A Baby for Christmas (Love at The Crossroads)

by Simmons, Pat

  “We agreed a long time ago that we’d never let a man come between us.” Candace’s eyes watered as she shot her an accusatory glance.

  Childhood foolish promises. Solae thought, but wouldn’t dare say. Leading the sisters-in-law out of J. Crew, Solae flopped on one of several vacant seats in the lounge area. Candace and Julia dittoed her moves.

  “Candy, we’re still best friends; we still love each other like sisters. That hasn’t changed. I need you to be happy for me. I bounced back fairly quickly after the hysterectomy. I recovered after two failed relationships. I’m on the mend after this third one. I’ve put too much focus on relationships.” She thought about Desiree. “Happiness isn’t always in marriage.”

  The two Mrs. Kavanaughs exchanged shocked expressions. It was priceless.

  Solae laughed. Gathering her bags, she stood. “I’m not saying marriage is out of the picture for me, but whatever state I’m in, I’m going to be content.” She quoted Philippians 4:11.

  “Don’t go Bible Bee on me. The Word also says Dave never saw the righteous forsaken—Old Testament. ‘I’ll never leave you nor forsake you’—New Testament. You weren’t looking for it the day you met Hershel,” Candace argued.

  “And I’m not looking for it in the future. If God sends a special someone, I’ll be forever grateful. But I can also direct my love somewhere else like children. I’ll update my application for adoption and after I finish my Master’s program, I might apply and train to become a foster parent.”

  She thought about the teenager in Florida who stood in front of a congregation and basically pleaded with someone to adopt him. When the story aired, more than ten thousand people had inquired about his status. It would be a perfect combination. She had loved to give and children in the system needed love. Solae could identify with fifteen-year-old Davion Only. Before she met Hershel, she felt like holding up a sign that read “I can’t have children, but I want to be loved, too.”

  Candace got on her feet, followed by Julia, who suggested they lunch at California Kitchen. “Okay, here is my last two cents, sis. I admire you—always have—and your faith in God. You’re the epitome of a strong Black woman. I just feel in my heart that God has a special blessing for you. I thought it was Hershel, but whatever man can make you happy, then I’m happy, too.”

  “I receive that.” Solae sniffed and hugged her childhood friend.

  “And I receive that for you, too. Where’s my hug?” Julia nudged her playfully.

  “Come on, Kavanaugh wives. Let’s celebrate my blessing over a slice of pizza.”

  ***

  The weeks faded quickly until Solae ran out of time. Kendall Printing hosted a farewell party of sorts, considering she would no longer work out of the office, but from a remote location. For the first time, she noticed the male coworkers who had been trying to get her attention for years. Missed opportunities worked two ways—hers and theirs.

  “I never thought when I gave up being a virtual assistant for Kendall Printing that you would desert me and become one yourself.” Candace shook her head in disbelief, then put up a brave face.

  Solae wasn’t fooled. She knew Candace was hurting because so was she. But life went on.

  It also didn’t help that Hershel began to send her text messages:I love you. My heart will follow you. I want to marry you; or I hurt myself, hurting you. Of course, she read each one of them—all one hundred and thirteen. She chuckled, flattered, but she never responded.

  Solae had never re-entered a relationship, so she didn’t know the protocol. She had to find her own source of happiness.

  Her phone rang as one of her male admirers was about to swallow her up in a hug. “Hold on, Greg.” She gave him an apologetic smile as she answered. “Solae Wyatt-Palmer.”

  “Ah, you have…ah deliveries in the lobby,” the receptionist stumbled through her message.

  “Deliveries? Okay. I’m on my way.” Solae frowned, then turned around and gave Greg a church hug and escaped anything closer. In the lobby, Solae almost stumbled. Hershel, and what appeared to be his crew from the firehouse, were lined up, each holding bouquets as if they were bridesmaids. Solae giggled at their silliness.

