“So, does my being a pastor still bother you?”

“Sort of.”

“Well, hopefully that’ll change at some point, because overall, I’m no different than any other man.”

“This is true, but I guess I would feel a lot better if you weren’t married or if I could see you a lot more often.”

JT wiped his mouth with his napkin and then set it down. “I know this isn’t the most ideal situation for you, but I also think I need to be very clear on something. I really do care about you, and of course, I’m going to see you as often as I can, but I also need to make sure you understand that I’m not planning to leave my wife. Not now or in the future. I know this probably isn’t what you’re wanting to hear, but I also don’t want to give you any false hopes about the two of us ever getting married.”

“I totally understand that, and unlike most other women who see married men, I accept our relationship for what it is. All I want is to be treated well and with the utmost respect, and I’ll be fine.”

“I’m glad to hear that, because not every woman who sleeps with a married man can deal with the reality. They always end up wanting more, and when they don’t get it, they practically lose their minds.”

“You sound like you’ve already experienced something like that.”

“I have,” he said, thinking about Carmen.

“Well, you certainly won’t have those kinds of issues with me, but I also hope you’re not expecting to be the only man in my life either. Specifically, once I’m divorced.”

Interestingly enough, JT didn’t like the idea of her sleeping with any man besides him, but he knew he wasn’t in any position to complain or object. So he jokingly said, “That’s fine. But I still wanna go on record saying I’m totally against it.”

They both laughed and ate more of their dinner. When they finished, they chatted awhile longer but then JT gestured with his forefinger for her to come around the table. But when she got up, the hotel phone rang.

“Come and sit down,” he said, patting his lap and ignoring whomever was calling-although he knew it was Pastor Braeden, because he’d told JT he would call around seven, making sure he had everything he needed.

Finally, the ringing stopped, and JT untied Veda’s robe and slipped it down her shoulders. He admired her nakedness and was planning to enjoy every inch of her for the rest of the evening and all day tomorrow. Then, on Sunday morning, he would get up early, work on his sermon for a few hours, and go deliver his message.

He would do an outstanding job, return to the hotel, and make love to Veda again.

He would spend the entire weekend doing exactly what he loved: having incredible sex and speaking to thousands of people.

Chapter 40

So, how are you?” Alicia asked Carmen as she drove onto the freeway, heading downtown to do a little shopping.

“I’m fine. What about you?”

“Hmmph. Worse than ever.”

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“I think JT is in Dallas with another woman.”

“When did he go out there?” Carmen asked in a slightly edgy tone, and Alicia thought it was interesting how Carmen was more concerned about JT’s whereabouts than she was about his having an affair-which meant JT definitely hadn’t told her where he was going.

“Yesterday morning. He went early so he could prepare for a sermon he’s doing there on Sunday.”

“But why do you think he’s there messing around?”

“Because he wanted to take the trip by himself, and that’s how I know he’s up to something. He gave what I’m sure he thought was a legitimate reason, but what he doesn’t realize is that I heard my father tell lies like this all the time. When he was married to my mom, I was too young to know he was lying, but by the time he married his second wife and then Charlotte, I was completely onto him. Even when his wives weren’t.”

“So, what are you going to do about it?” Carmen asked, acting as though she couldn’t care less about what Alicia had just told her. This was also the reason Alicia gave her the answer she wanted to hear.

“I’m going to leave him.”

“I don’t blame you, girl,” she declared. “Because if I thought my husband was sleeping around, I would do the same exact thing.”

“So, you don’t think I’m acting too hastily?”

“Not at all, and especially if you really feel in your heart that he’s cheating on you.”

“I do.”

“Then there’s nothing else to consider.”

“Still, though. I can’t believe JT would do this to me, and so soon after we were married. My father never trusted him, and with each day that passes, I’m more and more sorry that I didn’t listen. Then, of course, there’s the congregation. They’ve been so wonderful to me. So, I feel bad about having to divorce JT because it feels like I’m actually abandoning them. My mom talked about that all the time when she and my dad separated, and now I know how she felt. But what I think I’m going to do is ask JT for what will hopefully be an amicable and quiet divorce and then go to church with him next Sunday to say my good-byes.”

“Gosh, girl, that’s really nice of you and very diplomatic, because if it were me, I’d never tell them anything. I would leave both JT and his congregation and never look back.”

Obviously. “I just think it’s the right thing to do, and if you don’t mind, I’d really like for you to be there. It’s going to be a very tough time for me, and I’m really going to need the support of a good friend.”

“Of course. I’m glad to do anything for you, and you already know that.”

“I really appreciate it, Carmen,” Alicia said, pulling her black Versace shades from the top of her head and down over her eyes. “More than you could possibly know.”

Chapter 41

As soon as the choir finished singing, JT got up and went into the pulpit. He’d been sitting on the end of one of the front pews next to Alicia, and Carmen was sitting on the other side of her.

“This is the day the Lord hath made, so let us rejoice and be glad in it,” he said, and most of the members nodded or spoke in agreement. “I first want to say how thrilled and overjoyed I am to see so many new faces here at New Life Christian Center, because it has been a long time since every single seat was filled. This has happened in the past whenever we have special services, such as the time when my father-in-law came to speak, but never on a normal Sunday morning. So, I just want to thank everyone for being here.”

Alicia looked at Carmen and smiled and then looked back at JT.

“The other thing I wanted to share with you is how wonderful a time I had out in Dallas last weekend. Pastor Braeden is truly an awesome man of God, and his ministry is on a level like most of us have never seen before. So, I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with him at his church. My only regret, however, is that my beautiful wife wasn’t able to make the trip with me, but you can be sure I’ll be taking her with me next time around.”

Carmen leaned over and whispered in Alicia’s ear. “So, you didn’t tell him yet?”

Alicia knew she was referring to their conversation last Saturday and wondering if Alicia had asked JT for a divorce the way she’d said she was going to, and so Alicia was pleased to say, “No. But I will.”

“Are you still planning to address the church?”

Alicia nodded her head yes but kept her eyes and attention on JT, purposely not looking back in Carmen’s direction.

JT made a few other observations and then said, “Before we continue on with the service, my wife would like to come and say a few words. I’m not sure what about exactly, but what I do know is that all this week, she’s been going on and on about some women-only retreat down in Florida for the ladies of NLCC. So, if I had to guess,” he said, chuckling, “I’m sure that’s what she’s going to be discussing…so, men, please, please bear with her.”