Many were happy at the small token of appreciation that she gave them. As she called it, “An island delight,” he watched her as she handed out tasks as if it was nothing and at the end giving her team a motivational speech to get them geared up for the tasks at hand. Even though she was their boss, she tried to let them know how much her success depended on them and that they were one unit with one head.
His cell phone begins to ring. Picking it up he already knew who it was before he said hello,
“Yes, Paul?” Laughing at his friend he could not contain the question
“So how did I do?” Paul asked through laughter.
“Well, time will tell, but I can say I think you did an ok job.” Sighing in the phone, Paul coughs as his wife’s voice comes through the phone,
“Paul how did it turn out? I want to know, ooh you are still on the phone with him, tell me the details later.” Both men erupt into laughter.
“Tell Amber I said hello,” David says through the phone.
“I’ll tell her later so tell me what you think about Tisha?” Sitting back David starts to chuckle.
“I knew you would not let me sleep until I told you about my encounter with, “Ms. Carter.” Sighing over the phone Paul doesn’t say anything, David quickly takes the queue to start speaking.
“She is straight, I really enjoyed the time that we spent together, but Paul I have to tell you that she is smart. I was only talking for a few minutes and she practically came up with a whole campaign ad of just ten minutes of me talking.”
Paul could not help, but smile, “Yes, I will never forget the first time we met. We spent what seemed like hours going over campaign ads in magazines and on TV.”
Peeking David’s interest, “Really where did you meet her at and why are you just now introducing me to her?” Paul knowing that this question would come up he also knew that he could not betray his trust with Tisha.
“That my friend is something that she will tell you when she feels like it is the right time.” David knowing that it would be no point to try to pressure Paul to tell him what happened.
“I can say a lot about you Paul, but one thing I can always say about you is that you definitely do not betray anyone’s confidence.”
Standing up and looking at Amber who was just entering the study from putting Lilly down for the night.
“Well David, you know that I have to keep some things for you to learn. If I tell you everything, then you will get bored quickly.”
“You are right, but with Tisha I don’t think that will be an issue.” Laughing, Paul signaling to Amber one minute, “Yes, well I don’t think that will be your issue either, but Amber has come back in the room and I have to go.” Sitting up in his bed, “Of course, make sure you tell Amber I said hello and I will talk to you later.”
“Yes, I will give you a ring tomorrow.” Hanging up the phone and joining Amber on the couch he quickly kisses her, “David says hello.” Amber sighing and leaning back onto Paul’s chest, “So how did it go?” Laughing at his wife’s anxiousness, “Well I think it will work out, but it is in God’s hands now. I have introduced them and now they have to figure out the path that they will take.” Amber raising herself off Paul’s chest looking at him in his eyes, “I pray all goes well. Both of them have been through so much and both deserve happiness,” Sitting partially up on the couch she stares straight ahead at the fire flickering in the fireplace. “Paul, I don’t know any two people who have gone through so much, I mean you read about it, but to know someone personally.” Paul also gazing into the fireplace as he thinks about what his wife just said, “Yes, I know.”
Turning around and looking at Paul, “But Paul you know what?” Paul looking back at her,
“Yes, dear?”
“I bet if they do get together they would do whatever they had to do to keep each other happy.” Sitting up and pulling his wife in his arms, “Well, being her boss and her Pastor has its perks. I knew immediately from meeting Tisha that she and David would be a great pair, but I also knew that Tisha wasn’t emotionally ready for a relationship.” Laughing and remembering the first time she met Tisha.
“Yes, she definitely was not ready for a relationship then, but Lord knows that is my baby and if David hurt her,” putting her finger in the air. Paul immediately grabs her hand and kisses it, “Honey I have already warned David.” Laughing at her mean face, Paul kisses her nose.
“Well maybe I should call David myself and let him know,” as she reaches over trying to get the phone.
