Truly Yours Contemporary Collection December 2014

by Joyce Livingston, Gail Sattler, Joyce Livingston

  “I—I suppose, if I wanted to—”

  “Then want to. If you’ll spend from December the nineteenth to midnight, December the twenty-fifth, with me, doing whatever I ask of you, and you still want the divorce, I’ll give it to you, uncontested.”

  “Like—do what?”

  “Like I said—whatever I ask. That should be simple enough, and remember, your children will be with you some of that time. If you go ahead with the divorce proceedings now, you know they won’t have a thing at all to do with you over the holidays. This way, you’ll be able to have a lovely Christmas with them, then file for divorce after Christmas is over.” That also means you won’t be able to see your little cutie during that time, but I’m not going to mention that now and start another argument. I want you home for Christmas.

  “The children still don’t know?”

  She shook her head. “Only Buck. He came back about an hour after you left me on Thanksgiving Day. He’d left his wallet in the bathroom. I’m afraid I was in pretty bad shape. I had to tell him, but I made him promise not to say anything to anyone other than Shonna. I’m sure he’s kept that promise. He’s not happy about this, Randy, but for DeeDee and Aaron’s sake, I’m sure he’ll treat you civilly. At least until December the twenty-sixth.”

  “You’re making this really tough, Syl.” Randy leaned back in his chair, locking his hands behind his head and closing his eyes.

  She knew her offer had come as a shock. “I don’t plan to place all the blame on you when the kids are told. I’m sure I had a part in the failure of our marriage, too. I—I may not have been the wife you wanted me to be, but I did try.”

  “This is the craziest idea I’ve ever heard! I will not move back home, even for a single night!”

  She worked hard at maintaining her cool. He had to say yes. She was counting on it. Don’t blow it now! “It’d be a way to avoid a knockdown, drag-out in court.”

  “If you kept your end of the bargain.”

  “I guess you’ll have to trust me,” she answered, willing her voice to remain calm, at least on the surface. “Randy? What do you say? If you want this divorce, you’d better make up your mind real fast. Once I walk out that door, you can consider this offer withdrawn, and our lawyers can handle everything. Take it or leave it.”

  He inhaled a couple of quick breaths.

  “Make up your mind, Randy. Think how nice it’d be to have at least one more peaceful Christmas with the kids.”

  “But what good would spending another week under the same roof accomplish?”

  She glanced at her watch. “Time’s a wasting.”

  Looking pressured, he leaned forward and folded his hands on the desktop. “You know this is only going to prolong things.”

  “Perhaps.”

  “And I’m supposed to move back into the house during that time?”

  “Yes. I want your undivided attention every minute of those seven days. It’s a small sacrifice if you want to avoid a nasty divorce court battle.”

  “You’re leaving me no choice, you know.”

  “That was my intent.”

  Agitated, he rose and began to pace about the room, frantically running his fingers through his hair. Finally coming to a stop in front of her, he leaned toward her, his voice shaking with emotion. “Look, Sylvia, we’ve been living separate lives for years. The only thing we haven’t done is the paperwork making it official. This whole thing seems a bit silly to me.”

  She wanted to shout at him, but she held her peace, pulling out the one last card left in her deck. Moving to the other side of the desk, she gave him a smile as she shrugged, slung the strap of her purse over her shoulder, and headed for the door. “Okay. If you’d rather do things your way, I’ll see you in court.”

  She had only taken a few steps when Randy grabbed her arm and spun her around.

  “All right, you win. I’ll do it, but I’m not happy about it.”

  She pulled her arm from his grasp. “Sorry, that’s one of the conditions of the deal. You at least have to act as if you’re happy about it. I won’t have you sulking around our house like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way. Christmas is a happy time, Randy. The celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I won’t have you ruining it with a downtrodden face and a smart mouth.”

  He lifted both palms with a look of defeat. “Okay, okay. We’ll do it your way.”

  Her heart did a flip-flop. Randy was going to agree! “You’ll at least act like you’re enjoying being home for Christmas?”

