Good Men Still Exist (2 page)

Chapter 3

The Promise

The sun
set was beautiful as Chris Sparks giggled driving home. He smiled gigantically at the new number he programmed into his phone. Her name was Lauren. Chris was the biggest player in Raleigh, North Carolina. He wouldn’t do his work in the city, but he traveled to other cities so he wouldn’t mess his reputation up. Chris pulled up in the driveway parked next to his mother’s car. He got out and gave Lauren a call to make sure that she’d given him the right number. She answered and his smiled grew bigger because he had great plans -- and lies -- for her.

“Hey, can I speak to Lauren?” Chris said smoothly with excitement across his face.

“Hey Chris. I see you are one of those guys,” Lauren replied in a lovely high-pinched tone.

“What kind of guy is that?”

“That wants to make sure he got the right number,” she laughed.

“Well, you know, I am feeling you and I just wanted to make sure the feeling was mutual.”

“Trust me, it is! You are a very gorgeous man to me, and I cannot wait to get to know you.”

“Great! That is good to hear. Well, I hope you continue to have a great day.”

“Thank you; talk to you later.”

“Same to you, gorgeous!”

Chris approached the front door and walked in the house as he finished his call. He walked in and saw his mother on the couch. Chris smiled at his mother, but she didn’t smile back.

“Mom, I got another number,” h
e said as he walked towards the couch smirking. “I had to go way out to Durham for this one. Mom, to tell you the truth, she might be the one for me. I will see later on tonight where her head is at. Get it, mom? ‘Where her head is at’?” Chris said laughing and hitting his lap. Chris’s mother didn’t laugh. She just lay there wiping her eyes.

“Mom
, are you okay?” he asked with concern.

She paused
and stuttered with fear. “Huh . . . yeah, Chris baby! Momma is okay, I was just having a moment with God. That is all, baby.”

“Okay
, cool. Do you want me to come back?” he asked.

“No. R
ight now, I need you to talk to you, Chris,” his mother said with tears in her precious eyes.

“Mom
, what is wrong? What is wrong?” Chris asked, getting closer to her on the couch.

She dried
her eyes and began to speak authoritatively. “Chris, first let me tell you that I hate it when you talk about women like that! You know, at first it was funny, but you are 26 years old -- about to be 27 -- and still manipulating women! You . . . you use women just to get them in your bed. Not every woman you meet is going to just spread her legs. There are some good women out here that want a real man in their life; not a little boy. You need to realize that! Now, you have to get over what your ex did to you in high school; it was a long time ago! Stop taking out all your anger on these innocent women. You don’t even know if God had sent you the one a long time ago because the devil’s been taking over your mind. Blinding you from love! That’s all you feel like you have to do is treat them wrong. You need to stop it!”

“I am sorry
, momma . . . okay! I promise I will do better just for you!” Chris said shamefully as he said with his hands on his head.

“Not for me
, but for yourself, Chris! If you want love, you have to treat it with respect and class!”

“I understand what you are saying
, mom, but that cannot be the reason you are crying right now. Tell me what is wrong with you.”

Chris’s mother placed the tissues in her lap
and grabbed Chris hand. “Baby, I have something to tell you. I do not want you to be mad, but happy for me. Okay?”

“I will do anything for you. I have always been there.
Remember when you were sick and you needed me by your bedside? I was right there. When you thought you were down to your final days, but God had other plans. Again, just like I promised, I was there. So, whatever it is you know I am there. So, what is it?”

She smiled looking into his eyes. “I know you were
, baby. And I thank God for you and the times you were by my side. You could have been out partying with your friends, but you were here being a good son. That’s why I know you will be a good man and a great father and husband to whomever you settle with.”

“Thank you again, momma
. Please stop stalling and tell me what is going on!”

She
took a deep breath. “Chris, I have cancer. The doctor called me earlier and told me.”

Chris jumped up and looked
at his mother with a sad face. “Are you serious right now?” Tears fell from his face rapidly. “Mom, there is no way you can have this! I mean, you have been healthy for three years. You cannot leave me right now!” Chris screamed, sitting down on the couch hugging his mother.

“Listen
, baby. Just because momma has it, that doesn’t mean I am defeated. All we can do now is get the treatment I need and pray. We have to put it in God’s hands because He knows the outcome.”

“No
, momma . . . no! You cannot go! First, daddy isn’t here. Now you might not be! Momma, no! Please don’t go! Oh God!” He cried in his mother’s arms.

“Chris! Chris! Now listen to me
, okay?! Baby, you have got to be strong for me! I am very weak right now, so I need you to be strong for me. Just like you were there for me the times I was sick before! I need you again, Chris, okay? I need you again! We will pray and put it in God’s hands. I told you that I wasn’t going to be here forever, but you never know. Momma may beat this! I need you to promise me things for momma.”

“What is it
, momma?” Chris said, wiping his tears and sniffing.

“I need you to get your education. You have been out of school now for
almost 9 years. I want you to get your education so you can be successful. You don’t have any brothers and sisters you can look up to, and the other families are on drugs and jail. I don’t want you to be like them, Chris! I want you to make something out of yourself! God has given you the talent, and He told me weeks ago that you were going to be fine once I leave this place. I need you to get yourself together.”

“Mom
, how can you think about school right now? You have cancer. I am not about to go to school! I have to take care of you. We are going to beat this; do you hear me!”

