Permanent Resident at the Purse Table (18 page)

Toni waited for Eric to pick her up so they could ride as a couple to their weekly small group Bible Study. They had attended it together for almost a month now. Each week, she grew accustomed to seeing a new surprise in his character. If he was faking this newfound zeal of living for Christ, he was playing a mighty good part.

As she peeked out the window, a stimulating sensation filled her body. The butterflies fluttered around again. She'd missed that feeling. He pulled up in front of her house. Toni grabbed her Bible, picked up her purse from the table, and walked out the door.

“Toni, what are you doing?” Eric walked up to her.

“What do you mean?”

“You're supposed to wait for me to come and get you.” He welcomed her into his arms.

She leaped into his embrace and his enticing scent.
I could stay here forever.
“I'm not worried about those formalities. I was excited to see you, so I came on out.”

He showed all thirty-two teeth. “I love that answer. I'm excited to see you too. Been thinking about you all day.”

The house where Bible Study was usually located was only about fifteen minutes away, so when ten minutes passed of them driving around and Toni saw nothing familiar to her, she needed to know where he was headed. “Did they move the group tonight to someone else's house?”

“Nope.”

“Would you care to elaborate?”

“Nope.” Eric grinned.

The corners of Toni's mouth turned down. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yep.” His thin eyebrows vibrated over his eyes like a party clown.

Toni didn't want to jump to conclusions, but nerves set in as they drove into a nice neighborhood, yet unfamiliar. He couldn't be taking her to his parents' house. It was too soon. Toni hadn't seen his mom and dad in over six months. And the last time wasn't pretty. When his mother asked Toni to overlook his cheating ways because no one in her family had ever gotten a divorce, Toni let a few choice words escape her lips. She didn't want to disrespect her elder, but in that moment being respectful wasn't on the top of her list.

Surely, Eric knew her better than to just surprise her with an unannounced trip to their house. She'd want to have time to get her mind right before seeing his parents again. Here she was feeling on top of the world, and he was about to mess it up.

Eric pulled into the driveway of a large, pewter house with a trimmed yard. Someone with class had to be the owner.

“Who lives here?”

“No one right now.” He opened his door and stepped out, carrying his Bible, and then drifted over to Toni's side.

She stepped out. “Then why are we here?”

“You'll see.”

I'll see.
Did he forget how quickly her attitude could change? “Eric, I don't want to just be dropping by somebody's house I don't know.”

“I told you no one lives here.”

“Then what are we doing here?” Aggravation swished around in her belly.

He slipped his hand into hers. “Come here on the porch with me.”

She obliged. She wondered what was he up to and why he was so hush-hush about it. Was he trying to spice up the regular routine of Bible Study? They could've easily gone to a coffee shop, a park, the church. Toni was there now, so she decided to just go with it.

Eric flipped through the pages of his Bible. “In Romans 4:17 it says, ‘As it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, in the presence of Him who he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.'”

Toni, not sure what to say, remained silent.

“That's what I'm doing, Toni. I'm calling things that don't exist as though they do.” He closed the Good Book. “My love for you has never changed. I know I had my idiot months, but I am back now. Stronger than ever. In God's strength. I am the man you've always wanted and deserved.”

Still not able to form any words, she listened.

“I'm starting with this house. I put a bid on it this morning. My family-to-be will live here and we'll make memories together.” He pulled out a small, velvet box from his pants pocket and knelt on the ground.

Toni swallowed hard. Was she ready for this? “Eric, what are you doing?”

He opened the tiny box to reveal a lustrous rock sitting on top of a smooth silver wedding band. “Antoinette Yvonne James, I love you more than I ever have. And that's difficult to do. You are the only woman for me and I want to spend the rest of our lives making memories, babies, and being all God has called us to be. Together.”

“Oh, Eric.” Tears dashed down her cheeks. Could this proposal really be happening?

“What do you say? Remarry me? We can renew our vows and light a new match to our old flame.”

Toni internally asked God for peace. He gave it to her. She smiled and kissed Eric's soft lips with passion and excitement. “Yes . . . yes . . . yes!”

He jumped to his feet and picked her up off the ground, twirling her like a merry-go-round. Eric was the man she loved and craved since they were teenagers. God did His part in changing him and returning his heart to hers. She had no problem reaping the benefits.

She'd never actually filed for the divorce. The paperwork lay on her desk at home. Whether she knew in her heart she really didn't want to get divorced, or if it was God's plan all along to keep them together, that didn't matter. The first thing she would do when she returned home would be rip the divorce papers in half, and throw them away.