  “Yeah, if you’re a good sport about this, I guess I need to be one, too.”

  She had to get out of there before she shouted Hallelujah! “Good, I’ll expect you in time for supper on December the nineteenth, and don’t be late. No excuses, Randy, or the deal’s off. Have everything taken care of at the office by the nineteenth. No running to the paper. No meeting with clients. None of that. Because if that happens, like I said, I’ll see you in court, and I can assure you it won’t be a pretty sight. I’ll take you for everything I can get!”

  He gave her a guarded smile. “You drive a hard bargain. I didn’t know you had it in you.”

  She grabbed hold of the doorknob and smiled over her shoulder. “Only when my marriage is at stake, then I can be a wildcat!” She did an exaggerated Meee–ooow, showed her claws, then moved out and closed the door behind her.

  “I’m so glad you came, Mrs. Benson,” Carol told her from her place at her desk. “Mr. Benson has seemed a little down the past few days. I’m sure your surprise visit cheered him up.”

  “I—I hope so.” Sylvia had to smile. If you only knew, Carol.

  ❧

  For the next couple of weeks, Sylvia rushed about like a mad woman on a mission, cleaning the house until it sparkled, readying their bedroom for Randy’s return, shopping for Christmas presents, and a to-do list full of other things. She was busy from early morning until late at night, and for the first time in days—happy. She’d even printed out a small banner on her computer’s printer saying, “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates,” and taped it on the mirror in her bathroom as a reminder, claiming that verse as her own, confident God had given it to her. She made out a carefully choreographed schedule for each day Randy would be with her and planned the important activities they would do together. Just knowing Randy was going to be back home with her, even for a few days, made her feel giddy and young again. How long had it been since she had planned something special for just the two of them? Too long!

  Each night as she knelt beside her bed and prayed in Jesus’ name, she asked God to give her wisdom and guidance and for the strength to keep her mouth shut when the need arose. It would be so easy to tear into her husband about Chatalaine, but now that she was convinced that her own negligence and not just Chatalaine’s youth and good looks threatened to end her marriage, she found it easier to put the woman out of her mind. She needed to concentrate on herself and the devotion and dedication she had pledged to Randy on their wedding day.

  Other than talking to Jen and Buck, she kept things to herself. At first, Buck was skeptical of her plan. He felt she was getting her hopes up and did not want to see her hurt anymore than she’d already been hurt. But at her request, he and Shonna agreed to go along with her plan and to treat his father as if nothing had happened.

  Finally, December the nineteenth arrived. Sylvia spent part of the morning at the beauty shop having her long hair cut into a pixie style with wisps of hair feathering her face. “You look years younger,” the beauty operator had told her as she gave her the hand mirror and swung her chair around. “I left a few wisps along your neckline, too. I think you’ll like it that way.”

  Sylvia had gazed into the mirror and had to agree. The style did make her look several years younger. She was sure Randy would like it.

  She was too excited to eat lunch and opted for a banana and a glass of cranberry juice. By two o’clock, she had baked
a lemon meringue pie, piling the heavily beaten egg whites high and creating curly mounds just like Randy liked them. She hadn’t baked a lemon meringue pie since she’d made one for the Fourth of July picnic at the church, although Randy had always claimed it was his favorite dessert. When she pulled the pie from the oven and placed it on the counter to cool, she looked at the deliciously browned meringue and experienced terrible pangs of guilt. Why hadn’t she baked more of those pies for Randy? The children loved them, too. They took no time at all. She had baked several of them to take to the church bake sales, but had not made a single one for him in years.

  By four, the table was set with the stoneware she usually reserved for company. The few freshly cut flowers she’d purchased at the market had been arranged in a colorful vase as a centerpiece, the crab casserole he liked was in the oven baking, and everything was in readiness. All she had to do was take her shower and get dressed.

  When the phone rang a few minutes later, she cringed. Randy, if that’s you calling to say you’re going to be late or that you can’t make it, I’m going to be furious.

  “Hello.”

