Temptation

by Victoria Christopher Murray

  “Go ahead and open it,” Kyla said standing, crossing her arms in front of her.

  “We don’t . . . have to open it . . . Kyla,” Jefferson stuttered.

  “No, go ahead. I think you should.”

  “It’s addressed to both of us. Maybe . . . we should read it . . . together.”

  Her eyes bore into his. “No,” she said strongly. “You read it.”

  Turning away, Kyla suddenly felt hot as she wrung her hands and paced behind the couch. Jefferson unfolded the paper and nervously scanned the letter. Then, he stood and handed the note to Kyla.

  “It’s fine. Read it,” he said softly.

  It took her only a moment.

  Jefferson clicked the remote, turning the television screen to black. “This just doesn’t seem to end. Kyla, I am so sorry for all of this . . .”

  “I know that. I really do now.” She bit her lip. “It’s just that sometimes I wonder . . . do you think about her?”

  Jefferson held his arms out. “Come here.” He paused as he took her hands and pulled her back down onto the couch. “Kyla, I love you. I don’t think about Jasmine at all. The only time she comes to my mind is when I’m thinking about the damage I did to you.”

  She was silent for a few moments, then nodded. “I talked to Pastor Ford a little about my concerns.” Her voice was soft. “I can’t stop thinking about you and her.”

  “There is nothing for you to think about.”

  “Sometimes, when we’re together, I wonder if you prefer her to me . . .”

  Jefferson hugged Kyla tightly. “I don’t know how to get you to believe me or how I can make you feel safe again.” He lifted her face so that he could look directly into her eyes. “Nothing like this will ever happen again. I only want you and I will make sure that every day of your life, you know that.”

  She nodded as tears filled her eyes. “I want to believe you.”

  “You have to believe me and I will do whatever I have to do. Even if that means that we should wait before we . . . make love again . . .”

  “Oh, no, I’m not saying that,” she said holding his hand. “I just want to know that when we’re together, it’s me that you want. It’s me that you’re thinking about.”

  He gently pressed his lips against hers. “You are the only woman in the world I want.” His lips nuzzled against her neck and she leaned into him. “Let me show you.” His voice was husky. “Let me prove it to you.” His tongue found hers again. Finally pulling back, his eyes searched hers. “I want to make love to my wife.” Taking her hand, he lifted her from the couch. “I want to show you just how much I love you.”

  She followed as Jefferson led the way, and with slow steps they climbed the stairs to their bedroom.

  Alexis turned on the lamp in the living room. The incessant knocking continued and she tightened her terry cloth robe. Who could it be? And why hadn’t the concierge called up? She slowly approached the door as each knock became louder.

  “Who is it!” She peeked through the peephole. “What the . . .” She opened the door. “Brian, what are you doing here?”

  Brian stepped inside, dressed in a tuxedo with a red bow-tie and matching cummerbund. With his hands behind his back, he leaned over and kissed her.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked again, her voice showing confusion. “And, why are you dressed like this?” Her eyes roamed up and down his body. It was Armani. Even in the middle of the night she knew that. And it fit him, showing his body’s perfection.

  He grinned and looked down at his clothes. “I had to dress up for one of the most important moments of my life.”

  She finally closed the door that she had held open. “It’s three o’clock in the morning. Where are you going dressed like that?”

  “I know it’s late, sweetheart. But that’s all part of the surprise. I wanted this to be something we would always remember.”

  Alexis ran her fingers through her hair. “What are you talking about?”

  His smile widened as he took her hand into his and pulled her toward the couch.

  “Brian, what’s going on?” She was impatient.

  His smile disappeared. “Alexis, I know that we haven’t known each other for very long, but I know that I love you . . .”

  “I love you too, Brian, but it’s late . . .”

  He edged his body from the couch and bent down on one knee. Alexis frowned in confusion, then opened her eyes wide. She raised both hands, covering her mouth.

  “Alexis, there is a part of me that had been empty until I met you. You filled that hole in my heart. And, I love you for it.” Brian’s voice was soft as he pulled the velvet box from inside his jacket. “I want to spend the rest of my life loving you. I want to protect you and take care of you. Alexis, will you make me the happiest and most blessed man in the universe and agree to become my wife?”

  He tipped opened the box and Alexis gasped. Even in the dim living room light, the diamond flashed like lightning and colors shimmered and bounced against her dark, slender hand as he placed the ring on her finger.

  She had no idea how long she sat there staring at the ring, but when Brian’s thumb rubbed away a tear from her cheek, she finally lifted her eyes to meet his.

  “You haven’t said anything and I’m getting a little nervous. Will you marry me?”

  “I don’t know what to say,” her voice cracked.

  “Say yes.”

  “Yes, yes!” she said as she hugged him.

  Brian gently pulled her down onto the floor with him and held her on his lap. And before he lowered his lips to hers, he said, “Alexis, I promise to love you completely, openly, and honestly for the rest of my life.”

  She was weak with emotion and closed her eyes, promising that she would remember every second of this moment for the rest of her life.

