Chapter 5
“T
oday may be Sunday, but this is the third straight day you've stopped by at this early hour and missed Sharvon,” Sister Betty told Leotis. “If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to avoid her.”
Leotis gave Sister Betty a weak smile but said nothing.
Sister Betty reached out her hand and tapped his as she chuckled. “I think the winds in Pelzer are changing, and perhaps you might be trying to avoid the love trap.”
“You have an active imagination,” Leotis replied. “But then again, it's one of the things I admire about you.”
Sister Betty then pushed a wrapped plate of steamed vegetables picked fresh from her garden toward him. “Here. Take this plate and eat what's on it later, because you're talking nonsense.” She placed her finger on her cheek and smiled. “Now that I think about it, you look like I done stole the truth out your mouth.”
“No, you have not,” Leotis replied. He began laughing and tapping the side of his thigh, which had begun to jerk slightly, indicating he wanted to change the subject. “I just wanted to get your thoughts about the service the other night. I didn't have a chance to discuss it when it was over. You and the trustee seemed in a hurry.”
“Oh, really?” Sister Betty said. “Is that so?”
“Yes, that's so. It's pretty much the same with me right now. I'm in a hurry to meet with a few church elders from the Mount Kneel Down Church in about twenty minutes. They're stopping by on their way to their church. I believe they might want me to preach for Reverend Stepson's upcoming anniversary, among some other business.”
“It's no problem,” Sister Betty told him. “I've got some thoughts about your message, but they can wait until there's a better time. You just make sure you eat those vegetables while they're fresh. You can come back for more if you want to.”
Taking the plate in his hands, Leotis rose, then gave Sister Betty a peck on her cheek. “I always do. I'll be back before long to pick you up for morning service.”
As soon as she'd closed the door behind Leotis, Sister Betty went and sat on her living room sofa. She laid her head back to rest it against the cushion and smiled as she thought about her pastor. This past Thursday night, during the second week of the revival meeting, he'd preached a great sermon. His topic had been “God's Set-Aside Man.” The sanctuary had exploded, the churchgoers confirming that they, too, believed their God had some folks anointed and others appointed for His purpose only. Yet no sooner had the church let out than she and Freddie met Leotis outside to make the trip home and saw that his persona had changed.
Instead of asking, “How did you like the sermon?” which was something he'd always askâas if the rousing shouts of “Preach! You better say that Word, Reverend” hadn't already confirmed itâLeotis had said only, “I didn't see Mother Pray Onn at the revival meeting tonight. Have any of you seen her? Is she sick?”
As much of a hurry as they'd been in, it wasn't lost upon either her or Freddie that Leotis had never asked about Sasha's whereabouts before. Fact was that he had always seemed relieved when she wasn't there to create some ridiculous disturbance. The only conclusion was that he might've been asking about Ima.
Sister Betty heard the phone ringing and pushed aside thoughts of the past Thursday. She rose quickly from the sofa to reach the phone before her answering machine took over the call.
“Hello and praise the Lord.”
“You almost ready, Honey Bee?” Freddie asked cheerfully.
As usual, his words were like a balm to her spirit. “Just about ready, Freddie,” Sister Betty answered softly. She sounded almost schoolgirl giddy whenever she said something that seemed to rhyme with his name. “I couldn't seem to find the right slip to wear with my dress this morning.”
“I'm sure no matter what you decided, you'll look beautiful, Honey Bee.”
“Thank you, Freddie.”
Sister Betty wondered if she'd ever get used to hearing him call her by the favorite pet name he'd given her. He'd often mentioned how the names Freddie and Betty seemed to roll off the tongue and sometimes sounded a bit “childish.” Months ago, she had let him hold her by the hand while she gazed lovingly into his eyes, and she had given him permission to use the endearing term Honey Bee. It wasn't too far-fetched where she was concerned; after all, he'd already begun calling her honey.
“Honey Bee,” Freddie said, “I think you might want to get a move on so you can be ready when Leotis picks you up.”
