The Pastor's Wife (8 page)

“O
kay, you can stop laughing now.” Terrance pretended like he was pouting as Raquel doubled over with laughter. They were at her desk, which sat in the massive lobby of his office suite. He hadn’t got a chance to talk to her after church yesterday because she’d rushed out as soon as service was over.

“I’m sorry,” Raquel said, wiping her eyes. “I’m just envisioning the look on your face as she said she didn’t believe in God.”

“As you can imagine, it wasn’t pretty.”

“Well, at least you paid for dinner.”

“Don’t you have some work to do?” Terrance joked. She was finding this just a little too funny. “Did the save-the-date cards for the Christmas celebration come in?”

Raquel let her laughter die down as she nodded. “They did, although I still don’t understand why we’re sending them out three months in advance.”

Terrance let out a small laugh in defeat. “You pick and choose your battles. The auxiliary committee was adamant about getting the word out early. That was one battle that just wasn’t worth fighting, especially with Aunt Eva in charge of publicity.”

“I guess you have a point there.” Raquel held up a piece of paper. “Well, I have the list and am doing the mail-outs today.”

Terrance smiled as he leaned over Raquel’s desk and glanced at the paper. “Why did I know you’d be on top of things?” He squeezed her shoulder in a friendly gesture.

Raquel grimaced as she lowered her shoulder. “Ooouch!” She immediately looked like she wished she could take the word back.

Terrance took a step back, his eyes wide. He had barely touched her. “A…Are you okay?”

Raquel tried to compose herself. “I’m fine. Just a little sore, that’s all.” She started trying to busy herself with the papers on her desk. “I’ve been having these muscle cramps and I really need to go see a doctor. Matter of fact, I think I’ll make an appointment today.”

Terrance walked around to the front of Raquel’s desk. She definitely wasn’t a good liar. She couldn’t even look him in the eyes.

“Raquel, you know you can always talk to me.”

She nodded but still didn’t look up. Terrance reached out and put his hands on top of her arms to get her to be still. “Raquel, look at me.”

She kept her head down; heaviness seemed to set in her shoulders. That’s when he noticed the tears. “What is going on? Did Dolan do something to you?” When she didn’t respond, Terrance said, “He did, didn’t he.”

“No, I’m fine.”

“No, you’re not. And I can’t believe you’re sitting here lying to me.”

Raquel finally slowly raised her head. “Pastor, I really appreciate your concern. But this is a private matter that I can handle.”

“Did he put his hands on you?”

“I can handle this,” Raquel said, desperation in her voice.

“I don’t care. That doesn’t give him the right to put his hands on you, let alone hurt you.”

Raquel looked away. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have a lot of work to get done, so if you don’t mind…”

Terrance stood back. Raquel was pretty, intelligent, definitely not the type of woman he would ever have thought would endure physical abuse. “Fine. If I can’t get answers from you, I’ll just go ask Dolan.”

“No, wait!” Raquel cried, stopping him just as he reached the door. “Please don’t do that. It’s only going to make things worse.”

Terrance slowly turned around. “Then tell me what’s going on.”

Raquel sighed as she fell back in her chair. “I told you. Dolan gets out of control sometimes. But when he’s himself, he’s the sweetest man I’ve ever met.”

Terrance walked over and sat down across from her. “I can’t believe you’re staying with a man who would put his hands on you.”

“I couldn’t believe it either. At first, I believed his promises that it would never happen again. But then it kept happening again. But don’t worry, I’m working on an exit plan. Just one more month and I’ll have enough money to get my own place.” She sounded like she had thoroughly thought this through. But it wasn’t enough for Terrance.

“Yeah, a month. That’s plenty of time, if he doesn’t kill you first.”

That thought didn’t seem to come as a shock to her. She hesitated before saying, “Look, Terrance. Please, let me handle this. I’m not a weak woman. I know it may seem like it, but I know what I’m doing, okay? Just trust me.”

Terrance just stared at her. No way could he support her in her decision to stay with Dolan, for any amount of time.

“It’s my life,” she reminded him. “And I’m going to ask you to respect that.”

Terrance sighed in defeat. Fine. He’d respect it for now. But he knew deep down, things with Raquel would get a lot worse before they got any better.

T
errance said a silent prayer that he wouldn’t see anyone he knew.

“I told you, I’m the bowling champion!” Savannah loudly proclaimed as she pumped her fist in the air. People were starting to stare, but she didn’t seem to care. “Get back, get back, you don’t know me like that,” she sang.

