Chapter 13
Any respect Hannah had for Alvin White evaporated. She couldn’t believe he had spoken to her in that manner. Samuel had been furious. “The next administrative meeting, I’ll be moving to have Alvin White not only relieved from his position as the head of the board but removed all together.”
“And I’ll be supporting your motion.” It was time. She had allowed that man to get away with too much. The manner in which he had spoken to her was the last straw.
They were days away from starting to Co-pastor. It was time things changed. Samuel had been correct. A more symbiotic relationship between the board and leadership was needed. Once Mr. White was replaced, things would improve.
In the meantime, she had other things to think about. Like making her husband’s dinner. This was going to be the first time. Hannah was a little nervous. “Stop stressing about dinner. I’m sure I will love it.” Samuel had assured her before she left for the grocery store.
Lisabeth was on the phone with her while she did the shopping for dinner. Her sister’s voice flowed in her earbud. When she left home, she was certain she was going to make him the Reuben Casserole. As Hannah spoke with her sister, she wasn’t sure it was the best choice. “I thought you liked it when I made it?”
“Babes, that was Nigel, and I would be a bad sister if I didn’t point out that man will eat anything.”
“What was it about it you didn’t like?”
“I wasn’t feeling what happened to the sauerkraut and Russian dressing when it baked.” Mimicking a popular social media personality, Lisabeth said. “My stomach is bubbling.”
“It made you sick?” Hannah stopped pushing her cart in the middle of the aisle.
“Nah, I’m just playing. I just wasn’t a fan of the taste. So, make something else. I like my new brother. Especially the way he has been making you glow. Don’t punish him. Reward him.”
“And to think I gave you my baby doll when we were little.” Hannah groused.
“I appreciate it, which is another reason why I”m telling you, don”t make the Rueben casserole.” She loved her sister she really did but sometimes Lisabeth begged to have hands put on her.
“Fine. Which casserole do you suggest I make?” Hannah left the condiment aisle leaving behind the sauerkraut.
Her sister was quiet for a moment. “Um, the chicken broccoli stuffing casserole.”
That wasn’t a bad idea, it was very easy to make. It would require her to grab broccoli. Her sister wasn”t there to see her grab the pre-cut florets. So she didn”t get made fun of. Hannah headed to the hot food section. “Do you think I should jazz things up with Tuscany or Bold BBQ chicken?”
“Oh, you out to impress tonight. Go Tuscany.” Hannah took a minute to inspect the chickens before selecting the perfect one. “I need to head back to the other end of the store to grab some cream of broccoli. That’s what gives it?—”
Her sudden U-turn had her crashing into another cart. “I’m so sorry—” Hannah’s apology died on her lips when she saw the driver of the other cart. They lived in the same town. This was bound to happen, eventually. There wasn”t anything to say, so Hannah began to back up.
“What happened?” her sister questioned in her ear just as Jeremiah called her name, stopping her in her tracks.
“Hannah. So, no apology for me?” he inquired.
“Is that who I think it is?” Lisbeth demanded.
“Yeah,” Hannah answered both of their questions.
“Run over his damn foot!” Lisbeth encouraged with her bloodthirsty self.
“It doesn”t have to be this way,” Jeremiah told her, as he pulled his cart alongside hers.
Hannah looked him up and down. She could feel her nostrils flaring. Out of her peripheral, she saw a passerby slow down behind a display not discreetly observing them. She sighed internally. “My apologies for my cart hitting yours.” she offered begrudgingly.
“It’s fine,” he responded, and she hoped it was the end of it. But no, in true Jeremiah fashion, he kept in step with her as she pushed the cart to the canned soup aisle.
“I hear congratulations are in order.”
“Why is he still speaking to you? Tell him to go choke on his dick.” Hannah was conflicted between being outraged and suppressing her laughter at her sister’s antics. As she didn”t answer, he added. “I heard you got remarried.”
“Yes, I did,” she said reaching for the cream of broccoli.
