by E. N. Joy
When Paige picked up her cell phone, she noticed the message letting her know that she had one missed call. It was from Ryan. She looked at the time the call had come through and realized it was when she was outside getting the girls off the bus.
“Go figure!” she sighed, thumping herself in the forehead with the palm of her hand. “Just my luck.” Paige was about to set the phone back down when she saw that in addition to that one new missed call, she had one new voice message. A smile spread across her face. Looked like it was just her luck, after all.
“Hey, Paige. This is Ryan. Sorry I didn’t call you right back. The phone at the office started ringing like crazy. Anyway, I was thrilled that you had called me. Then we experienced that crazy phone trouble. I’m not sure exactly why you were calling. It has been a while since that last family portrait.” He chuckled. “Well, just give me a call back whenever you get this message or you have the time. If it’s business you’re wanting to discuss, you have my business number. If it’s personal . . . 614-555-7576. I’ll talk to you soon.”
Paige listened to the message twice before saving it. Afterward, with a huge grin on her face and a fist pumping in the air, she shouted, “Yes!” She began doing this little jig around the living room, twitching her hips. “Uh-huh, I’m the bomb. Go, Paige. You da bomb.”
Paige figured she’d continue the rest of her daily routine with the girls. She’d call Ryan back in between that and cooking dinner. But then she remembered that this was the girls’ first day of dance class. “Shoot.” She huffed. “I don’t want to have to wait that long to call him back.” Paige twisted her lips as she thought. She could always call him now, but then she might have to rush off the phone in the middle of their conversation to do homework with the girls. She wasn’t about to call him and chat through the first session ever of the girls’ dance class. It was final; she’d wait until tomorrow.
“Then tomorrow they’ll be something else,” she said, and with good reason too. That was how things had always been with her and Ryan. Right when they were about to get to the good part—to the center of the lollipop with the Tootsie Roll or the bubble gum—life would happen and Paige would always find herself having to walk away from what could be with Ryan.
“Oh, well, we’ll see,” Paige murmured as she headed up the steps. Midway up, she stopped in her tracks. “What am I saying here?” she said happily. “I’ll call him tonight, once I get the girls settled in bed.” The girls were always in bed by 8:00 p.m. That was still a pretty decent hour to call somebody, Paige figured. Then a mischievous smile spread across her face. “After all, this is not business. It’s all pleasure.”
Chapter 12
“It was so good seeing you, Lorain,” Paige said, hugging the former New Day Temple of Faith member. Lorain left New Day and joined her husband’s family church when she married him.
“You too,” Lorain replied. “We’re going to have to get our girls together for a playdate.” She held her eleven-month-old son in her arms.
The two women stood in the lobby of the dance studio, where they had bumped into one another. Lorain was leaving the studio with her twin daughters in tow. Paige was just coming in, Adele and Norma by her side, anxiously awaiting the moment they could get their dance on. Lorain’s daughters were on the competition dance team. Since Adele and Norma were just beginners, they wouldn’t have any dance classes with Lorain’s girls.
“Just let me know when,” Paige replied. “The girls will love it.”
The two women said their good-byes. Lorain and her girls exited the studio, while Paige led her girls to the locker room. After the hour-long session, Paige packed up the girls and their dance bags, helped them into the car, and drove home. By eight o’clock sharp, Adele and Norma were each tucked in bed. Paige retired to her bedroom, but not to sleep. She made a mad dash for her phone, which was charging on the nightstand. She grabbed it off the charger and sat down on the bed. She called her voice mail, as she’d saved Ryan’s message. While she punched the necessary buttons to make the message play again, she retrieved a pen and paper. She was prepared to write down Ryan’s cell number when he recited it in the voice message.
It was now 8:05 p.m. Her courage was on ten. She wasted not another minute before dialing Ryan’s cell phone. It rang twice before he picked up and greeted her.
“Hi,” Paige said, smiling. “It’s Paige. I got your message.”
“Clearly you did. And although I’d love to snap a picture of your beautiful face, I’m so glad you called this number and not the office.” He started laughing.
Paige joined in, feeling like a giddy teenager at his compliment. He was flirting. Could that be a sign that he was single?
“So what have you been up to? How are the girls?” Ryan asked.
“The girls are great. Getting older, which pretty much tells you what I’ve been up to.”
“They’re giving you a run for your money, huh?”
“You know it,” Paige said. “But I don’t have to tell you. I’m sure you experience the same from your two sons.”
Ryan and Paige chatted like best friends for the next fifteen minutes. There was no awkward silence, where all they could hear was one another breathing. Just like always, they picked up where they’d left off. This sat so well in Paige’s spirit. All doubts about whether she should have placed a call to Ryan were no more.
“I know you are a God-fearing Christian woman and all, but I have to ask this question,” Ryan said. “Are you married?”
Paige sucked her teeth. “Now, why on earth would I have called you on your cell phone if I was a married woman?”
“I don’t know, but you wouldn’t be the first married woman, I’m sure, to call up another guy on his cell phone.”
