“Find your tribe; love them hard.” Danielle LaPorte
Stiles had reached out more than once over the past few months to Hezekiah but each time he did, he hit an impenetrable wall. Today when he called him on his cell phone, the recording on the other end said that Hezekiah’s phone was no longer in service. Stiles hoped and prayed that Hezekiah was doing better since having a major stroke because he desperately wanted to see about making amends with his biological brother. He had no one in his life now, except Pastor and Josie. His mother, both his biological mother Margaret, and Audrey, the woman who raised him were dead. Francesca was dead. Tim was dead. Rena’s parents. Dead. And his poor little baby girl, Audrey. Dead. He had lost so much and now though his brother, his only brother, was alive it felt like he’d lost Hezekiah too because Hezekiah had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with him.
Pastor had suggested time and time again that he should give Hezekiah some time to digest the fact that he had a brother. How much time did Hezekiah need? It was coming up on a year since everything went down at Holy Rock. Members called that day the Jubilee Tragedy; and indeed it was.
Stiles heard Pastor’s voice in his head but he felt that he needed time to digest a lot of things, too. He had lost far more than Hezekiah could ever imagine. Both of them were men of God but where was Hezekiah’s forgiving heart? Why did he blame Stiles for the sins of their parents? He had lost just as much and he longed to have his brother as a part of his life.
He called Holy Rock again and asked for Hezekiah. In the past, he was told that Hezekiah was not available and that was that. His call was sent to Hezekiah’s voicemail and of course the guy never called him back. This time when he called, he actually talked to someone who he knew from when he was senior pastor of Holy Rock. He didn’t know when she became the receptionist or administrative assistant, or whatever her role was, but he was glad.
“I’m sorry, Pastor McCoy is on an extended leave. Can someone else assist you?” the woman on the other end of the phone asked Stiles.
“Sista Mavis? Is that you?”
“Yes, this is Sista Mavis? How can I help you?”
“Sista Mavis, it’s Pastor Graham. Stiles Graham. How are you?”
“Pastor Stiles, oh my Lord, it’s good to hear your voice. I knew you sounded familiar, but so many people call this church in a day’s time until everyone sounds alike.” She laughed into the phone. “How are you? I haven’t seen you or heard from you, well since the terrible tragedy. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m okay. God is good.”
“Yes, all the time. Well, you know Pastor McCoy had a stroke shortly after that crazy woman, oops, I’m sorry. He hasn’t returned to the church. From what I’ve heard he still can’t talk much and he’s confined to a bed and an electric wheelchair.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. That’s why I was calling; I wanted to speak to him, see how he was getting along.”
“I’m sure you do. After all, he is your brother,” Mavis blurted again. “I’m sorry. This mouth of mine is going to get me in trouble.”
“No worries, Sista Mavis. It’s not like it’s a secret or anything. Margaret made sure before she died that everyone knew that. And knowing that Pastor McCoy is my brother, I want the chance to get to know him. I want him to be in my life.”
Stiles continued talking to Sista Mavis for several minutes. Though she could be a gossip, Sista Mavis was a good listener. Stiles laughed to himself. Maybe she was a good listener because she wanted to know everything there was to know about everybody at Holy Rock.
“Now that Khalil has taken over the ministry, I think things will be different. I’m not sure if that’s going to be good or not.”
“What did you say?” Stiles was stunned. Surely he hadn’t heard Sista Mavis correctly. “Did you say that Khalil has taken over the ministry?”
“You haven’t heard? I thought sure old man, uhhh, Pastor Graham would have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“Well, if anyone asks then you didn’t hear it from me, but Khalil is the new Senior Pastor. From what I’ve heard, Pastor McCoy’s recovery isn’t going too well. Did you know they had to put that poor man in a nursing home, but you didn’t hear that from me. I heard he tried to run down First Lady Fancy with one of those heavy-duty electric chairs. Said it almost amputated her legs at the ankles. That’s probably why I haven’t seen her around here in a few days. He still can’t say a word and he can’t even walk. That man might not ever walk or talk again. You know how strokes can be. They can leave you crippled for life.”
“Yes, yes, that’s true, but nothing is too hard for God,” Stiles told her, still trying to decipher if what Sista Mavis told him about Khalil taking over as senior pastor was really true.
“Where did you hear that Khalil was going to be the senior pastor, Sista Mavis?”
