The Veil (3 page)

“It is funny. All those days you thought you were fooling me, like I didn't know you were clubbing, I was praying for you. Praying you'd stopped drinking and going to clubs. The prayers of the righteous availeth much.”

“You knew I was going to clubs?”

“Yeah, I knew. I liked you. So I started praying for God to pull you out of the world and into His kingdom. My prayers were answered more than I expected. I never thought you would go into the ministry. I thought you would make a good first lady.”

“You're asking me to marry you?”

Roger sat up nervously on the edge of the sofa. “You know I would not propose to you like that. It's coming though.”

“When?”

“It's coming. Good things come to those who wait.”

“Sometimes if you wait too long, things can spoil.”

“What does that mean?”

“Nothing. I'm just messing with you. I love you,” Misha said, snuggling into Roger again and taking a deep breath.

“I love you. I promise you, it won't be long. You'll make a wonderful first lady if only I can find you a hat like your mother's.”

Both of them laughed as they talked about the oversized hat that was folded on one side with a loop going over it and a peacock feather sticking out of it. They compared it to the fully feathered hat First Lady Moore was wearing.

“You won't catch me in a hat like those.”

“Even if I wanted a private hat show?” Roger said, leaning over and lightly kissing her ear, his lips slowly moving down her neck.

“Roger, we agreed, no sex, and you know how hard that was for me,” she said, sitting up on the sofa. She wondered if he knew about the other guys, since he knew about the clubs. When she met him, she wanted to have sex. He was adamant about his celibacy and this almost broke them up. She couldn't hold back. She had to get hers until about a year into their relationship; she began feeling guilty about cheating on him and decided to give up sex. She couldn't look Roger in the face. She confessed to her friend Sheryl, who convinced her she was in love with Roger and she should never tell him about the other guys. Since that day, she never cheated on him and committed herself solely to this Christian relationship.

“Roger, maybe you should go,” she said, standing and walking toward to door.

“I thought you wanted me to stay.”

“You're kissing my neck. You know what that does to me.”

“I see we're going to have to get married soon. On a night like tonight, I really want to be with you. I'm so happy and proud of you,” he said, pulling her body to his, their lips meeting, lingering for a more passionate kiss. “You're right. I better go. Minister Holloway, sweet dreams,” he whispered as Misha wrapped her arms around his waist. “Aaaagh, do you think there's a flight leaving for Vegas tonight?” he said, leaning his head back.

“I'll go get my bag.” Misha released him and started past him just as he reached out and took her hand.

“Hey, I was only joking.”

“I know. Scared you, didn't I?” A smile spread across her face.

“Come here, girl. I promise you. Soon, we'll sit down and plan something, okay?” He pulled her into him again. Misha wondered if he was being honest with her. She had heard it all before. But she was willing to wait.

Three weeks had passed and Misha was enjoying being called Minister Holloway, although sometimes she didn't answer when people called her Minister. It sounded strange to her. She was looking forward to Wednesday night Bible Study. Bishop Moore could teach unlike anyone she had ever heard before. He had a way of dissecting the Word in a way that made it so relevant to today's life. The first time Roger had taken her to his church, she was discouraged with all the things, scandalous things, that were going on in her home church. It seemed like family groups ruled the church and the older people made it hard for the younger people to take an active part in the worship service. In college, she attended chapel at Howard but with the multiple speakers she felt as if it was more political than spiritual. She visited multiple churches in the DC area but never felt comfortable in any of them. She saw too much.

So when Roger took her to Kingdom Faith Church, a midsize church of about 600 people located within the inner city of Atlanta, and she heard Bishop speak, it felt like that was where she belonged. It had been three years and she had become very active in the church, helping with the junior missionaries and the youth choir. She was also instrumental in developing the church's after school program. This project she was especially proud of since she and Roger worked on it together.

As she entered Bishop's office, she saw his many degrees, earned and honorary. There were multiple pictures on the wall, some of which looked very old and were in black and white. There was even one with Bishop and 1960s civil rights leaders. She smiled looking at the picture of Bishop in a dashiki and a very large Afro. There was a big maple wood desk and leather chairs scattered throughout the large office. She admired him because he was so wise and he helped her with a lot of the decisions she had to make after she graduated from college. He believed in establishing relationships with his members, like family.

He went to the hospital and visited her mother even though she was not a member of his church. He was so encouraging to everyone he met. He was well respected in the community and was a force to be reckoned with when it came to community revitalization and economic empowerment. He treated the ministers with utmost respect and just like they were his natural children. Roger would go on and on about the things he was being taught about church leadership and the ministry. Happy he was her pastor, she looked forward to finally discussing the gift with him.

