All I Want Is Forever (7 page)

“You wanna talk about it?”

“No.  Not right now I don’t.”

“Um, okay.  Well, is there anything you need me to do for you?”

“No.  I think I’m going to take a shower then go to bed.  It hurts to even think.”

“So, you’re not going to eat dinner?”

“Can you put it in the microwave?  Maybe I’ll eat after I shower and if not, I’ll take it for lunch tomorrow.”

“Okay, baby.  Hey…”

DJ turned around.

“
I love you.”

“I love you, too
,” he smiled.

Denise thought about Aprile so much that she couldn’t sleep.  She prayed that God would speak to Aprile’s heart as He had done for her in the past. 
She realized there was nothing more she could do.  Telling her what she wanted to hear only made matters worse however, that’s what real friends do.  They tell you the truth even when it’s not what you want to hear.

***

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves received from God
.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Welcome.  Down the hall, fourth door to the right,” Helen instructed.

“Thank you,” Keisha replied. 

“This house is huge!” Jonas said excitedly.

“I know.  The first time I saw it I wanted to ask if I could move in.”

They laughed.

The room was filled with people; co-workers, friends and family members of Denise and DJ.

“Keisha and Jonas! 
Glad you could make it.”

“We are, too,” Keisha replied.

“May I ask you a question, Mrs. Chatman?”

“Sure.”

“As we were walking down the hall we passed three other rooms: Smiling Way, Comfort Circle, Joyful Boulevard and then this room, Happy Place.  Why are the rooms named like that?”

DJ laughed as he approached.  “Welcome to our humble abode.”

“Hey there, Mr. Chatman,” Keisha replied.

“Baby,
you remember Jonas?”

DJ shook his head.  “Nice seeing you again
, Jonas.”

“Same here, Mr. Chatman,”
Jonas stated with an extended hand.

“The reason why the names of the rooms are so, ummm, odd is because we believe that where the mind goes the man follows.”

“So, if the mind goes to Smiling Way then the man will be smiling.”

“
Well, that’s my hope,” Denise laughed.  “Those rooms are special.  Smiling Way is my office and I always smile when I’m working and able to create something that makes me feel good.  Comfort Circle is our study room and we truly do feel that when we’re in there.  It’s like God wraps His arms around us and tells us that despite what we’re going through, He has us and everything is going to be okay.  Joyful Boulevard is DJ’s office, and then Happy Place is where we go to escape, listen to music, talk and share happy fun stories about moments we’ve had.”

“Man, you guys are
awesome,” Jonas complimented.   

Denise smiled.

“You guys grab something to eat.  There’s Champaign, wine, bottled waters, sodas or whatever you’d like.  Just ask the bartenders,” said DJ.

“Great!
  Thanks,” Keisha replied.

“
Come on, Keish.  I want something to drink.”

“Ooh, Jonas, they have sushi!”

“Keisha is such a comedian.”

“Yes, she is,” Denise laughed.  “She keeps me laughing.”

“Is Aprile coming?”

Denise shook her head.  “I don’t think so.  I called her earlier and she didn’t answer, but she sent me a text message saying she didn’t feel like talking and would call me later.  She wished us good luck with the party.”

“I hate to hear that, babe.  I really hate to hear that.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

The guests filled the room as the night continued on.

“DJ!” A voice called.

He turned around toward the bar.

“Hey, dad!  Baby, I’ll be right back.”  He kissed Denise on the forehead.

“Take your time.  I’m going to check on Helen.”

“Okay.  Let me know if she needs anything.”

Denise walked down the long corridor and into the kitchen.

“Helen, how’s it going in here?”

“Everything is good.  I’m just sitting here watching Fox News as they recap the trial.”

“I’ve seen enough.  The closing arguments wore me out.”

“I feel so sorry for the family.  This has to be hard on them.”

“I couldn’t imagine our son being the victim of something like that.
”

“True.  It’s so terribly sad.  Well, did you eat?  Is there anything you need?”

“Yes, I ate and the food was delicious.  I’m so glad you decided to go with The Black Italian instead of that other place.”

Denise smiled.  “So am I.  Well, if you need anything please let me know.  Oh, and you can stay in one of the guest rooms tonight.  I don’t want you driving home when the party’s over.”

“No, Mrs. Chatman…”

“We insist, Helen.  This is not up for debate.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  Helen
grinned.

“Good.  When you’re finished watching the recap you have to come and meet a friend of mine.  I think the two of you will hit it off really good.  Matter-of-fact you guys have similar mannerisms.”

“I will as soon as they go to commercial break.  I wanna hear what Greta’s going to say about his attorney.”

“Don’t let the trial consume you.  Remember, whether he’s found guilty or innocent, God is in control.”  Denise popped a cocktail shrimp into her mouth and headed back to the party.

“Has anybody seen my wife?”  DJ asked as Denise appeared in the doorway.  “There she is.  Baby…come here.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.  Excuse me everybody.  Can I have your attention please?  I’d like to propose a toast.  Please raise your glasses.”

Denise grabbed a glass of Champaign from the tray.

“To my wife:  My heart’s desire is to see you attain God’s best.   I want you to believe that all that is required is the faith of a mustard seed.  NO DOUBT!  For we walk by faith and not by sight.  I’m so proud of you and your many accomplishments.  I’m thankful that I get to share in your successes.  In addition, I appreciate your love and support of me.  You are my good thing.  I believe in you.  I believe in us.  So, to us,” he said as glasses rose in unison.  “It was a long and somewhat trying journey that we had to travel to get here, but through it all we made it.”

“Thank you, DJ.  I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.  We’re a team.  The toast should be to us.

“Well, in that case this toast is to you… to me…to us.  TIA!”

