TWELVE DAYS OF REIGN

MEET N' GREET

Joseph was driving slower than the preacher ever did. What should have taken fifteen minutes took close to an hour. He even pulled over on the side of the road a few times, resting his head against the wheel, calling on God. Parking took a long time too. He passed up every available spot in the front and drove far in the back, circled around and did it all over again. I guess I couldn't blame him. It wasn't everyday he found out his father married a prostitute. Though I was a bit surprised something that important would slip the preacher's mind on his list of things to inform his people. I began to wonder what other secrets had the preacher kept from his family? From me?
    Joseph led me through the main entrance of the hospital and to the elevator, walking like a condemned man. He didn't notice the prying eyes of the staff gawking at me as I subserviently followed behind him. I'm sure the frizzy blue wig, fishnet stockings, black jacket, sheer tank top, red miniskirt, and four-inch clear heels, told them everything they needed to know about me. At least I was honestly transparent. How many of those hypercritical eyes could say the same?
    Joseph pushed the elevator button in silence, stuffed his hands in his pockets and waited for it to come down. When it did, we got on. He pressed the fifth floor, then the sixth, seventh and eighth. He turned and looked at me heaving a sigh.
    "I just need a few more minutes, if that's okay with you."
    I nodded and rode the elevator with him, going up and down for ten minutes, letting people on, and watching people get off over and over again. Finally, he stepped off the elevator on the fifth floor and walked down the hallway to room 548 and went in. I followed behind him. Their conversation instantly died and everyone went quiet. All eyes shifted to me. I searched theirs and conjured up a smile, folded my hands together, nodded and bowed as if I were a mail ordered Japanese bride meeting my in-laws for the first time.
    "Reign!" the preacher chimed casting that beautiful smile of his at me.  "What's your tonic?"
    "Old men in hospital beds," I joked grateful for the ice breaker. "Gives me a rush."
He let out a hearty laugh. "That's my girl! Come on over here and sit down. Let me introduce you to the family."
    I obeyed stepping across sprawled out legs that didn't bother to recoil on my account. I pivoted around the bedside table and sat down on the side of his bed next to him. He took my hand, almost as if passing on to me the little strength he had in reserve for himself.
    "Reign, this is my eldest son, Reuben, his wife and two sons," his hand gestured to the tall blue-eyed man, with blonde hair and an angular jaw. I paused, freezing on the bed as his son's eyes and mine made contact.
    "Reign," the preacher shook my hand, "are you alright? Did you catch a chill? It is cold in here."
    I blinked, snapping out of my trance. I shook my head, layering my other hand on top of his.    
    "No. I'm fine. I just didn't know you had a son so pale looking. He looks as white as me."
The preacher chuckled. "Yeah, he takes after his mother the most. They all kind of do, except for Joseph."
     "Enough of this, Daddy!" One of his daughters shot up out of her seat, shoving one of her little one's behind her as if to protect the child from what was about to happen. She was a shade darker than Reuben, tall, maybe an inch or two shorter than Joseph, heavy set and voluptuously curved. She wore her sandy brown hair in a short hairdo that complemented her bone structure well. Her face was dolled with a small nose, full lips like her father, and bluish-brown eyes, a signature of both her parents combined. A very beautiful woman, but I could tell a mile away she had a chip on her shoulder a Pringle can high.
    "What in the world is he doing with a hooker, Joseph?" she pointed a finger at me. Joseph's head dropped. This was what he was afraid of.
The preacher heaved a sigh and lazily rolled his head towards me on the pillow. "That's my middle daughter, Debbie. Always ready to pounce."
    What a coincidence, I thought. I was always ready to burn. I hoped she wouldn't make me have to go to my purse and light her up in front of her family. Heaven knew I would if she pushed me.
    "Jo!" she called setting her hands on her hips, resting her weight on one foot, "Answer me! You're supposed to be taking care of daddy! So what is going on? What is he doing with a prostitute?"
    Before Joseph could answer the preacher intervened giving my hand a squeeze.
    "Debbie, Reign is my wife," he breathed preparing himself for the blow. "We've been married for the past two years."
    Silence bounced off the walls like the quiet of a galactical void. Not even the sound of their breathing could be heard. I kept my head still, but let my eyes do the work of shifting around the room to make sure they were all still alive. The color had drained from their faces, like rain down a steep hill. I could almost swear I saw smoke lifting off Debbie's head like fire in a barrel. She began shaking all over, like a Coca-Cola bottle, about to explode. Her fists curled to white knuckled knots. Her cheeks puffed out and deflated like a blow fish.
Here it comes! I braced for impact.
    "WHAT!"