Gina’s head snapped around and her eyes widened with horror. “Keith, this isn’t what it looks like. I . . . I . . .” She pointed an accusatory finger toward Michael. “He kissed me.”
When Keith said nothing, Gina stomped off mumbling under her breath. Keith was going to hear about it later for not coming to her defense. Michael looked at Keith expecting to see anger or jealousy. He saw neither and felt compelled to apologize.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know why I kissed her. Please don’t drop my case because of such a stupid action. I should never have disrespected you.”
Keith leaned on the wall and closed his eyes. Michael wondered if Keith was praying but he didn’t think so.
Then Keith whispered, “I know why you kissed my wife.” He wandered off in the direction of his study.
Michael followed. Out of nowhere, he thought, I miss Mom. I wish she were here. Where were all these emotions coming from all of a sudden?
Michael plopped down in a chair across from Keith wondering why they weren’t firing punches after the stunt he’d just pulled.
“You kissed her because you wanted her to remember what you once shared. Gina used to love you. You once had a life together.”
That made sense. Michael supposed Keith was right. He shrugged. “It doesn’t excuse my actions.”
“You’re right, brother. Consider that your one and only look into your past. If you touch my wife again . . .”
Michael nodded with understanding. “I need her to testify if I get a guilty verdict.”
“Well, pressing your lips onto Gina’s isn’t the right way to go about it. Please don’t tell me you came here with the intent of manhandling my wife.”
“I came to ask about Lauren.”
Keith settled further in his chair. “Verona told you.”
The hurt surfaced. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I made a promise and I wanted to keep my word.”
Great. What a time for his heart to defrost. Michael was feeling things he had not felt in a long time. “But, we’re brothers. Blood. When is that going to count for something?” He looked Keith in the eyes unashamed of what was written on his face. Michael took rapid breaths to hold it together.
“I’m sorry,” Keith said.
Two simple words. No longwinded explanation. No defense. Just an apology. Michael gulped. He knew Keith was saying sorry for everything: all the pain, hurt, betrayal, and for ruining their relationship.
His heart cracked. He strove to utter the words but they would not come. Taking a deep breath, Michael stood, turning his back to Keith while he composed himself. “I miss Mom. I have no one. Maybe that’s what kissing Gina was about. I needed to reconnect to feel something. I saw Epiphany and I saw a happy little girl; my niece. How could I have ill-treated her? She was an innocent child. No wonder Lauren left me just as Gina left me.”
Michael flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder but he was tired of running away. He faced Keith. “Am I so unlovable the women I love leave me?”
Keith looked Michael in the eyes. “You’re not unlovable. Love isn’t the only ingredient. You’re loving but if someone crosses you, you can’t forgive.”
“That’s because I love with everything I have. I gave Gina the best of me and look what she did. She slept with you and you fathered her two kids, right under my nose.” Michael knew he sounded bitter but he had to release it. It had become a festered wound he had buried for too long. Now it was a hardened mass, like granite around his heart.
“Yes, Gina and I both betrayed you. It was wrong and it was low-down, but God has forgiven us. Until you can find it in your heart to forgive us, you won’t be able to move on. Lauren told me how you pushed her out of your home and out of your life. The way she said it, it’s like she was talking about a monster and not a human being.”
“She’s right. I don’t know me anymore. I used to be trusting and fun-loving but I don’t even know . . .” Words failed him. Michael was smelling himself, so to speak, and he stunk. But it was time to get clean. “I don’t want to continue not caring, not allowing anyone to get close. I need to feel free so I can open my heart.”
Keith dropped to his knees and held out a hand. “I can’t free you but I know who can. God is a balm, the remedy for your anger, your pain. Pray with me.”
Michael did not care about his thousand dollar custom-made suit. He wanted what Keith had. He wanted to love and be loved. He took his brother’s hand and joined him on the floor. Keith’s physical act chipped at Michael’s heart. “I don’t know what to say. When I came here, it was with the intent to curse you out.”
