Read Online Fortune & Fame: A Novel by Victoria Christopher Murray, Reshonda Tate Billingsley - Free Book Online Page B

sitting beside her. The-eleven-year-old fiddled with his belt before scooting closer to her. They’d instantly bonded these past two weeks, almost as if Alvin longed for a mother figure. That was probably because his father was never at home. Alvin actually lived with his grandparents. Mary wanted him with her and Nathan, but Nathan had been adamant, saying, “Not yet” because Alvin was such a help to his parents.
    “Church,” Nathan continued, snapping Mary’s attention back to the pulpit, “I told you all right before I went to pick up my wife that I had a blockbuster announcement.” He smiled as he looked at Mary. Immediately, something didn’t feel right. Nathan’s eyes were dancing and though they hadn’t spent much time together, she’d quickly learned that when he had something up his sleeve, his eyes gave it away.
    “Well, I can’t hold it in any longer. The missus doesn’t even know about this yet.”
    That made Mary lose her smile. She didn’t care for surprises, especially surprises in front of hundreds of people.
    “Many of you know that reality shows are the hottest thing onTV right now. How many of you watch them?” There were some small rumblings, but only a few people raised their hands.
    “Come on, you’re in the house of the Lord, be honest.” Laughter filled the room as several hands finally went up. “Um-hmm,” Nathan sang. “You know you get your fill of Stevie and Mimi.” A few more hands went up. “You can’t wait to see NeNe and Kenya.” Even more hands. “And some of y’all even find yourselves rooting for Honey Boo Boo. Let the church say amen?”
    “Amen!” someone from the third row yelled.
    “I’ll admit it, I love Honey Boo Boo,” someone shouted.
    “I’m a Basketball Wives fan,” someone else yelled.
    Mary looked around, stunned. All these people were actually admitting to following that foolishness?
    Nathan continued. “While many of these shows are degrading, millions of people are tuning in on a regular basis. And the Lord spoke to me and said ‘Pastor, that’s an audience waiting for the Word.’ We can reach those people through the back door.” He slammed his palm on the podium. “Y’all know we believe in reaching people by any means necessary here at Pleasant City.”
    Mary scrunched her face and peered at her husband. She definitely didn’t understand where this was going. Why was he talking about reality shows?
    “Well, I found a new way to spread the gospel.” Nathan turned to Mary and smiled again. “My wife is all set to appear on a new First Ladies reality show.”
    “What?” Mary found herself saying as a low rumble filled the room.
    “I told you I have a big surprise for you, honey. One that was going to make you famous.” Nathan was talking like he’d just announced they’d won the lottery. He ignored her glare as he turned back to the congregation. “While my wife will be the one featured, they’ll show us,” he swept his arm over thecongregation, “and we’ll be able to spread the Word and bring more souls to Pleasant City.”
    Reality show? Nathan had lost his mind. When she was locked up, her TV watching had been limited, but she hadn’t missed the explosion of those stupid shows. A lot of the inmates watched them, but she wasn’t one of them. She was trying to better herself and watching a bunch of ratchetness on TV wasn’t the way to do it.
    “We’ll begin filming here in Atlanta next week so get ready, Pleasant City is about to go to the next level! And if you’re doubting that we’re going to the next level, let me add that my wife will be on the show with one of the premiere First Ladies in the country. You all know her as the First Lady of the American Baptist Coalition. That’s right, folks, my wife will be starring with Rachel Jackson Adams.”
    Several people applauded and Mary felt sick to her stomach. Now she knew Nathan was working with half a brain cell. He knew her history with Rachel, so why he