The Devil Goes To Church Too, page 1
part #1 of Written Between the Pages Series
The Devil Goes to Church too
The Devil Goes to Church Too
Copyright 2018 by Monica Walters, All rights Reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recorded, or photocopied form without written permission of the author/copyright owner.
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living or deceased, or to the real locals are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any references or similarities in other real-life events or persons are completely coincidental.
Chapter 1
January 31, 1988…
“You really did a great job singing that song, Raquel.”
“Thank you, Pastor Charles.”
He kissed my cheek as he hugged me. However, the hug seemed to linger a little more than usual. I quickly walked away to find my mother. Pastor Charles was so cute. I had a little crush on him, but I think all the teenage girls in the church had a crush on him as well. Ever since he’d gotten to our church almost two years ago, I’d thought he was so cute. He was only twenty-five. He was married with one kid, a newborn baby. I was only fifteen. I’d never even had a boyfriend. My mom was so strict! I could never go anywhere. If I wasn’t at school, I was at church or at home. All the kids my age got to go to football games and school dances. I’d long stopped asking to go. The answer would always be the same. I’m not raising those other children. I’m raising you, and you will be a respectable Christian woman. You don’t have time to go entertain the devil. I rolled my eyes at the thought of what she would say. The only thing I did like about church was singing. I loved to sing. God gave me an amazing talent, and I hoped that one day, I would be able to sing for huge audiences around the world.
“You did a good job on your solo, Raquel,” my dad, Phillip said.
“Thanks Daddy.”
“You messed up on that last part though,” my mother, Hazel said.
I wanted to roll my eyes. She could never just compliment me. There always had to be a critique of some kind. “Pastor Charles said I did a great job,” I said shyly.
She nodded her head, then we headed home to prepare Sunday dinner. It was our turn to host Pastor Charles and his family. The women of the Willing Workers Mission Circle took turns feeding the Pastor and his family every Sunday. The president of the mission group would say that their mission was not only to bring others to Christ by way of service, but to make sure the Pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church had a full belly after draining himself dry to assure the flock was spiritually fed. I liked when it was our turn. Pastor Charles was so nice. He always went out of his way to speak to me and ask how I was doing, not to mention the hugs and kisses on the cheek. His wife was kind of quiet though, like me. She looked like a timid little girl. I looked older than her, but I’d overheard her saying she was twenty-three. I was taller and had more curves. My breasts were smaller, but my butt was out there. One time, I’d seen Pastor Charles looking at it, unbeknownst to him. Although mama dressed me like an older woman, some clothes still revealed my curves. That couldn’t always be helped. When we’d gotten home, I went changed into some blue jeans and a shirt. Whenever Pastor Charles and his family came over, I couldn’t wear shorts. My mama said it was disrespectful to be in front of the pastor with shorts on. It didn’t help that I had big legs. I went to the kitchen to help Mama warm the food and set the table. Everything smelled so delicious. Mama had cooked fried chicken, green beans, potato salad, and red beans and rice. I couldn’t wait to eat, but I would be next to last getting my plate. She always served Daddy and Pastor Charles first, then his wife, Monique, and whoever else may have joined us. Then, she would fix my plate and hers. I hated that. Just as I finished setting the table, the doorbell rang.
“Raquel, get the door,” Mama said.
I ran to the front door and opened it for the first family of the church. Pastor Charles was actually pretty popular here in Baltimore, especially in West Baltimore. We didn’t have the biggest church, but it wasn’t small either. It boasted maybe a membership of about five hundred people. I’d overheard adults saying how well he presented the word for such a young man. Most times, I was daydreaming while he preached, so I never heard anything he preached about. They walked in, and Mrs. Monique said softly, “Hello Raquel. Beautiful singing today.”
“Thank you. Come in,” I said, stepping to the side.
Pastor Charles smiled as they walked past me to the dining area. I hurriedly made my way back, to continue helping mama serve our guests.
“Mama, is anyone else coming?”
“No, this is it.”
