Page 27 of Whispered Southern Secrets

So that’s how it’s going to be. Okie doke. “I’ll be praying for you too, Mrs. Lamshire.”

She looks taken aback and I hmphed. Taking a step closer to me she hisses. “You’re a wicked woman.”

I smile brightly at her. “Only in the bedroom.”

J.D. quickly comes to stand between us. “Honey, calm down.”

Calm down?Calm. Down.“You’re about to end up on the prayer list.”

“It’s not a hit list! Stop saying it like a threat,” J.D. hiss whispers.

“Don’t tell me to stop telling people I’ll be praying for them. What kind of preacher are you?”

“My thoughts exactly,” another lady whispers. But I don’t think we’re talking about the same things. She probably thinks he’s been fornicating.I wish.

“Besides,” I look around him to glare at Mrs. Lamshire, “never underestimate the power of prayers.”

Mrs. Lamshire looks beside herself. She’s so flustered she can barely speak. Her mouth opens and closes as she huffs and puffs. A small smile of satisfaction tugs at the corner of my mouth.

“Bless her heart. Poor thing can barely speak,” I say sweetly with mock concern. Then I smirk to J.D. “Thank God for small miracles.” I lean up and give him a small peck on the cheek. As I walk away, I call over my shoulder. “Power of prayer.”

Chapter Thirteen

John David

My parents’ eyes have not left me since I came barging through the church this morning. They have questions, I know they do, but all I can focus on right now is getting to the hospital. I want to check on James. I give them each a hug and kiss and say my goodbye. “I’ll be home in time for dinner.”

It really is time I get my own place. I haven’t focused as much on buying a house or renting an apartment because I missed my parents while I was gone, and then I was busy building bridges. That is another item that’ll have to wait until tomorrow.

I call Honey as I’m starting my truck and ask her to go with me. James had been transported to a bigger hospital in Birmingham. When she tells me she’ll go, I almost fall to my knees in gratitude. Last night meant more to me than she could possibly know. I didn’t even realize how much weight I’d been carrying. I actually slept. At some point, my dream was so vivid that I could feel Honey’s breath against my ear while she told me she loved me.

As soon as Honey shuts the truck door, the cabin fills with the scent of her. I want to bury my face in the crook of her neckand feel her arms wrap around me. But I resist. Besides, we need to get to James.

I weavethrough the parking lot until I find a vacant spot. Moments later, we’re sitting next to James’s bed as hospital monitors beep. His eyes are closed. Nobody else is here. Sucking in a breath, I open my mouth and begin word vomiting. Whatever I can think of to say. His eyes flicker, but they don’t open.

“What are you doing here?” a man’s voice asks from behind us.

“Hello. I’m Pastor John David.”

“I know who you are.” The man’s voice is coated in venom. “You’re the one giving him all those big ideas. Filling him with lies! You got him inflated with all that nonsense, and he can’t think straight. You know he back talked my brother, and now look at him. Where was your God then?”

My mouth opens but it’s Honey’s voice who rings out. “Where wereyou?Instead of asking God where He was,where were you?”

The man steps into her space, towering over her, and growls. “He isn’t my boy, now is he? Not my business. He’s also not yours or his. If y’all minded your own damn business, none of this would be happening.”

I go to stand between them, but Honey pushes me back. She tilts her chin up and glares hard at him. “And maybe if you’d made it your business before, it would’ve never gotten to this point. He’s your nephew. Why didn’t you step in and stand up to your brother? Clearly you didn’t care enough about either one of them.”

His words are garbled in anger. “Why you little bitch.”

“That’s enough!” I shove myself in front of Honey. “Go take a walk and cool off.”

“How about you go with me for a walk?” His smile is cruel and twisted.

“You’re hurtin’. I get it. You’re scared and your response is to find a distraction in violence. But that’s not the answer.”

“’Suppose your little book has all the answers, huh?”

“Maybe not all, but I bet if you gave it a chance you’d find a couple of answers scattered throughout.” I’m amazed at how calm I’m able to be right now. Anger is coursing through my veins at the sight of him being so disrespectful to Honey. The angry buffoon slowly steps back. With a look of disgust and a shake of his head, he finally turns on his heels and storms off.

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