Heavy TrafficChapter 9 free porn video

“Were you raised in the Methodist Church?” Amanda asked Sean as they took the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard exit from the perimeter loop, and headed north. Sean had told her where they would be meeting his grandmother.

“From Sunday School through baptism and beyond,” replied Sean. “I attended Wesleyan Schools from Kindergarten through high school. You?”

“Same with me, except as you know, I was homeschooled,” confirmed Amanda. “The similarities between us really are amazing when you think about it.”

“I have thought about it,” said Sean, “and I agree. I’m also realizing that the word ‘amazing’ could be applied to you in many ways.”

Amanda squeezed his hand with the one holding it and stroked his forearm with her other. “Amazing is a word that certainly applies to you, Mr. Wallace.”

“That’s only because you motivate me to be amazing, Mrs. Wallace.” Glancing at the clock on his dash, Sean added, “We’re about twenty minutes away from the church and we have almost an hour before we are scheduled to meet my grandmother. Do you mind taking a brief detour up ahead?”

“Of course not,” said Amanda. “I’m treasuring my time with you, and I would go anywhere with you that allows us to remain together.”

“I want to give you a quick look at a place and get your opinion on it as a possible home for the girls.”

Now Amanda was excited. “You found a place?” she exclaimed.

“I think so, but I want you to approve of it first. If you agree with me on its suitability, then I will do everything I can to make it happen.”

“Oh Sean, let’s see it!”

“We’ll be there shortly.”

Taking several side streets to cut across the area known as Peachtree Corners, Sean took them through combination residential and mixed office communities until he finally turned onto an access road with a sign reading “Prestonwood Conference Center and Retreat”. Driving down the access road, Amanda saw wooden signs on posts indicating pathways to various features and attractions, such a “Pavilion”, “Basketball Courts”, and “Pool/Tennis”.

“This is a beautiful setting,” Amanda said as they continued to meander through the wooded property. Passing a turnoff with a sign that read “Chapel”, she asked, “Who currently owns this property?”

“The Methodist Church owns it,” replied Sean as they drove past the first guest accommodation building with a sign reading, “River Lodge”.

Seeing the building, Amanda exclaimed, “That building must have at least twenty-five rooms.”

“I think it has thirty, and most have two queen beds,” commented Sean. “There is a bigger building up ahead called the “Meadows Lodge” with more than seventy rooms, and there is a third set of two companion buildings that also have several rooms.”

Pulling into the parking lot, Sean put the car into park and turned to Amanda. “The Chattahoochee River is right down that path. We have time for a quick walk there and back if you’re interested in seeing it.”

Amanda was out of the car and opening Sean’s door for him before he could get the key out of the ignition. Of course, his efforts were adversely impacted by his gut-wrenching laughter at Amanda’s enthusiastic haste.

“Come on,” she urged. “I want to see the river where your parents met.”

Locking the car and taking her hand, Sean told her, “My parents didn’t meet anywhere near here. They met way upstream from here, but to your point, it is the same river.”

Stopping to put her arms around Sean’s waist and to kiss him, Amanda said, “I’m so glad that you got my point, Mr. Wallace. Let’s go.”

Walking out onto a small dock extending from the shore into the river, Amanda spun in a complete circle examining the scenery before her. “My God, Sean, this is heavenly. Do you think we can talk the Methodist Church into letting the girls stay here?”

“Do you want that to happen?” asked Sean.

“Most definitely,” agreed Amanda as she examined a map of the retreat mounted on a wooden post beside the path leading to the dock. “This place is the perfect peaceful retreat my girls need to help them recover and get on with their lives. What about schools near here?”

“Short-term, I was thinking we could have tutors brought in to teach classes here at the retreat. Eventually, I would envision a more permanent school setting being established, either using the existing buildings or constructing something new. There is plenty of space for carefully planned expansion.”

Amanda took his hand once again as they started walking back to the car. “So, your idea is for this to be a permanent facility for girls like mine? Would the Methodist Church agree to that?”

“Once my grandmother buys in on our idea, she’ll make it happen for us. That’s why I suggested her to head up the foundation I am establishing for this purpose.”

