Preacher's Wifey

by Dishan Washington

  “Got it. Anything else?”

  “Yeah, but I will wait and tell you that later.”

  “Go ahead and tell me now. I can remember.”

  “It’s not about whether or not you can remember.”

  “Oh. Well, okay. I am going to go on down and relay these messages.”

  “Thank you, Allyson,” he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into him. “I know you are not my lady, but it sure does feel like it. Your outstanding support today has made me believe that love is attainable for me again. It has made me realize just how much I am missing in my life. Of all the things I have accomplished and attained, I have no one special to share them with. I hope to change that really soon.”

  I practically melted into his body as he kissed me on the cheek. The touch of his lips always set me ablaze. I pulled myself away, turned, and pressed the button for the elevator. I stepped inside, and as the door closed, he just stood there . . . intensely watching me. This man was all that and a bag of Ranch Doritos.

  When the elevator opened on the first floor, all eyes were on me.

  “Finally, someone emerges from the third floor. Allyson, darling, you look washed out. Are you feeling well? Did something happen up there?” Melanie asked.

  Wouldn’t you like to know. . . .

  “I feel perfectly fine,” I said, waving off her insinuation. “I do have some messages for you from Seth.” I took a seat in the chair I’d occupied before.

  “Messages? For me? From Seth?” Melanie asked, dumbfounded.

  “Yes, yes, and yes. He decided to stay upstairs and change into something more comfortable, so I offered to relay any messages he had for you. I am assuming he wants you to get working on these things immediately.”

  She cleared her throat. “I am . . . I’m surprised he gave you a message for me. Seth knows I take orders only from him—directly from him.”

  “It don’t matter how they come to you, chile. Just get the work done,” Ms. Todd said, sounding clearly agitated. I think she had had enough of Melanie and her childish temper tantrums for the evening.

  Hesitantly, Melanie responded, “Okay, I guess Mama Todd is right. What are the messages?”

  She retrieved a pen and a pad from the drawer of the sofa table that was directly behind the couch. I gave her all of Seth’s instructions, and she wrote them down. When I had concluded relaying his message, she disappeared into another room.

  “How is my grandson?” Ms. Todd asked me.

  “Surprisingly, he is handling this better than I ever could. Honestly, I think once he stops and settles down, the reality of what has happened will set in on him.”

  “If that be the case, I am glad you are here.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. My main and only concern is him. However he achieves happiness is all right with me. And when he breezed by us earlier to get upstairs to you, I could see happiness all over him. I have not seen that sparkle in his eyes in a long time. You gave him that sparkle back, baby. I thank you for it.”

  Wow. Without even trying, I had won over his grandmother. That was usually not something that was easy to do. I was still trying to get Byran’s mother to like me. I had not even started on his grandmother yet.

  “Thank you, Ms. Todd.”

  “Call me Nana.”

  Whoa. She wanted me to address her as if she was my grandmother too?

  “Okay, I will call you by whatever name you prefer.”

  “So does my grandson know you are married?”

  “Yes, ma’am, he does.”

  She nodded her head. “Knowing him like I know him, he probably doesn’t care. I mean he does, but when he sets his mind to get something, he usually doesn’t stop until he gets it. You hear what I’m saying, baby?”

  “I hear you, Nana.”

  “So if you don’t want him in your life, you need to find a way to get him out of it right now, because I don’t think he’s planning on going anywhere.”

  “To be honest, Nana, I don’t think I want him to go anywhere.”

  Suddenly I felt the need to be transparent. One thing about talking to older people, they always seemed to make you feel comfortable with telling them all your business, and they always had a way of helping you navigate through the murkiest waters.

  “That’s ’cause you ain’t happily married. I told you I’m an old lady. I done been around for a minute, and I know a woman in love when I see one, and you ain’t no kinda ways in love with your husband. Am I right?”

  “I do love him, but in love . . . I don’t think so.”

  “If you don’t know so, then you ain’t.”

  She was right.

  “I’m not. I thought I was falling in love with him, but our situation is so complicated. He makes it difficult for me to love him. No matter how hard I try—or tried—he pushed me away. But our marriage wasn’t built on anything in the first place. It literally is nothing more than a piece of paper.”

  Every time I admitted to the stupidity of my situation, another part of me died to it. Meeting Seth had jump-started my thinking on an entirely different level. For the first time, I had a glimpse of hope that you could have a future with a man who was rich and who actually cared. All the other guys I had dated who were rich had given to me because of what I had given to them. Never had any of them given to me expecting nothing in return. Until Seth. And Seth had not really given me anything but his time, his undivided attention, and a portion of himself. He had not taken me on a shopping spree, which in times past would have been enough for me to be head over heels in love with a man. He had not wined and dined me, neither had he given me or my girlfriends all-expense paid trips to private islands—something else I was accustomed to and that would have had me doing anything a man wanted me to do. I had no access to his American Express card or his bank account. Yet I was intrigued. I was smitten. He had given me simple things. And never in my life had simple things mattered until now.

