Saved Folk in the House Read online

  If you purchase this book without a cover you should be aware that this book may have been stolen property and reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher. In such case neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Portions of this book have been previously published in novella form.

  Copyright © 2006 by Sonnie Beverly

  All rights reserved.

  Published by Warner Books with Walk Worthy Press(TM)

  Warner Books

  Hachette Book Group

  237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

  Visit our Web sites at www.HachetteBookGroup.com.

  The Warner Books name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  First eBook Edition: May 2006

  ISBN: 978-0-446-55404-6

  Book design and text composition by L&G McRee

  Contents

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Epigraph

  PART ONE: Saved Babies’ Daddies

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  PART TWO: Real Saved Folk

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  PART THREE: Out of the Mouths of Saved Babes

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Chapter Forty-four

  Chapter Forty-five

  Chapter Forty-six

  Chapter Forty-seven

  Chapter Forty-eight

  Chapter Forty-nine

  Chapter Fifty

  Chapter Fifty-one

  Chapter Fifty-two

  Chapter Fifty-three

  Chapter Fifty-four

  Chapter Fifty-five

  Reading Group Guide

  “ZAKIA, WE NEED TO TALK,” HER HUSBAND SAID.

  Zakia was relieved Jay didn’t seem to be upset with her for not cooking dinner again. That was good. Less pressure on her.

  “Jessica is pregnant. She’s the finance secretary at my church.”

  “So?”

  “The baby is mine.”

  The revelation that he was having an affair sent Zakia into a state of shock. She was numb and couldn’t speak, so Jay continued.

  “You are obsessed with your church, neglecting me and your family, alienating your friends. Now, what about your marriage? Is that the kind of God you want to serve, one that makes you lose everything important in your life?”

  Zakia mustered all the strength she had to speak.

  “Get out,” she managed to say without bursting into tears. It only took him minutes to pack a few things. He left her sitting on the bed, still in shock . . .

  To my loved ones who left me way too soon: Book, Cherry, Tiger, Angel, and Jean.

  Acknowledgments

  Always my survival tools: The Love of God, The Blood of Jesus, The Peace and Comfort of The Holy Spirit and The WORD of God.

  My mom, Ms. Claudette G. Beverly, who is my rock-solid foundation and home base where I am always safe; my aunt Gwen, Mrs. Gwendolyn B. Mitchell, who is wisdom and elegance, grace and beauty, trust and understanding personified: I am who I am because you two gave me the best of you.

  My spiritual aunt, Mrs. Katie White: you have what you say. You told me to just love, believe, and trust Him and everything will be all right. Well, guess what? Everything is better than all right.

  Shaunonell (my children, who have always filled my heart with joy, pride, and hope for the brightest of futures for our family): Shaun Chappell, take it to the big screen. Shannon Chappell, take it to the stage. You twins are my fruit, extensions of me, and can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens you. You have the baton (vision), now run with it. Shannell “Yale” Chappell, you are too many things, so you let me know if you are going to sing, dance, design, write, act, major in journalism, be a foreign correspondent, or practice law. Just let me know when you and Jesus decide.

  The Quivers (my godchildren): Scott and Sánta, Saván and Christian. All my children sure know how to take care of each other, and that makes my heart glad.

  My church families: Faith Alive International Ministries and pastor, Dr. Steve Parson Sr.; my big boo, Mrs. Florence Taylor, you are the epitome of accountability; my pop, Elder Richard Luster, you are a model of class and grace; Brother’s Keepers Ministries; my unk, Rev. Harold Luster, always wise, always GQ sharp; and especially my guardian angel, the right Rev. Ray N. Smith Sr., you are all that and a bag of chips, with your calm, cool,and clean self; his wife, who he confesses deserves the Congressional Medal of Honor, Sis. Karlyn Smith. I love and appreciate y’all so, so much. World Changers Church International and pastors, Dr. Creflo and Taffi Dollar, thank you for exposing me to the world we are called to change.

  The Professionals from Walk Worthy Press and Warner Books: Denise Stinson, my mentor and publisher, who let me know that she is not my mother—I love your style. My editors: Karen Kelly, who knew that I had a lot to say and just how to help me say it, and knew what to say, and especially, what not to say. Thank you for your patience and kindness, KK; Chandra Taylor, for hooking me up even while you were going through.

  My girlfriends that substitute as my checks and balances: Denise Wooldridge, thanks for taking me to paradise, while keeping me on that spiritual straight and narrow; LaFarn Burton, the hangingest role model I know, who never gives up on folk; DC Pam Dickerson, the closest thing to a real sister I have—you’re my Gayle, girl; Vanessa Michelle Grey, my love for you continues to grow, even if we don’t talk for months; Ascension, Inc.—The Philosopher, Charlita Wye; The Intellect, Tanisha Jackson; and the one who will always and forever keep it real, Davina Thomas. You’re my inspiration and my FGs. Octavia Lee Hall-Banks, you know the deal. You are all my sheroes.

