Redialing Yo Number

By Cynthia Turner

Sage Hayes affectionately known as Sister Hey loved her job at Newfound Baptist Church in Sandersville. Newfound Missionary Baptist was the largest church in the area and was well known throughout the community for having good preaching, good singing, and delicious, southern style food. It seems as though everyone in the community knew each other or a family member. Sage was the kind of woman that loved attention and sought it in different ways. She worked with some of the most creative and innovative people at Newfound. Sage loved being a support system for the staff at Newfound, especially Daniel Morgan. Daniel was the creative mind behind the Yahweh Food Bank which fed more than 200 families every month with nutritious meals as well as The Lion's Den which provided health and dental screening to poverty stricken families. Tall, muscular, and handsome Daniel was a true Christian man who sought the Lord in every aspect of his life. Sage loved Daniel and would go to any length to be with him even if it meant going against her Christian principles. She desperately wanted to be Mrs. Daniel Morgan. Armed with help from her sister, Delphina, Sage came up with a plan to hook Daniel. However, Daniel was not going to play by Sage's rules. He was facing his own challenges and was not going to let Sage get the upper hand. So, when Sage's initial plan failed, she decided to concoct a more devious plan. Sage allowed her Christian values to be compromised by participating in a momentary indiscretion. Will she be able to find forgiveness, restoration and rejuvenation?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514436493

Cynthia Turner

Cynthia Marie Turner currently lives in Lexington, Kentucky and is a retired elementary school teacher who has a zeal for God and for children. She is a graduate of the University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University. Cynthia is a proud member of Consolidated Baptist Church in Lexington, KY., where she serves faithfully. She is the author of an inspirational poetry book entitled, “Now Faith, Now God,” and a religious fiction novel entitled, “Redialing Yo Number.” Cynthia loves to inspire people to be all they can be in Christ Jesus through consultation and prayer.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

T HE MUSIC WAS thumping as the choir was all tuned up in their usual Sunday-morning splendor. As the drums were banging, horns blaring, and the bass guitar player was turning up the bass knob on the amplifier, Sage Hayes poetically slid into her pew seat at the Newfound Missionary Baptist Church in Sandersville, Georgia. Dressed in canary yellow, Sage was making a statement to the rest of the congregation: See me, y’all, don’t I simply look fabulous? She beamed inwardly. Sage sat down carefully and tilted her body slightly to the left so that Mr. Franklin, one of the church’s early-morning greeters, could get the full effect of her pouty lips and big bosom. Sage made an extra effort to stick out her chest just a little bit more, knowing that Mr. Franklin couldn’t resist looking at her double-D twins.

"It is well, with my soul, crooned the deep melodic bass voice of Melvin. Sing, Melvin, sing, boy! shouted one of the church members from the balcony. Hallelujah, glory," hollered one of the choir members full of the spirit. No matter what mine eyes may see, I know his grace is covering me. Sage squirmed down in her seat a bit farther as she made the final adjustments on her too-tight suit jacket, all the while glancing poignantly at Mr. Franklin to be sure that he was enjoying the view. Sing y’all, she suddenly bellowed to make sure that everybody on her pew knew that she was also in the spirit.

Sage Hayes loved attention ever since she was a little wide-eyed girl on Sanctified Hill. She competed for attention from her older sister, Delphina, her next-door neighbor Lillian Porter, and most of all from Timothy, Lillian’s brother. Sage didn’t really like Timothy, but when she found out Delphina had a crush on him, she suddenly was in love. It seemed as though everything that Delphina wanted to do, Sage tried to outdo! Being the older sister by three years was a drag for Delphina with Sage always wanting to tag along whenever she went somewhere.

Attending and being involved in a church like Newfound Missionary Baptist gave Sage the opportunity that she needed to shine and to constantly be in the limelight. You see, Sage was the church clerk and her responsibilities made her indispensable to Pastor Justus Wainwright, the senior pastor, as well as to the other office staff. They all relied on Sister Hayes, who they fondly called Sis Hey to make sure that the office ran smoothly and that all of their needs were being met. Sage was very good at her job and loved the accolades she received when she made one of her coworkers smile at a job well done.

Sage worked with some of the most innovative cutting-edge people she had ever seen. Polly Dotson was the church secretary who always had kind words and encouraging thoughts about others. Polly was like the church’s mother—always helping, advising, and praying for others. Polly was definitely loved by everyone at Newfound.

The minister of music Tony Kaplan had a vivacious personality. He was full of life, and it showed. Tony was over all of the choirs at Newfound as well as the pianist, organist, and worship leader. Tony also managed a small recording company, had a new wife of one year, and a brand-new one-month-old son, Malcolm.

