Open Door Marriage (27 page)

“
You don
’
t even eat that much!
”
he protested.

Alicia went to the table and lifted the foil and inhaled the sweet scent of peach cobbler.
“
Well, at least you brought enough dessert.
”

“
I have to
share
?
”
he said in a playful whine.

Alicia gave him a startled look that made him laugh.

Chapter 28

Monday, December 31
—
8:09 a.m.

Fort
Worth, Texas

Dallas pulled into the freshly paved lot of a set of red brick structures that stretched about a half mile down Christ Lane.

He crossed the grounds and went in through the side doors, passing the donors
’
wall and glass-encased trophies along the way.

A platinum blonde, breast-baring secretary sat behind the huge desk that served as a gateway to the pastor
’
s domain. If she thought wearing that type of body-hugging dress was going to land her an even better position
—
like First Lady, for example
—
then she was in for a rude awakening. Reverend Braxton had been with his high school sweetheart for over forty years. The likelihood of him slipping off with a woman barely out of diapers was about the same as someone winning the lottery without purchasing a ticket.

“
Hello, Helen,
”
Dallas said.

She looked up from the set of manila folders in her hand and smiled.
“
Oh, it
’
s you,
”
she said softly, blinking her eyes in a fashion she probably believed made her appear innocent. But he knew better. This woman had been on the manhunt trail with both guns blazing.

“
You can go right in,
”
Helen said, gesturing to the oak door behind her.
“
Reverend Braxton
’
s expecting you.
”

Dallas tossed the water bottle in the trash and could feel her eyes on him as he walked past. When he turned and saw her checking out his rear end, her eyes widened. She dropped the folders, jerked her attention to the computer and stabbed at the keys.

“
You wanted to see me?
”
Dallas asked, poking his head inside the door. He scanned the area to see if they were alone, and then fixed his gaze on an ebony man with kind eyes, a broad nose and a mouth framed by laugh lines created by age and a wonderful sense of humor. Reverend Braxton had lost a few pounds and was sporting a new haircut, trimmed up mustache and goatee, along with a savvy two-piece suit. Very GQ. Someone had stepped up their game.

“
Thank you for coming, Dallas.
”
Reverend Braxton gestured to one of the leather wing-backed chairs that flanked his desk.
“
Have a seat.
”

Dallas settled in and took a good look around. The office was decked out with a cedar wood desk, the scent of which permeated the entire office, plush maroon carpet, and cherry wood walls and shelving, which was home to a vast spiritual library. It was a drastic departure from that cracker box of an office at the previous place.

Reverend Braxton pointed the remote and switched off the flat screen television.
“
So, how
’
re things?
”

“
Pretty good. How about you and Sister Braxton?
”

“
Fine,
”
he answered softly.

The reverend
’
s grimace made Dallas hone in on the man. Never was there a time when the mention of his wife failed to bring on a smile to his face.

“
And your mother?
”
Reverend Braxton continued.

“
She
’
s doing all right.
”
Dallas narrowed his gaze on the man. Dots of perspiration were on his forehead. The only time that happened was when the man was full blown into the heat of a sermon, sliding across the pulpit, channeling his inner James Brown.

“
And your father?
”

Yes, his father. A very good question indeed. He almost wanted to answer,
“
Which one?
”
Dallas had lunch with his mother prior to setting foot in church today. She had told him about Paul Alexander and had even taken things one step further, slipping him a sheet with a phone number and address as she said,
“
Paul wants to meet you. Any time you
’
re ready.
”

Dallas made the call from the church parking lot. Now he was all set to have his first visit with his biological father right after this meeting. He looked his pastor in the eye,
“
Reverend…
”
Dallas crossed one leg over the other,
“
no disrespect. I like small talk as much as the next guy, but why am I here?
”

The pastor nodded, sighing as he did so.
“
I always liked you, Dallas. You
’
re a straight shooter. Even on free throws,
”
he said, grinning at his own pun.

Dallas gave him a patient half-smile.

Reverend Braxton moved from behind the desk and perched on the edge nearest Dallas.
“
The recent …
”
he cleared his throat.
“
The recent
exploits
pertaining to your relationships are not becoming of a good Christian man, a man of faith, a man of honor. Fornication is a sin.
”
Then, he nodded as though agreeing that he had made his point.
“
You need to bring Tori here to my office so I can marry you in a civil ceremony right away; then y
’
all can have that big fancy wedding later.
”

Dallas centered his thoughts and stayed silent, formulating his response.