“Oh, now I really hope your grandmother likes me,” said Amanda with a worried tone to her voice.”

As Sean opened the door for Amanda to get back into his car, he said: “There is one sure-fire way to get my grandmother to not only like you, but to worship you, and do anything you want.”

After Sean had taken his seat and started the car, Amanda asked him, “Okay, what would I have to do to win over your grandmother as you described?”

Sean had a big grin on his face as he said, “Promise to name our first daughter after her.”

Amanda sat speechless with her mouth agape for the rest of the trip. As Sean parked in the lot for the church, Amanda finally found her voice, “Now that I’ve seen Prestonwood, I want it for the girls so bad that I’m nervous it won’t be possible, and I’ll be disappointed. Do you have any alternatives, Sean?”

“Amanda, I told you earlier that meeting you has made me realize my role in life is to keep you safe and happy. I take that role seriously, so if you want Prestonwood to be the home for your girls, trust me, I will make it happen. No other alternatives are necessary.”

“Thank you, Sean, but there’s something else about Prestonwood that attracted my interest, and I want to share that with you before we meet your grandmother.”

“What is that?”

“I think it would be the perfect place for you and I to get married,”

“I thought you would,” Sean replied with a broad smile on his face.

“You did?”

“Well I hoped you would, but since you didn’t get a chance to see the chapel, I wasn’t sure if the rest of the location would convince you. I knew the chapel would have sealed the deal, and I was already planning on stopping by there on the way back so you would see it, and that you would come to the opinion that you have.”

“I love you, Mr. Wallace.”

“And I you, Mrs. Wallace. Now let’s go get your girls a home.”

Amanda didn’t wait for Sean to open her door, but simply met him at the front of the car and put her arm around his waist. Somehow, holding hands didn’t seem intimate enough for her feelings toward him at the moment, and she didn’t care what he or anyone else thought of it.

Sean directed Amanda through the church campus towards a large building with “Askew Gymnasium” carved into the stone above the doorway. A tall attractive woman who appeared to be in her mid-seventies, with bright shoulder-length silver hair stood just outside the door talking to a man. When they saw Sean and Amanda approaching, the woman turned away from the man and ran to Sean with a speed and agility that Amanda though she herself would have trouble matching.

Seeing Amanda’s arm around Sean’s waist, the woman drew up short and smiled at the couple. After gazing into Sean’s eyes for only an instant, his grandmother changed her focus. Addressing Amanda, she said, “I hate to be rude, but would you mind if I gave my grandson a hug?”

“Not in the least,” smiled Amanda as she stepped away from Sean to allow his grandmother access for the embrace she desired. Sean reciprocated by warmly hugging his grandmother back and kissing her on her cheek. As they separated, Sean’s grandmother stepped back and glanced between Sean and Amanda expectantly.

“Grandma, I would like you to meet Amanda Wallace. Amanda, I would like you to meet my grandmother, Elizabeth Askew,” Sean said to introduce the two women.

There was a very audible gasp from Sean’s grandmother as she comprehended what her grandson had stated was Amanda’s last name. “Did you say ‘Amanda Wallace?” she asked.

Amanda smiled and extended her hand for Elizabeth Askew to shake. “I’m so very happy to meet you, Mrs. Askew. I assure you; Wallace is my maiden name.”

Taking Amanda’s hand and holding it in her own, Elizabeth Askew said, “Well if that isn’t the nicest coincidence. I’m very pleased to meet you, Amanda, please call me Beth.”

Sean nodded towards the man that his grandmother had been talking to when he and Amanda had arrived, “We should probably join Reverend Calaway and wait for the others.”

Taking Sean’s hand that was not already in the possession of Amanda, his grandmother started leading them back to the door, where Reverend Bernie Calaway stood waiting for them. Sean shook the Reverend’s hand and followed this with a warm embrace before introducing him to Amanda. This time, it was Sean’s grandmother that explained that Amanda’s last name was her maiden name when the Reverend gasped at the introduction.

Looking back at Sean, Reverend Calaway said, “Jim Hale called me last night and after mentioning his conversation with you, I encouraged him to meet with us here today. I understand that you are okay with that?”

