Facing Redemption (12 page)
Authors: Kimberly McKay
“At this hour?” She looked to her watch, which read seven forty-five p.m. The only sound she heard was a muffled hush and then a soft door closing in the background.
“Uh yeah, see you later. Thanks for stopping by.” Brent said to his student, almost too professionally.
“Extra credit?” She asked again, voice rising.
“Now don’t go and get the wrong idea.”
“Wrong idea? Who said anything about wrong idea? Why would you bring that up? Guilty conscience Brent?” Anne yelled into her phone.
“Really Anne,” he sputtered. “It’s not what you think. Langston really was here for extra credit.”
“Brent, are you at your office? Or at home?” Anne heard nothing in reply. “You’re not at your office are you? Don’t lie to me!”
Brent let out a ragged breathe. “I’m at home.”
Anne reached her car and slid into the front seat. She couldn’t believe what was happening. How could he? He was lying and doing a horrible job of covering it up.
“Anne?” Brent asked in desperation. “Are you still there?”
“No, Brent. I’m not.” And with that she hung up the phone and drove home. In one week, she lost her best friend and her boyfriend.
Immediately her phone started to ring. Brent’s face popped up on the caller ID. She promptly hit ignore and turned off her phone.
Chapter 18
Jesse shook hands with his staff and said his goodbyes after their latest meeting for the city planning session. They were about to develop new trails to combine all the lakes in the Oklahoma City area, which would take multiple meetings to make happen. The city had passed the tax and now it was up to him and his staff to get the bids in and start the process rolling.
It should have been something exciting for him, except his mind was plagued with John’s letters that sat in his briefcase. After reading the first one Chastity sent back from Venice, it’s all he could think about for weeks. His curiosity was getting the best of him and, unlike Chastity, he wanted to read the rest. At one point he had a connection with his little brother and needed to find out if there was a chance to change their relationship. He thought the letters might give him insight to the man his brother really was, and he felt he owed that to himself.
He quickly crossed the floor to shut his door, before dialing Chastity’s number. She picked up immediately.
“Hey Jesse! I was going to call you tonight.”
“Oh yeah? What’s up?” Jesse smiled.
“Well I missed you guys and thought I’d take a weekend soon to come out and visit if that’s ok?”
“Okay? It’s great. Lauri and Alex will be so excited!” Jesse leaned back in his chair. “So when are you coming? This weekend?”
“No. I’m looking at my calendar and haven’t picked a date yet. I thought I’d check your schedule first and Cheryl’s of course.”
“Cheryl? Your mom’s best friend?” Jesse inquired. “Are you going to stay with her? Because you’re more than welcome to stay with us.” He hoped she would.
“Thanks so much. I’m not sure what my plans are at the moment.”
Jesse laughed. “I understand that. Okay then. Just come anytime. We’d love to see you.”
“So any reason you called other than missing me?” Chastity asked.
“Yeah, but I don’t want to bother you.”
“No, it’s okay. What’s up?”
“Uh,” he cleared his throat. “It’s about the rest of the letters.”
“Okay?” She seriously hoped he wasn’t suggesting she read the rest.
“I wanted your permission to read them. There are only three … so far. I haven’t received anymore, but after reading the first, I can’t get the others off my mind.”
Tell me about it.
She thought and sighed. Jesse could sense her stress.
“If you don’t want me too,” his voice trailed off.
“No … no, it’s alright. Read them. He’s your brother. You need to.” She stated firmly. “Besides they came to your house.”
“In care of me … to you.” He gently reminded her.
“I know, but I’m not ready. I’m not sure if I ever will be – but
you
are.” She stressed. “And … if I ever change my mind.”
“I’ll have them for you.” He finished her sentence.
“Okay.” She smiled. “Hey Jesse?” She stopped him before they hung up.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For taking care of me. My mom would be happy that I have someone like you in my life. So thanks from me and her.”
Jesse cleared his throat, which made Chastity smile.
Chapter 19
Lauri briskly stepped onto the front porch to sit with Jackson, her father-in-law for over 20 years. She eased into the rocking chair next to him and laid her hands on top his. Lauri had been around long enough to see Jackson in his prime during his glory years, through recent times as she’d watched him mentally decline once Alzheimer’s started claiming his mind.
Although she knew her husband acted as if it didn’t bother him to see his stagnant condition – she knew it did. Jackson was, after all, Jesse’s father, and at one point they had some sort of healthy relationship, even if it was when Jesse was too young to remember. Lauri felt that somewhere in Jesse’s memory, he was still bonded to his father.
So here she was again, like clockwork, twice a week – visiting Jackson on Jesse’s behalf. She knew it was good for Jesse and for Jackson, even if neither one of them could recognize it.
Lately however, her heart held a small glimmer of hope for Jackson’s prognosis. Once the family found Chastity and made her a part of their lives, Jackson turned a corner.
