“That won’t be necessary.” Kyla sat down and crossed her legs. “If you don’t mind waiting lunch should be ready in a few minutes.”
“Lunch?”
“I thought you might want something a little more substantial.”
“Thank you.”
Somewhere between Kyla clearing the entree dishes and the first bite of dessert, the silent bell rang, starting the next round.
“Kyla, my son is attracted to a certain type of woman.” Kyla put her spoon down and braced herself. “He has always been attracted to women that seem to need help.”
“Let me stop you.”
“No, let me finish.” Kyla silently counted to ten and calmed down. “You, my dear, are the holy grail of that type…beautiful, troubled, with a questionable past.” Belinda looked at her, waiting for her to jump in again. “I’m not sure what to think about this proposed marriage.”
“Proposed marriage? I don’t know what you’ve heard, but Sean and I are getting married.”
“That’s what you said at dinner, but I don’t see it.”
“Why, because I’m not a virgin?”
“No, I mean that’s one of the reasons, but I think you’re an enabler not a helpmate.”
“I see.” Kyla wiped the sides of her mouth and hands and walked over to the door. “I think you should leave.”
Belinda didn’t move. “Kyla, sit down.”
They were at a standstill. Kyla wouldn’t sit down and Belinda wouldn’t get up. The barking dog ring tone on Kyla’s phone broke the standoff. It was Sean calling. She closed the door and walked into her bedroom, closed the door and answered the call.
“Hello.”
“What’s wrong?” Her tense tone tipped him off to a possible problem.
She walked into her bathroom so Belinda couldn’t hear the conversation. “We made it through lunch, but dessert isn’t going so well.”
“Do you want me to come save you?”
She remembered the words that sent her into her bedroom, “You’re an enabler not a helpmate.” She needed to prove she could do this. The past few months, every time she came up against something tough, Sean was there with a strong shoulder for her to cry on and to help her. Today, she needed to prove she was a helpmate and not an enabler.
“No baby, I got this. You stick to the plan and I’ll see you later. I love you.”
“I love you.”
They hung up at the same time.
“Okay God, You told me to trust You. I need You to give me the right words to say and to not embarrass You or Sean. It’s taken me a while to realize who I am, but I know this relationship is a gift from You and I need to make Sean’s mother see that. Let’s do this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
She freshened up and walked out to join Belinda. She sat down and took another sip of coffee.
“The women in my family all have one thing in common, married boyfriends. That’s not exactly true, my mother is the only one who didn’t want that life, but I did. It looked glamorous, a relationship without the possibility of commitment and great sex. When I met Sean I had just started seeing someone. We were together almost six years before Sean and I started seeing each other outside of work. The first time I really talked to Sean, it was amazing.” She smiled. “He ruined me for any other man. His passion and commitment to his faith was obvious. I think it was his strength that I was attracted to. That and his beautiful lips and hands. When I was making love with my ex, I was picturing Sean. And when I was with Sean, I didn’t give my ex any thought.”
“I don’t want to hear any more.” Belinda was obviously uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was going.
“I know you’ve heard some rather unflattering things about me, but here it is from my mouth. I’ve had five serious relationships. My high school boyfriend, one of my college professors, a blind gentleman…he had magic hands and lips…hmmm and another guy, who…let’s just say he couldn’t keep up, and the one I dumped for Sean.”
“Were they all married?”
“Not the high school boy.” She took another sip of coffee. “They all, except for the last one, taught me how to love a man. Specifically, they taught me how to make love to a man.”