What God Has For Me (14 page)

“Ah, have you and Halcyon spoken about this
“talk”? My baby is in a good place. She’s happy and in love. It
wasn’t easy for her to get there, and when she saw the children’s
father a while back… well, I don’t want to see her upset—not now,
not again.”

If Halcyon couldn’t get closure, Zachary was
determined to get his. “I need to know his intentions.”

“He has none,” Mrs. Holland snapped, then
apologized. “Sorry, sweetie. That scum rubs me the wrong way… a
sorry excuse for a man and a father.” She
tsk
ed.

“Well, I have some intentions and they
involve adopting Ashanti and Jonathan. This is not about
permission, but stepping up to the plate, so will you give me his
contact information? I promise there will be no drama, unless he
starts it.” Zachary prayed there wouldn’t be.

“All I know is he last worked at a brokerage
firm in Mid-town.” Mrs. Holland gave him the name.

“That’s a start, and please don’t mention
this to Bridget.”

“I can’t promise that, sweetie, but I promise
I will be praying that God’s will—His
perfect
will—shall be
done, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

“Amen.” Leave it to Mrs. Holland to sneak a
prayer in there. Then to test his patience, his future
mother-in-law wanted to chat about how beautiful his bride would be
in her wedding dress. Zachary already knew that, but he indulged
her until he could respectfully beg off the phone. Once they said
goodbye, he took a deep breath and prayed, “Lord, in the end, let
my actions not make you ashamed, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Remaining outside away from prying ears,
Zachary called Frankel & Associates Investments. When the
receptionist answered, he asked for Scott Taylor and was
transferred without having to identify himself.

“This is Scott.”

“This is Zachary Bishop.”

“Pardon me, who?”

“The man you saw with Halcyon at the mall not
long ago.” Zachary waited for it to click. Hopefully, he hadn’t
erased that moment from his memory too.

“Listen, man,” Scott lowered his voice. “I
don’t want or have time for any drama. Halcyon and I are done,” he
spat.

Resist the devil, resist him in My
name
, Jesus whispered reassuring words.

Zachary took a deep breath before responding.
“And that is what I was counting on, because if that is the case I
would like to adopt your children—Ashanti and Jonathan.”

“Jonathan,” Scott repeated. There was a long
pause. “So that’s my son’s name—I forgot.”

Lord, keep me in Your will, because the
devil is pushing my buttons
. “If we can meet today after
wor—”

“Not today,” Scott interrupted. “I’ve got to
get home to my family. We have plans.”

What did Halcyon ever see in this
jerk?
Zachary wondered. Scott had had a wonderful family at his
fingertips. “Look, man, we can either do this painlessly or we’ll
have to hash it out in front of a judge. Either way, the children
deserve a loving father in their lives.” He paused to keep from
spewing accusatory facts.

“Fine,” Scott snapped. “Meet me for lunch at
the Horseman’s Bar & Grill on Laclede’s Landing.”

They agreed on a time, then disconnected. The
next day before leaving home, Zachary prayed for a godly attitude
to replace the one where he wanted to strangle Scott for using and
misusing Halcyon. Without telling Halcyon of his mission, Zachary
walked into the sports bar. Zachary only wanted one thing from
Scott: cut ties completely, so the children wouldn’t be living in
limbo, or if the man decided to play daddy, then Zachary planned to
hold him accountable even for child support, where he would put the
money in a trust or college fund. He eyed Scott sitting off in the
corner, sipping on a bottle of beer.

When Scott recognized him, he waved Zachary
over and stood to shake hands as if they were about to conduct a
casual business transaction. Studying the man’s features, Zachary
would add to his prayer list that the children would grow up to
look like their mother.
That was wrong.
God didn’t want to
hear those types of prayers, so Zachary repented. Not that their
father was bad-looking, but maybe it was a bit of jealousy on his
part that he wished he was their biological dad.

“Would you like to see a menu?” Scott
offered.

“No, I wouldn’t. Thanks.” Folding his hands,
Zachary leaned on the table. “So, do you plan to have any
involvement in your children’s lives?”

“I’m already involved in Brandon’s.”

