The Best of Everything (17 page)

H
ey, can you call me back in about fifteen minutes?” Shandra asked. “My mom is on the other line.”

“Of course. Talk to you then.”

Phillip pressed the End button on his phone and sat it down on the desk in his home office. Bible study had let out two hours ago, and he’d come straight home to relax. From his meeting with the Kings to the strained conversation he’d had earlier with Alicia to all of the other work responsibilities he’d taken care of today, it had all exhausted him completely.

Now, he’d been chatting with Shandra and though he would rather not admit it, talking to her had already begun helping him wind down. She made him feel special, and he couldn’t deny that the more he conversed with her, the more he was tempted to go see her. He felt comfortable with her and even though he’d told himself that he wouldn’t do it, he’d been sharing more and more details about his and Alicia’s problems. He’d tried his best to avoid doing this, but Alicia was slowly but surely pushing him to do things he didn’t want to do. He knew, especially as a Christian man, that his actions were very wrong, but no matter how diligently he tried to move forward and forget about his and Alicia’s past disagreements, Alicia always did
something worse. It was bad enough that she’d purchased that furniture without discussing it with him, but this afternoon, he’d taken it upon himself to call the customer service numbers at Neiman’s and Saks and he’d learned that she’d charged right up to the maximums on both accounts. Needless to say, when he’d listened to each automated response, he’d barely been able to contain himself and had become more incensed than he had been earlier in the day.

He’d also noticed that none of her bills were coming to their house any longer, but little did she know, he’d written down her account numbers and her Social Security number a few months back, making sure he’d have the ability to check her balances anytime he wanted. He was starting to wonder just how much further she was willing to go and just how long it was going to take before she became desperate and did something crazy like trying to sign his name to loan and credit card applications he didn’t know about. He didn’t want to believe that she would ever stoop to such levels, but based on what he’d already seen her do in the past, he knew he couldn’t deny the possibility.

The only reason he wasn’t too worried right now was because he’d also checked her Macy’s account and learned that, strangely enough, her balance was barely over a hundred dollars and she still had nearly five thousand dollars open. But he would definitely continue monitoring this account on a regular basis, too, because if she ever did max out the limit, he knew she’d then have no other choice but to figure out a lot more creative ways to support her habit.

After a few more minutes passed, Phillip picked up the phone and called Shandra back.

“Are you still on with your mom?”

“No, I just hung up.”

“You haven’t told her about us talking, have you?”

“No. But the only reason I haven’t is because she would never be okay with the fact that you’re a married man.”

“And she shouldn’t be okay with it, because it’s like I keep telling you, what we’re doing is wrong.”

“Then, if it’s so wrong, why do you keep calling me?”

“I’ve asked myself that question a number of times, and I don’t know why.”

“I think you do.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I know exactly why you keep calling. And if I know, then you know, too.”

“I guess I call because we’ve always been able to talk and because I do feel a connection with you that I haven’t felt with my wife for a while.”

“Exactly. Also, where are you now?”

“Home.”

“And she’s not there? This late?”

Phillip hated answering her questions because the fact that Alicia and he were now coming and going whenever they felt like it and were no longer bothering to give each other any details regarding their whereabouts, well, that really bothered him.

“Let’s not talk about my wife.”

“Okay, then, let’s talk about us.”

Phillip chuckled. “No, let’s talk about you. Like, for example, why aren’t you dating someone? Or are you?”

“No, I’m not. I was a few months ago, but because it wasn’t working out, we ended it. And then I already told you, I was once married but then got divorced.”

“But you’ve never told me what happened.”

“That’s because I don’t like to talk about it. But if you really want to know, it’s as simple as this. My husband was very abu
sive and very controlling and after five years of living in hell, I finally got out.”

“No woman should ever have to go through that, and I’m sorry to hear about what happened to you.”

“We’ve been divorced for two years now, and thankfully, he’s never contacted me since.”

“That’s good.”

“So I’m as free as can be and ready to settle down with someone decent. Someone I can love and who will genuinely love me back. I’m ready to settle down with someone like you, Phillip.”

“I really wish you wouldn’t talk that way because you know that’s not possible.”

“Why do you keep saying that? Because anything is possible if you want it to be.”

Phillip switched the phone from one ear to the other, and Shandra continued.

