Revelations

Chapter 1 - Ready to Burst

It was nearly ninety degrees outside at 10:00 a.m. Denise took a deep breath as she looked at the steep hill before her. On the other side of the green mound was the site of the annual Walk of Faith Christian Church picnic. She could smell the freshly lit coals burning in Brother Willis' triple-wide barrel grill as she took her first steps on the incline. Brother Willis and his wife, Jackie, were the first ones on site at the park, just like every year. At 7 a.m. they were there to claim the usual shady spot for the church under a group of elm trees. And as much as Denise did not look forward to spending hours sweating in the July heat, she couldn't wait to see Jackie. She had been up late the night before making German chocolate cupcakes while Vince slept soundly. Though she had just worked three hours of overtime at eight months pregnant, Vince didn't even offer to help.

Denise was dying to talk to Jackie about something deeply personal. She had a secret- a confession to make. She knew that Jackie would not judge her, nor condemn her. Still, this secret carried serious weight. She knew that her secret was one that Jackie might not be able to keep close to the vest. She had accepted that reality. She was ready for the fallout that would come afterward. Denise and Vince were in charge of the marriage ministry at Walk of Faith. After four years of fake smiles, Denise was tired. Jackie was like a second mother to her and she trusted her even more than she trusted Vince. She was ready to bare her soul.

"Here, Babe. Let me have that", Vince reached out and took the rolled up blanket that was tucked under her arm. He sprinted over the hill and disappeared, leaving his heavily-pregnant woman to fight the sharp incline while holding the hand of their three-year old son and his backpack. Vince had already made three previous trips carrying the food and supplies from their SUV to the picnic site. And now that he had their blanket, Denise knew he wasn't coming back to help her or to get their son. He was insensitive like that. After six years with this man, she had had enough of that, too.

As she and Will reached the site, he shook his hand loose from hers and took off running toward the Spiderman jumper. Vince had spread out the blanket and was enjoying a cold, orange soda with Brother Willis. The picnic was not set to start until noon, so the Willis' were the only ones there. Brother Willis noticed Denise's eyes scanning the area looking for Jackie.

"She's in the ladies' room. All that coffee.", he said, chuckling lightly as he motioned with the large coffee in his left hand. Ron Willis was a kind, joyful old man. Denise wondered if Vince would ever be that way.

As Denise looked at the blanket and wondered how she would ever get back up if she got down there with her big belly, she heard Will yell out between his bounces, "Hi...Auntie...Jackie!". Before she could turn around, Jackie's hand was already resting on Denise's shoulder. They embraced and kissed each other on the cheek. Denise held the embrace just seconds longer that usual. That was enough for Jackie to know that something was wrong. They knew each other that well. They had been friends since the first day Denise and Vince joined the church. The Willis' were assigned as their new members prayer partners.

"Ron, go and get those extra chairs from the truck, please. She can't get down on that blanket in her condition.", Jackie said, just before she rolled her eyes at Vince. She did that a lot. She didn't like the way he treated Denise at times. That was no secret, but she held her tongue out of respect. It was none of her business.

As the men walked back to the truck, Denise felt her ears getting hot. Her heart was racing and she was on the verge of tears. She was waiting for Vince to be outside of earshot range before she started talking. Jackie reached out and turned Denise's face toward hers.

"Oh honey, what is wrong? What is it?", Jackie asked with the tone of a concerned mother.

"I need to tell you something.", Denise sobbed.