Rev. Daniel Morgan, one of the assistant pastors, was instrumental in beginning the Yahweh Food Bank which fed more than two hundred families every month with nutritious meals as well as the Lion’s Den which provided health and dental screening to poverty stricken families. Daniel worked very closely with Sage to make sure that the church’s policies and procedures were implemented and followed. Sage had been enamored with Daniel at the beginning of his ministry and the two had become great friends instantly. Daniel depended upon Sage’s attention to details and Sage depended on Daniel’s awesome heart for God and God’s people. Sage had allowed her fascination with Daniel to turn into deep-rooted, passionate love. Sage worked tirelessly to hide her love for Daniel and had finally learned to master hiding her feelings for him on the outside.

The music went into a loud crescendo and suddenly, gradually began to decrease near the ending of the song. Hallelujah, praise the Lord… God is good, shouted the congregation. The pianist continued to tickle the keys as Tony Kaplan periodically banged out a chord on the organ. The musical overture continued for about another minute before Pastor Wainwright stood up to deliver his message.

Brothers and sisters, he began, What a wonderful time it is to be on the Lord’s side. His wonders are from everlasting to everlasting! I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus who is the Christ. Welcome to this house… now let’s greet one another in brotherly love, continued Rev. Wainwright as he extended his hand to a fellow preacher of the gospel.

"Our message this morning will be coming from 1 Corinthians 6:1–3 (KJV),

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life? Can I get an amen! shouted the pastor. Amen!" the congregation shouted in unison.

The Apostle Paul is dealing with the problem of lawsuits among brethren in this passage from First Corinthians 6. Just last week, I picked up a current issue of a Christian magazine and read a report concerning two Christian organizations that are both involved in smuggling Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. They are now suing each other before the courts in libel actions for damages. As the pastor began to weave the word of God into his sermon, Sage sat spell-bound, listening to the man of God work his magic on the congregation. Sage, was not only fascinated with Rev. Wainwright’s oratory skills, but now had a new fascination for the reverend’s attire and physique. She noticed that Rev. Wainwright had lost about twenty pounds and at fifty-one was really toning up his body. All of the working out and clean living that he was doing was really paying off. Mrs. Wainwright was also reaping the benefits of a changed lifestyle. She was already a small, petite Annie look-alike with red hair and brown freckles. Now, she was really a fashion statement; wearing designer clothes, shoes and handbags.

Sage blinked several times as she came out of her daydream just in time to hear the end of the pastor’s sermon. As I conclude this week’s message brothers and sisters, we must be so very careful to follow the word of God and live it. Christians should not get themselves involved in suing one another and defaming others character for profit or gain. Paul makes it clear that we should go to other saints to settle any matter within the body and the issue should always be critiqued by the word of God. Please stand for the doxology!

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 1:24–25 (KJV)

As the members began to file out of the church, Sage heard her name being shouted by Naomi, one of her closest friends. Hey, Sister Hey! Naomi yelled in her normal high-pitched voice, Do you want to go out to lunch with the twins and me? We’re going to go to L’Aquila on Lafayette Street.

The two friends exchanged a brief hug before Marsha, the taller of the two twins pulled Naomi by the sweater and said, Come on, Naomi, let’s go so we can get a good seat.

Okay, okay, I’m coming, replied Naomi.

You all go on! shouted Sage.

I’m going over to Daniel’s house for lunch anyway. But thanks!

CHAPTER 2

T HE SUCCULENT SMELL of collard greens, corn bread, five-cheese macaroni, fried chicken, and peach cobbler filled the air. As soon as Sage walked in, she immediately got an animalistic growl coming from the pit of her stomach signaling her hunger. Man, that Daniel can cook, mused Sage to herself. Daniel would always say, Well, I loves to eat… so I loves to cook! And I do them both very well.

Sage woke up this morning thinking about what she wanted to do about her intense feelings for Daniel. He was so brain dead and deep into his ministries, he wouldn’t recognize a good catch if it jumped into the boat with him. But Sage continued to play the waiting game, praying that Daniel would recognize her for the woman she was: kind, compassionate, sexy, loving, and giving.

Sage knew that Daniel had been preoccupied lately; nevertheless, she was waiting for him to open up and reveal what was troubling him. Sage knew better than to push Daniel too far but he had always been able to confide in her in the past, so why not now? Patience is a virtue, repeated Sage to herself rolling her eyes to the ceiling and sighing. Yep, and perhaps it’s one that I don’t have, she chuckled inwardly.

Girl, why you sitting on that sofa all pensive and convoluted? asked Daniel in his usual southern drawl? Pensive and convoluted? giggled Sage. You must be refamiliarizing yourself with your Webster’s, chuckled Sage. "I haven’t heard big words like that since we attended that conference last month and you made up that new word praiship that everybody started using. Well, what better way to get folks attention, retorted Daniel, than to drop something new and memorable into their spirit? Both Daniel and Sage were referring to the Praiseworthy Conference" they attended last month in May featuring Bishop Conrad Stephens and recording artist Total Fidelity along with some other dynamic and prolific speakers. Daniel happened to have been one of those speakers and taught a session called Gage Your Praise in which he introduced the word praiship as a combination of the words praise and worship.

