IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN by LaConnie Taylor-Jones Read Free Book Online Page B

cancer.” He paused. “You know when they rolled me into surgery I wasn’t worried about my life. The only thing on my mind was whether I’d ever be able to have sex again.”
    “And … ”
    “The necessary part was overhauled, fined-tuned, and didn’t impact the stick, which by the way, still shifts.”
    Both men burst into laughter.
    “No, seriously, in between chemo rounds, we were able to participate in a little spectator sport.” T. J. winked. ”If you know what I mean.”
    Ray stared, stunned, his jaw slacked. “You actually had sex during chemo?”
    “No, brother, I made love. Don’t get the two twisted.”
    “My bad.”
    “Listen, Ray,” T. J. said sincerely, “you will make it through this. And when you get back on your feet, I want you to fly down to Memphis and join me for worship service. Maybe I can talk you into accompanying my choir on a song or two.”
    Ray was silent and his brows bunched. It had been over twenty years since he’d stepped foot inside of a church. The only reason he’d been there then was because he’d landed the job as a pianist a year and a half before he’d graduated from Julliard. “It’s been a while.”
    “A CME, huh?”
    Ray shook his head. “You know I was raised Catholic.”
    “You might have been raised Catholic, but you’re a practicing CME … Christmas, Mother’s Day and Easter worshipper. I’ve got a few of those in my congregation, too, so you’ll be right at home.”
    Ray never made a promise he couldn’t honor. As far as he was concerned, a man’s word was the only true thing he had in this world. He released a mock chuckle. “Yeah, I walk up in the church house and God just might throw a boulder down on me.”
    T. J. threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Well, if that was the case, I would’ve been crushed. Keep the invitation in the back of your mind. If you do come, you won’t be disappointed. You just might get a chance to hear one of the sweetest voices this side of heaven.”
    “Who?”
    “One of my choir members named Laney Houston.”
    Ray stared, stunned, but didn’t let on to T. J. that he knew Laney. “Can she sing?”
    “Can … she … sing?” T. J. snorted. “Brother, that sista can blow. We call her the songbird of the south.”
    “T. J., man I owe you, big time. And I appreciate you giving it to me straight. If you don’t mind, I want to keep you posted.”
    “You better. And if you need to run a question by me or talk something through, all you gotta do is holla.”
    ~ ~ ~
    Ray tried to steady his nerves. After a sleepless night, he sat on the edge of the bed with his cell phone clasped between sweaty palms. He dialed Laney’s number and listed to three rings. He was just about to disconnect the call when he heard a soft, raspy voice on the other end. “Hello.”
    “Red … ”
    There was complete silence for a second before Ray heard anything else.
    “Yes, Raphael.”
    Ray swallowed hard in an attempt to steady his shaky voice. “You been good?”
    “The better question is how have you been?”
    Ray gulped in air so fast he thought his lungs had exploded. “Jacked up.”
    The pause was longer this time. His grip on the phone was so tight, his fingers became numb. Ray felt his pulse race hard and fast at the base of his throat. He cringed at the audible silence emitting across the phone line. “ Joyeux Noël .”
    “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
    “Red … ”
    “ Oui .”
    He closed his eyes and an almost unbearable tension crept over his shoulder blade. He thought he’d be prepared for his reaction if he ever spoke to her again, but he wasn’t. Speechless, a vision of Laney swirled through his head. Months ago, the connection between man and woman had formed and had somehow sealed their fate.  
    Laney hadn’t backed away from him when he told her he had cancer. She didn’t gasp. She didn’t fall apart. She hadn’t declared him any less of a man because of it. She simply reached out