The hot summer sun beatdown on Ava's face as she headed into the CCC for her last one-on-one session with Dr. Moses. Ava rode into the office on top of a cloud. She couldn't believe she'd been seeing Dr. Moses for almost three months now. Between her Tuesday one-on-ones, and her Thursday group sessions, she felt like a different woman. God was doing His thing inside her and she hoped others could see the change on the outside. She could feel the difference already with only a fifteen-pound weight loss. Her back wasn't hurting as she walked, which fueled her to want to do more.

Upon entering the waiting room, she noticed a young couple sitting with their daughter. The girl looked to be about six or seven years old. Ava didn't know Dr. Moses held family counseling sessions. She may have to take her up on that once God gave her a family. There was no shame in receiving help.

Ava signed in at the window and paid her co-pay.

“Mommy, how is she going to fit through that door?”

There was no way Ava could've acted like she didn't hear the little one's comment. Here she was a dress size smaller, feeling better inside and out, and someone just had to try and stomp on her mood.

“Shh. That's rude.”

Ava turned around. “It's okay.”
They need to whip her butt.

The red-faced father sheepishly said, “Sorry, ma'am. She didn't mean it maliciously.”

Sitting down across from them, Ava assured him. “Really, it's okay. Kids say whatever's on their mind.”

Proud of herself for how she handled the situation, Ava recalled a time when she would've told the mother, father, and their daughter off without hesitation. She was growing. And no matter the comment or who said it, she was valued by God. Seeing herself as the Lord saw her was clearer to her now. Her value was wrapped up in the person she was and how she treated others and lived her life. Not in what someone else thought.

Dr. Moses was all smiles when Ava walked through the door. “I can't believe this is our last one-on-one.”

“Me either. I'm kind of sad.” Ava poked out her bottom lip. Dr. Moses had done so much for her already that a part of her would miss their talks. Unloading her emotions and situations in that hour proved to be extremely beneficial. She felt lighter in more ways than one. “I'm glad I've come a long way and don't feel depressed anymore, but I'll miss you.”

“You can come by anytime and visit.” She hugged her. “Plus, Thursday group sessions are open meetings, so come as needed.”

Ava, thankful and content, took a seat on the couch.

“So what's new?” Dr. Moses sat down next to her.

“I've been walking a mile a day and plan to kick it up to two miles soon. My catering business is doing well. I'm a little bit closer than I was a year ago to being able to do my catering full time. And I have some good spiritual news.” Ava's dream was still alive. “I'm signing up next Sunday for baptism class.”

“Awesome. When you do it, let me know and I'll come if I can.” She squinted her eyes. “You've never been baptized? I thought every black kid in America's been baptized even if they didn't know what they were doing.”

Ava laughed. “That's just it. I was dipped in the water as a child at my grandmother's church, but didn't fully understand why.”

“Well, awesome, Ava. I'm glad for you and all that God is doing in your life.”

“Speaking of which, Rene and I are becoming close again; almost like old times. The Lord works in mysterious ways. I still can't believe she's prosecuting her ex-fiancé on my behalf—the woman who split them up.” God was all in her situation. That was the only explanation that made sense.

“Don't forget Ishmael had his part in that breakup too. So it's not all on you. And I'm not a prophet or anything, but the way he was going, I don't think they would've walked down the aisle.”

“To tell you the truth, I didn't either. I believe she dodged a bullet not marrying him. I just hate I was the one who shot the gun.”

Dr. Moses chuckled. “Remember, you are forgiven. Move on in peace and understanding of her feelings. But move on. You can't dwell in the guilt. God has forgiven you, and you need to forgive yourself. “

Ava was prepared to move on. She'd love it if everything returned to normal. Things between her and Rene might never be normal, but she'd like to get as close to normal as possible. Forgiving, however, was a whole other issue. She'd do her best. “I can work on that.”

“In regard to your forgiveness, have you forgiven your ex, Xavier?”

Ava put a hand up. “I'm working on that, too.”

“Well, Ava, please understand that forgiveness is for you, not for him. He's gone on about his business.”

“I'll pray on that.”

“That's a start.” Dr. Moses leaned forward. “Now, with the court case coming up, are you ready to face Ishmael and Rene in the same room?”

