“Oh, I get it.”
“If things were that good with Jamal, how did you and Chris get back together?” Zoë always wondered how Trina and Chris got together the first time. More importantly, she wondered why Trina took him back after he jerked her around all those years?
“Love. I didn’t love Jamal, but I loved Chris. Back then, he wasn’t like he is now. I don’t know this man. It’s like marriage changes you, but the past few years Chris has become a stranger to me. He looks down his nose at anyone who wasn’t raised like he was, or isn’t as strong a Christian as he thinks he is. I’ve been playing it off, but I can’t anymore.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Part of me says, leave and the other part says, stay. Zoë, I meant those vows when I took them.”
“Yeah, and he said he understood what happened, but apparently he didn’t.” She reminded her.
“If it was just me, I’d probably leave, but I have to think about Tyler and what’s best for him.”
“If you want to leave Chris, leave. Don’t stay because of Tyler. That’s the worst thing you could do. Your son doesn’t need to be in a tension filled environment. Children can sense these things.”
“I hear what you’re saying.”
Chapter 70
TRINA SAT IN BED, STARING out the window. She looked at the clock on the night table. It was eleven o’clock. It was late, but this call couldn’t wait. She picked up her phone and pressed Chris’ number. It went straight to voicemail. She didn’t leave a message. Instead, she called their home number and he picked up after the third ring.
“Hello,” he answered through a groggy voice.
“Chris.”
“Trina? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He stumbled to get up and stubbed his toe on the coffee table. “Is Tyler all right?”
“We’re both fine. How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Tyler missed hearing your voice again.”
He cleared his voice. “Oh, uhm, I’ve been working late and by the time I…”
“Stop it Chris.” She didn’t want to hear another one of his tired excuses. “I need to talk to you. Are you available tomorrow for coffee?”
“What time?”
“Six, at Ted’s.” Ted’s was one of their favorite places.
“I’ll be there.”
“Good night.”
“Night, tell Tyler I love him.”
“I always do.” She hung up not giving him the chance to make up another excuse.
Chris arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early. He got a booth in the back where it was more private and kept his eyes on the door, waiting for Trina to walk in. He looked at his phone to see if she had tried to contact him. No text, no email, no voice mail. He covered his eyes with his hands, praying softly. “Lord, I really messed up. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Forgive me for not forgiving my wife. Forgive me for lying to my wife. Forgive me for being jealous of my friends. I was wrong and I allowed the devil to trick me. I repent. I want my family back, but I need Your help. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
He looked up and Trina was walking toward him. She sashayed through the aisle of wooden tables and chairs, and all he saw was her on their wedding day. He stood up and kissed her on the cheek. “You look good.”
“Thank you.”
He looked like he hadn’t slept in a couple of days and that he hadn’t shaved in about a week. Scruffy looked good on him, but she couldn’t allow herself to be distracted from her goal. They sat down.
“Where’s Tyler?” he asked.