Bishop Moore, a tall, stout, dark-skinned man in his late sixties, greeted her with a big hug and asked her to sit in one of the large brown leather chairs in front of his desk. He commended her for her work with the junior missionaries and advised her about their new project that would be starting at the beginning of the year. Finishing up the missionary work, Misha felt it was the proper time to talk to him about the gift.

“Bishop, I need to ask you something.”

“Go ahead, daughter.”

“Well this is kinda hard for me. I've only told one person before today and Roger said I should talk to you about it.”

“Sounds important. Wait a minute. Let me close the door.” Bishop managed to get his large body up from the well-worn chair behind his desk and went to the door and closed it. He returned to his seat and continued the conversation. “What is it, daughter?”

She took a deep breath and then started. “Bishop, all my life I have known things.”

“Things? What type of things?” he said, sitting up in his chair and clasping his hands on the desk in front of him.

“I don't know how to explain it. But, I know things I shouldn't know, about people, places, things, and stuff like that. It's beginning to bother me. Like a few weeks ago, I knew the husband of one of my coworkers was out of town and he was getting a promotion. She told me today he got the promotion. I don't know how I knew. I just knew and I only met her husband once, briefly, last year.”

“How long has this been going on?” Bishop asked, leaning on his desk.

Misha twirled her fingers nervously as she sat in the chair that sank in from wear. “All my life.”

“I'm glad you came to me. What do you think it is?”

Misha searched for the words to describe exactly what was going on with her. How could she tell him her dreams were not ordinary dreams? They were insight into the future. She could not explain how she could look at a person and know their entire life story without them mentioning a word. Would he think she was crazy? Goodness, she was just ordained into the ministry. She did not want to appear weird.

“I don't know. It doesn't happen all the time. I've prayed about it. Roger seems to think it has something to do with me going into the ministry.”

“What do you think?” he asked but Misha could not answer. She did not know.

Bishop began to minister to her about spiritual gifts and told her to study 1 Corinthians 12. He scheduled an appointment with her to give her a spiritual gifts questionnaire.

“Bishop, what do I do until then? This is becoming more irritating than anything. It seems like it's happening more and more. I can't make it stop. Like for instance, when I look at you, I see this dark-skinned woman with a short, natural hairstyle. She has two children, boys, standing beside her, and she is waving and smiling.”

Bishop's eyes widened and he jumped to his feet, slamming his hands against the desk. His chair rolled back and hit the wall. Misha jumped, startled at his reaction. His smile was gone. She could see the veins beating through the skin of his forehead and neck. “What are you talking about? You don't know anything about me. How dare you walk into my office trying to trick me with gossip, pretending the Lord is showing you something. Do you think I'm some kinda fool?” he shouted.

“Bishop, I don't know what you're talking about. I need your help. I came for help. That's all.”

“Do you think you're the first one to think they can pull something over my head? Who sent you here?” he said, walking around his desk and staring at her.

“Roger told me to talk with you. I didn't say anything to him about the woman.”

“So you and Minister Williams think you can take over this ministry with your lies and gossip. You think you're sneaky. You need to try again. I built this ministry up to what it is today and I'm not about to let the two of you come in here and destroy it.”

“Bishop, I don't know what you're talking about. I only came here for help. I need to understand what's going on with me.” Misha could not believe his reaction.

“So you thought you could pretend you were a prophet and make me admit to something that's not true?”

“Bishop, I—”

“It's time for Bible Study. Please leave my office. I have to prepare for service. We'll continue this conversation later.”

Misha left his office, bewildered at what had just happened. She didn't understand the reaction she got from him. Walking down the long hallway and down the short set of steps to the main sanctuary, she tried desperately to hold back the tears. She found a seat near the front of the church and silently prayed to herself about what happened and asked God for direction. Roger sat down beside her and kissed her lightly on the cheek, interrupting her thoughts.

“Mimi, what's wrong?” he asked, noticing her eyes on the threshold of tearing.

“We'll talk about it later,” Misha whispered, holding her head down, trying to keep the tears from falling.

“Did you talk to Bishop?”

“I don't want to talk about it. I'll tell you after Bible Study.”

The praise team got up and began service, and afterward the large group of people was divided into smaller classes with the largest, the adults, remaining in the sanctuary. Roger sat beside her with his arm around her shoulders. Bishop came out and began to address the congregation.

“There comes a time in everyone's ministry when we have to do things we don't want to. I've been praying in my office about this and I feel this is what God wants me to do.” He stood at the podium, fumbling through the papers in front of him.

