The Fall of the Prodigal (10 page)

“Lauren's alive.”

Seated at his dinner table, Michael almost choked on his spaghetti. He leaned forward, not sure he had heard Verona right. “Come again?”

“Lauren is alive. You were right and I was wrong.”

Rocks lined his stomach and he pushed away the savory food. He shook his head. “How do you know?”

Verona bit into her meatball. Her appetite hadn't suffered any. “Your brother told me when we tried to talk to Mindy.”

Michael scraped his chair and stood. “That was Wednesday. Today's Sunday.” He had his arms akimbo with his legs spread apart. “Are you telling me you've been sitting on this news”—he counted on his fingers—“for four days and you're just now telling me? I don't believe you! We were at church yesterday, and you said nothing. Now today, you have the gall to come here cooking and eating with me like all is well. Now look at you, sitting there stuffing your face like it's a regular day.”

Verona arched an eyebrow but kept on eating as if she hadn't flipped his world upside down. No, make that right side up. Lauren was alive. Michael banged his fist on the table to get her attention. She jumped from the impact.

She wiped her mouth. “I couldn't believe it when Keith told me. Honestly, I needed time to process before telling you.”

“You needed time to process?” he repeated, stunned at her calm demeanor. It was like Verona was talking about the weather or something insignificant. “Lauren's being alive could change my life for the better and you made it all about you.” He got into her face. “I don't believe you would hold this from me for so long. Where is she?”

“Back off, Michael,” Verona warned. “I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. Keith begged me to give him a few days to talk with Lauren. He hoped she'd come to see you of her own volition. But, I've been stewing on it, and I care about you too much to hold this from you. If you want to know more, you'll have to see Keith. Thanks for the meal. I'll see you later.” She left him without even a second glance.

Michael knew he should go after Verona but he had bigger things to think about like Lauren being alive.

His chest heaved from the rage building within him at Keith's deception. Why would his brother have kept this from him? Payback? How could he forget how good Keith was at keeping secrets?

Why wouldn't Keith tell him?

Questions swirled around his head. Michael grabbed his coat. He needed answers. Before the night was through, he'd know everything.

 

 

“Michael? I didn't know you were coming over? Keith didn't say . . . Are you okay?” Gina asked.

He read the conflicting emotions on his ex-wife's face. She cared. That was good to know. “I'm fine. I needed to speak with Keith, if he's . . .” His eyes narrowed at the little hand circling Gina's waist.

Gina pushed Epiphany behind her. Michael couldn't fault her protective move. Gina wasn't likely to forget how he'd tried to take her children from her. Michael smiled and reassured her. “I don't want trouble. I need to see my brother.”

He watched her internal debate before she stepped aside to let him in. Michael tried to sneak a glance at Epiphany. He was curious to see if he would still feel apathy when he looked at her. Michael could not believe how much he had placed the demise of his marriage on Epiphany's little shoulders.

“I'll go find Keith,” Gina said. She took her daughter's hand. Obviously, she did not feel safe leaving Epiphany in his presence.

Michael couldn't fault her, but it hurt. Epiphany turned to greet him with a shy smile. Michael took one look at her dimpled cheeks and fell in love. She was precious. With quick strides, he snatched her from Gina and gave her a whirl in the air. Epiphany squealed with glee.

“Michael, what're you doing?” Gina asked, tugging on his Armani suit jacket. “Put her down, please.”

He complied. As soon as he put her down, Epiphany ran to parts unknown. Michael could not take his eyes off Gina. Her cheeks were reddened. He reached out to touch one of them. When she did not flinch, he allowed instinct to take over. In one fluid motion, he kissed her full on the lips.

A heartbeat later, he felt her push against him and stepped away. She swung her hand and he grabbed it before it connected with his face.

“Care to tell me why you're kissing on my wife?”

Michael lifted his head to see Keith standing behind him.

Gina's head snapped around and her eyes widened with horror. “Keith, this isn't what it looks like. I . . . I . . .” She pointed an accusatory finger toward Michael. “He kissed me.”

