Church Whore 3 (13 page)

Chapter 13

Everyone had gathered for Sunday dinner at the Mama Eloise’s. All of the men were in the den screaming at the TV as they watched the Carolina Panthers play.

Officer Hudson was walking up the steps. he was about to ring the doorbell when Elisea pulled up. “Hey, O! I’ll let you in.” She popped her trunk and retrieved a bunch of bags.

“Let me help you with that,” O said, and took most of the bags out of her hands. “Dag, E! You do as much damage as Toya in the store!”

“I’m telling!” Elisea sang as she teased him. “Shoot, I needed some retail therapy.”

O gave her a look. “Is that the female motto?”

“Yep!” Elisea laughed as she pulled out her keys and opened the door.

“Hey, y’all! Look who I found, and he’s got jokes!”

They walked into the living room and O put the bags down.

“Good Lawd, Elisea! Did you buy out the entire store?” Mama Eloise asked, looking at all the bags.

Lizzie, Felicia, Tricia and Ruthie looked at each other and said in unison, “Retail Therapy!” All the women busted out laughing, while Mama Eloise had a confused look on her face. O looked at her and shrugged.

“The boys are in the den, O,” she said, ignoring her girls.

“Thanks, Mama Eloise. I need to talk with them.”

She became suspicious. “What’s going on, son?” she asked.

“I’ll be back,” O said, and headed to the den.

The fellas were screaming because the Carolina Panthers had just won. They were all on their feet doing the “Dab”, the infamous signature move of Cam Newton.

“Really?” O shook his head at his friends.

“You ain’t mad, are you, Cowboys fan?”

“Nah, the Panthers are playing a good season, and they’ll probably make it to the Super Bowl. But let’s see if they can take home that Super Bowl ring!”

“Hater!!” Eddie teased.

“Never that! I’m just a Cowboys fan for life. Win or lose, I still rep my team.”

“Yeah, we know! This nigga’s man cave is Cowboy nation!” Eddie said, getting up and giving O dap. “What’s up, man? You working hard I see.”

O took a seat next to Mud. “Yeah, about that. I have some news.” His tone had changed to a serious one.

“What’s up, O?” Junior asked.

“It’s been confirmed that the bodies found in that hotel parking lot are Lilith and her son Damien.”

The brothers looked at each other and were completely silent.

“Yeah, we figured that,” Eddie said as got up to pour a drink from the bar.

“The thing is, they had a lot of fake ID’s, but I knew what she looked like so we had to get the next of kin to identify the body.”

“You found the Harlot sisters?” Mud asked.

“No, not yet, so we contacted Poe. And that cat is weird as hell. He barely spoke. He just had a weird vibe about him. Something’s off about that dude. He’s on my radar for this.”

“You think Poe did it?” Junior was shocked.

“We have a lead on Tamar though. Lilith’s cell phone records show that she had been in contact with her. And…” O got quiet.

“What?” Eddie knew his friend, and he was holding out.

“One of the text messages was to Damien, talking about how she was going to tell everyone that he her raped her if he didn’t come back.”

“What the!?” Edem looked horrified.

“Exactly!” O said. “The autopsy showed that she had been sexually active, and the semen did match Damien’s.”

“Those sick bastards!” Junior said, shaking his head.

“Umm, I don’t think we need to share that with E. I mean, hearing that Damien is dead may be hard on her as it is,” Edem told them.

The men all nodded in agreement

James looked at Andrew, who had a concerned look on his face.

“Yeah, she’s been through enough,” Mud said.

“I can’t imagine Poe though,” Junior added.

“I’m not saying he’s good for it; I just got a weird vibe off of him that’s all. I think they’re
all
crazy. Those sisters could be behind it. They were diabolical, but not that smart. Evidence found in the car and hotel room proves that they were behind the fire, and Damien is the one that shot you, Mud and Lewis.”

“Wow! This is crazy!” Eddie said.

“Yeah, well I just wanted to fill y’all in on what is going on. Oh, and Poe is having them cremated here. He’s not even taking the bodies back to his hometown.”

“Yeah, that is a little odd. I know Denard said he never showed up for the test results. And he said something was off about dude too,” Junior explained.

“Test results?” O looked confused.

“Yeah, man. Come to find out Deacon Watkins is his the pappy!” Eddie laughed.

“Jesus!” O exclaimed. His work phone went off. “This is Hudson… Where?... I’m on my way.” He stood up and said, “Well, I have got to go.”

“A’ight O. Thanks man,” Eddie said and got up to walk him out.

“Yeah, thanks O,” the fellas repeated.

Eddie returned to the den after walking O out and said, “I’m dreading how Elisea will take the news. She just bounced back from all of this.”

“Yeah, but at the same time she may be relieved,” Mud added.

“Elisea and I have become really close. I wouldn’t mind telling her,” Andrew suggested.

“Hold! How close are you getting with my sister?” Mud asked and mean mugged him. All the brothers stared at him, waiting on a response.

“Hold up! I have not crossed the line with E. But if I thought she would marry me today, I would.”

“But you haven’t touched her?” Mud was suspicious.

“Mud, leave the man alone,” Junior demanded.

“My brother has nothing but the best intentions towards E,” James said, backing his brother.

Muds tone softened. “I just don’t want to see my sister getting hurt again.”

“I love your sister, and I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her. And, I’m aware she’s been through a lot. If she’ll let me, I’d give her the world,” Andrew pleaded his case.

Edem smiled and said, “You’re alright with me.”