“Okay. I’ll get drinks,” I said, silently thanking God for small favors.
That meant I wouldn’t have to wait long for my plate. I poured everyone a glass of tea, then made a couple of trips bringing them to the table. Mama brought Pastor Charles and Daddy their plates, then me and Sister Charles our plates. I sat across from the pastor and Mama sat next to me. I silently ate my food while they talked about church business. I made eye contact with Pastor Charles a few times, but quickly averted my gaze when we did. He probably thought I was crazy. After I’d finished, I gathered everyone’s dishes, loaded our new dishwasher, then sat on the sofa in the family room and watched TV. It wasn’t like I could watch things that I wanted to watch. I was watching the football game. Daddy had gone outside to smoke his pipe, and Mama and Sister Charles were in a deep conversation about the church’s Easter program that was quickly approaching. Pastor Charles came and sat beside me. My eyes widened a bit. He looked at me and asked, “You like football?”
“It’s okay. It’s about the only thing I can watch besides church programs,” I said, slightly rolling my eyes.
He chuckled, and I immediately felt guilty. I looked at him and said, “I’m sorry Pastor Charles. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.”
“You weren’t disrespectful, Raquel,” he said, touching my hand.
I got chills all over my body. I knew I had to be blushing. He didn’t move his hand right away. I looked at him again, and he smiled. I think he liked me. I liked him a lot, but he was a man. I didn’t really get much attention from boys my age. My mom made me dress like a woman her age, which was forty. So, I really didn’t know how to react to his attention, other than to be giddy and overflowing with excitement. He intertwined his fingers with mine, then started to watch the game. When Daddy walked in the door, he slowly eased his hand out of mine. I didn’t know what was happening, but I liked it. Daddy walked over to his chair and began watching the game with us. After sitting there a little while longer, Mama called for me to come in there with the ladies. When I walked over to the dining area, she said, “It doesn’t look right for a young lady to keep company with men-folks. Sit at the table with me and Sister Charles.”
“Yes ma’am,” I said, slightly disappointed.
I was enjoying Pastor Charles’s company. I felt differently when he was near me, like I mattered. I couldn’t believe he’d held my hand! I sat there, daydreaming about all sorts of things, when Mama said, “Raquel! Sister Charles is speaking to you.”
“I’m sorry Sister Charles. I was daydreaming.”
“I was only asking if you knew what you would like to pursue once you graduated,” she said softly.
“I would love to be a singer, but Mama said I needed a plan B. So, my second choice is to be a pharmacist.”
“Both would be awesome careers.”
“Yes Ma’am.”
Mama started talking to her, and I went back to daydreaming about Pastor Charles. His back was to me, but I could see his face vividly in my mind. I pictured us walking hand in hand in the park, then him putting his arm around my shoulder. I had to snap out of it before my mom started paying too much attention to me. I stood from the table and offered everyone dessert. “Would anyone like peach cobbler and ice cream?” I asked.
Pastor Charles turned to look at me, and said, “I’ll be the first to say YEEEESS.”
I giggled, then asked, “Anyone else?”
“You know I want some, Sugar,” Daddy said.
I went to the kitchen and began to fix their dessert. When I turned to get spoons, I bumped right into Pastor Charles. “Oh, my goodness. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were behind me,” I said, rambling.
“It’s okay, Raquel. I just wanted to see if you needed any help,” he said with a smile.
My mouth was open. I was staring. I quickly pulled myself together, cleared my throat, and said, “No Sir. I can handle it. I’ll bring it to you.”
“It’s okay, I’ll wait.”
I was so nervous. He was staring at me. I literally had goosebumps on my arms. He noticed, then asked, “Are you cold?”
“Umm, no. I’m not cold.”
He put his hand on mine, then smiled again. His smile could light up a room. Those dimples in his cheeks just made it even more mesmerizing. I grabbed the bowl and gave it to him, then headed to the living room with my dad’s bowl. Mama and Sister Charles were no longer at the table, but I could hear the baby’s cries coming from upstairs. Pastor Charles watched me as I walked back into the kitchen.