“Well, I can assure you that I am not married,” Paige declared. “And since you asked me that question, I’m going to assume you aren’t, either.”
“I don’t know,” Ryan said. “I’m sure I wouldn’t be the first married man to give another woman his cell phone number for her to call him on.”
Even though Ryan wasn’t a hard-core churchgoing guy—or at least he wasn’t the last time they talked—he was a good guy and had a good spirit. When he did go to church, if Paige recalled correctly, it was to a Catholic church a friend had invited him to. He had never come across to Paige as a low-down, dirty scoundrel who would cheat on his wife, although he had confessed to Paige that he wasn’t the best boyfriend to past women in his life.
That was then, and this was now—for both of them. The only thing from the past that they would bring into their future was their children. His children, Paige had yet to meet. The only reason why Ryan had met her girls was that he’d taken photos of them . . . twice. But who knew? That could all change in the near future.
“Well, when you and I get married,” Paige said, “I better be the only woman you give your cell phone number too.”
The two of them laughed, both of them well aware that Paige had just alluded to the fact that she could end up being his wife someday. The words didn’t faze either of them one way or the other. The last time they had spoken, Ryan had already practically claimed her as his wife, anyway. She was just receiving it . . . all these years later.
“You won’t have to worry about that,” Ryan said as his laughter died down. “I bet the girls are so big now.”
“They are growing like weeds. I have to buy them new clothes and shoes every other week, which is why you will never find me spending all that crazy cash on name-brand stuff. I mean, yeah, I like to sport a designer name or two, but I ain’t gon’ be growing out my stuff in two weeks after shelling all that money out. Shoot.”
Through the phone, Ryan could imagine Paige rolling her eyes. And that was exactly what she was doing.
“How are your boys? I bet they look like little men now,” Paige said.
“Growing like weeds too, but on top of that, they are eating everything in sight. Thank God we don’t live in a gingerbread hou
se. They would literally eat us out of house and home.”
For the next few minutes the couple shared more laughter than either of them had engaged in, in the past few months.
“This is what I have missed,” Ryan said to Paige.
“What?”
“Laughing like this . . . with you. I’ve waited a long time for this. But like I told you before, I was willing to wait. No, I might not attend church regularly and know the Bible like I know the words to an old Biggie song, but I know that when the Lord makes a promise, it never returns void. I know that when He promises a person something, they may not get it right away. They may not get it tomorrow, next week, or even next year. But if you believe . . . if you really believe, then you wait on the Lord.”
Listening to this man preach—correction, speak—Paige got all tingly inside. He was speaking to her heart, but he was preaching to her soul. A smile rested on her face. If she hadn’t been 100 percent certain before, she was certain now that she’d done the right thing by reaching out to him.
“It’s getting late,” Ryan said. “But before we hang up, I want to know when I get to see you again.”
“When do you want to see me again?” Paige didn’t realize she’d said that more seductively than she’d intended. Just talking to this man made her so free and loose in the flesh. She said a silent prayer that Jesus, with His strength, would reel her back in.
“Now, don’t start nothing you can’t finish, woman, with your saved, sanctified self.” He chuckled. “No, I’m just joking. But I really would like to see you again. Are you available this weekend?”
“Our church is an official partner of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. We give out produce to the community every month, and I volunteered to help this weekend.”
“What about next weekend?” Ryan asked. No sooner than he’d asked, though, he said, “No, next weekend isn’t good, either.”
“You have something going on?” Paige asked.
“Yes. I have a wedding to do. I think this weekend is my only free weekend this month. I mean, we could meet in between my appointments sometime during the week or something. But I really don’t want to have to watch the clock when I could be watching you.”
Paige blushed. If this man wasn’t puffing her head up . . . “I’ma really need you to stop saying everything I want to hear. Gon’ have me thinking you are too good to be true. And Lord knows, I’ve made that mistake before.” Paige was referring to Blake. He had definitely been too good to be true.
For the first time in their entire conversation, there was awkward silence.
“Do you mind if I say something without you taking offense?” Ryan asked after a few seconds of silence.
“Go ahead,” Paige said after she’d managed to get her foot out of her mouth. Everything had been running as smooth as butter before she opened up her big mouth about her ex.
“I’m not into the whole Marvel Comics series of comic books and movies and whatnot, which means I’m not into X-Men. Your ex-men.”
Ryan was speaking with authority, politely reading Paige, and she liked it. A man who could speak his mind, as well as allow her to speak hers while he actually listened, was a delight.
“You and I have shared everything there is to know about one another,” Ryan continued. “Sure, there are things that have taken place in our lives over these couple years we’ve been apart, things that we haven’t told each other. But we’ll have plenty of time to catch up on that. But what we’re not going to do is rehash negative things from our past and compare them to our now or our future. Can we make that promise to one another?”
“Absolutely,” Paige said without hesitation. She wasn’t the least bit offended by the way Ryan had just come at her. He’d let her speak her mind, but if it didn’t line up with the foundation of a good relationship, he was going to let her know for sure. She really appreciated that about Ryan.
