Into Each Life

by Shelia E. Bell

  “What have Sara and Anthony been up to these days?” he asked.

  “I talked to Sara a couple of weeks ago. They’re renovating Aunt Vashti’s house. They had been renting it out since Aunt Vashti dies. But the tenants were doing more damage than anything. Anthony said they might as well fix it up and then they’re going to move in it themselves. That way they’ll have more money for Andrew’s needs when he goes off to college in the fall.”

  “That’s a smart idea,” Prodigal told her. “What about your mom and dad. How are they doing?”

  “Oh, they’re doing super too. Momma said she was thinking about coming here sometime in early fall. She retired a couple of months ago. And you know Daddy has been retired for some time now, so they’re both getting used to being under each other’s feet everyday. But they’re in good health and sound mind. And that’s a lot to be thankful for. I still talk to them once or twice a week. What about your folks? It’s been a while since I’ve talked to Fantasia.”

  “Fantasia is just fine. But you know her. She’s all about those dead presidents. She focuses all of her energy into that gallery. Maybe she’ll succumb to the call of love one day. Who knows? But as long as she’s happy, then I’m happy for her.”

  “I’ve learned that a person can be content and at peace even in their singleness. I’m a living witness to that,” said Teary.

  “I agree with you, but that’s not what bothers me about her.”

  “What is it then?” she asked.

  “What bothers me more than anything else about her is that she still hasn’t accepted Christ into her life. You and I both know that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. I’m not saying that she wouldn’t be any less successful if she was saved, but what I am saying is that I’ve learned that only what we do for Christ lasts. I just don’t know what else to do about it or what else to say to her.”

  “There’s nothing more you can do. Just keep on praying for her and making intercession on her behalf.”

  “Well, I do that.”

  “How is Mrs. Runsome? Is she still dating the same man?”

  “Yep. She most definitely is. Something tells me that we might be hearing the sound of wedding bells real soon.”

  “What? Are they that serious?”

  “From what Fantasia tells me, yes, they are. And every time I talk to Momma, she sounds like she’s in a world that involves only the two of them. She’s been going with him to his church almost every Sunday too. I’m glad of that because her faith was always something sacred to her. It was really tested when Daddy died. It took a long time for Momma to start living again. But she’s happy now, her faith is strong and she’s opened her heart again,” Prodigal smiled warmly.

  “You know we all fall off the wagon at some time in our lives. You and I are proof of that aren’t we?” she laughed.

  “You got that right,” he responded.

  “How are Hope and David and their small village of children doing?”

  “They couldn’t be any better. Most of their energy is put into their church. From what David tells me, their congregation is growing. Hope is amazing with the kids. I don’t understand how she manages five little ones under her feet twenty four seven. For me, it’s more than a handful taking care of two boys.”

  “She has that gift of patience. Not everyone can do what she does. David is truly blessed to have her as his wife.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by the boys begging for more game tokens.

  Prodigal spoke up after the boys returned a third time for more tokens. “Hold up, guys. It’s time to sing happy birthday and dig into this delicious looking Super Hero cake. Come on. Let’s do it.”

  Together they sang, “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear, Kevin and Kaleb. Happy birthday to you.” Prodigal added in a crazy voice—“and many more.”

  Once the boys returned to play, Teary asked the question that had been lingering in the back of her mind the whole time. “How are Sheerah and her daughter? Did she accept your proposal?” She desperately wanted to know the answer, but at the same time she was afraid to hear his response.

  “She’s great. Sweet as ever. She’s really something else. But I guess I don’t have to tell you that, huh?”

  “No, you don’t. She is a kindhearted person. So, you didn’t answer all of my question.”

  “I know it. Alexis is fine. She has a crush on one of the boys in her class at Unity. As for Sheerah and I, marriage is definitely not in the picture. She wants to take her time and do what God directs her to do. And I agree with her. We’re still friends. We see each other from time to time. We do a lot of things with the kids too. But there’s no marriage in the forecast for us. Now tell me about you? What have you been up to and who have you been up to it with?” he grinned.

  “I’ve been great. I’m quite active in the Single’s Ministry and the Greeter’s Ministry at church. I’ve been doing quite a bit of freelance work and I’m beginning to build up quite a nice client list. I might even be able to freelance full time in a few more months.”

  “Teary that’s good to hear. I’m happy things are working so well for you.”

  “As for someone special in my life; there’s no one. But you know what?”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m quite content. I’m enjoying my work. I make good money. I love my church and I love working in the church. I‘ve truly grown in the Lord over these past couple of years, even more so over these last few months. God‘s been good to me. He’s sustained me through all the situations I’ve had to face in my life. For that, I am truly thankful to him, Prodigal.”

  “I heard that. You go on with your bad self.” Both of them laughed. Their hands locked across the span of the table.

  ♦

  Teary was elated to have Prodigal and the boys at her house. During the time they were there, she kept their schedule full of things to do. They had fun at Libertyland, visited Graceland and the National Civil Rights Museum and watched the sunset at Tom Lee Park. Patricia scooped them up for a day at the Fire Museum and Stax Academy. Teary showed them where she worked and introduced them to just about everyone at the newspaper.

