Raspberry Kisses (The Bakery Romance Series Book 1) (29 page)

              “Well, keep me posted about everything, your bakery, Martin, and anything else. I’ll be sure to visit your website.”

              She nodded and they shared a brief hug.

Chapter Twenty-eight

As Martin finished up his studies, Rhea dominated his mind as he waited to see what would happen between them.

Joyful thoughts hovered about his upcoming graduation. His church had been buzzing about Michael Tucker’s sermons. Since Pastor Frank had given Michael his endorsement, and the local media had covered Pastor Frank’s visit as a news item, they’d had more people come to the church to hear Michael preach.

His father took him aside one day. “Son, I can tell that you’re worried. Just remember all of these new people that have been attending our church since Pastor Frank’s visit can’t vote.”

“I know that, Dad.” His father didn’t need to remind him that their bylaws stated you had to be a member for at least one year before you were allowed to vote. “It’s just that, Michael is such a good pastor…I’m wondering if some of the members who’ve been behind me have started to change their minds.”

His father clapped him on the shoulder. “Martin, don’t worry about it. You’re an excellent pastor, too. If you don’t get voted in as lead pastor, I’m sure you’ll be able to find the right position for yourself elsewhere. Have faith that the Lord will lead you to wherever He wants you to be.”

Martin continued thinking about his father’s advice after Michael Tucker had preached his last sermon. After Michael took a seat in one of the pews, Martin took a deep breath, approached the podium.
Lord, help me to find the courage to give the congregation my true testimony.
“Before you cast your vote, there’s something that I needed to share with you.” He glanced at Linda Tucker and she frowned, her thin eyebrows raised. It looked like he’d surprised her. Good. She’d continued with her comments about his past, and initially, he didn’t want the rest of the congregation to know about his deceased son.

Now it was time to let them know.

“Awhile back, I sensed the Lord wanted me to tell my congregation about how I became a Christian.” He gripped the podium. “I resisted telling you because I was scared. Jesus has finally given me the courage to tell you what you need to know about my past.” Linda’s mouth dropped open, and her eyes widened.

After pausing for several seconds, he finally told them about his tumultuous college years, the birth and death of his son, and his road to salvation. Several church members looked shocked and some gasped, but, when he was finished, at least half of his congregation had tears pouring from their eyes. He glanced at Linda, and she blinked, her mouth turned down in anger. “I wanted you to know that about me before you cast your vote.”

His father approached, clapping Martin on the shoulder, wiping his wet eyes. He pulled Martin away from the microphone. “Son, why didn’t you ever tell me this?” He spoke softly, so that the church members could not hear him.

Martin swallowed, sniffing. “I was too ashamed, Dad.”

His father nodded. “I’d like to talk to you more about this later.”

Martin nodded. He needed to tell his father about Linda’s knowledge about his past, and about how he’d still harbored guilt for his actions. He wanted to let his father know that it’d taken him a long time to finally accept God’s grace for his sins. But there wasn’t enough time to tell him all of that right now. It was time for the congregation to cast their votes.

Martin’s father stepped to the podium. He stared at the members populating the pews. “So, you’ve heard my son’s testimony, now, you need to vote. Be sure to ask for the Lord’s guidance as you decide on your new pastor.” He paused, took a few deep breaths. “When you arrived, you were given a ballot with your name on it.” They’d printed a ballot for each church member. The members’ names had been imprinted on the ballot to ensure that each member only voted one time, as stated in the bylaws. “I want you to cast your vote on the ballot. The ushers will come around to collect them.”

Breathing deeply, Martin stood in front of the church near his father. He eyed the congregation while they cast their votes. Linda Tucker was no longer frowning, she smiled, her eyes glowing with delight. She gazed at Martin, looking smug. He had no idea how the church would vote now that they knew his true testimony. Linda seemed to think that Michael Tucker would be voted in. Martin winced. Why had the Lord allowed Linda Tucker to infiltrate their church and try to shatter his dream?
Lord, I love preaching, and I love telling others about You. Please let me have the honor of becoming the lead pastor of this church. Amen.

After fifteen minutes, the entire congregation had voted on their choice for pastor. The ushers collected the ballots and the pastoral selection committee and the church board members counted the ballots. After the count had been performed four times, they signaled that they were ready for the announcement. Martin’s father stood at the podium, reading from a slip of paper. “Our new head pastor is…Martin Lane!”

