“I wanted to let you know I’m available if you need me. Let’s set aside the other stuff that’s going on between us.”
“You mean the investigation? Is that what this is about? You’re offering a helping hand to my family in order for me to ease up on you?” With this revelation, Maxwell was definitely annoyed.
“Is that what you think?” the pastor fired at Maxwell.
“I don’t know what to think.”
“Is it this difficult for you to accept help when you genuinely need it? Have you been that wounded?”
Maxwell’s defenses kicked in. “I don’t need your kind of help.”
“If your nephew needs help, your family needs help. That means you need help.”
Maxwell couldn’t argue the point. He hated that Pastor Harris was making good sense. He didn’t reply.
“Know that I will be fasting and praying for your nephew, your family, and for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes, you. To be honest, I’d prefer to be miles from you. Lord knows, I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”
“So, why are you here?” Maxwell asked sharply.
“Because God said so. Don’t ask me, but there’s some kind of anointing or calling on you, Attorney Maxwell.”
“What? Get out of here with that nonsense,” Maxwell said, with his face scrunched up.
“You don’t have to believe me. I get it. You’re blind about God’s purpose for your life, but don’t you worry. When He’s ready, God will open your eyes. That’s why I’m praying for you.”
Maxwell didn’t have the stamina to wage a fight in the hallway. He was worn out. “Any praying you do should be for Tyree. Like you said, he’s the one who needs it.”
“Already done. He’s been on the tarrying prayer chain since this morning.”
“What’s that?”
“Fifty people are assigned to pray on a matter every day for however long it takes for God to move.”
Maxwell was intrigued. “What if it takes a month?”
“What if?”
“Yeah, like fifty people are going to keep praying for a stranger.”
“That’s what we do at Faith Temple.”
Maxwell desperately wanted to discount Pastor Harris, but there seemed to be an element of sincerity in what he said.
“You’ve probably heard that my church has a reputation for getting people healed.”
Not only did Maxwell know about this reputation, but he’d also hoped to use it as a basis in the developing civil case.
“What people don’t realize is that prayer is the key to our healing ministry. We stay prayed up at the church. There’s prayer going on twenty-four hours a day.”
“That’s a lot of praying.” Maxwell couldn’t recall any ministry which he’d battled that had made the same claim.
“It works. There is truly power in prayer,” the pastor said and chuckled.
“Hopefully, it will work for my nephew.”
The pastor pointed his index finger in the air, with his arm raised. “He loves for us to hand Him our challenges.” Pastor Harris grinned slightly. “The doctors have done what they were supposed to do. Now watch God do what He’s going to do.”
Maxwell didn’t fully embrace the pastor’s message of hope, but a large part of him wanted to, which caught him off guard. He’d never been close to trusting in prayer or religion to fix a real problem. In his experience, religion caused more problems than it solved.
Pastor Harris took several steps and pressed the elevator button. “Call me when your nephew wakes up and makes a miraculous recovery in the next few days.”
“That will be a call I’ll gladly make.”
The elevator beeped, signaling that it was approaching their floor.
“I’ll expect your call.”
“So confident. Why?”
“When you trust in the Lord and let Him lead you, why not be confident?” Pastor Harris chuckled again as the elevator door opened. “Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll see you in one of my services. And it won’t be as an attorney looking to build a case against me.” He stepped on the elevator.
“If you believe in miracles, I guess it’s possible.”
“I do,” Pastor Harris said as the elevator door closed.
Maxwell was speechless. He’d established a lucrative law firm based on not trusting religious leaders. For Tyree’s sake, just this once, Maxwell wished he could.
Chapter 54
Maxwell languished in the hallway, alone. Loneliness swept in and stole his solace. Being on his own was a familiar concept, one he’d mastered. He lived alone, he’d built his practice single-handedly, and he enjoyed life on his terms. His model had worked flawlessly until lately. Maxwell rested his head against the wall, his hands in his pockets. He shut his eyes and reflected on his accomplishments.
