Read Divine Intervention Online
Authors: Lutishia Lovely
Divine Intervention (8 page)
13
Working My Way Back to You
K
elvin sat in the back of the Town Car that was speeding down I-35 on the way to the hospital. He stared straight ahead, barely aware of the scenery around him. A myriad of thoughts and emotions fought for dominance inside his head. Hands down, the one that won was of Princess. Married. Out of reach. The irony wasn’t lost on him that on this, his first trip to where the love of his life had grown up, he wouldn’t get a chance to see her. He looked at his watch. Seven o’clock.
She’s with him right now,
he thought, his heart dropping with each passing mile. He tried to shut down his mind against the images that assailed him. The wedding night was one of the most romantic ever experienced. He imagined Jacuzzis and rose petals, bubbles and champagne. Princess naked, her smooth flawless skin being touched by—
Damn, man! Give it a rest! You were such a fool. Here you are the rich, talented pro baller with women falling at your feet. But the one you wanted the most . . . has just married another man.
He sighed heavily, reached for the bottle of water beside him, and swallowed half its contents. He’d had his driver stop at one of his favorite restaurants, and had eaten a large burger and fries before boarding the plane. That had helped to soak up the alcohol. Then he’d slept the entire two and a half hours from Phoenix to Kansas City. So even though he’d become great friends with Johnnie Walker earlier in the day, he’d landed at Kansas City International Airport feeling sober and relatively refreshed.
elvin sat in the back of the Town Car that was speeding down I-35 on the way to the hospital. He stared straight ahead, barely aware of the scenery around him. A myriad of thoughts and emotions fought for dominance inside his head. Hands down, the one that won was of Princess. Married. Out of reach. The irony wasn’t lost on him that on this, his first trip to where the love of his life had grown up, he wouldn’t get a chance to see her. He looked at his watch. Seven o’clock.
She’s with him right now,
he thought, his heart dropping with each passing mile. He tried to shut down his mind against the images that assailed him. The wedding night was one of the most romantic ever experienced. He imagined Jacuzzis and rose petals, bubbles and champagne. Princess naked, her smooth flawless skin being touched by—
Damn, man! Give it a rest! You were such a fool. Here you are the rich, talented pro baller with women falling at your feet. But the one you wanted the most . . . has just married another man.
He sighed heavily, reached for the bottle of water beside him, and swallowed half its contents. He’d had his driver stop at one of his favorite restaurants, and had eaten a large burger and fries before boarding the plane. That had helped to soak up the alcohol. Then he’d slept the entire two and a half hours from Phoenix to Kansas City. So even though he’d become great friends with Johnnie Walker earlier in the day, he’d landed at Kansas City International Airport feeling sober and relatively refreshed.
“We’re here, Mr. Petersen.”
Kelvin looked up and realized they’d pulled into the Shawnee Mission Medical Center. “All right, then, man. I’m not sure how long I’ll be so . . .”
“No worries, Mr. Petersen. I’ll be right here. And you have my number, so if there is anything else that you need, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
“You know how to pray?” Kelvin asked.
The driver smiled. “Yes, sir.”
“Well . . . do that.”
“I feel bad,” Tai said to Princess, having just checked her phone and confirmed the missed calls from Rafael’s mother. “She has every right to be furious.”
King was less understanding. “I don’t give a damn about their hurt feelings. My boy is in there fighting for his life and I am not going to apologize for being by his side. I’ll make sure and give Ralph a call in the morning, but it’s probably best that I don’t talk to them tonight.”
“I’ll call them,” Tai said quickly. “And, baby, don’t worry at all about leaving with Rafael. By his side is exactly where you should be.”
“Thanks for everything,” Princess said, hugging her mom. “I should go out to the waiting room so that Rafael doesn’t have to look for me.” She hugged her father. “Give Aunt Viv a hug for me and tell her I’m praying.”
“Will do, baby,” King said, hugging her back. “Please tell Rafael how sorry I am. It’s possible that I can finish your ceremony sometime tomorrow so . . . let him know that everything is going to be all right.”
“I will, Daddy.” Princess walked to the door. “Call me if there’s any change.”
“We will, baby,” Tai said, with a little wave. “Go with Rafael and get some rest.”
Princess carefully shut the door behind her, took a deep breath, and walked down the hallway toward the waiting room. She turned the corner, and the first person she saw was . . . Kelvin Petersen.
