"I promise, Nate." She squeezed his hand to reassure him. More than anything, she appreciated Nate's honesty. He didn't try to hide his feelings from her, and he didn't say things that he didn't mean. He never let her forget that she could hurt him just as easily as he could hurt her. In an odd way, that knowledge gave her confidence in their relationship. Though she wasn't sure he was falling in love with her, she knew that his heart had to be deeply involved in their relationship for him to ask for such a promise.
Chapter 10
"Where is your other bag?" CeCe asked David. He stood near the door bouncing on his heels, hardly able to remain in the house long enough to gather the clothes he needed for the sleepover at Nate's. The boy looked around as if hoping the bag would magically appear at his feet. When it didn't, he raised questioning eyes to his mother. "Maybe you should try looking in the laundry room," she suggested.
At her words, her son scampered from the family room off in the direction of the laundry room. Nate and Miss Brinson both chuckled at David's quick movements, while CeCe just shook her head. "Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked Nate for the tenth time. He and Stuart were hosting this all-male event for their baseball team, and David had been invited to tag along. He'd become the team's unofficial—very unofficial—batboy, and he loved the job.
"I can handle it." Nate sat on the couch across from the two women who sat on the settee. "We've been doing this for three years now. David won't be a bother. The other guys love him, and I think they're a good influence on him, but if you're really worried, I won't take him."
CeCe shook her head, telling herself she was being the typical overprotective mother. "No, you have to take him. If you don't, he'll be crushed."
"And I won't get the peace and quiet I've been looking forward to," Miss Brinson said. "Of course, if you decide to leave David here, I can always go to the sleepover with you. It'll probably be quieter at your place, anyway."
"B.B.," CeCe began, "please stop teasing Nate. I do hate to see a grown man blush—especially when his complexion is as dark as mine."
David bounded back into the family room shouting, "I found it." He raised the bag in the air to get everyone's approval. "Can we go now, Mr. Nate? The guys are waiting for me."
The three adults shared a smile above David's head. "Seems like we're ready to hit the road," Nate said, taking David's hand. Miss Brinson and CeCe followed them through the family room door and outside. CeCe reflected on the changes in her life since she'd met Nate. She felt very pleased with the way her life was working out. She was flourishing, her son was flourishing, and because she'd have the day free to meet with some prospective clients, her hopes rose that her real estate business would soon be flourishing as well.
"Are you going to meet us at church tomorrow, or should I plan on bringing David here afterward?" Nate asked, once they were all outside.
"Why don't you bring him here, Nate. I have a meeting at my church between Sunday school and morning service tomorrow, so I'll just stay there all morning."
Nate nodded his agreement, as she'd known he would. They'd decided to continue attending their respective churches and to visit each other's when possible. So far, the arrangement was working out well. On Labor Day they'd attended picnics at both churches, starting the day at hers and ending it at his.
Nate kissed both women on the cheek and headed toward his car. He turned around and faced them as he opened the rear door for David. "Oh, yeah," he called to CeCe, "my parents are coming to town next weekend, and they want to meet you and David and B.B. I told them that we'd make plans for the weekend. I was thinking the two of us could take them out Friday, then we'd have a cookout at my house on Saturday, and all of us go to my church on Sunday and back here on Sunday afternoon. We can talk more about it when I bring David back tomorrow."
CeCe's mouth fell open, but no words came out. Nate turned, arranged David in his booster seat in the back, waved again, then got in and drove away. CeCe's mouth was still open. Miss Brinson's laughter made her close it.
"He did that on purpose," she complained to Miss Brinson. "I know he did. I don't see why you're laughing. Nate's parents coming to visit is nothing to laugh about."
Miss Brinson shook her head. "I'm not laughing at Nate's parents. I'm laughing at you. You should see yourself. You look like you've just seen a ghost. Calm down, CeCe. They're just people."
Miss Brinson turned and went back into the house. CeCe followed her. "How can you say they're just people, B.B.? These are Nate's parents, and they want to see me. Why do they want to see me?"
