Faithful (33 page)

“Amen.” Cyd sat back and took in the sight of him. No, this wasn't a whirlwind romance. Their feet were firmly planted, their minds set on honoring God. Though she had to admit her
heart
was doing a little whirl. The more time she spent getting to know Cedric, the more she dared to hope . . .

C
EDRIC PICKED CYD
up for church, and the minute they hopped out of his car, directly in her line of vision, she saw her parents.

Great
.

Her mother in particular would have all kinds of questions. She had told Cyd a few days after the wedding—in her motherly warning way—that she needed to steer clear of Cedric. “His hands were all over you on that dance floor,” she'd said, “like he wanted to undress you. With his girlfriend a few feet away, no less!”

Cyd was at once embarrassed and defensive. “How do you know that was his girlfriend?”

“Cyd, he brought the young lady to the rehearsal and dinner, and to the wedding. But then he ignores her at the reception and dances with you like he wants to take you to bed.”

Cyd had assured her mother she had nothing to worry about, that there was nothing between her and Cedric. Now they were showing up at church together, early Sunday morning. Her mother took immediate notice, lifting her head their way, but thankfully, she and Bruce were engaged in conversation with others. Cyd tossed a quick wave and headed toward the main entrance doors.

Cedric slowed behind her. “But I wanted to meet your parents.”

Cyd kept walking. “Didn't you meet them at the wedding?”

“Yeah, but I wanted to meet them again. You know, now that we're getting to know one another.”

“Oh. Well, maybe if we see them after church.” Cyd hoped they wouldn't. She wanted time to explain that this was not the same Cedric.

She found herself in the same predicament at the pew. Everyone was present—Scott and Dana, Stephanie and Lindell, even Phyllis was on time. Scott and Lindell smiled with their eyes; the women questioned with theirs. Cyd knew she couldn't put it off. She needed to update everyone on the leaps her heart had taken in just the past week. When her mother made a beeline for her after the service, Cyd corralled all the women right then for a quick confab in the fellowship area.

The women poured coffee or hot water for tea from the carafes in the café-style section of the church. Once the five of them were seated at a round pedestal table with high stool chairs, Cyd addressed their waiting stares.

“Well,” she said, “I wanted to tell you all at the same time that Cedric and I are seeing each other.”

“That's pretty obvious,” Stephanie said, dipping her tea bag. “I'm waiting to hear why. Like, maybe you flipped your lid or something.”

“I wouldn't have put it quite like that,” Claudia said, “but I must say I was rather surprised to see the two of you riding to church together this morning.”

Stephanie's eyes got wide. “I didn't know you
rode
together.” She leaned in and tried to whisper, as if no one could hear. “Did he spend the night?”

“Oh, Stephanie, please,” Dana said. She took a sip of coffee and sneaked a peek at Cyd, as if to make sure Stephanie wasn't right.

“Okay, that's why we're here,” Cyd said, “to clear up all confusion. Here's the deal in a nutshell . . .”

Cyd told them about the Botanical Garden, the white roses on campus, the long conversations they'd been having, and their desire to do things God's way.

“I can't believe all that's been happening, and you didn't say anything,” Dana said. “And I can't believe Scott kept it a secret.”

Cyd smiled and looked a few tables away, where Scott, Lindell, and Cedric were having a confab of their own. “I didn't want to say anything at first. I had so many questions myself. But after this morning, I had to.”

“So you think he's really changed, huh?” Stephanie sounded doubtful. “I guess it
is
kind of interesting that he won't come inside your house since all this happened.”

Cyd shared that when he picked her up and dropped her off on Friday, he said his hello and good-bye on the doorstep. Same this morning. For now anyway, he said he needed big-time boundaries and didn't want to come inside.

Dana held her cup. “But, Cyd, you always said you wanted a Caleb or a Joshua, a strong man of God. Cedric's a baby Christian. Not quite what you had in mind.”

Phyllis had been quietly drinking her tea, but now she spoke up. “We have our own picture of what we want, but it's not always what God has in mind for us. I can tell you this. I would love it if Hayes were a baby Christian. At least he'd be in the kingdom.”

