“Can I help you?”
“Yes, I want to see my baby,” she shouted.
Dave cut in and told the nurse, “She’s very upset. Is it possible to get something to help her relax?”
The nurse peered at Sherry’s chart and responded, “I’ll check with her doctor. Shouldn’t be a problem though.”
Sherry wailed, unable to control herself. She wanted to die too if her baby was dead. Dave attempted to calm her down but nothing worked. “It was a boy?” She asked through her moans.
“Yes,” he said reluctantly.
“Our son is dead,” she screamed. “Why aren’t you upset, Dave? You’re the father. Don’t you care about our son?”
“I do, but he’s gone. No amount of anger or caring is going to bring him back.”
“I don’t know how you can talk so nonchalantly about him.”
He stepped away from the bed. “I prayed and prayed for the baby to live. Once I realized the baby had died, I accepted the fact that God had spoken. His will was done. I could question why, but what good would it do?”
“At least I would feel like the baby mattered to you,” she said, unsuccessfully reaching for a tissue.
Dave hurried over to get it for her. “I’m not going to dwell on the past. It’s out of our control. I prefer looking to the future, where I can make a difference.” He handed her a tissue. “I suggest you do the same.”
Sherry wasn’t as willing to accept their baby’s fate and definitely wasn’t as satisfied with God’s decision as Dave was. “I can’t forget about my baby as easily as you’ve been able to do. I need time to accept the loss of my first child.”
“I understand. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll make arrangements with the funeral home.”
Arrangements hadn’t dawned on her until he said it. The revelation spurred Sherry to ache both emotionally and physically. She didn’t want any part of a funeral. Yet, Sherry couldn’t bear to miss the only opportunity she’d ever get to care for her child’s needs.
“I want to take care of the arrangements for our baby. Please, don’t do anything until I’m out of the hospital,” she pleaded, wiping her eyes and nose.
He acknowledged her request, offering a slight sense of relief as she laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes to rest. If she never woke up again, that would be perfect.
Chapter 70
Chill was in the air. Summer had passed and autumn was on the way out as Christmas approached. Madeline reflected on how much her life had changed. One short year ago felt more like a lifetime. She vividly recalled making the tough decision of choosing Dave, DMI, or the children, with room for only two. Back then, she chose Dave and the children without hesitation, believing that her only challenge was figuring out how to be superwoman without becoming overwhelmed.
Madeline strolled down the long hallway, peering at one family photo after the next. She stopped at the most recent addition: the one with Dave, her, and the three children taken before Andre arrived. She stood staring and reminiscing. Her pride soared staring at the faces of Don smiling, Tamara beaming, and Sam being a little man. Sadness touched her lightly. They weren’t the family in the photo anymore. Her world had changed to an unrecognizable state. She brushed her hand along the rim of the picture frame, similar to the way a person patted a casket just before walking away from a gravesite.
She moved into the foyer. Her mind was set. Confusion had waged a solid war, tossing her back and forth, in and out of marriage for months. Madeline had worn down just about the time when her decision was becoming evident. She was no longer conflicted about the divorce, having spent many days and nights pondering and sobbing. Sherry and Dave had driven her to the brink of insanity. It would have been simple to blame the divorce dissolution on the baby. She didn’t, realizing that Sherry’s baby hadn’t been the sole factor preventing her from reconciling with Dave. If it was, they’d have gotten back together after the baby died last month. They hadn’t and she was experiencing a fair amount of peace being away from Dave and the fallout.
Thinking about the decision now, she would have never guessed that DMI and the children would be her life, void of Dave.
She had to move forward expeditiously with the divorce and get on about the business of living. She’d wait and call Dave in the morning to tell him about her decision.
Chapter 71
Dave eagerly agreed to meet Madeline when she’d called earlier. She’d opted to meet at DMI, mid-afternoon, and he was most accommodating. He’d checked the clock several times between one and two o’clock, expecting to see Madeline coming through the doorway. He began to doubt that she was coming. Just as he was about to give up hope on her, she rapped on the door. It was already open. He leapt to his feet and beckoned for her to come in. She did.
“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind,” he said. “Can I get you anything?” Dave asked, partially sitting on a corner of his desk.
“No, nothing, thanks. I couldn’t help but notice that you have a new secretary out front. What happened to Sherry? Did you finally fire her?”
He hesitated, not wanting to derail their positive interaction. He carefully chose his words. “No, I didn’t.”
