The Pastor's Wife (4 page)

T
errance wiped the sweat from his brow. He was pleased. As usual, he’d delivered a spirit-rousing sermon.

“Let the church say amen,” Terrance said as the choir began singing.

“Amen,” the congregation replied.

“I know someone out there is wrestling with something. I’m here to tell you, don’t worry about it. Pray about it. Come now, bring it to the Lord.” Terrance stretched out his arms.

He smiled as he looked at Savannah in the second row, her eyes closed as she swayed gently to the sounds of the choir. She opened her eyes and he noticed that they were filled with tears.

“The battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s,” Terrance continued as he kept his eyes on Savannah. She inhaled deeply, then stood and made her way to the front.

Several eyes were fixed on Savannah as she walked up the aisle. She kept her gaze focused straight ahead.

Terrance waited a few more minutes before turning the microphone over to Raquel, who had been logging the names of the people who came to the altar.

“Giving honor to God, Reverend Ellis, members, and friends,” Raquel began, “we have six people who come to join by Christian experience, and one person”—she motioned toward Savannah—“who comes for prayer.”

Terrance didn’t know what, in particular, Savannah wanted prayer for, but he was pleased to see her come to the front.

He said a few words to the congregation before offering up a prayer for Savannah.

After he’d dismissed church and said his good-byes to the members, Terrance found himself looking around for Savannah. He wanted to talk to her privately and make sure everything was all right.

“Hey, Brother Edwards,” Terrance said when he noticed Chester picking up discarded programs in the sanctuary. “Have you seen Savannah McKinney around here anywhere? She didn’t come out through the front and I was hoping to speak with her.”

“Umph, I bet you were hoping to speak with her. I bet you was hopin’ for a whole lot more.” Chester chuckled.

Terrance shot him a chastising look. “Now, now, Brother Edwards, get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Come on, Pastor. Ain’t nothing to be ashamed of. That’s one fine young thang there.”

“Have you seen her?” Terrance asked, trying to ignore the dirty look on Chester’s face.

“Umm-hmmm. I saw her in the hallway in the back by the ladies’ room. Her equally fine grandmother was back there with her.”

Terrance shook his head as he walked off laughing. “Thanks.”

“Don’t do nothin’ I wouldn’t do,” Chester called out.

Terrance waved him off as he headed through the sanctuary to the back hall to the ladies’ restroom. He had just turned the corner when he saw Savannah standing with her head lowered. Her grandmother stood over her, wagging her finger. Savannah looked like a child being scolded by her parents.

“You’re just pathetic. How you gon’ let them women sit up there and talk about you like that?” Flo said.

Savannah didn’t respond.

“You gon’ learn. These people around this church ain’t nothin’ but hypocrites.”

“Then what do you come for?”

“To get under their skin.” Flo blew a frustrated breath. “I would’ve slapped that woman into next week if I was in a bathroom stall while she was talking about me like a dog. But what do you do? You come running out of the bathroom like a little girl. Crying like you crazy. They talked about Jesus. You think they ain’t gon’ talk about you? Especially because they jealous.”

Savannah dabbed at her eyes. “I told you, I was just upset because I didn’t do anything to these women, and I was mad that they were talking about how Terrance would never want a woman like me.”

“He won’t. But I told you that already. You need to get off that pipe dream. You’re good for one thing and one thing only with him, and that’s a romp in the hay. And quiet as it’s kept, ain’t nothing wrong with that. As long as at the end of the day, he’s the one who got used. You use men before they use you,” Flo warned again.

Terrance could no longer stomach the horrible things Flo was saying. He walked toward them to make his presence known.

Savannah’s eyes immediately grew wide. Flo looked like she could care less whether he’d heard her or not.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” Terrance said as he approached them. “How are you all today?”

“I’m fine,” Savannah said.

Flo didn’t respond. She just kept her arms crossed and looked him up and down.

