Delilah (12 page)

Regis waved his hand in the air to get Samson's attention. Samson walked past several tables in the country club restaurant before reaching his dad's table. “Glad you could make it, son,” Regis said as Samson took a seat.

“I only came here today because you bribed me with breakfast.” Samson smiled.

“I learned that trick from your mama. Fill a man up and he's liable to be open to hear whatever you have to say is her way of thinking.”

Samson eyed the food on the buffet. “Dad, I promise to listen to whatever you have to say after I fill my empty stomach.”

Fifteen minutes later, Samson and Regis were each enjoying a full plate of breakfast. A waiter placed a pitcher of orange juice on their table. Regis said, “Your mother shared with me last night some personal things about you and Julia.”

Samson held his hand up. “I don't want to talk about it.”

“Look, I'm not here to ridicule you. I'm here to help.”

Samson couldn't believe Julia's lack of secrecy had him discussing with his dad what should have been private between the two of them. He had never been so embarrassed. “Let's pretend like you never brought it up,” Samson said as he took a bite out of his toast.

“Son, I don't have to tell you that I was surprised when your mother told me.”

Samson didn't have a problem having sex. He just had a problem having it with Julia. The guilt of sleeping with Delilah before they were married marred their relationship. Samson wanted to confess to someone. Maybe releasing some of the burden would help improve things between him and Julia.

“Dad, before Julia and I married, I slept with someone. There I said it.” Samson held his head down.

“Are you still sleeping with the woman?”

“No, I'm not. I swear on two stacks of Bibles.” Regis had Samson feeling like a teenage boy being chastised by his father.

“Now, son, you can lie to me. You can lie to your mom and your wife. But you can't lie to God.”

“I've been tempted, but no. I'm no longer sleeping with the woman.”

“I don't have to tell you how important your wedding vows are, do I? You vowed before God to honor, cherish, and be faithful to her.”

Samson felt at this point he had nothing to lose. Since his dad wanted to be blunt about things, Samson asked him a question that had been lingering in his mind. “Have you ever cheated on Mom?”

Regis placed his fork down. “My relationship with your mom has nothing to do with your situation, so don't go trying to change the subject.”

“Julia and I will be fine. She needs to keep everybody out of our business, but otherwise we'll be all right.”

“I saw how Delilah was looking at you at church Sunday. Don't let that woman mess up everything you've tried to build.”

Samson wouldn't disagree with him. Delilah was a handful, but manageable. As long as he counseled her, he could keep her under control. She was beginning to open up to him more and more, and that would help him determine his next move. Samson's mission for the church and his wife would not be destroyed; he would protect it at all costs.

“Marriage is sacred. Please don't allow anyone, and specifically Delilah, to destroy it,” Regis said.

Samson was disappointed that his father didn't have faith in him. But on another note, Samson insisted on getting an answer to his original question. “Dad, I know it's really none of my business, but I need to know if you ever stepped out on Mom.”

“The answer to your question is no. Was I tempted? Many times. More than I can count.”

“How did you get past the temptation?” Samson asked.

“Prayer, meditation, and not allowing myself to be alone with a woman I knew would cause me to sin.”

“But there are times, as pastor, that you have to counsel people. You can't always be in control of every situation.”

“Son, you're always in control of your actions.” Regis refilled his orange juice.

“So did Mom ever know of these women?”

Regis laughed. “Now you know I can never get anything past that woman. She knew a woman's intention before I did. One way we stopped some of the madness was if a woman needed counseling, Kelly would be the one they spoke with or one of the other ministers' wives.”

“I can see that happening with Julia later, but right now I think it's too early on in our marriage for her to be taking on that role,” Samson said. The truth was, until things were right in their household, it was best that Samson and Julia kept their work lives separately.

“The Lord has led me to share this with you.” Regis had a solemn look on his face. “Samson, you have been obedient most of the days of your life. You've come too far to allow the world to seep into your life and destroy all that has been built.”

“Dad, it's not even that serious. The problem with Julia and me, it's temporary. It'll get handled.”

Regis ignored him and continued to say, “You may feel that you're untouchable because of the special relationship you have with the Lord, but be warned. The enemy knows your weakness and will feed it. Stay focused on God's agenda. Don't succumb to the ways of the world.”

Samson stayed in a solemn mood the rest of the time with his dad. He wasn't upset with him, but Samson felt like his father was judging him. His dad was one of God's messengers, so was it possible he was relaying a message from God? If so, Samson had decisions to make, decisions that could affect his walk with the Lord.

Delilah sat in her car and contemplated whether to stay or leave the restaurant parking lot. She should have never agreed to meet Luther for lunch when he called earlier. He caught her at a vulnerable moment. She wasn't getting the attention she desired from Samson, so she agreed to meet Luther to give her ego a much-needed boost.

Delilah glanced at the clock on the dashboard. If Luther was already inside the restaurant, he could wait a few more minutes; Delilah was in no rush. She called Keisha but got no answer, so she left a voice message. “Keisha, please call me back. I need your advice about something.”

