Bittersweet Memories

by Cecelia Dowdy

“Hi there.”

  She jumped. “Oh, Keith. You scared me.” She smiled. “What’s up?”

  He shrugged, still looking at her. Her hair was swept into a bun, a few curls dangling at the side. “You’re off today, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am. Why?”

  He relaxed against the oak tree. “If you don’t have any plans, I was wondering if you wanted to take a ride with me today.”

  “A ride?”

  “Yeah, remember I told you that I’m researching different divinity schools?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, I’m visiting Washington Bible College in Lanham. They’re having an open house today. Do you want to come?”

  “You really want me to?”

  “Yes, if you’re not busy. I know it’s last minute and all, but it didn’t occur to me to ask you to come until this morning.”

  “What time are you leaving?”

  “In an hour or so. I know that’s early, but I wanted to get a jump on rush-hour traffic. I was going to stop and have breakfast on the way. My treat. So—you interested?”

  She grinned. “Yes, I’d like that. I promise I’ll be ready in about an hour.”

  He watched her as she headed back inside; then he returned to his own house, guzzled his coffee, and changed into slacks and a collared shirt. An hour later, Karen met him in his driveway. The heavenly scent of her perfume enticed him as he opened the car door for her. After she stepped into the vehicle, he walked around to his side, got behind the wheel, and turned the radio to his favorite gospel station.

  They were silent for part of the way before Karen spoke. “I saw Melanie yesterday.”

  “Really? I heard she’s been worshipping at her fiancé’s church lately. How is she?”

  “She came into the shop, asking me to give her a haircut.”

  Keith frowned. “Do you mean a short haircut?”

  “Yes, and you know how long her hair is. It’s so pretty, but I cut it like she wanted me to.”

  Keith shrugged. “Maybe she just needed a change.”

  “Well, after I cut her hair, she started crying, like she really hadn’t wanted me to do it.”

  “That’s strange.”

  “Yes. She said she messed up. Then she paid her bill and left the shop.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Melanie. She’s a tough woman who knows her own mind. I can’t imagine her getting her hair cut like that unless she really wanted to. I think I’ll call her soon to make sure she’s okay.”

  “I still think she has feelings for you, Keith.”

  He huffed, wondering why Karen continued to think that Melanie had a crush on him. “You know that she’s engaged. What more do you want me to say?”

  Karen shrugged. “I saw the way she looks at you the few times she’s shown up for Devo. Even though she’s engaged, I don’t think her feelings for you ever disappeared. . . . And I’ve also noticed that you’re very protective of her.”

  “Karen, I already explained that Melanie is almost like a sister to me. There’s nothing romantic between us.”

  Karen changed the subject. “Have you heard from your brother?”

  He stopped at a light. “I went to see him the day after Amanda’s birthday party.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Why didn’t you mention it to me? How is he doing?”

  “Horrible. We talked a little bit, but I don’t think he was very glad to see me.”

  “So does this mean you’re going to start talking to him again?”

  “He told me that I could call him, but things are still strained between us. And I think they’ll stay that way until I figure out why my father put me in charge of the inheritance.”

  The traffic slowed, and Keith glanced at the clock on his dashboard.

  “Do you have to be there at a certain time?” asked Karen.

  He nodded. “I’m supposed to meet the dean for an hour.” He looked at the cars packed on the highway. He turned the radio to a traffic station and discovered there had been an accident farther ahead. “I think I’ll be able to make it in time, but we won’t be able to stop for breakfast.”

  The traffic continued to creep along, and almost an hour later, they were going at a steady pace. Once they reached Lanham, Keith checked the time. “I have to meet the dean in a half hour.” He drove past the entrance to Washington Bible College. The sign whizzed by, and seconds later he pulled into a 7-Eleven. “I’m going to run in here and get us something to eat.”

  He entered the store and soon returned with two sweet rolls and two containers of juice. Before they ate, he pulled out of the parking lot of the 7-Eleven and drove across the street to the college. He pulled out a map and found his way to the parking lot outside the dean’s office, where they feasted on the rolls and juice.

