Delilah (6 page)

Delilah felt guilty about lying to Samson. The original video of them together was saved on her flash drive. She wouldn't destroy it, but Delilah had no plans to give William a copy. She couldn't pinpoint the moment her assignment for William turned into a quest for her to get the man of her dreams. If only Julia weren't in the way.

Julia appeared to have it all—the looks, the education, and most importantly, her past was different from Delilah's. Julia grew up in a two-parent household and had all the luxuries her parents could afford. Delilah couldn't compete with her on that level, so she used the one thing she knew she had: her looks. Julia, although pretty, couldn't hold a candle next to Delilah's natural beauty.

Delilah knew it was wrong for her to go after Samson, but until he said I do, she would continue to pursue him. Delilah felt like she knew exactly what Samson needed, and that's why he was drawn to her. She could give Samson the desires of his heart. Samson could be himself around her. He didn't have to put on any pretenses. In her ideal world, Samson would allow her to be in control, and Delilah would take care of all of his needs.

Delilah lay across her bed and recalled how Samson's demeanor changed when he approached her about the disk. She saw a side of him she didn't know existed. It was a dark side, a place she never would have thought existed in a man like Samson. She tried to think of something else, but Samson filled her mind.

She fumbled in her nightstand drawer and retrieved her Bible. One of the church programs fell out. Samson's handsome face stared back at her. She placed the program to the side and flipped the pages of the Bible open to the book of Judges. She read, in her opinion, one of the greatest love stories ever told—the story of Samson and Delilah.

Delilah didn't recall falling asleep, but before she knew it she and Samson were being transported in time. In her dream, Samson married her instead of Julia. Many men tried to get Delilah to leave Samson, but Samson would fight them off. Each time, their love grew stronger and stronger. Their lives were perfect until William appeared and jolted Delilah awake.

Startled out of her dream, Delilah decided to give Keisha a call. Her friend answered on the third ring. “Guess what? Samson's going to be all mine,” Delilah spat off.

“Say what?”

Delilah could tell she caught Keisha off guard. “I threatened to show Julia the disk of him and me together, but get this—he wants to be self-righteous and tell her himself.”

Keisha blurted: “Girl, have you lost your mind? Blackmail? Really, Delilah?”

“I'm not going to show Julia the video. I just wanted Samson to see how serious I am about us. He needs to break things off with her so we can move on with our lives together.”

Keisha attempted to be the voice of reason. “Girl, stop it before you get yourself into something you can't get out of. You're a beautiful woman. Find an available man and leave your pastor alone.”

“But I love him. I think he loves me too; he's just afraid of what people will think.”

“Do you blame him? You're throwing yourself at him like you're desperate. Stop the madness now.”

Delilah wasn't getting the response she wanted from Keisha. She wished her friend were more supportive of her quest to get Samson. She had to convince Keisha she was right in pursuing Samson. “Just think about it. Julia will leave him once she finds out about me. His parents I'm not too worried about. They'll eventually learn to love me. The church, well, the members all love him, so they'll forgive him.”

“I will be praying an extra-long prayer for you because, girl, you have gotten out of control.”

Delilah laughed. “Keisha, stop tripping. I'm serious. It's just a matter of time before Samson's all mine.”

“You must be dreaming because if you believe he's going to cancel his wedding to be with you, Delilah, you have another thing coming,” Keisha said.

“I can give him what Julia can't.” Delilah refused to give up hope.

Keisha laughed on the other end of the phone. “Julia's not giving it up to him; you are. Why should she when you're her substitute?”

Ouch. That hurt.
“Here I thought you were my friend.” Delilah couldn't believe Keisha had said something so hurtful to her.

“I am your friend. That's why you can count on me to tell you the truth, whether you agree with me or not.”

Delilah hated to admit it, but Keisha never bit her tongue when it came to telling her anything. Sometimes she could be a little too harsh. Keisha's blunt honesty, however, was one of the reasons Delilah cherished their friendship. Keisha was the sister she never had.

Delilah asked, “What do you think I should do with the video?”

“Erase it and act like it never existed. You're lucky Samson didn't go upside your head.”

