Chapter 2
“Ican’t believe you have decided to settle down and take a pastoral position.” Daniel commented as he took food out of his fridge.
“The time was right.” Samuel shrugged.
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t become Co-pastor with me.” Daniel arranged the glass containers on the counter, then removed the wooden lids.
“Less talking and more serving, Namdongsaeng.” He affectionately referred to Daniel as his little brother. “Quick question. Your wife is still in Korea, right?”
“Yes, I had to fly back, but she and the children will be there until next week.”
“Then who made breakfast?” Samuel asked. Getting up from his stool, he walked around to stand beside his brother.
“Omma.” His brother didn’t look the least bit embarrassed as a grown man that his mom had made him breakfast. He had two hands and was more than capable of cooking.
Samuel opened his brother’s fridge and freezer, both of which were filled with containers of food. “Wow, so you had your Mommy fill your fridge and freezer with meals?”
“No, not just Omma. Janet also left food in the freezer before we left for Korea.”
“You have the women in your life spoiling you rotten. You should be embarrassed.” Samuel lightly smacked his brother behind his head. He removed plates and bowls from the cabinet for them both.
“Why would I be? They both love taking care of me. Why would I deny them the pleasure? What you need to be concerned with, is who is going to look after you. You need a wife.” Of course, his brother thought so. It seemed as soon as his brother could legally do so, he married his wife, Janet. Ever since, his brother had an easy life. Janet took spoiling his brother to another level. Even Omma thought she could be over the top.
“I don’t need a wi?—”
“Whosoever findth a wife findth a good thing.” Daniel clapped him on the back, then retrieved and handed him the serving spoons. Each brother served themselves.
“Like I was saying, I don’t need one. Especially not to take care of me. I can take care of myself. Unlike you, I can cook, clean, and wash my own underwear.”
“Hilarious. I can do those things, but I don’t have to. Let me get to the point, I know you don’t need one Prodigal…” Samuel hated the nickname. However, he had earned the title. Instead of going directly into the ministry the way his brother had. He’d taken a detour. A lengthy one at that. “…but there is no greater feeling than coming home to a good woman.”
He couldn’t agree more with his brother. However, he had no intention of telling him that. He must have nodded against his will.
“So, if you agree. Why aren’t you doing something about it?”
“Who said I’m not?” Samuel raised an eyebrow as he nudged his brother out of the way and placed his food in the microwave first.
His brother was quiet for a moment. “Now that explains the position you took.”
Samuel didn’t bother to answer. He wouldn’t deny it. It had a lot to do with why he had taken the position at Trinity Covenant Church.
“Do you think you can manage not to back her into a corner and issue ultimatums this time?” His brother asked. Then had the audacity to whistle as he removed Samuel’s plate and handed it to him. As Daniel put his plate in the microwave, he was tempted to smack it out of his hand. His brother knew her, no, not her, Hannah. Samuel had to get used to saying her name again. After all, she wasn’t Voldemort. She was just the woman that crushed his heart so many years ago. Despite what his brother believed, he hadn’t issued her an ultimatum. Samuel knew better than to ask her to choose between him and the church.
They were both the eldest children of their preacher fathers. However, the responsibility always seemed to weigh heaviest on Hannah. She made her world about that church. A little thing like falling in love with a fellow member of Little Shepherd’s Summer Camp wouldn’t deter her from following the path of taking the helm of her father’s church. No love had been an easy sacrifice for her.
“You’ve been quiet,” Daniel commented halfway through the meal. “I know how much Hannah?—”
Samuel didn’t slam his chopsticks and spoon down onto the table. However, he might as well have. The slow, deliberate way he placed down his utensils had the same effect. “Leave it.” His command was sharp.
“I would, but she is a fellow minister, and I think highly of her. She just went through a very public, very hurtful divorce. I don’t think you should try to pursue her right now.”
“I didn’t ask you what you thought.”
“That’s too bad. Whatever you have up your sleeve though isn’t a good idea.”
“What makes you an authority on what’s good for Hannah?”
“How are you going to be an effective leader if you don’t use your wisdom? Let’s say Hannah is the one for you. All I’m saying is don’t do the Han-uel thing and go into her life like a bull in a China shop. Prodigal, are you listening to me?” Daniel was his little brother, but he sounded like their Abeoji. While he respected his father and his brother, for that matter, he had already lost so much time with Hannah. There was no way he was going to sit back, and hope things worked out.
“I heard you.”
“You are still going to do whatever you want to do.”
Samuel lived his life being straight forward. As a grown man, he didn’t deal in subterfuge. “Yes, I am. I’m not going to tiptoe around Hannah.”
“Even if that brings her distress?”
