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  “Almost forgot, what?” he asked her.

  “I’m thinking about relocating.”

  “Relocating, where?”

  “I don’t know just yet, but I need a change. You know what I mean? A chance to start over again. A new place, new town, new job.”

  “Maybe you’re right. That might be exactly what you need, Teary. Hey, think about moving here. The twins would love to have you nearby all the time, not to mention me and Faith.”

  “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. Not that I don’t want to be near you guys, but it’s time for me to have a clean slate, Prodigal. I’m going to keep my options open and see what’s out there. And you know that Faith definitely wouldn’t be happy if I moved there, so be for real.”

  Prodigal paused before continuing. Teary was right. Faith wouldn’t like that one bit. “I hear you. Well, don’t dismiss Bonsai Bay altogether. I’d love to have you close to me.”

  “I won’t. Well, look I have to go. I have a meeting with the rest of the news team in about fifteen minutes. I love you and we’ll talk soon. Kiss the boys for me too.”

  “Will do. I’ll talk to you later.” Prodigal hung up the phone, walked out of the study and into the family room to watch the basketball game. He refused to argue with Faith about Teary. She had her friends and he had his and no one was going to come between his friendship with Teary, no one.

  ♦

  When the basketball game ended, Prodigal took the boys to the neighborhood park. He invited Faith to come along but she was still obviously upset with him and refused to go. Later that night when he climbed in bed beside her, she asked him, “Do you want a divorce?”

  “A divorce? Don’t be ridiculous. Why would you ask me something like that?”

  “You really don’t know do you?” She sat up in the bed and looked down on him.

  “Know what, Faith?” Prodigal asked her.

  “Don’t you see how your relationship with Teary affects our marriage, Prodigal?” Faith began to explain. “She’s always running to you with her problems and you’re always the noble guy who just has to be there every time.”

  “Teary and I have been friends since we were kids. You know that, Faith. Why have you been constantly riding me about this? It’s not like she’s some female who just came up out of the blue. She’s my best friend.”

  “That’s the problem. I should be your best friend, Prodigal, not Teary. And how dare you ask her to move here to Bonsai Bay.”

  “I knew she wasn’t going to do that, Faith. Do you honestly think that I would have asked her if I thought she would move here?”

  “I don’t know what you’ll do when it comes to her, Prodigal.

  He grabbed her and pulled her down on top of him. “Look, I don’t want to argue with you tonight or any night. And I certainly don’t want a divorce. I love you, Faith. I know I get a little carried away sometimes when it comes to Teary, but the girl has been through so much.”

  “I know that, Prodigal. I just wish she had someone else’s shoulder to cry on instead of yours, that’s all.”

  “No one, not even Teary, can come between us, Faith. I love you with all of my heart. You’ve got to know that. And if you talk to her sometimes, maybe she won’t feel the need to confide in me as much. She just needs someone, and she’s used to me being there for her.

  “Well, I want you to be here for me. I’m your wife.”

  “How can I ever forget that? You are my wife, you always will be. You have absolutely nothing to worry about because I’m not going anywhere and neither are you, Mrs. Runsome.” He kissed and stroked her, while he squeezed her butt and ran his fingers through her hair. She couldn’t resist his touch. She never could and tonight was no different.

  Chapter 23

  Second Chances

  Teary sat in her window office overlooking the muddy Mississippi and reminisced. Her life wasn’t so bad right now. She could honestly say that she was content with the way things had turned out for her since her divorce from Skyler. Moving to Memphis had been a good decision, one that so far she hadn’t regretted. It seemed like yesterday when she received the phone call from the Commercial Appeal newspaper in Memphis, Tennessee. She remembered the day quite well.

  “Miss Fullalove, we’d like to fly you to Memphis for an interview if you’re still interested in the copy editor position,” the HR Generalist said.

  Teary couldn’t believe her ears because she’d answered the ad on a whim. She didn’t actually think she would hear a response. And to think, only two weeks had passed since she emailed the Memphis newspaper her resume’.

  “Yes, I’m interested,” Teary stated. What am I doing? Teary thought. She had never even visited Memphis. The only thing she knew about Memphis was that it was the home of Elvis Presley, the Memphis Grizzlies and FedEx.

  “Miss Fullalove, I’ll be sending you your itinerary and flight information by FedEx. My contact information will be included so if you have questions, or if your plans change and for some reason you cannot come as scheduled, please give me a call, ” the HR Generalist informed her.

  “I sure will. Thank you and have a nice day.” Teary hung up the phone, fell back against the swivel office chair, almost pushing it from underneath her. She scooted around in her matchbox cubicle, pulled herself closer to her workstation and scribbled M.T. and the date in her desk planner. If she was offered the job as copy editor, it would be a positive step in her career, especially financially. Being an assistant copy editor in Broknfield was okay, but the money was meager, and Broknfield was such an uneventful place. It was time for her to do something different and she wanted to do it somewhere other than in Broknfield. She kept repeating the words, “Memphis, Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee.”

  “Where are you relocating?” she imagined someone asking her.

  “Oh, I’ve accepted a position in Memphis, Tennessee.” The more she said it, the more she liked the sound of it. This was her chance, her opportunity, her blessing.

