Terrance was completely speechless. He was expecting that Claire would at any minute burst out laughing like this was some mean-spirited and tasteless joke. But he could tell by the expression on her face that she was dead serious. She looked at him like she was waiting on a valid answer.
“Well, what do you believe in?” Terrance asked, struggling not to sound condescending. His mentor, Dr. Frank Hilliard, at Arkansas Baptist College, had always taught him to try to reach the nonbelievers. Although, truthfully, he was having a hard time just digesting what she was saying.
“I believe in the tangible, the right here, the right now. I believe in what I can see and touch, and, darling, I can’t see or touch your God.”
“But you can feel him, right here.” Terrance touched his heart.
“Come on, Terrance. I mean, for real, how do we actually know God even exists? Because our ancestors believed it, we have to believe it, too?”
It took Terrance a moment to compose himself. He could not believe he was having this conversation.
“Everything we have, we have because of God’s grace,” he finally replied.
“That’s just it,” Claire said with disgust. “How do we know it’s God’s grace? Why can’t it be Venus’ grace? Or due to the simple evolution of science? And the whole organized-religion thing, that’s just a method of brainwashing people.”
Terrance knew he should have gone to the Bible and quoted a number of scriptures, but honestly, he was simply at a loss for words.
“You do know I’m a preacher,” he finally managed to say.
She nodded. “But your beliefs don’t bother me. If you want to believe in all that foolishness, that’s perfectly fine with me.”
Good Lord, this woman has lost her mind. Terrance finished his dessert, too stunned to say much else.
“Terrance, I really enjoyed this evening,” she said after eating her last piece of cheesecake. “I hope that we can do this again. Soon.” She reached out and gently rubbed his hand.
Terrance quickly pulled his hand back.
“Claire,” Terrance began, trying to respectfully form the words that were in his head, “I enjoyed talking to you as well, but this, well, the latter part of our evening has come as quite a shock to me.”
Claire looked confused.
Terrance cleared his throat. “I am a man of God, and any woman in my life must be a woman of God, even if she’s just a friend.”
“Well, that’s crazy. Christians can’t be friends with non-Christians?”
Terrance pondered her question. “I’m sure they can. But at this point in my life, I’m looking for a Christian woman.”
Claire rolled her eyes. “So because I don’t believe in God, I don’t stand a chance?”
He looked at her pitifully. “No chance at all.” He pressed his lips together, then blew a frustrated breath. “Once again, thank you for dinner and have a good evening.”
Terrance exhaled as he walked off. He meant it this time, he was absolutely, positively not going on any more blind dates.
“Maybe I just need to stick with Savannah,” he mumbled as he climbed into his car. “Because at this point, if I can’t find a woman on my own, then I think that means I was just meant to be alone.”
chapter 14
Savannah took a deep breath. She knew she should be respectful of other people, especially her elders, but this was too much.
She tried to pretend she didn’t see Eva and Mamie standing at the end of the aisle staring her down. Out of all the Wal-Marts in Houston, why they had to be in this one at this time was beyond her.
Savannah debated whether she should put the purple box back on the shelf and just try to walk away. Who was she kidding? They’d seen it clear as day. And her trying to put the box back would only make things worse.
“Umph, hello, Miss McKinney,” Eva all but snarled. Even though Savannah had tried to cover up the label on the box clutched tightly in her hand, Eva couldn’t help but notice the big Trojan man smiling brightly.
“Planning an eventful night?” Eva asked, her eyes never leaving the box.
Savannah wanted to tell them, so what if she was? But she was trying to win Terrance’s love, and cussing out his aunts was probably not the way to do it.
She cleared her throat. “I’m just picking up a few things,” she said, dropping the box down behind her leg. She hated that she had even picked up the stupid box. She just wanted to be prepared in the event she did ever get lucky enough to get Terrance into her bed.
Savannah shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “So, are you ladies coming up with some great ideas for the Christmas celebration?” She wanted to do anything to deflect the uncomfortable silence that hung between them.
“Of course we are,” Eva replied matter-of-factly.
“Well, I’d love to serve on a committee, you know, do whatever I can to help.” Savannah thought maybe she could win over Terrance’s aunts by continually being nice—despite their blatant nastiness.
“Hmmph,” Mamie said, rolling her eyes.
“We’ll keep that in mind,” Eva coldly replied.
Savannah sighed. Maybe her grandmother was right. These people would never accept her. She finally decided to come right out and ask them why they hated her.
“Ms. Eva, no disrespect,” Savannah gently said, “but why do you have a problem with me?”
Eva pursed her lips, then looked Savannah in the eyes. “I know your history. And just to be honest with you, that’s not what I want for my nephew. I only want what’s best for him.”
Savannah weighed her words carefully. “How about letting Terrance decide what’s best for himself?”
Mamie stepped up. “Look,” she began, pointing to the purple box, “we know your MO. You like to seduce men into getting what you want. And we’re not going to stand around and let you do that to Terrance, sleep your way into the first lady’s spot.”