“He’s being treated to one of your casseroles. I don”t miss those,”
“No one asked you to.” Hannah attempted to maneuver her cart away from his. Her blood was on a low simmer.
“I”m sorry, that was my lame attempt at humour.”
“Jeremiah! There you are!” A nasally woman called out, pushing a baby buggy. With a quick few steps, she stopped before them. Mrs. Bank 2.0 looked Hannah up and down with disdain, as if she was the one who had slept with her husband.
“What’s going on here?” Mrs. Bank 2.0 asked.
Hannah wanted no part of this situation. Wordlessly, she moved away from the couple. “Baby—” she heard Jeremiah say.
“I can’t believe you! Did you just check out her ass!?” Mrs. Bank 2.0 shrieked.
Hannah couldn’t get away quick enough. Lisbeth was cackling in her ears. “I was going to ask if she looked as jealous as she sounded, but never mind. I want to be mad at Jeremiah for that, but girl, you know the one thing they could never say about the Wilson women is our butts aren’t everything. Miss it, loser!”
Hannah couldn’t help but smile as her sister continued to cut up. Lisbeth didn’t stop until both of their husbands returned to her house.
“Hey, PB, I brought back your husband,” she heard Samuel greet her sister. Along with Daniel and another gentleman, he and Nigel had been playing racquetball.
“I have your wife on the phone.”
“Hey, Jagiya,” he called. Hearing his greeting made her smile. The sisters ended the call shortly after the arrival of the men.
Hannah had just finished putting the casserole dish in the oven when her husband arrived home. Before she could get her greeting out, he pulled her into his arms, then stole her breath with a kiss that curled her toes. She loved the way he greeted her.
“Dinner will be in about forty minutes.” She informed him once their kiss was done.
“Come shower with me.”
“I can tell you showered at the gym.” He smelled so good.
“What’s your point, woman?” He pulled her along to their washroom.
Afterwards, she held her breath as Samuel took his first bite. “It’s good Jagiya.”
“Are you sure?” The bite he had taken was small.
“Positive.” He assured her, taking a larger bite. She finally took a bite of the casserole herself. It was one of her best. Lisabeth made a good call. Hannah was positively beaming. When he took a second helping, she melted into her chair.
Things couldn’t be better. As their first Sunday Co-pastoring approached, the couple spent time in the church office. Mostly, they were very productive. The couple sharing ministering duties on the first Sunday. It was unorthodox, and Hannah had baulked at the suggestion, but she listened with an open mind. “I know it isn’t how things are usually done, but you can’t open new doors with old keys.” She found him sexy when he was serious. Okay, she found him sexy most times.
They worked well together. Their work ethic was similar, they could spend hours doing their studies. She initially objected to those breaks consisting of snuggles and pecks. Samuel enjoyed their little breaks.
“There is nothing wrong with us taking a few moments to show each other affection throughout the day. Besides, the door is closed.”
An incident with Corinth had Hannah believing they probably should lock the door. She knocked but was already opening the door before they could respond. The couple were locked in an embrace. Hannah would have jumped away, but Samuel held her firm. No embarrassment or anything. “We are the kind of couple you should probably wait for a response from before entering.”
Goodness this man! Hannah’s eyes opened comically before she partially covered her face.
“Yes Pastor. Sorry about that.” Corinth tried to conceal her smile. She shared some correspondence for their first day. Once she left, Hannah admonished her husband. “I can’t believe you told her that.” Samuel smiled and just shrugged. He was completely unbothered.
Hannah wished more than once that she could adopt her husband’s nonchalance. Especially on the first Sunday they were taking on their new roles. Despite picking out her outfit days in advance, she changed her mind the morning of. Then she frantically tried to select a replacement.
Samuel still insisted she have breakfast. He’d thoughtfully made her an omelet and home fries. It looked delicious. She didn’t have the heart to tell him it was doubtful she could get it down. They ended up having a standoff until she ate a few bites.
