Redeemed

by Keshia Dawn

Genres: African American; African American Christian

Synopsis

It's no accident when Kenya Clark gets paired up with Keithe Morgan, the newest member of the divorce support group she leads at their church. The pastor has been trying to get Kenya married off for some time now. Unfortunately, Kenya is still grappling with her past, and she isn't quite ready to enter into something new. Keithe, on the other hand, is recently divorced and ready to move on. He hasn't given up on love; he still believes he'll find a soul mate. When he starts pushing hard to get to know Kenya better, she feels the connection and panics. The only way she knows to distance herself is to start dating his friend. Keithe is puzzled. Why would she choose his friend, whose issues make him far from the most eligible bachelor? When Keithe learns the truth about her past, will he still want to hold on and work toward a future together? Redeemed is about having the strength to accept people right where they are.

Release date: April 24, 2012

Publisher: Urban Christian

Print pages: 288

Sample

His car was like a gigantic magnet pulling him. Or at least that’s how he wanted it to seem. Keithe rushed out the kitchen’s door to his car he had parked on the outside of the garage. He was ever so grateful to Michelle for allowing him to finally leave peacefully. The last time she had actually barricaded herself in front of the door.

Keithe was tired, very tired, of reinventing the wheel. No, he was sick and tired of taking all the blame. He partially did so, so that the questions, all of the small talks, would stop. Another reason was, well, he was to blame, or so he figured.

In all actuality, it had been his fault for staying in a marriage far too long, a dead-end marriage at that. It no doubt was his fault for putting up a front, thinking that if Michelle had done this, if she’d done that, things would be okay. But when it was all said and done and his wife had been born again, there was still a hole.

No matter how many sorry pouts Michelle had thrown his way, it was hard to believe he had sacrificed so much for her. One thing in particular was him being a father.

It had been clear from the beginning. It wasn’t that Michelle couldn’t have children; it was that she wouldn’t. “I’m not mommy material,” Michelle would reiterate each time Keithe asked about starting a family. After a while he just accepted that he loved her enough to believe his being a father just hadn’t been meant to be. Now forty-three, single, and not even so much as a prospect in his life, Keithe got mad just thinking about what could have been.

He took nothing from accepting Stoney as his. Keithe had welcomed her with open arms and graciously became a father overnight. Literally. But with Stoney there were no first steps or late-night feedings to go along with his new role.

It was just the realization of how Michelle said she had never wanted to be a mother when in fact she had been one all along. She had worn the title for twenty-one years without acknowledging it at all. Keithe was still clueless about how someone could pull that off. But then he had to realize just who he was dealing with. There were times when he still felt he had been punk’d by Ashton Kutcher.

Even after the dust did settle and Michelle and Stoney reunited, there was that very image of the bond that had grown between mother and daughter, seeing Michelle glow in motherhood. Of course her child was anything but a child, but it didn’t matter. Keithe held some resentment toward his ex-wife. While Michelle and Stoney had one another, Keithe felt as if he had no one. That’s when he knew he didn’t have closure with himself. That was what eventually led to the divorce.

Now with everything spilling over with him having to convince Stoney she hadn’t come along and messed up their marriage, Keithe really didn’t know if that was the truth. Would he have stayed if Stoney never made her entrance? Keithe thought over and over. Ultimately, he knew that was blame he couldn’t put off on anyone but him and Michelle: himself for staying too long and Michelle for never being honest with herself; therefore, not being able to be totally honest with him.

After their divorce two years ago, it hadn’t taken Keithe but a second to figure out a game plan. When realization hit like a ton of bricks after all the residue of their tumultuous marriage settled, Keithe found himself thinking beyond Houston. He didn’t want to go far, leaving his parents behind, but he wanted to go far enough to start a new life. That new life for him now resided somewhere he’d only visited. Home for Keithe was now in Dallas.

