Read Online Divine Intervention by Lutishia Lovely - Free Book Online

microphone with tears in his eyes. Having been raised by a religious grandmother who had him in church five days a week, he not only knew the song’s first stanza, but all the others as well. The melodic, emotion-laden sound of his voice caused hands to raise and tears to fall.
    “ ‘Sweet hour of prayer! Sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear. To Him whose truth and faithfulness, engage the waiting soul to bless.’ ”
    Paramedics rushed in. The Spirit of the Lord was so thick in the building that some did not even notice them.
    “ ‘And since He bids me seek His face . . .”
    The EMTs hurriedly checked Derrick before loading him onto the gurney.
    “Believe His word, and trust His grace . . .”
    Security created a moving human shield as the gurney was wheeled through the private side door.
    “I’ll cast on Him my every care, and wait for Thee, sweet hour of prayer.”
    Erin had rounded up most of the bridesmaids and groomsmen but a few of them followed Rafael and Princess through the private side door. Michael, Joni, Sarah, and Rafael’s best friend, Greg, looked bewildered and concerned as they watched the senior pastor of Kingdom Citizens Christian Center, arguably the most popular mega-church on the country’s West Coast, being wheeled out of the building and into an ambulance. Vivian scrambled into the back as well, oblivious to her now snagged designer suit and scruffed up Jimmy Choos. King turned to his assistant, Joseph, who hurried away to take care of business, and then rushed into his office. Upon seeing Princess’s fear-filled face, and for the first time since seeing his best friend on the floor, he remembered that a wedding was being conducted. He walked over to where the group stood in various poses of disarray.
    “Daddy, what happened?” Princess rushed into her father’s arms. “Is Uncle Derrick going to be okay?”
    “I don’t know, baby,” King said, forcing the raspiness of emotion from his voice. “Your mama and I are headed to the hospital now.”
    “Where are they taking him?”
    King shook his head. “We’re finding that out now. I’ll tell you more as soon as I know it, baby, but right now . . . I’ve got to go.”
    Rafael, who’d been standing next to Princess, reached out and grabbed King’s arm as he passed. “But, Pastor . . . what about our wedding?” He knew it sounded insensitive, but as bad as Derrick’s situation was, Rafael had other priorities right now. He felt Princess’s incredulous eyes on him, but he kept his eyes trained on King, waiting for an answer. At this exact moment, Joseph came up to King and whispered in his ear.
    “I’m sorry, son, but I’ve got to go.” King turned and started walking with Joseph to the outside door. He looked over his shoulder and said to Princess, “They’re taking him to Shawnee Mission.” Then he, Tai, and a couple of associate ministers headed out the door.
    Princess started for the room where she’d gotten ready.
    Rafael stopped her. “Baby, where are you going?”
    Princess jerked out of his grasp. “Where do you think, Rafael. To the hospital!”
    She started away again, and again, Rafael grabbed her arm. “Princess, this is our wedding day! Does that suddenly not mean anything to you?”
    Princess’s brow creased. “My uncle just got rushed to the hospital and my dad, the man who was marrying us, is on his way there. Does that mean anything to you?”
    Greg stepped up to calm his friend. “Man, I’m sorry this happened, but there’s nothing we can do right now. Maybe after they make sure the pastor is all right, y’all can go ahead and get married tonight.”
    This reasonable statement snapped Rafael out of his unreasonable state. He took a deep breath and visibly calmed. “I’m sorry, baby,” he said, taking Princess in his arms. “I didn’t mean to sound insensitive.”
    Well, you did.
    “But I’ve waited so long to make you my wife that I just . . . I’m just...” At a