Lewis continued to dig. “What about money, Leon? Do you have enough to stay afloat? I could help you out.”
“No, thank you, I have everything I need,” Leon said with finality.
Leon turned on his heels, and, without looking back, exited the store and jumped into his truck. His days of working for someone else were over. Not that he was above it; it just wasn’t what he was born to do. He wanted a legacy, something to pass on to his boys if that’s what they wanted. Leon’s desire to build Starla a house was stronger than ever. After making it through the fire of disappointment without her love for him getting consumed, Starla deserved the best of everything, and Leon was determined to die trying to grant her wishes. Their trip to Calistoga transported their love back to the early days of their courtship so much that Starla finally agreed to renew their wedding vows.
Naiveté was not one of Leon’s characteristics. He was concerned about their future. To be honest, he was frightened. He prayed constantly for his courage to outweigh his fear. It did, and Starla’s unwavering belief in him was the fuel that kept his engine running. “Father, I thank you for giving me more chances than I can count,” Leon prayed before leaving the gas station parking lot as an employee for the last time.
“How are you this morning?” Mr. Atkins’s smile showed nearly all thirty-two of his teeth. That’s one of the things Marlissa loved most about her employer; Brother Atkins was drenched in happiness all the time. “The joy of the Lord,” he called it.
Marlissa forced a bright smile at her boss, determined not to drag her personal business into the office. “Blessed and most highly favored. How is your Monday morning so far?”
Mr. Atkins nodded. “Just lovely. God woke me up and kissed me with His sunshine.”
Marlissa quickly went over the day’s schedule with him, pondering if she should tell her boss about her pregnancy. She decided to wait until she started to show.
Mr. Atkins’s office door barely closed before Marlissa booted up her computer. She was on a mission. She needed to find an apartment she could afford on her insurance salary alone. This morning’s bout with morning sickness helped her realize that she wouldn’t be able to work sixteen-hour days during her pregnancy. Prenatal care was another issue. Her job didn’t provide health insurance. Marlissa was among the thousands of working poor in California. That left her with two options: apply for state assistance or ask Kevin for help. Right now she was leaning toward door number one.
Marlissa searched every Web site for housing within a ten-mile radius and grew more frustrated by the minute. Not one of the rental Web sites offered any hope. The nice apartments were way out of her price range. The ones in her range were in the worst neighborhoods. “I should take your daddy’s house and make him find an apartment,” she grumbled and rubbed her stomach. “You would love it there.”
Her thoughts drifted to what her baby would look like. Would he be tall like Kevin or average like her? Would Kevin’s chocolate skin dominate or would his chocolate blend well with her creamed coffee complexion? What would she name her son or daughter? “I’ll just have to wait and see,” she stated when the phone rang.
Her stationary smile fell once she heard the caller’s voice. It was Kevin. She’d been avoiding his calls, but the insurance office phone didn’t have caller ID.
“What do you want?” she said dryly.
“Can I see you today, please?”
“No.”
“What about tonight?”
“No.” She heard Kevin sigh after the second refusal.
“Marlissa, we really need to talk.”
To her, Kevin sounded exhausted, like he hadn’t slept in days. Marlissa stroked her abdomen. “I know, but not tonight. I’ll let you know when I can pencil you in. Bye.” She hung up before she gave into her desire to see him.
It hadn’t been two whole days since the breakup, and as much as she hated to admit it, Marlissa missed him. This morning she cried through what would have been their prayer time. What about Bible Study? How was she supposed to sit in the same building with him? “He better take my advice and go back to his mother’s church,” she mumbled, and resumed her fruitless Internet search.
Two hours later Marlissa gave up the futile search and faced the hard facts. She couldn’t have this baby without Kevin’s help. She couldn’t even find a one-bedroom apartment without his signature. “I should have kept that bank check card a little longer.” She folded her arms and pouted. It was too late; on her way to work, she had picked up the rest of her belongings from the house and left the check card along with the house and car keys on the kitchen counter.
