L
eah and Melvin sat huddled in the back of the darkened theater, giggling like teenagers
as they waited for the movie to start. They’d arrived early, as they usually did so
they would have some time to talk. “You’re eating all of the popcorn,” Melvin said,
taking the box from her and handing her a box of Choco-Bits. “Here, take these.”
Leah took the Choco-Bits. “I’m going to get fat,” she said.
He kissed her on her nose. “There’ll be more of you to love.”
“That’s what you say now,” she muttered, putting one of the Choco-Bits in her hand.
“Women,” he said, taking back the box of chocolate. “Give me your hand.” When she
opened her palm, he turned the box and poured her a handful of Choco-Bits. “Now you
have some candy.”
Leah looked down at the contents of her hand and then up at him. “What’s this?”
“What does it look like?” he said with a warm, loving smile.
Leah raked the Choco-Bits back in the box until she was left with a piece of gold
that was certainly not chocolate. “It looks like a ring,” she said, staring at the
diamond still in her palm.
“It is a ring,” he said, taking the ring from her palm. “I envisioned giving it to
you over some romantic dinner and shouting my joy for all the other diners to hear,
but doing it here seemed more appropriate. We had our first date here and some of
our most important conversations have occurred here. So what better place to ask you
to marry me?”
Her eyes teared up. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m very serious,” he said. “I love you, Leah. You have to know that.”
She sat staring at the ring. She couldn’t believe it. This wonderful, kind, and loving
man loved her and wanted to marry her. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes.”
She thought of all the reasons why she couldn’t marry him. “My children—” she began.
“I’m not asking them,” he said. “I’m asking you. Besides, they’re adults. Michael’s
already out of the house, and Deborah’ll probably be glad to see you move out so she’ll
have some privacy.”
“Move out?”
He nodded. “You’ll move in with me after we’re married,” he said. “I’ve already decided.”
She smiled. “And I have no say?”
He shook his head. “Not on this one. I’m old-fashioned that way. The wife moves in
with the husband, not vice versa.”
Leah grew warm inside. She loved this man more than she’d ever imagined loving a man
after Abraham. But the timing couldn’t have been worse and he had to know it.
“I’m waiting,” he said.
She cupped his cheek in her palm. “I do love you, Melvin, but marriage, I don’t know.”
His smile vanished. “Okay, let’s hear your reasons, though I’m sure I know what they
are.”
“Don’t be this way,” she said. “It’s the timing. So much is going on now with my kids
and Abraham. I couldn’t think of a worse time to spring this news on them.”
Melvin ran a finger down her cheek. “You can’t keep putting your happiness on hold,”
he said. “You can’t keep putting me on hold. Besides, I don’t think there will be
a right time in your eyes. We have to take the best time, this time. A lot of people
never get the second chance we’ve been given. We should be putting our relationship
out there as an example of how God can bless a couple. Instead, we’re hiding it and
sneaking around as though we’re doing something wrong. It’s not right, Leah. You have
to know that.”
Leah felt a shiver go up her spine. Was this her day of reckoning? “You have to understand—”
“I’ve been understanding for more than a year,” he said. “For more than a year you’ve
set the parameters for this relationship and I’ve allowed it because I’ve known from
the first day I met you that you were the one for me. I know you’ve figured it out,
too. Now I’m asking you to trust it, trust me, trust yourself, trust God.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I don’t know.”
“You love me, don’t you?” he asked.
She nodded. “You know I do.”
“Then I want you to act like it. Take a leap of faith, Leah.”
“But your church—”
He pressed a finger against her lips. “That’s why they call it faith. It’s okay not
to know exactly how everything is going to turn out. Just know that whatever happens,
we’ll face it together. Do you love me enough to do that?”
J
osette couldn’t get Isaac’s words out of her mind. Had Rebecca and Michael slept together?
