Read Online A Preacher's Passion by Lutishia Lovely - Free Book Online
Authors: Lutishia Lovely
Ads: Link
sprints? What kind of fool do you take me for, Kelvin?”
Kelvin sat slouched on a leather loveseat, silent. The air fairly crackled with tension as Derrick awaited an answer. Finally Kelvin shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t.”
“You don’t what?”
“I don’t think you’re a fool, Rev.”
“So since that’s not the problem, you’re going to have to tell me what is. Because I thought that after our last conversation, when I said in no uncertain terms that attending church was not optional, that this matter was settled.”
Kelvin sighed, not wanting to tell Derrick how he really felt, but not wanting to keep perpetrating a fraud either. Truth was, Kelvin didn’t agree with Derrick’s take on God, didn’t feel the need for religion. Even though he’d found out Derrick was his biological father only two years ago, Kelvin felt a special bond with him, respected his success. He enjoyed staying with the Montgomerys and getting to know his half brother and sister, Derrick Jr. and Elisia. In fact the only real disagreement he and his father had had since he moved in was that he didn’t like attending church. Kelvin hoped this fact wasn’t a deal breaker, but if he was going to continue to live with the Montgomerys, he had to have the freedom to live as he pleased.
“Look, Rev, you know I respect you and all that, but I just don’t believe—”
An urgent knock at the door interrupted Kelvin’s reply. It was Vivian. “Honey, we’ve got to go. Your uncle Charles has had an accident. They don’t know if he’ll make it.”
“Accident, what kind of accident?” Derrick asked, rising from his chair and grabbing his jacket at the same time. Charles Montgomery was Derrick’s favorite uncle, and his father’s brother. He was as close to him as he was to his own dad.
“Some freak happening. An electrical wire came loose and hit the water while he was taking a shower. He was electrocuted.”
Derrick leaned back against his desk. “Oh God, no,” he said quietly, as the gravity of the situation sank in. “Please help him, God. Please put Your arms around my uncle until I get there.”
Derrick’s assistant came into the office. He’d jumped into action as soon as Vivian had seen him on her way to Derrick and told him the news. “Just take it easy, Pastor,” he said to Derrick in a low, calming voice. “Everything is going to be all right. I’ve made your plane reservations and a town car is waiting to take you two to the airport. I’ve already called Mother Moseley. She said don’t worry; she’ll take care of the kids until you get back.”
Derrick had never valued Lionel’s levelheaded efficiency more than this moment. His assistant’s unruffled poise helped to calm Derrick’s rattled nerves. “Thank you,” he said. He turned to Kelvin. “I’ll deal with you later. Do me a favor and drive the Jag back to the house.”
Kelvin nodded somberly, trying to respect the serious mood and hide his excitement at driving the luxury car. But Derrick saw it anyway. “Give the keys to Mother Moseley as soon as you get home. I want the car to stay parked while we’re gone.”
Kelvin’s somber mood was no longer an act. “I can’t drive it at all?” he asked, having pictured in an instant cruising various California boulevards with his friends. “Can I at least go get something to eat first?”
Derrick was too preoccupied to argue. “Have that car home in a couple hours.”
“Sure, Rev,” Kelvin said as he took the keys from on top of the desk and headed toward the door. Just before he opened it he turned. “I’m sorry about not making it to church on time today, and I hope everything turns out okay with your uncle.”
Derrick walked over and hugged his son. Moments like this made him all too aware that tomorrow was not promised, and that one should always be satisfied that if the last words spoken ended up being your last words period, that they were ones you’d want to leave
Kelvin sat slouched on a leather loveseat, silent. The air fairly crackled with tension as Derrick awaited an answer. Finally Kelvin shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t.”
“You don’t what?”
“I don’t think you’re a fool, Rev.”
“So since that’s not the problem, you’re going to have to tell me what is. Because I thought that after our last conversation, when I said in no uncertain terms that attending church was not optional, that this matter was settled.”
Kelvin sighed, not wanting to tell Derrick how he really felt, but not wanting to keep perpetrating a fraud either. Truth was, Kelvin didn’t agree with Derrick’s take on God, didn’t feel the need for religion. Even though he’d found out Derrick was his biological father only two years ago, Kelvin felt a special bond with him, respected his success. He enjoyed staying with the Montgomerys and getting to know his half brother and sister, Derrick Jr. and Elisia. In fact the only real disagreement he and his father had had since he moved in was that he didn’t like attending church. Kelvin hoped this fact wasn’t a deal breaker, but if he was going to continue to live with the Montgomerys, he had to have the freedom to live as he pleased.
“Look, Rev, you know I respect you and all that, but I just don’t believe—”
An urgent knock at the door interrupted Kelvin’s reply. It was Vivian. “Honey, we’ve got to go. Your uncle Charles has had an accident. They don’t know if he’ll make it.”
“Accident, what kind of accident?” Derrick asked, rising from his chair and grabbing his jacket at the same time. Charles Montgomery was Derrick’s favorite uncle, and his father’s brother. He was as close to him as he was to his own dad.
“Some freak happening. An electrical wire came loose and hit the water while he was taking a shower. He was electrocuted.”
Derrick leaned back against his desk. “Oh God, no,” he said quietly, as the gravity of the situation sank in. “Please help him, God. Please put Your arms around my uncle until I get there.”
Derrick’s assistant came into the office. He’d jumped into action as soon as Vivian had seen him on her way to Derrick and told him the news. “Just take it easy, Pastor,” he said to Derrick in a low, calming voice. “Everything is going to be all right. I’ve made your plane reservations and a town car is waiting to take you two to the airport. I’ve already called Mother Moseley. She said don’t worry; she’ll take care of the kids until you get back.”
Derrick had never valued Lionel’s levelheaded efficiency more than this moment. His assistant’s unruffled poise helped to calm Derrick’s rattled nerves. “Thank you,” he said. He turned to Kelvin. “I’ll deal with you later. Do me a favor and drive the Jag back to the house.”
Kelvin nodded somberly, trying to respect the serious mood and hide his excitement at driving the luxury car. But Derrick saw it anyway. “Give the keys to Mother Moseley as soon as you get home. I want the car to stay parked while we’re gone.”
Kelvin’s somber mood was no longer an act. “I can’t drive it at all?” he asked, having pictured in an instant cruising various California boulevards with his friends. “Can I at least go get something to eat first?”
Derrick was too preoccupied to argue. “Have that car home in a couple hours.”
“Sure, Rev,” Kelvin said as he took the keys from on top of the desk and headed toward the door. Just before he opened it he turned. “I’m sorry about not making it to church on time today, and I hope everything turns out okay with your uncle.”
Derrick walked over and hugged his son. Moments like this made him all too aware that tomorrow was not promised, and that one should always be satisfied that if the last words spoken ended up being your last words period, that they were ones you’d want to leave
Similar Books
