“But I can’t leave—,” he began, but she had hung up.
Preacher closed his phone and started to laugh again.
“What’s so funny?” Wayne asked.
“Was it news about your kids?” Luther asked.
“Yes, it was news about my kids,” Preacher said. “Tanya’s taken them to Disney World and quickly figured out they were too much for her to handle. She’s called in the cavalry—her mom and me—for support.” Preacher started laughing again, and his friends joined him. His world had just righted itself! Thank you, Lord!
Natalie said a brief prayer before she entered the dealership. She needed closure on her relationship with Dante and she felt she owed him the truth of what she’d done with the information he’d given her. She didn’t expect him to thank her.
She was headed toward the bullpen in the middle of the floor when she heard him call her name. She turned and her heart tripped at the sight of him. Her attraction for him had not faded, but sadly physical attraction wasn’t a solid foundation for a relationship, not even a friendship.
When he reached her, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. “It’s good to see you, Natalie.”
“Can we talk somewhere, in private?” she asked after he pulled back.
“Sure. Why don’t we take a walk outside? No sense sitting in a stuffy office on such a beautiful day.”
He took her elbow and guided her outside. He led her to the shaded picnic area behind the dealership where he’d taken her when they first started seeing each other. He had been his most romantic that day, showing off his business with pride and later feeding her chocolate covered strawberries under the moonlight.
She sat at the picnic table and he sat next to her. “I’m sorry, Natalie. I don’t know what else to say.”
“There’s no need to go through all of it again,” she said. “I didn’t come here to torture you.”
He flashed those bright whites at her. “Thanks. Is it too much to hope that we can be friends, maybe even continue building on what we started?”
She shook her head. “That’s impossible, Dante. You were smart to end it.”
He looked away. “I know you’re right, but I hate it.” He turned back to her. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me,” he said. “You know that, don’t you? For you, I wanted to change. Only for you.”
“Why didn’t you then?” she asked.
“It’s not that easy to get out and, when you’ve worked as hard as I have, it’s too hard to give it all away.”
Natalie gazed toward the sun. She guessed they’d said all that needed to be said. What an odd way to end a relationship she’d thought would last forever. “I have something to tell you that I don’t think you’re going to like.”
“You told your brother?” When she nodded, he said, “I figured as much. So what’s his plan? Is he going to report us, including Preacher? I can only imagine the bad publicity a move like that would generate for his jobs program.”
I didn’t really know him, Natalie thought as she listened to him, and he didn’t really know me. “There’s a lot more at stake here than the reputation of the jobs program,” she said. “Barnard’s spoken with Preacher and Preacher has spoken with his probation officer. He came clean about everything.”
“I bet he did,” Dante said, with a smirk. “So are they revoking his probation?”
Natalie shook her head. “He’s not involved in Loretta’s dealings. He gave all that up when he was in prison, after he became a Christian. He only found out about what was going on here at the dealership a few days ago when his sister told him. He was sincere when he came to you. He didn’t want your business, Dante. He was trying to protect me.”
Dante gave a dry laugh. “I can’t believe you fell for that load of manure. That story doesn’t even make sense. How can you believe it?”
“I didn’t at first,” she admitted. “But when I calmed down, I realized I had seen the evidence of Preacher’s love for God. His conversion was real, Dante. I saw the fruit of it; I see the fruit of it. I know his story is true because I know his heart is true. I can’t explain it any better than that.”
Dante scoffed. “You and this extreme view of God. I never did understand it. How can you live your life that way?”
Sadness settled over Natalie. In her haste to find a romantic partner to heal the pain Benjamin had inflicted, she’d forsaken the opportunity to show a lost soul the way of Christ. She’d carry that burden a long while. “I can’t explain it to you, Dante,” she said. “Not today but maybe someday.” She stood. “I’ve said what I came to say. Take care of yourself.”
He looked up at her with that smile again. “I always do, Nat. I always do.”
Natalie walked away, leaving her past behind her.
CHAPTER 24
Preacher waited for Tanya in the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel and Spa. Leave it to Tanya to go first class all the way. He knew she had to have money stashed away somewhere in order to be able to foot the bill for such opulence. He’d have to get over it. Tanya could have the money and everything else that had been his as long as she didn’t try to deny him access to his kids.
Tanya had been nowhere to be found when he and Maylene had arrived earlier tonight. She’d left a note at the front desk telling them the kids were in the Mouseketeer Clubhouse, the hotel’s official child-care service. The boys had been happy to see Preacher and Maylene, who’d rounded them up, fed them dinner, and put them to bed. Preacher grinned at the memory of the stories the boys had told of things they’d seen and done and wanted to see and do. He had a full day ahead of him tomorrow and he couldn’t wait to get started. His instincts told him that he’d probably have more fun than the boys.
He thanked God he’d even been allowed to make this trip. He knew Wayne had gone out on a limb by giving him permission to leave the state. The kindness and support of his Christian family after his confessions awed him. If only he’d trusted them enough to tell the truth from the beginning. He wondered how different things would be if he had. But this was not the time for “what-ifs.” No, this was a time for rejoicing. And rejoice he would.
