Unresolved Issues

by Wanda B. Campbell

  Since childhood, he had a relationship with God. He learned about Him in Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. In high school, he used to get teased because he always blessed his food and carried a Bible in his backpack. In college, it was the same thing until he fell in love with Staci. Shortly after they’d met, God had shown him in a dream that Staci was his ordained mate. Derrick insisted they wait until he finished dental school before they married, and she quickly agreed. That being the first real relationship for both of them, they didn’t know how to handle the sexual tension that arose. From the moment he yielded to his flesh, his life started unraveling at the seams. That night everything changed; he changed. He’d been running ever since.

  Staci could barely open her eyes. From the brightness of the sun, she knew she had overslept past her usual 6:30 A.M. start time. Maybe I’ll catch the second service, she thought. She liked the 11:00 A.M. worship service better anyway. She stretched once again, and this time finally opened her eyes to check the time.

  “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. It was after one o’clock in the afternoon. How in the world did I sleep so long? she wondered. She remembered dragging into the house extremely tired and sleepy. So sleepy that she didn’t bother changing her clothes, having slept on top of the covers in the same clothing she’d worn to Miss Cora’s birthday—and to Malcolm’s loft.

  Staci shook her head when she thought of the big mistake she’d almost made last night.

  “Lord, I will never let that happen again,” she vowed. Just thinking about Malcolm touching her, kissing her, made her feel dirty. She hurried into the bathroom and started the shower. Instead of throwing her clothes into the hamper, she threw them into the trash, underwear included.

  Things were without a doubt going to change as far as Mr. Leblanc was concerned, she decided as the hot pellets rejuvenated her body. Last night, he’d crossed the friendship line. He didn’t bear the blame alone, though. She shouldn’t have been there in the first place. In retrospect, there were a lot of things she shouldn’t have said or done. She should’ve listened to her mother months ago, but she didn’t, and because of that, she nearly committed adultery. She felt like she had.

  God, thank you for being so merciful to me last night. I know I haven’t been faithful to you lately, but as always, you’ve extended your unconditional love toward me. Forgive me for my disobedient actions.

  As Staci dried off, she made a sound decision. She was going to stop using Malcolm as a Band-Aid and a cushion. On his best day, Malcolm couldn’t replace Derrick, and she didn’t want him to. She would have to find another way to handle the emptiness left by Derrick. It was difficult, but yesterday helped her accept the fact that her marriage was damaged beyond repair.

  “Did I tell you that?”

  “No,” she audibly answered the voice.

  “Nothing is over until I say it’s over.”

  Staci’s mind wandered back to Miss Cora, who believed without a doubt she and Derrick would celebrate twenty years of marriage. The drugs she’s taking must have hallucinogens in them, Staci figured.

  She was about to head to the kitchen to brew some tea when the phone rang.

  “Who would be calling me on a Sunday? It’d better not be Malcolm,” she grumbled.

  “Girl, where are you? You won’t believe what happened today!” It was Lashay with Shannon in the background. Their excitement was contagious.

  “What happened?”

  “Guess!” Shannon yelled into the phone.

  “Oh my God, you didn’t have the baby without calling me, did you?” Staci asked.

  “No, nothing like that. Guess who rededicated their life to Christ today?”

  “Craig?” Her younger brother was the only person who came to mind.

  Lashay smacked her lips. “Please, you have to have once been dedicated in order to rededicate.”

  Staci didn’t have a clue as to whom they were talking about. “I give up.”

  “Derrick.”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten your husband’s name already,” Lashay laughed.

  Staci was stunned. “Are you sure? True Worship has over five thousand members. It could have been someone who looks like him.”

  “Is she crazy?” Staci heard Lashay ask.

  “You’ve known her longer than I have. I just married into the family. That’s your blood relative,” Shannon responded.

  “Staci, how many people are six feet five, two hundred fifty pounds, and look like a rerun episode of Magnum, PI?” Lashay asked.

  “I guess you’re right,” she responded, trying to suppress the smile threatening to break forth. “What happened?”

  “One of the ushers told me he came to the eight o’clock service,” Lashay started, “but I saw him when I came to the second service. This time he didn’t hide in the balcony. He sat on the main floor, front-row center. Then when Reggie made the altar call in the eleven o’clock service, Derrick was the first one to come forth.”

  “You should have seen him,” Shannon added. “He was on his knees with his hands raised, just crying and praising God.”

  Staci didn’t know what to say. The Derrick she saw yesterday didn’t sound like the same person they were talking about. However, the description did sound like the Derrick she’d met almost eight years ago.

  “Girl, your man is back!” Lashay exclaimed.

  Staci had been let down too many times to be that optimistic. Besides, today, she didn’t want Derrick back.

  “I wouldn’t say all that, but it’s good he’s getting his life in order.”

  “She is crazy,” Lashay whispered, but Staci heard her.

  “I’m not crazy, I’m real. Derrick and I are not getting back together.”

  “Welcome back, son,” Pastor Reggie said when Derrick joined him in the office after service.

  “It’s good to be back.” Derrick really meant that. For years, he hadn’t felt the inner peace he was now experiencing. Derrick went on to share his midnight encounter with Reggie.

