by Linda Wright
It was a shattered Col. Gower who came to our house that afternoon a week after the battle.
He seemed a broken man as if he had lost all the will to live. I had thought oh no Nathan is dead. I began to sob and he gently touched my hand.
“No, no Darcy, he’s not gone. He’s been wounded. He suffered a serve injury to his leg. They transferred him to another army hospital and Leta and I are going to see him as soon as we can get a train out.”
The man just kept looking at me and smiled.
“Is there anything I can do or get you Col.?”
The old man just smiled and nodded his head.
“I’m sorry my wife treated you so badly my dear I know how much Nathan cares for you. I intend to tell him I have been here to see you and you know of his injury. Would you like me to tell him anything?”
I looked at my parents and then my grandma who nodded her head and smiled.
“Col. do tell him always and forever he’ll know what it means.”
A smile came to the old man’s face as he once again pats her hand.
“I’ll tell him miss don’t you worry.”
He gets up and starts to head out the door. When my ma stops him.
“Col. if there is anything you or Ms. Leta needs please let us know.”
“Thank you Mrs. Meadows, thank you very much.”
He walks out the door with my pa. I looked over to grandma.
“He looks so broken. I wish there was something I could do for him.”
“ You did just by what you said to him. “
Weeks passed and there was no news on Nathan. The war raged on and more young lives were lost on both sides. I found myself wondering if I would ever see Nathan and yet there was that one hope that I would turn around one day and he would be there at the stream and we could pick up our lives.
It was a warm Sunday afternoon I sat under the tree by the stream as I had done since I spoke with the Col. Sometime I would just sit and watch the clouds, other times I would think of Nathan and pray he would come home to me. I closed my eyes and began to talk in a low voice as if Nathan was beside me.
“Nathan, I wish you were here so I knew that you were alright. I’ve been worried for so long to hear any news on you. Oh I wish you could hear me.”
With my eyes closed I didn’t notice that Nathan had indeed walked to the banks of the stream and was standing there in front of me.
“I can hear you silly. I’m right here.”
I opened my eyes and there was Nathan standing before me with on crutches but he was standing there before me. I jumped up and put my arms around me.
“Nathan!”
“Darcy, Darcy careful you’ll knock me down. “
I stepped back and tried to stop the tears in my eyes.
“How did you get here? How are you, how…?”
He slowly made his way to the tree and leaned up against the trunk.
“You’ll have to ask me one question at a time Darcy.”
There were so many questions I wanted to ask and so many things I wanted to tell him but for now just to stand here and see him before me.
“I know the last time we were here I promised you I would do something. Well if you can forgive me for not getting on one knee I’ll try to do this right.”
He gently takes my hand and smiles
“Darcy Christine Meadows would you do me the favor and be my wife? I’d get on one knew if it would make you answer faster.”
I looked at him and smiled.
“Yes, I will marry you Nathan, today, tomorrow whenever and where ever you want.”
It was a dream come true for both of us. I was to be married in my mother’s wedding dress. As I stood in front of the mirror looking at the image. “Well girl this is it, the moment you’ve been waiting for since you were six years old. The day you become Mrs. Nathan Gower.” The door of her room opens and her father stands there looking at his little girl and smiles.
“You look so happy Darcy and I’m so proud of you.”.
*****
THE END
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I got to have him
By: Natasha Jones
I got to have him
Most people strive for happiness with little success. One of the people who certainly got everything she wanted and more was Keisha Mosby. Keisha was better known to her family and friends as KeKe. She led a pretty charmed life. She never wanted for anything; she grew up in an affluent and loving family and was blessed with both brains and beauty. She was like the perfect storm.
In spite of her many blessings, Keisha was not a spoiled, arrogant woman. She had always worked hard, tried to be kind to people and remained humble. People usually liked her and she was the classic over-achiever. There was just something about KeKe.
As Keisha got older she lost none of her charm. She went away to college, which saddened not only her family, but her whole community just outside of Chicago. She was received with as much appreciation at college, becoming popular very quickly. One of the people she got along with best was her roommate, Takia. They were both nervous about starting college and they leaned on each other to help them through it. Their friendship continued through their college career, even after they moved into separate dorms and got swallowed up into different majors. Keisha moved into the business school crowd, preparing to join the family business. Takia started out as a nursing major, before becoming an engineering major, but by Keisha’s senior year, Takia had moved over to the business school as well. Keisha graduated at the top of the class and moved back to Chicago to begin work with the family. Takia continued on in her studies. The two friends tried their best to stay in touch.