“Then where is she? Because I know you know.”
“Before she had the baby . . .” he said, stumbling a little over his words. “She was moved to human resources quite awhile ago.” Dave could see a slight change in Madeline’s disposition, precisely what he didn’t want to happen. They were at least talking and that was more than he’d realized in weeks.
“I better cut this visit short, because honestly, I don’t want to run into her today. I’m feeling too good for drama.”
“You don’t have to worry about her interrupting.” Madeline looked perplexed and he wanted to ease her concern. Whatever he could do to keep her in his office and talking, he would do. “She’s in a short-term care facility.”
“For what?” Madeline asked. He couldn’t discern if she was asking out of a modest level of concern or pure curiosity. Either way, he was going to tell her.
“After the baby died, she had a psychological break.”
“You mean she’s in a psychiatric facility?” Dave nodded in affirmation. “Hmm, that’s too bad.” Dave was touched getting a glimpse of the old Madeline, the loving and caring woman he’d chosen to spend his life with. “As a mother, I feel for her. As a wife, all I can say is that she made her bed and now she’s lying in it.” Dave kept quiet. “Her fiancé is probably just as hurt as I was about the baby.”
“I don’t know. She hasn’t mentioned him to me, not that there would be any reason to. I’m not involved in their relationship.”
“You don’t mean that, do you?” Madeline asked.
“Yes, I do. My only involvement with Sherry is covering her expenses until she’s recovered and stable.”
“You’re obviously spending time with her, too.”
“I visit her if that’s what you mean. I figure it’s the least I can do since I did contribute to her situation. I’m not making excuses, but she comes from a very small family and is practically alone. My visits seem to be helping. So, I go.”
Madeline waved off the comment. “Whatever. I didn’t come here to talk about Miss Sherry Henderson. I came here to talk about us.”
Dave’s hope sparked. He took random glances at her, remembering what an attractive woman she was. Especially today, the suit fit her body like a glove and her hair was curled, hanging down onto her shoulders. She was quite pleasing in his eyes. “I don’t know if this is the right time or place, but I want you to know that I miss you. I would love for us to give the marriage another shot. What do you think?” he asked.
Madeline sat on one of the chairs closest to his desk. “Dave, I miss you too.” The words were a treat for him coming from her. He was hopeful. “But too much has happened. We can’t turn back the hands of time. Mistakes have been made, hearts broken, and this is where we are, but I’m not mad righ
t now. I’m just ready to move on,” she said, pausing, and then going on to say, “without you.”
“That’s not what I was hoping to hear from you.” He truly believed they needed more time to let the troubles dissipate before taking such a monumental step toward severing the marriage. That’s what he believed but certainly wasn’t going to push. “But if there’s nothing else I can say or do—”
“There isn’t,” she said, interrupting and grinning. “Let it go, I have.”
Maybe she is right, Dave pondered. “Then I will make the settlement as painless as possible for you.” Dave placed both feet on the floor as he leaned against the desk’s edge. “I’ll let you have whatever you want; but Madeline, you know I can’t give you DMI.” Without his family, the company was all he had left. Managing DMI was his calling, and he’d continue leading the charge through the many battles left to fight. “But I’ve been meaning to create a board of directors since we’ve grown to a significant size. How about a seat on the DMI board?”
“Sounds interesting,” she said, appearing intrigued, and then she took on a serious tone. “And I want my job back.”
“Done, it’s yours,” he said.
“Yeah, right, for how long? Until a new Mrs. Mitchell wants you to kick me out?” she said, smirking.
“Won’t ever happen.”
“Which part, your getting remarried or me getting kicked out?”
Dave didn’t dare answer her no-win question. Instead, he did what his heart said. “I will put it in writing. You will have an executive-level role here as long as you want.”
She was instantly chipper, a sight that pleased him. “Really, you mean I don’t have to fight you on it?”
“Not at all, you helped build this company. It’s partially yours anyway. The least I can do is to make your permanent involvement official. You can be here until death do you part. Neither I nor anyone after me can make you leave. God has a plan for DMI, and you’re a part of it.”
“I’m not trying to be funny or insulting, but with the way your life is playing out, are you still convinced about God’s so-called anointed plan? It doesn’t seem to working too well for you.”