“All I can do is let God handle it. Spending the past few months with you, I've realized I need to thank God not only for what He has done in my life, but for who He is. And He's my protector. My guide.” Ava wrote a reminder in her notepad. “I know He will go before me and make every crooked place straight again. I wholeheartedly put my trust in Him.”

“You have definitely made a one-eighty.”

“Thank you. I'm trusting Him for everything. Something in me wants to step out and take the leadership class at church, so I can become a prayer partner.” A tingle went through her body. “Prayer has been my lifeline and I want to help others experience that.”

“Great, Ava.”

“Also, I'm trusting God for friendships with the opposite sex.”

Dr. Moses tilted her head. “Oh, is there someone in the picture?”

“Actually, you know him. Kevin, the counselor over the drug recovery group.”

Dr. Moses smiled. “Yes, I do know him. He's a great man of God. You have my approval.”

They shared a laugh. If Doc okayed him, he must be all right.

“He's been here since this building's been open. In fact, he came on board almost seven years ago to the date.”

“Good to know.”

“Our anniversary's coming up soon. January second to be exact.” Dr. Moses touched Ava's knee. “You should be the caterer for our party. We have a celebration every year to thank God for all He's done. We used to meet in someone's house, then rented a building for a while, and then got a place of our own seven years ago. The Lord continues to grow us and allow us to point hurting people in His direction.”

“That's great. I'd love to cater for you guys. Just let me know what you want on the menu.” Ava was elated to share her culinary skills in celebration for the CCC and the people who had been blessed by its services over the years. She knew counselors, patients and their families, and other special guests would all taste her food.

But one person stuck out in her mind. Kevin. If the saying “the way to a man's heart is through his stomach” was true, then for the anniversary party, Ava was about to cook the meal of her life.

After anxiously waiting for months to be able to stick it to Ishmael, the date was finally here. Ava found herself sitting opposite Ishmael in a dreary courtroom, Rene posted up between them. The scene couldn't be any more uncomfortable. Ishmael's not guilty plea seemed to anger Rene in more ways than one. She'd asked Ava to meet her outside the courtroom an hour before the proceedings started to go over the questions for the one hundredth time.

The fall weather cooled off the outside, but inside that courtroom Ava recognized a fire in Rene's eyes that seemed to send the thermostat soaring. That flame showed up in cases she was extremely passionate about. Her passion for this case was off the charts.

Toni walked in with Ava's father ten minutes before the case was to begin, both exhibiting concerned expressions. Her father made a beeline for her and welcomed her into a firm embrace. He seemed as if he didn't want to let go.

“Where's Momma?”

He bowed his head. “She said she'd rather not be a part of this.”

Ava shrugged her shoulders. Her mother's decision to stay away from the case was probably a smart one for all parties involved. Knowing her mother would put her two cents in every chance she got, Ava wasn't sure she'd be able to handle it in an honor-your-mother fashion. Ava would need stitches for all the biting of her tongue she would do.

“But she sends you her love and is praying that all works out.” Her father's face looked like he was adding a positive note to what her mother said. Ava loved him for many things and especially for that. No matter what she and her mother did, her father always did his best to keep the peace.

As the judge—a short, pale-faced woman with a confident presence about her—walked into the room, everyone stood.

The bailiff stepped forward, towering over her. “All rise. The honorable Judge Powers residing.”

Everything suddenly became more real. Opening arguments were made with Rene highlighting all the evidence against Ishmael: the holes in his alibi, his mother's car paint on Ava's vehicle, and his threats toward her about having an abortion. How did her life get to this? People say everything happens for a reason, but the reasoning in this was so farfetched Ava couldn't grasp it. Learning from her mistakes was the only takeaway she could come up with at that time.

Rene first called Neil Gallagher, the man she had as the only eyewitness. He'd pulled out of the apartments as Ishmael sped off.

After he was sworn in, Rene moved with slow steps and purpose. “What can you tell us about the night in question?”

“When I pulled out of my apartment complex, I saw a dark-colored car, like a black or navy, back up and speed off,” the witness stated.

“You told police you believe it was a Buick?”

“Yes, ma'am.” He shook his head. “My daddy used to own a Regal when I was younger. I practiced with his car to get my license.” Neil paused to look at the judge. “Only in parking lots of course.”

Judge Powers, smiling, nodded.

Looking over her notes, Rene asked, “Is there anything else you can remember about that night?”