“Yes, thank you. I have also invited Reverend Myles Denton from Prestonwood UMC to join us,” said Sean.

“That explains why he is approaching us right now,” said Calaway as he motioned to the walkway from the parking lot. Turning to look in that direction, Sean, Amanda, and Mrs. Askew watched the tall thin middle-aged man who was walking towards them. Farther back in the parking lot itself, they could see another man just getting out of his car.

“And that must be Jim Hale,” said Sean.

“I’ll go ahead and unlock the door for us then,” said Calaway as he took keys from his pocket and released the deadbolt securing the doors into the gymnasium building, and throwing the doors open for everyone to enter.

Taking Amanda’s hand, Mrs. Askew said, “Come with me Amanda, we can go ahead of the men and find the best seats.”

Amanda was reluctant to leave Sean, but she was determined to have his grandmother like her, so she wasn’t about to object. The two women walked around the perimeter of the gym to avoid placing their street shoes on the main floor area. Mrs. Askew guided Amanda to the side of the building where a hallway led off to several offices and meeting rooms. Stopping at one of these, Mrs. Askew opened the door, turned on the room lights, and directed Amanda to chairs around a conference table, where they both took seats next to each other.

“We don’t have a lot of time before the men get here,” said Mrs. Askew, “so all I want to know for now is, do you love Sean as much as he loves you?”

“How do you know Sean loves me?” Amanda asked. “Did he say something to you?”

Smiling at Amanda and patting her hand, Mrs. Askew said, “No, but anyone who knows Sean will be able to tell in an instant that his sun rises and sets with you. Remind him to show you the photos. So, do you feel the same way about him?”

“I do,” admitted Amanda. “I can’t imagine my life without Sean being in it. What photos should he show me?”

Beth just smiled in response and said, “I am so glad to hear that. Sean deserves the happiness I can already see he has with you. I can’t wait to hear more about how you two met and all your plans, but I can hear the men coming, so we’ll discuss it further over lunch. Okay?”

“I look forward to that,” said Amanda. “Thank you.”

The sound of voices became clearer as the four men entered the room. Amanda stood and moved over one chair so that Sean could take the seat between her and his grandmother. This move was not lost on Sean, who promptly assumed the chair vacated by Amanda, nor by Mrs. Askew, who smiled approvingly at Amanda. Reverend Calaway took the seat at the head of the table, while Jim Hale and Reverend Denton sat along the side opposite of Amanda, Sean, and his grandmother.

Amanda and Mrs. Askew were introduced to Jim Hale and Reverend Denton by Calaway, who then turned the meeting over to Sean, who quickly deferred to Amanda.

Taking her right hand in his left, and placing them on the table for everyone to see, Sean said, “Amanda, would you care to tell everyone how you came to be here today?”

Amanda related the capture of herself and the girls, their journey in the carrier, her sale to the pornographers, followed by Sean’s timely rescue of her and later the girls. There were several gasps from around the table at various points in Amanda’s tale, but no one interrupted her.

Sean stepped back into the conversation when Amanda had finished, explaining about the girls currently staying in a hotel. “Amanda, can you share with us how you came to be a volunteer at the orphanage in East Timor? Why there?”

Sean and Amanda had discussed this subject during their drive to the church and she knew what Sean wanted her to cover. “I was raised and baptized in a small Methodist Church, just outside Katherine in the Northern Territory of Australia. My Reverend from my youth had been a close personal friend of my parents, and later became a Bishop with the church. When my brother passed away, and my parents already dead, Bishop Mallory encouraged me to volunteer on a mission to the orphanage run by the Methodist Home and I agreed.”

“Would that be the same Bishop Mallory who is currently serving as General Secretary of the World Methodist Council?” asked Mrs. Askew.

“Yes,” acknowledged Amanda surprised by Sean’s grandmother knowing Bishop Mallory’s title within the Church. “Bishop Stewart Mallory.”

“A wonderful man,” said Mrs. Askew. “Please continue dear.”

Amanda did so, “There’s not much more to add I’m afraid. I had been working as a nurse with the orphanage for only six months when we were captured.”

