The Shale
It was considered the premier coffee house in Devin’s Cay, but Sasha and Hunter hadn’t agreed to meet there to simply enjoy coffee or any of the establishment’s exotic concoctions. Sasha desperately needed to empty her burdens on someone and since Hunter had always been the one to pick up the pieces, Sasha felt compelled to share everything with her. Hunter was her best friend, after all and being there for one another was what best friends did. It turned out to be a good thing that Hunter had ordered two espressos, despite Sasha protesting against it. The warm liquid was doing a superb job of relaxing Sasha’s nerves. For the moment, though, the focus of the conversation had switched to Hunter.
“It looks as if marriage will agree with you,” Sasha said between sips.
Hunter playfully rolled her eyes. “Please don’t tell me that because you think I’m glowing. Because you will be the third person who has told me that since I got back from Tampa.”
“But it’s true, Hunter; you are glowing. I can see that Kevin makes you happy.”
“Honestly, he does make me happy. However, this marriage that is about to happen between Kevin and me wouldn’t have seen the light of day had it not been for the Big Man upstairs. About two weeks ago, we were at a place where we’d almost called it quits.”
“Oh yeah? You never told me what happened.”
Hunter waved Sasha off. “It’s all water under the bridge now.”
“Indulge me.”
“Naw…I don’t see the necessity in rehashing it. Besides, Kevin has made certain that his past flings stay away from our path.”
Past flings? As in more than one? That doesn’t sound too good, Sasha wanted to say, but she opted for a less abrasive response. “How so?”
“For starters, he has dissolved his partnership with Briers and Co. and decided to move back to Devin’s Cay.”
“I heard as much,” Sasha said. “And that he is currently looking for a spot to open up his own accounting practice. But I thought Kevin moved back to Devin’s Cay because he wanted to be close to you. I didn’t know it was related to him trying to distance himself from his past.”
Hunter tried not to show her distaste for Sasha’s tactless comment. “Well, it is all part of Kevin’s decision to move back home…the important thing is: I trust him. I wouldn’t be marrying him if I didn’t. But if indeed I am glowing…” Hunter used her index finger to point upwards. “It has everything to do with Him. He has completely changed my outlook on life.”
Despite her surly mood, Sasha gave Hunter a lively look. “You are serious about getting to know the Lord, aren’t you? Forget all that I’ve been complaining about…this is way more interesting.”
Hunter laughed, happy to see the anguish had disappeared from Sasha’s eyes, if only for a moment. “I’ve learned so much about the Lord already. I dropped on my knees last night and prayed the “Sinner’s prayer,” inviting the Lord to come into my heart. My only regret is that I wish I’d paid attention to Him much sooner.”
“Wow,” Sasha exclaimed. “I don’t know any new convert to Christianity who hasn’t said that. I am so excited to know you’ve made such an important step in your life.”
“It’s been long overdue. And I believe God used you and Drake to plant seeds of faith within my heart, even though at the time it appeared as if I wasn’t taking in all of what you guys were saying to me.”
Sasha grew silent when she heard that, because for so long she’d been under the oppression of trying to ‘save’ her marriage that she had forgotten one of her primary roles of being a Christian – which was to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. In fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d really sat down and studied the Holy Scriptures. Hunter’s unexpected conversion to Christianity was a sharp rebuke to Sasha’s conscience. She had allowed the cares of life to weigh her down to the point where soul winning had taken a back seat in her walk with God.
“And the best part about this whole thing,” Hunter beamed, alerting Sasha back to the moment at hand. “Is that Kevin has decided to give his heart to the Lord as well. He may have even done so already. He told me he has been praying more since coming back home to Devin’s Cay. In any event, I hope we can both go public with our faith on Sunday. Do you think Drake would do the honors of affirming us in front of the congregation?”
“I don’t think that is necessary…but if that is what you want, of course! Drake would be ecstatic to know that you guys are now part of the family of God.”
“Bless your heart, honey. That would mean so much to me.”