Keisha was very happy to be back home with her family. She picked up on the work very quickly, got a place of her own, and moved back into the social circle of her community. She was as popular as ever and her family was very proud of her. She had not been back long before she met a newcomer to town named Jason Weathers. Jason had moved into town to help take care of his ailing uncle. One night while out at a party, Keisha and Jason met and the connection was instant. They soon broke away from the party and talked through the night. From that night on they were pretty much inseparable.
At this point Keisha was leading a full, happy life. She was balancing, work, family, friends and Jason very well. As the holidays approached, which was her favorite time of year, she found herself counting her blessings. They were so many she’d usually lose count at some point and have to start over. Then to put the sprinkles on top, one night at an event for Mosby Enterprises in front of all of her family and friends, Jason got down on one knee and asked for her hand in marriage. Keisha jumped up and down yelling yes at the top of her lungs. She thanked God for her perfect man, perfect family, and perfect life.
The following week Keisha received some more happy news; Takia was moving to town. It was a very pleasant surprise. She had no idea that Takia was interested in moving to Chicago, but she would be more than happy to welcome her. Apparently Takia had just completed her business degree and would be moving to Chicago to look at the prospects in the job market. Keisha anxiously awaited her arrival.
Within a month Keisha was meeting Takia at O’Hare Airport. They greeted each other eagerly and could barely make it out of the airport for all of the chatter between them. They caught up on the ride to Keisha’s condo. Keisha could not wait to intJohnuce Takia not only to her family, but also Jason. He was waiting for them when they got back to the condo. He rushed out to help them bring in Takia’s bags. As soon as they got settled Keisha formally intJohnuced them. As they sat down in her living room she turned to Takia and said, “Takia, this is my fiancée, Jason. Jason, this is Takia Richards.”
“Fiancee? Oh my god, you’re getting married?”
“Yes, girl! He just asked me a few weeks ago. I wanted to wait til you got here to tell you face to face.” Keisha put
up her left hand and showed Takia her beautiful 2 and a half carat, flawless princess cut ring.
“Oh my god, girl! Congratulations!”
Takia jumped up off of the couch and hugged Keisha tightly. They held a big hug for quite some time, until Takia broke away, turning to Jason and saying with a laugh, “Oh, sorry. Hello and congratulations to you too.” Before Jason could say anything Takia was going in for a hug. Keisha watched them embrace and smiled, glad to see them getting along already. Keisha then looked at the clock and realized it was dinner time. She said, “Oh, I’m gonna cook us something to eat.”
Jason looked at Keisha apologetically and said, “Oh, I’m sorry baby. I have to go back and check on Uncle Junior. Tammy went back home today and he’s there by himself. You two go ahead. I’ll get with you all another time.”
“Aw, really? I understand.”
Keisha got up and walked Jason out. She went out to the elevator with him and gave him a hug and kiss. After he got on and the doors closed she turned back around to walk to her condo. For a moment she thought she saw someone standing in her doorway, but there was no one there now so she shrugged it off. She went back into the condo and went to the kitchen to find what she would make to eat. Takia was standing at her bookshelf looking at her pictures. She said, “This is a really nice place, KeKe.”
“Thank you girl.”
“And you have a very nice looking family. And your fiancée seems like a nice guy.”
“He really is. He’s amazing. I’m so lucky.”
“You have it all, girl.”
Keisha laughed and replied, “I don’t know if I have it all, but I do have a lot. I’m truly grateful. What about you? How have things been?”
“They’ve been alright. Just had to work and hustle to finish school, not to mention the student loans. I went back home for a while, but there’s nothing for me there. I figured I’d see what the Windy City had to offer.”
“You’re going to love it here. I always have. But what about your family? You’ve never really talked about them. All this time I’ve only ever really heard you mention your grandma and a sister.”
“Yeah there isn’t much to tell. My grandma died last year and my sister and I don’t really talk. My family isn’t like yours.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But so long as you’re here my family is your family. I want you to make yourself at home and know that whatever is mines is yours.”
“Thank you so much, Keke. I really appreciate it. I know it seems kind of crazy coming out here with no job and no place to stay, but I just have a feeling that there is something here for me.”
“I have that feeling for you too.”
“Plus there’s you. You’re the closest thing I have to family. I’ve really missed you since you left.”
“Aw, I missed you too girl. Aw, come here.”
Keisha came out of the kitchen and gave Takia another hug. They rocked slowly and held onto each other. After a few moments, Keisha broke away and said, “Alright now, I have to get dinner started. I’m making my famous chicken parmesan with spaghetti, a fresh salad and some homemade garlic cheese bread.”
“Sounds great.”
“It’s usually pretty good, if I do say so myself.”
