First Mates by Cecelia Dowdy Page A

with the chips on her plate. “I never told you all the details about the breakup because it was too painful to talk about.”
    â€œI’m your friend. You can talk to me about anything.”
    She then told him about her engagement to Jordan and about the thunderous night when he broke their engagement. “I’m still working on releasing my anger toward him. I hated being dumped. It’s one of the worse feelings I’d ever experienced. Nobody wants to be told that they’re not loved anymore.” She pushed her fingers through her hair and rested her forehead in her palm. “It’s even worse when you’re being dumped for another woman. I felt cheated and used. I felt so many negative things that night. But my faith in God helped methrough that rough time, and I’m still leaning on Him, hoping to dispense all these negative feelings toward Jordan.”
    â€œOh, sweetheart. You never told me you two were engaged and he cheated on you. That must have been pretty rough.”
    â€œIt was. I never saw it coming. I gave him my whole heart and I trusted him completely.” She watched the smoke curl from the extinguished barbeque flame.
    He pulled the napkin she’d unconsciously been shredding from her fingers and massaged her hand. “So, do you still love Jordan? Are you even thinking about taking him back?”
    She shook her head. “I can’t take him back. I wish him the best, but I don’t think I could ever trust him again. It’s time for me to move on and forget about him.”
    He sighed as he released her hand and fixed himself a plate of food. “Well, this picnic is now an official celebration. Hopefully, in due time, you’ll learn to trust me. ”
    After he set his plate on the table, she pulled him into an embrace, inhaling the scent of his cologne.
    â€œYou already have a great deal of my trust. You give me a good feeling, and I’m touched that you sent me the lilies and fixed me this meal.” He pressed his lips to hers and they shared a kiss. Her knees felt like jelly as she pulled her plate toward her. Her stomach growled loudly. “I think my appetite has returned,” she said with a laugh.
    â€œOh, before you eat, I wanted to ask you something.”
    â€œWhat?”
    He nervously cleared his throat. “Well, I like you, so I think we should start spending some time together regularly and see what happens between us.”
    She grinned. “Winston, that’s a wonderful idea.”
    He said grace before they enjoyed their celebration meal.

Chapter Eight
    W inston whistled as he unlocked the door and entered his house. As he removed his running shoes, grains of sand spilled onto his dark carpet. He threw the shoes in the corner and lay on the couch.
    He was still fatigued from his vigorous run on South Beach. The crowds, traffic and artsy buildings did little to take his mind off of Rainy.
    It had been two months since he’d arranged the special picnic for her at the park. They’d been out several times, and he found himself growing closer to her as the days rolled by. For the Fourth of July, he’d taken her to the beach to view the fireworks. Just being with her made the bright colors in the midnight sky look more enticing. The thought of touching liquor never crossed his mind when he was with her.
    When the oblivion of sleep almost enveloped him into its depths, he forced himself to get into the shower.Thirty minutes later, he snuggled beneath his clean cotton sheets. He closed his eyes and prayed that the Lord would make their relationship work.
    The piercing ring of the phone awakened his deep slumber. His eyes fluttered open, and he gazed at the red digital display of his clock. It’s three a.m. He grabbed the phone. “Hello?”
    â€œWinston? It’s Aunt Gladys.” He clutched the phone tightly as her pain and hysteria carried over the wire.
    â€œAunt Gladys?”