  After finishing her breakfast and placing her trash into a bag, Karen said, “If you’re interviewing with the dean, I’m not sure you’ll want me tagging along.”

  “I know what you mean. I guess ‘interview’ is kind of a strong word. It’s really just a meeting to find out more about the school.” He pulled a piece of paper out of his glove compartment. “I even have a list of questions that I need to ask him. . . . I don’t think it would be a problem if you come with me.”

  She shook her head. “That’s okay.” She glanced around the campus. “This is a small school.”

  Keith chuckled. “Yeah, I know. I’m not even sure if I’m going to enroll here. It’s just one of many schools I’m checking out. Then I’ll pray about it and see what God wants me to do.”

  A middle-aged man glanced at their car before strolling into the building.

  “That’s the dean,” commented Keith.

  “How do you know?”

  “I saw his picture on the Web site.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m supposed to meet with him in five minutes, so I’m going to head inside.” He looked at her, feeling funny about leaving her sitting in the car. “I don’t mind if you come inside with me.”

  She shook her head. “That’s okay. Do you know how long you’ll be?”

  “They said the whole process should only take about an hour. He said it depended on how many questions I have.”

  She shrugged. “Take your time. I think I’ll just walk around the campus and browse around the bookstore. I’ll be back here in an hour. If you’re not back, I’ll wait.”

  “Okay.” He handed her the car keys.

  After his meeting with the dean was over and he’d had a tour around the campus, he returned to the car an hour and a half later and found Karen waiting. She was reading a novel, and she looked so pretty he could have just stared at her for hours.

  She looked up and he smiled, trying to get his suddenly pounding heart to slow down. He approached the car and entered the vehicle. “What are you reading?”

  She lifted the book for him to see. “It’s a Christian romance novel.”

  “Is it a good story?”

  She shrugged. “Pretty good.”

  He drove around the campus, showing her the different buildings and telling her about the tour he’d taken. When he was finished, he exited the campus.

  “Where are we going now?” asked Karen.

  “I just want to drive around the area and get a feel for it.” Cruising through New Carrollton, he showed Karen where the metro station was. He then explored nearby College Park and Greenbelt and drove through the University of Maryland. Several minutes later, he stopped at a quaint sandwich shop in the heart of town.

  “Are we eating lunch here? I’m starved.” Karen’s stomach rumbled.

  Keith chuckled. “I’ve already ordered our lunch.”

  Her pretty brown eyes widened. “You have?”

  He smiled, touching her shoulder. “Yeah, I ordered it to go right after my meeting with the dean. There’s a park nearby and we can eat there. Stay right here. I’ll be back in a second.” He entered the establishment and soon afterward returned to the car with two bags of food.

 
Several minutes later, they entered Greenbelt Park. He parked in the lot, grabbed the two bags of food, and strolled to Karen’s side of the car. He opened her door for her, taking her hand as she exited the vehicle. He nodded toward one of the picnic tables beneath the huge trees. “Let’s sit over there.”

  He held her hand as they sat at the table. The green leaves on the trees created an umbrella of shade, and the warm breeze blew, kissing their skin.

  “It sure feels nice out here,” commented Karen. A few signs were posted, advertising the upcoming Fourth of July fireworks in Greenbelt.

  It was a perfect day. It wasn’t too hot or too cold, and he was having a great time just being alone with Karen. He released her hand and opened the bags of food, pleased to see the restaurant had followed his instructions. The cold cut sandwiches were made on fresh sourdough bread and had been packaged with potato chips, sodas, and two thick slabs of chocolate cake.

  Keith again took Karen’s small hand and bowed his head. “Lord, thank You for this beautiful day and for providing us with this wonderful meal.” He paused, squeezing her fingers. “And, Lord, thank You for allowing me to spend the day with my friend Karen. Amen.”

  Karen squeezed his hand. “Amen.”

