Good to Me (34 page)

“Please don’t play with me.” He talked more slowly, “Does this letter… mean that I… my appeal was granted and I’m
immediately released… and I can go home?”

Since Joseph was talking to him like he couldn’t hear, the guard talked slow and motioned with his hands like he was doing
sign language. “By the authority of the Federal Bureau of Prisoners, I decree that you, inmate Joseph Nelson, number 03554-520,
are a free man. Your appeal was granted. It looks like the witnesses that testified against you in the first trial had corroborated
with your former partner. When they received your appeal hearing notice and were going to have to come back to court, they
both turned in statements saying that their testimonies were false. That’s all the prosecutor needed to let you go. You’re
scheduled to leave on the five-thirty-p.m. Greyhound bus heading to Virginia.”

Joseph fell to his knees and thanked God for His faithfulness. He was crying like a baby when he went to hug the counselor.
“Thanks for everything. Thank you, thank you.”

“You better get going, Nelson—I mean, Joseph. I’ve only got three hours to get you to the bus station.”

With that, Joseph ran at lightning speed to the canteen where Allen and Hankins worked. He was out of breath when he reached
them. “I’m… going… home… today.”

Even though he would confess his immediate release every day, they could tell by the tears streaming down his face that he
was really going home. They all shouted with praise and hugged and cried together. The life they’d helped one another get
through had already changed. “I only have three hours before my bus leaves, so I have got to get moving. Hankins, I want you
to carry on with the intercessory prayer meetings. Don’t let no one stop you. Allen, you are an encourager, keep the bros
encouraged. You know how I did it, you used to imitate me and play the part, now I want you to be the part.” Then, he started
crying. “I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything you’ve done. You’ve stood by me, tolerated me. You taught me so
much. I love you.”

Hankins and Allen were crying just as hard. Allen spoke first. “I will do as you’ve said. You go out there and show them.
Don’t ever forget me, man.”

“Never. We’ve got business plans, remember?”

“It’s busy out there. You make sure you make time to write and send wedding pictures.”

“I won’t have to. You’ll be at the altar with me. I’ve seen it in the vision and I know it will speak.”

“Lord, what are we going to do without Brother Word?” Hankins joked.

By this time everyone in the canteen was crowded around them and rejoicing with them, even the guards.

It became a little easier to depart when he pushed thoughts of what he was leaving behind and thought of where he was going.
Joy filled his heart when he envisioned the look of surprise on his family’s faces. He fought the urge to call them. He’d
rather them be surprised. Once he was on the bus, he enjoyed every minute of his twelve-hour ride. By the time he got to Virginia,
he had told the driver his whole life story and talked out his plans to surprise his family and future wife. He arrived in
Virginia, just as scheduled, at 5:45 a.m. on the dot. That was perfect timing because his mother is an early bird and was
probably already up cooking breakfast for his father.

He used his gateway money and took a cab to the house. He was so excited he couldn’t wait for the driver to count out his
change. “Just take the whole thang.” He grabbed his one box and walked around to the back door, where he saw the light on
in the kitchen. He knocked on the door. Through the sheer curtains he could see his mother tiptoe out of the kitchen.
Momma’s still the same
, he thought. He knew she was going to get his father. It was too early for anyone to be knocking at their door, and he knew
she was not going to answer it.

“Who is it?” his father’s voice boomed.

Joseph knocked again without answering.

“Who is it?”

Joseph knocked again. He was about to burst with excitement when he heard the chains being taken off the door. Joseph could
hear his father fussing, “Who is this knocking—”

Joseph threw himself into his father’s chest. “It’s me, Daddy.”

“Beverly, Beverly. It’s Joseph. Joseph’s home.”

“Oh my Lord. Hallelujah.” She ran into his arms.

“Hey, Momma.” The only person’s hug that could be sweeter than his mother’s was Charity’s.

