Facing Redemption (18 page)

Chastity almost dropped her glass in her lap.  “What?  Mom?  When?  When would she have had time?  We were moving every time we settled in someplace new!”

“You think she never explored her options?  And took a chance on love?”  Cheryl asked incredulously.

Chastity’s blank look said it all.

“Remember when your mom’s job took you two to the east coast, right before the two of you fled to Alabama?”

“Yeah, that was when John Mikale ran into my mom and then my mother packed up and started our life on the run.”

“Why do you think you two were in North Carolina?  It wasn’t just for a promotion with the restaurant group.”

Kylie had been a restaurant trainer, which kept both Kylie and Chastity moving every couple of years.  She had received a bigger territory when Chastity was seven, taking them to the east coast. 

“I was too young to remember any differently Cheryl.  She had someone?”  Chastity sat in awe of this newfound information on her mother.

“Yes.  His name was Graham.  Do you remember the floral arrangement at your mother’s funeral without a card?”

“How could I not?  There were just a handful of flower bouquets there that day.  And I knew whom they were all from except that one.  And it was the most exquisite arrangement of exotic flowers I’ve ever seen.  It must have cost a bundle!”  Chastity stopped.  “It was from him?  How do you know?  It had no name on it.”
             
“I know.  I know he would have been there in person if he could, but he’d moved on … started his own family.”  Cheryl said with a knowing look.  “The flowers were from him.”

“So he, and my mother?  They were?”

“Your mother had issues but she wasn’t an ice queen.”

Chastity was mid drink, and spewed most of it out before coughing.  “What are you saying?”

“Remember the weekend I came and stayed with you, before you lived in Alabama.”

“You came to visit a lot.”

“Uh-huh.  But this was the time I came and stayed with you.  We were by ourselves.  You didn’t think it odd that your mother was gone then because we got to hang out – just us two? Just where do you think she went?”

“I was too young to remember.”

“Anyways, she and Graham were getting pretty serious and he took her away for the weekend.”  Cheryl shrugged.  “They were in love.”

“Aw, Cheryl.  Mom was in love?”  Chastity touched her hand over her heart.

“Yes.  Unfortunately within a week’s time, the Mikale family had discovered you and your mom.  And although Graham didn’t understand why Kylie didn’t stay and fight it out, with him…he helped you guys pack and move on.”

“I do remember someone helping us!  I thought it was just a friendly neighbor!”

“It was.  He lived in the apartment down the hall from you all.  Your mom and he moved to the same complex to live near each other.”

“And did they stay in touch?  After we moved?”

“They tried … but your mom got so scattered.  Her stress level went way up in trying to keep you two hidden … it just wasn’t conducive to any kind of relationship.  He eventually found someone else and married, but he never got over your mom.  And your mom never got over him.”

“That breaks my heart.”

“It did hers too, but time heals all wounds honey.  And she had you to focus on.  Would you believe that Graham called me each year, for Kylie’s birthday, to ask me how she was doing?”

“Oh my gosh!  I can’t believe I never knew!  And they had a weekend together and you’re thinking you can lecture me?  Timothy and I haven’t even gone there!”  Chastity laughed.

Cheryl gave a throaty laugh and lifted her eyebrow.  “Look, just because your mom was young and in love once doesn’t mean her choices were right.  I’m proud of you for sticking to your values.”

“I’m a big girl Auntie.”

“Yes, you are.  Look – you’re not going to go to Hell for having sex.  The Bible doesn’t say you’re condemned for it, but it warns against it heavily as it leads you into some murky waters.  If you’re not married and you’re experimenting …  things can get confusing – especially if you get pregnant.”

Chastity laughed.  “Whoa!  Aunt Cheryl!  That’s T.M.I.”

“Okay.  I’m just telling you.  That it can complicate things when God isn’t the center of your relationship, and He strongly warns against adultery.”

“What if we’re engaged?”  Chastity quickly asked.

“Do you know something I don’t?” Cheryl eyes widened.

“No.  He’s not asked me … yet.  I think we’re on the same page.  I hope we are.

I mean, we’ve talked about our future but we’ve never talked specifics.  But what if we we’re betrothed to be man and wife?  And although mom’s letter gave me the spiritual push I needed to start praying again, I’m not sure where I fall on the path of religion.”

“I don’t like the R word … never have.  I am not going to preach at you.  I’m just giving you my two cents. But for what it’s worth, religion isn’t what it’s about.”

“Then what is it about?”  Chastity honestly wanted to know.  She wanted to find the peace her mother did, and find out for herself how it worked.

“It’s about seeking a relationship with Jesus.  It’s about having honest conversations with him.  It’s about loving him in your heart above anything else.”  Cheryl took Chastity’s hand.  “I know it’s hard to imagine at your age that anything could ever happen to you, but if it did you need to know where you’d end up … like your mother knew.” 

Chastity’s eyes threatened to tear but she held it in.  “But what if I don’t know how?”

Cheryl smiled.  “That’s the beauty of it Chaz.  You just have to believe in your heart that Jesus is there with you at all times, because He is … watching out for you.  And if you don’t know how to do the rest, then find a church home.  I promise you … God will talk to you.  He’s going to help you find the way … even if you don’t know how.  Ask for wisdom, and He’ll give it to you.”

Chastity smiled and nodded.  Cheryl pulled Chastity into a hug and squealed, “I can’t believe our baby Chaz is thinking about marriage!”  Cheryl withdrew from their embrace to find Chastity smiling brighter than she’d seen for a very long time. 

“This is the guy, huh?”   Cheryl asked.

Chastity nodded and couldn’t keep from smiling ear to ear.