  “Hi,” Jen said on the other end. “I just want you to know I’ve been praying for you all day, and I’m going to keep praying right on through Christmas Day.”

  Sylvia’s heart soared. With a praying friend like Jen, how could things not go right? “Thanks, Jen. You don’t know how much that means to me. I’m as nervous as I was on our first date.”

  “You’ll do fine, honey. Just be your natural sweet self.”

  Sylvia huffed. “You wouldn’t have thought I was sweet if you’d heard me threatening Randy in his office that day. I wasn’t about to take no for an answer. Jen, I know God gave me that verse.”

  “I know it, too, and I think your plan is marvelous. If Randy doesn’t see what he’s giving up by the time Christmas Day arrives, I’ll be mighty surprised.”

  “I’m counting on that. I don’t even want to think about failing.”

  “You won’t fail. Not with both of us praying about it. God knows your heart, Sylvia, and He knows the two of you belong together.”

  Sylvia thanked her for praying, said good-bye, and rushed up the stairs to take her shower.

  ❧

  Randy stared into the mirror at the stubble on his cheeks and chin. Like his father, he had been blessed with a head of thick hair, but with it came the proverbial five o’clock shadow.

  What a week he’d had. It seemed everything that could go wrong—did. Two of his key employees quit to go to work for the state government, where they would get better benefits. One of the main presses broke down as they were running the “Dallas Life” section for the Sunday paper, and Carol had tripped on the stairs and broken her arm. To top it all off, his rechargeable razor had quit on him when he had started to shave, and now he was going to have to use the emergency disposable razor he kept in his shaving kit. The way things were going, he would probably cut himself.

  Well, trouble or not, he had taken off a bit early to get ready to move back into the house for the next week, and he was committed to going through with it. The paper would have to get along without him for a while. The only good thing going for him was his assistant manager, a young man who showed great promise. Randy had spent most of the day going over last-minute details with him, and, hopefully, the guy would be able to handle any crisis that might develop in his absence. Sylvia had made it perfectly clear she wasn’t about to accept any excuses that would take him away from her for the next week, and he certainly did not want to end up in an expensive court battle if he could avoid it.

  It was hard to believe she hadn’t made any attempt to contact him since that day she’d appeared in his office, other than to send him a short handwritten note reminding him she’d be looking for him at six that evening. He had expected her to call him at the office continually, bemoaning the fact that he had asked for the divorce, but she had not, and he appreciated it. Maybe they could get through this divorce without all the hullabaloo he had expected, after all. He should be so lucky.

  He jumped when his cell phone rang, almost afraid to answer it for fear there had been another fiasco at the newspaper.

  “Hi, Randy,” a male voice on the other end said pleasantly. “I have a favor to ask.”

  Randy recognized the man’s voice immediately. It was Bill Regier, a fellow deacon.

  “I know you’ve been so busy at the newspaper you haven’t been able to attend church the past few Sundays, but my wife is insisting we go visit her folks over New Year’s, and I wondered if I could talk you into teaching my junior high Sunday school class? They’re a great bunch of kids, and I know they’ll like you.”

  Teach Sunday school? Me? When I’ve just asked my wife for a divorce? Randy rubbed his free hand up the stubble on his jaw. “I—I don’t think so, Bill. I’ve been kinda out of the loop lately—you know—with too many things going on in my life. It’s a busy time of year, and—”

  “Hey, this isn’t rocket science. It won’t take that much preparation. You can just tell the kids how you came to Christ. You know, when you accepted Jesus and what’s happened in your life since. It’ll be an inspiration for them. These kids need role models in their lives. Some of them are from the bus ministry and come from broken homes. They need to see what a real man is like. A man like you—with values and principles.”

  Randy was glad their conversation was on the phone so the man couldn’t see his face—a face he was sure betrayed his guilt. “I–I’d like to help you out, Bill, but—but I’m afraid I can’t do it this time. Year-end stuff, you know?”

  There was a pause on the other end, then, “Well, okay, but it’s these kids’ loss. Maybe another time, when you’re not so busy, huh?”