“I intend to be,” she replied. “But do you know what else would be just as wonderful this morning?”
“What, Honey Bee?”
“Sharvon coming to church with me would be great. But she's already promised she'd work a few Sundays, until she's caught up.”
“That office ain't even open on Sundays. She's gonna miss some good preaching,” Freddie said. “She's gonna miss out on snatching Leotis, too, if what I've heard from the Bea Blister grapevine is true.”
Sister Betty knew he was probably right. She hadn't had a good feeling since Freddie told her how he'd run into Bea at the mall. Bea had acted as though nothing bad had happened a few days before, when he'd threatened her and Sasha. Instead, she'd told him how as soon as Ima laid eyes on Leotis, she'd staked a claim on him.
“Well, Leotis is a grown man and knows the Word of God,” Sister Betty told him. “Hopefully, he's gotten over his first impression of Ima.”
That was what she said to Freddie, but she did have a sliver of doubt. There was no denying Ima was beautiful, with her long red hair, green eyes, and to-die-for figure. But she was Sasha's niece and part of the Hellraiser family. To know Ima was to eventually look past her beauty and want to hit her with a brick. Sister Betty hoped it wouldn't get that far.
“Well, I've got to go, Honey Bee. If the trustees weren't having a meeting before the morning service, I'd leave my car at home and walk around the corner to ride with you and Leotis.” He let out a soft chuckle before continuing. “You just stay prayed up today. I've a feeling it's going to be a hot service, and I want to shout on the very spot at the altar where I'll make you my bride.”
“Me too,” Sister Betty replied. She was glad he wasn't there to see the tears welled up in her eyes. Every time he mentioned how much he either loved her or couldn't wait to get married, she wanted to cry.
They said their good-byes, each imagining the other blushing through the telephone. Both were eager to see the other as soon as possible, knowing and appreciating that the gift of love in their season was a gift and favor from God. Each had forfeited their relationships over the years and had been devoted to performing God's will. They'd often said that their finding each other's love was an example of obedience being better than sacrifice.
A short while later Sister Betty had finished dressing, and it was just in time to hear the familiar blast of Leotis's car horn.
Quickly locking the door behind her, Sister Betty turned to go down the steps from her front porch. Because the sun was in her eyes, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. But the sun wasn't the trick. She almost slapped herself with her pocketbook when she spied Ima seated in the front seat of Leotis's 2012 black Tahoe. She remembered him saying that his Honda Civic was in the shop, having brake work done.
She began quoting the twenty-third Psalm of David. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evilâ”
Sister Betty repeated the psalm as she walked down her pathway. She opened the back door to the Tahoe and stood her ground, a quickly placed smile upon her face replacing her concern. Speaking loud enough for them to hear, she asked, “How are you two feeling this bright and sunny day that the Lord hath made?”
Leotis, with his hazel eyes appearing like velvety cognac in the sunlight and brighter than usual, stuck his neck outside the car window and chirped, “I'm blessed and highly favored.” When Ima said nothing and didn't move an inch, he quickly added, “It's a blessing just to see this gorgeous day.”
Still outside the Tahoe, Sister Betty nodded at Leotis. She then shifted her Bible to one hand and reached for the car's support handle with her other as she tried to climb in the backseat. “Don't you move to come around and try to help me, Reverend Tom. I guess you're so used to me sitting where Ima's plopped down that you forgot how high the step is to get inside the back of this thing.”
Leotis pulled his head back inside the car, allowing it to fall forward enough for a few of his short curls to touch the steering wheel. Out of the side of one eye he saw Ima twitch slightly. He didn't bother to take a long look over at the big smile now plastered on her face. Looking upward, he murmured, “Father, whatever was I thinking?”
Once she had pushed Leotis's hand aside when he finally offered his help, and had entered the backseat, Sister Betty began thumbing through her Bible. It wasn't for anything in particular. It was something to do with her hands . . . so she didn't reach across the seat and snatch Leotis by his hair. She couldn't believe how angry she'd become in just a few short minutes. But then again, she couldn't believe that her beloved spiritual son and pastor was dumb enough to allow Ima to ride along.
