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by Jones, Janice

  Aujanae then broke. She released the terrible hurt of just finding out that William lied to her yesterday in order to be with another woman. She cried right there in the restaurant. Right there in Maleeka’s arms.

  “I’m going to find our waitress and tell her to make our orders to go.”

  Katrina left the table for the few brief moments it took to locate their waitress. When she returned, she found both her friends still seated in the same position. She squeezed in on the opposite side of Aujanae, who sat on the outside, and placed her arms around her too. Neither Katrina nor Maleeka knew for sure what caused Aujanae’s misery, but each assumed in their own heads it had something to do with her husband.

  Katrina looked up to find the patrons in the restaurant staring at them. She supposed they did make an odd-looking trio. “Hey, girls, why don’t we step outside while we wait for our food? We can sit in either one of our cars. I’ll pre-pay for our food while you two go out and get settled,” Katrina offered.

  “No. I’ll pay for it, Katrina. I told Maleeka lunch would be on me today,” Aujanae said softly through her sobs.

  Katrina started to protest, but Maleeka shook her head slightly to ward her off. Katrina got the hint that arguing with Aujanae about anything right now would probably not be best.

  Aujanae cleaned her face with one of the napkins from the table. The ladies then headed toward the cashier’s station. Maleeka told the gentleman what they were waiting for. He looked at the sadness surrounding them with pity and rang up their order without any further questions.

  “Thank you, sir. I will come back in about five minutes to see if it’s ready.”

  The cashier nodded his head.

  The three ladies ended up sitting in Maleeka’s Ford Explorer SUV. All three climbed in the back seat, with Aujanae seated in the middle. Maleeka opened the armrest in the front seat, took out some napkins from her stash, and silently offered them to Aujanae. Aujanae accepted the offer and again attempted to clean her face and compose herself.

  “Do you want to talk about it, Aujanae?” Katrina asked compassionately. To both the other women’s surprise, she began speaking immediately.

  “Billy is having an affair. He’s cheating on me. Billy left me and B.J. yesterday, telling me he was going to be with David, who was upset about his relationship with Toriyana. Sundays are usually the day reserved for the family because Billy has been working so much lately. I have been suspicious about it for a little while now, but Katrina just confirmed it when she said she was with David yesterday.”

  Katrina put her head down and closed her eyes. She felt horrible and responsible for the distressed state Aujanae was in now.

  “Oh, Aujanae, I feel so awful for opening my big mouth. I can’t believe I’m the one who made you feel this bad because I wanted to share how great I felt about my date. I am so sorry.”

  Aujanae looked at Katrina and saw the sincerity of her words and the guilt she felt. “No, no, Katrina. This is not your fault. I guess I needed to hear and find out for myself what I have been denying and avoiding for a few weeks now. Trust me, Kat. God wanted me to know the truth. There was no way any of us could have orchestrated this. This news came to me through divine revelation. God just used you to confirm what I have known but tried to ignore.” Aujanae then began to sob again.

  Maleeka reached across Aujanae from the back and grabbed Katrina’s hand, giving her encouragement and hopefully assurance that this was in no way her doing.

  Neither Katrina nor Maleeka said a word for a few moments. They just sat and allowed Aujanae to vent her grief.

  “I’m going to go in and get our food. When I come back, why don’t we go back to the community room or the chapel at the church, where we can have some privacy? We can talk or pray or whatever,” Katrina suggested.

  “Oh, no!” Aujanae protested softly. “You ladies are on your lunch break. I don’t want to intrude or impose on either of your jobs.” Aujanae made the objection softly. The truth was she really did not want to be alone right now.

  “Don’t you worry about that, Aujanae. I’m going to just call them at the job and let them know I have an emergency I need to deal with. They will see me tomorrow. There is nothing so pressing that it can’t wait till then. You need us right now,” Maleeka explained.