Chapter 27

The last thing he wanted to do was to walk back into his dad’s hospital room.  It smelled sterile and felt cold.  He opened the door to the ICU and started toward his dad’s room.  He smiled at the attending nurse at the desk, and rounded the corner. 

Mr. Banks room was two doors down.  Timothy was thankful he didn’t have to pass down the long row of rooms on either side.  Seeing all the patients hooked up, with their loved ones sitting somberly by their sides, was more than he could take.  Hospitals weren’t his thing, and it was like torture stepping through these halls.  At least last night he was in so much shock over his dad, it didn’t register too much – but today … today was even harder. 

He could kick himself for engulfing himself into the only remedy he had last night … Chastity.  He couldn’t believe he almost let himself use her like that.  He should have been a bigger man and owned up to his anxiety.
Banks!  You know better than that!

Timothy started into his dad’s room, and lifted his arm to push the curtain back from his dad’s bed.

“Good morning …” Timothy’s whispered voice trailed off.  “What the?”

Timothy confused, turned to survey the hallway, scanning the rooms around him.  The person in the bed wasn’t his father, and now not only was his anxiety high from standing in what was supposed to be his dad’s room but he was now worried about where his dad was.   He quickly crossed the lobby of the ICU and approached the nurse behind the counter.

             
“Excuse me, ma’am?”  He urgently asked.

             
The nurse looked up, benign to Timothy’s anxiety.  As a veteran in the ICU, she knew not to react to panic.  There were no alarms going off at her station, which let her know everyone in her care were stable.

             
“Can I help you young man?”  She asked with a tight smile.

             
“Yes, my father?  The name is Banks?  He was in that room?”  Timothy motioned the corner.  “And now someone else is?  Is he? Where?”  Timothy stammered.

             
The nurse patiently nodded.  “Yes, Mr. Banks.  Don’t worry.  He’s fine.  He’s been moved to a regular care room downstairs.”

             
Timothy stared blankly.

             
“That means … that he doesn’t need to be in ICU anymore.  He’s better and recovered enough to be in a regular room … downstairs.”  The nurse motioned to the exit doors.  “You can head to the elevator, push number three, and find the nurse’s station as you exit the elevator.  They’ll help you from there.”  The nurse smiled in dismissal.

             
Timothy ran his hand through his hair and looked toward the doors.  “Thank you.  I guess.”  His voiced trailed off as he turned to walk away. 

Timothy felt worn thin, but was hopeful about his father’s improved condition.  On the elevator, he tried calling his mom with no avail.  Her cell went straight to voicemail.

             
When Timothy entered the third floor anyone could see he was in a slight panic, as his eyes searched the room for the nurses station.  Timothy’s eyes finally landed on the nurse’s station and he rushed up to the counter.

             
“Um ma’am?”  He started in.

             
“Whoa.  Breathe.”  The nurse giggled.  “It’s going to be okay.  If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were here expecting a baby and looking for your wife – but I don’t work in the maternity ward anymore.”

             
Timothy slowed and smiled.  At least this nurse cared enough to take time for him.  “I’m sorry.  I was just up in the ICU where my dad was last night, and my mom isn’t answering her cell,” Timothy rambled.

             
“Okay sweetie.  What’s the name?”

             
“Banks.”  He slowed and breathed for what felt like the first time since stepping in the hospital.

             
The nurse looked at her computer, and scrolled through some information.  “Yes, he’s right down that hallway, in room 245B.  He just returned from some tests.  Maybe that’s why your mom didn’t answer her cell?”  The nurse offered. She did a quick look to his left hand. 
No ring.

             
“Thank you. I appreciate your help.  You guys are much better equipped to deal with family up here than the last nurse I just battled with … I mean dealt with.”  Timothy’s face relaxed.  He looked to her hospital badge.  “Nurse Henski?  Did I pronounce that right?”

“Pretty good, you came close.”  She sweetly smiled, and looked down to her workstation. Her shift was over and it had been a slow morning. If the conversation continued, she’d planned on writing her number down on a sticky for him, but by the time she could grab a pen and look back up for more banter, any hopes of flirting were walking away.  She watched him walk down the long hallway and dropped her pen back in place. 

“Henski.”  The head nurse on duty rounded the counter.  “Your shift is up.  Turn in your closing paperwork and stop flirting with the patient’s family.” 

“I know.  Can’t blame a girl for trying though.  He was pretty cute and no ring,” she replied. Nurse Henski snuck one more look down the hallway before she saw her missed opportunity turn the corner.

             
Timothy quickly found the room and pushed through the door.  His mom was sitting in the chair smiling at his dad.  His dad was sitting up in his bed, alert and awake.  The difference in is father was a miracle.

             
“Hey I almost took you for dead last night,” Timothy joked walking around to his dad’s bedside. “It’s good to see you’re up and at em sir.”

             
“It’s good to be here.”  Mr. Banks said slightly slurred.

             
“How is he?”  He looked to his mom.  Before she could speak, Mr. Banks interrupted.

             
“I’m fine.”  He said with a grouchy tone.

             
Timothy and his mom laughed in sync.  “I know you’ve got to be feeling better now.”  Timothy laughed back at his dad.  It was music to his ears, and a real sign of health to see that his dad had a spitfire spirit enough to get upset when he was talked over instead of to.

             
“Good morning folks.  I’m Dr. Sinclair and I’m in charge of your dad’s care today.”  Everyone turned toward the 30-something Doctor.   He looked young enough to still be in college, let alone already in med school or out of residency.  Timothy’s eyes shot up at his mom and she smiled wanly.