One Prayer Away (36 page)

“I can do that,” he said and then added, “But . . . but how slow are we talking about?”

Virtue laughed at his sudden concern. “How about we just start out as friends and take it from there?”

That was slower than Mitchell would have liked, but it was faster than any length of time he ever would have thought she'd give him. His response was a grateful nod, and then he added, “Okay, but sometimes friends kiss. Can we at least be kissing friends?”

This time, Virtue laughed out loud and then allowed him to give her a demonstration. “Okay,” she said, looking into his eyes when he released her. “We can kiss every once in a while.”

“Good thing he doesn't live right around the corner,” Beverly said as she walked into the living room. “I'd have to quit my job just to keep an eye on you two.”

“I'm sorry,” Mitchell said, forcing himself to release Virtue.

“No need,” Beverly said. “I'm happy too. From here on out, you don't ever have to think that you don't have family.”

Mitchell found both her words and the long embrace that followed comforting. He was coming very near the point of tears when Beverly pulled away and announced that dinner was ready. They had settled down at the table and had just asked the blessing when the telephone rang. Excusing herself, Virtue vacated her seat and picked up the cordless phone that sat on a cradle beside the living room sofa. Mitchell had been enjoying light chatter with Beverly, but it didn't take long for both of them to realize that there was something special about this call.

Virtue pressed the mouthpiece of the phone into her stomach and walked slowly toward the table, coming to a stop beside Mitchell. “It's Christopher,” she whispered.

Mitchell set his drink on the table and stared at the phone in her hand. He hadn't heard anything from his former partner and friend since the fight, and he'd never expected
to hear from him again. Why was he calling now? After all, Chris was the one who pointed out to him that the operative word was
never.
For the life of him, Mitchell couldn't think of what he and Chris needed to talk about. He wasn't even sure that he
wanted
to speak with him. Memories of the painful punches and the hurtful words that were spoken to him replayed in Mitchell's mind. The more he thought of them, the angrier he became.

“How did he know you were here?” Beverly asked.

“He said his pastor told him that he might find Mitchell here,” Virtue answered before turning back to Mitchell. “What do you want me to tell him?”

Standing from his chair and wiping his mouth with a napkin, Mitchell reached for the phone that was still pressed into Virtue's stomach. “I got it,” he said.

When Virtue handed it to him, Mitchell walked to the living room and sat on the love seat before answering. “Hello?” Mitchell's tone was cold, mirroring the way he felt inside.

“Mitch, hey.”

Chris's voice sounded different. It didn't sound angry and full of animosity as it had the last time Mitchell had seen him, but it also didn't have the relaxed tone of confidence that it carried on a regular basis. Mitchell didn't return the greeting, and after a short silence, Chris spoke again.

“Look, I'm going to get right to it. I called to apologize for what happened last Monday,” he said. It wasn't what Mitchell expected to hear, but he refrained from immediately responding.

“I was wrong, and I'm sorry,” Chris said. “I found out the truth, the story that you had been trying to tell me all along. I know I made a mistake by taking her word over yours, but I just couldn't believe that she'd do something like that.”

“But you thought that
I
could?” Mitchell blurted, catching the attention of the women at the table.

“I know, man; I know,” Chris said. “I messed up. I don't know what else to say. I'm sorry, dude. I'm sorry.”

“That's all you got? You're sorry?”

“What else do you want me to say?”

By now, Virtue was sitting beside him for support, but Mitchell was almost too upset to realize that she was there.

“Man, I don't want you to say nothing!” he barked into the phone. “You said enough on Monday.”

“I understand you being mad at me,” Chris said. “I'd understand if you stayed mad forever. But I had to at least try and apologize and do what I could to make it right. I wanted to offer you your job back too, if you're still interested in working with me. I'm sorry for the name-calling and for hitting you, and . . .”

“Chris, you didn't just hit me; you hit me
two times.
You almost busted my ribs. I still have the bruises to . . .”

Mitchell's sentence drifted off when he felt Virtue place her hand on his knee; and for the first time, he heard the irony behind his own words. Turning to his left, his eyes met Virtue's, and he could read her every thought.

“I'm sorry, man,” Chris was saying in his ear. “I can't believe I lost it like that. I mean, I want my friend back; but if I can't have him, I can't blame nobody but myself. All I'm asking is that you give it some thought.”

In silence, Mitchell reached over and took Virtue's hand in his. As if she could hear both ends of the conversation, she gave his hand a tight squeeze and nodded.

“I'll tell you what,” Mitchell said into the telephone. “Why don't we take it slow? Let's just start out as business partners and see where it goes from there.”

With his voice full of relief, Chris replied, “I can do that. Thanks, man. This means a lot to me. Enjoy your Christmas. I'll see you in the office on Tuesday.”

“I'm proud of you,” Virtue whispered as she touched his cheek with her hand.

Mitchell reached for her and pulled her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her as tightly as he could. In his heart and mind, life couldn't get much better than this.

 

Discussion Guide

 

 

1 Fear is the word that best adequately describes Virtue's immediate reaction to seeing Mitchell for the first time in seven years. How realistic is it that she would still be afraid after so many years?

2 Were there clear, unmistakable signs that Chris should have discerned as inappropriate where Lisa's attraction to Mitchell was concerned or do you think she masked them well enough for her fiancé to be fooled?

