Preaching to the Choir (3 page)

              “Do you know how hard it was for me to look at the love child you made with her?” she asked, her eyes welling up with tears as she turned in her seat to face him.

              “What are you talking about?” he asked, seemingly confused.

              “The same doctor’s office, Michael? Really?! Why would you send me to the doctor’s office your
bastard
child goes to?”

              “Hey, watch your mouth.”

              “
Fuck
  you.” She spat. “I was wondering why you wanted me to drive two hours for a damn check-up.”

              Michael snatched her up by the wrists, his angry face within an inch of her defiant one.

              “In case you’ve been too drunk to notice, our daughter isn’t right. I sent you there to see the best doctor in the state. I forgot Alana was taking Michaela the same day, and for that, I apologize, but I’m not going to allow you to talk about my daughter that way.”

              Milan just stared into his eyes with hostility, saying nothing. He finally spoke.

              “Why is this coming up now? You took Maddie to the doctor the other day. Not to mention, we had a
fantastic
night when I came home yesterday…so why is this coming up now? Because you’re feeling a little liquid courage?”

              “We were supposed to have our first child
together
, Mike.” She said softly, pulling away from his grip and picking Maddie up from where she stood next to her father. “…and she might not be right to you, but she’s perfect to me.”

              Michael watched silently as she walked away with his beautiful daughter in her arms, his heart breaking. With a heavy sigh, he walked off down the hall towards his study, having to prepare his sermons for the Sunday morning service.

              “…and now I’m going to ask everyone to open their Bibles to Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 4. And it says, “Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.”

              Milan flared her nostrils as she sat in front of her husband while he preached to the congregation about marriage and adultery. She smirked a little, thinking he couldn’t be serious. There’s no way he could stand before all ten thousand of these people and preach something he wasn’t living himself. Maddie began to fuss a little, and Milan rocked her back and forth slowly, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Michael.

             
“What an ass.”
She thought to herself.
“I wonder what all of these good church folk would think if they knew the real you.”

              “Preach!” Sister Bertha Johnson called out from the pew directly behind her. Milan rolled her eyes, becoming more and more agitated as everyone shouted in agreement.

              Maddie squirmed and began to cry loudly, causing Michael to make eye contact with Milan. He hated to be interrupted during his sermon, even if it was by his own child. Milan got up and left in a hurry, Madison wailing the entire way.

              As she pushed through the stained glass double doors that led to the lobby, she ran smack into Alana, almost dropping Madison in the process.

              “What...hi!” Milan said, trying to fake a smile.

              Alana stood there silently, holding Michaela’s hand.

              “What are you doing here? Where’s Michael?”

              Madison continued crying, causing Milan to panic.

              “Listen, I’m here with my husband. You need to leave.” She said, bouncing Madison on her hip impatiently.

              Alana’s eyes were watery, and she was staring at Madison.

              “You called his phone.” She whispered, wiping a stray tear off of her cheek.

              “Excuse me?” Milan said, shifting her weight.

              Alana picked up her daughter and turned to leave.

              “I know you’re fucking my man. You can have his ass.” She said loudly over her shoulder.

              “Whoa, hold up. I’m not fucking anyone’s man but my
own
, sweetie.” Milan said, following Alana towards the door. “Michael isn’t here.”

              “Bullshit.” She said as she pushed the door open.

              Milan rolled her eyes, becoming impatient.

              “Listen, if I was you, I’d get on up outta here. I’m pretty sure that
whoever
your man is, he wouldn’t appreciate you storming up in a church talking shit to a married woman.”

              Alana turned to face her with a look of disgust.

              “How can you stand there protecting that bastard? Look at our children! Don’t you see it?”

              As much as Milan felt sorry for the younger girl, she felt sorry for herself more.

              “Okay, look…I’ve known Michael my entire life, and we’ve been together since we were 14 years old. That’s 16 years, Alana. I’m sorry to tell you this, but he didn’t cheat on you, he cheated on
me
.”

              Alana look horrified, her mouth falling open as tears fell simultaneously.

              “What did you just say?”

              Milan shook her head, turning to go back inside.

              “Listen, don’t come here anymore. Trust me, you know I’m telling you that to help you.”

* * *

              Alana’s knuckles were ghostly white as she gripped the steering wheel tightly, blinded by a mixture of hurt and anger.
How could Michael do this to Michaela and me? How could Milan be so calm and nonchalant about it?
she asked herself 1000 questions as she drove the two hours back to the home she shared with Michael.

              Looking in her rearview mirror at Michaela fast asleep, Alana began to cry all over again. Her daughter was so beautiful, and it was hard to believe that she’d originally wanted an abortion. Although her father was a scumbag, Alana couldn’t imagine life without Michaela Faith.

              Focusing her attention back to the road, Alana began plotting her next moves. Tracking Michael down had been easy with the help of the Find My iPhone app, and she could use that to her advantage. She was going to hurt him just as bad as he had hurt her. She was only 17 when she met him…

              She had just wrapped up another 3 hours at the public library, something she did after school every day. She was determined to keep her 4.2 G.P.A, especially during her tough senior year. As she was gathering her books and completed homework assignments, a tall, chocolate man who was a spitting image of Lance Gross approached her.

