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outlining his eyebrows with her finger, and then crossing his forehead and continuing down his nose to his mouth, where Derrick playfully bit her finger and held it tightly between his lips for a moment before releasing it.
    “Mama’s got a surprise for you,” Elisia whispered as she continued to trace her father’s definitive features, over his cheekbones and around his ear.
    “What’s that?” he whispered back conspiratorially.
    “Daddy,” Elisia chided somberly. “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.” With that, she jumped down off his lap and grabbed his hand. “Come on.”
    “I’ll be there in a few minutes, little one.”
    “What’s wrong?” Elisia questioned as she paused by the door. Derrick had again leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He didn’t know she was still there.
    “Nothing for you to worry about, baby.” Derrick’s conversation with King was still weighing heavily on his heart. He knew King and Tai had had their share of problems, but he also knew there was a lot of love in that marriage, and the last few years, he thought, had been especially good all the way around. King’s ministry was flourishing—he’d just been elected President of the Total Truth Association, Mount Zion had completed a major church renovation and expansion and Tai had been by his side all the way, encouraging, nurturing, taking care of him and the family. Tai had always been a quiet first lady, a silent but undeniable main thread in the fabric of King’s life and ministry. She’d never been out front, singing or teaching as was the role of many pastors’ wives. She preferred, even enjoyed, staying in the background. Her forte was in the area of organizing and overseeing, creating and delegating. Her priority and focus had been King from the time she was sixteen years old and then he and the babies as they came along. Most people wouldn’t have guessed it if they just looked at outward appearances, but Tai’s love was the foundation upon which King’s success had been built.
    Derrick leaned forward, suddenly aware that Elisia was still at the door, watching him silently. He offered a small smile as he got up to join her. They headed down the hall hand in hand.
    “Daddy,” Elisia said quietly as they neared the bottom step before entering the downstairs area and crossing through the living room to the dining room. She’d stopped and was now looking up at her father seriously with big, clear brown eyes.
    “Whatever it is, God can fix it. He can fix anything.”
    Derrick swallowed as his heart swelled and eyes misted atthe perceptive words of his little girl. And a little child shall lead, he thought, smiling. “You’re absolutely, right honey bunch,” Derrick replied as he entered the dining room now overflowing with people, food and conversation. Because if God couldn’t fix it—nobody could.
    Sundays were a celebration at the Montgomery residence, and this Sunday was no exception. The table was set beautifully with fine bone china and Waterford crystal. A floral arrangement of calla lilies provided an eye-catching centerpiece.
    A large platter of blackened red snapper lay on one side of the lilies, an equally large platter of baked lemon chicken on the other. Surrounding these meat choices was an array of vegetables including corn, spinach and summer squash, a large bowl of mashed potatoes with sprigs of fresh parsley and dashes of paprika for color, a pan of Vivian’s famous dressing made with apples and olives and a bowl heaped with a variety of rolls. On the buffet behind the large dining room table was another Vivian dinner staple, a salad bar. Also on the buffet were a variety of sodas and a pitcher of tea. Lastly there was Derrick’s surprise, his favorite dessert besides Vivian, sweet potato pie.
    The classical music in the background could hardly be heard amid the din of voices. There was Mother Faye Moseley, a pillar at Kingdom Citizens’ and Vivian’s play mother who