“Well, Sister Savannah, I was just looking for you. I was hoping, well, I would like it if you would have dinner with me.”

Savannah’s eyes widened again—but this time with delight. Shock registered all over Flo’s face.

“Dinner for what?” Flo interjected.

Terrance let out a small laugh. “Dinner to eat.”

“I would like that,” Savannah interjected before her grandmother could say anything else.

“Do you want me to come pick you up, or do you just want to meet me back up here at six?”

The sadness was gone from Savannah’s face. Now, she looked giddy. “I’ll be here at six.”

Flo huffed like she thought Terrance’s request was some type of scam. “You remember what I told you,” she said as she walked off. “You can’t trust none of ’em!”

Terrance ignored Flo. “Great, I’ll see you at six here at the church.” Terrance hadn’t really planned to ask Savannah out right then and there, but watching Flo give her a hard time just caused his basic protector instincts to kick in. But more than anything, Terrance found himself asking Savannah out because there was something about her that he was just ready to know better.

R
aquel stood in the arched doorway of Terrance’s office, staring at him strangely.

“What?” Terrance asked, looking up from his desk.

“I’m just wondering why you’re sitting here at your desk in an empty room, smiling like a crazy person.”

A lopsided smile crossed his face. “I didn’t realize I was sitting here smiling.” He closed the church budget notes he’d been poring over before his mind started to drift to Savannah.

“You weren’t smiling. You were cheesing,” Raquel joked as she walked in and stood in front of his desk. “You wanna tell me what gives?”

Terrance debated for a moment. He was feeling like a little boy with his first crush after talking on the phone with Savannah two nights ago for almost three hours. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d talked to a woman that long, and enjoyed it. They continued their conversation over dinner yesterday.

He’d broken down and asked her for feedback on the youth project. Of course, she had been gung ho on the idea and had even suggested herself to lead the group. Terrance told her they were just in the planning stages and would get back to her later. Between their date and their phone call, they’d begun talking about everything under the sun. Savannah had a great sense of humor, and Terrance found himself laughing like he hadn’t laughed in a long time. In fact, his mind had started drifting because it was almost six o’clock and Savannah was picking him up from the church so they could go out again. Of course, he didn’t like the idea of her picking him up, but she’d been adamant that since tonight’s date was her suggestion, he allow her to take charge. That was another thing he liked about her, she wasn’t the typical demure “Whatever you say, Pastor” type of woman he had dated over the last few years. No, Savannah marched to her own drum and he liked that.

“Oh, it’s no big deal. I’m just in a good mood,” Terrance finally said. He didn’t feel completely comfortable discussing his love life with his secretary.

“Ummm-hmmm.” Raquel nodded skeptically. “That’s a new-woman look if I ever seen one. But if you don’t want to tell me who it is, I understand.” She feigned a look like she was hurt.

Terrance smiled. “What may I help you with today? Since I know you didn’t come in here to talk about my love life.”

“See, I knew that’s what it was.” Raquel laughed. “Actually, I’m probably about to spoil your good mood.”

“How?” Terrance asked, his eyebrows narrowing.

“Your aunts are outside. They look secretive and agitated. I don’t know what’s going on, but they told me to let you know they’d be waiting for you out back.”

“Waiting for me for what?” Terrance stood up, looked at his watch, then let out an exasperated breath. Savannah was going to meet him out back in less than five minutes. The last thing he wanted was his aunts to be anywhere around. “What do they want? I really don’t feel like dealing with them today.”

“I don’t know what they want.” Raquel shrugged. “And don’t raise your voice at me. I’m just the messenger.”

Terrance let a small smile form on his lips. “Sorry.”

“Ummm-hmmm,” Raquel said as she walked back to the door. “I told you I was going to make you lose that smile.”

Terrance leaned over and shut off his computer. Maybe if he could get back there, he could see what they wanted, then get rid of them before Savannah arrived.

