Games (24 page)

“My Shay,” he whispered, the warmth of his breath fanning her face. “I love you, too. That’s what I’ve been waiting months to tell you. I was going to tell you when I came to
Cambridge. I loved you long before I gave you my virginity and I’ve loved you every day since. Truth be told, since we met, I can’t remember a single day I haven’t loved you.”

“For real?”
Her voice cracked.

“Sweetheart, I love you so much, it hurts.” The quivers lacing his voice sent tremors surging through her. “I’ve agonized every
day not being able to share the depth of my feelings.”

Her eyes watered and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. “So what happens now?”

He drew her closer and rested his arms around her waist. “We grow up and stop playing games and start building our relationship and planning for our future.”

His answer sounded like a glorious song to her. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Absolutely.” Brian offered the goofy grin she loved so much. “Blondie, will you go with me? Blink once for yes, twice for no.”

Shay giggled and cried all at once. “Only if you promise to keep your head shaved.”

“Do you promise to keep your hair blonde?”

“Anything for you, handsome.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I got a boyfriend,” she sang until laughter poured from him. They shared another kiss then Brian maneuvered away from her.

“I love you, LaShay Hampton, but right now being this close to you is deadly, if you know what I mean.”

Shay nodded in agreement and he assisted her to her feet. She took a step backward toward the door. “I understand and I don’t want to mess up things again either.” She blew him a kiss. “I love you; meet you in the living room.”

Inside the bathroom Shay danced and leaped for joy. Brian didn’t just consider her his best friend. The man she loved, loved her back.

The blended family spent the rest of the evening looking at old pictures and taking new ones. Their parents took note of how giddy and relaxed Brian and Shay were with one another. They were so comfortable that Brian actually put his arms around Shay and kissed her cheek a few times. He whispered something in her ear that made her blush uncontrollably.

“What?” Shay and Brian asked simultaneously when they finally noticed the four adults staring at them.

“Is there something you’d like to tell us?” Reggie asked.

Shay giggled and Brian grinned from ear to ear.

“Shay and I are dating,” Brian answered proudly.

Julia gasped and put her hand over her mouth.

Alysse waved her hand in Brian’s face. “Boy, you’re slower than I thought if you’re just now figuring that out.”

“Mom, I’m serious,” Brian continued talking to his mother, but focused his eyes on Shay. “I love Shay and she loves me. We’re a couple.” 

Reggie gave his smile of approval, but Julia, who was so ecstatic the game
- playing was over, stood to her feet and lifted her arms in the air then looked toward heaven and yelled, “Thank ya!”

Alysse laughed so hard, she cried. “Now I’m ready to have this surgery,” she said when Mark handed her a tissue.

At 6:00
a.m. Alysse and her family entered through the dual-sliding automatic hospital doors. Just before the orderly wheeled Alysse back for the life-altering surgery, the family held hands and Reggie led them in prayer.

“Gracious Father,” he began after Alysse’s warning to keep it short
, “we thank you for being a great and magnificent God who’s capable of doing more than we can ask or think. We thank you for giving us this opportunity to experience how powerful you are. We ask that you be with Alysse and safely guide the hands of the surgeon and allow her to come through this procedure successfully and give her a speedy recovery. And, Father, through this crisis, draw Alysse closer to you. Amen.”

“Amen,” everyone echoed and kissed Alysse.

Brian didn’t want to let her go. She snatched her hand away from him, but did so with a smile. Long after she disappeared through the double doors, Brian continued to stare in that direction.

Julia placed her arm around him. “She’s in God’s hands, and no matter what happens in the operating room, she’ll be fine.”

Brian looked down at his stepmother and asked the question that plagued him. “What if the cancer has spread?”

She looked up at him with a question of her own. “What if it hasn’t?”

“Mama is right, you have to stop thinking the worst and start speaking positive words,” Shay added. “The Bible tells us that we can decree a thing and it shall be established and that life and death are in the power of our tongue. Brian, you need to speak healing over your mother’s life and when you say it, believe it.”

Julia’s mouth gaped at Shay using the Word of God with bold confidence. “That’s right
, Brian, say it until you see the manifestation,” she added, still staring at Shay in astonishment.

Brian sat down, closed his eyes and inwardly prayed. An hour later, he still sat in the same position.

“Since he’s asleep, I’m going to the cafeteria,” Shay whispered to Reggie. 

She hadn’t taken two steps before she felt his cold hand on her wrist.

“Where are you going?”

“To get some coffee; want me to bring you back a cup?”

“No, I’ll go with you. I could use some breakfast.” He stood and stretched his stiff muscles.

Shay entwined her arm with his. “Now that’s the Brian I know.” She offered to bring Reggie and Mark something back, but they both refused.

The cafeteria’s offerings didn’t appeal to Brian. He suggested they walk the three blocks to a nearby restaurant and Shay obliged. Inside the family-style diner, Shay placed her elbow on the table and propped her hand underneath her chin and watched Brian eat a plate of steak and eggs. She’d finished a light breakfast of fruit and yogurt before his meal arrived. After washing down the hearty meal with a glass of apple juice, he invited her to move closer to him in the booth.

“Can a brother get a little warmth from his girlfriend?”

Shay’s cheeks reddened as she scooted into his opened arm. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” she said when his arm made contact with her shoulder.

“Thanks to you, I’m
feeling much better.” He squeezed her shoulder. “I’m still concerned about my mother, but I’m not worried.”

She gazed up at him. “What did I do?”

The softness of her hazel eyes almost made him lose his train of thought. “You helped me to remember the power I have as a believer,” he stammered.

