The Believer

by Kym Davis Boyles

  “You know what Mimi?” Rick asked, looking relaxed. “A few years ago, I would have never felt that way but God brought me and my boys through a lot. I am really blessed.”

  They began walking back toward the front. Mimi was seeing a different side of Rick and it was pleasant. “There are a few more boxes that I need to bring in,” Rick said.

  “Oh sure,” Mimi looked over and smiled at Rick. Mimi walked back to the front desk and Rick to the door when he stopped and looked over at her.

  “I know this is crazy but are you possibly free for lunch?” Rick asked. “Maybe we can grab a bite.”

  “Uh, ” Mimi said, looking around. “I’m sorry, I’m not.”

  “Oh,” Rick said looking slightly embarrassed. “No problem, maybe another time.”

  Mimi let out a breath. She didn’t know if he was being nice or if Greg had put him up to asking her out but either way, she was going to decline. No matter how attractive he seemed as of late, he was still Rick and it was too odd to even consider going out with him. “Maybe.”

  “Let me grab the rest of the boxes and I’ll be right back in.”

  Mimi immediately regretted how she had handled that. Maybe she was making a fool out of herself for Aaron without realizing it.

  Chapter 70

  Clad in comfortable gray sweats, Charlotte pulled out her What to Expect When You’re Expecting pregnancy book out of the bookstore bag. How very long she had waited to be able to own this book. She brought the book up to her nose and closed her eyes—it even smelled new. With the book in her hand, she plopped down on her brown faux leather couch and began flipping through the first few pages until she came to the first chapter.

  Excited didn’t accurately describe her feelings about carrying Leon’s baby; it was more than that. She was going to be a mother and she was going to be the first one to make her mother a grandmother, not her sisters Charlene or Kiara who, being married, were the favorites to do so. Her life was about to be on track; she was healthy, the baby was healthy and she couldn’t wait until she began shopping for a crib, baby clothes and bottles.

  Sitting on the couch, she looked up from the first chapter of the book and around her apartment. It was currently big enough for her but it was a one bedroom and soon the baby was going to need his or her own bedroom. She’d have to discuss getting a bigger place with Leon. He had plenty of money and their baby would want for nothing, she knew that for sure. Now, she could quit the prison system and go back to school and work on her Bachelor’s degree and take care of their baby. Her life was about to change.

  The doorbell rang. Who in the world can that be? Charlotte looked at her cell phone to see if maybe she missed a call. Her family knew not to come over unannounced without a phone call. She’d hidden in the bedroom on more than one occasion when they tried that, letting them ring the bell until they gave up and left. Struggling off of the couch, she walked to the door, taking a quick look in the mirror on the wall along the way. Her hair was sticking up all over her head. She looked through the peephole and saw a pretty librarian looking woman with black rimmed glasses and a slick ponytail past her shoulders.

  “I’m not interested,” Charlotte shouted through the door, walking off. The doorbell rang again. Charlotte stopped and turned around, stomping back to the door. “I said that I’m not interested,” she raised her voice.

  “My name is Jess and I’m trying to reach Charlotte Johnson,” the woman yelled back through the door.

  Charlotte stood, startled, wondering who Jess was and how she should respond. “What do you need?” she asked, watching through the peephole as the woman smiled.

  “I’m a community midwife; Leon Ladson hired me to help you. He didn’t tell you that I was stopping by today?”

  Charlotte leaned back from the door and after her lips parted in surprise, she smiled. Wow, Leon hired a nurse to look after her? He is excited for this baby. Charlotte ran both of her hands over her hair in an attempting to lay it down then unlocked the door and opened it. The pleasant looking woman extended her hand out to Charlotte.

  “Hello, I’m Jess, it’s nice to meet you Charlotte.”

  Charlotte shook the woman’s hand. Jess was pretty and professional in baby blue scrubs, a stethoscope around her neck and a black tote in her hand. “Leon hired you?”

  Jess nodded and adjusted her glasses. “Yes, I’m a certified midwife and registered nurse,” she said.

