Free Ex-Terminator Life After Marriage by Suzetta Perkins Page A

and nearly bumped into her pastor.
    “My, Sister St. James, we’re in a bit of a hurry,” Pastor Orlando Goodwin said.
    “I’m so sorry, Pastor. My mind was on what I needed at the moment so I could hurry up and get out of here. I really enjoyed the sermon this morning.”
    “Well, thank you, Sister. And how have you been doing? I haven’t talked with you much, especially since your divorce.”
    “I’ve been doing pretty good. I have a support group that started, and I think it’s going to be a great help to me as well as others.”
    “Umm, a support group for divorced women. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but quite a few of our young people are opting for divorce instead of trying to make a go of their marriage. It’s so sad.”
    “I know. Marriage doesn’t seem to have the same staying power it did in our parents’ generation.”
    “You’ve got me to thinking. I’d like for you to stop by my office next week. Call my secretary, Louise, and make an appointment. I think you can be an asset to the young women in our church.”
    “Okay, Pastor. I’ll do that. Have a good day, and give my regards to Sister Goodwin.”
    “I will.”
    Sylvia watched Pastor Goodwin until he wheeled his cart off the row. A smile illuminated her face as she stood in the middle of the aisle digesting his request. He’s going to ask me to start a support group at church, she thought. She barely had her own life together, but if this was God’s way to help her through her trials, she was going to let Him help. She felt good and wheeled her cart to the frozen food section.
    “Dessert to top it off,” she said aloud to no one.
    Sylvia leaned over the refrigerated bin and pulled out a Turtle Pie—full of calories and chocolate.
    “Dessert would be nice,” came a familiar voice that made Sylvia nearly topple over into the bin.
    Catching herself, Sylvia turned in the direction of the voice and saw the finest piece of hard chocolate candy standing in front of her. He wore a white Armani suit and a white fedora sat on his head. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark glasses, and his sexy smile was framed by a neatly trimmed mustache.
    “Excuse me?” Sylvia asked in a much too sexy voice.
    “I like dessert, Sylvia.”
    “No, it couldn’t be.”
    “I’m surprised you don’t recognize my voice. The familiar will always be the familiar.”
    “All right, enough of the psychology lesson, Kenny . I’ve got to finish my grocery shopping.”
    “How are you doing?”
    “I’m doing okay.”
    “How’s that husband of yours? What’s his name?” Kenny snapped his fingers.
    “Adonis,” Sylvia snapped.
    “Yeah, yeah…cat from up North. Adonis. Strange name for—”
    “That’s enough, Kenneth.”
    “Well, how are you and your old man doing?”
    “We aren’t.” Kenny stood at attention. “We have been divorced for awhile.”
    Kenny ran his eyes over Sylvia’s body once again. His staring made Sylvia a little uncomfortable.
    “I was wondering why a man would have his beautiful wife out shopping for food on a day like today. If you were my woman, we’d be sitting in a nice restaurant sipping on our second glass of Chardonnay, waiting on our steaks.”
    Sylvia stood still with a smirk on her face and hand on her hip as she listened to Mr. Kenneth Richmond spout out what he would do and what she shouldn’t being doing.
    “And I guess you aren’t with anybody since you just happen to be in the store, also, Mr. Richmond.”
    Kenny laughed. “Busted. You look well…uhhh, more than well.”
    Sylvia shifted and placed her hands on the handle of her cart.
    “You in a hurry? It’s been…what…twenty years since I’ve seen you?”
    “Yes, I am in a hurry.”
    “To go where?”
    “That’s none of your business.”
    “Slow down, my love. Just excited about seeing you after all this time. I just returned to the city a little over a month ago. Ran into Rachel’s ex, and he gave me the rundown. You sisters know