“Well said, Phyllis.” Claudia nodded thoughtfully. “Cyd, I wouldn't have chosen Cedric for you, but that goes to show how much I know. God had His own plan, and it's wonderful to hear what He's doing in Cedric's life. If He has a plan for the two of you, I believe that will be wonderful as well. I'll be praying.”

Cyd's heart skipped with joy.

“I guess you can thank me,” Stephanie said. “If I hadn't married Lindell, you wouldn't have met Cedric.” She chuckled. “Wouldn't it be wild if we ended up married to brothers?”

Cyd held up her hand. “I'm not even going there. One day at a time is all I can do.”

“I'm happy for you, Cyd.” Phyllis got down from her stool and came to give her a hug.

Dana came around and hugged her as well. “I'm happy for you too. Cedric better act right, or he'll have me to contend with.”

“I know that's right.” Stephanie stood and shook a fist his way.

Cedric spread his arms and mouthed, “What?”

Stephanie laughed and waved him off, turning back to Cyd. “Honestly, Cyd, he does seem different. Just in the way he was looking at you today and deferring to you. I'm hoping it works out.”

Claudia hugged her last. “We'll have to have him over so we can get to know him.”

Two weeks later Cedric joined the Sanders family for Thanksgiving, arriving with two bouquets of flowers. One was a beautiful arrangement for Claudia filled with assorted colors, which she dressed immediately in a vase and set on the dining room table. The other was for Cyd, another dozen roses. “These,” he told her, “are yellow for the close friendship we've developed. I don't know what I would do without you.”

Cyd was beginning to wonder the same thing.

Twenty-six

I
T WAS CHRISTMAS
Eve and Phyllis wasn't in the best of moods, and not because of problems with Hayes. Things bordered on better between them. Since her trip to Chicago last month, she had put her focus on the one area she and Hayes had a shared love for—their family.

She'd made a big deal of instituting a family game night and a family movie night where they popped popcorn and ate other junk that made the evening fun. They also watched family videos, which made Hayes beam because he always said they never took time to enjoy all the footage he recorded. They wondered aloud why they hadn't, since these were funnier than any comedy movie they'd ever watched. They laughed so much their stomachs hurt at the antics Hayes had caught on film.

When she and Hayes were alone, she worked to keep the light mood by talking about the children, goings-on at school, things Ella was learning. She took a renewed interest in Hayes, too, asking about work and showing enthusiasm in whatever interested him. Hayes even commented that the getaway had done her good.

The mention of it had grieved her anew. When she thought of how close she'd come . . . Only through her time with God could she put it all behind her. And it was those early mornings that gave her renewed strength to press on in her marriage, come what may.

But now she was talking to Him for a different reason, trying to prepare her heart for her mother-in-law's visit. Evelyn would arrive today from Memphis. As close as she lived, they only saw her once every other year at Christmas, and in the years she didn't come for Christmas, she'd come for Mother's Day. They were always quick visits—three days tops. That was about all Hayes could tolerate. And while she was there, he was always on edge. Tense and moody.

It put a damper on Phyllis's spirits just thinking about it. She didn't want their home to have that cloud again, not when things had been going fairly well. But she knew it was coming.

Lord, I probably shouldn't pray this, but if Evelyn decides at the last minute that she can't come for whatever reason, let it be so. It would be nice to have peace this Christmas. That's what I'm praying for, Lord. Peace
.

Evelyn called not an hour later to confirm her flight arrival time, and by midmorning Phyllis was negotiating airport holiday traffic. She pulled into the cell phone lot, and when Evelyn gave word that she'd landed and was leaving baggage claim, Phyllis headed to passenger pickup. She spotted Evelyn in a black wool coat near the curb and squeezed the van right in front of her. With the car in park, Phyllis jumped out to help Evelyn with her single piece of luggage.

“Hi, Evelyn!” She hugged her. “So glad you made it safely.”

Evelyn's smile was kind. “Me too. It's good to see you, Phyllis.” She handed Phyllis her bag, and Phyllis hoisted it into the trunk.

Phyllis hadn't seen her in more than a year, and it struck her that Evelyn looked better. Her hair was layered short, the gray alive and lustrous. And even with the coat, Phyllis could tell she was smaller around the middle. Even had on a touch of makeup.

