Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [82]
"Baby, Sonny been whipping Glodean for a while. She's been hiding it from folks, especially her aunt, Willie Clayton. But this last time, he beat her pretty bad, and right in that alley in the back of the church. And I didn't even hear anything—there was so much noise coming from the men working on the roof. Anyway, from what Glodean told me, Sonny drove into that alley, dragged her out of the car and said, 'I'm gone beat the black off your tail, and right in front of your pastor. And if he comes out here to stop me, I will beat the hell out of him, too.' And then he started beating on her, thinking that I would come out there. But since I didn't hear anything, he got more frustrated and threw her down on the ground and walked toward his car.
"She stayed on the ground when he got back in his car, and when she was sure he was gone, she got up and came to my office. I took her straight to the hospital in your car, because it was right out back and she didn't want anyone to see her. I didn't want to, but Glodean needed to see a doctor bad. She must have dropped those glasses on the floor, and I didn't see them. And Essie, as soon as I got her settled at the hospital, I called Mr. D.S. Thomas and told him to come and take her home when the doctor was through with her. That's what happened, baby. It's the honest-to-God truth."
Essie looked Theophilus in the eyes, making sure he knew that she believed him, though she doubted that Glodean, even all beat-up and bleeding, would accidentally leave those glasses in her car. She was crazy, and she was spiteful. But Sonny Washington was downright dangerous, beating a woman like that and expecting to get away with it. This denomination needed some serious changes. No way a man like that had any business running a church.
"Theophilus," Essie said with tears in her eyes, "I don't understand why you kept that from me. Don't you know how much I love you?"
Those words, spoken so softly and with so much emotion, tore through his heart. What was he thinking to believe not telling her would spare her feelings?
"Baby, I am sorry. Didn't want to upset you but—"
"Shhh . . ." Essie said, placing her fingertips to his lips. "You can't protect me from hurts that come from your church. But you can do your best to be honest with me. Nothing hurts more than to be kept in the dark. Well . . . putting Glodean in my Cadillac, that might hurt more."
Theophilus winced, more from what Essie said than the increasing pain in his cheek. He would need to put an icepack on it before they left.
Chapter Nineteen
THE BANQUET WAS HELD AT RICHMOND'S NEGRO Masonic Hall, which was decorated lavishly with purple and silver ribbon streamers on the walls and windows, purple satin tablecloths with large silver, gold, and white floral arrangements on each table, and a huge purple, silver, and black banner hanging over the stage that read, WELCOME BISHOPS TO THE 1963 TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE GOSPEL UNITED CHURCH—LARGEST NEGRO CHURCH IN AMERICA!
"Theophilus, you know I love purple, but does every single thing have to be dripping in it?" Essie asked, closing the door to the banquet hall after taking a quick look inside to satisfy her curiosity about this affair.
"I guess it makes sure we never forget that bishops are the linchpins of the denomination."
"Bishops are the linchpins? Seems to me that church folks hold this denomination together, not these purple-loving men."
Theophilus frowned at her. "You behave yourself tonight, Essie. This room is full of 'purple-loving men' who don't take too kindly to being criticized and especially by a woman."
Essie blew air out of her mouth in disgust. She knew he was right. She adjusted the scarf around her neck and started to walk into the hall when he stopped her, saying, "Just a minute, baby. Wait here for me. I have to use the men's room."
Essie moved out of the entranceway to stand near a long table where two young ministers sat, checking new arrivals' names against the guest list. Overseeing them was a big man, who looked