  She flipped to one of her favorite passages of scripture. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,” she red out loud. “Plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

  There were times Teary couldn’t bring herself to recite that scripture. She had been through so much in her life that it seemed like just the opposite. Maybe it was time for her to stop trying to second guess God and instead just trust in Him. Deep down inside she knew that God loved her and that He would never leave her side. She just had a hard time trying to figure out his plans for her life. She kept revisiting her past. Somehow she couldn’t let go of all the mistakes she had made. She still thought about how she allowed Langston Silverman to rob her of her virginity. Prodigal always told her that she was way too trusting. She felt like she was stuck on stupid. She promised herself that if she was offered the job in Memphis, she would accept it and never look back. Broknfield would be a thing of the past.

  Two months after being interviewed, Teary had accepted the job at the Commercial Appeal, turned in her resignation from the Broknfield Gazette, and relocated to Memphis. For once, she felt like the storms had subsided and the sun was beginning to shine in her life again.

  Now, here she was with a brand new life, a nice home, new friends, and a great job. During the time she had been in Memphis, not once had she looked back.

  ♦

  “Prodigal, do you have everything?” Faith’s voice radiated the love she had for her husband. For some reason, Teary’s move to Memphis had a positive effect on Faith. Maybe it was because Teary’s life had taken on a change for the better so she didn’t call Prodigal as much.

  “Yeah, I think so,” he yelled back while standing in the doorway leading to the double garage. The annual church picnic was something the entire congregation and community looked forward to. Every year it became better and larger. It was one of the many ways their pastor chose to reach out to the unchurched.

  Prodigal and Faith played an
active role in the planning of the event. Prodigal commandeered everything that had to do with food since he considered himself to be a master chef, especially when it came to grilling. He and a host of twenty-five other men from their church had been up since the break of dawn preparing everything from hotdogs to steaks. This was Prodigal’s third year chairing the food committee and he loved every single bit of his responsibilities.

  Faith made sure the children attending this year’s annual picnic would have plenty of fun-filled activities. There were going to be pony rides, a Ferris wheel, go-carts, a train ride, bumper cars and loads of other kiddy rides.

  “Faith, I’m headed back to the church, sweetheart.” Prodigal said sneaking up behind her, pulling her closer to him and stealing a kiss as she turned around to face him.

  “Boy, you betta stop it,” she giggled out loudly in a school girl voice. She softly plopped him over the head with the empty paper towel roll she was holding.

  “Ooooh, I love it when you get wild like that.” Prodigal scooted from her reach and ran down the hallway laughing loudly.

  The picnic turned out to be a blast. By the time six o’clock rolled around, the Runsome family was totally exhausted. As they drove home, Faith glanced in the back seat of the SUV, and a smile filled her face when she saw her cherub-faced sons fast asleep.

  She slid over as close to her husband as she could without straddling the bucket seat. She kissed him on his stubbled cheek. He allowed a heavy grunt to escape his lips as he felt himself becoming excited at the touch of his wife. She let her hands expertly caress his groin. He could feel her sumptuous breasts pressed against the side of his arm as he tried to maintain his composure while driving.

  “Faith, the boys are . . . .”

  “Shhh, you just concentrate on driving. The boys are fine. They’re asleep.” She loved teasing Prodigal and bringing him to a fever pitch of excitement. He was her first and only lover, and she never regretted saving herself for marriage. She couldn’t imagine ever having anyone do to her what Prodigal did to her.

  “Look, girl. Don’t start anything you can’t finish,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “I’m no quitter,” she whispered hungrily in his ear. “You taught me to go after what I want? Remember? And anything I start I can surely finish.” When she began nibbling on his ear, he thought he would lose total control of the vehicle. He was glad when he turned on to their street. He pulled up into the garage, turned off the ignition and grabbed her, eagerly kissing and touching her in all the right places.

  “Come on, baby. Let’s get the boys inside,” she cooed seductively, “and I’ll show you that I can finish what I start.” They each carried the boys inside, and put them in the bed. Neither of them woke up, which was perfect for Faith to carry out her plans of seducing her husband. Prodigal couldn’t wait to get to their bedroom.

  Their lovemaking left Prodigal spent, but the shrill ring of the phone awakened them from their twilight sleep. He didn’t want to let go of his naked wife as she lay cradled underneath the safety of his arms. Her soft natural hair rubbed against his full chest of hair creating a sensuous feeling that began to arouse him again.

  “I’ll get it, baby,” she mumbled.

  “No, let it ring,” Prodigal insisted.

  “Sounds good to me.” She snuggled against him closer. Prodigal turned over on his side, using his arm to prop up his body. He looked down on his beautiful wife. He sucked in her beauty, and the aroma of their recent lovemaking aroused him again as they both satisfied each other’s desires once more.

  chapter 24

  Choose This Day

  “Prodigal,” Faith said as she turned over the fried chicken so it could brown on the other side. “I forgot to tell you that Teary called earlier today while you were at the station.”

  “Oh, she did? Was everything all right with her?” Prodigal inquired.