Savannah fought back the tears, which were building up. “Have you two always been so perfect? And I don’t mean that in a sarcastic way. I just want you to think about that. In your world, is it possible that people can change?”
Eva didn’t answer, but Mamie turned up her lips like she wasn’t trying to hear any argument Savannah might have had. “People can change. We don’t believe you can.”
Savannah sighed. It was obvious nothing she said would get through to them. Back in the day, she would probably have cursed them out. But she was trying to take a much more mature approach in this relationship with Terrance.
“I’m sorry you feel that way and I truly hope that one day I can change your mind.” Savannah set the box back on the shelf and walked away.
chapter 15
“Why is Dorothy Mae not answering this door?” Mamie huffed as she leaned over and peered into Dorothy Mae’s living room window. “I know she’s in there. I hear all that rumbling.”
“I don’t know what she’s doing, but she needs to come on,” Eva added. They’d been standing on Dorothy Mae’s porch for almost five minutes, banging on the door. Eva pounded again. “Open the door, Dorothy Mae!”
“I’m coming,” Dorothy Mae finally called out.
After another minute, Dorothy Mae cracked open the front door. Her gray hair was all over her head, and she didn’t have a drop of makeup on, which was totally out of character for her.
“What took you so long? And why are you still in your robe at five o’clock in the evening?” Eva asked.
“I…I just wasn’t feeling well, that’s all.”
“Did you forget we were coming by here today?” Eva asked.
Dorothy Mae squinted. “Oh my goodness. I did forget.”
“What’s on your mind?” Mamie asked. “We just talked about this yesterday.”
“I guess it just slipped my mind and I lost track of time.” Dorothy Mae just stood there, staring at them through the screen door.
“Well, you gon’ let us in or you gon’ make us stand out on this porch?”
Mamie said, her irritation becoming evident.
“Oh, yeah, yeah,” Dorothy Mae replied, unlatching the screen door, then stepping back to let them in.
Eva and Mamie walked into the living room. Eva was just about to say something when Chester walked out of the kitchen carrying a wrench in one hand and a toolbox in the other.
Both Eva and Mamie looked at Chester, then back at their sister.
“Well, Ms. Dorothy Mae, I got your pipes all cleaned out. Your sink ought to be working fine,” Chester nervously said. “Evenin’, ladies,” he added, nodding toward Eva and Mamie.
“Thank you, Chester,” Dorothy Mae mumbled.
“I betta get going now.” Chester didn’t say another word as he hurried out the door.
As soon as the screen door slammed, Eva and Mamie turned back to Dorothy Mae. The three women just stared at one another.
“What?” Dorothy Mae finally said.
“I bet Chester did clean your pipes,” Mamie finally cackled. “Got them old things up and running smoothly, I’m sure.”
“Mamie, just what are you trying to say?” Dorothy Mae huffed.
“I ain’t trying to say nothing. I’m straight up telling you, you know your old behind was up here getting your groove on.”
Dorothy Mae’s mouth dropped open. “How dare you say something like that? Chester was just over helping me.”
“Umm-hmm, I’m sure he was,” Mamie said. “This the same Chester you act like you can’t stand.”
Eva finally shook off her surprised look. “Dorothy Mae, if you want to have Chester, ah, clean your pipes, then you go right ahead.” She giggled.
“Shoot, I ain’t mad at you, chile,” Mamie added. “My pipes so clogged, I just done ’bout given up hopes that anything will ever flow between them thangs again.”
“Will you two just drop this and tell me what you’re doing here,” Dorothy Mae demanded as she took a seat in a chair at her dining room table.
Eva quickly filled Dorothy Mae in on their little run-in with Savannah at Wal-Mart.
“So she wants us to give her a chance?” Dorothy Mae mumbled, as Eva finished up the story.
“She sure does,” Mamie muttered. “But that little floozy is out of her mind if she thinks that will ever happen.”
“But I tell you what,” Eva said. “I could tell from the look in her eyes that she was serious. She’s going to try to get Terrance any way she can.”
Dorothy Mae got up and began pacing the room. “Y’all, this is serious. You know Terrance can’t handle a worldly woman like her. She get to seducing him and throwing her womanly wiles on him, it’s all over.”
“Well, that’s why we got to make sure he loses interest in her.” Mamie was just about to say something else when Terrance appeared on the other side of the screen door.
“Knock, knock,” he said through the door. “Can I come in?”
“Come on, it’s open,” Dorothy Mae said.
“Hello, everyone.” Terrance leaned in and gently kissed each woman. “Aunt Dorothy Mae, you really don’t need to be sitting up in here with your doors unlocked. I could’ve been anyone.” He tossed them a suspicious look when no one responded. “Why do I get the feeling you all are plotting something here?”
Eva eyed her sisters, then plastered on a smile. “It’s just your imagination, sweetie. What are you doing here? You rushed me off the phone when I called you a little while ago.”
“That’s because I was on a business call. But since you told me you were coming over here, I just came by to tell you all about my date with Claire.”
An excited look crossed Eva’s face. She patted the chair next to her. “Oh, yes, have a seat and tell us. How did the date go? Isn’t she just wonderful?” Eva was grinning from ear to ear. Her smile quickly faded when she saw the look on Terrance’s face.
