Free Everybody Say Amen by Reshonda Tate Billingsley Page A

hated leaving Zion Hill, but he accepted his son’s amoral behavior and that is just wrong.”
    “I guess you never know how you will react until you’re faced with that situation,” Angela responded. She couldn’t understand why she was taking up for Jonathan. She definitely didn’t agree with his lifestyle choice and she sure as heck didn’t forgive him for what he’d done to her. But her mother was so negative about most things, sometimes she made Angela want to look for the positive. Angela shook that thought away. There were no positives in letting Jonathan see Chase.
    “Please,” Mrs. Brooks responded. “Let your brother come home talking about how he’s gay. As much as me and your father love him, he’s history. The Bible says that God intended for man to be with woman, not man with man. Such is the righteous path of God.”
    “You’re preaching to the choir, Mama.” Angela rubbed her temples. Was this what she was going to have to deal with on a regular basis now?
    “Well, you know we will spare no expenses. We’ll hire the best lawyers, private investigators, whatever it takes, to win this case.” Mrs. Brooks patted Angela’s hand. She looked around before leaning in toward her daughter. “Your daddy swore me to secrecy on this because he didn’t want you to know.” She paused and took a deep breath. “But we already have a private detective following Jonathan.”
    Angela raised her eyebrows in shock. “What? For what?”
    Mrs. Brooks sat back proudly. “You know them funny people engage in deviant sexual behavior. And when Jonathan Jackson goes into one of those gay strip clubs, or picks up some strange man in an adult bookstore, our cameras will be right there to capture him. Once a judge sees those pictures, this will be a nonissue.” She smiled like she had it all figured out.
    Angela sighed. She definitely didn’t agree with her mother’s underhanded ways but she knew it was useless to argue. Besides, she did want to do everything possible to keep Jonathan away from Chase. Maybe that meant she would have to play dirty. And after all the pain Jonathan had caused her, she wasn’t above getting down and dirty. Was she?

Chapter 13
    R achel scanned the shelf, trying to find something to pique her interest. She was looking for a good spiritually based book to help her be strong in dealing with the people of Zion Hill.
    She pulled out a new book by Juanita Bynum and started reading the back cover.
    “That’s a good one. I think I’ve read it twice.”
    Rachel turned toward the soft voice. “Hello. Linda Morgan, right?” She remembered the brown-skinned woman with the warm smile from a church leadership conference they had attended together.
    Linda nodded. “How are you today, Sister Adams?”
    “Fine. How are things at St. Luke’s?”
    “Same story, different day. But God is keeping me strong.”
    Rachel couldn’t help but smile. Linda was actually one of the nicest first ladies she’d ever met. She’d even sent Rachel a note telling her to call if she ever needed help with anything, although Rachel had never done so.
    “Just shopping, or looking for something in particular?” she asked.
    “Just looking around, actually.” Rachel took in Linda’s whole demeanor. She was one of the most respected first ladies in town. Yet she didn’t look like a typical first lady. Like now: She had her curly hair pulled back in a ponytail and wore a designer sweat suit. Still, she exuded elegance.
    From what Rachel had heard, Linda didn’t take any mess from the women at her church—even though Pastor Morgan was one of the most handsome preachers in town. As Rachel studied her, she doubted that this woman ever had to get ignorant like she had with Nikki Rollins last week. Rachel suddenly felt the need to open up to her.
    “Sister Morgan, when you get some free time, can I talk to you?”
    “I’m free right now.” Linda set down the stationery she had been holding. “I’ll just get