Enticing Mr. Wrong - Ch. 25.3

“How are you enjoying your cranberries?” Felix asked Laquetta as they sat on their screened-in front porch in matching rocking chairs, looking up at the night sky and listening to a chorus of crickets. They often had peaceful times like this in the evenings.

Laquetta frowned. “To be honest, they don’t taste very good,” she replied, ceasing to rock. “I’ve been suffering in silence over here, because I felt guilty about having you run all over town looking for them.”

Felix chuckled. “I tried to tell you that cranberries aren’t fully in season until around October.”

“I wish I’d listened to you now. I’m sorry, Felix,” Laquetta openly repented, looking apologetic. Earlier she’d been very adamant about satisfying her craving for cranberries. Had been quite snappy with her husband in the process. She felt sorry about that now, too.

“You’re forgiven.” Felix smiled with the patience that God had given him during these months of pregnancy mood swings. He didn’t mind his wife’s aggression so much these days. Was actually starting to like it. It had certainly added a lot more fire to their marital bed.

“Thank you.” Laquetta sighed in relief and returned to her soothing rocking motion. “Now I don’t have to eat any more,” she said, closing the plastic produce bag of pale, tasteless fruit in her lap.

“Actually, I probably should be thanking you for helping me write next Sunday’s sermon. I learned a great lesson behind this cranberry experience.”

“What lesson?”

“Well, I learned how important timing was. How getting or doing anything out of season is a risk. How that if you do engage in out-of-season ventures, you probably won’t get the quality you’re looking for and you will likely end up having to pay more for less.”

“Were my cranberries very expensive?” Laquetta asked, starting to look guilty again. She also stopped rocking again.

“Yes, but don’t let that eat away at you either. Had I not made that purchase, I wouldn’t have this sermon,” Felix replied, assuaging her of all guilt.

Laquetta smiled. “You’re a good husband.”

“And you’re a good wife,” Felix replied, stopping his rocker now. “Even if you are a lot bossier these days,” he added, leaning over to plant a kiss on her forehead.

Laquetta chuckled and returned to her rocking. Inside she prayed that her stepsister would find a man as wonderful as Felix. A man that was willing to love her unconditionally, through her ups and her downs. A man Aisha was willing to love in the same way.

Suddenly Laquetta had the most incredible peace come over her. The ears of her spirit opened wider. Beyond the chorus of crickets, beyond the creaks of the rocking chairs, she heard a most encouraging message from on high:

“Aisha has already found that man you prayed about. The same man that I destined her to have. But just like those cranberries you ate tonight, she is getting him out of season. As a result, your sister is going to go through some things. Some bitter, some tasteless, and it’s going to cost her a lot. It’s going to cost them 'both' a lot. But don’t fret. Aisha will eventually come into her due season. And that man that she so craved will be right there, ripe and ready to be harvested.”

Laquetta smiled wide after hearing that. She couldn’t wait to find out who her stepsister’s mystery man was. Whoever he was, he was obviously already approved by God, even if he didn’t have it altogether yet.

© 2005 by Suprina Frazier