Lance and Belinda scurried to his car. “I can’t believe it’s raining again. It’s rained every day this week, and it comes around this time like clockwork.”
Lance’s cell phone beeped. He wasn’t on call, but he had to always be ready to go in to the hospital on a moment’s notice. He checked the screen. It was a reminder to pay his cell phone bill.
He held open Belinda’s door and settled her inside, before getting in. The slight drizzle was now a downpour, typical of Florida. Lance turned on his lights and wipers. It took several seconds for him to register that there was something wrapped in the blades.
“What is that?” Belinda squinted. She undid her seatbelt and leaned forward to get a closer look.
Lance turned the blades off and on to see if the object would come off on its own. But it was still there. “Great. Now I have to get out in the rain.”
“Better you than me,” Belinda joked. She wasn’t the least bit sympathetic.
Lance got out the car and lifted the blades. He unwrapped the object from the blade. “What is this?”
Belinda got out. “What is it?”
“Someone wrapped a thong around my wipers,” Lance bellowed. “What kind of sicko am I dealing with?”
“A thong? You expect me to believe your innocence in all this?” Belinda yelled. “This is too much.”
“Bells, I promise you, I have no idea who did this!”
“We both know this is Monica’s handiwork.” She placed a hand on her hips. “I know she’s crazy, but what kind of encouragement are you giving her?”
Lance flailed his hands in the air. “I haven’t seen that woman in ages. Why are you blaming me?”
“Who else is to blame, Lance? Huh? Cause this is madness. Pure madness, I tell you.”
She got in the car and slammed the door.
Lance jammed the underwear in his pants pocket. As soon as he left the church lot, he’d toss them in the nearest receptacle. He now knew Monica was back. There was no doubt about it. Monica used to leave her unmentionables in the most unexpected places. And, there was a time when he would’ve been thrilled because he knew what that meant.
But, he was different now. He was a changed man. However, he knew better than to tell the fuming woman who sat next to him uttering all kinds of Spanish words.
Lance had to find Monica and stop her before she ruined his relationship. He drove to the Chinese restaurant to pick up the food order but didn’t say anything. He wanted to give Belinda time to cool down. She was understandably upset. He knew he would be furious if he had to deal with one of Belinda’s exes.
Belinda took the food and held it in her lap until they arrived at Sydney and Noah’s. She made sure she got out the car before Lance had a chance to help her with the bags.
Lance knew women. He kept his distance. Normally, he would have kept on driving, but he was engaged and couldn’t just flee at the slightest provocation. No, he wasn’t going anywhere. Lance had begged Belinda to marry him. That was something he had never done for any other woman. Lance had put his pride aside and his heart on the line and it had paid off. There was no way he was going to let Monica’s antics come between him and his goal.
Lord, give me strength.
Portia and Nathaniel arrived within moments of each other.
Belinda appeared to shrug off the incident. They attacked the food, played games and had a good time. Lance wasn’t fooled. He knew the fallout was coming. He hoped he’d be prepared when it came.
He wasn’t.