“From one of the associate ministers; I won’t say which one.”
When Sista Mavis finished explaining that Khalil would be preaching his first sermon this Sunday, Stiles remained in a state of shock. He didn’t know that Khalil had been called to the ministry but he could understand why Hezekiah would want his son to take hold of the reins and keep the church moving forward. He didn’t know why Pastor had said nothing about it; it had to be because he didn’t know about it. From what Mavis said, it hadn’t been officially announced to the congregation as a whole, so maybe Pastor hadn’t heard about it for that reason. He was no longer on staff and he and Josie often visited other churches ever since Hezekiah excommunicated him from Holy Rock.
“Is Khalil there?”
“No, he hasn’t come in yet. He’s usually here around nine o’clock but today he won’t be here until eleven. He said he had some errands to run this morning.”
“Look, do me a favor, Sista Mavis.”
“What is it, Pastor Stiles? I sure wish you would come back to Holy Rock,” Mavis continued babbling.
Stiles disregarded her last comment. “Will you send me to Pastor Khalil’s voice mail?”
“Sure thing. You hold on, and please pray about coming back. Your brother needs you.”
“God bless you, Sista Mavis. Take care.”
Stiles left a voicemail for Khalil telling him that it was urgent that he speak to him. He needed to find out exactly what was going on and where his brother was. If what Mavis said was true and Hezekiah was in a nursing home, he needed to make a trip to Memphis to see about him. He didn’t care if Hezekiah wanted him there or not, he was going to do whatever he could to help his brother. He couldn’t lose another family member or loved one because this time he didn’t know if he would be able to bounce back.
Khalil finished getting dressed. He looked at his wrist and saw that it was already ten-thirty five. He had told Sista Mavis that he would be at the church by eleven. At the rate he was going it was unlikely that he would meet that timeline. Maybe closer to noon, but so be it. He was the senior pastor and he didn’t answer to anyone but God himself.
His text notifier chimed. It was his mother. “Are you at the church yet?”
“No. should be there by noon. Everything ok?”
“Yes. I’m still in the bed. Enjoying a late sleep in. it feels good not to hav to get up and check on Hezekiah.”
“That’s good, Ma. I’m getting dressed. Hit me up if you need me.”
“Hav u talked to ur brother?”
“Nope.”
“He didn’t come home last night. And he’s not answering his phone.”
Khalil didn’t have the time nor did he have the desire to check up on his brother. He suspected that he was laying up somewhere with Raymone and that’s where he wanted to be. He definitely hated his brother’s choice but hey, that was on Xavier, not him.
“I’m sure he’s good. No need to exchange one worry for another. Chill out n relax. U deserve it. TTYL.”
“I don’t want you to leave.”
“You know I got things to do. I’m already going to be later than what I anticipated.” Khalil continued to get dressed, tying his tie and straightening it around his neck. His white starched shirt, slim leg Levis, and jacket fit his personal taste perfectly. He surveyed himself in the mirror as the woman walked up behind him and grabbed him below his belt while standing on her toes to nibble at his neck.
“Stop it, Dee. I need to get outta here. I have a lot going on today at the church.”
Dee stood on her flat feet and then walked in front of Khalil as he stepped away from the mirror.
“I’m so glad you’re giving us another chance. You won’t be sorry. I promise.”
“I don’t know about that. I’ll make that decision later, after I see if you’re a woman of your word.”
“I told you that I was going to help you, didn’t I? And that’s what I meant. All you have to do is tell me what you want done, when you want it done, and I’ve got your back.”
Dee walked off, went over to the other side of her massive master bedroom suite, retrieved her designer purse, pulled something out, and walked back over toward Khalil as he headed to the bathroom.
“Here. This is a little surprise for you.” She pressed a MasterCard Gold Card into the palm of his hand and folded his fingers over it. The 24k gold-plated card would open doors for him that twenty something year old men like himself could only dream of. Sure, he was going to make a boatload of money by being the senior pastor of Holy Rock, but it would never give him the kind of riches and luxuries being with Detria could give him.
“What’s this?”
“Let’s just say it’s reserved for the special man in my life. And if you have to ask the limit on it, then you’re not ready for it,” she purred. “Use it wisely, but don’t think about screwing me over by spending all your goodies on some young stupid li’l girl.” She reached up and pulled his face down to meet hers. Kissing him with fervor and passion she began undressing Khalil.