When Keith said nothing, Gina stomped off mumbling under her breath. Keith was going to hear about it later for not coming to her defense. Michael looked at Keith expecting to see anger or jealousy. He saw neither and felt compelled to apologize.

“I'm sorry. I don't know why I kissed her. Please don't drop my case because of such a stupid action. I should never have disrespected you.”

Keith leaned on the wall and closed his eyes. Michael wondered if Keith was praying but he didn't think so.

Then Keith whispered, “I know why you kissed my wife.” He wandered off in the direction of his study.

Michael followed. Out of nowhere, he thought,
I miss Mom. I wish she were here.
Where were all these emotions coming from all of a sudden?

Michael plopped down in a chair across from Keith wondering why they weren't firing punches after the stunt he'd just pulled.

“You kissed her because you wanted her to remember what you once shared. Gina used to love you. You once had a life together.”

That made sense. Michael supposed Keith was right. He shrugged. “It doesn't excuse my actions.”

“You're right, brother. Consider that your one and only look into your past. If you touch my wife again . . .”

Michael nodded with understanding. “I need her to testify if I get a guilty verdict.”

“Well, pressing your lips onto Gina's isn't the right way to go about it. Please don't tell me you came here with the intent of manhandling my wife.”

“I came to ask about Lauren.”

Keith settled further in his chair. “Verona told you.”

The hurt surfaced. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“I made a promise and I wanted to keep my word.”

Great.
What a time for his heart to defrost. Michael was feeling things he had not felt in a long time. “But, we're brothers. Blood. When is that going to count for something?” He looked Keith in the eyes unashamed of what was written on his face. Michael took rapid breaths to hold it together.

“I'm sorry,” Keith said.

Two simple words. No longwinded explanation. No defense. Just an apology. Michael gulped. He knew Keith was saying sorry for everything: all the pain, hurt, betrayal, and for ruining their relationship.

His heart cracked. He strove to utter the words but they would not come. Taking a deep breath, Michael stood, turning his back to Keith while he composed himself. “I miss Mom. I have no one. Maybe that's what kissing Gina was about. I needed to reconnect to feel something. I saw Epiphany and I saw a happy little girl; my niece. How could I have ill-treated her? She was an innocent child. No wonder Lauren left me just as Gina left me.”

Michael flinched when he felt a hand on his shoulder but he was tired of running away. He faced Keith. “Am I so unlovable the women I love leave me?”

Keith looked Michael in the eyes. “You're not unlovable. Love isn't the only ingredient. You're loving but if someone crosses you, you can't forgive.”

“That's because I love with everything I have. I gave Gina the best of me and look what she did. She slept with you and you fathered her two kids, right under my nose.” Michael knew he sounded bitter but he had to release it. It had become a festered wound he had buried for too long. Now it was a hardened mass, like granite around his heart.

“Yes, Gina and I both betrayed you. It was wrong and it was low-down, but God has forgiven us. Until you can find it in your heart to forgive us, you won't be able to move on. Lauren told me how you pushed her out of your home and out of your life. The way she said it, it's like she was talking about a monster and not a human being.”

“She's right. I don't know me anymore. I used to be trusting and fun-loving but I don't even know . . .” Words failed him. Michael was smelling himself, so to speak, and he stunk. But it was time to get clean. “I don't want to continue not caring, not allowing anyone to get close. I need to feel free so I can open my heart.”

Keith dropped to his knees and held out a hand. “I can't free you but I know who can. God is a balm, the remedy for your anger, your pain. Pray with me.”

Michael did not care about his thousand dollar custom-made suit. He wanted what Keith had. He wanted to love and be loved. He took his brother's hand and joined him on the floor. Keith's physical act chipped at Michael's heart. “I don't know what to say. When I came here, it was with the intent to curse you out.”