  Tyler Perry and Oprah, and my partners Joyce Meyer, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Marilyn Hickey, and Bishop T. D. Jakes, for all you do to help a sister stay encouraged by seeing with her own eyes what God will do with the willing and obedient.

  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

  MATTHEW 7:24-25

  PART ONE


  Saved Babies’ Daddies

  Richmond, Virginia

  I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

  1 TIMOTHY 5:14

  Chapter One

  Oh. My. God. Help me, Jesus,” Zakia Wilkes said to herself as she made eye contact with one of the finest men she had ever seen. The stranger approached her as she stood on the front steps of her dormitory.

  “How you doin’, baby, with your pretty self?” he said in a deep, sexy voice. He slowed down long enough to acknowledge her with a smile, but he did not stop.

  “Fine,” she stammered in a barely audible baby voice. She dreamily watched him go through the front door of the dorm. When he was out of sight, she sighed heavily.

  How am I going to stay focused here at Manna State University for the next four years and get my degree with all these men around? Zakia wondered.

  She had never seen so many fine-looking men in one place at one time. There were beautiful black men in every shape, size, style, and color. Impressive black men who were Christians, Muslims, sophisticated, funny, smooth, cool, and intelligent. They were from all over the world, and they overwhelmed her with their mere presence.

  Since Zakia arrived on the beautiful, huge campus with its magnificent blend of modern and nineteenth-century architecture four weeks ago, after her high school class of 1984 end-of-the-summer party, she had been awestruck. The landscape boasted lovely, colorful gardens with huge shade trees and benches where the students socialized between classes. Statues of college beneficiaries and famous African-Americans such as Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman dotted the campus and reminded the students of their heritage and purpose.All the men Zakia saw looked like they were ready to meet the challenge. In the beginning, when one of them paid her a compliment, she either found it difficult to speak or simply got weak in the knees. She was much more in control of herself now, but every once in a while, she’d be overcome and revert to her awestruck behavior.

  Zakia was a pretty girl, sweet, innocent, smart, andintimidated by her mother. She had a reverential fear of Alexis Wilkes, which kept her out of any serious trouble and helped her to make the best decisions in most situations, but she was in Baltimore, three hours away from home and Alexis in Richmond. She needed strength to handle this newly found freedom.

  After she had gotten herself together from the exchange with the fine stranger, Zakia contemplated what part of campus she was going to explore next. Just as she decided to check out the library, the fine stranger and a beautiful woman came back out of the dormitory holding hands. He looked at Zakia without smiling. Zakia smiled at the woman, who returned her greeting with a friendly grin. Zakia glanced at the man, who maintained a serious expression.

  Okay. Now, how am I going to do this? Zakia thought. These men flirt with you, get you all hot and bothered, then when they’re with their women, they act like they don’t know you. Okay, I see. That’s the game here too. I played it in high school.

  The only difference was that during high school, Zakia was the player, thanks to her twin brother, Zachary, and his gang, the Execs. Besides, the guys in high school seemed a far cry from the worldly Manna men. She determined very quickly that she’d have to learn some defense.

  In high school, Zakia was Miss Popularity. Her mother, Alexis, was a strong black woman who didn’t stand for any bad behavior from anybody, including the father of her children. Rahlo Brown was an old-school player who had three children by two different women. One time when they were doing really well and Alexis had fleeting thoughts of having a nice wholesome together family, she allowed herself to want to marry Rahlo when the twins were four years old. Then she found out that Rahlo had fathered her neighbor Mavis’s baby girl. So much for a wholesome family. Alexis depended on no one but herself, and she trained her little ones to be as self-sufficient as she was. Rahlo, however, was expected to provide for the twins financially.

  It was no secret in the neighborhood that Rahlo was Mavis’s baby’s daddy. Four-year-old Zakia was thrilled beyond measure when she overheard her mother on the phone fussing to her friend Jean Harris about what a dog Rahlo was, messing with a neighbor right around the corner and giving her children a baby sister by some other woman and that she would never marry him and he better take care of the twins or she would have him locked up.

  I have a baby sister was all Zakia cared about. She told Zachary.

  “We have a baby sister.”

  “Where is she?” Zachary asked.

  “At Miss Mavis’s house.”

  “Why is she at Miss Mavis’s house?”

  “Because Miss Mavis is her mommy.”

  “So how can she be our sister?”

  “ ’Cause Daddy is her daddy too.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t know, but Mommy told Miss Jean that we have a baby sister and Miss Mavis is her mommy. Let’s go see her.”

