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Praise God, the money was rolling in! The Rev Jason Abingdon pushed back the leather chair and went to the window of the study. His friend and fellow pastor, Charles Woodrow, had seen that his needs were met here at the tabernacle. As a matter of fact, Charles had given up his study when he saw what a magnet Jason’s charisma was for the dollars of the faithful. Charles had moved into a small alcove off the choir room, slipping quite naturally into a second place role as far as the television ministry was concerned.
Not only was the money rolling in, the sheep in Jason’s flock were clamoring for counseling. For that reason, it was essential that he have a comfortable study for his sessions with the lost souls needing his advice.
Jason watched through the twilight drizzle as Lilia Wade parked and entered the side door of the tabernacle. She had asked for an evening session so she wouldn’t have to miss work, and he had been glad to agree. He had known the shadowy evening atmosphere would enhance her charms.
He had noticed Lilia several services ago as she sat breathlessly in the front row, absorbing every word he spoke. Blessed Jesus, it was her large, luminous eyes that almost made him stumble over the Bible passage he was reading. Those dark eyes were spiritual and at the same time erotically appealing, a combination hard to resist. She was too thin for his taste, though, and he sensed she didn’t have much money. What a pity. Those eyes reached out to him so, sending a message from his savior and master that this woman needed comforting.
He opened the door before she knocked and reached out both hands to her. “Lilia, my child. Come in and have a seat. It’s so nice to see you this evening.”
She sat in one of the seats in front of his desk, and he took the other. It would be a shame to put the width of the desk between them. He reached for her hands again and sat for a few moments looking into her eyes. “What can I help you with, my dear?” he murmured.
“Rev. Abingdon, I hope you don’t think I’m silly, coming to you like this . . .”
“Of course not. No problem is too silly to discuss with one’s pastor. What’s troubling you?”
“It’s my husband. He doesn’t understand my need to go to church. I don’t see much of him. He’s always working. He doesn’t have time for me.”
He chuckled inwardly, but kept the same serious look on his face that he always used to comfort the forlorn lost ewes in his flock. Another wife whose husband didn’t understand her, didn’t have time for her, didn’t appreciate her. How many hundreds of these were running around looking for consolation? He squeezed her hands and took the plunge. “Has your sex life suffered, child?”
Her chin trembled. “Yes,” she whispered. “He seems to be tired of me.”
Jason released one hand, stroked her cheek, and then dropped his caress to her knee. “You’re so very attractive . . .” The door to the study, like everything else in the tabernacle, was well-oiled. The sound he heard was more a whisper of air rather than a squeaking hinge, but he knew someone had come in. He moved his hands to the arms of his chair as he turned to see who it was.
“Darlene, my beloved. Come in and join us. Perhaps you can help me advise this young lady. She and her husband are having problems—he seems to have lost interest, that sort of thing.”
Darlene sat in the chair behind the desk. “Pray for divine guidance. The blessed Savior knows how to handle every sort of problem. It’s especially important during this time that you remain completely faithful to your husband. Think of no one but him, and you’ll be surprised at the results.” She smiled and stood up. The counseling session was over.
“Thank you so much, Sister Darlene,” Lilia murmured as she slipped away through the door.
“I am so blessed!” Jason said. “My darling, you constantly amaze me with your talents. The Lord has blessed me very, very richly.”
The smile faded from Darlene’s face. “My lawyer called.”
“And?”
“Frank’s demanding his furniture back—the stuff he inherited from his parents. The silver and china, too.
The money was coming in in such abundance, it was like manna from Heaven. What would they need with Novak’s junk? If Jason was to be the big man in Darlene’s life, he must be number one in supplying all her needs. “You don’t need the infidel and his material possessions now, my sweet. Keep what you want of the community property, and we’ll send the rest off as soon as possible.
“The lawyer faxed a list to me. He was rather insistent that I go along with this whim of Frank’s.”
“I agree with him. I can satisfy all your heart’s desires now, you know.” He took her hand and led her to the love seat.
She giggled. “Lock the door,” she whispered into his ear.
He pushed the button and slid his hand under skirt.
“You’re mine now,” she murmured, “and no one else’s. I hope that’s something you’re always going to remember. We have a pact . . .”
“Shhh. Of course there’s no one but you and never will be.” Darlene had her hooks in him in the most ferocious way. It was flattering, and it added a real thrill to the dangerous game of playing around with sweet little lost wives like Lilia. Caution must always be his watchword now if he wanted to keep all the blessings the gracious Savior seemed to be handing him on a platter.
