by Pat Simmons
“Waiting for you, Jesetta.”
Chapter 2
“Excuse me?” Jet blinked. Her long lashes teased Rossi. “You stalking me?”
While she waited for his answer, Rossi took his time admiring her beauty. Her hair was brushed up into a ball—only a few strands had escaped the bondage. With flawless skin, her features were profound. She didn’t need makeup, yet he noticed a hint on her cheeks and lips.
The black-and-white short trench coat seemed to be a part of her black pants. The boots gave her more height so he could gaze into her brown eyes, which had carried a hint of sadness since Diane’s death. “This was my third drive-by since Levi said you would be in town today. I came this morning, at lunch, and this afternoon. I’d have returned this evening if I had to.”
“A phone call would have saved you gas.” She twisted her pouty lips.
Woman, I missed you. She was back, and her sass was in full force. He smirked. After Karyn married Levi, he and Jet had drifted apart. According to Jet, he’d started dating her nemesis’ sister, Nalani.
What could he say in his defense? Karyn’s sister was pretty and surrendered to Christ—something Jet had refused to do. In his opinion, he had done all that was humanly possible to lead Jet to Christ. He was tired of fighting her. All the prayers in the world couldn’t keep the peace between the Wallace sisters and Jet.
That was in the past. Things had changed. Although he considered himself a patient man, he had waited forty weeks to be this close to Jet again, and lately his heart had become impatient when it came to Jesetta Hutchens.
Love is patient, longsuffering. God whispered a portion of 1 Corinthians 13:4.
“Welcome home.” He opened his arms for a hug, but she didn’t budge. Already, they had entered into a standoff.
“Uh-uh. I’m not hugging another woman’s man.” She shifted her stance and planted a fist on her hip.
He cleared his throat and slipped his hands in his pants pocket. “Nalani and I haven’t been together in months.” He frowned at her chuckle. “You act like you’re not surprised.”
“I’m not.” She strolled past him toward her car. He spun around and fell in step beside her.
Should he be surprised that she wasn’t surprised? “Why not?”
She shrugged but kept walking without missing a beat, weaving around headstones as if she was on skates while he had to steady himself on the unleveled ground. “You dated her longer than any other woman of yours I met. For a moment, I thought Nalani had you. Imagine two sisters married to two cousins. Yep, I thought she was the one.” She lifted her hand and deactivated her car alarm.
At first, Rossi did too. “She wasn’t. I got blindsided.”
At her car, she turned and gave him a blank expression. “I guess that happens to the best of us.”
“Yeah.” At one time he could read her expressions and anticipate her moods, but it was as if her emotions were encased in lead.
“I’m sure Dori is waiting on me.”
That little girl made Jet’s world. If only he could convince her that God had more for her than misery. He grinned. “She is.”
Jet’s face glowed. “Then I’d better go.”
“Wait.” Rossi placed his hand on the handle, stopping her from opening the door. She squinted. “Where’s my hug?” He didn’t care if he sounded pathetic.
“You’re serious?” Throwing her head back, she laughed, showing her perfect set of white teeth. When she wrapped her arms around his waist, Rossi trapped her in an embrace and began to pray. “Lord, Your will is perfect. Thank You for bringing Jesetta home for Your purpose. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
She mumbled Amen and stepped back, chuckling. “Some things never change with you, Tolliver.”
He wiggled his brow. “You’ll be surprised that some things are changing.” Rossi opened her door and she slid behind the wheel of her Lexus, a car he had recommended she purchase.
When she glanced at him, a sunbeam cast the perfect light on her face. Maybe he gave up on her too easily. “Thank you. I wish you had prayed for peace, strength…”
“God’s will is perfect. Everything we need is in His will.” He patted the hood of her car. “Buckle up. I’m following you.”
“I would argue that I don’t need your services, but your cousin might be trippin’, so again, some things never change.”
