Facing Redemption (33 page)

Once home, her mind continued spinning throughout the night about how different her life would be after tomorrow, which was now today.  From here on out she would be Mrs. Chastity Banks. 

Chastity smiled and rolled over, snuggling the pillow next to her.  She scanned the room and could just make out the outlines of her sparse belongings as the early morning light trickled through the curtains.

She surveyed what was still left around her.  It was as minimal as she’d seen it since she’d lived here.  She and Timothy decided to keep his house once married…so she’d started moving little bit by bit into his house.

Before she could wrap her brain around what the morning schedule was her phone started vibrating on the nightstand.  Chastity smiled, thinking it would be Timothy, but saw a number she didn’t recognize.

“Hello.”  Chastity yawned.

“Hey Chaz. This is Delilah.”  Her hairdresser sweetly sang.

Chastity sat up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.  “Mmm-hmm.”

“Well I hate to bother you, but I had ya’ll scheduled to come in at 9:00 this morning.”  Delilah’s thick southern accent, normally so fun to listen too, gave Chastity pause.  Her heart sank when she heard those words.

“Had?”  Chastity repeated.

“Well darlin’ the storms knocked out my power and I can’t do your hair for the wedding with no power.  I’m sorry!”

Chastity darted out of bed and looked out her window.  Trees and branches were down and scattered along her street.  Her mouth went dry and she started to panic.

“Delilah.  Don’t you have a generator?”

“Honey, I own a hair salon – not a mall.”  She drawled that last word out for emphasis.

“Okay, think Chastity – think.”  She talked aloud and paced her room.
             
“What?  I think we have a bad connection.” 

“No, Delilah. I was, um, talking to myself.”
             
“Well I know it’s your wedding day but you must get a hold of yourself.  If you’re talking to yourself, you may need to sit down and rest.  Your nerves are getting the best of you.”

Chastity’s mind was spinning.  The salon’s power was out.  Her street was littered with downed branches and a tree.

“Delilah?”

“Yes?”

“What kind of car do you drive?”

“A Mustang. She’s a sweet little ride too.”

“How are the roads where you are?”

“Not bad.  A little thrashed but I can get around easy enough – cuz I borrowed my husband’s truck to get to the salon today.”
             
“Great!  How would you like to earn a big tip?”

“Well Chaz.  You know what I do is more about the art of beauty…”

“Yeah yeah…”  Chastity cut her off.  “I don’t live far from the salon.  Would you consider coming here to do my hair and the girls?”

Delilah squealed.  “Of course! Give me directions and I’ll be there!”

After giving her hair stylist the best route to take, Chastity hung up exhausted and it was only 7:30.  She sat back down on the side of the bed, and pulled her legs into her chest. 
One down, a million to go.

Chastity knew she hired a great wedding planner, but there were so many things she knew would get thrown her way today.  She had a feeling the weather was going to throw a kink in where it could today.

“Okay God.” She looked up.  “Get me through today because all that matters at the end of the day is that I have my man and we get married with no drama.”  And with that simple prayer, Chastity let go of the stress and a gentle calm centered in her chest.

“Knock knock.”  Anne peeked her head in.  “I come bearing gifts.”  Anne walked in with two champagne glasses, filled with what looked to be orange juice, but Chastity knew better.

“You didn’t?”  Chastity flashed a grin.

“I did.”  Anne laughed.  “I simply could not start off the best day of your life without a proper toast.”

Chastity teared up.  “What would I do without you?” 

Anne wrapped her free arm around Chastity shoulders, knowing what was to come next.  She heard Chastity sigh and braced to support her weight.  Anne’s heart hurt for her friend.

“I know.”  Anne whispered, letting a tear escape.  She set her glass down on the nightstand, to wipe her face and then wrap her friend in a hug.  “She’s looking down on you right now and is crying tears of happiness.”

Chastity pulled back and half laughed and cried. “Well someone should tell her to stop because she caused some storm out there.”  Chastity’s tears finally won out.  She softly laid head on Anne’s shoulder.  “I miss her.  I’ve tried to focus on all the family and friends I have here with me today, but there’s no denying it any longer.”

Anne and Chastity sniffled in unison and pulled apart.   Anne nodded her head and said no words.  She and Chastity had that in common. It would never get easier without your mom.  All the milestones, as happy as they were, were a bit painful without mom. 

“I’m glad I have someone to go through it with though.  Not that I’m glad you understand, because I wish you still had your mom…but,” Chastity’s voice trailed.

“Sweetie.  It’s okay.  I do know how you feel.  And you’ll always have me, but you have a wonderful man to lean on now.”  Anne lifted her friend’s chin up to face her.  She gently brushed the hair back from her face, and wiped the last few tears from Chastity’s face.  “You have Timothy.  Let’s focus on that hot man you’re about to marry, because your mom wouldn’t want you to be sad today.  She would have loved the idea of you two.  Heck!”  Anne threw her hands up.  “She does!  Isn’t she the one who suggested he contact you in person after the financial part of her estate was over?  She hired him as her lawyer and wanted him to stay in touch with you - right?”

“Yes.”   Chastity giggled and sat up a little straighter.  “She did like him.  And I’m not sad.  I just miss her.  So thank you for letting me get a little bit of my pity party out of the way.”

“Well then.  I say let’s toast to your mom and to your beautiful rainy wedding day.”  Anne grinned and lifted her glass.

Chastity nodded and brought her glass up.  “To mom.”  She started. 

“To Kylie.”  Anne said.

“Thank you for sending me the love of my life.”  Chastity looked up.  “Even if I didn’t figure it out until after you passed.”