She threw her cell phone in her purse and exited the car. Her long, curly hair bounced when she walked. She walked inside feeling confident. Men and women took notice as she strode past tables as if she owned the world.

“Glad you made it,” Luther said. He stood up and pulled out her chair.

A gentleman, Delilah noted. She didn't expect that. “You've been blowing up my phone since the reception, so the least I could do was bless you with my presence.”

Luther laughed. “You're more beautiful today than you were the day we met.”

“Compliments might get you somewhere,” Delilah said.

They chatted over lunch. “So what is a woman like you doing single?” Luther asked.

“I keep running into men like you.” Delilah took a sip of her drink.

“So my brother-in-law tells me you have the hots for your pastor.”

Delilah almost spit out her drink. “Calvin needs to mind his own business.”

“Well, do you? You wouldn't be the first to be enticed with the man of God.”

“In case you forgot, my pastor is now a married man.”

“Maybe you need to remind yourself of that fact more than me.” Luther winked his eye and continued to eat.

Delilah enjoyed the meal, but Luther was a little too cocky for her. He thought he had her pegged, but he was wrong. Yes, she was attracted to Samson, but her feelings ran deeper than anything physical. Men like Luther wouldn't understand.

He spent the rest of the lunch talking about himself, himself, and his favorite subject, himself. Delilah originally planned on spending more time with Luther, but after lunch, he could lose her number for all she cared.

“Look, lunch was good, but I have a few appointments this evening, so I'm out of here.” Delilah picked up her purse.

“What about your half of lunch?” Luther asked.

Delilah looked down at her plate that still had half of her meal on it. “I'm full. If you want it, you can have it.”

“No, baby. I'm talking about the bill. You ordered about fifteen dollars worth of stuff.”

“Uh, you got me confused with some of those other women. Delilah doesn't pay for anything when she goes out with a man. So call one of your other chicks. Do whatever you have to do, but the meal is on you, boo.” Delilah pushed her chair away from the table and left.

“You can't leave me with the bill,” Luther yelled.

“I just did,” Delilah said, as she walked away.

Luther could be heard shouting out obscenities. Delilah increased her pace as she walked to her car. She slid down into her seat as Luther walked past. Once he was out of clear view, she cut out of the parking lot.

Delilah was pulling out on Youree Drive when she received a phone call from Keisha. Delilah immediately recounted what occurred at lunch.

“Girl, you and these men,” Keisha said.

“It's not like you have any better luck.”

“But we're not talking about me right now. We're talking about you.” Keisha laughed.

Delilah laughed as well. “It was funny. You should have seen the expression on his face. Pretty boy got stuck with the check.” Delilah's phone beeped. She glanced at the screen. “Girl, that's him now. He must be crazy if he thinks I'm taking his calls after the stunt he just pulled.”

“You need to answer it because I'm curious to know what he has to say for himself.”

“Hold on.” Delilah clicked over. “Hello.”

“You know you wrong,” Luther said.

“Baby boy, I don't know what kind of women you're used to dating, but I'm old school. When a man invites a woman out, he pays. End of story.”

“I had to use some of my rent money to pay for that meal. You owe me eighteen dollars and fifty-seven cents.”

“Did Calvin put you up to this? Tell him the joke stopped being funny a long time ago.”

“Calvin? What's he got to do with this? I'm talking about you. You owe me some money.”

“Get it from your brother-in-law; he's the big-shot lawyer. Now please forget my number and don't call me no more.” Delilah clicked back over to her other line. “Girl, that fool got issues. What got me is he had it down to the penny.”

Delilah soon ended her call with Keisha. She thought about Samson. Her attempt to forget him and move on didn't work. Luther was not the man to help her get over Samson. She walked into Trusts Enterprise.

“Look who graced us with her presence,” the main receptionist said.

“Hi, Ms. Piggee,” Delilah said with a smile on her face. She laughed inside because the receptionist lived up to her name literally. She was the company's busybody, yet people always told her their business. A couple of times Delilah even found herself confessing some things of her own to the fifty-something-year-old woman.

“Mr. Trusts got you working a special assignment, I hear. So what have you been up to?”

Delilah looked at her watch. It was after two. “It's coming along, but I've run into a few obstacles.”

“Well, he's not here, if you came to see him. He's out of the office meeting with some contractors about plans for the new shopping center.”

“Oh, that's fine. I came to get something out of my desk,” Delilah lied. She really did want to see William. Her purse held a cashier's check for all the money he had given her. After going home the night before and praying, she realized bringing Samson down would not benefit her any. He was too nice of a man and didn't deserve it. Besides, Delilah wanted to make a last-ditch effort to get back in God's good graces. William would have to get his property another way. She would not be a pawn in his game.

Delilah left Trusts Enterprise and made it to her four o'clock appointment with Samson just in the nick of time.

“What are you doing here?” Elaine asked Delilah.

Delilah looked at her watch. “I have an appointment with Pastor Judges.”

Elaine thumbed through her planner. “I don't see it here.”

“Well, you need to check with him because I'm not going anywhere until I see the pastor.” Delilah sat down in the chair and crossed her legs.

