By the time Wade arrived, she had settled on a simple red sweater and black jeans.
He took her by the hand as they headed into the living room.
“Worried about icy sidewalks again?” Pearl teased.
“No, this time I just wanted to touch you.”
Pearl sat down on the sofa, smiling from ear to ear. When he joined her, she said, “I’m not going to keep teasing you like this.”
“It’s fine. I can take it.”
“Were you able to rent the movies I suggested?”
Wade burst into a short laugh. “You didn’t make a suggestion. You told me what you wanted to see.”
“You wanted to see them, too.” Her voice died as she moved toward him, impelled involuntarily by her own emotions.
Gathering her into his arms, Wade held her snugly. “This feels so right to me,” he whispered.
Pearl buried her face against his throat.
“What’s that smile for?” Wade asked.
“I’m really enjoying myself,” she confessed.
“You sound as if you’re surprised.”
Pearl pulled away from him when she sat up. “Not really. Okay, I was a little worried that we might run out of things to talk about. C’mon, Wade, admit it. You felt the same way.”
Wade laughed. “I must admit that I was a bit concerned initially.”
“We’re quite a pair, huh?” Pearl rose to her feet. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Just some water. Thanks.”
Pearl disappeared off to the kitchen and returned a few minutes later with two bottles of water. She handed one to Wade, who smiled in gratitude.
His smile stirred something within her. Pearl unscrewed the top of her water and took a quick sip. “I don’t know about you, Wade, but I’m still trying to get used to the idea of us dating. I never thought in a million years that the two of us would be out somewhere having dinner. There was a time I wasn’t sure we could have a civil conversation.”
“I know what you mean.”
She eyed him. “Why? Did you think you were too good for me?”
Wade shook his head.
“Well, I thought I was too good for you,” Pearl confessed. “As far as I was concerned you were nothing but doom and gloom. But the more I get to know you, that’s not you at all.”
“I thought you were a wild party girl.”
Pearl eyed him in disbelief before bursting into laughter. “Naaah. You couldn’t have thought that. Me?”
“I did. And I was so wrong.”
“Well, I’m certainly glad you’ve come to your senses.” Pearl picked up one of the movies and said, “Let’s watch this one first.”
Wade started the DVD, then returned to his position on the sofa, saying, “I’ve heard pretty good reviews about this film.”
The mere touch of Wade’s hand against her own sent a warming flush through her. She struggled to keep her mind on what he was saying. “I’m not sure Denzel can make a bad movie. He’s a phenomenal actor.”
Wade agreed with her. “I hope they don’t use a lot of profanity in this film. Or graphic sex.”
“I’m with you on that,” Pearl uttered. “I don’t need any more temptation.”
He glanced over at her.
“What?” Pearl questioned. “I’m just being honest. I’m human and I’m not without my feelings. Wade, you’re sexy. I can’t lie about that.”
He broke into a big grin.
“Don’t I turn you on?”
Pearl could see that her inquiry caught Wade by surprise. “You don’t have to answer that. I can see it all over your face.”
Wade was extremely conscious of where Pearl’s flesh touched him. He could barely keep his attention on the movie and was glad when it ended and Pearl gave him a tour of the library.
“This is the place where I get most of my inspiration,” she said. “I love books and I love music. In this room, I have the best of both worlds.”
Wade picked up some sheet music. “Are you working on a new song?”
Pearl nodded. “I’ve been working on this one for the past couple of weeks.”
“Would you sing it for me?”
“Really?”
“I’d very much like to hear it.”
She sat down at the keyboard and began playing.
“You want me to trust that you’re working it out for meee…” Pearl sang, her fingers dancing over the keys. “It’s so hard sometimes to break from the past….”
“You have such a beautiful voice,” Wade complimented when she finished. “I love listening to you sing.”
Her gaze met Wade’s. “Thank you, but I think you’re just being nice.”
“Honey, I love the song,” he told her.
“Really?”
“I could feel the passion emanating from your voice. I felt like I was listening to a private conversation with God.”
“That’s it exactly. I was singing it earlier and Paige heard it. She said the same thing.”
“Pearl, I’m very proud of you and if this one song doesn’t land you a record deal, I think you should put the CD out yourself.”
“You really believe in me? Wade, you’ve said a couple of times that you don’t really like my type of music.”
“I won’t lie to you,” Wade replied. “I’m not a fan of a lot of the contemporary songs I hear, but, Pearl, you were right about one thing. The world needs more songs like this. I can’t put into words how much this song just ministered to me.”
“You’re so good for my ego.”
Wade wrapped his arms around her. “I’m not just saying it to make you feel good. I’m sure you know me better than that.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “You have no problem letting me know how you feel about stuff.”
“I could say the same thing about you. You’re honest and I like that about you.”
He closed the gap between them and kissed her.
Chapter 13
The impulse to pull Pearl closer to him, take the kissing a step further, was weakened by the truth that he was a man of God and therefore had no choice but to lead his life according to the Bible.
Wade pulled away from Pearl. “We have to stop.”
