“Those who don’t know the value of loyalty can never appreciate the cost of betrayal.” Unknown
Stiles got up, took a hot shower, and got dressed in a pair of casual slacks and a polo shirt. He tidied up the guest room by picking up behind himself and making up the queen bed. He had a peaceful sleep and was ready to tackle the day. He sat in the bedroom chair after he was done dressing and cleaning, retrieved his Bible from off the nightstand where he’d put it the night before, and opened it up to read his morning scriptures and devotional. That took about an hour and when he was done; he opened his bedroom door, peaked out in the hallway, and was met by silence. He stepped into the hall and went downstairs quietly into the kitchen.
The aroma of fresh brewing coffee hit his nostrils as he got midway down the steps. He walked toward the kitchen and stopped when he saw Fancy in the kitchen preparing breakfast. She was humming a song and her voice was angelic. Must have been where Khalil got his pipes from. He watched and listened as she swished around in a long sleeved, loose fitting, one piece, over-the-head dress that fell just below her upper thighs. Her pedicured feet were encased in a pair of open-toed slippers.
She continued humming and then broke out into actual song. “There’s a sweet sweet spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the spirit of the Lord.”
Stiles watched and listened until he heard someone approaching from behind. He turned and met Xavier’s stare as the young man came toward him and walked past him.
“Good morning, Ma,” he said, looking back at Stiles. “Hello, Past…uh, Uncle Stiles.”
“Good morning, Xavier.”
Xavier hugged his mother while she looked at him and kissed him on his forehead as he leaned in.
“Good morning, Stiles,” she said after she acknowledged her son. “I hope you had a good night’s rest.”
“I did. That bed is super comfortable. Thank you for allowing me to stay here.”
“I’m making spinach, tomato and cheese omelets. Would you like one?”
“Yes, sounds good.”
“Help yourself to coffee. Everything you need should be over there at the coffee station,” she said, pointing to the area on her far left.
Stiles walked over and made himself coffee with lots of cream and sugar and then walked over to the huge peninsula island and took a seat.
“Xavier, here you go,” she said, passing him a giant omelet with toast on the side.
“Thanks, Ma.” He sat at the other end of the island, blessed his food and then before he started eating, he got back up and walked over to the refrigerator and brought out a giant pitcher of iced tea with lemon slices floating on the top.
“That’s some addictive stuff right there,” Stiles pointed at the tea and chuckled.
Xavier laughed too. “You know it.”
“Y’all are something else. Anyway, here you go, Stiles.” Fancy put his omelet and a couple slices of toast in front of him. “Would you like anything else?” she said.
“A fork maybe,” he said.
“Oh my goodness. I forgot about silverware. She walked to the nearby cabinet, pulled out a drawer and removed a couple of forks and butter knives and sat them on the island.
She slid one of them down toward Xavier before turning around and going back to the stove to prepare an omelet for herself.
The three of them enjoyed breakfast together. Fancy felt happier than she had in a long, long time.
“Fancy, you have a beautiful voice. I don’t remember you singing when you were first lady.”
“That’s because I’m one of those in the shower singers or sing while I cook persons. I don’t have the kind of voice people want to hear in public,” she laughed at herself.
“From what I heard, that’s not true. People would be moved by your singing.”
“Thank you, Stiles.” She smiled coyly while Xavier looked at his mother and then at Stiles.
“So, are you planning to go see my father today?” Xavier asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah. I’m praying that he will accept my visit. Oh, and I called Pastor last night before I went to bed.”
Fancy stopped eating and looked up at Stiles.
“You know he wants to see Hezekiah, too.”
“And you should know by now that Hezekiah is stubborn and selfish. You’re going to have a hard enough time getting him to accept a visit from you, and you think he would see his father? That’s asking a lot,” Fancy said, shaking her head in doubt.
“Yeah, he’s turned all of us away, and at this point, I don’t care. Let him do what he do,” said Xavier. “That’s on him.”
“I can’t give up. Not until the Holy Spirit tells me otherwise,” Stiles said, and took a bite of his omelet.
Fancy and Xavier remained quiet.
Xavier finished eating, got up from the island, and proceeded to leave the kitchen.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Fancy called out.
“What?” Xavier stopped, turned around, looking confused.
Fancy’s eyes said it all as she used them to point to his plate and glass.
Xavier got his plate, his glass, and wiped the particles off of it before he put it inside the dishwasher. He then returned the pitcher of iced tea to the refrigerator. “Satisfied?”