“Who?” Zachary frowned. “I’m talking about
Ashanti and Jonathan.” He paused when the waitress came and placed
glasses of water before them. She disappeared when they both
advised they weren’t ready to order.

“Listen, despite what you may think of me,”
Scott began as Zachary silently mouthed,
not much.
“Children
were not part of the plan with Halcyon…”

The waitress returned and Scott ordered a
burger and fries. Zachary shook his head.

Breathe, Zach, breathe. Pray, Zachary
Bishop, pray,
he coaxed himself as his hands balled into fists.
Zachary had to calm down. Jesus said to turn the other cheek, not
deliver the first punch. He had to stay focused. “In other words,
you’re not interested in visitation or paying child support.”

“Not unless Halcyon pursues it…” Scott paused
and frowned as if he was trying to plead his case. “Halcyon and I
never should have happened. She’s not the one for me. I married my
soul mate.”

Zachary released a grunt. “Well, she’s the
one God has for me and those children too. Unless you plan to
contest it, I’m petitioning the courts for adoption and to give the
children a respectable name.”

“Wait a minute.” Scott scowled. Zachary must
have touched a nerve that caused him to react as if he had hurt
feelings.

The waitress returned in record time and slid
Scott’s plate in front of him. She looked to Zachary again, and
again he shook his head. He would leave her a tip anyway, just for
the service she tried to provide him.

Scott blessed his food, then picked up a fry
and took a bite. He bobbed his head as if he approved of the taste.
“Now, back to Halcyon. No offense, but she is the one who should
have respected herself. She is the one who suggested we move in
together. The woman I married is the woman I want. You can have
full custody as long as you don’t bother me, my wife and my
son.”

“Offense is taken.” Zachary tapped his finger
on the table.
Jesus, just one hit and then I’ll repent.

Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay
, God
warned him.

“If you don’t mind me asking, is Brandon your
biological son too?”

Scott took a healthy bite out of his
hamburger. He chuckled as he chewed. Zachary so wanted to knock his
teeth out of alignment, but God had already referred him to Romans
12:19.

“I do mind you getting in my business, but
the answer is no. I was faithful when Halcyon and I were together.
Brandon’s father was killed in active duty. So, I guess we’re even.
You have my consent. I have my family, and you’ll have yours.”

Lord, are You sure this disgrace to
fatherhood is going to get his?
Zachary wanted to be on the
sidelines.

I will judge every man, including you,
according to his deeds,
God reminded him of Job 34:11.

Knocked down a notch, this man had Zachary
constantly repenting. The most important thing was Zachary would be
free to file the necessary paperwork to adopt Ashanti and
Jonathan.

Dabbing his mouth with a napkin, Scott pushed
his plate away. “So, if we cross paths again, let’s keep
walking.”

There goes the devil using Scott to further
provoke him, but he had to stay focused to accomplish what he came
for. “Did you tell your wife about your children?”

“No, there was no need. Halcyon had already
gone. I wanted a clean slate. I prayed there wouldn’t be any baby
mama drama with her.”

Prayed?
Zachary couldn’t take it
anymore. “Scott Taylor, you’re a fool. Just stay out of my way.”
Before he stormed out of the restaurant, he opened his wallet and
threw a five on the table. As he pushed open the door, the only
thing Zachary could think of was one hit, one hit and he could have
knocked the man out.

This was it. Tonight in less than two hours, Zachary
would slip on her engagement ring. “Thank You, Jesus!” Halcyon
wanted to scream her praise because it was hard to contain. Before
she had left the office, Zachary had flowers delivered to her and
teddy bears to the children.

God had really come through with the perfect
man for her. To help celebrate her special occasion, her sisters
had treated her and them to manicures.

“I know it’s silly to be this excited,
considering Zachary already proposed and I handpicked my engagement
ring and Zach got it from the jewelers yesterday. Still it’s as if
I’m being surprised,” she had told her Granny Rose earlier.

“Never lose that feeling, because every
marriage needs it,” her grandmother said and engulfed her in a
tight hug. “I’m proud of you, baby.” Halcyon must have given her a
surprised look. “I had to tell you what was right while you were
living in sin. Regardless of the sin—sin is sin. I’m just so glad
you listened to His voice.” She pointed toward the sky. By the time
Granny Rose left, they both were in tears.

