“Are you ready?” she asked.
I’ll never be ready to take you to see another man. Brushing that thought aside, he said, “Let me just get out of these work clothes and wash up a bit. Then we can get going. I’ll only be a minute.”
When they were finally settled into his car and had buckled their seat belts, he pulled out of his driveway. Once on the highway, he worked up the nerve to ask, “When we get to Ocean City, where do you want to head first—to see your friends. . .or Lionel?”
When his question was met with silence, he glanced at Karen and noticed she was fast asleep. The urge to kiss her cheek and cover her with a light blanket flowed through him, reminding him how his feelings for Karen had grown in such a short time.
Hours later, when they entered Ocean City, Karen sat up blinking, looking around. “I can’t believe I slept the whole way here.”
“You were tired. You needed it.” He pulled onto the main road. “Fortunately, you woke up just in time. From this point on, you’ll need to give me some directions. Where are we headed first?” He couldn’t bring himself to ask where the jail was located.
“I called Monica and Anna this morning. They said they would meet me over at Monica’s house.”
He swallowed, still wondering how this whole thing was going to play out. “Are you three going to visit for a while before you go. . .” He struggled to say the next words. “Before you go to see Lionel?”
“Oh no. After meeting at Monica’s, we’re going over to see Lionel right away. . . . Make a right here.”
He sighed, wincing as he turned.
She touched his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Keith. But this is something that I have to do.”
“I know.” He swallowed hard. “And if this is what you need to do, then so be it.”
Minutes later, they pulled into the driveway of a charming house up the street from the waterfront. A multitude of flowers bloomed in front of the massive porch, and sounds of a baby crying wafted through the open windows. Female voices followed by a deep male chuckle drifted into the yard, where white lawn furniture was arranged around the porch.
Karen rapped against the screen door a few times then opened the door. “Hey, guys, I’m here.”
A tall pretty woman stood, patting the back of the infant in her arms. The baby whimpered before she stopped crying completely. “Karen! I was so worried about you!”
Karen and the woman shared a one-armed hug. “You shouldn’t have been.”
A large woman with long, cornrowed plaits stood. “Well, somebody needs to! I think your going to see Lionel is a cuckoo idea!”
Keith decided he liked this woman. Maybe I can convince her to talk some sense into Karen.
The other male in the room stood, speaking to the three women. “Y’all need to leave Karen alone. She’s only doing what she feels she needs to do.”
“Thanks, John,” Karen commented.
The tall man approached Keith, offering his hand. “I’m John French.”
Keith shook his hand. “I’m Keith Baxter.”
Karen gasped, looking at Keith with her pretty eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve got so much on my mind that I forgot to introduce you. Keith, this is Monica and her husband, John, and this is Anna. And this little one is John and Monica’s baby girl, Mica.”
Keith shook hands with each adult, trying to ignore Anna’s and Monica’s curious stares. Feeling the need to explain his presence, he said, “Karen was tired this morning, so I told her I would drive her over here.”
“Hmm,” murmured Anna. “She was probably tired because she was tossing and turning all night, thinking about this trip.” The large woman shook her head, her plaits swinging with the movement. “I’m telling you, Karen, this whole visit is a big mistake. You need to put that no-good man out of your mind.”
Keith couldn’t help the next words that slipped from his mouth. “Amen to that.” He turned toward Karen. “Why don’t you listen to Anna?”
Karen gritted her teeth then said, “Keith, I already explained everything to you this morning.” She turned to Anna, looking her up and down as the large woman placed her hands on her ample hips. When Karen shrieked then hugged Anna, Keith wondered if she’d lost her mind.
“Anna, what a pretty engagement ring!”
Anna proudly modeled her left hand, showing the huge square-cut diamond ring on her finger. “Yes, Dean Love and I are getting married.”
“When did you get engaged?” Karen sat on the couch.
“A few weeks ago.”
Karen frowned. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure if this was news you wanted to hear since. . .well, since Lionel was missing and all. Didn’t want to make you feel bad since your engagement. . .ended on a bad note.”
“But this is good news. This is something I wanted to know.” After admiring the ring for a while, Karen took the baby from Monica. “Hi, Mica,” Karen said with a smile. “Oh, Monica, she’s so precious.”
Monica grinned. “Can you believe she’s already three and a half months old?”
Karen cooed and played with the infant until the child gurgled with laughter.
Keith relished watching Karen with the baby. “Do you like babies?” he asked.
Karen smiled and nodded before giving the baby back to Monica. Then, focusing on her best friends, she gestured toward the door. “Come on, let’s go.”
“Okay. I’ll drive.” Monica handed Mica off to her husband. “John, there’s three bottles of breast milk in the refrigerator. If that’s not enough, then there’s a can of formula on the counter. Do you want me to make a few bottles of formula in case you run out?”
John smiled at his wife. “No, I think I can handle mixing formula if I need to.”
“When you warm up her bottle, don’t forget to test it on your wrist before you feed her.” She looked at Karen. “I’m not sure how long we’ll be gone.”