“No more dates,” he said, shaking his head.
“Terrance! Does that mean it didn’t go well?” Eva exclaimed like that was definitely not the response she was hoping for.
“Aunt Eva, she’s an atheist.”
Eva almost fell out of her seat. “What did you say?”
“You heard me. She doesn’t believe in God.”
Mamie and Dorothy Mae turned to Eva with scowls across their faces.
Eva looked just as shocked. “I didn’t know.”
“Well, now you do,” Terrance replied. “And you know I can’t do nothing with a woman who doesn’t believe in God.”
“But she’s a nurse,” Eva said, grasping at straws. She’d known Claire’s family for over ten years, and no one had ever mentioned Claire didn’t believe in God.
“And what does that have to do with anything?” Mamie snapped. “Do you even know anything about this woman? Setting Terrance up with a doggone atheist!”
“Sh…she’s a nice girl and I know her grandmother, Bettye. And she definitely never said anything about her granddaughter being an atheist,” Eva stuttered.
“Probably because she was too ashamed,” Dorothy Mae replied.
“Well, whatever the case, I can’t do anything with a woman who doesn’t believe in God,” Terrance repeated as he leaned back in his chair.
“That’s why you should’ve gone out with Rosolyn,” Mamie proclaimed.
Terrance cut his eyes. “Who is Rosolyn?” He shook his head. “Wait, never mind, I don’t even want to know.”
Mamie eased into the seat next to Terrance, a devilish look across her face. “Well, since you asked. She is only that beautiful young woman I invited to dinner, the one you barely talked to because Savannah was pawing all over you. She is as sweet as the day is long, and I think you two would make a perfect couple.”
Terrance sighed. “I just said, no more dates.” Terrance contemplated reiterating that with more force, then decided he knew the best way to shut their whole matchmaking service down. “Besides, I think Savannah and I are growing closer.” He ignored the immediate groans from all three women.
“Terrance, please,” Eva pleaded. “She is just…”
“Just what? Aren’t we all imperfect in some form or fashion?”
“But she takes imperfection to a whole new level,” Mamie muttered.
Terrance stood. After that disastrous date with Claire, he’d decided maybe he needed to actually focus on giving Savannah a chance. He was tired of this whole dating scene, and that was definitely to Savannah’s benefit.
“Sorry, ladies. This is a done issue. You might as well get to know Savannah because it looks like she’ll be sticking around.”
Terrance ignored the disgusted looks on his aunts’ faces. While he hoped they’d give Savannah a chance, something told him the likelihood of that actually happening was a long shot.
chapter 16
“Okay, you can stop laughing now.” Terrance pretended like he was pouting as Raquel doubled over with laughter. They were at her desk, which sat in the massive lobby of his office suite. He hadn’t got a chance to talk to her after church yesterday because she’d rushed out as soon as service was over.
“I’m sorry,” Raquel said, wiping her eyes. “I’m just envisioning the look on your face as she said she didn’t believe in God.”
“As you can imagine, it wasn’t pretty.”
“Well, at least you paid for dinner.”
“Don’t you have some work to do?” Terrance joked. She was finding this just a little too funny. “Did the save-the-date cards for the Christmas celebration come in?”
Raquel let her laughter die down as she nodded. “They did, although I still don’t understand why we’re sending them out three months in advance.”
Terrance let out a small laugh in defeat. “You pick and choose your battles. The auxiliary committee was adamant about getting the word out early. That was one battle that just wasn’t worth fighting, especially with Aunt Eva in charge of publicity.”
“I guess you have a point there.” Raquel held up a piece of paper. “Well, I have the list and am doing the mail-
outs today.”
Terrance smiled as he leaned over Raquel’s desk and glanced at the paper. “Why did I know you’d be on top of things?” He squeezed her shoulder in a friendly gesture.
Raquel grimaced as she lowered her shoulder. “Ooouch!” She immediately looked like she wished she could take the word back.
Terrance took a step back, his eyes wide. He had barely touched her. “A…Are you okay?”
Raquel tried to compose herself. “I’m fine. Just a little sore, that’s all.” She started trying to busy herself with the papers on her desk. “I’ve been having these muscle cramps and I really need to go see a doctor. Matter of fact, I think I’ll make an appointment today.”
Terrance walked around to the front of Raquel’s desk. She definitely wasn’t a good liar. She couldn’t even look him in the eyes.
“Raquel, you know you can always talk to me.”
She nodded but still didn’t look up. Terrance reached out and put his hands on top of her arms to get her to be still. “Raquel, look at me.”
She kept her head down; heaviness seemed to set in her shoulders. That’s when he noticed the tears. “What is going on? Did Dolan do something to you?” When she didn’t respond, Terrance said, “He did, didn’t he.”
“No, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. And I can’t believe you’re sitting here lying to me.”
Raquel finally slowly raised her head. “Pastor, I really appreciate your concern. But this is a private matter that I can handle.”
“Did he put his hands on you?”
“I can handle this,” Raquel said, desperation in her voice.
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