  Katrina nodded her head in agreement. She then left to get their food. When she returned, Maleeka and Aujanae were in the front seats of Maleeka’s truck. They decided Maleeka would drive them both to the church, and she would return with Aujanae to retrieve her car later. Aujanae agreed without hesitation. She did not trust that she could concentrate well enough to drive right now.

  Katrina took the food to her car and headed for the church. The other two ladies followed her the short distance there. When they arrived, Katrina went to let Pastor Abraham know she had a crisis with a friend, who was also a member, and she would return to her desk at soon as she could. He gave her his okay to take as long as she needed. She then went and found Maleeka and Katrina in the church’s small chapel. No conversation had started. Aujanae was actually in one of her crying spells when Katrina walked into the room. Maleeka was holding Aujanae.

  “Why don’t we give her some space? Let’s just move over here a few seats. Let her have a moment to just pour it out,” Katrina advised Maleeka quietly.

  Maleeka remembered the lesson from their Christian sensitivity training class. The instructor told them that oftentimes when someone was in distress and crying, the discomfort they try to relieve when hugging that person or giving them tissue to wipe the tears is their own. The instructor said, “It makes us uncomfortable to see someone in pain, so we rush to alleviate it. But that is what’s best for us, not necessarily the person who is suffering. Sometimes they just need to get it out without feeling our pity.”

  So she and Katrina moved away from Aujanae just a few steps. She was so caught up in her grief, both women realized, that she did not even notice their slight absence. When the crying subsided, she began to talk.

  “Katrina, Maleeka, I’m so sorry. I did not mean to ruin your lunch or your entire afternoon with my drama.”

  Maleeka and Katrina stayed in their seats and spoke from there. “We know, Aujanae, but it’s okay. We are your friends and we love you. We are willing to help you in any way we can,” Maleeka said soothingly.

  “Yes, we are. I don’t know how much we can do other than listen to you. If William is in fact having an affair, how you handle it will be totally up to you, Aujanae. Neither Maleeka nor I have any right to interfere in your marriage, no matter what. But we are here to support you today and from here on out in whatever choices you make, okay?”

  Katrina was taking the same stance with Aujanae as she had with Maleeka. She would just listen and do what she could to help without giving advice or judging.

  “I don’t even know what choices I have, Kat. I mean, I don’t have a choice as to whether or not I love him. I do, plain and simple. I love my husband. I love my son. I love my family.” Aujanae fought the tears that threatened to choke her again. She wanted to talk. She needed to figure this out.

  “I have been ignoring the warning signs because I did not want them to be true. The alarms were ringing loud and clear, and I kept turning them off because I did not want to be in this position. I did not want to be faced with the possibility that I could lose my husband, my marriage.”

  Katrina hoped what she was about to say did not constitute advice. “Aujanae, cheating does not have to automatically mean the end of a marriage. I mean, if it is proven that William is seeing someone else, maybe you two can work through this. I hate to sound so cliché here, but you know the Bible says we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. God can fix anything and anybody, Aujanae. I’m not saying you should stay. I’m not saying you should leave. I just don’t want you to feel pressured into doing anything. Please seek the Holy Spirit and allow Him to guide you through everything.”

  Aujanae left her seat and
walked toward the small altar. She stood there wordlessly for several seconds.

  “Aujanae, when Darrin and I were dating, I found out he was seeing someone else. It was before we were engaged. I was so hurt. I know our situations are different. I mean, we weren’t married, or like I said even engaged at the time, but my point is, we were able to get past it and stay together. I honestly don’t even think about that time anymore. Our love, time, and God truly did help us overcome that situation.”

  Aujanae turned around to face the ladies. “Really, Mal? He cheated on you and you were able to forgive him?” Aujanae asked wistfully.

  “To be honest, I really didn’t classify it as cheating because he was not my husband. But that did not make it hurt any less. I loved him,” Maleeka answered honestly.

  Aujanae came back to sit with the women. “Did you know the other woman, Mal?”

  The tone in Aujanae’s voice made both Katrina and Maleeka believed she knew who the other woman might be, if there was indeed another woman.