“I know. I remember when you used to make stuff at school. Plus you do everything well.”
“Oh, stop it. I do alright. Just make yourself comfortable while I get dinner together.”
“Alright girl. I’m gonna go and shower this flight off of me while you do that.”
“Okay. There are towels in the linen closet inside the bathroom. Take your pick of soaps and whatever else is in there. I set up the room to the right of the bathroom for you. You can go on in and set your stuff up.”
“Okay, thanks girl.”
Takia went off to take her shower. By the time she made it back out Keisha was putting the finishing touches on the meal, just taking her garlic cheesy bread out of the oven. She had already set the table. Takia took a seat and watched as Keisha brought the food out. Once she had brought out everything she sat down and said grace over the food before they began to eat. As soon as she had said Amen, Takia launched into the food. Keisha watched with a smile as Takia devoured the food on her plate. Once she had cleaned it she asked for some more. Keisha gladly got up and refilled her plate.
Keisha was barely able to finish her own food before Takia was clearing her second plate. Chuckling a bit, Keisha said, “I’m glad to see you like it.”
“Girl, it is really good. Plus I hadn’t really eaten all day.”
“I see.” Keisha went to get up and clear the table, but Takia jumped up and picked up their plates. Takia said, “I’ll take care of it. It’s the least I can do.”
“Thank you, Takia. You really don’t have to.”
“It’s my pleasure. Go ahead and sit down.”
“Well, if you insist. I think I’m going to go ahead and take a bath. Do you need me to show you where everything is?”
“Oh, no. I’ll figure it out. You go ahead.”
With that Keisha turned and went to her bathroom to run the bathwater. Once she got it running with her bath salts and a few candles, she went back into her bedroom to take off her jewelry and grab her robe. She walked back into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. She pinned up her hair and began to take off her clothes. She turned off the bathwater and stepped into the tub, sitting down and letting the water come up to her neck. She lay back and closed her eyes. After a few minutes of silence, Keisha thought she heard footsteps past the bathroom, in the direction of her bedroom. She told herself it was probably just Takia going into her new room for something. She set up and began to wash herself. She noticed that a lot of the stuff in the bathroom had been moved. She guessed Takia had really helped herself. That was good. She slowly but surely washed herself, before pulling out the stopper with her toes and rising out of the water. She stepped out onto the rug and dried herself off before putting on her robe and heading out into her bedroom.
Once Keisha got into her room, she began her post shower ritual, complete with moisturizing her skin and putting her pajama set on. She wrapped her hair and prepared to go back out and check on Takia. She automatically reached for her engagement ring on her way out. She always kept it sitting on top of her chest right next to the door. She reached into the little holder, but her ring was not there. She looked around it and it was not there either. She searched the area on the floor next to it, but saw nothing. She began to look everywhere, even going back into the bathroom to search. She didn’t find it there either. She decided to go back into the living room, perhaps she had taken it off while cooking and hadn’t put it back on.
Keisha walked into the kitchen and looked on the counters around the sink, but it was not there either. She was beginning to panic and trying to remember the last time she had seen it. She remembered showing it to Takia. She decided to ask Takia if she had seen it. Right as she stepped out of the kitchen she noticed Takia sitting on the couch looking at something shiny on her hand. At closer look she realized it was her engagement ring. She felt a strong sense of relief that it was not lost. She said, “Girl, I was just looking everywhere for that ring. I thought I had lost it.”
Takia said, not taking her eyes off of it, “I’m sorry, girl. I couldn’t resist. It is so gorgeous; I had to try it on.”
“It’s okay, I’m just glad it’s not lost.”
“It is wonderful. How do you do anything, but look at it.”
Keisha laughed and said, “Oh, I do plenty of looking at it. Can I have it back now?”
Takia took another moment looking at it. Keisha felt a bit awkward standing there with her hand out, not to mention the way Takia was looking at the ring. It did not look like she wanted to take it off. After another few moments, however, Takia slowly removed it and placed it into Keisha’s hand. Keisha tried to shake off a queer feeling that she had and replaced the ring back on her finger. There was bit of awkward sile
nce to follow as Keisha tried to figure out what to say. She didn’t know where Takia’s head was. She came around and sat on the couch next to her. She decided to power through the moment and asked, “So what were you thinking in terms of jobs?”
“To be honest, Keke, I don’t even know where to start.”
“You could start with us. Why don’t you come and work for my family’s company? I’m sure we can find a position for you.”
“Really?”
“Sure, we have plenty going on.”
“I don’t know, Keke. You’re too kind. I’m already staying with you; I don’t want to take a job from you too.”
“Girl, don’t worry about it. I’m more than happy to help you out.”