LITMIR.BIZ

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Landris bit down slightly on his bottom lip and grinned even more. He touched the back of the chair, as though he needed to do something to keep that one hand occupied. “Well, now, Mrs. Landris, I must confess—I have it bad for you. Only for you.”

      “Landris, you need to stop,” Johnnie Mae Landris said, fanning at him while trying to keep her voice in check. “You would think after being married for three years—”

      “It won’t officially be three years until Wednesday.” He grinned, his eyes again performing a quick scan of her petite body from head to toe as he slowly shook his head.

      She smiled at him as he watched her before she swatted him playfully. “I told you, you need to stop.”

      “What?” he asked innocently.

      “Flirting with me in public.” Johnnie Mae continued to blush. She waved at someone walking out of the door who waved good-bye to her. The crowd that had originally filled the room earlier that night, was now down to a handful.

      “But you’re my wife. It’s perfectly acceptable for me to flirt with my wife, isn’t it?” Pastor Landris rubbed his well-trimmed goatee. He looked down at his black patent leather Prada boots before looking back up at her.

      “There’s also a time and a place for everything.”

      “‘To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…’”

      “Yes, Mr. Walking Bible, and there’s ‘a time to love.’ In a church facility, in front of people, immediately after a lovely banquet given by members and friends of the church, is neither the time nor the place,” Johnnie Mae said as she began to sashay away in her beautiful Prussian-blue, beaded evening gown. She needed to hug a few more people and thank them for their contribution to such an unforgettable evening.

      “I suppose this means we have a date for later tonight, then?” he yelled at her, a little louder than he’d intended. Quickly, he looked around to see if anyone had overheard him. His eyes were immediately met by those of a woman who had recently become a member of their congregation.

      “Good evening, Pastor Landris.”

      “Sister Morrell.”

      “Oh, please—I’ve asked you several times to call me Faith. Sister Morrell just sounds so stiff and formal.” She smiled.

      “As you prefer—Faith.”

      “I just wanted to personally congratulate you and Mrs. Landris on your wedding anniversary.” She pointed to the banner on the back wall that read: September 8, 2001 to 2004—Only The Beginning of Something Beautiful. “Three years is a long time to be with one person.”

      “Not really. Not when the ultimate joy will be celebrating our golden anniversary.”

      “Then I probably should say that three years would be a long time for me. But I suppose had I been as fortunate as Johnnie Mae to have married someone as wonderful as you—”

      “Excuse me, but I believe you have it all wrong.”

      A puzzled smile came across her face. “I’m sorry. I have it all wrong?”

      “Yes. You see, Johnnie Mae is not the fortunate one here at all—I am,” he said with pride. “I am so blessed to have found such a woman to share my life—three years with her has been more like three minutes. ‘Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.’ As far as I’m concerned, our happiness together now is merely a small hint of what is yet to come.”

      Faith’s face quickly fell. “Oh,” she said, a little disappointed, then recovering her pleasant demeanor. “That is so sweet!” Pure honey seemed to drip from her lips. “You two are blessed! So blessed. Congratulations again.”

      “Well, Sister Mor…I mean, Faith. Thank you. I’ll be sure and tell Mrs. Landris.”

      “Please do. I was hoping to catch up with her before she left.” She pretended to be earnestly searching, glancing at the few people still chatting in small groups. “I’m sorry we missed each other, but I must be heading home now. My sister, Hope, wasn’t feeling well when I left, and I don’t want her waiting up too late.”

      “Your sister is under the weather? I wondered why she hadn’t come to the banquet. Hope worked so tirelessly, helping to put this together.”

      “Oh, it’s nothing too serious. She was having some difficulty breathing earlier today. Probably just another one of the panic attacks that she’s been known to have from time to time. Charity is keeping an eye on her until I get back.”

      “Please tell Hope we’ll be praying for her speedy recovery. And that she was sorely missed tonight.”

      Faith maintained her smile. “Of course. I’ll be sure and tell her. See you tomorrow at services.”

      Pastor Landris watched as she left. There was something about Faith and her identical twin sister Hope that really bothered him. He felt sure they loved each other, but something was going on between them. He just couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

      Pastor Landris and Johnnie Mae arrived home. It had been an enjoyable but long evening. Johnnie Mae had gone upstairs to step out of her evening gown—she loved Prussian blue and hoped to find a daytime dress in that color. Everyone had been so wonderful at the banquet tonight, the congregation having given them a lovely third wedding anniversary celebration. It had indeed been a glorious night, but she was exhausted. Tomorrow was Sunday and the start of yet another long day.

      As she briefly closed her eyes, she couldn’t help but reflect on all that had happened over the past few years that had brought them to this place…

      Chapter 2

      And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

      (Genesis 37:19)

      A few years earlier, Pastor Landris had been relieved of his duties as the pastor of Wings of Grace Faith Ministry Church in Atlanta, Georgia, a congregation that grew from some 37 members to over 4,000 under his leadership. Prior to his dismissal, he was asked to tone down his support of women in ministry. He didn’t.

      Pastor Landris and Johnnie Mae had just gotten married on September 8 of that year.

      Johnnie Mae didn’t immediately relocate to Atlanta, and as it turned out, she never had to. God spoke to Pastor Landris and instructed him to move to Johnnie Mae’s hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, to start anew.

      Thomas Landris, Pastor Landris’s older brother, had made a mess of some investments he’d been in charge of on behalf of his brother. Fifteen years earlier, Thomas had invested money in Microsoft stock for both him and his brother. Thomas took his out early; Pastor Landris left his to grow.

      And grow it did.

      Pastor Landris became a multimillionaire, but when the IRS started looking for its share, he discovered his brother had cashed out the stocks, as Pastor Landris had instructed him to, but invested the money elsewhere without his knowledge or approval.

      Thomas did end up recouping some of the lost money, and before Pastor Landris knew it, he was to be the owner of an FM radio station in Birmingham. Pastor Landris received this as further confirmation that he was indeed being led to relocate to the Magic City.

      In December, Pastor Landris sold his house, packed his belongings, and moved to Birmingham.

      He left without a church requesting him to come as pastor, to a home technically belonging to his wife, along with his brother and a few others who had also made the decision to relocate.

      Thomas was to become the general manager of the radio station his brother was in the process of buying. Sapphire Drummond, a therapist, came along from Atlanta because she was dating Thomas, and she wanted a change of scenery. Sapphire and Theresa Jordan, Pastor Landris’s ex-fiancée, had been best friends. Angela

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