“Satisfied,” she said and smiled. “Have a good day”
“Thanks, Ma. It’s going to be a full one. I’m going to meet some friends at the church gym and work out first, and then I have a meeting later this morning to talk about the upcoming Youth and Young Adult Summit.”
“I’m sure it’s going to be good.”
“Thanks, Ma. Anyway, I’m going to go finish getting ready and then I’m outta here. Good luck, Pastor Stiles, I mean Stiles on seeing my father.”
“Thanks, nephew. Have a good day. I’ll try to stop by the church later on and see how things are going. That summit sounds like it might be something I’d like to incorporate at Full of Grace. We’re trying to grow our youth and young adult ministry.”
“Sure thing,” Xavier said. “Anything I can do to help,” and he dashed out of the kitchen and could be heard bolting up the stairs.
Stiles arrived at Primacy Parkway Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility. He approached the front desk like he’d done several times before and once again he was told that his name was not on Hezekiah’s visitors’ list. He tried unsuccessfully to persuade the receptionist to call Hezekiah and let him know that he had an out of town visitor, but she refused.
He turned to leave, feeling defeated and fed up. If this was the way Hezekiah wanted things to be, then he was ready to give up and let him have it his way.
He sat in his car on the parking lot outside of the nursing home facility and dialed the number he had saved under Contacts for Hezekiah. It hadn’t worked the past several times he’d tried calling Hezekiah, but maybe, just maybe, it would work now. The phone rang until the usual voice came on. “The number you’ve dialed is not a working number,” the automated robotic- like voice announced. With a heavy sigh and slouched over shoulders, Stiles ended the call, and then called Pastor to let him know that he was headed to his house.
Pastor and Stiles enjoyed each other’s company for most of the afternoon.
“Son, I’m sorry that Hezekiah is behaving this way. I’ve tried seeing him and calling him but after he kept refusing to see me or talk to me, I gave him over to the Lord. Only the good Lord can change his heart.”
“I just can’t figure him out though. Did you know that it’s not just you and me that he won’t see; this dude won’t even see his wife and sons? He’s shut himself off from everybody, everybody except that fellow named George who Fancy said used to be head of Security at Holy Rock until Khalil got rid of him. Fancy said he’s a crook who hides behind his sweet wife’s skirt tails and the fact that he’s a retired police detective.”
“George was quite the character. He was one of a few white members we had at Holy Rock, and the only one on staff. Although he was more of an employee than a member, but he and Hezekiah were awfully close. Just as close as you and Leo.”
“Yeah, from what Fancy told me, that closeness wasn’t the result of a kindred spirit of friendship like me and Leo. We’re like brothers and Hezekiah and George are more like they’re united by the spirit of evil,” Stiles said.
“If that’s the case then they both have to pay for any wrong doing. I don’t go that often to Holy Rock, but Josie tells me that someone called her yesterday after church and told her that one of dem McCoy boys, the one that took over his daddy’s pastorship….”
“That would be the oldest son, Khalil.”
“Well, anyway, she said someone told her that he said some harsh things about his father yesterday during church service. Said Hezekiah has been embezzling money from Holy Rock. Now I don’t know if that’s true, but I guess the boy has done his homework. At least I hope he did before he got up and accused his father of something like that. I tell you, that family is troubled. It wasn’t bad enough that woman did what she did, killed all those innocent people, my daughter and son-in-law in particular but now Hezekiah seems to be on a path of destruction too. Lord, have mercy” Pastor said, resting his head in his hands.
“That was Margaret.”
“Huh?” Pastor said.
“That woman you’re talking about, her name is Margaret. My biological mother.” Stiles prompted Pastor. Another red flag raised when Stiles realized that Pastor had forgotten Margaret’s name.
“Yeah, Margaret. That’s what I said,” Pastor replied.
“Well, like you said, we have to give him over to God. He’s the only one who can handle this, Pastor,” Stiles said just as sadly. “I feel bad for Fancy. God knows what’s going to happen to her. She says she’s definitely thinking seriously about divorcing Hezekiah. I can’t say I blame her, but I wish they could work it out.”
“I know but she has to do what she feels is best for her. Anyway, changing the subject and speaking of Leo, have you seen or talked to him lately? He would call me and Josie every now and then but it’s been a while since we’ve heard from him.”
