Читать книгу Chateau de Paix - R. C. Jette - Страница 8

Chapter One

The Water Cooler

“That water cooler is beginning to be an adversary most formidable,” Margaret mumbled as she went to sit at a table in the company cafeteria. She sighed heavily, set her tray down on the table, placed her pocketbook down, pulled out a book from inside, and sat down.

She held her book in her left hand and started to eat her low-calorie meal with her right hand. As she took a sip of her diet cola, she feels her blood boil as she views Carlotta heading for the water cooler. “If Joel comes in and goes to the cooler, I do believe I’m going to confront them both.”

“Hey,” a voice next to her said. “Are you so overworked that you’ve begun to talk to yourself?” Titus smiled and gestured to the seat opposite her. “Do you mind if I sit here?”

“Of course not,” Margaret said. “But I guess I am talking to myself.” She rubbed the back of her neck with her right hand. “To be honest, I’m not sure what’s going on with your brother.”

“Joel?” His eyebrows squished together. “He’s an open book. I’ve known him since I was ten. That’s twenty-eight years, and my brother has never been anything but open and honest.” He gave a throaty laugh. “Of course, there were times when people didn’t believe this black guy was his brother. But when the Schneider’s adopted me at eight and brought me to America from Liberia, I know God can do anything.”

Margaret’s blue eyes looked at him with sadness. “I thought God could do anything, but I don’t know what to think now.” She giggled. “Sorry about that. I’m still trying to figure out why God didn’t heal my mother.” She sighed. “As for Joel, he seems to be paying a lot of attention to Carlotta lately.” She nodded towards the water cooler. “She looks like a fashion model.”

Titus pulled his right eyebrow with his right thumb and forefinger. “Margaret, Joel has been in love with you since you were in the Youth Group at church.” His eyebrows squished together. “Seriously, I think you should’ve taken time out of work after your mother died last month. According to Ecclesiastes there is a time to mourn. People need time to heal from such a loss. As a matter of fact, Joel has been concerned about you.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m fine. I believe work keeps me busy and my mind off the grief.” She giggled. “Besides, I’m almost at the level for a nice bonus this year.” She paused as her peripheral vision viewed Joel walking towards the water cooler.

Joel glanced her way, but Margaret pretended she didn’t see him. “Watch. See what I mean,” she whispered to Titus.

Titus glanced towards Joel and saw Carlotta slip a note into his hand. As Joel read the note, they both grinned at each other.

“That’s what I’ve witnessed almost daily for some time now. There’s clearly something going on.” She gestured with her right hand. “Do I go over there and confront them? Do I just give him back his engagement ring? How can I ignore what’s happening before my very eyes?”

“Have you asked him about it?”

“Of course! ” She rubbed the back of her neck with her right hand. “Well, not right out. I just mentioned how beautiful Carlotta was to see his reaction.” She gestured with both hands. “He just said the only beautiful one to him was me.”

“There. I’m sure there’s a good explanation to this water cooler thing.” He gave a wide grin. “I think we need to wait and see what Joel is doing.” He patted her right hand. “Believe me, if there was something, he would’ve mentioned it to me. We’ve had a David and Jonathan relationship since he was about six or so.”

Margaret placed her long black hair behind her ears with both hands. “I’ll heed your counsel and see what’s what.” Her blue eyes widened. “But what if he hasn’t said anything to you because he doesn’t want to be reprimanded?” She gestured with her right hand. “What if he’s waiting for the right moment to break the engagement?”

Titus gave a throaty laugh. “Margaret, Margaret, Margaret! What’s happening to you? I’ve never seen you so insecure. You must trust the Lord and quit leaning on your own understanding.” He paused. “My brother has never done an underhanded thing in his life. It’s not his nature to be deceitful.” He pulled his right eyebrow with his right thumb and forefinger. “I’m not trying to seem controlling, but please pray about taking some time to grieve your mother’s death.” He gazed into her eyes. “You feel like you’re in a dark tunnel, but the light is at the end. Your grief has you seeing only darkness.” He patted her right hand. “You must trust the Lord to take you through to the light.”

“I must admit it does seem quite dark at present. Perhaps, Joel isn’t God’s choice for me. Perhaps, I chose him and not God.”

Titus patted her right hand. “Margaret, Joel prayed this through. The Lord made certain that you are his wife.” He paused. “Now, I may be ten years older than my brother, but God hasn’t pointed out my wife yet. She must be a woman after God’s own heart.” He sat back and laughed. “At first. I thought I was asking a tall order from the Lord. But he calmed me by saying that desire had been put there by him. It’s a preventative so I don’t marry before he brings his foreordained wife into my life.”

Before she could respond, she felt a hand on her right shoulder. “Are you enjoying this beautiful day the Lord has made?” Joel said. “All I know is that I thought I’d never get that job done.” He gave a heavy sigh. “I’m delighted that it’s almost finished. It’s been quite the ordeal.”

She rubbed the back of her neck with her right hand. “What job?” Her blue eyes widened. “I didn’t know you were having trouble with anything.”

Joel scratched the back of his head with his right hand. “It doesn’t seem like anything now.” He clasped his hands together. “Thank God, it’s about complete.” He pulled out a chair and sat next to Margaret. “What book are you reading?”

“The Mysteries of Udolpho.”

Titus gave out a throaty laugh. “Well, I pray you don’t become overwhelmed like Emily in the story.” He patted her right hand. “I’m not sure that’s a story to read after just losing your mother.”

Joel’s eyebrows squished together. “I think my brother might have a point there. That is quite the story with Emily losing her mother, her father, trying to understand her Aunt’s death, and all the mystery about Montoni.”

Margaret giggled. “You two are being ridiculous. I chose this book, because I just wanted to get into some gothic place away from everything.” She gestured with her right hand. “One of the nurses who tended to my mother told me how she couldn’t put it down. It was as though Emily was in paradise. After her mother dies, she and her father go on a journey. After his death, she finds herself in a nightmare of the horrors of Udolpho.” She gave a sigh. “It seemed like the perfect book explaining what I’ve been feeling.”

Joel took her right hand and held it between both his hands. “Margaret, only the Lord can give comfort during this time. You’ve missed church for several weeks.” His brown eyes gazed at her. “Your mother never missed church. I do wish you would seriously take time to grieve before the grief consumes you.”

Margaret threw up both hands. “What it is with you two? I’m fine. I told you I missed church because I couldn’t sit there without my mother. I’m healing in my way.” She paused. “Just give me a little more time.”

Joel kissed her forehead. “I’ve been praying for you. I know you’ll come through. The Lord promises that when we love him, all things we go through will work together for our good.” He scratched the back of his head with his right hand. “We may not see any good in it, but faith says God will bring about something good. He is faithful to his word.”

Titus gave a wide grin. “I do believe Joel is correct. For I have a strong feeling that something good is going to come out of this grief.” He touched her right hand. “I don’t mean that it’s good that your mother died, but God has a way of making something good come out of our trials. There is light at the end of the tunnel.” He paused and looked into her eyes. “We have to trust in his love for us.” He paused. “You must get your eyes off your grief and onto him. Remember, that’s how Peter sunk. He walked on the water while keeping his eyes on Jesus, but sunk when he looked away at the storm.”

Margaret fought back tears. “That’s what my mother told me.”