Where Life Will Take You Without God

To this day, I do not know why Nicole let Jonathan Rich come into her life. Nicole's life was going just fine until that miserable day in June of 1972 in New York City; this is one day I believe she wish she had prayed to God more. After saying all that, now I must tell you from the beginning how Jonathan and Nicole got to New York City.

Now, Jonathan is a slick, fast-talking, half Indian and half-African American. He was every woman's dream. He is tall very handsome, with a cocoa color complexion, pretty wavy hair that lies down on his head. He has the biggest light brown eyes that could hypnotize a woman whenever she look into them. Because of the spell, he could make women believe anything. Jonathan is a man with no social background or education. No one ever suspected Jonathan could not read. Jonathan left school after the tenth grade when he realized all the teachers were just passing him from grade to grade. He knew that he was not getting the help he needed in order to be successful in life. He was too ashamed to talk to the teachers when he heard them making fun of him with the other students. Jonathan couldn't spell or read so he just gave up. He couldn't let on to anyone that he had this problem, so he did what it took to keep his secret. He pretended to read books, newspapers, and magazines to keep others from finding out this embarrassing secret

Jonathan was able to do many things, but read or get a job; his lack of education prevented that from happening. He had to find another way to make money so he became good at deceiving others and gambling. He made his money by preying on beautiful, wealthy, and lonely women. He also watched others as they played the horses and played cards. He remembered their every move and became good at it himself. He was very good at striking up conversations that he could keep up with. When subjects came up about work or current events, he quickly changed it or left. It was very easy at first, but the more he lied the more he found himself not able to keep up with the lies he had told.

When his girlfriends asked, "Where do you work?"
He became defensive and said "It didn't matter or it wasn't any of their business."
Then he would leave the house for hours. When he decided to come back, he was very apologetic about how he blew up, but never for what he said. "Baby, I'm sorry. I shouldn't get upset with you." She would reply, "No! I am sorry. I had no right to ask you about your business. I realize now that is why you left. I shouldn't asked all these questions and make you angry."
"Okay if it is that important to you. I work for a Construction Company that is privately owned. I also invest other people money in the stock market. For future references or just in case they wanted to check up on him." he gave his friend's name as the name of the Company and his phone number too.

He was so amazing until there was not a woman he could not have and that made it easy to deceive them. Whenever a woman looked into his eyes she felt as if she was the only woman in his life when in fact she was not. He is hilariously funny, single, and he changed women like the wind blew. He would go out dancing, drinking, and making all kinds of promises to people that he knew he would not or could not keep. When things got a little hot for him in Phoenix, Arizona, and his lies were about to catch up with him, he found his self losing control. He could not tell the women how their investments were doing when they started calling to find out if he was really working for the stock market. His friends tried to cover up for him as much as they could, but found themselves lying. This only made things worse for Jonathan. So one night he left the house for a few hours with all the money he had taken from these women and ended up in New York City, were he began another life of lies.
*******************************
Now as for Nicole, she was a lot different; she came from a life of high social status, education and wealth. She had a large family and she was the youngest of six. Her parents made sure she had the best education possible. She was reared in a Christian home where her father is the minister at one of the largest churches in Washington D.C. They made sure she knew the word of God and His expectations of her. Making friends did not come easy, so Nicole kept to herself. She was beautiful but shy. Her beauty was as hypnotizing as the Mona Lisa. Nicole went to the right schools, and she still kept to herself. When she came home from school breaks she spent her time reading, walking in the park alone, or just helping around the house. Her parents only wanted the best for her and they knew that she was spending too much time alone. They decided to set her up with a young man from their church. The young men chosen to meet Nicole were more than happy to until they heard the words beautiful and shy; The answer would become "NO." To them the words beautiful and shy meant ugly or boring. Nicole became very spiritual at an early age as she fasted and stayed on her knees praying and reading the bible.

During her last year of college, Nicole's parents knew they only had one more chance to help their daughter. Soon she would go to grad school to get her Master's degree. It was a week before Christmas break on a Sunday afternoon. There Eddie was just sitting on the church steps. Once Mrs. Waters spoke to him, she remembered seeing him talking to her husband several times. There on the steps they spent some time talking, too. Mrs. Waters asked him many questions. She wanted to know who his parents were; where he went to school; where he normally attended church; and what his goals in life were. After so many questions he became very nervous and wonder why she was so curious. Eddie was glad to see Minister Waters walk up. Minister Waters introduced Eddie, by telling him that this woman with all these questions is his wife. Eddie was relieved to hear that because he thought she was just a nosey woman trying to get into his business. Therefore, he answers the questions, and she was very happy with his responses. Minister Waters had already told him about Nicole and he was just waiting there for the minister to hear more about this astonishing young lady, but instead he got something better. She had invited him to have Christmas Eve dinner with her.

After arriving home Christmas Eve, Nicole had no idea what her parents had done. She had no idea her mother had invited a young man for dinner on Christmas Eve. Nicole dressed for dinner as always and came downstairs, to find that there was another place setting at the table.

