Terrance was standing next to Savannah; the color seemed to have drained from his face.
“Ms. Eva,” Raquel said, turning to her, “you take care of yourself.”
Eva was still too stunned to reply. Raquel picked up her box, made her way through the small crowd, and left.
“I do not believe you did that,” Terrance hissed, finally finding his voice.
Savannah flung her hair out of her face and tried to stand up straight. “Believe it. And let the witch show up here again, and it’s going to be even worse. Now, I’m going to the sanctuary to wait on Bible Study to begin. I’m feeling like I need the Word today.” Then Savannah sashayed out past everyone, like she didn’t have a care in the world.
Eva slammed the door. She didn’t want the nosy church members all in their conversation. She spun on Terrance. “And you’re telling me that’s what you want in a wife? In a first lady?” she asked, dumbfounded.
Terrance closed his eyes and sighed. “Please, Aunt Eva, don’t start.”
“I’m just trying to get you to be reasonable. Ain’t no sex that good where you should be willing to put up with that nonsense.”
He opened his eyes and stared at his aunt. “What in the world are you talking about?”
“Sex. She’s whippin’ it on you real good. That can be the only possible reason why you would choose a woman like her over someone like Raquel.” Eva crossed her arms under her chest like she had figured it all out.
Terrance contemplated replying, then decided against it. “Just leave me alone. I wish everyone would just leave me alone.” Terrance grabbed his keys and stormed toward the door. “Can you ask Reverend Gibson to conduct Bible Study? I need to leave.”
“Terrance!” Eva called out after him. “Don’t you walk away from me!”
Terrance ignored her cries as he bolted out of his office, past the few onlookers still gathered outside in the hallway, and out to his car. His life was spiraling out of control and he didn’t know how much more of this he could take.
chapter 44
“So are you still mad at me?” Savannah poked her head in Terrance’s bedroom. He rolled his eyes as he lay across his bed, his unopened Bible in front of him.
He’d heard her come in, with the key she’d conveniently made for herself shortly after their “engagement.” She was taking over his life and there wasn’t a doggone thing he could do about it.
“I’m really sorry, baby,” Savannah said as she sat down on the bed next to him. He didn’t turn over as she began softly stroking the back of his head. “I know you’re mad, but I just kind of flipped out when I saw you sitting there holding Raquel’s hand. I know how bad she wants you.”
I want her, too, Terrance wanted to scream.
“Baby.” Savannah’s voice was laced with sweetness. It made Terrance want to throw up. “I know you don’t understand or agree with what I’m doing, but I think if you just open up your heart, you’ll see that I’m doing the right thing for us.”
“How is this right for us, Savannah?” Terrance said, finally turning over. She had the nerve to actually have tears in her eyes. He wasn’t moved. He couldn’t be. Not with everything she was putting him through.
“Terrance, I love you with all my heart. I just want you to love me, too,” she whispered.
“And you think this is the way to make that happen?” he asked, sitting up.
Savannah lowered her head and started toying with the scarf belt wrapped around her waist. “I tried the right way and it got me nowhere.”
“No, your lying and deceitfulness got you nowhere.”
A tear fell from the corner of her eye. “You act like you’ve never done anything that you needed to be forgiven for. And we both know that’s not the case.”
Terrance stared at her. That hurt. But he guessed that she meant for it to. He let out a dejected sigh. Maybe if he tried to reason with her, talk to her from a spiritual perspective and not with all the hostility he’d had since she’d dropped this bombshell on him, he could make more progress. “Trust me, Savannah, I’ve done my fair share of sinning, but I pray that God will continue to direct my path so that I can live my life as a blessing to Him. It’s one thing when we mess up, but it’s when we continue to do wrong, when we know it’s wrong, that things become problematic.”
Savannah looked away, and Terrance reached out to take her hand.
“And this, trying to blackmail me into marriage, is wrong.”