Something bad was about to happen. Misha could feel it. His every word was directed at her even though he did not look at her. He began to teach on witchcraft and the hold it could have on people. Misha fidgeted in her seat as she listened to him speak. Roger was engrossed with every word. At one point, he stood along with others, voicing his agreement to what Bishop was saying. He talked about the spirit of manipulation and how this was a primary instrument of the enemy. The congregation was taking it all in with such enthusiasm. Misha could not join in. That horrible sinking feeling in her gut wouldn't let go and kept getting worse. Fear ripped through her as she tried to prepare herself for the storm that was brewing. A cold chill swept through her the longer Bishop continued to speak.

“Today, a witch came into my office and tried to manipulate me. I will not tolerate a witch in this church. People who operate under a satanic anointing will tear a church up and I won't have it. Therefore, I want to say to that person she has to leave today.”

Misha knew what was coming next. She could feel it in her spirit. She prayed he wasn't talking about her. But, she knew differently. He looked directly at her.

“Ms. Holloway, when you came to our church, we accepted you as family. But as with any devil, if you wait, the true fruit will appear. The Bible says you will know them by their fruit. Well, now I have seen your fruit. How dare you come in here and try to tell me something about myself? You don't know anything about me or what goes on in my house. You're a witch and have a spirit of divination. I will not let a witch come in here and destroy this church. Get out. Get out now and don't come back. Deacons, help her to the door,” Bishop said, waving his arm in the direction of the door at the back of the church.

“Wait a minute. What's going on?” Roger's eyes were questioning as he looked at Bishop and then Misha.

“Minister Williams, if you don't like it, you can follow her.”

Misha looked at Roger, his mouth open and eyes full of wonder. She waited for him to defend her. When he didn't say anything in her defense, she gathered her jacket and purse and was slowly escorted out the door by two deacons. She could hear the whispers in the crowd as she walked down the aisle to the door. Someone began clapping and there began a slow ascension of hands clapping from the congregation. They were agreeing with Bishop. Misha couldn't look at them. These were the same people who, only a few weeks ago, applauded her and celebrated her accomplishments. She couldn't believe they would turn on her so quickly.

She stopped at the door of the church, waiting to hear one voice stand and defend her. When no one did, she walked out the door. They were going along with Bishop even though they did not know the real story. They blindly followed him and put their trust in him. So whatever he said went. Today, the thing going was her. And where was Roger? Was he coming to her defense? She waited at her car for him to follow her out of the church, but he never showed. One deacon walked to her, apologizing for what happened, but asked that she leave the premises or he would have to call the police.

She began her journey home until her weeping became so bad she could not drive. She pulled her car into the parking lot of a grocery store and picked up the phone to call Roger, only to get his voicemail. What just happened to her? She didn't understand any of it. She only wanted answers to what was going on with her. This night she got none. If anything, she was more confused than ever.

“How could he treat me like that?” she wondered out loud. “He called me a witch. I'm not a witch!” She yelled alone in her car. “God, please help me!” She continued trying to get Roger on his cell until she arrived home. It was after ten when he finally called her back. She was in the bed but sleep eluded her. Tears fell freely onto her pillow. She leaped for the phone on her nightstand when it rang.

“Misha, what did you say to Bishop? He seems to think I had something to do with it. He wants to sit me down. What did you do?” Roger questioned her.

“I didn't do anything. I told him I know things and he got angry. That's all. He got so upset he asked me to leave his office.”

“You know how hard I work in the ministry. How could you do something to destroy it? I thought you loved me.”

“What are you talking about? I do love you. I didn't do anything. I only wanted help and he got angry. I don't know why. When I mentioned the woman and kids—”

“What woman? You told me you didn't say anything to him. What's the truth? What did you say about me?” Roger continued yelling in the phone.

“You told me to talk to him. I was only telling him what I saw. If he got so upset, then there must have been some truth to it. I thought of all the people, I would have your support.”

“I thought I had yours. How could you do something to destroy my ministry? I thought I knew you. How could you do this to me, to us?” She heard the click of the phone as Roger hung up on her.

She was so overwhelmed with the situation she cried herself to sleep that night. She could not believe the man she loved was taking someone else's side in all this. He did not even listen to her. He didn't even ask her how she was feeling. He acted as if he didn't care about anyone but himself. This was a side of him she had not seen before.

The following morning she was beginning to question their relationship when he did not answer her phone calls to him. She went to school, pretending everything was fine, even though there were times when she felt like crying and had to leave her classroom to go into the hallway to get herself together.