  Charlotte smiled. “I know this is strange but Leon didn’t tell me that he hired someone.”

  The woman reached out and touched Charlotte’s arm. “I guess he really wants you to have a healthy baby,” Jess said. “Um, is this a good time?”

  Charlotte covered her mouth with her hands, realizing that she still had the nice lady standing outside of her apartment. “I’m sorry for being so rude, please come in.” Charlotte stepped aside so the woman could enter. “This just took me by surprise.”

  “I love your décor,” Jess said, walking into the apartment and looking around.

  “Thank you,” Charlotte said, fumbling with her hands. It was hard to hide the pride she felt with Leon making the move to hire a midwife for her.

  “I see that you’re extremely excited about the pregnancy,” Jess said, looking over at the book on Charlotte’s couch.

  Charlotte grinned. “I am so excited,” she said, crossing her arms and trying not to smile. “You can sit down.”

  “Thank you,” Jess said, sitting down.

  “So, what are you supposed to do?” Charlotte asked, sitting down in the chair across from Jess.

  “Just a few things for today.” Jess opened her black tote and pulled out a note pad and a blood pressure cuff. “I’m going to tell you a little about the process of our relationship throughout your pregnancy then I’ll check your vitals, log the results and see what your expectations are.”

  “Oh my goodness,” Charlotte grinned, her eyes wide, “it’s like having my own personal doctor. I’m so excited.”

  Jess smiled. “Yes, kind of like that. And since I’m going to be working so closely with you, you won’t need to make your regularly scheduled doctor’s visits. I’m going to take great care of you and your baby.”

  “Wow,” Charlotte said. “So don’t go to my doctor?”

  “I’ll let you know what doctor we’ll be working with and when you need to see him. I’ll keep him updated on your progress just to be safe but other than that, I’ll be the one taking care of you.” Jess removed the stethoscope from around her neck. “Let me start with taking your heart rate and blood pressure.”

  “How do you know Leon?” Charlotte asked, sitting with her back straight in the chair.

  “Uh well,” Jess said, “I don’t. I mean, I know of him but a doctor friend actually introduced the two of us when he decided to look for a midwife.”

  “Is it going to be the same doctor that we’ll be working with?” Charlotte asked.

  Jess shook her head. “No, now just relax while I do this,” she said, pulling Charlotte’s sweatshirt down just a little and putting the cold stethoscope to her chest.

  The woman was quiet as she listened then she removed the scope and placed the blood pressure cuff around Charlotte’s arm. When Jess finished, Charlotte repositioned her clothes, watching Jess walk back over to her seat and log the results.

  “Okay, everything looks good. But there’s one more thing.” Jess reached inside her tote and pulled out a plastic bag full of little packets. “These are vitamin packets. You put one packet into a full bottle of water, five times a day. Do you have any bottled water in the house?”

  Charlotte nodded. “Yes.”

  “Good, go get one and let me show you how to do it,” Jess instructed.

  “Okay,” Charlotte said. She went to the kitchen for a bottle of water which she gave to Charlotte.

  “I want you to add the entire packet just like this.” Jess opened a packet of tiny crystalized sprinkles and dumped it into the bottle of water. She
shook it up well. “Okay, do this five times a day and it’s so important that you drink the entire bottle. I’ll be calling you to make sure that you don’t forget, okay?”

  “Oh, I won’t forget. Do I still take my pre-natal vitamins?”

  “No,” Jess said. “You don’t want to overdo the vitamins and these packets have everything you need for you and the baby.”

  “Okay, I’ll do anything to help my baby be healthy and strong.” Charlotte smiled. “This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” She took the water and drank it.

  “Good girl,” Jess said watching Charlotte.

  Taylor couldn’t wait to get out of Charlotte’s tacky apartment and to her car. She ran down the stairs to her car parked in the back lot, far out of viewing range from the apartment window. Getting into her car, she threw the black tote in the back, snatched the wig off of her head and started the ignition. The car tires screeched out of the parking lot, leaving the smell of burning rubber behind.