He was standing at the front desk and, before she could gather her thoughts or get her composure, he turned and looked at her. His eyes reflected several different emotions in an instant: surprise, disbelief, confusion . . . and a deeper, more intense one that caused a shiver that shook Princess to the core of her being.
She could barely reflect on that, however, because of the deep swell of emotions going through her body: surprise, disbelief, confusion. . . and a deeper, more intense one that caused a twitch or two in one of Kelvin’s lower extremities.
“Princess?” He took several steps until he was standing directly in front of her.
“Kelvin,” Princess said, shocked that with all that had happened she hadn’t once considered that he would race to his father’s side. “Of course you’d come.”
Kelvin’s eyes narrowed as he drank her in. “Of course.”
Princess swallowed, her entire body warming with a feeling that she could neither define nor deny. Tears came to her eyes and suddenly everything felt perfectly right and totally wrong.
“Baby, don’t cry.” Acting on pure instinct, Kelvin took one more step and enveloped Princess in his arms. He noticed several things at once: the softness of her body, the feel of her hair, the scent wafting from her neck and temples . . . and how right she felt in his arms.
Princess knew that she should pull away but for the life of her, she could not move. Of their own volition, her arms wrapped themselves around Kelvin’s hard, lean body. Her hand swept across the broad expanse of his back as she nestled her head into the middle of his chest.
“Baby . . .” Kelvin wrapped his arms more tightly around her. “I didn’t think I’d see you. But I’m so glad you’re here.”
The two UCLA graduates, ex-roommates, and ex-lovers stood stock still, caught up in the moment of the embrace. The entire world had melted away. Each was only aware of each other. Which is why when Rafael entered the lobby, talking on his phone to Cleavon, who was calling with last minute details of tomorrow’s ceremony, the nurse was the only one who noticed him stop in midstride, hang up his phone without ending the conversation, and stand in livid disbelief as he took in the scene before him.
After several seconds that seemed like hours, he slowly yet resolutely made his way to where Princess and Kelvin stood embraced, oblivious of the storm that swirled around them. “Baller,” Rafael began, his voice deceptively low and calm, “if you want to keep shooting three-pointers with those arms, you’d better take them out from around my wife.”
14
I Will Always Love You
P
rincess’s reaction was immediate. “Rafael,” she said, quickly stepping away from Kelvin. “I was waiting on you.”
rincess’s reaction was immediate. “Rafael,” she said, quickly stepping away from Kelvin. “I was waiting on you.”
Rafael’s eyes stayed on Kelvin as he answered. “I’m here. Let’s go.”
He reached out his hand to Princess. She took it and stepped forward. Kelvin placed his hand on Princess’s arm, stopping her in her tracks. “Princess, can I talk to you for a quick minute?”
Rafael immediately pulled Princess out of Kelvin’s grasp. “Man, didn’t you hear what I told you?”
“Rafael, please. Let’s just go.”
Rafael looked hard and long at Kelvin before turning with Princess in tow and heading for the door.
As he watched her walk away, something snapped in Kelvin. Suddenly, he wasn’t the strong, successful professional basketball player with a multimillion-dollar contract, fancy homes, cars, and more women than he could count. He was that ten-year-old boy living in Germany, trying to fit in with a bunch of blond-haired, blue-eyed classmates who didn’t look like him. He was that boy who liked Martina, the brunette neighbor who often looked as lost as he did, and whom he wouldn’t approach because he was afraid of rejection.
But why am I afraid of it now? It’s too late for any of this. She’s already married.
Yet, in spite of himself, he called her name. “Princess!”
But why am I afraid of it now? It’s too late for any of this. She’s already married.
Yet, in spite of himself, he called her name. “Princess!”
“Don’t turn around,” Rafael encouraged, tightening his grip on Princess’s hand.
And even though her head told her that Rafael was her future, there was no way her heart would allow her to walk away from her past. Not now, not like this. “Wait, Rafael,” she said, even though they’d reached the door and Rafael was holding it open for her to pass through. “I need to talk to him.” Rafael opened his mouth to protest but before he could do so, Princess hurried on. “Just for a minute, baby, no longer, I promise.” Rafael’s body was as stiff as a board. He couldn’t even look at Princess. “He and I were close once, Rafael. It’s his father lying back there, and we don’t know whether he will live or die. I know you won’t believe this, but I saw Kelvin mere seconds before you came in. We were hugging because we’d just seen each other.”