As they drove down the highway, Sister Betty's eyes pierced the back of Leotis's head, while he tried to engage her and Ima in small talk. She was sending him bad vibrations, and she knew he felt them. It was evident by the way he kept swerving in and out of traffic.
“Are you all right, son? Anything happening that's causing you to drive so crazy?” Sister Betty asked.
“Nothing I can't handle with some help from the Lord.”
Sister Betty began thinking that if it wasn't her signals that had him nervous, then it must've been something else. Perhaps it was the tiny two-piece neon orange suit Ima wore. She took a moment to pretend she was adjusting her seat belt and leaned forward enough to get a closer look at Ima's barely covered honey-complexioned legs and thighs. It also appeared that her two double-D mares were trying to get out of their bra barn.
Have mercy, Jesus. Ima looks like she shops at Whores “R”Us.
Sister Betty quickly leaned back and again looked out the passenger window. For the second time since they'd picked up Sharvon and Ima from the airport three weeks ago, she found herself breaking out in song. “Don't let this Devil ride . . . she'll wanna drive.”
With all the small talk fallen by the wayside, Sister Betty said nothing more. It was the same with Leotis and Ima, until Leotis finally turned on one of the local gospel stations. Sister Betty hoped he'd done it perhaps to put a foot on the Devil's neck or, as she'd already prayed for, to keep his carnal thoughts in check. She'd seen him glance down toward Ima's uncovered thighs too often for it to be an accident. Besides, he couldn't see the road if he was looking down, or the traffic lights. Traffic lights never killed anyone; oncoming cars almost certainly did.
Sister Betty couldn't take another moment of the quasi silence. She had to speak up, and she intended to put the Devil in its place.
“Ima,” she began, “I didn't mention it the last time I saw you, but it's too bad your engagement to Reverend Lyon Lipps didn't work out.”
“I'm not sorry,” Ima replied curtly. She looked over at Leotis to see if perhaps Sister Betty's mention of her engagement had meant anything. She saw no reaction.
“Really?” Sister Betty replied as she inched closer to the front seat without undoing her seat belt. “I thought the way you chased after the man, and him so seemingly bewitched by you, that there'd surely be a wedding.”
Sister Betty fell back in her seat. She could tell by the way Leotis's earlobes suddenly twitched that he was doing a bad job of pretending not to pay attention. So she continued. “Well, perhaps it's not for you to marry or be in a relationship with a man of God. It would be very constricting to your lifestyle, I'm certain.”
Wham!
She'd laid it out there. If Leotis wasn't aware of Ima's recent past, well, now he was. Sister Betty let a smile appear.
I'm stopping this Devil in its tracks right now.
Somehow Ima managed to turn around in her seat without unbuckling her seat belt. She was small enough to do so, and when she did, her tiny skirt rose higher.
“Well, Sister Betty . . . ” Ima glanced quickly at Leotis. She seemed pleased to see his eyes dashing all over the front seat and zeroing in on her girlish possibilities, and even more pleased when he blurted, “Sweet Jesus!”
“As I was about to say,” Ima continued, “I wasn't raised to knowingly commit adultery.” She stopped and tapped Leotis on the arm, purring once she felt his hard muscle and happy he'd taken off his suit jacket. “That is against the Word, isn't it?”
“Yes, ma'am. God doesn't approve of such things.” A bluish hue had spread across Leotis's fingers from gripping the steering wheel tightly. He suddenly felt as though he were losing his grip on his salvation and his sanity, too. He purposely didn't watch late-night cable television so as to keep his mind uncluttered by carnal things.
Sister Betty took a deep breath. She held her jaw until it began to ache. “What does adultery have to do with anything? As far as I know, you've never been married. So how is it you'd be committing adultery if you married Reverend Lipps? I hope it's not because he expected you to behave and dress like a first lady, and you couldn't see yourself doing so.”