“Curtis, honey, I know you really want this, but I don’t think it’s right. I mean, why can’t we make love to each other without doing all of that?”
“Because, I want more than just regular intercourse. I need so much more than that. And at some point you’re going to have to get over this squeamish mentality,” he said, turning his head away from her.
“I know, Curtis. And I promise you, I’m going to pray about this every day until God gives me the strength to do it.”
“Pray?” he said, wrinkling his forehead. “As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to pray about. Either you’re going to do it or you’re not. But I’m telling you, if I don’t get it soon, I can’t be responsible—”
“You can’t be responsible for what?” she interrupted.
“Nothing. I didn’t mean anything at all. And hey, why don’t we just forget about making love altogether,” he said, and stood up.
“Okay, Curtis. I’ll do it.”
“No, that’s okay, because I don’t want you doing something just for the sake of doing it.”
“It won’t be like that. I promise. I mean, I’ve never done anything like this before, but I’m willing to try.”
Curtis removed every stitch of clothing he was wearing and stepped in front of her. “It won’t be as bad as you think.”
Mariah didn’t know how she should respond, so she didn’t.
“And, baby?” he said.
“Yes,” she answered, wondering how she was going to get through this.
“I want you to know that even though I already love you more than anything in this world, I’ll love you even more after tonight. I’ll love you in a way that you can’t even imagine. Our marriage will rise to a whole new level, because we will have finally bonded completely.”
“I love you, too, Curtis,” Mariah said, and realized that this truly was important to her husband, and that his love for her was all that really mattered. She decided that as his wife, it was her job to keep him happy.
It was her job to keep him faithful.
Chapter 2
Curtis leaned back in his tall black executive-style chair and spun himself toward the window of his church study. It was hard to believe that even after the blackmail fiasco and total scandalizing of his name, he’d still been able to reenter the ministry as pastor of an equally prominent Baptist church. As a matter of fact, Truth Missionary Baptist Church now had over thirty-five hundred members on the rolls, which was five hundred more than they’d had at Faith, and they were now holding two morning services. One at eight and one at ten forty-five. Nine months ago, when he’d first become their pastor, they’d only had maybe thirty-two hundred, and that meant he was the reason they now had three hundred more. The board of deacons was very happy with the work he’d been doing thus far, and so was the congregation. He’d learned a long time ago that most people liked having a great leader and wanted to be told what to do. They didn’t seem to mind following a strong, charismatic, intelligent man, and he was glad that God had blessed him with all three qualities. When he was married to Tanya, she’d thought he was full of himself whenever he took charge and told the congregation what to do. She despised when he told them how much money they should give. But he never listened to her because he knew that most people didn’t always know what was best and sometimes needed a little direction. Sometimes they needed to have certain requests explained to them in a certain kind of way. Which was why he was now a lot more subtle when he made an appeal to the congregation. Which was why he was going to play Mr. Mild Mannered when he met with the deacons one week from today. He wasn’t sure how they were going to feel about some of his new ideas, but he wasn’t going to fly off the handle the way he always did with his former board. Sometimes they’d disagreed with him on every point, and Deacon Jackson, Adrienne’s husband, had been the ring leader. The man had debated every idea Curtis suggested, but what the deacon didn’t know was that Curtis was back. He hadn’t seen the deacon in years, and had no idea what church he belonged to, but the joke was still going to be on him. Curtis was going to make sure of it.
When the phone rang, he flinched and returned to reality. Finally, he pressed the speaker button.
“Yes,” he said.
“Pastor, if you have some time right now, I’d like to start working on your agenda for the deacon board meeting next week,” Whitney said.
“Sure, that’ll be fine, just give me a minute to finish writing some notes for you.”
“Sounds good,” she said, and hung up.
Whitney was Curtis’s new executive assistant. She’d been working for the church for two years as a clerk-typist, but when Curtis decided he didn’t want the same assistant the former pastor had hired, he told the woman that things weren’t working out, and that he would give her a recommendation for any job she applied for outside of the church. Curtis hadn’t liked her from the start, because there just hadn’t been any chemistry between them. Plus, she reminded him of Monique, his former secretary. She was sorely unattractive, and constantly acted as if she was trying to come on to him. So Curtis spoke to the deacons, and although there was some uncertainty on their part, they allowed him to replace her.
And he was glad he did, because Whitney was every pastor’s dream. She was young, beautiful, and extremely organized. She loved her job, and she loved her pastor. The only downfall was that she loved her husband, and hadn’t hesitated to make sure Curtis knew it. The very first day she was promoted, she’d marched right into his office, closed his door, and sat down in front of him. She’d caught him completely off guard, and before he could speak, she told him, “I do phones, I do meetings, and I do travel arrangements, but I don’t do pastors. And if you agree with all of that, then you and I will get along like best friends.” Curtis had laughed almost immediately, but Whitney never cracked a smile. So after a few seconds, Curtis told her that he was fine with all of the above. Just thinking about the whole scenario made him smile, but he had to admit he’d had the highest respect for her ever since.
