A Tale Of Transformation

by Alexa Stewart

A week later, Ann was in her office, when Cindy, the woman who had taken her husband away, walked in. Ann was shocked to see her. She still looked beautiful and hadn’t aged at all in the years they had been apart.

  “Hello Ann,” she said quietly and coldly. “Can I talk to you privately?”

  Ann wasn’t sure what to say. Here stood the woman who had caused the destruction of her family, though it was really more Sean’s fault than hers. But still, she had a hand in its demise.

  “Please, Ann. It’s about Sean and Matthew,” she added cautiously.

  Ann’s impulse was to tell her to get lost, but the hours she spent praying for this woman, even when she didn’t feel like it, helped her see Cindy in a more compassionate light. She didn’t trust her any more than she did Sean, but she was curious to see what she had to say. She would listen cautiously.

  “All right,” Ann said guardedly.

  “Can we go somewhere and talk privately?” Cindy asked again.

  “There’s a coffee shop a few miles away called The Kona Inn. Do you know it?” Ann asked.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll meet you there in ten minutes, if that’ll work for you,” Ann offered.

  “I’ll be there. I appreciate your time, Ann,” she said coldly. Without another word, she turned and walked out the door.

  Ann dreaded going. What was this all about? What was Sean up to now? She said a silent prayer for wisdom and discernment, picked up the phone and dialed Shelly’s cell.

  “Hi, Shell. You’ll never guess in a million years who just walked into the office,” Ann said.

  “Tom Selleck!” Shelly answered with enthusiasm and a teasing voice.

  “Oh, Shell… No! Cindy Evers,” Ann said firmly.

  “You’re kidding! What would she be doing there? What did she want?” Shelly asked with concern.

  “She wants to talk about Sean and Matthew. I’m going to meet her at the coffee shop around the corner in about five minutes,” Ann replied. “I just wanted to let you know where I’m going, why I’m going, and with whom I’m going to be with.”

  “You be careful. I don’t trust them after what they did to you,” Shelly said with apprehension.

  “I know, but at least I’ll find out what this is all about.” Ann replied. “I won’t be long, and I’ll have my cell phone on.”

  “Okay. You be sure to call me when you’re done,” Shelly said.

  “You bet… bye for now,” Ann said hanging up. Picking up her purse and keys, she walked out to her car.

  Cindy was sitting in a quiet booth in the back corner of the coffee shop. As Ann walked up to her, she could perceive hurt and maybe anger in Cindy’s eyes, but the rest of her face was like stone.

  Ann slid into the seat across from her. Before she could say anything, the waitress walked up, placing two glasses of water on the table.

  “Hi, Ann. Do you want your regular?” she asked.

  “No, not this time Jenny, just make it a regular cup of coffee, black, okay?”

  “Sure, no problem,” she turned to Cindy asking, “Can I get you anything?”

  “Just a cup of coffee for me as well, with cream and sugar,” Cindy answered.

  “Two coffees, one with cream and sugar. I’ll be right back,” and off she went.

  “All right, Cindy… I’m here. What’s this all about? What does Sean want now?” Ann asked defensively.

  “Sean and I haven’t been together for over a year now,” Cindy said with a dry and dead voice. “He left me for his new secretary. The one who replaced you!” she said bitterly.

  Ann sat stunned. Then the surprised look faded as she realized, Why should it be any different with Cindy, than it was with me?

  “I’m sorry to hear that Cindy, but Sean has always done what he wanted, when he wanted to, and with no thought for anyone else,” Ann replied sadly.

  “I know, but I thought I was different. Anyway, that’s not why I’m here,” she said with a hint of anger.

  The waitress walked up to the table, served the coffee, put the creamer down, and walked away.

  Cindy continued, “One of my best friends, Marie Alvarez, works for Judge Mathis. I think you know he’s a good friend of Sean’s father. Anyway, Marie and I had lunch a few days ago, and she told me that Sean is trying to get custody of Matthew. Did you know that?” she asked in a flat voice.

  “Yes, Sean called me about a few weeks ago, trying to talk to me about it,” Ann stated with the same flat voice.

  “Well, Marie overheard an argument in the judge’s chambers between the judge and Sean. Sean was shouting something about where were his rights as the father of his son, and that a boy deserved to be with his father. Marie could hear the judge telling him that he didn’t think he had a good enough case to go to court. He had fully given up his rights to his children years ago and that he hadn’t provided for them in any way during that time. And his instability in personal relationships wasn’t helping the situation, either. According to Marie, Sean stood up and pounded his fist on the desk saying, ‘I want my son! Are you going to help me find a lawyer or not?’ The judge told him he would try, but he wanted to make it clear to him that there was little to no chance at all that the courts would change the terms of his divorce. Sean left the office really angry,” Cindy said.

  “Why are you telling me this, Cindy?” Ann asked with misgivings.

  “Because I don’t want Sean to get Matthew!” she said hotly. “He doesn’t deserve the boy. He doesn’t deserve anything good at all! Both Marie and I think he’s an unfit father. He would ruin the child, or dump him if the situation didn’t go his way. Either way, it wouldn’t be good for Matthew.”

  Ruin him? What about Marty and me? Ann thought. It wouldn’t be good for any of us if Matthew was taken away! But you didn’t think of us when you started up with Sean, did you?

  But Ann kept those thoughts to herself and simply said, “I appreciate you letting me know, Cindy. I’m sorry your relationship with Sean didn’t work out. But, I don’t think he’s capable of thinking of others.”

  “He’ll pay for what he’s done, one way or the other!” Cindy said vehemently. “I gave up so much to be with him. I gave up my friends, my life -- he is such a jerk!” she spat.

  “I’m sorry. I really am,” was all Ann could say. “Have you thought about coming back to church?”

  “What? Are you kidding?” Cindy exclaimed. “How could I, after all that’s happened?”

  “Cindy, I think you’d be surprised by the forgiveness and understanding that’s still in our church. You’d be welcome, if you were truly sorry for what happened. You do have friends there still. I have been praying for you and Sean for years now,” Ann told her.

  Cindy sat there with a surprised look. Ann could see the conflict on her face. She wanted to believe what Ann was saying, but how could she?

  Ann and Cindy sat on opposite sides of the table in reflective silence.

  “Do you really think I could?” Cindy asked softly.

  “Yes, I do. I think the first thing to do is talk to Pastor Henry. That would be the best place to start,” Ann offered.

  Cindy gave out a long sigh as the stone look returned to her face. “I’ll think about it,” she said, and reached for her coat and purse.

  Ann asked, “When Sean called, he mentioned that my mother was supporting him in proving me an unfit mother. Do you know anything about that?”

  “No, I don’t. But I wouldn’t put it past him to make something up. He is such a liar,” she said in her dead voice again. “Have you talked to your mother?”

  “No. Mom and I aren’t on speaking terms right now,” Ann replied. “I guess I’ll have to wait and see what happens.”

  “Well, Ann, I hope this helps you with Matthew, and I hope Sean gets what’s coming to him,” she added with fragments of anger still in her voice. “I have to get back to work,” she said.

  “Thank you Cindy, for letting me know about Sean. My lawyer told me
the same thing that Judge Mathis told him, he doesn’t have much of a case to take to court. But like you, I don’t trust him. I’ll be watchful.”

 

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