“Amber that can wait, now it is time for some much needed time alone as husband and wife,” laughing Amber immediately kisses her husband, “Yes, it is.”
“Have I ever told you how right when I thought I was doomed to spend the rest of my years alone, God sent me the best thing that ever happened to me?” Watching Paul as he gets up and pulls her off the couch standing her up.
“It was Minister Paul Carson who also ended up owning one of the biggest marketing companies, Walsh Interfacing, that came in on his white horse and swept me off of my feet!”
Kissing her and leading her down the hall, “And I will forever try as long as God allows me to continue to sweep you off your feet,” he says as he hits the remote for the CD player letting the music play softly as they dance down the hall to their bedroom.
Chapter 7
Hurdles
Standing in the grocery store, Tisha looks around as she thinks about what she would be cooking tonight. “Pasta is always good,” looking at the different sauces she doesn’t notice someone walking up on her, “Yes, Pasta is always good, but what type of meat…. hmmmmmm.” Startled Tisha turns around to see David behind her. “Wow, where did you come from?” Laughing David looks at a startled Tisha, “Well a man has to eat, and I am a very accomplished griller. So, on this beautiful day I decided to grill.”
“Okkkkkkk, accomplished griller.” Raising her eyebrow David steps back and looks at her “Do I see doubt on that face? You know I told you that you can be a food taster. So, would you like to take me up on my offer?”
Tisha looks at him and started smiling, “Well...”
“OK that is all I need.” Taking her basket and putting it in his buggy, he goes towards the meat department.
“Hey! You are hijacking my basket.” Laughing he turns toward the meat department, “I have to make you a believer.”
David stops in front of some steaks and picks up a couple of packs of steaks and then goes to the chicken and picks up a couple packs of chicken. Panicking she immediately starts to think of excuses as to why she could not make it. She didn’t have anything to do, but just sit home and read a book, but she didn’t want him to know that.
“I have plans, I have other plans, so can you….” Stopping in mid thought as David stops and turns around to her, coming to a halt she immediately takes a deep breath to prepare herself for what she was going to tell him. “What I was going to tell you is that I was planning to just go home, cook a simple dinner, and maybe read a book.” Looking at her as if she was crazy, “You are seriously about to give up a barbecue for a book?” Fidgeting and trying to pull her shirt over her pants, she immediately drops her head, “Yes,” pulling her head up with his index finger and looking at her. “No. There is no reason why you should give up an invitation to my house for some good clean fun and Paul is coming with Amber. Immediately her interest peaked. Are they bringing Lilly? David immediately saw that he would have to play the Paul card to get her to come that day.
“Yes, in fact some other people are coming so you can come and hang out for a little while.” Looking at her as she continued to look at the floor starting to smile as she thought of the idea of hanging out today instead of sitting in her stuffy house reading a book wishing she was the heroine in the story instead of just reading about it. “I…” standing straight up and clapping his hands, “That’s it you are coming, now I must ask the question, can you cook?” Taken aback by his forwardness she whips her
head back as she starts to take control of the situation. “First and foremost, I have not accepted your invitation and I don’t just eat anybody’s food for the record.”
“So I am just anybody now?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” resting the palm of her hand on his shoulder. “Look I don’t really have a lot of friends and the ones I do are all married. My weekends are engrossed with work and church or reading a book. I’m sorry if I came off nasty.”
“Well I can’t be too sure if it is an apology unless you agree to come to my house for dinner.”
“Really David?”
David stands back and look at Tisha before answering her question, “Yes, really and to answer your question, yes I can cook.” She was dressed very simple with a pair of jean capris and a long flowing white tank and white sandals. She still had a way to make simple outfit look beautiful not to mention her capris were fitted so he saw every curve. When he walked up on her from behind he could not help but notice her shape. Breaking his train of thoughts, he looks into her eyes, as he looks at her, she starts to drop her head to the floor.
