My Son's Next Wife Read online

  My Son’s Next Wife

  Shelia E. Lipsey

  www.urbanchristianonline.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Also by

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Words from the Author

  Discussion Questions

  A Personal Invitation from the Author

  Copyright Page

  Other Novels by Shelia E. Lipsey

  Beautiful Ugly

  2009 Black Pearls Magazine Top Books

  My Son’s Wife

  2009 Shades of Romance Readers’ Choice Awards for:

  Author of the Year

  Best Book Cover of the Year

  Best Christian Fiction Book of the Year

  Best Christian Romance Book of the Year

  Best Fiction Book of the Year

  Urban Reviews Top Shelf

  My Son’s Ex-Wife: The Aftermath

  Top 20 Black Expressions Book Club Bestsellers’ List

  Sinsatiable

  2008 Conversations Book Club Author of the Year

  Into Each Life

  2007 Shades of Romance Readers’ Choice Award for:

  Best Multicultural Christian Romance Author of the

  Year

  Best Multicultural New Christian Romance Author of

  the Year

  Best Multicultural Christian Fiction Book of the Year

  Best Multicultural Christian Fiction Author of the

  Year

  To God Be the Glory

  To those who need forgiveness, healing,

  redemption, and a new chance in life

  Acknowledgments

  To God be the glory for all of the marvelous things He continues to do in my life. I thank Him for every good and perfect gift that comes from above. I thank Him for His outpouring of favor over my writing and for placing within my spirit the words He wants me to write.

  To all of you who have helped me along the way in my literary journey: thank you. To all who have supported me by purchasing and reading my books: thank you. To all of the book clubs that have acknowledged me, supported me, reviewed my books, and provided constructive criticism with much love: thank you. To family, friends, and loved ones far too many to name: thank you.

  To my sons, grandchildren, sisters, and my mother: I love you all so very much. I thank God for a family that is close and interconnected with love like ours. To those who are not family by blood but by love and acceptance: I thank you for helping me, holding me up, and going out of your way to see that I am well taken care of. Thank you, God, for sending such beautiful people my way.

  To life and living life . . . I thank you, Lord, for allowing me another moment, second, hour, and day to live my dreams now because that truly means that you still have more work for me to do.

  Praise God, from whom all blessings flow.

  God’s Amazing Girl,

  Shelia E. Lipsey

  Chapter 1

  Death is not the greatest loss in life.

  The greatest loss is what dies

  inside us while we live.

  — Norman Cousins

  Pastor struggled to mask his grief and heartache. Pastor understood that everyone had to die, but the last thing he expected was for Audrey’s diabetes to lead to her demise. It was still such a bitter pill for him to swallow. Not many people understood the magnitude of losing a loved one, unless they’d experienced it firsthand. It didn’t matter that it had been fifteen months since Audrey’s death. It didn’t matter that for everyone else life seemed to go on. Nothing could mend the agony he felt each time he lay in bed and saw the other side empty. Audrey had been more than his helpmeet, more than the first lady of Holy Rock, more than the mother of his children; she was his heart, his encourager, his lover, and his best friend.

  Francesca had started to call far more often since Audrey’s demise, but that didn’t make Pastor feel better. Well, maybe it did a little because his baby girl sounded more bubbly, more alive, and happier than he’d heard in a long time—years, in fact. It’s funny how death can bring such grief to one and barely affect the life of another.

  As for Stiles Graham, well, it was a different story. Stiles had found comfort and solace in God, of course, but it was God’s gift of a woman that Pastor believed was the healing salve for his son’s loss. The woman was Detria Mackey. Detria had remained a constant presence in Stiles’s life. Their relationship started before Audrey’s shocking death, so it wasn’t a real surprise when the two of them came to see Pastor three weeks ago to announce their official engagement.

  Pastor smiled on the outside at hearing the news. He thought about Audrey. She had told him a few weeks before she died that she believed Detria would make a good wife for their son, Stiles, and an even better first lady. She couldn’t be as great as Audrey Graham had once been as far as Pastor was concerned, but Detria was acceptable in Audrey’s sight. Pastor, I’m so happy. God has smiled on my baby. I believe He’s brought a real helpmeet into his life—nothing like that she-devil that train-wrecked his life. Pastor’s mouth turned upward in a smile as he recalled her words while he sat in his favorite recliner in the family room. Judge Mathis was on the television, making one of his comical remarks to the plaintiff. But it wasn’t Judge Mathis who brought the smile to his face. It was the thought of Audrey.

  Pastor pictured Audrey running around, making preparations for Stiles and Detria’s upcoming wedding. Knowing Audrey as well as he did, Pastor understood her need to control things, to be the best of the best. Audrey was not one to be outdone. A tear finally streamed down Pastor’s ever-wrinkling face. He might have been still approaching the sixty-year mark, but grief was taking a toll on him. He stared at the television like he was hypnotized. He didn’t try to hold back his tears. There was no use trying anymore because they always returned.

