Choose Wisely (12 page)

“So how are you?” He asked.

              “I’m good and you?”

             
“I can’t complain,” I stated ready to eliminate the small talk.

I wanted to know what wa
s going on with Lexi. My heart knew he didn’t hurt her. But someone did and I needed to know who. Maybe it was Lou. That night I saw them outside the club had me questioning their entire relationship. I glanced over at David. He was still content playing the game. I turned my attention back to Dontae.

             
“I ran into Lexi today…” Before I could continue he interrupted me.

             
“Come on I know you didn’t come over here to tell me you two got into it again. You two both really need to grow up. I couldn’t believe it. Here I was being concerned about
his
so-called girl and he’s telling me I need to grow up! I’m mean really who did he think he was? I abruptly stood and tried to walk away. He quickly came around the table and positioned his body in front me.

             
“My bad don’t get upset. I thought you came here to see me not talk about Lexi. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. I actually was planning on calling you to see if we could talk,” he took my hand and asked me to have a seat.

             
“Wait right there,” he stated.

I watched as he strolled over to the jukebox. He put a few dollars in and searched for what he wanted to play.
I was stunned with what I heard. Was he actually playing one of my favorite songs? What was he trying to do to me? I stared at his beautiful lips as he made his way back to me. I couldn’t stop smiling as he lip sync the words to
Maxwell’s Pretty Wings.

             
Dontae held out his hand and asked me to dance. I placed my hand in his. In that moment it felt like all of our problems had drifted away. We danced until the music stopped. I looked over at David who was still playing the game.

             
“How many ones did you give him?” I asked

             
“About twenty, just enough to keep him busy so I could talk to you,”

             
“So what do you have to talk to me about?”

             
“Let’s sit down first,”

             
“This must be serious,” I said.

             
“You could say that,” He pulled out my chair so I could sit down.

I was anxious to hear what he had to say. I had tried several times to
speak to him after we broke up. But he’d always refused. I was glad he wanted to talk. Because I needed to know what was on his mind.

             
I had no clue what he was about to say. I braced myself and waited. I loved this man. I didn’t care what we had been through. I knew we could work things out. I had my faults and so did he, but at the end of the day I loved him and I had a feeling he still felt the same way about me.

             
“Sandy I just want to say; I’m sorry. I never meant hurt you. I realize now that my actions caused you to do what you did. I’m not going to lie. You cheating on me broke my heart. Then losing my mom on top of it was too much for me to handle. I blamed you; I blamed God for all the pain I was feeling. I didn’t know how to deal with losing my mother and I took that anger out on you and I’m so sorry,”

             
I was overwhelmed. This was not what I expected to hear. I could feel the tears rolling down my face. He was finally apologizing. I had waited so long for his forgiveness. It finally felt like I could exhale.

             
“Do you still love me?” I asked. He moved his chair closer and lifted my chin. So I could look directly into his hazel eyes.

             
“Of course I do. I never stopped. I just had to figure some things out,”

I was hearing his words but I was still
feeling uneasy. I couldn’t take being hurt by him again. I just couldn’t. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

             
“So what does all this mean?” I needed to know where he was going with all of this.

             
“It means I still love you. I still want to be with you. Let me ask you a question. Do you still love me?”

I smiled as I thought about the love I had for him.

              “Do you really need me to answer that question?”

He smiled and kissed my lips. I felt like I was in heaven. I missed his kisses and the way his touch made me feel.
When our lips parted I was at a loss for words. There was no denying that my heart belonged to him.

             
I stood and told Donate I needed to check on David. It was my way of getting some time to process everything that was happening. I could tell he wanted to work things out, but what about Lexi? Did he still have feelings for her? Should I ask him about it? I had so many questions. I grabbed a bag of chips from behind the bar. I figured that would hold David over until we got home.

             
“Hey nephew are you okay?”

He shook his head yes. I could tell he was focused on the game. I kissed his cheek and placed the chips in front of him.

              “We’re going to be leaving in a few alright,”

             
“Do we have too?”

             
“Yes we have too, but you can finish your game first,”

             
“Yeah!” He grinned.

I turned and slowly walked back to the table. Dontae had a concerned look on his face.

              “What’s wrong?” I asked.

             
“Nothing, I just need to know that you believe me. I want us to trust each other again,”

I leaned in close so he could hear my every word.

              “I do believe you. I know we can get back what we once had. It’s not going to be easy. But I know we can do it,”

             
“So does that mean you accept my apology?” He asked.

I gave him the
look.
The look that let him know all was forgiven. I was ready to start over. But I still had one concern.

             
“So what is the deal with you and Lexi?”

