The Pastor's Woman. Jacquelin Thomas

a couple of doves. Doves. Have you heard of such a thing?”

      “I’ve had some similar requests but as long as it’s not done in the church, I don’t have a problem with it,” Wade stated. “I know Cassie. She’s going to have her way in this. She’s as stubborn as Aunt Ivy.”

      Harold agreed. “And it’s driving my wife crazy. I keep telling Ivy that this is our daughter’s wedding, not hers.”

      The waitress arrived to take their food and drink orders.

      While they waited for the food, Harold announced, “I spoke to your mother last week. She sounded good.”

      “That’s great news,” Wade replied. “I’m glad to hear that.”

      “Have you tried to call her lately?”

      A pain squeezed his heart as Wade thought about his estranged mother. “No point in it. She’s never going to forgive me for Jeff’s death. She hasn’t spoken to me since he died and she’s not going to talk to me now.”

      “How do you know unless you try?”

      “Uncle Harold, I’ve tried. You know that. I used to call once a month, then three times a year. She won’t talk to me. All she does is slam the phone down as soon as she realizes it’s me.”

      “You should never give up on family, Wade.”

      “I haven’t given up,” he stated. “My mother was the one who gave up on me.”

      “Your mother loves you,” Harold said. “One day she’ll remember just how much.”

      Wade didn’t want to continue this conversation because it hurt too deeply. He changed the topic to sports, which dominated their thoughts until lunch was over.

      Wade returned to his office to find Melinda Newberry, one of the church members, waiting for him. He released a short sigh, then pasted on a smile.

      “Sister Melinda, it’s nice to see you. What brings you here?”

      “I’m attending the Grosse Pointe Heart Foundation gala next weekend and I thought maybe you could escort me. Pastor, it would be the perfect chance for you to meet some very influential people here in Detroit. It would be nice for them to meet you, as well.”

      Wade tried to think of a way to let her down gently. “Thank you for the invitation, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to attend.”

      She looked offended. “I just thought it would be nice for you to network. Some of Detroit’s most prominent ministers will be in attendance. Pastor, you really should be there.” She gave him a sexy smile. “Won’t you reconsider?”

      “I’m afraid I can’t,” he replied. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

      Without a response, Melinda strode out of the building in a huff.

      “You did the right thing, Pastor,” his secretary told him. “She’s after fame and fortune. I’m not one to gossip but the truth is the light. Melinda Newberry only wants a man with money.”

      He laughed. “Then I don’t have a thing to worry about.”

      Wade headed to his office.

      Barbara followed him. “Now, my niece…she’s a real nice girl. But I have to tell you that she’s not looking for a boyfriend. Marnie wants a husband. She’s ready to settle down and have a lot of pretty babies.”

      “I’ll keep her in my prayers,” Wade stated.

      “I appreciate you remembering her in your prayers, Pastor, but I’d like for you to meet her. I’ll make sure I introduce you to Marnie. I’m telling you, she’s a nice girl. Just needs to be married.”

      Wade didn’t miss the not-so-subtle hint but chose not to comment on it. When the time was right, God would bring into his life the woman he was meant to marry.

      Until then, Wade had to run in the other direction whenever Barbara and the other women threw their daughters in his direction.

      Pearl was so exhausted, she could barely think straight. Not even a shower woke her up.

      Paige was in the living room watching television when she walked out. “Hey, girl,” she greeted. “You look like you need to go back to bed.”

      “Don’t tempt me,” she moaned. “My manager just called. I’m going in early today, picking up another shift.”

      “You can’t work all those hours at Milton’s and then do your singing gigs. Just thinking about it makes me tired, too.”

      “Hopefully, I won’t have to do this much longer. I pray I’ll get a record deal from the demo tapes I sent out.”

      “You will,” Paige assured her. “I believe it.”

      Pearl stretched out on the sofa. “Lord, give me strength.”

      “Why don’t you just stay home today?”

      “I need the money, Paige.”

      “But if you’d let us—”

      Pearl cut her off. “I’ve told you a thousand times that I appreciate you and my sisters for wanting to help, but this is something I need to do for myself.”

      As if on cue, her sister Ruby called.

      Glancing over at the clock, Pearl answered saying, “Why are you calling here so early? It’s not even eight-thirty.”

      She laughed when her oldest sister responded, “I know you aren’t still in bed.”

      “I should still be, though. I stayed up late working on a song.”

      Ruby was the pragmatist of all the Lockhart sisters. Since their mother’s death five years ago, she’d been thrown into the role of the matriarch and constantly harped on the importance of family.

      Even now, she was calling just to check on Pearl. If Ruby didn’t hear from her siblings every couple of days, she began calling around.

      “Did you watch the game last night?” Pearl asked, although she already knew the answer. Ruby wasn’t into sports the way she was. Neither was Amber; she just liked going to the games in hopes of meeting someone. Since D’marcus was a co-owner of the Chargers franchise, Opal would go with them from time to time.

      “No. I didn’t get a chance to see it. I had some work to do.”

      Before ending the call, Pearl made plans to have lunch with her sister soon. She loved Ruby, but was growing tired of her pushing Pearl to go back to college like Opal and finish up her degree.

      It had been her mother’s deepest wish that they all get college degrees, but that wasn’t where Pearl’s heart lay. She wanted to sing.

      Singing had always been her dream and Pearl was not about to give up on the true desire of her heart.