He was sure that all of Virginia was at his home church for Wednesday night Bible study. The news about his homecoming traveled
quicker than he did. There were phone calls and visits he had not yet made. He defied the fatigue that was trying to weigh
him down since he had been up for twenty-four hours. But there was no way he was going to miss the opportunity to let his
church family know that their prayers had been answered. Although people swarmed around him, he couldn’t help but wonder about
how his friends were doing in the intercessory prayer meeting back in Kentucky.

“I don’t know how far we’ll get tonight,” the preacher’s voice broke through the loud buzz of laughter, praise, and conversation.
“God has answered a prayer we’ve lifted up to Him for two years.” The congregation went wild. “I know some of us had given
up,” he said, cutting them off again. “I know there were times I wanted to throw in the towel and stop praying, but God said
‘No, I will do this. Hold on to your faith.’ And Saints, He has. I want to present to some, and introduce to others, my very
own nephew, who is now a minister of the Gospel, Minister Joseph Nelson Jr.” He applauded with the rest of the church as Joseph
rose to his feet and waved. “Come on up here, son. There’s a word of deliverance in your mouth. Tell us your testimony.”

When Joseph reached the pulpit, the church’s praise was cut off instantaneously like a light with a light switch. He gave
honor to God, acknowledged his family, and then his church family. He thanked them all for their prayers and testified how
God heard them and how he received his salvation the first day he walked into the prison. He told them everything, from how
he used to play one role in the church on Sundays and “live like the devil Monday through Saturday,” to how prison had humbled
him so much that all he had was the Word of God. He knew that their hearts were being convicted and they were also being encouraged.
He ministered to the young and old folks alike. “This walk is not for naught. You keep fighting the good fight of faith, the
diligent shall be rewarded.”

It was almost eleven o’clock when they got home. He was beyond exhausted. He couldn’t even call Charity, and he hoped that
Sharon had not called her. No matter how much sleep came upon him, he knelt beside his bed and prayed unto God as he had done
nightly for the past two years.

IT WAS THURSDAY.
Charity was already two days late in responding to Emmitt’s proposal. Even though she had prayed for her marriage to be restored,
she still thought about Joseph. She could see God’s hand in both situations. How else could she explain Emmitt’s transformation
or the way in which Joseph found her? She truly loved and believed that they could make their remarriage work, but she felt
a deeper connection to Joseph.
But I know God wouldn’t bring me a man I can’t have right now.
She considered asking God for a sign, but knew better than to test God. She laughed at her foolish thoughts. “God, I’m grateful
for where You have me. I just want to please You. I will not move until You tell me to. Thank You for clarity, wisdom, and
patience. Amen.”

Expecting that it was Emmitt on the other end of the ringing phone, she picked it up and answered, “Publishers Clearing House.”

“I’m sorry,” the voice chuckled. “I have the wrong number.”

Charity thought she recognized the voice. “No, I’m sorry. This is the Phillips’s residence. May I help you?”

“Charity?”

“Yes?”

“It’s me, Joseph.”

“Joseph, how are you? I was wondering when you would call, I thought you’d forgotten the number.”

“Oh no, it’s etched in my heart now. I’ll never forget it.”

“Oh,” she said simply. “Joseph?”

“Yes.”

“When my dad calls me from prison I have to go through an automated message. Your calls don’t have one?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t hear it.”

“Wonder why that is?”

She held the phone out in her hand and looked at the caller ID. “This area code is Virginia? You’re not in Kentucky? How?
… When?…”

“Whoa! Slow down. I thought surely Sharon would call you and spoil my surprise, but I guess she didn’t. I was released on
Tuesday.”

“And you’re just now calling me?”

“My family had me busy. Seemed like the whole city came to church last night and welcomed me back. I didn’t get home till
late.”

“How’d you get out? What happened? Tell me all the details.”

“It was your visit and your prayers that did it.”

Charity hoped she wasn’t being modest. “It wasn’t anything I did. I can’t take credit for any of this.”

“I’ll tell you all about it when I see you in person.”

“When will that be?” she asked. She couldn’t believe she was just thinking about Emmitt and now she was wondering when she
would see Joseph.

“This weekend?”

“Friday or Saturday?”

“Saturday.”