  As her eyes catalogued the scene, Hershel seemed to approach her in slow motion, carrying the largest arrangement. Solae didn’t move, breathe, or blink. When he was within inches in front of her, she wanted to fall into his arms and ban the hurt and rejection, but she didn’t.

  “You know I love you. You also know I’m an idiot…” He smirked, which caused her to giggle. “Marry me, Solae.”

  Before she could open her mouth, her phone rang, not only jolting her from her chair but what apparently was a daydream. Disoriented, she glanced around. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. She answered and an eerie feeling came over her as the receptionist advised her that she had a delivery up front. Was she reliving a scene from the popular movie Ground Hog Day? “O-okay. I’ll be right there.”

  She steadied her legs as she rounded the corner and walked into the lobby, expecting to see what she’d just imagined—but it was empty, except for a lone, tall, and handsome man that stood from his chair to greet her. “Hi.”

  “I thought about having them delivered, but decided it would be a good excuse to see you.” He glanced at the receptionist who suddenly appeared to be busy.

  Guilt was written all over Adele’s face when she blushed. “Sorry, Solae, I think it’s romantic.”

  Hershel linked his fingers through hers and guided her outside for privacy. “You look beautiful and you smell good, too.”

  Solae had to close her eyes so her mind could record those words for when she needed to retrieve them at will. Opening her eyes, she smiled. “Are you sure it’s not the flowers?”

  “Woman, you can walk in a room and I would know that you’re there.” He handed them to her. “I love you, Solae, and no other woman could replace you in my life. No other woman,” he emphasized. “I realize a proposal from me now doesn’t mean much…”

  I definitely wouldn’t say that!

  “Just know there is a ring in my pocket with your name on it and whenever you’re ready for me to slip it on, call.” After brushing a kiss on her cheek, Hershel walked away. His swagger stole the attention of two of her female coworkers coming in the door.

  Talk about leaving a cliffhanger, Solae turned on her heel to go back inside, sniffing the flowers. She liked her daydream version better. At least Hershel asked her to marry him.

  The night before Solae was about to “drive off into the sunset” she invited Candace for an impromptu pajama party like they used to have as little girls, just the two of them. It would be their last special time together for who knew how long.

  With her house under contract and most of her things either boxed up for her to take or stored at her parents’ house, they had their sleeping bags, Imo’s pizza—a St. Louis favorite—and three movie rentals.

  “You’ll call me every week, right?”

  “You sound like Mrs. Wyatt-Palmer.” Solae’s mother had made the request countless times.

  “Seriously,” Candace shoved aside the microwave popcorn and muted the movie they were watching. “We’ve had each other’s back since I can remember. I’m sorry things didn’t work between you and Hershel—but I know prayer changes things. Please know that I’ll still honor the confidentiality clause in our relationship. Whatever you tell me in confidence, I won’t say a word, not even to my wonderful husband.” Candace winked and Solae laughed. “But brothers have some kind of pact thing too, but it’s your turn to be happy. If you get homesick in Chi-town, Lindsay and I’ll be on the next Amtrak there.”

  Solae didn’t doubt it as she dabbed her eyes. Candace was a local commute driver. If a destination entailed crossing state lines, Candace would travel by rail or air. “I know you will, especially since I used to do all the long distance driving.”

  “Hey, I was the GPS before there was one, but please keep me in the loop with whatever i
s going on.”

  “I will.” Solae hesitated to verbalize her request.

  “What?”

  Twisting her mouth, Solae shrugged, then swallowed. “I want to hear everything about what’s going on with you, Royce, and my god-baby. I don’t want to know if Hershel decides to date again or he gets remarried…”

  Candace released a burst of laughter. “Trust me. As long as you’re alive, Hershel has hope that you and he will get back together.”

  “I’ve never done the break-up-to-make-up relationship thing. I don’t know how to recapture what was lost. The best I’m hoping for is recovery to find my own happiness elsewhere.”

  “You’ve never loved a man like Hershel before either.” Candace had the final word before picking up the remote and unmuting the movie.

