With Your Heart Wide Open

It's a Family Thing

"She's expecting a baby," Richard said to his wife with his voice still shaking.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Dinah Marcelin asked as she rested her hands on her hips.

"She's... You know... She's... huh... pregnant,"

For the next ten seconds, she stood frozen, his eyes fixed on him as if waiting for a denial that wouldn't come.

"Where is she?" She growled as she went looking in her bedroom.

"Dee, calm down. Please, just hold on," Richard implored as he followed her.

"You little tramp! Little vermin!" He heard as he came behind his wife.

Esther was sitting on the floor and tears were shining at the corner of her eyes. She was not apologizing nor pleading.

"Who's the father?"

"Stephen," she whispered.

"Answer me!" she shouted.

"Stephen is the father," she said loud enough.

"LIAR! Stephen would never do something like that!" she yelled as she moved closer to her daughter with a threatening stance.

Richard put herself in between them.

"Dee, we have to get to church, remember? We have like thirty minutes to prepare,"

He knew he chose the right word when the frown disappeared from her face.

"Why didn't you tell me last night? Why did you drop the pregnancy bomb this morning? You didn't want me to hurt her?" She asked him

Richard gave no answer, but she remained in front of her daughter.

Dinah sighed then added, "Let's just go to church,"

For some reason, Esther didn't feel relieved.

After a lively service topped off by a moving sermon, Pastor Harris made a couple announcements regarding the upcoming youth seminar. He then handed the microphone to Dinah for the additional inputs.

When Dinah got up, she motioned Esther to follow her. Intrigued, the girl complied. She made her stand in front of the church as she climbed the podium.

"Brothers and sisters. Today, I'm not here for the youth seminar. I have a bigger announcement for you all. As all of you know, it was your prayers that broke the shackles of infertility from my womb. When God gave me this girl that's standing in front of you, I saw it as a blessing. Until now,"

Everyone was surprised by the last two words.

"This morning, my husband gave me the terrifying news, since my daughter didn't have the spine to do it herself . I learned that my daughter was throwing herself at some men and got pregnant,"

"Oh!" The assembly exclaimed in unison.

She continued, "I hereby take you as witnesses to declare that I no longer consider this sinner my child!"

"What is this? Is this a service or a trial?" A voice shouted from the assembly.

It was loud enough for several people to turn around.

They saw the old blind lady trying to walk guided by her white cane.

Ma Elsie continued," I thought you were the church's secretary. Don't you have anything better to do than bully your own kid?"