Chapter 4
It was early Friday morning, just a little past dawn, and for days Sister Betty had witnessed Leotis stretch and bend his staunch beliefs on marriage and dating like a Cirque du Soleil contortionist.
She wasn’t really surprised. In fact, she’d known for the past week or so of restless sleep, throbbing knees, and the other discomforts that followed Sharvon’s return, with Ima in tow, that something would go wrong. Sister Betty just didn’t know when, where, what, or how.
She had also missed having Sharvon around to toss around her ideas for the wedding. Eight and a half weeks would pass before she knew it, and there was plenty to decide and to have done. Although they lived in the same house, Sister Betty seldom saw Sharvon. Sharvon would leave before eight in the morning and would not return until almost midnight. She had spent almost the entire past four days at the Singer and Berry law firm, to which soon would be added the name Becton. Sharvon had finally accepted their offer to join. It’d mean long hours, for the most part, until Sharvon became familiar with her various cases and the staff she’d oversee. Sister Betty was pleased because law was something Sharvon loved and had thrown herself into.
In the meanwhile, Sister Betty made up her mind that she wouldn’t allow Ima’s sexy come-ons to become a reason for any romantic notions between Sharvon and Leotis. At least Sharvon won’t be witnessing the way Ima’s gonna just throw herself at Leotis. I just know she will. I can just feel it, she thought.
Sharvon quietly entered the kitchen and threw her arms around Sister Betty’s neck. “I’m about to go for a quick run before I head out to the office this morning.”
Sister Betty laughed as she turned to face Sharvon. “Come on, Sharvon. Sit with me for a moment and have some breakfast. If you don’t come out of that size four you wear and put on some weight, I’ll have to get your maid of honor dress from the toddler department.”
“There’ll be no buying anything for me in some toddlers’ department,” Sharvon said as she pulled at the string on her running shorts. “I’m trying to maintain this weight so if I have children one day, I can relax and not worry about gaining too much weight.”
Leotis Tom held the reputation as one of Pelzer’s most handsome men in and out of a preacher’s robe and the fastest. He loved running and had won several local marathons. When he wasn’t on his knees, praying and talking to God, he’d have his heavenly chat while running.
He awoke early this Friday morning and found that it was already in the mid-seventies. He wanted to start off his day with a run at a nearby high school. He was soon dressed in one of his usual eye-candy outfits: dark running shorts that showed off long legs with double-dipped muscles, one stacked one upon the other; a white headband to absorb the sweat; and a white tank top that displayed arm muscles resembling the back of an alligator’s tail.
Leotis was in the midst of tossing his gym bag onto the backseat of his car when he heard laughter coming from the direction of Sister Betty’s house.
“I see great minds are thinking alike this hot and about to be humid morning,” Sharvon called out, laughing while she pointed to her outfit. She wore a pair of dark brown gym shorts, a beige tank top, and running shoes. She wore her hair in a ponytail, and it partially covered the backpack dangling off one shoulder. “Are you on your way to Barack Obama High, too?”
Whether he meant to or not, as usual, the way Leotis smiled showed his appreciation for her well-toned body. He was still a man with manly needs, but he was also one who quickly shook his head, rebuking the possibility of a lustful thought. Over the months he’d come to respect and admire Sharvon, and he loved her like the little sister he’d never had. Although they hardly ever planned to run the track together, this wasn’t the first time they left their homes at about the same hour to do it before starting their busy days.
“I’ve already got my things in the car,” Leotis called out. “Would you like a ride?” He then laughed and began running in place to challenge her. “I’ll give you another opportunity to break my record. Perhaps a fifth try will be the magic.”
“In your dreams, but thanks, as usual.” Sharvon ran down the sidewalk and into his driveway. “I plan on running only about an hour, so perhaps another time would be better to leave you gasping for breath.”
Leotis, with both hands on his hips, looked at Sharvon. He shook his head, laughing. “I guess any excuse is acceptable in this heat. I won’t challenge your pride this time.”
