The Keepsake (Love at the Crossroads) (10 page)

So here he was, exactly eighteen minutes later, standing before this big two-story house. Judging from the number of cars, it was already a full house. Apparently, Desi hadn’t arrived yet. With a bag of rolls he had purchased from the bakery earlier, Michael strolled up the steps and knocked on the door.

He could hear laughter, loud voices and music coming from inside. When Desi’s older sister, Tracey, opened the door, every conversation stopped as he became the center of attention—and not in a good way.

Nothing was worse than a verbal beat down from this crew. He had witnessed them in action. Crossing the threshold uninvited by Tracey, Michael prepared himself for their slaughter with every step.

Granny Rose eased up from a rocker and stretched out her arms. Michael smiled and hugged the woman who had become his surrogate grandmother even before he and Desi married.

“I’m glad you could make it.” She winked and grinned. “Now, everything’s going to be all right.” She patted his back.

“I doubt that,” Tracey said with a sneer as she shut the door.

Desi’s mother, Sarah, leaned up against the kitchen doorway and stared. “Michael, you don’t know how disappointed I am—”

“Hush, daughter. At one time or other, we’ve all been prodigals. God welcomed him back, so we should fall in line.” Granny Rose turned to one of her grandsons. “Take these rolls into the dining room and be careful not to crush them.

“Yes, ma’am,” Tracey’s oldest son said and went to do her bidding.

The doorbell rang again and Zachary swaggered in. Apparently a hero in the women’s eyes, he received a hearty welcome. 

Tracey hugged Michael’s brother and laughed at what he brought, then turned back to Michael with a blank expression. “We’ll talk later,” she whispered as she passed him on her way into another room.

“I expected as much,” Michael mumbled, sliding his hands into his pockets. After shaking hands with his brother, the children vied for their attention. He could always count on the little ones for unconditional love.

Michael wondered what was taking Desi so long to arrive. Moments later, she opened the door, struggling with a bag containing her desserts. Michael was at her side in an instant. “Let me take those.”

She barely acknowledged him as she relinquished her load.

“Whew, I love your highlights. Work it girl,” Halcyon, who hadn’t looked his way since he had been there, stood hardly showing. Zachary had told him about her baby pouch.

Both of Desi’s sisters were cute, but Desi was the full package from her smile, face, hair, body and gorgeous legs. Tracey and Halcyon had made bad choices when it came to men. He hoped that Desi didn’t feel that she had, too. Michael was nothing like their ex’s.

“Turn from side to side for me to see.” Halcyon fluffed Desi’s hair and his wife did her best to ignore him.

“It’s not short and sassy, but I figure I could wear it longer and sexy.” Desi giggled and high-fived with Halcyon.

Feeling invisible, Michael retook his seat to the children’s delight, but he kept his eyes on his wife. How could she have gotten more beautiful since the last time they saw each other? Yes, her hair was long and she had lost weight, but her curves were unmistakable. Why did she have to get rid of her ring? Michael knew why, but didn’t like it. With or without it, Desi was available.

While Desi hid out in the kitchen, each woman pulled him to the side and chewed him out. Unlike her granny, Desi’s sisters did it in unsanctified manners with profanity pieced together in their sentences.

“You’re no different than my ex and you call yourself a Christian. Thanks for the example
…” Tracey tacked on the guilt.

Desi’s mother lectured him on the responsibilities of
a good husband. “My baby has always been a jewel. She’s a treasure you abandoned, but another man, knowing her worth will find and cherish her.”

“I am that other man who knows her worth. I’ve repented and apologize
d. God accepted. Now I’m praying for my wife to do the same.”

“I’m from Missouri, and our
state motto is Show me, so show her and me.” Her mother only left her post when one of her grandchildren screamed for her attention.

He was grateful that
Granny Rose seemed to believe that he was truly sorry. If Michael hadn’t wanted Desi so bad, he wouldn’t have subjected himself to this much humiliation. But he realized it was part of the reconciliation process. Not only did he hurt Desi, but all of them as well.

When
it was time to feast, everyone gathered around the dining room table. The spread was artistically placed as if someone had followed a diagram. As part of Desi’s family tradition, everyone linked hands. Michael knew it was no accident that Tracey gripped his hand and Halcyon took the other. As if on cue, they squeezed his hands with all their might. They must have practiced the art of torture because he could feel their pinching squeeze.

With bowed heads, each person thanked God for one thing before a prayer was given and the food blessed. The children thanked God for their mommies. When they added their daddies, Michael’s hands felt the brunt of their mother’s frustration with their children’s fathers.

Then it was Desi’s turn. Michael’s heart pounded with uncertainty as to what his wife could find thankfulness in. “I thank God that I survived this year, the breakup of my marriage and the worst heartache I’ve ever experienced. I can honestly say I hold no malice against Michael,” she said in a way that held no condemnation.

Zachary went next and Michael followed. “I’m thankful today because God has been merciful to me and didn’t let me perish.” Both Desi’s sister released soft grunts. “I’m also thankful for repentance so I can truly say he whom the Son has set free is free indeed.”  

Granny Rose forced amens out of each family member before she said grace. All seemed forgotten as they ate, joked and asked for seconds. A few times, Michael met Desi’s eyes when she laughed. It was the first time he had seen a genuine smile on her face in a long time and he missed that.

Michael wanted to stay as long as Desi was there, but he couldn’t. As she returned from the bathroom, Michael cornered her. “This was nice, and you look very pretty.” When she blushed, Michael did all he could to rein in his cockiness, so as not to spoil the light-hearted mood. He frowned and lowered his voice. “I have to leave so I can get up early in the morning. Be careful going back to wherever you’re staying.” He paused. “Is it a safe place?”