  At night, after the boys were tucked in and fast asleep, Teary and Prodigal sat up to the wee hours of the night, drinking raspberry tea and reminiscing about their high school days. They were careful not to mention the events of the past that caused the rift in their friendship. But when Prodigal and Teary said goodnight and retreated to their bedrooms, Prodigal lay in the king sized bed thinking about Teary in the next room. He was sharing the guest room with the boys but what he wanted was to be lying next to Teary with her cradled underneath his arms. He felt good about his decision to come to Memphis. It only confirmed what his heart was trying to tell him. Teary made him happy. Teary made him feel complete. Sheerah had seen it and he had refused to see it until he couldn’t deny his love for her any longer.

  Time zoomed by way too fast for the both of them and before either of them realized, Prodigal found himself gathering up his and the boys’ things.

  Teary laughed at the sight of Kevin, Kaleb, Rocco and the cats snuggled up on the living room floor. Like always, the boys had fallen asleep while watching a movie. This time, it was X-Men that had lulled them to sleep. She went into the closet and pulled down a couple of blankets to cover them with and then proceeded to go help Prodigal pack. This was their last night together and she was missing him already.

  She knocked on the door of the guest room. “May I come in?” she asked, sneaking a look inside.

  “Of course, after all, it is your house,” Prodigal answered.

  “I thought you might like some help,” she offered.

  “Yeah, sure.”

  “Hey, move over.” She gave him a gentle shove. He inched over toward the head of the bed. She began picking up some of the boys’ clothes and started folding them neatly. “So, what are your plans when you get back home?”

  “Kevin and Kaleb
are enrolled in a summer camp program sponsored by our church. It starts next Wednesday. They’ll be going to the mountains for the first two weeks of camp, and then spending another week at a retreat center about two hours outside of Denver. As for me, I recently joined a sports group at the Center for Independent Living. They teach people like me how to engage in sports even with their physical challenges. There’s also a special group that counsels newly injured individuals by educating them concerning their disability, the trauma a major injury causes, and then presents options for the individual to get back in the swing of things, especially those who love sports, like me. I’m going to be one of the counselors.”

  “Prodigal, that’s fabulous. I knew you could do it.”

  “And I know you won’t believe this next thing I’m going to tell you.

  “What? Don’t keep me in suspense,” she replied, anxious to hear what he had to tell her.

  “I’ve been elected to serve as a deacon at my church. Can you believe it?”

  She was astounded. These were exactly the kinds of things she hoped he would get involved in doing. She believed that whatever he set his mind to do, he could do it.

  “That’s great, Prodigal. I’m glad to know you’ve decided to get back to living. I don’t think I ever told you this, but I know it’s been extremely hard for you. So much has happened in so little time. I can’t begin to understand what you must be feeling. But I’ve learned that God is in control of every single situation in our lives. That includes those situations and times when we mess up. It means He’s in control of the good things and the bad things that enter into our lives. I’ve had to remind myself of this often, so I’m not trying to lecture you or anything. But you know we were brought up to believe in God and to trust in Him. Right?”

  “Right. It’s just that life gets hard sometimes. You know this. And after Faith’s death, it was like that was the last straw. I mean, I saw my father die and then Faith. I just didn’t understand why God was allowing all of this to happen to me. When I lost my leg, I just knew my life was over. When that happened, I thought about ending it all. But something within kept me thinking about my sons. I couldn’t leave them. I couldn’t let them grow up without any parents. It was hard enough for me when Daddy died. So I realized that I just couldn’t give up, no matter what.”

  Tears swelled up in both of their eyes. Prodigal stopped packing but continued talking. “I know God’s ways are not our ways, Teary, and his thoughts are not our thoughts. But I just wish sometimes that I could understand some of the stuff He allows in our lives. Look at you. You’re such a sweet, kind and compassionate woman. But then you get some scumbag like Skyler who all but destroys your life. You didn’t deserve that kind of treatment. And then I look at my mom. You know she loved my dad with all of her heart. Yet, God called him home and left my momma to raise us all alone. She grieved for that man for so many years. I know that she’s finally found some happiness and I’m glad. But I also know that no one will ever replace Solumun Runsome in her heart. And then there’s Faith. My darling Faith. Who would have thought that she would go to be with God at such an early age and leave me and the boys longing for her and missing her? I always thought we would grow old together, you know? There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think about her and wish that she was here with the boys and me. I still miss her, Teary.” The tears refused to stay back any longer.

  “Prodigal.” Teary stroked his back gently. “We’ll probably never know the answers to all the questions we have. But we do know the one who holds the answers. That’s what keeps me going. That’s what keeps me moving and striving. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, I know.” They sat on the bed in silence, holding each other as if they were afraid that if they let go, they would both fall apart. They were two people whose lives had been designed from the beginning to intertwine, to connect, to be united forever. And so they sat and allowed the silence to satisfy them.

  Prodigal penetrated the wall of silence. “Teary, about that night. I have to tell you something about that night.”

