And the Greatest of These Is Love: A Contemporary Christian Romance Novel (25 page)

“It’s no big deal.” Irvin rolled his eyes as he got the ball and passed it back to Andrew. “Everybody does it.”

“Oh, that’s a good reason.” Andrew suddenly losing all remaining interest in his basketball game. “Come here, Irvin, I think we need to have a little talk.”

Irvin put his head back in consternation. “Come on, Mr. C, I know about the birds and the bees.”

At the bench, Andrew sat and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “I have no doubt you do. But I’m not as sure that you know how to respect a lady.”

“Oh, great.” Irvin rolled his eyes again. “Here we go.”

“No, wait. Hang on. Hear me out.” Andrew swiped at his temples, having not realized how much he was sweating before. “First of all, Miss T and I aren’t rushing into anything — especially not sleeping together, and do you know why?”

No answer came.

“Because I respect her, that’s why, and because I want to know that when we do sleep together, we’ll know it’s for the right reasons.”

Irvin rolled his eyes again and shook his head.

“Let me ask you a question,” Andrew said. “Do you love Tonika?”

“Love her?” Irvin’s eyebrows reached for the ceiling at first, and then fell when he realized what the answer should be. He shrugged. “Well, sure. I guess so.”

“Do you want to be with her every second of the day? Do you think about her constantly? When she says your name, does your heart want to jump out of your chest?”

“Uh, yeah?”

“Is she the one, Irvin? Is Tonika Miss Right? Or is she just Miss Right Now?”

“I don’t know, man.” Irvin folded himself onto the floor of the court, annoyed. “I mean, how can you know something like that?”

“When it’s right, you know it.” Andrew swiped once more. “You don’t have to question it.”

Irvin shrugged. “So, big deal. Maybe she’s not Miss Forever, what difference does it make?”

“Oh, Irvin, it makes all the difference it the world, my man. Let me tell you a little something a wise old man once told me. Having sex with someone who isn’t Miss Right will make it very difficult to break it off with her. It solidifies a bad relationship because it creates a bond that can never be broken.

“But having sex before you’re married with Miss Right is worse. Because no matter what you do after that, there will always be that one nagging question:  ‘If she was willing to sleep with me then because it was easier than waiting, will she sleep with someone else now because it’s easy?’”

Irvin looked at him like he had two heads. “So, you’re going to wait until you get married?”

“Yes, Irvin. I am,” Andrew said with the total conviction of a decision long-ago made.

“That’s just crazy, man.”

“Why? Why is that so crazy?” Andrew challenged.

“Because why put off ‘til tomorrow what you can do today? You know what I’m saying? Besides it feels so good.”

“Doing drugs feels good for the moment, too, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Don’t you see? It’s a trap. So, tell me this. What happens when Tonika gets pregnant? What happens then?”

“Tonika ain’t gonna get pregnant.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, what if she does? Are you going to quit school and get a job to support that child? Are you ready for that responsibility, Irvin?”

“Come on, Mr. C, that ain’t gonna happen.”

“No more college, no more playing basketball, no more school... Or are you going to be like your father?” Andrew knew it was a low-blow, but this was as important as any conversation got, and for Irvin’s sake, he was willing to make this hit home.

Anger sliced across Irvin’s face. “I don’t see what my father has to do with this.”

“Oh, you don’t? Well, I do. Your father didn’t die, Irvin. He left. He couldn’t take the pressure and responsibility of raising you, so he left. Is that what you’re going to do to your child?”

“But I don’t have a child.”

“Not yet, but you keep up the lifestyle you’re currently living, and it’s only a matter of time.”

“Who’re you to criticize how I live? You can’t tell me what to do.”

“No. You’re right. I can’t. I can’t make that decision for you, but I don’t think you should make that decision for yourself without thinking about all the consequences either. It doesn’t take much to get naked and jump in the sack with a warm body, Irvin. But it takes real character to decide that you want something better for your life, and real love to decide to do something better for hers.”

“But it’s too late for me. I can’t go back now.”

“It’s never too late,” Andrew said, sensing that at least on some level he was getting his message across to the young man he had come to care a great deal for. “You can make a new decision tonight and never look back.”

“And what am I supposed to tell Tonika?” Irvin asked in skepticism.

“That you want to wait.”

Irvin’s face fell into scowling consideration. “And what if she doesn’t understand that?”