“Glad I could help you out. Spiritually
, you’ve helped me so much since we’ve started talking again. I really look forward to our talks about the Word”

When she finished speaking, Brian was dumbfounded. He hadn’t heard one word Shay said. Watching the movement of her full lips so close to his distracted him.

“Um, maybe you should move back over to the other side.”

Shay looked confused. “Why, did I say something wrong?”

Brian gulped down a half-glass of water. “No, you didn’t say anything wrong, but if you remain this close to me, I might
do
something wrong.”

Shay’s eyes narrowed. “Something like what?”

“Like kiss you.”

She dismissed his statement with a wave of the hand. “Brian
, you kissed me three times last night.”

He lifted her chin. His voice deepened, making his desire crystal clear. “That’s not the kind of kiss I’m talking about. What I want to do to you right now would earn us a trip to the altar for a month.”

Shay moved away so fast to the opposite side of the booth, she knocked over her glass of water and her cold coffee. She and Brian laughed while the waitress cleaned up the mess.

B
etween chuckles, Brian said, “It’s going to be a long two years.”

“Why two years?”

“That’s when I finish law school.”

“What happens then?”

Brian sat back and folded his arms. “You’ll see.”

Brian and Shay returned to the waiting room to find Reggie and Mark matching wits over a game of chess. Brian pulled a chair up next to his dad and watched. Julia and Shay left the men in the waiting room and went to visit the patient education center. There, they gathered information on breast cancer and treatment options. Julia picked up some pamphlets for local support groups.

“Do you really think Alysse will attend a support group?” Shay asked. “It’s going to be hard enough getting her through the six-to-eight-week recovery period and chemotherapy. And it’ll be a miracle if she allows the homecare nurse to help her.”

“I know, but she’s changing. I didn’t think I would ever hear her say what she said last night.” Julia waited a moment before adding, “Neither did I think I’d hear Brian say what he said before all my hair turned gray.”

Shay faked innocence. “Come on, Mama, you knew eventually we’d get together.”

“True, but I didn’t think it would be this soon, considering the little stunt you played the last time you were home.”

“People change, Mama; I’ve grown up.”

Julia took a long hard look at her daughter. Shay was saying all the right words and doing the right things, but Julia’s doubts remained.  “Are you sure you’re ready for a serious relationship, because Brian is in it for the long
haul, if you know what I mean?” Julia arched her eyebrows.

“Mama, I really love Brian. I know Brian is serious about us, so am I,” Shay answered sincerely.

“I know you love Brian, but are you mature enough to handle a relationship that could possibly lead to marriage?”

“Mama, I’m in love, I can handle anything,” Shay declared.

“O Lord, I have some more praying to do,” her mother responded. “I can see it now; the first sign of trouble and, girl, you’re going to run Forest run.”

***

Back in the waiting room it was Brian’s turn to try and defeat his father. After Reggie had beaten him, Mark took a walk to the cafeteria and left father and son alone.

Reggie watched Brian make his first move. “Tell me, when did things escalate between you and Shay?” Reggie didn’t try to conceal his smile.

Neither did Brian. “Things started budding after her last visit and last night it all came to a head.”

Reggie played a counter move. “So how do you feel?”

Brian looked up from the game board. “I’ve never felt better. If Moms wasn’t sick I’d be doing back flips.”

Reggie shared a laugh with his son. “What timeframe are we looking at?”

“You know me so well, Dad. I plan to make my move the day after I graduate law school,” Brian answered unwavering.

“You have it all planned, don’t you? How does Shay feel about that?”

“I haven’t exactly told her, but I’m sure she won’t object.”

Reggie stopped looking at the board and focused on Brian. “Two years is a long time when you’re young and dating. The temptation will be great, especially since the two of you have been intimate. Are you sure you can handle that?”

Brian looked his father in the eyes. “Dad, I have to handle it. If I don’t, I won’t do it. I won’t marry her just so I can have sex. I won’t marry Shay until I can financially provide for her. I want to marry her when the time is right because she’s the one God has chosen for me. This in-between time will give us a chance to have a real courtship without the bickering and game
-playing.”

Brian’s insight and maturity impressed Reggie. “Son, you don’t need my advice. I wish I was as knowledgeable as you are when I was your age.”

“Dad, this might sound strange, but I’m glad Shay and I committed fornication.” Reggie frowned at that statement. “What I mean is, the process to restoration has taught me a lot about myself and even more about God. The lessons I’ve learned will help me in my relationship with Shay.”

Reggie moved his pawn. “How so?”

“It took me months to understand that God loved me and was still committed to me when I made the wrong choice. He never turned His back on me. While I was sulking and feeling ashamed, He was waiting with open arms, ready to love me unconditionally. He never gave up on me, even after I did it again. I admit He scared the black off me with that pregnancy scare.”

The game piece fell from Reggie’s hand and toppled half the board. “Pregnancy scare?”

Brian shrugged off his father’s shock. As he reset the board he briefly explained the event that nearly altered his life.

Reggie shook his head. “No wonder you were so miserable after she left. If she was pregnant you would have married her, and not just for the sake of the baby, but because you love her.”

“Isn’t that the same kind of love a husband should have for his wife— unconditional and sacrificial. Dad, that’s the kind of love I have for Shay. When she brought Jason here two months ago, I was devastated. But that didn’t stop me from loving her and reaching out to her.  I still loved her just like God loved me when I took her into my bed. God waited for me, because I belong to Him and I can wait for Shay, because I know she was created just for me. The next time I’m intimate with her, it will be the way God intended.”