Paige yelled, “well I’m about to make her hurt over the pain in her eye when I sock her in it. She won’t be thinking about her daughter or anybody else.” Kevin had to forcefully pull Paige away from the room Mrs. Carol was in. He grabbed her by the shoulders to have her face him as he looked eye to eye, he said, “Paige you have to calm down. Fighting will not help Benjamin or Mrs. Carol. You are scaring the children and their parents, so stop this now!” That got Paige to quiet down and take a seat. Kevin held her while she shook with tremors. Paige became quiet and balled up in a fetal position shaking as if she were in Alaska. Kevin rocked her in his arms until she was back to his Paige.
Now Paige sat quietly on the passenger’s side of Kevin’s car, wondering what happened. Again she had lost time and could not recall in detail the events of the evening. All she remembered was someone trying to hurt her best friend…her family and that was not allowed. She was grateful Kevin was there, if he hadn’t been, who knows what she would have done. She leaned over and rested her head on Kevin’s shoulder. He turned and kissed the top of her head. How he loved this unpredictable and crazy woman.
***
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep;
Keep me safe through the night and wake me with the morning light
If I should die before I wake, I pray for Lord my soul to take. Amen
Frankie and Karen were kneeling with Nikki beside her bed saying her good night prayers. This was the first night they did this as a family unit. Nikki’s Sunday School Teacher taught her class the prayer over the last few Sundays and Nikki had been faithful. Frankie was overtaken by his emotions as he kissed his baby girl’s forehead and she said, “Night Daddy, I love you.” He let the tears fall on her forehead and she wiped them away looking at him curiously but remained quiet. It was as if she knew her daddy had come to the conclusion that he could not take leaving her any longer. He wanted to be there every night to say her prayers and every morning to thank God for a brand new day.
Karen hugged and kiss Nikki. She rubbed Frankie’s back to give him comfort. She could see he was struggling with his emotions but did not know in what direction he would be going. It had been such a long day. There was the powerful worship service, their talk on the way to Mother Ellen’s, where they decided they would put the brakes on intimacy until marriage and the fiasco after the proposal. They needed time for her to process it all. When they made it to the living room and sat side by side on the couch, Frankie blurted out, “I can’t do this.”
Karen’s heart fell through her stomach, as it had not been 24 hours yet. Was his emotional breakdown due to him walking away from her and Nikki without even trying? Karen felt her flesh wanting to say forget abstinence if it will make you stay. She mentally told Satan to get behind her and that thought left as quickly as it came. She slowly asked Frankie, “You cannot do what, Frankie?” It felt like time stood still, their short time as a family flashed before her eyes like a movie trailer. But then her heart rejoiced as the words became audible to her that Frankie spoke.
“Karen, I can’t continue to tuck our baby girl in and go back home like some young boy. I am a forty-two-year-old man. I am too old to date. I know you are my future. You, Nikki, Dawn, and Autumn are my family and my world. I want to marry you as soon as possible. We can go to marriage counseling but I don’t need a how-to- date- my- woman class. I need you emotionally and physically and I am ready to marry you as soon as you will have me. So tell me that you are ready to, say yes to our family – say yes to us.”
Karen leaped on Frankie screaming. “Yes, Lord thank you! Jesus, Yes! Frankie I was so scared you were going to break up with me and walk out on Nikki, when you were having your moment…Jesus, I was so scared.”
Frankie grabbed Karen’s hands and put them on the side of her face. Then he took one hand and brushed her tears away. He tilted her head up and said “Karen I am never leaving you, ever. Well, I will leave tonight and each night until we are married. But I am never walking out on you two.”
Karen kissed him and they held each other tight for minutes. They both told each other they loved one another and agreed to speak to the counselor at Liberty on Tuesday night about attending marriage counseling. They would be taking their vows as soon as possible.
Frankie stopped the conversation and said, “Karen after speaking to the counselor on Tuesday, we will go pick you out a wedding ring that will tell the world that you have been touched by my love.” Karen happily agreed and Frankie scooped her up in his arms and gave her a twirl. Karen giggled like she was three-year old, instead of the mother of one. Frankie bent down and gave her a lingering kiss then abruptly stopped and said, “let me get out of here, before we have to call the pastor tonight to marry us. Come walk me out, love.”
Karen walked him to the front door and said, “good night,” as she closed the door. Then she did the cha-cha and started screaming, “I am getting married! I am getting married!”
Chapter 6
Love, Honor, and Respect
“Karen that is the tenth dress you have tried on, pick one already!” Paige screamed at Karen as she frowned while looking in the mirror at her. Camille was standing by Karen’s side straightening out the bottom of the silver dress Karen was trying on. The ladies were out shopping for Karen’s wedding dress and their bridesmaid dresses.