“He would never do something like that.”

“You never know what a man is capable of doing until his back is up against the wall.”

Keisha had a point. She recalled the way Samson's eyes darkened when he approached her about the disk. She wouldn't admit it to Keisha, but it did scare her for a minute.

“I'm not giving it to William, so you don't have to worry about that.”

“Destroy it. Give William back his money and look for another job.”

“I can't,” Delilah whined.

“You can, but you won't.”

“Have you read Samson and Delilah's story? It's one of the greatest love stories ever told. Samson and I are destined to be together. This isn't just fate, it's biblical, Keisha.”

“Delilah, I would be remiss if I didn't share this with you. I hate to tell you, but the story of Samson and Delilah in the Bible is more of a tragedy than a love story. Do you want to destroy the man you claim to love?”

Here she goes again on one of her tirades,
Delilah thought. “No, of course not.”

“Then do as I suggested. Forget William and Samson and move on.”

“William I can forget, but Samson, never. I love him too much to give him up that easily.”

“But the love isn't reciprocated. You deserve so much better.”

“Keisha, you just don't understand. You don't know Samson like I know him. My love for him won't allow me to give him up.”

“I hope you don't live to regret this quest of yours. Samson is a man of God, and your trying to destroy him will only bring bad things on you.”

“I'm the one standing in the gap for him. If I didn't agree to help William, he would have found someone else, and you can guarantee that person wouldn't be making things easy for Samson.” Delilah said those things more to herself than Keisha, as she attempted to justify working for William.

“Your allegiance should lie with God, but it sounds like you've aligned yourself with the devil.”

Delilah couldn't disagree because there were many days when she thought William was a pawn of Satan. “I love God, and I love Samson. Unless Samson does something to change my mind, I will protect him from William's wrath.”

“From what I've heard about William, he's no one to play with. Be honest with him and get out while you can. Men like William will destroy anybody who stands in the way of them getting what they want. I love you, and I don't want anything to happen to you,” Keisha said.

“Are you sniffling over there?” Delilah asked.

“No, I'm all right.”

To Delilah, it sounded like Keisha was crying. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe she should get out from under William while she still could. She hadn't spent the money he had given her yet, so all she had to do was return it. Delilah knew it wouldn't be that easy, so she pushed thoughts of returning William's money to the back of her mind.

“Keisha, I'm a grown woman. I know how to take care of myself. Trust me. Things will work themselves out. William will get his land, and I will get what I want—Samson.”

Samson felt bad about how things played out with Delilah. She claimed to love him, and his male ego ate it up, but he knew it was wrong. He had no business sleeping with Delilah. He knew God was not pleased with his behavior. Samson headed straight to church after he left his parents' house. Elaine's car was the only one in the parking lot, and he assumed she was in her office.

He kneeled down before the altar. “Father God, please hear your servant's prayer. I have been obedient to you in so many areas of my life, but lately I've succumbed to the desires of the flesh. I know you're not pleased with my actions, and the video was a wake-up call. Lord, forgive me for the sins I've committed against you and against the woman that you've blessed me with.

“Delilah has a good heart, but her affections are directed in the wrong place. I pray that she gets peace of mind and that she realizes her worth. Only you can change her mind and heart. With you all things are possible.

“Lord, please remove the yoke from around my neck. Free me from my carnal desires. Forgive me, Father, and guide my steps so that I won't be a hindrance to anyone trying to serve you.”

Samson finished praying and stood up. He turned around and came face-to-face with William Trusts. “What are you doing here?”

“If the man of God won't come to you, you have to go to the man of God, right?” William, wearing a red pin-striped suit and matching hat, sat down on the closest pew, his cane in hand.

Samson remained standing. “Let me get my bottle of holy oil. Better yet, let me get the whole box.”

William leaned on his cane as his sinister laugh filled the sanctuary. “You got jokes I see.”

“If you're here about the land, forget it.”

William tapped his cane on the floor. “No, we have another matter to settle. I understand you've been getting a little cozy with one of my employees.”

“I don't entertain rumors.”

“Must be some truth to it because you never asked me which employee.” William leaned back on the pew.