“He’s good. Matter of fact, I’m going to go hang out with him when I leave here. He’s at Holy Rock just as much as he was when I was pastor. He and Cynthia love that church. When he isn’t there, he’s either at work or spending time with the family. Leo is an all around good guy. I’m glad he’s my best friend.”
“He’s always been a nice young man,” Pastor said. “Never a bad word about him.”
“You’re right. Never a bad word.” Stiles agreed.
Stiles and Leo watched a Grizzlies game in Leo’s man cave at his house. They kicked it, talked smack about the two teams and caught up on what had been going on lately. Not much had changed with Leo. He always had lots to say about his family. He adored his kid and he loved Cynthia to no end.
“Do you think you’ll ever come back to Memphis and to Holy Rock?”
“Me? Naw, man. I don’t see that happening. Now, if God says something different then I’ll have to be obedient, but I don’t feel that anything is about to change. I’m trying to grow the ministry in Houston.”
“I think they need you man. Pastor Khalil is a good kid, and he has a powerful message, but he still needs a mentor, someone to guide him and teach him. You’ll be good at that.”
“I don’t know about coming back to Memphis to mentor some young kid, even though he is my nephew. I’ll do whatever I can to help him, but I don’t have to move back here to do that.”
“I hear you. What do you think about your other nephew?”
“Who? Xavier?”
“Yeah.”
“I think he’s a good kid, too. Smart, driven, but a little on the timid side. He needs to develop a little more backbone. I mean, he had his sights set on attending Xavier University, but he felt pressured into staying here. I mean, if that’s what he really feels that God has directed him to do, then who am I to say otherwise. I just get the feeling that he’d rather not be here.”
“I think it’s because he’s dealing with the fact that he’s gay,” Leo said.
“Gay? Do you really think that he is? I mean, I’ve heard it said but I haven’t paid much attention, if any, to whether he is or he isn’t.”
“I don’t know how you can miss seeing that. But, hey, he is who he is. Long as he stay in his place,” Leo said.
Stiles looked at Leo strangely, and took a swig of his bottled beer. “What do you mean? He hasn’t made a play at you, has he?” Stiles laughed.
“Man, don’t make me go there. Are you serious? No way. He’d be laid out somewhere. All I’m saying is that tongues wag up in Holy Rock and he better watch his back.”
“Yeah, I hear ya. Look at that man. Did you see him miss that free throw? He’s sorry!” Stiles yelled, pointing to the big screen TV.
They continued watching the game, not mentioning anything else about Xavier or Holy Rock.
After the game ended, Stiles texted Fancy. “I’m about to head that way. Need anything?”
“No. I’m good. Front door key under big flower pot on porch. Put key on key ring in foyer when you come inside. Going to bed early. Food in fridge. Help yourself to whatever.”
Fancy had prepared a light supper since Xavier had called and said he wouldn’t be home. She didn’t pry her son with questions, but she did wonder who and where he was spending the night. He was grown, and she tried to remind herself of that, but she still worried about both of her sons.
After reading her text, Stiles was a bit concerned. She had been through so much and he hoped nothing else had happened to make things worse. “Look, man. It was nice seeing you. I’ll try to see you again before I leave.” He gave Leo dap and Leo opened the door for Stiles to leave.
“When are you heading back to Houston?”
“Wednesday afternoon. If I had known Hezekiah was going to pull this same crap again and not see me or anyone else, I could have saved this trip. But then again, I guess I can look at the brighter side. I am getting to know my nephews and Fancy, too. And I did get to see Pastor, Josie and you of course. Man, your little dude is growing like a weed.” Stiles and Leo stood at the front door as Stiles prepared to leave.
“Yeah, tell me about it. Might as well tell you now.”
“Tell me what?”
“Cynthia is pregnant. We’re having another kid.”
“Congratulations, man. That’s great news.”
“Yeah, it is,” Leo said, smiling proudly and thinking of his encounter with Xavier at the same time.
Stiles woke up in the middle of the night hungry as a bear. He opened the door to his bedroom. Clad in his pajama bottoms he went up the empty hallway and down the stairs to the kitchen.
He decided to warm up a bowl of spaghetti Fancy had made. He got a couple pieces of bread, poured himself a glass of tea and sat at the island and ate until his belly was satisfied. He washed out the bowl and utensils and his glass before he went back upstairs.
At the top of the stairs, he thought he heard something. He paused and looked around after not hearing anything. As he approached Fancy’s bedroom door, he paused again because he heard something again. He wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but he heard the sound coming from her room.
