Jezebel (20 page)

“You misunderstood the conversation. I'm not hav—”

Jessie Belle held up her hand. “I'm not stupid, Richard. I heard everything. You're planning to see her tomorrow night after you get home. You told her about Mary Ellen's job offer…. I also heard you say how excited you are about the
baby
.”

The color in Richard's face drained.

“A baby, Richard? You wouldn't let Mary Ellen have children with you, but you go and get your mistress pregnant. You're disgusting!”

“I don't want to hurt my wife.”

“Too late,” Jessie Belle uttered.

“What are you going to do now?” he asked.

“I'm not doing a thing. I think you should be honest with Mary Ellen. She deserves to know the truth. Richard, you don't have to worry about her. She has the job she's always wanted and she'll be here in Raleigh.”

“I love my wife and I don't want to lose her. I'm trying to figure out a way to work all this out. I just need time.”

Jessie Belle shook her head. “If you loved Mary Ellen, then you wouldn't have done all this to her. Let her go, Richard.”

“Didn't you hear me? I don't want to lose my wife.”

“Mary Ellen deserves to be happy. She can be happy here in Raleigh. She doesn't need to stay in Atlanta to have Amelia and your child thrown in her face at every turn.”

“I can't just turn my back on my child, Jessie Belle. I messed up big-time. I know it. But I just need some time. Mary Ellen and I can work through this.”

“You want both of them…. Richard, that's not the way it works. You can't have Mary Ellen and Amelia.”

“Why not? It's not like it's your decision.”

“Shall we go find out?” Jessie Belle headed to the door. “I'll go get Mary Ellen.”

Richard jumped up. “No.”

“Convince Mary Ellen that you're happy for her and that you want her to take the job, Richard. She can work up here in Raleigh while you remain in Atlanta. This way, you can have the best of both worlds. She'll never have to know about Amelia and your child.”

“I used to think you and Traynor were good for each other, but now I see that I was wrong. Does your husband know that he has a snake in his Garden of Eden?”

“I
guess with Mary Ellen moving up here in a couple of weeks, you're gonna be a happy woman,” Traynor stated. “I know how much you miss having your best friend nearby.”

Jessie Belle broke into a grin. “I'm glad she took the job. I trust Mary Ellen with my life. I can't say that about a lot of other people.”

“She's good people. I hope that Richard will be able to find something at one of the colleges here. Being apart can cause problems in a marriage.”

“They'll be fine,” Jessie Belle replied. “Richard's just as excited as Mary Ellen is now. He loves her and he really wants her to be happy.”

“I'm so glad they were able to come together on this. I didn't want it putting a strain on their marriage.”

It won't. Richard's happy because he can have both women in his life. Mary Ellen's planning to drive down every other weekend and he'll come up the other times.

“What are you smiling about?” Traynor inquired.

“Just thinking how nice it's going to be with Mary Ellen here in Raleigh. We're going to have a blast.” Jessie Belle gave Traynor a sidelong glance. “You sure you don't mind her staying with us until she finds her own place?”

“It's fine with me,” he responded.

“I can hardly wait for her to get here. I really believe she's going to be very happy here. Getting away from Richard is what she needs.”

Traynor glanced up. “Why do you say that?”

“I just mean that she and Richard need some space right now. I don't know what he's told you, but their marriage is on shaky ground. Don't get me wrong, Richard feels the same way she does—they think being apart is best right now. They haven't given up on their marriage, Traynor. They just want some time away from each other.”

“I had a feeling something was going on between them,” Traynor stated. “I don't know…. Maybe Mary Ellen should reconsider relocating.”

“No, she shouldn't,” Jessie Belle quickly interjected. “She's doing the right thing by coming to North Carolina.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I can feel it.”

She could tell Traynor wasn't convinced, so Jessie Belle changed the conversation to a more neutral subject.

“Gladys Dunbar asked me to give her daughter piano lessons,” she announced. “I'm thinking about doing it.”

He smiled. “That's great. As much as you love playing the piano, why is it you never wanted to buy a new one?”

“I'd like to get one,” she confessed. “A black baby grand. It's just not a priority for me right now. We have the one Mama gave us—it's fine for now.”