“Yes.” She nodded. “I’m at the Residence Inn not far from here.” She started to say something else but stopped.

“Thank you…” Michael didn’t know what possessed him, but he brushed a kiss against her cheek, retrieved his coat and walked out the door.  He was barely behind the wheel when his smartphone alerted him of a text. Desi. He grinned.

No surprise visits. I mean it, Michael. I only told you so you wouldn’t worry.

I
always will.

I know.

Michael could imagine her saying that as he glanced at the house. Desi was standing in the window watching him. When she waved, Michael honked and drove away. “I love her.” He was starting to understand the meaning of James 1:4:
Let patience have her perfect work...

CHAPTER
~13~

Thanksgiving dinner had seemed to be a turning point for Desi. Michael’s kiss to her cheek was a nice touch to end the evening. She was surprised that after he left no one made derogatory comments about him. Actually, no one said anything, even her opinionated grandmother, which she thought was odd.

After a long exhausting week at work, Desi was glad to have the weekend off. As she changed clothes, she reflected on the change of seasons, not only outside, but in her life. “A time to laugh and a time to mourn…” Ecclesiastes 3. “Well, Lord, I guess I’ve had both this year.” She chuckled although nothing was funny.

She surveyed her surroundings. She had been in her extended stay hotel for more than six months. As soon as the divorce was final and Michael sold the house, she could take the proceeds and buy a cozy condo. As she glanced out the window, the cotton ball-shaped clouds mesmerized her. She didn’t need to watch the news to predict when snowfall was on the horizon.

While some people enjoyed sunrises or sunsets, Desi had always liked the rain as a child. As she grew older, she became addicted to the season’s first snowfall. If she could, Desi would stop whatever she was doing to take in the moment, sometimes for hours.

When the snow began to fall, Desi scrambled to get outdoors. She piled on layers of clothes. Grabbing a thick blanket off the bed, she hurried to the lobby where twin benches were stationed at the entrance. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she stared as the flakes danced in the air before resting where they landed.

Desi sighed. Her pending divorce ordeal would be over soon. Then by Christmas, she would be sadly single again. Desi knew it was for the victim’s benefit that God allowed divorce, but she never thought she would be the recipient of one. As the snow began to come down heavier, it reminded her of the many tears she had shed. She had basked in the title of being Mrs. Bishop and how much she loved her husband. She had invested three years into her marriage. Now, was it worth it to divorce Michael? Would God give her another chance at love?

She
shivered and wrapped the blanket tighter around her shoulders. The only thing missing was that cup of hot chocolate.

Residents parked and hurried inside their apartments. F
ootsteps shuffled behind her, but Desi was in too much of a trance to look over her shoulder. When a hand shoved a large coffee cup in front of her, she accepted without turning around. Her hearted pounded. It was Michael.

“Thanks.”
Bowing her head, Desi blessed it and took a lingering sip of hot chocolate from the coffee cup. “Ah.” She smacked her lips and Michael sat beside her with extra blankets under one arm and a Styrofoam cup in the other hand.

She felt too content to protest. “
What are you doing here?”

“The snow. It’s
one more thing that makes me think of you and what we had.”

The snow seemed to hypnotize her. She couldn’t pull away to look at him. “So many things make me think of us. Snowfall, baking, movies, reading to each other, lovemaking—I held on to my virginity, believing God would send me the right man. I trusted God that despite my sisters and mother’s bad experiences with men that I would be the exception,” she rambled on and was glad Michael didn’t interrupt. “Even though I had a career, I always imagined myself as a mother, being in love ‘til death us do part. …” Desi talked until she tired herself out. When she shivered, Michael wrapped more blankets around her shoulders and scooted closer.

Michael’s baritone voice lowered into a whisper as he pierced the quietness. “I always told myself whenever I found the right woman, I was going to pull out all the stops to make her fall in love with me…”

Desi listened, sipping her hot chocolate, but she never looked his way.

“Since my parents were deceased and it was just me and Zachary, I wanted mini-me’s and mini-you’s running around. I’ve learned so much this past year. Never take God’s blessings for granted, for the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, but blessed be the name of the Lord. I’ve also lived two lives. The truth where I loved you and the lie where I proved that I could be my own worst enemy…”

They sat for hours talking, listening and indulging in the silence until layers of snow covered the parking lot and cars. When she had drained the last of her hot chocolate, Desi twisted her lips in a pout.

Although she didn’t complain, Michael must have sensed her disappointment and handed her his. While she was hesitant, he brought the rim to her lips and coaxed her to take a sip. Grinning, she swiped his cup and began drinking as if it were her own. Once she finished his cup, she shifted in her cocoon of warm blankets and faced him.

Michael inched closer. She could smell the cocoa on his breath, or maybe it was hers. Desi closed her eyes as his lips touched hers. They indulged in an unrushed fashion. The kiss was so gentle, slow and sweet. Desi didn’t know she was crying until she sniffed and opened her eyes to blurred vision. Something within her snapped and the tears came from nowhere. As she sobbed, Michael held her, resting his jaw on the top of her head. She didn’t push him away. She missed the intimacy between them.

Once she composed herself, she didn’t face him. “Sorry about that.”

“The kiss or the tears?”

Desi wanted to say both, but she had always enjoyed kissing her husband. “The tears.”

“I caused them. It’s only right that I should be here to wipe them away.”

He was right, so she didn’t argue. Resting her head on his shoulder, Desi closed her eyes. Why was she so content—was it Michael or the snow? “Do you have a backpack in the car?”

“We’ve never left home without one in this weather.”

“You can stay the night, so you don’t have to drive home in this.” What possessed her to offer him lodging? If he got stuck, AAA was ready to assist motorists.