Let Joy Arise by Ashea S. Goldson

Author:Ashea S. Goldson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Urban Books
Published: 2012-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

The next day was Sunday. The light breeze flowing through the window caressed my skin as I yawned, stretched, and opened my eyes. However, I woke up to an empty bed. I knew I’d heard Keith come home last night, but I didn’t remember him ever coming to bed. I went out to the living room but saw nothing. Then I went into the kitchen and found Keith with his head down on the table. There was a bottle of gin in front of him, and he smelled like alcohol. Oh, I was familiar with the smell because of the life I used to live. I used to kick back at least a pint of gin sometimes. So I now knew that Keith had been drinking too, and not just Paul alone. But why? I didn’t understand why Keith would jeopardize his relationship with God by doing something he knew he shouldn’t be doing. Why now? I’d never seen or heard of him drinking before.

“Keith Bryant, I don’t believe this,” I yelled.

Keith lifted his head and opened his bloodshot eyes. “Tay.”

“Ugh,” I said in sheer frustration.

Keith just groaned and fell back onto the table.

Obviously, he was in no condition to go to church, so I left him there, promising myself that I’d take care of him when I returned. I got ready quickly, throwing on a plum skirt suit. Then I called for a cab to take me down to Missionary.

Once I arrived at Missionary, the cabdriver was nice enough to help me get out of the car and onto the curb in front of the church. Some did help out, and believe it or not, some didn’t. That was the nature of New York City cabdrivers. When he pulled away, I struggled to balance my Bible case and purse with my braces. Usually, I had Keith at my side to hold them for me. I sighed as I thought of Keith at home in the alcoholic stupor he was in. None of it made any sense. Keith had never even touched a drop of any alcoholic beverage since we’d met. He was serious about the things he put into his body and about his walk with God. No matter how many times I mulled it over, it just didn’t add up.

When I walked into the building, Sister Winifred was the first to notice Keith’s absence.

“Is the honeymoon over already, dear?”

Again, the Holy Spirit soothed me and kept me from jumping on old lady Winifred. Yes, I was a changed woman. She just didn’t know how on the edge I was. Others were nice enough to ask how Keith was doing, and some were wise enough not to ask anything at all. I managed to avoid Aunt Dorothy and my father for the most part, because I didn’t feel up to answering any of their questions. All I wanted to do was to hear the word, which I desperately needed, and get back home to handle my business.

Unfortunately, that was easier said than done.

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