“I’ve told you all a hundred times, when it’s time for me to find a woman, I will. I don’t need…” His voice trailed off as he looked toward the curb and at the convertible SAAB that came to a screeching halt in back of the church.
Eva, Dorothy Mae, and Mamie all turned in unison to look at the car. The wild-haired woman threw the car in park and pulled herself up on the seat.
“Hey, handsome, you ready to roll?” she called out to Terrance.
“Good Lord Almighty,” Eva muttered. “Is that Savannah McKinney?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yep, it’s the hoochie mama,” Mamie mumbled. “As if you could mistake that wild honey blond hair and double-D breasts.”
Terrance let out a long sigh. “Savannah is not a hoochie mama.”
Both Dorothy Mae and Mamie turned up their noses. “Oh, yes, she is,” Mamie snapped. “She’s a hoochie mama, her mama is a hoochie mama, and her mama’s mama is a hoochie mama.”
“Um-hmm, that Savannah is just like her grandma, been with everybody under the sun. Everyone knows that,” Dorothy Mae added. “And she’s definitely not the type of woman you need to be associating with.”
“How are you ladies doing this evening?” Savannah called out. None of the women responded. Savannah shrugged indifferently and kept her smile plastered on. “T-baby, are you ready?”
“‘T-baby’?” Eva hissed, turning to Terrance. “Does she know you’re a highly regarded minister and not some thug off the street?”
Terrance sighed. Savannah had gone a little overboard with the entrance, but he would have to talk to her about that later. Right now, he just wanted to get away.
He leaned in and kissed Eva on the cheek. “Gotta go.”
“Terrance Deshaun Ellis, I know you are not about to be seen getting into that car with that floozy,” Mamie snapped as she looked around nervously.
Terrance debated saying anything, then figured, what was the use? “Bye, ladies,” he said, then lightly kissed Mamie and Dorothy Mae on the cheek. “I’ll call you later.” He headed to Savannah’s car before they could say another word.
All three of the women watched him get in the car with Savannah, who quickly tried to lean over and kiss him. Terrance gently pushed her away, knowing seeing Savannah kiss him would only set his aunts off even more.
“Awww, hell no,” Mamie muttered.
Eva swatted her sister’s shoulder. “Mamie. You’re standing on the Lord’s ground. Stop using that foul language.”
“In this case, I think God understands,” Mamie mumbled.
The women watched the car until it turned the corner. They stood in silence for a few minutes. “Ladies, it is definitely time,” Eva muttered, still shaking her head.
“Time for what?” Dorothy Mae asked.
“Time to find that boy a wife,” Eva replied. “Because Savannah McKinney is not the answer.”
Dorothy Mae turned to Eva and nodded. “For once, big sister, I couldn’t agree with you more.”
chapter 8
Terrance felt a smile creep across his face as he watched Savannah. Her hair was long and untamed, but it looked so sexy on her. She was dressed a little too provocatively for his taste with her white, tight tank top and tight Apple Bottoms jeans. Still, he had to admit that she looked gorgeous.
Savannah was animated as she described some of the stuff Misha, her Little Sister, had gotten into.
“…and she climbed in the boy’s window and jumped him and the girl he was cheating on her with,” Savannah said, shaking her head. “I tell you, that girl keeps my hands full.” Savannah ran her finger across the top of her glass of wine as her laughter died down.
“What?” she said, when she noticed Terrance continuing to stare at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Terrance leaned back in his chair as the light sounds of jazz filled the air. They were on the covered patio of the Wonder Bar, an upscale jazz bar/restaurant in downtown Houston. Savannah had assured him that he would love the atmosphere. She was right. He was a connoisseur of jazz music, and he appreciated that Savannah had done her homework to find that out.
“I’m just listening,” Terrance replied. “I love how vibrant you seem to become when you’re talking about Misha.”