She must have company, was his first thought. He smiled at the thought because he wouldn’t blame her if she was seeing someone. It wouldn’t exactly be right because she was still a married woman, but she was young, vibrant, and probably lonely. Hezekiah didn’t make the situation any better by turning his back on her either.
He took another step toward his bedroom, but this time he realized that the sound he heard was that of someone crying. He intently listened just to make sure. He was right. Fancy was crying.
He didn’t know if he should keep to his room or knock on her door to see if he could console her. Her sobs grew a little louder and then he heard a loud thud, like she had thrown something. He heard her saying something, but couldn’t decipher what it was she was saying. Stiles decided to leave her alone and allow her to release some of her pinned up emotions. He couldn’t blame her for how she was probably feeling. He’d been through heartache himself and he didn’t wish his pain on anyone.
Stiles went to his room, closed the door, got on his knees and began to pray for Fancy and for Hezekiah. He prayed for Kareena and for clarity about what God wanted him to do for his own life. He remained on his knees for quite some time making his petitions known to God. A knock on his door halted his prayers.
He listened to be sure that a knock was what he heard. The tap came again. “Stiles,” he heard her say.
He ended his prayer, told the Lord, “thank you,” got up off his knees, and went to the door. He opened it slowly.
Fancy stood on the other side. She looked shrunken and frail. Her eyes were fire red, her hair was disheveled, and tears had left streaks down her face.
“Fancy? What is it?” Stiles asked opening the door all the way up.
“I can’t take anymore,” she broke out and sobbed.
Stiles grabbed her and held her close to him when he saw her almost collapse into the floor. He held her against his bare chest, rubbing her hair gently back and forth.
“Shhh, everything will be all right. Don’t cry. God’s gotcha.”
“I don’t know where I’m going to go,” she said as she continued to lay her head against his smooth chest and her tears poured down his taut belly.
“What do you mean?”
“The mortgage hasn’t been paid in months. Hezekiah got a letter in the mail today. It had a forwarding address on it, but the letter still came to the house. Thank God, He never leaves His children in the dark.”
“What did it say?” Stiles asked, pulling her slightly away from him but holding her by her shoulders like she was a delicate flower.
“The mortgage company is going to start the foreclosure process if the arrearages on the mortgage aren’t paid by the end of the month. I was wondering why none of his mail was coming here, and now I see why. He must have had the mail forwarded. How could he do this? I didn’t even know that he wasn’t paying the mortgage. He always said it came directly from the bank account.”
“That…self-centered…” Stiles mumbled to himself, trying to hold back his disgust toward his brother. “That stroke had to affect his mind. I can’t see him allowing this to happen if he was mentally stable.”
“There’s a lot I don’t understand lately when it comes to Hezekiah and his actions.” Fancy continued crying.
Stiles grabbed her again, pulled her against his chest again, and planted butterfly kisses on the top of her head as he caressed her back in a circular motion. “I’m here,” he said. “I’ll help you, Fancy. I promise I will. Try to get some rest. I know it’s hard, but we’re going to figure this out.” He took her hand and led her to her bedroom. He stood in the doorway and watched her until she got in the bed, and then slowly closed her bedroom door.
Back in his room, he pounded his fist into the palm of his hand over and over again to release some of his anger at Hezekiah. This fool was the one who had disrupted Fancy’s life by cheating on her and now this. It was men like Hezekiah who made it hard for men like Stiles. He paced the floor of the room, thinking about how he could help Fancy. First, she needed to find out whose name was on that mortgage which that would be easy because the letter showed that. He didn’t want to pry too much, but he was curious as to how much in arrears the mortgage actually was. He didn’t have a lot of money, but he still got paid a portion of his salary from Holy Rock and a meager salary from Full of Grace. That wouldn’t begin to cover any portion of what the mortgage probably was on this house.
He had to leave Wednesday, but he already knew that he would be returning as soon as possible. Fancy needed him and as her brother-in-law and the only family he had, he was not about to turn his back on her.
He finally settled down and climbed into the bed, tossing and turning until sleep overtook him.
Fancy cried herself to sleep. She loved Hezekiah but the things he had done and what he was doing now was slowly destroying that love little by little. Maybe Stiles was right; maybe Hezekiah was mentally unstable. Maybe the stroke had affected him mentally because the Hezekiah she knew would never jeopardize her well-being. But then again, the Hezekiah she thought she knew, the one she’d loved since she was a young teen, would never cheat on her and physically abuse her either, but this Hezekiah did all of those things and more.