Since Traynor was staying home today to take care of overdue home maintenance, he offered to watch Holt so that Jessie Belle could have some time for herself.

Jessie Belle left the house an hour later to meet Sara for lunch.

“It's so good to see you,” she said when they met at the restaurant. “I'm sorry I wasn't at the last luncheon. We've been so busy with Traynor traveling and my volunteering at the preschool.”

“I understand,” Sara murmured with a smile. “Life happens.”

Jessie Belle eyed Sara. She couldn't put a finger on it, but something just didn't seem right with her. “How have you been?”

Sara's smile disappeared. “I've been diagnosed with breast cancer, Jessie Belle.”

“Oh my goodness…”

“Jessie Belle, I know what the doctors have told me, but as you know, God is the ultimate healer. I am going to believe His report.”

She admired Sara's courage and told her so.

They talked about shopping, children and their husbands while they enjoyed their meals.

After lunch, they promised to keep in close contact.

“Jessie Belle, don't forget to do monthly breast exams,” Sara advised. “Maybe if I'd done mine…who knows…?”

She gave Sara a hug. “You call me if you need anything. Prayer, a shoulder—anything.”

“Sara Hamilton has breast cancer,” Jessie Belle told Traynor as soon as she walked into their house. “I can't believe it.”

“Did they catch it in time?”

“She didn't say exactly, but I don't think so. Sara just seemed kind of resigned to whatever.” Jessie Belle put a hand to her face, wiping away a tear. “I can't believe it. Life is too short.”

Traynor agreed.

“That's why we have to make the most of whatever time we have on this earth. I don't plan on wasting a moment of it, Traynor. I'm getting everything I can before I die.”

“Jessie Belle…”

She held up her hand to stop him. “No, Traynor. I mean it. I'm going after everything I want in life. When it's my time to die—I don't plan on having any regrets.”

Traynor woke up ten minutes before the alarm went off.

He climbed out of bed and padded barefoot into the sitting room. Every morning he went there to spend some quiet time with the Lord before Jessie Belle and Holt got up.

Traynor wanted nothing more than to just preach the Gospel. Nothing else really mattered to him outside of his relationship with God, his family and his ministry. He was pretty content with his life.

He wished Jessie Belle could share in that contentment. It was his greatest desire.

Traynor was concerned about her reaction to Sara's bout with cancer. It seemed that Jessie Belle was determined more than ever to achieve her dreams that he become the superstar pastor. That wasn't his dream, but she didn't seem to understand that.

When Jessie Belle woke up an hour later, he was doing his Bible study. They were cordial, but Traynor felt like something had changed in their relationship.

He felt alone.

Before now, Traynor couldn't put a name to it. But the truth was that he and Jessie Belle were growing apart.

Over breakfast he tried to talk to his wife about their marriage. “Sweetheart, are you happy?” Traynor wanted to know.

Jessie Belle sipped her hot tea. “Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?”

“I'm referring to our marriage.”

She set down the cup and said, “So was I, Traynor.”

“I feel like we've grown apart over the past few months.”

She gazed at him. “I don't agree. Unless there's something you need to tell me. I take it you're not happy.”

Jessie Belle was acting defensive. When she was like that, it was hard to talk to her, so he shut down.

“I don't think we can do this now,” Traynor stated. “I need to get dressed, but let's talk tonight.”

“You start this conversation and now you want to just walk out,” Jessie Belle stated. “What's going on, Traynor?”

“There's nothing going on,” he responded.

“Then why would you ask me if I'm happy?”

“I wanted to know,” Traynor stated. “I need to get ready for work, Jessie Belle. We can finish this tonight.”

“Whatever…”

Traynor went to work, his thoughts on his six-year-old marriage.

As soon as he walked into his office, fifteen minutes later, Traynor's thoughts shifted to his church administrative duties.

Traynor's attention was torn away from the sermon he was writing when his secretary knocked on the door. He glanced up and gestured for her to enter.

“I'm going out to get something to eat. Would you like me to pick up some food for you?”

He glanced up at the clock on the wall. It was half past noon. “Are you going by the deli?”