It was during that conference that Sage decided to make her move on Daniel. Unfortunately, Aletha Douglas, another Newfound Church member who was a praise dancer at the conference had the same idea. Aletha always had her eye on Daniel, even when she was engaged to Jerome Campbell. After several years of marriage and two children, you would think that floozy Aletha would act like a grown-up. But she strategically chose her moments away from home to participate in her indiscretions. Look at her, thought Sage. She’s actually salivating!

Somehow, Daniel must have discerned that something was amiss at the table between Sage and Aletha. In fact, right now, he wasn’t feeling either one of them. Daniel decided that he had too much to do to amuse himself with this group. Several friends attending the conference had decided to gather together for dinner on the hotels veranda restaurant overlooking the garden. It seemed that both Aletha and Sage had planned the same alluring strategy: get Daniel’s physical needs met by feeding him well and offering him plenty to drink then letting the seduction begin. However, Daniel, being a man full of wisdom and discernment, countered their attack by showing his impatience with a burning desire to put the finishing touches on his class outline. He suddenly excused himself during dinner and left the restaurant as quick as a torpedo zeroing in on its target. Ironically, Daniel left both women standing in the restaurant looking distraught and bummed out. Somehow, Daniel was MIA the rest of that night and finally put in a guest appearance the next morning at breakfast looking refreshed and energetic. Good morning, all, he crooned. Neither Sage nor Aletha even got the opportunity to get anywhere near Daniel, yet alone put their plans into full motion. Actually, Sage was glad that she had not made a move on Daniel during the conference. She truly loved Daniel, but wanted his love and commitment to be genuine. Knowing timing was everything, Sage would not force Daniel’s hand. She knew that moment would have to be very special and just perfect, not in an eating establishment or at a conference.

Sage… Sage, I said are you ready to eat? Girl, where is your head? Daniel motioned attempting to get her attention. Oh… okay, sorry, Mr. Morgan, she said shaking her head apologetically. I’m starving, let’s eat!

Ummm… Um! groaned Sage with a mouth full of macaroni and green juice dripping down the side of her lips. Can’t nobody make Sundays as tasty as you can, Daniel. I can’t wait for some of that mouthwatering peach cobbler.

Sage… slow your roll! There’s more where that came from! grinned Daniel. He loved to see Sage enjoying herself. She was one of the few people that ate with vigor and passion. Not at all like those tiny, empty-headed anorexic models. No, not Sister Hey. She chewed and ate her food with the gusto of an NFL Chicago Bear’s linebacker. And when it came to food, she didn’t care who was watching or what they thought.

Sage noticed how little Daniel ate. I wonder if he’s feeling all right, she mused to herself. Daniel just picked at his food. He only took a few bites of his golden crusted-fried chicken and collard greens. He didn’t even touch the mac-n-cheese, which was Sage’s favorite.

Sage decided to make a mental note to herself: Ask Daniel when was the last time he had a checkup and suggest that he may want to see a nutritional clinician. Daniel was carrying such a full load that he could not afford to slip up and get sick because he’s too busy to eat.

CHAPTER 3

S AGE’S SLEEK BABY blue Infiniti Q50 luxury sport sedan maneuvered perfectly as she turned into the driveway and carefully pulled into the carport. She loved the feel of the supple leather interior, ergonomic cushioned seats and spacious console. Long, shapely, muscular legs emerging from the interior of the car, Sage paused a moment to look at the magnificent entryway to her condominium complex and reflect upon her life thus far. Streets lined with privacy fences, retaining walls, decorative ponds, and custom designed perennial hanging gardens, Sage’s living environment was a huge step above the meager means she grew up with.

Sage, her mother Betty Jean, and her sister Delphina lived on the east side of Sandersville in an impoverished area called Sanctified Hill. Betty Jean did the best that she could with her two daughters, but often wondered if she was raising them in the right way. She wanted to raise her daughters in the fear and admonition of the Lord, but knew that she fell short almost every day. Being a single mother was a challenge for Betty Jean, but she was determined that with the Lord’s help she would make it. She wasn’t Ms. Patty Perfect but she was saved and that made the difference.

Betty Jean gave birth to Delphina when she was only nineteen years old. She had hopes of attending barber school and becoming a hairdresser, but her hopes and dreams were dashed when she began fooling around with a man from the upper north side of Sandersville and Lillian Porter’s cousin from Macon, Georgia. Lillian’s cousin spent his summers with the Porter Family because he had gotten in trouble with the police for drug possession and his family wanted to get him away from the crowd that he had begun to hang around as fast as possible. Three years later Sage was born and the Hayes family continued to grow as their Mamma was pregnant once again that very next year. However, this time, she miscarried because of an abnormality or birth defect that baby Candace