Sean asked her one more question, “Amanda, do you feel any responsibility towards these girls’ and their future?”

“Sean, as you and Mr. Hale know, I feel completely responsible for these girls,” said Amanda. “They were entrusted to me when we were captured, and they depend upon me completely right now for their safety and well-being. I would give everything I have to protect them and provide for their futures.”

“Thanks,” interrupted Sean. “As I understand it, ‘everything you have’ equates to approximately three hundred and thirty million Australian dollars, right?”

Jim Hale shifted in his seat when hearing the magnitude of Amanda’s fortune. Reverend Denton’s eyes grew wide, but Reverend Calaway showed no reaction.

Turning to face Jim Hale and the two Reverends, Sean said, “We don’t have a lot of time here this morning, so I want to get to the point of this meeting. I have already instructed my lawyers to draft the paperwork establishing a foundation that will be funded by a trust in the amount of fifty million U.S. dollars. This foundation’s mission will be the rescue, protection, education, treatment and ongoing care for victims of human trafficking. I am going to ask my grandmother to head up this foundation, and I am hoping that the Methodist Church will be the organization that she can turn to for the administration of the foundation.”

Sean felt his grandmother take his other hand and squeeze it. He glanced over to her, saw a tear in her eye, as she simply nodded her agreement to him. Knowing he had her behind him, he continued to address the men across the table.

“Gentlemen, this foundation will be established, and now that I know my grandmother agrees with the role I proposed for her, I am confident that the leadership of The Permanent Fund for The United Methodist Church will also support my plans.”

Focusing on Jim Hale, Sean continued, “Mr. Hale, I told you that if Amanda wanted the girls cared for by the Methodist Church that I would make it happen, with or without your cooperation, and I meant it.” Turning to face Reverend Denton, Sean added, “Reverend Denton, I want you to also be aware of my conviction to Amanda’s desires where these girls are concerned. Amanda’s wishes for these girls will be met with, or without your cooperation.”

“I’m not sure where I come into this...” began Reverend Denton.

Sean interrupted him, “Then let me explain for you and everyone else at this table. The foundation is just money right now, but by this evening I expect it to have a physical home. Amanda and I are in agreement that the foundation will be located at Prestonwood Conference Center and Retreat.”

Reverend Denton had turned red, “With all due respect, Mr. Wallace, Prestonwood Conference Center is not for sale. My church takes our stewardship of that property very seriously and I will not simply acquiesce to your grand scheme for this foundation regardless of how much good I think it would do. I will encourage the Church to support the foundation, but I cannot agree to Prestonwood being taken over by it.”

Sean glared at the man, but it was his grandmother who responded, “Reverend Denton, I will make this as clear as I possibly can. With God and all of you as my witnesses, I promise you that if Sean wants Prestonwood to be the home for these girls, it will be the home for these girls. He is simply giving you the opportunity to cooperate in that transition willingly, but don’t think for a second that your agreement means anything to me or will affect the outcome my grandson desires.”

Sean squeezed his grandmother’s hand before taking charge of the conversation once more, “Gentlemen, I have done my homework and I know that the conveyance that transferred the property to the church from Mrs. Preston stipulates that it can never be sold. My funding of the foundation is more than adequate to compensate the Church for use of the current property and facilities on it, which will allow for the purchase or construction of another conference center should that be determined appropriate. I will go further and donate one hundred and eighty waterfront acres I own on Lake Lanier to the church if you want to use that to build another retreat. While Prestonwood will still be the property of the Methodist Church, going forward, the land and all facilities on it will be dedicated solely to the mission of the foundation.”

Reverend Calaway interjected at this point, “Sean, may I have a minute to explain a few things to my colleagues here?”

“Of course, Sir,” Sean said as he sat back in his chair.