Karen turned to face Paige and put one hand on her hip. “What is your problem Paige? If you don’t want to be here, then go home. I am fine with just having Camille, Dawn, and Autumn as my bridesmaids. You are dismissed because I am sick and tired of your pouting!”
“Ladies let’s calm down, no one is going anywhere.” Camille said firmly. “Paige you have been a pain all day. We understand it’s because you are in limbo right now with Kevin. But that is your own doing.”
Paige gasped, “What do you mean my own doing?”
Camille chuckled and shook her head while she watched Karen take a twirl in the dress like Kenya Moore, the reality star on Atlanta Housewives. Paige stepped in front of Camille rolling her neck and eyes. “Mille what do you mean my own doing?”
“Paige, you are the one that went to Atlanta and whipped Kevin’s mother like you’re Straight Outta Compton. Now I am not saying Julia was not out of line, because she was. But sweetie, you have got to start taking responsibility for you and your alter ego, Rage’s actions.” Karen burst out into laughter with Camille.
Paige was furious, “How dare you take that evil woman’s side, she spat in my face. What was I to do?”
Karen chimed in on that question, “You were to take a step back and ask yourself if beating her down was worth you losing Kevin. That is what you were supposed to do. Then you should have told Kev and his daddy so they could deal with her. Had you done that, you would not be here ruining this great girl’s day out. We are planning my wedding and we are supposed to be happy!” Karen rolled her eyes and looked at Camille and said “this is the one.” Camille jumped up and down with Karen as they chanted “We are getting married, we are getting married.”
Paige stepped out of the dressing area and sat on a nearby couch. She had to admit, Rage was out and in rare form. If she were to have an honest moment with herself, Karen was speaking the truth. She could have dealt with Julia differently but she just could not see herself letting that woman or anyone else walk over her. Why should she have run to Kevin like she could not take care of herself? The sensible Paige took over and said, so you won’t lose the best man that you ever met. So that you can have a girl’s day out in the future, when you can try on ten dresses and get on Karen’s nerves.
Rage did not like those thoughts and cut in, yeah and see how long Kevin will want a weak woman.
Sensible Paige said, Kevin just wants me to stop reacting negatively to his mother’s antics.
She recalled Sunday night when Kevin came into her apartment and laid his cards on the table. Tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped them angrily as the memory played ba
ck 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 finger 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 anymore 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. She knew no other way to 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. I don’t want that but will I 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 she sat six days later, ruining their girl’s day out with her bad attitude. All because to date, Kevin remained true to his word and had not called her all week, but 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 Brenanns for an early dinner.”
Paige got up and approached the girls, “I am sorry for my attitude Karen and Mille. I have to go and think somethings 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, its me can we meet?” “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 how Brian let the alcohol and whatever other substance he took that night, overtake him. Although his friend Paul had 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, for the engagements celebration. The ladies came up with that idea of a double engagement party and it was nice. They were relieved, including Frankie, 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.
Frank 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 had Nikki out, taking her to the Children’s Museum and to her favorite restaurant for lunch. 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 easily be jobless, with no family or friends because of his substance abuse. 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 had the girls shared the news of his pending nuptials. He gave Karen two weeks to make it happen and he was serious. On the third ring he answered, bracing himself for Round Two 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! Frank 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 caused us. Now that doesn’t mean anything?”
“Shayla of course it means something, I am eternally grateful for our friendship. However, I have done all 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 for 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 and you told me no. Now you bring this family crap to me. We are friends, Shayla but 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 offer you then, but I can give you more now. Please let’s try again. 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 on 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 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 set on the other end of the ended call crying and swearing at Frankie Lee Jones. She called Dawn and got voicemail, she 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 a point of psychotic calm as she began to plot on making sure that 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 that they shared a 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 she watched Karen take a phone call from Frankie’s twin daughters, Nikki and Karen were 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. She was pulling up at Benjamin’s enormous home located on Southwind Golf Course to see her fiancée. 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 had given her and drove into his third car garage. She found Benjamin in his home study, where she knocked on the door and he immediately rose to greet her with a warm embrace, kiss on the forehead, and light kiss on the lips. Benjamin took her hands a led her to the love seat in his office, while he pulled a chair to sit across from her.
“How did you enjoy your girl’s 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, as 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 a 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 as Camille started rubbing her forehead and shaking her leg. He knew this was a nervous habit of hers.
All I'll Ever Ask (The Greatest Love Book 1) Page 10