3 Had Mitchell chosen to go directly to Chris and tell him of his encounter with Lisa, do you think it would have lessened Chris's anger toward him? Do you think Chris would have believed him?

4 Was Beverly too passive about the loss of her husband to another woman or was she right to release her unfaithful husband without a long-term fight?

5 Renee Bell tested Beverly's Christianity to no end. Was Beverly wrong when she finally reacted to Renee's taunting?

6 What do you think of Mitchell's family's reaction to Isaac's and Kate's deaths? Were they justified in blaming and excommunicating him?

7. Should Virtue have left Mitchell permanently after he struck her the first time, or was she right to give him a second chance, only to be hit again?

8 Both Virtue and Mitchell sought professional help for their respective issues. How important do you think that was for their total healing?

9 How did you feel about Virtue's choice not to visit her incarcerated father?

10 What was your reaction to Fynn's determination to hold on to the ritualistic beliefs of his father and grandfather?

11 Do you feel that Pastor Bradley's decision to remove Fynn from his position as youth pastor was too harsh? Why or why not?

12 Chris immediately chose to take sides with the woman he loved over his best friend. In your opinion, is that the stance that a man or woman of God should take when put in this situation? Why or why not?

13 For a moment, Mitchell lost sight of God during Lisa's last ploy to snag him and almost fell into temptation. What are your thoughts concerning his momentary weakness?

14 In your imagination, what do you think became of Mitchell's and Chris's partnership/friendship? Do you think it ever returned to its former state?

15 Did you like the story's ending? Why or why not?

16 Who was your favorite and least favorite character? Explain.

17 Was there any part of the story you would have changed? If so, which part?

18 It is estimated that a woman is battered every nine seconds. Why, do you think, that even in the twenty-first century, domestic violence is still such a taboo subject within the walls of many establishments (including churches)?

19 Domestic violence is categorized as any coercive behavior that is used by one person over another in an intimate relationship. It comes in many forms: physical (beatings), threats (verbal), sexual (rape), economic (forcibly taking away money), and psychological (mind games). Take a moment and discuss cases that you may be aware of.

20 The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE. Please pass it along to anyone you feel may be in need.

 

 

Acknowledgments

 

 

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:18)

 

Heavenly Father
, my cup overflows with Your favor and Your grace and I don't have the time or the space to truly give thanks for everything You have provided. Thank You for my husband,
Jonathan
, who takes the meanings of pride and provision to a whole new level, and my babies,
Brittney
and
Crystal
, who have now grown into beautiful, gifted teenagers that You have already begun using for Your glory. Thank You for my parents,
Bishop H.H. & Mrs. Francine Norman
and my siblings,
Crystal (Albert), Harold (Gloria), Cynthia (Terry),
and
Kimberly
for giving me the kind of love and support that could never be bartered, bought, or borrowed. Thank You for the encouraging members of the
Holmes
and
Bellamy
families and for the love of my lifelong godparents,
Aunt Joyce
and
Uncle Irvin
. Though I only birthed two children, I thank You, Lord, for the growing list of young lives You've added to my existence in the form of godchildren:
Mildred, Jon-Jon, Courtney, LaMonte,
and
Cayla.
Thank You for my “bestest cousin” and associate publicist,
Terrance
. It's not possible to list all the invaluable support he provides; but Lord, You know. Thank you for
Heather, Gloria,
and
Deborah
, who have been my closest girlfriends since childhood and with whom You still allow me to share a strong personal and spiritual bond. Thank You for the emotional flowing gracefulness of
Brenda Nelson
(TGCC), who inspired the profession of this book's heroine. Thank You for the birth and expansion of
KNB Publications, LLC,
and the literary family You've given me through the
Writer's Hut.
Thank You for all of the
book clubs
(too many to name) that have surrounded me with impassioned support and especially for
Circle of Friends XI
, for welcoming me into their reading family with open arms. Thank You for
Lisa
(Papered Wonders, Inc.) and
Dama
(God's Butterflies Ministries), the sisters You placed in my life especially for those times when I need a prayer partner and spiritual support system, and for
Jamill & Shunda
(Booking Matters, Inc), who've promoted me from the start of my career. Thank You for
Victoria, Jacquelin, Tia, Vanessa, Toschia, Deborha, Tanya, Eric, Hank, Travis, Jihad, Keith, Carl,
and
Maurice
, the fellow authors who take the time to encourage me the most. Thank You for my dynamic publicist and agent,
Rhonda
and
Carlton
, respectively, without whom this journey would be much tougher; and for every
reader
who has embraced the books that You have given me to pen. Thank You, Lord, for the years of divine support You've supplied me through
Revival Church Ministries
(where my father is founder and overseer) and most recently, my spiritual home away from home,
Total Grace Christian Center
and its leaders,
Bishop Johnathan & Pastor Toni Alvarado
as I fellowship with them regularly. Finally, thank You for the phenomenal vocals of
Brian, Fantasia,
and
John
that helped me avoid writer's block during the course of crafting this story; and the anointed vocals of
Fred, BeBe,
and
Smokie
, that kept me inspired and reminded of why I do what I do. It is in Your name, Lord, that I give thanks for all of these and other blessings. Amen.