“Then you’ve just saved yourself a lot of time by finding out she’s not the right girl for you.”

The young man shook his head. “I don’t know. I don’t think I can do it.”

“Tell you what. I’ll make you a deal.”

“A deal? What kind of deal?”

“More of a bet really,” Andrew said, knowing Irvin wouldn’t back down from a bet. “You don’t have sex for one month with Tonika or anybody else, and I’ll take you and a date to the fanciest restaurant in town — on me.”

“One month?” Irvin gasped. “You’re crazy, dude.”

“Take it or leave it.” Andrew shrugged, stood, and gathered up the basketball. “It’s your life, your choice — makes no difference to me.”

Irvin sat in utter silence mulling the terms of the bet over in his mind, and for a split second when Andrew turned, he thought Irvin might tell him where he could put his bet. But slowly Irvin looked up and straight into Andrew’s eyes. “Are you serious?”

“As a heart attack,” Andrew said never wavering.

“Okay. I’ll take your bet,” Irvin said as resolve formed in his eyes. “One month.” Then he shrugged. “How hard can it be?”

“Once you decide, it’s not hard at all,” Andrew said, offering him a hand up. “Come on, I’ve gotta go pick up Antonio.”

“So, who taught you to play basketball anyway?” Irvin asked all seriousness gone as Andrew stowed the basketball in the bin and they left the gym.

“I taught myself. Why?”

“It shows.”

“Hey, Miss T,” Irvin said the second he burst through her door at nearly 6:30. “Antonio, my man. Give me some skin!”

Antonio beamed a mega-watt smile and slapped Irvin’s hand.

“Hey, Miss T, you planning on staying here all night?”

“No, Irvin,” she said coldly. “I’m just waiting for all the parents to come get their kids.”

The ice in her voice would have frozen a flame solid, and Irvin raised his eyebrows.

“Bad day?” he asked taken aback.

“Bad week.”

“Oh.” Irvin backed away, having never see her quite this angry. “Well, I think I’ll just leave the two of you alone now.”

“No. Hang on, Irvin. I’ll walk you out,” Gabi said, quickly throwing her things together. The last thing she wanted was to be here with Andrew alone.

Andrew hurriedly wrapped Antonio in his coat and followed them out. How ironic, and Irvin thought they were making out. Like there was any chance of that happening, he thought as he followed her ramrod straight body down the hall.

“Late game?” she asked only Irvin.

“Yeah,” Irvin said clearly not wanting to go into the details of why at this moment.

Gabi opened the door and stared at the cement as Irvin, Antonio, and Andrew crossed the threshold in front of her. She locked the door and headed across the parking lot.

“See you guys tomorrow,” Irvin said with a departing wave as he headed in his usual direction.

“’Night, Irvin,” Gabi called, not so much as slowing down.

“Gabi.” Andrew grabbed Antonio’s hand and took off after her. However, her quick strides and his not wanting to drag Antonio on the pavement were not making catching her easy. “Gabi, please.”

With that, she whirled on him. “Listen, Andrew. It’s been a very long day.”

He pulled up short. “I just want to talk to you.”

“Well, I don’t know if you ever learned this, but we don’t always get what we want,” she said as she yanked her car door open.

“Gabi, please, I just want to talk,” Andrew said, standing forlornly by her door with Antonio’s hand in his.

“It’s cold outside, Andrew. Antonio should be at home, not out in the freezing cold waiting for his father to finish playing basketball,” she said, and there was ice dripping from the words.

Direct hit. Andrew stood speechless and chastened. “Fine,” he finally said in defeat, and turning, he led Antonio to his own car. “Whatever you say.”

Gabi watched him go, and her heart sank. What was she doing? She didn’t want to hurt him. She just wanted him to leave her alone. Why couldn’t he see what his presence was doing to her? Why couldn’t he just leave well enough alone? And why, for heaven’s sake, did she lose her mind every time he came around?

It was maddening. Infuriating. And draining. She was suddenly extremely tired, but even as she started for home, it was all she could do not to turn the car around and follow him wherever he might lead her.   

“Miss T’s really nice,” Antonio said with a serious nod. His speaking skills were becoming second-to-none and Andrew wondered vaguely why that was. “I didn’t think so at first, but now I think she’s cool.”

“Yeah, she’s nice.” Andrew trudged up the steps to his apartment. “What did you all do today after I left?”

“We colored.”

“I bet that was fun.”

