Free Joy Comes in the Morning by Ashea S. Goldson

was feeling inside, everything was going to be all right. At least until the middle of service when I passed by Sister Winifred and she opened her big mouth. Sister Winifred looked over her reading glasses with her tricky eyes.
    â€œNow, Sister Alex, I see you’re wearing a big ring on that finger of yours. I hope that means the deacon is going to make an honest woman out of you.” Sister Winifred sighed. “I mean, you may not be his parents’ pick, and you may have put on a few pounds, but you’re clean, you’re good at serving, and that baby of his sho’ enough needs a mama.”

Chapter Eleven
    No she did not. I just stood back and glared at her, couldn’t even say a word. How dare that evil woman talk about me like that and to my face? Thank God the Holy Ghost held me back because I wanted to jump on that old lady. I couldn’t believe that stopping to ask Joshua a simple question would prompt her to hit us up with that one. Her mouth was incredibly foul, nothing like the sweet lips Pastor was always telling us we should have. She was always minding someone else’s business and hurting someone else’s feelings. When was she going to stop being such a meddlesome busybody?
    Joshua stood there, holding onto the back of a pew with his mouth open, looking like a hungry dog. I was annoyed that he wouldn’t just respond. What a coward. Was the idea of marrying me so shameful that it warranted this reaction? He could have stood up for me. He could have told her she was wrong about his parents, but he didn’t. She knew them, and he knew them. Yes, my feelings were definitely hurt. “Yes, Sister Winifred, we’re engaged.” I had no choice but to end it. “But I’ve got to get back on my post.”
    â€œWell, God bless you two.” Sister Winifred started shuffling herself down the aisle.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Joshua looked relieved. While I stood behind Sister Winifred, absorbing her response, Joshua quietly slipped away. He escaped this time, and he avoided me for the rest of the evening.
    At the end of the Bible Study, Pastor Martin made an announcement about needing volunteers in various areas for the new Elijah Project and that we should sign up at the information desk in the lobby. I skimmed over the list as I waited for Joshua. Volunteers were needed for several of the youth departments and that was out. Food was a maybe. Nothing else really interested me at the time. I thought maybe I was burnt out. I shrugged my shoulders, made a mental note of all of the available choices, then walked outside. I promised myself I would sign up next time. I had to give it more thought and definitely some prayer.
    Joshua came out minutes later. “Are you ready?”
    â€œYes.” I didn’t even look at him. Was it possible to love someone so much and yet want to strangle them at the same time?
    â€œDid you sign up for the Elijah Project?” Joshua pulled a pen out of his pocket.
    â€œNo, not yet.” I was determined not to give in.
    â€œWhy not?”
    I was forced to look at him now, but I made it brief because I was still upset. “I don’t know. I just haven’t decided yet. I don’t want to just pick something. I want it to be right. Whatever I choose, I want to belong there, to make a difference there.”
    â€œI know what you mean.”
    â€œWhat about you?”
    â€œI’m going to be working with Brother Jacob, helping the homeless.”
    â€œThat sounds very interesting,” I said.
    â€œSomething you might be interested in?”
    â€œNo, I don’t think so.” I began to dig in my purse, avoiding eye contact. “I’m going to pray about it.”
    â€œOkay then, let’s go.” Joshua led the way to his car and opened the door for me.
    Such impeccable manners, and yet he couldn’t even answer a simple reasonable question. I glanced back at the