Lady preacher, p.10
Lady Preacher, page 10
“I saw pictures. It looked pretty bad. She doesn’t want to do anything other than what the district attorney wants to do. I talked with her about a civil case, but you know her. She refused. Max, do you think you really want to get involved with a woman who has an ex like this? You know this can be a dangerous situation.”
“I love her. I’m already involved. Because of me, she may be losing her church today. I don’t know how to help her. I have asked her to let me help, and she refuses. I don’t know what to do.”
“You are acting like someone who doesn’t know God. If you think Shante is your wife, then put your faith on it. Call those things that be not as though they were. Where is your faith?” Max sat silently looking at Gary. He had heard this before from Bishop. He knew the Holy Spirit was speaking through Gary.
“If you begin to pray and call that thing forth, God will give you direction and let you know which path to choose. He will let you know how to minister to her in a way that will draw her into a closer relationship with you and God. He will heal her heart and get rid of the ghosts of her past. You’ve heard this before. Why have you given up?”
“I haven’t given up. I don’t want to push her. If I push her too hard, she may leave. That would really hurt the boys.”
“And you.”
“Yes, and me. It’s safer to keep her close rather than push her away. I have a much better chance with her near.”
“Okay, man. Seems like you’ve thought about this. Don’t give up. If you need someone to talk to, you know you can call me,” Gary said, patting Max on the shoulder. “Come on, it’s no fun beating you like this. Let’s go get something to eat.”
Chapter 12
Shante made her way through the hallway of the community center where the Mecklenberg Ministerial Alliance was meeting. It had been a month since the board meeting, and she was now feeling confident enough to participate in other ministerial activities. By now, she thought surely something or someone else had become the lead story on the gossip circuit.
As she walked past a few ministers, she greeted them cordially. She looked around and spotted Bishop Thompson at the snack table. He was wearing a bright red suit with red patent-leather shoes. He reminded her of a black Santa. She almost looked around the room for the Christmas tree. She tried hard to keep from laughing. Bishop was the only one she knew who had such a colorful wardrobe. She walked over and greeted him.
“Hello, Bishop,” she said, hugging him, her arms barely reaching around him.
“Hi, Shante, how are you this evening?”
“I’m blessed. I thought I wasn’t going to make it to the meeting tonight. There was so much going on at the church today. One of my sessions went way over time. I had to push it to get here, but I made it. How are you and Mother?”
“She’s getting better every day. She was so happy to see you last week. You know she worries about you.”
“Tell her I’m well, considering everything that’s going on now.”
“I know you’re still not worried about all that talk. You know it’s going to die down. Your church leaders showed you they have confidence in you. That is all you have to think about.”
“I know, Bishop. I haven’t been to one of these meeting since all this began. I didn’t want to distract from the purpose of this organization.”
“Distract? You’re not a distraction. Other things are, other people are, but you aren’t. Don’t let talk take away your confidence. If you let that happen, you’ll give the devil a foothold in your life. Remember, you are a winner. You already have the victory.”
Bishop motioned for another minister to join them, but then Shante saw Gwen and Ron entering the room. She relaxed as soon as she saw them. She was grateful they were pastors, and glad they had decided to come to the meeting tonight. She took leave of Bishop and went to meet them.
“Hey Gwen, Ron,” she said, hugging both of them. “I’m surprised you made it to the meeting, Tay,” Gwen said.
“Leave her alone. Hey, Tay, how are you tonight?” Ron asked.
“Why? I’m fine. Yeah, Gwen, leave me alone. You know I have been through it, and I have issues,” she said, pretending she was crying and wiping an imaginary tear from her eye.
“Cut it out, Tay, before someone thinks you’re really crying and tries to deliver you from some demons,” Gwen said, laughing.
“There’s Max. I’m leaving you two alone,” Ron said, walking away.
“Tay, I’m glad you’re here tonight. Are you feeling better now that it looks like everything is over?”