  Taylor removed the black rimmed glasses from her face and cursed. Everything about that fat ghetto woman was disgusting from the fake leather furniture in her apartment to that stupid grin on her face. She hated Charlotte for having felt her husband’s strong body next to hers while Taylor slept alone every night missing his embrace but most of all; she hated her for carrying a part of Leon that she longed to carry. Taylor cursed again hitting the steering wheel with the palms of her hands as hard as she could. She hated that woman.

  Chapter 71

  Greg lay in the bed with his hands behind his head, eyes closed but fully awake. The house was extremely quiet and he had a million thoughts running through his head. He had spent hours on his knees pouring out his heart to God only to feel like his cries hit the ceiling with no word from the Father. Greg looked over at Evan who was sleeping soundly, which was obvious by her steady, loud and consistent breaths. Trying not to wake Evan, Greg slowly rose and sat up on the side of the bed.

  “What’s wrong baby?” Evan asked groggily.

  Greg turned around toward her. “Just thinking, can’t sleep. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  Evan turned around in the bed, lying with her folded hands beneath her head on the pillow. “Thinking about anything in particular?”

  Greg rubbed his head. “Ugh… my conversation with Deacon Howard.”

  Evan sat up. “He’s a Godly man so if he said something then he really believes it.”

  “I know and that’s what I’m bothered by.”

  There was a moment of silence. “Baby, I need to tell you something,” Evan said.

  Greg reached over and turned on the lamp on their nightstand. It was something about the way she said it that concerned him. “What is it?”

  “I received an email from Leon awhile back.”

  Greg felt like he had been hit in the gut. “What?” he asked with complete astonishment.

  “I didn’t want to say anything because we were trying not to mention his name.”

  Greg stared at Evan then groaned. “He’s been emailing you?”

  “I just received one email and I deleted it,” Evan explained.

  “Why didn’t you tell me when you received it?” Greg asked.

  “I didn’t want you concerned.”

  Greg frowned. “So, it’s better now, is that it?”

  Evan sighed. “I’m not going to argue with you over Leon.”

  “We’re not arguing over Leon but you should have told me that he sent you an email.”

  “You’re right, I should have,” Evan said. Greg sat quiet and numb with his anger building up inside. “Greg, Leon is in prison and like a caged dog, all he can do is bark. Our trust is in God,” Evan said, rubbing Greg’s back.

  “That doesn’t negate the fact that you kept it like a secret,” Greg said. “I’m your husband.”

  “I said that I made a mistake,” Evan said, “and I’m sorry.”

  Greg stood up and walked to their bedroom door. “Now I’m convinced…”

  “About what?” Evan asked.

  Greg turned around. “He won’t stop at anything to get back at us.”

  Chapter 72

  With a black bandanna tied around her eyes, Cai sat with a nervous grin beside James in his car. She was reluctant to wear the bandanna at first and now her anticipation seemed to be getting the best of her. “Please tell me where we’re going,” she said with her face looking as if she was about to burst with anticipation.

  “I told you that it was a surprise,” James said, pulling up to the parking lot and stopping the car. He looked over at her. “Don’t spoil it.” James got out of his big body 743 BMW and walked over to her side of the car where he unbuckled her and took her by the hand, assisting her.

  Cai struggled to balance herself in her silver pumps, unable to see where she was going. “Don’t let me fall,” she said with her long acrylics digging into his arm.

  “Trust me,” he said, “and don’t peek.”

  Cai giggled. “What are you doing?”

  “Just relax and learn to stop playing so tough,” he said James watched Cai’s smile beneath the fabric.

  “Playing tough, huh?” she laughed.

  James let go of her hand and untied the bandana. “Okay, open them.”

  Cai opened her eyes and her mouth immediately dropped, seeing three shiny new Mustang convertibles in front of her. Speechless, she looked over at James who was starting at her.

  “Pick your color,” James said, crossing his arms with a grin on his face.