Marlissa brooded a while longer before she swallowed her pride. “Let’s go see your daddy.” She sighed and looked down at her still-flat stomach. She wasn’t going to ask him for anything. Her intentions were to simply tell him about the baby and then wait and see what he offered.
Chapter 30
“Dr. Jennings, are you sure you don’t want me to cancel the afternoon clinic? You don’t look so well.”
“I’ll be fine,” Kevin answered his nurse for the third time. “A brief nap during lunch time and I’ll be good as new.”
“If you say so.” His nurse grunted and shook her head at him before leaving.
No sooner had his nurse closed the door than Kevin stretched out on his office couch and closed his eyes. Two sleepless nights were taking their toll on him. Every muscle in his body ached, and his prosthesis irritated him to the point where he wanted to snatch it off and throw it across the room. Kevin hadn’t eaten much, either. His last complete meal was two days ago at the gala. Since then, he’d munched on rice cakes and fruit with occasional water. Thankfully, he only had one procedure scheduled this morning and it was a routine LASIK.
Kevin knew he couldn’t continue with his diet and sleep regimen for long, but he couldn’t help it if he couldn’t sleep without Marlissa next to him. The first time she left it was easy; they were already in separate bedrooms and barely speaking. This time around she was the manifestation of every desire he needed and wanted in a wife. They had become one in every sense. Being separated from her was now unnatural to him.
Tonight, he’d hoped to put an end to the chaos, but Marlissa dismissed him like he was a stranger. “What does she mean, pencil me in?” Kevin grumbled. “I am her husband; I should go down to that insurance office and make her talk to me.” Turning onto his side, Kevin realized that doing so would be a major mistake. The male-dominance approach never worked with Marlissa. He wouldn’t get two words out before Marlissa would jump into her fight zone. No, he would just have to wait until she was ready to hear his pleas for forgiveness. A knock on his office door disturbed his mental ramblings.
“Who is it?” Kevin barked at the door.
“It’s me,” a female answered.
“I am not in the mood for this today,” he grumbled, and started for the door. “Reyna, what do you want?”
Reyna was taken aback by Kevin’s rude behavior. “Sorry, I’ll come back later. Better yet, I’ll write you a letter.” She turned and left.
Watching her slowly walk, Kevin regretted his abrasiveness and started after her. “Reyna, hold on.”
She stopped and turned around. “Kevin, I didn’t come here to stalk you.” Reyna lowered her head. “I came to thank you, but I should have called first.”
Kevin leaned against the wall and folded his arms. “You came to do what?”
Reyna raised her head and took a deep breath. “I know this sounds strange, but I want to thank you for having me arrested.”
Kevin raised his eyebrows. “Really?”
“Yes. You were right, one night in a cold jail cell opened up my understanding. Not just to the fact that I was chasing a married man, but the reason I was chasing after you became crystal clear.”
Reyna piqued his interest, and he invited her into his office.
“As I was saying,” she continued, seated next to him on the couch. “That night a
nd every day since, I have been thinking about a lot of things. Important things, like who am I, why I do the things I do, and what I want.”
“I’m impressed.” Kevin smiled.
“I haven’t figured it all out yet, but one thing’s for sure, I don’t want you, never have.”
Kevin faked injury. “You hurt my feelings.”
“No offense, Kevin, but I’m not attracted to you. I only chased you because that’s what your mother wanted me to do.” Kevin wasn’t laughing anymore. “I idolized your mother and I was willing to do anything she wanted me to. I trusted her to have my best interest at heart.”
“What about now?” Kevin asked.
Reyna stood and walked over to the window. “Kevin, Pastor Jennings is your mother and I wouldn’t dare slander her, but she’s not the person I thought she was.”
“What do you mean?” He had a good idea, but asked anyway.
Reyna turned to face him. “Your mother hasn’t spoken two words to me since she blamed me for you leaving the church. She claims that if I had tried harder, you and Marlissa wouldn’t have reconciled and you’d still be with her.”