To the average person, his success was a dream come true, a shot at the good life. Maxwell clutched his fist as tightly as he could. What good was his success when it counted? He couldn’t wave his bar association membership over Tyree’s bed and have him recover. He couldn’t line the room with hundred-dollar bills until his multimillion-dollar account was drained. He couldn’t wrap his nephew in his collection of awards. His winning court record wasn’t going to keep the swelling down in Tyree’s head. Maxwell sulked. He’d spent his entire adulthood building his impenetrable world, and for what? Who was he? Maxwell opened his eyes, took in his surroundings, and sighed. The answer was surreal. He raised his foot and pressed his shoulder against the wall with his hands still in his pockets. He was alone, and he didn’t have to be.
Maxwell ripped the phone from his side and dialed Nicole. It was after two o’clock. She might be at the office, but with her traveling, he wasn’t sure. When she didn’t answer the office phone, Maxwell hastily retrieved her cell number from his mobile directory and hit SEND. He wanted her to answer badly, and thank goodness she did.
“You have no idea how glad I am to catch you,” he said, sighing in relief.
“Maxwell, I wasn’t expecting a call from you. What’s going on?” she asked in a calm manner.
“I’m in Delaware. Tyree was in an accident. He’s pretty bad off.”
Anxiousness laced Nicole’s reply. “Your nephew? The one you always talk about?”
“That’s the one,” Maxwell said as the clarity in his voice faded.
“I’m so sorry. When did it happen?”
“A few days ago.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
He paused, reluctant to reply truthfully. Maxwell wasn’t accustomed to needing anyone or anything. During his early teenage years, he’d needed to be a priority in his parents’ life, but they had let him down. The hurt had stayed with him. In his late teens he’d discovered the best way to mask the pain was to cut his family out of his life. He’d dealt with the pain once and planned never to bother with it again. His plan had worked for years. He’d taken meaningful emotions out of every relationship, except for the one with Tyree. What he hadn’t realized until recently was that his relationship with Nicole had penetrated his emotional barrier too, putting him in unfamiliar territory.
“Did you hear me?” she repeated.
“I did,” he said, tapping his index finger on his cell phone. He was in a bind. He wanted to see her but didn’t want to need her. Maybe she wouldn’t come, since he’d never introduced her to his parents the entire time they’d dated. How could he? He was estranged from them. He contemplated the matter some more and finally came to a decision. To heck with strategizing. He’d come clean. “There is something you can do for me.”
“What?”
“Come down to Wilmington for me.”
“Did you say Wilmington?”
He wasn’t shocked at her reaction. He was more shocked that the words had come from his mouth. “Yes. It’s been tough these past few days. I could really use a friend.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.” Ma
xwell couldn’t be more certain. He needed her.
“Okay. Where should I meet you?”
“Wilmington Hospital. I’m here with my family . . . my sister, mother, and father.”
“You’re with your family? I thought you didn’t get along with them.”
“That’s true, but we’re here for Tyree. That’s what’s important.”
“Maybe I can finally meet them.”
“I don’t see why not.”
“I wasn’t expecting that answer,” Nicole replied in a playful way. “Well, if you’re sure, I’ll take off early and see you around six.”
“Perfect. Hit me on my cell and let me know when you get to the parking garage.”
“Did you need me to stop by your office and bring anything?”
“No, thank you. I’ve taken a leave of absence for the rest of the week.”
“Are you serious?” she shouted. “This is not the Maxwell Montgomery I know. I thought you’d never turn your back on work for anybody.”
Maxwell grunted. “Never say never. Given the right set of circumstances, anything and anybody can change. I’ll see you this evening, and I appreciate you coming down.”
“No problem. It’s what friends do.”
They disconnected the call. Maxwell was energized. He bounced back to the waiting room to find Christine sprawled out across a sofa and his parents sitting in a pair of chairs.
