Humbled Read online

  Humbled

  Patricia Haley

  www.urbanchristianonline.com

  All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Praise for #1 Essence Bestselling Author Patricia Haley and Her Inspirational Novels

  Humbled is also available as an eBook

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Reading Guide - MAKES YOU GO “HMMM!”

  Acknowledgments

  Author’s Note

  UC HIS GLORY BOOK CLUB!

  What We Believe:

  Copyright Page

  Praise for #1 Essence Bestselling Author Patricia Haley and Her Inspirational Novels

  “Phenomenal . . . Haley did an outstanding job on each person’s outlook and how, without forgiveness, no problem can truly be solved.”

  —Urban Reviews

  “Haley has a gold mine with this series. If I [were] a hat wearer, it would definitely be off to her. All I can say to her right now is, ‘You go, girl!’”

  —Member of LVAAABC Book Club

  “Haley shared how God does choose the most unlikely person for ministry when we think there is no way.... A must read . . . Highly recommended.”

  —APOOO Book Club

  “Haley engages one with subtle intrigue and touches of comedy.... An intriguing read with a subtle inspirational message woven into the story . . . Riveting.”

  —Faygo’s Report

  “A must read . . . highly recommend this book . . . promise you will not be disappointed.”

  —Urban Christian Fiction Today on Destined

  “Haley showcases how God’s word can be misinterpreted with greed, lust, and selfishness.”

  —RAWSISTAZ on Chosen

  “The perfect blend of faith and romance.”

  —Gospel Book Review

  “Haley has hit the mark yet again! I couldn’t put this book down—the characters are believable and compelling.”

  —Maurice M. Gray, Jr., author of All Things Work Together

  “The story grabs the reader from the beginning, drawing you in . . . and keeping you on the edge of your seat as the plot takes unexpected twists and turns.”

  —RT Book Reviews on Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

  “Haley’s writing and visualization skills are to be reckoned with.... This story is full-bodied.... Great prose, excellent execution!”

  —RAWSISTAZ on Still Waters

  “A deeply moving novel. The characters and the story line remind us that forgiveness and unconditional love are crucial to any relationship.”

  —Good Girl Book Club

  “No Regrets offered me a different way, a healthier way based in faith and hope, to look at trying situations.”

  —Montgomery Newspapers

  Humbled is also available as an eBook

  Also by Patricia Haley

  Mitchell Family Drama Series

  (Listed in story line order)

  Anointed

  Betrayed

  Chosen

  Destined

  Broken

  Humbled

  Other Titles

  Let Sleeping Dogs Lie

  Still Waters

  No Regrets

  Blind Faith

  Nobody’s Perfect

  Humbled

  is dedicated to my

  Girls’ Weekend sister friends,

  a special group of women who keep me

  laughing, encouraged, and humble.

  Each year together we’ve grown older, wiser, and better.

  Much love to my girls for always being there.

  Rena Burks

  Diedre Anise Campbell

  Eddie J. French, III

  Patricia F. Hill

  Paulette Renée Lenzy

  Tammy Jo Lenzy

  Kirkanne (K.D.) Moseley

  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with

  humility comes wisdom.

  Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)

  Chapter 1

  Stability had been a stranger in Joel Mitchell’s corner of the world for well over a year. He sat in Grant Park, situated in the heart of downtown Chicago, as the autumn breeze quieted his soul. So much had happened, too much to rehash, but he was certain getting a divorce was best in the long run. There was no question he was going to be better off ending a loveless marriage. He sighed, feeling an extra dose of relief as he anticipated how quickly the personal chaos in his life was coming to a close. He was finally going to be free, and it felt good.

  One problem down, now he had to shift gears and concentrate on restoring his professional reputation. Spending a few days away from Detroit was the hiatus he needed. Joel intended to gather his thoughts and come up with a plan on how to regain his spot on the corporate scene. He clasped his hands behind his head, leaned back on the bench and sighed as he felt the noose of failure loosen, facilitating an inkling of enthusiasm.

  A half hour or so later, Joel was disturbed by the buzzing sensation coming from the phone in his pocket. He must have fallen asleep. He was tempted not to answer, unwilling to frivolously relinquish the tranquility he’d scraped together just to answer an unwanted phone call. The ringing stopped, allowing him to relax again. When the ringing resumed, he was irritated but snatched the phone from his pocket.

  “This is Joel.” There was a lull on the line. He repeated his greeting, not sure if the person on the other end had heard him.

  “Joel, it’s me, Zarah.”

  Wow, his soon-to-be ex-wife was the one person he wasn’t expecting a call from. “I thought you’d be heading home to India by now,” he said, trying to balance his rising anxiety and concern.