“Look, I know it’s wrong for me to come after you like this, but I can’t help the way I feel. I knew I still had feelings for you, but the more I talk to you, the more I feel it growing into something a lot deeper.”

Phillip was feeling the same way, but he knew it would be a mistake to admit it to her.

“If you’ll just give me a chance. Because if you do, I promise you won’t be sorry.”

“This is wrong, Shandra.”

“Okay, so it’s wrong. We both agree on that particular fact, but I can’t give up on the idea that we were meant to be together. I mean, think about it. We were head over heels in love in high school, and I really don’t think it was a coincidence that I decided to attend service at your church at the same time you and your wife are having problems. Everything is for a reason, and you and I both know that.”

Phillip closed his eyes and tried to imagine what the inside of her house looked like. If she was already making him feel this at ease by phone, he could only imagine how wonderful she’d probably make him feel in person. He fantasized about the layout of the rest of her house, but when he pictured her bedroom and also with him and her lying together inside of it, he snapped back to reality.
Thoughts
,
ideas, and suggestions
.

“I’m sorry, Shandra, but I think it’s time we hung up.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want to do something I’ll end up regretting. Something that I’ll have to pay for years down the road, if not sooner, and pay serious consequences for.”

“So, you’d rather be miserable with your wife even though I’m offering you complete happiness?”

“No, but I’m not going to let desire and temptation cause me to do something I won’t be able to take back.”

“You’re making a big mistake.”

“Maybe. But right now, at this very moment, I know I can’t do this anymore.”

“You do know that she’ll never change, right?”

“Well, if she doesn’t, then that’ll be on her, but I do love her and that’s the one thing I’ve never denied even to you. And because I love her, I’m going to give our marriage my all before simply giving up.”

“Well, when she starts treating you worse than she already is—and she will—then I’ll be right here waiting.”

“You take care of yourself, Shandra.”

“You, too.”

Phillip searched through his contact list but just as he prepared to click on Alicia’s number, his phone rang. At first, he thought
it might be Shandra; however, he was relieved when he saw that it was Mrs. King instead.

Phillip pushed the Answer button. “Hello?”

“Pastor Sullivan, I’m really sorry to bother you this late, but you’ve always said I could call you any time, day or night, if I needed to.”

“Yes, and I meant that. Is everything okay?”

“No, it isn’t. I’ve tried to find peace with this thing my husband has gone and done behind my back, but no matter how hard I try, I just can’t get over it.” Mrs. King paused and then burst into tears. “I…feel…like…I’m having…a nervous breakdown,” she said, sniffling. “I feel like I’m going to lose my mind, and I really need to talk to someone.”

She sounded very troubled and the whole thought of what she and Mr. King were going through truly saddened Phillip. “You don’t have to say another word. I’m on my way.”

“Thank you, Pastor.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

P
hillip had only been sitting in front of the Kings’ residence for five minutes at the most, and Curtis was now pulling up behind him. Phillip knew Mrs. King hadn’t wanted Curtis to be involved but with her sounding so distraught on the phone, Phillip had decided it was time Curtis intervened. Plus, even though Mrs. King totally disagreed with him, he really thought they needed someone more experienced to help them with their problem.

Phillip and Curtis walked up the sidewalk and up three stairs to the front door and Phillip rang the doorbell. He looked over at Curtis who was dressed in all black. Black pullover shirt, black pants, and a black leather jacket. The reason Phillip noticed it was that he was basically dressed the same way. As a matter of fact, they had on so much black that he hoped their attire wouldn’t make Mrs. King feel uncomfortable or like they were detectives coming to interrogate her.

Phillip rang the doorbell again but just as he did, Mrs. King finally opened the door. At first, she only stood there, gazing back and forth at them, and it was obvious that she wasn’t too pleased to see Curtis. But she didn’t say anything, and a few seconds later, she opened the screen door and invited them in.

“Please have a seat.”

Phillip sat down first. “Thank you.”

Curtis sat at the opposite end of the sofa. “Yes, thank you, Mrs. King.”

“Can I get either of you something to drink?”

“No, ma’am,” Curtis answered.

“No, thank you. We’re fine.”

Phillip watched her take a seat in a chair that she must have brought in from her dining room. She sat right in front of them, and there was another chair just like it sitting not far from her. Phillip watched how calmly she acted and was glad she’d settled down a great deal since she’d called him. One thing sort of concerned him, though, and that was the crooked way her wig was pulled onto her head. Mrs. King wore wigs all the time, but this was the first time Phillip had seen one of them looking as though she’d slapped it on, fast and in a hurry.