Hours had passed since Keithe was finally able to leave the premises of the home he and Michelle had had designed and built from the ground up. After stopping and visiting with his parents, Keithe made his way on to the highway as he settled into the full-sized bucket seat of his upgraded Porsche. Having traded his two-door prized possession, the black-on-black Porsche of his dreams, Keithe knew he was getting ready for something new to fall into his life when he purchased the four-door Porsche Panamera: his new black. Whoever she was, his new lady, he was going to floss with her in style.

There was no doubt he was already a husband. Just because he was no longer married didn’t mean he had given up on love. The desire embedded in him was what kept him going; that and his desire to be a daddy to a baby who would look just like him. He wasn’t giving up on being a father. Keithe thought that surely if Hollywood stars could have babies in their mid-fifties and beyond, a child of God, a believer as himself, would be able to keep up with his kiddos.

Maybe a girl who looks like her mother ... nahhhh. Who am I kidding? I need a little Keithe who looks just like his handsome daddy, Keithe often played over and over in his mind.

He had gone out on a few dates in the last two years but things were way different. Over twenty years ago when he was single and in his early twenties, Keithe’s morals and desires for a mate hadn’t been what they now were, as someone who had a relationship with Christ, was honest, trustworthy, and respectful. Back then, all a woman had to have were happy lips and healthy hips. Although he had no plans on turning down his wife-to-be, if hips were attached, now in his forties, he knew there was much more than what the eye could see.

Just as his mind soared back to Michelle and her comment about a love affair that didn’t exist, Keithe shook his head at the courage of the woman he’d chosen as a wife and how she pulled out a low blow.

“Wondering what woman I’m running back to. Umph. The nerve,” he said aloud. Especially when Michelle was dating a deacon from the church they used to attend together. Matter of fact, she was dating a brother who Keithe had actually liked and called a friend. But, regardless, he had given his blessing on their dating; anything to get her out of his bald head. Yet it appeared sweet Michelle couldn’t seem to do the same.

Laughing at Michelle’s antics, Keithe’s thoughts were jolted when his phone rang in its holster attached to the dash. Although he didn’t hesitate to answer, for a moment he felt guilty when he realized Michelle may have been more right than he wanted to let on.

“Hello,” he greeted the caller.

“Hi there, Deacon Morgan. Did I catch you at a bad time?” Evangelist Clark, a hard worker and servant of the Lord who attended the same church he attended, rang through on the other end.

With an added smile to the smirk he held when he’d first seen her telephone number pop up on his screen, Keithe was ready for conversation. Or so he hoped.

“Uh, yes. No. Well, uh. No.” He took a breath. Just like all the other times, anytime he was in the young woman’s presence, even via the telephone, Keithe couldn’t get his mojo to work. He may have been an award-winning attorney, winning a number of high-profile cases under his skilled title, but when it came to Evangelist Kenya Clark, his get up and go always sat down.

“I mean,” he pouted, “I’m available.” He winced and silently hit his steering wheel, hoping he didn’t sound as though he was giving himself away to the highest bidder. But then again ...

There was something about the saved thirty-something woman of God he had finally gotten to know within the last year. For the first year being at the church, he admired her from afar. When it came time for him to get more involved in the church and allow his own ministry to grow, Keithe took the first opportunity that presented itself.

The men and women of the church were asked to volunteer their time and efforts in helping to build a new support system for divorcees. Without hesitation, Keithe knew it was meant for him: helping other divorcees heal from broken marriages while healing himself at the same time. The group was titled Physically Divorced, Spiritually Married, and it just so happened Evangelist Clark had been attached to the opportunity. All Keithe could think was God was good all the time, and all the time God was good.

“What can I help you with?” he finally managed to get out.

“Oh, I wanted to remind you about Sunday School in the morning. We are going to officially kick off our once-a-month Sunday morning worship with the group.” Kenya shared a smile through the phone.

And maybe I’ll just have the courage to ask you out for dinner. Officially, he thought.

The two had gone on numerous outings, lunch and even dinner. But the divorce group was always the reason behind their getting together, or at least for Evangelist Clark it had been. Every time they’d met it was on Keithe’s mind to ask her out on an official date, but he couldn’t bring his nerves under submission.