Keith bent his head and closed his eyes. “Holy Father, I come to you on my brother’s behalf asking for you to heal his heart. Lord, let him feel the power of your love. Father, I ask for your finger to touch Michael’s heart and melt away all the past hurt and anger he’s feeling. God, perform surgery on his hardened heart. Let your love pierce the fleshy tables of his heart. I pray this prayer, in your Son Jesus’ name, knowing it is done and you will complete your good work in him. Amen.”
When Michael opened his eyes, he was surprised to feel the tears. Slowly, methodically, he wiped them away with his hands. He looked at the crystal drops, feeling amazed. He had cried. These were real tears. He knew he looked crazy but Michael laughed. It felt good to cry, to feel again.
They chatted about sports, life, everything. Keith and Michael discussed the case. Keith told him about his suspicions with the photographs. He showed him the pictures and told him about hiring someone to evaluate them. He had contacted Dr. Northman but the doctor was in Argentina on vacation. Keith wanted to wait until he returned. Michael agreed. Three hours passed before their conversation slowed.
Keith captured Michael’s attention with his next topic of conversation. “I know you said you feel alone because Mom’s gone but, Michael, that isn’t true. You have God and you have me in your corner. And, speaking of Mom . . .”
Michael knew what his brother wanted to ask. He squared his shoulders. “I wanted to be here. I wanted to be here for her. I called and I thought . . . I thought I had more time. I thought she’d bounce back and be her usual self, telling me off about something. I didn’t know she would . . . die before I returned.” He hung his head. “If I wasn’t all about business and into myself, I’d have been here. I hate I can’t undo it.”
“Forgive yourself. Mom knew you loved her. She prayed for you all the time, even on her deathbed. I was angry when you didn’t come to her bedside and when you skipped the funeral. Why?”
He had to face his ugly truth. “I didn’t want to see you, Keith. I didn’t want to see you with Gina. I cried for days, filled with grief. I didn’t have the guts to say good-bye and I didn’t want to see Mom lowered into the ground.”
“Have you been to her gravesite?”
The gentle question was almost Michael’s undoing. He would have understood if Keith had railed at him, but his brother sounded calm. There was a serenity that surrounded Keith that Michael found hard to comprehend. His brother was a changed man. Had salvation done that? Michael was beginning to see Keith as a man of God. Michael admitted, “I’ve visited her grave on many occasions but the guilt tears at me. The guilt of knowing I wasn’t there when she needed me most.”
“Let it go, Michael. I’m not going to sugarcoat things and say I totally understand. But I know this isn’t God’s plan. God doesn’t want you carrying all that guilt. The devil has you all tied up and God wants you to be free. He’s already forgiven you. All you have to do is accept His pardon. It’s the only way you’ll find peace and move on.”
There was a knock at the door. Gina entered with two glasses of lemonade and a plate full of goodies.
Michael’s tongue felt parched so he appreciated her thoughtfulness. He gave her a look of apology. “Thanks, Gina. I’m sorry for kissing you earlier.”
She skirted her eyes away from him and wiped her hands on her jeans. She mumbled, “N
o problem. It’s forgotten,” but he could see her uneasiness.
Then the old Gina he knew surfaced. “Are you going to see Lauren?”
Lauren!
“I . . . We were praying and talking . . .” Michael was hesitant to say he’d broken down.
“Talking to Keith will do that; besides, you need to work on you, first. This whole thing with Lauren will work itself out.” Gina patted him on the arm: her first voluntary physical contact.
Michael willed himself to act normal and not react. Her fleeting touch whipped at him. More than a message or any spoken word, Gina’s touch did wonders. Like a television screen, he saw himself berating her and treating her like dirt. He remembered the pleasure he had felt in shaming Gina before millions when he had all but called her a whore and announced how Keith was the father of her children.
Michael was humbled. While he experienced those shattering memories, she vacated the room with a soft, “Welcome home.”
What a night for emotions. Michael could not hold back the tears. He looked at Keith. “She touched me. She touched me.” He paused. How could he put it into words? “After all I’ve done, she touched me. Only it wasn’t a human touch, it felt almost like . . .” He stopped, not wanting to sound stupid.
