Page 38 of A Taste of Grace

“I’m not.” I kept my voice steady.

She released my face.

“Tell me exactly what God told you.”

“I’ve received confirmation in multiple ways. I heard for myself. Elder Peyton told me, and Grace is receptive. I want to follow up with her today. Could you keep the girls busy after dinner so I can have a private chat with her out back?”

“I’ll do one better. I’ll take them to the park after we eat dessert.”

“Thank you, Mama. Please don’t let Grace know what I’m thinking. I’m trusting you with my secret.” I walked to her and kissed her cheek.

Mama rubbed my cheek with her thumb then turned off the oven as the timer for the baked mac and cheese dinged.

“It’s not my place to share your business with the outside world. Just make sure she ain’t no damn Roxanne.”

I smiled.

“I will.”

Leap of Faith

After church,I regrouped at home. I changed into a comfortable gray cotton dress and returned to the kitchen to compile the ingredients for my banana pudding. I added the final touch of vanilla extract to my sweet, heated pudding and lowered the temperature in the double boiler as I cut perfectly ripe bananas.

Since I would join Stallings family for an early dinner, I warmed up a cup of leftover spicy tomato soup just the way I liked it. I didn’t want to stuff my face like a pig in front of Caleb’s mother.

As I savored my steaming cup of soup, I sat at my kitchen table and reflected on the happenings of the morning. Nothing prepared me for the essence ofPastorCaleb Stallings. He was not only charming but anointed.

When Caleb asked who needed prayer toward the end of the service, I had no intention to get out of my seat. I’d grown up in Pentecostal churches my entire life, but I’d never felt the intensity and overwhelming love I did when Caleb’s endearing voice reminded me that I wasn’t alone and that I still had a chance for a bright future. I wanted to trust God fully with that future. God used Caleb as his conduit. For that, I was grateful.

The second Caleb laid hands on me, I felt a supernatural connection to him. For a second, I thought my knees might give out, but an invisible force held me up. In the midst of that spiritual fire, my panties got wet. Over a prayer. Caleb’s smell enveloped me, and his deep voice sent butterflies directly to my stomach as he spoke my dream to me. The good pastor could have lifted my dress and pulled my panties down to take me right there on the altar.

I was no longer nervous about seeing Caleb but needed to talk to him about what happened today. Since I caught Caleb staring at my legs when I was at his house, I chose a knee-length violet A-line dress that accentuated my curves to wear to the Stallings. I pulled my thick curly hair into a high bun and dabbed on a modest face of makeup. When I looked in the mirror, I smiled, pleased that Black didn’t crack. For the first time in quite a while, I saw my mother’s delicate features that reminded me of the angelic presence she had on Earth.

When I arrived at Caleb’s, Hannah and Esther rushed out of the house to my parked car. I exited and retrieved the dessert from the cardboard box I used to keep it from falling onto my front passenger seat.

“Hold on, little ones. I don’t want to drop this banana pudding. Please open the door for me.”

Hannah hung back as Esther rushed to open the screen door.

“Ms. Grace is here!” Esther proudly announced as if I were royalty.

When I entered the door, Caleb rushed toward me and took my container. Once the glass dish was secure, he leaned toward me and kissed me on my cheek.

“Hello, gorgeous. Come in and meet my mother.” He spoke the words into my ear and gave me a panty-melting smile.

When he walked away, I checked him out. Instead of being the sultry guy in a form-fitted tux I met Friday night, he was more laid-back and dressed in a stylish black tracksuit. From behind, I got a glimpse of firm glutes that hinted of a consistent workout routine.

I smiled and followed him into the kitchen, where his mother opened her arms wide.

“Dr. Grace, I’m Denise Stallings. I’ve heard so many good things about you.” She placed her hand over her heart and gave me a puppy dog look.

She was a medium-sized woman with mocha skin that matched Caleb’s. From the photos on the mantle of the fireplace, I saw that Caleb’s height came from his father.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Stallings. Please call me Grace.” I closed the distance between us and extended my hand in greeting.

She accepted my hand and enclosed it in hers, never taking her eyes off my face.

“Then call me Denise. I have a feeling we’ll know each other really well in the future. She’s as breathtaking as you said she was.” Denise exchanged a giddy glance with Caleb, who winked at me.

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