Were they still sleeping together? Her arms folded across her stomach, she paced the
bedroom she shared with her husband, wondering if she’d ever share the bed with him
again. How much was she expected to take from Michael? Their whole life together was
based on lies, lies that seemed to grow each day. What had she done to be such a victim?
Nothing, she told herself. All she’d done was fall in love. “What have I done to you,
little one?” she said, speaking to the baby inside her. “And what should I do now?
You need your daddy, but I don’t know if I can live in a marriage of lies and deceit.
What kind of life would that be for you?”
Josette went to the bathroom and sat on the stool in front of her vanity. Though she
was sad, her eyes were clear and dry. She didn’t have the tears or the energy to expend
on Michael and what he might do. Her only concern now was for her baby.
The beep of the exterior door alarm sensor told her that Michael had arrived home.
There was a time when she would have rushed down the stairs to meet him. Those days
were long gone. He called out to her but she didn’t answer. She wasn’t ready to speak
to him yet, as she was unsure what she would say.
Hearing his footsteps coming up the stairs, she began cleansing her face to give herself
something to do.
“Didn’t you hear me calling you?” he asked when he entered the bedroom. “Why didn’t
you answer?”
In the mirror, she watched him walk toward her, yellow roses in hand. Now that was
a surprise. When he reached her, he pressed his chin on the top of her head and smiled
into the mirror at her. “How’s Mommy doing today?”
Josette felt her heart soften toward him. He was such a charmer! “Mommy’s had a long
day,” she said, her voice not as flat as she would have liked.
He handed her the roses. “I thought these might cheer you up.”
She took them from him and smelled them. “Thank you, Michael,” she said.
He spun her around on her stool. “Nothing but the best for my lady,” he said, before
kissing her.
Josette’s heart began to harden as he kissed her. She knew that kiss. It was meant
to dominate and to control, to show her how much she needed him. She forced herself
not to respond. His reaction was to deepen the kiss. It didn’t work.
He lifted his lips from hers. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
Instead of answering, she got up. “I need to put the flowers in water,” she said,
stepping around him. She headed downstairs with Michael behind her.
“Have a bad day?” Michael asked as she put water in a vase.
She placed the flowers in the vase. “I’ve had better.”
“Didn’t you have lunch with Deborah?”
She nodded.
“Did she say something to upset you?”
She turned to him. “Deborah? No. We had an enjoyable lunch. Afterward, I stopped by
to see Isaac.”
He leaned back against the counter. “Ahh, I think I understand.”
“Understand what?”
“You see Isaac and all I get is attitude. Don’t let that man come between us, Josette.
You can’t trust him.”
Josette couldn’t help herself. She laughed. “You’re kidding me, right? I can’t trust
Isaac? It’s you I can’t trust.”
“What’s he been telling you?”
She looked up at him. “What are you so worried about, Michael? It’s been a long time
since you’ve been this interested in my moods or my comings and goings.”
“Look, I don’t like the idea of another man hanging around my wife.”
Josette was beginning to feel like she was in the middle of a bad dream. “Isaac is
not another man, Michael. He’s your half brother. Why can’t you accept him as such?”
“He’s no brother to me.”
Josette studied him. “Maybe you’re right. You and Isaac Martin are as different as
night and day. I’ve had more serious conversations with him lately than I’ve had with
you.”
Michael reached out and pulled her to him. “I won’t tolerate your even thinking about
starting something with Isaac.”
She pushed out of his embrace. “And I won’t tolerate you sleeping with Isaac’s wife!”
“You’re talking crazy.”
When he would have turned away, she reached for his arm. “Are you sleeping with Rebecca?”
she asked.
“I don’t believe you’re asking me this,” he said. “I’m insulted.”
“You haven’t answered the question. Are you sleeping with her?”
“No, I’m not sleeping with her,” he said. “Are you happy now?”
She studied him. “I’m not sure I believe you.”
“I swear to you that I’m not sleeping with Rebecca.”
“Have you ever slept with her?”