  “Okay,” Zachary said, following his sister into the kitchen.

  “Mommy, we’re going outside to play,” Zakia said to her mother, who was in another zone.

  “Okay,” Alexis said, glancing at her twins, but not noticing the up-to-something look on their faces as she continued to vent to her friend on the phone.

  Zakia and Zachary figured they would be back before their mother got off the phone. They walked to Miss Mavis’s house. They knocked on the door. Miss Mavis answered.

  “Hello, twins,” she said in a sweet, friendly voice.

  “Hello, Miss Mavis. Is our baby sister here?” Zakia asked matter-of-factly.

  Surprised at the child’s question and not knowing exactly how much Zakia knew or understood about the situation, she said, “Yes, would you like to see her?”

  Both twins lit up like Christmas trees because it was true that they had a baby sister.

  “Yes, ma’am!” they shouted in unison.

  Mavis opened the door wide and stepped aside so that the twins could enter. She led them into her bedroom, where their half sister was amusing herself in her crib. Zakia fell instantly in love with the baby, a real-life doll, and wanted to pick her up and play with her.

  “What’s her name?” Zakia asked.

  “Raquel, but we’ll call her Raquie,” Mavis answered.

  Zachary thought the baby looked just like his daddy and was still puzzled about how Miss Mavis had his baby sister living with her.

  “Is she gonna come live with us?” he asked.

  “No, baby, Raquie is my daughter,” Mavis explained.

  “But she’s my sister, right? Zakia is my sister, and she lives with me,” Zachary responded in total confusion.

  “Ask your mother to explain it to you, baby. You can come see her whenever you want, okay? Now, does your mother know where you are?”

  “No, ma’am,” Zakia said, playing with baby Raquie’s feet through the crib rails.

  “Well, you better go on back home before you get into trouble. You know how your mother is.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Can we come see her tomorrow?” Zakia asked.

  “Yes, sweetie, but make sure it’s all right with your mother first.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Zakia said.

  From that moment on, when Zakia went outside to play, she visited her baby sister. Alexis eventually found out by overhearing her twins talking. When she questioned Zakia about her visits, she realized Mavis may have been a man-stealer, but she would never harm the twins. Alexis allowed the visits. Zakia loved Raquie so much. They grew to be very close.

  Their old neighborhood, by Richmond’s James River, was built at the turn of the century and was fondly referred to as the village, even though it was considered lower-class. Many of the houses were more than half a century old and were not very sturdy. Some of the houses were single-family dwellings with a small yard, but most of them were attached. There was a buzz of excitement about the city building a housing project to be occupied by neighbors k
nown as the villagers.

  Some of the villagers dreamed of making enough money to move to a nearby suburb of Richmond. In fact, most of the villagers who were fortunate enough to get good government jobs or steady factory work immediately bought nicer homes in other parts of the city as a sign that they had “arrived.” However, some of the villagers loved the neighborhood where they grew up, and stayed on even though they could afford to leave. Some maintained homes that had been in their families for years. Others stayed because they did not have the money to move.

  Everybody in the village knew one another, and many of the people were related. The number of homes with a married couple could be counted on one hand, as could the number of homes with no children. The village was the type of inner-city neighborhood that bred issues that would follow its inhabitants wherever life took them.

  As the years passed, Raquie grew closer to Zakia than to the other children Mavis bore after her. Mavis, who never married, received aid for her three other children by three different baby daddies, but Rahlo took care of Raquie. Alexis also saw to it that Rahlo took care of their twins, never hesitating to remind him of the consequences if he didn’t.

  Rahlo would take Zakia and Raquie for rides, for ice cream, school shopping, and all kinds of fun events. They loved their bachelor daddy and often had sleepovers at his apartment. He would get up and cook breakfast, and they would eat and watch cartoons together. He enjoyed having them. As the three of them sat around eating and playing, he would tickle them. They would laugh and try to get away or lie all over him, relaxing on the floor, watching TV, just having a wonderful time.

  Zachary would sometimes ride with his daddy and sisters, but he’d rather hang out with his friends Micah Robinson and Eli White, who regarded Zachary as their leader. They had a club, the Execs, short for Executives, and never got into any real trouble. The club was mostly for organizing business ventures to make money. They went door-to-door trying to sell things such as bouquets they made from stealing flowers from the neighbors’ gardens when they couldn’t get Zakia to bake cookies for them to sell. They’d use the money for candy or the movies and later, as they grew up, concerts. As they got older, they began to venture out to other neighborhoods, going door-to-door to raise funds for what they said was camping equipment for their Boy Scout troop. None of them had ever been near a Boy Scout, but the scam netted them a fifty-dollar profit.