“William, you have one minute before I forget I'm a pastor and kick your butt out of my church.”

Getting straight to the point, William said, “What would your fiancée think about you messing around with Delilah Baker?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about, so you can get out of here with your threats.”

William stood up. “Oh, I'm going, but know this: I'll give you until the end of the month to sell me the property. If not, I'm taking it.”

William picked up his cane and tipped out of the sanctuary. Samson fell back down on his knees to repent of the sinful thoughts that filled his mind about William. After praying, he got up and headed to his office. Elaine was on the phone when he entered the office. “Hold on, that's the pastor now.” She looked up at him. “Julia's on the phone for you.”

“I'll pick it up at my desk,” Samson said as he rushed to his desk. “Hi, beautiful,” he greeted Julia after picking up the phone.

“I stopped by this morning, but I guess I missed you,” she said.

“I had some last-minute errands to run,” Samson responded.

“Are you nervous about Saturday?” she asked.

“Is fat meat greasy?”

They both laughed. After going over wedding details, they got off the phone. Samson called Elaine on the intercom. “When Deacon Thompson gets here, I would like for you to hold all my calls unless it's my parents or Julia, please.”

“Will do,” she responded.

Samson turned on his computer and checked his e-mails. Sometimes some of the members would send prayer requests via e-mail, and he didn't want to miss any. He made a mental note of the prayer requests and kneeled down at his desk and prayed for his church members. He had just gotten off his knees when someone knocked at the door.

“Come in,” Samson yelled.

Deacon Calvin Thompson entered, standing more than six feet tall and wearing a custom-made suit. They greeted each other with a brotherly hug.

“So what can I do for you, Pastor?” Calvin asked.

“Calvin, you're probably one of my best friends.” Calvin was not only one of Samson's best friends, he also was the church's attorney.

“You've helped me out of plenty of messes,” he said.

“This time it looks like I need you to get me out of a mess.”

Calvin leaned forward in his chair. “Is William Trusts badgering you again? If so, I'll get my people on it.”

“William is persistent. He's not going to give up until he gets the church property.”

“As the church attorney, I've checked into it, and he has no legal claim unless the church decides to sell it to him.”

“That's good to know. I've prayed and prayed about it. I don't think we should give up the land. I think Peaceful Rest will grow, and we'll need that land to build a new sanctuary twice as big as the one we have here.”

“Some people think we should sell it, but I trust your judgment.”

“I appreciate that, man.”

“Let me deal with Trusts,” Calvin said.

“I wish that were all there was to it. I don't even know how to say this.” Samson walked to the window and stared outside. “Have you ever had to get yourself out of a compromising position?”

Calvin laughed. “You're talking to a lawyer. If there's a will, there's a way.”

Samson turned around and sat back down behind his desk. “I can trust you, right?”

“I wouldn't be the best man in your wedding if you couldn't,” Calvin responded.

Samson leaned his head back and let out a few deep breaths. “I have a situation. I thought I could handle it, but it's not going away.”

“Samson, whatever you need me to do, I got it covered.” Calvin sat up straight in his chair.

“What I tell you must not be repeated. I mean it. Don't even tell your wife.”

“I'll treat it as attorney-client privilege.”

Samson sighed with relief. “It's Delilah Baker.” Samson went on to tell Calvin about his encounters with Delilah. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders when he confessed.

“Women like Delilah are plentiful. She won't go through with her threats. If she were going to tell Julia anything, she would have done it a long time ago.”

“I need you to make sure she doesn't get anywhere near Julia before the wedding.” Samson was relieved that Calvin didn't seem to judge him.

“Consider it already done.”

Calvin exited Samson's office, leaving Samson alone with his thoughts. He had no idea of Calvin's plans, but he hoped whatever they were, they would convince Delilah to back off with her threats.

Samson leaned back in his chair. What was he thinking? Calvin was no match for Delilah. Sending someone over to clean up his mess would set her off.

Samson dialed Calvin's number. “Don't confront Delilah. Just have my back if something goes down.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Samson responded as he twirled his chair around to face the window. Samson hung up the phone and dropped his head as he prayed for another solution.