Rafael cut a glance at Princess. “Does it matter what I think, Princess? Will you walk away from him right now, come with me without looking back if I ask?”
“Just one minute,” Princess pleaded, ignoring Rafael’s question because really . . . what could she say? “Wait right here. Don’t leave me. I’m just going to tell him what I know about Uncle Derrick. And then we can go.”
Watching Princess walk over to where Kelvin stood waiting, Rafael’s wide-legged stance showed determination; his crossed arms evidence of his displeasure.
Keep your cool, dog,
he told himself.
She’s leaving with you.
Keep your cool, dog,
he told himself.
She’s leaving with you.
Princess stopped about two feet away from Kelvin. “I’m sorry about your father, Kelvin, but I think he’s going to be okay.”
“What happened?”
Princess shrugged. “We still don’t know. We were in the middle of our ceremony and he just collapsed.”
Kelvin’s eyes were drawn to Princess’s hands, which were nervously clasped to her chest. One thing stood out immediately. Engagement ring—check. Wedding band—MIA. His heartbeat increased as Princess’s words sank in and an unthinkable scenario seeped into his head. “This happened before you and Rafael got married?”
Princess looked into Kelvin’s eyes and read into his soul. “Your father is still in intensive care. Aunt Viv is in there with him.” She pointed Kelvin in the right direction.
Rafael looked at his watch. “Princess.”
Princess looked over her shoulder. “Okay.” She turned back to Kelvin. “I’ve got to go.”
“Don’t do it, baby.”
She knew what he was talking about, but asked anyway. “Do what?”
“Marry him. Don’t throw away something that comes only once in a lifetime. I still love you, Princess. I never stopped. I always will.”
Princess dropped her head and turned away. She walked to Rafael, who quickly put his arm around her and ushered her out the door. He looked back at Kelvin, a don’t-eff-with-this message written all over his face. But Kelvin didn’t read the memo. His eyes were on Princess, his thoughts on the fact that she was walking out the door and taking a part of his heart with her—and that she did so without looking back.
15
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
K
elvin was beside himself. He hadn’t felt this helpless since he was thirteen years old. At the time he entered his teen years he’d been a shy, unsure, and out-of-place student at one of Germany’s elite private schools—one of the few people of color who walked the large, picturesque campus. Then, in a matter of months, he grew several inches and his thin, lanky frame filled out to one of muscle-chiseled perfection. And something else happened. His uncle sent him a basketball, signed by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Having always been a baller fan, he found out that he was also gifted at hoops. Instantly, he had a focus, a dream, and fans. His new physique and impressive b-ball skills took him from being a student on the fringe to the big man on campus. Girls wanted to be
with
him and boys wanted to
be
him. A heady time for a boy who’d spent a lot of his early years alone.
elvin was beside himself. He hadn’t felt this helpless since he was thirteen years old. At the time he entered his teen years he’d been a shy, unsure, and out-of-place student at one of Germany’s elite private schools—one of the few people of color who walked the large, picturesque campus. Then, in a matter of months, he grew several inches and his thin, lanky frame filled out to one of muscle-chiseled perfection. And something else happened. His uncle sent him a basketball, signed by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Having always been a baller fan, he found out that he was also gifted at hoops. Instantly, he had a focus, a dream, and fans. His new physique and impressive b-ball skills took him from being a student on the fringe to the big man on campus. Girls wanted to be
with
him and boys wanted to
be
him. A heady time for a boy who’d spent a lot of his early years alone.
He vividly remembered the moment that he looked in a mirror and wondered just who it was staring back at him. It certainly wasn’t his stepfather, a serious yet compassionate German with salt and pepper hair and ruddy fair skin. And the more time passed, it really wasn’t his mother either, an attractive woman with toffee-brown skin, a round face, and average height. When he first asked about his biological father, Janeé Petersen was evasive. When he was sixteen years old, however, he traveled to California to spend the summer with his Uncle Geoff, the one who’d recognized his athletic potential early on. That summer not only did Kelvin find his scholastic niche, but he also met his father.
Kelvin’s phone rang and he snatched if off the marble table in the elegantly appointed Ritz-Carlton room where he sat. “Yo, dog. Took you long enough.”
“Slow your anger roll, KP. I was at the gym. Just got your message.” Kelvin could hear his best friend, Brandon, gulping water from a bottle. “How’s your dad?”
Kelvin relayed what he knew and then added, “I saw Princess.”
“For real?”
“Yeah, she was at the hospital.”