“You think it’s over. It still feels like everyone is looking at me. You see that lady over there in the black ruffled skirt?” Shante motioned with a slight nod towards two women standing near a wall. “She’s been staring at me since I came in. It’s real uncomfortable.”
“Her? That’s Minister Hall. Girl, she can’t see you. She’s not wearing her glasses; without them, she can’t see a thing. You don’t have to worry about her, or anyone else. Get over it. You are yesterday’s news. There are already rumors about someone else. Forget about all that. Look at all these people in here. No one is paying you any attention.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. Come on, girl, let’s find a seat,” Gwen said, taking Shante by the arm.
Ron went across the room filled with neatly lined chairs to greet Max, who was standing against the back wall waiting for the meeting to start leafing through his Bible, oblivious to people entering the room.
“Hey, Max. How are you doing?” Ron asked, extending his hand.
“Man, I’m blessed.”
“Looks like a lot of people are going to be here tonight. Shante is here. Have you seen her?” Ron asked.
“Shante’s here? Where?” Max looked around but didn’t see her.
“She’s somewhere in here with Gwen. I left those two alone to talk about whatever they talk about. I didn’t want to be involved. So how is everything going at the church? I see your family life center is almost finished.”
“It should be completed by the end of the summer. I’ll be glad when it is. We’re planning some great opening events. Did you get a call about speaking one night during the revival?”
“Yeah, I got it. You know I’ll be there. How are you doing, Max? The last time we talked you wanted to hurt Kevin. I hope he doesn’t show up here.”
“I don’t think he will. It’s funny. All the stuff he has done, you never hear anything about him, but it seems like everyone has something to say about Shante. It’s a shame. We ought to be focused on the Gospel and the healing and deliverance of others. Instead, we’re focused on trash. Ron, don’t get me started. I know all the pressure Shante is going through right now, and I don’t know how to help her. Even if I did, I don’t think she would let me. I’m glad she came here tonight. It shows progress. Where is she?” Max asked again.
“She’s over there,” Ron said, pointing at Gwen and Shante.
“I won’t go over there. I don’t want to give anyone any more ammunition. She’s still not completely off the hook at her church, but things are getting better for her.”
Ron left when Gwen motioned him to come over. Meanwhile, Max kept a steady eye on Shante, hoping she would sense his gaze and turn around.
“Hey, doc, how you doing, man?” a man asked, shaking Max’s hand.
“I’m doing good, Marion. How are you?”
“Man, I’m blessed, but not as blessed as you. I saw that new family life center at your church. It looks awesome. You know, I’ve been hearing a lot of good things about you and your ministry. I want you to come and preach at my church sometime. I’ll let you know.”
Max paid scant attention to the man, so focused was he on Shante. Gwen saw him staring and poked Shante gesturing toward Max. Shante turned and tried to discreetly wave at him. Marion finally realized Max had tuned him out. He saw where he was looking and saw Shante wave. “That Dogan, she’s a good one, isn’t she? How is she? Everybody has been trying to get on that. I heard you’ve been hitting that hard. You think I can get in on it?” Marion asked in a whisper.
Max’s reaction was swift and furious as his anger got the better of him. He turned and grabbed Marion by his lapels and slammed him against the wall. “Don’t you ever talk about her that way again. Man, I will hurt you,” Max fumed.
“Son, no,” Bishop called out, waddling across the room.
“Max, don’t,” Shante beseeched, in a loud, frantic voice.
Ron ran to the back of the room and touched Max’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. All talking ceased, and everyone was looking at the men against the wall. “Max, let him go. Not here. He’s not worth it,” Ron said calmly.
Max released Marion and glared at him, the veins in his neck pulsating with anger. Marion straightened his jacket. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was like that,” he said, trying to get away as fast as he could.
