But We're Not Married

By Kimberly Griffith Anderson

Walton and Kori are now Pastor and First Lady of St. Matthew Baptist Church. They are raising their daughter and son in Charlotte, North Carolina. These two hardly have time to sort though the mess Walton inadvertently creates in the church. Without divulging their own past (and present) marriage issues, they hope that counseling and prayer will mend the troubled marriages of several members of their church.

Other titles by this author:
But I Love My Husband
Good Girl
Single Dad 19

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781496970169

Kimberly Griffith Anderson

The author, Kimberly Griffith Anderson, resides in South Carolina. She is the mother of two sons, and is employed as an educator. She is a graduate of Clemson University. Besides writing, she loves nature, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. Please look for her other titles, Good Girl, Single Dad 19, But We're Not Married, A Girls' Guide to Abstinence, and A Guys' Guide to Abstinence. She promises even more to come.

Book preview

Prelude

This novel is the sequel to But I Love My Husband. Don’t be alarmed if you have not read But I Love My Husband, however, you will certainly understand But We’re Not Married without its prequel. In fact, it will be interesting to read the books in reverse! In 2010 I had a story on my heart and I wanted to try my skills at writing a play, but I could not make it work. I was struggling to write dialogue without the supporting prose. After some time, I realized that the characters in But I Love My husband were perfect as the stars of the play I was working to write. In fact, they were so perfect, it’s like the story was all meant to fit together from the beginning. I decided to change the play to a novel, and in just five weeks, But We’re Not Married, my fastest novel yet, was complete.

This novel advances the characters of But I Love My Husband by fourteen years and some new life occurrences have taken place. Walton was in seminary school, now he is the pastor of St. Matthew Baptist Church and Kori is his First Lady. Walton’s brother Myron has also made his way in to the sequel. He is facing some new, stressful challenges. As for new characters, there are quite a few.

• Tiffany and Russell Bines are a couple in the church who have some financial difficulties that hinder their marital bliss.

• Vince and Sherita Golden have allowed Sherita’s mother to live with them and she brings a great deal of stress.

• John and Tresa Purvis seem to have multiple problems and Walton is not sure how to counsel with them.

Well, now you may be wondering about the title. Who is not married? It’s complicated, you’ll see!

Enjoy!

Week #1

TRANSFORMATION

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1 John 3:9-10

John 8:7

Romans 3:23

Ephesians 2:8

2.jpg 1 3.jpg Family & Friends Festival

Kori regretted her choice of white capris as she brushed at a little smudge on her thigh. The bright white of the pants was an obvious choice to wear with her fitted purple t-shirt stating STAFF on the back in bold white print. She spoke to several people and summoned her daughter Randi with a wave as she walked towards the Bible Story Train. Ringing its bell, the train slowed to a stop just in front of her. Myron, its engineer, with his purple shirt and striped engineer’s cap, had some final comments for his passengers. Alright folks, thank you for riding with me today! I hope you enjoyed learning about how Jesus fed the multitude with just five loaves of bread and two fish, and like I said, if you want to read it for yourself, just check out the sixth chapter of the book of John. Watch your step as you get out, and make sure you have all of your belongings, ’cause everybody who rides the Bible Story train might not live by the Golden Rule!

Hands on her hips, Kori laughed at his final comment as she waited for him to finish his speech. Squinting in the sun, she looked up at him as he reached up to turn off his microphone. How are you holding up…are you tired yet?

He licked his lips, I’m gettin’ there! He shook his head, This job seemed like it would be easy, and…I guess it really is, but…this sun! And talking constantly! Have you got somebody to relieve me?

Um…that’s why I came over. We thought we had someone to relieve you, but…it looks like there might have been an oversight, she laughed. Are you okay? ’Cause I can get Walt to drive some.

I’m alright. It’s not too much longer. He stretched carefully, grimacing as the tight muscles along his spine reluctantly lengthened. What are y’all over there yappin’ about? I see my wife over there talking, got all the women laughing. What’s she talking about? Me? He laughed, My driving? Tell her, I got this! Tell her I’ll be driving her home today, too! Hey, could you tell her to bring me some lemonade?

