Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [11]
Essie couldn't believe he could see through her like that and said, "Nothing wrong, just thinking."
"Just thinking, huh?" Theophilus said with a warm smile that didn't have a trace of freshness in it. "I bet you're thinking you kind of like me and might just let me see you again, right?"
Essie sighed, trying not to let him see that he was getting all up under her skin. She would rather die than so much as breathe a yes in his direction.
"Yes, I bet you're still thinking about me, isn't that right, Miss Essie Lane? And it's bothering you that you want to see this preacher just one more time."
Essie just looked at him as if to say, "Don't flatter yourself." She said, "I ain't troubled about nothing that has anything to do with you. Just because you can see me again—nothing about it that needs extra thought to it. All you'll be doing is what you asked to do, seeing me again."
"Well, well, well, God is truly good. I think nothing short of an act of God would convince Miss Essie Lane to let me— X-ray vision and all—see her again."
Essie blew air out of her mouth and rolled her eyes as if to say "please." She said, "I think no harm could come from you visiting me."
Theophilus guessed correctly that this was about as close to a yes as he was going to get. But with a soft laugh in his voice, he pressed, "So, you're telling me that I can see you again, huh? Is that what you are saying, Miss Essie Lane?"
The slight smile on her lips made him feel certain that he was getting next to her, if only a little.
"Maybe I could see you tomorrow afternoon," he said. "If it's okay with you, I can stop by your house after my visit with Rev. James."
"Yes. Yes," she replied. "You can come by my house tomorrow and eat lunch with me."
His heart swelled with hope.
"With me, my mama, and my Uncle Booker," she continued. "That way you'll know without a doubt that there ain't no good times to be had down here with this little small-town Mississippi girl. Way I figure it, once you're certain about that point, you probably won't want to see me again anyway."
The expression on his face changed. Gone was the heat and in its place was a look she didn't know what to make of. Was it hurt?
He said, "Essie, please know that the only time I am really looking to have, is more of it with you. And the only thing I want from you is for you to tell me how to find your house tomorrow."
Chapter Two
THEOPHILUS SETTLED HIS BILL AT ROSE NEESE'S Boarding House for Negroes and went to visit with Rev. James. He spoke of the revival with warmth and feeling, thanking his mentor for the role he had surely played in getting him the chance to serve as the guest preacher there. But Reverend James couldn't help but notice how the excitement in his voice rose when Theophilus spoke of meeting that fine young woman from his congregation, Essie Lee Lane. He approved of Essie inviting Theophilus to lunch with her mother, Lee Allie, and her Uncle Booker, both of whom he knew well. Being a kind, patient, and extremely observant man, he could see how hard Theophilus was working to stay focused on any topic other than Essie. So he decided to cut their visit short. He knew better than to compete for the attention of a young man whose mind kept straying to his upcoming lunch with a young lady like Essie Lane.
Much as he loved Rev. James, Theophilus was relieved to be dismissed, for it had taken everything in him not to hop up from his seat and run out to find the Lane house. When he walked up on the small porch and knocked on the screen door, a woman he just knew had to be Essie's mother came and unhooked the latch. She was a nutmeg-colored woman, with thick brown hair that was twisted into an attractive French roll. She bore a strong resemblance to Essie but didn't have her slanted, golden brown eyes. Theophilus did notice, in the most respectful way, of course, that she had Essie's figure and legs.
Lee Allie Lane had been just as anxious for this Rev. Simmons to get to her house as he was to come there. Essie didn't bother with any of the men who came to Pompey's,