life. He assured her, “Mom, nothing is wrong. I’ll call Julia and all will be well. Trust me.”
“In God I trust only,” she responded. “Just make sure you straighten it out. Your wedding is two weeks away. There’s still a lot to do.”
He listened to his mom go on and on about his upcoming nuptials. One would think she was the one getting married instead of him. “I’ve waited all my life to see my only child get married. Now whatever is going on with you, deal with it before you say the words ‘I do,’” Kelly said.
“Yes, ma’am,” he responded. At least she cut off her usually long lecture before she got to the part about how long she had prayed for a child and after twenty years of marriage, the Lord blessed her and his dad with a son. His mom informed him at an early age that she had given him to God the moment she found out she was pregnant.
Because of the constant reminder of his obligations, Samson, at thirty years old, did his best to stay on the straight and narrow. Even in his teen years, when some pastors’ kids, or PKs as most people called them, were being rebellious, he did the opposite. He avoided trouble and didn’t mind spending most of his time in church right under his dad’s coattail as he learned more and more about God’s Word.
As soon as Samson hung up the phone with his mom, he reminisced about the night before. It had been obvious to him from the moment he met Delilah that she was different. He was used to putting off women’s advances, but there was something about Delilah and her model height that caused him to throw caution to the wind and give in to the desires she stirred up in him.
He knew he shouldn’t be having the carnal thoughts that crept in his mind every time she came into view. Delilah changed her hairstyle like most women changed clothes. He never knew what to expect. One thing that didn’t change was her curvaceous figure and sweet, alluring perfume. His father had warned him about what to expect as a pastor when it came to women. That was one reason why his father insisted he get married. He said a single man over a church would cause many to sin, and he was right about that. He had only been the pastor for a year, and although Peaceful Rest had seen an increase in membership, it was obvious many of the new female members were there only in hopes of snagging a husband, and not just any man—him as their golden prize.
The phone rang again. Elaine Benjamin, his secretary, would answer and let him know if he needed to pick up the call. He was lucky Elaine decided to stay and work for him when his father, Regis Judges, decided to retire at the age of seventy-six. He knew stepping into his father’s shoes as pastor would be a challenge.
Elaine, five feet even with heels on, walked into Samson’s office handing him a pink slip of paper. “William Trusts says he’ll be waiting on your call,” she said.
Samson took the paper and balled it up before aiming for the trash can as if he was shooting basketball. “I hope he’s not holding his breath.”
“Would it really hurt you to meet with him? At least one more time?” she asked as she stood in front of his mahogany wooden desk.
“It’s only a waste of time. Unless the Lord places it on my heart to give up the land that Trusts wants, I will not, nor will Peaceful Rest, have anything to do with him,” Samson said sternly. Samson and the church had agreed to use the land they had purchased on the south side of the neighborhood to build a community action center, something that in Samson’s opinion would be more beneficial than a shopping center.
“It would be something good for the community. It’ll bring jobs,” Elaine added.
“I refuse to make a deal with the devil. And Trusts should be wearing a red suit instead of those black pin-striped ones he likes to wear,” Samson said.
“Pray about it again. I have to finish up the programs for Sunday, so I’ll let you do what you do.” Elaine turned around before walking out the door. “I forgot to tell you, Julia will be here any minute.”
Before Samson could take in what Elaine had said, Julia stormed into the room almost running Elaine over. “I’ll be out here if you need anything,” Elaine said with a raised eyebrow before shutting his office door.
“Samson Judges, I’ve been calling you all night,” Julia said, sounding agitated.
“I—” he stuttered.
Julia stood in her cream-colored designer suit with her hands on her hips. Her arched eyebrows were coming together due to the frown on her face. She used her freshly manicured nails to illustrate her frustrations as she talked.
“Don’t even think about lying to me because I sat outside of your house until two in the morning and you, mister, didn’t return home.”
“What had happened was…someone called and needed prayer. It took longer than I had expected, so I just spent the night.”
Julia walked closer and stood over Samson. “Who was the person? You could have prayed for them over the phone.”
“You know I like to be sitting face-to-face with people when I can,” Samson responded.
Julia folded her arms and tapped her feet. “I’m waiting. Who was this person in desperate need of prayer?”
Samson mumbled, “Delilah,” but it sounded like he said, “David.”
“Oh, now you act like you can barely talk,” Julia said.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s done and over with. I’m here. You’re here,” Samson said as he stood up and tried to wrap his arms around Julia.
Julia resisted at first. Samson touched her chin. “Come on. Let me see those dimples. Pleeeease,” he cooed.
Julia pouted. “Samson, I don’t know if I’ll be able to deal with this as first lady—the midnight calls and not knowing when you’ll be home. I just don’t know.”
Julia turned away from Samson and walked near the large bookshelf located on the opposite side of his office. Samson went and stood beside her. He reached for her hand. “Julia, you’ll be a perfect first lady. You are my Proverbs thirty-one woman. Peaceful Rest will be blessed to have you as its first lady. Not to mention me.”
Julia’s frown turned to a smile. “I guess the wedding is stressing me out.”
“It’s going to be all right. In two weeks, we’ll both look back on this time and laugh.” Samson rubbed her hand and then pulled Julia in for a hug. He got a strange feeling that between now and their wedding, the drama was just beginning, and it’d be no laughing matter.
Chapter 3
Delilah sat in the church parking lot listening to her favorite morning show as she attempted to calm her nerves. She could slap Elaine for not putting her call through to Samson. She knew why her calls were being filtered when she pulled up on the lot and saw Julia’s green Mercedes parked next to Samson’s SUV. Delilah watched from a distance as Samson walked Julia to her car.
He’s such a gentleman, Delilah thought as she watched him hold Julia’s door open.
She waited until she was sure Julia was off the church grounds before zooming in to the parking spot Julia had just abandoned. Before Samson could re-enter the church, Delilah was on his heels. “Just the man I wanted to see,” Delilah said as she touched his shoulder.