“Let’s not go down that road, Josette. I never claimed to be a virgin before we married,
and at the risk of being rude, neither did you.”
He was right, but he still hadn’t answered the question she needed answered. “Let’s
cut to the chase here, Michael. Have you slept with Rebecca since we’ve been married?”
He brushed a finger down her cheek. “I haven’t cheated on you with Rebecca. I would
never cheat on you.”
Josette allowed Michael to pull her into his arms. Her dry eyes were now wet. She
didn’t believe a word he had said.
I
t’s good to have you home, Mr. Martin,” Mrs. Hall gushed when Isaac and his father
entered the mansion in Forest Park. “I knew you’d come here instead of to that condo
downtown. A man needs to recuperate where he can get some fresh air and enjoy nature.”
Abraham chuckled. “I agree with you, Anna,” he said. “This place will always be home
to me.” He inclined his head toward Isaac. “It’s the boy here and his mother who love
living downtown.”
“Mr. Isaac loved it out here when he was a boy,” she said, smiling at Isaac as if
he were still a little boy. “He’d play hide-and-seek in that big old garden, and the
nanny and Mrs. Martin would have the hardest time finding him. Do you remember that,
Mr. Isaac?”
Isaac smiled. “Of course I do,” he said. “But what I remember most are your meals.
I thought you were the best cook in the
world, and still do.”
She blushed. “Well, that’s kind of you to say, Mr. Isaac.”
His father snorted. “What I remember is that he wouldn’t eat the food they served
in the cafeteria of that fancy elementary school he attended. We had to deliver him
a lunch every day until he got tired of the other kids making fun of him.”
Mrs. Hall laughed.
“I wasn’t that bad,” Isaac said.
Abraham raised a brow. “You have a selective memory. You were spoiled rotten. Blame
your mother.”
Mrs. Hall shook her head. “Mr. Isaac is not the only one with selective memory, Mr.
Martin. I remember
two
adoring parents spoiling their only son. Along with a housekeeper and a nanny. Mr.
Isaac had us all doing his bidding.”
“Okay,” Isaac said, “that’s enough talk about me. It’s almost dinnertime so I know
you have something wonderful on the menu.”
“I certainly do,” Mrs. Hall said. “But you two have some time to freshen up before
it’s ready.”
Isaac smiled as he watched the older woman walk toward the kitchen. “She runs this
place, doesn’t she?”
Abraham laughed. “Always has, but don’t tell your mother. Anna has done a great job
of treating Saralyn as her boss while bossing her around. I should have hired her
at MEEG.”
Isaac followed his father into his study. The masculine room had his father stamped
all over it. Unlike his MEEG office, this study reflected the personal side of Abraham
Martin. A built-in wall cabinet held the academic and sporting honors and trophies
he’d been awarded in high school and college. The credenza was cluttered with family
photos. Isaac’s favorite was the one with his mother and father and his grandmother
Iris. There were a couple of him as a youngster that he wished his father would remove
from his collection. He felt closer to his father in this room than
he did in any other place.
“Feel free to make yourself a drink,” Abraham said as he settled on the couch and
lifted his feet onto the ottoman.
“You want something?” Isaac asked. He studied his father, whose strong voice was contradicted
by the tiredness in his eyes. Seeing his father weak would take some getting used
to.
Abraham shook his head. “Not while I’m on medication, but you go ahead.”
Isaac knew he didn’t really need alcohol either since he was on medication himself.
“I’ll have some ginger ale. Want one?”
“Okay, you’ve convinced me.”
Isaac went to the wet bar in the corner of the room, put ice in two glasses, and poured
the ginger ale. He handed one glass to his father and took a seat beside him on the
couch. “Bet you’re glad to be home,” he said.
Abraham closed his eyes and leaned his head back. “If only I didn’t tire so easily.”