Curtis heard a knock at the door and told Whitney to come in.
“How’s your afternoon going?” she said, walking in. She was dressed in a black microfiber ankle-length dress.
“Actually, my whole day has been going great. Now all I have to do is convince the deacons that it’s time for us to use more modern methods and technology when it comes to the way tithes and offerings are paid. Here’s some of my ideas,” he said, passing Whitney a list he’d been compiling for a while now. She scanned it and shook her head.
“What?” Curtis asked.
“No, don’t get me wrong. I understand each and every one of your points, but I can already tell you right now that you’re going to meet opposition from Deacon Thurgood and Deacon Winslow.”
“Hmmm,” Curtis said, clasping his hands together. “The two oldest deacons on the board, huh?”
“Yep. They’re extremely old-school, and they don’t like anything that sounds like a scam.”
“But I’m not proposing anything like that.”
“I totally agree, but I’m just letting you know how they’ll see it.”
“How did they end up on the board anyway, because most of the deacons that came over from Faith are much younger.”
“They came from the church where Pastor Jenkins used to be an associate minister,” she said, referring to their former pastor.
“Well, I wish they had stayed where they were, because I’m trying to move this church in an upward direction, and we can’t do that if we keep doing things the same as they’ve always been done. I used to tell my old congregation that we have little because we think little, and I still feel the same way right now.”
“Maybe if you can prove in laymen’s terms that you’re not trying to run a scam and that your ideas will benefit the church as a whole, maybe they’ll understand.”
“Maybe. But then who’s to say? But I guess we’ll see soon enough.”
“I’ll get ev
erything typed up, though, and you can give me any additions as the week goes on.”
“Well, now that we have that taken care of, what’s going on with my preanniversary committee?” Curtis winked at her. “You know it’s only three months away.”
“You should be ashamed of yourself,” Whitney said, smiling.
“I know, but can you blame me for being curious? I mean, that’s going to be a very special day. Especially since the last anniversary celebration I had at Faith was the reason my preaching career ended.” He didn’t talk about that particular incident to very many people, but he confided just about everything to Whitney.
“I understand. So if you must know, they’re planning a monthlong celebration with a different program each Sunday afternoon. They’re also planning one full week of evening services right before the actual anniversary weekend.”
The services were fine and necessary, but Curtis wanted to know about the gifts—specifically the monetary ones.
“Also,” Whitney continued, “each member of the church will be asked to give one hundred dollars and no less than fifty. In addition to that, you’ll be receiving all moneys collected at each of the precelebration services.”
“What a blessing,” Curtis said, but he wished they weren’t planning to offer an option where people could pay fifty dollars. Some of them wouldn’t even consider paying the maximum once they learned that half of it was acceptable. If only the committee realized that it was better to give the congregation one specific amount with no alternatives, because when they had too many choices, it sometimes confused their way of thinking. Although even if only one thousand of his members gave a hundred dollars, he’d still walk away with six figures.
“Yes, it really is,” Whitney agreed.
“Excuse me?” Curtis asked. He’d become so enthralled with what the committee was planning to do, he’d forgotten what he and Whitney were discussing.
“I was just agreeing with you,” she explained. “I was saying that all of this really is a blessing.”
“That it is,” Curtis added.
“Well, unless you have something else, I’d better get back out to my desk.”
“No, I think that’s it, and I’ll let you know if I have anything to add to the agenda.”
“Sounds good. Oh, and there is one other thing. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but if I don’t, you’ll probably book your calendar so far in advance you won’t be able to take advantage of the trip.”
“What trip is that?”
“That’s the other anniversary gift. The church is giving you and Mariah an all-expense-paid trip to anywhere you want to go.”
“Wow. Now, that’s a gift and then some.”
“Just thought I’d let you know, but it would be nice if you didn’t tell Mariah. That way, at least someone will be surprised when it’s announced.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” he said as Whitney walked out and shut the door behind her.
An all-expense-paid trip with Mariah was never going to happen. She was boring him to pieces right here at home, so he couldn’t possibly imagine being tied down on some tropical island with her. He’d hoped her giving him oral sex was going to make their sex lives a bit more interesting, but she just didn’t know what she was doing. It was only her first time, but Curtis had already decided that she just didn’t have what it took to satisfy him. She didn’t have any of the sexual skills that any of his former women possessed. She wasn’t Adrienne Jackson.
He’d seen Adrienne at a church concert a couple of weeks ago, but he’d made sure not to approach her because he hadn’t wanted to stir up any old feelings. The truth: he hadn’t wanted to be unfaithful to his new wife after only six months of marriage. He’d decided that he was going to do the right thing this time, no matter what. And he would have, if only Mariah had given him what he needed—if only she’d given him what he had to have in order to survive as a man. He’d stared at Adrienne on and off at the concert for two full hours, but he’d pushed the thought of calling her completely out of his system. He’d tried to forget about how good she’d once made him feel and how willing she was to do whatever he wanted. Anytime, anywhere. But six long months of nothing was long enough. As a matter of fact, it was too long, and it was time for him to do something about it. He wished there was another way, but right now he couldn’t think of one.
