Cherished (4 page)

Aaron gave him a look. “You know I've got mad love for you, but me and thousands of Christians? Not happening. Keep praying for me.”

“I'm on it. One day . . .” He popped a fry into his mouth. “What brought you back from LA, anyway?”

“Cedric got married yesterday.”

Brian swallowed hard. “Cedric? London?”

“Yeah, if you can believe it. Mr. Ladies' Man.” Aaron dipped his own fry into a little cup of ketchup. “Seems really happy too. My mom and his mom are still close.” He lifted his drink. “And, uh, I was wondering . . . has the statute of limitations run out on the no-dating-former-girlfriends-of-friends law? 'Cause your girl was there, looking finer than ever. I'm ready to make a move.”

Brian's heart rate sped to a million beats a minute. “Did my name come up?”

“No. I learned my lesson years ago when I ran into her and asked if she'd talked to you. You never told me what happened, but clearly it didn't end on the positive.”

Brian stared into the distance, past the faces of customers in the restaurant, seeing only one face in his mind. “I wonder if she's still in town.” He only realized he'd spoken aloud when Aaron answered.

“Not sure. Why?”

“I don't know. I've tried to reach her over the years, but I can never get a hold of her. Knowing she might be here in St. Louis . . .” He looked at Aaron. “Do you have her number?”

“No, but wouldn't take much to get it.”

Brian looked hopeful.

Aaron looked skeptical. “I'm asking again. Why? I don't think she wants to hear from you. You'll only upset her.”

Brian sighed. Aaron was right. She'd definitely be upset. But that's why he wanted to talk to her, to ask her forgiveness. He hated the way things had ended between them. But maybe she'd be better off if he left her alone.

It saddened him, the thought that they might never speak again, that he'd never be able to apologize. But deep down, the sadness stemmed from more than that. He harbored the remotest hope that she might actually forgive him one day . . . that maybe they could even find their way back to a friendship . . . a ludicrous notion at best. But the truth was, he missed her still.

With all the uncertainty about his future, there was one thing about which he was painfully certain. He wouldn't be sharing it with Kelli.

three

K
ELLI COULD FEEL HERSELF BEING PULLED FROM A
deep sleep, but mind and body fought hard to hold tight. She felt like a deadweight, unable to move, muscles pleading for more time to rest and regenerate. She vaguely wondered what she'd done to aggravate them—when she found herself swatting something away from her face. She'd seen her share of critters in Texas, but what in the world was—?

She jerked upward, opening her eyes—to find Cyd's dog, Reese, pawing and licking her in the face. She blinked, gaining her bearings. She wasn't in Texas anymore.

“Hey, girl,” she said, stroking the wavy-haired little dog. “Is this a special welcome or are you planning to do this every morning?”

Kelli checked the clock. Seven twenty. Sunlight was streaking through the mini-blinds. Felt weird to be waking up in Clayton. Although Kelli had grown up in the city of St. Louis, she'd gone to Clayton High as part of the school district's voluntary desegregation program. But she'd never imagined herself or anyone she knew living here. Seemed like another world.

She yawned, then suddenly reached for her cell phone, remembering she was supposed to call Miles last evening. The screen showed two texts and as many missed calls. She tapped his number, and he answered right away.

“What are you doing up so early? You must be on the golf course.”

“Headed there. Dad and I decided to play a round.” His voice— a little deep, a little Texas Southern—always drew her in. “So you made it safely? I thought you were gonna call.”

“I was planning to, but I was so tired I must've fallen asleep.” She smiled into the phone. “Glad to know you care.”

“You already knew that.”

She let his words warm her inside.

“I was hoping you'd call and say you changed your mind.” He paused as if there was still hope. “I'm still not excited about you moving so far. It's already been forever since I've seen you. No telling how long we'll have to wait now.”

“Forever, Miles? You were in Austin three weeks ago.”

“Three weeks away from you is forever.” His phone shifted, and Kelli heard his car door shut as he greeted his dad. He spoke back into the phone. “I thought we were working on getting closer, not farther apart.”

“I know. I wish something had opened up in Dallas. I think I blanketed the whole town with résumés.”

“Something might open up yet,” he said. “I'm glad you get some time with your family, but I'm hoping St. Louis is temporary. I'm looking forward to us living in the same city again.”

Seemed Miles had stepped up talk of the future once he learned Kelli was moving.

“Well, they say if you've got a job, it's easier to find a job. If I gain some experience here, maybe somebody in Dallas will be willing to give me a shot.”

“I can be patient about the job part but not the seeing you part. Let's make plans soon, either here or St. Louis. As long as we're together.”

“Reese, where are you?” a voice called from downstairs.

Kelli covered the phone. “She's in here, Cyd!”

“I'll let you go,” Miles said. “Dad's waiting for me. Call you tonight?”

She smiled. “You better.”

Kelli clicked off as Cyd entered the room in her silk robe. “Oh no.” She bent over, patting her thigh. “Reese, come.”

The dark chocolate dog rolled over on her back, showing her patches of tan underneath, paws dangling in complete comfort as Kelli continued to stroke her.

“I'm totally enabling her disobedience but she's too cute.”

Cyd gave Reese the eye. “She woke you up, didn't she? I'm sorry. She's normally in our room, but I guess she wanted to check out her new playmate down the hall.”

“It's fine,” Kelli said, legs still under the covers. She scratched behind Reese's ears. “Better be glad you're adorable.” A yawn escaped. “What time do y'all leave for church?”

“I'm not sure today,” Cyd said. “We normally go to the nine o'clock, but with the road trip yesterday, eleven thirty's looking pretty good. Cedric's still asleep.” Cyd paused. “Don't feel like you have to come with us. I know you're tired.”

