Читать книгу Delilah - Shelia M. Goss - Страница 13

Delilah’s house was located in the Eden Garden neighborhood, not too far from the church. Delilah hadn’t been home long enough to change clothes when her doorbell rang. She looked out the peephole and chuckled. Delilah opened the door. “Well hello there,” she said.

“No need for pleasantries,” Julia responded.

Delilah started to say, “In that case, we can hold this conversation on the porch,” but instead she said, “Come in and have a seat.”

She wanted Julia to see that she too was living large. No, she didn’t have the big house, but her home was filled with nice furniture, and Black art covered the walls. Each room was color coordinated to fit a certain theme. “Would you like something to drink?” she asked as she took a seat across from Julia.

“No. I doubt if I’ll be here that long.”

“Whatever.” Delilah turned and looked Julia directly in the eyes. “So why are you here?” Delilah watched Julia squirm in her seat. Not too cocky now are you?

“Ms. Dorothy told Pastor Judges about your altercation.”

“First of all, if you’re going to come to me with some mess, get your story straight.”

“All I know is what she told Pastor Judges.”

“Did Samson send you over here?”

“As the future first lady, it will be my job to diffuse situations like this, so I wanted to squash this before it got out of hand.”

“There’s nothing to squash. We had a meeting. She said a few things I didn’t like, and I said a few things she didn’t like. End of story.”

“Well, Ms. Dorothy said you attacked her.”

Delilah didn’t allow Julia to finish. “Ms. Dorothy is a bitter old woman who y’all let get away with talking to folks crazy. I respect my elders, but when she questioned how I dressed, that was it for me.”

Julia cleared her throat after looking Delilah up and down. “You have to admit, you do dress provocatively.”

Delilah stood up. She pressed her hands down on her knee-length skirt. “Am I to be ashamed of the body that God blessed me with? Unlike you, I don’t have a problem flaunting my body.”

“You can choose to wear something else.”

Delilah laughed. “Julia, if I wore a sack, your man, the good reverend, would still notice the body hidden underneath it, so stop hating.”

Julia turned beet red. “You have no shame do you?”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“God is not the author of confusion.”

Delilah placed her hand on her hip. “Are you calling me a devil?”

“I’m just saying you could have handled that situation with Ms. Dorothy better.”

“Maybe so, but I didn’t grow up at Peaceful Rest and will not let her or you disrespect me.”

Julia stood up. “I should have known coming over here wouldn’t do any good.”

“Then why did you come?” Delilah asked.

“Let’s drop it. It’s probably best that you resign from the Pastor’s Aide committee,” Julia said before walking toward the door.

“Ohhh. Now I see what this is about. You don’t care about Ms. Dorothy; you’re just concerned about Samson.” Delilah, with a pout on her lips, said, “Until Samson kicks me off the committee, regardless of what you or Ms. Dorothy want, I will remain on the Pastor’s Aide committee. Now if there’s nothing else, I have things to do.”

Julia turned around when she got to the door. “Dee—Isn’t that what your friends call you?—Samson and I are getting married next weekend, so if I were you, I would give it up, honey. The best woman has won.”

Delilah gritted her teeth. “You’re the she-devil. Get out of my house now.”

“Gladly,” Julia said.

Delilah slammed the door behind her. The wall shook. Delilah rushed to locate her cordless phone and dialed Samson’s number. “Samson, I need to see you tonight,” she shouted.

“I have plans,” he responded.

“I suggest you break them or your future bride will find out all about us?”

“Delilah, I’m tired of you threatening me with this. Julia’s meeting me for dinner. Afterward, I’m telling her myself. Are you happy now?”

That was not the response she expected to get from Samson. Delilah hung the phone up. She had to think and think fast. Thoughts raced in Delilah’s head as she imagined how Julia would respond once she found out about her and Samson. Delilah was confident there would be no wedding. Samson wouldn’t have to worry because Delilah planned on being there to console him.

“Samson, yes, tell her. That means you’ll be mine sooner than later,” Delilah smiled.