Lord's Most Blessed: Book 2

By Linah M. Baskin

No information available at this time. Author will provide once available.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664136243

Linah M. Baskin

no ata

Book preview

PRELUDE

AS I WAS about to start walking away from the table, Preacher Man took my arm to stop me, picked up his last full glass of alcohol, drained it, stood up, and took me in his arms. He stood there, just holding me as I tried to pull away. I was totally confused. This man confused all the personalities. The next moment, he looked directly into my eyes and said, I was talking about you.

CHAPTER ONE

Caught Up In The Moment

DECEMBER 1993 - At this time in my life, many events took place that placed the Personalities in overtime. Some events were good, and some were bad!

The night of the Christmas Party was full of surprises. There was no actual proposal. but Preacher Man who was normally quiet and moved slowly when he walked let me know he was interested. To be honest, I chalked it up to all the alcohol he drank. Still, I felt excited and hopeful that maybe there would be some type of relationship. I knew it would be okay; after all, he was a Man of God. What damage could he do?

When I picked Preacher Man up on Sunday, he spoke when he got in the car and immediately opened his Bible. There was no mention of the Party we attended or the conversation we had. Preacher Man kept his head in his Bible, never turning a page during the ride to the church. I did not attempt to talk to him. This was really a normal feeling I was having. I was used to being ignored.

I let Preacher Man read his Word. He was to bring the Message this morning. I started thinking about which song I was going to sing. There was another monthly Building Fund Service scheduled for the afternoon. I was scheduled to do a solo and Preacher Man was also.

After morning service, Preacher Man seemed to avoid me. I did not see him for almost an hour. I was in the Dining area when I did finally see him. He was entering the church through the back door. He walked over to a table and picked up a couple of cookies and started eating them. I walked over to him and said, Is that all you’re going to eat? He looked at me with a half-smile and walked toward the entrance into the sanctuary. It was five minutes before the afternoon service was to start.

The small church was packed. The service began and it was finally time for me to sing my song. As I was singing, I noticed guests were still arriving. When I finished my song, I moved closer to the Organ to the right of the church and stood beside it. There were no available seats in the pews.

The Service continued and the time came for Preacher Man to do his solo. He started his song while still in the Pulpit. Slowly, he left the pulpit while still singing and was to the far left of the church opposite to where I was standing. I was listening but also looking at the Program to see what was next.

Suddenly, Preacher Man was crying and talking. He was saying things about his life and how happy his family members were. ‘WHY NOT ME!" he shouted through the tears. He began singing again. After singing for a minute, he stopped again. Tears were flowing and Preacher Man started talking again. The church was shouting Amen and telling him to Preach!

Preacher Man started moving closer to where I was standing as he talked and I moved toward the Pulpit, gesturing to the Minister closest to me to pass me Preacher Man’s handkerchief. Preacher Man was still talking and crying as I took a small step toward him to give him his handkerchief. He did not reach for it right away. He kind of bent down and looked at the floor. He suddenly stood up straight and moved a little closer to me. I was finally hearing what he was talking about. He said, My sisters and brothers have loved ones; they have children they love; they have happiness with each other. WHY CAN’T I? I want someone to love and someone who will love me back. THAT’S WHAT I WANT! THAT’S WHAT I WANT!

The tears were really flowing. Preacher Man’s nose was running, and I tried again to give him the handkerchief. He reached for it and at the same time grabbed my hand and pulled me to him. He then shouted, I FOUND MY HAPPINESS! I FOUND MY HAPPINESS! He hugged me close and the church was screaming and shouting as the musicians started playing loud, fast, music.

I was able to pull back from him long enough to wipe Preacher Man’s face. That was all I could think to do at the time. He hugged me again, kissed me on the forehead, and walked into the Pulpit. I stood where I was. There was nothing else to do at the time. There was no escape from the people. They were dancing and shouting and some running to me hugging and congratulating me. This went on for a good fifteen minutes. A couple of things happened during the congratulations and hugging that caused some of the Personalities concern. They had been silent for quite some time but were now attentive!

It was so loud in the church, anyone talking to me had to shout or lean in for me to hear. One of the Mother’s in the church held me and whispered in my ear slowly, three times, I’m going to pray for you. It was so cold the way she said it, and I did not understand her reaction. She did not smile as she stood back and looked at me and turned and walked away. I could feel myself allowing a Personality to take over at this point. I became afraid and did not understand why. I allowed a few Personalities’ to take over. In between lots of hugging and/or kissing on my cheeks, more craziness occurred.