Curtis dialed Adrienne’s work number from memory, as if he’d just phoned her yesterday. There were some things a person simply didn’t forget.
“This is Adrienne Jackson speaking,” she answered. “Adrienne. It’s me.”
There was a pause.
“Are you there?” Curtis asked.
“I’m here. Just a little surprised to hear your voice.”
“I know. But to be honest, I haven’t been able to get you off of my mind ever since I saw you.”
“But you’re married again, right?”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing, Curtis. I mean, there is no but if you’re married.”
“Okay, okay. You’re right. I am remarried, but I’m not happy. We’ve been together for six months, but I’m starting to realize it was a mistake.”
Adrienne laughed at him.
“What’s funny?”
“You.”
“Why am I funny?”
“You’re funny, Curtis, because after all this time you still haven’t changed one bit.”
“You’re right. Because I certainly haven’t changed when it comes to the way I feel about you.”
“You know, I don’t even want to hear it. And if that’s what you called to talk about, then we should end this conversation right now.”
“I’m just being honest. I know I made a lot of mistakes in the past, and that I didn’t do right by you, but I’ve been sorry for that ever since.”
“Well, I’m sorry, too. I’m sorry that I ever met you, and that I allowed you to make such a fool of me. Do you know how humiliating it was for me to have Thomas find out about that abortion, the condo that you and I were renting, and then have him tell the entire congregation everything he knew about you and me? I mean everything, Curtis. He didn’t leave out one thing.”
“I know, I know, I know. I was just as humiliated as you were. Even more, if you want to know the truth.”
“Well, you got what you deserved.”
“So did you and the deacon end up getting divorced?” Curtis said, changing the subject.
“First of all, he’s not a deacon anymore, and he hasn’t stepped foot inside a church ever since that terrible day five years ago. And to answer your question, no, we didn’t get divorced. He did put me out because of you, but after I begged him for almost a year, he finally took me back, and we’ve been doing great ever since.”
“Come on now, Adrienne. This is me you’re talking to. You can’t be doing that great, because you know you don’t love him.”
“How in the hell would you know?” she said, and Curtis heard a door shut, probably the one to her office.
“I know because you never loved him. You never even loved him before you met me.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, and I really don’t have time for this.”
“I’m just calling things the way I see them, but I’m not trying to offend you.”
“Well, I have to go.”
“Can I see you?”
“Didn’t you hear me say that Thomas and I are still married?”
“Yes, but, Adrienne, all I want to do is talk to you. We can even meet at a restaurant downtown if you want.”
“No.”
“Adrienne, baby. Don’t you remember how good we were together? Don’t you remember all the good times we had and how unbelievable our lovemaking was? And can you honestly tell me that the deacon is giving you half of what I gave you in bed? I know Mariah hasn’t even come close to satisfying me the way you always did, and I can’t take it anymore. I miss being with you, Adrienne. I miss everything about you
.”
“Curtis, I can’t do this again. I can’t.”
“Just meet me this one time, and if you decide you don’t ever want to see me again, I’ll back off completely.”
“You used me all those months, and then you just dropped me. I mean, how could you be so cruel if you loved me the way you kept claiming?”
“I was totally messed up in the head back then. I was so overwhelmed with my responsibilities at the church, I was miserable with Tanya, and the deacons and I were at each other’s throats constantly. And I’ll admit I shouldn’t have gotten myself involved with those other women when you were all I ever needed.”
“Women like who? That girl Charlotte, who had your baby? Or was it the two women you were caught on videotape with?”
Curtis wondered how she knew about the tape, since he’d been told that the deacons hadn’t received it until after Deacon Jackson was suspended from the board. But he was sure the news had still traveled pretty quickly by word of mouth. He still remembered all the gossipy women who attended Faith and how they were constantly in his business. But the strangest part of all was that Mariah lived right here in Chicago, too, but hadn’t heard one word about his past indiscretions. What she didn’t know, though, couldn’t hurt her, and her ignorance was for the best.
“Look,” he finally said. “Let’s not talk about anyone except you and me. Okay?”
“Do you realize how much I loved you and how much I hurt my husband because of it? Do you know how hurt I was when you told me our relationship was over and that I needed to move on? Do you?”
“I know, and I’m willing to try and make that up to you. If only you would meet me for dinner, I’d be able to explain things so much better. I know you’re angry because of how things turned out, but if you’ll just give me a chance to talk to you.”
Adrienne was silent.
“Baby, please. I promise you I’ll make it worth your while. If nothing else, our meeting will give us some much needed closure.”
“It’s not right. And the last thing I want to do is hurt Thomas all over again. You and I did a serious job of that five years ago, and I’ll never forgive myself for that.”
Too Much of a Good Thing Page 2