  Thirty

  * * *

  They could hear the pastor’s muffled voice through the door to the side room and Kyla peeked into the sanctuary. Alexis and Brian were sitting in the front row and even from where Kyla was standing she could see Alexis’ sparkling diamond. She was thrilled for Alexis and Brian and smiled as she thought of them getting a head start and attending their first Marriage Fellowship. Her only regret was that her parents had decided not to attend. She knew it was her mother’s choice. Instead, they had taken Nicole to San Diego for the weekend.

  “It’s almost time,” Jefferson’s voice came from behind her. “It’s time for us to pray.” Holding hands, they bowed their heads. “Heavenly Father,” Jefferson started. “We come before you with praise and thanksgiving for this special day. As we speak of the testimony you’ve given us, let the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be what you want, Lord. Let our words flow from you so that each person receives the message that you want delivered. Today is a day to exalt, honor, and bless your Holy Name and we thank you. We thank you, Lord, that you did as you promised in 2 Samuel—you lightened our darkness. We give you all the glory, we give you all the praise. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.”

  Kyla held on to Jefferson tightly as thoughts of the past months flowed through her mind. It was more than a cliché, when people said that the Lord had brought them a mighty long way. Kyla now truly understood those words.

  “Are you ready, my love?” Jefferson asked, pulling back slightly.

  “I’m ready to do anything with you.”

  He smiled. “I love you.”

  Holding hands, they walked into the sanctuary and toward the altar, ready to deliver God’s message. Ready to do all things in the name of Jesus.

  “Well, as most of you know, this is a special Marriage Fellowship today,” Pastor Ford said. “We’re talking about a subject that is familiar, but not usually exposed this up close and personal. As many of you know, or may have been told, or may have heard through whispers in the hallways, Kyla and Jefferson Blake are here today to share a very personal experience and I am so proud of them. When people speak about person
al experiences in their lives, they are exposing themselves to ridicule, critiques, other’s opinions of what you should have done or what you should have said—all of that. This is a difficult step to take and many would say it’s not worth it. But what the Blakes know is that when the Lord gives you a testimony, it is to be shared for the edification of others. So, as I said before, I am proud of what this man and woman of God are about to do.”

  The pastor looked over at Jefferson and Kyla and smiled. “Now, I am pleased to say that I was able to play a role in this process. When the Blakes came to me, they were broken, they were in a state of confusion, they had both suffered. But they both loved the Lord, and that’s why I knew they would pull through.

  “During our sessions over the last six months, we have experienced the complete spectrum of emotions. We all cried, we all screamed. Once, Kyla even threw my coffee mug against the wall and broke it.”

  There was an audible sigh from the audience and the pastor laughed. “But never fear. She went out the next day and brought me a new one.” Everyone laughed and the pastor continued. “But I am telling you that in spite of it all, under the mercy and grace of God, the Blakes have survived. Now, I know you are all eager to get on with the program. So, I want to bring up, Kyla and Jefferson Blake.”

  They stood to the standing ovation of the congregation, and Jefferson placed his hand on Kyla’s elbow, leading her to the podium. He kissed her on the cheek, then returned to his seat allowing Kyla to speak first, as they had agreed. It wasn’t until he had sat down that he realized his hands were shaking, not from fear, but exhilaration.

  When the crowd settled down, Kyla took a deep breath and spoke. “Good afternoon, church. Praise the Lord.”

  Jefferson’s eyes never left his wife. This was a new Kyla Blake emerging. The one who was always behind the scenes, planning and preparing was gone. He looked into the audience. Every eye was on his wife, riveted by this beautiful woman who was giving her testimony unashamedly. He cringed as she opened up fully, revealing the pain of the aftermath of her discovery. This was the most difficult part for him to hear, and he still asked himself how he could have caused the woman he would lay down his life for this kind of agony. It was still a marvel to him that they had made it through. And, he had no doubt it was all God’s doing.

  Listening to Kyla continue to share, he shook his head at the beauty of the Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. The Lord had not only forgiven him, but had given him another chance. The Lord had brought him through his shame, giving him a chance to stand proudly—showing him how a man of God could stand, even after falling.

  Jefferson moved to the edge of his chair. The crowd applauded and Kyla turned to her husband. He stood and walked to the podium, kissed Kyla and escorted her back to her seat. Then he returned to center stage, his eyes searching out into the silent, still crowd, waiting to hear from him; hear the words from the cheating husband.

  “Thank you for your kind welcome. I stand before you today, a saved man. I am a man who loves the Lord. And because of God’s tremendous grace and mercy, I am a man who is loved by the Lord. I am a man who is grateful for the blood of Jesus.” He paused. “If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to John 16:33.”

  He waited until he heard the sound of turning pages subside. Then he read the scripture out loud. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

  He paused for a moment, then spoke. “It is with this promise from the Lord that my wife and I have been able to move past our tribulation. Move beyond our trial. Because we know that even with all of this world’s sorrows and pains, with all of the distress and afflictions, our Lord conquers all of these things and is able to make us whole again.”