“Oh, give me a break, Leotis,” Sharvon challenged. “I just saved your reputation. Besides, I’ve got two meetings at the firm this morning, and you know how crazy Fridays can get.”
“I know how crazy every day can get,” Leotis replied, taking her backpack from her hands. He gently placed it beside his gym bag on the backseat. “It’s another reason why I gotta stay fit and prayed up.”
It didn’t take them long to drive the mile to Barack Obama High School and park inside its lot. Like-minded runners were already rounding the oval track. Minutes after warming up with a few leg stretches, Leotis and Sharvon ran onto the field and blended in with the others. Neither spoke as they ran, preferring to let their challenging speeds and endurance speak for them. They’d just rounded the last lap of the fifth mile when Leotis’s head jerked from a tap on his shoulder. He’d never seen her come up behind him, and he was certain Sharvon hadn’t this time, either.
“I certainly didn’t expect to see either of you out here this morning.” Ima’s breathing was steady and even as she gently tapped Sharvon on her shoulder. “You guys have room for one more?”
Without waiting for an answer or a return greeting, Ima thrust her long and lean frame between Leotis and Sharvon. She had no problem keeping pace or keeping an eye on Leotis’s quick glances tossed her way. She didn’t bother looking at Sharvon, knowing that like most other women, she’d be jealous.
As the three slowly walked the last few feet to one of the benches where runners usually ended with a stretch routine, Sharvon spoke first. “Hello, Ima.” Without waiting for Ima to reply, she began stretching her long legs, before bending from the waist, showing her flexibility. “Leotis and I were just finishing.”
Ima didn’t respond directly to Sharvon. Joining in the stretching exhibition, she looked at Leotis, who’d not said a word. She could tell he wasn’t disappointed she’d joined them, because he’d not taken his eyes off her. Once she let him have, in her opinion, all his eyes and flesh could handle, with her back still to Sharvon, she purred, “Too bad.” As she raised one arm, then grabbed the elbow of the other, stretching from side to side, she added, “I’m just getting started.”
Leotis spoke, finally kicking aside the cat that had gotten his tongue. “Ima, it’s a pleasure to see you again. I can tell you love to take care of your temple, like I do. I’ve got to take Sharvon home, but I’m certain we’ll run into each other on the track again.” He’d said it as though it was a duty to take Sharvon home, and if he didn’t have to, he’d stay right there with Ima.
“I’m sure we will,” Ima replied. “I was hoping it’d be sometime this week at the Health Nutt.” Ima stopped speaking for a moment, using the short pause to bend over, with her backside toward Sharvon, and pretend to tie her sneaker. Knowing Sharvon was still listening, Ima added, “I haven’t had an opportunity to tell you just how much I enjoyed our lunch there the other day. It was my first time going there since they opened in Pelzer. You really showed me a good time, Reverend.”
The heat from Sharvon’s eyes penetrated the side of Leotis’s head. She was hot and wanted to singe his brain for what she thought was the dumbest move he could’ve made with Ima. She couldn’t put the words together at that moment and didn’t need to, since he’d already turned his head and looked away, but not before she’d seen his guilty look.
And just as quickly as Ima had appeared, instigating and insinuating, separating them as they sped around the race track, she strutted away, leaving her incendiary words to separate Leotis and
Sharvon as they rode back to their houses.
As Leotis drove toward his home, with Sharvon still not speaking to him, the old saying “Quieter than cats jumping on cotton” came to mind. She sat in the backseat and slammed her backpack onto the floor and against the car door. He didn’t have to look in his rearview mirror to tell her anger hadn’t subsided one bit. He fumbled around with the radio dial, but somehow his satellite radio couldn’t find a signal. As they neared their houses, he decided he’d not let the Devil win the day.
“Sharvon,” he began quickly, glancing in the rearview mirror to see if she even bothered to look his way without smirking. “I’m cutting to the chase. I don’t want you to put more into what Ima said than need be.”
Sharvon glared at him but said nothing.
