No Wasted Tears (2 page)

It was odd, really. Destiny couldn’t remember feeling so weak before she’d gotten involved with Stanley. How often had her aunt commented on her strong-will and determination? Since Stanley had come into her life, she felt like she was slowly crumbling on the inside. It was time to reinvent herself, she still had some fight
left.

After turning on the porch light, she crept outside, listening carefully just in case Stanley hadn’t driven off. Who would have imagined that she would have to creep around the house in fear? She found herself laughing at the farcicality of her life, leaving the front porch she went into the front yard taking a moment to look around for any signs of trouble. Their neighborhood had always been quiet, filled with elegant homes and respectable families. Stanley had a closed mind when it came to their gated community because he always felt it kept out the rift
raft.

Still with all of its luxury, Destiny felt they lived in an elegant mausoleum instead of a home. Moving over to the window, she placed the house key where she told her uncle Willie it would be hidden. Turning her eyes away from the house she looked up to heaven, Destiny stood there for only a moment before she heard the voice of Holy Spirit speak to her, “home can only be found in the peace of God.” The familiar voice caused chills to run down her spine. The same soft, gentle voice had often called to her when she was alone and feeling down trodden. It comforted her, even if it was just a trick of her imagination, because she wasn’t as strong in faith as she needed to be, people saw her smile, never recognizing the pain it was hiding. The voice was her only respite, and she needed it. She went back inside the living room to wait for her uncle. Sitting only for a few minutes, she found herself stretching out on the sofa to relax but instead groaned with unbearable pain because it still hurt to
move.

Willie controlled his irritation as he watched Destiny through the window. How many times had he told her to call him if she ever found herself in trouble? And yet, she constantly insisted that she could handle her problems with Stanley by herself. With Destiny, he found that he was on edge most of the time, because she constantly took risks. His irritation with those risks was the cause of the few arguments they had. She called him Uncle Willie but refused to allow him to interfere with her relationship with Stanley. Needless to say he was surprised when she called and asked for his help. He silently praised God for her deciding to leave him. Maybe it was his fatherly instincts but he had always suspected Stanley had physically abused
her.

Chagrined by the look of fear he saw on her face, he reached for the key that she had hidden for him on the window seal. Unlocking the door he pushed it open, silently thanking God for his little spy. Sara, Destiny’s aunt, kept him abreast of everything that occurred in her niece’s life. When he stepped inside, she sat up on the sofa, recognition and relief chased each other across her facial expression and a hint of some other emotion. Sadness? Tension? Or
relief?

“Uncle Willie, we need to move quickly, we don’t have much time,” she rushed on to say, wrenching as she grabbed her purse and keys from the coffee
table.

Yep, tension. Maybe even irritation. He had to suppress an expletive. He just prayed that Stanley hadn’t hit her. He watched with concern as she moved around slowly making sure she had everything she
needed.

“I saw the lights come on and knew that was my code for the coast being clear. But just as precautionary measure, I double check to make sure there was no signs of him as the taxi pulled into the drive.” He shook his head at how different she’d become because she was once an aggravatingly independent young woman who visited him often with his niece from college. She’d never admit it but he knew in his heart of hearts that this new aspect of her character, vulnerability, was an annoyance to
her.

“Need some help?” he asked, wanting to do something other than just standing by idly watching her. She hesitated, glancing toward the door. He could read her thoughts. The sooner they got out of here the better, so he began moving toward the front door. Instead after having a second thought he asked, “Why don’t I make sure your bags are situated in the trunk of the
car?”

“Okay, but let me help you with that,” she said, moving to follow him in the opposite direction toward the garage. Willie didn’t know what was going on but upon opening the door to the garage they found her car was missing. Maybe she had changed her plans; he’d prayed she hadn’t. So he asked, “Where’s your car? What’s going
on?”

Destiny glanced into the garage and that’s when Willie saw a slight frown, which caused her brows to arch. Something about this situation seemed to have disturbed her. “He took my car. I can’t believe he took it.” He knew from the tension in her voice that she was perturbed. He understood because he’d felt that way on several occasions it was as if every devil in hell was waging a war against
you.

“What do you need me to do?” He asked with anxiousness and concern, willing to do anything she
needed.

“I’ve already taken care of all the necessities, and if he hasn’t taken his extra set of keys, I’ll take his car and make the switch,” she answered him as she rummaged through a drawer in the kitchen. Pulling them out she turned to him with relief written on her facial
expression.

“So do you think he suspects
anything?”

“I doubt it. I know he’ll be drinking with his friends for a couple of hours, but if he is inebriated enough, maybe he won’t check the trunk alerting him that something fishy may be going
on.”

“Then we need to hurry.” He picked up her purse, watching her
closely.

