Chapter Twenty-five

Being led by a waiter, Stoney greeted Keithe in mid stride. “Hey, Pops.” She walked toward Keithe with open arms, hoping she was shielding Michelle behind her. No luck.

“Michelle.” Keithe’s eyes landed on his ex while hugging Stoney. “I didn’t know you were in town, dear.” Keithe knew Michelle’s need for him to show his adoration for her, and just like always he gave her just what she wanted.

“Well ...” Michelle started.

“Ah. Um. Pops. We didn’t take too long getting here, did we? I hope you didn’t wait very long,” Stoney interjected, nervous as all get out.

“You know my watch is set to, um, women.” He looked down at his TAG watch.

Michelle didn’t like the comment and wrinkled her nose to show so. “I bet it is. Thank you, Keithe.” They kissed as she sat in the seat he had rushed to pull out for her.

“You’re quite welcome. So how are you two ladies? It’s so good to see you two.” Keithe didn’t wait for them to answer. Being down in the dumps ever since Kenya had blown up at him at the restaurant and then done away with him at the hospital, Keithe had been working, churching, and longing. He’d had his first heartbreak since his divorce. It had him second guessing what he’d done by leaving the stability of his life. From the looks of it, Keithe figured he couldn’t measure up to the woes of dating in today’s world.

“I’ve moved to Dallas, Keithe,” Michelle blurted out as she placed her Brahmin in the vacant seat by her. “Sorry.” She looked at Stoney and shrugged. “I just wanted to tell you face to face, so don’t think Stoney had anything to do with not telling you.” Michelle was glad to get that piece of news out of the way. “Besides, I had been trying to tell you my plans for quite some time.”

“Moved?” Keithe mumbled as he lost his smile. “Here? Dallas? Why?” he finally was able to ask. Which was the only short question he wanted answered.

“Because I’m ready for us to try again. I’m ready to get my ‘R’ back and be the Mrs. to your Mr.” Michelle was ready to lay it all on the line. Whatever it was, she figured she could handle it, but if she didn’t try, then she’d never know.

Stoney’s silverware tumbled to the floor and when she went for it, she bumped her head on the table. Wishing she could stay under the table for the remainder of the afternoon, Stoney said a quaint and cute prayer, hoping her stepfather didn’t blow the roof off of the restaurant.

“Michelle ... What, now? Are you serious?” He bypassed all of his manners and placed his elbows on the table, hoping it would bring him into better earshot of Michelle.

Keithe knew Michelle was capable of doing a lot of things, but following him to another city just to get back with him? Especially when they were already divorced?

“You’ve got to be kidding me. Just how do you plan on doing that, Michelle, when you don’t know if that is indeed something I want?” Keithe glanced over at Stoney and felt sorry for her. Having been put in the middle of their disagreements had always made her nervous.

Michelle closed her eyes and thought of what to say. Up until now she had thought her plan wasn’t as bad as how Keithe was now making it sound. “I just supposed that it was your moving here in the first place that didn’t give us a chance to, you know, try to work it out,” she came up with, knowing Keithe had more than tried to work it out, first with himself.

“I didn’t want any more chances,” Keithe let slip. Knowing there was a sting behind his words, Keithe lowered his head, knowing he had been pushed into a corner.

Stoney sat like a Ping-Pong ball in between the two. With their two-way conversation bouncing back and forth, Stoney’s eyes traveled from Keithe to her mom and back again. She felt embarrassed for her mother. It was apparent that Michelle still hadn’t gained the self-love she was sure was lacking in her mother. Stoney didn’t want to overstep her boundaries, but knew that if she didn’t intervene, Michelle could sink to an all-time low. She knew because she’d been there.

“You two. Let’s just have dinner and maybe you all can try to talk about it later. Pops, I’m sorry. Mom should have told you about her moving down.” She turned to look at her mother. “You should have. But we’re here now and we just need to figure things out from here.”

Just when Keithe was about to protest once more, the waiter walked to their table, ready to take their orders. There was no doubt it would be an awkward setting, but for Stoney’s sake, Keithe knew he would try to put his anger and disappointment on the back burner.