Pursuing Mrs. Regrets - Ch. 22.5

Royal went into his house and slammed the door closed, not even bothering to lock it behind him. He threw his cell phone to the ground, uncaring if it broke or not.

Three steps were the most he could take before he had to stop and lean against the wall for support. His love for Delia had humbled him, literally weakened him in the knees. No amount of pressure could squeeze the desire out of his loins.

“I knew I should have taken her in the car. And if she’d gotten pregnant, oh well,” Royal raged. “Maybe then she wouldn’t be so quick to discard me like yesterday’s newspaper. Maybe then she’d know and understand that I’m supposed to be in her life. That I’m supposed to father her future children, stepfather the ones she has now.”

Fueled by ire, Royal kicked his phone out of the way and gathered up enough strength to make it to his den. He spewed his rage and disappointment all the way there.

“She knows she wanted me just as much as I did her tonight,” Royal sprouted, recalling how Delia’s eyes had rolled in the back of her head in the car. He could still taste her sweetness on his tongue, which made him ache all the more for her.

“If I’d only gotten in her, she would be screaming my name right now,” Royal said arrogantly. “As fertile as she is, she’d probably be carrying my child before the month was out. The next time we’re together, I’m going to make sure I put a bun in that oven.”

Suddenly Royal stopped talking, stopped walking, stopped everything as the realization of how low he’d just stooped ethically pricked his conscience. What kind of doctor, what kind of man would willingly impregnate a woman just to keep her in his life?

Unacquainted with failure and disgusted by his own wretchedness, a desperate Royal turned to the only Person he could in a bind like this. He didn’t dare let his recent sin stand in the way. Nor the uncleanness of his spirit, soul, and body. He knew that God could cleanse them all.

Falling to his knees right there on the den floor, Royal uttered a humble prayer. “I’m sorry, Lord. So sorry for my sins, past and present. Particularly my sins towards Delia. I’ve tried everything I know to do to get this woman. A woman that I believe I’m destined to have. Now if I’m wrong about Delia, please help me get over her. But if I’m right, please help me gain her hand in marriage. Either way, Lord, I’m willing to change my ways. Willing to let You lead the way from now on and I follow. Because doing things my way is no longer working for me. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.”

Peace enveloped Royal even before he was done praying. Smiling, he rose from his knees and went to take a hot shower. No need for a cold one tonight. His spirit man was finally back in control, not his flesh.

By the time Layla arrived with his car and entered through the unlocked front door, Royal was in his pajamas and actually playing the baby grand piano in his living room. The tune was Make me Over by Tonex. Royal could identify with a lot of the words to that song.

“What prompted this? You haven’t played this piano or even been in this room in ages,” Layla said, waiting until he played the last note to speak.

“A meeting of the minds between me and God,” Royal replied.

“God?” Layla’s brows rose.

“Yes. It’s time for me to change my ways. I want a wife and a family of my own one day. I don’t think I’m going to have either if I don’t switch gears.”

“Do...do you have somebody in mind,” Layla asked, afraid of the answer.

“Yes.” Royal took a deep breath and just came on out with it, uncaring who knew of his love now. “I see no point in keeping it a secret any longer. The woman I want to marry is Delia Valentine. I love her very much,” he said, waiting for the boom.

Instead of the boom, Royal got eerie silence from Layla and not a trace of surprise. It was as if she already knew about them. She did.

Then came the questions. Lots of questions.

“How long has this been going on? You weren’t seeing her while she was your patient, were you? Is that the reason she switched doctors?” Layla asked, breaking her silence after a long moment.

“Not long, no, and kinda,” Royal replied, answering each of her questions.

“What do you mean kinda?”

“I mean, Delia switched doctors largely due to our strong mutual attraction. It was a wise choice for the both of us because it opened the door for us to date.”

“When have you two dated? I’ve never seen her over here once. You weren’t even together on Valentine’s night.” Layla eyes narrowed in memory of that night. “Maybe you were together that night after all. You did leave our movie for a long time. And she did suddenly change clothes that night. Did you use me as a cover for some shameful secret love affair you were having with an ex-patient, Royal?” Anger flashed in her eyes now.

“First of all, I’ve never used you for anything, Layla. You were and will continue to be my friend for as long as you want to be. Secondly, Delia just so happened to show up at the same movie theater as us that night. Thirdly, there are several reasons Delia and I dated secretly, but none of them have anything to do with me being ashamed of our relationship.”

“What does it have something to do with then?”

“I’m not at liberty to say right now. But I will say this, once God removes those obstacles from our paths, I am going to marry that woman.”

“But what if God doesn’t remove those obstacles? What if you and Delia just aren’t meant to be together?” Layla asked.

Royal took a deep breath and exhaled. “Then I’ll let her and all hope of having her go,” he said with a pained expression on his face.

So then there’s still hope for me after all, Layla mused, grasping at even the smallest of straws as Royal returned to his playing. The more she listened to his strong alto, the more she fell in love with him.

Royal’s voice was the last thing Layla heard as she fell asleep right where she sat. When she woke up the next morning in one of the guestroom beds, she fell in love all over again.

He carried me to bed! Layla mused, marveling at Royal’s considerate behavior. He actually carried me to bed! Now she really wanted Delia out of the picture.

© 2008 by Suprina Frazier

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Several links to Tonex’s Make Me Over Again song (I like the first link best):

Link 1

Link 2

Link 3