Chapter 11

            Almost two hours had gone by since Aaron had come home for “lunch.”  And although a type of “dessert” was all he got, he felt fully satisfied.

            “I’ve got to go back to the office, I’ve got some more appointments scheduled this afternoon,” he lamented.

            “Well, come on dear, let’s get you up and dressed.” Cheryl encouraged him as she swung out of the bed, threw on her silk house coat, and grabbed the shirt he had thrown on the floor.

            “What’s this?” she questioned with a shock in her voice.

            “What’s what?” Aaron asked as he drearily climbed out of the bed.

            “Whose lipstick is this?  It’s not mine -- it’s not my shade!” she exclaimed.

            “What? . . . Oh, that . . . Judy . . . uh . .”

            “JUDY!”  Cheryl interrupted, “Who is Judy?  And why is her lipstick on your shirt?”

            “You know Mrs. Chandler the . . .”

            “So now you’re cheating on me!?” Cheryl screamed “with Mrs. Judy Chandler?!” she said incredulously.  “I knew it!” she cried, tears now streaming down her face.  “You dog!” she grabbed a book off the nightstand and threw it at him.

            Aaron dodged the book as it whizzed by his head, all the time trying to move closer to her to get her under control.  When he was in range she began flailing her fist at his face and chest, wanting to damage whatever part of him she could.

            “Calm down, dear, calm down,” Aaron pleaded as he held her by the shoulders with his strong hands.  “There is no affair.  It was a counseling session, and I was just putting my arm on her shoulders to comfort her and she fell against my chest and began crying” he tried to explain.

            “You were embracing another woman!” she screamed as she tried to pull away from him.

            Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring . . . What a time for somebody to be calling.  He looked toward the phone fearing it might be one of his members calling with an emergency. 

            “Don’t you dare answer that!”  Cheryl spat out as she read his thoughts.  Ring . . . Ring . . . Ring . . .  “That crazy Charles has brainwashed you into thinking you can have other women!  And . . .”

            Before she could go on, Aaron took three quick steps to the nightstand.  “Yes, who is it!” he answered abruptly.

            “Hey Aaron, it’s Kyle . . . uh . . we can’t go man . .”

            “Can’t go?  Can’t go where?”  Aaron asked impatiently.

            “To Kenya.” he responded.  “Cheryl and Juanita apparently talked to Terry this morning.  Now she doesn’t want me anywhere near Charles.

            “But . . .” Aaron muttered as he stared across the room at his furious wife who now stood with her hands perched firmly on her hips and shot fiery eyed glances of hatred his way.  “The tickets . . . you spent $3,000 on tickets . . . you can’t pull out now!”  Aaron said urgently.

            “If I don’t, she said she’s leaving me.  I don’t know if I can live without her and that would destroy the ministry” Kyle reported.

            Aaron couldn’t believe his ears.  Disaster was everywhere.  He looked back at Cheryl who now stood with her weight on one foot while she impatiently tapped the other.  Her arms now were folded across her chest and Aaron had never seen such a mean look on her face.

            “It is amazing,” he thought, “Just two hours before she was more seductive than she had ever been, even on our honeymoon, and now she looks like Satan has enveloped her very being!

            “Kyle . . . I . . . I have to talk to you later.  I’ve got my own problems right now” Aaron said as he concluded the call.  Aaron thought he had problems but there was an even worse threat on the horizon.