  “I’m not going.”

  Ha-ha, he thought, accounting for her accent shaving off some of the humor in her jokes. “Pretty funny, Zarah.”

  “Really, I’m not going,” she repeated.

  “What?” he fired at her. The blood drained from his face, along with a coherent response. His sampling size of tranquility took flight. Anxiety and pure fear rushed in, tackling his words ferociously. He struggled to speak but had to push something out to keep this train from derailing. “But we’ve already talked about this. After the divorce you’re going to be better off with people who care about you.”

  “I’m pregnant,” she blurted out.<
br />
  “Excuse me? What did you say?” Joel asked as his body jerked forward on the bench.

  “I’m pregnant,” she said again. Joel experienced a piercing pain upon hearing those words. The park bench was twirling fast and faster. Joel couldn’t hang on. He was in a whirlwind. Zarah rattled off something else, but he couldn’t process what she was saying. Each cheery word out of her mouth was a dagger in his heart. She wouldn’t stop talking. He repeatedly pulled the phone away from his ear and then brought it closer again.

  She hadn’t sounded this happy since their wedding five months ago. Words and thoughts were racing around his head but couldn’t seem to connect long enough for him to create a rational statement. So he kept quiet.

  “The gods have shown mercy on me and blessed us with a child.”

  Joel continued to struggle with formulating a coherent statement. Maybe he didn’t know what to say, or maybe he did know what to say but wasn’t comfortable sharing what was truly in his heart. Either way, the peace he’d realized earlier in Grant Park had evaporated. The sun, which had been dishing out the perfect amount of warmth to his face, was now feeling unusually hot and scorching. Joel couldn’t breathe. If there was a way to escape, he would have jumped on it. But where was he going?

  Sick with fret, Joel kept focusing on how this had happened. He had been careful not to mislead Zarah during their brief marriage and had intentionally avoided showing her too much affection. They’d spent less than five intimate nights together as husband and wife. This couldn’t be happening. Divorce was one thing, but a baby was another. He was desperate for an out and wasn’t willing to get worked up until there was undeniable proof that his world was crumbling. He needed confirmation, especially since Zarah was determined to remain his wife. Joel wasn’t sure how far she’d go to keep him. His appeal was for her to accept the reality of their breakup and get on with life.

  “How do you know you’re pregnant?”

  “I went to my doctor when you left. He thinks I’m about six weeks along. I’ll have to wait for the official test results, but he’s very certain.”

  Joel was clinging to the notion that Zarah was lying out of desperation, but hope was fading rapidly. From what he knew about her, she didn’t seem to be the type who’d lie about something this serious. Since he was 100 percent sure there was no other man in the equation, certainty began choking the air from around him again. It was hard to believe that six weeks ago his fate had veered off course without his knowledge. As the shocking news sank in, Joel could think more clearly. He recalled the night with Zarah vividly. Right before her emotional breakdown, he’d felt sorry for her and comforted her as only a husband could; so much for his unselfish deed. Who was going to comfort his troubled soul now?

  “When are you coming home?” Zarah asked.

  “I’m not sure. I need time to wrap up a few matters here,” he told her, which was partially true. The full truth was, Joel just didn’t know what to do. The pregnancy had to be addressed. He just wasn’t convinced it had to be right away. There were many months of pregnancy left, which offered him at least a few more hours, possibly weeks, to think.

  “At least we aren’t getting divorced anymore. We’re a family now, and we must prepare for the baby. I’m very happy,” Zarah said.

  Joel was numb. Rushing home to the wife he’d planned to divorce as recently as an hour ago didn’t elicit a fulfilling sensation. While nothing had changed for him emotionally, everything had realistically. He genuinely didn’t know what to do. Overcommitting was definitely not the answer.

  “Zarah, I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know when I’ll be in Detroit. In the meantime, you should take care of yourself. Maybe I’ll see you soon.”

  “Yes, I will take very good care of our baby.”

  Joel let the word baby linger. This day would be burned into his memory forever. This moment marked the day when his reckless decisions of the past were marring the promise of a brighter future. Marrying Zarah Bengali with the intent of merging their companies was costing him dearly. He remained on the bench, clutching the shattered fragments of peace and freedom, not sure what was coming next.

  Chapter 2

  The hours passed as evening drew near, but for Joel time had stopped when Zarah uttered those words “I’m pregnant.” He wasn’t dead physically, but his hope of crawling out of his hole of despair had definitely died with the call, and Joel didn’t know if there was a way to resurrect his personal or professional livelihood. The future appeared dire. He fumbled around his rambling thoughts a while longer before calling his mother, Sherry Mitchell, in search of a kind voice.