Knowing he had to say something or he would lose her, he immediately thought of something that would definitely put her at a point of taking charge again, “Well since I said I could cook, I will prove it,” going into his pocket he pulls out a piece of paper and pen and starts writing down the address. “Here is my address are you familiar with this area?” Holding the piece of paper in her hand she stares blankly at it. “Earth to Tisha, earth to Tisha,” David says as he waves his hands in front of her.
Looking at him and back at the paper, she starts to shake and looks back at him, “I’m sorry, but I can’t come. I have other plans.” Shoving the paper back into his hands she quickly picks up her basket from inside of his buggy and walks away so he would not see the tears about to fall from her eyes. Giving her basket to a store associate and apologizing quickly for changing her mind she walks quickly out of the store.
As she approaches her car the tears that she had been trying to hold back started to fall. As she reached her car and dives in, how could she tell him that he stayed in an area that she was no longer welcomed in? He stayed two blocks down from the apartment that her sister stayed in. Looking up to the sky as she pulls the car into reverse and let the tears flow. She looks back down and backs the car up and drives off. David makes it out just in time to see her get in her car and watch her pull off. He saw her tears and wonders what in the world did he do to have brought them on? Pulling his cell phone out of his pocket he calls the only person that could possible shine some light on the situation. “Paul, we need to talk. It’s about Tisha.”
Paul stopping in middle of walking out of his house as Amber walks into him. “Paul….” Turning around he puts his finger to his mouth. “Yeah, David what’s wrong?” David quickly goes over what just happened in the grocery store with Tisha. Looking up into the sky and saying a silent prayer while he closes the house door. He looks at his wife and mouths her to call Tisha. Taking her husband silent gestures, she pulls out her cell phone and goes into the other room while Paul sits down, and Lily jumps on his lap to play with his keys. Paul looking down at Lily as David continues to talk put his finger to his lip letting her know to be quiet. Lily looks up to her father and mimics the same gesture to him, he contains the laughter inside and thought ‘kids.’
Paul after hearing the entire incident sighs, “David calm down. Take a deep breath and breathe.” Waiting on David to do what he asked him to do, he asks the Lord to please guide his mouth and to let the meditation of his heart and the words out of his mouth be acceptable in his sight. “David, I know that you do not understand what just happened, but I do want you to know it’s not your fault.” Rubbing his head as he stands in the parking lot of the grocery store. Him and Paul continue to talk and comes up with a plan. Hanging up the phone he thanks God for leading him and shouts a little. Lily quickly puts her hand to her lips and ‘shhh’ him. Laughing he gets up and starts to turn her around in a circle.
Lily erupts in laughter as Amber comes through the door. “Paul, Tisha is a wreck.” Grabbing Amber into the embrace that he has Lily in, he starts to turn both of them around. Amber trying to get her husband to stop found the more she tried to make him stop, the faster he turned and then finally she had to start laughing. Finally falling into the couch Paul looks at Amber and kisses her on her forehead. “Tisha will be ok, I have sent someone to help her.” Looking back at him with what he has named, ‘the eye.’ Amber asks, “Who?” Paul clears his throat and prepares for the talk, “David.”
Amber sitting back and sighing knowing that her husband had to consult God before suggesting that. Her mothering side wanted to go to Tisha, but she knew her husband did what he felt was what God had lead him to do. Knowing she would fight a losing battle she decided to pick a battle she knew she would win. “Well, I guess that means dinner is on Daddy, Lily.” Grabbing Lily out of his hand, she quickly gets off the couch. “Lily don’t you think that it is time for Daddy to take us to our favorite Steak House?” Laughing at his wife as she and Lily leave the room he knew he would pay for that decision in some form.