“Look, your shenanigans might work with men, but they don't have any effect on me.”

Delilah shifted in her seat. “Elaine, you don't like me, and I don't like you, and that's fine because I'm not here to see you. So unless you're telling me Samson's ready to see me, I suggest you don't say anything else to me.” Delilah emphasized the word “me” each time she said it.

Elaine stood up behind her desk. “Let me get the pastor so you can get out of my space.”

Delilah was tired of the catfighting between her and Elaine. “Yes, please do. You're a secretary, so do your job.”

Elaine blurted out, “Lord Jesus, please stop me from saying something to this heathen in my office.”

Delilah was steaming inside. It took every ounce of patience for her not to get up and snatch the two-week-old weave out of Elaine's head. She counted to ten inside of her hand and patted her shoe on the floor while twitching in her seat. She was on a mission to get back not only in God's good graces, but in Samson's as well. She would not get distracted by the likes of Elaine.

“Man, let me go,” Samson said to Calvin, who was on the other end of the phone. “I hear some commotion going on outside my office.”

Elaine burst through the door. “Delilah says she has an appointment with you, but I know the heifer is lying.”

“Now, Elaine, that's not a nice thing to say.”

“You need to come out here and tell her to leave because I'm tired of looking at her face.”

“Send her on in,” Samson said.

Elaine looked at him and shifted her head. “But she doesn't have an appointment.”

“She does. I just forgot to tell you when I saw you this morning.”

“I've told you to let me make your appointments. That's how you get double booked.”

“No one else is scheduled for four, right?” Samson looked up at Elaine from his desk.

“No, but still, why am I here if you're going to make your own appointments?”

Elaine was making a big deal out of nothing. All of the women in Samson's life were tripping with him. He needed a vacation from everyone, including his wife. Julia was giving him the cold shoulder, and when he'd called her earlier she barely had ten words to say to him. Samson tuned Elaine out. When he saw her mouth stop moving, he said, “You're the best and I don't know what I would do without you.” Although he was saying it to appease her, he really did mean it. She was a great assistant.

“As long as you don't forget it, we're cool. I'll send her in.”

Less than a minute later, Delilah walked into Samson's office. “You need to get better help.”

“Don't start,” Samson said.

Delilah shut the door and took a seat. Samson hit the intercom button on his phone. “Elaine, hold all my calls unless it's an emergency.”

Samson watched Delilah primp in her handheld mirror. To him, she looked flawless. Delilah placed the mirror in her purse. “I read those scriptures you gave me.”

“Good. What message did you take away from reading them?”

She crossed and re-crossed her legs. Samson shifted in his seat. Every time she moved, her thin skirt would creep up a little more exposing her thighs. “In order for me to move forward, I need to forgive the people who did me wrong.”

“Do you think you can do that?”

“I'm trying.”

“Delilah, you have to do more than try. You have to make a conscious effort to forgive those people.”

Delilah folded her arms and rocked from side to side as she opened up and told Samson about what happened at some of the foster homes. “I was a helpless little girl, and they took advantage of me. No one came to my rescue. No one.”

Tears flowed down Delilah's face. Samson retrieved several tissues from the box on his desk and handed them to her. His heart tugged as he listened to Delilah recount her childhood trauma. It angered him inside to know that her innocence was stolen from her by people who were supposed to protect her. He got up from his seat and walked to where she sat and patted her on the back.

“Let it out. Crying is good for the soul. God's going to wipe those tears away.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so emotional.” Delilah sniffled.

“No, I'm the one who's sorry. I hate that you had to endure all of this by yourself.”

Delilah placed one of her hands on top of his. She squeezed it. She stood up, and they were now face-to-face. Samson could not get over the sadness in Delilah's eyes. He was drawn to her. The magnetic pull forced their lips to lock. The moan seeping through Delilah's mouth brought Samson back to the moment. He pushed her away. “I'm so sorry.”

“We just got caught up in the moment,” Delilah said.

“You don't deserve this. I'm under stress and then hearing your story. Lord, help me,” Samson cried out. He walked to the window and turned his back toward Delilah.

She followed him over to the window and wrapped her arms around his waist. He could feel her chest on his back. This time he didn't push her away. He had to find a way to let Delilah down easily. With everything she had gone through, he didn't want to cause her any more pain. He gently moved away. He took Delilah's hand in his.

“Delilah, you're a beautiful young lady,” he said. “You deserve the best. Unfortunately, I'm a married man, so any plans you had for me—for us—get over them.”

Delilah took his hand and placed it on her chest. “My heart beats only for you.”

He jerked his hand away. “These feelings you have for me, redirect them. You're part of the singles' ministry, right?”

“Yes,” Delilah responded.

“I want you to become more active in it. You'll meet available godly men.”

And get out of my hair,
Samson thought.

Elaine called him on the intercom. “Your wife's on the phone.”

“I need to take this call. I'll be right back.” Samson needed to take a breather. He left Delilah in his office and went out in the lobby to talk with Julia.

Elaine must have told Julia about Delilah being in his office because she had a foul mood that evening. Being married caused him many restless nights. On days like today, he wished he had remained single.