The Pastor's Husband

by Tiffany L. Warren

  “What happened to turning the people’s hearts back to the Creator?”

  “Are we not doing that? Isn’t yours and Greg’s ministry exploding? You are preaching repentance until you’re blue in the face, and these folk still want a prophetic word.”

  “You’re right. We’ve failed the church.”

  “So what are you going to do about it now, Evangelist? If you want to leave this behind, quit the TV show and everything else, do you not know that someone will step right up to take your place?

  “Seems like you want it to be Penelope.”

  “I can’t say I’d be angry about it. She’ll make more of it than you do. She’ll be a sensation.”

  She’ll be a hot lying mess, is what she’ll be, but I feel my resolve slipping. I feel my retirement from this circus coming. I know that when I get home to Greg, he’ll help me pray, and then God will help me choose.

  CHAPTER 39

  FELICIA

  I have a mixture of feelings as I sit in Greg’s office while we await the arrival of the interviewer from the funding board. They’ve reviewed our grant proposal, and as part of their selection process, the board sends out a representative to speak to the potential grantees.

  I’m excited that we’re getting the opportunity, but I can barely concentrate, being in the room with Greg. This man is so sexy, and I have to continue to pretend that I’m not attracted to him. Lord knows I didn’t come here with seduction on my mind. I only want to make Nya pay for what she’s done to my life. But every time Greg speaks, I feel shivers through my body.

  Lena was supposed to be here too, but someone conveniently told her the meeting was at two o’clock in the afternoon instead of eleven. Of course that someone was me.

  “Are you okay, Sister Felicia? You look a little pale,” Greg says.

  “Now that you mention it, I am feeling a bit under the weather. I woke up with a headache.”

  “I hope you’re not getting the flu. It’s going around. A couple of the older ushers had to be hospitalized for really bad cases of it.”

  “I’ll take some vitamin C when I leave. Thank you, Pastor Greg.”

  He laughs. “We need you around here, sis. Can’t have you dropping off ’cause of a flu bug.”

  I laugh with him. “Did you reread the grant proposal? They will be asking very specific questions about our strategy, how we plan to implement the program, and how we’re going to measure results.”

  “I did read it, but why would they expect me to know all the details? Obviously, I wouldn’t be the one to administer the grant funds. That’s what I have you for, right?”

  I smile at Greg. He could have me for a lot more than administering grants, but I’m happy that he knows my worth and understands the value that I bring to this process.

  Finally the members from the review board arrive. As soon as the two men walk through the door, Greg laughs out loud.

  “Frat!” he says to one of the board members.

  Then Greg turns to me. “Felicia, this is my fraternity brother Walter Meadows. We go way back.”

  “Like babies with pacifiers,” Walter says. “This is my associate Scott Briggs. We’re a part of the team that does all of the faith-based grants from First Dallas Bank. When I saw your church’s name on that well-put-together proposal, I knew I wanted to be the one to come out here and interview.”

  “Feel free to have some of this lunch spread,” Greg says. “Looks like Felicia ordered enough food for an army, so eat up.”

  “I love a woman who caters to a man’s stomach,” Walter says. “Are you married, Felicia? Seeing anyone?”

  I blush and smooth down my snug navy-blue skirt. The man is incredibly fine, and any other time, I’d be using my best flirting ammunition on him. But I can’t do that in front of Greg. I can’t have him seeing that side of me.

  “If you don’t leave this woman alone, man,” Greg says. “She is saved, sanctified, and on fire for the Lord.”

  “On fire, you say?” Walter asks and then winks at me. Um, um, um, that man is definitely fine. I’m going to have to make a point of keeping his information in case things don’t go well with Greg. I never mind having someone to fall back on.

  After everyone has their plates, we sit down at the conference table in Greg’s office and begin the interview.

  “Like I said before, you have put together an impressive grant proposal,” Walter says. “What made you want to build this youth center?”

