The Keepsake (Love at the Crossroads) (7 page)

“Granny, aren’t you the one who told me to keep other people out of my business?” Desi masked her sarcasm with just enough sweetness to not to be disrespectful.

“That’s other people, I’m exempt.”

As she strolled into her office, she hushed into the phone, “I just got back to work and I can’t talk right now.”

“Then you come see me later.”
Click.

While at work
, Desi tried to stay low key. She was heading into the break room to put her lunch leftovers in the refrigerator when she overheard two of her coworkers mention divorce. Desi froze. Were they gossiping about her?

“Amazingly, we get along better since the divorce a few years ago. We share custody of the kids and he pays his child support on time,” Wanda Butler chatted with another coworker from a different department.

Desi exhaled as she quietly entered the room and accomplished her task. They barely acknowledged her.

“What does your new boyfriend say about your relationship with your ex?” the other woman queried.

Slowing her departure, Desi wondered about the answer to that, too.

“I told Greg what Tyrone put me through and he says quote, ‘As long as the jerk doesn’t step out of line when we
get married, there won’t be a problem.’ And Greg loves my babies…”

With a bittersweet smile, Desi headed to her cubicle. Yes, there
could be a life for her after divorce. Once at her desk, she focused on a new project that kept her busy all afternoon. She had to hurry and finish up so she could leave on time.

When Desi arrived at her grandmother’s house, she was
smothered with hugs and kisses before she could get into the door. “There’s my sweetie pie. How’s Michael?”

“How’s me
.” Desi stomped her foot as if she wanted to act out a temper tantrum. “I’m your granddaughter, remember?” 

Laughing, her grandmother shooed off her concern. “I can see you’re doing fine. You look better and you’re not so dark under the eyes. I guess the counseling session helped
. So my question remains, how’s Michael?’

Desi flopped on the sofa and crossed her legs. “It helped all right. I—”

“I’m glad to hear that because more important than anything, including your marriage, is the restoration of Michael’s soul. God seeks the lost sheep and for Michael to break his vow with you shows he was lost. So yes, keep praying for him and I’ll be praying for both of you that God’s will be done. Read Romans 12:20.”

Desi silently agreed that Michael’s main focus should be reconciliation with God, then they could dissolve their marriage with cordiality. After that, they could move on with a clean slate, but what did Romans 12:20 say?

“Come on back to the kitchen. I’ve got supper ready.”

“Okay.” She didn’t budge as she pulled up the scripture
in the Bible app on her smartphone.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

Was Michael her enemy? That question remained in the back of her mind as her grandmother blessed the food and Desi had two servings of collard greens
and cornbread.

CHAPTER
~9~

“You do know there’s a possibility that you may never win Desi back, man,” Zachary stated after Michael had changed clothes after work to attend Bible class.

His brother’s drive-bys were becoming routine as he felt obligated to check on the status of his marriage and the progress of his franchise.

“Thanks for your vote of confidence.” Michael scowled at him.

Zachary toyed with his car keys. “I’m just sayin’. I’ve been checking on her sisters and mother while you’re missing in action. Let me just say, I had to wave the white flag before I stepped foot on their property. They were ready to shoot darts at me because of my last name. I just want to prepare you. Your prayer needs to be for her to recover. She’s struggling emotionally.”

“Tell me something I don’t already know, man.”

“It may take a very long time for her to forgive you and I know you’re not a patient man.” Zachary chuckled. “Remember when you proposed?”

“Yep.” Michael smiled for the first time since he could remember. “Even though Desi loved me, she flat out told me she wasn’t sure if she was ready to commit.”

He had convinced Desi that he was different than the likes of her stepfather, brother-in-law at the time and her sister’s live-in boyfriend.

“I will love you until my last breath,”
he had whispered on a chilly November night that happened to be the first snowfall of the season.
“Desi, I want to be the man to make you happy, to prove you wrong, to show you that all men aren’t dogs and to be the faithful father of your children. I want to buy you a big house, and let you be a stay-at-home mom. I want to support your dreams. I want to prove my love to you.”

His words came back to haunt him. Michael couldn’t stop the feeling of hopelessness from descending over him.

I am not against You. Remember, you’re more than a conqueror,
God settled Romans 8:31-39 in his heart.

With renewed encouragement, Michael swiped his Bible from the table. “Sorry to rush you, bro, but I’m heading out to Bible class. I told Pastor Reed I would start coming.”

Zachary got to his feet and patted him on the back. “Glad to hear it. Take care of yourself and Jesus will take care of the rest. I only want you to get Desi back if you’re going to treat her right. If you can’t keep your will power zipped up—literally—then let her go.”

“There’s too much at stake this time. I’m not going to blow it. See you later.”

Michael arrived at church and parked. He didn’t get out right away as he watched other families and singles hurry toward the entrance. Michael reflected on the reason he was there, running back to God like he did when he was a child running back to his mother to fix things.

It had been so long since he’d regularly attended Bible class, much less Sunday services. As the owner of his local franchise, he would never schedule himself to work more than once a month on a Sunday or twice a month on a Bible class night.

He wondered if Desi was there. Was she sitting in the same section? How would she respond to seeing him days after his horrible confession? Michael couldn’t stall any longer. He got out of his car and walked purposefully to the front door as if he had every right to be there regardless of the guilt trip the devil tried to lay on him.