Jackson no longer had to ask Lauri ‘where his grand-daughter was.’ Without knowledge of Chastity or her identity, Lauri never understood Jackson’s urgent need to find his imaginary grandchild. Especially since Lauri and Jesse only had one son, Alex. Lauri felt Jackson was truly coming undone.
Now Jackson could put his mind to rest, as his ‘real’ granddaughter was part of the family circle. Although he still asked Lauri about her for the first few months of Chastity’s existence, Jackson’s mind finally settled with the knowledge that Chastity was home. Lauri brought pictures of Alex and Chastity now when she came to visit.
“Hi Mrs. Mikale.”
Jackson’s therapy nurse smiled
in her direction.
“Hey Tomo. How are you?”
“Good. Just bringing R
oxy out for her love session.”
Tomo giggled as she placed
the small dog in Jackson’s lap. Jackson’s eyes lit up.
Tomo, a recent graduate, came to Oklahoma from Hawaii to take part in a new pet therapy program. Jesse funded the program the minute after he’d seen a story on
60 Minutes
on how pets were making miracle strides in cases such as his father’s. In most cases Lauri had researched, she found the results to be worth the cost of instituting the program. After instituting the proper funds and procedures, they interviewed many applicants to initiate the program not just for Jackson but for the other patients as well.
They found Tomo to be the best candidate to take care of Jackson. She graduated from
Chaminade University,
on Oahu, at the top of her class. She was raised on the island on her tutu’s, or grandmother’s, farm, surrounded by animals. She had a natural gift for the elderly and animals. She was the only one who stood out from the beginning.
Within weeks, Jackson’s blood pressure lowered and he ate on a more regular basis. His mental state evened out which gave him more good days than bad. So far it seemed to be keeping the disease at bay. It wasn’t reversing the effects, but having a pet to love was something Jackson needed to have some sort of normalcy or center.
“There you go little girl. Get comfortable.” Jackson murmured as he stroked Roxy’s thick fur.
“Jackson, she’s pretty isn’t she? Roxy sure does love you.” Lauri smiled and tried to gain eye contact.
Jackson only had eyes for his dog though.
“He’s had a good day Ms. Mikale, but he’s pretty far off. He didn’t recognize me either if it makes you feel better.” Tomo gave Lauri a look of sympathy.
Lauri looked up to Tomo and smiled. She enjoyed hearing her Hawaiian dialect. It was almost melodic, which was therapeutic to her on the days she came.
“No, it’s okay. As long as he’s comfortable and happy – that’s all that matters.”
“He is. Roxy gives him that.” Tomo reached out to pat Lauri’s hand.
“And sadly, that’s not something he’s had since he was very young.”
Tomo gave her a questioning look.
“His wife died when my husband was just a boy. And … Jackson hasn’t been the same since.”
“Would her name be Marilyn by any chance?” Tomo asked and sat across from Lauri. She leaned against the banister and sat on the ledge.
Lauri nodded her head. “Has he been asking about her?”
“No, he’s been talking to her in his room. Most of the other nurses think he’s too da’kine ...” Tomo saw Lauri’s confused look, and corrected her language so Lauri would understand. “Too far off into his own mind. But I understand him and where he’s at.”
Lauri’s eyes widened, in shock. “Really?”
“It’s okay,” Tomo said as she stood. “It’s normal.”
Tomo patted Jackson on the shoulders. “Mr. Mikale, I’ll be back to get Roxy in a little bit. And then it will be time to eat, okay?”
Jackson looked up to Tomo with a peaceful stare. “Alright. Just leave her here a little bit longer?”
“Of course.” Tomo smiled down to Jackson and Lauri before leaving.
Lauri quickly reached for Jackson’s hand.
“Jackson? Can I pet Roxy?”
“Lauri? What are you doing here?”
Lauri sighed, her heart heavy. “I just got here. I came to see you.”
Jackson smiled in return and turned his eyes back to Roxy. He mumbled something inaudible and continued to pet his dog. Lauri leaned over and kissed his cheek before doing the same.
Chapter 20
Chastity hadn’t seen Timothy in a couple weeks. They tried to keep a routine the best they could, considering the commute they had. Even though they both lived in California, they were still too many miles apart to see each other within a reasonable time frame. It took a plane trip or a long drive to make their date weekends work. And although she was thrilled to see him every second she could, the travel was beginning to wear on her nerves.
I miss him too much for him to be this far away.
Chastity bolted from her thoughts as the phone rang. Timothy’s ring tone blared from her cell. She smiled and quickly gave up her negative thoughts to sit and listen to his strong voice.
“Good morning sunshine. Thinking of me?” His voice lowered an octave.
Chastity laughed. “The question is when do I not think of you?” Chastity quickly returned.
Timothy let out a breath that sent shivers up Chastity’s spine.