Terrance flashed a forced smile. He couldn’t help but notice how the woman next to them outside of Dave & Buster’s Entertainment Restaurant kept staring at them. She looked at Terrance and recognition seemed to set in. Then she turned to Savannah and a look of disgust flashed across her face as her eyes roamed up and down Savannah’s tight capri pants and black, tight, diamond-studded T-shirt that was cut too low at the top and too high at the bottom.

As much as he enjoyed her company, her attire—and moments like this—had him questioning what he was doing with Savannah.

Terrance was all too relieved when the parking attendant pulled around with his car. He held Savannah’s door open while she climbed in his Land Rover.

They had been in the car less than five minutes when Savannah leaned over and whispered in his ear, “Did you enjoy yourself tonight?” She was a lot calmer now. This was the woman he loved being with.

Terrance looked over at her and smiled. He had actually enjoyed himself, until they were leaving and Savannah’s loud and boisterous behavior drew stares. “I did have fun,” Terrance said, deciding to let his feelings about her behavior go. “I don’t think I’ve been bowling since I was a little kid.”

When Savannah had suggested they go do something fun, Terrance had readily agreed. He had been happy for the distraction. He hadn’t been able to get his mind off Raquel and her situation with Dolan all day. So he was grateful when Savannah showed up at his office this evening and suggested they go bowling.

Savannah flashed a sexy smirk as she leaned back and gently rubbed the back of Terrance’s neck.

“So, am I taking you home now?” Terrance asked as he pulled onto the freeway.

Savannah nodded. “Unless, of course, you have some place else you’d like to go.” She had a look in her eyes like she didn’t want the night to end.

Terrance headed along Highway 59 toward Savannah’s apartment. The way she continued to stroke his neck and back was awakening feelings he had forgotten that he had.

So far, Terrance had been a complete gentleman and hadn’t tried anything. But he could tell Savannah was ready for that to change.

“Terrance, can I ask you a question?” Savannah asked, breaking the silence that had filled the truck.

Terrance nodded. “You can ask me anything.”

“Where do you see our relationship going?” She paused, like she was unsure if she should continue. “I mean, I’ve been thinking about it a lot.” She took a deep breath. “I really enjoy being with you. And, well, I’d just like to know if you feel the same and where you see us going?”

Terrance didn’t know where he saw them going, if there even was a them. One minute he was sure she was the one. The next, he just didn’t know. He did know that he enjoyed being with her, but the way she clung to him tonight, and any other time they were out in public, made him extremely uncomfortable. Now he was back to questioning whether they could ever have anything serious.

“Ummm, I like you, too, Savannah. And, umm, I don’t know, I guess I hadn’t given much thought to a future,” he lied. He hated lying, but right about now he simply did not know what to say. Part of him really liked her, but there was something—he couldn’t quite put his finger on it—that didn’t feel right with her.

Savannah quickly tried to lighten the mood. “Look, let’s not even worry about the future right now.” She gently ran her fingers along the base of his neck. “Why don’t we just worry about the present?”

As if on cue, they pulled in front of her apartment. He parked right in front of her unit, then jumped out to walk around and open her door.

Savannah noticed that he left the truck running, so she reached over, turned it off, and removed the keys, before stepping out of the truck.

“I really would like for you to come inside and tuck me in,” she whispered seductively. They were standing so close, he could feel the heat from her breath.

Terrance massaged his neck, then dabbed at the beads of sweat forming on his brow.

“You just don’t know…,” Terrance said, biting his bottom lip.

Savannah had aroused feelings inside him he hadn’t had in ages, since vowing to live his life the right way and wait to have sex with his wife.

“I don’t know what?” Savannah asked as she stroked his arm.

“How much I’d love to come inside with you. But me going in there is asking for trouble.” Terrance wanted to add that it would be a particularly bad idea since he didn’t know where their relationship was headed.

“Come on, T-baby. I’ll make it worth your while.” She casually ran her tongue across her lips, adding a sparkle to her MAC lip gloss.

“Ummm, Savannah, as enticing as that sounds,” Terrance managed to say as he took a step back, “I really need to get going.” Terrance knew he had just complained to himself about her outfit, but right now, the skimpy outfit exuded sexiness and a confidence that was completely turning him on.

Savannah playfully stuck out her bottom lip as she took a step toward him. She leaned in to make sure he could get a good view of her hefty cleavage. “Please? I promise you won’t be disappointed.” For a moment, she looked like she wondered if she was going too far, but when Terrance glanced down, she must have known she was getting to him because she broke out in a big smile. “I understand you have to uphold a certain standard,” she whispered as she ran her finger over his lips. “But it’s just me and you tonight. What goes on inside 2934 View Place, stays inside 2934 View Place.”