Kori smiled, amused by the fact that he had guessed exactly the conversation the women were having. I’ll get you some lemonade. Do you want it now, or do you want me to have it waiting for you after you stop again?

After this round will be fine. You don’t have to get it, Carla can get it! That’ll give her something to do besides bad-mouthing me!

Kori laughed, She’s not bad-mouthing you. We’re just talking about girl stuff.

Kori, don’t even try it! I saw her pulling your arm when you were about to walk over here. Probably telling you to pray first or something. I know what she’s saying, I hear that yappin’ all the time! Emphasize to her that I used to drive for a living. I know what I’m doing.

Okay, Myron…you ’bout got another full load of passengers. Let me go get your lemonade, I’ll see you back here.

RANDI CAUGHT UP with her mother as she walked towards the lemonade stand. Mommy, I need some more tickets! I only have one left and the big jumper takes three!

Kori dug in her pocket to find more tickets. Where’s Wilson? I saw him a little while ago, but…

I don’t know. Thanks— Randi was running away from her mother, glad now to have ample tickets for her desired fun.

After delivering Myron’s lemonade, Kori headed back towards the shade of the ticket tent with the ladies. Kori resumed her seat, and the line spread to three rather than two across. Kori looked up into the eyes of a man who was handing her a five dollar bill. Thank you for coming, and we hope to see you tomorrow for eleven o’clock service, okay!

This was the second annual Family & Friends Festival held on the Saturday before Family & Friends Day at St. Matthew Baptist Church. Its purpose was to spark the interest of people in the community and cordially invite them to Sunday service. There was horse-back riding, inflatables for jumping, a face-painting stand, basketball, a bake sale, pizza and several games with prizes to win. The Bible Story Train, a tractor pulling several connected train cars of passengers, encircled all the festivities.

Finally, the line for tickets thinned a bit, long enough for Kori to recline in her chair, and look out over the crowd and decide what needed her attention. Wilson, her son, ran up, handing her some of his prizes to hold on to. Hey, can you tell your dad to come over here for a minute? Wilson ran off to locate his father. The heat of the day was beginning to set in and Kori was tired. Pleased with the turn out, she wondered if Walton would want to keep everything in place for an additional hour, or start disassembling at 3:30 as planned.

Walton walked up beneath the tent and reached for his wife to stand. Kori, I’d like for you to meet the Billingsly family, they just moved here with their sons, Robert, Jr., and Ian. Kori shook hands with the couple. They’re going to be joining us tomorrow for service.

Kori smiled, Oh, very good! It’s great to meet you! I hope your boys are enjoying the festivities today…we work hard to put this on to invite new people into our church family. Where are you from? Kori conversed for a short time after Walton slipped away to mingle with more of the people in attendance. Finally, the line for tickets had disbanded some, and Kori walked out into the bright sunlight and looming humidity. Walton decided to keep everything going since the children seemed to be enjoying themselves.

AS THE HEAT of the day wore on, Carolyn, the church secretary, started checking off the clean up/take down crew as they arrived to assist. Kori helped to strike the pizza tent and the ticket tent and place them in their zipper cases. She and Wilson carried the tall stacks of empty pizza boxes to the dumpster on the other end of the parking lot. At the same time, Carla started wiping down the snow-cone area, but resorted to rinsing it with the water hose as there was too much spilled syrup to scrub. Kori, you need to head home! Carolyn suggested.

I will, but I still have to—

No, Kori, we’ve got it, that’s why we have a separate crew for clean up. You go ahead home and I’m sending Walt, too. You two have a full day tomorrow, so go ahead home and get some rest.

Speaking to a few people as she rounded up her children, Kori regretted forgetting her sunglasses. Being under the tent for most of the day, she had not realized how bright it was. As she drove through the parking lot, Walton waved for her to stop as he walked towards her. She put the window down and he put his hands against the car and leaned down. Are you going to take a nap?

I might. I got a little tension headache…or it might just be from the sun.

Wilson spoke up from the backseat, Wait, I’m riding with you, Dad! He opened his door and climbed out.

Go get you some rest. I’ll see you at home. I’ll supervise this clean up and make sure nothing gets damaged. He licked his lips, I left my sermon on your nightstand. Read it for me, will you?

