Chapter 8
Isabella couldn’t believe this. She thought Destiny had the perfect life; who knew she had a single flaw: fear.
Destiny felt relieved to have lifted a heavy confession off her chest. Isabella drove her home and remained there to comfort her friend.
“When I found out I was pregnant my whole world stopped. I didn’t want a baby, not now any way.” Destiny dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
“Destiny,” Isabella was at a loss of words; she always thought a baby was a precious miracle that only came for happily-ever-after endings, “I know that it doesn’t seem very likely now, but when you hold that baby in your arms you’ll simply fall in love. I imagine if you told Joe Don about how scared you are that he would understand. He just might be scared himself.”
Silenced followed, she wasn’t going to tell Joe Don she was terrified. Isabella just couldn’t grasp the fear Destiny held inside. Lost in their own heads, Isabella’s pager went off.
“Well, I have to go to the diner to help them close up, but I’ll be back.” She hugged Destiny long and firm before letting go.
***
The diner was always apart of Isabella’s dreams. While she was a child she had a dream to own something. Something that was all hers. Once she drew out the floor plan of the building, and got what she needed to become a professional business woman, she knew no one or thing could get in her way of achieving her dream.
The outside of the diner was nothing fancy to look at, but the inside was set in marble and stone. The marble counters set off the stone blue walls that were full of graffiti signatures of famous music artists. The tiled floor was an eggshell blue. Could you guess what Isabella’s favorite color was? Even the interior of the booths was a deep navy blue.
Isabella flipped the sign on the door so it would say closed, and she walked over to wipe down the counters. She let crumbs fall to the floor as she lazily wiped down the counters. All she could think about was Destiny, and how unhappy she had seemed.
Isabella jumped when her cell began to ring. Blushing she went over to her purse and dug around until she found her cell phone.
“Hey sugar.” Gary wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“Hey Gary. How’s the tour going?” Isabella went back to the counter and finished wiping them down before she sat down at a booth.
“Good, like always. How are you?” Gary asked fumbling with a basketball.
“I’m fine, keeping busy. How are you?” Isabella twisted a napkin in nervousness.
Why can’t I find anything else to say? Why am I so nervous? It’s just Gary, who happens to be my one true love, right?
“I’m fine, just tired.” Gary yawned and stopped dribbling the ball.
I hope she can’t hear my heartbeat through the telephone. (He blushes) I can’t wait until I get to kiss those delicious lips again.
“Aw, you poor thing, why don’t you get some rest instead of talking on the phone.” She smiled at the thought of Gary fighting sleep just to talk to her.
“Na, I just wanted to hear your beautiful voice before I did rehearsal. I have to go now, but I love you and I miss you.” Gary held his breath until she replied.
“I miss you too. You know I love you.” Isabella blushed as the hung up their phones.
God, I love that man.
***
As Isabella finished wiping down cruddy booth tables she got the perfect idea to brighten Destiny’s world. She drove straight to Destiny’s house not even willing to look at the time. She sped into her driveway and knocked anxiously on the old wooden door. It took a while for Destiny to come around to opening the door. While Isabella waited she tapped her foot lightly on the ground and gradual looked through the window to see if she was coming.
After humming the whole song of Let’s get it on by Marvin Gay a groggy Destiny finally opened the door just a crack. She looked Isabella up and down then let her in. She slowly made her way to the couch as Isabella shut the door behind her.
“Aw, honey did I wake you up?” Isabella sat beside Destiny and rubbed her back.
“No, it’s not like I can sleep anyway. I either have to pee every twenty minutes, or I‘m too sick to my stomach to lay down.” Destiny picked the dried dust from the corners of her eyes.
“Well, I have some thing that might cheer you up.” Isabella smiled inconspicuously.
“What is it?” Destiny asked intrigued.
“I know you use to go to Leave A Mark Church down in the South. Well, I heard that they were having their Biker Blessing in downtown Nashville this year. It’s tomorrow, so how about you and me go?” Isabella said this in a gust of wind; she was so excited, she knew Destiny would say yes.
“Oh goodness, of course I’ll go.” Destiny finally gave off a smile worth showing.
Isabella left so Destiny could get some rest. She was so excited that she could barely drive the speed limit. The next day it seemed like time was going extremely slow. At work Isabella looked at the clock every fifteen minutes.
Could that clock go any slower? I swear it was that time the last time I looked at it. Isabella looked back down at the table she was cleaning and sighed.
Finally, the clock struck five thirty. Isabella rushed to take off her apron, and clocked out. Through rush hour traffic Isabella cursed the slow traffic, and she muttered under her breath. Why of all days, did she have to take the freeway today? The back roads would have been much closer. She gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. Letting off of the brake just a tiny bit she attempted to get closer to the car ahead of her. Smiling, she revved the engine. She liked playing this game.
