A Baby for Christmas (Love at The Crossroads) (5 page)

Did Royce think he enjoyed being in this holding pattern? He loved Solae, but he didn’t want to make the wrong decision concerning their future.

The problem was if Solae decided she wanted to walk away from the love they shared, he paused to consider what his response would be. It was against his code of manhood to chase after any woman who didn’t want him—not even his ex-wife for the boys’ sake.

While Candace basked in the limelight as the recent newlywed in the office, Solae retreated to the solitude of her cubicle and watched from afar. The smiles, congratulations, and late wedding gifts seemed to be endless.

Rejoice with them that rejoice,
God reminded her of His Word in Romans 12:15. 

Solae thought she always had.
And Lord, just in case I had a bit of envy in my heart, please forgive me.
As she witnessed her friend’s bliss that was so long overdue, Solae began to second guess her decision to walk away from what she had with Hershel.

So what if he had no intentions of remarrying again. So what? At least she would be loved. But she never believed in settling for morsels from a man when she knew God could give her a fresh loaf of bread.

Refocusing on her work, Solae sighed and checked her emails in
Outlook
. She did have options. Her eyes blurred, thinking that she had actually hoped her inability to have children wouldn’t be an issue with Hershel since he had two adoring, handsome little boys.

Without a mother in the home, they were still loveable and well-mannered. Hershel had his housekeeper and sister-in-law to thank for that.

She fought again for mental control as she replied to company emails on autopilot. Solae gnawed on her lips as she pondered whether after eight years at Kendall Printing, it was time for a career move, relocating to a different city for employment, or working on her Master’s degree. Maybe, even revisit the issue of adopting again. Yep, she had options.

I also have work to do
. Picking up the phone, Solae placed calls to potential clients and followed up with existing customers about the company’s new products. As an account executive, Solae had earned the reputation of achieving or exceeding her monthly sales goals. Now was not the time to let her personal life interfere with her livelihood.

A peppermint bounced off her shoulder; next came one to her head. Smiling, Solae twirled around in her chair and eyed the culprit.

Candace laughed. It had become a ritual between the two friends when Candace started nine months ago and their supervisor assigned her work station across from Solae’s. Usually, it was Solae doing the throwing.

“Are you trying to say I need a breath mint?” Solae recited their usual reply.

“Nope.” Candace beamed. The glow on her face hadn’t dimmed. “You’ve been sort of quiet, and I’ve been so caught up in my new status as wife…” she scooted her chair across the aisle and bumped hers. “I’ve ignored what’s going on in your world. You said you and Hershel talked. Did he really say it’s because you can’t have children like those other two jerks?” Her friend’s mouth twisted in disgust.

“No, no. The fire captain acted as if he was a high school freshman, struggling to find the words to write an essay on our relationship—”

“You can’t go by that,” Candace argued.

“I recognized “the look”, Candy.” She swallowed. “The-deer-caught-in-the-headlights look, the I-really-don’t-want-to-hurt-your-feelings look.”

“Oh.”  Her shoulders slumped. “I honestly thought he was the prince.”

The mood was solemn as the two retreated into their own thoughts. Then Candace startled her, gripping her arm and grinning. “How about a girls’ night out? Since Royce has to pull a weekender, what about this Saturday? Let’s include Julia.”

Her friend was becoming giddy with excitement. “I now have a sister-in-law and a sister. Wait a minute…” She frowned. “That won’t work. If all three of us are out, we won’t have a babysitter.”

Solae wondered if Hershel was working the same shift, then realized to continue to allow him to invade her thoughts would only torture her. “Why not go to a fun place so my god-baby can come and Julia can bring little Ariel.” Solae shrugged. “It should be fun.” Again, she wondered about the boys—Hershel’s. They would enjoy the outing. But Solae couldn’t turn back. As far as she was concerned with Hershel Kavanaugh, it was all or nothing.

“Then we have a date.” Candace scooted back to her desk, almost tagging an employee.

“Oh, excuse me, Mrs. Kavanaugh,” the older woman said.

Candace grinned proudly. “Yes, I am.”

             
                                          ***

On Saturday afternoon before meeting Candace and Julia, Solae stopped by
Target
to get something special for Lindsay—just because. Of course, she couldn’t leave Ariel out, so Solae purchased a stuffed toy for her.

With her gifts in hand, she headed to
McDonald’s
, Candace’s choice for the month’s hangout. When she walked inside, the two sisters-in-law were already there. Candace waved her over.

“Wow. Is there ever a day when you don’t look good?” Julia teased, standing to scan Solae’s attire before hugging her.

Casual dress to Solae always meant coordination from shoes to hair. Lately, looking good on the outside helped her to feel good mentally.

“Hi, Aunt Sollie.” Lindsay ran out of the adjacent play area for a hug. Ariel wobbled behind, expecting the same treatment and Solae didn’t disappoint.

She handed the girls their gifts before taking a seat next to Candace and across from Julia. Solae enjoyed the sisterhood bond that now included Trent’s wife. It might not be a hair or face makeover or shopping, but girls’ night out meant locking out problems and being carefree for a few hours.

“You’re going to spoil her,” Julia fussed teasingly.

“Yeah, I’ve got that rap from this one here.” Solae shrugged and nodded toward Candace. “But when you can’t have your own children, you spoil other folk’s.”

“I’m sorry—”

“Julia, I accepted that fate a long time ago. I’m really okay with that.”
Lord, help me to accept the fate that no man will ever want me because of that,
Solae silently petitioned Jesus. “So…let’s eat.”

While the two friends chatted, Julia volunteered to walk up to the counter and place their orders. “Who needs shopping to unwind when I can eat a ‘Big Mac’ with friends,” Solae teased.

“Stop it.” Candace laughed. “I’m just happy to be happy with my sisters. I still haven’t stopped praying for Hershel to come to his senses.”