“Yeah. I like to color, but I like the clay more.”

“The clay’s fun,” Andrew said, warming to the conversation as he unlocked the door.

“I wonder if Miss T likes soccer,” Antonio said, going directly for the soccer ball Greg had lent him.

“I don’t know.” Andrew sighed and tossed his keys to the little entry table. “We’ll have to ask her sometime.”

Then he stopped with one glance at the answering machine.
Messages
? he thought puzzled when he saw the blinking light. That was strange. Who would be calling him? He hit the button.

“Andrew, it’s Bill. It’s 10 o’clock on Monday. Give me a call. Beep ... Andrew, Bill again. Where are you, Son? It’s noon. Give me a call. Beep .. Andrew, Bill. It’s seven o’clock, and I’m headed home. Give me a call there when you get this message. Beep.”

Andrew exhaled slowly. Bill. This was not good news. He could feel it. He picked up the phone and hit the first speed dial button.

“Hello?” came the voice almost immediately.

“Bill? Hey. This is Andrew. What’s up?”

“Oh, Andrew. Thank heavens. Where’ve you been, Son?”

“I was out,” Andrew said, glancing with concern at Antonio playing with the soccer ball.

“Well, out any longer and you might’ve had a warrant out for your arrest.”

“Sounds serious.”

“It is. Listen, the federal boys are coming up pretty much empty handed with the DA’s office. So they’re leaning pretty heavy on the paper — wanting your sources and the tapes. You know? Anyway, they want to talk to you as soon as possible. Can you come down to the paper tonight?”

“Tonight?” Andrew asked in instant panic. “No can do, Bill. Can you put them off until tomorrow?”

“Probably, but Andrew, I’m telling you, no funny business. Okay? These guys are serious.”

“I get that,” Andrew said with no trace of humor in his voice. “Loud and clear. I’ll be in your office tomorrow morning at nine.”

“Okay, and Andrew, don’t ever scare me like that again.”

“’Night, Bill.” Andrew hung up and sighed. Just great. One more headache to deal with. Any more and they might have to start taking numbers.

He dropped Antonio off at the front door of the center and told him to tell Gabi he had some business to take care of. Antonio agreed and hopped out of the car. Andrew watched him walk up the steps and disappear into the building. He really was a great kid.

Sighing, he put the car in drive and pulled out of the parking lot. Going back to reality after such a long break was almost overwhelming. A knot the size of Arkansas was forming in the pit of his stomach, and he rehearsed again his reasoning for not cooperating with the feds. It was a matter of principle for one, but more than that, he had given his word, and if nothing else, he was a man of his word. No matter what they did, as long as he held onto that, he wouldn’t lose himself.

The car turned at all the right places, stopped at all the stop signs, and changed lanes as though it knew where he was going. It had taken this path many, many times in the past, but somehow that seemed like a million years ago.

Everything was the same, but nothing looked familiar anymore. It felt like he was leaving something behind not going toward something, and he hated that feeling. What he wouldn’t have given at this moment to be able to simply turn the car around, head back to the center, and bury himself there forever. But disappearing wasn’t an option. They would find him, and that would make things worse. Much worse.

He pulled into The Herald and smiled to himself when he realized his favorite spot was vacant — as though it were waiting for him. In one motion, he parked, turned the car off, and took a look in the mirror. Straighten the tie, run the fingers through the hair, adjust the glasses, and he was as ready for this as he would ever be.

“Good morning, Miss T,” Antonio said, shrugging out of his coat.

“Good morning, Antonio.” Gabi tried not to hide her surprise at the warm greeting or the fact that Andrew didn’t seem to be immediately visible.

“Andrew had to take care of some business,” Antonio said, fighting with one of his sleeves, and Gabi knelt to help him out of the coat.

“Business, huh?”

“He’ll be here later,” Antonio said, sounding very much like a miniature executive.

“Oh, okay,” Gabi said, dejected and berating herself for it at the same time. “The other kids are coloring. Do you want to come join us?”

“Okay.”

Gabi couldn’t help but notice the remarkable change in the little boy. He no longer looked frightened or unsure of himself. It was almost like he wasn’t the same little kid anymore, and she smiled knowing exactly who had facilitated this change.

“Agent Morgan, right?” Andrew extended his hand to the stern looking gentleman propped next to the coat rack in Bill’s office.

“Mr. Clark.” Agent Morgan shook Andrew’s hand firmly as if in a coded message that he meant business.