  Chapter 14

  Hershel was glad he was at work the day Solae was scheduled to leave town, although he could have done without the blaze his crew was battling. If he focused on the safety of others, he wouldn’t think about his mistakes.

  When they arrived on the scene ten minutes later, it was pure mayhem. It appeared there was more media than fire apparatus. It was a three-story apartment building fire with unknown persons trapped.

  “Captain Kavanaugh, we need your ladder,” a colleague, part of Engine House 10 rescue squad, requested.

  “Done.” He motioned Felix to position the truck to the side of the building.

  Royce and another crew member had axles in hand and were ready to follow orders.

  At least two other fire companies assisted, and as residents screamed that more loved ones were trapped, more ambulances were requested. With his oxygen mask on, Royce went inside. “See anything, Kavanaugh?” Hershel radioed when it was taking his brother too long to communicate.”

  “Not yet.”

  The more the crew fought the fire, the more stubborn it became as if an accelerant was fueling the flames. Soon, one side of the house began to collapse.

  “Pull back. Evacuate the building. All companies evacuate the building. Kavanaugh, evacuate!” Hershel repeated to the central dispatcher to send out the warning tone. Then one wall crumbled as if someone had kicked it over.

  Jesus, please save life and property and my brother. Then between the darkness, Royce emerged, carrying a child. The mother was overcome with emotion as EMS took over and immediately performed CPR.

  Hershel exhaled, grateful that his brother was safe, but depending on how much smoke the child inhaled, the news might not be good.

  Lord Jesus, we are Your servants. We know life and death are in Your hands, but I’m asking You to have mercy on this child and comfort the mother. Lord, I’m asking for Your mercy, grace, and perfect will be done in Jesus’ name again.

  “It’s faint,” a paramedic said in passing to another worker, “but we have a pulse.”

  “Thank you, Jesus,” Hershel said as Royce walked up to him.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

  Hershel nodded. “When I get home, even if my boys are asleep, I’m going to hug and kiss them.”

  “Yep, I’m going home and hug and kiss my wife and daughter.”

  Royce also said the same thing last year on Thanksgiving at Trent’s house when they thought about proposing to Candace and Solae. While his brother made good, Hershel had backed out to his regret.

  It took more than two hours to clear the scene because of hot spots, but the good news was all residents were accounted for, including a few pets.

  By the time Hershel and his crew made it back to their engine house, he was given an update that four victims were in critical condition, including the child, and two were in serious condition.

  The next morning before the next shift change, he learned three of the critical victims had passed away, but the child continued to fight for his life. Why God? Why did any of them have to perish?

  I will have mercy on who I will have mercy, God spoke Roman 9:18.

  Hershel felt truly chastened as he got in his car to drive away from the station. When it was all said and done, he had prayed for the child and God had answered by sparing the boy’s life. One thing was for sure, Hershel’s prayer life suffered when he and Solae broke up. He had to get back on track.

  Once he arrived home, he hugged Harrison and Brandon as he promised. Before he climbed under the covers, he opened the box that contained Solae’s engagement ring. “Jesus, I need her. She completes me…”

  What began as a short prayer had Hershel on his knees, repenting, praising, and petitioning God for changes in his life and attitude, and thanking the Lord for what he already had and believing Him for those things he wanted—Solae.

  Chapter 15

  Solae strolled down Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. The bustle of pedestrians and motorists gave a New York feel to the Midwest. While the weather was still comfortable, she tried to explore as many landmarks and sites as she could in between her studies.

  She was on her way back to her tiny apartment when her phone alerted her to a FaceTime call. Hershel’s and the boys’ faces filled her screen.

  “Hi.” Solae smiled.

  “Hi, Miss Sollie.” Childish grins, frantic waves, and one pair of smoldering eyes greeted her. Solae laughed, then blushed.

  “Hi, boys.”

  As they clamored for her attention, Hershel’s eyes seemed to dance with merriment. What was he up to? she wondered.

  “When are you coming home?” Harrison whined.