Savannah matched his smile, a hint of bashfulness creeping up. “Yeah, Misha brings me a lot of joy. She really is a good kid, she just doesn’t have anyone in her life who cares about her. Her dad was shot and killed in a drug deal. And her mom runs the streets all the time. So she pretty much fends for herself.” Savannah brushed her hair out of her face as she leaned back in her chair. “I guess that’s why I’m so attached to her.”
Terrance continued to take in Savannah’s beauty as she talked. There was no denying her outward beauty, but the more he talked to her, the more he was becoming enamored with what was inside. “So you feel a sort of kindred spirit with her?” Terrance asked.
Savannah nodded, her smile fading. “I guess you can call it that.” She sighed. “You know I was raised by my grandmother, right?”
Terrance had known both Savannah and her grandmother since they started going to Lily Grove about three years ago. “Yeah, Sister Florence.”
“Good old Grandma Flo.” Savannah frowned slightly before continuing, “The woman who never wanted a kid and dang sure didn’t want a grandkid. She reminded me of that every chance she got.”
Terrance knew Flo treated Savannah poorly, but judging from the pain etched across Savannah’s face, they had some deep-rooted issues.
“It’s hard to believe your own grandmother could be like that toward you,” Terrance said.
“Trust me. My grandmother is far from your typical grandmother.” Savannah let out a pained laugh. “You’ll never catch her baking cookies, showering anyone with love, or any grandmotherly thing at all for that matter.”
“Where’s your mother?” Terrance found himself wanting to know more about Savannah, especially this side of her that seemed so full of hurt.
Savannah turned up her lips. “Mother? What’s that?” She shook her head as her eyes began to mist. “I was a mistake. The result of a night of too much drinking and partying. My mother didn’t even know where to start in looking for my father. So, when I was born, she told me I was cramping her style, dumped me with my grandmother, and took off. I see her every now and then when she blows through town, and one time she stayed sober long enough for us to even have a conversation. And my grandmother wasn’t much better. She ran through men like it was nothing. That’s my legacy.”
She held up her glass and took a long swig, then dabbed at her eyes. “This wine has me all emotional, blabbing all my business. Don’t pay me any attention.” She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
Terrance stared in amazement. “Wow. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be.” She sighed. “I got over it a long time ago.”
They sat in silence for a few minutes and listened to the jazz band. Terrance could tell Savannah was deep in thought. Just from the little she’d told him, he could tell that she had had a hard life. Something about watching her made him want to take her into his arms and protect her from the world.
“Thanks for coming out tonight,” the lead singer in the band said, interrupting Terrance’s thoughts. “We’re going to take a brief intermission and then come right back up to bring you some more sweet jazz sounds.”
They both joined in applauding the band as more jazz filled the sound system in the restaurant.
Terrance leaned in and took Savannah’s hand as the band members exited the stage. “So tell me, why are you still single?”
Savannah chuckled. “I’ve been asking myself that for the last five years.” She motioned toward the waiter and pointed toward her glass.
“Another glass coming right up,” the waiter replied.
Savannah crossed her legs and sighed. “My grandmother says love is a figment of people’s imagination. Ain’t no such thing, she loves
to spout. I know she’s jaded. My grandfather—the only man she’s ever confessed to loving—left her when he found out she was pregnant. I think that really messed her up.”
“That’s really sad.”
“Yep, and so now, my grandmother believes men are to be used and discarded.”
Terrance stared at her intensely. “Is that what you believe?”
Sadness spread across Savannah’s face. “I guess I read too many fairy tales growing up. I believe in true love and I’m hopeful that I will find it.”
Terrance squeezed her hand again. “I’m confident that you will, too.” Maybe you already have, Terrance thought as he smiled.
chapter 9
Terrance squinted, trying to make out the shadowy figure standing in the church parking lot. It was still fairly early—the sun had barely come up so he couldn’t see well. It was a man and a woman, and they looked like they were arguing.
