The Pastor's Wife (14 page)

E
va couldn’t get Thanksgiving dinner out of her mind. She’d been thrilled when Terrance showed up at her door yesterday. That was until she saw Savannah by his side.

“I hope I’m making this very clear,” Terrance had said after Eva had tried to talk to him in the kitchen shortly after his arrival. “If you want to be a part of my life, you will have to learn to accept Savannah.”

Eva had warned her sisters to be on their best behavior, but as she had stood in the doorway and watched Savannah poised next to Terrance like she was already the first lady, Eva knew she’d be hard-pressed to follow her own advice.

They’d eaten dinner in virtual silence, with Terrance and Savannah both trying to make small talk. Eventually, the two of them left, and Eva and her sisters had been in a funk ever since.

“He is a grown man,” Eva had finally conceded to her sisters. They’d been rehashing the dinner as they wrapped up a Christmas committee meeting at the church. Eva and Mamie were still in the conference room, lamenting the situation with their nephew. Dorothy Mae had gone down the hall to the restroom. “We just have to let him make his own mistakes,” Eva added.

Mamie stared at her eldest sister like she couldn’t believe Eva was throwing in the towel.

“You’re kidding, right?” Mamie asked, astonished.

Eva sighed in frustration. “What do you suggest, Mamie? We’ve dang near run the boy off already. Maybe we just need to let him see what kind of woman Savannah is on his own. I mean, even if she tries to put on an act, eventually her true colors will show. Sooner or later she’ll have to scratch her fleas.”

Mamie shook her head like she didn’t want to accept that. “You can buy it all you want, but not me. I’m going down to his office and let him know what I really think.” She pushed back from her seat and bounced down the hallway.

“Mamie, wait,” Eva called out, following her. “Don’t go busting up in the boy’s office.” Eva finally noticed Dorothy Mae with her ear against Terrance’s door. “Dorothy Mae, are you eavesdropping on that boy?”

“Sssshhhh.” Dorothy Mae waved, her eyes wide.

Both Mamie and Eva looked curiously at their sister. She had a frantic look across her face. They watched her for a few minutes until she finally motioned for them to walk back out in the hallway.

“Who’s in there?” Eva asked as soon as they stepped in the hallway. “And why were you all up in their conversation?”

“It was Terrance and Raquel,” Dorothy Mae whispered.

“His secretary? What were they talking about that has you all in a tizzy?” Eva asked.

Dorothy Mae shook her head, like she didn’t know how to break the news.

“Hel-lo,” Mamie snapped when Dorothy Mae didn’t respond. “You wanna tell us what’s going on?”

Dorothy Mae blew out a deep breath. “They were talking about Savannah.”

Mamie rolled her eyes.

“Apparently, she’s pregnant. And apparently it’s Terrance’s baby.”

Mamie gasped. Eva clutched her heart and let out a deep moan as she steadied herself on the water fountain. “Tell me you’re lying,” Eva finally whispered.

“I wish I were,” Dorothy Mae replied.

“He’s sleeping with her?” Eva asked in disbelief.

“I keep trying to tell y’all that boy still got needs,” Mamie said, shaking her head. “Lord knows, I just wish he coulda fulfilled them with somebody else.”

Eva finally seemed to shake off her shock. “I don’t believe it.”

Both Mamie and Dorothy Mae stared at Eva.

“I mean, we know she’ll stoop to any level to get Terrance. This, this oldest trick in the book, is just that—a trick. She knows if she convinces Terrance she’s pregnant, he’ll do right by her and marry her. I’d be willing to bet she’d then miraculously lose the baby.” Eva’s voice had finality about it, like she’d completely figured out Savannah’s game.

“So what are we supposed to do, wait until he marries her and see?” Dorothy Mae asked.

“No, I have the perfect plan,” Eva announced, her mind racing. “I told y’all, Little Miss Thang just doesn’t know who she’s messing with.”

