“It was delicious,” Lily complimented.
“I wouldn’t know,” Pastor Dean said woefully.
Lily and Rachel laughed while Willa looked embarrassed.
“I better go. I have an order I need to get started.” Willa edged closer to the door.
“Wait a minute, Willa,” Rachel forestalled the woman. “Pastor Dean, Willa has some appliances to donate, but she needs some help getting them here.”
“I’ll take care of it. When would be a good time?”
“Anytime would be fine. I’m usually home,” Willa told him.
“This evening around five sound good? I should be able to round up a couple of men to stop by and pick them up.”
“That’s fine.”
“I appreciate the donations to the church.”
“You’re welcome. Well, I better go. See you tomorrow, Rachel and Lily. Pastor Dean.”
Willa left and Lily looked at Pastor Dean.
“I think she thought you would break into a spontaneous sermon the way she took off from here,” Rachel said.
“She always acts like that. I don’t know why. Am I one of those preachers who puts the fear of God into you by being in the room?” he asked with a frown. “None of the other women in the church act like that. They like to make desserts for me, but she has a kitchen full of baked goods and never brings me anything.” If Lily didn’t know better, she would have thought the Pastor was pouting.
“Those women bring you food trying to catch you. They want to impress you with their cooking skills,” Lily told him.
It was no secret that Pastor Dean was the most eligible bachelor in town. Ever since he had taken over the church after her father’s death, the single women in the congregation had been vying for his attention.
“Willa doesn’t need to worry that she’ll give me that impression. She doesn’t give me the time of day if she can help it. I think if there was another Baptist church in town, she would have left ours already,” Pastor Dean said.
Lily could hear the concern in his voice. “I don’t think that’s true at all. She was probably in a rush.”
“Could be,” Pastor Dean said, yet he didn’t sound like he believed his own words.
Rachel and Lily shared a glance. It was unusual to see Pastor Dean unsure of himself. He was loved and respected by the whole congregation. Lily was sure he had over-thought Willa’s reaction to his presence.
“How soon do you think we’ll be able to open the store for the community?” Pastor Dean asked, changing the conversation.
“We were just talking about that,” Lily answered. “We think we need another helper or we need to do an extra night.”
“I don’t want to impose on your time, but I’ve already asked several to help out and been given every excuse they can come up with.”
“I don’t mind. How about Wednesday, Rachel? We could do it after service.”
“I think that will be fine. I have the time.”
“If you’re both sure?” Pastor Dean asked.
“We’re sure,” Lily answered. It would give her a few extra hours away from the club a week.
“I’ll see you both in the morning then,” Pastor Dean excused himself.
Lily and Rachel spent the rest of the day making headway with the large job ahead of them.
They were going through the last bag when Rachel pulled out a sheer nightgown. She stared down at it then broke out laughing. “Do you think it was a mistake or do you suppose they were trying to give Pastor Dean a message?”
Lily blushed, folding clothes on the table next to her. “What should we do with it?” Lily asked.
“Put it out. We’ll have to watch and see who takes it.” Rachel raised it up so Lily could see it better. “Are you sure you don’t want to take it home?”
“I wouldn’t need it. I don’t believe in premarital sex.”
Rachel just stared at her in disbelief. “Good luck with that.”
“What does that mean?” Lily asked, insulted.
Rachel just shook her head. “I’m not going there.”
“I don’t know why you think it’s strange. I don’t see you getting any man past your brothers.”
Rachel grinned conspiratorially. “No one’s tempted me enough to make me want to go against those knuckleheads, but believe me, when I do, I’ll have no problem saying yes.”
Lily looked at her in surprise. Lily had thought as religious as Rachel was that she would share her own view.
“You would?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve been looking forward to losing my v-card. I just can’t find the man worth giving it up.” Rachel grinned. “You should see your face, Lily.”
“I want my first time to be special,” Lily said, looking down at the clothes held tightly in her hands, not sure why she wanted to cry all of a sudden.
“I do, too,” Rachel said, reaching over to touch her hand lightly. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t love him with my whole heart, just that I don’t need a piece of paper saying it’s all right to express my love in a physical way.”