"I'm not even going to try to answer that, CeCe." Miss Brinson went to the dishwasher and began unloading the dishes. "You know as well as I do why they want to meet you and David."
CeCe dropped down on the chair and covered her face with her hands. Miss Brinson was right. She did know why Nate's parents wanted to meet her and David. She knew, and it scared her to death. What if they didn't like her? What if they didn't think she was good enough for their son?
"Stop it, CeCe," Miss Brinson said. "I know what you're doing. You're going to make yourself sick with worry over nothing. They're going to love you because Nate loves you."
CeCe nodded. She could do nothing else. They're going to love you because Nate loves you, B.B. had said. Except Nate had never said that he loved her. She and Nate needed to talk. It was unfair of him to drop this on her and then leave the way he had. She had half a mind to drive over to his house and confront him. If he wasn't having the sleepover, she'd do just that.
She didn't know if she was ready to meet his parents. Everything was moving so fast. It had been only three months since they'd gone to the Gala together. Her life was changing so much. All good, but still very fast. She knew that she'd grown as a person and as a Christian since she'd started working at Genesis House and met Nate, Anna Mae, and Shay, but the relationships were still very new to her.
How she wished she could talk to Nate. He had become her best friend, and she wanted to talk this out with him. She raised her eyes to the clock on the wall above the television. It was just five o'clock. It would be ten or later before Nate called her tonight, if he called at all. She was going to kill him, she decided.
She was definitely going to kill him.
* * *
The first time Nate called, CeCe was in the bathtub and missed his call. When she tried to call him back, his line was busy. Finally, after a terribly long half hour, he called her again. "Are you still upset?" he immediately asked. She was wise enough to know his question was a tactic designed to disarm her, and she wasn't going to fall for it. Besides, the laughter in his voice was barely disguised. "What you did was cruel, Nate."
The man had the nerve to laugh outright. "It wasn't cruel, CeCe. You're just so predictable. Have you pulled out all of your hair yet?"
OK, she got his point. Maybe she had overreacted. "Last time I looked, I was as bald as you." He laughed again. "Oh, CeCe, I do love you." CeCe thought her heart stopped beating. Did he know what he had said? Why was he saying this now?
"Are you there, CeCe?" Nate asked. He was no longer laughing.
"I'm here," she said in a small voice. Did he really love her? Oh, how she wanted him to love her!
"What are you thinking?" he asked.
What does he mean, What am I thinking?
When she didn't answer, he said, "I know what I said. I didn't plan to say it now, but it's true. I love you, CeCe, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."
Her heart was too full for her to even speak. He loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Was she dreaming?
"Well, aren't you going to say something?" he asked. His impatience warmed her heart, because she knew it was an indication of how vulnerable he was with her.
"I'm here." This time her voice was weepy.
"Look, the boys are in bed. Stuart is here. I can be there in about thirty minutes. Meet me on the porch so we don't wake B.B."
C
eCe nodded. Of course, he couldn't see her assent.
"Say something, sweetheart," he said.
"I'll meet you on the porch." Her mind focused on the fact that this was the first time he'd used an endearment when he spoke to her.
"I didn't mean to make you cry, sweetheart. I'll be there as soon as I can. OK?"
"OK." The tenderness in his voice did nothing to quell her tears.
* * *
Nate hung up the phone and quickly changed out of his pajamas and into a pair of jeans and a shirt appropriate for visiting. He hadn't planned to tell CeCe that he loved her this soon or in this way, but it had happened. Now he needed to see her and tell her to her face before he lost his courage. This verbal confirmation of what he was feeling was a major step for him, and he didn't want to think too closely about it. No, he didn't want to analyze it and judge it; he just wanted to enjoy it. He loved CeCe, and he was pretty sure she felt the same way about him. He just didn't know if she was ready to say the words yet. That was all right, though. He was willing to wait. CeCe was worth waiting for.
Fully dressed, Nate padded down the stairs to the family room, where Stuart and he were bunking on the floor with the boys. He put his finger to his lips and shook his friend awake. They tiptoed out of the family room and went to the foyer.