“We shouldn’t even be going,” muttered Anna, lifting her large purse from the floor.
Karen glared at Anna. “I need some answers. And you’re my moral support. Can’t you understand that?”
The three women continued talking as they exited the house. Seconds later, Monica popped back into the living room. “John, the box of diapers in the nursery is almost empty. I already bought some more, and they’re still in the bag over there in the corner.” She gestured toward the back of the living room.
“Monica, go. Mica and I will be fine.”
She gave him a warm smile and kissed his cheek, then ran outside to join the other women.
Moments later, Keith sighed, watching the car disappear around the corner. “I almost feel like I made this trip for nothing.”
“You really didn’t want her to go, did you?”
“Of course not! That heel doesn’t deserve any visits from Karen after all he’s put her through.” He shook his head, watching as John placed Mica in an infant seat on the floor. She gurgled, clutching a yellow rattle. “I should’ve stayed home. When Karen saw her friends, it’s like I no longer existed.”
John shrugged. “I know how you feel. When the three of them get together, it’s almost like they’re in a world of their own. That’s just the way they are. They’ve been friends for such a long time, they’re more like sisters than friends.”
Keith huffed, still feeling dejected. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
John changed the subject. “Hungry?”
Keith shook his head. “As a matter of fact, I am. I had something at McDonald’s early this morning before I did a repair, but I haven’t had anything to eat since. I would’ve stopped on the drive down here, but Karen slept in the car the whole way.” He frowned. “Said she didn’t sleep much last night.”
John shrugged. “I’m not surprised. Did you want to go and get something?”
“Yeah.” He looked at Mica. “Won’t Monica object to your taking Mica out of the house? She seemed to be a little worried about leaving her alone with you.”
Minutes later, John had Mica strapped into the car seat and Keith was sitting in the front seat with John. They pulled out of the driveway and John started talking about his family. “My life has really changed since I got married, but in a good way.” Keith remained silent as John continued to speak. “Mica still gets up in the middle of the night to be fed at least two times. But according to the pediatrician, we can start giving her rice cereal within the next couple of weeks.”
Keith grunted. “I’d start giving her the cereal now. Maybe it’ll fill her up so she’s not waking you guys up hungry in the middle of the night.”
John chuckled. “That’s what I told Monica, and she had a fit! She said that as new parents, we need to do follow doctor’s orders.”
Keith shrugged. “I guess you need to do what you feel is best.”
John turned a corner. “You like seafood?”
“I love eating—and making—just about any kind of food. I do a lot of cooking in my spare time.”
They pulled into the parking lot of Phillips Seafood Restaurant. John took a little time to unhook Mica’s car seat, which doubled as a baby carrier. He then hoisted the diaper bag onto his shoulder, picked up the carrier, and locked the van before they walked into the restaurant. After they were seated, he placed Mica’s carrier between them. The brown-skinned baby looked at Keith, her mocha-colored eyes full of curiosity. Her full lips reminded him of a rosebud, and when she opened her mouth and smiled, drool spilled down her chin, prompting John to wipe it with a cloth.
The baby continued to smile at Keith, gripping a rattle. Keith, returning her grin, stroked her cheek. Her skin was soft like feathers. “She’s a cute little thing,” he commented.
“Thanks,” said John, opening his menu. “I think she resembles Monica, but Monica said she looks like me.” He shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out who she takes after when she grows up.”
“You don’t have any other kids?” asked Keith.
John shook his head. “No, this is our first.”
Their waitress arrived, and Keith opened his menu. “I haven’t even read the menu yet.”
John closed his. “I can tell you what’s good. Order the clam chowder and soft-shell crabs with potatoes and vegetables.”
Keith gave his menu back to the waitress. “I’ll have everything he just suggested.”
“Make that two,” John said to their server. Nodding, their waitress left, returning moments later with their drinks and a basket of bread and butter.
Keith’s stomach rumbled with hunger. “Do you mind if I pray before we eat?”
“Not at all. Go ahead.”
Keith bowed his head. “Lord, thank You for this day of life and for the food we’re about to eat. Also, Lord, I’d like to ask you to please watch over Mica, John, and Monica. Be with these new parents as they raise their first child.” He paused, gathering his thoughts. After a deep breath, he prayed, “And, Lord, please let your Holy Spirit be with my friend Karen. I’m sure you know this is a difficult day for her. May she truly feel Your strength and guidance today. Amen.”
“Amen,” John responded. He looked at Keith as if trying to figure him out. “Thanks for praying for Monica and me. Parenthood is really taking a toll on us. It’s not a bad toll, just different.”
“I can imagine. I hear that all the time.”
John buttered a piece of bread. “So a lot of your friends have kids?”
Keith shook his head, squeezing lemon juice into his water. He took a sip before responding. “I have one close friend who’s expecting his first. But I hear a lot of new parents from my church talk about how their lives have changed.”
“Do you and Karen worship at the same church? Is that how you two know each other?”