“I know…but I don’t want to,” she moaned.
“Pearl…the things that you do to me. The way you make me feel…” Wade shook his head. “I need to get out of here.”
“I don’t want you to leave, but I understand. If you stay, things might get out of control.”
He nodded. “I’m flesh and bone.”
“Don’t I know it,” Pearl uttered. “My flesh is screaming right now.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
Looking up at him, Pearl answered, “You can see me anytime you want. We’re laying the foundation for a relationship, aren’t we?”
“I think this goes beyond that, Pearl. My feelings for you are very strong. As you can see I’m having a hard time keeping them under control.”
She kissed him lightly on the lips. “That’s nothing but lust. I know because I feel it, too.”
It took all of Wade’s willpower to walk out the door. He had to walk fast before he changed his mind and gave into the passion that had been building for days.
Pearl stood with her back against the door. “Have mercy,” she whispered.
She slowly made her way to the sofa and dropped down, unsure her legs would hold her any longer.
The man was the pastor of her church. She had to keep reminding herself of that fact.
He was still a man.
Why does he have to be so fine? she wondered. Wade had no idea how sexy he was. He had no idea how his nearness affected her.
Pearl was still sitting in the same spot when Paige arrived home a little over an hour later.
“Hey, you,” Pearl muttered. “How did you enjoy Atlanta?”
“I had a good time. Lyman and I didn’t get to spend a whole lot of time together, though.” Paige set her over
night bag on the floor beside the sofa. “Did you get a chance to see the game?”
Nodding, Pearl said, “I’m so glad they won.”
Paige eased down on the arm of the chair. “So tell me, how did your date with Pastor go?”
“Well,” Pearl responded, “as a matter of fact, Wade just left here not too long ago.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing.” After a brief pause, Pearl said, “Things just got a little hot and heavy tonight. I had to remind myself that I vowed to wait until marriage. And Wade’s a preacher who has to lead by example.”
Paige grinned. “Are you rethinking your decision to practice celibacy?”
Shaking her head, Pearl answered, “I’m just hoping for a short courtship.” Rising to her feet, she said, “I’m kidding.”
“Liar. Who do you think you’re fooling? You want that man and in more ways than one.”
“I want to do this the right way. I’m not a virgin—been there and done that, but I regret giving myself to the wrong man. I’d like to have something special for my husband on our wedding night other than something I bought from a store.”
“I guess I’m not there yet,” Paige confessed. “I don’t think I could do it. Besides, I want to know what I’m getting.”
“I have faith. God is going to send the right man for me. He’ll be a perfect man in every way.”
“You just want that man to be Wade, right?”
Pearl eyed her cousin. “I believe that man is Wade. Paige, when he holds me in his arms, it feels like I’ve come home. It feels right.”
The telephone rang, interrupting her admission. “Hello.”
“Where have you been?” Ruby questioned. “I’ve been calling all evening. Why didn’t you answer your cell phone?”
“I had something to do,” Pearl stated. She didn’t mention that she was home with Wade. There would be too many questions if she did.
But Ruby wasn’t satisfied.
“So where were you earlier? It’s not like you to not answer your cell. I called Milton’s and they told me you weren’t working tonight.”
“I was with a friend.”
Before Ruby could inquire whom she was with, Pearl changed the subject. “When was the last time you spoke with Luther?”
“We talked earlier today. Why?”
“Just thought I’d ask,” Pearl murmured with a chuckle. She knew Ruby had feelings for Luther that went beyond friendship.
“He’s coming to the house for Thanksgiving,” Ruby said. “I went out and bought another folding table. Our family grows every year.”
Pearl laughed. “That’s not unusual.”
“You know what I mean.” Not missing a beat, she added, “Speaking of which, what time are you coming over tomorrow? I’m trying to make sure we have our schedules in sync. I want dinner to go well.”
“It will, Ruby,” Pearl assured her. “Stop worrying.”
Ruby was going to drive all of them insane over Thanksgiving dinner.
Pearl didn’t want to be too hard on her oldest sister. Holidays had always been special in their family. Ruby felt that it was her duty to keep up the tradition. Even if it made them crazy.
“I have deep feelings for Pearl,” Wade said into the telephone. “Uncle Harold, I’ve never felt this way about anybody.”
“She seems like a nice girl.”
“She is,” Wade agreed. “And she doesn’t take any stuff from me. Pearl has no problem putting me in check. I love that about her.”
“I’m telling you now that Ivy’s going to be disappointed you won’t be joining us for Thanks-giving. You know you’re like one of our own. My wife likes to have her children home for the holidays.”
“If you don’t have any plans tomorrow morning, why don’t you let me take you and Aunt Ivy to breakfast? We can go to the restaurant she likes so much on Grand River.”
“Iridescence.” Harold laughed. “You trying to butter her up?”
Grinning, Wade asked, “Think it’ll work?”
“You have about a fifty percent chance. Bring her some flowers—that’ll better your chances.”
Wade arranged a time to meet at the restaurant.
“Have you tried to call your mother? You should wish her a happy Thanksgiving.”
