Delilah had no idea how close Samson had been to taking her up on her offer. It took him almost fifteen minutes to calm Julia down. Elaine would need some talking to because the argument he had with Julia could have been avoided if Elaine hadn’t told her about Delilah being at his office.
He knew it wasn’t Elaine’s fault that he and Julia were having problems, but she sure added fuel to the already scorching fire. Samson had to think of something soon or he and Julia were not going to make it. He knew his parents would be disappointed, but when he married Julia a little over two weeks ago, he didn’t expect it to be like this.
The only person he trusted talking with was Calvin, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell him about the personal issue that stood between him and his wife. He couldn’t chance Calvin telling Michelle. Michelle would tell God knows who. His mom knew, and that was embarrassing enough.
He grabbed his prescription and headed home. He smelled the aroma of food when he entered the house. “Julia, I’m home,” he yelled.
“I’m in the kitchen,” she replied.
He slipped a pill in his pocket and threw the prescription in his briefcase. He headed to the kitchen. When he bent down to kiss his wife, Julia turned her head, so his lips landed on her cheek instead of her lips.
“What’s for dinner?” he asked.
“A roast and baked potatoes.” She picked up an oven mitt and opened the stove. The steam from the roast filled the area around the stove.
“Smells good.”
“Samson, there’s something I want to discuss with you over dinner.”
“Sure,” he said as he left to get washed up. He wished she would have just come out and said what she wanted instead of making him wait. That was his biggest pet peeve with women. He made it a point when counseling others to let women know that men preferred one of two things: either come out and tell the man what you want, or don’t say anything and only talk when you’re ready to discuss the issue. Otherwise, it’s a moot point as far as the average man is concerned.
Silverware hitting the plates was the only noise heard in the dining room. Samson didn’t know what to say to Julia, so he waited for her to initiate the conversation. He bit into the last bite of food on his plate. “I want to quit my job,” Julia blurted out.
Samson remained quiet. Julia repeated herself. He’d heard her the first time. “Why?” he finally asked.
“So I can have more time for your ministry. I was thinking there are some things that I can do. There’s an available office at the church, and we can drive in together each day.”
Samson felt there was more behind her wanting to quit her job. “Baby, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Well, I’ve prayed about it, and God said I should quit and give Him more of my time.”
“So why are you just now telling me this?”
“Because we haven’t been talking.”
Samson sneered. “It’s not because I haven’t tried. It would have taken you only a few minutes to discuss this with me.”
“Get over it. I’m discussing it with you now.”
“So when is your last day?”
“That’s just it. I haven’t quit yet. I’m just thinking about it.”
“Julia, I’m going to pray about it. When I get an answer, I’ll let you know.”
Julia seemed to calm down. “That’s all I want you to do, honey. See, with us being together more, that may help us in other areas.”
She gathered up their empty plates and took them to the kitchen. Samson, full and confused about how to handle Julia’s request, hung his head and prayed. The carnal man wanted her to continue to work. With everything so fickle, the more money they had coming into the household, the better. His salary from Peaceful Rest was enough to take care of both of them, but he was by no means one of the wealthiest preachers in the area.
People assumed with his TV ministry, he would be. What they didn’t realize was that it took money to broadcast every week, and if sponsors were low, the church had to pay the difference. There had been several times he forfeited his salary so that the Word could be preached to the masses.
Julia came and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the head. “I love you. I really do. I’m sorry I’ve been such a you-know-what lately.”
“I’m sorry too. I’ve been taking out my frustrations on you.”
“Well, that’s in the past. Let’s promise we’ll both do better, okay?”
“Deal,” Samson said. By now, he had Julia sitting in his lap. They kissed. Still no reaction and more disappointment for Samson.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and change into something sexy,” he suggested.
Julia smiled. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll be waiting.” Julia kissed him and twisted out of the room.
When Julia was out of eyesight, Samson retrieved the pill from the bottle he had hidden in his pocket. Before he could take it, his cell phone rang. “Delilah, I’m at home now. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow?”
Delilah wailed from the other end of the phone. “I don’t know what I’ll do, Samson. All the memories just came flooding back.”
“Let’s pray.” Samson prayed, hoping Julia wouldn’t walk in at this time.
Delilah responded from the other end. “Thanks for the prayer, but I need to see you.”
“I can’t,” Samson insisted.
“If you don’t come, I don’t know what I’ll do,” Delilah cried from the other end of the phone.
Samson didn’t want Delilah to do something crazy. Knowing he would probably live to regret it, he responded, “Okay. I’ll be there. Don’t do anything irrational.”
“Julia,” he called. Samson knew Julia was not going to be happy if he didn’t come to the bedroom and deliver.
“Come here, big boy,” Julia said, as she slipped from under the covers wearing sheer, pink-laced lingerie.
Samson moved closer. “Baby, that was a church member. They are having suicidal thoughts. I have to go stop them from doing anything crazy.”
Julia plopped down on the bed. “Are we ever going to do it?”
“Yes, dear, but you know the church is important to me.”
She sighed. “Okay.” She got out of bed. “Let me get dressed, and I’ll go with you.”
“No, baby, I want you well rested. It shouldn’t take me long,” Samson said.
“But you don’t know that. You said the person was suicidal.”
“I’ve handled plenty of situations like this. Sometimes they only want to know someone cares.”
She picked up the sheer robe and slipped it on. “Okay, well, if you need me, call me.”
“I will, sweetheart. I’ll be back soon.” Samson kissed her on the lips.
He hated lying to Julia, but she would never understand this need for him to comfort Delilah. How could she when he didn’t seem to understand it himself?