Читать книгу Delilah - Shelia M. Goss - Страница 19

Delilah felt guilty about lying to Samson. The original video of them together was saved on her flash drive. She wouldn’t destroy it, but Delilah had no plans to give William a copy. She couldn’t pinpoint the moment her assignment for William turned into a quest for her to get the man of her dreams. If only Julia weren’t in the way.

Julia appeared to have it all—the looks, the education, and most importantly, her past was different from Delilah’s. Julia grew up in a two-parent household and had all the luxuries her parents could afford. Delilah couldn’t compete with her on that level, so she used the one thing she knew she had: her looks. Julia, although pretty, couldn’t hold a candle next to Delilah’s natural beauty.

Delilah knew it was wrong for her to go after Samson, but until he said I do, she would continue to pursue him. Delilah felt like she knew exactly what Samson needed, and that’s why he was drawn to her. She could give Samson the desires of his heart. Samson could be himself around her. He didn’t have to put on any pretenses. In her ideal world, Samson would allow her to be in control, and Delilah would take care of all of his needs.

Delilah lay across her bed and recalled how Samson’s demeanor changed when he approached her about the disk. She saw a side of him she didn’t know existed. It was a dark side, a place she never would have thought existed in a man like Samson. She tried to think of something else, but Samson filled her mind.

She fumbled in her nightstand drawer and retrieved her Bible. One of the church programs fell out. Samson’s handsome face stared back at her. She placed the program to the side and flipped the pages of the Bible open to the book of Judges. She read, in her opinion, one of the greatest love stories ever told—the story of Samson and Delilah.

Delilah didn’t recall falling asleep, but before she knew it she and Samson were being transported in time. In her dream, Samson married her instead of Julia. Many men tried to get Delilah to leave Samson, but Samson would fight them off. Each time, their love grew stronger and stronger. Their lives were perfect until William appeared and jolted Delilah awake.

Startled out of her dream, Delilah decided to give Keisha a call. Her friend answered on the third ring. “Guess what? Samson’s going to be all mine,” Delilah spat off.

“Say what?”

Delilah could tell she caught Keisha off guard. “I threatened to show Julia the disk of him and me together, but get this—he wants to be self-righteous and tell her himself.”

Keisha blurted: “Girl, have you lost your mind? Blackmail? Really, Delilah?”

“I’m not going to show Julia the video. I just wanted Samson to see how serious I am about us. He needs to break things off with her so we can move on with our lives together.”

Keisha attempted to be the voice of reason. “Girl, stop it before you get yourself into something you can’t get out of. You’re a beautiful woman. Find an available man and leave your pastor alone.”

“But I love him. I think he loves me too; he’s just afraid of what people will think.”

“Do you blame him? You’re throwing yourself at him like you’re desperate. Stop the madness now.”

Delilah wasn’t getting the response she wanted from Keisha. She wished her friend were more supportive of her quest to get Samson. She had to convince Keisha she was right in pursuing Samson. “Just think about it. Julia will leave him once she finds out about me. His parents I’m not too worried about. They’ll eventually learn to love me. The church, well, the members all love him, so they’ll forgive him.”

“I will be praying an extra-long prayer for you because, girl, you have gotten out of control.”

Delilah laughed. “Keisha, stop tripping. I’m serious. It’s just a matter of time before Samson’s all mine.”

“You must be dreaming because if you believe he’s going to cancel his wedding to be with you, Delilah, you have another thing coming,” Keisha said.

“I can give him what Julia can’t.” Delilah refused to give up hope.

Keisha laughed on the other end of the phone. “Julia’s not giving it up to him; you are. Why should she when you’re her substitute?”

Ouch. That hurt. “Here I thought you were my friend.” Delilah couldn’t believe Keisha had said something so hurtful to her.

“I am your friend. That’s why you can count on me to tell you the truth, whether you agree with me or not.”

Delilah hated to admit it, but Keisha never bit her tongue when it came to telling her anything. Sometimes she could be a little too harsh. Keisha’s blunt honesty, however, was one of the reasons Delilah cherished their friendship. Keisha was the sister she never had.

Delilah asked, “What do you think I should do with the video?”

“Erase it and act like it never existed. You’re lucky Samson didn’t go upside your head.”

“He would never do something like that.”

“You never know what a man is capable of doing until his back is up against the wall.”

Keisha had a point. She recalled the way Samson’s eyes darkened when he approached her about the disk. She wouldn’t admit it to Keisha, but it did scare her for a minute.

“I’m not giving it to William, so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Destroy it. Give William back his money and look for another job.”

“I can’t,” Delilah whined.

“You can, but you won’t.”

“Have you read Samson and Delilah’s story? It’s one of the greatest love stories ever told. Samson and I are destined to be together. This isn’t just fate, it’s biblical, Keisha.”

“Delilah, I would be remiss if I didn’t share this with you. I hate to tell you, but the story of Samson and Delilah in the Bible is more of a tragedy than a love story. Do you want to destroy the man you claim to love?”

Here she goes again on one of her tirades, Delilah thought. “No, of course not.”

“Then do as I suggested. Forget William and Samson and move on.”

“William I can forget, but Samson, never. I love him too much to give him up that easily.”

“But the love isn’t reciprocated. You deserve so much better.”

“Keisha, you just don’t understand. You don’t know Samson like I know him. My love for him won’t allow me to give him up.”

“I hope you don’t live to regret this quest of yours. Samson is a man of God, and your trying to destroy him will only bring bad things on you.”

“I’m the one standing in the gap for him. If I didn’t agree to help William, he would have found someone else, and you can guarantee that person wouldn’t be making things easy for Samson.” Delilah said those things more to herself than Keisha, as she attempted to justify working for William.

“Your allegiance should lie with God, but it sounds like you’ve aligned yourself with the devil.”

Delilah couldn’t disagree because there were many days when she thought William was a pawn of Satan. “I love God, and I love Samson. Unless Samson does something to change my mind, I will protect him from William’s wrath.”

“From what I’ve heard about William, he’s no one to play with. Be honest with him and get out while you can. Men like William will destroy anybody who stands in the way of them getting what they want. I love you, and I don’t want anything to happen to you,” Keisha said.

“Are you sniffling over there?” Delilah asked.

“No, I’m all right.”

To Delilah, it sounded like Keisha was crying. Maybe her friend was right. Maybe she should get out from under William while she still could. She hadn’t spent the money he had given her yet, so all she had to do was return it. Delilah knew it wouldn’t be that easy, so she pushed thoughts of returning William’s money to the back of her mind.

“Keisha, I’m a grown woman. I know how to take care of myself. Trust me. Things will work themselves out. William will get his land, and I will get what I want—Samson.”