The Pastor’s Wife

by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

  Savannah cut her eyes and turned up her lips. “Fine.”

  Deacon Tisdale nodded. “Good. All those in favor of the choir performing at the Christmas celebration without their choir robes, please raise your hand.”

  Savannah was the only one who raised her hand. The other fourteen committee members sat stoically, with the exception of Dorothy Mae and Mamie, who had smiles across their faces.

  “You know what? Whatever,” Savannah said, throwing up her hands in defeat. “It’s not that big of a deal anyway.” She leaned back in her chair, and suddenly a smile crossed her face as her eyes lit up. “Besides, I should be leaving the celebration planning to you guys since I need to be planning the matrimonial part.”

  “Excuse me?” Eva said.

  “Oh, Terrance didn’t tell you?” Savannah said, knowing he hadn’t since she’d just now come up with the idea. “Terrance and I will be getting married as part of the celebration.”

  “What?” several people exclaimed.

  Savannah flashed a satisfied smile. “Yes, we thought that would be the perfect time to pledge our love for one another.” She knew she was going a bit far, but she absolutely couldn’t stand these people, and at this point she wanted to do anything to get under their skin.

  “Are you out of your mind?” Eva said. “This is a highly publicized, monumental, special event to celebrate Lily Grove’s one hundred years of service.”

  “And what better way for your pastor to celebrate than by using that opportunity to take his new wife,” Savannah proclaimed.

  “Sister Savannah, that’s not a good idea. People are coming to help us share in our celebration, not for a wedding,” Deacon Tisdale said, again trying to be the voice of reason.

  “And if they care about Terrance, they won’t mind taking twenty minutes out of the service to watch him marry the woman he loves.”

  Mamie and Dorothy Mae let out loud groans.

  “That will not happen,” Eva said matter-of-factly.

  Savannah met her glare with just as much passion. “Yes. It will.” She stood from the table. “And I’m going to go finish my planning. I have so much to do. I’ll leave the rest of the celebration to you guys.” Savannah made her way to the door.

  She was barely out of the room before Eva turned to the rest of the committee. “This absolutely will not happen. I mean, a wedding at the Christmas celebration? That is just too much.”

  “So what are we gonna do?” Carl asked.

  Mamie cut her eyes at him. “Shut up, Carl. This is all your fault anyway. You were the one spearheading this whole ‘Pastor needs to get a woman or go’ campaign. Well, he got a woman. You happy?”

  Before Carl could respond, another female committee member interjected, “We’ve got to do something. This was supposed to be a first-class affair. We’ll be the laughingstock of the town.”

  “I’ll figure something out,” Eva responded. “Give me a day or two, but rest assured this wedding will not happen.”

  Eva knew trying to talk some sense into Terrance wouldn’t do any good. For some reason, that girl had his nose wide-open, and Eva didn’t think anything she said would get through to him. Nope, they’d have to find some other way to deal with Miss Savannah, and they had to find it quick.

  chapter 41

  “Girl, you are off the chain.” Tyra laughed as she looked through yet another wedding catalog.

  “Shoot, I told you those women didn’t know who they were messing with.” Savannah had come home with an armful of wedding magazines and told Tyra they needed to get into speed-planning mode. The Christmas celebration was right around the corner, and that left her with little time to get everything together.

  “I’m still not understanding how you got Terrance to go for all of this,” Tyra said, shaking her head.

  “I told you, he knows what’s best for him.”

  “Girl, what do you have over him? It must be major. That’s the only thing I can think of as to why he’d go along with your outrageous demands.”

  Savannah flashed a knowing smile. “If I tell you, I’d have to kill you.”

  “Come on, tell me what’s going on,” Tyra pleaded.

  “In due time, darling, in due time. Right now, just rest assured that Terrance may have reluctantly gone into this relationship, but before all is said and done, he’ll be madly in love with me.”

  Tyra shook her head again. “Girl, you’re delusional.”