One of the younger female members of the church grabbed both my arms tightly, leaned in, and said, Preacher Man is my man and I am not going to give him up! I immediately turned to look at Preacher Man, but he was surrounded by all the Ministers who were in the Pulpit and some of the members trying to get to him.

I let another Personality begin keeping a record of the negative remarks and actions, and who was responsible for the negativity.

There were more hugging, shaking hands, and kissing. Eventually, two of the young female’s girlfriends reached me. They decided to act like they were so happy for me, but what they said when they came in close to me was totally opposite. One threatened to harm me if I did not leave Preacher Man alone and the other one told me I had better leave the church. I could not allow the Personalities to react openly although I really wanted to.

Finally, everyone settled down and the Building Fund Service was completed. During the remainder of the service, I remained by the Organ. I looked out periodically at the Mother who told me she would pray for me. I looked into her eyes one time and she looked away and dropped her head. What was wrong with her? Why was she so cold and looked so unhappy? What was the need to tell me three times in a row she was going to pray for me?

I also saw the three young women standing together by the entrance. I allowed my male personality to surface. I looked at them. They glared at me. I smiled at them and turned and looked at Preacher Man in the Pulpit. He saw me and again, there was that half-smile he gave me in the Dining Area before the Service began. I turned back to look at the young women. I smiled at them again and followed the smile with a wink! They did not take it very well. Some of the visitors and members saw what I did and turned to see who I was smiling and winking at. Preacher Man’s friend, who I could not stand, was standing near the women. He had arrived a couple of minutes earlier. He thought the smile and wink was meant for him. He smiled and waved at me. I did a little nod and looked at the women one last time. People who had turned around were smiling. I laughed to myself as I thought how I would not be able to come and go at the church unless I was always with someone. Unbelievable! These women did not know I always had bodyguards with me. The Personalities were good at their job. I would be able to handle whatever the women thought they were going to do.

CHAPTER TWO

Where Is The Love?

THERE WAS SO much going on in my life the past couple of days, even I wondered if I was the only one that noticed Preacher Man never told me he loved me during all of his dramatic testifying and revelation.

Even at the party, he hinted by acknowledging what a great place for a wedding, but never once did he say directly to me that he loved me.

I had to hang around the church after Service ended. Preacher Man asked me not to leave without him and said he would be right back. He said he and his friend had something to do and it would not take long. Since I had to wait, I helped clean the Dining area while waiting. The three young women left the church when Preacher Man and his friend left. I took note of that. The women hung around until everyone was gone except the Pastor, his wife, their two teenage daughters, Preacher Man and his friend, and me. My first thought was they were hanging around to get me as they promised.

After 45 minutes of waiting, a question came to my mind that I did not want the answer to. Was Preacher Man and his friend with the young woman and her friends? I put the question out of my mind when Preacher Man walked in the door. He apologized for taking so long getting back and hoped he did not hold the rest of us up. His speech was slow, and it sounded like his words were slurred. His eyes were tight. They looked almost closed. The Pastor responded, Actually, we just finished cleaning up. You are right on time. We all left the church.

As I got into the car, I was not sure which topic to bring up to Preacher Man on the ride home. Did I speak about his true feelings or lack of? Did I speak about the trio of women who threatened me? Did I ask questions about his relationship to the Mother of the church and what and how she spoke to me? I only saw them speak cordially to each other as long as I was in the church.

I did not know what to do or say to him. Preacher Man was back to being that shy quiet man I met two years earlier. A Personality replayed him dramatically pouring his heart out. He had to be sincere! The tears were real! The only physical actions from him was the hugs and a kiss on the forehead. Oddly, I was okay with that. The Personalities did not deal with emotions until it was absolutely necessary.

I started questioning myself. Was I being fair to Preacher Man by not telling him how I really felt about LOVE and SEX? I thought a minute and then I answered my own question. This was a case of SILENCE IS GOLDEN. Right now, I would allow Preacher Man to take the lead. I was not really given a choice about this relationship. Preacher Man had set that entire situation up without a word to me and in front of a church full of people! I do have to admit, it was a pleasant surprise!

CHAPTER THREE

Forgivable Sin?

PREACHER MAN WAS full of surprises. It had started snowing hard and Preacher Man and I cleaned the snow from the car windows together. While riding home, he asked, Can we make a stop before we get to the house?

No problem. I responded. Where do you want to stop?

The Liquor Store he said.

I thought I heard incorrectly. Did you say Liquor Store? I asked.

Yeah, Liquor Store. Got a problem with that? he questioned.

No. No. No problem. I responded.

When we leave there, we can go to your place, he said.