"Where are you going?" Stuart asked, fighting back a yawn.
"To see CeCe," Nate said. He was sure his grin covered his entire face.
"This late?" Stuart was immediately fully awake. "Is something wrong? What can I do?"
Nate put his hand on his friend's shoulder to calm him. "Nothing's wrong. In fact, everything's right."
"You're not making sense, Nate. What's going on?"
He put his other hand on Stuart's other shoulder. "I just spoke to CeCe on the phone, and I told her that I love her."
Stuart yawned and Nate dropped his hands. "It's about time," he said simply. "If you had waited any longer, I think I might have told her for you."
Nate chuckled. He wasn't surprised that Stuart knew his feelings. He certainly hadn't been trying to hide them. "Hold down the fort. I should be back in a couple of hours."
"Don't rush. All we're doing here is sleeping. Or trying to sleep."
Nate didn't bother responding to his friend's last words. All he wanted was to see CeCe. He loved her. And he'd told her. He felt so good that his heart played a song all the way to her house. He saw her in the shadows of the porch as soon as he pulled into her driveway. He was out of the truck as soon as he cut off the ignition. He bounded up the three steps and lifted a teary CeCe in his arms. "I love you, CeCe Williams. I love you. I love you. I love you." Nate began swinging CeCe around the porch, and soon her tears of joy turned to giggles and then to full-fledged laughter. By the time he put her back down, he was laughing himself. He took her hand and pulled her to their place on the swing. Tonight, though, he pulled her close in his arms. "Do you have any idea how good it feels to tell you what's in my heart? Oh, sweetheart, it feels so wonderful. How does it make you feel?"
She looked up at him, and he could read the love in her eyes.
Yes, he could wait for the words. He knew they were there. "Oh, Nate," she said. "I can't believe it. You love me. You actually love me."
He chuckled. "Silly woman. You sound as though you're surprised. Surely you must have guessed my feelings by now. I would hope that I've shown them to you enough."
"You have. You have," she assured him. "And in so many ways that I can't even count, but it feels so good to hear the words."
He pulled her close and savored the moment. This was the woman he loved. The woman God had given him when he'd doubted there was a woman for him. Oh, but he'd been given a gem. A precious gift directly from the Father. Thank you so much for sending her to me, Lord. Teach me to love her as you want her to be loved. More than anything, I want her to be confident in my love for you and my love for her and David.
"Nate." CeCe's voice was quiet.
"What, sweetheart?"
She pulled back just far enough to look into his eyes. "I love you too."
Pleasure flowed from the top of Nate's head to the bottom of his feet. He wanted to shout his joy to the entire neighborhood, but he settled for pulling her close again and thanking God for his love and for CeCe's. His heart shouted his joy to the angels in heaven. That was enough for tonight. When tears filled his eyes, he didn't try to stop them.
"Nate?" CeCe queried again. When he didn't answer, she pulled back and looked at him. Seeing his tears, she pressed her fingertips to his face. "Oh, Nate," she said, "isn't it wonderful?"
Nate looked through his tears at this woman he loved. "It's more than wonderful. It's a miracle. A miracle straight from heaven."
And for the first time since Nate had known CeCe, he did something he'd wanted to do for a very long time: He pressed his lips against hers for a brief kiss before pulling her back into his arms and repeating his vow of love.
* * *
The ringing of the telephone shattered CeCe's most wonderful dream. She and Nate were sitting in rockers on their front porch, watching their great-grandchildren play in their yard. She fought against waking as long as she could, but the phone continued to ring. She sat up and reached for the phone, casting a glance at the clock and wondering who could be calling this early in the morning
"Hello?"
"CeCe, it's me, Nate."
CeCe slid down in the bed. A stupid grin, she knew, spread across her face. Nate was going to tell her he loved her again. It wasn't a dream. "I love you, Nate," she said, wanting to say it first.
She felt his smile and his love through the telephone lines. "I love you, too, sweetheart, but we have a little problem this morning."
CeCe sat straight up in bed. "What's wrong? Is it David? Is something wrong with my baby?"