“Um. Not really.” He wiped his hand over his mouth. “Well, I'm not totally sure, but when the driver saw I was coming over to help, they backed up and burned rubber away from the scene. Like they did it on purpose, and wasn't concerned if the person in the other car was all right.”

“Objection.” Ishmael's lawyer, in an expensive suit, stood. “Your Honor, Mr. Gallagher is speculating.”

“Mr. Redmon, your client is pleading not guilty, correct?”

“Yes, Your Honor.”

“Then the witness is only telling what he feels the perpetrator did. If your client is innocent, then the speculation toward him won't hold up.” Judge Powers grinned.

Rene said, “I have no more questions for this witness. Thank you.”

When the defense had his turn with Mr. Gallagher, he danced around the ifs and the whens. The jury didn't look enthusiastic about any of what Ishmael's lawyer had to say.

“Counselor, please call your next witness.”

“Yes, ma'am.” She picked up a handwritten note. “Your Honor, and people of the jury, the defendant's mother did not want to be summoned as a witness against her son, and so my client and I accepted a handwritten note that has been notarized. I'd like to approach the bench.”

Ishmael's lawyer stared at him as if to ask, “What the heck?” Ishmael shrugged in his seat and looked downward. His mother was nowhere to be found in the courtroom. The embarrassment over her son was enough to keep her home.

Ava realized that both she and Ishmael had one thing in common. Well, two. They hurt the person they loved while disgracing their mothers to the extent that they didn't want to be seen in court. Ava did not appreciate being lumped in with Ishmael in any kind of way. She would have to do better and improve her decision-making skills. Running things by the Lord first was her best bet.

After the judge read the note silently, she handed the piece of paper back to Rene. “I will allow it.”

Rene turned to the jury. “To whom it may concern. I love my son. And many will call me a terrible mother for what I am putting in this letter. But I cannot rest knowing I could've helped someone when I know something isn't right. The day that Ava Alexander was struck by a car, Rene had broken things off with Ishmael and he told me he would do anything to get her back. He borrowed my car and returned the next morning with the front end gravely damaged. I didn't know what to think except for what he told me about it getting hit in the parking lot of a club.”

Pausing to seemingly allow the jury to absorb that piece of evidence, Rene took a deep breath and then continued. “I can't believe that he would do such a thing, but I cannot be sure. This breakup has hit him hard, and I've never seen him in this type of pain before. I love him and will be there for him either way, but want justice to be served so that any wrongs done can be righted. Sincerely, Mavis Carter. Mother of the defendant.”

Had the case already been won with the issuance of this note? Rene's face looked like it had. “Members of the jury.” She sauntered over to the jury box and then motioned toward Ishmael. “I just want you to ask yourself this question. If the defendant's own mother is unsure of his innocence, what does that tell you?”

Ava smiled on the inside. Rene was good, and Ava was blessed to have her as her attorney. She had so much to pay her friend back for, she'd deplete her emotional bank account before she turned thirty.

It was now Ava's turn to take the stand. She shuffled to the front of the courtroom, and sat at attention as she was sworn in. Placing her hand on the Bible served two purposes. Sure, only the truth would flow from her lips, but the Good Book also reminded her of Who she served and how far He had brought her along. And one thing she knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, was that He wasn't about to leave her now when she needed Him the most.

Rene's questions were a carbon copy of the many practices she and Ava had prior to the trial. The faces of the jurors soothed Ava's soul. Even though there were only four women in the jury box, each expression seemed to exude sympathy.

Ishmael's attorney stood and fastened the buttons on his suit jacket. He looked downward, shuffling papers, as if to take his time. Clearing his throat, he moved toward Ava. “Miss Alexander, I just have a few simple questions for you.”

Ava braced herself for the worst. Rene assured her that words like “simple” would not be anywhere near the defense's cross-examination.

Defense Attorney Redmon leaned an elbow on the edge of the witness stand. “Ava, could you tell the jurors why you think my client could've committed this terrible crime?”

Glancing at Rene, she said, “Well, Ishmael and I made an enormous mistake by sleeping together. It was a terrible thing to do to my best friend. She didn't deserve that.” Ava looked down at her hands. “I soon learned I was pregnant. When he heard I was pregnant with his child, he came by that day of the accident to try to talk me into having an abortion. He didn't like my answer and told me he would be back.”

“So, let me get this straight. You slept with your best friend's significant other, and then planned to have a baby by him. Is that correct?”

“That's not all there is to the story.”

“But we're just interested in facts today, Miss Alexander. So do I have the facts straight?” He turned and walked over to the jury.