  After they’d eaten their tasty meal, Karen glanced around the park. “I’m going over there to the restroom. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  “Take your time,” he said, gathering their trash and placing it into the bin.

  Once Karen was out of sight, Keith plopped back down at the picnic table. He sighed before closing his eyes, whispering another prayer. “Lord, I’m falling for Karen and I don’t know what to do about it. I’m not sure if I should tell her how I feel.” He paused for a few seconds. “Please guide me in saying the right words to her, Lord. Amen.”

  He opened his eyes, delighting in the warm weather. Minutes later, Karen approached, giving him a small smile.

  “Are you okay?” she asked.

  His heart nearly flopped when he heard the note of concern in her pretty voice. “Why do you ask?”

  She shrugged. “You look a little worried.”

  When she sat beside him, he smiled, taking her small hand into his. He struggled with trying to find the right words to tell her his feelings, but decided he would wait until they returned to his house. “I’m fine. Just relaxing.”

  “Are you ready to go home?” she asked.

  If it were up to him, he’d sit out here with Karen all day. He checked his watch. “Not really. Actually, I’ve got another surprise. Remember I told you about my old college roommate, Steve?”

  “Yes?”

  “Well, he lives around here. I told him I’d stop by and visit today. We don’t have to stay for long.”

  ❧

  When Keith pulled into Steve’s driveway, a man rushed out to the car. “Keith! What’s up, man?”

  Keith laughed, exiting the car. The men shared a brief hug and a hearty handshake. “Nothing much. Just came from checking out a Bible college.”

  Steve glanced inside the car, seeing Karen for the first time. “You brought somebody with you?”

  Karen stepped out of the vehicle, amused by Steve’s jovial nature. “I’m Karen.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Karen.” Steve squeezed her hand before pulling her into a brief hug. He gazed at her with his warm brown eyes. “Keith! She’s beautiful.” Steve gave Karen a playful wink. “Where in the world have you been hiding her?”

  A short woman, her belly swollen with child, stepped through the front door. “Steve, aren’t you going to invite your friends inside?” Exasperation tinged her voice, but her smile was bright like the sun.

  The group strolled into the house. Keith pulled the pregnant woman into a hug. “You look like you’re about to deliver, Dianne!” The young woman laughed, swatting Keith on the arm.

  After the women were introduced, Keith sat in the living room with Steve, telling him about his divinity school visit.

  While the men were engrossed in conversation, Dianne whisked Karen into the kitchen. “Please, Karen, have a seat. Would you like anything to eat or drink?”

  “We just ate lunch, so I’m stuffed, but thanks for asking.” Karen glanced at Dianne’s stomach. “When are you due?”

  Dianne chuckled. “Tomorrow.”

  Karen gasped. “No way! Really?”

  “Yeah, really!”

  Mesmerized, Karen watched Dianne’s stomach move. “Can I touch?”

  “Sure!” Dianne took Karen’s hand, placing it over her belly.

  Karen laughed, feeling a solid kick to her palm. “That was hard.”

  “Yeah, he’s a strong little guy.” She poured a glass of milk then joined Karen at the table. “So do you have any children, Karen?”

  “No, but I’d like to someday, if I ever find the right person to settle down with.” She toyed with the strap of her purse. “Monica, one of my best friends, just had a baby. I haven’t had a chance to visit her in Ocean City since the baby was born, but I can’t wait to see her and her new little girl.”

  The two women sat in silence for a few minutes before Dianne spoke. “So you’re Keith’s next-door neighbor?”

  Karen nodded. “That’s right. A few months ago, I moved from Ocean City back home to my mother’s house in Annapolis, right next door to Keith. He and my mother are friends and worship at the same church.”

  “It appears you and Keith became friends, too.”

  “Yes, we work together in the youth ministry at the church.”

  Dianne sipped her milk. “Well, you can be honest with me. I know that the two of you are more than just friends.”

  Karen frowned. “Not really.”

  “You don’t like him?”