“I thought you were throwing in the towel,” Mamie declared. “Didn’t you just tell me to let him find out she wasn’t the one for him on his own?”

“No, this little scam of hers changes everything,” Eva replied.

“So what are we going to do?” Dorothy Mae asked.

Eva got a sly look. “Oh, believe me, I have it all figured out. It’s as simple as a visit. So let’s go.”

Eva started marching down the hall.

“Where are we going?” Mamie asked, trying to match her sister’s stride.

“To pay Miss Thang a visit.” Eva was furious. “Savannah is out of her mind if she thinks she’s going to trick my nephew. I’m about to show her that when you play with fire, you’re bound to get burned.”

“I
still can’t believe we’re just going to show up at her doorstep and demand that she take a pregnancy test,” Dorothy Mae said as they pulled up in front of Savannah’s North Side apartment. They had stopped in the church office, pulled up Savannah’s address in the database, and hightailed it over to her place.

“Believe it,” Eva said, throwing the car into park.

“So is Terrance really on his way?” Dorothy Mae asked.

“He should be here any minute now,” Eva said, glancing at her watch as she got out of the car. “I called him from the drugstore and told him it was imperative that he get over here right away.”

“How do you know she’s even home?” Mamie said.

Eva rolled her eyes. “She doesn’t work, trifling behind. Where else is she gonna be?”

Eva led the way as they made their way up to Savannah’s apartment. She vigorously knocked on the door.

After about five minutes, a groggy Savannah opened the door. “Who is knocking on my door like they don…” Her voice trailed off and she quickly became alert. “Ms. Eva? What are you all doing here?” She looked back and forth between each woman.

“May we come in?” Eva coldly asked.

Savannah had a horrible migraine and was not in the mood to deal with any of their mess, but she sighed and stepped aside.

“Look,” Eva began after they were all inside Savannah’s living room. “We understand that you are claiming, excuse me, that you are possibly pregnant with our nephew’s child.”

Savannah silently cursed herself for even opening the door. She could already tell this conversation was not about to be pretty. She was two seconds past tired of them and ready to give them a piece of her mind.

Instead, she folded her arms and firmly said, “I am pregnant with Terrance’s child.”

Eva grimaced. Both Mamie and Dorothy Mae groaned in disgust. “If that’s the case, that means you will be a part of our family—whether we like it or not.”

Savannah softened her defensive stance. “I guess it does mean that.”

“And in the interest of the child, we all should find a way to get along,” Eva continued.

Savannah dropped her arms. She seemed relieved. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Eva slowly reached in her purse and pulled out a small, white plastic CVS pharmacy bag. “And therefore, I’m hoping you’ll understand when we ask you to take this.” She thrust the bag toward Savannah.

Savannah looked down at the bag, then back up at Eva. “What is that?”

“A pregnancy test,” Dorothy Mae replied. “Just so that we’re all sure you’re really with child.”

Savannah looked at them like they were crazy. She’d totally had enough. “You know what? I don’t need y’all old behinds to be sure about nothing. This is between me and my baby’s daddy.”

Eva nearly had a heart attack at the mention of Terrance as a “baby daddy.”

“So you can take your stupid test and your meddling behinds out of my house,” Savannah continued.

They were interrupted by the sound of knocking on the front door. Savannah turned to the door, irritated that someone else had come to disturb her quiet afternoon.

“That would be Terrance,” Eva said, when Savannah didn’t move. “I asked him to come here.”

Savannah cut her eyes at Eva. “I don’t believe you all,” she mumbled as she stomped over to the door.

“Savannah,” Terrance said, rushing in the apartment. “What’s going on? My aunt Eva said I needed to get over here immediately.” He stopped when he noticed all three of his aunts in the living room.

“What’s going on here?” he asked again, this time looking at each woman.

Savannah slammed her door. “Your aunts are here once again, messing with me.”

He stared at the three women. “For the last time, does somebody want to tell me what’s going on?”

