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The Rev. Jason Abingdon knew heaven couldn’t be any more rapturous than his present situation in Dallas. Of course it was only temporary, his streets paved with the gold of two attractive, middle-aged sisters and the television ministry. The ministry might become a permanent arrangement, praise Jesus! As for the sweet little ladies, it made him sad that Darlene would surely have to go home to her skeptic of a husband, and she was the reverend’s favorite.
What a help she could be in his new project, preaching the word of the Almighty over the air, reaching millions with his healing powers and his message of salvation. With her inspiration he could be sure the money would come rolling in and the ministry would go on forever, and not just for the few weeks he had been able to arrange with one of Dallas’s most popular television stations.
God was behind him one hundred percent in the endeavor. He could be sure of it because of the way his old friend and fellow minister Charles Woodrow had agreed to let him set up the telecast arrangements in the Foursquare Gospel Tabernacle. Jason had been the assistant minister under Charles at one time. Now he would be the star of the television ministry. Of course he’d have to give Charles a cut of the profits. How he wished for Darlene’s help. Having her behind him would guarantee his success.
Darlene’s sister Trudy was a fine woman, too, but she lacked the feel for money that Darlene had. It had been a truly Christian act, though, when she offered her hospitality. He had been in her home four days, and any mention of leaving brought protests from both sisters.
“I’m going to be here indefinitely,” Darlene would say. “Who knows when it will be safe to go back to San Gabriel again? Frank is so self-sufficient, he doesn’t even notice I’m gone, so I’m in no rush to return.”
Trudy always said the same thing to this: “Frank calls you every evening. How can you say he doesn’t notice you’re gone?” The reverend detected a hint of annoyance in her voice which grew each time she said the words.
Trudy’s constant reminders of Frank Novak’s fidelity and the attention both ladies showered on him at every opportunity had started the reverend thinking about their motives. He felt a silent hallelujah! in his heart each time he allowed himself to come to the inevitable conclusion—these two plump little hens had an interest in him that amounted to more than their reliance on him as their pastor.
Small hints of annoyance with each other were beginning to creep into their everyday affairs, too. Making the morning coffee, deciding which television shows to watch, could bring on polite but watchful disagreement.
He chuckled when he thought of the possibilities with the sisters. If only they would be more loving and tolerant with each other, who knew what sort of relationship might develop among the three of them, what challenges his blessed Savior might offer him. Trudy was truly attractive. She was as attractive in the carnal sense as Darlene, with her rounded thighs and her short, plump-but-graceful fingers which lingered on his shoulder when she passed him at the table. It was Darlene who excited him most, though—God knows she excited him—with her knowing attitude about obtaining life’s rewards.
Ah, well. For now he would let the Almighty steer his course. Surely he would be shown the way. He had finished changing into his pajamas, and he put on his favorite silk robe of deep brown, a shade which set off his strawberry blond hair for best effect.
The ladies already were watching television when he joined them in the den. Their attention turned to him as they insisted he take the recliner, the same one Trudy’s husband had lounged in before he left.
“Trudy, dear, would you make us a cup of tea?” Darlene asked. “I’d do it myself if I could.” She glanced down at the cast on her leg.
“Of course, sweetie. What do you take in yours, Rev. Abingdon?”
“Please, Trudy, call me Jason. We’re all friends here, aren’t we?” He smiled his most angelic smile and patted her hand. “A teaspoon of sugar and a little milk in the tea, please.”
A smile appeared on Darlene’s face as soon as Trudy left the room, and if he hadn’t known what a truly fine Christian Darlene was, he would have described it as devilish.
“She’s driving me crazy.” Her whisper reached him in the recliner.
For an instant he was at a loss for words, an unusual condition for the reverend. “She’s your sister,” he said slowly, picking his way through the conversation like a soldier walking through a mine field. “It’s not at all unusual for sisters to get on each others nerves. Especially not when you’re staying together here, and you need some extra help right now.”
“It’s you,” Darlene whispered. “She’s got her sights set on you, and she’s being downright sickening about it.”
“My dear Darlene...”
“I’m jealous!” Her smile changed to a pout.
“My dear Darlene,” he chortled. “Your words are most flattering.” Just as he had hoped, the Almighty was beginning to set his course. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Now she was a little girl, hoping for his guidance and approval. “I’m jealous, and I’m feeling very wicked for being so jealous.”
“The Lord works in mysterious ways, child. Never deny the honest feelings which he has given you, for he made us and he made our emotions. Follow along with the way he guides you through your feelings, and you’ll never go wrong.” He went to the couch and sat down beside her, taking her hand. His God-given instincts told him it was time to scrap Trudy and commit to Darlene.
“What am I going to do?” she whimpered.
He stroked her fingers. “I’m renting an apartment tomorrow. It’s time I took leave of your sister’s wonderful hospitality and found a place for myself here. I’ll be spending a great deal of time in Dallas now that I have the TV contract signed. I’ll turn my San Gabriel ministry over to my assistants. Except for Wednesday night, of course. I plan to be there for the Wednesday services until I make sure my ministry here will be permanent. You’d be welcome, more than welcome, to stay in my apartment as long as you wish.”
She laid the back of her hand on her forehead and sighed. “If only you knew how tempting that offer is. But I’m a married woman. What would people think?”
“We’ll be discreet, my dear,” he murmured. “Worldly interests cause people to make hasty judgments, and we wouldn’t want that.”
“I need time. I need more time to think about this.” She sighed.
Not exactly the answer he hoped for, but he would bide his time. The plans of his all-powerful and yet very mysterious God often brought him face-to-face with many obstacles. He would simply bide his time.