Martin’s heart thundered with delight. After the announcement, he went to the front of the congregation, blinking away his tears. He breathed deeply, eyeing the sea of faces populating the pews. This was his congregation, and he would lead them, delivering the word of God to them every Sunday.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, gripping the podium. So many thoughts and emotions swirled through him. Gladness enveloped his heart and a wild feeling of euphoria filled him. Someone touched his shoulder and he looked beside him, spotting his father.

“Are you okay, Son?”

He nodded, responding in a low voice. “I’m so happy right now. I’m feeling so good that I’m not sure what I should say.” He paused, gathering his thoughts, again facing his congregation. “I want to thank God for all the blessings He’s given to me.” He bowed his head. “Lord, thank You for this wonderful gift You’ve given to me. Please be with us as I take my father’s place in leading the congregation. Amen.” After he’d finished his prayer, he realized he wished that Rhea were by his side.

Linda Tucker sat in the front row. Her mouth pressed into a hard line while she squeezed her bony hands together. After Martin had finished speaking, Michael Tucker came to the podium, smiling, thanking the congregation for considering him for the pastoral position. “And,” he said, still smiling, “If you want to visit my church sometime, I’d love to have you.”

He’d found that over the last few weeks as Michael had preached to the congregation, he’d discovered he liked the young preacher. He was warm and honest. Michael had noticed his Aunt Linda’s hostility and apologized several times on his aunt’s behalf.

After the service, several congregation members approached Martin. He was engulfed with hugs, kisses, and handshakes from the members of his congregation.

Later, when he entered the church foyer, he saw Linda Tucker in the corner. Her bony shoulders were hunched, and she openly cried into a handkerchief. An unfamiliar woman stood by her side, patting her shoulder. When the woman turned around, Martin’s mouth dropped open. He blinked. Surely this was a trick of his imagination.

The woman who stared at him was Serena, his old college girlfriend and the mother of his deceased child.

*

“Hi, Martin.” Serena spoke to him, still patting Linda’s shoulder.

He swallowed, speechless. What should he say? His actions toward Serena had dominated his mind for years. Before he could speak, Michael Tucker approached. “Hi, Serena. Long time, no see.” They hugged, and Michael continued. “Thanks for coming. I’m going to take Aunt Linda home. I think she’s upset about what happened.” He glanced at Martin. “Have you met Pastor Martin?”

Serena nodded as Michael led a sobbing Linda Tucker from the church. Martin swallowed, finally finding his voice. “I’m confused. I don’t understand why you’re here and how you know Michael and Linda.” He shook his head, his brain still spinning.

“Martin, I’m sorry. I know you’re confused.” She checked her watch as people exited the church, giving them blatant stares. “Is there someplace where we can talk?”

“Yes.” After Serena didn’t respond to his letter, he figured she didn’t want to speak with him anymore.

They left the church together, walking to a coffee shop located down the street from the church. The roasted scent of fresh coffee filled the air of the crowded shop. The place bustled with activity, and several young people sat at tables, drinking coffee and working on their laptops. After they’d found a table and had their drinks, Martin sipped his coffee. “I’m glad to see you, Serena. I’ve been wanting to speak to you for years.”

“I’m sorry I never answered your letter. I was angry at you for a long time. It took a while for me to get over the way you treated me in college.”

He sighed, took another sip of his coffee. He looked directly into her brown eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

She nodded, glancing out the window before focusing on him again. “Before we talk about that, I wanted to explain about Linda. I’ve known her my whole life. She’s my godmother and she knows what happened between us in college.”

Martin raised his eyebrows. “You told her about our relationship?”

“Yes. She’s known for years. She’s always been protective of me. A long time ago, I showed her a picture of you, and she remembered what you looked like and knew your name. When her church split and she joined your church, she realized who you were. That’s when she made it her mission to make sure you didn’t come into the pulpit.”

Martin blinked, still stunned, trying to digest this news. “You’ve known about her actions the whole time?”