“What are you grinning about?” Tanya asked, interrupting his thoughts. He’d been so engrossed in them that he hadn’t heard her walk up. She sank into the plush upholstered high-back chair next to his.
“Thinking about the boys,” he said. “They’re in bed, in case you wondered.”
“Nothing to wonder about.” Dressed in a black sheath that hugged her body and with diamonds glittering from her ears, neck and wrists, she crossed her long legs and swung her feet, designer sandals and all, back and forth in his direction. “The attendants in the Mouseketeer Clubhouse take very good care of the kids. In fact, you and Momma wouldn’t even be here if those stupid people had better hours. The Clubhouse is only open from four thirty to midnight. What do they expect people to do until four thirty in the afternoon? You know Jake and Mack—they were up and raring to go at some ungodly hour every day. It was too much. And forget about after midnight. You know the parties are only beginning at that hour.”
Preacher studied Tanya as he listened to her complaints about her sons. She really didn’t have strong maternal instincts. All she cared about was her personal entertainment. “Well, I’m here now, so you don’t have to worry about the boys,” he said. “I’ll take care of them and make sure they enjoy the rest of their vacation and you can enjoy the rest of yours.”
She tossed her hair back over her shoulders. “Don’t look for a merit badge, Preacher. You’re their father, so it’s the least you can do.” She unzipped her purse, pulled out her compact, and checked her makeup. No doubt she had a late date. He didn’t care enough to question her about it.
“What’s it going to be, Preacher,” she asked, running her tongue across her lower lip, “me and your boys or one of the women from your church?”
“There’s nothing going on between me and any woman at church. How many times do
I have to tell you?”
She snapped her compact closed. “You’ll never convince me nothing was going on, so don’t even try. If you can convince me that it won’t continue, maybe we can work something out for our future.”
He stared at her, wide-eyed. “You can’t be serious, Tanya. What kind of future can we have after you’ve practically stolen my boys from me? How can I ever trust you again?”
“Look, Preacher, I’m willing to try to trust you again after you’ve betrayed me, so I figure you can return the favor. Besides, I didn’t steal the kids from you. I took them on vacation so you’d have time to clear your mind.”
Preacher knew this was a purposeless conversation. He couldn’t penetrate the fantasyland in which Tanya lived. He didn’t even want to try. “It’s not going to work with us. You have to know that.”
“So you’re choosing your women over me and the boys?”
Preacher resisted the urge to reach out and try to shake some sense into her. “No, I’ll always choose my boys, Tanya. It’s you and me that can’t make it.”
She toyed with her diamond bracelet. “What if I say you can’t have them without me?”
Fear rolled up Preacher’s spine. “Why would you say that? You don’t want me, Tanya. I don’t think you’ve ever wanted me. Maybe what I could provide for you, but never just me. And I know for a fact that you don’t want the man I’ve become.”
“You changed, Preacher,” she said. “Not me.”
“I’ll accept that,” he said. “I’m letting you go but I’m not letting my boys go.”
She leaned toward him, the diamonds around her neck sparkling. “You’re not taking my boys. I won’t have people saying I’m a bad mother who couldn’t keep her kids.”
Even now, Tanya’s concern was for herself, not the boys. He doubted she cared about them at all. “Let’s be honest, Tanya. You have other things you’d rather do with your life. You don’t need those boys tying you down. Me, on the other hand, I want to be tied down.”
“You’re not taking my kids.” She spat the words at him. “They can stay with my momma when I need to get away.”
Preacher knew that would be most, if not all, of the time. “They can stay with me.”
“Where are you going to be living, Preacher?” she asked, settling back in her chair. “Surely, you don’t think you can continue to live in the apartment above the garage. No way is that going to work.”
“You’re putting me out?” he asked, incredulous.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder again. “The house is in my name,” she said. “And I know my rights, Preacher. We don’t need that big house if we’re not going to be a family. I figure I’ll sell it and buy me a condo in Buckhead or somewhere nice.”
“What about the boys?” he asked.
“They’ll be with my mother. Let’s face it, Preacher, that’s more their home than that house anyway. They lived with Momma most of the time before you went to prison and they lived with her while you were in prison. It’s only after this change of life you’ve had that you’ve wanted them with us. I’m not the only bad parent here.”
Preacher wanted to explain that he’d changed but what was the point? “Okay,” he said, “we’ll play this your way, for now. The boys can stay with Maylene during the week but they stay with me on the weekend, and I get to visit them every day.”
“Sounds okay to me,” Tanya said, “but you’ll have to talk to Momma. She’s also going to need some money for taking care of them. I’m going to need some money, too,” she added.
“Come off it, Tanya,” Preacher said. “You’ve got the house, you’ve got the money I left, and don’t try to tell me you’ve spent it all, because I no longer believe you. I’ll make sure Maylene gets money for the boys, but I won’t be giving you another penny.”
Her lips turned down in a pout. “You don’t have to be so stingy, Preacher.”
