Page 82 of A Taste of Grace

“What, Caleb? You said everything you needed to say today. I got your message loud and clear. Give me space.”

“The girls want to talk with you. Don’t cut yourself off from them.”

“You know I wouldn’t do that. They’re innocent bystanders.”

“Thank you for understanding that. Here they are.”

“Where are you, Mommy Grace?”

I heard Hannah’s angst on the phone.

“I’m on a business trip, sweetheart. I’ll be back when I’m done.”

“Are you leaving me like my other mommy?” Hannah’s voice rose and fell before she burst into tears.

“I gotta go, Grace. Call you later.” Caleb hung up the phone before I could comfort Hannah.

I wanted to call back but decided not to. Caleb made this mess, so he needed to fix it. When my phone rang several minutes later, I expected it to be Caleb. Instead, it was Nita.

“My dear, how are you?”

Lies filled my mind until I remembered this was Nita, a woman who cherished and comforted me during my darkest times. Although Caleb was her nephew, I trusted her with my thoughts.

“Not good.”

Like Hannah moments earlier, my voice cracked as I finally released the tears and tension that had built up throughout the day.

“Get it out.”

I cried until I gathered my breath.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“At my house.”

“Is Caleb with you?”

“No. He’s at his house with the girls.”

“I see. Have y’all talked about what happened today?”

“I haven’t had a chance to do that.”

“Haven’t had a chance or haven’t taken the time to talk with yourhusbandabout his ex-wife busting up in church and showing out?”

“It’s complicated, Nita.”

“Marriage is complicated. You’re a leader in that church,whether you want to be or not. Stop running away from your problems, Grace. God didn’t send you a husband for you to fight with him.”

I knew Nita was right, but my ego wouldn’t let me admit it.

“I hear you, but I’m good.”

“Hmm…if you say so, Dr. Stallings.”

Nita’s use of my married name pricked my heart. No matter how much I wanted to abandon my vows, I was still Caleb’s wife.At least, for now. My devotion tomygirls was real. I didn’t care that Madeline carried them in her belly. I carried them in my heart. What happened today wasn’t going to disappear simply because I wanted it to.

“Thanks for being there for me. I’m flying out to DC for work in the morning, so I’ll sleep on all of this and settle it when I get back.”

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