“You were gone a long time. I thought you’d left,” Christine said.
“I hope you didn’t get into an argument with Pastor Harris,” Ethel said, chiming in.
“No, I didn’t, Mom.” Maxwell wasn’t offended. He was feeling too hopeful to be dragged into a disagreement. He chose to stay positive and to send good vibes to Tyree.
“Thank the Lord, because he’s a good man. He didn’t have to drive all the way down here,” Ethel stated.
“And wait with us for three hours,” Christine added.
“Sure didn’t,” Paul Sr. commented.
Maxwell was outnumbered, with all three family members, including his father, singing the praises of Pastor Harris. What they didn’t know was that Maxwell might be inclined to agree. Experience forced him to hold off on joining the Pastor Harris praise team based on one upbeat encounter. It would take more to convince him that the pastor was indeed a “good man.” However, Maxwell had to admit that the pastor’s rating was climbing. His family didn’t have to know.
The seat next to Paul Sr. was empty. Maxwell sat there, drawing puzzled looks from his mother and sister. Why not? Maxwell figured. When Tyree got better, he’d want to see his family together. There was a long bridge to cross, in Maxwell’s mind, before he could embrace the Montgomery clan. For Tyree’s sake, Maxwell was willing to take a few steps today. Never say never was the motto of the day.
Maxwell saw his father flipping through the sports pages. “Pops, can I get some of that paper?”
“Sure can,” his father replied and handed Maxwell several pages of the newspaper.
“You still a Phillies fan?”
“Until the day I die,” his father answered.
Maxwell eased back in his seat.
“We don’t plan on that day coming anytime soon,” Ethel said, grinning at her husband.
“Maybe I can get a couple of tickets and we can go to a game, if you’re interested,” Maxwell suggested.
Ethel shot up from her seat. “Yes, he’s interested.”
“I can speak for myself.” Paul Sr. turned to Maxwell. “I’m not turning down seats at a Phillies game. You get the tickets. I’ll go.”
Ethel smiled; Christine, too, although not as wide.
Maxwell was relieved that his father hadn’t turned him down. It actually felt better than he’d anticipated.
“You look tired, probably because you’ve been in this hospital practically around the clock. You haven’t been home in a few nights. I appreciate you being here, but I understand if you want to go home tonight and get a good night’s sleep in your own bed,” Christine told him.
“I’m not leaving. My room down the road in Brandywine is perfectly fine. I’ll be there until we get some good news about Tyree.”
Christine clearly mouthed the words “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to waste money on a hotel suite when we have an extra bedroom,” Ethel told him.
Maxwell heard her but wasn’t eager to answer. Staying in their house was a bad idea. The Montgomery family might be in the midst of reconciliation, but it was going to be a slow process. Rushing through the steps would be detrimental. Staying at the hotel was wise.
“I get a discount the longer I stay.” It wasn’t a great answer, but he didn’t want to hurt his mother with the truth.
“Oh, well, I guess you know what you’re doing,” Ethel said, sounding disappointed.
He wasn’t happy about hurting her, but he wasn’t changing his mind. She’d thank him later. “I have a feeling Tyree’s going to have me down here quite a bit. So, I will take a rain check on the room.”
His mother’s countenance glistened.
Maxwell was pleased with his gesture. Maybe there was hope for them, after all.
Chapter 55
Nicole waited patiently at the entrance to the Green Room, a restaurant in the Hotel du Pont. She hadn’t been in downtown Wilmington in years, and she had never been there with Maxwell. She was oddly giddy, as if they were on their first date.
“You’re here,” Maxwell said, bopping into the lobby. “Sorry I’m late,” he said and kissed her on the cheek without making a big deal of the gesture. “I could have been here sooner, but I got a text from your office, saying you were running behind,” he told her. “That’s why I figured it was easier to meet here instead of at the hospital.”
“I didn’t want to keep the great attorney Maxwell Montgomery waiting too long. So, I shifted my schedule around and got down here as soon as I could.” She snickered.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.”
