Chapter 7
Madeline planted her cheeks in the first available seat at the smaller of the two kitchen tables, plopping her notebook down, too. She let out a huge yawn around ten-thirty. Catching Dave before he left in the wee hours of the morning had broken her rest. Dosing in and out for three to four hours had worn her down. Getting Sam up and out of the house claimed what drive she had remaining. She scooted closer to the table and tried collecting her thoughts. At best Madeline had an hour before Tamara would be running around wanting attention, with Don following close behind.
After several minutes of basically doing nothing but sitting, she decided to move to Dave’s study in the rear of the house. There was a desk and, most importantly, a door she could close off from the children. Since this was her first official day at home, Madeline preferred to slowly make the adjustment. She’d let the children continue spending the day with their nanny. Madeline would pop in and out without distraction. There would be plenty of time to take on the full day-to-day responsibility. She was more eager to hear what was going on in the office. So much was happening with COGIC coming onboard. There was plenty of movement at the office with the expansions and several big accounts in discussions, including a few of hers. She couldn’t wait any longer. She dialed the phone, wanting all the details.
Dave didn’t answer. It was okay for a little while. She could eat up the time by refining her original marketing campaign for the Eastern Lutheran Group. Her pride warmed thinking about the hard work put into courting the half-million dollar account. Madeline stared at the door, taking in glances of the room as she looked up periodically. To see her efforts pay off were both rewarding and equally melancholy. Honestly, she had wanted to be at the final presentation. She’d wanted to take the proposal all the way from the inception to the “cork-popping” celebration phase. That didn’t happen. Sam, Don, and Tamara flooded her thoughts, making it easier to shake off the tinges of disappointment. Her babies were the ultimate prize. She hadn’t lost sight of them. Even in her stretches of professional euphoria, they were most important. That’s the hymn she played over and over in her head until it calmed her ambitions.
The ringing phone caught her off guard. Peering at the wall clock, forty-five minutes had passed as she labored over the marketing campaign. It was her drug of choice. She knew it and was glad that the cost of her indulgence was free. She grabbed the phone after finishing her comment on the page, happy to hear Dave’s voice. “Hey, you, I tried calling you about an hour ago.”
“I was in a meeting with Frank. How’s it going with the kids? Are you enjoying your day off?”
Madeline snickered. “If you consider being sequestered in your study a day off.”
“What?”
“Never mind,” she told him, opting not to try and explain her weak attempt at being funny. Her interest immediately shifted back to the reason she’d called him earlier. “What’s going on there?”
“Remember when we talked about the CFO role a few months ago?”
“Yes, you were thinking asking Frank to take it on.”
“Well, I did.”
“Good move. What did he say?”
There was a brief silence. “Oh, he said yes,” Dave replied in a way that bothered Madeline.
“What are you doing? You seem distracted.”
“Excuse me, I’m sorry. It’s just that I have papers everywhere. I can’t find anything. With my secretary out and now you too, it’s a little crazy around here.”
“See, I knew this wasn’t a good idea for me to take off without planning it out. I need to get back in the office and figure out something else for the children. Maybe we can have a nursery or private school teach them at DMI? That’s probably not feasible but what do you expect? I get paid for thinking outside the box,” she said, serious about her recommendations, or at least kind of.
“We made the right decision. The kids need you more than I do right now.”
“If you don’t want my help—” Madeline said, seasoned with emotion.
Dave interrupted. “That’s not what I said.”
“Sure, sure, okay, but the reality is that your secretary is going to be out for who knows how long on sick leave. Why don’t you at least bring in a temp to keep your desks and papers organized?”
“That’s not a bad idea. She could help me keep track of this onslaught of meetings and handle quite a bit of administrative tasks. Next you’ll want me to find a marketing manager to replace you, too.”
“Absolutely not,” she said, with her voice elevating. She was ready to jump from the chair. “You can’t replace me so easily. I’m definitely not thinking about handing over my spot.”
“Now you’re talking. We’ll stick with the temporary secretary, but I don’t have time to interview anyone.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“No, I don’t want to add more work for you,” he told her. “This is my problem.”
Madeline wanted to do it. Only out of the office one day and she was suffering heavy withdrawals. The charge, the fast pace, the challenges, she missed all of it. Finding a secretary for Dave would be a nice way to stay connected. “I want to,” she told him.
“If you’re sure it’s not going to put a burden on you.”
Madeline heard a knock on the door, assuming it was one or both of the children. “Dave, hold on a minute. I think my hiding place has been discovered.” She set the phone receiver on the desk and went to the door. Don and Tamara were standing there. She bent down to greet them. “Hello, sleepyheads. Mommy’s on the phone with Daddy. Do you want to say hello?”
Tamara ran to the phone yelling out yes with each leap. Don followed her.
“When are you coming home?” Tamara asked.
Being with the children, Madeline could see how depleted they were. It was clear. She’d have to fill the void until he could give them more.
The setting sun beamed into Dave’s windshield, almost blinding his path. He was in the house a few seconds when Madeline came in from the kitchen.
“What are you doing home?” she asked, going to Dave and leaning her cheek in for a peck.
