Jezebel (14 page)

T
hings had been tense between Traynor and Jessie Belle since their second anniversary a month ago. He'd done everything he could to try to get their marriage back on track, but Jessie Belle continued to keep him at a distance.

Why can't I make her understand that this isn't about money for me?

Although Jessie Belle kept denying that she was more concerned about his salary and expenses, Traynor knew that's exactly why she was so upset. Money and possessions seemed to be a big issue for her. She had even gone behind his back to Aunt Eleanor about the jewelry, although he hadn't mentioned knowing about it.

She constantly complained about not being able to drive a nicer car or buy expensive clothes…. Jessie Belle frequently compared their life with the lives of other couples in ministry. He couldn't help but wonder if that's how the first ladies spent their time together—comparing notes.

She was upstairs now with Holt.

Traynor suggested earlier that they go out for lunch as a family, but she refused. He'd never seen her behave this way and it bothered him. He loved Jessie Belle and enjoyed making her happy, but this time Traynor strongly believed he was right in this situation.

I'm not backing down
.

He strolled outdoors to get the mail after seeing the postman drive away.

Back inside, Traynor spent the next five minutes going through the stack of envelopes.

He nearly choked when he saw the bank statement for their savings account. Traynor stormed into his son's bedroom waving the document.

“Jessie Belle, what in the world did you spend one thousand dollars on? I just got the statement for our savings account.”

“Excuse me?” She held a hand over her son's ear. “Keep your voice down, please. You're going to scare the baby.”

“What all did you buy at Dillard's department store?”

“I bought a purse,” Jessie Belle stated in a loud whisper.

“A purse,” Traynor repeated, his voice raising an octave. “
One
purse?”

She stood up. “I'm putting Holt in his crib and then we can go downstairs to talk. I don't want you waking him up with all of your yelling.”

“I'm not yelling.”

“Ssssh…”

Jessie Belle walked out of the nursery, carrying a baby monitor.

Traynor followed her to their bedroom.

Jessie Belle sat down on the love seat in their sitting room, her eyes trained on him. “You were saying,” she prompted.

“You bought a pocketbook? One of them.”

“Yes,” Jessie Belle answered calmly. “Honey, I needed a nice handbag, so I bought one. It's a designer purse like the one Sara had.”

“I can't believe you spent this much money on a purse. This is ridiculous.”

Looking away, Jessie Belle dismissed his words with a wave of her hand. “You only feel that way because you're a man. Women understand these things. Half the first ladies in this city carry designer bags.”

“You've been spending a lot of money on clothes, makeup and now this purse. Jessie Belle, we can't do this. I wanted to save most of the money I got from my father. We're down to half. This needs to stop.”

She raised her eyes to his. “We could if you'd ask for a raise. Since you took over, New Salem's church membership has tripled. Honey, you should be getting paid a lot more money.”

“Why? So you can waste it on shopping?”

“Traynor, that's not fair.”

He shook his head. “Sweetheart, we're trying to save money, remember? You want a bigger house, a nicer car, and you want to send Holt to private school—we can't do any of that if we don't save money.”

“I don't think I like your tone,” Jessie Belle snapped.

“This has to stop,” he said. “I mean it.”

“You have some nerve, Traynor. You don't want to ask for a raise or get a job with a larger church, but you complain about money. Why do I have to suffer or Holt? You told me you wanted another child—can we afford one? Did you check your budget? Huh?”

“Don't try and make this my fault, Jessie Belle. You've been going into the savings and spending the money like water. I should have been consulted on this.”

“Why?” Jessie Belle demanded. “The money is supposed to be
ours
.”

“
Ours
is right. I wouldn't go around spending thousands of dollars like that without talking to you.”

“Oh, that's right. You're a saint.”

“Jessie Belle, I'm putting you on a budget. I'll give you four hundred dollars each month. That's all. Now, I'm doing this for your own good. You want nice stuff and the only way to get it is to save money.”

“You ain't my daddy, Traynor. How dare you treat me like a child?”

“I love you, sweetheart. I know you're mad with me now, but one day when you're in your dream house…you're going to thank me.”

Traynor reached out for her, but Jessie Belle slapped his hands away. She blew out of the house like a tornado. He hoped she would return in a better mood.

He went to one of the guest rooms upstairs and fell to his knees.

Father God, I'm worried about her, Lord. Jessie Belle's getting too caught up in material possessions. Guide her and show her Your way and teach her contentment. I love my wife and I want our marriage to flourish, but right now we're on two different paths. Help us find our way back to each other. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen
.

Traynor felt a wave of peace flow through him. He'd done the right thing by placing Jessie Belle on a budget. She would understand after a while.

They were going to be okay.

He had to believe that, because the thought of losing Jessie Belle was too much to bear.

Jessie Belle met Sara Hamilton for lunch. They decided to do a little shopping afterward.

“This dress is gorgeous,” Sara murmured, holding up a sleeveless lace sheath. “It'll look stunning on you. You have such a nice figure.”

