His Perfect Wife by Aminata Coote

Author:Aminata Coote [Aminata Coote]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aminata Coote
Published: 2023-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty Two

Chapter 22

Mac had no idea how to get Tonya to give him a second chance because he wanted one. He had made a monumental mistake when he’d broken up with her. He tried to shake off the gloom that wanted to settle on him. This was not the time to get maudlin. He parked in one of the staff spots and got out of his car, checked his watch. He’d spent almost four hours with Tonya, and it had felt like old times.

When he’d dropped her off at her house, he’d thought…Mac swiped a hand over his face. He didn’t know what he’d thought. That they’d resolved things between them? It didn’t matter. Mac hurried across the parking lot, the rays of the sun heating his back. He had some things to do at the office before he could leave for the day. He’d focus on that.

“Hey, Pastor Mac.”

Mac turned at the sound of his name, then waited as Jamal caught up to him. The youngster’s khaki uniform gave Mac yet another impression of Jamal. Who was this young man, really? He seemed almost chameleon-like in his ability to modify his behavior based on what he was wearing.

“What is that you want to be when you grow up, Jamal?” asked Mac, curious.

“Well, I uh,” Jamal scratched his head. “I never thought much about that. My mom died when I was young and my pop’s a no-show. I figured I would finish high school and help Gram with the stall.”

Something in the teen’s voice had Mac’s senses tingling. The life Jamal described was not the one he would have chosen.

“What if money wasn’t an option and you could be anything you wanted to be? What would you choose?”

A grin stole over Jamal’s face. “Rich. I’d want to be rich.”

Mac studied Jamal, searching for signs of facetiousness. There was none.

“How would you accomplish that?”

Jamal grabbed the back of his neck. “I’d do anything in my power as long as I didn’t have to commit a crime. My Grams works too hard and that will not be possible for much longer, you know? I’d like to take some of that pressure off her.”

“Have you thought about applying for scholarships? That might be a way you could get more than a high school diploma.”

Jamal guffawed. “Pastor Mac, I don’t know where you live, but people like me don’t get scholarships.”

People like him? How many of the teens in his youth group had a similar mindset? That they could not accomplish things because of who they were? He’d need to explore it later. And find out if the church offered any scholarships or grants to needy families.

“Anyway, that’s not what I came to ask you.”

Mac shook his head. “Sorry about that. How can I help?”

“See, I was reading this thing in Exodus that I didn’t understand. Could you explain it?”

“Of course.” Mac gestured toward the side of the building where a tall mango tree stood. “Do you want to go stand in the shade? The sun’s a little hot out here.

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