She recalled Sunday night when Kevin came into her apartment. They spoke, and he put all his cards on the table for her. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she wiped them angrily as the memory played back in her mind.
Kevin was holding Paige, stroking her hair as her head laid on his chest. She looked up at him and said, “Why can’t we stay like this? The two of us together without the outsiders ruining everything?”
Kevin raised Paige up gently and responded. “Paige, outsiders are not ruining us; we are ruining us.”
Paige jumped to speak, but Kevin put his index to her lips and continued. “I love you, Paige, with all of my heart, but for us to be together, you have got to get your anger in check. I know my mother was wrong, and Ms. Carol was wrong, but you have got to learn how to respond in an appropriate manner. I am an Assistant D. A., and I will not have a girlfriend ruining my career because she cannot control her temper. I am willing to work with you in counseling. I will continue to go to Liberty Church if that will help us. This church thing is really working for the others. But what I will not tolerate is any more acts of violence from you, do you understand me?”
Paige was at a loss for words; she really could not answer him. She had been protecting herself all of her life. How else could she preserve her dignity when people crossed the line?
Kevin stood up breaking her trance and pulled her up too. He kissed her temple and said, “You don’t have to answer me tonight. Get some rest and call me when you are ready to move our relationship forward. Otherwise, I guess we are ruined, and I don’t want that but will accept it.”
Paige could not move as she accepted his lingering kiss and watched him stroll out of her apartment and possibly, out of her life.
Now, six days later, Paige sat ruining their girls’ day out with her bad attitude. All because Kevin remained true to his word, he did not call her all week, and she could not let go of her stubborn pride to reach out. She saw him on Wednesday when everyone went to Benjamin’s to celebrate the two engagements. Benjamin was doing well. He had no injuries from being hit with the skillet. She still wanted to knock Mrs. Carol on her behind for that one. That night gave Paige a dose of what it would be like without Kevin. He acted as if she was invisible. Kevin spoke to her saying hello, and then, later on, good-bye. She missed him sorely but did not know how to let go of her own stubborn will.
“Paige, are you coming with us?” Camille asked her, breaking her thoughts. “We have checked out, and now, Karen wants to go to Owen Brennan’s for an early dinner.”
Paige got up and walked to the girls. “I am sorry for my attitude, Karen and Mille. I have to go and think some things through. You both go on without me, and enjoy the rest of the day.” Paige walked off without allowing them to respond. She pulled out her phone, activated Siri, and said, “Call Kev’s mobile.”
“Hello.”
“Hi, Kevin, it’s Paige. Can I come meet you?”
“Sure, love, I’m at the office.”
Hope sprang in her heart as he called her love, she would not ruin them. “I am on my way.”
****
“Paul, I am sorry to hear Brian is going to have to do that much time. But man, the young lady he hit and left could have died.”
Frankie truly regretted Brian letting the alcohol, and whatever other substance he took that night, overtake him. Although his friend Paul called to update him on Brian’s case, Frankie was already aware of the ruling and subsequent sentence. He was there when Kevin revealed it to them at Benjamin’s house when they celebrated the engagements. The ladies came up with that idea of a double engagement party. It was nice. Everyone, including Frankie, was relieved that Brian was to serve five years. However, Paul was unaware of the connection he had with the victim through his now fiancée and baby daughter. Paul ended the conversation with Frankie stating he just wanted him to know. Frankie thanked him and disconnected.
Frankie took a seat on his sofa to watch some SEC Football. Alabama was playing Ole Miss, and he hated not being at The Grove for game day. However, he was expecting his bride-to-be to be back after shopping with the girls. He smiled thinking about the last week. Dawn and Autumn were ecstatic for him and Karen. They agreed to be in the wedding and were out with Nikki taking her to the Children’s Museum and lunch at her favorite restaurant. He thought about how God had given him a new life. It could have easily been him looking at a five-year bid. He could not have a job, a family, and friends because he was an alcoholic and drug abuser, But God! Frankie’s thoughts were interrupted by his mobile device buzzing. It was Shayla. He had not talked to her in a couple of weeks. He wondered if the girls had shared the news of his pending nuptials for the following Saturday. He gave Karen two weeks to make it happen, and he was serious. On the third ring, he answered bracing himself for the overdue round with Shayla Yvonne Jones.