  “Walter, man, you know how we grew up. If it wasn’t for the Boys and Girls Club we would’ve been out in the streets doing who knows what. I want to take it a step further and provide a place that doesn’t just get kids off the streets but gives them a venue and opportunity to explore their talents. We’re going to have a science lab where our kids with a high aptitude for science, technology, engineering, and math can be developed even further. We’ll have an arts wing that will provide free instrumental music, singing, dance, and art classes. All of this is an investment in our youth. Our kids are in school districts that can’t spend extra dollars on these kinds of programs. The faith-based community needs to step up to the plate and close the gap.”

  I listen to Greg speak and hang on his every word as if I haven’t heard him express these sentiments before. He’s so eloquent and passionate that if he were running for president, I’d vote today. And it’s not just because he’s a fine man, because Walter and Scott are just as mesmerized as I am. They almost forget to go on to the next question after Greg responds, because his speaking is so powerful. He is an amazing man.

  Walter looks at his notebook and nods. “I think we have enough information here to make a decision. I will say at this point, it’s pretty much a formality. You have a good track record of already making an impact in the community, which is really a huge factor in who gets these funds and who doesn’t.”

  Yes, we’ve got this! Greg and I make a great team. I would add Lena in there too, but she really didn’t do anything except make us coffee and order lunch. Greg and I did all the heavy lifting. I translated his vision into the grant proposal, and now it is going to come to pass. Yeah, God!

  Greg walks Walter and Scott out of the building, and I sit patiently waiting in his office. I know I want to congratulate him, but I’m not sure how, or how far I want to go.

  “Woo-hoo!” Greg shouts as he walks back into his office and closes the door. “We did it! The youth center is going to be built.”

  I’m surprised when Greg hugs me and spins me around. When he sets me back down on the ground there is a moment where our lips brush. Greg quickly steps back.

  “I’m sorry, Sister Felicia. I got a little carried away. I’m just excited about what God is doing here.”

  “Me too. This is the first of many. I’m looking forward to when this ministry won’t need anyone’s money, though. You’ll be making grants to your members to start businesses, and providing scholarships. That’s what I see in the future,” I say.

  Greg’s eyes shine with excitement. “That is absolutely in our future. We will be the head and not the tail. We will not be the borrowers, but we will be the lenders. In the name of Jesus. I thank God for you, Sister Felicia.”

  “You can just call me Felicia, Pastor Greg. I hope that we’re friends now.”

  He smiles at me, and it’s genuine. “We are friends. Have you met Pastor Nya? It seems like most of the work we do happens when she’s out of town.”

  My spirits drop a little bit at the mention of Nya. Why did he have to bring her up? I guess that might be a good thing though. Maybe Greg is so taken by me that he had to remind himself that he even has a wife.

  “I haven’t had the pleasure yet,” I reply.

  “Well, when she gets back in town, you have to sit down with her. She’s got some initiatives that she wants to work on too. And I know you can help her out, just like you helped me.”

  I clear my throat and start to gather my things. Greg clearly does not understand the nature of
our relationship. I don’t want anything to do with that lying wife of his, but of course he doesn’t know that. I’ll just avoid meeting her at all costs.

  She doesn’t need to meet me until it’s time for me to remove the mask, and by then it’ll be too late for her to do anything. It’s funny: If she’s such a prophetess, why doesn’t she know I’m here right now, about to snatch her man right away? A fraud. And the Bible says that liars will not enter the kingdom.

  CHAPTER 40

  NYA

  I am tired. I mean truly tired. Traveling and doing speaking engagements and shooting promo spots for the show have made me weary. I just got an e-mail today from Melody, the young lady we rescued from her mother’s abusive boyfriend. Her baby is about to start kindergarten. And it made me think about how many years I’ve dedicated to this.

  It’s like it never stops. One engagement leads to the next. One door opens the next. And all of it is taking me away from Love First more than I can stand anymore. Just a few more cities and these pop-up conferences will be done.