Kevin closed his eyes and breathed heavily. In his head, Marlissa’s statement about him being just like his mother haunted him. Am I that cruel? he wondered. “Reyna, I am so sorry for how my mother used you.”
“Don’t be sorry, I didn’t offer much resistance. Tyson tried to point out the manipulation to me on Memorial Day, but I refused to receive it for what it was. I respected Pastor Jennings as a genuine woman of God. She was my pastor. The idea of her using and manipulating me was incomprehensible.”
“Are you still attending church?” Kevin was concerned about her spiritual life.
Reyna shook her head. “No, but I pray and read my Bible on a regular basis. Tyson has been trying to get me to visit your church with him, but I don’t know if I want to attend church anymore. Tyson seems to believe that if I’m around Christians who genuinely portray the love of God, my trust will be restored.”
“I think Tyson is right. I recognized a big difference the first time I stepped foot inside Restoration Ministries. That place really does live up to its name. The people there care more about spiritual well-being than outward appearances. I can’t say enough about Pastor Drake. Hearing him teach the Word has helped me to understand what God really requires and not what man desires of me.”
“That’s what Tyson keeps telling me. He’s thinking about joining.”
Kevin smirked. “That will really make Mother happy.” He then lightened the mood by asking, “If I’m not your type, then what is your type?”
“Men and their egos.” Reyna smacked. “Don’t get me wrong, you’re handsome, but I prefer bright-skinned brothers and I love bearded men.”
“Aw, I see.” Kevin had it figured out. “You prefer someone like Tyson?” He smiled.
“I’m not saying all that.” Reyna shook her head and both of her hands to emphasize her point.
“What I heard you say was his name three times in less than a minute,” Kevin teased.
“You better let that go,” Reyna warned. “He’s just helping me work through my issues. That’s all!”
“All right, I’ll leave it alone,” Kevin conceded, but the beam on Reyna’s face said that this wasn’t the end of the story.
Reyna reached for her purse and Kevin walked her to the door. “Kevin, I am happy that you and Marlissa were able to work things out. It would have been a major mistake for the two of you to divorce, seeing how much you love her.”
Kevin wondered why Marlissa couldn’t see that. “Thank you, Reyna. I’ll be praying for you, and please pray for me.”
“Does this mean you accept my apology?”
“Of course, I accept your apology.” Kevin reassured her by giving her a light hug.
“What are you so happy about?” Vangie asked, walking over to Starla’s desk. “Let me guess: it starts with ‘L’ and rhymes with ‘neon.’”
“Girl, flesh and blood didn’t reveal that.” Starla laughed. “That’s my boo!”
Vangie shook her head. “You sound like a schoolgirl in love for the first time.”
Starla smiled, thinking that that was exactly how she felt. Life with Leon was glorious; the only way they could be closer was if they were joined at the hip.
“Are you coming?” Starla inquired. To celebrate their reunion, she and Leon were renewing their vows in a small ceremony among friends.
“I’ll try my hardest to be there since we’re close family; you being my auntie’s late husband’s daughter. And you have the nerve not to let me be the maid of honor.” Vangie walked away, laughing.
Starla directed her attention back to the wedding details. She’d just hung up with the florist when her desk phone rang.
“Lewis, what are you doing, calling me here at work? I told you not to call me anymore.”
“I know what you told me, but I needed to talk to you.” Lewis was indifferent, as if she hadn’t thrown him out of her house. “I’ve waited long enough and it’s time you made a decision about us.”
“Lewis, how many times do I have to tell you there is no us? I am a married woman, now leave me alone!” Starla muffled her voice so no one in the office could hear her.
“Starla, please don’t hang up, you’ll regret it if you do.”
Lewis’s tone frightened her. “What do you mean by that?”
“Starla, I have waited patiently for you to come to your senses, but you’re determined to ruin things by entangling yourself with bondage. I’m giving you one more chance to make a decision to divorce your pitiful husband and move on with your life.”
