Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray Page B

he had painted the words: As for me and my wife, we shall serve the Lord on the rock.
    Those memories really had my tears flowing now. But still, I rolled the stone over and stared at my sons’ names, which Chauncey had painted on the rock when each was born.
    â€œIt wasn’t supposed to be like this, Chauncey,” I said, returning the stone to its place. “We were supposed to be together, forever.”
    A breeze brushed over me and I stopped. I shivered, but not because I was cold. There wasn’t a single window open in the house, so where had that come from?
    My eyes darted from one corner of the room to the other. Then I turned back to the pictures on the mantel and stared into the still eyes of my husband. Could that have been Chauncey?
    I stood listening to the silence and waiting to feel that breeze again. But after about a minute, I said, “What am I doing?”
    Was I going crazy? Was I always going to be waiting for some sign of Chauncey?
    When the telephone rang, I sighed with relief. I didn’t care who was on the other end. Talking to someone who’d dialed the wrong number was better than being alone like this.
    But it wasn’t a stranger.
    â€œHey, Miriam!” Emily sang through the receiver the moment I picked up. “How are you?”
    â€œI’m good,” I said, perching on the arm of the sofa.
    â€œI’m just checking on you. I wish to God I could be there with you.”
    â€œI know, but I’m good.”
    â€œI want to be with Steve, Mikey, and Junior, too.”
    â€œThere’ll be time for that. You have to do your job right now.”
    Emily sighed. “There was so much loss, Miriam. So much tragedy.”
    â€œIt’s so sad.” I shook my head.
    When I didn’t say anything for a few seconds, Emily spoke up. “Miriam?”
    It took a moment for me to swallow the boulder that had expanded in my throat. “Yeah,” I squeaked.
    â€œOh, sweetie.”
    â€œI just don’t know how I’m going to do it, Em. The funeral’s in a couple of days and I don’t know how I’m going to say good-bye to Chauncey.”
    â€œYou’re going to do it, and we’ll be with you. We’re going to help you through this week, next week, next month, next year, whenever you need us.”
    â€œI know,” I sniffed, “and I can’t thank you enough. You and Jamal have been great.”
    â€œWell, I haven’t done anything, but I’m really glad that Jamal has been able to sub for me. By the way, is he there? I wanna just say hello; I left so early this morning he was still asleep.”
    â€œNo, he took the boys out for lunch.”
    â€œOh, good. Where was he taking them?”
    â€œProbably to that four-star restaurant we used to depend on in college . . . McDonald’s.”
    We shared a small laugh.
    â€œListen, I’m on my way to the Children’s Hospital, but I’m gonna try to get to you tonight.”
    â€œDon’t worry about me, Em. I promise you, I’m good.”
    â€œI know you are. I was just thinking that maybe I could come over and we could read the Bible together like we used to.”
    I wasn’t even going to lie to her. That wasn’t going to happen. So all I said was, “I know you gotta go, so love you!”
    She sighed. “Mean it.”
    Slowly, I hung up the phone, and for the first time since Jamal had left with the boys, calm covered me. Since the day we met, Emily had been a blessing. And now, both she and Jamal were the balm for my grief.
    Even though it had been fourteen years, I still carried a sliver of regret for the way I’d handled Emily when she’d told me that she was interested in Jamal. I was so wrong, but my opinion didn’t matter. Nothing and no one was going to keep Emily and Jamal apart. It took some time, but just like Emily had been trying to tell everyone, she and Jamal were perfect