Silver Lining

by Wanda B. Campbell

  With the schedule, Lewis made sure Leon stayed busy and away from Starla and the boys. Today it was Starla who’d made the surprise move. She wasn’t supposed to just show up like that, but she had, and Lewis had to watch Leon kiss his woman. A minute sooner and Starla would have seen him stocking the change machine. Lewis had promised to give her all the time and space she needed to dispose of Leon, but Starla had just proven to him that she didn’t know what was best for herself or the boys.

  Lewis spent the next hour behind his desk with his head bowed in prayer.

  Chapter 12

  As Marlissa waited for the elevator to travel to the fifth floor, she tightened her jacket and gripped the picnic basket. When the doors opened on the third floor, she glanced down at her watch. “Come on, I only have an hour,” she pleaded with the silver doors. Marlissa had exerted too much energy into planning this surprise in-office picnic to be disappointed. The mere fact that Marlissa had planned all week for one hour was major progress for her.

  Marlissa’s inexperience in the romance and creativity departments, and lack of female friends, left her seeking help from her best friend’s wife. When Starla came by to visit Leon earlier in the week, Marlissa squeezed on the couch with them with a pen and writing pad in hand.

  “What type of message do you want to send?” Starla had asked once Leon retreated to his room. “What do you want to put on his mind?”

  “Message?” Marlissa frowned.

  “You know, what do you want your surprise to convey to him?”

  “Huh?” Marlissa still didn’t understand.

  “I’ll never understand how you ever landed a man like Dr. Kevin Jennings,” Starla teased. “Do you want Kevin to get full on the food or full from looking at you?”

  Marlissa finally understood. “Girl, don’t play! You know I want him drooling so bad that he’ll want to take me home with him.”

  Marlissa and Kevin were making steady progress in their relationship. With her nights now free, they spent most evenings together. Some nights she’d cook for him or watch a DVD with him at her apartment until Leon returned. In the last two weeks, they’d laughed and talked more than in their first year of marriage. Marlissa became more relaxed with expressing her affections. Every day she made it a point to compliment him, and when they were together she initiated the limited physical contact.

  Today, Marlissa opted to give Kevin the royal treatment, which included fine china, cloth napkins, hand-blown crystal goblets, gold candlesticks, and the sounds of Kirk Whalum’s saxophone. She hoped Kevin was hungry, because Marlissa had prepared his favorites: roasted garlic and lime chicken, wild rice with steamed broccoli, and, of course for dessert, banana pudding.

  Finally, the elevator reached the fifth floor, and Marlissa hurriedly stepped off. Marlissa quickly found Kevin’s nurse, who helped her slip into his office undetected.

  “Dr. Jennings sure is going to be surprised,” the nurse said, then leaned in closer and added, “I like you better than the other one.”

  Marlissa smiled and thanked the kind middle-aged woman. Once inside the office, Marlissa went right to work. She’d just lit the second candle when the door opened.

  At first Kevin thought he’d entered the wrong office, but then he saw her standing beside his desk. He was in the right office, of that he was now certain. The room contained everything he liked, including the woman who was now walking toward him.

  “I hope you’re hungry, Dr. Jennings,” Marlissa said after a soft kiss.

  “I hope you didn’t wear that dress to work.” Kevin commented on the form-fitting tangerine-colored tank dress.

  “Do you like it?” Marlissa turned and modeled for him. “You’re the first person to see me wear this.”

  Kevin cleared his throat. “Make sure I’m the only person who sees you in that dress.”

  “Are you flirting with me?”

  “I guess I am,” Kevin said, realizing this was the first time he’d flirted with her since they’d been “dating.”

  Marlissa took him by the hand and led him to his desk. “I’ll change when I get back to work. Come on, let’s eat.”

  “You remembered,” he whispered after she placed the plate in front of him.

  “Of course I remember what you like.” She winked at him, causing Kevin to drop his fork. “I also got you some of the peach cider you’ve come to enjoy.”