“Hello.”
“Frankie, I am going to see you at church tomorrow, right?”
“And good morning to you, Ms. Jones, how are you?”
“Cut the crap, Frankie, and answer the question.”
“Shayla, I will be attending Liberty Fellowship tomorrow as I have become a member.”
“You have got to be kidding me! Frankie what about me and our daughters? We have been attending church together for years. You told me it was the least you could do for all the hell you took us through. Now, that doesn’t mean anything?”
“Shayla, of course, it means something. I am eternally grateful for our friendship. However, I have done all that I know to do to make amends for the hurt I caused you and our daughters. I will not feel guilty for moving on with Karen and the family we have created. They are my future.”
“Wow, so just forget about us?”
“Shayla, my girls are part of my future. They are in the wedding. At this very moment, they are out bonding with their little sister.”
“So, you just have everything, huh? You treat me miserably for years, then get yourself together and make a new family. One you didn’t know about for three years. Now, you do, and you just take my girls and everything away from me.”
“Shayla, you are talking nonsense. Dawn and Autumn are not being taken from you. They are adults and can share in both our worlds. What is wrong with you?”
“You, Frankie. You are what is wrong with me. I am still in love you. I want our family back. Nikki can be a part of our family. I will love her because she is a part of you. But I will not accept you leaving me, leaving us behind.”
“Shayla! There. Is. No. Us! Get yourself together! We have been divorced for six years. When I got out of rehab and was clean for a year, I asked if you wanted to try again. You told me no. Now, you bring this family crap to me. We are friends. I am in love with Karen, and we are getting married next Saturday.”
“Frankie, don’t you scream at me. You know why I couldn’t marry you again. But we made love whenever you wanted. That is all I had to give you then. I can give you more now. Please, let’s try. Karen is too young for you. It won’t work. What if she does drugs again? She will bring you down with her, and all your progress will be ruined.”
“Shayla, my sobriety is not in jeopardy with Karen. Now, I am done with this conversation. Please don’t look for me tomorrow or any other Sunday. I have moved on. I apologize for my having sex with you over the years. I see my actions led you to believe that I was not looking for more, and for the longest time I wasn’t. But now, I have more, and it is with Karen. I hope you can understand. Goodbye, Shayla.” Frankie swiped the phone to end the call. He said, “Lord, help her.” Then he picked up the remote and tuned into the game.
Shayla sat on the other side of the ended call crying and swearing at Frankie Lee Jones. She called Dawn and got her voicemail, then called Autumn who picked up. Shayla lit into the girl, calling her and her sister traitorous, ungrateful spawns. She vowed to make them all pay. She disconnected the call with Autumn and gathered herself to the point of psychotic calm as she began to plot to make sure Fran
kie and Karen’s marriage never happened. Frankie and their daughters would pay for this betrayal.
****
After leaving the restaurant on her drive to Benjamin’s, Camille could not believe what a coward she had been. She would not admit to herself that she did not bring up the possibility that she and Karen could be sisters out of fear. She rationalized with herself that she did not want to deflate Karen’s day any more than Paige had already. Karen was the happiest she had ever seen her. What would the knowledge of a shared father do to their bond? Would she be overjoyed that they were sisters? Would she blame her for not being able to get their dad to stick around? As Camille watched Karen take a phone call from Frankie’s twin daughters, and Nikki, Karen was glowing as Nikki expressed how much fun they had at the Children’s Museum. Camille resolved that she would wait until after their honeymoon to bring up this family dilemma to Karen. She also wanted to get Benjamin’s take on the situation. Camille was pulling up to Benjamin’s enormous home located on Southwind Golf Course to see her fiancé. She was just coming to terms that, in the next year, she would be somebody’s wife and could start working on becoming a mommy. God was indeed good to her despite all the hiccups that had been occurring. She used the garage door opener Ben gave her and drove into his three-car garage. She found Benjamin in his home study. When she knocked on the door, he immediately rose to greet her with a warm embrace, a kiss on the forehead, and a light kiss on the lips. Benjamin took her hands and led her to the love seat in his office while he pulled a chair to sit across from her.