Eva stepped forward. “All we’ve done is asked Savannah to take a pregnancy test to prove she’s really pregnant. That way, we can welcome her into the family.”

“Or show her for the lying, no-good floozy she is,” Mamie mumbled.

“Aunt Mamie!” Terrance admonished before turning back to Eva. “This is insane. First of all, how did you find out about the pregnancy? And secondly, what gives you the right to come over here trying to confirm it?”

“It doesn’t matter how we found out,” Eva replied. “And we want to confirm it because we love you and we want to make sure she is on the up-and-up.”

“It’s not your place to determine who is on the up-and-up for me!” Terrance shouted, anger registering all across his face.

Savannah smirked and Eva wished she could slap her right then. Instead she took a step toward Terrance and calmly said, “I’m sorry you don’t agree with us, baby, but if she really is pregnant, what is the harm in taking the test and proving it to everyone? That way, we can eliminate that doubt—and if you really think about it, you have to have some doubt, too—and we can move forward with welcoming that sweet baby into the world.”

Savannah wanted to throw up at the way Eva was trying to pour it on.

Terrance pushed Eva’s hands away. “It’s not your place to do this!” he yelled. “It’s not your business at all.”

Savannah finally sighed, walked over, and snatched the test out of Eva’s hand. “Forget it, Terrance. It’s not even worth all this. I’ll take the stupid test and once again prove them wrong,” she snapped. “Maybe then, they’ll leave me the hell alone.”

Terrance reached out and grabbed her arm. “Savannah, you don’t have to do this.”

Savannah calmed herself down and forced a smile. “I want to, Terrance. I’m tired of this and I just want them once and for all to let this vendetta against me go.”

She gently removed his hand from her arm. “Just give me a minute.” She glared at Eva, Mamie, and Dorothy Mae one last time before heading to the bathroom.

Terrance sighed as he began pacing back and forth across the room. “I just don’t believe this. I really don’t.”

“I don’t believe you were sleeping with her. And without protection?” Eva snarled.

“It’s none of your business who I’m sleeping with,” Terrance snapped.

“Terrance,” Dorothy Mae said, stepping toward him, her voice calm. “We love you to death. It will always be our business.”

He let out a groan as he buried his face in his hands. He didn’t know what to do about them, but this was the last straw. Silence blanketed the room for the next few minutes until Savannah returned with the pregnancy test and a smirk across her face. “You wanted proof, there’s your proof.” She flung the test at Eva. It hit Eva in the chest and fell to the floor.

Eva slowly reached down and used the tips of her finger to pick up the test. She almost passed out when she saw the two red lines.

Mamie and Dorothy Mae, who were looking over Eva’s shoulder, looked dumbfounded as well.

“Well, what does it say?” Terrance challenged.

None of the women replied.

“It says exactly what I told you it would say,” Savannah replied triumphantly. “I’m pregnant. Now, I know the next issue will be if Terrance is really the father. And I gladly welcome a DNA test.” Words couldn’t describe the way Savannah felt as she took in the astonished looks on their faces.

Mamie snatched the test out of Eva’s hands. “Let me see that.” She stared closer at the little stick. “I think I’m going to be sick. Where’s your restroom?”

Savannah, still wearing her triumphant smile, pointed toward her bedroom.

As Mamie rushed to the restroom, Terrance faced Eva and Dorothy Mae. His voice was remarkably calm. “This was your last time. Your last time harassing my girlfriend.” Eva grimaced at the sound of that. Dorothy Mae rolled her eyes, and Savannah grinned widely. She loved having him refer to her as his girlfriend.

Terrance continued, “As God is my witness, if you don’t stay out of my business, I will have no choice but to put you out of my life.” Anger filled his face.

Eva looked at him in disbelief. “Terrance, you would turn your back on your own family?”

Terrance held his ground. “If family can’t respect my wishes, then yes.” He took Savannah’s hand. “How Savannah and I handle this situation is our business and our business only. Do you understand?”

