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    Shades of Winter: Reflections of Spring
    Shades of Winter: Reflections of Spring
    Shades of Winter: Reflections of Spring
    Ebook156 pages2 hours

    Shades of Winter: Reflections of Spring

    By John Wesley Anderson

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    About this ebook

    Shades of Winter:
    Reflections of Spring


    Is a romantic story, depicting
    two individuals coming to grips
    with their desires for true love,
    passion and human fulfillment;
    while struggling to maintain their
    ecclesiastical responsibilities
    to the Church and the
    vows of marriage.

    Also written by the author: Who Weeps for David?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherXlibris US
    Release dateApr 3, 2013
    ISBN9781483606927
    Shades of Winter: Reflections of Spring

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      Book preview

      Shades of Winter - John Wesley Anderson

      Chapter 1

      The Vow

      Hezekiah Daniels, pastor of Mount Mariah Missionary Baptist Church, paced the floor of Fulton-Mercy’s dingy waiting room in anticipation of an answered prayer. The small black hospital was known throughout the east side of Detroit as the chief harbinger of death for poor blacks who were unable to afford care at the better-funded white hospitals.

      In 1943, Fulton-Mercy was one of the few vehicles for promising young black doctors to practice medicine. At that time, no major hospital would accept black residents for fear of the white backlash. Despite the financial adversities, Fulton-Mercy, statistically, had a success rate comparable to Providence-St. Martin’s, which was the well-known white hospital on the affluent west side. The hospital’s bad reputation derived from mysterious means, totally unfounded according to the facts, but it remained nonetheless.

      Hezekiah, lost in a world of silent grief and meditation, knew the negative reputation of the hospital, but he also knew it was the best hospital in town for blacks. The doctors there showed a greater degree of compassion than the white hospitals, plus it was well-known to Hezekiah that the hospital provided top-notch care despite its reputation. Yes, he whispered, this is the best possible place for Luann.

      Hezekiah watched in quiet dread as the young doctor walked toward him, the doctor’s face densely marked with concern. He stood motionless, awaiting the word on his pregnant wife.

      Pastor Daniels, Dr. Jenkins said, putting his hand on Hezekiah’s shoulder and searching within himself for the right words to say, coming up empty.

      Your wife has slipped into a coma. We don’t know if she’s going to live or die, he said, biting his lower lip as if to punish them for not choosing better, more compassionate words.

      How about the baby, Doctor? How about our little baby? Will he survive to see my face? Hezekiah asked while tears fell on his black ministerial shirt and quickly faded into the fabric.

      Pastor Daniels, all we can do right now is pray. It’s in the Lord’s hands now. Dr. Jenkins patted Hezekiah on the back to try to somehow ease the pain.

      Dr. Jenkins looked up and saw the members of Mount Mariah Missionary Baptist Church moving down the hall like an army destined for battle.

      It looks like your spiritual army is here, Dr. Jenkins said, walking away.

      Hezekiah looked up to see all the prayer warriors of the church marching down the hall as if on divine appointment. He smiled to see widow Anabel Coleman leading the way.

      Pastor, we’ve come to lift your needs to the throne of grace, Mabel Richards said, waving her tattered, well-worn Bible.

      Dear God in heaven knows how much I appreciate all of you coming down here tonight, he smiled, lovingly stroking the coal-black hair of fiery Mabel R. I’ve made my request known to the Lord, and I’m sure the answer to my petition is already on the way. I’ve gone three days without food or drink, and I would go another forty or even fast till death if it would save Luann.

      He looked at Anabel Coleman and then said solemnly, If the Lord is punishing me for any evil that I’ve done, I’ll accept His punishment like a man and a child of His grace. Anabel Coleman hung her head.

      The entire prayer group focused on the handsome lean young black doctor as he slowly walked down the narrow hall. His steps were uncertain, his facial expression solemn.

      Pastor Daniels, seeing the look in everyone’s faces, turned into the troubled countenance of Dr. Jenkins.

      Pastor, Lu-Luann… j-just passed, he said, fighting back the tears.

      I’m so sorry.

      Hezekiah took a mournful deep breath and slowly exhaled. Is the baby… is… he still… is he still alive?

      Yes.

      Thank the Lord! Mabel interrupted.

      But he’s in a great deal of danger. The next twenty-four hours will tell if he’ll live or die.

      Hezekiah, locked within the clutches of grief and guilt, pushed past Dr. Jenkins and rushed to the men’s room, which was the nearest place of solitude. He slammed and locked the door behind him. He fell to his knees and sobbed uncontrollably. He reached over in the small restroom and flipped off the lights. Hezekiah looked up into the silent darkness.

      Dear Lord, you’ve taken Luann away from me. Please, Jesus, don’t take our baby too. What I did all those many months ago… I admit to You right now was wrong. Don’t take the life of the son because of the sins of the father. Lord, if you spare his life, I vow to You this day that my only wife shall be the church and my only love will be that which I have for Your service and my son. He raised his hands to heaven then beat his chest in sorrow.