He looked at me and then out the window. He did not ask me if I wanted company. It was just a statement of fact. Some of the old memories surfaced. I felt like I was being taken advantage of by the tone of his voice and the blank look on his face, but I refused to believe it. He was nothing like the other men who had taken advantage of me in the past. I told myself I was being too sensitive. This would be the perfect time to ask him some of the things I had been thinking about. We could talk while we relaxed with a drink. Later I could take him home.

We stopped at the Liquor Store and made our purchases. Preacher Man stuck to one drink, but the amount he purchased for himself was scary! He purchased a gallon of what he wanted with a medium chaser. He asked what I wanted, and I told him. It was nowhere near the amount he got. When we got to check out, Preacher Man paid for his drink with money he took from the envelope he received for bringing the Message that morning. He did not pay for mine! He stood back and waited while I took out my wallet and paid for my items. I did not show any emotion whatsoever. I did not act surprised or angry, nor did I give him the impression I expected him to pay. I had money before I met him, and I still had my own money.

I paid my bill and we went to the car. After we cleaned the car off again, we got in the car. We were seated when I decided it was my turn to ask if we could make another stop. I realized I was hungry, and I could not remember seeing Preacher Man eat anything but two cookies.

How about one more stop? I asked.

No problem. Preacher Man responded. Where to? he asked.

Somewhere to get food. Aren’t you hungry? I asked.

I guess I could eat something. he said.

What do you have a taste for? I asked.

I think Chacko Chicken is still open and it’s on the way to your place. he said.

Chacko Chicken it is. I responded.

How did Preacher Man know where I lived? He was never at my apartment and I don’t remember ever telling him.

We picked up the food, cleaned the car off again and headed for my place. It was really snowing hard now. Big flakes falling fast. Once I parked, we had to clear a path to walk to get to the stairs. I had a small shovel in my trunk in case of emergency. Preacher Man cleared the path and then we unloaded the car and went inside.

It was comfortable inside the apartment when we entered because I had left the heat on low. I also had a timer on my lamp in the living room, so I did not have to enter a completely dark apartment. We took our shoes off at the door inside the hallway and then removed our coats. I told Preacher Man to follow me to the kitchen. I picked up my bags with my drink and the bag with the chicken. Preacher Man picked up his bags and followed me. I turned the light on in the kitchen and we put the bags on the counter.

This was the first time Preacher Man had been to my apartment. He was looking around and nodding his head. No words came from his mouth. He just looked and nodded. Finally, he spoke. Where is the washroom? he asked.

I pointed to the area behind him and told him, First door on the right.

While Preacher Man was in the washroom, I washed my hands in the kitchen sink and then removed the drinks and chicken from the bags.

I filled my ice bucket, put glasses, napkins, utensils, and paper plates on the table. Preacher Man walked in just as I finished. He was still in his three-piece suit. I suggested he get comfortable and lose the suit jacket and vest until we were ready to go back out. He removed the jacket, vest, and his tie He put the tie in the jacket pocket and opened the neck on his shirt. He held up the jacket and vest and gave them to me. I placed them in the room off from the washroom. While in the room, I took off my dress and put on sweatpants so I could be comfortable also.

I walked back into the kitchen and Preacher Man was still standing where I left him. I laughed and said to him, Are you just going to stand in one spot all night?

I was waiting on you. he said.

There was a bar in the long hallway, but I decided since we were eating, the table would be better, and we would not have to transfer the food and drinks to the front.

Preacher Man went to the kitchen counter and fixed himself a drink and I did the same for myself. We ate and drank in the kitchen, while watching the TV in the kitchen with the volume low. I wanted to keep tabs on the weather so I could get Preacher Man home and myself back home safely. A storm has been predicted. I took a chance and decided to bring up the events of the afternoon.

You had the church shouting all over the place this afternoon, I said to Preacher Man. It appears quite a few people were happy for you.

Preacher Man looked at me for just a second and got up and made himself another drink.

Everyone has been trying to fix me up with their friends, relatives, sisters, nieces and granddaughters. I did not like that. I do my own choosing. he said.

The way he said what he said left no opening for me to ask him what he felt for me. I assumed the answer to the question I wanted to ask was the last thing he said. I do my own choosing.

Preacher Man got up from the table and walked to the front of the apartment with his glass in his hand. He called out to me. I went to the living room and walked to the window where Preacher Man was standing. I looked out the window and saw the snow was still coming down. My car, the sidewalk, and the stairs to the porch were covered.

Looks like I will be spending the night. Preacher Man said. The storm is upon us.

Again, there was no question to me. There was a flat statement of fact. The Personalities started stirring around.

Spend the night? I asked.

Yep. he responded. "Too dangerous to try driving in this