Terrance had parked his car around back, but he was going in through the front door because the back-door lock was broken. It could only be secured by dead-bolting the door from the inside. He made a mental note to make sure the locksmith came by the church today.
He walked a little closer to the front, just as the man reached out, grabbed the woman, and slammed her against the car.
“Did that sound like a request to you!” he screamed. “I said, I wanted some eggs and bacon before you left. I don’t know who you think you are, but I will—”
“Raquel?” Terrance said, as he finally recognized the woman. “Is everything all right?”
Raquel’s tear-filled eyes got wide. She tried to pull away from the man.
“P…Pastor. I’m f…fine. Good morning.” Raquel tried to cover her blouse, which was torn at the top. Her hair was disheveled. “Ummm, this, this is my fiancé, Dolan.” She motioned toward the man, who was standing there looking like a pit bull.
Terrance’s eyes made their way down to Dolan’s hand, which was still firmly gripped around Raquel’s arm. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Didn’t you hear her say she was fine?” Dolan growled. “This here is private business between a man and his woman.”
“Well, do you really think you should be manhandling her like that?”
Dolan let Raquel’s arm drop as he took a couple of steps toward Terrance. “Look here, man—”
“It’s Terrance Ellis. Pastor Terrance Ellis.”
“Oh, you her boss. The man she always trying to please, while neglecting her duties at home.”
Raquel pulled at his arm. “Dolan, please.”
He jerked his arm away, keeping his attention focused on Terrance. “You married, Terrance?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Close to getting married?”
Terrance shook his head.
“Then it seems like to me you don’t know nothing ’bout this here and you’d be better off minding your own business.”
Terrance had to remember that he was a God-fearing man, because right about then he wanted to punch this man square in the jaw.
Raquel stepped up. “Pastor, I’m sorry.” She turned to her fiancé. “Dolan, please. I’m sorry about breakfast. Can we talk about this when I get home?”
He looked like he debated arguing, but then must’ve decided it wasn’t worth it. “You’d better be glad I’m tired, because I could care less about Jesus over here coming to save the day. All I know is this betta not ever happen again. Ya feel me?”
Raquel slowly nodded.
Dolan shot Terrance one last hateful look before turning and heading to the car. He stopped before getting in the car and looked at Raquel. “And you are right about one thing.”
“What?” she softly replied.
“You are sorry.” Dolan laughed as he got in the car and sped off.
Terrance stood for a minute, stunned. He would never in a million years have dreamed that Raquel’s fiancé would be that cruel. He wasn’t even someone he could have imagined with sweet, loving Raquel.
Terrance didn’t say anything as he followed Raquel inside the church. He waited until Raquel was settled at her desk, then he took it upon himself to brew some coffee. As soon as it was finished, he poured both of them a cup.
“Just what the doctor ordered,” he said, placing the cup on her desk. She still had a distressed look across her face.
“I’m sorry. I would’ve made that.”
Terrance nodded. “I know. I just beat you to the punch. Or rather, the coffee.” He held up his cup and laughed at his lame joke.
Raquel finally smiled and took a sip of the coffee. “Thank you.” She closed her eyes as if she was enjoying the hot liquid as it slid down her throat.
“Now, you know I couldn’t just not say anything, right?” Terrance cupped his coffee in his hands.
“I know that.” Raquel opened her eyes and gave him a sly smile. “You wouldn’t be Reverend Ellis if you did.”
“So”—he took a seat in the chair in front of her desk—“you wanna talk about it?”
The smile left Raquel’s face. “Not really. But since I know that answer won’t fly with you, I can only say it’s not as bad as it seems.”
“Really? Because it seemed pretty bad,” Terrance said matter-of-factly.
“Dolan gets like that from time to time, mostly after a night of drinking.”
“How long have you two been together?”
“Six years.”
“You’ve been dealing with that for six years?” Terrance didn’t mean to be so blunt. But there was no use in beating around the bush. What he had just witnessed angered him no end.
Raquel let out a pained laugh. “Really, it hasn’t always been like this.”
