The Fall of the Prodigal (11 page)

“We are God's voice and hands at times. God wants you, Michael. He has a whole party planned for your return.”

Michael's mouth popped open at Keith's perceptiveness. It was all too much. He grabbed his coat, eager to meet the cold air. He needed to feel the brutality of the low temperatures. All that warmth was killing him. “I need some time to think. We'll talk about Lauren another time.”

Michael was pushing his second hand in his coat when Keith grabbed his sleeve. “Don't run, Michael. Stay.”

“If you'd told me a week ago Michael would be spending the night in my house, I would've slapped you upside your head.”

Keith grinned at her comment. Gina was bent over her nightstand rubbing Oil of Olay on her face with her cute little butt perched toward him. From his position at the head of the bed, Keith crossed his feet at the ankles, enjoying the sight.

“I couldn't have him drive home at this hour,” Keith explained.

“Well you should've asked me.” Gina turned to give him an evil eye.

Dressed in barely there silk shorts, he watched her shiver from the cold. “Gina, come over here so you can get warm. It's time for you to pay me some attention.”

“If you think you're getting nooky while your brother sleeps under this roof, you'd better think again.” Gina shut off the lights before scampering toward the bed.

As soon as she was under the sheets, he pulled her into his arms. “Your feet are cold,” he growled. Keith felt her body trembling next to him. “Why are you wearing this skimpy outfit when you know you're going to freeze?” It didn't matter how warm the house was, Gina was always cold.

She pulled her feet under his thighs to warm them. He grunted and waited for what would come next. Sure enough, she started her wiggling. “Keep still,” he warned, though it was pointless. She had restless legs, constantly moving her feet, which was why Keith insisted she keep up with her pedicures.

Gina snuggled even deeper into him. “You feel so warm.”

Keith hugged her close.

“Did you tell Michael how to find Lauren?”

“No. We talked about Mom and we settled some things. Then, we prayed. We're going to talk about Lauren tomorrow.”

“He looked pretty shaken up when I came in,” she observed.

He yawned. “We'll talk in the morning,” he directed. “Right now, sleep is calling.”

She poked him in the ribs. “Michael had better be gone in the morning.”

“I'll make sure of it,” he assured her.
Lord, please soften Gina's heart. She's driving me crazy,
was Keith's prayer to God before sleep claimed him.

 

 

Michael was at the breakfast bar, still dressed in a borrowed pair of Keith's pajamas. They were loose and a smidgeon long, but they did the job.

“I see Josie hooked you up.” Keith eyed the plate of fried dumplings and salt fish. His belly grumbled and his tongue watered. He loved how Josie made codfish, or salt fish, as Jamaicans coined it. She boiled it several times to get rid of the salt, before preparing it with light seasonings, onion, and olive oil. He rubbed his hands.

“Yup. This is delicious.”

Josie dished Keith a plate. Keith said his grace and dug in, savoring the hint of pepper.

He and Michael made short work of their meal. Keith placed their plates in the dishwasher and crooked his head toward Michael.

“I should get going. I don't want to push my luck with Gina.”

He could not argue with his brother's comment. She had ordered him to have Michael out of the house before she got back from her ministry work at the hospital.

Nevertheless, he found himself saying, “Kick back for a minute. We have plenty to discuss.”

Keith held his breath. Michael grappled with conflicting emotions. Keith knew he was being pushy but he wanted his brother back. He had been praying for years and God was doing His thing.

“You sure you don't mind?” Michael asked. “I'd definitely rather be here than cooped up in the penthouse all day.”

Keith released the breath he had been holding. He gestured to Michael and they headed into his study. “Now that's settled. Let's talk about Lauren; and Verona.”

“Where is she? How long have you known? Where are my children?”

Keith was prepared for Michael's questions. “Lauren is safe. She came to me, pregnant and angry. It took a lot of persuasion for her to settle here in New York where Gina and I could keep an eye on her. Gina was there with her when she had your children.”

Michael's face crumbled and his shoulders drooped. “I should've been there.”

Keith empathized but had to tell the truth. “Lauren didn't want you there, Michael. I urged her on many occasions to reach out to you but she refused. She is one determined woman. Lauren said you kicked her out when she told you about her pregnancy. Is that true?”

