A Wife for Stephen (4 page)

Clearly, she thinks that I am joking, are Stephen’s
thoughts to himself, for it’s written all over her face. I
don’t blame her. We have only met a few hours ago. But I
know with every fiber of my being that she is the one that
God has intended for me. And I’m sure that given a little
time, Celeste will come to know just how right we are for
one another.

Stephen can’t actually believe that he just proposed
marriage to Celeste on one of the dance floors of
Four
Aces
. However, now that the words are out he feels that
they make perfect sense, so he runs with it. “Why don’t we
go to your house, pack some clothes, and head for Las
Vegas tonight? I
admit,
I
never
would have imagined
getting married in Vegas. I am equally sure that is not what
you had in mind for yourself either. The only thing I want
to do is make you my wife as soon as possible. If you like,
we can have a second wedding with all the trimmings,
family, friends, flower girls, you name, and it will all be
yours. For now, I just want you.”

“All right, Stephen. I’ve had enough,” Celeste begins as
she disentangles her arms from about Stephen’s neck. “Did
you really think that I was falling for that line of bologna
you were trying to feed me?” Celeste asks. Not giving him
a chance to finish she rushes on, “You probably do. I can’t
believe that actually works on women. But I guess some
women will fall for anything, or any body, with enough
money.”

Celeste can see the shock in
Stephen’s eyes, but she is
traveling faster than the speed of light and can’t stop
herself. The only thing she can do is allow the ride to come
to a complete stop, by itself, “Well, I’ve got news for you
Stephen, not all women can be bought. I certainly can’t
be.”

“If you are quite
finished...” Stephen pauses to weigh his
words carefully. “I was not trying to feed you a line as you
so eloquently put it.” Taking Celeste’s hands into his own
he leans closer to whisper in her ear, “I meant every word I
just said to you Celeste. Care for me to prove it to you?”

“No, I don’t
care for you to go on with this charade you
are
trying to
deceive
me
with.
Give me some credit,
Stephen.”

Stephen smiles sweetly down at Celeste as he says, “I
am counting on you to be a woman of your word and
marry me this week. Just like you said you would.”

I can’t
believe how far he is willing to go, Celeste
ponders to herself. And just a minute ago he spoke of
starting a Christian record label. Doesn’t this man feel any
remorse, what so ever, about leading women on in this
fashion? Celeste sits on the stool in the ladies sitting room.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she tries to figure out
how a man can be so cold in his heart but come across in
his music like a warm-hearted, flesh and blood man.

Celeste sees Jenny enter the sitting room through the
mirror and knows, instinctively that she is going to be
questioned about her hasty retreat into the ladies’ room.

“What happened to make you
scramble into the ladies’
room the way you did? You almost knocked down the
waiter,” says Jenny coming to occupy the chair next to
Celeste.

Here it goes, thinks Cele
ste, “I just couldn’t stand there
listening to him lie to me and make false promises any
longer. I mean, it’s not as if I believed that he actually
wanted to marry me but what if I were one of those women
who fell for lines like that, then I would be genuinely hurt
to find that he is a disgusting little fraud.”