Phillip looked down the hallway. “Where’s Mr. King?”

“He’s in the bedroom. He’ll be out in a minute.”

“Are you having second thoughts about filing for a divorce?”

“No. But I’ve been on edge for hours now, and that’s why I finally decided it was best that I call you.”

“I’m glad you did, and we’re willing to stay for as long as you need us to. We’ll do whatever we can to try to help you.”

Just then Mr. King moseyed out, shook both Phillip’s and Curtis’s hands, and then sat in the chair near Mrs. King. As soon as he did, Mrs. King no longer seemed calm and appeared a lot more agitated.

“Pastor, I just don’t know what to do,” she said to Phillip. “I’ve been having all sorts of crazy thoughts, and it all started when I left the grocery store this afternoon.”

“What kind of thoughts?”

Mrs. King tossed her husband a nasty look and then reached
down inside what looked like her purse. Phillip watched as she pulled something out, and he gasped when he saw what it was. He swallowed hard when he saw Mrs. King pointing a .38 at the man she’d been married to for forty years.

Phillip could tell Curtis was just as shocked as he was, and poor Mr. King was terrified.

“You see, it’s like this, Pastor. No matter how many ways I tried to weigh this whole crazy mess, I finally realized that
this
is the only way to pay Harold back for what he’s done to me.”

Curtis spoke in an immediate tone but also with compassion. “Mrs. King, with all due respect, I know you’re upset, but this isn’t the way to go about handling things.”

Mrs. King looked at Curtis without any emotion. “Why? Because this isn’t the way your wife handled things when you went out and got that illegitimate baby of yours?’

Phillip interrupted. “Mrs. King, I think what Pastor is trying to say is that violence isn’t going to solve anything. It won’t change what happened, and we don’t want you doing something you’ll regret. There’s no doubt that you have every reason to be upset with your husband, but just the fact that you still love him is enough for you to think twice about what you’re doing.”

“You’re right. I do love him, and that’s why I’ll never be able to get past this. I’ve tried but now I know that it’s just not possible.”

Curtis and Phillip looked at each other, and Phillip wished Alicia had answered her phone when he’d tried reaching her from the car thirty minutes ago. If this went on for hours, maybe Alicia would try calling him back, get worried when he didn’t answer, and then dial the police. Although, at least he had left her a message, so maybe if too much time passed by, she would think to contact one of the church secretaries to find out where the Kings lived. He wondered if maybe Charlotte would do the
same if it ended up that Curtis was gone a lot longer than he should be—because this entire situation was looking worse by the second.

“Pastor Black?” Mrs. King said.

“Yes?”

“Was it really that good to you? Because if it was
that
good to you, then maybe it was just that good to ol’ Harold here, too.”

“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”

“Of course you do. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

Curtis readjusted his position on the sofa. “I’m sorry, but I really don’t.”

Phillip could see that Mrs. King was becoming impatient. “You
do
know what I’m talking about. I’m talking about that thing between that whore’s legs. That thing you obviously couldn’t get enough of and that’s how you ended up with that bastard child of yours.”

Phillip was mortified and while he didn’t dare look away from Mrs. King, he wondered just how Curtis was planning to respond to her.

“Mrs. King, what I did was wrong. Way wrong. And I’ll never stop trying to make up to my wife for what I did. But by the grace of God, Charlotte has finally found it in her heart to forgive me. It took a lot of time, but we’re closer now than we’ve ever been, and I believe the same thing can happen for you and Mr. King.”

“See, that’s where you’re wrong, Pastor. Harold and I can never be a happy couple again. The pain he’s caused me runs far too deep, and the only consolation I can see myself ever getting is by taking him out of here.”

Phillip eased toward the edge of the couch. “Mrs. King, please. You’re a good person. A good Christian woman, so I know
you really don’t want to do this. You’re just hurt is all. You’re hurt, and this has been a very difficult time for you.”

“I just don’t see why men do this. I know I did the same thing to him back in the day, but I would never do something like this after all these years of being married. I would have given my life for this man if I had to, but now…today…I’m going to have to take his,” she yelled and then held the gun with both hands.

“Puddin’, please don’t do this. I’m so, so sorry. I’m so sorry that I don’t know what to do. Please don’t take my life over this. What about our children?”