Around six fifteen she finally pulled into the driveway. Isabella put the car in park and ran into the house. She slipped going up the stairs, but she didn’t care. She lid into their bedroom, and dug around for the perfect outfit. Church started at seven thirty, and she still had to pick up Destiny.
Why can’t I find anything to wear? Ugh, no way I’m wearing this dress it makes me look corpulent. Tossing clothes on to the bed she stumbled upon a pair of tight fitting jeans. The ones that make her butt look juicy, not fat. She smiled, relieved, she went back to her closet to find a shirt to match.
In the end it came down two shirts. One was a fancy blue shirt with sparkles that fell off whenever she had been. The second shirt was brown stripped shirt that was very low cut. Accumulated with the brown high heeled boots she was going to wear, the brown shirt won.
Thank goodness she didn’t have to share the bathroom with Gary tonight, because it was now six fifty five. She held her hair back with a tight hair band and began to apply her contacts then her makeup. The eye shadow match the shirt she was wearing, but also complemented her ocean blue eyes. Once she was satisfied with her makeup it was on to the hair. She let it lay down beneath her shoulders, and she parted it to the side. Applying clear lip gloss, she smacked her lips before heading out to pickup Destiny.
It was seven fifteen, and they were well on their way to the church. Isabella just knew Destiny could hear the butterflies in her stomach beating against her rib cage. Why was she so nervous? She had never met these people in her life.
At the church Isabella parked alongside a beautiful, blue Harley. While she was admiring the paint job of this magnificent bike Destiny had already walked up the stone steps of the church. Apparently she knew these people.
Good, maybe she’ll feel more at home. Isabella slowly made her way towards the church. She remembered why she was so nervous. She hadn’t been in church for at least fifteen years.
I guess I can suffer one night for my best friend.
The greeters seemed nice as they shook Isabella hand and asked how she was for the evening, but she had never trusted these people. She just wanted to get the night over with. She smiled and went in to find destiny, who was now talking with the nursery worker.
Well, isn’t she just the social butterfly today? I wonder if all people from the South are like that.
Isabella walked up just as Destiny finished her conversation.
“Thank you so much for bringing me here. It feels so much like home.” Destiny was smiling ear to ear. It made Isabella’s heart melt.
“I’m glad, you needed something to cheer you up.” Isabella smiled as they walked into the auditorium and found a couple of seats near the front.
As it hit seven thirty everyone piled in, and Pastor Steve started the sermon. It wasn’t Isabella cup of tea, but she sat through without huffing and puffing for Destiny.
She owes me big time for this. Isabella smiled sweetly at Destiny, who clung to every word that was said.
At the end of the service a prayer team sits up front willing to prayer with people for what ever they are going through. Destiny and Isabella sat still.
“So, what are you thinking?” Isabella asked standing up.
“I liked it, but Belle I think I’m going to go pray with someone. Could you wait around for a while?” Destiny looked desperate.
“Of course, I’ll be in the car.” Isabella gave her a hug before walking outside to the car.
***
Destiny’s slow pace match that of her heart. She was about to talk to an utter stranger about the problems she was having. As she reached one of the nice persons’ she held to her second thoughts. It was too late to have them, though.
“Um, Judy can I… can you…” Destiny just couldn’t get the words out of her mouth.
“Darlin’ do you want me to pray with you?” A woman with the name Judy on her name tag said in a soft, sensitive voice.
Destiny just nodded, as Judy lead her to a wooden bench. Judy placed her hand on destiny back as she grabbed a tissue. Destiny just knew she was going to cry. It was inevitable.
“Is everything ok?” Judy asked, opening up the floor for what ever destiny had on her plate.
“I’m scared about having my first child. I don’t know what I’m doing. I didn’t plan to have this baby. I really wanted to further my career and maybe go back to school. I just… I’m going out of my mind and my husband has no idea. He thinks everything’s just… just dandy.” Destiny broke down in tears.
“Oh, sweetheart everything will turn out fine. Just remember God has a plan for everyone. He’ll make sure everything turns out just the way he wants it.” Judy took Destiny’s hands into hers as she bent her head to pray.
***
It took a minimum of ten minutes, but destiny was already starting to feel better about herself, and her baby. She smiled as she walked to Isabella’s car.
Boy, do I sure owe her one.
When she reached the car Isabella was standing outside enjoying the breeze. She engulfed her into a hug.
“Your welcome.” Isabella smiled knowing she had helps her best friend. It was a good feeling.
They got into the car as Destiny dabbed at her eyes a few times. She needed this. She really did. On the way home not a word was said, but it was welcomed silence.
Destiny could finally see what she was missing all along. She had created, what was going to be, a beautiful child with her husband. She was now happy and only concerned about her child and the things he or she would need.
I’m still jealous of her even though now I know she wasn’t happy. I should be the one married. I should be the one expecting a beautiful child.