“God never changes.” He thought about the numerous scriptures that said as much from Numbers 23:19 in the Old Testament to James 1:17 in the New, but he doubted Jet would welcome the encouraging Bible verses. Without another word, he trekked to his SUV, which was hidden by a monument of a headstone.
Honestly, Rossi didn’t know what kind of reception she would receive at Levi’s. Dori would be ecstatic because he could tell she had been missing Jet. Karyn would be guarded. His cousin Levi was unpredictable. Since he was very protective of his wives—past and current—Levi would be suspicious.
Besides being first cousins, they had founded Tollivers Real Estate and Development Company. They were tapped as minority contractors for many projects that involved renovating, restoring, or new construction. Their company was flourishing.
When Levi got word that Jet was moving back to St. Louis, he was in a miserable mood. It had been doom and dread for days in the office.
“That woman is pure evil,” he told Rossi with a sneer before they started their morning meeting.
“No, that woman is a wounded soul who needs Jesus,” Rossi countered.
“I hope the Lord helps her before she gets here because I will not put up with her foolishness.”
Well, they had less than an hour’s drive from the cemetery to 15672 Fair Park Lucie Court in Fairview Heights, Illinois. That would be twenty-three miles of prayer time.
Chapter 3
“You have no say in who your brother-in-law marries.” Layla’s pep talk replayed in Jet’s head as she gripped the wheel tighter. “Your focus needs to be about your niece’s well-being. Be there for her.”
Jet nodded. “I can do this.” She could act fake for Dori’s sake, but pretending took way too much energy. She should know because she had been acting like everything was back to normal for years. When in reality, Jet was walking around with an opened wound.
Something had to give. Judging from Levi’s clipped tone a week ago when she informed him she was moving back, she’d better brace for hints of drama.
Forgoing the radio, she used the quiet time to prepare for a mental battle. She didn’t know what she was walking into. In the almost nine-plus months since she had been gone, had Levi and Karyn turned her niece against her? Her heart dropped at that possibility.
Glancing in her rearview mirror, Rossi’s vehicle was in sight as she crossed over the Mississippi River from downtown St. Louis to the Metro East in Illinois. Was he going to referee or babysit? She lifted her eyebrow. What really happened between him and his love connection with Nalani?
Soon, Jet turned into the familiar subdivision and parked in front of the Tollivers’ two-story house. She took a deep breath and prayed, Lord, help me to hold my tongue. Getting out, she didn’t pause for Rossi as she followed the path to the porch and pushed the bell.
The door opened seconds later, and she came face-to-face with Levi. He didn’t mask his suspicious frown, and she refused to care.
Suddenly, Dori screamed and raced to the door. She jumped in place, grinning ear to ear, while waiting for her father to invite Jet in.
When he finally did, Rossi was behind her. “Hey, cuz.”
Levi nodded at Rossi. “Jet.”
“Auntie, Auntie,” Dori said and hugged her tight. Jet could tell she had grown a couple of inches, but she would be seven soon. Her hair was wild in two loose ponytails. Otherwise, she seemed happy.
Dropping to her knees, Jet closed her eyes and held on to her niece for dear life. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Dori replied, giddy with excitement in her voice. It was such a contrast to th
e still atmosphere around her.
Shutting out the world, Jet wished this moment would never end. She was glad Dori didn’t wiggle out of her embrace. When Jet opened her eyes, she realized she had an audience: Levi, Karyn, Rossi, and the new baby—toddler—Levi Jr.
“See my baby brother.” Dori hurried to the boy, then struggled to pick him up with Karyn’s assistance.
“Umm-hmm.” Jet nodded, but made no effort to take the child. She glanced at his mother. “Hello, Karyn.” See, she could be civil.
“Welcome to our home.” Karyn’s smile seemed genuine enough. She wasn’t as petite as her sister had been, but it was evident she had added pounds.
“C’mon.” Dori tugged on Jet’s hand. “I want to show you my room.”
Be respectful. Jet looked to Karyn for permission. Karyn granted it with a nod, and Jet was glad to escape their scrutiny.