“You’ll be back to one hundred percent before you know it,” Isaac said, repeating
the doctor’s prognosis. “You’ve come a long way in no time at all. You were in a coma
two short weeks ago.”
Abraham opened his eyes. “I’ll stop complaining,” he said. “I have a lot to be grateful
for.” He rested his hand on Isaac’s shoulder and squeezed. “Having a son like you
is one of them. I love you, son.”
Isaac swallowed. “I know,” he said. “I love you, too.”
“But you still haven’t forgiven me?”
He didn’t have an answer. If only it were as simple as forgiving his dad. But it was
more complicated than that. So much more. His father’s lie had far-reaching consequences,
and Isaac felt he was suffering much more than his share.
When he didn’t respond, Abraham removed his hand from his son’s shoulder and sat up
a bit straighter. “Okay,” he said, “I won’t
press. You want to bring me up to date on things at MEEG?”
Isaac slid his father a glance. “I’m sure Alan has been giving you regular updates.”
Abraham shrugged. “I’m not asking Alan,” he said. “I’m asking you.”
Isaac gave him a rundown of the major projects, ending with Running Brook. “There’s
not much to report on Running Brook. Deborah has made some initial decisions about
projects she wants to continue and those she wants to terminate. That’s about it.”
“How are things working out with her?”
Isaac lifted a brow. “Professionally or personally?”
“Professionally first.”
“Alan’s working more closely with her than I am. He’d have a better read on her.”
“That’s good,” Abraham said. “I should have known he’d step in for me. I can always
count on Alan.”
Though he knew his father meant no harm, Isaac took his words as a reprimand. “I can’t
hold her hand, Dad. I have my own job to do.”
Abraham’s eyes widened. “I know you have a lot on your plate and I don’t expect you
to hold her hand. Actually, I don’t expect her to need much handholding. She’s a bright
woman, Isaac. Give her a chance.”
All his life his father had held him to high standards. This was no different. He
was still expected to be the bigger person. “She doesn’t need me to give her any chances,”
he said. “You’ve given her a once-in-a-lifetime chance. She’d better make the most
of it.”
Abraham tilted his head to the side. “You don’t like her?”
Isaac shrugged. “I don’t know her.”
“She’s your sister,” Abraham said.
Isaac shook his head. “She’s your daughter. She’s not my sister.”
“Blood tells.”
“I’m not talking biology, Dad. I don’t know her and she doesn’t
know me. I’ve accepted her as a colleague. Don’t ask for more right now.”
Abraham nodded. “I know the situation is hard for you and your mother, but I don’t
know what else to do. This is new territory for me, too, so I’m learning and doing
the best I can. I need your help with this, Isaac. I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t
know you had it in you to do it.”
Isaac’s palms grew damp and his face hot, imminent signs of an oncoming panic attack.
“Why now?” he asked, practicing the visualization technique his therapist had suggested.
Visions of his South American cruise passed through his mind. “You ignored them all
these years. Why embrace them now?”
“If not now, when? I’m not getting any younger, Isaac. You have to use the time you’re
given wisely. You can’t always count on tomorrow coming.”
Isaac shook his head. “You’re not dying, Dad.”
“I hear what you’re saying, but none of us know how long we have. I thought your grandmother
would live forever, and then all of a sudden she’s gone. Her death forced me to take
stock of myself.”
Isaac didn’t want to listen to his father’s case for doing what he wanted to do and
would do, despite any objections. That was his dad’s way. When an opponent didn’t
agree, he’d just beat them down until they did. “What’s taking Mom so long?” he wondered
aloud.
“She said she’d be late and not to hold dinner for her,” Abraham said. “I’m glad because
I’ve made a decision that I wanted to share with you first.”
Isaac got up and poured more ginger ale. He was tempted to rub an ice cube down his
neck. “Please, Dad,” he said. “I’ve had enough revelations from you to last a lifetime.
I don’t need to hear about another set of kids.”
“It’s nothing like that,” Abraham said, waving off the comment.