      Dear Lord, please forgive me of my sin, and I will never again retreat from a vow. Feeling forgiven, Hezekiah staggered to his feet and wiped the tears from his eyes. He straightened his clothes and slowly walked the narrow hallway to Luann’s room to say his final valedictions.

      Chapter 2

      A Rose by Any Other Name

      Little Elijah Daniels ran to the small brick house down the street as fast as he could. He knew he had to go to school, but today his heart just wasn’t in it. He reached the familiar house out of breath and frightened. An attractive medium-built black woman in her midforties came out of the house with a warm smile and a leafless branch.

      Ms. Anabel, Daddy gonna get me for coloring in his preachin’ Bible! Could you hide me till he goes to church?

      Your daddy called me just before you got here, she said flatly, and asked me to do a little favor for him.

      Little Eli’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the narrow branch in her right hand, slowly and decisively striking her side.

      Are you gonna spank me, Ms. Anabel? Eli asked softly, not one to beat around the bush.

      Are you going to color in your father’s Bible again?

      Noooo, ma’am!

      She paused, reading his little tears. Consider yourself spanked, she said with a little wink. C’mon so I can walk you to school.

      Eli ran and hugged her as hard as he could.

      Pastor Hezekiah Daniels drove past Anabel Coleman’s house to see if his son, Eli, had indeed run to her for salvation from his black leather strap. After the death of his wife, Luann, Anabel stepped in to help with Eli. The fact that she lived so close was a great help when he needed to leave at night to sit with a sick member of the congregation or visit with a family that had just lost a loved one.

      He honked and pulled over when he saw Anabel and Eli walking to school.

      Ana, did you take care of my little problem? His tone hardened.

      Oh yes. I solved it, she answered with a faint, hesitant smile.

      Okay, hop in and I’ll drive you.

      No, Hezekiah, that won’t be necessary, she interrupted. We would kinda like to walk today.

      All right, he said, pleased because he really didn’t have the time to drive them. Eli, I’ll see you when I get home.

      Yes, Daddy, Eli said sheepishly.

      I’ll pick him up at around seven, he told Ana. Hopefully, the funeral and repast will be over by then. His brow furrowed in contemplation. Maybe I’ll pick Eli up after the services, and he can eat with me at the church. That way you won’t have to cook for him again.

      Hezekiah, don’t worry about that. I love cooking for Eli. Plus, Sara Ann likes when Eli eats with us. You mark my words. Those two will get married one day.

      How do you know? Hezekiah asked with a laugh, followed by Eli’s Yuck! Not me!

      A mother knows these things.

      Ana, what would I do without you? Hezekiah said, changing the subject. I’ll see you two later, he smiled and drove off.

      Anabel Coleman stood silent and reflective for a moment as he drove away. She gripped Eli’s hand with a hint of anger. Come on, let’s go, she said softly.

      That night after dinner, Eli, Anabel’s son, Frank Jr., and her daughter, Sara Ann, played till they fell asleep. Little Sara Ann’s head rested on Eli’s shoulder.

      Pastor Daniels opened the unlocked door and yelled, Hey! Where is everybody?

      Anabel met him at the door.

      Hezekiah, little Eli is like a ray of sunshine around here. There is nothing I want more than to see him and my Sara Ann married one day, she said, waving for him to follow her. They walked into the living room, and a tear formed in the corner of Hezekiah’s eye when he saw little Sara Ann’s head on his Eli’s shoulder.

      That’s got to be the— Anabel put her finger to his lips so he wouldn’t wake the children and motioned for him to follow her outside.

      "Hezekiah, I know that seven years ago you blamed our relationship for Luann’s death. But you have no idea what our friendship meant to me during that season of my life.

      When I got word that Frank was killed overseas, my whole world fell apart. If it hadn’t been for these kids, I don’t know what I would’ve done. You don’t know how many times I lay in bed at night, during those days, dreaming of taking my own life. That’s how scared and confused I was! Anabel’s tears fell unabated.

      When you came into my life with a little comfort, I didn’t care if you were married or not! I didn’t care that you were a preacher! All I knew was that your devoted compassion to me that night saved my life… and isn’t that what love is all about? She gently moved toward him.

      You made me feel like a woman again. Not a mother, not a friend, but a woman, soft and beautiful. When you held me in your arms, it was as if a very special part of me was renewed. When passion’s amber light reflected in your eyes, I knew love was alive and not just a memory in my perpetual winter.

      Hezekiah stood resolute, his eyes narrowed and cognizant as he regarded the silhouette of this beautiful woman.

      "Anabel, what we shared was wonderful. There isn’t a night that goes by I don’t think of you and our moment together. But what we shared was wrong, no matter how right it seemed to us. Even a

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