Flawbulous (24 page)

“It was way more comfortable for me to play the victim
than to own up to the fact that I've been unfaithful to
you and to us too.”

 

–
Angel King

 

“I didn't expect you to come,” said Duke when Angel followed them home after Morgan's recital.

“As hard as Morgan has been working on that violin of hers, I wouldn't have missed it!” contended Angel.

“It was nice of you to come. I know it meant a lot to the girls. They keep asking why you haven't been around as much. I told them you've been working more hours lately. I can tell they miss you.”

“I miss them. I miss you too.” An awkward silence passed between them. “How is everything going with you?”

“Great . . . great. They, uh, dropped the charges a couple of days ago.”

Angel's face lit up. “Really? Duke, that's wonderful!”

“It's definitely a relief. It turns out that Miss Mya has a history of pulling stunts like this and blackmailing men to make the charges go away.”

“I knew you didn't attack her,” declared Angel.

“Did you?” Duke's glower dimmed her enthusiasm.

“Duke, I've always said that.”

“But you doubted that I was faithful to you.”

Angel couldn't deny his claim. “You're an attractive man. She's a pretty girl. You were thousands of miles away, in a hotel, alone with her. Considering our history and the fact that she knew about the tattoo, it didn't seem like the possibility was out of the question.”

“Angel, I love you enough to be faithful, and I respect you enough to be honest if I stray. You've got to trust in me enough to believe that. She knew about the tattoo because she saw me swimming in the hotel pool. Heck, everybody who was out there knows I have a tattoo on my chest.”

She felt foolish. “Why didn't you just tell me that, Duke?”

“I didn't think I had to.”

Angel breathed deeply. “I think it's pretty obvious that we have some major trust issues between us.”

Duke nodded.

Angel sighed. “I'm not blaming you for all of it. I've done my part to screw up our relationship too.”

“That's true, Angel. You've dished out as much hurt as I have.”

She agreed. “I've had to face the truth about that. It was way more comfortable for me to play the victim than to own up to the fact that I've been unfaithful to you and to us too. I was wrong to put it all on your shoulders.”

“Then again, most people would say you were right not to trust me. I've broken your heart more times than the law allows. You shouldn't put your trust in me any more than I should put mine in you. Whether or not we want to admit it, I think it's pretty obvious that if we go on like this, we're going to keep hurting each other, so I say we stop putting all this pressure on each other.”

Angel acquiesced. It was another harsh reality she had to face, but this one was almost more than she could bear. Angel had already lost the closest thing she had to sisters. Now she was also losing the only man she'd ever loved.

Duke went on. “Let's stop putting our faith in this relationship and start putting our faith in God. If we keep Him first, one of two things will happen. Either He will help us to be sensitive to each other's needs and will show us not to hurt one another. Or when we do screw up, He'll make our hearts big enough to forgive. We're covered either way.”

Angel raised her head. “So what are you saying, Duke?”

“I'm . . . I'm staking my claiming, Angel!” asserted Duke. “I won't let you go like this, not without a fight.”

“But I thought—”

“Look, just hear me out, okay? I was upset that you believed Mya over me. I was hurt. Now I see that nothing would hurt me more than losing you again. Baby, we've been through the fire together—to hell and back, like you said. We can't just give up now. I love you. You and the girls are my whole world. I can't do this thing called life without you. I need you. The girls need you. I don't care what it takes, but we've got to find a way to work this out.”

Angel rushed into his arms. “There's nothing to figure out. I'm yours now and forever. Always have been, always will be.”

Duke pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you, Angel. You're the only woman for me. I don't want you to ever forget that.”

She shook her head. “I won't.”

“Baby, will you put me out of my misery and just marry me already?”

Angel's heart stopped. “What?”

“Wait! Don't answer that! I want to do this right.”

He scampered up the stairs and returned a few minutes later flanked by Miley and Morgan, a bouquet of plastic flowers snatched from the bathroom, and a wrapped Ring Pop from Morgan's candy stash.

Duke cleared his throat. “Okay, now I'm ready.” He kneeled down in front of Angel and extended the flowers to her. “Angelique Renee Preston King, my beautiful angel and the love of my life, will you marry me?”

“And me!” added Morgan.

Miley giggled. “And me.”