“TIA!”
I'm proud of you and your many accomplishments however I'm most thankful that you support & encourage me. I'm proud of you and your many accomplishments however I'm most thankful that you support & encourage me.I'm proud of you and your many accomplishments however I'm most thankful that you support & encourage me.

Denise raised her glass to her lips.

“I hope I’m fortunate enough to meet someone who adores me the way your husband does you.”

She
turned around.

“TED!  You made it!”  She yelled enthusiastically.

“There’s no way I was missing this event.”

“
Well, I’m glad you made it.  Did you see the work bunch?”

“How could I miss ‘em?  They’re the life of the party.”

“You work hard you play harder.  They deserve it after the quarter we’ve had.”

“So, what did you think about Camille?”

“Not tonight, Ted.  We will not be discussing business at our party.  DJ would have a fit if he overheard you talking about work after hours,” she laughed.

“You’re right.  My apology.  Monday will be here soon enough.”

“You ain’t lying about that.”

“
In that case I think I’ll have me a nice cold beverage.”

“
I think you should.”

“If you think I should then I know I should.  See you in a minute.”

Denise smiled.

“Denise!”

“Rosemarie!  How are you?”  She asked as they embraced.

“I’m doing great.  This is one heck of a party.”

Denise smiled.  “I pray everyone else likes it as well because planning it really stressed me out.”

“For what it’s worth you did a great job.”

“You’re a gem.”

“The jury has given a verdict!” Ms. Helen
screamed as she entered the room.  “They found him…not guilty.”

“What!  That’s bullshit!”
One guest yelled.

“No, that’s justice,
” another replied.

“Hold on.  Now, we’re going to continue having a good time.  I ask that everyone respect our home and NOT discuss the verdict until you leave here.  However, there is one thing I’d like to say and that is – we all have an opinion.  It doesn’t mean that
you’re right and another person is wrong, it just means that you’re different.”

DJ
took a sip from his glass as he struggled to contain his emotions.

Denise smiled at him to let him know she understood.

“Ms. Helen!”  Denise yelled.  “Come here.  There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

Helen walked over with a somber look on her face.  The verdict had shocked everyone.  At least those who perceived he was guilty.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“There’s someone I’d like for you to meet.  Helen this is…”

“Judy Burns.”

“Helen Spencer…Burns,” she replied with an unpleasant smirk on her face.

“Oh wow!  You too already know one another.  That’s great.”

“No, Mrs. Chatman.  It’s not great.  Pardon me.”  Helen said excusing herself from the room.

“Umm…”

“It’s a long story honey.  Perhaps I can tell you about it another time.  I don’t want to spoil your party,” Judy smiled before walking away.

“That was awkward,” Denise spoke aloud.

The party continued on into the early morning hours.  Everyone was having such a good time that both Denise and DJ were pleased.

“I’m proud of you.”

“You’re proud of me?  Why?”

“Because you can ta
ke something small and make it a spectacular event with little effort.  You’re the bomb.”

“I don’t think they use that word anymore, hun.  I believe the term is
shizz
now,” Denise admitted.

Keisha laughed as she and Jonas joined the conversation.  “I don’t believe they use that word anymore either.  You guys should probably stick to the basic terms like: great, awesome, the poo.”

Denise chuckled.

“Well, the party was great, Mr. and Mrs. Chatman.  Thank you so much for opening up your home to us.  I enjoyed myself.”

“You’re more than welcome, Jonas.  You guys be careful going home.  It was good seeing you all again.”

“Likewise,
” Jonas replied as he waved goodbye.

“They’re a cute couple.”

“They’re not a couple.”

“
You can’t be serious.  You don’t see that?”

Denise pondered the thought.

“NO!  There’s a strict fraternization policy at TIA.  They know that.”

DJ nodded.  “Yep and I’m sure that’s why they’re trying not to make it so obvious, but I can see right through it.  It happens.  My advice is to address the both of them with a friendly reminder of the policy and
reiterate what has already been communicated.”

“
Dag on it!”  Denise sighed.

“Okay, D.  Looks like everybody has gone so I’m gonna
head out too.”

“Alright, dad.  Be careful going home and call to let me know you made it
in.”

“Thanks for coming, daddy.  Hope you had a good time.”

“I had a wonderful time, baby.  You kids get some rest and I’ll talk with you tomorrow.”

“Okay, love you man.”

“Love you, too, son.”

“This is going to be hell to clean.”

“Let’s not think about it tonight.  We’ll get up early in the morning and get started.”

“Sounds good to me.”

***

Helen sat on a barstool at the kitchen aisle wiping away the tears that began to roll down her cheek.

“Helen, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she spoke in a soft whisper.

Denise sat beside her.  “May I ask what’s wrong?”

Helen sighed.

Denise took a deep breath.  “Does it have anything to do with
Mrs. Judy and how you know her?”

“
Yes, it has everything to do with her!”  Helen snapped.  She inhaled deeply and then began.  “There was a man whom I loved more than life itself.  He was handsome, educated and quite successful.  I remembered thinking that if I ever had sons I wanted them to be like him.  He treated me like a queen.  He would send me roses on my birthday, candy on Valentine’s Day, and would spoil me something terrible on Christmas.  I never wanted for anything.”

“Then one day we were in the grocery store and this
young lady ran up to him.  She called him by the name I used to call him and her eyes lit up when she did.  The disturbing part was when her arms wrapped around his neck and her lips pressed against his cheek.”

“Oh no, Helen!
”

“Well, he looked like he had seen a ghost
.  So, while she stood with another lady close by, I inquired about who she was.  He smiled and explained that we would talk about it later.  Tears welled up in my eyes and I felt my heart break into two as I struggled with how I was feeling.  I told my mother what had happened and she was livid.  Couldn’t believe it.  She cussed and fussed, slammed doors, broke dishes and then she finally cried.”