  “God is so good, and He knows how to get our attention,” Reggie laughed. “How does that old song go, ‘You may be high, you may be low, but when the Lord gets ready, you’ve got to move.’”

  “Believe me, He knows how to move you,” Derrick chuckled.

  Reggie’s expression turned serious. “Are you ready to talk to Staci?” Derrick knew he was referring to telling her the truth about what happened the day Staci ended the life of their child.

  “Almost, but first, I need some uninterrupted time with the Lord. For the next seven days, I’m consecrating; then I’m going to talk to her. That is, if she’ll listen.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. I would also like to see you once a week for one-on-one counseling.”

  Derrick smiled. He himself was going to suggest something like that. There were many things he wanted to get off his chest, and Pastor Reggie was one of the few people he felt he could trust with his feelings. “Thank you.” Derrick paused. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Staci. Based on what I saw yesterday, it maybe too late.”

  Reggie leaned his elbows on his desk. “Derrick, what do you want to happen?”

  “I want to go home to my wife.”

  Chapter 24

  “Are we still on for dinner?” Malcolm asked, pleadingly.

  “I guess so,” Staci answered, halfheartedly. She hadn’t seen Malcolm since the incident at his loft ten days ago. Instead of cutting him off completely, she’d cut their daily phone conversations down to twice a week. He wasn’t happy about that, but she didn’t care. She needed to put some space between them. Malcolm constantly apologized for crossing the line at his loft, hoping that would change her mind, but it didn’t. Tonight, she only agreed to have dinner with him to tell him she didn’t want to see him anymore at all. “I’ll meet you at the restaurant in half an hour.”

  When she ended the phone call, her mind instantly went to Derrick. She still hadn’t
heard from him. Sunday, she didn’t see him at the second service, but several members approached her and offered congratulatory remarks on Derrick’s rededication. She started to call him and congratulate him herself, but decided against it. The next time she speaks to him, Staci was going to ask him for a divorce. It wasn’t fair for him to keep her in limbo. She had allowed him sufficient time to straighten out his life. Now it was time for him to offer her the same courtesy. Staci was ready to move on. She was scared, but she was ready.

  Since reducing the time spent with Malcolm, she’d been able to take an objective look at her life with Derrick. Neither of them had been happy in the marriage. Staci believed he still harbored ill feelings toward her for aborting their baby. She reasoned that was why he wanted a baby so badly, as a replacement. Staci didn’t understand why she couldn’t get pregnant; maybe she couldn’t have any more children. If that was the case, it was best she and Derrick end things now. Derrick could find someone to have babies with, and she could find someone who would reciprocate the love she had to give. Having a baby wouldn’t have solved their problems anyway.

  Staci pushed back the lump she felt forming in her throat. It was hard for her to come to this conclusion, and she really couldn’t imagine her life without Derrick. But the reality was she’d been without him for a long time. She didn’t know who Derrick was anymore, and she was tired of trying to figure him out. She was drained from giving him more than he was willing to give her. Someday he would make someone a good husband, but she wasn’t that person.

  She packed her briefcase and was preparing to leave when Chloe announced she had a visitor.

  “Mr. Leblanc is here.”

  “Malcolm, what are you doing here?” she asked when he stepped into her office carrying flowers. “I told you, I’d meet you at the restaurant.”

  “I know, but I wanted to escort you.”

  Has he always resembled Martin Lawrence? she asked herself. “Malcolm, I don’t need an escort.”

  “I know, but I also wanted to give you these.” He held the mixed bouquet out to her.

  The arrangement of daffodils, irises, carnations, and lilies was nice, but she really preferred roses. Staci accepted the flowers and asked Chloe to find a container for them. When she turned her attention back to Malcolm he had his arm extended out to her. Ignoring the goofy expression on his face, Staci interlocked her arm with his and headed for the elevator.

  Derrick’s eyes were glued on the numbered circles above his head. One by one, each circle lighted as the elevator made what was, by his perception, a long, slow trip to the tenth floor. He shifted the long rectangular box from one arm to the other and checked his watch once more. Staci should be getting off any moment. He felt more like a teenager picking up his first date, than a married man making a surprise visit to his wife.

  He didn’t know how Staci was going to respond seeing him unexpectedly. He’d started to call first, but feared she wouldn’t take his call. He’d picked today to start the rebuilding process because today was Wednesday, and that’s the day she’d told him she’d deal with foolishness. Derrick didn’t like her considering him foolish, but he had to admit, he had been a fool to leave her.

  He twisted his face when he checked his reflection in the mirrored wall. The tan suit he wore made him look distinguished, but his tie was crooked. “Why can’t my tie stay straight?” he grumbled. He knew the answer. It was because Staci didn’t tie it. She always tied his ties perfectly. The frown on his face softened at the thought of his wife’s soft touch. He knew that was afar off, but the thought calmed his nerves a bit.

  He didn’t know what he was going to say to her, other than he was sorry and he wanted another chance to explain the reason behind his actions; that he loves her more than life, and that his life is incomplete without her. That he misses her smile and the soft feel of her curls underneath his chin as she lay cuddled against him. He focused on the numbered circles again, eight . . . nine . . .