“Thanks for bringing the message,” Terrance said. “I’m going to head out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Raquel bid him good-bye as he made his way down the long hallway and out the back door. All three of his aunts stood around on the steps, like they were engrossed in a deep conversation.

“Ladies,” Terrance said, “what can I help you all with today? Is this about yesterday’s budget meeting?”

Eva spun around. Terrance expected to see her face light up as it normally did whenever he entered a room. Instead she had a worried look.

“Hi, sweetheart. How are you?” Eva’s voice lacked the warmth it normally held.

Terrance lost his smile. “I’m fine.” He looked toward Mamie, then Dorothy Mae. “Wondering what’s going on with you all, why you’re standing out here looking so serious.”

Eva sighed, then took a step toward Terrance. She gently ran her hand along his cheek. “We’re just worried about you, that’s all.”

Terrance frowned up. He didn’t like where this was headed. “Worried about me for what?”

“We just want you to be happy,” Dorothy Mae added, stepping up next to him. “A fine young man like yourself shouldn’t be alone.”

Terrance let out a laugh. “I should’ve known that that’s what this was about. My aunts, always trying to find me a woman.”

“You’re an esteemed minister. You need a good woman by your side,” Eva chimed in.

“I’ve told you all a hundred times, when it’s time for me to find a woman, I will. I don’t need…” His voice trailed off as he looked toward the curb and at the convertible SAAB that came to a screeching halt in back of the church.

Eva, Dorothy Mae, and Mamie all turned in unison to look at the car. The wild-haired woman threw the car in park and pulled herself up on the seat.

“Hey, handsome, you ready to roll?” she called out to Terrance.

“Good Lord Almighty,” Eva muttered. “Is that Savannah McKinney?” she asked in disbelief.

“Yep, it’s the hoochie mama,” Mamie mumbled. “As if you could mistake that wild honey blond hair and double-D breasts.”

Terrance let out a long sigh. “Savannah is not a hoochie mama.”

Both Dorothy Mae and Mamie turned up their noses. “Oh, yes, she is,” Mamie snapped. “She’s a hoochie mama, her mama is a hoochie mama, and her mama’s mama is a hoochie mama.”

“Um-hmm, that Savannah is just like her grandma, been with everybody under the sun. Everyone knows that,” Dorothy Mae added. “And she’s definitely not the type of woman you need to be associating with.”

“How are you ladies doing this evening?” Savannah called out. None of the women responded. Savannah shrugged indifferently and kept her smile plastered on. “T-baby, are you ready?”

“‘T-baby’?” Eva hissed, turning to Terrance. “Does she know you’re a highly regarded minister and not some thug off the street?”

Terrance sighed. Savannah
had
gone a little overboard with the entrance, but he would have to talk to her about that later. Right now, he just wanted to get away.

He leaned in and kissed Eva on the cheek. “Gotta go.”

“Terrance Deshaun Ellis, I know you are not about to be seen getting into that car with that floozy,” Mamie snapped as she looked around nervously.

Terrance debated saying anything, then figured, what was the use? “Bye, ladies,” he said, then lightly kissed Mamie and Dorothy Mae on the cheek. “I’ll call you later.” He headed to Savannah’s car before they could say another word.

All three of the women watched him get in the car with Savannah, who quickly tried to lean over and kiss him. Terrance gently pushed her away, knowing seeing Savannah kiss him would only set his aunts off even more.

“Awww, hell no,” Mamie muttered.

Eva swatted her sister’s shoulder. “Mamie. You’re standing on the Lord’s ground. Stop using that foul language.”

“In this case, I think God understands,” Mamie mumbled.

The women watched the car until it turned the corner. They stood in silence for a few minutes. “Ladies, it is definitely time,” Eva muttered, still shaking her head.

“Time for what?” Dorothy Mae asked.

“Time to find that boy a wife,” Eva replied. “Because Savannah McKinney is not the answer.”

Dorothy Mae turned to Eva and nodded. “For once, big sister, I couldn’t agree with you more.”