  The ringing phone was the only thing that forced Pastor away from his internal turmoil. He reached to the side of his chair and removed the ringing phone from the charging base.

  “Hello.” Pastor’s voice sounded weak.

  “Pastor, how are you?” Francesca asked.

  “I’m fine, dear. How about you?”

  “Oh, I’m blessed. Blessed and highly favored,” she said in a joyful voice.

  “Good, darling. Praise God for that.”

  Hearing Francesca give God praise was definitely evidence that she was on a new and better path. Her days of fighting against God seemed to be over. Francesca was involved in her church, had made new friends after she moved from Memphis to Newbern, Tennessee, and despite some major health concerns, she considered herself to be blessed.

  “Pastor,” she said in a voice that overflowed with joy. “I was calling because our church’s child advocacy ministry will be in Memphis this weekend. I was wondering if we could make plans to see each other.”

  “Francesca, I’m your father. You don’t have to ask permission to see me. You’re welcome here anytime. Honey, yo
u know that.”

  Francesca remained quiet for a second or two. “I know, but I wanted to make sure you were going to be around and didn’t have other plans,” she explained.

  “I don’t have anything going on that will keep me from seeing my one and only baby girl.” That was a given. However, it did bother Pastor sometimes to think that it took Audrey’s death to bring his daughter back into his life. But, on the other hand, Pastor was a man who didn’t question God’s timing. He understood that God had His own way of doing things. “What time do you plan on being here?”

  “We’re leaving Saturday morning around ten. We’re coming on the church van, and I suppose we should be there around noon. But I won’t have a chance to see you until Sunday. We’re going to hit the ground running as soon as we get there. I was thinking that we could meet for brunch after church. I know it’s not much, but I don’t want to come to Memphis without seeing my daddy, you know. Even if it is for just a little while.”

  “Of course, no problem,” Pastor said. “Is it a conference of some kind that your group is attending?”

  “No, more like a weekend retreat. Several church groups in our district that have the same ministry are meeting to discuss ways to provide better shelter and protection for battered, abused, and molested children. We’re doing that from the time we get there until late Saturday evening. The following Sunday morning, we’re going to join in a special worship service at Centennial Fellowship Church.” Francesca’s voice was full of passion and excitement.

  “I’ve heard of Centennial. It sounds like a great ministry.” Pastor’s heart swelled with thanksgiving. The transformation he heard in his child’s voice was more than enough to lift his spirit, if only for a little while. Francesca sounded like the love of God was radiating from the inside out. “Honey, you don’t know how grateful I am to hear you talk about your ministry. You’ve finally discovered your purpose in life. I can’t wait until I see you.”

  “Good. Then let’s plan to meet Sunday around two o’clock. That should be plenty of time for both Holy Rock and Centennial to have ended Sunday service. We’re supposed to eat at the Olive Garden on Winchester. You know the one that’s right off the expressway at Germantown and Winchester?”

  “Yes, I know where that one is, sweetheart. I’ll see you Sunday.”

  “Okay, Pastor. Well, I’ve got to go. I have a ton of things left to do.” Francesca paused. “Pastor?”

  “Yes?” he answered.

  Francesca spoke slowly. “I love you, Daddy. I know you’re still lonely, and you’re missing Audrey, no doubt. I hear it in your voice every time I talk to you. But remember that you’re still here. That means you still have work that God wants you to do.”

  “You sound like a preacher’s kid, my child.” Pastor chuckled for the first time in weeks. “You sure you’re not supposed to be in somebody’s pulpit, sharing God’s Word?” he quipped.

  “No, at least that’s not what I believe God has called me to do. I’m supposed to be out in the neighborhoods, sharing the love of God with the unsaved, the wounded at heart, the same kind of people I can identify with. The most important thing God wants me to do now is to help save the children—to let them know that there’s somebody who cares. All of the stuff I’ve gone through, every mess I’ve ever made and every wrong that was done to me—I understand it, Pastor. I believe that if I hadn’t been molested and raped, or a castaway and locked up, then I wouldn’t be as effective with the children I counsel every day at my church. It’s more than an outreach.” Francesca spoke with deep-rooted conviction. “It’s about others seeing Jesus inside of us through our actions and deeds. Not that we can work ourselves into heaven. I’m not saying that.”

  Pastor cleared his throat and choked back his tears. “Baby, I’m so proud of you. Take care of yourself. Keep doing what God has called you to do. I’ll see you in a few days.”

  “I plan to. Buh-bye, Pastor.”

  “Good-bye, baby.” Pastor hit the end button on the phone and returned it to its charger.

