Chapter Twenty-one

“I’m here!” Michelle yelled through the phone. “All moved in.” She stood in the middle of one of her bedrooms, finally getting Stoney on the line. Knowing how important her daughter’s studies were, Michelle didn’t bother Stoney with the stress of her life. After initially letting her daughter know she had made her move, Michelle had been busy settling back into Dallas.

“Wow,” was the only thing Stoney could say. She couldn’t believe her mother was so lonely that she made a drastic decision: trailing her divorced husband to a different city.

Now living for the Lord, Michelle had outright left other men, married men and someone else’s men, alone. All except her own. Or rather, her ex.

“I can’t believe you did ... that.” So caught up in her midterm studies, it had finally hit Stoney. She wanted to be careful with her words but felt she wouldn’t be doing her godly duty to help her mother if she played along.

“Stoney, you sound so blah. I told you I would.” Michelle didn’t hold as much fire about her decision as she once had. Conversations with Kendra and Gracie were making her see things differently. Yet and still she would at least give it a shot since she had made the full jump from Houston to Dallas. She had no choice but to make the best out of it.

“Yes. You did say you would. But I just can’t believe you really did it.” Stoney had taken a break from her research paper in order to talk with her mother. Swinging her glasses from her face, Stoney really wanted to be everything her mother needed since her mother went above and beyond to make up for all of their lost time.

“Ma, Pops divorced you. He moved from where you both had your beginning. Do you really think he will accept you with open arms? Wait ... does he know? Have you even told him yet, because I’ve talked to him and—”

“And what?” Michelle straightened her stance.

“Uh. It’s just, he hadn’t mentioned you nor your moving there,” Stoney responded.

Her shoulders slumped. Michelle was getting way too many negatives when it came to her quest to get Keithe back. During the impromptu girls’ night out with Gracie and Kendra, the ladies had probed her with questions. It was as if God had put them up to asking questions that had been on her conscience. Now hearing she hadn’t even been on Keithe’s mind kicked her down another notch.

“No, he doesn’t. Oh well, even if he doesn’t, I’m here now. Anyway. When are you coming to town? Or do you plan to stay in Houston for spring break?”

Plans with her own new love interest had given her a reason to stay in Houston for a few days out of the week-long break. “I’m going to stay here for the beginning of the week. Since the wedding is getting closer, I’m coming down to close out some loose ends Mercy has. I want to help her out as much as I can.”

Looking at the other line, which had clicked in, Michelle let out a groan and sent her ex-beau, Deek, to her voice mail. Not that she would listen to whatever it was he had to say. But just so she could get his face off of her display screen. He’d been calling repeatedly, leaving messages; not one that Michelle had listened to. As far as Michelle cared, he could just keep right on calling. She was sure he wanted his key to his house back. She’d ditched it so there was no need in calling him back.

“Ugh. I wish that man would leave me alone. Hey, Stoney. Dear, can you do me a favor? Can you please call Deek and let him know I threw his key away, and there is no need to call me ever again?”

“Mom?” Stoney questioned.

“Okay. Forget the last part, but please? Michelle almost begged, knowing she wasn’t strong enough to hear anything that would come from the man she once loved.

“Why not?” Stoney liked giving her mother a hard time. “Sure, Mother.” Stoney actually liked her mother’s ex. She was just as saddened about the news of him breaking it off with Michelle. Plus, she never got to say her own good-bye. Giving him a call would give Stoney the opportunity in doing so.

It was a given. The two women loved one another very much. They crammed as much of twenty-plus years as they could into the first year they were back in one another’s lives. They were happy. This was why Stoney didn’t want her mother to get her hopes up with Keithe and fall into an unnecessary sadness.

“Mom.” Stoney bit her lip, nervous but not backing down. “I know you changed the subject but I wouldn’t be honoring you if I didn’t speak my heart.”

“I’m listening, Stoney.” Michelle reluctantly listened.

Michelle had been slightly jealous of Stoney’s relationship with God. To Michelle it seemed He left His ear laid upon Stoney’s lips when she prayed. The connection Stoney had to God was an anointed one. Michelle did know that God loved her just the same but it was up to her to totally surrender and allow God to move completely into her heart.

“I love you,” Stoney said.

Michelle giggled and said, “I know that, silly.”

“Pops love you too. This is why I’m sure he felt the need to ask for a divorce.”

“Devilment, Stoney!” Michelle teared up as she conjured up anything to say in order to stay away from releasing the curse word that was on the tip of her tongue. “God is not too keen on divorce.”

“Nor is He too keen on adultery, battery, lying ... but we all do it. You did it. To Pops,” Stoney hated to say. “You know we are flesh. We are not perfect like God. We can try and Pops did. But, Mom, haven’t you ever considered the fact that he just couldn’t take any more? That there were no more emotions he could drain? Not even pain to hurt with? So instead of giving you the pain he felt, he let go.”

Sniffles were heard on the other end. Michelle tried to wrap her head and her heart around the reality, but she couldn’t. Keithe had told her that he forgave her. He still came around, and sometimes he still kissed her on the lips. Even a few months ago, she had persuaded him, seductively so, but she’d gotten him to spend the night. In her room ... in her bed ... under her sheets. So there had to be something there. Why else would he travel to Houston once a month? Sure, he came to see his parents, but ... Is that it? Michelle silently questioned herself. “Fool,” Michelle spoke aloud.

“Huh?” Stoney didn’t understand.

“Oh nothing. Baby, let me let you go. I ... I hear what you’re saying. I really do. Just let me think. I need to clear these boxes that have been sitting here for far too long. I ... I need to ... Just let me call you back.” She wanted to hang up, but Stoney wouldn’t let her.

“Before you go and sulk, remember that Pops brought us together. It’s deeper than what our natural eyes can see. ‘Reason, season, or lifetime,’” Stoney recited. “You know the saying. If it had not been for God placing Pops in your life ... in my life, we would have never connected.” Stoney heard more sniffles on the other end and knew she was getting through to her mother. “As Christians we have to be careful how we plan our own way. You told me the story and only you know if it was God orchestrated, but you told me—”

“Okay, okay, Stoney. I get your point. I just want to talk to him. Really, really talk to him to see what the issues are.”

You, is what Stoney wanted to shout through the phone but thought better than to add fuel to the fire. “Okay. Well. I hope you feel better. I will call you and let you know what Deek says.”

“Thanks, dear,” Michelle said before slamming her cordless phone into the receiver.