The Pastor's Other Woman

by Boone, Denora

  “I’m so proud of you. Through it all, you kept your head held high. Now the sky is the limit. I have a surprise for you tonight,” I hugged her again.

  Before she could even ask what the surprise was, Jewel grabbed her and hugged her as they both cried tears of joy. Avery hugged everyone and took pictures with her classmates, and everyone said their goodbyes as we headed to Ruth’s Chris. I pulled out Avery’s chair and saw my mother smirk. I had a feeling she was on to me, but only time would tell. We all ordered and enjoyed conversation and food. JJ was having a hard time with his little steak, so I cut it up for him so he could eat it better.

  “I’m going to miss all of you guys when I leave. I love you Mommy and Daddy, but I’m gone miss James too. I mean, we always talk on the phone, but California is a long way, and you are not going to be able to just drive to come and see me,” I listened to Avery explain.

  “Well, I wouldn’t say we will be too far,” I reached in my pocket and pulled out the letter.

  “What is that, James?” Avery asked with a confused expression on her pretty face.

  “I got accepted to USC too. So now we get to be together,” I hand her the letter.

  “What you mean be together?” Mr. Bryce looked at me.

  “Daddy…”

  “Mr. Bryce, I wanted to tell you this face to face, but I am in love with your daughter. We’ve been in a relationship for about a year now. I’ve seen her in her worst, and I’ve been there to pray her through it. And to take it a little further,” I reached in my other pocket and pulled out a box and got on my knee.

  “James, what are you doing,” I could hear my father saying, and everyone else gasping for breath.

  “Avery, will you marry me?” I asked her as I held my own breath.

  I watched as Avery looked at her parents with tears in her eyes. As I waited on an answer, it felt like eternity, and my hands started sweating. I wasn’t sure if I could be rejected in front of all these people.

  “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you,” she hugged me.

  “Wait a minute, son. Now, don’t you think you moving too fast? California is too far for the both of you really but definitely you,” my dad fussed.

  I couldn’t read the reaction on Avery’s parents. They were speechless.

  “Mommy, Daddy, say something, please. James has always been good to me. You know what kind of person he is.”

  “Avery, baby, I don’t know about this. Bryce, what do you think? I can’t believe you guys are going to college together and then you hid your relationship from us, and now you’re getting married. This is way too much for one night,” Jewel said.

  “Ok, let’s all bring it back in here. Let me first start by saying that I had a feeling that you were dating Avery. It was many nights I stood outside your door and listened to you pray for her on FaceTime or even in your private time with God. I, for one, wouldn’t want you to be with anyone else but Avery because I know she was raised in the ammunition of God. I am secure knowing that Jewel did a great job with you, and Bryce, you have always been influential in her life. I think we need to let them make this decision and trust God in this. They are both grown now. The only thing we are supposed to do is train them up,” my mother said.

  After she said what she said, I could see my dad and Avery’s dad soften up some. Jewel even relaxed a little.

  “James, you are a great kid, but you have to understand that Avery is my daughter, and she doesn’t need another daddy in her life. I’m going to trust you not to bring any harm to her, because if you do, you got to deal with me. Understood?” Mr. Bryce said matter of factly.

  It made me smile that she now had the father that she was supposed to have who really loved and cared for her.

  “Yes sir.”

  “I can assure you that my son will take good care of your daughter. I wasn’t always the best man that I could be, but once I let God completely have His way, I became what I was supposed to be, and that was the priest of my home,” my father said.

  “Well Jewel, looks like we are planning a wedding,” my mama said.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  Kammy

  It was the last day of school, and I was so excited. As soon as school was over, we were going to Disney World. I was happy that my friends, Chelsea, and JJ, were going with us. We were going to have so much fun.

  Jessica and Tamela were mad when I told them that I was going because they couldn’t go. They always picked at me when they did something that I couldn’t do. I bet they would want to be my friends when we got back to school.

  The bell hadn’t rang yet, but the front office just called to let me know my Daddy was here. I was so happy that I didn’t have to wait until the end of school to leave. Everybody else had a few more hours of school, but not me.

  I got my stuff and said by to my class, all except Jessica and Tamela, and ran to the car. I hopped in and buckled my seat belt.

  “Hi Daddy!” I said smiling.

  “You ready to go see Elsa and Oloft?” he asked me.

  “Yep! I can’t wait. I’m going to tell Elsa all about my room, and maybe she will come visit one day,” I told him.

  “That would be nice, baby. Here, call Mommy and let her know that I have you,” he said, handing me his phone.

  “Yes hello?” Mommy said, answering her phone.

  “Hi Mommy!”

  “Kammy?” She asked, sounding like she didn’t know my voice.

  “Yes, it’s me. Daddy picked me up early,” I told her.

  “Kammy, Bryce is still here. He hasn’t left to come get you yet,” she said.

  Mommy didn’t sound right.

  “Not Daddy Bryce, Mommy. Daddy Drew,” I told her.

  “OH MY GO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BRYCEEEEEEEE!” She screamed as Daddy took the phone from me.

  “Checkmate,” was all he said to her, and I knew something was wrong.

  I don’t think I’m going to Disney World.

  To be continued……..

  That was one thing I appreciated about her. She may have been seventeen and boy crazy like most of her peers were, but her main focus was on her schoolwork. Avery was not only smart, but she was also beautiful. She stood an even five foot six and weighed about one hundred and sixty five pounds, but she wore it well. Unlike most of her friends, she didn’t dress provocatively. Most days it was jeans, a t-shirt, and the latest Jordans, unless she felt like being a diva.

  I was just glad that she took pride in herself and acted like a young lady should.