Heaven Forbid by Lutishia Lovely

joined by choruses of “Amen” and “Thank you, Jesus.” A few of the older women got happy, and two nurses hurried over with Kleenex and fans. Nettie, one of only a handful of people who knew the Dorothea/Maxine history, wiped her eyes, even as she could almost feel Maxine’s anger burning the arm that touched her sleeve. Still, she felt the spirit of God even more and waved a hand in the air. “Hallelujah!” she said once, and then again. But those who hadn’t felt the Spirit, or weren’t caught up in their own personal praise, looked with curious eyes between Dorothea and Gospel Truth’s first lady.
    Obadiah clearing his throat caused Mama Max to open her eyes and look up. The way he looked at her was hard to discern, and that made Mama Max, who always felt she could read her husband like a book, uncomfortable. She broke the stare with Obadiah and watched as Dorothea began walking to her seat.
    “Praise the Lord!” Obadiah said in a booming voice. Various responses were shouted from a majority of the early morning worshippers. “Praise Him again, I say!” A louder chorus of “Amen” and other terms of agreement ensued. “I want to take this time to thank an old Gospel Truth member—well, when the church was Palestine Baptist—for letting God use her and the voice He gave her. Mrs. Bates, would you stand again?”
    Dorothea had just sat down, having received a variety of handshakes and arm pats on the way back to her seat. She slowly and somewhat shyly stood up, acknowledging the claps and grins directed at her. She also made very sure not to look anywhere near the direction of Maxine Brook.
    “I hope I’m not out of order in announcing this news,” Obadiah continued. “But Sistah Bates is back in Palestine for a happy occasion.” He looked questioningly at Dorothea and when she nodded slightly, continued. “Most of you are too young to have known Sistah Bate’s late husband, but he was a fine, God-fearing man.”
    He couldn’t have feared God too much if he married that husband-chasin’ heifah. Mama Max reached into her purse for a peppermint, hoping that sucking on it would prevent her from cursing this woman out in the sanctuary. She kept a slight, appreciative smile on her face, but Nettie could almost feel the anger pulsating from her friend. She reached over and gave Mama Max’s arm a little squeeze. Mama Max kept sucking and picked up a fan, trying to cool herself down.
    “Well, God has once again blessed Sister Bates with a godly man, Reverend Reginald Jenkins.” At this news, a small murmur began, especially among the older members. “As y’all know, Reverend Jenkins has been widowed for some years now. So let’s praise the Lord for his faithfulness, that he can bring love into your life no matter your age. Reverend Jenkins would have worshipped with us this morning but is under the weather. Please keep him in your prayers.”
    After nodding politely, Dorothea sat down. So far, the service had gone as she and Obadiah planned. She’d wanted her impending marriage to Reginald announced publicly, and she’d especially wanted Maxine Brook to be there. Dorothea didn’t want there to be any suspicions that the flame between her and Obadiah burned brighter and hotter than ever. Dorothea would have done anything to be near Obadiah, including marrying his one-time rival. Hopefully today’s announcement would put to rest any doubts of why she’d returned to Palestine.
    Mama Max listened to Obadiah’s sermon on being thankful and nodded in all of the appropriate places. Anyone observing her would have a seen a dutiful, if not doting, wife. But looks can be deceiving, because underneath the façade whirred thoughts that were more determined than doting. The news of Dorothea’s impending marriage to a man who was closer to dying than living did nothing to lessen Mama Max’s distrust. Like Obadiah, Reginald Jenkins had long carried a torch for his now fiancée, forty-plus years that she