Terrance closed his eyes as he savored her touch. He let out a gentle moan before pulling himself away. “I’m sorry. I’m going to have to pass.”

Terrance held out his hand for his keys. Savannah dropped them in his hand, that seductive smile still spread across her face. “I’m not letting up,” she purred. “But I will let you go for tonight. I know you want me and it’s just a matter of time before you give in to that desire.” She kissed him on the lips, sending shivers up his spine, before sashaying up the walkway to her apartment.

She was right. He wanted her. Bad. But he knew sleeping with her would only complicate things. It’s bad enough that he was even entertaining the idea of fornicating, but he definitely couldn’t do it with Savannah when he knew she wanted a relationship.

Terrance wiped the beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he walked back around and got in the car. He watched as Savannah unlocked her door. She turned, waved, and blew him a sultry kiss. Yes, he needed to hurry up and decide what he was going to do. Because Lord knew it was just a matter of time before the temptation with Savannah became too great.

“S
o, you just gonna stay in a funk all day?” Tyra said as she stuck her head in Savannah’s bedroom. It was after one in the afternoon and Savannah was still in her pajamas. She’d been moping around the apartment all day, and right now she was stretched out across her fuchsia satin queen-size comforter watching paternity tests revealed on the
Maury
show.

“Tyra, I’m not in the mood, okay?” Savannah drily responded. “Besides, Esmeralda is about to test her seventh man to see if he’s her baby’s daddy.”

“It’s a rerun and he ain’t her baby daddy either. And, no, it’s not okay.” Tyra walked into the room. She was dressed in her usual sleeveless T-shirt, flowing skirt, and bangled arm. “What’s going on with you? And why don’t you clean this place up?” she asked, taking in the mounds of clothes strewn across the floor and the empty chips and soda cans that sat on the nightstand.

Savannah let out a long, frustrated sigh as she flipped off the television. “I’m stumped. I pulled out the seduction mode last night and it still didn’t work on Terrance.”

“Wow. There hadn’t been a man yet who passed up your ultimate seduction.”

“Who you telling?”

Tyra looked like she was deep in thought. “Well, I guess he is a minister.”

“But he’s still a man. Right?”

“You’re right about that.” Tyra sat down on the edge of her friend’s bed. “But obviously, this is going to take a little bit more work than we thought.”

“Tell me about it. Last night, I was hoping to take things one step further and get him into bed.”

“That would have been all she wrote. He would’ve been trying to get you to run off to Vegas and elope.” Tyra laughed. “No, seriously, he just strikes me as the type that’s not into casual sex. If he sleeps with you, I think he wants something real.”

“I want something real, too. And I know he’s feeling me. I can tell. But it’s just a part of him that won’t let go.”

Tyra looked like she was thinking for a moment, then said, “Do you think it’s someone else?”

Savannah shook her head. “I don’t think so. Terrance is not the type to play games. I think he’s just trying to play it safe. Plus, with all those haters at the church, including his aunts, I’m sure it just adds to the pressure of being with me.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Savannah threw herself back on her satin pillows. “I don’t know. I need to do something. Because time is running out. I have got to get Terrance to see that I’m the woman for him. And, Tyra, I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that happens.”

“You’re really feeling him, huh? I mean, this isn’t just some attempt to prove you can get him?”

“I told you, Tyra. This is for real. When I’m with Terrance, it’s like I’m no longer that conniving girl from the hood. I feel, I don’t know, validated. Like I am somebody.”

Tyra stroked Savannah’s bushy hair. “Oh, girl, quit trippin’. You are somebody. You don’t need no dude to tell you that.”

Savannah’s eyes watered up. “Do you know what my grandmother said when I called to tell her I was dating Terrance?” Savannah didn’t give Tyra time to answer. “She told me to use him for everything I can because ain’t no way in hell a man like Reverend Terrance Ellis would want somebody like me.”

Tyra bit her lip. “That’s messed up.”

“That’s what everybody says. But it’s different hearing it from your own flesh and blood.” Savannah let out a long sigh as she struggled to keep the tears at bay. “I want people to see that a woman like me can get a good man like that. And not to mention that I really do like him.”

Savannah thought back to her last serious boyfriend. They’d dated for six months and Savannah thought he was really the one. She found out he wasn’t on the day of his wedding.

When Savannah had asked him how he could do that to her, what about their future, he’d replied curtly, “Come on, baby girl, you can’t really think I ever wanted anything serious with you.”

She never let on, but that had torn at her soul. Sure, she’d used men in the past, but she wanted something different now. She wanted a nice, quiet, stable life with a man she didn’t have to worry about breaking her heart. Terrance could provide that life. That was her dream, and Savannah was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure that her dream came true.