“You know the Health Nutt is one of my favorite places to grab a bite. It just happened that Ima had discovered it, too, and we sat down at the same table. Good food and random conversation were all we shared.”
Sharvon crossed her legs and her arms and continued glaring.
“I guess I probably should’ve shut down her insinuations as soon as she began revising the situation,” he said as he turned into his driveway and parked. “But I didn’t think it’d bother you this much.”
Without saying good-bye, Sharvon snatched her backpack and flung it across her shoulder, then hopped out of Leotis’s car and speed walked down his driveway, toward Sister Betty’s house.
Leotis sat in his car and watched Sharvon storm through Sister Betty’s side door. If she’d been surprised at the obvious flirtation coming from Ima, he was just as surprised at his reaction to her anger. He hadn’t meant to hurt Sharvon, but then he hadn’t thought she cared about him beyond being good friends.
“And this is why I gotta stay in my own lane and out of the oncoming traffic of these females,” he murmured as he exited his car and went inside his house.
Chapter 5
“Today may be Sunday, but this is the third straight day you’ve stopped by at this early hour and missed Sharvon,” Sister Betty told Leotis. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were trying to avoid her.”
Leotis gave Sister Betty a weak smile but said nothing.
Sister Betty reached out her hand and tapped his as she chuckled. “I think the winds in Pelzer are changing, and perhaps you might be trying to avoid the love trap.”
“You have an active imagination,” Leotis replied. “But then again, it’s one of the things I admire about you.”
Sister Betty then pushed a wrapped plate of steamed vegetables picked fresh from her garden toward him. “Here. Take this plate and eat what’s on it later, because you’re talking nonsense.” She placed her finger on her cheek and smiled. “Now that I think about it, you look like I done stole the truth out your mouth.”
“No, you have not,” Leotis replied. He began laughing and tapping the side of his thigh, which had begun to jerk slightly, indicating he wanted to change the subject. “I just wanted to get your thoughts about the service the other night. I didn’t have a chance to discuss it when it was over. You and the trustee seemed in a hurry.”
“Oh, really?” Sister Betty said. “Is that so?”
“Yes, that’s so. It’s pretty much the same with me right now. I’m in a hurry to meet with a few church elders from the Mount Kneel Down Church in about twenty minutes. They’re stopping by on their way to their church. I believe they might want me to preach for Reverend Stepson’s upcoming anniversary, among some other business.”
“It’s no problem,” Sister Betty told him. “I’ve got some thoughts about your message, but they can wait until there’s a better time. You just make sure you eat those vegetables while they’re fresh. You can come back for more if you want to.”
Taking the plate in his hands, Leotis rose, then gave Sister Betty a peck on her cheek. “I always do. I’ll be back before long to pick you up for morning service.”
As soon as she’d closed the door behind Leotis, Sister Betty went and sat on her living room sofa. She laid her head back to rest it against the cushion and smiled as she thought about her pastor. This past Thursday night, during the second week of the revival meeting, he’d preached a great sermon. His topic had been “God’s Set-Aside Man.” The sanctuary had exploded, the churchgoers confirming that they, too, believed their God had some folks anointed and others appointed for His purpose only. Yet no sooner had the church let out than she and Freddie met Leotis outside to make the trip home and saw that his persona had changed.
Instead of asking, “How did you like the sermon?” which was something he’d always ask—as if the rousing shouts of “Preach! You better say that Word, Reverend” hadn’t already confirmed it—Leotis had said only, “I didn’t see Mother Pray Onn at the revival meeting tonight. Have any of you seen her? Is she sick?”
As much of a hurry as they’d been in, it wasn’t lost upon either her or Freddie that Leotis had never asked about Sasha’s whereabouts before. Fact was that he had always seemed relieved when she wasn’t there to create some ridiculous disturbance. The only conclusion was that he might’ve been asking about Ima.
Sister Betty heard the phone ringing and pushed aside thoughts of the past Thursday. She rose quickly from the sofa to reach the phone before her answering machine took over the call.