Shante jumped up and ran out the door. Gwen followed her, while Ron continued trying to calm Max down. He saw people focused on him and instantly regretted what he had done: He had added fuel to the gossip and rumors that could hurt Shante even more. He rushed out and got to the parking lot just as she was pulling out of her space.
“Shante, wait. I’m sorry,” Max called out, running toward her car.
“Leave her alone. I’ll go talk to her,” Gwen told Max.
“I didn’t mean to. . . . What he said . . . it made me so angry. I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just reacted. I shouldn’t have done that. How am I ever going to make that up to her? I know she won’t talk to me now,” Max said, punching the air.
“You’re going to defend the woman you love. It’s what’s expected of you. She’ll realize that. Let Gwen talk to her,” Ron said, trying to comfort him. “She’ll get her to understand that. Come on, you’ve got to take me home. We’ll talk along the way. It’ll be all right, you’ll see.” d
“God, when will this mess end?” Shante asked, praying aloud as she drove. She took the ramp onto the Billy Graham Parkway. She wanted to get as far away from Charlotte as she could. Her phone rang and she reached over and turned it off. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone but God. She knew He would give her the answers she needed. God would guide her through this process. It’s only a process. I’ll get through this with your help, God. Let me learn the lessons I need to learn. Help me to grow in you. Teach me your ways, God. Show me your path. Lead me in the right direction.
She had been driving about two hours before realizing she had just been circling the city. She expected Gwen and Max would try to contact her. She didn’t want to go home. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. She only wanted to pray. She drove onto Interstate 85 toward Gastonia, checked into a motel along the highway, and went into the room to pray. She could feel the presence of the Lord. She began to weep and question God about why she was going through all this tribulation. She reflected on her own actions, trying to determine if she had done anything to bring trouble into her life. She wanted God to show her what she was doing wrong so she could correct it. She wanted to know if she was walking in disobedience. So she decided to stay in the motel a couple of days to fast and pray for direction in her life. She called Gail and told her to cancel her appointments for the next two days. Then she went into the bathroom and took a shower.
Afterward, she knelt on the edge of the bed and began to pray. She had an overwhelming urge to call Max. She didn’t want to talk with him. She tried to continue praying, but she couldn’t focus.
“God, I don’t want to talk with him. I only want to talk with you,” Shante prayed, but the urge to call Max would not go away.
* * *
Pacing the floor in his bedroom, Max was wracked with guilt for having lost control at the meeting. He had been looking for Shante all evening, going to her house several times. But he could not go again, because it was late and the boys were in bed. He asked God to have Shante call him. The door to his bedroom opened.
“Dad, I can’t sleep,” Joshua said, rubbing his eyes.
“Come over here.” Max picked up his son and sat in a chair near the window and began rocking.
“What’s wrong with Mama Tay?”
Surprised by the question, Max nonetheless answered, “Nothing’s wrong with her.”
“I heard you praying for her, and I thought something happened to her.”
“Nothing has happened to her. I pray for her all the time. You’ve heard me. Sometimes we pray together.”
“Yeah, but this time, you scared me. Dad, I’m scared. Can we call her?” Josh said, crying.
“Josh, it’s late. We’ll call her in the morning.” “No, Dad, let’s call her now,” Josh said.
Max hesitated; it was almost one-thirty in the morning. He prayed, God, please let Shante call. When the phone rang, Josh jumped up and ran to get it. “Mama Tay!” he squealed.
After talking for a few minutes, Josh handed the phone to Max.
“Shante, I need to talk to you. Will you hold on while I walk Josh to his bed?”
“I can do it myself,” Josh said, heading out the door.
Max watched Josh walk down the hallway to his bedroom and then closed the door. “Shante, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause a scene tonight. I just reacted. I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“Max, it’s okay. I only called to let you know I’m fine. I left Charlotte. I’m in a hotel. I need to fast and pray. There must be something I’m doing wrong. I have to talk with God.”
“It’s not about you. You’re not doing anything wrong. Where are you?”
