Page 21 of A Taste of Grace

“No.”

“Is she looking for a husband?”

Aunt Nita cackled like an old hen.

“You don’t waste any time, do you?”

When her chuckles died down, she continued.

“I can’t speak for Grace, but based on my observations and conversations, I believe she might be receptive if therightperson courted her. She’s not ahit it and quit itkind of woman, if you get my drift. She needs to be handled with care.”

Oh, really?

“Good to know.”

“Why is she in Farmerton?”

A shrill voice in the background traveled through my speakers, causing me to turn my speaker volume down.

“Caleb, dear, Callie needs me, so let’s connect later. You hear from God clearly, so let Him lead you in the direction your heart is taking you. Trust yourself, baby. Gotta go.”

I drove the rest of the way in silence, thinking about Aunt Nita’s words. I let my mind wander to the possibilities.

What would it be like to have someone that amazing around my girls and me every day? Something was different about Grace… in a good way.

My job as a pastor would take me away from my girls when they needed me most. Grace could provide consistent support to them in my absence. Although I’d never want to take advantage of her time and use her without proper compensation, she had the missing pieces of what I needed in my life right now.

By the time I pulled into the banquet hall’s crowded parking lot, I knew what I had to do. I would have a conversation with Grace to learn about her goals and what she wanted in the future. I checked myself out in my driver’s side vanity mirror before exiting.

Couples dressed in formal attire walked hand in hand to the brightly led venue where strands of LED lights covered the entrance. Several of them waved or shouted kind greetings to me. Most of them had been married for years and prospered in their relationships. Despite my gratitude for life and my elevated status, a slight twinge of jealousy and sadness tugged at me. I wanted someone on my arm too. Grace was the first person who came to mind as I said a silent prayer.

Search my heart, God. You know what I need. And you know my past. Give me clarity about what I’m feeling and the right words to say when I see Grace again.

The second I entered the main hall, I felt like a piece of prime meat at a butcher shop. A lot of these undercover hoes salivated like they had rabies. Some of them even gawked at me despite being on the arms of their partners.

Since I’d become the senior pastor of Haven of Hope and Blessings, the level of interest in me changed. There was always someone with a “special” request, but the church freaks were definitely on the prowl. Call it game knowing game. The freakiest ones weren’t shy about seeking me out. Over the past week, I had a pair of used thong panties mailed to my work office, a nighttime pop-up visit to my home by a naked woman in a trench coat, and a $10,000 “donation” from one of my widows to service her needs since she no longer had a man in the house.

When I told Aunt Nita this, she encouraged me to start my courting process immediately. My strongholdwaslust, and both of us knew I was bound to fall into temptation if I didn’t get a handle on women’s objectification of me.

On my way to my seat near the front of the room, Roxanne Bolz, a former church member and lover, jumped in front of me.

“Hey, Caleb,” she lowered her voice. “I need to talk with you for a second.”

I looked around the room then back at Roxanne. I figured she was up to no good, but I wasn’t going to make a scene in public.

“What’s up?” I kept my voice steady despite my irritation.

Her black-lined eyes traveled straight to my crotch.

“Hopefully, that good dick you used to sling my way.”

I sighed, pissed but not surprised that my former ways would come back to haunt me so soon after I stepped into my new role.

“Senior pastoring looks good on you, by the way.” She licked her wet lips and rested her long mahogany nails on my tuxedo’s lapel, checking me out like we were at the club down the street.

I plastered a smile on my face and quickly darted my eyes across the room to see if anyone was watching our awkwardexchange. When I realized no one was paying attention to us, I stepped closer to her and spoke through clenched teeth.

“Don’t mess with me, Roxanne. I may be holy on the outside, but I know how to take heifers down if I need to. For the last time, I don’t whore around anymore. What we had is over.” I took a step back and focused on her eyes.

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