“Hello and praise the Lord.”
“You almost ready, Honey Bee?” Freddie asked cheerfully.
As usual, his words were like a balm to her spirit. “Just about ready, Freddie,” Sister Betty answered softly. She sounded almost schoolgirl giddy whenever she said something that seemed to rhyme with his name. “I couldn’t seem to find the right slip to wear with my dress this morning.”
“I’m sure no matter what you decided, you’ll look beautiful, Honey Bee.”
“Thank you, Freddie.”
Sister Betty wondered if she’d ever get used to hearing him call her by the favorite pet name he’d given her. He’d often mentioned how the names Freddie and Betty seemed to roll off the tongue and sometimes sounded a bit “childish.” Months ago, she had let him hold her by the hand while she gazed lovingly into his eyes, and she had given him permission to use the endearing term Honey Bee. It wasn’t too far-fetched where she was concerned; after all, he’d already begun calling her honey.
“Honey Bee,” Freddie said, “I think you might want to get a move on so you can be ready when Leotis picks you up.”
“I intend to be,” she replied. “But do you know what else would be just as wonderful this morning?”
“What, Honey Bee?”
“Sharvon coming to church with me would be great. But she’s already promised she’d work a few Sundays, until she’s caught up.”
“That office ain’t even open on Sundays. She’s gonna miss some good preaching,” Freddie said. “She’s gonna miss out on snatching Leotis, too, if what I’ve heard from the Bea Blister grapevine is true.”
Sister Betty knew he was probably right. She hadn’t had a good feeling since Freddie told her how he’d run into Bea at the mall. Bea had acted as though nothing bad had happened a few days before, when he’d threatened her and Sasha. Instead, she’d told him how as soon as Ima laid eyes on Leotis, she’d staked a claim on him.
“Well, Leotis is a grown man and knows the Word of God,” Sister Betty told him. “Hopefully, he’s gotten over his first impression of Ima.”
That was what she said to Freddie, but she did have a sliver of doubt. There was no denying Ima was beautiful, with her long red hair, green eyes, and to-die-for figure. But she was Sasha’s niece and part of the Hellraiser family. To know Ima was to eventually look past her beauty and want to hit her with a brick. Sister Betty hoped it wouldn’t get that far.
“Well, I’ve got to go, Honey Bee. If the trustees weren’t having a meeting before the morning service, I’d leave my car at home and walk around the corner to ride with you and Leotis.” He let out a soft chuckle before continuing. “You just stay
prayed up today. I’ve a feeling it’s going to be a hot service, and I want to shout on the very spot at the altar where I’ll make you my bride.”
“Me too,” Sister Betty replied. She was glad he wasn’t there to see the tears welled up in her eyes. Every time he mentioned how much he either loved her or couldn’t wait to get married, she wanted to cry.
They said their good-byes, each imagining the other blushing through the telephone. Both were eager to see the other as soon as possible, knowing and appreciating that the gift of love in their season was a gift and favor from God. Each had forfeited their relationships over the years and had been devoted to performing God’s will. They’d often said that their finding each other’s love was an example of obedience being better than sacrifice.
A short while later Sister Betty had finished dressing, and it was just in time to hear the familiar blast of Leotis’s car horn.
Quickly locking the door behind her, Sister Betty turned to go down the steps from her front porch. Because the sun was in her eyes, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. But the sun wasn’t the trick. She almost slapped herself with her pocketbook when she spied Ima seated in the front seat of Leotis’s 2012 black Tahoe. She remembered him saying that his Honda Civic was in the shop, having brake work done.
She began quoting the twenty-third Psalm of David. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—”
Sister Betty repeated the psalm as she walked down her pathway. She opened the back door to the Tahoe and stood her ground, a quickly placed smile upon her face replacing her concern. Speaking loud enough for them to hear, she asked, “How are you two feeling this bright and sunny day that the Lord hath made?”
Sister Betty Says I Do Page 4