Terrance admired the way Raquel held herself together. He wasn’t physically attracted to her, even though she had the most beautiful, smooth cinnamon skin he’d ever seen. She had long, golden brown hair, enchanting light brown eyes, and a smile that lit up the room when she walked in.
“Do you all still live together?” Terrance asked. He wasn’t trying to get all in Raquel’s business, but he had to ask the question. He hadn’t agreed with that when he’d first learned she was moving in with him.
Raquel let out a small groan. “I’ve told you, we’re trying to save money for the wedding. And you know the only relative I have here is my aunt Marjorie, and I can’t stay with her or her fifteen cats.” She smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
“I know we’ve been over this a hundred times. I just don’t like seeing you give Dolan that much power. You’re putting yourself in a position to be totally dependent on him. And if he gets abusive—”
She cut him off. “He’s not abusive.”
Terrance held up his hand. What he had just witnessed was definitely abuse, but he left that alone. “I’m just saying, if he gets abusive, you have nowhere to go.”
“Your concerns are duly noted. Now, can we change the subject?” Raquel took another sip of coffee. “How did your date go with Savannah? Do you think she’s the one, or do you need me to find you a backup?”
Terrance laughed as he shook his head. Raquel was also always trying to hook him up. He could tell she didn’t particularly care for Savannah, but unlike his aunts, she kept her negative thoughts to herself.
“The date was okay. She’s fun to be around. I like her, but as for being the one, I don’t know.”
“You know the big Christmas program is right around the corner?”
“Trust me, how could I not remember? Rumor on the grapevine is that unless I find a woman by then, I’m getting kicked out.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Although I did hear some nonsense along those lines. I think everybody is just anxious for you to find a first lady.”
“Well, I wish everybody would just leave me alone and let God send me my wife when He’s ready to send me my wife.”
“Leave you alone? Please, as long as you’re presiding over the great Lily Grove, you know that’s not about to happen.”
“Well, right now,” Terrance continued, “Savannah is the only prospect on the horizon, and my aunts would just as soon as have me marry Whoopi Goldberg as marry her. But you know what, they’ll just have to get over it. Because I’m taking Savannah to dinner this Sunday.”
Raquel’s mouth dropped open. “Your regular Sunday dinner? At your aunt Eva’s?”
Terrance nodded.
“Ooooh, you like drama in your life, don’t you?” Raquel teased. “Here.” Raquel opened her top desk drawer, reached in, and pulled out a small bottle and handed it to Terrance.
“What’s that?”
“Holy oil. You’re going to need the whole bottle if you hope to have dinner go off with no problems.”
Terrance broke out in laughter as he stood up. “You are crazy.”
Raquel couldn’t help but smile herself, noticing that despite what he said, he’d taken the bottle and dropped it in his jacket pocket.
chapter 10
Dorothy Mae slammed the pan of macaroni and cheese on the dining room table. The noise made everyone jump. She grunted, then made her way back into the kitchen to get the rest of the food.
“Where’s the rat poison? Savannah’s asking for sugar,” Dorothy Mae snarled. “Messing up my good collard greens with sugar.”
“Dorothy Mae, you don’t have to make your disdain so obvious,” Eva whispered as she pulled more dinner rolls from the oven.
“What you want me to do? Act like I’m happy ’bout that Jezebel sitting up in here?” Dorothy Mae snapped.
“Yeah,” Mamie chimed in. “Terrance knows our Sunday dinners have always been us. Why he had to bring her is beyond me.”
Eva slyly smiled. “If our dinners are so private, what is Rosolyn doing in there?” Rosolyn was a nurse at the hospital where Mamie used to work until she retired seven years ago.
“Well, I invited her because I knew she’d be all alone today,” Mamie replied as she removed another glass from the cabinet. “I thought Terrance, well, if he just gets to know her, I think he’ll like her.”
The Pastor’s Wife Page 4