“Yes, I did. I threw her out without a backward glance. I didn't want to stop my vendetta against you. I was so bent on revenge I wasn't thinking about the future. Plus, I couldn't believe she was pregnant. I mean the whole world heard me say I couldn't father children. I was too cynical to hear her out.” Michael covered his face.

Keith wanted to hurl some “how could you?” type questions his brother's way, but knew it wouldn't do any good.

“I spoke to Mom about it,” Michael confessed. “I wish I'd heeded her warnings. She died never seeing her grandchildren.”

Keith swallowed, wondering if he should divulge the truth.
Might as well. The truth must come out sometime.

“She did. Mom saw them,” Keith said.

Michael's eyes bulged out their sockets. “Mom met John and Olivia?” he shook his head. “She never told me.”

“Mom was sick. On her deathbed. I convinced Lauren to allow Mom to see them before she went on to paradise.”

Instantly, Michael was on the alert. He looked around the room as if searching for answers. “Lauren must live close, then. Bro, you have to tell me where to find her. I'm in torment. I must set things right. Children need their father.”

Keith changed the subject. “What's going on with you and Verona? You two seem chummy.”

“Verona's the best,” he said. “She's loyal and I trust her. We've always maintained a loose professional relationship until the other day when I kissed her.”

He arched an eyebrow at Michael. “And?”

Michael waved him off. “It was nothing. I wanted to shut her up. Keep her from quitting. We're friends. Nothing more. Besides, with Lauren in the picture . . .”

Though Michael downplayed his relationship with Verona, Keith was not convinced. He had seen the electricity between them. He knew Verona was in love with Michael. Michael was besotted too, but he did not—or, rather, would not—acknowledge it. Michael did not step without asking Verona's opinion. His airy tone when he mentioned Verona's name was also a dead giveaway.

“I've set up a meeting with Lauren. Gina and I plan to see her today. As soon as she returns from her ministry at the hospital.”

Though Michael nodded, Keith knew his brother was not going to sit idly by and simply wait. When they parted ways, all Keith could do was hope. Hope Michael would let him help him. Or, rather, let God.

“I don't want to see him!” Lauren bellowed. She twisted her hands as she rocked back and forth.

Keith was glad Gina was with him. She went over to comfort Lauren.

“Shh. It's all right,” she said. “You don't want to wake John and Olivia, do you?”

Lauren was too upset to lower her voice. “No, Michael's going to take my children away from me. I know it. Look at what he did to you and he was in love with you. What will he do to me? Michael made it clear what he thought about me.” Her face was red and covered with tears. Keith could practically smell her fear. Her green eyes were filled with abject terror.

“He's changed,” Keith said. He, too, went over to sit next to Lauren on the couch. Lauren was now sandwiched between him and Gina. Her body was curled over so far all he could see was red hair. Over her head, Keith gave Gina a pleading look. Only his wife would able to convince the distraught woman she had no need for concern.

Gina read his look and searched for words. Keith knew this wasn't easy for Gina to do. He reached over and took her hand and gave it a small, encouraging squeeze.

“Lauren, I wouldn't have come here with Keith if I didn't agree Michael is a different man. He's becoming the man I knew before all that madness went down between us.” Gina stroked Lauren's hair. “Michael has been coming to church and Keith's been counseling him.”

“Ha! I'm not buying it. I can't believe you of all people would fall for his act. I know how manipulative Michael can be. He's playing nice because he's in trouble. Once Michael gets himself out of this mess, he'll be back to his old conniving, underhanded ways.”

Uh
-
oh.
Keith saw Lauren's words take effect. Gina gave him a widened stare. She bit her lip. Doubt filled her face. Another minute and Gina would fold.

“I have the Spirit of God within me,” Keith intervened. “He leads me and guides me. I can discern Michael's genuineness.” He tucked Lauren gently under the chin. “Michael does play a good game, but he can't outplay God. I'm assuring you, with the authority of God on my side, God Himself placed Michael in this position to lead him home. I've been praying for Michael's salvation for years, and this is God at work.”

His words took root. With trembling hands, Lauren scooped her hair out of her face and granted him her first shaky smile.

Gina stood. “Let me get you some water.”

“I've never seen Michael at church.” Lauren assessed him with a sharp gaze. The reporter was back.
Good,
Keith thought. He could talk to this Lauren better.