Kelli's bones issued a hearty amen. She could easily rest till noon. But before she could give it more thought, they heard slow steps moving down the hall, the hardwood creaking underneath. Cedric appeared, wearing wrinkled athletic shorts, a T-shirt, and a slouch that said he wanted back in bed. “Howdy.”

Kelli exchanged an amused glance with Cyd. “You look terrible.”

“I want to know one thing.” Sleep coated Cedric's voice. “Whose idea was it to leave Austin in the middle of the night, drive fourteen hours straight, then unload a moving van?”

“Yours,” Kelli and Cyd said.

And Cyd added, “While pumping your fist in the air and saying, ‘Let's do this!'”

“And if I remember correctly,” Kelli said, “you called Lindell a chump for suggesting we leave later and find a halfway point to stop overnight.”

“I must've lost my mind.” Cedric ambled over and collapsed across the foot of her bed. “I thought I was still your age.”

Reese traded Kelli for Cedric, pouncing on him immediately.

Cyd sat beside him on the bed, massaging his back. “Poor baby. I'll get you some ibuprofen. You and Kelli should go back to bed. I wish I could. I got up to let Reese out, and now I'm wide awake.”

Cedric looked at Kelli. “How are you feeling?”

“A little sore. Not too bad. You and Lindell did most of the heavy lifting.” She smiled. “I kinda like having my brothers around again. Y'all are handy.”

Cedric cocked his head, as if considering. “I kinda like having you around too.”

“I know I do,” Cyd said. “I'm so glad you decided to come.”

“Thanks, Cyd, but I was thinking . . .” Kelli switched to lotus position. “You've got to be a tad overwhelmed. All these years, you've had this house to yourself. Then you got married a month ago, and Cedric moved in. And now, here I come.”

“Are you kidding?” Cyd asked. “I bought this house eight years ago
hoping
it'd be filled with other bodies.” Clayton was a perfect location for her, since she was a professor at Washington University. “I just hate that it took so long. Come here.” Cyd leaned across the bed, and Kelli met her halfway for a hug. “I really want you to consider this your home, for as long as you want to stay.”

Kelli's eyes misted. “Okay.” She'd gone back and forth about this move, especially when things progressed faster than anticipated. She'd thought it would take weeks to sublease her apartment— time to ponder further, time to change her mind. But an occupant surfaced quickly, and next thing she knew, all her belongings were on a highway headed north . . . along with her and her mixed feelings. But one thing was sure. She loved being here with Cyd and Cedric . . . and she loved that Stephanie and Lindell were only minutes away. Suddenly she giggled.

“What?” Cyd and Cedric asked.

“You
might
need some Spanx,” Kelli said, imitating Stephanie's voice. “What a nut! I don't think I've laughed that hard in years.”

“Ah, yes,” Cyd said. “Only the privileged few get to experience Stephanie in all her nuttiness over the course of several hours.”

The three women had taken turns driving Kelli's car from Austin, while the guys drove Cedric's with the moving trailer attached.

Kelli laughed again, remembering. “If you want to learn to cook gourmet meals for your husband but don't want to learn your way around the gym . . .
and
you want to pretend you still wear the same size, you might need some Spanx.”

Cyd was laughing now. “If you're bound and determined to keep wiggling your rear end into those skinny jeans—”

“—even if it kills you—”

“—you might need some Spanx,” they finished together.

“Oh, man,” Kelli said, “remember this one? ‘If you don't want everybody and their momma to see your sea billows roll . . .'”

Cedric had been eyeing the two of them with creased brow. “And here I thought you girls were having deep intellectual conversation in your car, like Lindell and me.”

“Uh-huh,” Cyd said. “Must've been too deep for words, 'cause from what I could see, whoever wasn't driving was asleep.”

Cedric chuckled. “Exactly.”

“Maybe we should've taken our cue from you and done the same,” Kelli said, “but we couldn't stop talking.”

“I'm guessing Stephanie and Lindell won't be making the nine o'clock either,” Cyd said.

“Oh!” Cedric sat up. “I
have
to go to the nine o'clock. Actually, I'm supposed to be at both. Scott and I are announcing the new ministry for young guys.”

“Oh, I forgot too,” Cyd said. “And I'm so excited. You and Scott are perfect for this.”

Cedric sighed a little. “Yeah. We can certainly share from personal experience what
not
to do in life.”

“And about God's grace, Cedric. It's awesome. Did you ever think you'd be talking to young men about God? And Scott . . . he thought God was through with him in public ministry, and not even a year later, here comes an opportunity.”

Kelli stretched out on the bed again. “Is this the Scott who was in your wedding? Dana's husband?”

They both nodded.

“I guess I shouldn't ask . . .”

Cedric and Cyd looked at one another.

“It's okay, Kelli,” Cyd said. “Scott confessed in front of the church, so it's not a secret. He had an affair last year.”

“Wow. I never would've thought. He and Dana look so happy together.”

“Trust me, they didn't look like that last fall,” Cyd said. “They went through a whole lot. But again—God's grace. It's been incredible to watch.”

“Wow,” Kelli said again, thinking more about that word
grace
than about Scott.

“I'd better get rolling,” Cedric said. He stood, yawning.

“I'm coming with you to the nine o'clock, babe,” Cyd said. “I'll run downstairs and get you the ibuprofen.”

Cyd left, with Reese trailing behind. On his way out, Cedric looked back. “You coming, Kel?”

“Umm . . . I don't know. Might shoot for next week.”

He stepped back into the room. “You okay?”

“Just tired. Why?”