  “I don’t ever tell anybody to leave a happy home or a home that is built on a solid foundation,” Ms. Todd revealed. “Because even if the storm comes, a home that is built on a solid foundation will survive whatever comes its way. That’s why it’s so important to have the kinda love that will last a lifetime.”

  “Does that even exist?”

  “Oh, it exists, baby. I had it with Seth’s grandfather. He was taken from me early, but we had that kind of love that would still be going right now if he were here.”

  “If you don’t mind me asking . . . what happened to him?”

  “He went up North to do some work back in the sixties, and he never came back. He got into it with one of his friends, it got out of control, and that man killed my husband. I still remember like it was yesterday, the day I got the news. I could hardly believe it. But one thing that helped me get through his death was knowing he died loving me. I would be willing to bet I was the last person he thought about when he took his last breath.”

  She paused and stared into the abyss as the expression on her face told a story of its own. Even after all the years that had gone by, it was evident she still loved him to this day. “So you need to find that type of love. The type of love that will take a beating and get stronger and not weaker. The type of love that could be on its last breath and you beat the other person trying to bring it back to life. That is the type of love you need in a marriage. If you don’t have that, you ain’t got yourself nothing.”

  “Well, I ain’t got myself nothing,” I said, laughing. The Ebonics of older people was amusing.

  “You need to find yourself something. Or perhaps you need to realize that something, or someone, is staring you right in the face.”

  “What’s staring who in the face?” Melanie asked as she walked back in the room.

  “Did you get everything done?” Ms. Todd asked, completely ignoring her question.

  “Yes, I did. Mama Todd, I wanted to ask, are you ready for Claudia to make you something to eat?”


  “As a matter of fact, I am. I will have exactly what Seth is having.” She turned to me. “Allyson, you must be starving. Do you care for anything to eat?”

  “No, I think I am good.”

  Ms. Todd shook her head. “No, you’re not. Your arms and legs are too skinny and poor. You need a little meat on your bones.”

  I could not help but laugh. Ms. Todd was hilarious, and she was definitely from the old school. Old people believed in you getting enough to eat.

  “I surrender,” I said, holding my hands up, feigning defeat. “I will take a turkey sandwich as well. But I would like lettuce, cheese, mayonnaise, and pickles, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

  “It won’t be no trouble at all, will it, Melanie?”

  “Not at all. I will go let Claudia know now.”

  Melanie scurried away like a dog that had gotten into a fight and lost.

  “I don’t like that girl,” Ms. Todd whispered.

  “Who? Melanie?”

  “Yeah. There is something about her that doesn’t sit well with me. I have been trying to put my finger on it, but I never can.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “Other than wanting my grandson to be her husband . . . I’m not quite sure yet. One thing I hate is leaving him here with her when I have to go home. She tries to pretend she likes me, but I ain’t nobody’s fool. That chile don’t like me one bit. But the feeling is mutual, because I can’t stand her, either. She ain’t fooling me. She good at what she do, but I bet we would all see a different side of her if she thought Seth had someone special in his life.”

  “You think?”

  “Oh, honey, I don’t think it. I know it. That child’s screws ain’t all the way in. All her scruples ain’t there. Seth doesn’t ever want to hear me talk about her, because she’s so good at what she does, but I have a bad feeling about Li’l Miss Melanie. I think before it’s over, we are going to all hate the day we met her.”

  “Those are some strong words to say, Nana.”

  “I mean it. But one thing about it and two things for sure, you can’t slick a can of oil. I got my eyes on her.”

  The elevator door opened, and Seth emerged. He was wearing white linen pants and a Morehouse T-shirt. Even dressed down from his usual slacks and button-down shirts, he looked good. He embodied sexy.

  “Ladies, what have we here? Have you all been gossiping about something or somebody? No, let me rephrase that. Who and or what have you been gossiping about?”

  “Son, who said we were gossiping?”

  “Nana, I don’t know Allyson as well as I know you, but I do know that look you get on your face when you have been gossiping.”

  “Look? What look are you talking about?” Ms. Todd said, feigning innocence.

  Pointing to her, he answered, “That sneaky look right there. Now spill it. What y’all in here chatting about?”

  This playful moment that danced between us seemed perfect. It was as if we did it all of the time.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Allyson, do you know what Seth is speaking of?”

  I shrugged. “Nana, I have the slightest idea what Seth is speaking of.”

  “Oh, so y’all gonna leave me out of the loop? Okay, I see.”

  “Dinner is served,” Melanie announced. “Seth, honey, I did not know you had come down. I took care of everything you wanted me to take care of per Allyson. I would still like to double-check with you on your instructions for me just in case she might have forgotten something.”

  “I am certain Allyson did not forget anything,” Seth replied. “I can almost assure you she did not.”

  Melanie was taken aback. “How can you be so sure?” she asked through a sarcastic chuckle.

  “Melanie, not now, okay? I have had one hell of a day, and the last thing I need is you questioning me. Please, if you want to help me, just do as I ask without question.”