“He attended our Bible Study.” He phrased his statement in a way to make it seem like Michael had been to a lot more church services. “Michael will be there again this Sabbath. I hope you'll meet with him before then.”

“I knew this time would come,” Lauren whispered. “But I was prepared to fight it tooth and nail.” She shifted focus. “Keith, if it weren't for you and Gina, I don't know where I would've ended up. I was one of Michael's chief helpers in destroying your reputation. I couldn't believe how you both opened your doors and heart to my children and me. I'll forever be grateful.”

Gina returned while Lauren was speaking. They had heard this thank-you speech countless times. “Lauren, as we've told you before, you don't have to thank me. You're family. It wasn't anything for me to lease you my home.”

Lauren snorted. “One dollar a month. That's not rent, Keith. You could get at least three thousand a month for this.”

Closer to five, but he would never tell Lauren that. Keith held up his hand. “Water under the bridge. I don't want to hear anything about this house.”

“Imagine the irony that all the time Michael's been looking for me I've been here in your former home.”

“I borrowed the idea from him,” Keith said.

“I was out of my mind when he kidnapped Trey and Epiphany all those years ago,” Gina said. Realizing the implications of her words, she stammered, “Kidnapped is a harsh word. I misspoke. This is different.”

“I understand,” Lauren said, addressing Gina. She then looked at Keith. “You don't know this but before I sought you out, I was holed up in this tiny apartment. I was heartbroken, lost, and confused. Then I started watching the tape of that awful show. I watched it over and over, replaying the part where you talked about your feelings for Gina. I thought to myself I want a man to love me like that.”

He gave his wife a wink. She cut her eyes. She had not forgiven him for Michael's invasion into their home, into their life.

“Anyways, I started watching your show,
Second Chances,
and I fell in love with God.”

Keith nodded. His mother had met the Lord through his show too. How he missed her! “I'm awed at how He chose to use me,” Keith shared.

“If God can change me,” Lauren said, “I believe Michael deserves the same chance to meet Him. I can't believe I'm saying these words. Keith Ward, you have been gifted with the power of persuasion.” She took a deep breath. “I'm ready. Tell him where I am. Tell him it's time he met his children.”

Keith and Gina held hands and prayed with Lauren. By the time they left Lauren's home, the temperature had fallen well below thirty degrees. On the drive home, Gina rejoiced. “Hallelujah. God is amazing!”

“I was wondering how you held it for so long.” Keith grinned. “I could see the praise bubbling up inside you.”

“Lauren's right, you know. You do have a gifted tongue.”

The man in him rose up. Keith's voice dropped. “I'll show you what I can do with it later,” he promised, cracking up at her openmouthed expression.

“How can you switch from praising God so fast? One minute you're praising. The next you're saying kinky stuff.” She squirmed.

“You like it when I do,” he teased.

She folded her arms. “I'm still mad at you.”

Keith drummed the steering wheel. He would let that comment slide. “I prayed for an hour this morning for God to soften Lauren's heart.” Gina's too, but he kept that to himself. He lifted a hand off the wheel and pumped it in the air. “Lord, you're good! You're better than good!”

“Watch the road and don't go off speaking in tongues like you did before,” Gina cautioned. She fiddled with her scarf. “Talking about Jesus take the wheel while I'm screaming for my life.”

Keith cracked up. “I wasn't that far gone, Gina,” he said, holding back his praise. “But wherever I am, I'm going to praise God when my spirit bids.”

“Well let your spirit bid you when we're at home.”

How he loved this woman! Keith reached over to kiss Gina on the cheek.

“Listen, will you keep your eye on the road?”

“Gina, who you fooling? You know you like it. I can't hold my praise. This is the modern-day version of the prodigal son returning home. But, unlike that older brother, I'm not jealous. I'm ready to throw a party.” He gave a little dance by moving his shoulders up and down.

“Did you forget the court case? Hold on to your rejoicing for now.”

He knew Gina was trying to keep him from getting his hopes up too high, but Keith was a preaching man and he was fired up. “You must not know my God like I do. Tell me, when did the Jericho wall come down?”

“You know when.”

He slanted a quick glance her way. She rolled her eyes. Keith would not be deterred. “I'm going to start praising because the wall is coming down, Gina. Mark my words. It's coming down!”