“Pray for God’s will. Happiness comes in other blessings besides marriage.” 

Candace smirked. “When you convince yourself of that, let me know.”

Julia returned with a tray loaded down with sandwiches, fries, drinks, and two Happy Meals. Solae stood to help her. Once the food was divvied out, Ariel crawled on Julia’s lap as soon as her mother retook her seat, clutching the stuffed toy Solae brought her.

Bowing their heads, Candace led the blessing. “Jesus, we thank You for this fellowship, fun, and food. Please sanctify our food from all impurities and bless each household represented, and provide for those that are hungry. Thank You, in Jesus’ magnificent name. Amen.”

They all chuckled when even the baby repeated, “Amen.”

“Slow down, Lindsay, before you choke, or you won’t play.” Candace watched her daughter bite off her hamburger, once, twice, even a third time without swallowing.

“Yes, Mommy.”

Solae smiled as her god-daughter chewed each morsel thoroughly before taking another bite. Ariel played with her toy and French fries while Julia broke off pieces of the chicken nuggets and fed her daughter.

Once the children were finished, Lindsay took pleasure in assisting Ariel back to the play area. All three took turns keeping an eye on them as they talked about hair products, guessing what the trend would be for the summer, and shopping.

“I’m considering going for my Master’s degree,” Solae shared.

“I don’t know what’s been stopping you,” Candace commented.

Julia congratulated her and added, “I need to finish up my Bachelor’s.”

The topics continued to bounce around the table. Solae was surprised Royce’s name didn’t come up once, and neither did Hershel’s.

“You’d be proud of me that I actually assembled some new outfits with things I purchased on my honeymoo—” Candace screamed, causing Solae to jump as two muscular arms wrapped around Candace’s shoulders.

Solae patted her chest to regulate her heartbeat. Julia sat with a knowing smile and held up her hands in surrender. “I saw them come through the door and Royce looking around. He
shh
ed me from tipping you off.”

Them?
Was it possible that Hershel was with Royce? Solae not only used to know his shift, but listened faithfully to the emergency scanners for when his engine house was dispatched. Not anymore. Royce tickled Candace with kisses behind her ear. Immediately, the two forgot they had an audience. “How did you know I was here?”

“GPS tracking on our phones, babe, remember?” Royce wiggled a brow at the same time Lindsay saw him.

“Daddy! Daddy!” She barreled out of the play area with her arms stretched open.

Royce heaved his daughter up and delivered a juicy kiss to her cheek. Lindsay giggled but didn’t let go of his neck.

Rejoice with them that rejoice
, the Bible said. What a happy ending. Solae held her breath when she caught Julia nodding at someone standing nearby. Was it Hershel? She was scared to look. No doubt if Solae had not walked away, she would be lovingly subjected to the same treatment.

“Hello, Captain Kavanaugh. You can’t speak?” Julia teased.

“Julia, Candace….Solae.” Hershel’s baritone voice spoke with authority. Gone was the cooing he reserved for her, but she shivered anyway, which meant one thing—he was looking at her.

“Hershel,” she mumbled without making eye contact with him. She stood. “Ah, I’m going to get another order of fries. Anybody want anything?” Solae didn’t wait for their answer or orders as she hurried to get away from Hershel’s presence.

She waved at a few firefighters she recognized. By the time she made it to the counter to order, the crowd had formed. That’s when she realized that her purse was at the table and she didn’t have enough money in her pocket for the parfait and cookie she decided to buy instead. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m short. Will you take off the cookie?”

The cashier was about to do that when a customer behind her intervened. “I’ve got this pretty lady covered.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Solae was about to decline his generosity, but her words were caught in her throat. The only thing she could do was stare into his hazel eyes and linebacker build. She swallowed, then forced out, “That’s okay.”

He displayed a cocky smile. “I insist.”

“No, I insist that I’ve got this, man, thanks,” Hershel intervened, coming from out of nowhere. As if he had the right, Hershel slipped an arm around her waist like she belonged to him. As if paralyzed by his touch, she didn’t resist it or refute his offer.

Time froze as they stared at each other. Solae wondered at his thoughts as her mind was jumbled with all kinds of reactions to what he just did. Fighting against the mental hold on her, Solae broke the trance and looked away. A few firefighters seemed amused by their interaction.

“Thanks.” She took her items from his hand. “I’ll pay you back.” She made a beeline to the table where Julia seemed to be watching them with interest. Royce and Candace were watching each other.

“I don’t need your money,” he called after her.

But do you need me?
she wanted to ask him, but probably wouldn’t get a straight answer. When she sat, she was shivering.

“Oh hi, Solae.” Royce took note of her as if he was just seeing her as he stood from his squatting position in front of Candace. “Well, you lovely ladies, I better grab a sandwich and head back to the station. I just hadn’t seen my wife since—”

“Yesterday.” Candace grinned.

“Yeah. More than twelve hours ago.” He winked.

As Royce joined his crew at the counter, Solae came to the realization that being around Candace’s brother-in-law wasn’t heart healthy.  She doubted it was a setup, but Solae had to ask. “Did you two know they were coming?”

Julia and Candace shook their heads. Solae accepted it had been a chance encounter. The sad truth was she could expect it to happen again whenever she was with the Kavanaugh wives.

Would it always be this awkward? She definitely needed to use her other options to unwind and enlarge her circle of girlfriends—single ones. With the mood sour and her parfait tasteless, Solae decided it was best to leave. “I guess I better head home.” She stood and hugged them.

“You don’t have to go,” Julia pouted.

But Candace understood she had to as her friend nodded and mouthed, “I’ll call you.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Solae inwardly moaned. The firefighters hadn’t budged and without an emergency, they didn’t appear to be in a rush.