The grocery store was crowded. It seemed others had the same idea as Delilah. She got out early with hopes of beating the Saturday shopping crowd. Delilah couldn’t decide whether to get apple juice or orange juice. Although she made a good salary working for William and had the money he had given her for his special assignment, Delilah was a frugal shopper.
“I can’t believe I ran into you,” Kelly said.
Delilah looked up in her direction. Being coy, Delilah responded, “Hi, Mrs. Judges.”
Kelly lashed out at Delilah. “Don’t speak to me, you home wrecker.”
A few of the people standing near looked in their direction.
In a calm and controlled voice, Delilah said, “Ma’am, maybe we need to table this conversation for later.” Delilah looked around, and some of the onlookers looked away.
Kelly moved her shopping cart beside Delilah’s. “My son swears there’s nothing going on between the two of you, but I’m a mother. I know when something’s not right. You stay away from him, or you’ll have me to deal with.”
Delilah had to hand it to the petite woman—she had spunk. If she wasn’t Samson’s mother, however, she would be lying on the floor of the grocery store. Delilah liked to remain low-key, so she would not be a participant in Kelly Judges’ madness. She walked away.
Kelly yelled, “Don’t walk away from me. If you can do the dirt, take it like a woman.”
Delilah left her buggy and walked near Kelly. “For a former first lady, you’re acting like a woman with no class. I suggest you take your issues home to your husband or Samson because they are no concern of mine. Have a good day.”
Delilah turned around and walked to her shopping cart. She could hear Kelly mumbling something. She cut her shopping trip short and checked out with the groceries she already had in her basket.
As soon as she got in her car, Delilah dialed Samson’s cell phone number. “You need to check your mama before I do,” she said when he answered. “She just cornered me in the grocery store trying to put all of your business out in the streets.”
“Say what?” Samson responded.
Delilah relayed what happened. “I didn’t tell her anything. I tried to reason with her, but your mama is out of control.”
“I’m glad you told me,” Samson sighed. “I’ll call her later.”
“Oh, I don’t get a thank-you for keeping your little secret. I’m feeling so unappreciated these days.”
“Thank you, okay? Is that good enough for you?” he snapped.
“No need for an attitude. It’s not my fault your mama is all up in your business. But you need to handle her before I do.”
“Don’t threaten my mama.”
“Chill out. I wouldn’t touch your mama. I’m saying, she’s going around asking all these questions. She might get an answer she might not want to hear.”
“We’ve talked about this. You agreed to keep what goes on between us between us.” Samson’s voice cracked.
“Mama’s boy, haven’t you heard a word I said? Your mama is the one putting your business out in the streets. Handle her, and your business will stay a secret; otherwise don’t be surprised if everyone finds out about us.” Delilah hung up the phone without waiting on Samson to respond.
Delilah weaved in and out of traffic on Youree Drive. She had only a few bags of groceries, so it didn’t take her long to unload them once she got home.
During her final trip to the car, one of her male neighbors asked, “Hey, who is that guy in the black SUV that be coming through? He looks familiar.”
“Mr. George, you sure are nosy.”
“You keep turning a brother down, so I just wanted to know who my competition is.”
Delilah laughed. Mr. George was old enough to be her grandfather. “Mr. George, you need to stop.”
“Be careful. Some of these men are only out for one thing. Don’t let him break your heart.”
Too late. My heart is breaking every day because he’s married to another woman. “I’ll be all right. But thanks for looking out.” Delilah smiled as she took the last bag into the house. Mr. George had been one of the first people to welcome her into the neighborhood. She mostly kept to herself, but on rare occasions she would stop and talk with him to find out the neighborhood gossip.
She thought about Kelly as she unpacked her groceries. She had some nerve stepping to her that way. Delilah was tired of women judging her because of her beauty. Kelly’s disrespectful actions mirrored that of some of the other women she had encountered lately at church. Someone at church had been spreading rumors about her, and she had a feeling she knew who it was, and it was high time she did something about it.
Delilah changed clothes and got comfortable on her couch. She retrieved the phone from the coffee table and dialed a number. “Is this Elaine?” Delilah asked when someone picked up.
“Speaking. Who is this?”
“Your worst nightmare if you don’t keep my name out of your mouth.”
“Who is this?”
“The woman you can’t seem to stop talking about. Ms. Delilah to you.”
“I know exactly who you are. I just wanted to see if you were bold enough to tell me.”
“Unlike you, I don’t have to go behind people’s backs and talk about them. Samson needs to watch who he has working for him.”
“Now you’re stepping into my business.”
“The moment you start putting my name in your mouth, you put me in your business.”
“I don’t have to stay on the phone and listen to this.”
“Then hang up. I just wanted you to know that I knew what you were up to. You probably want Samson for yourself, so that’s why you’re trying to cause confusion where there is none.”
“I hope Samson wakes up and sees you for the woman you are,” Elaine said.
“He needs to wake up and see what kind of person he has working for him. If you were so loyal, there would be no way you would be spreading false rumors about him.”
“I praise Samson; you on the other hand are nothing but a piece of trash. I hope you leave Peaceful Rest and go back to the hole you crawled out from.”
“Well, keep hoping because I’m not going anywhere.” Delilah hung the phone up, saying to herself, “And that’s a promise.”