“No. The other day, Michael called me. I live in Florida. He wanted me to fly up and try and talk some sense into his Aunt Linda. He said she’d been acting pretty awful, and he figured something was wrong. He wanted me to come because I’ve always had a knack for figuring out what was wrong with my godmother. I’m pretty good with calming her down, and it’s easiest for me to do this if I see her in person. When he told me everything, I figured out that Aunt Linda was still bitter over the way you treated me in college and that’s why she was doing these things. I’m so sorry, Martin. If I’d known sooner, I would’ve put a stop to it.”

He blew air through his lips, leaning back into his seat. No wonder Linda Tucker had been dead-set against his taking the pastor position. Now everything made sense.

He sighed again. In a calm voice, he told her about his struggle to forgive himself for his past actions against her, even wondering if he was fit to be pastor.

“Don’t beat yourself up over this. I forgive you for what you’ve done. It took me years and I never told you, but, in my heart, I forgave you. I just feel bad about what Linda did. She thinks of me as a daughter, and she was trying to protect me.”

“Don’t feel bad about what your godmother did. It was all part of God’s plan.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I think He planted Linda in my church so that you and I could meet up again. If your Aunt Linda had never caused trouble, you wouldn’t have flown in from Florida and I wouldn’t have been able to ask your forgiveness.”

They spent a couple of hours chatting. After he’d given Serena a ride to her hotel, he processed everything that had happened over the last year. Linda being in his church had been God’s will, but, he’d been too stubborn to see it until he spoke with Serena. Linda had caused so much turmoil and anguish in his life…he needed to use this experience, let himself realize that he needed to deepen his faith further, rely on God’s guidance.

Chapter Twenty-nine

Martin’s graduation day dawned sunny and bright, and he looked forward to seeing his family at the event. He smiled when he heard his name called from the stage. “Martin Louis Lane.” He grinned, silently thanking God as he accepted his diploma, feeling he had taken another step in fulfilling what God had called him to do.

After the ceremony was over, his family rushed over to him. His brothers, sisters, and parents made a huge huddle hugging and kissing one another. As he scanned the crowd of well-wishers, he searched for Rhea. Surely she’d shown up for his graduation!

His sister Trina’s voice boomed over the crowd. “Hey, Martin, who are you looking for?”

He didn’t answer her as he stared at the faces gathered in the outdoor gardens of the divinity school. As scents of lush red roses and pansies filled the air, disappointment coursed through him. Several of the graduates and the audience traipsed to the nearby reception hall for cake, punch, and hors d’oeuvres. He shook his head as his brother placed his hand on his shoulder. “Hey, Martin, who are you looking for?”

He sighed as he beckoned his family to enter the reception hall with the rest of the guests. “I thought a good friend of mine was going to attend the graduation, but it looks like she couldn’t make it after all.” Sadness weighed upon him like a hot wet blanket and as he mechanically ate his cake while his family and friends chattered around him. The euphoria of the day evaporated.

*

Rhea pulled the pan of raspberry cupcakes from the oven. The warm, inviting scent of berries filled the bakery. Finally, after weeks of trial and error, she’d finally perfected her recipe! She’d even thought of the perfect name for this dessert: Raspberry Kiss Cupcakes. When she tasted these decadent little cakes, she thought of Martin’s hugs and kisses and his kind caring nature. She’d wanted to call him and tell him about her perfected recipe and the new name, but, she’d chickened out.

Her phone buzzed and she pulled it from her pocket, spotting two text messages. Toni and Sterling had both texted her at the same time, wondering how things were going in her bakery and if she’d patched things up with Martin. She quickly texted them back, letting them know that she was still trying to decide what to do.

It’d been kind of nice, texting and emailing her two new friends. They mostly talked about their bakeries, and about new recipes. Speaking to someone regularly about her bakery had opened up a new world for her, and she’d been surprised to see that Sterling had a food blog. He’d not mentioned his blog at the convention. She visited the blog regularly and so did Toni. They often left comments, and she’d been pleased when Sterling gently suggested she set up a Facebook page for her bakery. She’d talked to both Sterling and Toni on the phone, touched when they showed concern about what would happen between her and Martin.

Surprisingly, Martin had failed to advise her to set up a social media page, but, she wasn’t sure if he even visited Facebook. She now understood why he’d said it was a good idea for her to attend the convention and meet some people in her industry. She imagined that she’d be in contact with Sterling and Toni for a long time.