She nodded. He stepped back so she could drive away.

Be careful, he spoke after her.

2.jpg 2 3.jpg Walton and Kori

At home, Kori ran a bathtub of water, not too hot this time, as she felt the need to cool off more than the need to soak. She squeezed some shower gel into the water for a few bubbles. In the water she laid back resting her head on the side of the tub thinking of the day’s events. After a bit, the water felt too cool so she added some hot water, and lay her head beck to continue to soak.

AS KORI RESTED, she heard various noises in the house. She tried to sleep, but she had too much on her mind. Walton opened the door and sat beside her stroking her back. Did you read my sermon?

Huh? No, my eyes couldn’t focus when I laid down. I’ll read it in a little while. She cleared her throat. What do you want for supper?

Whatever Melany fixes.

Huh?

Melany’s down there cooking now, Walton informed her.

She is? I tell you what…You know, I’m ’bout too tired to go thank her.

I’ll tell her. I’ll come get you when it’s ready, just relax. Do you want the fan on?

No, I’m fine.

Well, when your eyes can focus, you got some reading material here on the nightstand, okay?

She nodded and laid her head back on the pillow. Once he left, she flipped on the lamp and sat up to read the sermon. Her mother called, she talked and laughed for a few minutes, then finished reading. She felt rested, like she should go join her family but the quiet peacefulness of the bedroom was something she was not ready to abandon. She laid her head back down and dozed off to sleep.

Later into the evening, Walton came back. He told her the kids had gone to bed, and the house was quiet. Downstairs, they sat across from each other enjoying a quiet, peaceful dinner. They were fairly certain that no juice would be spilled and no one would have to be persuaded to eat his vegetables. He asked if she had read his sermon.

Yeah. It’s good. What’s your lead-in going to be?

I don’t know yet, still pondering. He nodded with food in his mouth. But you thought my scriptural interpretations were good?

Yes, Walt! She laughed quietly, You’re the one with the seminary degree, not me! Why do you doubt yourself?

I don’t really doubt myself, but your opinion matters a lot to me. You were my spiritual leader way before I felt the calling, so I have to ask you. One of these days we can tag-team ’cause I get tired sometimes, my throat hurts. He put a fork full of food into his mouth, then spoke again, Are you keeping the kids in the sanctuary with you tomorrow? He chewed, You know it’s Family and Friends Day…I would like my family to be present!

She chewed as she thought of her response. Why do we have to go through this again? Why do you think the children’s Sunday school during eleven o’clock service is so popular? Walt, I can’t pay attention and get my Word from God if I’m having to entertain Randi and Wilson, suggesting things for them to draw, keeping them from talking, I don’t want to do that! They’re fine in Sunday school. They’re learning about God back there and it’s on their level and they can talk out loud when they feel like it! All of your family will be at church, but no, they will not all be sitting down front.

He sipped his tea as he stared into her eyes, weighing the conviction with which she spoke, They’ll never learn to sit still and pay attention in church if nobody makes them do it.

I will teach them to sit still and pay attention in church when they are older, more mature. Walt, we’re talking about a second grader and a third grader, their life skills are not all set at this point. They’re fine where they are. Aren’t you ready to go to bed?

Oh, so we’re tabling this discussion?

Do you want me to rub your back?

Kori—

C’mon. She stood and reached for his empty plate, I still have to get the order ready and do some price comparisons, so… She put their plates into the dishwasher while Walton put away the rest of the food, Did you thank Myron today? You should have heard Carla over there talking about his driving! She shook her head with the memory.

Yeah, I spoke to Myron, thanked Carla too, he said as he reached into the refrigerator. For as hard as you and Carolyn work to put this festival on for the community, I wish people, would have a little bit more respect for the church. I know they’re having fun on the church grounds. Walton seemed troubled as he spoke to his wife. For example, there were plenty of lined trash cans around, so why was I out there having to pick up napkins and pizza crusts off the ground? People just…just don’t have any respect for God’s land anymore. And these boys with their pants hanging off their behinds! Walton shook his head, sportin’ the jailbird drag…I just don’t know! Next year we need a dress code. Shirt, shoes, and belt required. And if you get caught littering, we gon’ hang you from a cross!

