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  “I understand. I only wish those folks did,” she said, pointing once again to the stack. She placed the papers back inside the folder. “Changing the subject, Brent and I want to thank you again for agreeing to perform our marriage ceremony and keeping it quiet. I sort of felt bad even asking you, with all that you have going on these days.”

  “Like I told Brent, it will be my pleasure. Truthfully, I admire the two of you for taking a vow to keep yourselves until marriage. And when you saw you possibly weren’t going to be able to honor that commitment, instead of giving in to the temptation, you decided to take steps to still do things God’s way. Now, that’s real integrity there.”

  “Even if it means having a secret ceremony,” Angel said, nodding, “before the big one?” She smiled. “Brent is so sweet. This was his idea. He knows how much work I’ve put into planning our wedding. And having a reception at Ross Bridge is neither easy nor cheap. We have already invited a lot of people, and they’re so excited about attending our wedding. We didn’t want to cancel the whole thing and end up disappointing everybody.”

  “Oh, I understand,” Landris said. “You don’t have to explain things. Believe me, it’s an honor to do this. You and Brent are special to both me and Johnnie Mae. I just hate that Johnnie Mae won’t be able to attend the actual ceremony. But she will be able to come to the ceremony in October, along with our new baby.” Saying that caused him to grin.

  Angel said good-bye and left. Landris opened up the folder, picked up the papers, and scanned each piece again. Picking up the phone, he touch-toned a phone number.

  “Jean? This is Pastor Landris. If you have a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you about this letter you sent certified to Johnnie Mae. You and I spoke briefly last week, but perhaps I failed to make clear the situation we’re dealing with down here.”

  “Pastor Landris, you’ve stated your case perfectly. Nevertheless, our family would prefer our late brother’s daughter be with someone in his family, since it appears Johnnie Mae won’t be capable of taking care of her for a while.”

  “I assure you, Princess Rose is being well taken care of, even with Johnnie Mae in the hospital. I take her to see her mother every day, and both of them look forward to that. As I told you before, Johnnie Mae doesn’t need stress right now. She’s in a rather fragile state at a critical point in her pregnancy.” He sighed audibly. “May I be frank with you?”

  “By all means,” Jean said.

  “I really would prefer not to dump any of this in Johnnie Mae’s lap right now. I understand you’d like to see your niece, and I’m sure once we’re past this crucial point and the baby is here, something can be arranged.” He picked up his Mont Blanc pen and began to twirl it between his fingers like it was a miniature baton. “You understand?”

  “Well, Pastor Landris. Let me be frank with you. I have another sister who is not as nice or considerate as I am attempting to be. She lives there in Birmingham, and she doesn’t have a problem with going to that hospital and laying it all out on the table for Johnnie Mae. Honestly, this sister can’t take care of Princess Rose, which is why I stepped up. But Pastor Landris, this is our niece we’re talking about—my brother’s only child. Frankly, she’s not your biological daughter. And although I’m sure you’re a decent man, none of us are comfortable knowing our brother’s child is being left totally alone in a house with just you, while Johnnie Mae is in the hospital for who knows how long.”

  Landris had a scowl on his face. “Excuse me, but what exactly are you trying to imply?”

  “I’m not trying to imply anything. All I’m saying is Johnnie Mae could be in the hospital for—what? Another two . . . three months? We don’t want any mess. Our family just believes it will be best for all concerned if Princess Rose is staying with someone else other than alone with a man who is not her real father but merely a stepfather.”

  “Step or not, I am a real father to her. So are you saying that if one of Johnnie Mae’s sisters took Princess Rose while she’s in the hospital, you’d not be pursuing this?”

  “I don’t know if we can trust that, either. Let me level with you. Even though I have the means to take Princess Rose, I’m really not that excited about having to care for a child, any child, at this point in my life. I have a very active career and social life. But someone has to protect that child. It looks like I’ll have to sacrifice and be the one.”

  She paused and then continued. “Now, either you can let Johnnie Mae know what I’m proposing, at a great sacrifice to myself, mind you, or we’ll figure out another way to let her know. And Pastor Landris, I assure you we’re not trying to add stress to anyone, but our family is willing to take this as far as we have to. If you think about it, this could actually be a blessing in disguise. If I have Princess Rose, then that gives you more time to concentrate on your wife and the baby you both are fighting so desperately for. So my deal to you is this. I’ll give you until tomorrow evening to get back with me with your and Johnnie Mae’s decision. After that, I take the next step. Good-bye.” She hung up.

  Landris stared at the phone, then hung it up. Closing his eyes, he began to pray.

  Chapter 25

  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  Job 1:16

  “Pastor Landris,” Sherry said as she stuck her head into his office. “I have a surprise for you.” She opened the mahogany wooden door wide.

  A golden-haired woman dressed in a royal blue pantsuit waltzed in. “Well, hello there, darling.”