  “Nope, just confident. He’s still a little angry that I’m forcing him right now, but he’s coming around. I think he’s warming to the idea.”

  “What happened to that secretary?”

  “I don’t know and I don’t care.” Savannah paused and pointed at a dress in Brides magazine. “Oooh, I like that one. I hope they have it in stock because I don’t have time to order anything.”

  Tyra nodded her approval.

  “Anyway,” Savannah continued, “I heard she quit. I haven’t seen her at church lately, so hopefully she transferred churches, too.”

  “Are you inviting your mom?”

  “Please. That old drunk isn’t coming anywhere near my wedding. She’d find some way to ruin it. It’s bad enough my grandmother will be there—probably in a hoochie leather dress.” Savannah snorted.

  “Well, are you going to have attendants and stuff?”

  “Only you—that is, if you’re willing,” Savannah said sweetly.

  “Girl, who are you kidding. I told you, I wouldn’t miss that day for nothing in the world.”

  “Awww, that’s so sweet. I’m so happy it means that much to you.”

  “Girl, I wouldn’t miss it because all hell is gon’ break loose in the church house that day.” Tyra laughed as Savannah threw a pillow at her.

  They flipped through several more magazines and catalogs. Finally, after about an hour, Tyra said, “I’m beat. I think you should go with that first dress you found and call it a day.”

  Savannah had actually stopped looking through the magazines and was staring out into space. Tyra noticed the change in her demeanor.

  “Hey, are you all right?” Tyra asked, sitting up.

  “Huh?” Savannah said, snapping out of her thoughts.

  “I said, are you all right? You seemed like you were in another place.”

  Savannah let out a long sigh as she closed the magazine and leaned back on the sofa herself. “I’m okay. Just a little tired I guess.”

  Tyra stared at her friend. She’d known Savannah for almost ten years and could tell when something was bothering her.

  “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Shoot,” Savannah said as she massaged her forehead.

  “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing? I mean, making Terrance marry you and all?”

  Savannah didn’t look at Tyra.

  “I mean, I’m not trying to piss you off or nothing,” Tyra continued, “but I just know that deep down, you wanted things to be different.”

  Savannah let out a heavy sigh. “I did want them to be different. But they aren’t. I wanted Terrance to love me, and I think he could have. I wish I could erase my past, but I can’t. I made a lot of mistakes, did some stupid things, but it’s not right for people to stand in judgment of me all the time. I don’t have anyone on my side in that church.”

  “I’m on your side.” Tyra smiled widely.

  Savannah returned the grin. “I know, but you don’t ever come to church.”

  Tyra took a deep breath. “Okay, okay, as your best friend, when you become first lady, I’ll come to church more often.”

  Savannah tried to laugh as she shook her head. “Why won’t these people give me a chance?” she said, her laughter dying down.

  “Maybe because you’re being just as nasty to them as they are to you,” Tyra replied matter-of-factly.

  “But I tried to be nice. No one accepted that. And I’m not just gon’ let them talk to me any kind of way and treat me like crap.”

  “I’m not saying yo
u should, but my grandma always used to say you get more flies with sugar than sh—”

  “There you go with your grandma’s cockamamy sayings,” Savannah said, cutting her off. “I feel you, though. I’m going to have to do something, because I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in a constant battle with the people at church.”

  Tyra shuddered. “Ughhh, the rest of your life. You really think you’ll be married that long?”

  “Tyra, I’m serious, Terrance is my soul mate. When I marry him, I want that to be it. I’m going to be a loving, faithful wife that gives my man everything he wants and needs.”

  Tyra turned up her nose. “More power to you. Ugghhh. Forever is a mighty long time.”

  Savannah glanced down at the dress she was most likely going to choose. “And it’s the only way I want it. I just hope I can get Terrance to agree.”

  chapter 42

  The sickness wasn’t going away. Terrance hadn’t felt right since Savannah had demanded that he marry her. And things had just gotten worse when she demanded it take place at the Christmas celebration. He felt like he was just existing. He knew things were bad because he couldn’t even find solace in the Word, and that’s something that seldom happened.