He scratched his chin and said, “It’s the only fact that I am certain about. As unfair or crazy as this may sound to you, God’s plan didn’t change because I made a mistake. He knew before I was born what I’d be doing, what I’d do well, and where I’d fall short.” Madeline didn’t seem interested but he continued anyway. “He’d already factored in my sinful, weak nature.”
“Well, then you have to explain to me why the anointed plan for you has caused so much hurt for everyone else?”
Dave didn’t return the answer he could have given, convinced nothing would pacify her thirst for restoration and healing. Telling her that it was him, and not the Lord’s plan that failed her, wasn’t going to alleviate the anguish. Instead he said, “Madeline, I apologize again for hurting you and betraying your trust. We’ve had many great years together. I don’t know what the future holds, but I can honestly say these have been the best years of my life.” He took several steps toward her with his arms extended.
At first Madeline didn’t move. Then she took several steps toward him too and leaned into his embrace, with no other words spoken between them. Dave felt her heart beating in rhythm with his. He only had admiration for Madeline and harbored no sorrow about loving and partnering with her for thirteen years. He held her tighter, as tightly as she’d let him. Minutes seemed like hours. He accepted that it would be the last time he’d be able to hold her as his wife.
Their moment of togetherness evaporated, and Madeline was leaving.
“Can you close the door behind you?” he asked her.
“Sure,” she said on her way out of the office.
Madeline left Dave with his memories. He went to the windows and peered into the majestic sky. DMI’s reputation was going to pay as a result, but those consequences weren’t his primary concern as he stood there. Failing as a husband and father was where he felt the grief. His hands covered his face as he wept over the loss. “My God, deliver me. Let my life be pleasing before you,” he said, continuing to stare into the heavens, the source from where his peace and restoration would have to come without Madeline by his side.
Reading Guide Questions
Makes You Go Hmmm!
Now that you have read Anointed, consider the following discussion questions.
1. Who’s your favorite character and why?
2. Dave was very clear about his calling and never wavered about what took precedence in his life. Given that he loved Madeline, was marrying her the right decision?
3. Should Madeline have left DMI to become a stay-at-home mom? How did the change affect the bond with Dave?
4. Looking back at the relationship between Dave and Madeline, there were signs of problems brewing. In your opinion, what was the primary reason for the breakup between Dave and Madeline: infidelity, unwillingness to forgive, or was it the distance they’d both allowed to creep into the marriage?
5. Is Sherry a calculating “home wrecker” as Madeline sees her or is she a victim of circumstances and vulnerability?
6. How can Dave be a solid man of God and sin so easily? Does his mistake dilute his relationship with God?
7. Can a couple survive adultery? If not, why? If yes, how?
8. Did Madeline make the right decision in kicking Dave out and filing for divorce? What would have been the benefits or sacrifices associated with staying in the marriage?
9. Do you think it’s a smart idea for Madeline to go back to DMI with Sherry there?
10. Frank adored his little brother and saw him as a godly man with the “golden Midas touch.” He was very disappointed in Dave’s fall from grace and began losing faith in the future. What’s the danger in placing your hope and faith in a person as opposed to God?
11. We watched Sherry and Edward grow apart. Can the couple rekindle what they had?
12. How did you feel about the efforts Edward made in paying Sherry’s bills—should or shouldn’t have?
13. The Mitchell family drama is loosely based on King David, a mighty Biblical warrior who had God’s favor and a distinctive purpose, but was also plagued with personal problems, family failures, and sinful choices. Because of his willingness to repent and to forgive, he was deemed a righteous man, able to forget the pain, anguish, and bitterness associated with mistakes of the past. Why is forgiveness so important to both the offender and the offended?
14. Forgiveness isn’t easy but can be liberating, healthy, and powerful. Is it difficult to embrace a joyous future while holding on to wounds of the past? Is there anyone you need to forgive in order to embrace your future?
15. If Anointed was a movie and you were the casting director, who would play the role of Dave, Madeline, Sherry, and Frank.
Author’s Note
Dear Readers:
Thank you for reading Anointed. I hope you found the story entertaining. Look for Betrayed, the next book in the Mitchell family drama series, followed by Chosen, Destined, and Broken.
I look forward to you joining my mailing list, dropping me a note, or posting a message on my web site. You can also friend me on Facebook at Patricia Haley-Glass or like my Author Patricia Haley fan page.
As always, thank you for the support. Keep reading, and be blessed.
www.patriciahaley.com
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Anointed (Urban Books) Page 23