A Few Hours Later
Pulling up to the address that Paul had given him over the phone, he stayed in the car for a minute as he looks as the house he just pulled up to. “Wow, Ms. Carter is living in style!” Getting out of the car, he stands in front of a two-story, two-car garage, cobblestone house. “How much is Paul paying her?” he asks out loud and then begins to laugh at his own question because he knew whatever Paul paid her she had earned it. Going into the backseat of his Jeep grabbing the bags that were in there he shuts the door, approaches the front door and rings the bell. Waiting outside of the door of he hears footsteps approaching it. “One minute,” Tisha yells through the door. Opening the door Tisha goes into her wallet and takes some money out of her wallet, “Ok this should cover that and keep the rest….” Tisha immediately stops in her speech as she realizes it was not the delivery man standing at the door, but David. Backing up and staring at him, “What, what, what….” trying to stammer out her words.
David immediately stepping into the house and grabbing the money out of her hand “Well this will cover some of it, but not all.” Grinning from ear to ear, walking in her house, turning around and looking around. “You have a beautiful house.” Still looking at David who was now standing in her living room, “Thank you, but how did you find out where I was staying and why are you here?”
Turning around and looking at her, he drops the bags he on the floor. “Well after you ran out of the grocery store and…” Remembering the incident she immediately jumps on the defense. “I can call Paul tomorrow and ask him to give your account to someone else. I believe Shirel will be good she is my lead when I am not there, and,” walking up to her and shaking her, “Tisha I still want you to lead my campaign, but I was just worried about you especially how you ran out of the grocery store.”
“You were worried about me?”
Blowing out a deep breath and still holding her shoulders, he let his hands fall from her. “Yes, I was worried about you.” Turning around and walking back to the bags that were sitting on the floor and grabs them back into his arms. “Now where is your kitchen?” Tisha begins to walk towards the kitchen when the doorbell rang, then she remembers that she had ordered take out. Pointing in the direction of the kitchen,
“It is right around the corner, let me get the door.” Seeing him disappear around the corner she walks to the door to find the delivery man for one of her favorite pasta places. Paying for the dinner that she had ordered prior to her surprised guest, she closes the door, leans against it and closes her eyes. “God is this for real?” and then she hears something sizzling in the kitchen she immediately opens her eyes. “Is he cooking?” It had been years since she had dated a man, and even longer since a man had been at her house. Of course, she would have the occasional men here and there, but none of them never
just showed up at her door steps with grocery bags. Her phone goes off. Picking up the phone she looks at the screen and see it is a text from Paul that simply said ‘Go With the FLOW.’
“I can’t believe Paul,” Tisha said to herself as she goes to respond Paul had already sent another text. ‘You can thank me tomorrow. Don’t be rude to your company. Good Night.’ She knew that was a warning to let her know he would not be responding to any of her texts. Sighing she places her phone down and hears David singing from the kitchen. She started to head towards the kitchen and finds David at her stove cooking dinner. “Excuse me, but what are you doing?” David looks up from the cutting board and looks at her with the delivery bag in her hands.
“When was the last time you cooked? Has it been that long that you don’t remember what it looks like?” Grinning he goes back to cutting up some cilantro to go into the pan with what looks like chicken. She could not help but notice his smile. He did look good wearing a pair of khaki Capris and a lime green t-shirt. His smile held sparkling white teeth. He does look good and can cook. Looking up into the sky she thinks, ‘Lord why did you put this man in my path?’ David still grinning turns going back to the stove to put the cilantro in the pan with the chicken. “And you can save whatever you order for your dinner tomorrow, but tonight you dine, ‘Ala David.’ Laughing he turns back around and starts back cooking.
Walking past him and putting the bags in the refrigerator she goes and grabs a chair at the counter in front of him. “I guess I am supposed to say thank you?” she asks while still looking down at her fingers as he continued to cut up asparagus to go with the chicken and cilantro that were now simmering in the frying pan. He stops chopping the asparagus and looks up at Tisha who was still looking down at her fingers. Grabbing the towel and wiping his hand, he goes to stand beside her as he waited for her to acknowledge him. The longer he stood the longer he saw that she was not going to acknowledge him.
Torn apart Tisha's Story Page 6