Kori laughed, Walt…, her voice dropped, the purpose of the festival was outreach. That means the people we served today haven’t been taught. They don’t know they’re supposed to glorify God with their behavior. I heard people cussing as I walked around. They don’t know any better. That’s why we do this, to show people that church can be better than hanging out on the corner. But the respect part, that takes time. Even you…you didn’t understand that for a long time! I remember walking out of Sunday service and catching you smoking in the parking lot. I was like…don’t you know better than that? Well, no, you didn’t…your body craved that nicotine and you could only put it off enough time to walk out the door. These people start talking and a cuss word comes to mind and then it comes right out of their mouth! No filter whatsoever! We have to teach ’em! That’s our job.

He nodded. I hope some of ’em come to service tomorrow.

They will. You were out there shaking hands and talking to everybody…they will. Pray on it, you’ll see some of ’em tomorrow. Are you ready to go up to bed?

UPSTAIRS, WALTON STOOD flipping through the channels while his wife pulled back the bed sheets and fluffed his pillow. As he settled on a station, she handed him some pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. He dressed for bed while she sat on the edge of the bed watching. I’ll wait and put my shirt on after you rub my back. He spoke to Kori with raised eyebrows. In bed he lay on his stomach, while his wife sat on his buttocks, at his request, to massage his back. He moaned as she pressed her knuckles in near his shoulder blades examining his salt and pepper hair, made neat by his fresh haircut. After a few minutes her wrists began to hurt, so she stretched her arms out hugging his neck as she lay atop his back. He lifted towards her for a kiss. Thanks, Babe. I love you.

Walt, don’t go to sleep without a shirt, you’ll be cold. She rolled off him so he could sit up and pull his shirt over his head. She left the bedroom to check on the children, then downstairs to complete next week’s order.

2.jpg 3 3.jpg Sunday Service: Transformation

As the choir sang, Walton sat with his head back, and eyes closed against the tall, cushioned chair designated for the pastor. He was praying, asking God to guide his words and to send him the right points of emphasis. He asked God to speak through him. Finally, he asked to be entertaining, not boring, and that all of his words be His words that would enter someone’s heart and make them decide to follow Jesus. As the choir was seated, some of the parishioners were standing and clapping. Walton took a deep breath, cleared his throat, licked his lips and stepped up to the heavy wooden pulpit. He surveyed the crowd, somewhat larger than usual, as if seeing it for the first time. There were obviously some visitors who did not stand to be recognized—some shy visitors. Besides the visitors, the same people were in approximately the same seats as always—their comfort zone. The ushers stood at the back doors with bulletins, fans and Kleenex for anyone who might need it. Myron sat next to his wife Carla, about five rows from the back, and their daughter Briana was in the Sunday school room with Wilson and Randi. Ms. McLean sat with her hat down over her eyes fanning near the back on the other side. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner sat up front with space between them for his oxygen canister. At the front, Deacon Massey and Deacon Smith each sat with their wives, on the end of the same pew where Kori was seated. Today she wore a pale pink suit, with a lightweight silk scarf hanging loose around her neck. She wore nearly transparent pantyhose and taupe heels. She sat with her fingers laced, resting on her Bible as it was balanced on her thigh.

The choir sang a rousing arrangement of Pass Me Not that served to awaken everyone and prepare their hearts and minds to receive the message Walton was about to deliver. He sat with his Bible clenched in his hands as they closed out the song, praying that his words touch someone in a meaningful way. He prayed that someone would decide to give their life to Christ today.

Good Morning! The crowd replied weakly. I said good morning! Now they replied more enthusiastically. He, again, welcomed the visitors, a man and his family from Raleigh, a younger woman with her son, along with the Billingsly family he met yesterday. He thanked the choir for their selections, and made an announcement about the choir director being asked to direct one of the local high school chorus groups in an honorary concert during the week. He spoke about yesterday’s festivities and asked those responsible for its success to stand.