             
“Lexi and I are just friends. I know you’re not going to be comfortable with that. So I will have a talk with her,”

His words relieved me. I would never tell him who he could be friends with. But keeping
her
in his life was out of the question. I wasn’t threatened by her. I just had feeling something was up with her. Talking about her reminded me of the reason I had come to the club in the first place. I could feel my throat getting dry. I asked Donate to get me some water. He handed a bottle of and patiently waited for me to speak.

             
“When I saw Lexi today she had a black eye. Do you have any idea how she got it?”

             
“No I haven’t seen her in three days,” He looked uncomfortable.

I reached for his hand. I wanted to assure him that I didn’t think he had hurt her.

              “Baby I know you didn’t do it. I’m just worried about her. How well do you know her brother?”

             
“Community college must be teaching you well. Because I feel like I’m being interrogated,”

I lightly jabbed him in his shoulder.

              “I’m not interrogating you. I’m just trying to find out what happened to her. She said she got into a fight here at the club,”

He looked surprised.

              “Wow she said that? We both worked together a few nights ago. But I didn’t see her get into it with anybody. I asked her did she need a ride home. She said no. The last time I saw her was with her brother Lou,”

             
“They were together today too. I don’t know what it is but something just ain’t right with those two,”

             
“Okay inspector gadget, calm down,” he laughed.

I couldn’t help but laugh too. He
wasn’t funny. But he was my boo. I sat back in my chair dreading the fact that I had to leave him. He must’ve noticed the expression on my face. Because he immediately asked me what was wrong.

             
“Nothing I just wish I didn’t have to go. I’m having so much fun. I don’t want it to end,” I sighed.

             
“Who says it has too. Go home and as soon as I’m done here. I’ll swing through,” he reached in his pocket and handed me a fifty dollar bill.

             
“Order us something to eat and be over in about an hour,”

I kissed him on the cheek and raced over to David. I needed to hurry home to straighten up. I wasn’t normally messy. But ever since I started the
training some things in my life took a backseat unfortunately cleaning was one of them.

             
David and I waved to Dontae as we left the club. Once I reached my car, I secured him in his car seat and pulled off. I was happy. I had been praying to God to touch Dontae’s heart and open his eyes. My prayers had finally been answered. My baby was coming back home to mama where he belonged.

             
I had to make one stop before I headed to Sandy’s house. I walked up the steps and wondered what I was going to say to the man who loved me like his own son. I had turned my back on him and my church family. I hesitated before walking inside my church. I had been coming to
First Faith Baptist Missionary Church
since I was a kid. All my favorite childhood memories were here.

             
I remember Sandy and I had our first kiss in the churches basement. I had told her to meet me downstairs because I had a surprise for her. Once she reached the bottom step I planted a kiss right on her lips. She wiped her mouth and yelled; yuck! I in return I in return pushed her to the floor and ran back upstairs. She was seven and I was eight. Those were the days.

             
I noticed my Pastor’s door was closed. I was about to leave. But something told me to knock first. Once I knocked I heard a familiar voice. I opened the door and immediately made eye contact with him.

             
“How have you been son?” He asked. I stuttered.                           

             
“I…..I’m fine,”

He pointed to the chair opposite him.

              “Have a seat,”

I slowly did as I was told. I knew I should have reached out to him a long time ago. I just didn’t know how to handle so much all at once.

              “So what brings you by?” He questioned.

             
“I need to talk,” I stated squirming in my chair.

             
“It’s all right Donate. I know you’ve been having a rough time with the loss of your mother,”

             
“I have but that’s no excuse for abandoning the church. Who has been taking care of the choir?”

             
“Actually, Sandy said she would handle things until you returned. She didn’t tell you?”

             
“No sir, she didn’t mention it,”

             
“That’s a good girl there,”

I smiled at his sta
tement because I already knew what a great woman I had. She took over the choir because she knew I would be back. She knew me better than I knew myself. Sandy reminded me of my mother. That was one of the reasons I loved her so much.

             
“Pastor, I really need to talk to you about something,” he looked at me with concern.

             
“You can talk to me about anything. Whatever we discuss will be between you and me,”

We talked for almost an hour. I felt better after I left his office. He gave me a lot of insight. I got in my car
, and pulled my cell phone from my side pocket. I searched my contacts, and located Lexi’s number. It was time to tell her where we stood. I knew she wasn’t going to be happy. But I couldn’t keep leading her on. That just wasn’t an option.

             
I was about to hang up when I heard her voice.

             
“Hello?”

             
“Hey Lexi. How you doing?”

             
“Hi, Papi! I’m doing good.

             
“You sure about that?” I asked.

She
paused before she answered.

             
“Yes I’m sure. Why are you asking?”

             
“Sandy stopped by to see me….” She interrupted before I could continue. I could tell by her deep sigh she wasn’t happy.

             
“What? Your ex came running to you like she was worried about me?”