“We are God’s voice and hands at times. God wants you, Michael. He has a whole party planned for your return.”
Michael’s mouth popped open at Keith’s perceptiveness. It was all too much. He grabbed his coat, eager to meet the cold air. He needed to feel the brutality of the low temperatures. All that warmth was killing him. “I need some time to think. We’ll talk about Lauren another time.”
Michael was pushing his second hand in his coat when Keith grabbed his sleeve. “Don’t run, Michael. Stay.”
Chapter Twenty-two
“If you’d told me a week ago Michael would be spending the night in my house, I would’ve slapped you upside your head.”
Keith grinned at her comment. Gina was bent over her nightstand rubbing Oil of Olay on her face with her cute little butt perched toward him. From his position at the head of the bed, Keith crossed his feet at the ankles, enjoying the sight.
“I couldn’t have him drive home at this hour,” Keith explained.
“Well you should’ve asked me.” Gina turned to give him an evil eye.
Dressed in barely there silk shorts, he watched her shiver from the cold. “Gina, come over here so you can get warm. It’s time for you to pay me some attention.”
“If you think you’re getting nooky while your brother sleeps under this roof, you’d better think again.” Gina shut off the lights before scampering toward the bed.
As soon as she was under the sheets, he pulled her into his arms. “Your feet are cold,” he growled. Keith felt her body trembling next to him. “Why are you wearing this skimpy outfit when you know you’re going to freeze?” It didn’t matter how warm the house was, Gina was always cold.
She pulled her feet under his thighs to warm them. He grunted and waited for what would come next. Sure enough, she started her wiggling. “Keep still,” he warned, though it was pointless. She had restless legs, constantly moving her feet, which was why Keith insisted she keep up with her pedicures.
Gina snuggled even deeper into him. “You feel so warm.”
Keith hugged her close.
“Did you tell Michael how to find Lauren?”
“No. We talked about Mom and we settled some things. Then, we prayed. We’re going to talk about Lauren tomorrow.”
“He looked pretty shaken up when I came in,” she observed.
He yawned. “We’ll talk in the morning,” he directed. “Right now, sleep is calling.”
She poked him in the ribs. “Michael had better be gone in the morning.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” he assured her. Lord, please soften Gina’s heart. She’s driving me crazy, was Keith’s prayer to God before sleep claimed him.
Michael was at the breakfast bar, still dressed in a borrowed pair of Keith’s pajamas. They were loose and a smidgeon long, but they did the job.
“I see Josie hooked you up.” Keith eyed the plate of fried dumplings and salt fish. His belly grumbled and his tongue watered. He loved how Josie made codfish, or salt fish, as Jamaicans coined it. She boiled it several times to get rid of the salt, before preparing it with light seasonings, onion, and olive oil. He rubbed his hands.
“Yup. This is delicious.”
Josie dished Keith a plate. Keith said his grace and dug in, savoring the hint of pepper.
He and Michael made short work of their meal. Keith placed their plates in the dishwasher and crooked his head toward Michael.
“I should get going. I don’t want to push my luck with Gina.”
He could not argue with his brother’s comment. She had ordered him to have Michael out of the house before she got back from her ministry work at the hospital.
Nevertheless, he found himself saying, “Kick back for a minute. We have plenty to discuss.”
Keith held his breath. Michael grappled with conflicting emotions. Keith knew he was being pushy but he wanted his brother back. He had been praying for years and God was doing His thing.
“You sure you don’t mind?” Michael asked. “I’d definitely rather be here than cooped up in the penthouse all day.”
Keith released the breath he had been holding. He gestured to Michael and they headed into his study. “Now that’s settled. Let’s talk about Lauren; and Verona.”
“Where is she? How long have you known? Where are my children?”
Keith was prepared for Michael’s questions. “Lauren is safe. She came to me, pregnant and angry. It took a lot of persuasion for her to settle here in New York where Gina and I could keep an eye on her. Gina was there with her when she had your children.”