  The only good thing to come out of all this was that Savannah had been so engrossed in wedding plans that she was staying out of his hair.

  His aunts had all but disowned him, even missing church the last few Sundays out of protest. And to make matters worse, he still hadn’t made amends with Raquel. He’d finally broken down and tried to call her, but she never took his calls, nor did she ever call him back.

  Terrance unlocked the door to the church. He was grateful that the building was empty as he really wasn’t up to dealing with anyone.

  He had just walked into his office when he noticed her.

  “Raquel?” She was at her desk outside his office.

  He’d obviously startled her because she jumped. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t think you’d be here. You had a barbershop appointment today.”

  “They were crowded and I didn’t think I’d make it out in time to be back before Bible Study.” Terrance stared at her, taking in her beauty. She had her hair down and looked gorgeous in a brown velour warm-up. “No, I’m…I’m happy to see you.” Why had he not tried to pursue her a long time ago? She was everything he ever wanted in a woman. Maybe if he hadn’t been trying to be so respectful of her relationship with Dolan, they’d be together and he wouldn’t be in this mess with Savannah.

  Raquel finished putting some things in a box. “I just stopped by to get the rest of the things from my desk. And to drop off the keys. Sorry it took so long but…” She didn’t finish her sentence, instead letting her words trail off as she looked away.

  “I didn’t see your car,” Terrance said, struggling for conversation.

  “I parked on the other side of the church because I didn’t know you’d fixed the door back here.”

  An awkward silence briefly hung between them. “Well, I better get going,” she finally said, walking from the back of her desk.

  Terrance stepped in front of her. “Why did you quit?”

  She looked at him, and he could see the tears forming in her eyes. “Why do you think?” she gently replied.

  “Raquel, please let me explain.”

  “There’s nothing to explain, Terrance. You made your decision.”

  “It’s not like that at all.”

  “I heard you were getting married at the Christmas celebration. Is that true?”

  Terrance diverted his eyes.

  Raquel let out a pained laugh. “Leave it to Savannah to try and show up the church.” Raquel tried again to step around him. “I hope you and Savannah are very happy.”

  Terrance grabbed her arm. “Please. I never meant to hurt you.”

  Raquel stopped, took a deep breath, then looked him directly in the eyes. “I would hate to see the pain you could cause if you ever did mean to hurt me.”

  Her words stung. Terrance found himself fighting back tears himself. He’d never realized just how deeply he cared for Raquel until this very moment. “I love you, Raquel.” He knew he shouldn’t go there, but it was as if his heart took on a voice of its own.

  Tears slowly began streaming down Raquel’s face. “How can you stand there and say that to me?”

  “Because it’s true.”

  She wiped her eyes, like she was determined not to cry. “If it was, you wouldn’t be about to marry another woman.”

  “I told you it wasn’t like that.”

  Raquel set the box down. “Then what is it like, Terrance? Help me out here, because I’m not understanding. One minute you’re professing your love for me, telling me how much you want me. The next minute you’re engaged to the woman you led me to believe you couldn’t stand.”

  “I never said I couldn’t stand her.”

  Raquel threw up her hands. “Gimme a break, Terrance. You know what you did.” She reached for her box. He stopped her.

  “I don’t love Savannah.”

  Raquel glared at him, obviously trying to gauge whether he was telling her the truth. “Then why are you marrying her? You found out she was really pregnant? Help me understand.”

  Terrance rubbed his hand over his face. “Have a seat.” Raquel didn’t move. “Please? I’ll explain everything.”

  Raquel sat down in the wingback chair in the lobby of Terrance’s office suite.

  “I’m listening.”

  “I don’t know how to say this,” he began as he sat down next to her. “But long story short, Savannah is blackmailing me into marrying her.”

