TWELVE DAYS OF REIGN

FAREWELL PREACHER

The church was a mega church. I had bought a long black dress that went down to my ankles from the thrift store, with a veiled black hat and black flat shoes. I doubted anyone noticed outside of Joseph and his siblings because the church was full. Every space was taken up, even on the balcony. There had to be chairs set out as well because everyone had come out to bid the preacher farewell. I had not thought the preacher was that well known. He drove an old Toyota, for crying out loud, and yet the mayor and the governor had attended the funeral as well. Three gospel stars had sung, as well as the church choir. I later discovered that the preacher had been a civil rights activist and had been an ambassador of the United States in the seventies as well as a World War II Veteran. The Navy came out and blew their trumpets and presented a flag to Debbie, Joseph, and Benjamin.
I stared at the casket as its top was being fastened down, never to be opened again. The sight of it made me break like fine china on the inside. My face was drenched in tears. It was strange that the man I had married I knew so much about and yet, at the same time, it was like I did not know him at all.
At the end of the service, the funeral director and six men rolled his coffin down the aisle. Joseph, and the rest of his family, and I followed behind in sorrowful silence, all the way to the burial spot where he was lowered into the ground and covered up. I laid a rose on the pile of dirt and stood there a moment while everyone else left for the day.
"Preacher, you are full of surprises," I added. "I'm going to miss our talks. I'm going to miss you."
Joseph took my hand and led me back to the limo. Everyone congregated at his house after the burial. It was late, well into the evening before the last person left. I stayed around to help wash the dishes but Joseph stopped me, took my hand and led me to the kitchen table to sit over a cup of coffee.
I ran a finger over the lip of my cup, gazing upon my reflection in the dark brew as the steam curled. I barely recognized myself. I looked like someone I had always wanted to be, but never could.
"Reign," Joseph called.
I lifted my head, "Yes?"
"You were the last one to see my father alive," his golden-brown eyes leveled on me. "What did he say before he died?"
I shook my head and returned my gaze to my reflection.
"It was just something private between us," I answered then took a sip of coffee.
"Please, Reign," he said. "I'd really like to know my father's last words."
I lifted my eyes up a notch. I wasn't one to tell a lie. I hated liars, but he was pushing me into a place where I was tempted to do just that.
"It was nothing," I said setting the cup down on the table.
Joseph heaved a sigh, "If it were nothing then why aren't you telling me?"
I thumbed the cup on either side not knowing what to do. What the preacher had told me before he died was to fall in love with his son. How could I share that with him without feeling embarrassed?
"He told me that I was special," I smiled glancing at him. "He said that I was a woman in the Bible named Rahab. He told me I was brave like her and that the Lord had a plan and a purpose for my life. That everything I've gone through is for my future's sake."
Joseph smiled back at me just like the preacher used to.
"That sounds like Dad's insight, alright. What else did he say?"
I lowered my head staring into the coffee again. Heat began to flush my face.
"He said that—that it's okay to—to fall in love—with you." I burst into laughter. "Isn't it funny how—"
"He was right, Reign," Joseph cut into my sentence.
"What?"
Joseph tilted his head and looked me full in the face, his smile dwindled away to an expression only determination could make.
"He was right. It's okay to fall in love with me." His eyes roved over me. "I think I've already fallen for you."
My heart fluttered.
"What do you mean?"
"My dad told me he wanted me to take care of you. Not as his son, but as your husband. But, it's not that simple to just jump up and marry you. I've only known you for twelve days, for Pete's sake. I mean, what if you're a prostitute or something?"
We laughed.
"Right."
My eyes lowered to the cup of coffee again as our laughter faded, wishing I could run away.
"But, these past twelve days have been so full of the good and the bad and the worse, I feel like I've known you for years," he confessed. "I see why my father married you, Reign. You have a unique spirit and are incredibly beautiful. But, I want to be fair to you. To both of us. Besides, were still on the younger side. We have time. Plus, you just got a good job to look forward to and a new life that comes with it. I want you to explore that. Explore yourself and get to know who you are. Who you really are. Finding that out takes time, Reign. Years. But when the Lord shows you all that you are and you are comfortable in the life you have and you feel you need just one thing more and you haven't found it in any other man, I'll be here, more than willing and ready to love you, Reign."
I stared silently in his eyes a moment, surprised at his words and promise. There was something beautiful in the way he insisted on being patient, not only for my sake but for his as well. There was comfort in it that I had only known in the preacher.
"Ok," I nodded, tearing my gaze from his, and drank my coffee.
Later Joseph took me back to my corner. I watched him drive away before looking around in the darkness of night. I was blinded by tears as I walked away from the lamp post and towards my apartment, wishing the preacher were alive to see me leave the corner forever.