Keith bent his head and closed his eyes. “Holy Father, I come to you on my brother's behalf asking for you to heal his heart. Lord, let him feel the power of your love. Father, I ask for your finger to touch Michael's heart and melt away all the past hurt and anger he's feeling. God, perform surgery on his hardened heart. Let your love pierce the fleshy tables of his heart. I pray this prayer, in your Son Jesus' name, knowing it is done and you will complete your good work in him. Amen.”

When Michael opened his eyes, he was surprised to feel the tears. Slowly, methodically, he wiped them away with his hands. He looked at the crystal drops, feeling amazed. He had cried. These were real tears. He knew he looked crazy but Michael laughed. It felt good to cry, to feel again.

They chatted about sports, life, everything. Keith and Michael discussed the case. Keith told him about his suspicions with the photographs. He showed him the pictures and told him about hiring someone to evaluate them. He had contacted Dr. Northman but the doctor was in Argentina on vacation. Keith wanted to wait until he returned. Michael agreed. Three hours passed before their conversation slowed.

Keith captured Michael's attention with his next topic of conversation. “I know you said you feel alone because Mom's gone but, Michael, that isn't true. You have God and you have me in your corner. And, speaking of Mom . . .”

Michael knew what his brother wanted to ask. He squared his shoulders. “I wanted to be here. I wanted to be here for her. I called and I thought . . . I thought I had more time. I thought she'd bounce back and be her usual self, telling me off about something. I didn't know she would . . . die before I returned.” He hung his head. “If I wasn't all about business and into myself, I'd have been here. I hate I can't undo it.”

“Forgive yourself. Mom knew you loved her. She prayed for you all the time, even on her deathbed. I was angry when you didn't come to her bedside and when you skipped the funeral. Why?”

He had to face his ugly truth. “I didn't want to see you, Keith. I didn't want to see you with Gina. I cried for days, filled with grief. I didn't have the guts to say good-bye and I didn't want to see Mom lowered into the ground.”

“Have you been to her gravesite?”

The gentle question was almost Michael's undoing. He would have understood if Keith had railed at him, but his brother sounded calm. There was a serenity that surrounded Keith that Michael found hard to comprehend. His brother was a changed man. Had salvation done that? Michael was beginning to see Keith as a man of God. Michael admitted, “I've visited her grave on many occasions but the guilt tears at me. The guilt of knowing I wasn't there when she needed me most.”

“Let it go, Michael. I'm not going to sugarcoat things and say I totally understand. But I know this isn't God's plan. God doesn't want you carrying all that guilt. The devil has you all tied up and God wants you to be free. He's already forgiven you. All you have to do is accept His pardon. It's the only way you'll find peace and move on.”

There was a knock at the door. Gina entered with two glasses of lemonade and a plate full of goodies.

Michael's tongue felt parched so he appreciated her thoughtfulness. He gave her a look of apology. “Thanks, Gina. I'm sorry for kissing you earlier.”

She skirted her eyes away from him and wiped her hands on her jeans. She mumbled, “No problem. It's forgotten,” but he could see her uneasiness.

Then the old Gina he knew surfaced. “Are you going to see Lauren?”

“I . . . We were praying and talking . . .” Michael was hesitant to say he'd broken down.

“Talking to Keith will do that; besides, you need to work on you, first. This whole thing with Lauren will work itself out.” Gina patted him on the arm: her first voluntary physical contact.

Michael willed himself to act normal and not react. Her fleeting touch whipped at him. More than a message or any spoken word, Gina's touch did wonders. Like a television screen, he saw himself berating her and treating her like dirt. He remembered the pleasure he had felt in shaming Gina before millions when he had all but called her a whore and announced how Keith was the father of her children.

Michael was humbled. While he experienced those shattering memories, she vacated the room with a soft, “Welcome home.”

What a night for emotions. Michael could not hold back the tears. He looked at Keith. “She touched me. She touched me.” He paused. How could he put it into words? “After all I've done, she touched me. Only it wasn't a human touch, it felt almost like . . .” He stopped, not wanting to sound stupid.