She was hesitating, nibbling on her lower lip. Something he knew she did often when she was nervous.
Please, God, let
us be able to get h
er out of here
safel
y
.

“Destiny, let’s get out of here; there is not much time left.” It was then that he saw she’d processed every detail of what he was saying because her face suddenly changed from one of defeat to determination; it seemed to pull her back to reality. Looking over at the SUV that he never allowed her to drive, she moved toward it. Getting in, she put her keys in the ignition. He followed and got in on the passenger’s side. After he closed the door, she started the engine, and they were on their
way.

Twenty minutes later, falling rain pelted the SUV with big drops, and it was impossible to see more than a few inches ahead. The traffic had slowed to a crawl in order for everyone to navigate the streets safely in the rain. As she drove, he noticed other vehicles had completely stopped. That was not an option for them. Destiny stated earlier that she knew where he was, and that she was going to stop at the restaurant and make the switch with the car, he would then drive her car to the South Carolina port as they had planned so that it could be shipped to
Seattle.

Turning into Charlie’s Bar and Grill, he saw the full parking lot. He heard her take a deep calming breath; he assumed it was because there were no visible people outside. After pulling up to her car she got out and he followed suit. They both were careful not to make any unnecessary noise. Checking the trunk to make sure he had not seen the suitcase was their first objective. After a quick inspection, he closed the trunk as easily as he could without being seen or heard. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a lone figure approaching. Bending down, they pretended to be looking for something on the ground. Glory to God, they walked past. She put her key in the lock and got in. It was so easy. Pulling her car out of its parking space, he pulled Stanley’s in its place, leaving the key in the seat. Then, joining her, they began to drive out of the parking
lot.

It was then that they saw Stanley walking out of the restaurant surrounded by a group of his friends. Staying to watch the fireworks was not their priority. She had to make her flight, and there was only an hour and forty-five minutes left. The traffic had gotten better and was moving faster. Finally he saw a smile grace her face. Reaching over he grabbed her hand giving it a gentle squeeze. They had done it. After checking her in curbside and saying their goodbyes, he watched her go through the sliding glass doors. Driving off he said, “
Thank you, Lord. Y
ou make hard things
easy.”

Destiny found a seat in the waiting area. Holding her hands tightly in her lap, she tried to remain calm. The events of the day were catching up with her with lightning speed. She took a few slow, deep, breaths and let them out, hoping they would begin the boarding process soon. The fear of being caught lingered on her mind. If she let it, Destiny knew, it would take over completely. All she desired was to be on that plane, but because they had another fifteen minutes before the boarding process she kept herself occupied by people watching. There were mothers pointing things out to their children, chatting mindlessly about the plane and all its features. Even with all of the activity around her, she could sense someone’s presence near her, that awareness caused
prickles along her skin. Turning, she saw a young lady with her head wrapped in a beautiful scarf that looked away just as she turned to see who was watching. She had what looked like a computer of some kind in her lap and her hands were moving quickly across its keys. Maybe she hadn’t been staring at her after all. It was just as well because she didn’t want to be recognized by anyone who could possibly know Stanley. Destiny stiffened, upset by the nature of her own thoughts…Stanley. No, she refused to think of Stanley, after all of her months of planning, this uncontrollable fear of him was causing her to doubt. Surely she was tougher than that? God had not given her the spirit of fear. Although all of this was a new experience for her, things had gone pretty much as planned expect for the mishap with the car, and still she and Willie manage to get to the airport on time. Her gaze wandered back to the young lady seated across from her, who now appeared to be busy on her computer tapping the keys with the speed of a
gazelle.

Destiny couldn’t look away, even when she looked up. Her gaze settled on the face of the woman, and there was such sadness in her eyes that it caused her to wonder at her purpose for traveling to Seattle. Destiny could not look away…and neither could the other woman. They stared at each other, and Destiny felt a connection. She seemed oddly familiar but she couldn’t place her. Then her expression softened. Her lips formed a slight smile before she looked back at her computer. Destiny sagged against her seat. She was tired, but also amazed and unnerved by how affected she’d been by a simple
look.

The flight would be leaving in just a few minutes, and she was becoming antsy waiting to board. There was something about that woman. She knew her and she was absolutely certain of that, but for now all her concentration had to be on getting to Seattle. It made her nervous not knowing where she knew her from but she’d remember if not now, maybe later after she was on the plane. Thinking about this now was ridiculous because, while South Carolina certainly held many painful memories, Destiny didn’t have that many friends she wouldn’t recognize when she saw them, nor did Stanley. Just thinking of Stanley, of everything that had happened, made her feel dizzy, and she forced herself to push it away. She couldn’t wait to say one day that it was a lifetime ago. A lifetime she’d never forget. And a mistake she’d never make again…and certainly not with anyone like Stanley. Straightening, Destiny turned to face the boarding attendant. It was time to start her new
life.