Michael’s face crumbled and his shoulders drooped. “I should’ve been there.”
Keith empathized but had to tell the truth. “Lauren didn’t want you there, Michael. I urged her on many occasions to reach out to you but she refused. She is one determined woman. Lauren said you kicked her out when she told you about her pregnancy. Is that true?”
“Yes, I did. I threw her out without a backward glance. I didn’t want to stop my vendetta against you. I was so bent on revenge I wasn’t thinking about the future. Plus, I couldn’t believe she was pregnant. I mean the whole world heard me say I couldn’t father children. I was too cynical to hear her out.” Michael covered his face.
Keith wanted to hurl some “how could you?” type questions his brother’s way, but knew it wouldn’t do any good.
“I spoke to Mom about it,” Michael confessed. “I wish I’d heeded her warnings. She died never seeing her grandchildren.”
Keith swallowed, wondering if he should divulge the truth. Might as well. The truth must come out sometime.
“She did. Mom saw them,” Keith said.
Michael’s eyes bulged out their sockets. “Mom met John and Olivia?” he shook his head. “She never told me.”
“Mom was sick. On her deathbed. I convinced Lauren to allow Mom to see them before she went on to paradise.”
Instantly, Michael was on the alert. He looked around the room as if searching for answers. “Lauren must live close, then. Bro, you have to tell me where to find her. I’m in torment. I must set things right. Children need their father.”
Keith changed the subject. “What’s going on with you and Verona? You two seem chummy.”
“Verona’s the best,” he said. “She’s loyal and I trust her. We’ve always maintained a loose professional relationship until the other day when I kissed her.”
He arched an eyebrow at Michael. “And?”
Michael waved him off. “It was nothing. I wanted to shut her up. Keep her from quitting. We’re friends. Nothing more. Besides, with Lauren in the picture . . .”
Though Michael downplayed his relationship with Verona, Keith was not convinced. He had seen the electricity between
them. He knew Verona was in love with Michael. Michael was besotted too, but he did not—or, rather, would not—acknowledge it. Michael did not step without asking Verona’s opinion. His airy tone when he mentioned Verona’s name was also a dead giveaway.
“I’ve set up a meeting with Lauren. Gina and I plan to see her today. As soon as she returns from her ministry at the hospital.”
Though Michael nodded, Keith knew his brother was not going to sit idly by and simply wait. When they parted ways, all Keith could do was hope. Hope Michael would let him help him. Or, rather, let God.
Chapter Twenty-three
“I don’t want to see him!” Lauren bellowed. She twisted her hands as she rocked back and forth.
Keith was glad Gina was with him. She went over to comfort Lauren.
“Shh. It’s all right,” she said. “You don’t want to wake John and Olivia, do you?”
Lauren was too upset to lower her voice. “No, Michael’s going to take my children away from me. I know it. Look at what he did to you and he was in love with you. What will he do to me? Michael made it clear what he thought about me.” Her face was red and covered with tears. Keith could practically smell her fear. Her green eyes were filled with abject terror.
“He’s changed,” Keith said. He, too, went over to sit next to Lauren on the couch. Lauren was now sandwiched between him and Gina. Her body was curled over so far all he could see was red hair. Over her head, Keith gave Gina a pleading look. Only his wife would able to convince the distraught woman she had no need for concern.
Gina read his look and searched for words. Keith knew this wasn’t easy for Gina to do. He reached over and took her hand and gave it a small, encouraging squeeze.
“Lauren, I wouldn’t have come here with Keith if I didn’t agree Michael is a different man. He’s becoming the man I knew before all that madness went down between us.” Gina stroked Lauren’s hair. “Michael has been coming to church and Keith’s been counseling him.”
“Ha! I’m not buying it. I can’t believe you of all people would fall for his act. I know how manipulative Michael can be. He’s playing nice because he’s in trouble. Once Michael gets himself out of this mess, he’ll be back to his old conniving, underhanded ways.”
The Fall of the Prodigal Page 10