The Keepsake (Love at the Crossroads) Read Free Page B

discarded the melting ice in the sink and rummaged through the freezer before taking out a TV dinner. “Now, from the beginning, tell me how you messed up your life.”
    It was one thing to rehash it in his mind, but to hear himself describe how he had broken his marriage covenant was heartbreaking. So Michael took his time and hit the timer on the microwave to reheat the dinner that was probably cool by now. “About a month ago, this woman came into the store needing assistance with her brand new smartphone. My two other employees couldn’t master the program switch, so they came to me and I did it in record time. The woman thanked me, flirted and left, end of story—or so I thought.”
    Once Michael’s dinner was reheated, Zachary popped his in. “So this was a stranger encounter? You didn’t even know what corner she stepped off of.” His brother didn’t hold back the character assassination until he pulled out his dinner and blessed his food. He shoved a helping of mash potatoes in his mouth and nodded for Michael to continue.
    “She returned a few days later with another problem and wanted me to fix it.”
    “One of my employees can help you. I have to get a bite to eat,” Michael had said, but that didn’t seem to deter her.
    “Where are you going?” she asked.
    “Excuse me?”
    “Are you eating close by?” She smiled.
    “When I told her I was headed next door for lunch, she basically invited herself…”
    “Mistake number one.” Zachary smacked his lips and then grimaced in pain.
    Michael glared at him. “Don’t you think I see my hindsight crystal clear now ?”
    “I’m just sayin’.” Zachary shrugged and continued to devour his processed meal.
    “Well, during lunch, we didn’t talk about her phone. When she saw my ring, she asked me if I was happily married . I said yes. I should have rebuked the challenge in her eyes, but I ignored it. I paid for her lunch and we went back into the store and I reprogrammed her phone.”
    “ Oh man. You bought her lunch? I won’t even tell you what I’m thinking.”
    “Please don’t. She came again and insisted I allow her to treat me. Again, she asked if I was happily married.”
    “And all this time, what was going through your head?”
    “Honestly, that this woman wasn’t going to try anything because I told her I was happily married.” Michael paused. “I know. The devil was setting me up and I didn’t even know it.”
    “Go on.” Zachary pushed his empty plastic compartment ed plate to the side and folded his arms.
    “That same night when I closed up the store, she was waiting for me in her car. I was surprised. I had let the last two employees go on home, so it was just me and her in that semi-dark parking lot. She called my name and when I turned around, she was walking toward me in a tight short dress. Her seduction was in high gear. God kept telling me to resist the devil, but my body parts said no.  As she kissed me, I just lost my mind.” Michael stopped there. Was he really talking about himself being that gullible or another fool? “I hope Desi will forgive me.”
    “M e personally, I wouldn’t. So many women think we’re dogs anyway and from what you’ve just told me, you proved it.” Zachary grunted. “Man, I can understand Desi packing up and leaving you. If you weren’t my only sibling, I probably wouldn’t speak to you either.”
    “Thanks,” Michael said sarcastically. “You’re my big brother, so what’s your advice?”
    Zachary stood and gathered his mess. “I don’t have any. You are definitely on your own in this mess. You need to talk to your pastor and/or God because you need some direction on this.” He gathered his keys and headed to the door, then pivoted on his heel before he opened it. “You know what I think?”
    “What?” Michael had shamed God and stopped going to church, so any piece of wisdom his brother wanted to impart, Michael would take it.
    “I think you’ve lost her, man. And