As we stepped into the chamber, I said, “This is really a beautiful place.”

“Nothing’s more beautiful than you.” He tapped the card against the sensor, and then, before the doors even closed, Jeremy pulled me into his arms and we kissed our way to the 17th floor.

I was breathless when the doors opened and if my husband hadn’t held my hand and guided me, I wasn’t sure I would’ve been able to step off the elevator. “Let’s finish this when we get home,” he said.

“Oh definitely.” When he rang the bell to 1701, which was across the hall from the only other apartment on the floor, I added, “And maybe we can leave before dessert.”

“I agree. Why have pie when I can have your cookies?”

My eyes widened. “I cannot believe you said that.”

We giggled like teenagers and when Reverend Douglas opened the door, we both had to fight to keep our laughter inside.

“Well,” the reverend’s voice boomed. “If it isn’t the Williams. Come in, come in. Welcome to our home.”

Sonya was standing right beside her husband and we exchanged greetings and hugs before Sonya took my hand and led me into their all-white (including the carpet), chrome and glass living room.

When I settled onto the sofa, I rested my purse to one side, so that Jeremy would sit next to me. He smiled as I made room for him and laid his cell and the elevator card on the table beside us. Sonya and the reverend sat on the love seat across from us and for the first time, I noticed they looked like twins. Not only because of the way they were dressed (both in black slacks and a light blue blouse for Sonya, while the reverend wore a light blue shirt), but their hair was the same shade of silver, though the reverend’s was cut short while Sonya had hers pulled back into a loose bun.

“So, I hear there are amazing things going on over at New Kingdom Temple,” Reverend Douglas said.

“Yes, sir. We’re just trying to follow your example,” my husband said with a little bit of head bow.

The reverend laughed. “Well, we did quite a few things, but it’s time for the new generation,” he motioned toward us, “to take over.”

“Oh, are you thinking of retiring?” I asked.

Before he had a chance to say a word, Sonya laughed and shook her head. “Retire? What’s that?” Now her husband laughed with her. “The Lord himself will have to come down and pull my husband from the pulpit.”

“Now why you got to go and tell the people that?” the reverend asked, though he smiled and grabbed her hand. To us, he said, “My wife tells no lies. I will continue preaching until the Lord calls me home...or tells me to sit my black butt down.”

Now, we all laughed and inside, I released an ‘Awww’ when the reverend leaned over and gave his wife a kiss.