Margo placed her coat in the closet and then went to the living room and took off her shoes. She went over to the couch, fumbled through the mail that she laid there on her way into the house, and moved her purse so she could sit down. Several bills were in the stack, but what caught her eye was the envelope in the shape of a greeting card that was scribbled over in Malik’s handwriting.
She pulled the envelope from the rest and stared at it for a moment. Margo missed Malik but knew she had done the right thing by telling him that they needed time apart. Prayer kept her anchored, and she felt safe that she had her Jesus to help get through times when she felt a wee bit lonely. Margo looked at the envelope, tore it open, and pulled the card from its holder.
A black and white picture of a black man and woman looking into each other’s eyes was on the cover. Margo stared at it as if it was a picture of her and Malik. She stared at it as if trying to understand what the couple was sharing. Hesitantly, Margo opened the card and guided her eyes to the text. It read Love is in the eye of the beholder. In your voice, I hear it. In your smile, I see it. In your touch, I feel it…You are the things I love.
Margo closed the card and her eyes, holding the card to her chest. Malik had somehow crawled into her system, but it was a direct result of the loss of her beloved Jefferson, the man she truly loved. Malik offered security and the comfort of a good friend at a bleak time in her life-nothing more, nothing less. Margo had to admit she had let her guard down, though, and now Malik wanted more, more than she was willing to give.
Placing the card back in the envelope, Margo got up from the couch and went to the kitchen. The phone began to ring, and she hesitated, hoping she wouldn’t have to hurt Malik’s feelings again. She looked at the caller ID, but did not recognize the caller. Out of curiosity, Margo picked up the phone and answered.
“This is a collect call from,” the recorded operator said, after which a live voice came on the line, “Jefferson Myles. Do you accept the charges?”
“Yes!” Margo said, dancing in a circle. She covered her mouth with her free hand, excited by the sound of Jefferson’s voice.
“Margo?”
“Yes, Jefferson. It’s me.”
“How are you doing, baby?”
“I’m doing fine…great. How about you?”
“I’m doing fine. I have some news…pretty good news at that.”
“What is it Jefferson? What is the news?”
“I have a parole hearing in a few days. My attorney thinks I have a good chance at being released.”
“Oh my God!” Margo exclaimed. “Could this be true? I’ve got to tell Ivy, JR, Winter, and Winston.”
“Don’t say anything yet, Margo. Let’s wait until after the parole hearing. Then we’ll know if a celebration is in order. I do feel good about this, baby.”
“Oh, this is wonderful news, Jefferson. Extra prayers tonight for everything to go right. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, Margo. I don’t deserve you, but I’m thankful to God that I still have you in my life. I love you, and I’m going to do everything in my power to prove it to you.”
“You don’t have to prove anything to me. God has shown me through His love that we are going to be all right. I haven’t abandoned you or our marriage. You are the love of my life. I want you to wow that parole board and hurry home to me, to the family.”
“What did I do to deserve you? I’ve got to go, baby, and I can’t wait to see you again.”
“I can’t wait either,” Margo said, tears sliding down her face.
“I’ll call you with the news, regardless of the outcome. I love you.”
“Okay, Jefferson. I’ll be here waiting. And I love you, too.”
Margo heard the phone click. She held the phone close to her bosom until the busy signal annoyed her enough to hang it up. Good news was what she needed, and although Jefferson had asked her not to say anything, the first person she thought about telling was Malik.
The card was lying on the kitchen counter. Margo picked it up and tore it into pieces. There was no room for another person in her life, and the moment she had waited for might be only days or a few weeks away. Margo decided against telling Malik her news. She grabbed the phone again and called each of her children. God was in the motion of answering her prayer.