CHAPTER 68
Katherine
December 2010
“You are one desperate woman.”
Katherine entered Lincoln’s room. Mona stepped into the hallway. Came back with a man dressed in a black suit and white shirt. A gold cross dangled atop his black necktie. He held the King James version of the Bible in his hands.
“If you don’t mind excusing yourself,” Mona said, “we’re in the middle of a ceremony.”
Katherine shook her head. Looked to Lincoln for a response.
“Give us some privacy,” he said. “You should’ve called first. Besides, I asked you not to come back here without—”
“Without your son. He’s here.”
Lincoln’s eyes widened. “For real.”
Mona interrupted, “This won’t take long.”
“No, getting married can wait a little longer. I want to see my son. Where is he?”
Katherine was happy she arrived in time to stop their wedding. Mona looked ridiculous draped in all white. Was she serious? Tramp.
Mona pleaded, “The pastor may not be able to come back. Lincoln, we need to do this now. She’s trying to ruin our wedding on purpose.”
Katherine interjected, “You have to know there’s a wedding happening in order to plan to sabotage it.”
Mona’s eyes narrowed in her direction. If they could speak, they’d probably say, “Bitch.”
“What? You want to strangle me again? Go ahead. Do it while there’s witnesses.” Katherine spoke to the pastor. “If she wants to punch me in the face again, she should do it now so I can press charges.” She turned to Mona. “You’re not so bad when other people are watching, are you?”
Katherine spoke to Lincoln. “You want to see your son or not?”
Lincoln looked at Mona, then at the pastor. “What do you think, Rev?”
“Doesn’t matter what I think, young man. But what I know is, I’m not performing a ceremony here today. Neither of you are spiritually grounded enough to get married.”
That was Katherine’s blessing. Lincoln seeing Jeremiah might swing his heart in her direction.
The pastor placed his hand on Lincoln’s head, then said, “Lord, I ask that You watch over this young man. He may have done some things not favorable in Your sight, but he has risked his life to protect the freedom and liberties afforded to every man, woman, and child in this country. We will not forsake him. I ask that You protect his mind, give him peace from within. Cast out any and all demons inside of him. Stop all demons that seek to invade his light. Build a shield of love around him. Whatever sins he may have committed, we pray for forgiveness. We pray for his full recovery, in Jesus’s name we ask for these blessings. Amen.”
Katherine said, “Amen.” She was shocked when Mona Lisa said it too.
“Young man, when you do what feels right in your heart, it’s never the wrong thing. Mona, tell your mother hello for me.” The pastor clenched the Bible to his chest, then left the room.
Soon as the door closed, Mona said, “You can’t just spring this on Lincoln like this.”
“Do something constructive. How about you go take off that white gown and go bury your husband?”
Slap!
This time Katherine struck back. She snatched Mona’s veil over her head, tightened it around her neck. Katherine balled her fingers into a fist and began repeatedly punching Mona in the back of her head. All the rage inside her surfaced, making Katherine want to ram Mona’s head into the wall, but she decided not to.
Reporting the news, she understood the fine line between life and death. She was so angry with Mona she could’ve killed her. But what was the real underlying basis for her hatred? Steven? Mona? Lincoln? Or was she in doubt about the part she’d played in all that had happened?
Lincoln yelled, “Stop it! Didn’t either of you hear the prayer? Stop it right now!”
Jeremiah opened the door. “Mommy! Mommy!”
Katherine shoved Mona to the floor, then slammed her veil on top of her. Heaving, she reached for her child. “Everything is okay, baby.”
Lincoln shook his head. “Jeremiah?”
“Mommy, who’s that?”
Katherine looked at Mona scraping herself from the floor. “Leave, now.”
Mona sat in the chair beside Lincoln’s bed. “We’re not done.”
Katherine exhaled. Lincoln’s door opened. Two officers in uniform walked in.
Katherine recognized Detective Davenport. The other officer she’d seen but didn’t know. “We apologize for the disturbance, officers. Everything is okay.”
Detective Davenport said, “Mona Lisa Ellington-Cunningham?”
Mona remained silent.
“You’re under arrest for the suspicion of murdering Davis Singletary. You have the right to remain silent . . .”
Now Katherine wished Mona hadn’t known about her relationship with Steven. She could hardly breathe, wondering if Detective Davenport was going to call her name next. Katherine prayed her decision to accept Steven’s gifts didn’t involve her in whatever he and Mona had done.
Mona’s hands were cuffed behind her back. She glanced at Lincoln. “I’ve never killed a soul. Promise me you won’t break our engagement.”
Katherine awaited his response.
When Lincoln said, “I promise,” to Mona, Katherine knew her engagement to him was officially over.