  She walked up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “You are right, dear. I am totally out of place, not to mention I am being insensitive. Please accept my apology.”

  He moved away from her touch. “No problem.” He turned to Ms. Todd and me. “Are you gossiping ladies ready to eat?”

  “I thought you were not hungry,” I said jokingly.

  “I really am not, but you did a good job of convincing me that I need to eat,” he replied.

  Melanie started to pretend she was choking.

  “Do you need some water, Mel?” I asked. I knew she was livid, but she was just so much fun to play with.

  She glared at me. “It’s Melanie, and no, I will be fine.”

  “Seth, baby, before we eat, I just want to say a couple of things,” Ms. Todd said as she got up from the couch. “I am so glad we serve a God who is merciful, who is kind, and who is quick to step in and rescue us from the hand of the devil. You could have been dead and sleeping in your grave, but God made death get back and behave. For that reason, I believe we owe God praise. For through danger seen and unseen, He protected each and every one of us. You were raised in the church, and you have been raised to know God, and, Seth, this is a time for you to get back in right standing with Him, because if He never does another single thing for you, He has already done enough this day. You might have lost your business, but that’s all right. There is something else better waiting for you.”

  “Amen,” Melanie chimed in. “I totally agree with Mama Todd.”

  “Nana, you are absolutely correct. The Lord has been dealing with me recently about getting back to where I used to be when I would pray and live a life pleasing to him. Allyson can tell you I was already thinking of leaving the clinic, anyway.”

  “Really?” Melanie asked. “You never shared that.”

  “I shared it only with Allyson. But, yeah, I had been considering going into mentoring or going back to being a surgeon.”

  Melanie frowned. “Surgeon? That would keep you away from Carson Land even more hours than the clinic did. We would never see you.”

  Everybody looked at Melanie. Why did she always feel she had to take over a conversation?

  “Melanie, this is a decision I have to make on my own. Anyway, like I was saying . . . Nana, I want you to know that I appreciate your prayers. I would not have made it through my life without you keeping me before the Lord. Even when I went astray and was living the life I wanted to live, you never gave up on my spirit.” He walked over to her, and I saw a strong, masculine man transform into a little boy as he laid his head on her shoulder and let the tears fall.

  I stood there in amazement. Although I was married to a pastor, I had never known Byran to be as transparent as Seth was tonight. Byran always seemed to have it all together. In all the time I had known Byran, I could not recall one single conversation where we talked about the Lord and living right. I could not recall ever praying with him or sharing my spiritual convictions. Matter of fact, I did not know if I was even spiritual. I mean, I did what I had to do for my role, but outside of church, I never really thought about God and how He wanted me to live. Once again, Seth had opened my eyes to something else.

  “I will never give up on you, because the Lord has never given up on me. There is enough grace to cover all of us, and grace will lead us back home to our rightful place,” Ms. Todd said. “We have to trust that God has a master plan for our lives, and even when we do not understand what His plan is or how His plan will work out, we have to believe that He has it all under control.”

  I did not realize I was crying until I felt the tears begin to cascade slowly down my face and plunge into the crease of my cleavage. I wanted what Ms. Todd had. There was such power in her words. I wanted that kind of conviction. Up until now I had just lived. I had never really thought about God’s master plan for my life. My mother had taught me to live a good life, to treat people right, and I would be happy. However, I was beginning to realize that something was still missing. Somehow what I knew as living the good life was not enough anymore. There w
as still a void. A huge one.

  “You are right, Nana,” Seth said, lifting his head and wiping the residue of his tears away. “I do not know a lot of things, but I do know that Jesus saved my life today. I do know that He has a way of getting your attention. And I do know that He must love me. I will never understand why He spared me and not the girls at the office.” He broke down in tears again.

  We all stood paralyzed in the moment and allowed Seth to release his pain. He continued to cry for several minutes. All thoughts of dinner had evaporated, and we each went and embraced him. There was such a spirit of love in the room.

  It was a love unlike any I had ever felt before.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I’m going to miss you when you leave tomorrow morning,” Seth said as we sat in a love seat on the balcony outside of his bedroom. “Having you near me for the last day or so has spoiled me. I feel like this is the way it should be all of the time.”

  Truth be told, I felt the same way. One day with him seemed like a thousand years.

  “I am going to miss you too,” I said simply. Since the encounter we had before dinner, I had been a woman of few words. I could not wait to get home to do some soul-searching. I had experienced something I never knew existed. For the first time in my life, I wanted a real relationship with God.

  “I hope you do not become a stranger after you leave. I know you are married, and I have to respect that. Speaking of which, please forgive me for any way I have behaved that was disrespectful to you as a married woman. The kissing, the touching . . . I am sorry.”

  “There is no need to apologize. You have not done anything I have not allowed you to do.”

  “I know, but I am the man. I am supposed to set the standard and the example for any relationship you and I have. But the moment I laid eyes on you, my heart felt weak. I knew I would not be satisfied until I had you. Or at least tried to.”

  I smiled as I remembered Ms. Todd’s words from earlier. She had said almost those same words.