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later, Obadiah had gone and done just that, and within a year of their union Maxine was pregnant. This one ended in a miscarriage but after a couple more years of trying, Maxine became pregnant again and nine months later, King Brook was born. Obadiah pulled out his Bible as he remembered the joy he felt at holding his first child and then, as though pushing a fast-forward button in his mind, he remembered the mixed emotions that accompanied the announcement that King was getting married. It was even harder for Obadiah to relinquish his daughter’s hand, so he was well aware of the turmoil that King must now be experiencing.
    It’s good to be going home, Obadiah thought, when the boarding process began and he made his way down the Jetway. He had friends throughout Texas but Kansas had been his home for more than thirty years. He missed those things he’d grown used to over the years: LaMar’s Donuts, Gates Bar-B-Q, his barber, Glover, and the Mount Zion Progressive congregation. And truth be told if one dared tell it, he missed something—correction, someone—even more.

6
    Fathers Be Good to Your Daughters
    K ing Brook and Derrick Montgomery strolled off the basketball court. For the past hour, these two best friends had talked trash and shot hoops in Mount Zion’s recreation center—a twenty-first century jewel in the church’s building expansion. Along with the basketball court (complete with bleachers and an electronic scoreboard) was a tennis court, a jogging track, Olympic-size swimming pool, and rooms to handle exercise classes from aerobics to Pilates to step to yoga.
    “Man, I can tell you’re about to turn fifty,” Derrick teased, after taking a long drink of water. “I had to ease up on you those last ten minutes just so you could keep up!”
    King swatted Derrick with his sweaty towel. “It’s a shame to lie on church property,” he said in a somber tone. “Hadn’t been for those lucky three pointers at the end, that last game would have been mine. And let us not forget that you’re only a hop, skip, and a jump younger than me. You’re coming down the same road I’m headed, junior.”
    “God willing.”
    “And the creek don’t rise.”
    “Ha! You’re sounding more like your old man every day.”
    “Yeah, don’t remind me. I spent the first fifty years of my life running away from any similarities, but as I get older, I’m beginning to embrace some of the very things he holds dear.”
    The men reached King’s brand new champagne-colored, customized Lincoln MKS, which sat glittering like a jewel in mid-June’s midday sun. He popped the trunk, they dumped their bags, and soon after were heading back to the InterContinental Hotel in the Plaza, a swank combination of stores, eateries, and landmarks that had been fashioned after its sister city, Seville, Spain.
    Derrick fastened his seat belt and settled in for the ride. “Ah, man, that workout felt good! I haven’t been getting it in like I need to.”
    King cast a glance at Derrick. “Still burning the candle at both ends?”
    “I’m trying not to but, man, my schedule is insane.”
    “Tell me about it. On Monday morning, I leave for Barbados and will be gone for two weeks.”
    “Tai going with you?”
    “No. The twins have a full summer schedule. Her hands are full just managing that.”
    “That’s a long time to be away from your good thing, my brothah.”
    “Believe me, I’m not thrilled about it. But somebody is.” Derrick shot King a questioning look. “My assistant pastor is practically pushing me out the door.”
    “Ha!” Derrick had met Mount Zion’s prolific number-two man, Solomon Cole, on several occasions and knew he’d enjoy delivering the Sunday message. He was chomping at the bit to get his own church.
    King smoothly turned the car onto the highway. “I’m surprised Wesley didn’t invite you down to this year’s conference.” Wesley Freeman was the senior pastor of His Holy Word Cathedral in