Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [34]
Lee Allie agreed. "Coral, I don't know why Miss Essie thinks it is her duty to give this boy such a hard time about everything."
Theophilus, who was well aware that his nearness made Essie nervous, stuck up for her. "Thank you, but I know Essie. Seems like Essie is always concerned about me doing the right thing. You never let me do wrong, do you, Essie— Ouch!"
She had pinched him hard on the thigh, letting him know that she didn't like his teasing her in front of people—and especially about "doing the right thing." Uncle Booker, who had been studying the two of them, knew from that pinch just how hard Essie had fallen for this man.
Now Coral rescued Essie. "Theophilus, how you been farin' this week? Annual Conferences are a big headache for the folks runnin' it. Lord knows some of them bishops and big shot preachers can wear out the patience of Job."
Theophilus smiled. Mrs. Thomas was never one to bite her tongue. He said, "Between the room-and-board program and other things this week, I have been run just about ragged."
"You runnin' the room-and-board program?" Mrs. Neese asked. "I think it was a good thing you made everybody pay for a place to stay. Just ain't right for ministers to expect folks to put them and their families up for free. Folks be workin' too hard to have to deal with all of that."
"You are absolutely right, Mrs. Neese. That's the very reason why I fought so hard to make these people pay for staying in somebody's home."
Uncle Booker swallowed a piece of his biscuit and said, "Well, I'm glad to hear you making these here preachers do right. You know, some of them is so greedy and spoiled, they expect for plain workin' people to pay for everything, from the grease they put on they nappy heads on down to the soap they use to wash they funky butts."
"Booker, watch your mouth," Mrs. Neese blurted out. "You need to be a little more gentle about preachers with Rev. Simmons here as Essie Lee's guest."
Everyone turned to look at Mrs. Neese, wondering when she got so familiar with Booker. A widow, she was a longtime family friend, but her rebuke implied that she was more than that to Booker. But she revealed no sign, and neither did Booker, who slurped noisily at his coffee. "Aw, hell, son," he said. "I know that you all right. When you trying to do the right thing by me and mine, you won't have nothing but support from me."
Theophilus drained his coffee cup, marveling at Uncle Booker's change of heart about him. "Thank you," he said. "And thank you for driving these ladies to the conference."
He stood up, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and patted his stomach, smiling at Coral. "Mrs. Thomas, I tell you, that breakfast was too good for words. I really wish I could stay and let my food settle, but I have some errands to run before the service this afternoon."
Then he held out his hand, saying, "Essie?" She took his hand and let him lead her out of the kitchen, trying to act like she didn't hear the giggles trailing behind her.
Theophilus made sure he was out of earshot of Essie's folks, then said, "I don't think you know how glad I am to see you, girl."
He pulled her chin up and smiled into her eyes. He started to lean down and kiss her, until he remembered that Uncle Booker was only a few feet away. Instead, he said, "Have dinner after service with me, Essie. I would love to take you to Mabel's Kitchen before you leave Memphis."
She smiled shyly back at him. "It would be nice to talk to each other without my family and the whole church staring down our throats."
He nodded in agreement. "So, we eat at Mabel's Kitchen after church?"
"Yeah, Mabel's Kitchen."
He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek and left. Essie could feel the lingering warmth of that kiss when she rejoined the women, who were busy washing the dishes.
"Pastor gone so fast?" Coral said, hands deep in dishwater.
"Yes," Essie said dreamily. "He had to run, but, uhh, he did kind of invite me to