“Yes.”
Here we go.
All of her dirty laundry was about to be strung out on the line.

“Good. Now you say he didn't like your answer, but there is someone else in your life who didn't like your answer either.”

Nervous tension shot through Ava's body. What was he going to bring up now?

He flipped over his legal pad. “Isn't true that one Xavier Thompson, your ex-boyfriend, was not happy with you as well? You broke your relationship off with him around the time of the accident. Is that correct?”

“Yes.”

“So you sleep with men, use them, and then do away with them when they've served your purpose.”

A curse word was on the tip of her tongue, but the thought of being held in contempt and carted off to the jailhouse calmed her need to add an outburst. But it didn't stop her face from burning, or the cracking of her knuckles. When she remembered what Rene told her about not letting the jury see her upset or frazzled at the defense's line of questioning, she ceased the cracking and placed her interlocked fingers on her lap. “If that's how you want to spin it.”

“Thank you, Ms. Alexander.” He paused, seemingly pleased with himself. “There is one other thing I need you to make clear for the jurors and myself today.”

Ava nodded.
He'd better watch himself.
Courtroom or no courtroom, God was the ultimate judge, and if Ishmael's lawyer continued to skip over Ishmael's part in all of this, making her look like the criminal, Mr. Redmon would have heaven to pay.

Picking up a photograph, he slithered over to Ava and put the picture in front of her face. “Is this a picture of your car?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Well, the detectives found navy paint on your vehicle, which you say came from Ishmael's mother's car, am I right?”

“Ishmael's mother said it too.” Ava chuckled. She was glad to be able to throw something back in about the incriminating letter.

“Please answer the question.” His brows crinkling down over his eyes let Ava know she hit a nerve.

“Yes, the detective found navy paint on my car.”

Rubbing his chin, he asked, “So do you believe my client's mother's car is the only navy car in this area?”

Ava's neck rolled. What kind of question was that? “What do you mean?”

“Well, I'm just saying, you visited the mall that week, work, and I'm sure a lot of other places. Restaurants, et cetera. Couldn't another driver at any number of those places have swiped your car at one point or another?”

“At the exact place where my car was hit?” She was no detective, but he did his best to make her look like an idiot. Reading the jurors' expressions and a smile on one of the men's faces made an uneasy feeling ooze into her pores. Would Ishmael go free because of the crafty viciousness of his lawyer?

Ava soon was able to take her seat next to Rene, who assured Ava everything would turn out okay. Rene's words consoled her until Ishmael took the stand. Butterflies did a number on her stomach. It was too late to pray for a recess. Ava had to suck it up and hope for the best.

Ishmael avoided making eye contact with Rene, who seemed to be on a mission. She drilled him about his visit to Ava's apartment earlier that day and his strong push for her to have an abortion. Rene then shone a light on his weak alibi and his mother's note. All evidence pointed to guilty. But people could never know how jury members would process the information, construe the facts, or what questions they would have. And juries did do crazy things sometimes.

The tainted closing arguments of the defense included suggestions of Ava's careless promiscuity, the lame argument of several cars all over the Houston area being dark blue, and that Ava was only envious of what Ishmael and his fiancée shared. Rene's name was left out of the statement. Ava guessed it highlighted the fact that same Rene was the one prosecuting him.

Rene's closing arguments brought to the forefront Ava's traumatic experience in the hospital and ultimately losing the baby, which would have emotional effects for the rest of her life. Following that unfortunate issue, her friend called attention to Ava having to take a week off work, and the catering offers she had to turn down. The whole fiasco, from which Ishmael tried to remove his responsibility, had turned Ava's life upside down and sideways.

But the most crucial part of the argument was Rene's powerful words. “Being that I was thrown into this nightmare, at first I was resentful and hurt. I am still hurt and saddened that my relationship with my best friend will never be the same. However, I love her and can forgive her.” She put her hand on Ava's shoulder and smiled.

Ava grasped her hand with a tear in her eye.
Glory to God.

Rene cruised over to the jury box. “But more importantly, this case is not about what Ava and Ishmael did, but about how he reacted to the result of what they did, the poor choices he made trying to fix things, and the effects his actions will have on everyone involved. Emotionally, mentally, and physically. People can't go through this world thinking they can fix things their way. Even Ishmael's mother said it in her own words. Justice needs to be served.” She looked to the jury box. “Members of the jury, the power is in your hands.”