Since her last visit more than a year ago, Dori’s bedroom had been repainted in lilac and updated to include two bookshelves—one packed with books and the other with the porcelain dolls Jet had started to collect for her. Jet smiled. Dori was a voracious reader, and her love for books was what brought her father and Karyn together.
“See my clothes?” Dori opened the door to reveal everything neatly hung and arranged by color. She pulled out one outfit after another to show her favorite outfits. “I use to like pink, but that’s for babies. I like purple now because…”
Jet listened attentively until a long shelf on the wall that displayed family photos caught her eye. Although she responded to Dori’s chatter at the right moments, she crossed the room and picked up the four-by-six frame and swallowed, staring at the photo. Jet thought it was of her as a little girl, but it was actually Diane’s grade-school picture.
She hadn’t seen this picture in years. She turned around. “Where did you get this?”
“Mommy,” Dori stated, then began to show her the latest electronic games and books.
Not wanting to confuse her niece by asking for clarification of who was the mother, she asked instead, “You do know who this is, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” Dori bobbed her head and pointed. “She’s my first mommy, Diane. Mommy says I look like her.”
“You do.” Cradling the frame in her hands, Jet sat on the twin bed and stared. Kudos to Karyn. At least the woman wasn’t trying to wipe her sister’s memory from Dori’s life.
“Mommy also said—”
Jet squeezed her lips together as she struggled with hearing Dori call Karyn mommy, but that was her problem. She would have to work through it.
“I also look a lot like you.” She grinned. “You’re pretty, Auntie, so I guess I’m pretty too.”
“Yes, you are.” Jet’s heart warmed, and she brushed back the wild hair from her niece’s ponytails using her hand. They talked—or rather, her niece chatted away while Jet listened and watched her. She could stay holed up in the room for days, but evidently Little Levi wasn’t having it as he banged on the door.
“Doree! Doree!” he yelled, followed by more banging.
Dori opened it without hesitation, and her baby brother wormed his way inside and made a beeline for his sister’s toy chest. Amused, Jet watched the sibling interaction. She was glad Dori had someone.
Her niece fussed at Little Levi about touching her things the same way Jet used to yell at Diane for playing with her toys. Those were the good days where their parents sheltered them from bad people. Lord, please protect them.
The boy was handsome and favored Karyn more than Levi. Evidently, the Tollivers didn’t have strong genes. She chuckled to herself, but her giggle caught the child’s attention because with Dori’s stuffed animal tucked under his arm, he wobbled over to her. He shoved it in her face and laughed.
Seconds later, Levi appeared in the doorway. “Jet, can we talk?”
Might as well get it over with. “Sure.” She stood.
“But we haven’t finished playing, Auntie.” Dori looked disappointed.
“I’ll take you to the park,” she promised and followed Levi to the kitchen.
Once they were seated at the table, Jet folded her hands. If her brother-in-law was expecting her to throw the first verbal assault, then he might as well take a nap. Her focus was her relationship with her niece, not him or Karyn. As they eyed each other, Jet silently corrected her earlier assessment. Dori’s brother did favor his father.
Why was the house so quiet? Eerie with children—and where were Rossi and Karyn? Finally, Levi pushed his glasses higher on his nose and cleared his throat.
“Unless you’ve changed, nothing has changed between us.”
Her? “Excuse me?” Why was it she who had to change? No, she refused to take his bait. He was right. Wasn’t that what she told Diane? She was prepared to make changes in her life. However, he could be a little more sympathetic.
“I protect what and who is mine, and that is my wife—Karyn—and my children. I never kept you from Dori, but that was before you became disrespectful, belligerent, conniving…”
Any woman would be suspicious of another woman trying to take the place of her sister. The stakes became higher when she read about Karyn’s past. Despite knowing what Karyn had done, Levi married her anyway without any concern for his daughter’s well-being. Now who was the crazy one?
As Levi continued to mount his threats, Jet had to tune him out. Otherwise, she would give him a piece of her mind.