"No, sweetheart," Nate said. His calm voice relaxed her. "David's fine. He and the other boys are still asleep. Our problem is with Shay and Marvin."
"Oh no, Nate. What's happened?"
Nate expelled a weary sigh. "Marvin just showed up here about thirty minutes ago with his suitcase. He says he's moved out of the house."
CeCe slumped down in the bed. Poor Shay, she thought. "What about Shay, Nate?"
"That's why I'm calling you, sweetheart. I've called the house a couple of times, but her line's busy. I don't want to panic, but I think somebody should go and make sure she's all right."
CeCe was getting out of bed. "I'm about to get dressed now," she said. "I'll call you as soon as I see her. Don't worry."
"I won't," he said.
CeCe heard the pain in his voice. "You shouldn't, Nate, but you will. Are you still planning to take the boys to church?"
"I think so. Marvin seems to be all right." He gave a dry chuckle. "In fact, he seems to be handling the entire situation a lot better than I am. He was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow."
"He has to be hurting, Nate, but you do what you think is best. Whatever you decide, don't worry about bringing David back here. I'll stop by there and get him."
"Thanks, sweetheart."
"Well, I need to hang up so I can get dressed. I want to be with Shay. I know she can use a friend right now. I'll talk to you later, OK?"
"OK." CeCe was about to hang up when Nate said, "CeCe?"
"I'm still here."
"I do love you with all my heart. I just wanted to tell you that this morning."
"I know you do, Nate. I love you too. Now take care of yourself and try to get some sleep if you can."
CeCe didn't wait for Nate's agreement because she didn't expect to get it. She hung up the phone, rushed to the bathroom to wash up, and then threw on some clean clothes. She knocked on Miss Brinson's bedroom door on her way out and told her what was going on.
Since nobody was on the street but her, it took her only fifteen minutes to reach Shay's house in southwest Atlanta. Please, God, show me how to help her through this. She loves Marvin so much. I just know she
's going to be crushed.
CeCe rang the bell and then rocked back and forth on her heels while she waited for Shay to answer. She was about to ring it again when Shay opened the door. "CeCe, what are you doing here? Is something wrong?"
CeCe took in her friend's nightgown, bare feet, and barely opened eyes and realized that she'd been in bed—asleep. A close inspection of Shay's eyes revealed no trace of tears. Maybe she doesn't know that Marvin is gone, CeCe thought. "I have something to tell you, Shay. I think we'd better sit down."
Shay stepped back and let CeCe in the house. "Let's go to the kitchen. We're probably going to need some coffee," Shay said.
CeCe followed her friend, praying for the wisdom to break the news in the best way. Once Shay had put on the coffee and they were both seated at the Formica-topped kitchen table, CeCe took her friend's hand. "Marvin arrived at Nate's this morning with his suitcase."
Shay looked down at her nails. "You know," she said when she looked back up at CeCe, "I really should get my nails done. I've let them go in the last year or so. Just as I've let a lot of things go."
CeCe wondered if her friend was in shock. "Did you hear what I said, Shay? Marvin has moved into Nate's."
"I heard you, CeCe. I knew Marvin was gone. I just couldn't decide if he went to Nate's or to Stuart's. I should have guessed Nate's since you're here." She turned to the coffee. "I think it's ready. Do you want cream, sugar, or both?"
CeCe reached across the table and placed her hand on her friend's arm to keep her seated. "Shay, you're scaring me. Don't you care that Marvin's gone?"
Shay pulled her arm away. She got up and took cups from the cabinet. Then she turned back to CeCe. "Of course I care," she said, her voice wavering. "I care more than you'll ever know, but leaving was Marvin's decision. I can't live his life for him, and I can't live my life through him." She turned back to the coffee. "I'll have this ready in a minute."
CeCe wanted to weep for her friend, but she couldn't because Shay wouldn't allow herself to weep. She watched as Shay poured the coffee as if this were an ordinary day. When she gave CeCe her cup, she said, "I bet Nate was pretty surprised to see Marvin on his doorstep, wasn't he? I imagine that was a funny scene."
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