“So, what’s up?” Andrew asked, forcing himself to sound nonchalant as he took a seat across from Bill’s desk and looked around at the assembled entourage. He recognized Agent Morgan and Agent Reese, and Bill was there, of course, as was Kesler from legal, but he didn’t like the looks of the two uniformed goons in the corner. Not one bit.

“Mr. Clark,” Agent Reese said as if trying to be utterly polite and professional, “I’ll get right to the point. We need the information you have in your possession.”

Andrew sat silently staring at the wood veneer on Bill’s desk. So they really were going to ask for it outright.

“Now, we can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way,” Reese said. “It’s your choice.”

Some choice,
Andrew thought but said nothing.

Morgan came forward like a wrecking ball. “So, what’ll it be, Clark?”

Andrew set his jaw and said nothing.

“Look, all we have to do is go to the judge, get a subpoena, and he can throw you in the slammer for a while, maybe that’ll loosen your tongue.” Morgan crossed his arms and stared down at his prey.

With a shrug, Andrew looked right at him. “You do what you have to do.” How he managed to sound so calm was beyond him.

“So, you’re not going to talk then?” Reese asked, folding his arms and looking down at Andrew like a wayward pupil as well.

Tipping his head as if in challenge, Andrew shrugged. “No, I’m not. My source was confidential, and it’s going to stay that way.”

“You could save yourself and us a lot of trouble if you cooperate,” Reese said.

But Andrew sat in silence.

“Talk to him, Mr. Smith. Maybe he’ll listen to you,” Reese said, looking across the desk.

Bill took one look at Andrew. “I have to stand by the decision of my reporter.”

“Fine,” Morgan said, even more harshly than before. “Rest assured, Clark, we’ll be back to get you by the end of the day.”

They filed out as Andrew continued to stare straight ahead. When the door closed and they were alone, Bill waited another ten seconds before he leveled his gaze on his star reporter.

“Andrew, do you know what you’re doing?” Bill finally asked with concern. “They’re serious about this.”

“I know that,” Andrew said mildly annoyed, “but come on, Bill. If I give that information out, I’ll never get anyone else to talk to me again. Besides that, it’s the principle of the thing. I gave my word. That has to count for something.”

Bill nodded slowly. “Well, the paper’s behind you. Whatever you decide.”

“I appreciate that.” Andrew looked around, unsure of what came next. “Am I free to go now?”

“Yeah, I guess so, but I think it’d be a good idea if you tell me where it is you’re going. Morgan won’t be thrilled if they get back here and can’t find you.”

Andrew stood from the chair and went to the door where he stopped. “I’ll be at the center.”

That jumpstarted Bill’s confusion. “The center? In Collins?”

“Yeah,” Andrew said. “If they need to talk again, they can find me there. I’ve gotta go. Take care, Bill.”

“Yeah. You, too, Andrew. Good luck, Son, and keep me posted.”

“I will.”

He walked through the newsroom feeling as though it was a place he had never been before. He was there, but it was like he was above the action on the floor — detached — an observer, not a key player. The elevator doors slid open, and he left the space he had lived his whole life to be a part of. But it had lost its mystic, its hold on him. There was nothing for him here anymore. Nothing.

“Lunch time,” Gabi said, checking the clock again. Where was he? What kind of business took three hours? The newspaper? Was there a big story he had to go cover? Or was he just avoiding her?

That thought made her heart sink into her shoes. Maybe she should’ve let him talk when he wanted to. What would that have hurt anyway? One way or another, she had to get a grip, she decided with a vehemence that stopped her breath. She was losing it, and if she kept down this path, it was only going to get worse.

The children followed her by twos down the hall, and she did a passing job of supervising as they got their food and settled themselves at the table.

“Hey, Gabi,” Haley said, waving to her from the teacher’s table. Gabi walked over to her, not really wanting to but seeing now way out of it either. “Where’s Andrew today?”

“He had some business to take care of.”

“Oh, well tell him I’ve got a crib down in the nursery I could sure use his help with.”

“Yeah. I’ll tell him,” Gabi said, forcing the words out. “I’d better get back to my kids.”

Haley waved her off, and Gabi escaped to the distraction of the eating children.

Antonio’s little bag was packed, and Andrew stood staring at his apartment, checking for anything else that needed to be done before he left. In all probability it would be a very long time before he saw this place again. He sighed at that thought, picked up the little bag, and departed for the center.