  “Yeah—maybe another time.” Randy tapped the Off button, but continued to stare at the receiver. Role model, Bill? You won’t think so when you hear about the divorce.

  ❧

  Sylvia opened the Dillard’s shopping bag and dumped the assortment of new cosmetics she had purchased several days ago onto the dresser. She’d never worn much makeup, never thought she’d need to, but after seeing the beautiful Chatalaine in the restaurant that day, she’d felt dowdy and washed out. Colorless. The woman at the department store’s makeup counter had been extremely helpful and had given her all kinds of tips on applying moisturizer, foundation, blusher, eyeliner, mascara, and even lip-liner. Now, if she could just remember all she had learned. Beauty is only skin-deep, the old saying her mother used to quote, popped into her mind as she gazed at herself in the mirror. She let out an audible giggle as a second quote came to mind. This one she had heard while playing one of Billy Graham’s videotapes. Every old barn can use a little paint now and then!

  “Well, this old barn certainly can!” she chided as she picked up the bottle of moisturizer. She began to apply it freely to her scrubbed-clean skin. After smoothing on the foundation and blusher, she picked up the eyeliner pencil and, using a finger to pull each eyelid tautly to one side, she carefully made a narrow line, one above and one below her lashes on each eye. Umm, not bad for a beginner! Next came the mascara, something she rarely used. “One light coat, let it dry a few seconds, then apply a second coat more freely,” the woman had said. Once that was done, she reached for one of the new lip-liner pencils she’d purchased and chose one in a deep mauve shade. “Frame your mouth, staying right on the very edge of the lip line,” she could almost hear the beauty consultant say as she applied it. She had never used lip liner before, but she had to admit, it did define her lips. Next, she reached for the mauve lipstick, in a shade a bit lighter than the liner. Sylvia applied it generously, then blotted it carefully on a tissue before looking back into the mirror. The woman who smiled back at her looked nothing like the woman who’d faced her in that same mirror the day before. What an improvement!

  “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart!” The words she had committed to memory so many year
s ago echoed in her heart. I haven’t forgotten that, God, but I want to look my very best for Randy. I want to knock his socks off!

  She spritzed her hair with the setting mist and used her fingers to lift and separate the wisps, pulling a few of them toward her face, just like the beautician had shown her when she’d cut her hair. A few puffs of hair spray, the addition of her new gold hoop earrings and a fine gold chain about her neck, and she was ready to slip into the gorgeous, rose-printed silk caftan she’d bought for their first evening together. She had already done her fingernails and toenails in the same rosy-mauve color. She gave herself a quick spray of the perfume Randy had given her for Christmas two years ago—the one she’d never even bothered to open. Then she slipped into her gold, heelless sandals, took one last glimpse at the mirror, and headed downstairs. She felt giddy, almost like a fairy princess on her way to the ball. Now if only Randy would behave as she imagined Prince Charming would behave. She laughed aloud as she whirled her way into the kitchen for a few last-minute preparations, visualizing Randy appearing at her door dressed in all white with gold braid at his shoulders and astride a fine white horse.

  She turned on the coffeepot, checked the oven, gave the salad another toss, shifted the fresh flower vase a half inch to make sure it was centered just right, then moved into the living room to await his arrival.

  At exactly six, the doorbell rang. She straightened, her heart pounding. If it was Randy, why didn’t he simply use his key? After all, this was his home.

  Seven

  Randy stared at the door, suitcase and garment bag in hand. Maybe he should have just used his key and gone in rather than ringing the doorbell like a visitor. But he was a visitor! He had moved out of this home he had known and loved. He glanced toward the west, to the three-bedroom addition they had added nearly twenty years ago, after DeeDee and Aaron became toddlers. He looked to the east at the big bay windows of the family room where the garage used to be. How they had needed that extra space when the kids started school and began bringing their friends over. Fortunately, their house had been on a corner lot, making it possible for them to expand the kitchen and build a nice attached three-car garage onto the backside of the house.