Only when a vein twitched in his forehead did he settle down. She knew he loved fiercely. She had witnessed it firsthand with Diane, so his theatrics weren’t a surprise. Besides being older than him by three years and taller too, she had to remind him of his place. She leaned forward. “I suggest you check yourself. I am your late first wife’s sister. Disrespect me and you’re disrespecting her. Furthermore, you might not have a problem with Karyn killing her own child, but if I were you, I would keep an eye on her. And as for Dori, if she puts a mark on my niece, I will have social services here so fast to launch an investigation—”
“Are you threating me?” Levi stood and sneered.
Jet got to her feet too. “Call my bluff.” Why was she letting this man provoke her?
“Sweetie, can I talk to you for a moment?” His wife appeared from nowhere and interrupted the showdown.
“Yeah, we need to talk.” Rossi stood behind Karyn.
Her opponent took his eyes off her long enough to glance their way, and so did she. Both were shooting Levi daggers. Good.
Watching Rossi shove his cousin out the back door, Jet exhaled, then dropped to her seat. She bowed her head, closed her eyes and massaged her temples. How was she going to make a civil relationship work?
When she heard the chair scrape the floor, she looked up. Karyn had taken her husband’s seat. Did she have any energy for a round two? She didn’t think so. She would use the intermission to leave. Some homecoming.
***
“Please don’t go,” Karyn asked softly. “I’m sorry for the things my husband said to you and the manner in which he said them.” Lord, help me win her over to You, she silently prayed, then she took a deep breath. Studying Jet, she saw Dori, the daughter she’d legally adopted not long after she’d gotten married.
Jet tapped her long nails on Karyn’s glass table. “Levi doesn’t mince words. He meant what he said, and so do I. Only for Dori am I willing to be nice, but I’m watching you. I lost one loved one, and I’ll do whatever necessary to keep from losing another one.”
Her implication was understood, which was why the truth hurt. As long as Karyn lived, until the day she died, she would reap the condemnation from others because of her actions. God had forgiven her and given her grace to bear the shame. The key to her mental stability was to forgive herself and live each day, which was never promised. “I understand your pain.”
“How?” Confusion draped Jet’s face. “I don’t think you do.” Sitting back, her guest gave her a mock laugh. “You have a sister and I don’t.”
How did she know that squeezing her infant son too tight to quiet him would kill him? She was later diagnosed with postpartum depression. “Before I was even sentenced to prison, I was paying for my sins. God forgave me, but it took a long time for me to forgive myself. If you never forgive me for what I did, which had nothing to do with you, I’m okay with that.” She swallowed to keep the tears at bay.
Though your sins be as scarlet, I have washed them white as snow, God whispered Isaiah 1:18. Keep trying with Jet.
Shifting in her seat, she regrouped. “Please get to know me as Karyn Tolliver, not the woman I once was.”
“You’re asking a lot. When I see you, I see what the newspaper said you did.”
“Yes.” She sighed. “And when God sees me—and you—He sees us as prized possessions after He cleans us up after our self-destruction,” she said as Dori ran into the kitchen.
“Mommy, can I change Little Levi’s diaper?” The expectancy on her face tugged at Jet.
“As long as it’s not number two. Be careful, and I’ll check.”
“Okay! Auntie, come see me change my brother’s diaper. I know how.”
Jet glowed around Dori. Her smile actually reached her eyes. “Sure, sweetie.” She stood, and Karyn eyed her heels. She wondered whose height Dori would take. Maybe she would consider enrolling her into some child modeling just in case her daughter started to inch past her.
Karyn peeked outside the sliding door at the Tolliver cousins camped out on her deck. Thank God Rossi was there to calm her husband down. She loved that man and thanked God every day for him, but she didn’t need him to fight her battles, especially with Jet. Jesus was doing that.
Before her incident, Karyn never had to work hard at being someone’s friend. She and her younger sister, Nalani, were Miss Personalities—outgoing, charitable, and the social butterflies as children of an Illinois senator.
