Chapter 10

After Diana drank her coffee and ate the sandwich Jeffrey had made for her, she went upstairs to go to bed. Jeffrey broiled a steak and potatoes for himself and ate in silence. An hour later, he walked quietly up to their bedroom and stood beside the mahogany four-poster bed to see if Diana was asleep. He watched her body as it moved up and down with each inhalation and exhalation. She snored lightly.

He crossed the huge room, his feet sinking into the thick, plush, off-white carpet. Closing the door, he walked into the upstairs foyer and sat on the beige damask chaise, put his elbows on his thighs and lowered his head in both hands.

Jeffrey was raised to be a man of honor and a provider for his family. He was brought up on Eason Farm, in a small community outside of Tarboro, North Carolina. His parents reared him in church and used their meager funds to help him work his way through college, and then medical school. His father taught him to make sure that he not only supplied his family’s needs, but do everything in his power to ensure that their future was secure.

Once he became a doctor, he lived simply and saved his money. The largest purchase he’d made in life was the home that he bought for his first wife, Denise. He didn’t purchase luxury vehicles and learned how to invest his earnings wisely. After twenty years, he’d become quite wealthy.

Until he met Diana, Jeffrey grieved over the death of his first wife. After her death, he focused solely on his work and rarely dated until he met Diana. Jeffrey was not a strong communicator, but he was attracted to Diana’s vivacious personality. He initially watched her for a couple of months before he asked her out on a date.

Diana confided in him about her daughter from the beginning of their relationship. She was honest with him about her lack of religious beliefs. He didn’t consider himself to be a particularly religious man, so he tolerated her theory on God at the time, but hoped that she would change.

Their first date went well, and they continued dating for a year until Jeffrey asked Diana to marry him. He was happy with Diana for the first seven years of their marriage. However, Diana’s blatant disrespect for God forced him to see her in a different light. Recently he had to keep a constant check on his bank account to make sure that Diana wasn’t squandering his money in order to fill the void in her life. To his dismay, his feelings for her had begun to change. He believed he still loved her, but he had no idea how to help her anymore with her drinking problem. He was at his wit’s end.

“Is everything all right, Dad?”

Jeffrey jerked his head back up to see his son, Michael, standing there. “Oh, hi, son. I didn’t know you were home.” Jeffrey leaned back against the chaise.

“I just got here.” Michael stared into his father’s eyes. What’s wrong?

Jeffrey shook his head. “Your stepmother has been drinking again. I don’t know what to do for her anymore. She refuses to get help.”

“There’s not much you can do, Dad, unless you commit her to an alcohol and drug abuse center.” Michael sighed.

“And we both know that she’ll probably never forgive you for that.”

“You’re right, son.” Jeffrey pulled his six foot two–inch lean body up and ran his hand through his thinning mixed gray hair. His mocha face was distorted with frown lines. “I’m afraid if she doesn’t find her daughter soon, she is going to go on another drinking binge, or have a nervous breakdown.”

“Has she considered talking to anyone, professionally?”

Jeffrey shook his head. “She won’t hear of it. Whenever I mention that, she gets upset. Frankly, son, I’m at my wit’s end. I can’t take too much more of this kind of pressure.”

“Maybe you should reconsider starting your practice for now, Dad. I hate to see you so stressed out.”

Jeffrey patted his son on the shoulder. “Thanks, son. I’ll find a way. I can pray for Diana. As much as she hates the thought of prayer, she needs it, regardless.” Jeffrey looked down at the floor. “I need to amend some things in my life too.”

“You’re a good man, Dad,” Michael reassured him. “Mom would have been proud.”

Jeffrey half smiled. “I don’t know about that, but your mother was a good woman. Although she’s been gone for fifteen years, I still miss her.”

Michael shifted his body weight to his left leg. “Me too.”

Jeffrey looked up and stared at Michael for a moment. “You know, you look more like your mother the older you get.” Michael was tall like his father, but he had his mother’s complexion; he was light brown with big brown eyes and long eyelashes. His hair was dark brown and coarse. He had full lips and perfect white teeth. “I used to think you looked just like me, but I see more of your mother’s features in you now.”

Michael smiled. “I think I look like both of you guys.” He took a seat on the chaise.

Jeffrey glanced past Michael’s head as though he was in a trance. He had a sad smile on his face as he reminisced. “Yep, Denise was a special woman.” He looked at his son. “She would have been really proud of you too. She fought her illness trying to see you graduate from high school. That was her dream, to see her baby boy finish high school.”

Michael had a sad look on his face while reminiscing about his mother. Both men were silent for a moment.

Jeffrey cleared his throat. “How was work today?”

“Being an intern at the hospital is stressful, but I made it through another day.”

“Well, although you had a late start in your profession, you’re on your way. You’ll be a doctor before you know it. Hang in there, son.” Jeffrey patted him on the back.

Michael smiled at his father reassuringly. “You too, Dad.”

“I guess I’ll turn in for the night,” Jeffrey said wearily. “I have an early day tomorrow.”

Michael nodded his head in agreement. He stood back up. “Goodnight. Get some rest, now. Try not to worry about Diana, okay?”

Jeffrey exhaled wearily. He was doing the best he could for Diana, but he was beginning to wonder if she was worth the stress she’d caused him for the better part of their marriage.