An: This has been what this part of Alphonso's story has been building to. I love the song that inspired this chapter and this story arc.
Part 77
Alphonso and Meena went back into the church to find Pastor John. He was already in his office, waiting for them. The rhino had an understanding expression that helped to ease Alphonso a little.
"Come in, Alphonso. Meena, I meant to ask, how are you doing?" He asked. "How is that new little life treating you?"
She laughed. "Wonderful. Just wonderful." She sat beside Alphonso and took his hand.
John nodded and looked to the main subject of their conversation. "You said you were interested but…"
The bull elephant nodded. "There's something you need to know before you offer me this position." He took a deep breath. "It was a long time ago and something I thought I could just forget, but I can't."
The pastor sat back. "You can tell me anything, Alphonso. I promise, you're safe here."
Alphonso felt Meena squeeze his hand. "It's really difficult but it starts when my mom died…"
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Marcus reluctantly led Mack up to their apartment. Ryan offered to watch the twins and entertain the girls while Johnny and Suki joined Big Daddy.
Around the small table, Mack sighed. "I tried to get the judge to let it go. But he insists that a hearing is necessary to determine if leaving the city without getting permission was warranted."
Johnny and Suki looked at the larger gorilla. "Dad? What does he mean?"
Marcus groaned. "We were still in probation and community service. It wouldn't have ended until last December. When I got your call, I didn't even think to shoot Mack a text. Protecting you was all that mattered to me." He looked at Mack. "And I'd do it again. I told you, Mack, nothing comes between me and my son when he asks me for help."
Suki shook her head. "But it would have ended in December. We're in Mid-February! Isn't there a statute of limitations that applies?"
"Not if he committed murder while he was gone," Mack replied. "Unfortunately the same informant who told the judge also told him that they think he had something to do with Mr. Crystal's death."
The color drained from her face and she fell into her chair. Marcus went to her. "Suki, it's going to be okay. It's going to be alright."
"No, no, no! Mr. Crystal committed suicide. I was there!" She shouted at Mack.
"Yet your husband even admitted to me that he at least coerced him into it. Unfortunately, that does make him liable for his death," he said.
Johnny stood up. "And does the judge know what Crystal did that night? He killed someone we all loved very much. That loss still affects us to this day! Does Judge Yahoo know that?"
"And I'm sure Mr. Crystal's death still affects someone to this day. Eye for an eye only makes everyone of us blind," the rhino said sharply.
"Mack, you didn't know this guy. Prison would have destroyed him. His actions that night was because he was already at his breaking point," Marcus explained. "He was so weak that just a news story was enough to send him off the deep end. He would not have survived prison. He would have died there. And his daughter would have lost everything and maybe they wouldn't even have let me adopt her. The law can be surprisingly harsh to the surviving victims. All I did was explain that to him. I gave him the choice. He chose to take his own life that night. Coercion did not take place."
Suki held onto Marcus. "He's right. That's all he did. He didn't force him or bully him into anything. Marcus is a good gorilla."
Mack sighed. "Then at the hearing, you have to prove that. You have to prove that what Marcus does not count as coercion and Crystal willingly took his own life." He looked at Marcus. "I'm inclined to agree but only because I do know you, Marcus. And even at your worst, you were never wanted for murder. You often went out of your way to make sure no one was physically harmed according to the places you robbed. So this is out of character, which can be a good defense." He looked at Suki. "Mrs. Green, I'm on your side. I'm not supposed to be here. Tomorrow, they'll be sending someone to take him into custody. And I am working desperately to get the hearing to be as soon as possible. And I was able to keep Barry and Stan out of it. The judge doesn't know they went too."
Marcus sighed. "Thank you, Mack. Both for that and for the warning. I'm prepared for whatever comes."
Johnny shook his head. "Dad, no! You can't let them arrest you again. You can't!"
"It's just temporary, son," he assured him. "I'll need you to step up for this family. I'll ask Barry and Stan to help as well. I've already warned them this might happen. But I need your help too. It's going to be alright." He hugged his son.
Mack stood up. "I'm sure it will be. Worst case scenario, we can argue it was a crime of passion and not premeditated. If you can, I'd talk to a lawyer."
"Oh, we will be. Our daughter is Porsha Crystal and the Crystal Family lawyer is the best that money can buy," Suki growled. "You let this judge know that if he insists on this, we will make sure he is humiliated and ruined for this witch hunt!"
Mack nodded. "I will certainly warn him that he has a lot to lose if the accusations are proven false." He stood up. "I am sorry, Marcus. But if you'll trust me, I will do everything I can for you."
Marcus stood and walked him to the door. "Thank you for trying, Mack. Don't worry about me. Whatever comes, I am strong enough to take it."
The rhino left the family, leaving them to ponder their now-uncertain future. He felt terrible.
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Ash and Tyler sat on a bench beside the playground, just watching the twins go up and down the slide, play in the sandbox, and swing on the swingset.
"The twins said they had fun in Sunday School," she admitted to the orangutan. "And it's strange that he just happened to do a speech on fear."
Tyler tilted his head. "Why do you say that?" He asked.
"Well, because how did he know that I'm afraid? That I don't know what I'm doing and I'm terrified that I'm going to be a terrible mother, like mine was," she explained.