Evelyn was never chatty. Phyllis had the feeling she held back on purpose. Maybe she thought Hayes had shared whatever caused them to be estranged—which he hadn't. The dynamic was always awkward.

Evelyn buckled in and faced forward. She glanced at Phyllis. “I can't wait to see my grandbabies. How are they doing?”

Phyllis pulled out into traffic. “They're fine, can't wait to see you. You won't believe how big they are.”

“I couldn't believe the school pictures you sent me,” Evelyn said. “Cole looks like a real young man now, and Drew and Sean have lost all their baby fat.” She smiled. “You know I can't wait to see little Miss Ella. She was a newborn when I saw her last.”

Phyllis felt a sadness upon hearing that. Evelyn had to want a closer relationship with her grandkids, maybe have them visit. But she would never ask.

When traffic stalled, Phyllis turned to her. “You're looking really good, Evelyn, like you lost weight. What have you been doing?”

“Thank you,” she said, glancing politely at Phyllis. “I started walking. Nothing fancy. Just around the neighborhood.”

“Really?” Phyllis smiled as she waited in a long line of cars to exit the airport. “Good for you. I like to walk myself.” She tapped the accelerator to inch ahead. “Looks like you cut your hair a little different too. It's sharp.”

Evelyn patted the back of her hair. If Phyllis wasn't imagining things, she almost blushed. “I do like it like this. I wanted to try something new.”

“Wow. Exercise, new haircut. You don't have a boyfriend, do you?” Phyllis chuckled to let her know she was teasing. She hoped Evelyn wouldn't take offense.

Evelyn played with the gloves in her hand. “I might as well tell you now. I did meet someone.” She gave the slight smile of a schoolgirl with a crush.

Phyllis snapped her head in Evelyn's direction. “Really? Oh my goodness!” She slammed on the brake when she noticed traffic had stopped again. “You mind telling me about him?”

“No, I don't mind,” Evelyn said, still playing with the gloves. “I met him when he moved into the neighborhood to be closer to his children and grandchildren. He's the one I've been walking with.” She looked over at Phyllis. “Might as well tell you this now, too, and get it out of the way. We're getting married.”

“What?” This was too much information to handle at once. Phyllis turned left and headed toward the highway. What was Hayes going to say?

Evelyn was reading her mind. “I know Hayes won't really care.” She was looking down again. “He doesn't care about much of anything I do.”

Sadness settled again over Phyllis. They'd never discussed anything this personal, never touched on the rift between her and her son. Phyllis dared to go with the flow of the conversation. “I guess it's painful, the relationship between you two.”

Evelyn stared out the passenger window. “It hurts more than you know.”

Quiet engulfed the car as Phyllis veered onto 70 East and stayed in the far right lane to take the highway toward Clayton. There was so much she wanted to say, so much she wanted to ask, but she didn't know whether she should.

Finally she said, “Evelyn, I think I might know a little about how you feel. My own relationship with Hayes has been painful at times. I'm wondering if you can help me understand him.”

Evelyn looked at Phyllis, clearly surprised. “I always thought things were fine between you two.”

“They were, until a few years ago.” Phyllis kept her eyes on the road. “When I became a Christian.”

Evelyn stared in wonder. “I've been praying for you and Hayes for years, that you would know the Lord.”

Though she was going top speed on the highway, Phyllis met Evelyn's gaze with shocked eyes. “You're a believer too?”

Evelyn nodded. “Nine years ago.” She shook her head in disbelief. “How could we not have known this about each other?”

Simple, Phyllis thought. Hayes had said long ago that Evelyn didn't attend church, so when she came at Christmas, Phyllis and the boys stayed home for her and Hayes's sake. Because Phyllis avoided spiritual talk around the house, Evelyn never had reason to know. And neither had Phyllis known about Evelyn.

Evelyn turned toward Phyllis. “So tell me about Hayes.”

Phyllis didn't know where to start. “It's been difficult because Hayes is so hostile to anything related to God. And he doesn't like to talk about his childhood much either. I just wondered if you might be able to shed some light on why he's this way.”