Marry you? What are you talking about?”
“OK. Let me clue you in. I asked Stephen what else he
wanted to do with his life.” Celeste recounts the whole
episode to Jenny. When she is done, she is surprised to see
Jenny smiling at her.
“Girl, you are too funny for words.”
“There is nothing funny about this situation. I have had
enough and I’m ready to go home. Besides, I have to go to
work tomorrow. I’m going to go out there and tell Stephen
that I am tired and that I am going home.” Rising from the
stool and heading for the door Celeste turns to Jenny to
add, “I’ll meet you downstairs. Please don’t take long
saying good-bye to Mario. I have had enough of Fairy Tale
Theater for one night.”
You can do this, Celeste, she encourages herself. To
Celeste’s surprise Stephen is standing only a few feet from
the ladies room door.
“Are you alright? I didn’t mean to scare you,” Stephen
says.
“I know you didn’t. But I know exactly what you did
intend, so let me set the record straight, once and for all. I
am not impressed with your wealth. I am not going to bed
with you tonight, or any other night for that matter,”
Celeste continues ticking off her fingers, “And I am
thoroughly ashamed of you. Good night, Stephen and I
hope you get your act together and stop acting.”
As Celeste turns to walk away she hears Stephen calls
out to her loud enough for people to hear, “But what about
the wedding? Are we still getting married this week?”
Celeste stops dead in her tracks as she hears the sharp
intake of breath from everyone in the VIP lounge. What
kind of game is this man playing, she muses to herself?
Turning slowly,
she
sees
that
everyone
is
standing,
watching, and waiting for her response. Waiting to see
what she is going to do or say next. If word got out that
she jilted Stephen Haule within a week of their pending
nuptials, she would never, ever live it down. A rumor like
that, whether true or not, would break her career.
Celeste walks back to stand in front of Stephen. “Could
I please see you outside?” she whispers as low as she can.
With as much dignity as she can muster she walks down the
steps to the main floor.
Outside the club Celeste wraps her arms around herself.
It is a warm evening, so she doesn’t understand why she
should
feel
chilled.
It
is
probably
the
shock
of
embarrassment.
Stephen catches up with Celeste as she waits for the
parking attendant
to
take her claim ticket
in order to
retrieve her vehicle. “So are you coming with me now or
do I pick you up from your house tomorrow morning?”
The nerve of this cocky, arrogant, self-righteous man...
He just won’t take ‘No’ for an answer. “I am not coming
with
you tonight,
nor
tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow
morning I will be at work. Like the rest of the world.”
“I’m sure that Vines and Robert’s will be able to get
along without you while we are on our honey moon.”
“How did you know where I worked?”
“While you were in the ladies room I went to speak
with Mario and your friend Jenny. She says that you are the
best advertising agent on the West Coast.”
“Stephen, why are you going to such lengths to get
me?”
“Because, my dearest, Celeste,” says Stephen as he
takes the step necessary to close the gap between them.
Standing this close to Celeste he can feel every breath she
exhales warm the base of his neck. Placing his hands on her
shoulders he continues, “I want a kind hearted woman who
is not concerned with wealth to share my heart with. I want
a woman who will be a good mother for the children we
have together. In short, I want you.”
Completely floored by what she has just heard, Celeste
stands staring at Stephen with her mouth wide open.
“Better shut your mouth before you catch a fly,” says
Stephen
as
he
reaches
out
with the
tip
of his
finger
underneath her chin.
“You know, I think I have had about as much of this as
I can take.” Looking heaven ward she says, “My God, is
this the punishment I get for allowing Jenny to talk me into
attending this concert with her?”
“I’ve been called many things in my life but
never
someone’s punishment. Look Celeste, let me lay it on the
line for you. I’ve gotten extremely close and personal with
God over the past couple of years, and He knows the
desires of my heart. Not only does He know them, but He
is the one who put them there. He knows that I desire to
leave this crazy business and pursue my ministry for Him.
He also knows that I want to have a family of my own.
“I had always known that when I met my wife I would
know it. I didn’t know how I would know,” Stephen
continues, “I just knew that I
would
. So when I saw you
tonight from the platform, I knew you were she. The
woman I will spend the rest of my earthly days with.
“The one thing that I had not considered is that you
wouldn’t know the same about me.
Maybe I have been a little too forward, but that’s just
how I am. I don’t see the need to wait around when life
isn’t promised to you from one day to the next.
“If I have shocked you by anything that I have said, then
for that I apologize. But I’ve done nothing else for which I
feel the need to apologize.
“If I must let you go home now then so be it. I will wait.
When the time is right for us to be together, then God will
make it right. Until then, I’ll see you around.”
And just that fast he turns his back on her and goes to
whisper something in the security guard’s ear. Celeste is
too far from the men to hear what Stephen is saying, but
she has a feeling that it somehow involves her when the
security guard makes eye contact with her while he is
nodding his head in agreement with whatever Stephen is
