Flawfully Wedded Wives by Shana Burton

pastor could be your father? I mean, look at Vera.”
    â€œWhores attract good and bad guys alike,” Sullivan disclosed.
    â€œYeah, but wouldn’t a man like that, who feared and loved the Lord, have made some effort to find his daughter?” Angel wondered aloud.
    â€œNot necessarily,” countered Sullivan. “Especially if he has a wife and kids at home. Besides, who knows what Vera did to the poor guy? She probably threatened him and ran him off.”
    Reginell invited herself into the conversation. “So are you going to go up to Duluth and see him for yourself?”
    â€œI don’t know. I haven’t even gotten the nerve to look him up on the Internet to see if it’s really him,” Sullivan confessed.
    â€œWhat’s stopping you?” asked Lawson.
    â€œWho knows? I guess fear, scared to get my hopes up.”
    â€œSo you want to see him?” questioned Angel.
    â€œThat’s something else I don’t know. I haven’t seen this man in over twenty-five years. I have no idea what I’d say to him or how I’d feel seeing him after all this time. Maybe this is one of those times where it’s better to leave Pandora’s box unopened.”
    â€œSully, you don’t even know that this guy at the church is your father,” said Reginell. “The least you should do is check him out. If he is your dad, decide what you want to do from there.”
    â€œTo tell you the truth, I’ve had my fantasy father for so long that I’m afraid of what the truth might be.”
    Angel blinked. “Fantasy father?”
    â€œYeah. When I was forced to do Vera’s bidding for her when she needed a bill paid or wanted a new purse, I’d always imagine that my father would come swoop down and rescue me.” Sullivan looked off, as if in a daze. “In my mind, my dad was always this handsome man who smelled like wood and Old Spice, who had the kind of smile that could melt a girl’s heart. We would have inside jokes together, and he’d call me his star baby. And he wouldn’t hesitate to lay the smack down on anyone who even thought about bringing harm to his baby girl.” She turned back to her friends. “Maybe that’s the image I want to hold on to.”
    â€œSullivan, you have to check it out if there’s even the slightest chance this man could be your father,” insisted Lawson.
    â€œDo it to find out his medical history, if nothing else,” directed Angel.
    â€œMy father skipped out on Reggie and me when we were kids. I didn’t see him again until the day of his funeral. As much as I resent him for leaving us, I would give anything to see him again.”
    â€œIt should be noted that’s probably how Simon is going to feel about Garrett, so you shouldn’t be so gung ho on keeping them apart,” Sullivan noted.
    â€œThat’s precisely why I don’t keep them apart. As much as it tears me up inside to know that my husband is at that house with his jump-off and her son, I know Garrett needs to be there for his child. I’d never do anything to interfere with that.”
    â€œSully, you have something that a lot of people don’t get—a second chance to make things right. Don’t waste it,” Angel implored her. “It’s been twenty years, but I still haven’t gotten over losing my father in Desert Storm. If I could see him or hug him one more time, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
    Lawson playfully elbowed Sullivan. “Hey, what could go wrong, right?”
    â€œEverything.” Sullivan pulled out her smartphone and logged on to the Internet. “I believe Charles said the church is called Friendship Temple. I know it’s in Duluth.” The ladies crowded around her.
    Lawson pointed to the screen. “Is that it?”
    â€œWe’re about to find out.” Sullivan clicked on the link to the church’s Web site. “It