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on his knee and began singing as the car turned onto the highway heading back toward Pelzer. “If you let that Devil ride . . . she’s gonna wanna drive.”
    Smiling at his spiritual mother’s obvious insinuation, Leotis looked into his rearview mirror. He did it just in time to catch the unappreciative eye of Sharvon and the flirtatious look from Ima. Now strumming the steering wheel, he could think of but one response to his spiritual mother’s warning. It was the words in an old Stevie Wonder song he’d always liked, “Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing.”
    Suddenly Leotis felt alive and leery at the same time. It’d been quite some time since he’d been in female company and felt what he was feeling. Father God, please don’t place me between a rock and a hard place. Wisdom and restraint, Lord . . . I need wisdom and restraint.
    Sister Betty, on the other hand, clasped her hands and began silently praying as she queried God. Father, I’ve been all up and down and in and out of your holy Word. If there’s any situation in that book that is akin to what I know is about to happen if Leotis lets Ima into his world, please show it to me. And, Father, if it be thy will, please slap Leotis upside the head with some wisdom. Amen.

Chapter 4
    I t was early Friday morning, just a little past dawn, and for days Sister Betty had witnessed Leotis stretch and bend his staunch beliefs on marriage and dating like a Cirque du Soleil contortionist.
    She wasn’t really surprised. In fact, she’d known for the past week or so of restless sleep, throbbing knees, and the other discomforts that followed Sharvon’s return, with Ima in tow, that something would go wrong. Sister Betty just didn’t know when, where, what, or how.
    She had also missed having Sharvon around to toss around her ideas for the wedding. Eight and a half weeks would pass before she knew it, and there was plenty to decide and to have done. Although they lived in the same house, Sister Betty seldom saw Sharvon. Sharvon would leave before eight in the morning and would not return until almost midnight. She had spent almost the entire past four days at the Singer and Berry law firm, to which soon would be added the name Becton. Sharvon had finally accepted their offer to join. It’d mean long hours, for the most part, until Sharvon became familiar with her various cases and the staff she’d oversee. Sister Betty was pleased because law was something Sharvon loved and had thrown herself into.
    In the meanwhile, Sister Betty made up her mind that she wouldn’t allow Ima’s sexy come-ons to become a reason for any romantic notions between Sharvon and Leotis. At least Sharvon won’t be witnessing the way Ima’s gonna just throw herself at Leotis. I just know she will. I can just feel it, she thought.
    Sharvon quietly entered the kitchen and threw her arms around Sister Betty’s neck. “I’m about to go for a quick run before I head out to the office this morning.”
    Sister Betty laughed as she turned to face Sharvon. “Come on, Sharvon. Sit with me for a moment and have some breakfast. If you don’t come out of that size four you wear and put on some weight, I’ll have to get your maid of honor dress from the toddler department.”
    â€œThere’ll be no buying anything for me in some toddlers’ department,” Sharvon said as she pulled at the string on her running shorts. “I’m trying to maintain this weight so if I have children one day, I can relax and not worry about gaining too much weight.”
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    Leotis Tom held the reputation as one of Pelzer’s most handsome men in and out of a preacher’s robe and the fastest. He loved running and had won several local marathons. When he wasn’t on his knees, praying and talking to God, he’d have his heavenly chat while running.
    He awoke early this Friday morning and