Angel beamed from the inside out. “Yes, yes, yes! Of course I'll marry you—
all of you!
” Angel kissed Duke, then hugged and kissed the girls.

Duke ripped the plastic wrapper off the candy ring and slipped it on Angel's finger. “You know this is temporary, right?”

“No, this time it's forever,” said Angel, looking down at her edible ruby.

“When are you going to get married?” asked Miley.

“Tonight, if she wants to,” answered Duke.

Angel started laughing. “I don't see why not!”

Duke was taken aback. “Are you serious?”

Angel nodded. “I don't want to wait. Shoot, it's been fifteen years! Let's go ahead and start happily ever after now.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Duke drew her in for another kiss.

Instinctively, Angel wanted to call her friends and share her good news, but she resisted the urge and reveled in the moment with her new family instead. Even though she'd lost one family, gaining a new one helped to lessen the pain considerably.

“Oh, you'll be surprised at how much can be accomplished
over a bowl of ice cream and a bottle of wine!”

 

–
Sullivan Webb

 

It took Vera's death to resurrect a friendship that had been buried for five years. Vera's funeral was the first time Lawson, Sullivan, Reginell, Kina, and Angel had all been in the same room together since parting ways at Kina's town house. The irony of the moment was that the person responsible for so much contention in her daughter's life was the catalyst for bringing them all together again.

Sullivan found her four long-lost friends waiting for her in the foyer of Mount Zion Ministries following Vera's burial and repast. She turned to Charles. “Baby, can you take Charity on to the car? I'd like to talk to the girls for a minute.”

“Of course.” Charles kissed Sullivan on the forehead before taking the time to hug each of the ladies. “It was so nice of you all to come out, and it's so good to see you again!”

Kina squeezed his hand. “Thank you for getting in touch with all of us.”

“Yeah, it's been a long time,” acknowledged Lawson.

“Too long,” said Charles before leaving with his daughter. “Take your time, Sullivan. We'll be waiting.”

They all stared at one another, as if trying to recognize the new women standing before them.

Angel was the first to step forward and speak. “How long has it been since we all occupied the same space at the same time?”

“Feels like forever,” said Sullivan.

Lawson offered her sympathy. “I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's passing, Sully. It's never easy to lose a parent.”

“It was a beautiful service,” noted Kina. “It was very fitting for her.”

Sullivan nodded. “Thank you. Vera was crass and loud and always inappropriate, but I'm going to miss her.”

Angel agreed. “Vera was definitely in a league of her own.”

“You wouldn't believe how much she changed in the last few years. She finally apologized and acknowledged the role she played in my being abused as a child, and she actually accepted Christ into her life two years ago. She and Charity got baptized at the same time. I feel so blessed that I was able to witness that. She really made an effort to be a better mother and grandmother. I was proud of her. She gave cancer a good fight too.”

“She loved you, Sullivan,” said Lawson. “I know she didn't always show it, but she did. She loved Charity too.”

“I know.” Sullivan smiled.

“Speaking of Charity, I can't believe how grown up she is!” exclaimed Kina. “She's a little lady. Where did the time go?”

“She's in third grade now. Can you believe it? And every bit the diva her mother is!” boasted Sullivan.

“You seem like a little less of a diva, though,” said Angel, noting that Sullivan's over-the-top look had morphed into a softer, more sophisticated and subdued presence. “You cut your hair.”

Sullivan laughed a little. “I didn't cut my hair. I just stopped buying it.”

“Well, you look good!” Lawson said, praising her friend.

“I'm actually feeling good these days,” bragged Sullivan. “Now that Charity is a little older, I'm finally putting that art degree to use. I teach painting classes to kids down at the children's museum. It's very rewarding. It makes me feel like I'm making a difference in a young person's life.”

Angel was shocked. “Sully, you hate children!”

“Admittedly, I used to, but it's a new day. I found that the best way to honor Christian is to put a smile on as many kids' faces as possible.”

“That's so beautiful,” gushed Angel. “People really do change, I see.”

“Hey, I'm living proof of that!” attested Reginell.

Sullivan turned to Reginell. “Yes, you are! Look at you. I never thought I'd see the day when you were a regular ole housewife. What happened to the sky-high heels and short skirts?”

“I had to put them out to pasture—unless, of course, it's Mark's birthday! It's kind of hard to chase after two kids wearing that,” joked Reginell.