“I do, but at the same time
, I want you to promise me that you will go get your education.”

“Anything for you, mom.
I promise I will.”

“I need one more promise from you
, Chris.”

“Anything ma.
Just tell me what you want.”

“I need you to promise me
, from this day on, that you will be a great guy. Promise me that you will not chase after women to have sex with, but the one that you will love one day. I want you to take some time and get to know yourself and fight lust, because love is so important. Love is something special and I want you to know what it feels like. You’re 26, so this is the time when you need to find the good thing that God has for you. I know no one will take my place, but having a woman that can be mother material to your children will be good for you. Can you promise me that?”

Chris paused. “Mom,
I promise. No more fooling around. I need to be a man, and it needs to start now.”

“Thank you
, baby. You are great son! Now, can you do me a favor?”

“
What is it?”

“Can you drive me to the doctor
so I can find out what I have to do to get better?”

“No problem
, mommy, I am there for you all the way.”

“I am happy to hear that. Help momma get up and take her to the bedroom. I am a little tired.”

“Sure thing,” Chris said, gently helping his mother up. They walked upstairs to her bedroom. Once she finished, Chris walked her to her bed and placed the covers over her as she lay. Her body shivered as he caressed and hugged her to create warmth. He then got up and made his way to the hall to turn the heat on. When he walked back in the room, he looked into her eyes, told her a good night, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. He made his way to his room, still stunned. Once he made it there, he got on his knees and prayed that everything he promised his mother he kept. A year later, Chris’s mother died. He was devastated and sad for months, but he was determined to keep the promises he made . . .  

Chapter 4

The Meeting

Six years later, Brandy
fully recovered from the gunshot wound. Reggie was sentenced to 10 years in jail. Brandy didn’t want Mila raised in New Jersey or anywhere up north, so she decided to move to Raleigh, North Carolina where her aunts lived. She moved in with her aunt Pam until she got things squared away. Brandy was able to support herself and Mila after pressing charges against Reggie.

Brandy made sure she got
Mila into a good school in Raleigh and a found great doctor. Mila was an asthmatic, so she had to have one on hand. After she got Mila into school, she enrolled herself into school. She was accepted into North Carolina State. At 31 years old, she figured she was a little too old. Her major was Biochemistry. Things were going great when school started. Midway through the semester, Brandy struggled in General Chemistry. She was so frustrated, she thought about dropping out of the class until an unknown stranger approach her during a break before her 11 o’clock class.

Brandy
wanted to be alone, so she buried her face in her book. When she couldn’t find certain information she was looking for, she slammed her book down on the ground. As she reached for it, one of her classmates helped her. She watched his soft, firm, brown hands picking up her book. She looked up slowly and saw the big bulge into this gentleman’s baby blue jeans. She picked her head all the way up and recognized her classmate. He flashed his white teeth and displayed his deep dimples.

“Here you go,” t
he young man said, handing her book and placing his book bag down. “My name is Chris; you’re Brandy, right?”

Still stun
ned, Brandy didn’t even hear what Chris said.

“Hello? Hello?
”

“I am so sorry,” s
he said, blushing. “Yes, my name is Brandy. Chris, is it?”

“That is correct! You are in my c
lass. I was on my way to my next class but I’d seen you over here frustrated. Is everything okay with you?”

She
exhaled. “Chris, I am really thinking about dropping this class because I just don’t get it. Actually, I am thinking of dropping my major altogether. I really don’t know why I signed up for this major.”

“You signed up
because God told you this is your plan,” Chris said with a cool vibe whisking over the two.

Brandy was shocked. She
’d never heard anyone, including her family, speak of spirituality before. The last time she’d been to church was when she was 15 with her grandmother. Brandy was adopted by her grandmother. She always thought that her grandmother was her mom. Her grandmother waited until Brandy got older to tell her.

“Oh my God. Chris, that was deep,” s
he said, holding her chest.

“Really? W
ell, it is the truth. Everything is not going to be easy. If it is, then it is likely to fail at some point. But since you aren’t going to give up, then you will know the sweeter it will be when you do succeed in this.”

“A
re you a pastor or something?” she chuckled.

“Not even close.” He smiled and shook her hand. “Listen, I
’d seen you in my class. I figured me and you have to be the oldest in the class.

“I feel too old in there. It seems like the kids are young
looking nowadays.”

“I know, right?
But hey, if you ever need any help, I can help you with it.”

“I couldn
’t ask you for any help, Chris.”

“And I cannot have you failing or dropping
out of this class. Come on! Do you live around here?”

“No
. I live in Raleigh. I have to drive 30 minutes every morning to get to here.”

“No kidding, I live there
, too. I am taking 3 online classes and come out here for two. Wow, that is crazy.”

“Oh my God. I am taking three
also. Now this is scary for real.”

“Come on
, Brandy. Let me take you to our Starbucks in the café and buy you a cup of coffee or whatever you like and help you with your work.”

“Are you sure, Chris
? I don’t want to seem like a gold digger.”

“It’s just Starbucks
. Besides, we are trying to make you succeed in class. Okay?”

“Alright.”

Chris and Brandy went to the café for a cup of coffee. Chris missed his class to help Brandy study and make sure she understood what was going on. The two studied for an hour and exchanged numbers. Brandy liked him, especially since he was very spiritual and respectful to women. She wanted something special with him, but had to get the freak out of her system. She was about to experience a Friday like never before.