The orangutan looked at her. "Well, we believe that if God has a message for you, he will get it to you, no matter what. Even if you don't necessarily believe in him. Let's just say, it's uncanny." He chuckled. He looked at the ground. "I'm not trying to push anything you know. I don't want you to think…"
She shook her head. "Oh no, I asked the questions. I wouldn't have if I'm not interested. Maybe I'm just desperate to believe that I don't have to do this alone."
He took her hand. "You don't. Even if I wasn't here, you wouldn't have to do this alone. You've been through a lot. No one could get through it alone." He shrugged. "That's kind of the point. You'll always have someone on your side to help you through. Even when you think there's no hope. And if that doesn't help. You have so many friends and family to help too. Rosita is SuperMom as far as I'm concerned. 30 kids makes her a hero in my eyes. And you know Johnny and Ryan are new parents now. I bet they're scared, they just don't show it." He looked at the kids. "And if you listen to them, they'll help you too. They'll tell you what they need. My point is… if you're afraid, you don't need to be because you're not alone."
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John had heard many confessions in his time as a pastor but the intensity of this left him with his mouth hanging while Alphonso tried to control his emotions. Meena rubbed his back and shoulder.
"I must admit, that was unexpected…" he said softly.
Alphonso nodded. "It was the darkest time of my life. A part I deeply regret. And I understand if you wish to rescind your offer."
The rhino in the black suit shook his head. He reached into the top drawer of his desk and pulled out an old, torn, Bible stained with blood. "You're from Redshore City, right?"
Alphonso nodded. "Yeah, I moved here to be near Meena when we first started dating."
"On that trail, do you remember passing three wooden crosses?" He asked. When he nodded, he started began. "One night long ago, there were four folks on a bus from Redshore City to Calatonia. A farmer, a teacher, a hooker and a preacher. The bus driver didn't pay attention and didn't see the stop sign and 18 wheelers can't just stop. The bus was hit. The farmer and the teacher were both killed instantly. The preacher lived just long enough to give the hooker his Bible, stained with his blood." He held up his Bible. "This very Bible. My mother was the hooker and she changed after that night. Got right and now you see the results before you. She gave me this Bible." He sighed. "Alphonso, there is not one person in our congregation who doesn't have some skeleton hiding in their closet. Christ didn't come to save the perfect and the blameless. A healthy person doesn't need a doctor." He explained. "If anything, what happened makes you the best candidate for the job. You know what it's like and you'll be better able to guide the youth, especially the impressionable teenagers."
Alphonso took a deep breath of relief as he realized the pastor was not going to condemn him for his crime. Meena hugged him. "Alphonso has been beating himself up over it for the last few days."
"I can see that. Alphonso, what you did, you can't change. You already know that. But Christ has already forgiven you. You know that too," John said. "Now you need to find the strength to forgive yourself. And I hope you'll accept the job."
The bull elephant nodded. "Thank you, Pastor John. This is a dream come true for me. If you really think I'm the best choice then I accept the job."
The rhino smiled and stood up. "Wonderful, now I imagine you both must be famished. I know I am. Shall we get out of here and get some lunch?"
"Our friends are actually waiting for us at the playground and we were going to get lunch to celebrate. You're welcome to join us," Alphonso offered.
"Thank you, Alphonso, but my wife made chicken cacciatore, my favorite," John rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "I'll let the deacons know and we'll get your continuing education set up. Keep an eye on your email."
They parted ways at the door. Meena hugged Alphonso. "I told you. You're being too hard on yourself. It was in the past. It's okay to forgive yourself."
He hugged her back. "Thanks, Meena, my goddess." He let himself start to breathe easy again. Maybe he could let his past rest again. They were right. He needed to forgive himself.
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"No way!" Porsha shouted. "They can't take you away, Big Daddy!"
Marcus and Suki had just finished telling the girls about Mack's visit. Suki wasn't happy with him for concealing his previous visit but now they needed to deal with the situation.
"I'm sorry, Porsha. But it won't be for long and it'll just be the detention center. You can come visit every day if you want to," he tried to console her. "Do you still have that note he left? We will need that."
She nodded. "Yeah. I still have it. But you can't let them arrest you! We need you!"
"She's right. There's gotta be another way," Nooshy begged. "I just got a dad!"
He got up and hugged them both. "It's going to be okay. I always knew this could happen, so I planned for it."
Suki nodded. "Porsha, I want you to send Mr. Grisham an email right away. I know it's Sunday but that means he'll see it first thing tomorrow morning. He'll be able to help. Nooshy, it's going to be alright." She joined Marcus in hugging them.
Nooshy clenched her fists. "They can't take my dad away. I won't let them! Not even for a little while!" She refused to cry. She would not give these government wackos the satisfaction of making her cry.
Marcus shook his head. "It won't be long. Mack has promised to get the hearing for as soon as possible. We have enough evidence to prove our case. Barry and Stan will stay here with you guys and help around here and with the remodel until I'm home. It's going to be alright."
Johnny frowned. "What I want to know is how anyone even found out." He clenched his fist.
"Last time he was here, he said it was Mrs. Noodleman. Unfortunately, she's dead now and I can't find out how she found out," Marcus growled.
Johnny thought and pulled out his phone. He didn't want to do this but if there was any chance at all that he could help his dad, he had no choice. He dialed and held the phone to his ear. "Hey Eddie. I'm sorry to bother you but I need to talk to your ex-dad if it's at all possible. Do you have the number for the jail he's in?"
AN: I do wonder how Mrs. Noodleman found out and how they're going to get Marcus out of this mess? Please review.