“That’s right; you’ve never met my parents. Well, now that you’re permanently in town and so is my dad, I’ll have to make sure you do so and soon.”

“Sounds like a plan. Hey, but I’m headed out, ladies.” Kenya pulled Stoney in for a hug.

“Yep. She has a hot date, Stoney,” Mercy rubbed in as she walked off toward an awaiting Grant. “I’m sure she’ll tell us about it later on.” Mercy winked.

Stoney oh’d and aw’d.

“Don’t be so sure about it.” Kenya sashayed in the direction where her car was parked. Not wanting to keep Mike waiting, Kenya picked up her pace.