  “No, shhh. It’s all right. We don’t have to go there.” She brushed her fingers gently across his lips to hush him.

  “Oh, yes, we do,” he said, adamantly. His wrinkled brow revealed his desperate need to speak. His words came out slowly. “I wanted you so bad that night. I wanted to hold you close to me, to feel your body surrender underneath my touch.” As he spoke, he weaved his fingers in and out of the locks of her hair nestled along the side of her face. “I wanted to inhale the soft fragrance of your hair.” He leaned forward and breathed in the fragrance of her hair. “I wanted to taste your sweet lips and fee; the warmth of your body next to mine.” Prodigal grazed his fingers seductively over the curve of her lips. “I wanted you, Teary. I believed I’ve wanted you since I was that little four-eyed, dusty boy from Broknfield. I’ve loved you all along.”

  He moved himself from the closeness of Teary, afraid even at that moment that the love he felt for her would overtake him. He reached out and stroked her soft, baby smooth face. His fingers traced her eyes, and then moved to her nose. He traced the outline of her lips.

  Her eyes closed. She felt the same tremble envelop her body just like that night they both had tried so hard to forget. She knew he was right. She always knew there was something special about their relationship. For the first time in her life she knew what she had always known but was afraid to admit. She loved Prodigal Runsome like a woman loves a man. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.

  “Prodigal,” she whispered to him, her breathing becoming heavy. “I love you, too. I love you, too,” she repeated. “I was afraid that I had ruined everything for us. I was afraid that you didn’t feel the same way I felt about you. I didn’t want our friendship destroyed because of my foolish thoughts and desires.”

  “No. Don’t you see? Through everything that has happened in our lives, we’ve survived and we’ve survived together. I know there will never be another Faith. But I also know there’ll never be another Teary Fullalove either. We can do this. We can make it together.”

  “Together?” she repeated, uncertain as to what he was really saying.

  “Yes, together. I came here to set the record straight. I want to tell you how I really feel, to tell you that I’m in love with you. You see, I want to be the one who lies beside you every night and wakes up beside you every morning.”

  “Prodigal…”

  He placed two fingers against her lips. “Shhh, listen, baby. I want to be the one to take care of you, to be that man you’ve always deserved. I want to love you, Teary for the rest of our lives.”

  Teary was speechless. Surely I didn’t hear what I just heard. I must be dreaming. But if I’m dreaming, then I don’t want to wake up. I want to live this dream forever, .she said within.

  “Teary,” he called her name softly. “Did you hear what I just said?” he asked becoming nervous at not knowing how she would accept his confession of love for her.

  “Oh yes. I heard every word. And I want to lie beside you every night and wake up beside you every morning. I want to be the one to take care of you, to love you totally and completely.”

  This time when their lips met there was no hesitancy. There was no feeling of wrongdoing. Everything felt right. Everything felt good.

  Chapter 43

  Set Free

  Ruth curled up on the loveseat in her luxurious master bedroom suite on the third floor of the gallery. She spent a lot of her down time in this two bedroom suite, especially when the weather was bad or when she was just plain too tired to go home. The suite was tastefully decorated in soothing, earth tone colors with dashes of lavender accessories. The interior designer had done an excellent job. Ruth’s king-sized bed faced a bank of curved glass windows overlooking a panoramic view of Belleaf. The mantled fireplace and seating area gave the room a warm, inviting aura.

  While she sipped on her club soda, gazing out at the captivating scenic
view, she reminisced. She dreamed of how much she longed to have Solumun beside her. The two of them could be enjoying life and living together. Fantasia had been good to her. If Solumun was alive, things would only have been that much better. She would be with the man who stole a young teenage girl’s heart all those many years ago. Then her mind drifted to thoughts of William Phillips, her rescuer, the one who breathed life into her existence again. The one who proved to her that she had room in her heart to love someone again. She never thought in a million years that she would ever feel love for another man, not after Solumun. But not only did she love William, for the first time since Solumun’s death, she felt a genuine sense of peace. It was like Solumun was with her, giving her his blessings, his approval. She had found a good man in William and she wasn’t going to let him go.

  She dropped to the side of the loveseat and knelt down on her knees. Hot tears rolled down the length of her face. Lord, forgive me. Ruth released all of the hurt, the anger, the bitterness, the pain and the grief that she had kept bottled up inside her for the past twenty seven years. God I’ve been angry with you for so long that my anger turned to bitterness. I’ve been full of heartache but I’m tired of being bitter. I’m tired of questioning you. Bring me back into your fold where I belong.

  An indescribable peace rose up inside Ruth. She felt released. She felt free. She felt alive. But most of all Ruth Runsome felt the forgiveness and mercy of God.

  Epilogue

  September- October 2006

  Fantasia and her staff were busy finalizing plans for the wedding of the year. There was a lot to do, and being the perfectionist that she was, she insisted that everything be perfect. After all, this was not going to be an ordinary wedding. It was the talk of the town for the socialites of Belleaf, Maryland.

  They scurried around meeting with caterers, making sure they chose the perfect wedding dress, the perfect colors for the wedding and the best food.