Chapter 57
Sheba knew this would be the last time she saw the house she’d once shared with Uriah. A lone tear streamed down her face as she closed and locked the front door for the very last time. “This is it.” She placed her hand over her heart. “No matter where I’m at, you’ll always be in my heart. Love you, Uriah.”
She turned the knob to make sure the door was locked, and with a slow pace walked down the walkway to the waiting car. She looked back one last time and waved as if someone were going to wave back.
The driver held the car door open for her, and she climbed in. “Good-bye,” she said as the driver got in the front seat and drove away. Less than four hours later the jet she was on landed at Addison Airport.
To her surprise, David greeted her as she exited the plane. “I’ve missed you,” he said as he held on to her.
“I’ve missed you, too,” she responded. She honestly had missed him. David had weaved his way into her heart, and she was not ashamed to admit it.
The driver retrieved her bags and placed them in the limousine. David waited for Sheba to step in the limo and got in right behind her.
“Your eyes look puffy,” David said.
“I’m just a little emotional right now,” Sheba confessed as she pulled a small compact mirror out of her purse to look at her eyes. “Oh my. I do look bad.”
“You’re home now. If you need to talk, you got my ear.”
“I’m fine. Just a cleansing process that I should have gone through long before now.”
“All things happen in their designated time,” David said.
“Wise words,” Sheba said as she looked out the window.
David reached over and took her hand. He squeezed it a few times. They rode the majority of the way home in silence. Both were lost in their thoughts.
“It’s good to be home,” Sheba said as they entered the front door.
“I’m glad you think of it as home.”
“It took a while, but I think I’m accustomed to it now.” Sheba flashed a smile.
David helped her unpack her bags. “I’ve been all around the world, and no woman can match your beauty. I’m not just speaking of your outer beauty, either,” David said.
“That’s sweet of you to say.” Sheba turned and faced David.
David bent down and kissed her on the lips. “Your lips taste like sweet nectar.”
“Mr. King, you’re mighty tasty yourself,” Sheba said as she smiled.
“I love you, Bathsheba,” David said.
“I love you.” Sheba meant it. She had fallen in love with him. She couldn’t pinpoint the moment, but she had. Uriah would always be special to her, but now she could finally let go of the guilt that she had been holding on to about betraying Uriah and give her all to David. She looked into David’s eyes and said, “I love you, and I’m ready. I’m ready to give you my all.”
David’s hand rested on top of her belly. “Having my child is the best show of your love.”
Their lips locked, and two hours later they were both sound asleep in each other’s arms.
The alarm clock woke Sheba out of her sound sleep. She couldn’t remember setting the alarm. David was still asleep. She shook him. “David, wake up. The alarm went off.” She glanced at the digital display. It read 6:45 A.M.
David jumped up. “I can’t believe I overslept. I normally wake up before it goes off, and cut it off so it won’t wake you.”
She rubbed her sleepy eyes. “Well, this time it beat you up.”
Sheba slid back under the covers as David got up and got ready for work. While he was dressing, she said, “Did you set up the interview?”
“No. I was hoping you’d changed your mind.”
“I haven’t. Set it up. I need to tell my side, or should I say our side of the story.”
“Okay, I’ll set it up today. I promise.”
Later on that day, Sheba received a call from a popular national talk show host, Kandie Washington, confirming an interview for two days later. Sheba thought that would be perfect. She called Dawn to confirm her hair appointment and also made appointments to get a manicure and a pedicure. “What was I thinking? I could have had them all come out to the house. I’m rich. I can afford it,” she said after making the appointments. She called them all back and gave them her address. Yes, being rich comes with benefits.
Now that she could get out more, she refused to use the personal shoppers David had on standby for her. Sheba found the keys to the Jaguar David had given her and ventured out toward the Galleria. Dallas traffic was backed up on the interstate. She wished she had called the driver after being stuck in traffic for over an hour.
She finally reached the mall and found the perfect outfit at Neiman Marcus. It was a cream-colored pantsuit. She would wear the pearls David had given her as a wedding gift, and with her new cropped hairstyle, she would look great for the camera.
Sheba needed to look good, because she was nervous about opening herself up to an interview. She had never done anything like this before. She hoped she didn’t stutter or say the wrong things. She needed to protect Uriah’s memory, as well as help David preserve his image.