  Terrance didn’t know how much he planned to tell Raquel. Part of him just wanted to share his dilemma with someone. The other part felt he owed her the truth.

  “Blackmail?” Raquel asked incredulously.

  Terrance nodded.

  “Oh my God. What could she possibly have on you?”

  “It’s just so hard,” he groaned. “If I tell you, it might change the way you look at me.”

  Raquel took his hand. “Terrance, I love you. Everything about you.” She stroked his face. “There is nothing you can say or do that will change that.”

  Lord, please guide me right now, Terrance silently prayed. Suddenly, as if God Himself had whispered the answer in his ear, Terrance began sharing his story.

  chapter 43

  Raquel sat at a loss for words. Her heart ached as she imagined Terrance carrying around that secret for so long. Then she felt her anger building at the thought that Savannah was actually using that information to make him marry her!

  “Terrance, I am so sorry,” Raquel finally said, as she wiped away the single tear trickling down his cheek.

  “It’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”

  “But the guilt. I know it’s been eating you alive.”

  Terrance nodded. “It has. And because I never faced it, I’m now paying for it.”

  “Terrance, I know this is pretty bad, but marrying Savannah is not the answer.” Raquel took his hands.

  Terrance leaned back in his chair. “Then what is? Come clean and break everyone’s heart, not to mention—”

  “Oh, I don’t think so!” Savannah’s boisterous voice cut him off.

  Terrance looked up to his doorway to see Savannah wiggling her neck, about to go ballistic.

  “I know you’re not sitting up in here holding hands with her, all deep in some conversation!”

  Terrance glanced down. He hadn’t even realized Raquel was still holding his hands. He eased them away.

  “Savannah,” Terrance said. “It’s not what it looks like.”

  “Don’t ‘Savannah’ me,” she said, stomping into his office. “What exactly are you doing up in here with her?”

  Raquel stood, looking extremely uneasy. “I just came to get the rest of my things.”

  “Well, get them and go, tramp!” Savannah snapped.

  “Look here,” Raquel said, taki
ng a step toward Savannah.

  Terrance stepped in before Raquel could say anything. “Savannah, enough. That is totally uncalled for.”

  “I’ll tell you what’s uncalled for,” Savannah began.

  But before she could continue, Eva appeared in the doorway. “Good Lord Almighty, what’s all this ruckus in here?” Her eyes danced back and forth between Terrance, Raquel, and Savannah.

  “Hi, Miss Eva,” Raquel said. “I just came to get the last of my things. I was just leaving.”

  “You doggone right you leaving,” Savannah yelled. “I’m sick of all y’all. Go back to your fiancé and let him beat your ass some more, I don’t care, just stay away from Terrance.”

  Eva’s mouth dropped open, as did those of a few other people who had begun to gather outside Terrance’s office.

  “Cuz if your little yellow behind comes sniffing around my man anymore, it’s gon’ be on!” Savannah continued her rampage. Raquel glared at her like she wanted to claw her eyes out with her bare hands.

  “Oh, my God,” Eva muttered, clutching the cross around her neck.

  Terrance grabbed Savannah’s arm and pushed her back against the wall. He definitely hadn’t meant to manhandle her, but she was out of control. “You need to calm down!” he yelled.

  “I know you didn’t just put your hands on me! You think I’m playing with you?” she shouted. Terrance had lost his mind. First, he was sneaking off with that hussy Raquel, now he had the nerve to push her! “Do you think I’m playing with you?” She looked at Eva. “You wanna know all about your perfect little angel here?”

  Raquel immediately stepped in. “Savannah, I’m leaving, okay? I won’t be back, so you don’t have to worry about me anymore. Just please calm down. There was nothing going on. I was just saying good-bye. You and Terrance are about to be married. Don’t do anything you might regret,” Raquel calmly warned.

  Savannah eyed Raquel suspiciously, but she did settle down. She couldn’t believe she’d gone off like that and was about to blow everything before they even said “I do.” But seeing the two of them together just made her snap.