“I wanted to spend some time with the kids and give you a break,” he said as Tamara and Don ran into the foyer.
“But don’t you have Georgia Evangelical coming in tomorrow? I faxed the high-level marketing strategy to you around five. Did you get it?”
“It will be there in the morning,” Dave said, picking up Don and then Tamara.
“Humph, that’s a surprise coming from you,” Madeline said, reaching out for Don and Tamara. “Come on. It’s time for your baths.”
“I’m staying with Daddy,” Tamara shouted out, gripping her father’s neck tightly.
“Me too,” Don added.
“See what you’ve done coming home early?” Madeline told him, coming across as mostly frustration.
In that moment, Dave didn’t know what to do. He’d disrupted the flow of a household that didn’t include him. His goal was to give his wife a break, play with the kids, and be present for at least one night before inserting Andre in a few days. The plan was failing. “What if I give them their baths and put them to bed?”
“Yeah,” Tamara and Don shouted.
Madeline laughed. “Come on, you don’t have a clue about how to get them ready for bed.”
Sadly, she was correct. Time and circumstances had created a complex puzzle. He reflected on the past, unable to pinpoint the precise time when he’d become so far removed from the day-to-day life of his kids. His fatherly heart wanted to ache, but Tamara didn’t allow time for wallowing. She had him in the clutches of her grip and didn’t appear to be relinquishing her moment for acts of the past.
“Just for tonight, please, let them stay up a little longer. I need to spend the evening with them.”
“It might not seem like a big deal, but they need consistency.” Madeline eventually acquiesced. “All right, but only thirty extra minutes.” She gave Tamara a
look that must have been interpreted correctly because his daughter didn’t plead for more time.
Dave put both kids down. “Come on, Daddy,” Tamara said, pulling his hand and leading the way.
“You better warn me next time you plan to come home this early so I can prepare for this craziness.”
Dave’s soul was soothed. The surge of harmony erased the peeks of guilt, confident in his decisions. Madeline was the perfect mother for his kids. Soon she would be the same for Andre.
Chapter 8
The four-hour flight from Detroit to Phoenix yesterday hadn’t been long enough to mend Dave’s shattered spirit. Saying good-bye to Jonathan—his best friend, his brother, and confidant—was an unbearable burden. Only God could help him place one foot in front of the other and ascend the seven or eight steps to the pulpit. Finally, after a teary-eyed jaunt from his front-row seat, he was standing before the congregation. Overcome with emotion, he delivered the eulogy, letting his own words provide comfort.
“If God had taken my life, it would have been easier to bear.” Dave paused. The grief was balling up in his throat, making it difficult to speak. He cleared his throat forcefully and continued. “I always believed we’d become old men together, watching our kids and grandkids grow up.” Dave paused again. This time he took a sip of water and prayed silently for strength, the only place he knew to go. The congregation seemed patient with him, so he took the extra seconds to gather himself. Breathe, breathe he told himself, followed by a deep sigh. Dave felt the blood rushing through his veins, careening to his legs. He was rejuvenated and able to stand firm in the pulpit. “Yet, may God’s will be done in my life, in Jonathan’s life, and yours. Yesterday was the time to mourn. Today is a day of rejoicing.” The congregation was quiet but he continued, feeling the best he had since getting the news. “Jonathan is resting in the Lord. We too will have to take our rest one day, that is promised, but glory to the man who has prepared for his journey; the one who has made the proper reservation in heaven. As Jonathan repented his sins, and confessed Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as his Savior, he made the proper reservation. His soul was saved. So, Jonathan, my beloved friend,” Dave echoed, this time without any shakiness in his voice. “Take your well-earned rest, and I won’t say good-bye. I’ll just say that I’ll see you when I get home. To God be the glory for all He has done,” Dave said and took his seat as the congregation applauded. His weary bones had found favor.
Andre wasn’t as restored as Dave. The young man clung to him, not allowing more than two inches between them before, during, and after the service. Grief-stricken and despondent, Andre concerned Dave. His fatherly instincts kicked in and he instantly wanted to protect the boy, but from what—the will of God? It was evident that the boy would need a great deal of constant support, something Dave had in short supply.
Dave broke away to call Madeline. He wanted to hear the sound of her voice, a simple comfort he’d grown to cherish. He needed her now, but more so, Andre needed her. He would do all that was earthly possible, but a mother’s nurturing was the most effective medicine for broken-heartedness. Secure in Jonathan’s library, Dave had Madeline on the line.
“I can’t talk long,” he said, wanting to get back to Andre.
“How is everything going out there?” she asked.
“It was a bit rough this morning, but we’re managing. I plan to be home by tomorrow afternoon with Andre. We have a few loose ends to tie up here with the reading of the will and meeting with the real estate agent.”
“Won’t that take more than a day?”
“Probably, but I figured it was best to get Andre out of here. I can come back over the next couple of weeks to close out Jonathan’s estate.”
“I know it’s tough being there, but you sure sound better.”
“I had to. There was no sense in sitting around, pining over what God has already done. I loved Jonathan while he was alive, and he knew it. I have no regrets in our friendship and no doubts about God’s will. In those two facts I have regained my strength.”