“What about them?”

“They’ll be so hurt over this. They’ll be hurt about everything.”

“You should’ve thought about that before you went out and laid up with that tramp. If you cared about them, you never would have done that,” Mrs. King said and then closed her eyes and shook her head frantically, almost as if she was trying to shake something out of it. She then pressed both sides of her temples, one with her hand and one with the gun. Then, she opened her eyes, stood up, and looked over at Curtis. “Harold, what are you doing over there? How did you slip away without me seeing you? Get back over here,” she demanded and pointed the gun at Curtis. “I said get over here!”

At first Curtis hesitated but when she yelled again, he stood and walked over to where Mr. King was sitting.

This was crazy. Phillip had not seen this coming before this evening, but Mrs. King had clearly lost her mind and now all their lives were in danger because of it.

“Mrs. King. I’m not your husband. I’m Pastor Black.”

“Shut up!” she demanded and then looked over at Mr. King. “Who are you, and what are you doing in our house?”

It was clear that Mr. King didn’t know what to say or do, so he did and said nothing.

“Well, whoever you are, I want you to get over there, sit down, and keep quiet. And you’d better not trade places with my husband again, you hear me?”

Mr. King took a seat at the end of the sofa where Curtis had been sitting.

Mrs. King sat back down and smiled at Curtis. “Remember, Harold, when we first met? Remember how beautiful you thought I was and how you said you’d never seen a woman more beautiful in your whole life? Remember that? Remember how we used to ride in your sixty-eight Mercury? You’d pick me up and take me to the park, push me in the swing, and then we’d have a picnic on the grass and laugh and talk until sundown. Remember how special those times were? Remember how in love we were with each other? And then remember how happy we were when Harold Jr. was born and then we had him a little sister. That boy loved little Elena so much, he acted more like her father than he did her brother.”

Mrs. King reminisced for another twenty minutes but neither Phillip, Curtis, nor Mr. King moved an inch, nor did they breathe one word. Phillip listened and hoped all the happy times she was speaking about would be enough to draw her back to reality.

But they weren’t; instead, things turned ugly again.

“Life was good, Harold. Real good until you went out and slept with that whore-niece of mine. Then, today, I went to the grocery store, minding my own business, but no sooner than when I went into the produce section, I saw her and that baby. I saw your child, your own flesh and blood, Harold, and it slit my heart in two. Just tore me to pieces.”

Now Phillip understood. Seeing the baby for the first time
was what had set Mrs. King off and the reason she’d slipped into this disturbed mental state.

“And that’s why I decided, right then and there, that only one thing would make me feel better about all of this: blowing you to hope field.”

Phillip took a deep breath and prayed that Mrs. King would come to her senses. But she didn’t. Instead, she pointed the pistol straight at Curtis and cocked it like a professional gunman. “I’m sorry, Harold, but it’s time.”

Mrs. King slowly stood up but as soon as she did, Phillip charged toward her and wrestled her to the floor. Mrs. King fired the gun at the wall and Phillip tried his best to take the gun from her. He tried but Mrs. King scuffled against his strength and fired the .38 again.

Phillip yelled and grabbed his thigh with both hands, but in a split second, he managed to overpower Mrs. King and shake the gun away from her. Curtis immediately grabbed it.

Mrs. King burst into tears. “I’m so sorry, Daddy,” she said to Phillip. “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to hurt anybody, so please don’t put me on punishment. I’ll be good from now on, Daddy. I promise.”

Crying like a baby, Mrs. King lay her head against Phillip’s chest.

Curtis pulled out his cell phone and bent down to Phillip. “Are you okay? Let me see your leg.”

With all the commotion over the last few minutes and even though he was in excruciating pain, Phillip hadn’t thought much about the gunshot wound. “I don’t think it’s that bad. It’s bleeding and it hurts like crazy, but I don’t think it’s serious.”

Curtis took a look for himself. “Still, we need to get you to a hospital right away.”

Phillip watched Curtis dialing 911 and then glanced over at
Mr. King, who acted as though he was afraid to move or speak a word to anyone. He sat quietly and to be honest, Phillip didn’t know what to say to him, either. So, instead, Phillip rubbed Mrs. King’s back, trying to comfort her, and waited for the ambulance and police officers to arrive on the scene. He waited and hoped he would never have to experience anything close to this ever again.