  Karen suddenly felt like she was fourteen again, gossiping at a slumber party with a girlfriend. She glanced toward the living room, not wanting the men to overhear.

  Dianne waved toward the other room. “They’re not paying us any attention. When Steve and Keith get together, they talk forever.”

  “What do they talk about?”

  “Everything! The Bible, churches, sports, problems, you name it. I’ll bet Keith said you guys weren’t going to stay long, didn’t he?”

  Surprised, Karen responded, “Yes, he did.”

  “Well, if I know those two, you’ll be fortunate if you get home before ten o’clock.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope.” She took another sip of milk. “So do you like Keith?”

  Chuckling, Karen evaded answering by asking a question of her own. “How old are you, Dianne?”

  “I’m twenty-three. Steve’s thirty, but our age difference doesn’t bother me.”

  “Is this your first child?”

  “Yes, and I’m so excited!” She finished her drink, placing the glass into the sink. “Would you like to see our nursery?”

  “Sure.”

  Dianne chatted all the way up the stairs. She then opened the door, and a profusion of blue, green, and yellow surrounded the space, enveloping the room with warmth. “Look at this!” Dianne said, grinning as she stepped over to the cherrywood crib, then turned the knob on a mobile. Soon a lullaby filled the room, and animals twirled in a circle, in tune with the music.

  “It’s lovely, Dianne.”

  “Thanks! We’re having a boy, but I didn’t want the room to be all blue. That’s why I made it blue, green, and yellow.”

  Karen continued to relish the nursery, admiring the animals and cartoon characters stenciled on the wall.

  Dianne interrupted her thoughts. “So what’s up with you and Keith Baxter?”

  Karen laughed, immediately liking Dianne’s easygoing personality, in spite of her persistent curiosity. “I told you, we’re friends.”

  “Just friends?”

  “Yes, we’re just friends.”

  “Don’t you like him?”

  “He’s nice,” Karen admitted.

  “Don’t you think he’s cute?”
>
  “Dianne!”

  “Well, he is! Don’t get me wrong, Steve is my number one man, but at my wedding. . .”

  When Dianne didn’t continue, Karen’s own curiosity was aroused. “What about your wedding?”

  “Keith was Steve’s best man at our wedding two and a half years ago. Every unmarried woman in my bridal party wanted his phone number. Keith got hit on so many times that I felt sorry for him.” The mobile stopped, so Dianne turned the knob again, continuing to speak. “The whole time I’ve known Keith, he’s never brought anybody over to meet us. He always comes alone and never mentions that he’s dating anybody. Do you know if he’s still having issues with his brother?”

  Karen nodded. “They still have some things unresolved. Keith did go to visit Kyle recently, so at least they’re speaking a little bit.”

  Dianne looked away. “That’s so sad. I wish they would just make up. Steve told me that Keith’s rift with his brother really breaks his heart.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  She beckoned Karen out of the room. “Come on. I want to show you our wedding album. You can see what Keith looks like in a tux!”

  Karen smiled as she followed the waddling woman to a room down the hall. After they’d gone through the wedding album, Dianne shared photos of her family, telling funny stories about things that had happened when she was a little girl. One childhood anecdote caused Karen to laugh so hard that tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “Dianne, what in the world are you women doing up here? You sound like you’re having too good of a time,” commented Steve.

  Keith entered behind his friend. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laugh so hard, Karen.”

  “What are you two talking about?” asked Steve.

  Dianne raised her eyebrows. “Just a little girl talk. I’ll bet the only reason you guys came up here is because you’re hungry.”

  Karen glanced at her watch, shocked that so much time had passed. Her stomach rumbled with hunger, reminding her that it had been hours since they’d eaten lunch.

  Steve playfully hugged his wife. “I’m ready for some grub!”

  The foursome climbed down the stairs and entered the kitchen. Dianne opened the freezer and pulled out a package of frozen hamburger patties. “We were going to have hamburgers and chips for dinner. These patties will cook up in a few minutes on our electric grill.”