saying. When Stephen finishes speaking to the guard, he
turns to give Celeste a smile with eyebrows raised as if
daring her to deny that she will see him some time again,
and slowly nods his head to her.
As Stephen makes his way back into the club, the
security guard comes to Celeste’s side, “Mr. Haule has
requested that I retrieve your car from the valet lot. May I
please have your claim ticket?”
“What?”
“Mr. Haule...” the guard begins again not showing the
least
amount
of
impatience
at
Celeste
having
not
understood the extremely straightforward request that he
has made of her.
“No. I understood you. But I can’t leave yet. My friend
is still inside. We rode here together.”
“Well, if you would like, I can retrieve your vehicle
while you go and get your friend. That way your car will be
waiting when you return.”
“Okay,” murmurs Celeste as she takes her claim stub
from her
handbag
and places the
stub in the security
guard’s hand. “I’ll be back in just a minute.”
“Your car will be waiting,” he says as he nods to her
and turns to go about his task.
As Celeste reenters the club, it takes her eyes a few
seconds to adjust to the dimly lit interior. When her eyes
are able to focus well, she begins to walk back to the
staircase that will take her up to the VIP lounge. Upon
making her accent to the landing she sees Jenny on the
dance floor with Mario. Hating to interrupt them, since
they do seem to be having such an enjoyable time together,
she approaches them slowly.
“Hey, Jenny?” Celeste begins, “I’m about ready to
leave.
I
certainly
do
hate
to
break
up your
evening,
though.”
“Oh, no problem. I’ll catch a ride with Mario, Celeste.”
Turning her eyes to Mario, Jenny questions, “You don’t
mind do you? I would like to stay a little longer. Since I
don’t have any clients until noon tomorrow, I can afford to
stay up a little later tonight.”
“Of course not. I would be more than glad to escort you
home,” Mario answers.
“You don’t mind going home by yourself do you,
Celeste?” Jenny questions as she turns her eyes back to
Celeste.
“No, not at all.”
“Then it’s all settled,” says Jenny. “I’ll give you a call at
work in the morning when I get up. Drive safely,” Jenny
commands as she hugs Celeste’s shoulders and places a
light
kiss on Celeste’s cheek.
Before breaking off the
embrace, Jenny whispers in Celeste’s ear, “Thanks for
coming with me tonight, to the concert and to the after
party.”
Smiling, Celeste gives Jenny a quick squeeze before
releases her. Turning to the leave, Mario catches Celeste’s
arm before she departs to ask, “Where’s Stephen?”
Celeste can only answer truthfully, “I don’t know, to be
honest.”
“He isn’t walking you to your car? That’s not like him,”
Mario comments with a frown. “I’ll escort you,” he
volunteers.
“No, that won’t be necessary,” says an all too familiar
voice from behind Celeste. Celeste turns so fast she almost
loses her balance and is saved from falling only by the hand
that Stephen is now placing on her elbow. “The pleasure
would be all mine. After you,” Stephen offers as he steps
aside to allow Celeste to lead the way.
As Celeste begins her final descent down the steps she
silently prays that she will just be able to get through the
next few minutes without wrapping her hands around his
wide throat then she will be safely tucked in her car and on
her way home.
Walking a few feet behind Celeste, Stephen is forced to
watch the reaction of most of the men in the club as Celeste
walks by. Even the men that are talking to other ladies are
taking a quick glance at her. And as if one look isn’t
enough, they are taking second and third looks as well.
Stephen wants desperately to rest his arm over her shoulder
and beat his chest claiming his rights. However, he knows
he has no rights. Not yet.
If it weren’t for the strong belief that no matter what the
obstacles are at this moment, they will end up together, he
would feel bereft and without hope. One thing that he has
learned in the past few months as he has been setting up
plans his starting his own Gospel recording label when his
contract is up with his current secular record label is that
patience truly is a virtue.
Stephen has learned that we can’t always have things
when we want them, even if they are good things of noble
character. Sometimes one has to wait on God’s timing.
And since God isn’t giving Stephen any hints right now as
to His timetable, Stephen knows it is for the best to keep
still and be quiet. Making plans only to himself.
Celeste unquestionably is a beauty, thinks Stephen. And
not just with earthly beauty; there is spiritual beauty as
well. Although Stephen has yet to delve its depth, he is
confident it runs deep.
Finally arriving at the exit door for the club, Stephen
reaches ahead of Celeste to hold the door open for her exit.
Caught by a sudden wind that wasn’t present earlier that
evening, Celeste brings her hands up to rub her arms as she
shivers.
“Let’s get you in the car where you will be warm,”
advises Stephen.
Seeing that Celeste is properly seated in her vehicle with
safety strap securely fastened, Stephen holds out his hand
to Celeste as if in an invitation to shake it. When she places
her hand in his, she is surprised when he brings it to his
mouth and places a soft butterfly kiss across her knuckles.
“Good night, Celeste,” murmurs
Stephen
quietly.
“Please be careful on the road. I wouldn’t want anything to
happen to you before we get a chance to see each other
again.” Without giving Celeste a
chance
to
respond,
Stephen closes her car door and walks back through the
entrance to the club.