Savannah snatched her hand away. He was getting to her for a minute, but she shook off any remorse that may have been creeping into her heart. “Whatever, Terrance. God talks to me, too, you know. And He told me that you were my soul mate, even if you don’t believe it. And I’m going to do whatever I have to do so that we end up together because I’m confident that eventually, you’ll come around.”
This woman can’t possibly be serious, Terrance thought. “Savannah, listen to what you’re saying.”
Savannah stood up. “I’m making lasagna for dinner. Do you want a Caesar or traditional salad with that?”
“Can we finish this?”
“It’s finished,” Savannah replied, walking to the door. “The Christmas celebration and our wedding is in three days. The brunch is the day after tomorrow. We have a lot to do and we don’t need to sit around talking about things that won’t change. I still need to pack all my stuff. The movers will be bringing my things over the day after our wedding. You know in our haste, we didn’t talk about where we’re going for our honeymoon. Oh, well, I’ll think of something. We’ll probably just have to do something small now, and you can take me on a tropical vacation later, when you’re deeply in love with me,” Savannah rambled. “I love you and I’m going to make dinner, then I’ll make sure everything is good to go for what I’m sure will be the happiest day of my life.”
She flashed a smile before leaving the room.
chapter 45
Eva stared at the hot wings in disgust. Mamie walked up to her. She must’ve been reading Eva’s mind because she said, “I can’t believe she ordered hot wings. It’s a brunch, for Christ’s sake.”
Eva massaged her temples. “And they’re from Hooters at that.” Eva pointed to the platter that had the word Hooters etched across the plastic cover.
“She could’ve had the decency to put them in a nice plate or something,” Dorothy Mae added as she joined her sisters at the hors d’oeuvres table. They were the first to arrive at the brunch, besides Savannah. Dorothy Mae and Mamie almost didn’t come out of protest, but Eva had convinced them that they needed to be there.
Mamie rolled her eyes. “Is this what we have to look forward to?”
“The first ladies and other guests will begin arriving any minute now,” Eva said as she began gathering up the wing platter. “And I refuse to be the laughingstock of the entire city when they walk up in here and see some daggone hot wings.”
“Umm, excuse me, where are you going with that?” Savannah asked, walking up just as Eva had picked up the platter.
“I’m taking it to the back,” Eva said defiantly. “We will not serve hot wings at this event.”
“Last time I checked, I was hosting this shindig.” Savannah placed her hands on her hips. Eva’s eyes roamed Savannah’s body. She had on a fur stole, a cream satiny blouse, and a leather skirt. Thank God the skirt at least came to her knees.
“You do realize it’s sixty-five degrees outside,” Dorothy Mae said, eyeing Savannah as well.
“It’s still winter,” Savannah snapped, fingering her stole. “As I said”—she turned back to Eva—“this is my event, and I want hot wings.”
“This is a brunch, Savannah!” Eva was trying not to lose her cool.
“I know that, and I have Mrs. Williams bringing some grits.”
Eva pursed her lips. She couldn’t believe Sister Williams hadn’t warned her about this foolishness.
“Grits? And hot wings?” Eva said through clenched teeth.
“If you
got out of your small little world sometimes, you’d know that grits and chicken wings are a delicacy on the West Coast,” Savannah replied as she reached for the tray.
“Well, we ain’t on the West Coast,” Eva said, pulling the tray out of her reach. “And in the South we don’t eat Hooters’ hot wings for brunch.”
Dorothy Mae tugged at Eva’s arm just as two women walked into the room.
“Go greet your guests,” Eva said as she quickly turned and walked back to the kitchen. If they had to have the wings, she was at least going to put them on a decorative plate.
Savannah fought back the anger that was building inside her. She was not going to let them, or anyone for that matter, ruin her first chance to show these people she was worthy of being a first lady.