She felt her heart drop. “Saturday might not work because my sister’s having her engagement party here at my house. She’s
getting married. I won’t be available Saturday at all.”

“How about Sunday?”

“Actually, I guess you can tag along on Saturday but I have to warn you, I’ll have another man with me.” Sensing that he was
not catching her joke, she added, “I’m talking about Xavier.”

“Girl, don’t play with me like that.”

They laughed. “Two more days before I can see you, huh?”

“Since being in prison, I don’t even go by time anymore. What seemed like a two-year impossibility happened in just the twinkling
of an eye Tuesday.”

“You’re right about that,” Charity said.

“Well, I’m going to call you back later tonight, and definitely tomorrow. I have to get ready to go and face my ex to see
my daughter.”

“Okay. I’ll lift you up in prayer.”

“Please, it’s going to take that and then some,” Joseph said.

Charity hung up and danced all around the house. God was not playing. He was meaning business and she made sure she let Him
know she was in agreement with what He was doing. She stopped dancing when she thought about Emmitt.
What do I tell him? How do I tell him? This is going to break his heart.
Oh man
,
I’m going to have to tell him no.
She prayed, “Please, God, don’t let him use this to turn his back on You.”

She wished she had her best friend to talk to. April would know exactly what to do, but Charity hadn’t talked to April since
their misunderstanding about Minister Adams. Charity made up her mind to call her. She knew April was at work and considered
leaving a message for her at home. “No, I want to talk to her and get this over with.” She dialed her work number.

“This is April.”

“April, are you busy?”

“Not really. Is everything all right?”

“Yes. I’m talking fast because I can’t talk long. Iesha’s having her engagement party at my house on Saturday and I have to
go and help her get some things ready today.”

“She is?”

Charity tried to say everything in one breath. “Yes. We haven’t talked in over two weeks, you won’t believe all that’s happened.
Iesha is saved and has a saved husband-to-be. Anyway, I need to apologize to you. I’m sorry that you and I fell out. I never
meant to let anything come between us. You are my best friend and I love you. If I had known that Minister Adams liked me,
I would not have gone to that ceremony with him—”

“I know, Charity. I was just beside myself, and too prideful to call you sooner than I did. It’s water under the bridge. Let’s
just pick up where we left off.”

“You think you were beside yourself. I was beside myself. You see where I ended up? Mom told me you visited.”

“Yes, she called me after it happened and asked me to come to the hospital,” April said. “I was there on the first two days
but you were out of it. I stopped coming, it was hard to see you like that. You were hooked up to all of those machines. I’m
just glad you’re alive and well.”

“I’d been trying to reach you beforehand. Did you get my messages?”

“Yes, but I was so angry it was good that you didn’t catch me.”

“You forgive me?”

“Already done… nailed to the cross… dead and stanking.”

“I have so much to tell you. I know you know my business closed, but you don’t know that Emmitt was suing me for child custody.”
She kept talking over April’s sighs and “you lyings.” “Emmitt’s mother died, he got saved, and last week asked me to remarry
him. But before you start shouting, Minister Joseph Nelson from Kentucky—”

“The one in jail.”

“Yes, he has been released and will be here Saturday.”

“Girl, this is too much. I got to excuse myself so I can go get my shout on in the bathroom. Call me later tonight. Oh, how’s
my godson?”

“Missing his godmother.”

“Kiss my baby for me. I’ll see you later.”

That was easier than Charity thought. She had feared April would still be upset, but now she was glad that she called her.
She had missed two Sundays of church and hadn’t seen or heard from Minister Adams, even though his phone number was on her
caller ID.

She changed into some better clothes than the ones she threw on to take Xavier to school. She was running a little late and
was supposed to be at Iesha’s house within fifteen minutes. She knew that it was Iesha on the other end of the phone calling
to curse her out.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Hey. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

“Hi, Minister Adams. I’m sure you’ve heard that I’ve been in the hospital.”

“Yes, Pastor announced it to the congregation. Are you doing okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you.” There was a moment of silence, “So, how can I help you?”