She slipped the phone back into her pocket and allowed the cupcakes to cool before removing them from the pan. She then took out her ingredients to make the frosting. A few drops of red food coloring in the vanilla icing would give the treats a wonderful finishing touch.

Candy poked her head into the kitchen. “Rhea, it’s time for your lunch break.”

She shook her head, measuring powdered sugar into a huge bowl. “I’m not hungry.”

Candy huffed, entering the kitchen, putting her hands over her hips. “Are you still upset about Martin? Just talk to him already.”

“Oh, Candy, it’s just so complicated.”

The entrance bell tinkled. “Did somebody order a pizza?” Rhea and Candy strolled to the front of the bakery.

“I ordered the pizza,” Candy responded. She paid the delivery man, accepted the box.

The spicy scent of pepperoni and cheese wafted from the box. Candy held the carton toward Rhea. “I thought I’d treat you to lunch.”

“No thanks, I’m not hungry.” Usually when she was depressed, she ate food for comfort, but since her last conversation with Martin, she’d been feeling less hungry, often skipping meals. She’d been hungry at the convention, but, as soon as she’d left the convention and returned to the bakery, she’d gotten depressed and her appetite had diminished.

“Rhea, you haven’t eaten lunch in two weeks. Have a slice of pizza. It might make you feel better.”

Candy slid two slices onto a paper plate and opened a can of cola. She marched to the office, setting both items on Rhea’s desk. “Come, sit down, and rest. Have some lunch.”

Rhea swallowed, realizing her throat felt dry. A nice cold cola and a short break were what she needed. She entered the office, closed the door and plopped into her chair. She stared at the pizza, blinking.

She had not attended Martin’s graduation.

Her cell phone buzzed. She saw Taylor’s number. “Hi, Taylor.”

“Did you go to Martin’s big day?”

“No.”

“And I’ll bet you’re still depressed, right?”

Rhea mentally groaned, not responding.

“Girl, toughen up. Find that inner strength to do what you need to do.”

“You sound like Sterling and Toni.”

“Who?”

She briefly told her about the convention and how she’d surprisingly made two new friends. She then told her about how Sterling admitted he’d wanted to ask her out on a date.

“Girl, sounds like Sterling’s a nice guy. Maybe you can give him my number and we can hook up some time for a date.” Taylor chuckled.

“I’d do that for you, Taylor, but he lives in Florida. I doubt you’d be able to go out with him.”

“Well, I’m not getting any younger. I could always fly over there and visit him.” She chuckled again.

“Bye, Taylor.” She ended the call, still staring at her uneaten lunch. She closed her eyes. “Lord, I really need Your help. Help me to be strong, Lord, help me to do what I need to do to be happy with Martin.”

Sighing, she ate her lunch, enjoying the fizz of the cold soda. When she was finished, she pressed her hands together and stood before approaching the office door and opening it. “Candy, do you mind working the bakery by yourself this afternoon and closing up?”

“Are you going to meet Martin so that you can kiss and make up?”

Rhea ignored her question, removing her apron. “Well, can you stay?”

“Of course. But you need to let me know how things go with Martin.”

Candy had iced the cupcakes while Rhea had eaten her lunch. She placed six of the small cakes into a monogramed box, capping the container with a festive red bow.

Rhea left her bakery and drove home, still pensive. Martin’s graduation had ended, but she hoped that she could still show him her true feelings. When she arrived at her apartment, she entered, scanning the numerous boxes packed into her living room. Her lease was ending next week, and she’d found a nice apartment to rent. She’d signed the lease, and she already had her keys. Taylor and some of her friends from church were going to help her move.

While packing, she’d come across her wedding album. She’d spent hours staring at the pictures over the last few weeks, thinking about Stan while trying to find the courage to accept Martin into her life. She’d also started going to the group grief counseling sessions at her church. Speaking to others about Stan had been therapeutic for her soul, but, she still needed to find the strength to move on. She finally decided to take the advice from one of the young widows that attended the sessions – taking this little trip could help her.

Going to her closet, she found her favorite pair of blue jeans and the new royal blue shirt she’d purchased earlier that week.

After dressing and applying her makeup, she gazed at herself in the mirror, making sure she looked nice. She had to see Martin, and she hoped it wasn’t too late. He may have taken her absence as rejection, and already put her out of his mind. She grabbed her digital camera, heading out the door.