  Cai looked around amazed, realizing that she was in a car dealership. “Are you serious?”

  “I told you that I was going to show you how to live a good life. I wanted you to have a luxury vehicle but I realize that Ms. Delilah might not be ready for that so we’ll start off with a Mustang.”

  Cai looked reluctant so James grabbed her by the hand. “I am serious when I say that I want to take care of you,” he said. “Now I want to start with making sure that you have a reliable car to ride in so pick one.” He placed his hand on her behind and gave her a little nudge.

  “I told you that it was nothing serious; just a plug,” Cai said, walking around the Mustangs and looking inside each of them, as ecstatic as a kid in a candy store. One model was red, one was blue and one was black.

  “It doesn’t matter, you can trash that old thing you have or give it away. Either way, one of these is yours,” James said.

  “This is crazy,” Cai said looking at the cars in amazement. “Any one?”

  James nodded. “Any one.”

  Cai stood in front of the red Mustang then opened the door and slid in the driver's seat. “This one, it’s more like me,” she grinned.

  James walked behind her. “I agree.” He leaned on the open driver's side door, watching Cai touch and gawk at everything inside. “It’s top of the line with a keyless remote starter.”

  “Wow.” Cai placed her hands on the steering wheel and looked up at James. “What does this mean?”

  James leaned down in her face and whispered close to her ear. “I’m proving to you that I want you. Go ahead, start it up; it’s yours.” James closed her door.

  “Just like that?” Cai asked with big surprised eyes and an even bigger smile.

  “Just like that,” James said with a wink.

  Cai pressed the start-up button, causing the car engine to start with a roar.

  Chapter 73

  Greg phoned Ms. Tingly from his office around 3:00 p.m. to tell her that he was leaving for the day. She seemed shocked, since she was used to him staying at least until 6. Not today. He hurried to the nursery and as usual, laying his eyes on Gracie seemed to make everything better. Father and daughter had come home to an empty house. As much as he loved his in-laws, he was happy to have no one home when they got there. Evan’s parents were helping her at the center today.

  Comfortable in sweatpants and a t-shirt, Greg placed Gracie in her high chair and sat in front of her with the bowl of
sweet potatoes on the table beside him. He placed Gracie’s hands together, teaching her to fold her hands to pray. “Come on, pray with Daddy,” he said, placing her hands together again then demonstrating by folding his.

  Gracie whined, beating her hands against the plastic table in front of her. The child was agitated that she could see the bowl of sweet potatoes but hadn’t yet had a taste.

  “Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Greg said offering up a quick prayer so he could feed her. He placed a spoonful into her mouth, which was open like a baby bird's. Greg laughed. He loved her so much.

  The doorbell rang. The whole purpose of leaving the church early was to free himself from everything and everybody there; he was running on empty. Still, leaving early wasn’t good enough because somebody obviously knew that he was home. Greg wiped Gracie’s mouth with her cloth napkin and unbuckled her from the high chair.

  “Sorry to interrupt your meal, sweetheart,” he said picking her up and walking toward their front door. The doorbell rang again. Greg looked through the peephole to see Cai with her arms wrapped around a large brown paper bag. He opened the door.

  “Cai, hi,” Greg said, looking perplexed.

  “Hi,” Cai said, “I brought you and the First Lady a little token of our appreciation for everything you two have done. Is the First Lady home?”

  “Um, no,” Greg said. “She’ll be here in a bit. It’s just Gracie and I at the moment,” he explained, feeling like a nervous child afraid of getting blamed for something he didn’t even do in the first place.

  Cai looked down at her bag then up at Greg. “Can I take this to the kitchen for you?”

  Greg stood silent not making a move from the doorway, determining the best answer to her question.

  “Or I can hold the baby while you take it and put it away.” Cai smiled.

  Greg smiled. It was awkward indeed. “Oh, please come in,” he said, stepping aside so she could walk into the foyer. “You can set it on the table right there.” He pointed to the table against the wall.