“Now, back to when we can get together . . . ,” Ryan said.
“I have an idea,” Paige said with excitement. “We could always use volunteers at the church. How about you join me?”
“I knew it would only be a matter of time before you started trying to get me to come to church with you,” Ryan said jokingly. “You Christians gon’ evangelize if it’s the last thing you do.”
“Cut it out,” Paige said. “Now, you know I don’t get down like that. I have never once pressured you to come to my church.”
“I know, so you’ve decided to use a sneak attack.”
“Boy, cut it out.” Paige laughed. “Can I put you down as a volunteer or not?”
“You can.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Paige said. “I’ll text you the name of my church, the address, the time, and all that good stuff.”
“All right, Miss Lady,” Ryan said. “I’m sure we’ll talk before then.”
“I’m sure,” Paige agreed.
“Good night.”
“Night.” Paige ended the call with the biggest smile on her face. She looked up to the heavens. “Once again you’ve proven that waiting on you, God, is always well worth the wait.”
Chapter 13
“Goggles? What in the world would I have needed to bring some goggles for?” Miss Nettie asked as she followed behind Paige, who was heading toward the room where she kept her computer.
“I didn’t say goggles, Miss Nettie.” Paige laughed as they entered the room. “I said Google. We’re going to get on Google. It’s the name of a search engine.”
“Search engine? You mean like the V-six out in my vehicle?”
Paige stopped walking, turned, and gave Miss Nettie a side eye. “If you and Naomi would stop watching all those ratchet reality shows and learn something about the real world, you would know what I’m talking about,” Paige scolded.
“Don’t get sassy with me,” Miss Nettie shot back. “There are two things you need to remember, and one is that I’m old enough to be your mother.” Miss Nettie ran her hands down the length of her body. “Although with a figure like this, I don’t look it.”
“Aw, shoot. Miss Nettie got a boo, and now she’s feeling herself.” Paige laughed. “But what’s number two?”
Miss Nettie shot Paige a serious look. “That I did a bid in jail before, so you really don’t wanna mess with me.”
Paige shook her head. “Oh, Miss Nettie.” She put her arm around the woman. “I do love you.”
“And I love you too, so watch that fresh mouth of yours so I don’t have to beat you down.”
This time both women laughed.
Paige continued her trek over to the corner computer desk. She sat down. “You can pull up a seat next to me.” Paige pointed to a rolling office chair that was just a couple feet away.
Miss Nettie followed Paige’s instructions and sat beside her. By the time she did this, Paige already had the Google home page up on the computer screen.
“Okay,” Paige began. “The first thing we are going to do is search your name and see what comes up, since you don’t know your son’s or daughter’s name. We have to start somewhere, and it’s always a good idea to start with what you know.”
Miss Nettie nodded as she scrunched up her face while looking at the computer screen.
“So what’s your full government name?” Paige asked.
“Netrice Carla Hudson.”
Paige typed in Miss Nettie’s government name, hit the search icon, and waited. Several links appeared, most of them for Web sites with a mug shot of Miss Nettie.
“Dang, Miss Nettie, you were gangster,” Paige said, staring at the screen in awe. A younger and much harder-looking version of Miss Nettie stared back at her. The woman in the picture had wild eyes, and the hair on her head was just as wild. She turned and looked at the woman. “No one would ever be able to look at you now and know that this is the same person.”
Miss Nettie’s eyes never left the screen as she spoke. “That’s because it’s not.” She looked at a confused Paige. “I ain’t me no more. I’ve been
washed and cleaned in the blood of Jesus. Honey, I got a Holy Ghost makeover.” She pointed to her mug shots on the computer screen. “That woman right there is dead.”
“I hear you, Miss Nettie,” Paige said, turning her attention back to the computer. “But, unfortunately, if we want to find your baby, we’re going to have to resurrect her.”
Miss Nettie shook her head and cringed at the thought. “I guess some of that stuff from the past that I swept under the rug of my memory bank, we gon’ have to pull the covers off of.” Miss Nettie closed her eyes and went into immediate prayer. “Lord, we’re about to pull some scabs off of some old wounds. I just pray you be the healing balm, oh, Lord. And even if I don’t end up finding my baby, I ask that all I’m about to endure be not in vain. I ask that once the scabs have been picked, the wounds have been revealed again, and the healing balm is covering them, that the scar be remembrance of the glory of it all, and not the suffering.” Miss Nettie paused, allowing Paige the opportunity to add to the prayer, if she was so led.
“Heavenly Father, I don’t know why you chose me to be a vessel to help Miss Nettie with her endeavors, but I thank you for finding me worthy,” Paige prayed. “I pray that you place resources at my fingertips. I pray for the wisdom and the know how to navigate Miss Nettie to her final destination. And when all is said and prayed, I ask that you continue to use me to be a comforter and encourager for Miss Nettie, the same way she was and is for me whenever I’m going through something. In Jesus’s name, we pray. Amen!”