  The last half of Judge Mathis was on. Pastor focused his attention back on the show. He munched on vanilla wafers and slices of bologna that he’d prepared before the show came on. It was another one of the things Pastor was accustomed to Audrey doing. It hurt, but at the same time, it gave him a bit of comfort. He pretended that Audrey was sitting in the chair next to him. He laughed out loud when Judge Mathis made another one of his humorous quips. He took a vanilla wafer and another piece of bologna and popped them into his mouth.

  Chapter 2

  There are no classes in life for beginners:

  right away you are always asked to

  deal with what is most difficult.

  — Rainer M. Rilke

  Pastor prepared for the ten-thirty Sunday morning service. Being able to attend church was one of the most important things in his life. Listening to Stiles deliver the Word Sunday after Sunday had been Pastor’s saving grace. He attended noon midweek praise services, too. Pastor’s vision was affected because of his past stroke, and he was limited to driving during daylight hours.

  Although he was retired from preaching, Pastor sat in the pulpit, one of the things Stiles had insisted upon. He listened as Stiles delivered a soul-stirring, life-altering message about the power of God’s love.

  “You can hear Christians saying all of the time that God is all-seeing, all-knowing, and that He is everywhere. You hear us talk about love and how we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We hear the Word preached that perfect love casts out fear. We listen to the children say time and time again, ‘Jesus loves me. . . . I know because the Bible tells me so.’” Stiles walked down the two steps leading from the pulpit and began to pace across the length of the sanctuary, talking into his wireless mic. “Yes, we talk a good talk. We play a good game. But what happens to all of our talk when something tragic happens in our lives? What happens to ‘God is good all the time—and all the time God is good’? What do we do when death knocks on our doors and claims our loved one, perhaps a husband, a wife, or even a child? Where do your faith and your talk stand then?” Stiles preached strongly, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

  Detria sat on the second row, reserved for the family of the pastor. Her sister, Brooke, and brother-in-law, John, sat next to her, followed by her parents. Detria wasn’t a flashy dresser like First Lady Audrey was, but she could hold her own. She listened intently to her husband-to-be’s message.

  Most of the time, Detria thought she would enjoy her role as first lady. But she felt somewhat inadequate when she was expected to attend various church functions. She and her family had been members of Holy Rock for years, but Detria never thought she would be sitting on the pew reserved for the pastor’s family. She was more reserved than Stiles’s mother. As for Stiles’s ex, Rena, Detria felt that she already had garnered far more respect than Rena ever had, considering Rena’s sordid past with Stiles’s sister.

  When the scandal about Rena and Francesca spread through the church, Detria had not yet returned to Memphis. But Brooke had filled her in on what transpired during that time. It had left Stiles shaken, ashamed, and devastated. Detria did her best to make sure she was worthy of soon being first lady. Though quiet in nature, she was determined to stand by her man.

  Pastor listened as his son continued to prick his spirit with the powerfully anointed message God had placed on Stiles’s heart. The church had continued to grow by leaps and bounds. The ministries at Holy Rock were not just talk; they were active, working ministries with a purpose to reach people and proclaim God’s power to change lives.

  “Y’all know, at least most of you do, that my mother passed away almost two years ago. That was one of the hardest times of my life,” Stiles said. “I didn’t believe God’s anointing was still over my life. I cried, and I hurt so badly. The pain was like none I’ve ever experienced. This was the woman God had blessed me with to raise me, to help mold me and shape me into the human bein
g who stands before you today.” Stiles turned and looked back at Pastor. “My father, Pastor Graham, and my mother were married over thirty years. Can you believe that? Thirty years. I’ve seen my father grieve over my mother’s death. He may not want me to say it, but I have to preach what God gives me to preach. I’ve seen my father weep, break down as if there is no tomorrow without his first lady, Audrey Graham. I understood his grief, but I don’t think I quite related to it in the same way he did. You see, she was my mother, but she was his helpmeet. Oh, you don’t hear me now.”

  Several congregation members responded with, “Amen,” and “Preach, Pastor.”

  “I know my father is a man of God. I know my father loves God more than life itself. But when his beloved wife died, it did something to him. He’s a changed man now. It saddens me that I can’t do anything to relieve his loneliness and his desire for my mother.”

  Pastor sat still with his eyes focused on Stiles.

  “But what I can say to you, Pastor”—Stiles looked back over his shoulder at Pastor again—“and what God has told me to tell you . . .” He looked at the congregation. “He said He knows what He’s doing. God says, ‘Do not fear. One day the sting of death will be no more.’ But for now, God wants me to remind you that if your loved one dies in the Lord, then you will surely see him or her again. He wants me to let you know, just in case some of you have forgotten, that He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He is the beginning and the end. He wants me to remind you that precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Pastor, I just want to let you know that though your heart weeps for your helpmeet, everything is going to be all right. First Lady Audrey Graham is at peace now.”

  Pastor spoke up with a slight wave of his hand, and a “Thank you, Lord” poured from his lips.