It was customary for the clergy to take their positions at the exits as the people came through the vestibule. It was Leroy’s way of showing his affection to first-time visitors.
“Powerful sermon, Pastor! I sure did enjoy myself up in there this morning.”
“Yes, thank you my dear mother,” Leroy beamed, clutching the hands of one of his long-standing members.
Abraham took his position opposite Leroy, still attired in his black cassock. He would rather wear a suit and tie, but Leroy’s demands were decisive; no room for debate. His way or the highway was mutually understood by all members of the clergy. Their qualifications didn’t matter to Leroy. He was simply satisfied with them showing up every Sunday to make him look good in the eyes of the people. Abraham pitied Leroy. A man who lived his life by such means would not have many friends.
“Excuse me, Pastor Winder, did you see where Dominic disappeared to?” Shaniece gently rubbed his arm, which was an annoying habit that Abraham hated.
“He took one of the back exits. Check the convention halls.”
Leroy turned toward Abraham’s response. “What’s going on with him?”
Abraham shrugged. “I am empty of reasons, as you are, sir.”
“He’s trying to avoid us,” Shaniece barked, as she gently squeezed the hand of a man in a wheelchair. “We should corner him and rebuke the color out of his skin. He hasn’t any respect for the house of God. What has gotten into him, walking away from that organ in the middle of Pastor Winder’s announcement?”
Abraham wisely kept his mouth shut, knowing Shaniece thrived on drama. However, he too wanted to know what was going on with Dominic. Two nights ago, he and Sanchez had played Chess at his place and both of them appeared to be in good spirits. What had transpired between then and now?
“I will handle this one, Shaniece,” Leroy told her. “No need to bombard the boy.”
“Don’t you dare be soft on him,” she pointed at Leroy. Her stilettos gave her enough height to meet Leroy eye to eye, which added to her commanding presence. “Stamp the fear of God back into him! These young people these days have no understanding of protocol.”
Leroy waved her off. “Yes, thank you, Shaniece. I will have my chance with Dominic.”
“I am not through,” she said, pushing her body in front of Abraham in order to face Leroy. “There is something urgent I need to discuss with you.”
“Now, Shaniece?” Leroy asked.
“Yes, right now.” She pointed to a vacant spot in front of them. “Let’s talk over there; away from everyone.”
Leroy wanted to tell Shaniece to take a flying leap out of his face, but saying no to her was like screaming at a dead dog to get out of the street. “Abraham, prepare the SUV for First Lady Paxton,” Leroy spat. “I will join you all shortly.”
Abraham pulled the black Escalade under the stone bridge that connected the two main towers of the church. The asphalt ran through the middle, spreading out at the rear to a massive parking area. The congregation had several ways to exit to the facility. Through the rearview mirror, he noticed Michelle had chosen the exit farthest away from the main entrance.
Her body swayed with an air of daintiness, gracing the asphalt as if she were a famous catwalk model. She paused when she spotted Shaniece talking with Leroy, which concerned Abraham, because normally, whenever she saw them together, she would walk past without the slightest interference. The woman had class, but Abraham didn’t know what to make of it when she glided past the Escalade.
He opened the door and jumped out. “Lady Paxton, are you okay?”
“Oh, I’m quite fine, my dear Abraham. Wait a minute. This will only take a minute.” Her voice had an excellent timbre, one she could have used as a commentator in another life. Now, she was about to use it on Shaniece. “Leroy,” she called out. “It’s time to leave now. It’s getting late.”
“I’ll be with you shortly, hon.”
When she got close to him, she wrapped an arm around his waist. “Shaniece, do you mind? You’ve kept my husband long enough.”
“Well, he is yours.” Shaniece wanted to blast Michelle with a few choice words, but she smiled, reverently instead. “How can I contend with the woman of the house?”
“You can’t. Just as long as you remember your place, our problems will remain manageable.”
Shaniece had a tendency to smirk when a remark rubbed her the wrong way. She glared at Michelle with those big almond-shaped eyes. “I don’t need to remember anything. You seem to be the one that needs reminding. In case you forgot, I am the assistant pastor of this church–”
“And I am Leroy’s wife,” Michelle spat, putting a lot of attitude in her body language. “I mean, just in case you forgot…”
“You don’t want to exchange words with me, Michelle,” Shaniece warned. “We’ve been down–”
“My husband calls me Michelle. For you, it’s First Lady Paxton…”
Leroy hid his face in embarrassment. He knew if he didn’t get his wife away from Shaniece immediately, he would be wedged in the middle of a nasty catfight and then he would have to do some explaining to the congregation. His wife was not an aggressive woman, but based on her aura today he was forced to rethink his assessment.
