Samson remained seated. He didn’t want Delilah to see the effect she had on him. If Julia ever found out, she would be devastated. The last thing Samson wanted to do was commit adultery in his heart. Once his office door was closed, he picked up his Bible, and the pages automatically flipped open to Proverbs chapter six, verse twenty-five: “Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.”
He knew in his heart this was a sign from God. “Lord, I love my wife. I want to build a life with my wife.”
Samson continued to read more scriptures. As he read, his sermon for the following week came to him. He jotted down some notes. Time had crept by. The phone ringing jolted him out of his deep thoughts of meditation.
“What time are you coming home?” Julia asked from the other end of his cell phone.
“Baby, I’m sorry. I started reading and praying. Time just got away from me.”
He couldn’t tell if Julia was upset from her tone. “I’m almost through cooking. It should be ready by the time you get here.”
“Give me at least thirty minutes. I’m almost through working on my sermon.” They ended their call, and Samson typed up some more notes on his computer before logging off. He locked up his office and the church and jumped in his SUV.
Traffic stood still on I-49. He called Julia to alert her. This time there was no mistaking what mood she was in.
“Is this something I should expect every night?” she snapped.
“Julia, you know better than that. I got lost in time, that’s all.”
“I’ll have to warm the food up when you get here.”
Samson didn’t want to argue. He said good-bye and discontinued the call. He listened to a gospel CD as he weaved in and out of traffic. When he finally made it home, Julia greeted him at the door with a hug and kiss. “Sorry about earlier,” she apologized. “I’ve had time to cool off, and I don’t want to argue.”
“All’s forgiven,” Samson responded.
“Go get washed up, and I’ll bring the food to the table.”
Being married to Julia was definitely different from dating her. Her demeanor had changed. He tried to understand her frustrations, but what she didn’t take into consideration was that not being able to consummate their relationship also affected him. He pulled the printout he had about Viagra out of his briefcase. He laughed out loud. He was only thirty years old and never thought he would need a pill to help him perform. If his friends only knew. He threw the printout back in his briefcase.
The aroma of the food filled the air when he entered the dining room. Julia filled his plate with food and waited for him to take her hand in his to say grace. The conversation over dinner reminded him of a bad date. Julia’s recounting the conversations she had with his mother earlier that day bored him. Maybe when Julia went back to work as plant manager she would have something more exciting to talk about.
“The food was good,” Samson said.
“Thanks,” Julia responded.
Samson went to his study while Julia cleared the dinner table and went to wash dishes. He retrieved his medical insurance information. He wrote down the information he needed so he could make a doctor’s appointment the following day.
He leaned back in his chair and placed his legs on top of the desk. He owed his father a call. He picked up the phone and dialed his father’s number. Regis answered on the third ring.
“Kelly tells me she feels something isn’t right with you and Julia. Y’all having problems already son,” Regis had asked after their greeting.
Samson closed his eyes. “We’re okay. Trying to get adjusted. I forgot to thank you for helping to move her stuff in while we were gone.” Samson hoped it would steer the conversation in another direction.
“That’s what family’s for. Now back to you and Julia. You know I do have a little experience under my belt when it comes to women.” Regis chuckled.
Samson recalled hearing Regis and some of his friends brag about their younger days. Regis claimed to have calmed down when he met and married Samson’s mother. Samson trembled. It sickened him to even think about his parents being intimate. He wouldn’t dare talk to his father about the real problem within his and Julia’s relationship. “We’ll be all right, but thanks for your concern.”
“Kelly wants to speak with you.”
“Tell her I’ll call her back,” Samson said.
“Too late. She’s on the phone,” Regis responded.
His mother couldn’t see him, but he automatically removed his feet from the desk and sat up. “Hi, Mom.”
“You need to take care of your wife soon, son,” Kelly stated.
“Excuse me?” Samson said in a high-pitched voice.
“Don’t take that tone with me. You’re not too old for me to knock you down a peg or two.”
“What did Julia tell you?”
“Julia didn’t tell me anything. I overheard her talking on the phone to one of her friends when she was at our house. You know there’s medicine for your problem.”
Samson, infuriated, held back his temper. “Look, Mom. I’ve heard enough. I’ve got to go.”
“Remember what I said. Get you some medicine.”
“I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but this is an issue between me and my wife.”
“Well, if you want to keep your wife happy, you better get you some help.”
“Good night, Mama.” Samson slammed the phone down on the desk.
Steam seeped through Samson’s pours. He paced the floor a few times. “One, two, three…” he counted out loud. He did his best to calm down as he went in search of Julia.
Samson stood in the doorway and watched Julia for a few minutes. Julia, oblivious to Samson’s mood, moved her head up and down as she listened to the music coming from her headphones.
Samson walked up to her and snatched them from her ears.
“Hey, what’s your problem?” Julia asked.
“I can’t believe you,” Samson yelled.
Julia, used to seeing a calm and mellow Samson, blinked a few times. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Lying will only get you in deeper.” Samson stood with folded arms. “Why were you discussing our bedroom issue with your friend and at my mom’s of all places?”
“So what if your mom heard me talking to Cookie. She’s a woman. She’s got needs too.”
“I didn’t know I married a sex fiend.”
“I didn’t know I married a hypocrite either.”
The evening went nothing like Samson had planned. For now they were at a standstill. He’s a preacher. He shouldn’t be having these types of problems. Two people were in love, but sex stood in the way of them being happy.
While in bed that night, Julia wouldn’t allow him to touch her. She moved her body close to the edge of her side of the bed. Samson, frustrated, lay on his back and closed his eyes. He went to sleep wondering if marrying Julia was a good idea.