She smiled and nodded. “Their special today is the Reuben and a bowl of soup—I believe it's the broccoli and cheese.”

Traynor broke into a grin. “I'll take the special.” Serena knew that he loved Sanford Deli's Reuben sandwich and the broccoli and cheese soup.

Their eyes met and held.

Confused, Traynor dropped his eyes.

Lately, he'd been experiencing conflicting feelings for his secretary. Although he tried to dismiss it, Traynor had a strong suspicion that she felt the same way. He kept telling himself that he was happy in his marriage.

Wasn't he?

Truth be told, Traynor couldn't deny that if it weren't for Holt, his marriage probably would've ended a long time ago. He loved Jessie Belle, but there were times when he felt they had two different agendas.

An image of Serena formed in his mind. She paled in contrast to his wife, but he felt like he had a lot more in common with Serena.

Serena actually listened to him when he talked and she seemed to value his opinion. Once Jessie Belle made up her mind to do something—there was no stopping her.

Despite her faults, Jessie Belle is my wife
.

Yet he had feelings for Serena.

Traynor tried to shake the thoughts of his secretary from his mind. He had no right to Serena.

She returned with the food.

They settled themselves in the conference room down the hall.

Traynor found himself enjoying his conversation with Serena more than he should. He bit into his sandwich.

“Pastor, is something troubling you?”

Swallowing, Traynor shook his head. “No. Everything's fine.”

She smiled.

“I noticed that you're reading James Patterson's book
The Thomas Berryman Number
. How is it?” he asked.

“It's wonderful. It's been out for a few years, but I love his books. I'd never read it before.”

“I'm a big fan of his work, too.”

They finished their lunch.

Serena rose to her feet. “It's almost time for your appointment with Pastor Danforth. Do you want me to just send him in?”

“That'll be fine.”

“The phone's ringing,” she said. “I'd better go do my job.”

“Thanks for lunch, Serena.”

She turned and nearly ran into Jessie Belle, who was standing in the doorway.

“Mrs. D-Deveraux, I didn't see you s-standing there,” Serena stammered. “I didn't mean to walk right into you like that.”

Jessie Belle smiled and said, “It's okay, Serena. No harm done.”

Serena left the conference room.

“I came by to see if you wanted to have lunch, but I guess you've already eaten.”

Traynor felt a thread of guilt slide down his spine. “Serena was going out and she offered to pick up something for me.”

“How sweet.”

“It was just lunch,” Traynor responded. “She picks food up for me from time to time.”

“You don't have to be so defensive, Traynor. I guess I'll be seeing you at home, then,” Jessie Belle responded. “You
will
be joining us for dinner, right?”

“Jessie Belle, don't start acting like a jealous wife. There's no need—Serena is my secretary.”

“I'm not worried about her. I've never been an insecure woman, Traynor. I'm simply asking if you plan on eating dinner with me and your son.”

Traynor hated when she talked to him this way. “I'll be home in time for dinner,” he stated.

Jessie Belle eyed him for a moment before saying, “I'll let you get back to work. We'll talk when you get home.”

Traynor gave a slight nod.

Although Jessie Belle denied it, she was jealous, but he didn't want her taking it out on Serena.

Jessie Belle was fit to be tied.

That little wench was after her husband. She wasn't a fool. Jessie Belle could see as clear as day that Serena had the hots for Traynor. What bothered her more was Traynor's attraction to his secretary.

It's not gonna happen
, she vowed.
There's no way I'm gonna let that little plain Jane take Traynor from me. I'll see her dead before I let that happen
.

Jessie Belle climbed into her Mercedes and drove home.

She found Mary Ellen and Holt playing in the yard when she pulled up.

“What's wrong, Jessie Belle?”

“I think Traynor's thinking about having an affair.”

Mary Ellen was shocked. “Thinking about having an affair…Jessie Belle, where in the world did you get that from?”

“I just caught him having lunch with his secretary.”

“I don't think that's so unusual,” Mary Ellen stated. “Richard and his assistant are always having lunch together. They work together. Sometimes they eat dinner together if they're working late.”

Jessie Belle bit her bottom lip to keep from blurting out that Richard and his assistant were having a baby together.