His main focus was to get his soul back on track and his wife back in his life. When Michael entered the sanctuary, he didn’t try to spy out Desi. In a random row, he knelt, not forgetting about the saints’ tradition of thanking God for letting them return to His house of worship.  Michael added a plea of repentance. Then made himself comfortable on the pew with others.

Glancing over his shoulder, his eyes searched the crowd, crisscrossing the pews until finally he slowly connected with hers. Everyone and everything seemed to fade to the background as Desi’s face came into full focus. The hate he saw in her eyes when he last saw her was gone. It was hurt that was visible before she looked away.

God help me
.
He sighed and turned back toward the pulpit.

Pastor Reed adjusted the microphone on the table in front of the podium.
“Good evening, and praise the Lord, saints of God. Shall we stand for prayer?” He waited as most able-bodied complied. “Lord Jesus, we come boldly before Your throne of grace where Your mercy is plentiful. We need You today in our lives. We know Your Word is not politically correct. Your truth will hurt our feelings, shame our lifestyle, and call it as You see it. We thank You for Your forgiveness and blessings without batting an eye… God, You called us out of a world of darkness; help us tonight to follow Your light as we study Your word, in Jesus’ name. Amen. You may take your seats.”

When the pastor
scanned the auditorium before opening his Bible, Michael wondered if he was looking for him.

“I want us to continue our study of what it takes to live righteously in a wicked world. Let’s go back to Ephesians six. As previously discussed, there’s only one way to
suit up for Christ. Saints, pay attention to this. Neither Iron Man nor any other superhero has gear as durable as faith in God. When the enemy sneaks up behind you to seduce you, turn around and resist him with your shield…”

After a few more
illustrations, the pastor moved on to the helmet of salvation.  “It’s not manmade. It’s sturdy with invisible strength to take the hits. To walk with Jesus, you’ll take hits from scoffers, those committing immoral acts, which includes anything from infidelity to homosexuality, backsliders, and the list goes on. Their job is to remove your helmet and injure your mind where you will begin to believe that good is evil and evil acts are “okay” or good. Wrap your mind around God’s Word. That is your helmet....”

If only he had used the tools God had given him, Michael would have resisted. It seemed so easy in hindsight. He closed his eyes. “Lord, I’m so sorry I let you down. I know you’ve forgiven me, but I’m having a hard time believing it,” he mumbled.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,
Jesus whispered John 16:33
.

It was hard to be happy when his wife couldn’t stand the sight of him. Michael glanced over his shoulder again in Desi’s direction. She sat with another woman he had never seen before. At that very moment she glanced up and seemed to stare right through him.

Soon after Pastor Reed wrapped up his class, he performed the altar call for sinners to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name. Once the offering was taken and the benediction given, Michael stood and gripped his Bible. He watched his wife stand and whisper in the woman’s ear. They both looked his way as he waited for a cue. Michael was not surprised when none came. The other woman ushered Desi out the sanctuary as if the devil was chasing them.

In Desi’s mind, she probably equated him to the devil. Michael watched, but didn’t follow.

CHAPTER ~10~

S
eeing Michael in church had done something to Desi. She couldn’t dismiss his tortured expression even as she walked into her extended stay apartment. Searching deep within herself, Desi admitted the truth. She stilled cared about him—as a person, a brother in Christ—but not a husband.

Staying angry at him had become mentally and spiritually draining. F
or the first time since their split, when she got on her knees before getting into bed, Desi prayed in earnest for Michael. “Jesus, if he is truly sorry, please give him peace.” When she slid under the covers, Desi fell asleep without tossing or turning.

The next morning,
she woke refreshed and Solae called her before she headed out the door. “I’m just checking up on you after last night at Bible class. Are you okay?”

“Actually, I am.”

Throughout the day, she found herself humming various old-time gospel tunes her grandmother had ingrained in her. She realized that the peace she asked God to give Michael, He had given her a portion, too.

***

The following week while eating lunch in her car, Desi received a call from her attorney. “Mrs. Bishop, we have a court date at the end of the month.”

Desi gnawed on her lips. Before seeing Michael back in church, she would have pumped her fists in the air. Now, she just wanted to bask in the season of peace God had given her. “I’m not quite ready to appear in court. Can you get a continuance?”

“At the hearing, I can petition the judge.” She was silent. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Oh no.” Desi was sure of that. “I’m building my resolve, so I won’t be an emotional wreck. What about the other case with the adulteress?”

“Miss Johnson has secured an attorney, so I’ve been in negotiation with her counsel. How do you want to proceed?”

“I want you to track down her assets and sue her for the maximum amount
allowed under the law, then whatever monies are collected, I think they should be donated to an organization for troubled marriages.”

“What about your trouble
d marriage? Have you and Mr. Bishop tried marital counseling?” Why did her divorce attorney sound hopeful?

“
Hmmm. That didn’t end pretty, so I need more time.”

“I see, then I’ll be in touch.” Attorney Rush ended the call.

Checking the time, Desi had several minutes before she had to report back to her desk. Turning off the radio, she let her mind drift. Since she walked out on Michael, Desi didn’t seem to have a life anymore. She missed going out to dinner, social functions and to the movies with her husband and other couples. Now, her schedule consisted of going to work every day, attending church twice a week, then retreating back to her temporary housing.