“Okay, then that’s good enough for me.”
“How are the kids?”
“Their usual active selves, wanting more time and energy than I can give.”
“Are you sure you’re up for the new addition?” Dave hated laying the extra load on Madeline.
“What choice do we have? We can’t leave Andre there alone to be put into some private school or worse, to end up as a ward of the state,” she told him.
“I agree. I couldn’t live with myself if we didn’t take him in.”
“We’ll do the best we can, that’s all we can do.”
There was a knock on the library door. It had to be Andre since there wasn’t anyone else in the house. “Andre is looking for me. I better go. I love you. Give the kids a hug for me, and tell them Daddy loves them.”
Madeline thought she heard a thud come from down the hallway. She waited to see if it was followed by screaming or crying. Nothing came and she was temporarily relieved. Whatever the noise was, she figured it wasn’t serious since no one had called to her for help. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I was saying that Andre is looking for me. I’d better go and let you get back to the kids.”
That’s exactly what she was going to do. The noise hadn’t settled with her. Right before hanging up, she said, “Real quickly, I wanted you to know that I’ve found some candidates for the secretary’s position, through the temporary agency. With any luck, I’ll select someone today and have them on board when you get back.”
“That would be a dream. I’d better go. Andre needs me. We’ll talk later.”
“Yes, sure, go, go, and tell Andre we’re looking forward to seeing him.”
Madeline and Dave ended the call. She slowly placed the receiver on the phone base. Andre was going to need a boatload of attention and patience, rightfully so given his situation. The tricky part was that she didn’t have either in excess. Tamara and Don were consuming their share and most of Sam’s too. Brush away the flurry of worry. Madeline couldn’t let the mere thought of her obligations weigh her down. There was so much to do before Dave and Andre arrived, and fretting wasn’t getting the job done.
The morning marched on. Madeline drove to the office, speeding a good portion of the way. Sam was in school. Ms. Jenkins was keeping Don. Tamara was getting on the bus at noon for kindergarten. Madeline was exhilarated and eager to get to DMI. The rush of being behind her desk made her giddy. A half hour was all she had before the candidates would begin filing in one by one. Her day was going to be filled with six interviews on the schedule, but Madeline was thrilled to be where she was.
The late morning and early afternoon zoomed by, leaving her with three strong candidates who seemed to possess the right mix of dedication, flexibility, organization, and an ability to work long hours. Pleased with the choices, Madeline had a slight preference for the last person she interviewed, a young lady named Sherry Henderson. She was very young, but something about her resonated as a good fit for DMI and Dave’s working style. Madeline reviewed her notes several times but couldn’t come to a decision. It was getting late into the afternoon and Madeline had to get a few more things done before going home. She had to set the secretary search aside and let Dave make the final decision since he was good at assessing character. Besides, he would be the best judge in determining who had the right chemistry for the role, given the new hire would have to work many long hours with him. Madeline shoved Sherry’s resume and the others into the folder, pleased that she’d done her job. Now it was up to Dave to choose one.
Chapter 9
Each family member was present and accounted for: Don, Tamara, Sam, and their frequently uninvited guest, chaos. Hustle, bustle, rapid movement, outbursts, laughter, and heaps of continuous activity brewed a concoction of uncontrollable excitement.
“When are they getting here?” Tamara yelled out, tossing confetti into the air and twirling around as it floated to t
he floor.
“Soon, my dear, so we have to finish up very quickly.” Ms. Jenkins popped into the foyer and asked if they needed help. “I think we’re fine. The children are having a ball,” she told Ms. Jenkins, who then returned to the kitchen.
“Mom, I’m going to give Andre my super racer,” Sam said.
“Really, you’re giving away the model car that you got for your birthday?”
“Yep, I sure am.”
“Are you sure? Because you don’t have to.”
“I want to. He doesn’t have any parents and I have two. So, it kind of makes sense that if I’m going to share my parents, then I should share my favorite toys, too.”
Madeline went to her son and bent down to make direct eye contact. “You are quite a young man. I’m impressed and incredibly proud,” she told Sam, enveloping him into her embrace.
“Mom, let go. You know, I’m really sort of too big for hugs now.”
“Oh you are,” she said, pulling away from him with her hands softly clutching his forearms. “Face it, buddy, you’ll never be too old for me to hug, never.”
“Okayyyy, but can I get back to my gift? I want to have all my new batteries in before Andre gets here.”
“Fine, go, my little man.”
Don ran up to her, tugging at the bag of balloons in her hands. “Mommy, I’m going to give him my blanket.”
“I don’t think you want to give him that.”
“Yeah, unh hmm, I do.”
“Why is that, mister?” Madeline asked, pausing from the hectic flurry to hear her son more clearly, bending down to his level.
“Sam gave him something special. I want to give him something too.”
“That’s very sweet and shows that you’re a big boy,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. “Tell you what; let’s think about what else you might want to give him. You have lots of choices, and it will be fun to figure out what will be the perfect gift, okay?”
Anointed (Urban Books) Page 4