Miracle rushed down the halls of the church to the music room. She’d been running late all day since Corvus’ phone call. She didn’t want to miss choir rehearsal again, so she made her way to the room where all the singers were gathered.
Miracle entered the room and was greeted warmly by her church family. “Our songbird is back!”
Putting her purse away, Miracle commented, “I’m hardly the songbird here among all of you.”
She turned to them. “I think you only allow me in the choir because my Daddy’s the Bishop,” she teased them.
One of the sisters came over to hug her. “You know good and well that you have a beautiful voice…now that sister of yours.”
Miracle laughed. “Faith has no desire to sing. She says God gave me a voice to sing and her a voice to talk.”
“Lord knows that girl can talk,” the woman commented.
For the next hour, Miracle blended her voice with the others and promised to make it to the next rehearsal. She gathered her purse and was about to leave the room, when she was stopped by another member.
“Can we talk?” he asked Miracle.
Miracle smiled. “Sure, Tony.”
The two stepped into a private area of the room and Tony stared down at her. “We’ve known each other a long time,” he began.
She nodded. “Yes, since we were kids. Your family attended when my grandfather was the Bishop.”
He smiled. “I wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for what happened between you and Emanuel.”
“You have no reason to be sorry,” Miracle told him.
Tony looked away. “I knew what Emanuel was up to and I should have told you. You didn’t deserve that.”
Miracle placed a hand on his arm. “Oh Tony, that’s so sweet but it’s okay.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“I’m fine, you don’t have to worry about me,” Miracle promised.
He looked at her again. “I just wanted you to know that I’m not one of the people talking about you behind your back.”
She lifted a brow. “People are still talking about me?”
“Emanuel said that he caught you in a nightclub with a womanizer.”
Miracle gasped. “What?”
“He asked the prayer group to pray for you and to rebuke the devil that has tempted you,” Tony informed her.
Miracle closed her eyes for a moment then opened them. “Thank you Tony. I appreciate you coming to me.”
“I know who you are Miracle and the last person that can cast any stone is Emanuel.”
She smiled. “Thanks for having my back.”
Tony gave her a light hug. “We love you Miracle…and Faith.”
Miracle gave him a sympathetic look at the mention of Faith’s name. Everyone at the church was well aware of Tony’s crush on Faith since they were young. “Your wife is out there,” she told him.
Tony nodded. “I know, but as long as she’s happy...”
“She is,” Miracle told him. “She and Dante are buying their first house.”
“That’s great. I wish her the best.”
Miracle rubbed his arm. “I know you do and that’s why your wife will be a very lucky woman.”
“Thanks Miracle.” He smiled. “Let me walk you to your car.”
She agreed and they left the room, headed to the exit. “Miracle.” She stopped as she recognized the voice.
Both Tony and Miracle turned and faced the man.
“What do you want Emanuel?” Miracle asked.
“I’d like to have a word with you,”
She shook her head and walked to where he was standing while Tony waited. When she reached him, Miracle looked up into his face.
“Emanuel, stop all of this nonsense. You’re going to make Corvus hurt you and I don’t want him to do that,” she warned. “And why did you lie to my parents about me being kidnapped?”
His eyes narrowed. “Because I was trying to get you away from him!” he snapped then looked up at Tony who was watching carefully.
“I have nothing else to say to you,” Miracle told him. “I’m not going to tell you again.”
“You’re not going to ruin my plans, Miracle.” He said quietly. “Not you or your Real Estate mogul.”
“You need to pray Emanuel,” she told him. “Don’t take this any further.”
“You don’t threaten me. I am the Pastor. Where is your reverence to God’s anointed?”
Miracle paused then nodded slowly. “I was not threatening you, Pastor Hollins. Good night.”
She turned and Emanuel grabbed her arm before Tony came to her side.
“Are you ready Miracle?” he asked.
She looked at Emanuel’s hand on her arm and he removed it slowly.
“I’m talking to Miracle,” Emanuel told him.
“Yes, Tony I’m ready.” Miracle said at the same time.