  This time, he paused because of the applause from the crowd. Sounds of praise rose throughout the congregation. When he spoke again, his words flowed smoothly, from his heart. As he looked into the eyes of the people, he knew he was having an impact. He was doing the right thing. For Kyla. For himself. For the Lord.

  When Jefferson completed his presentation, he thanked the congregation for their attention and everyone in the sanctuary stood, showing their appreciation with resounding applause. Kyla and Pastor Ford joined Jefferson in front of the altar. After several minutes of a standing ovation, the pastor motioned for the congregation to return to their seats.

  “I’m only going to keep you for one more moment,” Pastor Ford said. “I want to end with a scripture that I think we should all meditate on. You can turn to it, if you wish. The book of James 1:2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” She paused. “You know I don’t normally do this, but I want everyone in this room to understand this scripture. I’m going to read the same scripture from the Living Bible. Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So, let it grow and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.” She closed her book and looked around the sanctuary. “I think the only thing left to say now is . . . Amen.”

  It had taken over two hours to get everyone out of the church. People continued to approach Kyla and Jefferson asking questions, offering congratulations or just hugging them for support. Now, Kyla, Jefferson, Alexis, and Brian stood in the pastor’s office talking excitingly about what had transpired.

  “Pastor Ford, thank you for everything,” Kyla said as she picked up her jacket, finally ready to leave. Jefferson nodded his agreement.

  “I have to thank you guys. What you did today was special and you’ve helped countless people. But there is one more thing I want to do. Alexis and Brian,” the pastor said turning to them, “would you mind if I spoke with Kyla and Jefferson alone?”

  “Of course, Pastor Ford,” Alexis said and then hugged Kyla. “We’ll see you guys later.” Kyla and Jefferson said their goodbyes to Brian and then turned to Pastor Ford with questioning glances.

  The pastor picked up her Bible from her desk. “Follow me!” she commanded.

  Holding hands, Kyla and Jefferson followed her into the sanctuary. She turned on the light above the altar, leaving the rest of the large room darkened. Standing at the podium, she motioned for them and they stepped directly in front of her.

  “You know, when we began this counseling a few months ago, I knew the Lord was going to work this. But as I watched the two of you today, I knew this was a miracle. And there is a message in this miracle. The Lord is showing that through Him, at any time, we can have a new beginning.”

  Kyla and Jefferson nodded.

  “And it occurred to me that we should bless the new beginning of this union. You’re starting over. There is nothing wrong with your history, but the doors of your future are wide open and we have to rejoice. Can you both turn facing me, please?”

  In the semidarkness glow of the room, they followed her instructions.

  “Now, give me your rings.”

  “Our rings?” They questioned together.

  “Yes, your wedding rings.”

  Kyla realized what the pastor was about to do and new tears formed in her eyes.

  “Now, holding hands and facing each other, I want you to rededicate yourselves to each other and your marriage.” When they looked at her blankly, she continued, “Just speak from your hearts. The Lord will lead you. Jefferson, you first.”

  Jefferson swallowed hard before he spoke. “Kyla, when we were married almost seventeen years ago, I didn’t know what I had done to deserve you. And I thanked God every day of each year for letting me love you, protect you, and cherish you. Now, as we stand here because of my tran
sgression, I can only thank the Lord again. But the words ‘thank you’ are too small to communicate the depth of my gratefulness to the Lord and to you. I thank God for His love and mercy.” He paused, overcome with emotion. “I thank you, Kyla, for finding it in your heart to forgive me and for loving me when I wasn’t even sure I loved myself. I promise once again in front of God and Pastor to love you, honor you, protect you, cherish you, forsaking every woman on earth. There is only you. As I stand before the Lord and make these promises, I thank God for the woman chosen for me. I thank God for making me whole with you. And I promise that I will love you, Kyla, as Christ commanded. I will love you as Christ loved the church . . .” Jefferson paused again as his voice quivered. He looked at the pastor and hunched his shoulders.

  “Is that everything you want to say?” The pastor asked, her own eyes moist with emotion.

  He nodded. “Oh, there is one more thing. Did I say I love you?”

  They laughed and Kyla with the back of her hands wiped her tears that had fallen.

  “I guess it’s my turn.” She took a deep breath. “I am so grateful to the Lord for bringing you into my life. Because, with all the good times, and even with what we went through, I love you with all that is in me. And I know that’s the way it’s supposed to be. You are my husband. The head of our house. The father of my child. The man the Lord wants me to honor. And I do. I thank you for your patience and for standing by me as we climbed back to where the Lord wanted us to be. I promise to love you, honor you, cherish you and I too, will forsake all others. There is only you. My prayer is that the Lord will continue to shine His mercy upon us and use us for His purpose, so that others may come to know Him. I promise you that the best of our life is in front of us. I love you.”

  Pastor Ford had to clear the lump in her throat before she spoke. “Let’s bow our heads.” And as the pastor prayed, it was all Kyla could do to not fall down on the altar and give thanks to the Lord. The pastor prayed over their wedding rings, and then they took turns placing the rings back on their fingers, just as they had done all those years before.