  When Marlissa continued to stand, he asked, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  “I ate earlier, this is your time,” Marlissa answered, and handed him a cloth napkin.

  Kevin hesitated and debated which one he preferred on his lap: the napkin or Marlissa. He decided on both. In one swift motion, Kevin swooped Marlissa off her feet and onto his lap.

  “Whoa,” she squealed, then relaxed as he brought her face to his. After the kiss that left him trying to remember what day it was, Kevin gently stroked her cheeks. He assumed she’d interpreted the desire in his eyes as hunger, because her next statement was, “Let’s eat.”

  Kevin savored his private feast with Marlissa seated on his lap, his favorite part being when Marlissa spoon-fed him the banana pudding and kissed the excess from his mouth.

  “I have to get back to the insurance company,” she said, regrettably stepping from his lap. Kevin also stood and helped repack the picnic basket. With the packing completed, Marlissa turned to find Kevin holding her coat open.

  “Now that you’re full, you’re in a hurry to get rid of me, huh?” Marlissa mused, stepping into her coat.

  “It’s not about getting rid of you.” Kevin turned her to face him after the coat was secure. “I don’t want you showing off my business.” He was about to kiss her again when an intruder invaded his office.

  The three stood frozen in place, each wondering what the other was doing there and sizing up the enemy. Preparing to protect Marlissa, Kevin moved in front of her, just before the volcano erupted, spewing hot lava and destroying everything in its path.

  “What the devil is going on in here?” Pastor Jennings slammed the door so hard, Marlissa flinched.

  “Mother, have you lost your mind? This is a hospital. You can’t—” Kevin started.

  “Don’t tell me what I can’t do!” She pointed to Marlissa. “What is she doing here?”

  “Mother, that’s none of your business! Now behave before I call security!”

  “If a heathen like her can just walk up in here, so can I!”

  “I’ll see you later.” Marlissa grabbed the basket and practically ran from the office.

  Pastor Jennings went to the door and yelled after her. “The only place you’ll see my son is at your divorce hearing! Now stay away from him like I told you!” She focused her attention on her son. “Kevin, what’s going on around here?”

  Kevin was so angry, he couldn’t speak. He huffed, then balled his fist and went after his wife. He found her still waiting for the elevator, crying.

  “Baby, I am so sorry for that.” Kevin tried to hold her, but she wouldn’t return his embrace. Giving up, he lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “My mother’s opinion doesn’t matter, only mine. I enjoyed my office picnic, but I found the most pleasure in the company. ’Lissa, you did good today. I appreciate the effort.”

  Marlissa wiped her face and forced a smile. It wasn’t the ending she’d hoped for, but she’d scored a point. The elevator doors opened and Kevin kissed her before going to fight Goliath.

  “So, that’s why you’ve missed church two Sundays in a row and why you can’t return my calls; you’ve been hanging out with that drunk!” Pastor Jennings didn’t even wait for Kevin to close the door.

  “Marlissa is not a drunk anymore, and I have been to church, just not your church,” Kevin answered, then sat down behind his desk. He reached into the desk drawer for a red stress-relief ball.

  “What do you mean your church? That’s our church.”

  “Mother, why are you here?” Kevin’s patience was about to run out. He r
apidly squeezed the ball.

  The temper tantrum wasn’t working; Pastor Jennings tried a softer approach. “Son, please tell me you’re not going to allow yourself to get entangled again with that yoke of bondage. We both know Marlissa is not right for you. Your divorce will be final soon. Let her go so that God can bless you with the one He’s chosen for you.”

  “Let me guess, Reyna?” Kevin smirked. “Mother, if you think Reyna is so great, then you marry her.” Kevin stood and walked to the door. With every step he squeezed the ball. “If I divorce Marlissa it will be my decision, not yours. And if I were to remarry, it wouldn’t be to Reyna. One of you is enough.” Kevin walked out, but she called after him.

  “What do you mean, if you divorce Marlissa?”

  “The devil is a lie!” Pastor Jennings repeated the slogan and prayed all the way back to her church office. “I’m not going to let the devil destroy what I’ve worked so hard to accomplish.”