He stood, effectively ending her performance before she got any more revved up. “I think we’ve said all that needs to be said. I’m taking the boys to the Magic Kingdom Park in the morning. I’ve already cleared it with Maylene.” Preacher knew the only reason the older woman had agreed so readily to his plans was that she didn’t want to be out in the hot sun running after the boys all day.
“I guess that’s it, too,” Tanya said, standing as well. “I’m sorry it had to end this way, Preacher, but you’re right. You never could have made me happy and I deserve to be happy.”
Preacher leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “I hope you find what makes you happy, Tanya.” He pulled back and brushed his finger down her cheek. “Good-bye,” he said. Then he turned and walked away.
Four days later, Preacher returned to Atlanta with Maylene and the boys. Tanya had decided to continue her vacation by joining some friends of hers in Jamaica. It had become obvious to both him and Maylene that Tanya’s presence in the boys’ lives going forward would be negligible. Since Preacher wanted the best for his boys, Tanya’s blatant lack of interest in them hurt. The boys needed their mother. Since they didn’t have her, Preacher found himself grateful for Maylene’s presence. He told her so after they had settled the boys in their room at her house.
“The boys need you, Maylene,” he said.
“I know they do,” she said. “And I’ll always be there for them.”
“They need me, too,” he said. “I know you don’t want to believe that.”
“I’m not a stupid woman, Wilford,” she said. “I know those boys need a mother and a father. I was just convinced that you and Tanya weren’t up for the jobs. Tanya has proven that she isn’t, but you’re beginning to make me believe you’re serious about wanting to care for them.”
“I love them, Maylene. Why is that so hard for you to understand?”
“It’s becoming easier,” she said, unwilling to give more. “Your not making a big fuss about them staying with me is a good sign. I want what’s best for them.”
“Then we’re in agreement,” he said, accepting her and Tanya’s terms for now. He would not be content, however, until he and the boys were living under the same roof. He prayed that when that time came, Maylene would understand. “I’ll say good night now and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Maylene nodded as she closed the door behind him.
Since Preacher had needed permission from the probation office to take the trip to Florida, he had to report in with Wayne the next morning to show he’d returned. Shocked didn’t adequately describe his reaction when he saw Loretta sitting in Wayne’s office. He blinked twice. “Loretta?”
His sister smiled. “You’re not seeing things, Brother. It’s me.”
Wayne cleared his throat. “I’ll leave you two alone. I need to take care of a couple of things down the hall.”
Preacher came fully into the room and sat in the chair next to his sister’s. “What are you doing here, ’Retta? What’s going on?”
“You worry too much, Preacher,” she said. “Isn’t there something in the Bible about not worrying?”
He leaned over and pressed a kiss against her cheek. “It’s the big brother in me. I pray for God to take care of you, and I try not to worry, but I’m not always successful. Despite what I said when we last talked, Loretta, I do love you.”
“But you meant what you said?”
He nodded.
“Your words hurt me,” she said. “More than I’ve been hurt in a long time, probably since Big Momma died. You’ve been the only person in my life I could count on and you turned on me.”
“I didn’t turn on you, ’Retta. I’m still here for you.”
“If I leave the drugs alone.”
He shook his head. “Either way, I’m here for you. I can’t help you if you choose a path of destruction, but I’m here for you whenever you want help.”
She nodded. “Like I thought,” she said. “Your words did get me to thinking, though.”
Preacher’s heartbeat increased. Was God about to answ
er his prayer? Was Loretta leaving the business? “What did you think about?”
“I don’t want to be a harm to you or the boys, Preacher. I’ve never wanted that.” She shrugged, and then looked away from him. “The drugs never really meant that much to me, except as a business where we connected. We were each other’s best friend because we knew we couldn’t trust anybody else. You know, I never had that after Big Momma died. Nobody should have to go through foster care,” she said. “Everybody should have someone who loves them, and who sees them as more than a monthly check. Why couldn’t I be like some of those kids who ended up in loving families?”
Preacher’s heart ached for his sister. He reached out and took her hand in his, rubbing it softly. “I don’t know, ’Retta. What I do know is that you have a loving family now if you want it. Me and the boys are waiting for you. And if you’re interested in the mortuary business, I certainly could use a partner.”
She lifted damp eyes to him, her smile weak. “You mean that, don’t you?”
He wiped her tears with his forefinger. “Of course, I do.”
“Me in a funeral home? I don’t know.” She took a long sigh. “But maybe I did the right thing, for once.”
“What did you do?” he asked. “Why are you here?”
“I talked to that lawyer you sent my way.” She gave him a wry smile. “Cute guy.”
“What happened?” Preacher asked, battling impatience. “Tell me.”
“Come to find out our little Andre had his hands in a lot of candy jars. When your lawyer friend told me how I could help myself and hurt Andre at the same time, I knew it was a deal I couldn’t pass up.” She chuckled. “Ironic, huh? An attorney making a criminal an offer she can’t refuse.”
Preacher couldn’t laugh. “What’s going to happen to you?”
“I’ll do a little time,” she said. “The lawyer’s cute, but he’s not a miracle worker. I expected it. Besides, it’s worth it if Andre pays.”
Even now, his sister was exacting revenge. “You did this as payback?”
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