Church Folk - Michele Andrea Bowen [80]
Theophilus started laughing. They set off walking again.
"You were telling me about Bishop Jennings. What does he have to do with all of these votes?"
"Theophilus, most of the delegates like Percy Jennings. He's honest, smart, and a good bishop. Plus, as the next senior bishop, he has an enormous amount of power and there are people who want to stay in his favor. All he did was make a few phone calls, and next thing I knew, the pledged votes came rollin' in. Have to tell you, though, when I first started this campaign, thought I'd have to run more than once just to make a dent. But when Percy Jennings got behind me everything fell in place. He definitely wants me over the district for St. Louis and to send you with me as the new pastor for Garrison Temple. Said as big a mess goin' on in St. Louis, Garrison, or if he get his way, Freedom Temple, got what it takes to be a model church in this denomination."
Theophilus stopped walking and faced Rev. James.
"I've been having second thoughts about Garrison Temple. I'm happy in Memphis and not so sure I want to go to St. Louis with all of the mess going on in that church."
"You lyin' through your teeth, boy," Rev. James said as he leaned toward him and continued in a very quiet voice. "I can only wonder how you are so happy pastoring a church with a snake in the grass like Willie Clayton and that there Glodean Benson buggin' you, messin' with Essie, and with the two of them reporting everything to that viper, Sonny Washington, who run and tell that crazy Otis Caruthers everything he know about you.
"Look, I'm your mentor and friend. I'm not leaving you in Memphis and neither is Bishop Jennings. You need to grow and you can't do it at Greater Hope. There some good people there but it was a trainin' ground for something bigger. Whether you know this or not, Theophilus, you got what it takes to be a future force in this denomination. Bishop Jennings grooming you for an episcopal seat, boy."
"And you think sending me to a church where the current pastor was hospitalized for nervous exhaustion is where I will grow into my potential, Rev. James?" Theophilus asked.
"Boy, that man don't have what you got. Nice man, but he can't handle no church that big and complex. I agree with Bishop Jennings. If Garrison gone become Freedom Temple, it will only do so under your leadership. Trust me on this one, son."
It was just like when he was assigned to Greater Hope, Theophilus thought. He believed that the decision was his to make, but it looked like much more powerful hands—the hands of the Master, a power far greater than Rev. James and Bishop Jennings—were pulling the strings. All he could do was go along, praying every step of the way.
Chapter Eighteen
ESSIE SAT BACK IN THE COMFORTABLE BLUE CORDUROY chair and finished stitching up the black, burgundy, and silver silk cummerbund she had made for Theophilus's tuxedo. The banquet they were attending this Friday evening was by special invitation only, and she wanted to make sure he looked his best. She turned over the cummerbund and examined it carefully to make sure that every hand-stitched thread was invisible to the eye. Essie was a superb seamstress and this cummerbund, along with the matching tie and handkerchief, would distinguish her husband's tuxedo from everybody else's. She knew that even though men acted like they didn't look at each other's clothes, they did—almost as hard and critically as some women.
Theophilus walked into the bedroom with a big blue towel wrapped around his waist. He dug around in the suitcase lying on the bed for a pair of boxer shorts, an undershirt, and a pair of black silk dress socks. He splashed on some cologne and selected a pair of black onyx cuff links that were trimmed with sterling silver and had a tiny garnet nestled in the center of the onyx stone.
Still wearing only her slip, Essie ran a warm iron over the bow tie and cummerbund,