“Myles ... Jim, did either of you notice the name of this building when you entered it? This building and much of the campus for my church was constructed through a memorial fund established by Mrs. Askew over there in honor of her late husband. I mention this only because these local contributions to my church are a visible illustration for the larger role that the Wallace/Askew families continue to play relative to the United Methodist Church. In Matthew 19:23-26 Jesus tells his disciples that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, but I believe our Lord already has a very special place set aside for the entire Wallace/Askew family. Sean and his family are the single largest tithers to the Methodist Church anywhere in the world. Trust me, gentlemen, with a single call from Elizabeth Askew, everything that she and Sean said is going to happen, will happen. So, as Mrs. Askew said, the only question seems to be whether or not it happens with your cooperation, or if you get removed from any further involvement through a reassignment that I assure you would occur. It appears to me that Sean is proposing a generous property trade and financial contributions that would be to our benefit to present to the leadership of our Church.”

“How do you see the Methodist Home fitting in with your foundation?” asked Hale.

Sean glanced at Amanda before answering, “We see the Atlanta Methodist Home playing a major role in the administration and operation of Prestonwood going forward. Through your leadership Jim, we envision you staffing up the facility with professionals trained to deal with the unique needs that victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation face. Your reputation and existing relationship within the state and local Child and Family Service organizations will be critical to minimizing the bureaucratic issues these victims will face and expedite their processing through legal channels. Think of Prestonwood as a sort of annex to the current Atlanta Methodist Home.”

“I can see how that would work,” said Hale. “How soon are you thinking of opening Prestonwood to this new role?”

“Tonight,” said Amanda.

Before anyone could comment on her statement, Sean added, “Amanda’s right, the girls need to be moved from their current location tonight, and we want them moved to Prestonwood. Amanda and I drove by there on our way here, and judging by the lack of vehicles and people, the facility appears to have enough vacancy to be able to accept the girls and their supervisors from I.C.E. I have already made arrangements for a security team to be in place by this evening just as a precaution.”

Seeing the shocked look on Jim Hale’s face, Mrs. Askew spoke, “Let me make this easy for you Jim, you figure out what is needed to make the relocation of the girls a reality and I’ll make certain that you have everything by tonight. If we need to hire nurses to act as food service workers or maids, we will do it. There are lots of alternatives to any problem you foresee. Get the word ‘can’t’ out of your vocabulary.”

“Secrecy is going to be important,” said Sean. “The gang that tried to sell them is still out there and may want to get them back. Gather what is needed, but don’t let it be known that the arrangements are for these girls. Understood?”

Sean didn’t wait for anyone to answer. He stood and took the hand of both his grandmother and Amanda, then led them around the table to the door. “I am taking these lovely ladies to lunch now, but Reverend Calaway knows how to get in contact with me if necessary. Let’s go forward and do God’s work for these girls, gentlemen.”

Sean, Amanda and Mrs. Askew left the three men discussing how they would present the foundation and Sean’s expectations for Prestonwood to their local council, and then to the Church leadership in Nashville. Mrs. Askew called back over her shoulder, “I’ll be back in a couple of hours, Bernie. If you and Jim want to sit down and work out more of the details, or need me to make any phone calls, we can handle it when I return.”

Both men just nodded as the trio continued out of the building towards the parking lot. As they exited the building, Amanda glanced once again at the name above the door.

“I’m sorry that I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Askew,” she said.

“I am too,” said Mrs. Askew. “I know that he would have been very proud of you, as I am. You are a very brave and considerate young lady, and I consider myself blessed to have the opportunity to help you and Sean with this project.”

Amanda stopped, forcing Sean to stop beside her, which in turn made Mrs. Askew stop. Stepping around Sean, Amanda embraced his grandmother with all the pent-up affection she had been building for this woman since they had met.

“You have no idea what your words mean to me, Beth. Thank you.”

As Amanda began to pull away from the embrace, she was pulled back by the surprisingly strong arms of Elizabeth Askew. “It is me who should be thanking you, Amanda. You brought me back my grandson, and you did so in a manner that tells me his wandering days are over. I can never repay you for that act.”

Smiling across at Sean’s grandmother, Amanda said, “Beth, I think you and I are destined to become wonderful friends.”

Seeing the confused expression on Sean’s face, both women laughed as they each took one of his hands and continued out to his car.