“Sounds like a plan. I am driving in now from Houston, so I will no doubt be there in the morning.”

“Oh?” Her voice held a question. “I didn’t know you were going out of town or I would have changed the date.” Kenya wanted to be fair. “Did you only come back for the group? You should have told me, I would have—”

“No. There is absolutely no problem. I was just visiting my wife, ah, I mean, my ex-wife and daughter. I mean, ah, stepdaughter.” Keithe wished he could just hang the phone up and be done.

Another “oh” was all she responded with. Kenya bit down on her bottom lip and waited for his response. Always wanting to know the depth of who Deacon Morgan was, Kenya dared not ask or show any interest. Dealing with her own disclosed issues was enough.

Everything was still new to him. He didn’t know what was politically correct and what wasn’t when it came to bringing up his past. Hoping he didn’t share too much, or disrespect his family, Keithe changed the subject.

“Well, while I have you on the line, Sister Clark, let me ask you—” Before he could finish his intro, his line beeped. “Can you hold, please?” Keithe asked as he rolled his eyes once he realized it was Michelle. Whatever it was she planned to lay on him, Keithe had his mind set to not even buy into it.

“Hello?” Keithe threw out a hard and annoyed greeting toward Michelle. He didn’t know if it was because she had possibly shortened his conversation with Evangelist Clark or if it was because it had been Michelle on the other line. Period. Switching his driving hand, Keithe repositioned his cell phone and waited for Michelle to give the reason behind her calling.

“Get over yourself, my brotha.” Michelle snatched an attitude once she heard the tone of Keithe’s voice. “I just wanted to check on you.” No doubt she cared about Keithe’s welfare, but there was something she had been meaning to run by Keithe. Sitting on the stool in front of her vanity, Michelle tried on one of five different shades of Bobbi Brown’s new lip color she had bought while she and Stoney had been out for the day. She settled with the brightest shade and slid it across her puckered lips.

Keithe knew Michelle still cared for him, but with the phone call he felt she was over doing it. There was no doubt Michelle was still clocking him. Why else would she call him before he called her? Desperate, maybe.

“I’m good,” he answered. “I’m on the other line, Michelle. Is everything okay?” Keithe had only departed Michelle’s house hours ago, not days, and Michelle had to have remembered him telling her that he would call once he reached town. Even with him stopping at his parents’ home to visit, Keithe was still making good time back into Dallas.

Concluding their shopping after a couple of hours, Stoney decided to hang with friends from church before she departed from her mother’s house and headed back to her off-campus apartment. Michelle just decided she would retire early. She had actually debated picking up the line and calling her ex, but when she figured there could possibly be a chance Keithe would somehow be happy with her decision, Michelle’s fingers did the walking.

She hadn’t shared with Keithe how she and her latest beau, Deek, had called it quits. Cupid had come to do his job. Unfortunately it was her beau’s ex-wife who had won him over. So with Stoney away from the house, Michelle felt she had way too much time on her hands and had no shame in flirting a bit with Keithe. As far as she was concerned, he was still her hubby. As what she’d read in the Bible said, he was still hers since neither of them were remarried or dead. She was ready to reclaim what was hers.

“All is well. I just wish you would have stayed a little longer. You know you can still spend the night when you visit, Keithe.” Michelle ran the thought by her ex-husband, knowing it wouldn’t happen. The last time she offered for him to sleep over and rest before his drive back, she had offered him herself as well. For Michelle, it had worked out perfectly. For Keithe, well, he had driven back in repent mode his entire ride home.

“Michelle ...” Keithe urged Michelle to get to what she wanted. “Again, I’m on the other line.”

“Oh, excuse me, sir.” Michelle threw in her own attitude. Knowing Keithe’s annoyance for her had been settled in even before the phone call, Michelle’s decision to tell Keithe about her plans to move to Dallas were halted. She already knew he probably wouldn’t wholeheartedly agree and would definitely be furious, but she still had hope.

Not knowing what else to do with her thoughts and feelings for Keithe, since he was all she thought about, Michelle decided to just hold off on her news.