  “Mom, what are you doing here?” Landris asked. He stood and hurried to greet her.

  “I came to see about you . . . all of you,” Virginia LeBoeuf said. She hugged her son tight as he kissed her cheek. “How is Johnnie Mae?” she asked. “And the baby?”

  “So far, so good. Our confession is all is well. But why didn’t you tell me you were flying in today? I could have picked you up from the airport.”

  She waved him away with her hand and gracefully sat in the chair that faced his desk. “Nonsense. You didn’t need to. You have enough on your plate as it is.”

  He sat in the chair next to her. “How did you get here? Did Thomas bring you?”

  She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. Patting his hand, she smiled. “No, Thomas didn’t bring me. But I did stop by to see him at the halfway house on my way here. I can only assume, with all that’s going on with you, you haven’t seen him lately.”

  “No, I haven’t seen him in a couple of weeks. But I did call him just yesterday. It was a brief conversation. I quickly picked up that he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say he wasn’t in the mood to talk to me. So what prompted you to make that statement? Am I missing something?”

  She set her Louis Vuitton purse on his desk. “Your brother has completely quit taking his medication.”

  “What makes you think that?”

  “A mother knows. Besides, I asked him point-blank, and he admitted it. He claims he’s doing so much better now, he feels it’s unnecessary for him to keep having to take it. I tried to explain to him that his medicine is not a cure by any means, but a tool to help him manage his bipolar disorder.” She placed her hand on her chest as she let out a deep sigh. “Well, you of all people know how unreasonably hardheaded your brother can be when he’s normal. Unfortunately, all of us also know how bad things can get with him when he’s not taking that medication.” She started glancing around his office.

  “What are you looking for?” Landris asked. “What do you need?”

  “Some water. You used to keep a pitcher of water in here. Talking about medicine made me remember I need to take my own. Can you get me some water, please?”

  “Sure,” he said as he went to the mini-refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of water, then handed it to her. “What’s your doctor saying these days?�
� He knew this was a touchy subject with her, one—over the past months—she generally found a way to skirt around.

  “Oh, you know them—forever wanting to do this test or another. I suppose that’s why people call what they do ‘a practice. ’” She twisted the cap off the medicine bottle first and shook two round blue pills into her hand, then twisted the top off the bottled water. Carefully placing one pill in her mouth, she took a swallow of water, snapped her head back, then repeated the process. “I despise having to take pills,” she said as she screwed the childproof cap back on the medicine bottle and put it back in her purse. “That’s probably where your brother gets it from.”

  Landris continued eyeing her without saying a word.

  “What?” she said after a minute of him staring silently at her. “You don’t like my new golden hair color?” She began to pat her hair. “What?!” she snapped.

  “Mom, are you even supposed to be here right now?”

  She set her purse back on the corner of his desk. “Well, I’m here, aren’t I? So I guess that means I’m supposed to be here.”

  “That doesn’t answer my question. But allow me to rephrase. Does your doctor know you’re here, and did he say it was okay for you to come?”

  She smiled and touched his hand. “I don’t need a doctor’s permission to come see about my children. I’m sure you understand that, especially now that you have Princess Rose in your life. And you’re really going to appreciate it once this new baby gets here.” She took another sip of water. “What time are you going to the hospital to see Johnnie Mae today?” she asked, attempting to change the subject.

  He looked at his watch as he walked back behind his desk and sat down. “I usually have to pick up Princess Rose from summer day-camp by five. I’ll take you to the house and get you settled in. By the way, where is your luggage?”

  “Oh, Sherry has it out there with her. Some nice-looking gentleman was kind enough to bring them in for me. It’s only two pieces. I’m only staying a few days.”

  He smiled. “Traveling light this trip, huh?”

  She gave him one of her infamous “behave yourself” looks.

  “Sorry,” he said, laughing. “It was a joke, Mom. A joke.”

  Landris hurried to finish up despite his mother’s insistence she was fine and he could take his time. Legs stretched out, head laid back on the arm of the couch, Virginia had made herself comfortable with her pledge to him that if something important came up he needed to handle in private, she would step out swiftly so as not to hinder him.

  Landris was working away when out of nowhere she suddenly said, “The doctor says I need to have triple-bypass heart surgery.”

  Landris stopped and glanced over at her with a puzzled look. “What?” He began to frown even more. “When? I mean, when does he want you to have it?”

  “As soon as possible,” she said, sitting up completely and setting the Oprah Magazine she was reading down on the coffee table. “‘Yesterday’ was his exact word.”

  “Then why are you here, Mom?”

  She moved closer to the edge of the couch. “Because you and Thomas need me.”

  “But Mom . . .”

  She smiled. “Continue what you were doing. You need to get finished. I don’t want you getting behind because of me. Everything’s going to be all right.”