“Good morning, ladies,” Savannah said, spinning around to greet the two women. “I’m Sister Savannah McKinney, soon to be first lady of Lily Grove.” She reached over and hugged both women. “Thank you so much for coming. And you are?”
Both women flashed genuine smiles as they introduced themselves. Savannah walked them over to one of the brunch volunteers, who helped them to their seats.
As Savannah began greeting more guests, Eva returned with the wings on a platter. “Umph, she sure is putting on a show, huh?” Eva said as she set the wings on the table.
Mamie frowned in disgust. “Walking around like she been a first lady for ten years or something.”
“The visitors sho’ do seem to take a likin’ to her though,” Dorothy Mae said as they watched Savannah laugh with the first lady from New Jeremiah.
“That’s cuz they don’t know her,” Mamie snarled.
“Well, regardless, we need to put on our pleasant faces,” Eva said, brushing down her skirt. “We can’t let folks know about the dissension at our church.”
Eva walked over and began mingling with some of the guests, who had quickly begun arriving. Her sisters didn’t join her, but she knew it would take a minute for them to warm to the idea of Savannah hosting the event.
Savannah gave everyone time to get settled before taking the podium. She was all smiles as she welcomed everyone to what would be “the first of many events” she would be hosting as first lady.
“And I am so excited that most of you will be there to share in my joy tomorrow as I wed the man of my dreams,” Savannah announced.
Mamie coughed loudly, then looked down and began toying with her napkin as several people glanced her way. Eva shot her sister the evil eye to get her to straighten up.
Savannah ignored Mamie’s coughing fit and continued, “At this time, I will turn our program over to your mistress of ceremonies for today, Sister Rachel Jackson Adams from Zion Hill Baptist Church.”
Eva forced a smile as she clapped along with everyone else for Rachel. She’d been against having that woman serve as mistress of ceremonies because her drama-filled past was almost as bad as Savannah’s. But at least Rachel had reformed some, at least from what Eva had heard. And as Rachel took the podium, she actually wore a look of confidence and exuded the demeanor of a proper first lady, something Eva didn’t think Savannah would ever be capable of.
Savannah took her seat at the head table. She was proud of how things were going so far. As she watched Sister Adams flawlessly navigate the program, she was happy that she’d stood her ground on having Rachel emcee. Savannah had only met her a couple of times, but she felt like she could relate to Rachel because she had been unwanted in her church as well. But now, her members loved her. That’s what Savannah was hoping would happen with her. But what Savannah liked most was that Rachel seemed to keep it real, no matter whom she was dealing with. That’s the type of first lady Savannah planned to be.
The two-hour program was over before Savannah knew it. The guest speaker, Evangelist Jocelyn Rogers, was phenomenal, and everyone had sung her praises after it was over. A few people from Lily Grove, including Terrance’s aunts, refused to give Savannah any props, but they didn’t have to. She knew she had done an excellent job, especially with such short planning time.
“So, Ms. Eva, the people really seemed to enjoy the hot wings,” a satisfied Savannah said.
“Church folks are usually nice—in your face. Then talk about you behind your back,” Eva snidely remarked. “So I wouldn’t read too much into it.”
Savannah contemplated coming back with a retort of her own, but she was tired of the attitudes, the wall she had built. She sighed and said, “Ms. Eva, can we please go over here and talk for a minute.” Savannah pointed at a corner table.
Eva glanced over at her sisters, who were talking to one of the guests that was still hanging around. She turned her attention back to Savannah. The sincere look on Savannah’s face caused Eva to let down her guard just a little bit. “Fine,” she said as she walked to the table.
“I know I’ve done some things you don’t approve of,” Savannah said after they were both seated at the table.
“Some?”
“Please let me finish.” Savannah inhaled, trying to tell herself not to go off, no matter what. “But I just wish you’d give me a chance. I really am a good person, and if all of you would just give me a chance to show you, I think you’d see that.”
Eva softened her expression and pointedly asked, “Why are you marrying my nephew?”