“How did you enjoy your girls’ day out, sweetie?”
“It was great, well after we got Paige’s attitude in check. She was a royal pain with her pouting, but we handled it, and she apologized. We actually found Karen’s dress and ours. Only Karen and I went to lunch. Paige, I assume, went to patch things up with Kevin.”
Ben raised an eyebrow and gave an incredulous look. “Do you think that is wise?”
Camille shrugged. “I don’t know, Ben. They are a mess together, but Paige is a bigger mess without him. I am just praying that they both seek the Lord and try to find common ground whether it’s them being together or just being friends.”
“Yeah, you are right. I just don’t want anything bad happening.” Ben looked at Camille as she started rubbing her forehead and shaking her leg. He knew this was a nervous habit of hers.
“Babe, is Paige and Kevin’s relationship bothering you this much? You seem nervous.”
“No, it’s not their relationship that has me troubled.”
“Is it us? I know we have had some hard times lately, and Carol’s crazy attempt to knock me out did not help. But mom and I are going to get her the help she needs.”
It was Camille’s turn to give an incredulous look. “I can understand Mother Ellen helping her friend, but why are you involved? That lady could have killed you.”
“Because I owe it to Lauren, to make sure her mother heals.”
“What if she does not want to be healed? What if she just wants you to stay single, hurting, and mourning over Lauren with her for the rest of your life?”
“Camille, I have to try. Please don’t give me resistance on this. I have found my soul mate in you, and Carol’s only child can’t be replaced.”
“I understand that, but there are medical professionals and other members of the church that can assist her. Besides, if Paige did not stop her, I would have been next on her injury list. Paige also may lose Kevin because she snapped trying to defend me. All because Mrs. Carol lost her daughter and did not want you to move on.”
“Babe, I owe it to her, and I am going to help her.”
“Benjamin, she physically hurt you!”
“It doesn’t matter; I forgive her. I owe her this.”
“Fine. Then you pay your debts to your mother-in-law, and I will just go home and deal with my family issues on my own.”
“Camille, she is not my mother-in-law, but I did date her daughter for seven years. Please understand, and what family issues are you referring to, Paige and Kevin?”
“No, it’s not Paige or Kevin. Although, I am worried what a permanent break up will do to Paige. But, don’t you worry about my family issues. I came over to share them with you, but I see your dedication lies with your dead girlfriend and her crazed mother, so I will leave you to paying your debts to them.” Camille knew that was low. He had hurt her feelings, and she wanted to hurt his.
Ben jumped in shock at that statement. “Camille, how can you say that? I just want to make sure Carol is okay. I love you, and I am dedicated to you for the rest of my life.”
“Whatever, Ben. Call me when you have time to talk to your living fiancée. I will not live in Lauren’s shadow. Nor will I sit by while you babysit a grown woman who can’t understand that just because you love me. That. Is. A. Negative.” Camille grabbed her purse and headed for the garage. Ben ran after her.
“Camille, wait a minute. What’s going on? No one is more important than you. I just want to help Carol. But that does not change that I want to be here for you.”
“Ben, you can’t handle everything, and the fact that you have told me, ‘don’t give you resistance’ lets me know that I’m not first in your life, no matter what you say.” Camille jerked her arm away, got into her car, and backed up, letting the garage door up and then back down once she backed out. She turned her radio up loud and screamed, “Forget him!”