“Dee, I told you. I have to get to Holy Rock.” He said, slightly resisting her, but his manhood betrayed him every single time.
“I know, but let me tend to this rock right here first and then you can be on your way.”
Khalil was not one to resist the seduction of a woman, especially the likes of Detria Graham. Dang, the woman had just given him a credit card worth God knows how much. She had his back. All he had to do was play his cards right and he would be on top of the world.
While he finished undressing, he thought about his next step. Now that he was Senior Pastor of Holy Rock, the congregation would most likely be expecting him to get a first lady. Not such a bad idea, he thought to himself as he swooped Detria up in his arms and had his way with her against the bedroom wall. Detria McCoy. Ummm, nice ring to it. Money and power. What more could a man ask for? He smiled wickedly as he satisfied Dee’s needs and that of his own as well.
Xavier pulled out of the downtown hotel parking lot and headed to drop Raymone off at his new job. He had secured a position working at International Paper in their IT department. Unlike Xavier, he didn’t care whether he attended college or not, but he didn’t want Xavier to leave him either. The position with International Paper started him off at $35,000 a year, a good start for a nineteen year old with no degree. It wouldn’t have been possible without the clout of his father who was a high-level executive at the company. Raymone had been working every summer at the company since he turned fifteen years old so just about everyone who mattered knew him and that made it even easier for him to be offered a position.
“Why don’t you let me put in a word for you. I can get you on at IP, too,” Raymone offered as Xavier drove down Madison Avenue heading toward the interstate. Raymone worked at the Hacks Cross location of International Paper or IP as most called it.
“Naw, I don’t think so. Anyway, how many times do I have to tell you that I’m outta here come September? I have a full ride to Xavier and I’m taking it. I know you don’t want to go to college just yet, but I still want you to come with me. I know your dad will help you cop a job in Louisiana just like he did here.”
“I don’t know. I mean, I love you, Zay, but I don’t want to disappoint my dad either. He’s supported me and stuck by me all of my life. And when I told him that I was gay, he didn’t bat an eye. He accepted me for who I am. I can’t turn my back on him.” Raymone looked away from Xavier and out of the passenger side window of Xavier’s white on white Acura TLX, a graduation gift from his parents.
Xavier felt his anger mounting. “You don’t love me. You can’t possibly love me if you’re putting your father over me. I’m glad your dad is the way he is. I mean, he’s helped me too. He’s accepted me and not judged me, but I want to be free to live my life on my own.”
“I don’t want to argue with you about this. I hoped you would understand.”
“No, I hoped you would understand,” Xavier bit back as he accelerated the car and got over in the far right lane. “You know the situation I’m facing at home with my family. They won’t even mention the word gay. After George did what he did and took those pictures of you and me, they haven’t said a word. And when or if my father finds out, then I’m going to have a whole new set of worries. I can’t live my life like that. I won’t live my life like that.” Xavier yelled and pressed his foot harder on the accelerator.
“Slow down. You’re going to get a ticket,” Raymone warned. “I can’t do it. I’ll come visit you every chance I get, but I can’t go with you, Zay. I’m sorry.” Raymone looked at his best friend and his lover. He wanted to have a life with Xavier but he loved his new career. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and he didn’t want to give it up. He could see himself growing in the company and with his father being as important as he was, Raymone could see himself living out his dreams as a young executive on the rise.
Xavier grew angrier and angrier the more he thought about everything. He was tired of being put off and pushed to the side. It seemed that everyone in his life was ready and willing to dismiss his feelings.
“If that’s the way you want it, then we may as well be done. I’m not going to deal with you or anyone else for that matter that won’t support my dreams.”
“Your dreams? What do you mean your dreams? Don’t you think I have dreams too? Why can’t we both live our dreams? Why does it have to be all about you and what you want!”
“It’s not all about what I want! This was supposed to be about us. I want to go to Xavier, get my law degree, and build a future, a real future for us. You can get a job at any IT department. It’s not like International Paper is the only corporation in the world.”
Xavier turned and looked at Raymone with red eyes that revealed his rage while Raymone had tears flooding from his.
“It’s me or nothing. Make your choi—”
“Zayyyy!” Raymone screamed, but it was too late.
The car catapulted in the air flipping several times over after slamming into the vehicle and then a guardrail before landing in the middle of the interstate.