“First of all. You aren’t an authority on her feelings. I don’t know why I have to keep telling you that. Sure, she might be upset, a bit hurt, but mostly she is pissed. Do you know what? She wouldn’t be any of those things if she hadn’t chosen the wrong man in the first place. I’m going to help her correct her mistake. She doesn’t need more time to wallow over that piece of trash. I gotta go,” Samuel announced as he pushed away from the table.
“Because you know you are wrong.”
“No, because I have a meeting with my new board.”
“Well, good luck.”
“I don’t need any. They might, though.”
“I was talking to them.” Daniel laughed. “Send Hannah my best.”
Classical music blared in his car as he drove from his brother’s home directly to the church. It never occurred to him to return home and select more appropriate attire. Samuel was surprised his brother didn’t suggest it. When he pulled his muscle car into the church parking lot, if an onlooker observed him, he was well aware they would never have guessed he was the new Co-pastor. The air was brisk, so he wore a black leather jacket. In fact, all of his attire was black. His dress shirt, black jeans, and boots. He looked more like a biker than a pastor.
It wasn’t his concern what they thought of what he was wearing. They came courting him for the position. So, they were going to get what they got.
The church secretary greeted him. He liked Corinth. He briefly remembered her from when they were younger. “Pastor Cho, if you will have a seat, I’ll call and let them know that you have arrived.”
A short while later, she came over to him. “Can I get you something to drink or a snack? It will take a while. Their previous meeting with Pastor Bank is running long.”
“Pastor Wilson,” he corrected. Samuel couldn’t help himself. She never should have been carrying that man’s name in the first place.
“Sorry. I’m getting used to the name change.” Don’t get too used to it. It will be changing again soon.
He smiled at Corinth. She returned to her seat. After a half hour, he asked. “Has Pastor Wilson been in there long?”
“Not really. Her meeting was scheduled thirty minutes before yours.” Her bright smile faded. “However, I think they have a lot to cover.”
“It’s alright.” The fact that Hannah had people on her side actually made him happy. It was another twenty minutes before the phone rang. “Pastor Cho, Brother White will be out in a moment to get you.”
It wasn’t long before the doors of the conference room opened.F Alvin White was the definition of a dapper older gentleman. He was seventy, with a completely white low afro. And despite it being a Wednesday morning, he was in a three-piece pinstriped suit.
“Pastor, thank you for waiting.” He greeted. There was no small talk as he was ushered into the room. Samuel got the feeling although it was White who had reached out to him, the man hadn’t wanted him to be the Co-pastor. However, White was all about the bottom line. At least he wasn’t fake about it. Which he could appreciate. As long as the man understood, Samuel would not roll over and let him do whatever he wanted, the two of them would get along. They already had a run-in.
“I’m sorry. You want me to sign an agreement to be the Co-pastor before you inform Pastor Wilson that I have been selected? Absolutely not. I will not put anything in writing until she is on board. That isn’t negotiable.” White had been furious, but Samuel had stood his ground.
The knowledge that Hannah was in the room didn’t prepare Samuel for seeing her in person for the first time in nearly eighteen years. His stride almost faltered when he saw her. Of course, she looked different from the last time he saw her. The last time she had been nineteen. However, she also looked different from the picture he’d seen of her in public. Her weight loss was visible. She couldn’t be taking care of herself to lose so much weight so quickly.
Soon enough, he would be able to make sure she was properly taken care of. Despite her rapid weight loss, she still was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Even with her hair slicked back in the tightest bun he ever saw. He’d rarely gotten the opportunity to see her hair down. The way the mass of curls fell down freely past her shoulders was a vision. It was imprinted on his memory. Taking a breath, he willed himself to focus on the task at hand. White walked him to the head of the table, stopping beside Hannah.
“Pastor Cho, you remember Hannah. I believe you both attended Little Shepherd’s.” The introduction got under Samuels’s skin. He knew good and well they attended the PK camp together. The statement, while a little messy, didn’t get under his skin as much as the way he casually addressed her by her first name. Where was the respect? He wasn’t going to stand for it. It was either they were both addressed by their first names or by pastor. There was to be no disparity.
“Are we going with first names, or are we going to be more formal?” Samuel inquired.
“Oh, I like you.” The older women on the board said. He smiled at her. They exchanged handshakes. A possible ally? Very nice.
“Pastor Cho,” Hannah stood and shook his hand. Both tried to control themselves, but there was a spark when their hands touched. Samuel cleared his throat, and she tried but failed to control the comical enlarging of her eyes. No, he didn’t have any doubt that the chemistry between them would still be there. It was just rewarding to witness her get a dose of it so soon. “Pastor Wilson, it has been a while. So nice to see you again.”
“You as well.” She answered taking her hand from his. As luck would have it, the only free seat was right beside her.