Rachel was steadily busy during the day. Lily had started taking off one day a week as her pregnancy progressed. Rachel was sure it was to provide her with more hours, even though her friend denied it. She was seven months pregnant, and her beauty had only increased with her pregnancy. Rachel wasn’t jealous of her friend’s happiness; she more than deserved it from the hell she had survived.
“Are you busy, Rachel?” Brooke’s casual question had her rising from the toys she was separating by age.
“No. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I cleaned out my closet since I bought some new clothes when I went home to Atlanta last month. I also have some bags of clothes that Jeffrey has outgrown. Can you pack them down for me?”
“Of course.”
Rachel wondered why she hadn’t brought at least one down with her. Although, with the regal attitude Brooke always showed, she shouldn’t be surprised. Brooke would have probably thrown the clothes away if not for her husband. She had to know he would ask Rachel or Lily about the clothes.
Rachel followed her through the quiet church into the pastor’s house, which was attached to the church by a private hallway. The house had gone through a transformation since Pastor Patterson had taken over for Dean. Rachel, nor any of the congregation, had been invited to Dean’s private home, but several times, Rachel had brought food to him and had seen his modest furnishings. Brooke, on the other hand, had decked out the home with expensive furnishings and state-of-the-art electronics. The television alone would have fed two families for two months.
Rachel saw the bags sitting in Brooke’s bedroom; it was going to take several trips. Rachel bent and picked two up while Brooke picked up her purse.
“I’m having lunch with Daffney Cole. Just lock the door back to the hallway when you’re done.”
“All right.” Rachel gritted her teeth all the way back to the store.
It took several trips to finish carrying all the bags. By the end, she decided she would go through them tomorrow.
Pastor Patterson came in just as she sat down on a stool to do the day’s receipts.
“I see Brooke carried the bags down. I told her I would take care of it, but she never listens. She takes on too much as it is.”
Rachel’s mouth dropped open at the man’s obtuseness toward his wife.
“Are you busy, Rachel?”
She hesitated, dreading packing more bags of clothes. “Not right now. What can I help you with?”
“Brooke has been overworking herself so much lately. I was wondering if you would mind asking your friend Willa if she would bake a cake for Brooke’s and my anniversary next month. Every time I ask, Willa doesn’t have any openings. Since she’s your friend, I was hoping she would be more inclined to make it if you asked.”
“I’ll give her a call, but I can’t make any promises. With King’s restaurant having opened, her time is pretty committed.”
“That will be fine. Just anything she whips up would be great, but chocolate is her favorite.”#p#分页标题#e#
“I’ll tell her.”
His beaming smile made Rachel feel small-minded. She might not personally like Brooke, yet she did like her pastor. He was no Dean; nevertheless, he was a good man.
“Let me know so I can make arrangements if she can’t.”
“I will.”
Rachel got busy. Instead of calling, she decided to stop by Willa’s house on the way home. A car was in the driveway when she pulled in. Regretting she hadn’t called ahead, Rachel decided to knock anyway.
Willa answered her knock minutes later, right as she had been about to leave.
Her flushed, upset face had Rachel’s eyes going over her shoulder to see Lewis.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, Willa, but I wanted to talk to you about a private matter if you have the time.”
“Come in, Rachel.” Willa’s relief was obvious as she opened the door wider for Rachel to enter.
Lewis’s expression darkened. “Willa, we were talking—”
“And we’re finished talking. I think you should leave.” Willa’s voice trembled.
“I’ll see you later, then.” Rachel heard the threat in his voice and saw the shudder Willa couldn’t hide.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Rachel turned to Willa. “What was he doing here?”
“He thinks he can bully me into marrying him.”
Rachel knew the man had been pestering Willa, but not to that extent.
“Have Knox talk to him, Willa. Don’t let him intimidate you.”
“I’m not. I told him no. I’m actually proud of myself.” The woman couldn’t hide her fear.