  “I guess so. She said she was just checking up on us. She wanted to make sure you were behaving yourself. I told her that I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “I just bet you did. I don’t know how you became so confident, Mrs. Runsome.” Prodigal loved the fire in Faith. She seemed to always be in a good mood and full of spunk.

  “I’m this way because I have a doggone good man, not to mention that I’m the only female in this household, so I deserve a little special treatment, don’t you think?”

  “I sure do.”

  “Anyway, Teary said you could give her a call later if you wanted to. She asked me if you retrieved her last email. She said she sent you one of those stories that you like to read.”

  “I haven’t checked my email in a couple of days. I’ll get to it a little later on. Did she really sound like she was doing okay?”

  Here he goes again, Faith thought to herself. Dang, why does this happen every single time? Teary calls and he goes off in a warp zone of some kind. Lord, help me. I’m tired of sharing my husband with another woman. I’m tired.

  “Yeah, she sounded fine to me. But of course you know she’s not going to open up to me. You’re the only one who can get her to say what’s really going on inside of her.”

  “I guess you’re right about that. It’s always been that way with us.”

  “How well do I know. But Prodigal?”

  “What, baby?” He walked over and positioned himself next to her, lightly dipping his index finger into the steaming pot of spaghetti sauce.

  Faith tapped his hand. “I mean, we have our own life here in Bonsai Bay. And there’s already enough going on in our family without having to worry and guess what’s going on with Teary. And before you get angry and uptight, I know your history with her, but you have me and the boys now. When are you going to put us first? ”

  “Why do you always have to do this?”

  “Do what. What on earth are you talking about?” Faith threw the dish towel on the cabinet and turned around to face up to Prodigal. She could feel the argument coming on.

  “You know what I’m talking about, Faith. How many times do I have to spoon feed you like a baby? Trying to reassure you every time Teary calls that she’s just my friend? Through all of the years we’ve been together I can’t believe I still have to put up with your insecurities.”

  “How dare you call me insecure.” Faith’s voice suddenly trembled. “Maybe if you would try paying more attention to me like you do her, then I wouldn’t have to be insecure. She needs to get a life. Find her own man.”

  “And she will. We just have to pray for her and lift her up before God. You know just as well as I do, everything she’s been through. It’s going to take time for her to come to terms with a lot of things in her life before God can send that person into her life. Not being able to have children has been hard for her to face too. And she’s never really gotten over her break up with Skyler. Maybe things would have been easier if she had met someone half way decent who could have taken her mind off of him, but that hasn’t been the case. Where is your compassion? Where is the Faith I first met?” Prodigal asked in a serious tone.

  “The Faith you first met is right here,” she answered matter of factly. The Faith you first met wants some time and attention too. I get sick of hearing about Teary and her problems. I thought when she moved to Memphis that she’d get a life, but dang, I guess I was wrong again.

  “Things are better for her in Memphis,” Prodigal said firmly. “She has a great career, good friends, a great church, and a beautiful home. If you could find it in your so called Christian heart to be more understanding, then things wouldn’t be tense between us like they are whenever she calls here. Anyway, thanks for passing the message on to me. I’ll give her a call later on and see what’s up with her.”

  Faith was speechless. Her anger fumed to the point where she knew if she didn’t get out of Prodigal’s sight, she would say something she would live to regret. What she wanted to tell him was to hell with Teary and her problems. But that would only alienate him even more. She chose to leave him
standing there defending the woman who was constantly invading what could have been a perfect marriage.

  ♦

  Teary answered the phone in her office on the second ring.

  “Hello, Mizz Fullalove. Are you full of love this afternoon?” Prodigal laughed at the sound of his own corny remark.

  Teary walked around the perimeter of her desk. Standing in front of the office window gazing out over the Mississippi, Teary talked to Prodigal. “Prodigal Runsome, boy, I’m glad you didn’t go into comedy because you would definitely suck at it,” Teary laughed.

  “Yea, I know. Faith told me you called. You doing okay down there in Memphis? You haven’t spotted Elvis running around there lately, have you?”

  “Puhleeze. I’m fine, and as far as Elvis goes, I see some clown just about everyday trying to impersonate him. They should let that poor man rest in peace.”

  “I know that’s right. Well, what’s up with you?” Prodigal asked, flipping the subject.

  “You’ve been on my mind. Since we hadn’t talked in a while, I thought I’d give you a call. Things have been so busy here. Are you all right?”

  “Yep. Me and the missus and those rowdy young kids of ours are great. I can’t complain about anything. Anyway, it wouldn’t do me any good. At least that’s what Faith tells me,” Prodigal said and laughed again.

  “Man, that woman still has you whipped after all these years. I knew the first time you laid eyes on her that you were a lifer.”

  “I can’t dispute you there. I am definitely a lifer. She’s stuck with the likes of me. Now enough about me. Tell me, how are things are going for you?”

  Teary heard the seriousness and sincerity in her best friend’s voice.

  “Prodigal, really, I’m fine. I just wanted to hear your voice. Sometimes when I’m feeling a little down, I need that picker upper. And you’re my picker upper. You have that way of lifting my spirits and making me see things from a different perspective. I love you for that.”