Now, an hour before Zachary was scheduled to
arrive and take her to dinner, Halcyon was so excited she could
hardly apply her makeup. She couldn’t imagine her nervousness on
her wedding day.

Between her mother and Tracey coming into her
room to inspect her attire, Halcyon chuckled when they approved of
her choice of a slender lilac sleeveless dress with a matching
sheer duster.

She looped the cluster of pearl earrings into
her earlobes, a gift from Zachary. Her daughter also got a gift
from her soon-to-be daddy, a faux pearl necklace. The first couple
of nights after that, Halcyon had to fight with Ashanti to take it
off for a bath. Only after Halcyon bought her a pretty box for
safekeeping, Ashanti complied. Yes, Zachary was creating a diva and
she had told him so too.

“She’ll be mine to spoil as well as her
mother soon.” His expression had turned serious. “Bridget, you know
I love the children and I wouldn’t mind having a few with you, but
if you don’t want any more children, I am okay with being just
Ashanti and Jonathan’s father.”

That had made her smile. This was the
unconditional love she didn’t know existed. Of course, she wanted
more children. Fifteen minutes later, Halcyon was ready. She smiled
at her reflection. She liked what she saw. The glow wasn’t from her
shade of makeup. The beauty she felt came from the happiness she
possessed inside.

Peeping out her bedroom window, Halcyon
caught a glimpse of Zachary getting out his SUV and heard his car
alarm chirp. Her chariot had arrived. From a distance, he looked
devastatingly dangerous in a dark suit and she had seen him in
suits before. He carried a small gift box in his hand. She
continued to watch him trek up the steps to the house. Next the
doorbell rang, and Ashanti and Jonathan screamed their delight.
Downstairs, her prince was waiting.

***

The night was perfect. From the ring, the
food, the candlelight, the music, and to the man, until Zachary
dropped the bomb. Oh yeah it would be a night to remember all
right. “You what? You met with Scott?” Halcyon’s mouth dropped open
and Zachary purposely fed her a strawberry as if he was putting a
plug in her response. She chewed carefully—her fruit and her
words.

She didn’t know how she felt about Zachary
going behind her back to meet with Scott. Once Halcyon had taken
control of her life by leaving Scott and finally getting over the
heartache, she felt she had exorcised him out of her life.

Taking a deep breath, Halcyon glanced down at
her 2 carat diamond rings with two hearts intertwined. It sparkled
at every angle, but she refused to let that distract her. “Zach, I
love you like crazy, but you and Scott seem to forget that those
are my babies. I had them and have been taking care of them and I
should have been brought into the meeting.”

“You’re right, babe.” Zachary reached for her
hand and massaged her fingers. “I just didn’t want you to have a
setback or anything.”

“Mr. Bishop, I overcame my setbacks when I
agreed to marry you. Scott no longer dangles hurt over me. I have
to consent to whatever you two were masterminding.”

“There wasn’t any strategic planning, babe. I
wanted him to know where I stood when it came to my princess,
prince and wife. I’m sorry, babe. I just always want to be your and
the children’s protector.” His eyes pleaded for her
understanding.

Zachary’s eyes were also filled with love, so
how could she be mad at the man for loving her? “I forgive you, but
don’t ever make a decision like that again without me.” She took a
deep breath to calm down. Halcyon had waited so long for this
perfect night and refused to let Scott ruin it.

“So he’s agreed to give up his parental
rights to Jonathan and Ashanti, huh?” Although his rejection of his
own flesh and blood stung, Halcyon knew it would be in the best
interest of the children. She wouldn’t have to deal with custody or
visitation issues, and once Ashanti turned eighteen, she could seek
a relationship with her father on her own.

“Did Scott say anything else?”

Zachary was slow to answer. “Nothing worth
repeating.” Reaching for his wine glass filled with sparkling grape
juice, he took a gulp and sat back in his chair, watching her.

For some crazy reason, a small part of
Halcyon wanted Zachary to repeat Scott’s conversation word for
word. She wasn’t looking forward to seeing Scott in court, but in a
sense, this would free her of all ties with Scott Taylor Jr.