“You know I made a place for Deborah in MEEG, and I’m sure you’ve noticed I haven’t
done the same for Michael.”
“Seems a smart move to me. The man hates us.”
“He doesn’t hate you, Isaac. He hates me. He only resents you. I’m sorry about that,
but have some compassion for the boy. You grew up with a mother and a father and all
this.” Abraham lifted his arms wide to illustrate the breadth of all his family had.
“Michael grew up with a single mother who struggled to provide a good living for them,
all the while knowing he had a rich father across town who couldn’t be bothered to
help. Neither he nor Deborah had any of the opportunities you had. No summer camps,
no private schools, no tutors, no summer trips to Europe and Africa. Of course, they’re
bound to be a little resentful of you.”
“A little resentful? What planet are you living on, Dad? Your underprivileged son
has been taunting my wife with gifts since the day we were married. Did you know he
and Rebecca had a relationship?”
Abraham nodded. “Rebecca told me. But that relationship was over long before Rebecca
married you. I don’t see how you can hold it against her or him.”
“I’d agree with you if Michael had left it at that, but he went too far when he started
taunting me and Rebecca with gifts. Before I even knew he was my brother, he was rubbing
it in my face that he’d slept with my wife. I think that goes a bit beyond being a
little resentful.” Isaac rubbed his hand across his head. “You know what, Dad? I don’t
even know why we’re having this argument. MEEG is your company and you can do what
you want with it. I came back after your accident, knowing Deborah was there, and
promised to stay until your return. But I can’t keep that promise if you bring Michael
in. You can let him run the company for you or with you, but I won’t work with him.”
“That’s not you talking, Isaac,” Abraham said. “Those are your
mother’s words. You’re more generous than your words suggest.”
“Don’t fool yourself, Dad. These are my words. I’m generous but I’m not a masochist,
which I’d have to be to work with Michael.”
Abraham studied his son. “I know Michael has hurt you,” he said. “But that was when
he was your enemy. You don’t have to be enemies anymore. You can be brothers. That’s
one of the reasons that I want to bring him into MEEG, so he won’t have a reason to
hate you.”
“Wake up, Dad,” Isaac said. “You can’t snap your fingers and turn us into the Brady
Bunch. There is a lot of bad blood between the two families. Neither wishful thinking
nor gifting MEEG board seats is going to change that. This is one time the great Abraham
Martin is not going to get his way. You’re not going to have your offspring working
side by side with you carrying out your legacy at MEEG. It ain’t gonna happen.”
“It could, if you would give it chance. You’re my son, Isaac, my oldest son. You have
the inner strength to make it happen.”
Isaac put down his glass and stared at his father. “You don’t get it, do you? I left
MEEG because of you. I don’t want to work with you. It took my leaving for me to realize
that. I could breathe in my new position, Dad. I couldn’t breathe when I was working
with you at MEEG. You sucked all the air out of the room with your plans and expectations.
It was too much. I can’t live like that again. I won’t.”
Isaac watched as his dad sank back on the couch. “I had no idea you disliked working
at MEEG.”
Isaac shook his head. “You’re not listening to me,” he said. “I can tolerate working
at MEEG, but I can’t tolerate working with you. And I won’t tolerate working with
Michael.”
“You’re not leaving me too many options. Either you have MEEG to yourself or you’re
out—is that what you’re telling me?”
Isaac shook his head. “I’m telling you that it’s fine with me if
you, Deborah, and Michael run MEEG together. I won’t stand in your way and I’ll try
to rein in Mom when she tries to interfere, though I’m not sure how successful I’ll
be.”
“You don’t mean that, Isaac. MEEG is your heritage. I built it for you.”
“No, you didn’t,” Isaac said, walking over to sit on the ottoman in front of his dad.
“You built it for you and it’s yours. I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished but I
can’t and won’t stand in your shadow any longer. It’s not a healthy place for me to
be.”