“Pastor Charles, how does it taste?”
“It’s really good Raquel. Did you make this?”
“I sure did.”
“Wow. A great singer, amazing student, and a future homemaker. You’re also really pretty.”
I blushed and said, “Thank you, Pastor Charles.”
<
I smiled at him, then said, “Okay Ryan.”
I giggled as he smiled, then left to go sit with my dad. I put the ice cream away, then sat at the table with my dessert to continue my wonderful daydream. Of course, that didn’t last long, as Mama yelled for me. I made my way upstairs to see what she needed. When I walked into her sewing room, she asked, “Could you bring the baby to Pastor Charles while I measure Sister Charles?”
“Yes ma’am,” I said, taking the baby.
“Be sure to hold his back.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I’ll bring him to Ryan. I giggled after I whispered those words to myself, then continued downstairs to the living room and handed the baby to Pastor Charles. His stare lingered somewhat, so I said, “Mama is measuring Sister Charles, I assume for a dress she’s going to make her.”
He smiled and said, “Okay.”
His hands grazed mine as I pulled them away. I quickly went back to the dining room table to finish my dessert. Daddy was so engrossed in the game, he never even noticed that Pastor Charles kept turning to look at me. Each time we made eye contact, he’d smile, and I’d blush. I went to the kitchen to clean our dessert bowls, as Mama and Sister Charles made their way back downstairs. I could hear Sister Charles thanking Mama for dinner and for the dress she was going to make her. I assumed they were leaving. My assumption was correct, when I heard Mama say, “Raquel, come bid our guests farewell.”
I walked into the foyer and hugged Sister Charles, then I hugged Ryan. I blushed every time I thought about calling him Ryan. He kissed my cheek, and said, “We’ll see you at choir rehearsal, Tuesday.”
“Yes Sir.”
I made my way back to the kitchen to finish the dishes, then went upstairs to get my things ready for school the next day. Ninth grade couldn’t be over soon enough. Once I’d taken my shower, I laid in my bed and thought about Ryan Charles until I fell asleep.
Chapter 2
Choir Rehearsal…
“Raquel, let’s go over that song one more time, then we’ll call it a night,” the choir director, Sis. Watkins, said.
“Yes ma’am.”
We’d already gone over it twice, but the choir was having problems remembering the transitions in the song. We were going to rehearse it again on Thursday and learn a new song as well. As we were singing, I saw Pastor Charles walk through the sanctuary. He smiled at me as I sang my solo. I closed my eyes, and continued to sing. There was no way I’d be able concentrate while he was watching me. I looked at him differently now. I knew I shouldn’t be crushing on my pastor, but it was hard not to. He was so cute. He was taller than me, so about 6 feet tall. I was 5’9”. He had a nice tapered haircut, a goatee, high-yellow complexion, and a nice build. He was also married. I knew it was wrong, but just knowing that he liked me, made me feel good about myself. Boys ignored me at school. I was the quiet, homely-looking, church girl whose mother would never let her go anywhere other than school and church. Him showing me attention, was like a dream come true.
When I finished singing, someone started clapping. I opened my eyes, to see it was Pastor Charles. He’d stood there the whole time. I blushed, then went to my seat. He continued to where he was going as the choir director smiled at me. “That was amazing Raquel, as always,” she said to me, then addressed the whole choir. “Okay young people, we have to get that one transition from the chorus to the bridge, then we’ll have it. I’ll save that for Thursday.”