She looked at Emanuel. “I’m done, there’s nothing else to say.”
Tony held out his arm and Miracle took it before they started on their way. Miracle turned back when she neared the door and saw Emanuel watching them.
“And Emanuel, if you touch me again…you will suffer the consequences.”
Emanuel frowned at hearing Corvus’ words repeated to him as Miracle walked out the door with Tony.
******
Miracle was at home working on some paperwork when her doorbell rang. Standing, she stretched and went to welcome her late night visitor.
Opening the door with a smile, she stretched her arms out to him. Corvus embraced her tightly before kissing her softly.
“You’re happy to see me?”
She nodded. “Yes, I am.”
He walked her inside and closed the door behind him before picking her up. Miracle held on as Corvus walked to her sofa and sat with her on his lap.
“My pretty Little Goddess,” he whispered before kissing her. “How was your lunch?”
She smiled. “Your mother is fascinating.”
“I’m her son, how could she not be?” he teased then touched her face. “So everything was cool?”
“Yes, we had a wonderful lunch and I think I passed.”
He shrugged. “It didn’t matter.”
“That’s what she said.”
Corvus looked at her. “Nobody can tell me anything about you. I know you’re perfect.”
“I’m nowhere near perfect Corvus.”
He kissed her cheek. “You’re my definition of perfect.” Corvus kissed her neck. “You’re so sweet and soft,” He kissed her ear and whispered, “And you’re the best phone sex I’ve ever had.”
“I can’t believe we did that,” she whispered.
Moving back to her neck, gently nipped at her skin. “Did you like it?”
“Way too much,” she answered throwing her head back to allow him better access.
“I enjoy you way too much,” he growled against her skin.
Miracle cuddled closer and held him tighter. “My mother wants to meet you,” she told him.
“I can’t wait,” he replied. “Is she like your father?”
She laughed softly. “No, she’s nice.”
Corvus looked at her. “So you’re more like her?”
“I’m a mixture of the two,” she confessed honestly and he nodded.
“I like that.” Corvus said stroking her hip.
The couple engaged in some heavy kissing and petting until Miracle came up for air. Caressing his face, she placed soft kisses on his lips and jaw.
“I decided something today,” she whispered.
Corvus looked at her. “What’s that?”
Miracle held his gaze. “That I’m going to be happy and not feel guilty about it.”
“You feel guilty about being happy?” he questioned.
She toyed with the buttons on his shirt. “I’ve never thought about what makes me happy or the fact that I really wasn’t.”
Corvus lifted her face. “What makes you happy, baby?”
Miracle smiled. “A man who buy houses for my sister and brother-in-law.”
He mirrored her smile. “Is there anything else?”
“A man who takes the time to ask me what makes me happy,”
“You still haven’t told me,” he pointed out.
“You do it, just being who you are.” She told him.
She was rewarded with a kiss. “I have to find out for myself, I guess.” He said softly.
“I’m not being challenging, I honestly really don’t know,” she said truthfully.
Corvus nodded. “Okay, if I took you away, where would you want to go?”
Miracle sat up and thought about it. “It doesn’t matter.”
He shook his head. “No, I need you to answer the question.”
She thought some more. “Maybe somewhere warm?”
“Tropical?” he asked and she smiled. “Caribbean?”
Miracle nodded with a smile. “Yes!”
“Okay, if I brought you flowers, what kind would you like?” he asked.
“Orchids,” she said shyly.
Corvus’ gaze darkened. “If I bought you lingerie, what color would you want?”
She looked at him. “You’re buying me lingerie?”
He nodded. “Very soon.”
“I think I’ve started to like red,”
Corvus looked her over. “I like red too.” He kissed her some more until she moaned deep in her throat.
Miracle pulled back and rested in his arms for a short while. “Did you have dinner?” she asked.
“I met with Malachi and had some appetizers.”
“Is this about that Inspector you have to meet with?”
He agreed. “Yeah, Malachi’s going to do some checking for me to find out who made that call.”
Miracle sighed. “I saw Emanuel at the church tonight.”