His sermon began. † Now, I’ve told you many times that I’m new at this. I’m not one of those ministers who felt the calling in high school. And I wasn’t a minister before I reached the legal drinking age… He gave the eye, Kori smiled, and the parishioners who caught his hidden meaning laughed. "I was a man long before I was a minister. I was a married man before I was a saved man, and a father before I was a preacher. Those who know me, know that I’m not a man who has forgotten what life was like before becoming saved. It wasn’t that long ago. Now some of you are in church for the first time in a long time, or you may be in church for the first time in your life. Well, as you get to know God, you’ll notice some transformations taking place in your life. I’m talking about changes in your way of thinking, changes in your decision-making. I’ll say hopefully, some changes will take place, your priorities will change, your aspirations will change. With God, you will be transformed."

He looked sternly at the crowd. The other day I was going into the hospital to pay a visit to one of the older sisters in the church. And, uh… he motioned with his hands, You know where they have all those flowers in vases for sale just inside…and they have the mirror behind it. Well, flower sales must be up right now because that flower case was almost empty. As I walked by that empty, mirrored case, my own image caught my eye. Let me say that again. Now he spoke more slowly, emphasizing each word. My own image caught my own eye. There was something about myself that seemed different. Now, I’ve been looking at myself for a lot of years, but on that day something struck me. I was shining! Everybody was quiet as he approached the punchline to his story. I did kind of a double-take. I had to see myself again! See, you know, this time of year, I have trouble with my lips getting dry. They get chapped. I usually keep some Chapstick in my pocket, and my dear wife, she keeps some right up here for me, too. He held up his tube of Chapstick from the pulpit. Well on that day, I was driving and I felt my pockets and I didn’t have any. I had licked my lips a few times, but that doesn’t work too well. So, in the cup holder, I found this stuff Kori likes to use. It’s some…uh…it’s…this Chapstick in a squeeze tube. It doesn’t say Chapstick. As a matter of fact I don’t think it even has a label, but I know it’s what she puts on her lips. So…I put some on. And…and it felt good…smooth…moist. It solved my problem. At least I thought it did. Well, when I walked past that mirror, I saw something I didn’t recognize. I had glitter on my lips! My lips were shining like I was a…a woman! The crowd erupted in laughter, some clapped. Kori clapped and shook her head. He had not told her that this story would be his introduction. I looked like I had gone through…a transformation! As fast as I could, I whipped out my handkerchief and got that stuff off of my face! Ain’t no way I’m being seen like that! No, no! Not me! Have people startin’ rumors! I wiped so hard, my lips, they started burning and I really needed me some Chapstick—some real Chapstick! Well, my topic for today is transformation. If you have your Bible, turn to 1 John, chapter 3. I’ll wait. I hear pages turning. First John chapter 3, verses 9 and 10.

‘No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.’

Reverend Cantor repeated the verses, nodding as if he were reading them for the first time, as if God’s Word was sinking into his soul. When I read that verse, I have a couple different thoughts. On the one hand, I feel a bit of alarm I feel like, whoa, since I have been born again, I can’t sin anymore? I can’t? Well, what about yesterday…at the festival as a matter of fact! This lady walked by me with a big cone of ice cream. She was licking it when she walked right by me! It was two scoops of chocolate and one scoop of vanilla all balanced on top of a sugar cone. I kept eye-balling that ice cream, I was trying to have a conversation, but that ice cream kept distracting me. It just looked so good and it was so hot outside. It started dripping, and she was licking it, and…you know, I believe if one of those scoops had rolled off, I would have caught it before it hit the ground. To covet! That’s one of the ten commandments. You know…it says thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods. To covet is to crave, or to want something that someone else has. That’s a sin. Well, I coveted yesterday. What about that? I’m sure I did it. And I’m sure I’m born of God. But that doesn’t mesh with that verse, does it? I’m sinning and I’m a man of God. The verse says anyone born of God cannot go on sinning because the seed of God is in him. Huh? Walton licked his lips as he thought aloud.

In the book of John the eighth chapter, a group of Pharisees and scribes bring a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus. You all know what adultery is, right? The woman was married, and she was caught with another man. Yes. Another man! That’s a sin, right?

Some of the parishioners reacted saying, Amen.

"Well, the men who caught the woman, caught her in the act, it says, and the claim is that under penalty of the law, she should