  “No. I had never met her. She called me on my phone and told me all about herself.”

  “Why do you ask, Aujanae? Do you think you know who the woman is that William might be having an affair with?” Katrina asked.

  “Listen, Katrina. Please stop saying maybe, or might be or if. Billy is definitely having an affair, okay?” Aujanae spat.

  “I’m sorry, Aujanae. I didn’t mean anything by my remarks,” Katrina replied, understanding full well that Aujanae was not snapping at her directly, but speaking from her pain.

  “No. It’s me. I’m sorry. I know you didn’t.” Aujanae apologized sincerely. “And to answer your question, yes. Yes, I believe I know who she is. She is a beautiful woman who joined our church a few weeks ago. I don’t remember her name, but since she’s joined, she always manages to find a seat not too far away from Billy and me on Sunday morning. Yesterday, though, she sat on the opposite side of the sanctuary, and Billy spent the better part of service staring in her direction.”

  “What? She’s goes to this church?” Katrina asked incredulously.

  Aujanae nodded.

  “You said she joined about a month ago, right? Do you think they were messing around before she joined the church, or do you believe it just got started?” Maleeka asked, joining in on the indignation.

  “I’m not really sure. Billy started working crazy hours just after B.J. was born, but I trusted him, and he did get a promotion. My suspicions about him having an affair started about four months ago. There was nothing any more extreme than his working late to give me pause then, but I woke from my sleep in wee hours of the morning on this particular night with an eerie feeling that Billy was seeing another woman. Since then my senses have been on full alert. So if it is this woman who just joined the church, I believe she did so to be even closer to my husband more often,” Aujanae said with a confidence she did not wish she had at the moment.

  “I think I know exactly who you are talking about, Aujanae. She probably did it to get a closer look at you too. She wanted to spy out her competition. That sneaky heffa,” Maleeka spat.

  “Maleeka! We are in the church chapel, for goodness’ sake. Watch your mouth,” Katrina admonished. “Besides, we are not one hundred percent sure of anything,” Katrina said a little softer this time. She did not want to chastise her best friend too much, especially since she was thinking the exact same thing.

  “I know you keep saying that to make me feel better, Kat, but trust me when I say I know. Billy’s lie yesterday gave me all the proof I need. I may not be as sure about Ms. Beauty Queen, but it is a fact that my husband is cheating with someone.” Aujanae now had fire in her voice. Anger had managed to sneak in past the hurt, even if just for a brief moment.

  “I guess the big question is not who Billy is sleeping with, but what am I going to do about it no matter who it is?” She was again back to being miserable. The tears and sobs started up again instantly.

  This time Katrina and Maleeka did wrap themselves around Aujanae, both forgetting about their Christian sensitivity training. It was not long before Aujanae’s bout with the blues ended again.

  “Oh my goodness. I know I’m supposed to do something other than fall apart here,” she said with all the humor her torn heart could muster.

  “Aujanae, you are supposed to do exactly what you are doing. You are supposed to be hurt, sad, angry, and everything else you feel. God feels your pain, and He will dry your tears in His time, in His way. Do not beat yourself up for how you are handling your distress,” Katrina said lovingly.

  Aujanae gently untangled herself from the arms of her friends. She stood up again as she used the tissues handed to her by Maleeka to wipe her face.

  “Well, even as much as I hurt, I do know that I am and must continue to be a mother to my child. I need to get back to my car so I can go and get my son from my mother. Maleeka, are you ready to take me back to the restaurant?”

  “Certainly, Aujanae. No problem. Let me grab my purse from over there and we can get going.”

  Katrina noticed the containers that held their lunch that not one of them bothered to touch. She passed each person their box as they all made ready to leave the chapel.

  “Let’s pray before we leave,” Maleeka offered. The trio went and stood in front of the altar as she said the prayer.