Jessie Belle was in love with the shimmery black dress. She normally wouldn't think anything about buying it, but since their last argument about money a few days ago, Traynor had placed her on a budget. He allowed her only four hundred dollars per month to take care of the utilities and miscellaneous expenses.

A four-hundred-dollar budget didn't leave much for her to shop with.

She was still furious with Traynor for treating her this way and hadn't spoken to him for the past two days.

The hair on the back of her neck stood up.

Jessie Belle glanced around the boutique, her eyes landing on a man standing in the back of the store.

For a moment she couldn't tear her gaze away from his profile.

She thought of Traynor and her vow to remain faithful.

“This dress is adorable,” she murmured, and held it up in front of her. “What do you think, Sara?”

“It's lovely. Why don't you try it on?”

“I think I will,” Jessie Belle stated.

She navigated through the store, making her way over to the dressing rooms. Jessie Belle slipped into the dress and walked out.

He was still there, eyeing her.

Jessie Belle met his gaze straight on. She couldn't help but notice the tingle of excitement inside her. Feeling bold, she stared back at him, willing him to say something.

The handsome man awarded her a tiny smile, then said, “I apologize for staring like that, but you're stunning.”

A delicious shiver ran through Jessie Belle. “Thank you for the compliment.”

She glanced around the store, looking for Sara.

“She's in the dressing room,” the salesclerk told her.

“Thanks,” she murmured.

Jessie Belle moved to the next rack of clothes. She selected a dress and held it against her, staring into the full-length mirror.

He appeared behind her. “That dress looks exquisite on you. It's as if it were made just for you.”

She looked into the mirror. “I think so, too.”

“You should buy it.”

“I wish I could. It's not in my budget right now.” Jessie Belle ran her hand down the side of the dress and sighed. “It's beautiful, though.”

“I tell you what…why don't I give it to you…as a gift?”

Jessie Belle glanced over her shoulder to see if Sara was nearby. Turning her attention back to him, she said, “But you don't know me. Why would you be so kind to a stranger?”

“I am a great admirer of beauty. It would be my pleasure and my honor to gift you with such a beautiful dress.”

“My goodness…,” Jessie Belle murmured. “I don't know about this. I'm married.”

He leaned forward and whispered, “So am I. This is just a small token of my appreciation of such an exotic beauty. I don't think I've ever seen anyone as beautiful as you are.”

“Perhaps you will allow me to pay you for the dress in installments,” she suggested.

He shook his head no. “It's a gift.”

“What is it you really want in return?” Jessie Belle asked. She knew this gorgeous dress didn't come without strings attached.

“The pleasure of your company from time to time would be nice. We will be very discreet. I give you my word.”

“My time is much more valuable than this one dress is worth.”

“You can have anything you want in the store. It'll be charged to my personal account.”

“You must be a very rich man,” Jessie Belle responded.

“I'm wealthy,” he admitted. “Now that we have that settled, can I gift you with this dress?”

“I'm with a friend right now….”

“It will be ready for you when you come back.” Holding out his hand, he said, “My name is Samuel Hightower.”

“Jessie Belle Deveraux.”

“It's an honor to meet you, Jessie Belle.”

She tingled as he said her name. Her heart fluttered wildly in her chest.

Jessie Belle heard the opening and closing of a dressing room door. “I need to get back to my friend,” she told him.

“Your dress will be waiting here for you.”

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Were you just talking to that man?” Sara inquired when Jessie Belle walked over to her.

“Yes, that's Mr. Samuel Hightower.”

Sara seemed surprised. “You know him?”

Jessie Belle gave a slight nod.

“You certainly run in the right circles,” she murmured. “The High-towers are one of the wealthiest families in North Carolina. His poor wife has brain cancer. She's in the final stages, from what I understand. My heart just goes out to him.”

“He's very loyal to her,” Jessie Belle managed between stiff lips.

When they walked out of the store, Sara drove Jessie Belle back to the restaurant parking lot to pick up her car.

“Give Traynor my best,” she said before driving off.

“Whatever,” Jessie Belle muttered. She jumped into her car and headed back to the store to pick up her dress.

What if it was just a joke?

“Would he do that to me?” she whispered. “If I walk into that boutique and that dress hasn't been paid for—I'm gonna feel so stupid.”

Jessie Belle sat in her car outside the store, trying to decide if she should go inside.

“If it's not there—no harm's been done.” She got out of the car and went inside the boutique.

Before she could open her mouth, the young woman recognized her and said, “Mr. Hightower told me you'd be picking these up. I have everything ready for you.”

Jessie Belle's mouth dropped open in surprise. Instead of just the one dress, there were four, along with shoes and other accessories. “Oh my goodness.”

“He left this for you as well.” She handed Jessie Belle an envelope.

She opened it to find a note and a key card.

“Hightower Hotel…of course.” She hadn't made the connection until now. It was the only African-American-owned hotel in Raleigh. Jessie Belle had heard about it but had never been inside the hotel.