Chapter 1: Chapter 1
The pastor's wife was sitting in her chair in the back row, her legs stretched out in front of her, her heels firmly plantedIt was a Sunday morning and the man was dressed in his best. He had a full head of thick, dark hair and a neatly groomed go I need to pray," he said, voice cracking. "Pardon me."
He shuffled towards the pulpit, careful not to spill his coffee, and bowed his head. The smell of the incense made him feel sick.He had a tight chest and a pounding headache.
"Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for this food. We pray that whomever is hungry may be filled. Amen." As he said the last words, tears forced themselves to his eyes. It was the only prayer he said in his thirty years as a pastor.He had been so focused on the needs of his congregation that he hadn't thought about his own needs.
"Pardon me," he said again to the empty pew in front of him. "I need to pray." His voice cracked as he prayed for his health, his family, and the well-being of the congregation.Auntie Emmie, who was sitting next to him, patted his shoulder. "Poor thing," she said, "praying like that must be hard on him."
"Does it look like I'm doing well?" the pastor snapped, wiping his eyes with his sleeve. "Look at me! I'm a wreck!"
Emmie gave a wan smile."You've always been like that, Jim."
"Always? I've been like this for the past twelve months. I can't even get a date to save my life. What kind of woman do you think I am? A virgin? God’s Blood! I have needs you know. Desperately needs. And where do I turn?To my husband, the pastor. He is the only one who can help me. He is the only one who can give me what I need. "Husband? You mean you and your husband sleep in the same bed? And you call yourself a pastor's wife?" Auntie Emmie raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips in what could almost be considered a smile."Well, now I know why you don't have a date. You're too busy sleeping with your husband to even have time for a date. "
"How dare you!" the pastor spluttered, face red, eyes bulging. "How dare you accuse me of being unfaithful! This is my wife you are talking about! She is the mother of my children!