Let the Church Say Amen by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Author:ReShonda Tate Billingsley [Billingsley, ReShonda Tate]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Usenet, General Fiction, C429, Kat, Exratorrents
ISBN: 9781416585565
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2004-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

22

SIMON STOOD OUTSIDE the church conference room doors and leaned in. He was trying desperately to hear what the deacons were saying.

“I tell you I saw the boy and he was all hugged up,” he heard a voice whisper. It sounded like Brother Davis but Simon couldn’t too sure.

“Maybe you were mistaken,” another voice said. “You know your eyesight ain’t been too good these days.”

“I know what I seen!” Simon could tell that it was definitely Deacon Elijah Davis talking. But who was he talking about? And why were they whispering? Simon didn’t take part in the church gossip, and he had never paid it much attention, even with all the horrible rumors swirling about Rachel. But his curiosity had peaked these last few days due to the nonstop whispering that always seemed to end abruptly when he entered the room.

“Tell him exactly what you saw, Brother Davis. They won’t believe me.” That was the voice of Deacon Jacobs.

“It was him sure as I’m standing here,” Deacon Davis repeated. “And they was looking all lovey-dovey.”

“Well, maybe you just read too much into it.” That was Simon’s friend, Mitchell Baker, talking. Simon felt guilty standing there. Maybe he should just walk in and ask them what they were saying.

“I didn’t read too much of nothing,” Deacon Davis responded. “What I want to know is, is anybody goin’ say something?”

Deacon Baker spoke up again. “No, I think you ought to just let this drop. You ain’t got no proof and y’all know Brother Davis ain’t got but one good eye anyway.”

Deacon Davis huffed. “Fine. This one good eye know what it saw. Just don’t say I didn’t try and tell y’all when he shame this church.”

Simon couldn’t take it any longer. If one of his members was doing something that could shame the church, he wanted to know about it. He pushed open the door. All of the deacons immediately sat up, a tense look across their faces. “Deacons,” Simon said, nodding in their direction. “No need to stop your conversation.” He scanned the room. Every man in the room had a nervous look about his face. “Somebody wanna tell me what’s going on?”

Several deacons cast their eyes down.

“Who are you talking about?” Simon asked.

Elijah stood up. “It’s your son.”

Everyone looked at Elijah surprised. Simon took a deep breath. “Okay, what has David done now?”

Mitchell took the opportunity to jump in. “I’ll handle this,” he said.

Simon looked at his friend. “Don’t beat around the bush, Mitchell. Just tell me what you know. Ain’t nothing you can tell me about David that is goin’ shame me more than he already has.”

Mitchell cleared his throat. “Well, a couple of our members saw David and some woman at the mall shoplifting. They didn’t get caught, but we’re still worried.”

Elijah let out a long sigh and shook his head. “You wrong, Mitchell,” he said.

“No, I feel we need to tell Simon. He needs to know what’s going on in case someone brings it up to him.”

“They were shoplifting?” Simon hung his head.

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