No Wasted Tears (36 page)

“Pastor, there is someone here to see you.” His secretary seemed nervous. “She insisted on following me in
here.”

Alexandra, always the efficient secretary, was upset. But when Adam saw Regina, he understood why. As she walked into his office, her eyes danced around the
room.

Turning around, her expression showed her annoyance. Her eyes darkened as she smiled. “That will be all, Alexandra. I promise not to bite
him.”

Adam knew his secretary and he could tell by the lines of tension forming around her eyes that Regina was getting on her nerves. It was only after he gave her a nod indicating
everything was fine that she turned to leave. He knew she didn’t like the way Regina presented
herself.

Regina dismissed Alexandra, stating, “She doesn’t seem very obedient.” Her eyes were not warm as she watched her leave. “Did she come with the
church?”

“Regina, that was not a very nice thing to say about Alexandra. She has been my personal assistant since coming to Greater Community.” He watched her now, remembering why he’d called off their engagement. She was a selfish and spoiled woman, nothing like
Destiny.

One of the first things he noticed was that she had changed her hair color to a rich auburn. Her thick curls went to her shoulders. She hadn’t gained any weight, still a slender woman. His gaze automatically moved over her figure. A blue silk blouse was tucked into a short gray skirt at her tiny waist, which accented her long legs. He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to figure out how to get rid of
her.

She moved gracefully as she took the time to look at all of his pictures and plaques on the walls around the room. After watching her for a few moments, Adam asked the obvious question. “Regina, what are you doing
here?”

“It’s been a while.” She walked toward him, stopping to grab his hands. “I’ve missed
you.”

He snatched his hands from hers. “How in the world did you find me
here?”

“Come on, Adam. You’ve got the fastest-growing church in the Northwest. You are known all over the country for your seminars on the dangers of the Internet for pastors. It wasn’t hard. You used to talk about Seattle all the time when we were engaged.” She bent toward him, but he dodged her kiss. Smiling, she moved to sit in one of his chairs, crossing her legs at the knee and swinging them slightly. Regina’s eyes twinkled with amusement as she slowly uncrossed her legs, the source of Adam’s
distraction.

“Daddy is in town for a revival, and since I was here, naturally I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to come see you. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about me in all of these years.” She smiled sweetly while twirling a curl around her
finger.

“Everyone in this city speaks highly of you and the things you’ve done in this community. From the gossip I’ve been hearing, you’re still very much a single pastor. I assume there must be a reason for that since we broke up years
ago.”

Adam couldn’t believe she was even discussing this with him. They were
finished.

“Adam, don’t you think it’s time our little break was over? I’ve forgiven you for leaving me, so now we can resume our relationship again. I presume you’ve realized the mistake you made when you left Atlanta…without
me.”

“Regina, what are you talking about?” He was staring at her as if she had suddenly grown two heads. “You are a piece of
work.”

“Adam, darling, let’s go have an early dinner, then we can talk after I have eaten. My throat is parched, and I haven’t eaten since earlier this morning.” She began to prance toward the door, not giving him time to
answer.

Adam trailed after her, searching for a way to get her to leave as soon as
possible.

Alexandra was at her desk when they walked out. She smiled at Regina, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Is there something I can do for you, Pastor
Wheeler?”

“Thank you, Alexandra. Is there still a tray of sandwiches in the kitchen from the Sunday school teachers’ meeting earlier?” he asked
her.

Standing, Alexandra turned, heading toward the kitchen. “Yes, there is. Would you like for me to fix you both something? I think there’s even some lemon cake and tea left. I’ll just be a
minute.”

When she returned with the sandwiches, Adam thanked her.
“This looks wonderful, Alexandra.” Adam pulled out two chairs as they sat down at the
table.

“No cake for me, please.” Regina smoothed down her blue silk blouse. “I’m trying to maintain my perfect size four.” Her fingers were busy smoothing out invisible wrinkles that only she could
see.

Alexandra discreetly rolled her eyes after she turned. Adam forced back a
laugh.

Wanting to get this lunch over with, Adam asked, “So how are your
parents?”

She sat opposite him, her nose crinkling at the sandwich and iced tea before her. Ignoring his question, she answered, “I came with Daddy, but it was you I really wanted to see. I’m here to convince you that we need to take up where we left
off.”

He watched as she pushed the tea glass away from her reach. “Why would I want to take up where we left off, Regina? You made it easy for me to understand that you wanted to stay in Atlanta when I wanted to come back home to
pastor.”

“And you’ve done a wonderful job. I’m not trying to take that away from you, but even my father, your mentor, feels it’s time you find a wife. Your church needs a first lady. It would be ridiculous of me to ask you to leave all of this now. Besides, Seattle is your home.” She turned in her chair when she heard Alexandra enter the dining room. “Please, come
here.”

Alexandra moved toward her. “Yes?”

“This tea is weak. I don’t drink weak tea. Just get me some water.”
She waved her hand and sniffed her nose in the
air.