Sasha shook her head in amazement. Who would have thought that her best friend, Hunter Rose would have fallen head over heels in love with the Lord? Certainly that glow on Hunter’s face had much to do with her spending time in the presence of the Lord. Suddenly, Sasha was provoked to jealousy. Maybe it was time for her to get back to cultivating her relationship with God, instead of fretting over the next invention Levi would come up with to destroy her marriage.
“Hearing your testimony gives me great hope for my situation,” she admitted to Hunter. “I just wish I hadn’t walked off my job the way I did. It just peeved the heck out of me to know that the principal of the school was blackmailing me.”
Hunter held up her hand. “Stop right there, honey. You knew for a while that that woman never liked you and was doing everything in her power to get rid of you. At least you won’t have to put up with her foolishness anymore. However, the good news is: you and your husband have inherited millions. You hear me? Millions! Finding or losing a job shouldn’t be a concern for you.”
“It’s not about the money, Hunter. Teaching is my calling.”
Hunter shrugged. “Open up your own school; you certainly have enough money to do it.”
“I never thought about that.”
“Maybe God has been preparing you all along for this big moment and I think you should gladly embrace it. You and Drake will be fine. What don’t fit; don’t force. If Drake doesn’t want to know about the blackmail, leave it alone, because you know how one situation can lead to another.”
“But what if –”
Hunter quieted Sasha with a gentle interruption. “You repeatedly told me to leave my cares in God’s hands. Now I’m returning the favor. Trust the Lord to work out the details.” She raised her Styrofoam cup, half-filled with lukewarm espresso. “Sorry this place doesn’t sell apple cider to give a traditional toast, nonetheless this will work. To a fresh start, for the both of us.”
Sasha smiled, as a feeling of peace began to settle into her heart. She lifted her Styrofoam cup and tapped it against Hunter’s. “To a fresh start…the Lord knows I need one.”
About two booths down across from the women, Raffie lowered the newspaper from his eyes. He positioned his Canon digital camera at the edge of his table and subtly snapped a series of shots in the direction of the women. He pulled out his cell phone from the inside of his coat pocket and put through a call to Shiloh. He wished he knew her last name, which would make it easier to track her down, if he needed to. Today Raffie was wearing a wrinkle-free grey single-breasted suit, a crisp white shirt in between that was open at the collar. He was debonair in every sense of the word.
“Should I approach her now with the business proposition?” he asked the flirtatious feline.
“I’m assuming she’s within reach,” Shiloh said. “A pale white whore with blonde hair and blue eyes?”
Raffie smirked at Shiloh’s description. She was obviously jealous of the woman. “That’s her, but she’s far prettier than I imagined.” Even prettier than you…
Shiloh grunted. “That doesn’t mean she’s any good for Kevin. Her jewelry collection is the only thing she has going for her. When I’m done picking her to pieces, she won’t know how to find her head from her foot.”
“Your father is a billionaire and has placed you in charge of dozens of jewelry stores around the world. What are you going to do with another one?”
“I’m paying you to do a job,” Shiloh spat, “not to question my motives.”
“It doesn’t matter to me why you want what you want. I was only asking.”
“Well stop asking stupid questions and just do what I’m paying you to do! If that whore doesn’t submit to the terms, then get rid of her. Kevin will come around then.”
“That is the reason why I’m calling. When do you want me to approach –”
Raffie heard that familiar click in his ear. As always, Shiloh had rudely hung up on him. He looked over at the booth where the women were sitting. They were gone. He stood to his feet and grabbed his digital camera from the table. He was going home to study Hunter’s pretty face – to make sure he was comfortable with it before approaching her in person. He had a tendency to stammer in the presence of beautiful women, which could be interpreted by Hunter as a sign of naïveté. And in this line of work that was a deal breaker. He had to ensure that he was as prepared as he could be.
Well, it looks as if you get off the hook today, Ms. Hunter Rose. But I will be seeing you soon, though…