“Come on, hon, walk with me to the SUV.” He held her, gently putting her in front of him. “This is not you.”
“I don’t care, Leroy. I’ve told you repeatedly how I feel about this situation.”
“I understand; let’s talk about it on our way home.”
Several minutes into the commute on I-75 heading north, Leroy seized the opportunity to address the impertinence of his wife.
“What was that all about?”
“Do you need an explanation?”
“You have never done that, Michelle.”
“I thought you would have been proud of me.” Michelle looked at Leroy for the first since they’d gotten into the Escalade.
“You were rude.”
“Excuse me?”
The edginess in Michelle’s voice gave Abraham the perfect reason to crank up the radio.
“That’s not necessary, Abraham” Leroy told him. “You’re no stranger to us. Michelle knows she has the freedom to speak her mind.” He fixed his eyes on her, showing her who was in charge. “Please, continue.”
“Who do you think you’re talking to, Leroy? You left your boys at home.”
“That’s what I thought, but that silly stunt you pulled back there left me thinking you’ve lost your respect for me.”
Michelle felt her entire body heating up at Leroy’s response. “You’re kidding me! You felt disrespected because I wanted the attention of my husband! Every Sunday, rain or sunshine, that woman is up in your face. She won’t leave the premises until she pulls you into a corner. And you have the audacity to call me rude? How rude and disrespectful that must look to the people? You and her. Every Sunday! How long you expect me to stand by and allow that woman to do what she wants to do?”
“That’s not the issue. I told you never to approach me when I’m meeting with my clergy!”
“Now Leroy, you stop with that nonsense! I am your wife. I deserve the attention!”
When Leroy leaned forward and snatched his black-rimmed bifocals from his face, Abraham knew the argument was about to hit the roof. He was tempted to pull the SUV to the side of the road and jump out while he had the chance.
“Must you be thwarted from protocol? It is your duty to obey me!”
“What?” Michelle’s jaws dropped open. “Okay. You’re upset, but why are you speaking to me like I’m one of your parishioners?”
Leroy continued. “Do you see the wives of other ministers disrupt them the way you did this afternoon? I was mortified by your behavior. You embarrassed yourself in front of Shaniece.”
“Embarrassed, Leroy? My God, it sickens me how you run on with that woman!” Michelle finally lost her tolerance. “If anything, I should feel embarrassed by the way you let her talk to me – throwing
her position as your assistant in my face. Do you know how much that hurts –hearing her say that? And now you’re defending her? I will not stand for this, Leroy!”
“And I will not stand for your lack of respect and outright disobedience!”
“Abraham, please take the next exit to Bruce B. Downs and let me out at my mother’s house.”
Leroy snickered; annoyed by his wife’s attempt to end the fight when clearly he was just getting started. “Abraham, you will do no such thing. Take me and Lady Paxton directly to our home.”
“For you to finish insulting me? Abraham, don’t you dare listen to him!”
Abraham looked in the rearview mirror at her, unsure of what to do. “Lady Paxton…”
“Now, Abraham! I don’t want to be near this man for another minute!”
Leroy’s voice became stronger. “Do as I say, Abraham. My wife and I will continue this conversation at our home.”
“I am not going home with you.”
“Of course you are.”
“Leroy, you will not get your way this afternoon. I’ll jump out of this vehicle if I have to.”
Leroy laughed in disbelief. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Then, don’t push your luck.”
For the sake of staying on Leroy’s good side, Abraham intentionally drove past the exit to Bruce B. Downs, but he was soon to regret it when he saw Michelle lean away from Leroy and push open the door. She thrust out her right leg so that it dangled about a foot above the road. The sound of a thousand tires suddenly exploded around them. Motorists gave into their anger, and honked their horns violently as they zipped by. Some even offered them a few gestures of profanity.
On reflex, Leroy grabbed Michelle and wrestled her against the seat. “What in God’s name has come over you? You could have gotten yourself killed.”
Abraham pulled the SUV off the Interstate and onto the shoulder. He regulated his breathing and then turned to face Michelle. “Lady Paxton, don’t give me a heart attack at such an early age. I will take the next exit to your mother’s house.”
Chapter Four