Corvus heard something in her voice and sat up to look at her. “What happened?”
“He’s still talking crazy.” She sat up as well. “I had to warn him again.”
“Okay.”
Miracle blinked. “What does that mean?”
“It means okay.”
“Corvus…”
He smiled. “So are you going to feed me some food…or some of you?”
She flushed. “I promised your mother that I would feed you some food.”
“I’m waiting,” He stood her on her feet and patted her butt.
Miracle tried not to smile down at him. “You don’t even know what I have.”
“I’m not worried, you take care of me.” He said standing to look down at her.
Her face softened. “I like taking care of you. You make it so easy.”
“You say the word and we can take care of each other for the rest of our lives,” he said staring at her.
Miracle walked away slowly. “I’m thinking about it,” she said quietly.
Corvus caught her from behind and said in her ear, “Think fast, Little Goddess.”
******
The next week passed quickly for Corvus and Miracle. They both arrived at the closing for Dante and Faith’s house and Corvus escorted her into the building. Seated across from one another, Corvus smiled at her and she returned it.
After every line was signed, Corvus handed over a check and was given the keys to the property. Miracle, for her part, was probably more excited and happy than the actual owners. She and Corvus were escorted to the elevators and when they stepped inside, she turned to him.
“I can’t even begin to thank you enough,” she told him.
“You don’t have to do that,” he complained. “I told you that.”
Miracle moved closer. “I want to,”
“Faith and Dante deserve this house. They’ve worked hard, saved their money and they’re good people,” Corvus told her.
“But you made it happen,” she snapped her fingers. “Just like that.”
He smiled down at her. “You liked that?”
Miracle nodded. “I’m used to watching men who do what they want, but you do it differently. You think of the other people involved.”
The doors opened and he walked her out with a hand on her back. “With me, you’ll always come first Miracle. Whatever you want or need, is my job.”
Miracle smiled as he walked her to her car. Corvus opened the door and she looked up at him. “Faith and Dante are waiting at the house.”
He nodded. “I’ll follow you there and we can give them the keys.”
“This is so exciting!” Miracle squealed.
“You act like this is your house,” Corvus said watching her.
“I’m just so happy for them,”
Corvus pulled her close. “You’re just a very sweet and caring woman that I love more and more every day.”
Miracle touched his face. “I feel the same way.”
Corvus lowered his head and kissed her softly. “Let’s celebrate with our family.”
“You’re claiming them?” Miracle asked with a smile.
“I just dropped two hundred thousand on them. Hell yeah, they’re family.”
Miracle laughed. “I guess so.”
Corvus helped her into the car and followed in his own vehicle. At the home, Faith and Dante were walking around the outside when the couple arrived. Miracle hurried and parked her car as her sister rushed to greet her.
Corvus and Dante joined them and Corvus handed the keys to Miracle’s brother-in-law. Dante took the ring and patted Corvus on the back.
“Man, I don’t even know what to say,” he said in awe.
“Thank you Corvus!” Faith exclaimed before she hugged him.
He returned her embrace with a smile then motioned toward the home. “Let’s go inside.”
The four entered and Faith let out a scream that had the rest shaking their heads. She grabbed Dante’s hand and began going from room to room.
Miracle moved to Corvus’ side. “See how happy they are?”
He nodded. “That’s how happy I want to make you.”
She smiled and took his hand. “You do.”
“That’s why you should come on and let me do it on a permanent basis,” he said touching her face.
She smiled again and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him. Faith and Dante returned to the kissing couple and stopped.
“You two are so adorable,” Faith told them.
Miracle turned to her sister. “Congratulations Faith,” she told her.
“We’ve got bubbly in the car,” Dante announced and headed out the door.
“Bubbly?” Miracle asked.
Faith gave her a look. “Sparkling cider. We know you two don’t drink.”
Miracle looked at her sister. “You two shouldn’t be drinking either.”
“Calm down Bishop Chapman, we don’t do it often.” Faith told her.