  She picked up the phone and dialed Tyson’s cell number. One of the benefits of being Tyson’s pastor was having a lawyer at her disposal at all times.

  Tyson didn’t get the second syllable of “hello” out before Pastor Jennings started digging in. “Tyson, what’s going on with Kevin’s divorce?”

  “Well, hello, Pastor. How are you today?”

  “You tell me. What’s the status on Kevin’s divorce? When is it going to be final?”

  Tyson took a deep breath. “Pastor, you know I can’t discuss that with you. I suggest you ask your son to tell you what you want to know.”

  “I did, but he won’t tell me,” Pastor Jennings admitted.

  “Neither will I,” Tyson responded in that no-nonsense business tone she hated; although she only hated it when it was directed toward her.

  Pastor Jennings exhaled long and slowly. “Tyson, can you talk to me as his friend and not as his lawyer?”

  “I’ll try,” Tyson answered honestly.

  “Is Kevin trying to decide if he wants to reconcile with that drunk?”

  “Kevin’s not trying to decide anything. I believe he knows if he wants to remain married to Marlissa or not.” He paused. “Pastor, you do know that Marlissa is saved now?”

  “So I hear,” she said dryly. “Well, does he want her or not?”

  “You’ll have to ask Kevin that yourself.”

  Pastor Jennings gave up. Tyson wasn’t giving up any information and that infuriated her. If anyone knew what Kevin was up to, it was Tyson, but he wasn’t telling and right now he was wasting her time.

  “Good-bye, Tyson.” After disconnecting, she paced her office until she heard Reyna come in. Reyna barely had a chance to set her purse on the desk before Pastor Jennings started barking. “Where have you been?”

  “I went to the bank and then to the office supply store.” Reyna held up the white plastic bag with red letters.

  “That’s not what I mean. Why haven’t you been spending more time with Kevin? While you’re running around buying pens and Post-its, Marlissa is posting in his office!”

  “What?” Reyna was confused. “I thought you said we should let him cool down for a while.”

  “Forget what I told you.” Pastor Jennings waved her hands in the air. “You need to be more aggressive if you want to be Mrs. Kevin Jennings.” She finally sat down. “According to my calculations, his divorce will be final in three months. During that time, you need to stay in his face. Every time he turns around, he should see a reflection of you. When he’s not looking at you, he should be speaking to you on the phone. Even if you have to make a CD and send him subliminal messages, get his attention!”

  Reyna laughed. “That’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

  “No, it’s not, and while you’re at it, stop dressing like a nun. Style your hair and put on some makeup.”

  “I thought you said modesty was best,” Reyna questioned. “You said I should dress like you.”

  Pastor Jennings rolled her eyes at Reyna. Yes, she’d told Reyna that, but it wasn’t working with Kevin just like it hadn’t worked with her late husband. Her husband had constantly complained about her plain-Jane, holier-than-thou look, but Pastor Jennings had refused to change. She wouldn’t even wear lingerie to bed, favoring long cotton flannel pajamas or a muumuu. That’s probably why, for most of their marriage, her late husband kept a mistress. She was usually someone half Rosalie’s age and a lot more liberated when it came to sexuality.

  “Reyna, in a battle, sometimes you have to change your methodology if you want to win. From what I saw today, we’re in a battle and your opponent is not going to go away quietly.” Rosalie leaned back in her chair. “I’ve taken you as far I as I can, the rest is up to you.”

  Chapter 13

  “Did you rock the good doc’s world or what?” Leon cheerfully asked upon entering the apartment. Marlissa didn’t verbally respond, just shrugged. Leon sat down next to her on the couch; that’s when he noticed she was crying.

  Leon frowned. “I can’t believe he didn’t like a surprise like that. I don’t know a man alive who wouldn’t. You must not have done everything Starla told you to because that woman, man, that woman knows what to do, I tell you.”

  Marlissa jumped in before Leon gave himself a stroke. “He did like it.” She paused. “It was his mother who didn’t like me.”

