Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [52]
He turned toward Essie and said, "I am Rev. Sonny Washington, the pastor of Leewood Gospel United Church in Nashville. And you are?"
Essie didn't like Rev. Washington on sight. He looked like the kind of man who liked to squeeze past women in tight spaces so that he could slip and rub himself up against them. She said, "I am Essie Lane, Rev. Washington. I attend Mount Nebo in Charleston, Mississippi. Rev. Murcheson James is my pastor."
"Yes, I know Rev. James—good man," he said, letting his eyes roll around the contours of her breasts.
She crossed her arms across her chest to protect herself, thinking, "I wonder if Rev. James thinks the same about you, with your nasty self."
Sonny turned back to Theophilus. "And Simmons, I was impressed with the room-and-board program you organized. You'll have to tell me how you did it so that I can do the same when the Annual Conference is held in Nashville next year."
Sonny caught a whiff of freshly sprayed perfume and turned to find Glodean Benson coming behind him.
Theophilus smelled it, too, and looked up—right into Glodean's face. "Why Rev. Simmons, this is a lovely surprise," Glodean said, with a coy flutter of her eyelashes. Then she leaned toward Essie, extending a pink-lace-gloved hand, making sure to show off all the glittering diamonds on her fingers.
"I am Glodean Benson. I've been working in Atlanta, but Greater Hope is my home church. And Rev. Simmons here has touched me more deeply than any other pastor."
Essie felt like breaking those diamond-studded fingers one by one because Glodean dared say that mess to her. But she kept her cool, pretending to wipe barbecue sauce off her fingers so that Glodean wouldn't want to risk messing up those fancy pink gloves. She refused to shake hands with the woman who had tried to humiliate Theophilus with that scene in church, even if the only one she had shamed was herself.
"I am Essie Lane, Glodean Benson," she said evenly.
Glodean withdrew her hand in silence. Sonny Washington, who looked ready to slap Glodean when she said "touched me more deeply," fidgeted irritably. Theophilus could feel the sweat building up under his collar and hoped that a few wet beads hadn't popped up on his brow, revealing how upset he was. Marcel smirked at Theophilus, thinking, "Glodean really knocked that punk out of his orbit. He looks like he's trying not to mess in his pants."
Composing himself, Theophilus finally said, "I don't want to be rude but my food is getting cold, and I would like to enjoy my meal with Miss Lane before it gets too late. It's nice that you people stopped by to say hello, good to see you, and have a good evening."
"Miss Benson, Rev. Washington," Marcel said smoothly, "we did interrupt Rev. Simmons's meal with his very special guest from Mississippi. We should let him eat. Miss Benson, I'm sure you will have plenty of chances to catch up with your pastor once all these conference people go home."
Sonny Washington was furious, though he knew that Marcel was just trying to needle Theophilus. He was tired of standing there, watching Glodean carry on over Simmons and scrutinize his lady friend. Snatching at Glodean's arm, he excused himself and pulled her away so fast that Marcel had to hurry off to catch up with them.
Theophilus stared at the back of Marcel's pale gray suit, thinking that the three of them hadn't bargained on Essie's cool capacity to put them in their place. For a brief moment it occurred to him that Essie definitely had what was needed in a first lady, especially the first lady of his church. But when he considered what was required for her to become his first lady—marriage—he blinked his eyes to drive away the terrifying thought.
"Now those are some trifling men, and I don't care if they are preachers," Essie was saying.
"Yeah, baby, they are certainly that. But you sure did give them a run for their money, especially Marcel Brown. He has probably never gotten as evil a look from a woman as the one you gave him over his last comment to Glodean