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patient. Even with all the tubes and Delilah’s swollen face, he could see the resemblance. From appearances alone, the woman who went by the name Delilah was Sheba’s older sister. Still, he hoped Sheba would get the DNA test just to remove any doubts.
    He felt like an outsider, but his feet were planted. He was not going anywhere anytime soon. He moved so the nurse who had entered the room could get by.
    â€œCan you two step outside?” the nurse asked, speaking to him and Sheba.
    David led Sheba into the hallway.
    â€œShe’s going to be fine. Praise the Lord,” Sheba repeated over and over.
    â€œYes, praise the Lord,” David said.
    Sheba stopped and for the first time seemed to remember he was there. “Do you go to church?”
    David wished people wouldn’t automatically assume the worst about him. David was a God-fearing man who knew from whence his help came. He knew without God’s blessings, he would not have obtained the riches he had over the years. David communicated with God daily. David had an anointing on his life. He knew it, and his dad, who was no longer with him, knew it.
    â€œWithout God, I am nothing. I don’t go as often as I should, but the Lord knows my heart,” David responded.
    â€œI’m surprised. You seem a little too arrogant to think highly of anyone but yourself,” Sheba said.
    David pouted. “My feelings are hurt. I’m confident, that I admit, but arrogant I’m not. God could take all I have with a snap of my fingers.”
    â€œYou’re right about that. I’m glad to know my husband is working for a God-fearing man.”
    â€œYes, that he is. You asked me earlier why I was still here. Well, since we’re on the subject, I went to the chapel. I prayed for your sister. I prayed for you.”
    David could see her eyes watering. Tears streamed down her face. David didn’t know what to do, so he did what was natural. He placed his arm around her. “It’s going to be okay.”
    â€œThank you. I’ve been snapping at you. Here you are, praying for my sister. Forgive me, please.”
    David reached up and brushed her hair. He had been wanting to touch her hair from the moment he laid eyes on her. He inhaled the apple scent. “You’re forgiven. Pull yourself together. Your sister needs you.”
    David handed Sheba a tissue, and she wiped her face. “I’m usually not this emotional.”
    â€œMost women are emotional, so your reaction doesn’t surprise me.”
    â€œWell, I’m not most women,” Sheba said as she headed back to Delilah’s room.
    â€œNo, Ms. Bathsheba, no, you’re not. You’re an exceptional woman,” David responded, out of her earshot.
    It looked like his duty there had been served. He thanked God for answering his prayers and left the hospital. Two hours later he was fastening his seat belt on his private jet. Less than an hour after that, his plane was landing in Dallas.
    Before going to bed, David said a quick prayer. Exhausted, he slept eight hours straight, something he rarely did. On average, he got five hours of sleep a night. The eight hours weren’t dreamless.
    In his dreams, he was holding Sheba in his arms and running his hands through her ebony tresses. He could still smell the apple scent, and when he woke up the next morning, he had a craving for a ripe red apple for breakfast.
    A few hours later he was in his corporate building, overseeing a meeting in one of the huge conference rooms.
    â€œIs there anything else anyone has to say before we disperse?” David asked as he sat at the head of the long, oblong table in the conference room.
    He looked around the room at the staff of ten who sat around the table. No one said a thing. He continued, “Well, that’s all I have for today. I will see you all later. Wade, could you please stay behind? There’s something I want to discuss with