One could never really go wrong when choosing a Four Seasons hotel, and it was the reason JT rarely stayed anywhere else. He loved The Ritz-Carlton, too, and a few other posh establishments he could think of, but when in Dallas, it was this particular brand he tended to enjoy the most. Not to mention, he certainly enjoyed the more extravagant suites, like the one he and Veda were relaxing in now, and he was thankful for Vineyard Christian Center’s generous hospitality. There had been a slight change on his agenda, however, because while JT’s original plan had been for him and Veda to come straight to the hotel right after their plane landed around ten thirty A.M. and not leave again, Pastor Braeden had scheduled lunch for the two of them, VCC’s two head elders, and one of the assistant pastors. JT was excited to spend time with every one of these men, but by the time they’d eaten, laughed, and talked, he hadn’t gotten back to the hotel until around four. Veda had been patiently waiting in bed for him, though, with nothing on, and now they’d just finished taking a shower together and were sitting in two complimentary bathrobes in the living room area, dining. JT had ordered steak and lobster, garlic mashed potatoes, and asparagus with hollandaise sauce, and Veda had gone with the same vegetable selections but had chosen crab-stuffed salmon for her entrée.
“I’m so glad you could make the trip,” he said, drinking some ice water.
“I am, too, and actually it’s a wonderful relief just to be here with you.”
“So, it’s that bad at home, huh?”
“The worst.”
“I know you’d talked about wanting to wait until your son graduated, but have you now thought more about filing for a divorce?”
“I have, but I also want to make sure he’s situated in college this fall because I don’t want to cause him any unnecessary stress before then. It’s bad enough that I’m stressed out all the time myself because of how miserable I am.”
“I really hate hearing that.”
“It’s tough. I mean, as of late, I’ve been experiencing everything you can think of. From tension headaches to insomnia to heart palpitations. You name it, I’m having it.”
JT shook his head. “All because you’re in a miserable marriage.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty much what it is.”
“I couldn’t do it.”
“What?”
“Be miserable all the time. I could never be in an unhappy household situation.”
“Then why are you still with your wife?”
“Because for the most part, I’m very happy with her.”
Veda looked at him, obviously questioning what he’d just said, but kept eating.
“Believe it or not, my wife is a very good wife. She also understands what it’s like to have a husband in the ministry, and my congregation loves her.”
“Do you love her?” Veda asked, breaking a dinner roll in two.
“Yes…I do.”
“Then why are you here with me?”
“Because I can’t help the way I feel and because I’ve never been one to believe that anyone should deny themselves when it comes to having something they really want.”
“I’m not sure your wife would agree with that, though, right?”
“I’m sure she wouldn’t, but you know that old adage-what you don’t know won’t hurt you,” he said, thinking how careful he always was when he was with any of his women and even how today when they’d arrived at the airport, they’d taken separate car services to the hotel and Veda had shopped around in the hotel’s gift shop until JT had checked in and called her on her cell phone. He’d had her wait in the lobby for a short and inconspicuous period of time, just to be on the safe side, and then a while ago, he’d also had her close the bedroom door when their room service order was being delivered.
They ate in silence for about a minute and then Veda asked, “So, tell me, what made you decide to become a minister?”
“Well, to be honest, I really didn’t have a choice.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t have a choice because I didn’t want to go against God’s wishes. I didn’t want to ignore the job He had for me to do.”
“Oh, okay,” she said, but JT couldn’t tell whether she was impressed with what he’d said or not.
“So, does my being a pastor still bother you?”
“Sort of.”
“Well, hopefully that’ll change at some point, because overall, I’m no different than any other man.”
“This is true, but I guess I would feel a lot better if you weren’t married or if I could see you a lot more often.”
JT wiped his mouth with his napkin and then set it down. “I know this isn’t the most ideal situation for you, but I also think I need to be very clear on something. I really do care about you, and of course, I’m going to see you as often as I can, but I also need to make sure you understand that I’m not planning to leave my wife. Not now or in the future. I know this probably isn’t what you’re wanting to hear, but I also don’t want to give you any false hopes about the two of us ever getting married.”
“I totally understand that, and unlike most other women who see married men, I accept our relationship for what it is. All I want is to be treated well and with the utmost respect, and I’ll be fine.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because not every woman who sleeps with a married man can deal with the reality. They always end up wanting more, and when they don’t get it, they practically lose their minds.”
“You sound like you’ve already experienced something like that.”
“I have,” he said, thinking about Carmen.
“Well, you certainly won’t have those kinds of issues with me, but I also hope you’re not expecting to be the only man in my life either. Specifically, once I’m divorced.”
Interestingly enough, JT didn’t like the idea of her sleeping with any man besides him, but he knew he wasn’t in any position to complain or object. So he jokingly said, “That’s fine. But I still wanna go on record saying I’m totally against it.”
They both laughed and ate more of their dinner. When they finished, they chatted awhile longer but then JT gestured with his forefinger for her to come around the table. But when she got up, the hotel phone rang.
“Come and sit down,” he said, patting his lap and ignoring whomever was calling-although he knew it was Pastor Braeden, because he’d told JT he would call around seven, making sure he had everything he needed.
Finally, the ringing stopped, and JT untied Veda’s robe and slipped it down her shoulders. He admired her nakedness and was planning to enjoy every inch of her for the rest of the evening and all day tomorrow. Then, on Sunday morning, he would get up early, work on his sermon for a few hours, and go deliver his message.
He would do an outstanding job, return to the hotel, and make love to Veda again.
He would spend the entire weekend doing exactly what he loved: having incredible sex and speaking to thousands of people.