  She was glad to hear from him. “How’s your stay in Chicago going? Has it been helpful?”

  He sighed. “Yes and no.”

  “You don’t sound too good,” she told him.

  He repeatedly sighed. “I might as well tell you. Zarah is pregnant.” He uttered the words like he was swallowing a nasty medicine, doing it quickly without dwelling on it.

  “She is?” his mother yelled. “Oh my goodness, I am so happy for you. You’re going to be a father.”

  Joel couldn’t force himself to respond with glee, especially after making such a gallant attempt to conceal his true feelings about the ordeal.

  “How do feel about this? You don’t sound excited,” his mother said after a moment.

  His mother didn’t need to hear his troubles. If she wanted to be the happy grandmother, he wasn’t going to rob her of the special news. “It’s a lot to think about. Remember, we are about to get divorced. The last thing I expected was a baby to be in the picture. It’s quite a shock.”

  “Yes, but a good one.” He let her talk. There wasn’t much he could add. This wasn’t the time or place. “Look, Joel, unexpected situations happen. We just have to accept them and move on. This baby may be a blessing in disguise. Before this, you and Zarah didn’t have anything holding the two of you together—”

  Joel interrupted, “You mean like love?”

  “Huh, love can be overrated.”

  He knew she was alluding to her marriage to his father. They’d been together twenty-five years before he died three years ago. She’d loved him totally, yet his father could only give half of his heart to her. The other half had always remained with his first wife. No matter how much love his mother poured into the marriage, she could never win his father’s heart completely. At least that was what his mother believed. It was better for Joel to steer the conversation in a different direction and avoid the dead end that he was certain to confront when discussing a topic his family struggled to understand.

  “Over the next couple of weeks or months we’ll have to figure out how we want to raise the baby.” The concept of becoming a parent pricked at Joel. “If we get divorced, then we’ll have to agree on custody. Most likely, she’d be in India, which adds a slight complication.”

  “What do you mean? Come home and raise the baby.”

  “It’s not that easy, Mom.”

  “You can’t seriously be considering divorce, not now. Come on, Joel. You have to stay with your wife and raise your child. This isn’t about Zarah. This is about your baby. Regardless of how the baby got here, your child deserves to have both parents while growing up.”

  “How can you say that? Dad left his four other children when he married you.” His mother was quiet. He didn’t want to hurt her by scratching the scab off old wounds, but Joel wasn’t going to allow her to use guilt to convince him to stay in a failed relationship.

  “All the more reason for you to stay with Zarah. Look at the turmoil your half sisters and brothers went through. You don’t want that for your baby. Your child deserves a father who’s present. Your child deserves you.”

  “Well, Zarah and I will figure this out. I promise.”

  “I hope so, and the sooner the better. When are you coming home?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “You’re going to need a better answer than that one. If you
ask me, the decision has already been made,” his mother said with more directness than he was accustomed to hearing from her.

  They ended the call. Joel wasn’t as certain about the outcome as his mother was, by no means. When he’d driven his Lamborghini along I-94, heading west to Chicago, his concept of home had changed. The Zarah chapter had been closed. With the pregnancy, he was forced to reassess what home meant. So much would have to be considered. Should he return to his wife out of a sense of duty to the baby, or could he be a stronger influence outside of the troubled marriage? That was what he’d have to decide. He craved objective feedback, but there wasn’t anyone who readily came to mind to supply it.

  With no other outlet, Joel knew where he had to go for help. Zarah had repeatedly prayed to her gods for a baby. He didn’t see any merit in her beliefs, but Zarah did. Maybe the time had come for him to pray to his God. Joel was lost since he couldn’t ask God to reverse the process and make her un-pregnant. Direction and guidance would be the essence of his prayer, and he wanted lots of both. As soon as he reached his car, Joel planned on praying for the first time in nearly two years, which made him edgy. He aimlessly shuffled to the car, intentionally stretching out the short distance. God didn’t need the extra time. Joel did.

  Chapter 3

  His mother was a piece of work, but Don wouldn’t trade Madeline Mitchell for anyone else in the world. She was a rare gem and quite electrifying. There were no people or situations on earth that could rattle her, with the exception of his sister, Tamara, and Joel’s mother, Sherry. The two women elicited unpredictable reactions from Madeline for different reasons, one driven by love and the other disdain. However, when it came to her daughter, Madeline’s desire to appease seemed limitless. She didn’t show nearly as much leniency to others, not even him. Don didn’t mind. He understood their damaged history and his mother’s attempt to make up for the past. Tamara understood too, but unfortunately, she wasn’t as willing to extend such grace to Madeline.