"Can I help you with some of those books?" he asked, politely and articulately.

Alana declined his offer and walked away. As she walked out of the door and down the steps of the library, the same man stopped her again. She rolled her eyes and became annoyed by his presence.

“Look, I've got to get home. Is there something I can help you with?" Alana said exasperatedly.

              "I wanted to tell you that you are the most beautiful young lady I have ever seen...and I was wondering if I could know your name?" the man said. After she gave him a cold stare, he sighed. "C’mon baby girl, all I want is your name. Mine is Michael Anthony Matthews II. I'm 26, a Leo, no kids, I don't drink or smoke, and I live alone. See? Now you know all that about me and all I want is your name."

              Alana couldn't resist smiling at his charming demeanor.

              "My name is Alana Walker, and I'm 17."

              He smiled.

              "Wow! Alana Walker, and she’s 17! God bless America!" he shouted, causing Alana to laugh. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Okay, I know I said that's all I wanted, but I lied. I also want you to call me, and be my girl. Can you do that?"

              Alana hesitated.

              "Okay, Mr. Matthews, I'll take your number...but that's it. I'm not promising I'll call."

              Michael hung his head playfully.

              "Damn. At least you honest...Well, here." He handed her a slip of paper. "If you decide to be Mrs. Michael Matthews, this is where you start. Goodbye for now beautiful..." He backed up slowly, watching Alana smile and walk away.

              He got into his Charger and started to pull off. He watched the beautiful young girl walk down the street and decided he must have her.

              Alana walked along, holding her books to her chest, smiling. No man at her school had ever shown any interest in her, so she was feeling better than ever. For once, she had something other than her schoolwork to think about. She then noticed that a smooth black Charger was driving along next to her as she walked. Finally, she stopped and so did the car. The window rolled down and Michael's handsome face appeared. She put her hand on her hip and gave him a look.

              "Sorry, I want one more thing...can I give you a ride? PLEASE? C'mon ma, you got me begging, get in!"

              Alana checked his ride out. It was pretty fly. She got in, and Michael gave her a big hug. He is so silly, she thought to herself, but so intelligent and proper at the same time. Before she got out, Michael grabbed her hand and asked her the question that made her decide she was definitely going to call.

              "Alana, how much land does a man need?" He caressed her hand as his soulful eyes drilled into hers.

              She stared right back and smiled.

              "Enough to bury him in. Leo Tolstoy."

              "Damn...wifey on the way! Girl, you are going to be my wife one day, I kid you not!"

              Alana laughed and got out of the car. A funny, handsome young man who knew a little about English Literature was definitely a plus in Alana's book. Later that night, as she lay in her bed, she decided to give Michael a ring.

              A few months later Alana was on Cloud 9. Since giving Michael a call, they had been talking a lot, and she felt like she was ready for her parents to meet him. They were kind of old-fashioned and didn't like their only daughter to date, but Alana hoped they would allow her to date Michael.

              When she first told her mom she had someone she wanted to bring home, her mom was okay with it. However, when Alana mentioned his name was Michael Matthews and he was 26, her mom turned ghostly pale.

              "Alana, I want you to stop seeing him. All the men in his family are cold-hearted and abusive." her mom said seriously.

              "Mom! Are you serious? I'm not going to stop seeing him! I love him, and what's more, we're going to get married!"

              "Over my dead body!" her father's booming voice exclaimed from the next room.

              "Daddy, I'm about to be 18, and there's nothing you can do to stop me!" Alana screamed before storming down the hall to her room. "I hate living in this shit hole, and I'm leaving whether you like it or not!"

              Alana dialed Michael's number and waited. When he answered, she told him how the talk with her mom went. Laughing to himself, Michael explained how he knew this would happen.

              "Baby girl, your parents will never understand what you and me have. Our connection is real, and even they can't take that away. That's why I wish you would come live with me. You wouldn't have to ever work. All you got to do is graduate high school...I'm telling you baby, I want to marry you as soon as you turn 18."

              Alana thought about everything Michael was saying to her. From what he said, life with him would be perfect. No worries, no problems. He told her that if she decided to move in with him to call. He would supply her with a new wardrobe, and anything else she would need, all she would need to bring is herself. At about 11:30 that night, Alana walked out of her home and away from a life she knew and into a seemingly perfect life with a man she thought she knew.

              Walking into Michael's beautiful bachelor pad took Alana’s breath away. It was nothing like the tiny apartment she and her parents had shared. It was so large and spacious, and in perfect order. She wondered how a single man could do so well for himself and keep things so clean. Michael was still a perfect gentleman; he let her sleep in his bed and he took the couch. Alana stretched out on the Egyptian cotton sheets and fell into a peaceful, relaxing sleep full of sweet dreams.

* * *

              It had been two months since Alana had run away and as Michael had promised, her wardrobe was replaced and her life with him was sweet. Alana’s mom called her endlessly, pleading with her to come back home. She tried to tell Alana that Michael was not what he seemed and that he was going to hurt her. Alana wasn't trying to hear what her mom had to say. The way Alana seen it, her mom was just jealous.

              She didn't dwell on it long. Graduation was a week away and Alana was excited. Michael took her shopping for a nice dress and a pair of shoes before he went out of town on business again, promising to make it back in time to see her walk the stage.