“Yeah, as long as you treat her like a queen, I’m good,” Junior chimed in.

Eddie gave his input. “You’re a cool dude. I’m cool with it.”

Then they all looked over at Mud.

“Just make sure you give her the world!” Mud huffed. He didn’t have a problem with Andrew, but he was very protective of his sister.

“Well okay, Andrew. You can break the news to E,” Junior told him.

________

Andrew felt good about his conversation with the brothers. He understood their concern, but he was no punk. He walked into the living room and watched the women talking and laughing. He loved how close the Blanks were. He tapped Elisea on the shoulder, nodded his head and said, “Come take a walk with me.”

Elisea smiled at the suggestion. “Okay.” She got up and followed him out of the house.”

Andrew took her hand and started on their walk.

“So, what’s up?” she asked.

“I just wanted to talk to you about a few things.”

“Alright, what’s on your mind?”

“You’ve been through a lot, and I love your strength. I’ve watched you evolve right in front of my eyes. I admire that.”

“Drew!” Elisea looked at him lovingly.

“I’m serious. I know that we haven’t known each other long and we aren’t even technically dating, but I’m in love with you. And I want to spend the rest of my life loving you.”

Taken aback, Elisea was shocked by the confession. “Are you for real right now?”

“Yes, I am.”

“But you haven’t even kissed me.”

“Do you want me to kiss you? Believe me, I want to kiss you. I just didn’t want you to compromise your integrity.”

“I appreciate that. I really do.” Elisea exhaled. “I have a confession too.”

Andrew tilted his head. “And what’s that?”

She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. “I’ve been fighting my feelings for you. I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I’ve been in constant prayer about you and this connection I have with you. I talked to Edem about how I was feeling, and he told me to be patient and it would all work out.” Elisea started to blush.

“Are you blushing, Miss Blanks?”

Elisea covered her face with embarrassment. He removed her hands and said, “Baby, you don’t ever have to hide your beautiful face from me.”

“I don’t know what you’re doing to me. “

“If you let me, I’ll love you forever. Will you let me?”

“You promise?”

“I promise you, and I promise God. Will you promise the same?”

“Baby, you had me at the foot massage!” she replied.

They both busted out laughing.

“Since we’re making this official, can I kiss you now?”

“Yes, you may,” Elisea said in a seductive tone.

Andrew held her face in his hands and planted a kiss on her that made the earth shift. Their tongues intertwined with each other’s under the Carolina sky. It had to be the longest kiss in history, because neither one wanted to let the other go.

“Jesus, please keep me near the cross!” Elisea said, looking up to the heavens. “That was intense!”

“Yeah, I can only imagine what—”

Elisea put her hand on his chest and said, “As much as I want to, I have to do it right this time.”

“I know. Like I said, you are a woman of integrity. But I’m a man that goes after what I want, and life is too short to waste any time.”

Elisea’s eyebrow went up. “What does that mean?” she asked.

Andrew dropped to one knee. “Elisea Blanks, I don’t want to live another day without you being my wife. I’ve been carrying this around for a week.” He dug in his pocket and pulled out a small box. He opened the box, and inside was a blinding 6 carat ring with diamonds cascading around the band.

“Drew! Oh my God!”

“Will you marry me?”

“Uh duh! Yes! Yes!
Yes
!” Elisea shouted and jumped up and down in excitement.

Andrew slipped the ring on her finger. Then they shared a kiss as equally passionate as the first one.

“You like it?” Andrew asked.

Elisea held her hand out. “This is my dream ring. How did you know?” But before he could answer, she answered her own question. “Lizzie!”

“Yeah, she helped me out a little bit,” he admitted.

They hugged each other. And as they held each other Elisea could feel his nature rising and quickly backed up.
Good Gawd!
she thought to herself.

“I’m sorry, baby. You just have that effect on me.”

“It’s okay. This is crazy! We go from friends to being engaged! I’m so happy!”

“I’m glad. I want to always make you happy. However, I do have something to tell you, and I want you to remain calm.”

“Uh oh! What is it? Are you already married?”

“No!” Andrew made a face.

“On the down-low?”

“What? What are you talking about?” Andrew laughed at her.

“I’m just staying, you got to ask nowadays.”

“No, E, it’s nothing like that. It’s about Damien.”

Elisea sucked her teeth. “What about him?” The mentioning of his name changed her energy.

He got straight to the point. “He’s dead. He and his mother are dead.”

Elisea became quiet for a moment, and Andrew watched her face waiting for a response.

“I figured it was his body they found when I saw his car on the news,” she said.

“Are you okay?” he asked slowly.

“Yeah, I’m fine. I didn’t want him dead of course, but he wanted me dead. Shoot, he wanted my entire family dead! I didn’t want my baby dead, but some things are out our control. I will carry my baby in my heart forever, but Damie? Nah, I’m over that.”

Andrew gave her a strange look. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“I’m positive. I just pray that God had mercy on his soul. When I said the prayer to untie my soul from his, I meant it! Thank you, God!” Elisea once again looked up at the heavens and winked.

Andrew started laughing. “Did you just wink at God?”

“Jesus is my homeboy!” she laughed.

“Woman, you are something else! I love you!”

“I love you too!”

They kissed again before heading back towards the house.

“How do you think your family will react to the news?”

“My family is intense, but they’re cool. They’ll be happy for us.”

“So, what kind of wedding do you want? A big extravaganza?”

“Ugh no! I don’t want a wedding.”

Andrew stopped walking. “Are you serious?” he asked.

“Yeah. Weddings are a waste of money to me.”