While she waited for service to start, she reviewed her notes, but the words were a jumbled mess. She attempted to block everything and everyone, including Samuel, out. Especially him. He looked so unbothered.
Hannah opened one of her desk drawers, looking for a highlighter, and her eyes landed on a small gift box. Aunty Letta had dropped it off a couple of days ago. She had thanked her godmother, not wanting to tell her that Samuel would never use the gift. Although Hannah felt today of all days, he should. It’s not that he didn’t look impeccable in his navy-blue suit and yellow shirt, but his attire didn’t fit his position.
Her nerves were soon forgotten. Hannah became fixated on the idea that Samuel should wear the tie Aunty Letta gifted him. She was conflicted, because he couldn’t have made it clearer how he felt about that particular accessory. He didn’t own any neckwear. None. She just couldn’t let it go. Her fixation turned to resentment. Trinity Covenant Church had never had a male pastor without a tie behind the lectern. Sometimes we had to do things we didn’t want to for the greater good. A part of her felt it wasn’t a good idea to follow this train of thought. Especially now, so shortly before the service was set to begin. She ignored the voice of reasoning.
Hannah removed the tie from the box and walked over to her husband’s desk. He was so engrossed in what he was doing, he didn’t immediately look up. “Hey, what’s up?” He smiled at her.
“Here, take this,” Hannah insisted, thrusting the tie towards Samuel.
“What is it?” His brow wrinkled in confusion.
“It’s a tie. You shouldn’t go out on the pulpit without one.”
“I told you I don’t wear ties. The only use I can think of for that thing is to tie you up with it. Tell me, Hannah, is that what you had in mind?” He flashed her a playful smile. Pushing away from the desk, he stood and reached for her waist.
Hannah stepped back out of his reach dramatically. “Stop that!” Her tone was scolding. “Can you take nothing seriously?”
Samuel’s smile disappeared, and his eyes narrowed. “Come again?” His tone held a warning that she mentally flipped off and continued.
She waved the tie she was still holding. “Why do you insist on flaunting every single tradition?”
Her husband inclined his head, looking at her as if attempting to figure out a puzzle. A myriad of emotions flashed across his face. When his anger morphed into concern, Hannah’s emotions washed over her like a tidal wave. Tears slid from her eyes. Samuel reached for her again, this time she failed to evade his hold. He circled her waist with his hands. “Hey, what’s the matter?”
“I just want you to wear this tie.” She whined. Then stomped her foot for good measure.
“It’s not going to happen.” He took the tie and shot it over his shoulder. “But you knew that. So, I’m asking again. What’s the matter?”
“I just?—”
Knock, knock. Knock, knock. The gentle wrapping interrupted her. “Pastors, it is time.” Corinth called.
“Please tell them we are going to need some time.” Samuel answered. “We’ll let you know when we are ready.”
“Why would you do that? We have to get out there.” She attempted to walk around him, and he halted her movements.
“We aren’t going anywhere until you talk to me. Much less out there, in the state you are in. Again, what’s the matter?”
“You’re right, I shouldn’t go out there.” A lone sob escaped. Her heart felt so heavy.
“Uh-uh. That isn’t what I said at all. Is this you not wanting to go out there today?”
“Of course, I don’t want to go out there.” It was the first time Hannah admitted it. She’d never even allowed herself to think it. “The last time I was out there, my life was destroyed. It was humiliating to be made a fool of. I can’t—” She broke off in a heart wrenching sob.
Samuel enveloped her in his arms. His warmth soothed her. “I know that must have hurt like hell, but I’ve got you.”
“Why do you keep saying that?” She hiccupped.
“Because I do.” He pulled back and kissed her forehead. “Listen, you can go out there with your head held high. I need you to hear me, when I tell you, you didn’t do anything wrong. You are well respected and loved because you are an amazing woman.”
Samuel spoke life into her soul. By the time they joined the service, hand in hand, Hannah felt free. Free of the past.