Maxwell approached the podium so that they could be seated. “We have a reservation for two under Montgomery.”
“Please follow me,” the maître d’ said and took the lead.
Maxwell eased his hand around Nicole’s waist as they went to their table. After they were seated, the maître d’ placed thick linen napkins across their laps and handed them each a menu.
“Mr. Montgomery, is this table to your liking?”
“It’s fine.”
“Very well, sir. I will send the wine steward.”
“Give us a few minutes,” Maxwell said.
“Certainly. Let us know when you’re ready.”
When the two of them were alone, Nicole reached across the table and touched Maxwell’s hand. “How’s your nephew?”
“He’s stable.”
“I hope he gets better soon,” she said, patting his hand and hoping to provide a comforting presence.
“Me too.”
“I hated not getting here early enough to meet your family. Ever since you mentioned my meeting them this afternoon, I’ve thought about it constantly. I really hope to get another chance to meet them.”
“I can make it happen, that is if you can carve time into your busy schedule,” he said, glancing at the menu.
“Look who’s talking. You know only one way, and that’s working around the clock.”
Maxwell rested his menu on the table. “True, but I might be changing.”
“And the sky is green,” she replied, checking out the menu.
“Seriously, Tyree’s accident has caused me to reassess my priorities.”
Nicole was captivated by such a comment coming from Maxwell. He was a bona fide workaholic. She didn’t see him changing.
“I’m thinking about extending my leave for another month or two.”
“Not happening, and you know it. What would happen to your open cases?”
Maxwell hadn’t figured out the details, but pulling back seemed
feasible. Ironically, he didn’t have too many active cases, given that 80 percent of his time was dedicated to Faith Temple and Pastor Harris.
“This might be a good time to expand my practice and add a few more attorneys. That way I can take time off and not worry about my practice.”
“That will be the day.”
“You don’t think I’m capable of making changes in my life?”
“You’re capable but not willing to change,” she said, resting her left hand on top of his.
Maxwell noticed her engagement ring was gone. He didn’t want to get too cocky before confirming that James was history. However, if he was gone, Maxwell figured one man’s misfortune could be another’s great opportunity.
“I see you’re doing some changing too,” he said, touching her naked finger.
“Let’s not talk about my failed engagement. I want to enjoy our dinner.” She took another quick glance at the menu. “I could use a nice glass of wine.”
“It has been a tough day. I could use one too. Better get a bottle.” He beckoned the wine steward.
“Between a four-course meal and a bottle of wine, you’re not getting out of here for less than three hundred dollars before the tip.”
Maxwell grinned. “It’s only money.”
At least he could get some use from his money. He’d found out the hard way that his money had limitations when it came to matters of the heart. Tyree’s accident would be a permanent reminder.
“I’m grateful that you came,” Maxwell said, peering at Nicole. “I need you here, more than you know.”
Her radiance captured his attention, reminding Maxwell that he wasn’t alone. He’d let Nicole slip away once without the slightest resistance. His recent brush with loneliness indicated that might not have been a wise decision. Sitting across the table from Nicole, he found that it was difficult admitting he’d made a mistake. Yet there she was. He caressed her hand. He’d learned relationships might not be as disposable as he’d once believed. If he got another chance, Maxwell was determined not to waste it. He wouldn’t be as foolish this time.
Not every mistake could be fixed, but some deserved the effort.
Chapter 56
Maxwell had limited his libations at dinner last evening to two glasses of wine. Waking up without a headache or a full-fledged hangover was his reward. He sat on the side of his bed, contemplating the whirlwind of events over the past couple of days as a myriad of feelings consumed him. He went from Tyree to his relaxing dinner with Nicole. His father and Pastor Harris rattled around in his mind too. How could they not? Twenty-four hours ago both men had been on his “despise” list. Maxwell swallowed hard and let his neck rock backward.
Redeemed Page 24