“Here is your cake, Pastor Wheeler,” she said through gritted teeth, not taking her eyes off
Regina.

“Thank you.” Adam reached out and squeezed Alexandra’s hand.

“I’ll get you that water.” Alexandra snatched her unwanted tea glass. As she walked by her, she caused Regina’s chair to rock just a
bit.

“How rude,” Regina commented, straightening in the chair. “If I were your wife, she would be fired. Why is she still here with that
attitude?”

“You are not my wife, and as I stated earlier, she’s been here since I became pastor. She’s part of the Greater Community family. Please treat her with respect,” Adam
stated.

“Part of the family, huh? What about this Destiny woman I’ve heard so much about? Is she a part of the family as well?” She asked taking a sip of her
water.

“She is and what does that matter to you?” He
asked.

“I want us to be a family and she’s keeping that from
happening.”

Adam laughed. “Regina, are you
joking?”

“No, I’m serious. I could move here,” she responded while sipping her
water.

Sitting in this dining room with Regina was the last place Adam wanted to be. But he guessed for her that desperation was an unwelcome persuasion. Because in all of the years he knew her, she prided herself on needing no one. So for her being here with him showed she had to be desperate. He didn’t care if she did want him back. There was no going back down that road. Adam had heard rumors that things had not been going well at home for
her.

Adam’s heart was thudding against his chest. He rose abruptly because he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
The nerv
e of this woman! Cou
ldn’t she take a hin
t?
She was determined to drag him back into what he had walked away from years ago. And the worst part was that now Destiny seemed not to need him as
well.

“Look, Regina, I have a lot to do today. It was great seeing you again, but what we had all those years ago is over. I’ve moved on. I’m sure you understand there’s no going back for us. Now if you’re finished, I’ll ask Alexandra to show you
out.”

Stunned, Regina pushed back her chair abruptly and stared into the eyes of Adam Wheeler. He walked toward the door where she’d hoped to make her escape without being any more embarrassed than she already was. He’d pay for this. She’d make sure of it. He closed the door behind
him.

“Walking away again. You do that well!” she yelled with a mocking smile on her
face.

Regina kept her head held high and tried to appear calm while her insides quivered uncontrollably. She walked past Alexandra in the hallway; she didn’t need anyone to show her out. She’d foolishly hoped that Adam had been pining after her since he hadn’t married. But now she’d seen the foolishness in
that.

She couldn’t deny how handsome Adam still was. He’d looked good this morning, standing in a pair of black trousers and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked older, more mature, and those eyes…she’d never forget the way they used to soften when he looked at her. Nor would she forget that day, all those years ago, when she’d allowed him to walk away from her. “I…this was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come today, but soon I’ll have the last word,” she said on a
breath.

Chapter 35

“Aren’t you glad to see me?” Stanley brushed past Destiny to walk further into the house. “I thought I’d save you a trip to my hotel.” He plopped down in one of the side chairs in the
room.

Destiny left the door open on purpose and turned to look at Stanley. A jolt of unexpected adrenaline sizzled through her veins; she walked over to stand across from him as he tried to scare her with his sullen facial expression. He immediately put his legs on the coffee table, crossing
them.

“Could you please take your legs off the table?” Destiny looked sternly at him. “Make me.” He said getting up from the chair. He walked toward her, causing her to miss a step as she moved backward, stumbling and loosing her balance on a magazine stand on the floor. She tried to regain her
balance.

Stanley took a glanced around the room without offering to assist her, wrinkling his nose. “So you gave up living in my mansion for this? Looks to me like a dump but I guess it’s what you’re comfortable
with.”

After steadying herself she blurted out, “What are you doing here? I thought you were sick
earlier.”

He smirked again. “Sick of being played for a fool. I was glad to get a tip that you were
here.”

She gaped at him. “But
who?”

“Some woman, Regina something-or-other.” Stanley went on; he was practically beaming at her. “Seems like you may have made some
enemies.”

Destiny had no idea who could hate her that much to contact Stanley. But more importantly, who knew him other than her family? They wouldn’t have betrayed
her.

Shoving those thoughts aside, Destiny met his eyes. “I don’t want any problems with you. I just want to move on with my life. You don’t want me so why don’t you go back to South Carolina and do whatever it was you were doing since I’ve been
gone.”

“So now you’re giving me instructions?” He chuckled. “I don’t think so, Destiny. We’re going back together, to get married. And trust me, if you don’t you’ll be amply punished for the embarrassment you’ve caused
me.”

“Embarrassment?” A wave of anger slammed into her. For the first time, the sight of his face didn’t frighten her. And his sheer nerve made her want to go toe to toe with him, but for now she just wanted him out of her
home.

“It’s over, Stanley. I was a fool for getting involved and moving in with you. But I’m not the same girl I was all of those years ago. I refuse to put up with you for even another
second.”

“Who do you think you are? You’re absolutely nobody! Do you hear me? Nobody!” He laughed again, taking a step toward
her.