“Something’s happening. I don’t know what it is. I’ve got to pray. I’ll be gone for a couple of days. I already called Gail and told her to cancel my appointments. I wanted you to know that I’m all right. I understand why you did what you did tonight. I appreciate your being my friend. I wanted to let you know. I’ll call you in a couple of days. I’ve got to go.”
“Wait, Shante. Don’t hang up. I didn’t mean to hurt you. You’ve already gone through enough.”
“I know, Max.”
“I love you. Can I meet you tomorrow so we can pray about this thing together?”
“Josh said you were praying for me. That’s all you need to do. Thank you, Max. I’ve got to go.”
“Shante,” Max cried out as she hung up. Max tried to call back but she had already turned her phone off. He knelt at his bed and began to pray. Sleep eluded him. He lay awake wondering if Shante would ever trust him, wondering if he would ever marry her.
Chapter 13
“Mother, it’s me, Shante. I brought you and Bishop some food,” Shante called out as she entered Bishop and Mother Thompson’s roomy old house, using the key she still had from when she stayed with them. Shante had met them at the women’s shelter where she was staying after fleeing to Charlotte. Her face was bruised and she was still recovering from Kevin’s final beating. They had offered to help her get back on her feet, and she and twoyear-old Camille moved in with them. The house had not changed since their stay there. She carried a large box of food through the dining room and into the kitchen and placed it on the table in the middle of the room.
“Hello, Shante, how are you today?” Mother Thompson asked, hugging her.
“Mother, I’m fine. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing so much better now. It’s so good to see you. What are you doing here?” the small, frail-looking woman inquired.
“I thought I would cook dinner for you and Bishop today,” Shante said. It had been almost a week since the ministerial meeting but she was still stressed out, so she had decided to cook. She figured Bishop and Mother could use some home cooking, since Mother was still recovering from breast-cancer surgery.
“Looks like you cooked for the whole neighborhood. Is that your peach cobbler I smell?”
“Yeah. I drove down to South Carolina to an orchard and picked the peaches myself. You know, they’re in season now. Only the freshest ingredients for my . . .”
“Get-a-husband peach cobbler,” Mother said, finishing for her and smiling.
“Yes, my get-a-husband peach cobbler,” she replied.
“Child, Oscar don’t need no mo’ food that’s gonna make him fatter. He’s already rolling around the neighborhood now. I try to tell that man to watch what he eats, and he does; he watches it go into his mouth,” Mother said, peering into the box.
“Mother, I made you smothered chicken. I know you like that.”
“Thank you, baby. Come on in the living room. Let’s sit a spell.”
The living room was filled with pictures of family and friends. An oversized wooden fork and spoon were in the corner beside the fireplace. A picture of Martin Luther King, Jr., flanked by the Kennedy brothers, hung on the opposite wall. The pictures must have been there for forty years. Shante sat on the well-worn but still elegant European-styled sofa.
“Where are my manners? Shante, you brought the food; the least I can do is offer you something to drink,” Mother said, going back to the kitchen.
“Mother, I brought sweet tea. It’s in the box.”
A large wooden table in front of the sofa was covered with pictures under a piece of glass. Shante had seen them a thousand times, but she still enjoyed looking at old school pictures of friends and family, as well as of church events. Looking at a picture of her and Camille taken shortly after they had arrived in Charlotte, she could see how far she had come. There was sadness in her eyes and brightness in Camille’s, who had been too young to understand what was going on; life was still an adventure to her. As usual, Camille had a big smile, which made Shante happy. She was thankful to have met Bishop and Mother. It was the turning point in her life.
“I’ve got to get a new picture of the two of you to put in there,” Mother said, handing Shante a glass of tea.
“Mother, you have other pictures of us, like that one over there,” Shante said, pointing to a picture on the mantel. It was a picture taken at Camille’s high school graduation. They looked so happy.