  Malcolm wore that goofy expression the entire time he and Staci waited for the elevator. It wasn’t until he winked at her did she realize he thought the look was sexy. I’ll be glad when tonight is over, she thought. The bell sounded, and the silver doors parted.

  “Excuse me,” Derrick said when the box he carried bumped the couple entering the elevator as he was exiting. It took a few seconds for it to register that the woman with the average-looking gentleman was his wife.

  “Staci?” He said her name like it was a question. On her face he saw that she was just as surprised to see him as he was to see her with her arm interlocked with the man next to her.

  “Hi,” she responded weakly, not sure of what to say. She studied his appearance and came to one conclusion. Despite her animosity toward him, Derrick Garrison was a fine man. No one could wear a suit like her husband. His thick curls were cut low, and his mustache trimmed. As always, his tie was crooked. She noticed the Conroy’s label on the long box underneath his arm and knew inside were long-stem red roses. It was going to be harder than she imagined to let him go.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked.

  Derrick tried to focus on her, but the stranger captured his attention. Who was he, and why was he touching his wife?

  “I’m here to see you. I was hoping we could have dinner and talk.”

  The elevator warning buzzer sounded, and Malcolm urged her to step completely inside the elevator before the doors closed. She did, and Derrick followed.

  “Malcolm, Derrick. Derrick, Malcolm.” Staci made the informal introductions before she answered her husband’s request. “Derrick, I’ve already made dinner plans for tonight. Give Chloe a call tomorrow and make an appointment,” she said, before pressing “L” on the instrument panel.

  “Hello, are you Staci’s brother?” Malcolm asked with his free hand extended to Derrick. Staci had forgotten she’d never told Malcolm her husband’s name. She didn’t think he needed to know that information.

  For a moment, Derrick ignored Malcolm. He was still processing that he needed an appointment to have a conversation with his wife. Then to have this stranger, who was obviously displaying possession of Staci, think he was her brother enraged him.

  “I am not her brother!”

  Staci recognized the anger in Derrick’s tone immediately. In an instant, his light complexion turned a shade of red, and his eyes darkened. Staci quickly removed her arm from Malcolm and prayed the elevator would speed up or at least stop so she could get out.

  “What is your relationship? Are you her boyfriend?” Derrick asked, looking from Staci to Malcolm.

  Staci wanted to punch Malcolm when he answered, “Something like that,” with a smile.

  “Why is this elevator so slow?” Staci grunted.

  “Something like that?” Derrick repeated and stepped closer to Malcolm.

  Thankfully, the elevator stopped, and the doors opened. Before Derrick stepped out into the lobby, he took Staci by the arm and placed her alongside him.

  “I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time, Malcolm, but my wife will not be having dinner with you tonight or any other night.”

  Malcolm’s face twisted at Derrick’s statement, which sounded more like a command.

  She’d never seen Derrick so jealous. Men, she thought. They don’t want you, and they don’t want anyone else to have you. Staci wanted to remind Derrick that he lost his right of ownership the day he walked out on her, but she feared for Malcolm’s safety as well as her own.

  “Malcolm, I’ll talk to you later,” she said.

  Derrick shot her a look that said, “No, you won’t!”

  “Staci—” Malcolm started.

  “Malcolm, please just go,” Staci pleaded.

  Malcolm conceded and retreated through the glass doors. No sooner had the doors closed then Staci snatched her arm away from Derrick.

  “What do you think you’re doing coming here like this?”

  “What do you think you’re doing with a boyfriend?” De
rrick shot back.

  Staci rolled her eyes. “Malcolm is not my boyfriend!”

  “Then why were you about to have dinner with him?”

  Staci fished her car keys from her purse. “Derrick, you gave up the right to know my business the day you left me.”

  “I am still your husband! I—”

  She cut him off. “Derrick—” she was about to yell, but another elevator opened and emptied a full load. By the time the crowd passed, Staci was walking through the side garage entrance.

  “Staci!” Derrick called after her.

  She stopped abruptly and turned around. “What do you want? Why are you here?”

  “I wanted to talk to you, but you’re too busy with your boyfriend. Does he have to make an appointment also?”

  “I’ve told you, Malcolm is not my boyfriend! He’s about as much of a boyfriend as you were a husband!”

  Derrick felt like he’d been slapped across the face, twice, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him.

  “How long have you known him? How did you meet him? Has he been in our house?”

  Staci found the last question funny, even hilarious. She laughed the rest of the way to her car. She was still laughing after she put her briefcase in the backseat. When she started the car, more laughter poured from her. When she looked in her rearview mirror at Derrick standing there still holding the boxed roses as she drove away, she laughed the loudest.

  Malcolm walked back to his car in a daze. Being able to put a face and name on his enemy made him nervous. He wasn’t prepared to meet the man he’d planned on replacing. Staci’s husband was nothing like he had expected. Malcolm pictured him to be a short, overweight, bald guy. At least that’s how his dentist looked. Derrick was much bigger and stronger, and frankly, he frightened Malcolm.