MORE THAN A FRIEND PART-8

Dec 14, 2007 - 21:10 PM PST

Some of the kids who attended Ashley’s party went home and raved about it to their blue and white collar parents. Soon word of Dayspring’s new event planner quickly spread around town. Consequently, Cindy began to get numerous phone calls, requesting her event planning services. People wanted her to coordinate baby showers, weddings, and of course, children’s parties. Every event that Cindy planned, Andre catered. As usual, he was always there for her, right by her side.

Drawing on some of the knowledge she obtained from her years as a lawyer’s wife, Cindy quickly secured the necessary business licenses and incorporation papers for her new company. In a month’s time, The Bloom Event Planning Service was born. Andre’s older brother Tim, who was also a lawyer, helped Cindy to draft precise and equitable contracts. Mavis helped her set up a basic computerized accounting system for her business and Andre offered her space for lease in the mini-plaza he owned. Finally, Cindy Bloom was in business for herself and it felt good. Extremely good.

Cindy was so grateful to have finally found her niche in life that even the stars at night seemed brighter, the flowers seemed more vivid during the day, and the sky seemed to have turned a special shade of blue. That’s how great her life was right now.

Out of appreciation for those who’d helped her, Cindy sent her parents on a Caribbean cruise, treated Mavis and Eric to a weekend getaway, and bought Andre and Tim golf clubs for their newfound Tiger Woods inspired hobby. She also hired the chaperones that’d helped her at Ashley’s party, giving them above average salaries.

With her business doing so well, along with over eighty percent of her house sale funds still intact, plus the added bonus of keeping her living expenses low by continuing to live with her sister, Cindy could afford to be this generous.



One sunny Saturday morning after a week of soaking Illinois rain, Andre and Tim spent some time together at the golf course. The two men were dressed in all green, and except for their white hats, they practically blended in with the neatly-trimmed landscape. Today’s golf game was different. Today the brothers did more talking, than anything. Tim had recently eloped and was out there raving about one of the many benefits of being married.

“Man, I think there’s something to what Mom and Dad said. Sex inside of marriage is better.” Tired of fighting against what he’d known was right for years; Tim finally surrendered to the truth, repented for his actions, and married the woman he loved. That was just one way he chose to make things right with God, himself, and Neisha.

“I believe you,” Andre said as he swung his black and silver driver. The white ball soared high, then veered to the left and slid down a sand trap. Andre threw his hands up in frustration. “That’s it for me. It’s time to go.” He put his club away, hating that he was so distracted today. No matter what club he used, no matter how perfectly he tried to aim, the ball still ended up either in the lake or in a sand trap.

Tim laughed, putting his own golf clubs back into his green leather bag. “It’s not like you to give up so easily. You usually hang in there a lot longer than that.”

Andre laughed, too. “We’ve already been out here for two hours. Besides, it’s just a game. Believe me, I know when to hang in there,” he said, thinking of Cindy and the fact that he was still waiting patiently for her heart to heal. Each day was getting harder and more difficult to wait, but Andre was determined to wait nevertheless. Cindy was worth waiting for. “Anyway, what did Neisha’s parents say about your elopement?”

Tim slung his golf bag over his shoulder. “The same as our parents. They both feel cheated.” Then Tim patted his younger brother on the left shoulder. “But don’t worry, I pacified Mom and Dad by saying that they’ll have you and Cindy’s wedding to look forward to.”

Andre sighed loudly and shook his head with a sheepish smile on his face. I guess everybody knows how I feel about her, he mused, getting back into the blue golf cart. Everybody, but Cindy.



Over the next few weeks, Cindy spent a lot of her free time with Ashley and Little Eric, giving Mavis and her husband a much needed break from their parenting duties. Sometimes Andre joined them when his work schedule allowed. Other times he forced room in his schedule because being with Cindy was becoming so important to him.

On the weekend of Mavis and Eric’s trip, Andre came over to keep Cindy and the kids company. Friday they went biking for an hour, then returned to eat pizza and watch the movies that Andre had rented for them. As expected, the kids ‘couldn’t hang’ and soon they were fast asleep before the third movie was even halfway over.

Quietly motioning for Andre to help her carry the sleeping children to bed, Cindy picked up Little Eric and led the way. After the kids were safely tucked into bed, the two adults went back to the den and began to clean up the pizza boxes and drinks.

Andre is always so helpful. And so tuned into me, Cindy mused as she watched him move comfortably around the room. She loved the way Andre always made her feel as if she was his equal, not his servant. The fact that he repeatedly helped her out without even being asked was an added bonus. There was no doubt that he was going to make some woman a good husband. If he’d been my husband, I would have never gotten divorced.

As Andre went to put out the remaining trash, his thoughts were along the same lines as Cindy’s. We make a good team. She seems to be my equal in every way, he mused, thinking that Charles didn’t know what he had. If he did, he would’ve never let Cindy go. If she were mine, I’d keep her forever.

Returning to the den, Andre saw that Cindy was now back on the blue L-shaped sofa, watching the rest of the movie. Seeing him reenter the room, she gestured for him to sit down beside her. “Come finish watching the movie with me. I’m not ready for you to go home yet,” Cindy said, making room for him on the couch.

Andre smiled and complied. I’m not ready to go home yet, either, he mused, putting his legs up on the blue ottoman in front of him.

As the movie progressed, Andre noticed that Cindy could barely keep her eyes open. Every few seconds she was yawning and blinking, trying to stay awake. Chuckling to himself, Andre retrieved a pillow from the far end of the couch and returned to his seat. Then putting the blue pillow on his lap, he guided Cindy’s head downward to rest upon it. As expected, the drowsy woman offered no resistance.

“You can’t hang either, Cindy,” Andre teased softly, lifting his hairy mocha legs up on the blue ottoman again.

Cindy lifted her sleepy head up slightly to retaliate. “Shut up, Dre.” Then she poked her tongue out at him, before lying back down and drifting soundly to sleep.

An unexpected wave of heat went coursing through his body at Cindy’s harmless act of fun. But as Andre fought with himself, he began to think that maybe that action wasn’t so harmless after all. It had certainly caused great damage to the tight rein he usually kept on his passion.

Whoa, calm down, Andre coached himself as he forced his attention back to the TV. After a few more aching minutes, he grew calmer and resigned himself to only stroking Cindy’s hair as she slept instead of ravishing her mouth and her everything else like he really wanted to. For now this had to be enough. Soon Andre fell asleep, too.