Sean and Amanda followed his grandmother as she drove the few short blocks to her house. Technically, Sean owned the house that he had lived in with his mother when it was her turn to have custody of him, but after the death of Mr. Askew, his grandmother had moved in. After the death of Sean’s parents, Sean had kept the house as a home for his maternal grandmother, and as his formal place of residence. It was a large, but unpretentious two-story ranch-style house, on about a quarter acre in a moderately mature subdivision.

Sean explained that the majority of the houses in the neighborhood still had the original owners living in them, but recent years had seen more and more of them retiring, waiting for the property market to recover before selling their homes to fund their dreams.

Sean parked his car in the driveway next to his grandmother’s, and they all walked into the house together. Entering through the side door from the driveway, they walked through the mudroom into the spacious kitchen area. Amanda and Sean offered to help Mrs. Askew as she pulled their mostly prepared lunches out of the refrigerator.

“I made Sean’s favorite Kielbasa and au Gratin potato casserole last night and it will only take about twenty minutes in the oven to reheat it,” Mrs. Askew said. “Sean, why don’t you show Amanda around the house while I get things ready here?”

“Are you sure you don’t want any help, Beth?” Amanda asked.

“I’m sure. You can help me clean up after lunch, and we’ll have some time to talk then.”

Amanda thought she knew what the subject of this talk would be, but Sean couldn’t figure out what his grandmother meant by her comment, so he decided to ignore it for the time being. “Follow me,” he said to Amanda as he took her hand and led her out of the kitchen.

Kimberly Morris had just crossed into Tennessee from Georgia on Interstate 75 when her cell phone rang.

Answering without checking the caller ID, she heard her husband on the other end. “Where are you at?” asked Mark Morris.

“I’m just south of Chattanooga, about to transition onto Interstate 24. I should be at my office in a few hours, why?”

“Is Tom with you?”

“No, why?”

“The FBI came by his office looking for him this morning, so I wanted to give him a headsup. I thought you two were together. What happened?” asked Mark.

“I don’t want to discuss this over the phone, Mark. I’ll be at my office in a few hours.”

“Yeah, yeah okay. Anything new on Sean or Amanda Wallace?”

“What part of ‘when I get to my office Mark’ don’t you understand?” Kimberly barked.

“Jeez, alright. I thought you were talking about discussing Tom, not every subject there is. See you when you get here.” Mark disconnected the call.

Kimberly returned to her thoughts about DeMarcus, and what he had told her. She spent several minutes recalling DeMarcus telling her that she could divorce Mark, and after just speaking with her husband, she found the prospect of ending their charade of a marriage uplifting.

Her relationship with Mark had never been more than a smokescreen for their families and the world. She had used Mark to help hide her interracial relationship with Tom, and Mark had used her to hide his homosexuality from everyone except his lover. Mark stood to inherit millions from his grandfather, but if his sexual orientation ever became known, the inheritance would be history. Tom had discovered Mark’s secret years ago and had been manipulating him with the knowledge ever since.

While Mark still had to worry about people finding out his secret, Kimberly hadn’t cared what her parents thought of her seeing someone of a different race since she had left home. It had been Tom and his concern over what his parents would think that had kept her in agreement with hiding their relationship, but with Tom now apparently out of her life, she had nothing to hide any longer.

DeMarcus’ confession also made Kimberly consider her true feelings for Tom over all these years. Was it the man she loved, or the situation that the relationship created? She had kissed him for the first time as payment for a bet she had lost, and she realized now that she had pursued and then expanded their relationship because of how excited it made her feel to be doing things that the society she lived in would consider decadent, sinful, and immoral. It was this same desire to do things that went against the mores of her parents and most of her friends that allowed her to willingly agree to whatever Tom had asked her to do.

After DeMarcus had surprised her with his admission of love for her, and she had allowed him to have sex with her for the first time; her thoughts had never wandered far from what her future might hold. DeMarcus had been tender and gentle with her, almost to a fault. While he had pleased her sexually, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be his lover under the terms he had mentioned.

Kimberly knew that Tom Folsom had used her in ways that most people would find disgusting, but she had always done his bidding of her own free will, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit that she usually liked it. Kimberly knew she was what most people would consider a slut or a whore, but it’s what she enjoyed and she wasn’t sure how DeMarcus would accept her wanting to do things that he thought were demeaning to her.