“Okay, okay. I will ... I will just speak with you later, Keithe. I wouldn’t want you to keep the little missus waiting.” Michelle tapped her phone with her nails and disconnected the call. She may have asked God to enter her life, but game still recognized game, and for some reason, Michelle just knew she would have to fight for her man.

“Oh, I’m gonna stay saved,” Michelle declared as she puckered her lips and shifted on her seat. “It will just be ... What do they call it? A holy war. Hey now.” She pumped her hands in the air like she was getting happy for Jesus.

Before he could swap the call back to the other line on his BlackBerry, Evangelist Clark had disconnected her end.

“Dang it!” Keithe threw his phone in the passenger’s seat. There was no way he could find the nerve to call back for the sole purpose of asking her out. He hadn’t gotten that bold in five minutes.

“Michelle! What are you up to?” Keithe’s right hand squeezed and remained on the leather-padded steering wheel as he slouched in his seat.

He couldn’t put his finger on it, but Michelle had been a little bit too gentle on this last visit. No real clinging as she had done before. To him, that could only mean she was playing the whole reverse psychology bit on him.

For the past few months she had pulled all kinds of stuff to try to get him to return to her arms. He knew Michelle was a little off-kilter when she had the nerve to call him one afternoon after they’d reinvented their bedroom roles of husband and wife. When she shared with Keithe that she might be expecting, he quickly let her know if she was expecting anything besides a miracle she could hang it up, then showed her an example by hanging up his phone.

Not so unusual for Texas, the cool, not cold, January air pushed through his vents as Keithe relaxed his thoughts on Michelle and her antics. Decreasing the thermostat number to seventy degrees, Keithe needed to bring some comfort to his ride.

Replacing his thoughts of Michelle, Keithe grabbed at his brief conversation he’d held with Evangelist Clark and knew without a doubt she had been his motivation to head back to Dallas. He didn’t know how or when, but Keithe knew soon enough that he would get Evangelist Clark to see giving him a chance could be just the start she needed for the New Year.

Kenya was so happy to have eased her way off of the phone with Deacon Morgan. A minute longer and she was sure he would have found the courage to ask her out.

“Lord, that was a close one.” She openly thanked God for call waiting.

To Kenya, Deacon Morgan was tall, dark, and definitely handsome. If he ever had hair, Kenya didn’t want to see any pictures; that man oozed sexiness with the clean and clear scalp. And his goatee appeared as if it were painted on. Cold black.

There was nothing more Kenya would have liked than to go on a date with the handsome deacon to see if more could be established. She was sure it was possible, but she just didn’t know if she was ready. As a matter of fact, she knew she wasn’t ready. Kenya wasn’t at all secure that a recent past would stay in the past.

“Oh to be wooed by a saved man of God,” Kenya declared, shaking her head as she put her cell phone on its charging station. “And, Lord, you made him look so goooood.” Switching her riding boots for her house slippers, Kenya pulled her wool sweater over her head and threw it over on her sofa.

The cool January’s draft throughout her house chilled her body through her coffee-colored camisole. Grabbing for the back of her head, Kenya gave her hair a quick pull to make sure her ponytail holder was still tightly in place as she walked deeper into her home.

Deacon Morgan was hard on her mind. That man was godly, gorgeous, and going after her: a single, saved woman’s dream. This was the reason Kenya wished she had called him first thing in the morning. There was no way she was going to sleep anytime soon. Not even a nap. Knowing all minds had to be clear before her head hit the pillow, Kenya wasn’t going to take any chances. Either that or she’d find herself on some sandy white beach, wrapped up in Deacon Morgan’s big black arms.

“Lord Jesus, help me.” Kenya scooted her five-foot, seven-inch, 140-pound self from room to room, tidying up loose ends.

All it took was a thought to get one going in the wrong direction. And from where Kenya was struggling to come back from, she knew the symptoms all too well.

All in all, the saved, anointed, and sophisticated young woman kind of enjoyed the crush she had on the deacon; something that had been out of the norm for he. . .