  “What was his mother doing there?”

  Marlissa filled him in on the horrid details. “Leon, sometimes I wonder if all of this is worth it. I’m scared I’ll never live down my past and I’ll never be good enough to be accepted.”

  Leon swallowed and waited for her to finish. He knew exactly how she felt. He’d been asking himself the same questions concerning his relationship with Starla.

  “What if we’re just wasting our time? What if, no matter how hard we try, Starla and Kevin will never forgive us? At least, not to the point where they’re willing to trust us again?” Leon remained still while she blew her nose. “Sometimes I think I should just give up, you know, move on. I don’t know, start over in another state or something.”

  After the sniffles, Leon took her by the hand and prayed for the right words that would not only encourage her, but him also. “Brat, the first thing you have to do is stop allowing people like Pastor Jennings to control you and how you feel about yourself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “This morning, when you left here, you felt good about yourself and about life. Now you’re sitting here doubting yourself because of one person’s stupidity. Rosalie Jennings may be a pastor, but she’s not God. She doesn’t control your destiny, you do.” Leon paused. “Remember this, anything that we love is worth fighting for. I love Starla and those boys more than anything in the world. I believe with all my heart, I have to, that we’ll be reunited. But if that never happens, the time and energy I’ve invested into showing them how important they are to me is more than worth it. Love is always worth it.” Leon smiled as a thought came to him. “Look at it like this: Jesus knew everyone wouldn’t receive Him, but the chance to offer salvation to the world was worth the trip to the cross.”

  Marlissa shrugged. “Since you put it that way.”

  Leon bowed his head and prayed for them, Starla, and his boys. Finally, he prayed for Pastor Jennings. He asked God to heal her of whatever was causing her to lash out at Marlissa.

  The telephone rang. “Can you get that? I need to take a shower before I visit the boys.”

  Leon headed off to his room and Marlissa answered the phone. It was Kevin calling from the newly installed security gate. She buzzed him into the building, then ran to the bathroom to freshen up.

  When she opened the door, Kevin looked down at her and pouted. “What happened to the dress?” She was now wearing sweats.

  “We heathens do wear regular clothes.” She smiled, but the pain his mother’s words had caused was still evident. He stepped inside and closed the door.

  “Come here.” He pulled her close to him and held her until her body rel
axed. “Don’t let Mother bother you. You’re not a heathen. What you are is beautiful, and in that orange dress, you’re hot.”

  “Thank you,” she managed between blushing and laughing. Taking his hand, Marlissa led him to the couch, and, like old times, she snuggled against him while he rubbed her shoulder. “Kevin,” she said, her voice just above a whisper, “I don’t want to come between you and your mother.”

  He stopped rubbing her shoulder. “’Lissa, what are you saying?”

  She raised her head so she could look him in the eyes when she made her next statement. “If staying married to me is going to damage your relationship with your mother . . . I . . . I . . . you know.” She looked away.

  He turned her face back to his. “My relationship with my mother has been strained since the car accident eighteen years ago. Mother still blames herself because she ran the red light and crashed into an oncoming truck. Since then she’s been trying to make it up to me by trying to control every aspect of my life. For the most part, I’ve been passive, but I’ll never allow her to control our relationship. If I did, we wouldn’t be married now. I’d be married to Reyna with ten kids.” Kevin shook his head at that scenario.

  “Do you still want children?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

  “Me too.”

  Kevin’s hand glided over her abdomen as he kissed her.

  “Hey, brat, I’ll call you if I’m not coming home tonight.” They parted and stared at Leon, who was dressed and smelled more like he was on his way to church than to see his wife and kids. “Carry on.” Before either could say anything, Leon was gone.

  “If I didn’t like Leon, I wouldn’t be able to handle your living arrangement,” Kevin finally admitted. “At first I was jealous because Leon is the one who helped you to change. I wanted to be that person. Since I’ve gotten to know him, I understand that he was just what you needed at that time, and I now respect your friendship.”