“So, when are you coming back to see me?”

“Sometime next week?”

“I know, but when exactly?”

“Maybe Thursday evening or Saturday morning.”

“That’s too long, baby. So, what about Monday afternoon, the way you always used to?”

“This coming Monday is Memorial Day, and I won’t be able to get away,” he said, glancing at her in the mirror and seeing the angry look on her face. She’d turned on him faster than he could blink.

“I’m so tired of this. I’m so tired of spending every holiday all by myself.”

“I’m sorry, but Alicia and I are going over to her mom’s, and there’s nothing I can do to change that,” he said, and then saw what looked to be Alicia’s manuscript sitting on Carmen’s dresser. “What’s this?”

She responded in a curt tone. “What’s what?”

“This,” he said, picking up the first few pages and turning toward her.

“What do you think it is?”

“It looks like Alicia’s novel, so I guess I’m sort of wondering where you got it from.”

“I got it from the little wifey herself when she took me out to lunch today. Happy?”

“But why would you go anywhere with her when I’ve asked you not to visit her anymore or spend time with her, period?”

“Alicia’s my friend,” she said. “She’s my very dear friend. We’re such good friends that I could make her believe just about anything at all if I wanted. I could tell her all sorts of stories. The kind that would leave her devastated.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“No, the question is, why shouldn’t I? I mean, why shouldn’t I do whatever I want, because it’s not like you’re breaking your neck to see me on a regular basis, anyway.”

JT saw how upset she was and knew it was time for damage control.

He sat down on the bed next to her and placed his arm around her. “Maybe I don’t get to see you every day, but, baby, what matters is that I’m with you right now. And I promise you I’ll try to be with you a lot more than I have been.”

“But I need more than that. What I need is to know that you’re serious about me and that you really do still love me.”

“I do.”

“But, JT, how do I know you’re telling me the truth?”

“Because I am. And if you can’t trust me, then things will never be right between us.”

Carmen gazed at him with watery eyes but didn’t speak.

“Look,” he said, caressing her back. “The reason I can’t be with you as much as you want is because I’m doing everything I can to move the ministry forward. I’m working on it day and night because the sooner I can get everything in place, the sooner I’ll be able to leave Alicia like you want me to. The sooner I work everything out, the sooner you and I will be free to be together.”

Tears fell down her face, and JT hugged her closely.

“I’m so scared, JT,” she said, sniffling. “I’m so scared that all you’re doing is leading me on again and that you’re not going to follow through on your promise.”

“Baby, believe me. I’m really telling you the truth this time. I’m being open and honest about everything. As a matter of fact,” he said, preparing to lay his words on as thick as possible, “I was just thinking earlier how I never should’ve married Alicia over you in the first place because now I realize that money and success don’t mean anything if I can’t be with the woman I love.”

“Do you really mean that?”

“I do. I mean it with all my heart.”

“I love you, JT. And it’s like I just told you, I would do anything for you.”

“I’m glad, baby,” he said, sounding as sincere as he could. “Because the feeling is definitely mutual.”

The banquet facility for the tenth annual Pastors’ and Wives’ Luncheon was as elegant as Alicia had expected. She and JT had arrived at the hotel about twenty minutes ago, had valet-parked, and had then taken the escalator straight up to the third floor. There must have been at least fifty linen-covered round tables situated throughout the room, all adorned with exquisitely arranged white lily floral pieces at the center and each surrounded by ten plush chairs. Alicia loved this kind of setting, and while she’d really wanted to attend Matthew’s track meet, she was also glad to be in the midst of five hundred people.

“Here’s our table right here,” JT said, pointing his finger at the tall, skinny metal stand that held a place card displaying the number thirteen.

“Pastor Valentine?” an older, distinguished-looking gentleman said, and Alicia and JT smiled.

“Oh my goodness,” he said. “Pastor Jacobs, it’s really wonderful to see you. It’s been a very long time, hasn’t it?”

“A very long time indeed. So, how have you been, my boy? From the looks of this beautiful young lady you have with you, it seems you’re doing just fine.”

The two men chuckled and JT said, “Well, I guess you got me there, and you’re right. Pastor Jacobs, this is my wife, Alicia. Alicia, this is Pastor Jacobs, one of the best men I know and the person who gave me a lot of great advice when I first founded NLCC.”

“It’s very nice to meet you,” she said, smiling and reaching out her hand to him.

“The pleasure is all mine, and I’m sorry we weren’t able to make the wedding. We’d already scheduled and paid for our annual vacation to Hawaii, and it would have been a bit on the expensive side to change our plans.”

“We completely understand.”

“You did receive the gift, though, right?”

Alicia looked at JT because she honestly had no idea. As a matter of fact, they’d invited so many guests to witness their nuptials and had received so many gifts by mail, there was no way for her to remember the names Pastor and Mrs. Jacobs, let alone what they’d sent them. But JT said, “Yes, and it was very, very generous of you.”

“We really appreciate your kindness,” Alicia said, so she wouldn’t sound so clueless. “And you should have received a thank-you card right after we returned from our honeymoon.”

“Oh, I’m sure we did,” he said. “But you know how we men are. We don’t really pay much attention to all that women-related stuff.”

They all chuckled and then Pastor Jacobs said, “Alicia, if you don’t mind, I’d like to steal your husband away for a few minutes so I can introduce him to a couple of the newer pastors in the city.”

“Oh, of course. Please go ahead.”

“Are you sure, baby?” JT asked.

“Yes. Absolutely.”

JT kissed her on the cheek. “Okay, then, I’ll be back in a while.”

Alicia walked back closer to their assigned table and saw three women sitting in place, two side by side and one straight across from them. They all looked to be in their late thirties or early forties and were each dressed very stylishly. They looked as though they were married to successful men, the same as she was, and she was looking forward to meeting them.

“How are you ladies this afternoon?” she said, speaking against all the chatter in the background and sitting down next to the woman who was alone.

The two women sitting together acted as though they didn’t want to be bothered and barely uttered the word “Fine.” Alicia wasn’t sure why they were being so rude, but she wasn’t going to get herself all worked up over it.

“I’m doing well,” the woman next to her said, “and it’s very nice to meet you. I’m Tamara Jackson, first lady of Lakeview Christian Center.”

“It’s very nice to meet you as well. I’m Alicia Black Valentine and my husband, JT, is the pastor of New Life Christian Center.”

“Yes, I figured as much when I saw him kissing you,” she said jokingly.

“Oh, so you know him?” Alicia asked, placing her dainty, off-white satin, rhinestone-trimmed shoulder purse across the back of her chair. She’d purchased it specially to go with the off-white Armani suit she was wearing.

“Yes. My husband and I have visited New Life a few times over the years, and for the most part, most of the pastors with churches on the South Side of Chicago tend to all know one another.”