“On her wedding day? I mean, I know your dad is like her uncle and everything, but that’s crazy!”
“You haven’t even heard crazy yet.”
“Talk to me.”
“She’s not married yet.”
“Stop bullshittin’.”
“Real talk.”
“What do you mean she’s not married?”
“Dad passed out in the middle of their ceremony. You can about imagine the chaos, especially from Princess’s father, King, who views Dad like a brother. Folk followed the ambulance from the church to the hospital. Miss Tai said that King never left Dad’s side. He’s probably still at the hospital right now.”
A low whistle came over the line. “Did y’all get a chance to talk?”
“Not much. When I saw her, man, it was like . . . I can’t even explain it, but this feeling came over me like I’ve never felt before. I was sad and happy at the same time. We were like magnets, in each other’s arms as soon as we saw each other. Then Rafael had to walk in and break up the moment.”
“Oh, shit! That couldn’t have gone well.”
“If it had gone the way it should have, I wouldn’t be on the phone with you right now. I’d be with her.” Silence, and then, “I need to see her, man.”
“Kelvin . . .”
“It’s still there. I could feel it. I could see it in her eyes. If I could just talk to her for a few minutes, get her to see reason, she wouldn’t marry that clown!”
“Man, I think it’s a little late for that. For all you know, she could be married by now.”
“Didn’t you hear me? King is still with my dad.”
“He’s not the only preacher in Kansas. They may have found someone else and tied the knot.” Brandon sighed. “I know you don’t want to hear this, dog, but maybe it’s time to concede that it’s over... and Rafael won.”
“What? Are you crazy? I will never concede that shit, man, never!”
“You know I’m feeling you, KP. I was there when you and Princess jumped off. I was there last year, when you took your son to LA and had Princess pray for him, and you told me all about when she spent that weekend with you and then left because of all the females blowing up your phone. There are hundreds, maybe even thousands of women throwing themselves at you, dude,” Brandon concluded. “There’s probably somebody out there who will make you forget all about homegirl.”
“Hey, man, I need you to call Joni,” Kelvin said, as if he hadn’t heard a word Brandon had spoken. “Get her on three-way. I need her to tell me where Princess is at.”
“No.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I love you like a brother, but I’m not putting my wife in the middle of this again. It took Princess a long time to get over Joni’s indirect involvement in helping you contact her the last time. If she helps interrupt what could be her wedding night . . . that would probably be the end of their friendship.” The silence spoke loudly before Brandon continued, his voice soft and full of compassion. “Let it go, Kelvin. Let her go. I know you’re used to getting what you want in life, but when it comes to this situation, you need to face facts. It’s over.”
“It’s not over until it’s over,” Kelvin replied, his voice calm, resolute. “And it’s not over until I say it is.”
A different kind of pleading was happening on the other side of town. Rafael stood behind Princess, massaging her tight shoulders. “I’ve waited a year, Princess. I think I’ve been more than patient. All I’m asking is for us to take a shower together, and then let us go to sleep with you wrapped in my arms.”
Princess dropped her head as Rafael’s strong fingers moved from her shoulders to the nape of her neck. “That’s what you say now, but I think once we’re butt naked in the shower you’ll be asking for a little bit more.”
Something in Rafael snapped. He ended the massage abruptly and came from behind the chair to confront Princess face to face. “Would that be asking too much? We had about five minutes of the ceremony left, Princess. Five minutes! And then we would have been husband and wife. What’s left is a mere formality and I’ve already told you that by noon tomorrow, even that will be taken care of.”
Princess was in turmoil. How could she counter what Rafael said? It made perfect sense. True, at this time in her life she was the poster child for virtuousness and had vowed to be married the next time she made love. But she felt that even Jesus would admit that these were some pretty extraneous circumstances. How could she deny this man who’d been so patient with her? And then, an even more disturbing thought. How could she deny the feelings for the man who’d caused fireworks in her body with one simple glance?
“I know this isn’t how we imagined tonight,” she finally said, reaching out to grab the hand of the patient, understanding, worthy man whose pleading eyes now bore into hers. “I’ve been anticipating it as much as you. I can’t imagine many men who would have honored me the way that you have. But if we give in to our passion tonight, before our marriage becomes official, then the last twelve months would have been in vain.” Princess stood, placed her arms around Rafael’s neck. “Just a few more hours,” she murmured, kissing him on the cheek. “And then . . . I’m all yours.”
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