Reverend Braxton cleared his throat again.
“
And that second woman, Dallas? You
’
re going to have to stop having relations with her.
”

Dallas paused before answering, deciding on how ticked off he should be with Pops for calling the pastor about all of this. Funny how Pops could never find time to see the pastor when he was doing his own dirt.

“
Are you going to poll every single member and ask them about their sex life?
”
Dallas asked.

The pastor
’
s weathered brow furrowed as though he wasn
’
t expecting Dallas to lay down any type of defense.
“
No, but you
’
re one of our most visible members, an ambassador for our church. A role model for our teens.
”

Dallas cocked his head.
“
And whose idea was that? You know, for me to be
‘
the most visible and a role model.
’”
He jutted his thumb toward his chest.
“
I
never wanted to be anyone
’
s role model. I play ball and invest in people, progress and pleasure
—
exactly in that order.
”

The reverend
’
s lips twisted in a frown, and his eyes narrowed to slits.

“
Pastor, I come to this church because I love the choir,
”
Dallas began. Realizing that was probably insulting, he quickly added,
“
and your sermons
—
I come for those, too. But I didn
’
t come with the intention of being the face of this church. I wanted to be like any other regular church member.
”

He scanned to the photos of the pastor shaking hands with various celebrities, accepting checks to benefit one of the many much-needed programs of the church.
“
I remember you giving me a half-hour-long
‘
to whom much is given, much is required
’
speech. So I shelled out the money for a whole new set of structures when we were in a building that could barely hold a hundred people.
”

“
Well, money isn
’
t the only thing I meant when I said
‘
much is required
’
.
”

Dallas fingered the crease of his black slacks.
“
You were the one who insisted on putting me out front, saying the publicity would be good for the church. And from what my father tells me, it helped you to land some additional grants for the after-school program, the etiquette classes, woodshop and the computer lab.
”

Dallas glanced out of the only window in the office, which overlooked the solarium terrace, where several senior citizens were seated at café rounds enjoying an afternoon game of Bid Whist.

“
When I come through these doors, it
’
s to give respect to the Man Upstairs. And I pay my tithes just like everyone else. So I
’
ll give you my bottom line.
”
Dallas looked back to the pastor, who had pulled out a well-worn Bible, gearing up for an unwanted round two.
“
If what I
’
m doing is hurting the church so much, I don
’
t mind giving up all the rest of the responsibilities you
’
ve placed on me. Being a regular member has always been fine with me.
”

Reverend Braxton rubbed his hand over the leather cover of the gold leaf edition Bible.
“
You know what the Good Book says about fornication. It says that sex before marriage is a sin. That
’
s why I counseled Tori that you both should wait for marriage before entering into a sexual union.
”

Dallas mulled over those words.
“
Well, if we
’
re going to be honest, I think a good majority of your congregation is doing more listening than believing in that part of your sermons.
”

“
We
’
re not talking about everyone else,
”
Reverend Braxton shot back.

“
Here
’
s the deal.
”
Dallas uncrossed his legs and inched to the edge of his seat,
“
if you
’
re going to call one of us on it, then call everyone in and let
’
s do a group session. I
’
d be down for that.
”

Reverend Braxton
’
s eyes flashed with frustration.
“
Dallas, your situation is a little different than people just having sex. You
’
re getting into a polygamous relationship! If you
’
re going to continue in that kind of relationship, Dallas, then I
’
ll have to insist that you not come back to service until you
’
re ready to follow the dictates of the Bible.
”

Dallas settled back in the chair and gave his pastor a long hard look.

“
I realize you
’
re upset
—
”

“
Oh, I
’
m not upset,
”
Dallas said, giving him a wicked smile that caused the older man to stiffen.
“
I
’
m about to call it the way I see it. I understand the position my lifestyle puts the church in, so I
’
ll just catch you on television from here on out.
”

“
I
’
m not saying you should leave the church altogether,
”
Reverend Braxton said, getting to his feet.
“
I
’
m just saying
—
”

Dallas
’
smiled widened, and it caused the pastor to fall silent.
“
I
’
m not leaving
the
church, Reverend Braxton, I
’
m just leaving
this
church. I have a personal relationship with God, whether I set foot in a building or not. I
’
ve always known that.
”

Reverend Braxton put a hand on Dallas
’
shoulder.
“
Is she
—
I mean, that other woman
—
worth losing your soul
’
s salvation?
”