They clinked their glasses and drank down their morning cocktail.  Chastity’s eyes went wide as she brought the glass down from her lips.  She looked to Anne, who gave her a mischievous grin.

“A bit strong?”  Anne laughed.

“Yeah, you could say that, but I should have known.”   She put her empty glass on the dresser, and tried to pull up her friend.  “Come on.  The hairdresser called and we have to get ready for the day.”

“What about the hairdresser?”  Anne loosened her hands from Chastity’s grip and plopped back on the bed.  “We don’t have to be there till 9:00.”

“Nope.  Her power went out, so now she’s coming here.”

Anne groaned and pulled a pillow over her head.  “Ugh. Really?  If that’s not a bad premonition of what’s to come, I don’t know what is.”

“No, I don’t believe in those…and get up.  Get up Anne!”  Chastity jumped on the bed, trying not to step Anne’s legs.  “I’m getting married today.”  She jumped one last time and landed on her rear, right next to Anne.  She shook her friend’s shoulders so hard she almost gave Anne whiplash.  “I’m getting married!”  Chastity screeched.

“I know!  I know!”  Anne laughed and yelped out, partly in pain.  “Get off me!  I’m up! I’m up!” 

Chastity grabbed Anne in a full force hug, and this time it wasn’t out of sadness for her mom.  It was out of joy.

Chapter 47

Timothy’s iPhone alarm went off promptly at 6:00 a.m., but the smell of coffee had awoken him a bit earlier.  He stretched and listened to the quiet puttering of his mom in her kitchen.  Instead of sleeping at his house, which would now be his and Chastity’s, he decided to come crash on his parent’s couch.  He wanted to sleep in his family’s home for the last night of his single life. 

             
Mrs. Banks shuffled her house shoes across the kitchen floor toward the couch.  Timothy lifted up to look behind the couch to see her bringing two mugs of hot coffee.

             
“You might need this.  You didn’t get in till late.”  Mrs. Banks smiled and sat at the far end of the couch after handing him his coffee.

             
Timothy lifted the mug up to his nose and breathed it in.  “Mmm. You always make the best coffee mom. Come here and sit closer.”  He patted the space next to him.

             
The two snuggled next to one another.  This was time for just mother and son, which was rare for them.  It pulled at Mrs. Banks heart.  “You’re a fine man, my son.  And Chastity is lucky to have you.”  Her voice wavered.

             
“Are you going to cry?” Timothy asked in awe.

             
“No! Don’t be silly!  I’m just tired.  How late did you get in?”

             
“Late.  I had to go bail the boys out of jail.”

             
“What?  Your friends? What happened?”  Mrs. Banks sat up a little straighter.

             
“No!  Your great nephews…the ones you made me take along last night.”

             
Timothy’s mom groaned.  “Oh no.  What happened?  I’m so sorry.  You know ever since their dad left them, they’ve been suffering along with their mom.”

             
Timothy filled her in on their behavior and the decision he made to let them get carted off to jail.  He delighted in telling the latter part of the story.

             
“You mean you let them go to jail?  That’s cruel Timothy.”  She scolded her son.

             
“No, it’s something that will stick with them.  And they need to learn that their actions have consequences.  And if they’re old enough to act like idiots, with no care for others around them, then they’re old enough to get caught and punished.”

             
She couldn’t fault him in his logic.  She knew her son was right.  Her heart broke for her family though.  Those young men had been reeling since their dad essentially abandoned them.  Who knew…maybe it was the best thing for them.

             
“Well the timing of it all sucks.”  She finally said.

             
“Couldn’t agree more, which is why I couldn’t let it slide.”  Timothy urged further.  “So after the game, I took Guy and Scott to my favorite sports bar to watch the game highlights in high def.”

             
“You didn’t go to the jail to pick them up?”  Mrs. Banks was shocked.

             
“Yes, of course I did!  After a couple hours…” Timothy delighted in hearing his mom chuckle. “I got to the jail around 1:00 am.  And mom…you should have seen them.”

             
Mrs. Banks laughed so loudly he was afraid she’d wake up his dad.  “Shhh!”  He warned.

             
“Aw, I’m up!” Timothy heard his gruff father’s voice, as he shuffled in the kitchen.  “You two make enough racket to wake the neighbors.”  Mr. Banks flashed a smile at his family.  “What’s this I hear about Chase and Landon in the tank?”

             
“It was so funny when the guys and I went to go pick them up.  They looked like scared little puppies.  I don’t know what they saw or experienced there last night, but my friend, Toby, the cop, must have put the fear of God in them, because they didn’t say a word on the way home.”  Timothy laughed.  “And when dropped them off at their hotel, they jumped out and said ‘thank you’ to me.  I’ve never heard them say thank you to anyone – not for a long time.”

             
“Since their dad left…” Mrs. Banks softly clicked her tongue.

             
Mr. Banks belted out a laugh, which made Timothy jump.  “Now that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all week.  I bet those hellions got a taste of their own medicine!  I’m going to have to pay a visit to your friend Toby and thank him.  Those boys need a wakeup call.  Just because their dad left doesn’t mean they get a free pass to be trouble.”

             
“Couldn’t agree more.”  Timothy said. 

             
“Want some coffee sweetie?”  Mrs. Banks asked her husband, before getting up.

             
Timothy wasn’t ready for his mom to leave his side yet.  He quickly stood and pulled her in for a hug.

             
“Thank you mom.” He kissed her on the cheek. “For everything.”

             
Mrs. Banks voice wavered again.  “Well Tim.  I don’t know what to say.”

             
“Just don’t cry.”  Timothy teased.