God's Gift to Women Read Free

this. Besides, I’ve got a big deal I’ve been working on. I only wish Carmen could’ve been here to share this moment with you.”
    “Yeah, me, too.” I stared at her picture on the console. “She’s the reason I stuck with this raggedy-ass station for as long as I did.”
    Mitch walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. He was a short man, standing about five six. I towered over him at six three, but he had a charismatic way of speaking that demanded attention.
    “It’s been two years, Julian. When are you gonna let it go?” he said in that fatherly tone. “You said it in your poem, life goes on! Why don’t you stop feeling sorry for yourself and start taking some of your own advice?”
    “Look, Mitch,
dating
is not high on my list of priorities!” Isaid as I pulled away. Then I started packing up my equipment. “I’m moving to Houston in two days. I just want to finish packing, have a farewell drink with Eddie at Club Nimbus, then get the hell outta here!”
    “Sounds like a plan, Julian.” He poured himself another drink. “But you know as well as I do, Sharon was right; you are alone. You should’ve asked her out—she’s obviously single,” he added sarcastically. “Tell you what, why don’t we see if she’s still on the line?”
    Mitch reached for the button on the console. All five phone lines were lit and my microphone was still on.
    “Cool out, Mitch!” I grabbed at his hand. But he managed to press the speakerphone button for line two. There was a sudden click, then a dial tone.
    “It’s best that she’s gone, anyway,” he said as he backed away from the console.
    “And why is that? Not that I care.”
    “Because Samantha will never allow another woman into her life, or yours, not until she learns to accept that you are
a man
—with needs.”
    He sat his Champagne glass on the console and headed for the door.
    “Where you goin’?” I walked toward him holding my glass. “I thought we were celebrating tonight.”
    “I’m going home to my woman—what about you?” he said as he opened the door. “I really hope you find what you’re looking for in Houston, Julian.” Then he turned off the lights and walked out.
    As I watched the candle wax slowly melting away, I thought about what my father told me before he died: “Son, money can buy a lot of things in this world, but it can’t buy back time.” As I stood there in the dim silence of my spiritual ambiance, I had to face up to the reality of what Mitch said.
He’s right,
I thought to myself.
Samantha was too possessive and I was only making matters worse by not having a life of my own.
    I gathered up the rest of my things and placed them in my gym bag. Before I put away the picture of Carmen, I looked at it. Then I spoke to it.
    “You know I’ll always love you, Carmen, but it’s time for me to move on with my life!” I said as tears rolled down my face. “My mind needs it, my heart needs it, my soul needs it. And I ain’t gonna lie, baby, my body needs it, too.” I laughed.
    I kissed her picture, then placed it into my bag. “You’ll always be my queen.”
    On the way out the door I blew out my jasmine-scented candles and put them inside my bag. At that moment, I decided it was the only baggage I was carrying with me to Houston.

Chapter 2
     
    SATURDAY MORNING I was awakened by the sound of a horn blowing. I turned over to check the clock on the night-stand. It read 8:15 A.M . When I looked out the window, there was a huge van from the moving company parked in my driveway. The driver was a tall black man. He was wearing white socks, blue jean coveralls, and a straw brim. “Damn, that’s country!” I said to myself. The two other men, one black, the other Hispanic, were busy unloading empty boxes.
    I put on my robe and slippers then went to find out why my daughter, Samantha, hadn’t heard the commotion. “Sam,” I yelled. “Where are you?”
    I knocked on her bedroom door, the way I always did. We