She stopped at the grocery store, bought a dozen yellow roses. She then got into her car and took the half hour drive to the cemetery. She pulled into the lot and walked until she found Stan’s grave. Taking deep breaths, she touched the headstone, caressing Stan’s name. She then unwrapped the flowers, slowly placing them over his grave, one by one.

Sitting on a nearby bench, she stared at the flowers, vividly recalling how Stan used to give her the blossoms when they lived at the parish. She closed her eyes, memories consuming her. She recalled Stan counseling couples, spending time in the church. In spite of all they’d gone through as a couple, he just wanted her happy.

She sighed, opening her eyes, staring at the headstone. Stan would approve of her relationship with Martin, Rhea was sure of that.

“Stan, I know you’re in heaven. Since last spring, I’ve been so confused. I’ve fallen in love again…I just need to find the courage to love a preacher again.” She then closed her eyes and prayed to God for strength. After sitting at Stan’s grave for an hour, Rhea finally stood and slowly walked back to her car.

*

The pounding knock on Martin’s front door echoed from the living room. Alone, he’d been in the middle of putting away the leftover barbeque chicken and ribs from his graduation party. His despondent mood had placed a damper on the family event, and Trina kept asking him what was wrong, wondering if he’d been lamenting over Rhea.

He rushed to the door and opened it.

His heart skipped when he spotted Rhea on his front steps.

She looked beautiful.

Her blue jeans gently tugged on her full hips, accenting her small waist. “Hi, Martin.”

“Rhea…I’m surprised to see you.”

“Can I come in?”

He nodded, and when she entered his house, he noticed she carried a large shopping bag and a bakery box. She set the bag on the floor, and placed the box on the coffee table, sniffing. “I smell barbeque.”

“Would you like some?”

She shook her head, sitting on the couch. “Maybe later.”

Still stunned, almost speechless, Martin sat beside her. The familiar scent of her perfume wafted toward him, filling him with euphoria. So, why was she here? He couldn’t get too excited until she told him why she’d come. She glanced around his living room and folded her hands in her lap. “This is weird.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve known you for four months, and this is the first time I’ve been inside your home.” She eyed his leather furniture. “I like it.”

“Thanks. How did you know my address?”

“You entered your address when you did your online cupcake order.”

“I see.” He took her hand, caressed her fingers. “Rhea, why are you here?”

She bit her lower lip, before meeting his gaze. “Martin, I wanted to go to your graduation, but I just wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do. Then, this afternoon I realized that I’ve been miserable since we had our coffee in the donut shop. I’ve been sad and upset, but it’s my fault. I’ve started going to grief counseling.”

“Really?” Wow, this was a huge step for Rhea to take.

“I needed to do it. Talking to others in the group is helping me. I’ve also realized that having you in my life makes me happy, Martin, and I want to be with you.”

His heart skipped a beat. “So, you really want to be with me?”

She slowly nodded. “I visited Stan’s grave this afternoon. I loved Stan so much and it’s taken me a long time to grieve for him, but I have to move on with my life. I can’t be wrapped up in grief for Stan forever.”

She gripped his fingers. “I was too scared to admit my true feelings to you. The last few weeks have been hard for me, trying to make this decision. I’m still a little scared.”

He pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead. “It’s okay to be a little scared, but remember what I told you, we have to have faith in God.”

“I’m sure Stan would want you to be happy.” He hugged her. “I’m glad you’ve decided to give our relationship a chance,” he whispered in her ear. Martin kissed her cheek. “I love you, Rhea.”

“I love you too, Martin.” He cupped her cheek in his hand, kissed her lips. He ended the kiss, a warm, passionate feeling consuming him.

“I’m the lead pastor at the church now.”

“I know. I found out on the church’s website. I’m so happy for you, Martin. I know how much having the lead pastor position means to you.”

“Well, I had an unexpected visitor at the church on my election day.”

“Really? Who?”

He told her about seeing Serena again, and that Serena was Linda’s goddaughter.

She blew air through her lips. “My goodness, that must’ve been a shock.”

“It was. I thought I was dreaming.”

“I’m glad you were able to see her again. I know you wanted to know if she forgave you. Her being Linda’s goddaughter explains why Linda tried to keep you away from your pastor position.”

“I know, but having Linda infiltrate my church was all part of God’s plan.”