When Sunday Comes Again Read Online Free

has got to stop. This is unnatural. I know you cared for Pastor Cleaveland. It was tragic, but you have to be strong and accept the fact that he’s gone. I know you’re worried about the church, but Samantha will be fine as the new pastor. Everything will work out in time.”
    Scarlett jerked away from him and shouted, “Everything will not work out. You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know her. She’ll ruin everything that is good about New Testament Cathedral. You don’t know that woman like I do.”
    Scarlett began to cry and tried to walk around him, but he blocked her path. “Wait, honey, we have to talk about this. You can’t go on like this. It’s ruining our marriage. You’re neglecting Natalie and—”
    When she heard her daughter’s name, she began to cry harder and fell into his arms. David stroked her head and tried unsuccessfully to calm her. “Honey, it’s going to be all right. Hezekiah is in a better place, and there’s nothing we can do about it. You’ve got to come back to us. Natalie and I need you.”
    â€œYou don’t understand, David,” she said through her sobs. “Everything is so complicated.”
    â€œThen help me understand. I love you. We can work through whatever it is together.”
    â€œI can’t . . . I can’t tell you. You’ll hate me if I do.”
    â€œI could never hate you, Scarlett. Now, tell me what is upsetting you this much.”
    Scarlett slowly pulled away from his chest, walked back to the dinette table, and sat down again in the window with her back to him. David did not move. She pulled a white paper napkin from a holder at the center of the table and dabbed her wet cheeks. The tears continued to flow, but the sobbing slowly subsided.
    David waited to allow her to compose herself and then reiterated, “I love you, Scarlett, but you have to let me know what’s upsetting you before I can help.”
    Scarlett looked out the window at a large blooming magnolia tree in her front yard. Their Japanese gardener raked leaves into a neat pile and waved to her, but she didn’t wave back. His adolescent assistant revved a gas lawn mower in another corner of the yard. The loud roar of the engine suddenly filled the room.
    David walked behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder. “Talk to me, Scarlett.”
    She clutched the soaked napkin in her fist and held it to her mouth. “I lied to you, David.”
    David planted his slipper-clad feet firmly on the yellow linoleum floor but did not speak. His hand remained on her trembling shoulder.
    Scarlett placed her clasped fists on the table and took a deep breath. “My first husband is not Natalie’s father.”
    David removed his hand from her shoulder and said, “Michael is not her father? Then who is?” He knew the answer before he said the last word.
    There was a long silence before she spoke again.
    â€œI was young, pregnant, afraid, and had no job. The only choice I saw at the time was to marry Michael and persuade him that Natalie was his. I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to give her up. She’s my baby. She is my world. I wouldn’t give her up for anyone. I paid dearly for that mistake. Four years of hell. You know the story already. When Michael wasn’t drinking, he was abusive.”
    David took a step backward but did not take his eyes off the back of her head. The wall around her well-kept secret crumbled with every word she spoke. There was no turning back now.
    â€œSamantha tried to force me to give her up for adoption, but I refused. She didn’t care about me or my baby. She only cared about her reputation. She only cared about how it would look for her husband to be the father of a child that was not hers. She only cared about how much money they would lose if anyone found out that Hezekiah was the father of my