When It All Falls Down by Dijorn Moss Page A

T-shirt with hot pink in the design. I also had the hot pink shorts to match and, boy, was they short.”
    I chuckle because even in the most progressive church, Pastor Robinson’s outfit would’ve been unacceptable.
    â€œBut God called me and I answered the call, but no one wanted to support me in ministry except for Pastor McMurray, Minister Blackwell, and Minister Mackie. They stuck with me through thick and thin and I rewarded them for that.”
    â€œI can imagine how hard it must’ve been for you, but when it’s God’s will, you have to trust that even when it looks grim.”
    Pastor Robinson has tears and she reaches into her suit jacket and removes some tissue. Pastor Robinson wipes her eyes and I can tell that her tears are not over who she named Associate Pastor.
    â€œSometimes I hate being good at my job,” I say, but I don’t wait for a response. “I can tell when someone’s lying and I can tell when someone is hiding something.”
    â€œMinister Dungy, I don’t have time for this. If you have something to say then say it.”
    â€œYou need to make time, but all I’ve observed in the brief time that I have been here is that you’re less concerned about finding your husband than you are about who teaches tonight’s Bible Study.”
    Pastor Robinson avoids eye contact with me. She just sits there with her head down. “Tony was against me going into the ministry. Sometimes my husband can throw a fit like a little kid. It took awhile for him to let me go to seminary. I think he figured that I would quit just as soon as it got hard like I did with everything else.” Pastor Robinson shakes her head and chuckles to herself. “I showed him, and even now, he still has his reservations; but I thought we were past this.”
    There is something in her tone and her words that convey to me a cryptic message. Pastor Robinson is not beside herself over her husband’s disappearance. “This isn’t the first time he has left has he?”
    Pastor Robinson shakes her head. “Nope. This is the longest, but Tony has a habit of disappearing for a week. Then he shows up and doesn’t want to talk about where he’s been. I put up with it because he’s my husband and I love him.”
    Pastor Robinson wipes her eyes. “I forgive him and I try to refocus my attention on the ministry. Tony leaving is his way of getting back at me for not doing things his way, but this latest disappearing act is his longest.”
    â€œSo you’re thinking he’ll come back?”
    â€œOf course, because he’s in love,” Pastor Robinson replies.
    â€œSo then why hire me?” I shrug my shoulders.
    â€œBecause I’m not some naïve twenty-three-year-old who ain’t got anything better to do than run behind some man. I have a ministry to run and I was told that you’re good at handling these matters discreetly.”
    â€œI can and I will, but I need for you to be ready to know what to say to your husband when I do find him.”
    â€œSo your friend is looking for him?” Pastor Robinson asks.
    â€œHe’s on the case and you should be ready to reconcile with your husband.”
    â€œI am.” Pastor Robinson rolls her eyes.
    â€œI hope for your sake you’re right.”
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    â€œGod bless you and welcome to Jubilee.” A beautiful greeter leads me to an usher who leads me to the sanctuary. I enter the sanctuary and see the praise team engaged in praise and worship while one-third of the congregation sit and clap their hands. I take a seat at the back pew. To me the best seat in the house is the back of the church. I find out a lot about a church and its effectiveness from the back row. I can tell if someone pays attention to the service or if they just text. I can even read the faces of the people sitting in the pulpit and tell if they are into the service, as well. The back