  “Our Father in Heaven, we come right now, Lord, so glad that we know who we can turn to in our times of trials and trouble. Lord, we come blessing Your name because we know You are there for us at all times, no matter the situation, problem, or circumstance. Lord, we praise You for Your son Jesus, who has laid down His life so that we may have the privilege of coming to You in prayer. Father, right now we come praying on behalf of our friend and Your child, Aujanae.

  “Lord, You know her troubles. She is in pain, Father. She is facing a trial right now Lord, in her marriage. Father, right now, in the name of Jesus, we offer up her issue to You. Lord, we place it at this altar right now and we give it to You. Father, we ask that You touch her heart, her mind, and her spirit. Lord, give her the strength to endure as she continues to look to You for the wisdom and guidance on how to handle her situation.

  “Lord, we come praying right now for her husband, William. We come asking that You touch him as well. Lord, bring him back to the man that You have called Him to be. Lord, remove from him the desire for this unsavory behavior and let him remember the covenant he made before You to his wife.

  “Father God, we even come praying for the other person, Lord, whoever that may be. We ask, Lord, that you open her eyes if she is unknowing and remove the stoniness from her heart if she is aware.

  “Lord, touch all who are involved in this painful situation. Have Your way and let there be glory even in this to You. This is my prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

  “Amen,” both ladies said together.

  Aujanae had once again begun to cry, but the tears were silent. She hugged Maleeka and then Katrina.

  “Katrina, I hope you don’t think I’m out of line for what I’m about to say to you, but I just want you to be careful. You know David has a girlfriend who lives in Detroit, yet you are all giddy about going on a date with a man who is in a committed relationship. I don’t think that’s right. I just want you to consider Toriyana’s feelings. Do you think she would be giddy if she knew you and David went out last night?”

  Katrina and Maleeka both stared at Aujanae like deer caught in headlights, but with different thoughts running through their heads.

  Katrina understood all too well what Aujanae was saying. She had often recited a similar speech to Maleeka whenever she brought up the matter of her going after David Mathis. The guilt she suddenly felt kept her silent.

  Maleeka, however, felt offended on behalf of her best friend. She understood Aujanae’s pain because of her cheating husband, but she would not allow her to take such a grandiose stand on Toriyana’s behalf and hurt her best friend in the process.

  “Wait a minut
e, Aujanae. We are talking about apples and oranges here. I know you are hurt. You have every right to be. William is your husband. The two of you stood before God and made a covenant to be faithful to each other. If the woman you believe William is having an affair with knows that he is married, and I think we all believe she does if it’s who we think it is, then she is a low-down skank. David and Toya . . .”

  “Her name is Toriya—” Katrina started to correct Maleeka, but the look she received from her stopped her.

  Maleeka continued. “David is not married or even engaged to his girlfriend; therefore, he is deemed a single man. And in that case, David’s girlfriend cannot claim exclusivity. Monogamy is reserved for marriage. That is the way God set it up. There are no biblical principles governing boyfriend/girlfriend or significant other types of relationships. There is no harm in two single people enjoying each other’s company. Please do not put Katrina in the same category as the tramp that is cheating with your husband.” Maleeka’s intention was to be firm but gentle in her reproof of Aujanae’s reprimand of Katrina. She hoped she had succeeded. She was not trying to inflict anymore pain upon her.

  “Your opinion is noted and valid, Maleeka. I’m not sure I agree with it completely, but I hear what you are saying,” Aujanae said evenly. To Katrina she said, “I’m sorry if I offended you. I was not trying to. My statement was meant to be one of simple consideration and compassion for someone who I’m sure loves David. And if I’m honest with myself, there was probably a little bit of my own scorn in there as well. Forgive me, please,” she sincerely pleaded with Katrina for her understanding.

  “All is completely forgiven and forgotten.” All three women hugged again.

  “Let me grab my purse so we can leave and get you back to your son,” Maleeka said as she walked the short distance to where her purse sat. When she got to her purse, she felt her phone vibrating inside. She pulled it out and saw she had two missed calls, a voice mail message, and two text messages from Darrin. She read the text.