Eva, whose eyes seemed to be filling with tears, slowly nodded.

“I am so disgusted and disappointed in your behavior, I don’t know what to do,” Terrance added. “I think you owe Savannah an apology.”

Eva had just opened her mouth when Mamie came bursting out of the bedroom. “Don’t apologize! She’s a liar. I knew it, I knew it. She’s a stone-cold liar. Just like we thought!”

Everyone turned toward Mamie, including Savannah, who no longer wore the smirk across her face.

Mamie held up the pregnancy test in one hand and a red pen in the other. “She drew the line!”

“What?” Eva said, stepping forward.

“That’s right,” Mamie excitedly replied. “On pregnancy tests the second line is always lighter than or the same color as the test line. I thought something was fishy because the second line was so dang dark. I went in her bathroom, and lo and behold, this was laying on her bathroom counter.” She shook the red pen.

“You’re insane,” Savannah muttered.

“That’s ridiculous,” Terrance replied. “Haven’t you all caused enough trouble? A pen doesn’t mean she doctored a pregnancy test.”

“Maybe not, but a real positive result wouldn’t smear when you run water over it!” Mamie held the test up to Terrance’s face.

The second window no longer had two lines, but instead one solid test line and blurred red ink in the place of the second line.

“Oh my God.” Dorothy Mae laughed.

“You forget, I used to be a nurse,” Mamie triumphantly said. “I know a fake test when I see one.”

“Gimme that,” Savannah said, snatching the test. “Get out of my house. I’ve had enough.”

Terrance suddenly looked like he didn’t know what to believe. He stared at the test, which was tightly clutched in Savannah’s hand.

“Terrance, I know you’re not going to believe this nonsense,” Savannah pleaded. “They’re trying everything under the sun to get you to leave me.”

Terrance looked down into her hand. “Let me see that.”

Savannah moved the test behind her back. “Terrance, don’t do this. Your aunt altered the test.”

“We do have another one if you’d like her to take it again,” Eva said. This time, she was the one smirking. “And one of us could stand watch to make sure she doesn’t doctor the test this time.”

Savannah could no longer hold it in. She spun on Eva. “Would you shut up? I’ve never done anything to any of you. Why are you harassing me? I wish all of you would just leave me alone!”

Eva got in her face. “It’s such a shame that you have to stoop so low to try and snag a man.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have to stoop to anything if you’d keep your nose out of our business and let Terrance be with who he wants to be.”

Mamie stepped up to Savannah as well. “So you are saying you did stoop to trying to trick him into thinking you were pregnant.”

Savannah looked flustered. “That’s not what I’m saying. I was trying to say…” She stopped and shook her head. “Get out! Get out now!”

Terrance ignored his aunts and stared at Savannah. “Savannah,” he said, his voice firm. “Tell me the truth. Are you or are you not pregnant?”

“Terrance, can we have this conversation after they leave?” Savannah now had tears in her eyes. Everything she’d worked so hard for was crumbling right before her.

“Are you or aren’t you?” Terrance bellowed, catching everyone off guard because it was a tone they seldom heard.

Savannah lost it and burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I…I thought I was…And when I found out I wasn’t, you were talking about plans for our future and I…I couldn’t bring myself to tell you the truth.”

She wanted to kick herself. Why did she let her guard down? Why didn’t she keep her lie going? “Please understand,” she sniffed as she stepped toward him.

Terrance stepped back so she wouldn’t touch him. “You lied? You tricked me?”

He backed up toward the door. Eva eased toward him. “Come on, baby. Better you found out now than later,” she soothingly said. Terrance snatched away from her as well.

“Leave me alone,” he said with a force that frightened her. “All of you, leave me alone.” He looked around the room at all four women. “All of you disgust me.”

Terrance turned and swung the door open, ignoring the calls of each woman as they begged him to come back.