  “Mom—”

  “George Edward Landris,” she said with a look only a mother can give her child, “we walk by faith and not by sight! The just shall live by faith. I’ll tolerate no negativity or undue concern, especially not from you. We will keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. I’ve prayed about this already. And I refuse to live my life in fear. I just won’t do it. Not ever again. Not now that I know the truth. What’s that scripture that speaks on fear?”

  Landris picked up a tattered and worn handwritten index card from off his desk and walked it over to her. He handed it to his mother, and as she read it silently, he began to quote it out loud. “Second Timothy, first and seven. ‘For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.’”

  She smiled as she looked from the card to her son. “Yes.” She nodded. “But if you’ll permit me, I’d prefer to say it this way. God has given us the Spirit of Power, the Spirit of Love, and the Spirit of a Sound Mind. And no matter what happens to us in this life, we win. The children of the Most High God, whose salvation has been secured through Jesus Christ—in the end, no matter what—we still win.” She pressed the card against her heart and closed her eyes as she lifted her face toward Heaven and smiled.

  Chapter 26

  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  Job 1:17

  Sherry knocked on the door and came inside after Pastor Landris said, “Come in.”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt again, Pastor Landris”—Sherry nodded to both Landris and his mother—“but Mrs. Knight is on the phone. She sounds really upset and said she would only be a minute.”

  Landris told her it was fine; he would get it. Sherry left.

  “Excuse me, Mom, while I take this,” Landris said.

  “Do you need me to step out?” she asked as she quickly scooted forward on the couch to get up to leave.

  “No,” he said, raising his hand for her to stay where she was. “You’re okay.”

  Landris picked up the phone and, after a few minutes of conversation, softly placed it back in its cradle.

  “Bad news?” his mother asked as she looked intensely at his face.

  “Reverend Knight just died. His wife is having a hard time, even though everyone—including her—was expecting it to happen at any time.”

  “I’m sorry. I know you two had become close, especially during this past year. Death is never easy on those left behind, even though we know—as sure as we live—it’s coming to each of us. If the rapture doesn’t take us first, death is the corridor we all must go through. But for those of us in Christ, Jesus is our door. I’ll pray for the family’s loss.”

  “Yes, it’s natural we miss our loved ones physically. But in loving memory, they forever remain in our hearts. I often think of my sister, killed in that church parking lot by that speeding driver when she was only twelve, and my father, who died shortly after her. I know and can now rejoice that—at least for those who die in Christ—to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Our loss is their gain. That’s why I’m so committed to what I do. I pray that none should perish . . . that all would come to accept Jesus as their Savior and be saved. That’s the reason it’s important I preach the Word in season and out—that Jesus died on the cross and God raised Him from the dead.” Landris turned the pages of the calendar he kept on his desk in spite of all the electronic gadgets that duplicated the schedules of his time and quickly wrote on one of those pages.

  “Mrs. Knight wants to have his funeral this Saturday at twelve o’clock,” he said. “There’s just so much going on in my life.” He shook his head. “I tell you what.”

  “I’m certain she’ll understand your not being able to make it,” Virginia said.

  “A few weeks ago, Reverend Knight asked me to preach his funeral. It was one of the last requests he asked of me before he went into a coma. That’s what his wife was calling to find out—whether I was in a position to preach his eulogy still. I told her I would do it, so I’ll just have to find a way to manage. I’m not confessing this, but honestly, it feels like before I get past one thing good, here comes something else.”

  “You know what the French say: c’est la vie—that’s life,” his mother said.

  He looked at his mother, then at the digital clock on his desk. “I know you’re ready to get to the house and get out of your traveling clothes. I’m going to send Sherry a note to put the funeral
on my main calendar, finish up a few more things, and then we can go.” He turned back to his computer.

  After about ten minutes of tapping keys, he put away the things that were on his desk and stood up. “All done,” he said. “Now let’s go get Princess Rose.” He went and got his suit coat and quickly put it on. “We’ll go to the house, and if you feel up to going to the hospital today, we can all visit Johnnie Mae. I know she’s going to be surprised to see you.” Towering over her by about eight inches, he hugged his mother again, this time longer than usual. “I’m so glad you’re here, Mom,” he said. “I really am.”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “Me, too.” She nodded. “Me, too. What was that song Bob Marley used to sing?” She began singing the words, “Everything’s going to be all right.” She smiled again. “God said He would never leave us nor forsake us. Because He tells us that, we can rest in the fact that everything really is going to be all right.”

  “No matter what we may be going through, God knows, and He promised He’d be right there with us through it all,” Landris said, walking beside her, his arm around her shoulders. “Through it all. I know God is going to bring us through. And we can count on what God promises us because He is not a man that He should lie.”

  Virginia smiled. “God knows, and He cares. It’s like I’ve heard you say so many times since you made Jesus the Lord of your life. It’s good to be saved.”

  “Oh, I know that’s right!” Landris said as he opened the door. “It is good to be saved!”

  Chapter 27

  While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house....