Facing Redemption Page 11

  “Hey,” he whispered between kisses. Timothy pulled back and cupped her face in his hands. “If we keep this up we’re going to tread in some uncharted territory.” He smiled down at her before pulling her in for a tight hug.

  Chastity sighed as her heart slowed down. This was not easy. “Since when do two people who are in love not have sex?” She laughed as she slid off his lap to sit next to him. She sat Indian style on the bed and propped her chin on her knee. “Just who came up this agreement?”

  Timothy laughed. “You started it the weekend we started dating. You set the ground rules.”

  “Can I change them?” She laughed, already knowing the answer.

  Timothy continued, “Don’t tempt me Chastity.” He grinned and gave her a quick kiss. “I know it’s not typical in today’s world, especially because everyone else does it. But it’s okay that we don’t. In fact, it makes me love you more for having values … values that my parents would be thrilled with, by the way.”

  Chastity laughed. “So are you going to tell your parents we’re not having sex? Great.” She rolled her eyes.

  He laughed. “Do you have to be so cute? You know what I mean. My parents are very strong Christians. They instilled the same value system in me and I respect you for wanting to wait.”

  “So while we’re on the subject of your parents. You told me to pack church clothes for Sunday. With your dad in the hospital, will we still have to go?”

  “Oh yes. My mom will be there and she’ll expect me to be there too.”

  “Do you like going to church?”

  Timothy thought for a second. “Yeah, actually I do. I miss it when I’ve been away too long.”

  “Hmmm. My mom used to take us when I was little. And then as I got older, we moved so much that it kind of took a back seat.” Chastity sat back into the pillows on the bed. “In that last letter she wrote me before she died. You know the one she left for me through her handsome attorney?”

  Timothy smiled in remembrance. Kylie, Chastity’s mom, had hired Timothy when she learned she was dying from cancer to take care of Chastity’s inheritance. The last task in his duties to his client was to make sure a letter was hand delivered to her daughter.

  “Ah yes. My client - the match maker.”

  Chastity smiled. “Yes, I think she was. Well her letter was not only a heart wrenching goodbye but testimony as well. She obviously found God again and urged me to look for Him in my life too.”

  “And have you been?”

  “A little. Initially after reading her letter, I immediately began to pray. I wanted to please my mom, but I felt God’s whisper on my heart when I turned to him in prayer.”

  “Wow. That’s good right?”

  Chastity frowned. She let out a sigh. “Yes. Afterwards in Venice … I was praying off and on. But the other letter, from my dad, nagged at my conscience. It’s all I could think of and it overshadowed any praying I was trying to focus on. Well, and you know how that turned out.”

  Timothy nodded remembering her rough patch. “I came to save the day just in time, didn’t I?”

  “I needed you more than I knew. You rescued me from a very dark place. And it seems you recurrently do that … rescue me. I guess this is why I’m not sure how to help you. I’m sorry if I came on too strong. I just wanted to make you feel better.”

  Timothy lay next to her and pulled her in. “I know. You do though just by being with me. I couldn’t have walked into that hospital without you.”

  Chastity turned on her side and propped her head up on her elbow. “What do you mean?”

  Timothy shook his head. “I don’t want to ruin this façade of who you think I am – but I’m no knight in shining armor after all. All it takes is walking into a hospital and I come undone. They unnerve me.”

  Chastity looked at him incredulously. “Really?”

  He nodded. “Yup … ever since I was a kid. I had a really rough fall and had to be rushed to the ER. They had to hold me down to give me stitches. It took two doctors and my dad to keep me in place to get me patched up. And ever since…”

  Chastity’s eyes grew wide. “You were a strong kid.”

  “I don’t feel very strong when I walk into a hospital, but with you there today.” He smiled and brushed a few strands of hair from her face. “I did okay. You gave me strength.”

  Chastity leaned in to kiss him and for the second time that evening Timothy showed restraint. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to take a very cold shower.”

  Chastity rolled her eyes. “And I have to clean up your mess.” She laughed and began picking up her suitcase and the contents from the floor.

  By the time Timothy exited the bathroom Chastity had already fallen asleep. He could tell she tried waiting up, but jet lag probably got the best of her. She was sleeping in her pj’s on top the comforter, with her mother’s journal on her chest. Timothy gently picked up the book, set it on the nightstand, pulled the covers back and tucked her in.

  Chastity halfway opened her eyes, trying to wake up.

  “Shhh.” Timothy whispered. “Go back to sleep. See you in the morning.”

  Chastity half way nodded and lay her head back down. Within minutes he heard her lightly snoring. It was such an endearing sound that he was getting too used to. It was just another way he knew he could not live his life without her in it. And the sooner he made her his wife the better.

  Chapter 26

  Cheryl sat iced tea in hand, and watched Chastity from across the table. She had a glow about her that was undeniable. It was clear she was in love. Cheryl wished Kylie could be here to see her little Chaz, who was all grown up and who was falling hard. She wistfully smiled, half listening to her friend’s banter.

  Chastity continued, telling Cheryl about the rest of her day. “I was asleep by the time he got out of the shower.”

  “What? Wait. Back up. Shower?” Cheryl’s eyebrows shot up, hearing her for the first time.

  “Um yeah, did I forget that part?”

  “Yeeaah.” Cheryl’s toned slowed as she stared her best friend’s daughter down. She had watched this little girl grow up, and now that her own mother had passed, it was Cheryl’s responsibility to help guide her. She owed that much to Kylie.

  “Look, we share a hotel room, but nothing happens.” Chastity ducked her eyes and sipped her tea.

  “Look sweetie. You’re an adult. I’m not your mom. And I can’t tell you how to live. I’m not the moral police … but,” Cheryl sighed.

  “I know we said we’d wait. We even promised each other we could share a room and keep to ourselves.”

  Cheryl almost laughed. “Right! Two young kids, who are madly in love, sharing a room, and not all over each other?”

  “Hey, we’re not kids.”

  “Mmm-hmm,” Cheryl responded. When you’re my age, you’ll look back and realize you’re still a kid.

  “And we’ve shared a room before without anything happening.”

  Cheryl clicked her tongue and shook her head. “If only your mom were here.”

  This time Chastity sighed. “She’d worry about me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you going to lecture me?”

  Cheryl shook her head.

  “Good,” Chastity continued. “… because so far we’ve been good. And it’s so nice to have him to hold through the night without the pressure of anything extra … not that either one of us doesn’t think about it.”

  “You’re asking for trouble.” Cheryl sing-songed, in response.

  “We’ve made a promise not to take it to the next

  level until we are ready. And right now he has other things on his mind with his dad’s condition.”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  Chastity beamed. “He loves me.” Chastity sighed and sat back. “I only wish mom had known what love felt like. It makes me sad to think of her without love in her life.”

  “Well don’t you worry about your mom Chaz. She had someone special.”

/>   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.