“No. Uncle Harold, she doesn’t want to hear from me. I get it.”
“I don’t know about that, Wade. She sounded different the last time I spoke to her.”
“I can’t call her, Uncle Harold.”
“Why not, son?”
“How can I expect her to forgive me if I can’t forgive myself?”
Chapter 14
“I can’t wait to see your sisters’ faces when you tell them about you and Pastor.”
Pearl looked up from the white chocolate she was melting for her Thanksgiving bread pudding. “Opal pretty much knows about us, but Ruby and Amber don’t. I don’t think it’s going to be that much of a surprise, really.”
“They all know that you and Wade are attracted to each other, but they have no clue that you’ve been spending time together for weeks. The only reason I know is because I live with you. You’ve been trying to be slick about it, but I know you’ve been seeing Wade. Girl, I’m not stupid.”
“We just didn’t want to say anything to anybody until we were sure of what was going on between us. We needed to define our relationship.”
“Have you?”
Pearl nodded. “We’re together. We’re a couple, Paige. We care deeply for each other.”
Her cousin embraced her. “I’m so happy for you. I have Lyman, Opal has D’marcus and now you have Wade. It’s about time we all grabbed some good men. I’m telling you—it’s our season for love.”
Pearl laughed. “Lyman has turned you into a true romantic. I’m the one who always used to read romance novels and dreamed of finding my Prince Charming.”
“There’s nothing wrong with happily ever after. I never thought I’d love anyone as much as I love Lyman. Pearl, we’ve become so close this past year that I really think he’s going to propose soon.” Paige bent down to peek into the oven, checking on her cake.
“Really?”
She nodded. “I can feel it. Lyman is going to ask me to marry him soon.”
“Maybe it’ll be your Christmas present,” Pearl suggested.
“That would make it the best Christmas ever. But I’m not going to get my hopes up. I don’t want to be disappointed.”
Pearl poured the melted white chocolate into a mixture of egg yolks, sugar and whipping cream. Stirring, she said, “This is almost ready. Have you sliced up the French bread yet?”
Paige nodded. “It’s over there. I’ve already put it in the pan. I can’t wait to sample the bread pudding when it’s done.”
“I had to call Aunt Becca to get the recipe. You know she doesn’t measure a thing so I hope this comes out okay.”
Paige laughed. “Now you’re beginning to sound like Opal.”
Shaking her head in disbelief, Paige added, “I still can’t believe that the holidays are already here. Before you know it Christmas will have come and gone.”
“What’s that Aunt Becca always says? ‘Time waits for no one.’”
Pearl couldn’t help but smile at the thought that flitted through her mind.
This was finally her time.
“You look happy, Wade,” Ivy observed aloud. “Tell me. Does this have anything to do with the young lady who sang at Cassie’s wedding? Harold told me that she stole you away from us for dinner tonight.”
She glanced around the restaurant. “This is your way of asking my forgiveness, I’m assuming.” Ivy picked up the bouquet of flowers he’d given her. “Nice touch.” Cutting her eyes at her husband, she added, “Very original. I guess you must really care for this young woman.”
Wade broke into a smile. “Pearl and I have been seeing each other socially. We’ve become very close.”
“Sounds to me like you’re falling in love,
” Ivy stated.
Wade nodded. “I’ve always had a certain type of woman in my mind—the type that I thought I would end up marrying. On the outside, Pearl is nothing like her, but once you get to know her she’s exactly the type of woman I want to share my life with.”
“Have you told Pearl anything about Jeff or your mother?”
“No.”
“Wade, she needs to know the man she’s fallen in love with. Not just who you’ve become but who you were,” Ivy advised. “You need to let Pearl see the real you, not just one part of who you are.”
He wasn’t sure he wanted Pearl to know about that part of his life, lest he lose her or her respect. “I’m not sure I can do that, Aunt Ivy.”
“She’s going to wonder about that look on your face whenever you’re around her family or any family, Wade. Son, you can’t hide forever.”
“Ivy’s right,” Harold chimed in. “You need to finally confront your past. If you don’t, you’ll never really be free to move on.”
“I’ve moved on,” he countered.
“Not really,” Ivy stated. “There’s a big part of you still left in the past. Wade, if this woman cares for you, she will understand. Maybe if you talk about what happened, it’ll help free you.”
Wade realized he had a lot to consider before he and Pearl took their relationship further.
When he returned home later that morning, Wade thought back to his disturbing conversation with Harold and Ivy. How could he tell Pearl that he was responsible for his brother’s death? That he’d been an active member of the Chicago Kings? She had no respect for gangbangers.
He was a man of God now. When he gave his life to Christ, his past was forgotten, so Wade saw no reason to bring it up to Pearl. But she wanted to know about his past. She’d already started asking questions.
Wade didn’t want to lie to her. It wasn’t a choice. But he didn’t think Pearl would ever understand.
What was he thinking by accepting her invitation to Thanksgiving dinner with her family? It was an emotional holiday for Wade, which could lead to more questions—questions he wasn’t ready to answer.
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