Dante returned with glasses and a bottle that he took to the kitchen. The group followed and watched as he filled four glasses.
Each picked up a flute and lifted them in salute.
“This is to my dude right here,” He looked at Corvus. “I never knew that meeting you would change my life this way.” He looked at Miracle. “To my beautiful sister-in-law, who is the sweetest person in the world.” Finally, he looked at Faith. “And to my incredibly gorgeous, sexy and supportive wife. All of this is because of you…I love you to the ends of this earth and I thank God for you.”
Faith teared up and placed a hand on his jaw. “No baby, all of this is because of you and your hard work. You are everything I prayed for and I love you so much.”
They kissed softly as Miracle took a sip of her drink, watching Corvus over the rim. He winked at her before taking a sip from his glass. After a minute, Corvus checked his watch and sat his glass down.
“Hey, I’ve got a meeting that I need to get to.” He gave Dante a manshake and kissed Faith on the cheek. “Enjoy your new home.”
Corvus took Miracle’s hand. “Come walk me to the car.”
She sat her glass down and nodded, then followed him outside. At his car, he brought her hand to his lips. “I’ll see you later,” Corvus told her.
“Okay, have a good meeting,” she said softly.
He leaned down to kiss her. “Don’t cook tonight.”
“For someone who wanted a woman who could cook, you don’t let me.” She complained.
“I’m letting you rest up before it gets real,” he told her with a smile.
Miracle put her arms around his neck. “You’re going to chain me to the stove?”
He shook his head. “Nah, the bed maybe…”
She smiled. “I like your bed.”
“Girl, let me go to my meeting before I throw you in this car.” Corvus told her and kissed her quickly.
Miracle backed up as he climbed inside. He waited until she moved to the sidewalk then honked his horn. Miracle waved as he took off and went back inside the house.
“Hey guys, I’m going to take off too and let you enjoy your place,” Miracle told them.
They both thanked her and watched her go to her car. She drove to her office and sat at her desk. Picking up her pen, she began to tap it on her desk in her ritual. To be honest, she was worried about Corvus’ meeting today with the Inspector. He’d assured her that everything was going to be fine, but she was still concerned and angry that someone whom she knew could’ve started this entire fiasco. She put her pen down and focused on her work.
There was a knock on her door and she looked up as it opened. The courier entered with a large glass vase of purple orchids.
“Miss Chapman?”
Miracle stood to her feet. “Yes…”
He smiled. “These are for you.”
She took the beautiful arrangement into her hands and stared at it.
“Have a good day.” He turned and left the building while she stood rooted to the spot.
Shaking her head as if to wake herself, she moved back to her desk and sat the vase on the table. With a shaking hand, she grabbed the attached card and read it…
Everything I do is to make you smile, so I hope these flowers do the job in my absence. You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.
Love, CS
“He loves Song of Solomon…” Miracle said with a smile. “So do I…”
She took her seat and marveled at the flowers and smiled. “You are amazing, my love…”
******
Corvus entered the Detroit Field Office of HUD, along with his attorney. Both were escorted to an empty conference room and took seats while waiting for the Inspector to appear.
“Mr. Shaw, thank you for coming in.” He greeted as he entered.
Corvus nodded. “I didn’t really think I had a choice.”
Corvus introduced his attorney and the two men shook hands.
The Inspector took his seat. “You’ll find this informative.”
Opening a folder, the Inspector glanced down at his paperwork. “So we got an anonymous call concerning your business deals with the HUD office here in Detroit.”
Corvus waited patiently for him to continue. “So everything checks out just fine with your business.”
He looked at Corvus. “You own some property near the downtown area by Woodward Avenue?”
Corvus knew the piece of land he was referring to. It was the land he’d shown to Miracle.
“Yes, I do.” Corvus responded and his attorney listened silently.
“Quite a few people are interested in that property,” the Inspector told him. “For various reasons.”
Corvus lifted a brow and his attorney sat up.
“Why?” Corvus asked. “And what does that have to do with someone filing a false report on me?”
“Mr. Shaw, I think that this land is more important than you thought.”