Free The Pastor's Wife by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

“Do you even know anything about this woman? Setting Terrance up with a doggone atheist!”
    “Sh…she’s a nice girl and I know her grandmother, Bettye. And she definitely never said anything about her granddaughter being an atheist,” Eva stuttered.
    “Probably because she was too ashamed,” Dorothy Mae replied.
    “Well, whatever the case, I can’t do anything with a woman who doesn’t believe in God,” Terrance repeated as he leaned back in his chair.
    “That’s why you should’ve gone out with Rosolyn,” Mamie proclaimed.
    Terrance cut his eyes. “Who is Rosolyn?” He shook his head. “Wait, never mind, I don’t even want to know.”
    Mamie eased into the seat next to Terrance, a devilish look across her face. “Well, since you asked. She is only that beautiful young woman I invited to dinner, the one you barely talked to because Savannah was pawing all over you. She is as sweet as the day is long, and I think you two would make a perfect couple.”
    Terrance sighed. “I just said, no more dates.” Terrance contemplated reiterating that with more force, then decided he knew the best way to shut their whole matchmaking service down. “Besides, I think Savannah and I are growing closer.” He ignored the immediate groans from all three women.
    “Terrance, please,” Eva pleaded. “She is just…”
    “Just what? Aren’t we all imperfect in some form or fashion?”
    “But she takes imperfection to a whole new level,” Mamie muttered.
    Terrance stood. After that disastrous date with Claire, he’d decided maybe he needed to actually focus on giving Savannah a chance. He was tired of this whole dating scene, and that was definitely to Savannah’s benefit.
    “Sorry, ladies. This is a done issue. You might as well get to know Savannah because it looks like she’ll be sticking around.”
    Terrance ignored the disgusted looks on his aunts’ faces. While he hoped they’d give Savannah a chance, something told him the likelihood of that actually happening was a long shot.

chapter 16
    “O kay, you can stop laughing now.” Terrance pretended like he was pouting as Raquel doubled over with laughter. They were at her desk, which sat in the massive lobby of his office suite. He hadn’t got a chance to talk to her after church yesterday because she’d rushed out as soon as service was over.
    “I’m sorry,” Raquel said, wiping her eyes. “I’m just envisioning the look on your face as she said she didn’t believe in God.”
    “As you can imagine, it wasn’t pretty.”
    “Well, at least you paid for dinner.”
    “Don’t you have some work to do?” Terrance joked. She was finding this just a little too funny. “Did the save-the-date cards for the Christmas celebration come in?”
    Raquel let her laughter die down as she nodded. “They did, although I still don’t understand why we’re sending them out three months in advance.”
    Terrance let out a small laugh in defeat. “You pick and choose your battles. The auxiliary committee was adamant about getting the word out early. That was one battle that just wasn’t worth fighting, especially with Aunt Eva in charge of publicity.”
    “I guess you have a point there.” Raquel held up a piece of paper. “Well, I have the list and am doing the mail-outs today.”
    Terrance smiled as he leaned over Raquel’s desk and glanced at the paper. “Why did I know you’d be on top of things?” He squeezed her shoulder in a friendly gesture.
    Raquel grimaced as she lowered her shoulder. “Ooouch!” She immediately looked like she wished she could take the word back.
    Terrance took a step back, his eyes wide. He had barely touched her. “A…Are you okay?”
    Raquel tried to compose herself. “I’m fine. Just a little sore, that’s all.” She started trying to busy herself with the papers on her desk. “I’ve been having these muscle cramps and I really need to go see a doctor. Matter of fact, I think I’ll make an appointment