  I’m lying across the bed, fully dressed, when my phone buzzes. I need to get undressed and put on my pajamas, but I’m just too tired.

  “Hello,” I say.

  “We got the grant for the youth center, babe.”

  It’s Greg. Maybe I’m sleepy or just incoherent, but I have no clue what he’s talking about.

  “What grant? What youth center?” I ask.

  Greg sighs. “I’ve been telling you about the new grant writer at our church, and how we did a grant proposal to build a new youth center.”

  “Oh. Right, right.”

  “You have no clue what I’m talking about, do you?”

  “I’m sorry, Greg. I’m sure I do, I’m just so tired right now that the details aren’t coming to mind. Please tell me about it.”

  “You know what? Never mind. It’s good. You don’t need to worry yourself with the mundane day-to-day operations of our church. You’re out there impacting the globe, right?”

  “Greg . . .”

  “No. It’s good. No need to apologize. I know where your focus lies. You’re doing what you do.”

  “You know that I care about what happens in our church. Please don’t charge me up over one missed detail. I’m tired. Cut me some slack.”

  “All the slack you need, babe. You won’t be at church on Sunday, right? Not gonna be home yet.”

  “No, but I remembered to leave a video greeting for the congregation.”

  “A video greeting. Are you going to show up for our anniversary celebration or are you sending in a hologram for that one?”

  I give a sigh. “Greg, I told you this was my last engagement for a while. Now who’s not listening to whom?”

  “Yeah, okay, Nya. I’ll see you when you get home.”

  “I can’t wait to see you.”

  “Are you gonna be ready for me?” Greg asks.

  “Ready for you?”

  Greg sighs. I know what he means, but I’m just playing coy. He’s been hounding me lately about a lack of sex because I’m away so much, but I don’t know how to resolve that issue except by having him travel with me—something he refuses to do.

  “You know what I mean, Nya. It’s been too long. The last time you were home you were on your cycle.”

  “I’m sorry, hun. You’re right. I will be ready for you when I get home. That’s a need the pastor’s aid committee can’t help with.”

  Greg chuckles. “Well . . .”

  “I’m not playing with you, man!”

  We both laugh, and as always I’m glad to hear the sound come from Greg. Genuine laughs from him are few and far between these days.

  “I love you, babe, and congratulations on your grant money.”

  “Thanks, Nya.”

  Greg disconnects the call without saying that he loves me too. I’ve got a mind to call him back, but I don’t. I can’t make him feel better anyway, and I sure am not in the mood to hear his continued fussing.

  There’s a knock on my hotel room door. I don’t want to get up, but I know it’s Tina bringing me the bottled water and fruit that I asked for. I probably won’t eat the fruit now, because I’m just that exhausted, but I need the water.

  I trudge over to the door and open it. Tina walks in and puts the grocery bag down on the dresser.

  “Girl, what’s wrong with you?” she asks.

  “Nothing. I’m just tired, and Greg is acting like a jerk.”

  Tina laughs. “What’s my brother doing now?”

  “Girl, get this. He asked me if I was gonna be ready for him when I get home. I mean, really?”

  Tina pauses for a second to grab her midsection. Then she lets out a belly laugh. “Greg is nasty,” she says between giggles.

  “That isn’t funny. He gets on my nerves. He knows I have to preach on Sunday evening and he just talking about getting some. I need to focus on studying.”

  “Why don’t you go and take some nude bathroom selfies and send them to Greg?”

  My jaw drops. “I will not.”

  “I don’t see why not. Y’all been married fifteen years. Why don’t you spice it up a bit?”

  “We have plenty of spice, thank you very much.”

  Tina shrugs. “I’m just saying. Greg is still a man, and I know men love getting sexy pictures of their women. So if I was you, I’d do it.”

  “Well, thank God you’re not me. You’d have your naked behind all over the cloud.”

