Chapter 20
Aneka
My new office at cityhall was a small but well-appointed space down the corridor from the mayor’s office. The worn wooden desk and vintage filing cabinets gave the room character, and I found myself enjoying the quiet as I familiarized myself with city contracts and prepped for a meeting with the city manager.
My mobile phone vibrated, and I glanced at the screen, expecting a message from Caleb or my kids. Instead, Vanessa’s name appeared on the caller ID. I stared, debating whether to answer. Curiosity won out, and I swiped to accept the call.
“Hello?” I said, my tone guarded.
“Aneka! Hi! How are you doing?”
Vanessa’s overly cheerful voice put me too on edge for pleasantries.
“Why are you calling? I don’t think we have to say to each other.”
The silence turned awkward before she spoke again in a more subdued tone. “I know. I’ve been a terrible friend, and I’m sorry. That’s why I’m calling.”
I leaned back in my chair and pinched the bridge of my nose. “Do you want something?”
“No. Not at all,” she said. “I’ve joined to the church board, and I found out some things you should know.”
“I’m not interested in church gossip,” I replied, still feeling prickly.
“That’s not what this is.” She sighed. “The auditors found out a few weeks ago that Elijah took more money from a different account last year.”
My stomach dropped. “What?”
“They confronted him, and he made a deal with the board. They’ll keep him as pastor as long as he pays this money back like he did the rest, but they want something else that involves you.”
“What can they want from me?” I stopped before I had to repeat for the millionth time I had nothing to do with his theft. I didn’t even benefit from it. He spent all the money on Tyffani and luxuries for himself.
“They think a public reconciliation with you in front of the church will smooth things over with the congregation. They want you there while for a few weeks, and then he’ll give a televised sermon on repentance. So Elijah broke up with Tyffani and promised to get you back to Houston while they lay the groundwork for the big event.”
My blood roared in my ears, and I almost felt faint. Is that all I was a prop required to demonstrate his holiness and now his repentance? Elijah knew there wasn’t going to be a reconciliation. Why would he have promised anything close to that?
He must really think I’m a people-pleasing fool.
I gripped the side of my desk and leaned back, catching my breath.
What he thought didn’t matter. He’d made a mistake if he thought I’d help him polish up his grift.
“Elijah and I are officially divorced as of this morning. I told him I’d come back, but for...”
Shit.
“His cancer crisis?” Vanessa supplied. “I didn’t get how he’d convince you, and one of the existing board members finally told me that’s how Elijah planned to pull it off. He had a scare a few months ago that gave him the idea. Playing up the crisis is supposed to get the congregation’s sympathy and get you to come back for a few church appearances. He told them that if he asked, you’d come to services as a show of support. Once the church leaders have their moment, he’ll tell you and everyone that he’s been healed.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Except I could. I had my doubts, and I suppose it was hope more than faith that convinced me Elijah wouldn’t do something so terrible as faking a cancer scare. And involving the kids in his scheme? That he was so desperate to hang onto his power and position was more sad than enraging. I was so done.
Caleb had been right. I needed to tell him. And I would when we had dinner tonight. I’d eat crow along with our weekly ritual of chicken and dumplings.
“I don’t know what to say. Thanks for telling me, V. I appreciate it.”
She chuckled softly. “You’re the only one who ever called me V.”
“You liked it. You thought it sounded daring.”
“I haven’t been so daring. But, you know, seeing how the church operates on the inside has me rethinking why I cared so much about my position. I thought you just weren’t that great a church wife and convinced myself I didn’t need to be a great friend. But you had more sense than any of us.”
More sense? Looking back, I wasn’t sure. But moving forward? Absolutely.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“Resign, but I wanted to call you first and see if there’s anything else you need to know. I can find out what else is going on,” she offered.
“No. Move on. That’s what I’m doing.”
“Okay. Let’s grab lunch if you come to town.”
“I’ll check my schedule and see when I’ll be down there next.”
I didn’t know when that would be or if I really wanted to, but I also knew that closing the door on starting over. If she was willing, I could be.
“Oh, one more thing,” she added. “Elijah drove to Bliss this afternoon to talk to you.”
I sat up straighter. “I haven’t seen him, but he could be planning another surprise visit.”
His arrogance astounded me. It was time to give Elijah a surprise of my own.