Benjamin pressed the garage door opener and ran down his driveway trying to stop her. Camille was gone. The taillights of her SUV were barely visible. This was not what he planned for this evening. He would have to rethink his involvement in Carol’s treatment. When he agreed to help his mother, he did not think it would be a risk to his relationship with Camille. Nothing—no one was worth Camille being angry with him. He grimaced at the thought of losing her. In a matter of months, she had captured his heart and mind. She was the answer to his prayers, and he could not mess this up. Clearly, she was dealing with something. But what family issues? Her only biological connection was Mr. James who was back in the Middle East. Ben pulled out his mobile device and called Karen.
****
Paige knocked on Kevin’s office door. Due to it being Saturday, the lobby area where his assistants worked was clear. She did not get a response, so she decided just to go in. He couldn’t be far. She had called ahead, and he knew she was on her way. As she entered his small but organized office, she shook her head at how everything was perfectly positioned and in the right place. His degrees, awards, newspaper articles, and magazine features were on one wall screaming how accomplished he was. He had two wall bookshelves with law books and other literature that Paige was sure he had read a time or two. His large desk was oak and had family pictures with his mom and dad. In the center of his desk was a notepad with an ink pen and his laptop. On the other side of his laptop was a picture of Paige and Kevin, she could not remember what function they were attending. The look in Kevin’s eyes was one of admiration and love. As Paige looked around his office, she began to think of how Kev liked attention to detail. How everything had a place and belonged in that place. She felt guilt overtake her gut and spread throughout her body. She could not continue to be this out of control and out of place obstacle in his neat world. How had he put up with her for three years? It was no longer any wonder to her, why she had not received the ring she found almost a year ago. She did not deserve it. She was out of place in his life. Paige turned to leave before Kevin came into his office. She needed more time to contemplate if she could truly be what Kevin needed. When she turned around, Kevin had entered the room behind her with McAlister’s bags, and sweet tea in his hands, her favorite. Kevin looked adorable in his khaki pants and white Ralph Lauren golf shirt with khaki Sperry shoes. How could she hold on to him?
Kevin tried to maintain his composure as he motioned for Paige to have a seat at the table in his office. After she’d called, he rushed out to get them lunch. He knew how m
uch Paige loved McAlister’s chicken tortilla soup, with a turkey club on a croissant, and sweet tea. He got her a chocolate chip cookie as well, although he knew she would nibble on it for hours because she would feel guilty but enjoy that sinful pleasure. Sinful pleasure—that was what Paige was to him. He missed her something bad but knew she was an explosive that could ruin his career and family. But without his little dynamite, his world was empty. He needed her. She had to get help with her anger issues. He had worked too hard and long to become the man he was in the community. Bloggers had started to comment on his feisty girlfriend. Normally, that would not bother him, but he wanted to run for District Attorney in the next election. How could he do that if one day he would have to prosecute his own woman for battery? As he finished setting up their lunch, he grabbed her hands and said grace. While eating, they made small talk and then there was silence for some time. Kevin decided to address the elephant in the room.
“So, Paige, why did you decide to come see me today? Are you ready to address our last conversation?”
“I thought I was,” Paige said with a whisper. “But now I don’t know.”
“What’s changed since the phone call?”
“Coming into your office, seeing how everything is where it belongs. You are a perfectionist Kevin, and I am a ticking time bomb. I don’t want to ruin your career or cause problems in your family. But I just don’t know how else to protect myself.” Tears flowed down Paige’s face with such force they were unstoppable. She dropped her head on the table and cried in the crook of her arm.
Kevin got out of his chair and walked around to kneel at Paige’s feet. He lifted her arms off the table and cupped her chin. Paige’s eyes were closed, but the tears continued to flow. She looked like a vulnerable baby china doll, like the ones in his mother’s collection. Paige was his vulnerable baby china doll, once again. Paige was exploding before him, but this explosion made him want to run to her and shield her from harm.
It Won't Prosper: Parable On Infidelity In Marriage Page 16