She continued with some announcements and plans for our youth explosion coming up in a few months. She said prayer and dismissed us. Mama hadn’t come inside the church, so I went outside to see if she’d made it. She wasn’t here. That was so unlike her. Usually, she’d get here early and sit to observe our rehearsal, so she could critique it all the way home. Everyone had gotten in their cars and left. I guess they didn’t realize that I didn’t have a ride. The only time people really noticed me was when I was singing. Otherwise, no one paid attention to me. I guess because I was so quiet. I slowly walked back inside the church to see everyone had left. The lights were still on, so someone had to be here. Mama said this day in age, it was too dangerous to be alone anywhere. She said the 80s had brought about a change in people. We just didn’t get along like we used to, she’d say. 1988 was just fine to me. No one noticed me anyway. Just as I sat on a pew trying to figure out what to do, Pastor Charles came in looking around, like he was looking for someone. When his eyes met mine, he said, “Raquel, your mom just called and asked me to bring you home. She got in a fender bender. She said it was nothing serious, but she was going to the hospital to get checked out just in case.”
“Okay,” I said quietly.
“Well, are you ready? I just need to go back to my office to lock up, and we will go out the back door.”
“Yes Sir.”
I walked towards his office as he turned the lights out up front and locked the doors. I stood near the back door and waited for him to lock his office. Before we walked out, he grabbed my hand and said, “Your solo was amazing.”
“Thank you, Pastor Charles.”
“Ryan.”
I just nodded my head. He looked at me with a slight frown on his face and asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes Sir,” I said.
“Look at me, Raquel,” he said, grabbing my other hand.
When I looked up at him, he put his hand to my cheek and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Well, I’m just tired of going unnoticed by everyone. No one noticed that I didn’t have a ride. Everyone left. If you wouldn’t have been here, I would have been locked outside.”
“I notice you. You’re so beautiful, Raquel,” he said softly.
I could feel my face heating up. He kissed my cheek and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll always look out for you.”
I hugged him and said, “Thanks Ryan.”
As I pulled away, he kissed my lips, and I thought I was going to pass out. I quickly pulled away from him. My face was hot with embarrassment.
“I’m sorry, Raquel. You’re just so beautiful.”
“Thank you, but you’re my pastor. And you’re married. And you’re a grown man!”
He took a deep breath and said, “I know, but I can’t seem to shake the feelings I have for you.”
“Feelings?” I asked for clarification.
“I care about you, Raquel. You’re so mature and sweet.”
I smiled softly, then closed my eyes and kissed him again. He made me feel so good inside. I felt loved by someone other than my parents. He smiled at me, grabbed my hand and led me outside, then locked the doors. He opened my door to get inside of his Honda Accord, then walked around to his side as I buckled my seatbelt. When he got in, he looked at me for a moment. I felt really uncomfortable under his stare. He grabbed my hand and rubbed it. His smile eased my tension. I smiled back, and he said, “You have a gorgeous smile.”
“So do you,” I said, quietly.
He pulled me closer to him and kissed me again. This time the kiss lingered. He pulled away, and said, “You have soft kissable lips.”
I blushed as we left the church and headed to my house. As he drove, he looked at me and asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No sir.”
“That’s hard to believe.”
I blushed more as we took the ten-minute ride to my house. He turned on the radio and I’m Lost Without You by BeBe and CeCe Winans came through the speakers. Ryan looked at me and smiled. He grabbed my hand and held it all the way to my house. There weren’t any lights on, so I didn’t know how I would get into the house. I didn’t have my house key, because my mama was supposed to pick me up. I got out of the car and went to the door and knocked. No one answered. Pastor Charles walked up behind me and asked, “No one’s home yet?”
“No Sir.”
“Raquel, you don’t have to call me sir,” he said, then grabbed my hand and led me back to his car.
“Do you know what hospital she went to?” I asked.
“No, she didn’t say, but we will go to Mercy first and see if she’s there.”
“Okay.”
We took the drive to the southeast side, no more words spoken between us. However, I could see him looking at me in my peripheral. I looked out the window and admired some of the manicured lawns in the neighborhood of Canton. Daddy kept our grass cut of course, but we didn’t have the flower beds and nice shrubbery like some of the nicer houses had. Within ten minutes we were at Mercy, and we’d gone inside to check to see if they had her. I released a sigh of relief when they said they did. They led me to a waiting area where we saw my dad. Pastor Charles didn’t seem to be too enthused to see him.