Savannah stared directly in Eva’s eyes. “Because I love him more than I’ve ever loved any man in my life.”
Savannah took a deep breath, then continued, “You don’t have to respond right now. Just please think about burying the hatchet. All I want to do is make Terrance happy. Something we both want.” She stood up. “He and I are getting married tomorrow, and the best gift we can give Terrance is to find a way to get along.”
Savannah gave one last pleading look before walking away from the table. She silently prayed that Tyra was right. She hoped she could get a lot further by being nice.
chapter 46
Terrance seemed to be just going through the motions. Every fiber of his being was telling him to march out into that sanctuary and tell everyone his secret, then tell Savannah where she could go. But when he thought of his aunts—and all the other people who would be disappointed—he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“This is my punishment,” he mumbled as he adjusted his tie. He stared at himself in the full-length mirror in the corner of his office. Never in a million years did he think his wedding day would be like this. He was here physically, but mentally, his mind was anywhere but here. Terrance had to say a quick prayer of forgiveness when he found himself wishing Savannah would get hit by a truck or something on her way to the church.
“Knock, knock,” Monty said, pushing the office door open.
“What’s up, man?” Terrance asked, turning to his friend. Monty looked quite nice in his double-breasted suit. Neither of them had bothered with a tux. “I’m glad you came.”
“You know I wouldn’t miss this for the world. You know how I feel about you marrying this chick, but I’m here to support you. If this is what you really want to do, then I’m with you.”
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate that.”
“This is really what you want to do?” Monty asked suspiciously.
Terrance forced a smile. He wanted to tell Monty the truth, but he just knew Monty would tell him not to marry Savannah, and Terrance just didn’t need that stress right now.
“Are there any people here yet?”
“Yeah, a few. I’m glad you at least got Savannah to have the wedding right before the Christmas celebration.”
“Yeah, because she definitely was trying to have it right smack-dab in the middle of the service.” Terrance stopped and stared at Monty, who was looking around nervously. “Why are you looking like that?”
“Oh, umm,” Monty said, raising his eyebrows. “Th…There’s someone that wants to holla at you real quick.”
“Who?” Terrance said, glancing toward the door.
“The woman you should b
e marrying,” Monty said matter-of-factly.
Terrance’s eyes lit up. “Raquel is here?”
“Yeah. She cornered me in the hallway and told me to come see if you were alone. She’s hiding around the corner and stuff like she’s James Bond.”
“Go get her,” Terrance excitedly said. “Tell her she can come in.”
Monty chuckled. “I figured you would say that. I’ll be right back.”
“And, Monty,” Terrance said, stopping him at the door.
“Yeah?”
“Can you keep an eye out for Savannah and make sure she doesn’t come back here?”
Monty nodded. “You ain’t said nothing but a word.” Monty poked his head out the door and motioned down the hallway. A few seconds later, Raquel eased into Terrance’s office. Monty quickly excused himself. Terrance felt himself relax.
“Hey,” Raquel said.
“Hey,” Terrance replied. They stood in awkward silence for a few minutes.
“I hope you don’t mind that I came,” Raquel finally said.
“You know I don’t.” Terrance took in her beauty. As usual, she was a vision of loveliness in a beige, fitted, knee-length dress and brown boots. “Although, I’m surprised that you’re here.”
Raquel glanced down. “I wasn’t going to come, but I had to try one more time to convince you that you don’t have to do this.”
Images of Savannah spilling his secret to anyone who would listen flashed through his head. At the same time, images of the life he wanted with Raquel began to overshadow thoughts of Savannah.
“I love you so much.” Terrance exhaled as he stepped toward Raquel.
She closed her eyes and inhaled. When she opened them, a tear had begun to form in the corner of her eye. “Then don’t do this. I love you, too. This is killing me. You don’t have to do this. I will stand by you to the end,” she said, her voice cracking.
The Pastor’s Wife Page 17