  “Miss Sollie, I lost a tooth.” Brandon pointed to the big gap in his mouth.

  Giggling, Solae didn’t realize how much she missed them.

  “What are you doing, Miss Sollie?” Brandon asked, so Solae turned the phone around to the display window of The American Girl Store.

  “I don’t like dolls,” Brandon complained.

  She faced the phone again. “The LEGO Store is upstairs. I’ll send you something.”

  “Yay,” the brothers said in a sing-song manner.

  Hershel cleared his voice. “Okay, let me talk to Miss Solae, okay?”

  Bobbing their heads, they waved again. “I love you, Miss Sollie!” Harrison said first, then Brandon.

  “I love you, too!”

  “What about me?” Hershel asked. There was just enough of Hershel’s mouth, eyes, and nose for Solae to remember…

  She stalled for a response.

  “You didn’t have to do that. I’ll send you money.”

  “Then it wouldn’t be a gift, Captain Kavanaugh.” She lifted a brow in a challenge.

  “I love you, too,” he said, even though she didn’t answer him.

  “I know that.” Solae looked away, wishing they weren’t still on FaceTime. How could Hershel be so in tune with her and not know she wanted to be his wife? Oh, well, that was old news.

  “I didn’t put them up to that, you know. They missed you as much as I do. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “You know I don’t.” Solae stepped out of the path of no-nonsense walkers before she got jostled.

  “How have you been?”

  “Good, adjusting to life as a college student, but I have no regrets about the move.”

  “If you’re really happy, then I’m happy. I miss you and I love you, but I want you to be happy.”

  How many times had she said those same words to Candace, and now to hear Hershel say them to her made her heart melt. She was speechless.

  “Do you need anything: money, company, company?” He grinned and wiggled his brow.

  Shaking her head, Solae couldn’t keep from smiling. “Didn’t I move away from you?”

  Hershel grunted. “You tried.” Frowning, he looked away. “But I’m never far away.”

  “What’s going on?” Something had him flustered. “Hershel?”

  “Missing what I had. Remembering when I had bad nights on my shifts and I knew you were listening to those scanners and praying. I miss that, especially one night, we were on the scene of a four alarm fire…”
/>
  By the time he told her about the little boy, Solae was sniffing. “Is he still alive?”

  “He died a few days ago.” He gritted his teeth. “But that’s my world—life and death.”

  “I’m so sorry. I’ll be praying for his family.”

  “Thanks for listening. I know sharing that with you doesn’t change things, but I knew you would understand how I feel.”

  “I do. Kiss and hug the boys for me real tight. I’m going to go in the store and get Lindsay, Brandon, and Harrison something and mail it.”

  “Okay. Bye, babe.”

  They both seemed cautious to push the END on the screen and lose their connection. Hershel winked then he was gone. It seemed impossible that she once doubted that he loved her enough to have her as his wife.

  Opening the door to the American Girl Store, Solae strolled through on a mission to shop with a new attitude. More than three hundred miles away, and Solae could feel Hershel’s love as if he was standing next to her. But she had to finish what she started, her Master’s degree.

  Chapter 16

  Christmas had come two months early to the Kavanaugh house when Solae’s package arrived. It had been a while since Hershel had seen his boys so animated about the FedEx man.

  Their excitement made him giddy as he helped them open the big box that contained two medium-sized boxes. When the boys saw their names neatly written on top, they grabbed for their gifts.

  “Dad, there’s a card with your name on it,” Brandon said as he began to rip the gift paper off his box.

  Hershel lifted it out of the bottom. He was about to open it then decided to wait and enjoy the happiness on his children’s faces. As soon as the seal was broken, Hershel knew Solae had gone overboard.

  Brandon read each word carefully on his card. “Happy Birthday. Sorry I missed your party. Love, Miss Solae.” His son grinned so wide that Hershel could have counted each tooth.

  “Mine, Daddy. Read mine.” Harrison handed him the card and jumped in place impatiently. “Hurry.”