“Who do you think you are?” Starla shrieked into the receiver.
“Starla, I’m the one who loves you, and if I can’t have you, a worthless man like Leon Scott certainly won’t.”
“Lewis, don’t ever call me again.” Her fingers trembled long after she slammed the phone down. What on earth did Lewis mean? Could he, would he cause physical harm to her? Would he harm Leon? Would he harm the boys? Those questions troubled her for the rest of the day. Starla didn’t know if she should tell Leon. One thing was sure: it was time to pray.
“I hate him!” Marlissa screamed, and threw her purse into her desk drawer, then slammed it shut. “Not even two full days and he’s all hugged up with Reyna! Less than three hours ago he was calling me, talking about he wants to see me. Ugh! I can’t stand that man!”
It was a good thing the insurance office was empty. Marlissa was livid after going to Kevin’s office to tell him about the baby, only to find him hugged up in his doorway with Reyna.
“That lousy cheat!” she yelled, pounding her fist on the desk.
The office door opened, and Marlissa dumped her frustration and anger out on her visitor without mercy.
She stood up and demanded, “How much longer do I have to be married to that trifling, low-down, sorry-excuse-for-a-man friend of yours?”
“I guess you and Kevin haven’t made up yet,” Tyson said calmly.
“We’re not going to make up, ever! Now about the divorce, I need to make an amendment to the agreement.”
Tyson looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Marlissa don’t make any hasty decisions. You’re angry right now.”
“Oh, I’m way past angry. Trust me, you don’t want to know what I am at this moment.”
“What changes would you like to make?” Tyson asked, still a little too calm for Marlissa’s liking.
She planted her hands on her hips. “Tyson, if you tell Kevin what I’m about to tell you, I’ll beat you up worse than I did Reyna.”
“I’m listening,” he answered, totally ignoring her threat.
“I want health benefits and spousal support until . . .” She paused.
“Until what?”
Marlissa glared at him. “Tyson, if you tell him, I promise I’ll hunt you down.”
“What’s going on, Marlissa?” His voice carried the s
ternness of a judge ready to impose a sentence.
She exhaled and plopped down in the chair. “I’m pregnant. I don’t have any health insurance and I can’t afford a nice apartment on my own.”
Tyson shook his head from side to side and mumbled something she couldn’t decipher. “When are you going to tell Kevin?”
Marlissa hunched her shoulders. “I don’t know. I went to his office to tell him today, but he was too busy feeling up Reyna.”
“I’m not sure what you mean by that, but I’m sure whatever you saw was completely innocent. Reyna told me she was going to make amends with him.”
“Whatever.” Marlissa rolled her eyes.
“Marlissa, believe me when I tell you that Kevin doesn’t want Reyna. He loves you.”
Marlissa didn’t want to hear that. “What do I need to sign to keep from having my baby at the county hospital and bringing it home to a shelter?”
Tyson studied her for a long and intense moment before answering. “Marlissa, normally I wouldn’t do this, but Kevin hasn’t left me any choice. You’re my friend also and I care about what happens to you.” He pulled the legal-sized envelope from his briefcase. “This is a copy of Kevin’s divorce petition. He has the original. I was hoping he would have discussed this with you by now.”
Focusing on the envelope, Marlissa’s anger seeped away. Did she really want to be free of Kevin? Her hands shook the entire time it took to open the envelope and read the contents. “Is this real?” she asked, after taking a deep gasp.
“Yes, it is.”
Marlissa was totally confused. “What does this mean?”
“Exactly what it says,” Tyson answered nonchalantly.
Marlissa, unable to contain herself any longer, buried her face in her hands and cried; first lightly then uncontrollably. “Why did he do this?” She wiped her face with the handkerchief Tyson handed her.
Tyson dropped the lawyer image. “Marlissa, if you honestly don’t know the answer to that question, then you belong seated right next to him on a big yellow bus.” Tyson picked up his briefcase and left just as quickly as he had come.
Silver Lining Page 21