Love, Honor, and Betray by Roby, Lawson (ebook reader ink txt) 📕

always very honest—she also didn’t ask for the selfish decisions you made either. No child asks to come here, but in theend, it is the parents’ responsibility to take care of them.”

“I agree, and you’re right. I’ve done a lot of wrong throughout the years, but I’ll never turn my back on any of my children.I never have, and I’m not going to start now.”

“What about counseling? Have you considered that?”

“I have, and actually, I’m going to suggest that to Charlotte. Because with the exception of God’s help, I’m not sure whatother chance we have of fixing this.”

“I’m really sorry that you’re going through this, and of course I’ll keep all of you in my prayers.”

“I appreciate that, Lana, and thanks so much for listening.”

“Anytime. And Pastor, you keep your head up. You do what you know is right, and I’m just going to believe that everythingelse will take care of itself.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Next, Curtis prepared for a short meeting with his two lead officers, Elder Jamison and Elder Dixon. They now sat in his officediscussing the new building.

“It’s been a lengthy process, but when I say the new church is going to be out of this world, I really mean that,” Elder Jamisonsaid.

“I agree,” Curtis added.

“Yeah, it is somethin’,” Elder Dixon commented. “One of the nicest churches I’ve ever seen and certainly the best-lookin’one here in Mitchell.”

“And it’s so high-tech.” Elder Jamison said. “The computer system, media system, and sound system are all top of the line,and we’ll be able to do wonders during Sunday morning service. Not to mention when we begin broadcasting.”

Curtis smiled. “I think I’m excited about that part the most, and it was all I could do not to mention the radio studio we’veincluded. And I was dying to tell them that we’re planning to begin televising one year from now.”

“The whole project is such a huge blessin’ from God, I tell you,” Elder Dixon said. “Just huge.”

“That it is,” Curtis said. “We have a lot to be thankful for.”

Elder Jamison and Elder Dixon continued speaking to each other, and without realizing it Curtis slipped into deep thought.He still couldn’t get over Charlotte and the way she was acting. The way she was treating him, the man she claimed to loveso much. He also thought about how after all these years he was still reaping every bit of what he had sown. He had been doingthe right thing for a few years now and working hard to obey God’s Word, but he was still suffering the consequences of hisprior actions.

“Pastor?” he finally heard Elder Jamison say. “Pastor, is everything okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine,” Elder Dixon said matter-of-factly. “And boy, after all we’ve been through with you over the years,I know when somethin’ ain’t quite right. So, what is it?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” Curtis wasn’t shocked at how forthcoming Elder Dixon was. He was a good man, and he treated Curtislike a son the same as Lana did, but he didn’t have much tact.

“All right now. Don’t try to deal with somethin’ all by yourself when you’ve got people around here who care about you.”

“I appreciate that, Brother Dixon, but I’m good.”

Elder Dixon widened his eyes, clearly not believing a word Curtis was saying, but he left the conversation alone just thesame.

“Just know we’re here for you, Pastor,” Elder Jamison offered.

“I know that, and I depend on it.”

There was another knock at the door, and Curtis looked at his watch. “That’s probably Raven. She has some information forme,” he told the elders and then said, “Come in.”

Raven Jones opened the door and entered.

“Hey, Raven,” Elder Jamison said.

“Whatchu know good, Miss Finance Lady?” Elder Dixon said, teasing her.

“How are you, Elder Dixon? Elder Jamison?”

“I think that’s all we have, anyway,” Elder Jamison said to Curtis. “And we’ll just see you tonight at the meeting.”

“Yep,” Elder Dixon said. “See you then.”

Both men left the office, and Raven sat where Elder Jamison had been sitting.

“So, were you able to find someone highly recommended but not here in the area?” Curtis asked.

“Yes, an attorney by the name of Richard Cacciatore. He’s a founding partner at one of the top downtown law firms, and he’sone of the best in the business when it comes to wills, probate, and estate planning.” She passed him a sheet with Richard’scontact information on it.

“Good.”

Curtis hadn’t wanted anyone to know he was looking for a new lawyer, and it was the reason he hadn’t told Raven, his CFO,why he wanted the information nor why he needed her to keep his request confidential. It was also the reason he hadn’t elaboratedto the two elders about Raven’s visit to his office. She was the church’s chief financial officer, so it wasn’t like theywould suspect her to be advising him on anything law related. He was keeping his intentions to himself because he didn’t wantanyone wondering why he was getting ready to move a good portion of his money around, making sure Alicia, Matthew, and Curtinareceived as much money as Charlotte did. When he’d first asked Raven to locate him a reputable attorney, his only desire wasto get Curtina added more prominently into his will. He had already included her, but after her mother had passed he’d decidedto make sure she received just as much as his other two children if something happened to him. Actually, he’d wanted to giveCurtina equal shares from the very beginning, but Charlotte had thrown such a fit about the possibility of Tabitha being thetrue recipient that he’d left the idea alone.

That was then, though. But now that his relationship with Charlotte had taken an unsettling turn and she’d proven how muchshe hated Curtina, he felt he needed to look out for his children even more. He knew Matthew would always be fine becauseCharlotte would always take care of her own son. She would probably even make sure Alicia received a few extra benefits aswell, since they’d had a wonderful stepmother-stepdaughter relationship for years now. But he knew she wouldn’t do a