Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [126]
"And Sonny Washington?"
"He ended up having to marry Glodean Benson after she told him she was pregnant."
Theophilus opened his mouth to say that it had always been his understanding that Glodean couldn't have children.
Essie held up her hand. "I know what you are about to say, but as Saphronia points out, Glodean won't be the first woman to get a man that way. What I can't understand is why she would want that Sonny Washington. I guess we can only pray that when Sonny finds out he was fooled, because she fakes losing the baby or something, he controls that violent temper. That girl is playing with fire."
Theophilus shivered to think that he had once been entangled in that poor woman's crazy mess. All he could do was pray for her.
Essie pulled and tugged at her dress, looking in the long, oval mirror that hung on the pastor's office door. She had made an emerald green shift especially for today, with crystal bugle beading on the capped sleeves and all around the scooped neckline. But already it felt too snug. She asked Theophilus, "Is this dress too tight?"
He took his time looking her over and then smiled that smile, eyes first, then on down to his mouth. "No. It's not too tight, just right. Makes me kind of wish I didn't have to get up in the pulpit this morning. Wish I could sit out in the congregation next to your fine little self and pat you on the knee a couple of times when something in the sermon got to sounding kind of good to me."
"Just my knee?" she teased.
"Yeah, that is, if you plan on sitting next to me in church. Now if you want me to go a little higher . . ."
"You know that you are too nasty for your own good, which is why I am in the condition I am in. I can't even find me something decent to wear for your first Sunday as the new pastor of Freedom Temple. I should have listened to Thayline the very first time she told me you had some . . ."
Essie looked up and then back at Theophilus. "What was it that she said about you at her house?"
"She said that I had a baby packed up in me or something like that. And," he continued, leaning down to wrap his hands gently around her waist and pat her tummy, "I guess she was right."
Essie stepped back, smoothing the dress over her thighs and turning around to check her backside in the mirror.
"Baby, will you leave that dress alone," Theophilus said. "I told you that it's not too tight. You look fine."
His eyes swept over her backside, which was rounder with the baby and even more sexier-looking in that dress. "And if you ask me . . ." he added.
Essie gave him a look that clearly said, "But, I didn't ask you."
He ignored her and continued, "Like I said, if you ask me, I don't think a pregnant woman ever looked better in a dress."
He put his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek. His lips had the same warmth and passion as when he kissed her in front of Coral Thomas's house at the end of their first real date.
He said, "Ummmm, thank God some things never change."
There was a knock on the door. Theophilus knew that it was Leroy Dawson, who was doing his training as a minister and had come from Mount Nebo, along with his wife, Pearl, to serve as his assistant pastor.
"Rev. Simmons, do we need to get the processional started?" he asked. "Folks are getting anxious to see what their new pastor is all about. Seems to me that the buzz around here at Freedom Temple is that they have a pastor with some—"
"Balls. Balls, Rev. Dawson. Your pastor has some balls," Eddie Tate said, grinning into Theophilus's face as he opened the door.
"Man, your butt is a sight for sore eyes. How did you manage to sneak away from your church this morning?"
"Wasn't any problem. Just told my trustees I was coming down to lend you some support. And since you are the denomination's man of the hour, they sent me here with their blessings. Even sent you a little gift for your collection box."
Theophilus