“Letting go and forgetting the past is easier said than done, but never use the past as an excuse to not care about your future.” Jayden Hayes
Meesha dashed out the door, got in her car, and headed to Perfecting Your Faith Academy. Since before she gave birth to now three-month-old Makena, she had spent very little if any time at the school that she loved dearly. For one, she was away from the Academy when she needed time away from Carlton. She and the boys went to Los Angeles to visit her sister, Geena. It was during all the mess going on with Breyonna, Liam, and the fact that Carlton wanted a divorce. The Academy was out for summer break during that time anyway, and she took the boys along. She needed to get away to gain some clarity of mind about what she needed to do concerning her marriage. If she was going to make a wise decision, she needed some time that she could set aside to pray and seek God for answers. God led her back to Adverse City and for now, she was glad she had listened and obeyed.
Since returning home, her marriage was thriving, the boys adored their baby sister, and Carlton’s ministry was continuing to prosper. Everything was picture perfect, which meant she could go back to dedicating time to the Academy. The school was growing too, and there was an even longer waiting list for perspective students. The cap was 600 students because they wanted to maintain small classroom sizes with state of the art equipment, highly qualified teachers with Masters’ degrees and above, and a curriculum that rivaled some of the best preparatory schools across the country.
She drove her luxury automobile into her reserved parking space. Meesha sat in the car for a while and watched as the students filed into the school. A smile complimented her flawless face along with a body that had returned to nearly perfect after having given birth to her fifth child.
People often remarked about her size and often asked how she maintained her perfect size four figure after having ‘all those children’. The thing is, Meesha didn’t have to work out much. She watched her diet, which consisted mostly of fruits, veggies, plenty of spring water, and what she often told the curious was she believed in having lots of sex. She and Carlton always enjoyed a healthy, active, fulfilling sex life. It suffered, of course, when they went through their marital turbulence, but even then, Carlton still desired her. Now all of that was behind them, and their sexual life was better than ever. Meesha had no complaints.
She refocused on the young people going inside the school. Some of the older kids drove their cars and Meesha watched as they parked in the Student Parking Only section of the school. Others were dropped off by parents. It was hustle and bustle. Grabbing hold of the door, she was about to get out of the car when she saw Avery drive up. She sat back against the seat and watched as Avery drove up close to the entrance of the school in the Student Drop Off area.
Meesha watched as Avery said something to the girls. Lexie, who was sitting in the front seat, leaned in and kissed her mother. Avery then leaned to the back while Heather leaned forward to the front and they hugged and kissed before both girls got out of the car and quickly began engaging with their friends.
Another couple, a teen couple, caught Meesha’s eye and though she didn’t want to, thoughts forced themselves into her mind about that awful period in her life. Tears immediately formed in her eyes as she watched the young couple walk hand in hand as they gazed lovingly at each other. She recognized them, had seen them time and time again at school and sometimes at church. If Meesha wasn’t mistaken, the teens were in the Academy’s senior class.
She quickly wiped away her tears. “Not today. Devil, you are a liar,” she mouthed before getting out of the car. “I am forgiven. Forget those things that lie behind and forge toward those things that are ahead.”
Sucking in her bout with anxiety over the thoughts of her sordid past, she opened the door, put one Louboutin cladded foot to the pavement, then the other, and boldly stepped out of the car. Her Brazilian weave swung with every step she made, and she carried her Gucci bag, a recent just because gift from Carlton, in her blinged out hand. Several parents and kids spoke to her as she walked toward the school entrance. Nothing was going to ruin her life. She had overcome, persevered, and prayed her way to where she was, and no devil in Hell was going to hold her back or cause her to stumble.
“Good morning, Mrs. Porter. It’s good to have you back,” the administrative assistant stated as soon as Meesha entered the school office. At the Academy most of the staff called her Mrs. Porter rather than First Lady Porter. She liked the fact that they distinguished the different roles of the two titles.
“Thank you and good morning to you too, Alice Faye. This is the day the Lord has made.”
“Yes, it is, Mrs. Porter. We will rejoice and be glad in it,” Alice Faye finished.
“Yes, praise the Lord, we will.” Meesha waltzed past Alice Faye. Alice Faye watched Meesha’s red bottoms grace the office floor like a gazelle.
Down the hall and into her office Meesha went. Once inside, she stopped, took a moment to peruse the space before she walked around to her desk, and set her keys and purse on the walnut and cherry desktop. She was where she belonged, and she couldn’t be happier.
She got settled into the routine she had become accustomed to. There was always something that required her attention. She called Alice Faye into her office and assigned her the task of contacting several of their top donors to obtain their commitments for the upcoming school year. She also asked her to gather a list of perspective donors. They had a thriving Academy but it was only as good as their donors, and Meesha was glad she had some heavy hitters who didn’t mind supporting the school with their money.
After Alice Faye left the office, moments later, there was a knock on her door at the same time her interoffice phone rang.
“Yes, Alice Faye?”
“Mr. Porter is on his way to your office. Kingston, that is,” she clarified.
“Okay, that must be him knocking now. Thanks, Alice Faye.” She pushed the Off button to the interoffice phone while simultaneously saying, “Come in.”
In strolled Kingston Porter. “Welcome back, sis.” He closed the office door behind him and approached her desk.
Meesha stood up and they embraced. “It’s good to see you, Kingston,” she said. “Yep, I’m back in the saddle,” she said, and chuckled lightly.
Kingston wore many hats at Perfecting Your Faith. One was that of Assistant Headmaster of the Academy. Carlton’s other brother, Martin, focused mainly on church administrative functions and staff.
“Are you ready for me to catch you up on what’s been going on during your absence?”
“Yes, but first I want to get personal. We haven’t talked much, but with a new baby in the house, among other things, I’ve been swamped. Tell me, how are you and Damica? Is the wedding still on?”
“Yes. She’s doing all the planning, of course. She wants a fall wedding. That’s fine by me. I just want to make her my wife,” he said, beaming.
“Look at you, the man is in love,” Meesha remarked and smiled. “I’m happy for you, Kingston. You’re a good man and I know you’re going to be a great husband and father to Damica’s son.”
“Yes, he’s already like my son. I love that kid.”
“Damica is blessed to have a man like you, but I think she knows that.”
“I try to show her and J’elon every chance I get,” Kingston replied. “I’m just as blessed to have found her. She’s everything I’ve wanted in a woman, everything I prayed for.”
“That’s good, Kingston. Okay, enough of my probing. Let’s get on with business.”
“Whoa, hold up. I’m not going to let you off the hook that easy.”
“What are you talking about?”
“What’s going on between you and my brother? How is he treating you?”
“Things are good. I think we’re finally in a good place again.”
“Good. He better not mess up this go round. He has a good thing too you know. You’re a good woman, Meesha, and a wonderful mother to my nephews, and to that beautiful little niece of mine.”
“Thanks, Kingston. That means a lot coming from you. I know how much you admire your brother.”
“As long as he does what’s right, but I’m not going to be on his side when he’s in the wrong. Remember, sis-in-law, I got your back. All you have to do is let me know if that chump gets outta line, and me and Martin will beat him up.” Kingston leaned back in his chair and began laughing.
“Will do.” Meesha laughed.