Nothing seemed real anymore. When he entered the center, Andrew had to force his feet to walk down the hall to her room. What was he going to tell her?
Gabi, I’m going to be arrested?

That should get her attention. But he didn’t want to scare her — or Antonio. He couldn’t let Antonio backslide over this. Somehow he had to shield the child from the realities of his own life. But, he reminded himself again, Antonio was strong; he was a fighter, and together, somehow, they would get through this.

The children were playing duck, duck, goose when he reached the room, and for the first time since hitting the answering machine’s play button the night before, he rejoined his true reality.

Gabi saw him the second he walked in, and it took an all-out struggle with herself to not jump up and run over to him. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but for many reasons, that wasn’t a good plan at the moment, so she kept her seat and tried not to notice his entrance.

“Hi, Mr. Clark,” Leslie said immediately, and Gabi, sensing no other alternative, looked up to acknowledge his presence. His smile was incredible, she thought in spite of herself. She had missed that smile.

“Hi, guys, mind if I play?” Andrew asked, clapping and rubbing his hands together.

Antonio scooted over. “Come sit by me.”

“Okay,” Andrew said, and there was that smile again. Gabi watched as he folded himself into the circle, and in spite of all her warnings not to go there, her heart found itself back at Bryan’s front door in the warmth of his arms.

She watched him without looking at him and laughed when Devon tagged him and then ran for his life. Andrew was so good with the kids. It was a shame he would have to go back to being a reporter again. She didn’t even try to stop the thoughts from coming then. Seeing him again after even the brief time apart, renewed all the feelings she had been trying to bury for four days.

Was he really so dangerous? Here, playing with the kids, he didn’t look dangerous. He looked fantastic, amazing, totally wonderful. But just then he caught her eye, and a smile lit up his face. Gabi turned away, embarrassed. She was sure her face said everything her heart was thinking.

She was right. He was dangerous. All he had to do was look at her, and she turned into a sniveling puddle of mush.

“It’s nap time,” she announced after two more turns, her voice sounding husky and gruff even to her ears. She had to get a grip. He was going to know she was losing her hold on keeping her distance.

“Aw!” the kids chorused with Andrew joining right in.

“No arguments,” Gabi said firmly. She marched over to the blanket cabinet and yanked a blanket from the pile. “Bobby, here’s your blanket. Come on, quickly. We’re already late.”

Andrew watched her, and his heart sank. He didn’t want to have this effect on her. He wanted her to feel like he did, but it was obvious that she didn’t. When he had first caught her eyes, his heart thought for a millisecond that everything was fine again, but then she switched off like a light bulb, and they were instantly back to square one.

Square zero would be closer to the truth. They needed to talk, but now it was about more than just the fact that she hated him.

He waited until the lights were off and the kids were settled to approach her.

“Gabi,” he said softly.

“Oh, Andrew, I forgot.” Gabi looked up at him as if she didn’t even really see him at all. “Haley has a crib she needs you to fix. She said it’s urgent.”

This is urgent
, his head screamed, but his pride wouldn’t let the words out of his mouth. She obviously wanted nothing more than his babysitting and maintenance skills, and he saw very little he could do about that.

“Okay,” he said slowly, the ripping of his heart into tiny shreds almost complete. “I guess I’ll be back in a little while.”

“Don’t rush on our account.”

Andrew sighed and shook his head. The tone in her voice said it all. He turned on his heel and walked out.

The second the door closed behind him, Gabi collapsed into the chair and put her head in her hands. Dealing with him with her feelings running rampant in her was harder than she had thought it would be.

What do you want
? she asked herself in frustration.
He’s gone, you’re a basket case. He’s here, you’re a basket case. This is just terrific.

The crib wasn’t much of a challenge, but Haley found three other little projects for him to fix before he finally escaped the nursery and headed back to Gabi’s room. If he could just talk to her, he thought in frustration, but that was a big ‘if,’ and he knew it.

The kids were putting their blankets back in the cabinet when he walked back in. It took everything he had to keep himself from just walking over to her, sweeping her off her feet, and carrying her away. That’s what his body wanted. That’s what his heart wanted. That’s what his soul wanted. But his mind and his pride were the lone stand-outs, and they were winning.

“Miss T, are we going to practice the Merry Christmas song today?” Devon asked.

“Yeah, we are.” Gabi stored the last blanket in the cabinet and straightened.