“I heard that Mark got a coaching job up at his old alma mater.”

“Yeah, we're living in Virginia now. The kids love it up there.”

Sullivan smiled with approval. “I'm glad you finally found a reason to settle down.”

“And speaking of settling down, Duke and I finally did it—again!” revealed Angel, flashing her ring finger. “It'll be five years in the spring.”

“I'm so happy for you!” Sullivan gave Angel a hug. “How are the girls?”

“Miley is graduating from high school this year, and Morgan is a freshman. We have a son now too!” Angel told them. She flashed pictures from her phone. “Donavan is three and has us completely wrapped around his finger, especially Duke. He's so proud of his mini me.”

Kina gazed down at the picture of Donavan. “I bet he is! Your son is adorable, Angel. He's the perfect combination of you and your husband.”

“How's Kenny?” asked Angel.

“Kenny is in the air force now. He is stationed in Texas and has been talking about getting married.”

Sullivan laughed. “You ready to be a grandma?”

Kina wrinkled her brow. “I don't know about all that, but I'm one proud mama!”

“Not to mention a big-time reality star,” Angel said, chiming in. “I love seeing you as one of the weight-loss coaches on
Lose Big.
”

“Moving back out West proved to be the best thing I could've done,” admitted Kina. “If I hadn't, I never would've met my fiancé, Karl, who helped me get the part on the show.”

“Awww!” Lawson embraced her cousin. “I'm so proud of you!”

“So what's been going on with you, Lawson?” asked Sullivan.

“I'm an elementary school principal now!” Lawson revealed. “It's a small school in Crawford County, but I love it! Simon attends. He lives with us full-time now.”

Angel was bowled over. “Really?”

“Yeah, Simone went to New York and fell in love, so she decided to stay up there. After a bit of a battle, she and Garrett both agreed that it was best that Simon stay down here with us. She gets him for the summer, but he lives with us.”

Sullivan pressed for more details. “What about Namon? How's he?”

“He's wonderful. He's working on his MBA and working for a nonprofit up in Atlanta,” said Lawson. “Things couldn't be better between us, probably because we're in two different cities! I can't run his life from Crawford County.”

Sullivan laughed. “That's true! Wow . . . you don't know how much it warms my heart to see how well you are doing, especially today.”

Kina looked glum. “It's weird. We all have new lives that none of us are a part of anymore.”

“But I think we needed this time away from each other to fully become the people God intended us to be,” mused Angel. “Kina, you never would've gone back to Cali or Reggie to Virginia if things had stayed the same. Our marriages might not be as strong or our careers as successful if we'd stayed in that comfort zone with each other.”

“Plus, we don't have to see each other every day to be a part of each other's lives. I still pray for all of you every night,” admitted Lawson.

“Same here,” said Angel. “It makes me feel like we're still connected.”

Sullivan smirked. “And I will admit, Kina, your weekly blog after each
Lose Big
episode is my guilty pleasure. I make a point to read it every time you post on it.”

“Even though we're members of a different church now, Duke and I still stream Mount Zion Ministries online all the time,” volunteered Angel.

“I do too,” confessed Reginell. “It helps whenever I get homesick.”

Lawson was touched. “We've been apart, but we've all discovered our own way to stay connected.”

The former friends shared an awkward stare before falling into a hug.

“I wish we had more time together,” wailed Kina. “I haven't seen all of y'all together in five years. I'm not ready for it to end.”

“What time are you all flying back?” asked Sullivan.

“My flight doesn't leave until tomorrow,” Reginell informed them.

“Mine either,” said Kina.

“I drove, so time isn't an issue for me,” reported Lawson.

Angel shook her head. “It isn't a factor for me, either.”

“Why don't we all go back to my place and hang out, like we used to?” suggested Sullivan.

Lawson was hesitant. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” said Sullivan. “I think it's pretty safe to say that we've got a lot of catching up to do!”

“We don't have that long,” pointed out Kina.

“Oh, you'll be surprised at how much can be accomplished over a bowl of ice cream and a bottle of wine!” proclaimed Sullivan.

“Dang, I've missed y'all!” exclaimed Angel at long last.

They all laughed and walked out to the parking lot, arm in arm, realizing that things between them would never be as they were but content in the knowledge that some things, like love and true friendship, never really change.