Keith’s heart skipped a beat, realizing that Karen had probably not even mentioned him to her friends. Maybe she has no feelings for me at all. Maybe she’s still in love with Lionel. Shaking off his thoughts, Keith finally responded to John’s question. “I’m Karen’s mother’s next-door neighbor. When I moved in, Karen’s mom, Doris, and I became friends and started attending the same church. She doesn’t drive, so sometimes I’d take her grocery shopping and back and forth to services. Then Karen moved in with her mom, and she and I became. . .acquainted. For a while now, she’s been helping me out with the youth ministry. I love working with teenagers, and I’d like to lead a church one day, Lord willing.”
Soon their food arrived. As they ate, Keith told John about the day he’d spent with Karen at the divinity school. “We had a great time together, but. . .well, I’m afraid she’s still in love with Lionel. Maybe after this visit, she’ll be able to get him out of her system.”
As they were finishing up, John finally spoke. “Wow, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Do you know where you want to go to school?”
“I’m still not sure. I’m researching colleges, trying to decide which is best for me. If I have to relocate, then I’ll do it. I’m hoping by the time I decide, I’ll know if there’s any chance between Karen and me. I wouldn’t be able to ask her to come with me if she still has feelings for Lionel.”
John sighed. “I was once in a similar situation, in more ways than one.”
“Really? How so?”
They were interrupted by the waitress bringing the bill. John pulled out his wallet.
Keith shook his head. “I’ve got it.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ve got it.”
After they agreed to split the bill, paid it, and were back in the car, John said, “I used to be an agnostic.”
Keith frowned. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“How did you hook up with Monica?”
“Monica has a blind nephew. She had to take care of him for a while. When he started having trouble in school, Monica brought him to me. I tutor blind children in my spare time. As soon as we met, Monica and I were attracted to each other, but we couldn’t date because of my agnostic beliefs.”
“Sounds rough.”
“It was. Keith, the most important day of my life was when I finally accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.” John turned off the street and pulled the car into his driveway.
“That’s an awesome testimony, John.”
John removed a sleeping Mica from her car seat and took her into the house. After the child was situated in her nursery, he returned to Keith. “After I got saved, I wanted to join a traveling ministry to speak to other agnostics around the world.” He shrugged. “I wanted to make up for lost time, but I finally saw that was a skewed way of thinking and that God was calling me to stay right here and minister to the kids on the college campus. . .and marry Monica.” He paused, joining Keith on the couch. “So I can understand your feeling called to serve God in ministry. And I also know what you’re going through as far as Lionel is concerned.”
Keith frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, two years before I met Monica, she was involved with a guy named Kevin. I think she was still in love with him when they called it quits. Kevin got engaged months after their breakup, and when I met Monica, he still worshipped at her church. He’d bring his wife and infant to the services.”
Keith shook his head. John’s situation certainly did mirror his own, and he had to wonder if the Lord had led him to John today. “So what did you do?”
“I confronted her about it. I think part of the problem was she never really had a conversation with Kevin about what had happened between them. He just broke up with her, and there wasn’t really any closure.” He glanced at the family photo gracin
g the wall. “As I think about it, Karen’s in the same situation. She was in love with Lionel, she switched churches—”
“She switched churches?” Karen had not told him that. He’d just assumed she’d met Lionel through her church home.
John nodded. “Yeah, Karen used to worship at Monica and Anna’s church. The three of them had gone there for years. That’s how they met, doing the soup kitchen together. But when Lionel came along, he insisted Karen worship with him at his large megachurch, especially since they’d gotten engaged and all, and Karen agreed.” John paused for a few seconds. “Anyway, since he disappeared, there was no way for Karen to have closure with Lionel. At least in Monica’s situation, Kevin was still here, although she was never engaged to him—unlike Karen, who thought she was going to be spending the rest of her life with Lionel. Then Karen found out Lionel was being accused of embezzlement and, on top of that, a womanizer. Man, desertion, embezzlement, and two-timing. Talk about a triple blow!” John shook his head. “That’s a lot for somebody to go through, to find out those things about your future mate, somebody you proclaim to love—and who proclaimed to love you. No wonder she wants to see Lionel. How else is she going to put it all behind her?”
Keith thought about John’s words. “I guess I can kind of understand why she’d do it, but it’s kind of scary in a way, too.”
“Scary how?” asked John.
“Well, I almost feel like she’ll see that dude and then she’ll find that she still has feelings for him. That in spite of the fact that he stole money and cheated on her, she’ll still want to get back with him and work things out, especially since they’re engaged and all. Then he’ll just end up hurting her again. That’s something I couldn’t bear to witness.”
“Man, you don’t know that’ll happen. We’ll just have to wait and see what God has in store. If you want my opinion, I honestly don’t think Karen will take Lionel back. She’s intelligent and has high self-esteem. I think she’ll see Lionel’s true colors and put the whole situation into perspective. That’ll help her bring closure to their relationship. Then, once Lionel is out of her system, she’ll be ready to move on.”
Bittersweet Memories Page 11