  Tina winks at me. “No, I’d have it all over my husband, if I had one. You don’t know how good you have it.”

  “Good night, Tina.”

  “All right, girl. You want me to wake you up in the morning?”

  “Please do.”

  Tina leaves my hotel room and I hold my phone in the air and take a selfie of my face. Then I look at it in my gallery. It’s a cute picture. I look rather sexy.

  On impulse, I send it to Greg and wait for his response.

  He texts back. Nice. But you’re wearing too many clothes.

  I howl with laughter. I guess, for once, Tina was right. Greg is a man first and a pastor second. I suppose I could take one picture. . . and leave my face out of it.

  CHAPTER 41

  FELICIA

  Pastor Greg is alone again in the pulpit on Sunday morning. I checked Nya’s itinerary. She’s doing a speaking engagement in Philadelphia this evening, so she probably already left. Service opens with a video from her, thanking everyone for their support of the Suddenly Blessed movement. I guess the video is supposed to be a little bit humorous, because at the end Penelope Bowens rushes into the room and tells Nya to shut down the camera because they’re about to miss a plane.

  The entire congregation laughs as Nya blows everyone a kiss before the screen goes dark. Then there’s a huge round of applause, which dies down as Greg takes to the podium. One would think that the cheering would be louder for the actual pastor who preaches every Sunday.

  “Yes, it’s all right,” Pastor Greg says. “You can go ahead and give my rib a round of applause, but let’s give God an even bigger hand for being sovereign in our lives!”

  At least the congregation responds to this. I was about to get angry, because they seemed mesmerized with Nya’s video, and some of them even looked sad when it stopped playing. I wish I could just tell everybody how fake she is, and how Greg is the real deal. He is truly a man of honor. I have been in his presence multiple times and he hasn’t said or done anything ungodly.

  He is the one who should be out doing speaking engagements. He should be on the preaching tours. He hasn’t forgotten that it’s all about Jesus.

  I watch Pastor Greg carefully as the choir sings. He looks a little pale, and there’s a bit of sweat on his brow. He just doesn’t look like himself. I wish I was one of the church nurses, because then I’d have an excuse to go and tend to him.

  When it’s time for him to preach, Greg gets back up to the podium and looks like he’s gained a little bit of stren
gth. He opens up with a song. A worship song that everyone joins in and sings with him.

  Pastor Greg starts to preach, and I can feel his words reach deep down into my soul. The sound of his voice moves me, and even though he’s talking about my Lord and Savior, I believe I’d get salvation from just about anything Greg says.

  As he reaches the high point of his sermon, his voice goes up an octave with his excitement. Many in the congregation are standing on their feet right along with me. Pastor Greg seems to feed off our enthusiasm for the Word of God.

  I love how he doesn’t pretend to operate in the prophetic. He just goes in the Bible and makes it plain. He could teach his wife something with her fake, jackleg preacher self.

  I reach down into my purse and look for the envelope I’ve been holding until just now. An envelope filled with hundred-dollar bills. I know that Pastor Greg doesn’t need my money, but I want to bless him.

  I step away from my pew and walk down the center aisle of the church. I hold my envelope high in the air so that everyone can see what I’m doing. Pastor Greg smiles at me as I approach and I smile back.

  I yell out, “Preach, man of God!” before I lay the money at his feet.

  After I do this, several other people follow suit, until there is a long line of people walking down to the altar and laying money at Pastor Greg’s feet.

  Then Pastor Greg stops preaching. He gets very quiet as the envelopes pile up at his feet.

  “You know, this is a new church tradition that I never liked. It is meant to show appreciation for the Word going forth. To bless the man of God. I am humbled by your expressions. But I want y’all to open your Bibles to Acts chapter four, and we’re going to start reading in verse thirty-three.”

  Pastor Greg makes eye contact with me as he flips the pages in his Bible, and I think I can see a faint smile on his face. I would walk up and lay another envelope down if I could.