She asked the cook "Who was coming for dinner?"
The cook replied, "Someone that your mother invited, you have to ask her."
When she went to go ask, the doorbell rang, Nicole said to the butler, "I'll GET IT MASON." She opens the door and there stood a very tall, dark, good-looking man on the other side.
"May I help you?" she said, as she quickly put her head down.
The man answers, "My name is "Eddie Holman," and I was invited to dinner."
"Oh! Come in," Nicole said, as she quickly turns and runs up the stairs.
"You must be Nicole?" Eddie yelled before she could get to the top of the stairs.
"Yes, I am" Nicole responded as she then turned slowly and walked back downstairs.
Mary (Nicole's mother) came into the hall where they stood talking "Hello, Mrs. Waters."
"Hello Eddie, I see you have met Nicole."
"Yes, I have, and she is everything you described and more." Eddie could not take his eyes off her. She is beautiful as he thought to himself." "Well, come on into the living room. We still have a little time before dinner, and the two of you can get acquainted."

Upon entering the living room, he moves to the side to let the women go in first. As they sat and talked, Eddie seemed to take a real interest in Nicole. He wondered why when she put her head down it would fall just a little to the right.

Nicole sat there nervously as he watched her, and then he asked her "How do you like the school you are attending." She was quite surprised when he asked her because no one has ever asked her anything about her school.
She responded, "It is an excellence school and I love it."

When they went to the dining room, Eddie stood and once again, he moved to the side and let Nicole go in first, he was such a gentleman. He paid a lot of attention to her. To her surprise, she had started to like the attention. As they talked, they discovered that they had a lot in common; they both liked the theater, ice skating, going for long walks in the park and other things.

When Nicole got up enough nerve to look up, she saw that he was looking at her as he asked, "How would you feel about having dinner with me and maybe after go to the ballet." She thought to herself, this man is so handsome he can ask any woman to go with him, but he is asking me. She knew that it probably would not be another chance that he would ask.
So, she smiled and said; "Yes, it will be my pleasure to accompany you".
"Okay then, I will call you next week."
And she put her head back down. The next day Nicole could not think of anything but the dinner she had with Eddie. After that Christmas Eve dinner he called her and made plans to go to dinner and the ballet on New Years Eve. Everyday after that they spent a lot of time together before she went back to school. Her parents were very happy because she was not spending her Christmas break alone.

Nicole went on to graduate from college with a 4.0 G.P.A, she could not wait to get home to see Eddie again. She put graduate school on hold because she wanted to spend some time with him. Her parents told her in their last letter that Eddie had asked to marry her and they had given their approval. Boy was she shocked, because he never let on that he wanted to marry her. Out of nowhere, he has gone to her parents and asked for her hand in marriage. Nicole was supposed to get married right after she got home from school, but she knew that she did not want to get married right away. Nicole knew she needed some time to know more about him. This was her first boyfriend and her first time ever feeling like she might be in love. Therefore, she just wanted more time to find out if it was real. She thought that if Eddie really loved her as he says, he would understand and agree that this is right. She asked "Eddie how you felt about waiting and giving them more time." He knew it was the right thing to do and he agreed to wait until the following year to get married.

During that time, they spent a lot of time together, going to dinners, to plays, ice skating, having picnics in the park, and going to fundraising events. Eddie enjoyed being with her. His family was quiet; The church they attended did not support having fundraisers, so they were not invited.

After about six months of going to these events, Eddie had been introduced to many new friends and started hanging with some of them. That made him spend less time with Nicole than before. She started to see a change in him. She wondered to herself if he was trying to make a good impression on his new friends. He had started drinking and smoking. Whenever she asked him about the change. He responded by saying "Oh it's nothing". I won't do it again." Right before her eyes; he had become someone she did not know. He had started to demand things of her. He became verbally abusive and when he could no longer wait to get married to have sex, he raped her. When he was done, he told her that if she told, no one would believe her. So there she was with no one to turn to. So she kept it to herself. Once again, she lives in the dark, unable to believe that there would be anybody that would love her.

After weeks of being force to have sex by the man she thought loved her, they were married. Nicole found herself in a loveless marriage all because she was forced. She no longer loved him, but had no choice because she was pregnant. Nicole thought she could die every time he touched her. She just prayed every day and night that things would get better, and that he would stop hanging around his friends. However, after eight years Eddie was not any better, in fact, he had gotten more abusive and he was drinking more. When he came home, it was as if he could not find anything else to do, but scream and fight. His behavior scared her, So Nicole decided to take her three children and leave before he would started to hit on them.
*******************************
While Eddie was at work, she packed up her children and left Washington. Not knowing where she would end up and with no one to turn to, Nicole and her children ended up in New York City using her mother's maiden name, Johnson. She had saved up enough money to start a life. However she knew that this money would not last forever. She first found a small apartment near a school. Although it was not enough room, she made it work. After they moved in, she enrolled her children in school and she got a job at a restaurant. The owner of the restaurant was a man who likes to help those who were having a hard time or just running away from a life where they were mistreated. Mr. Harry was his name and he recognized that Nicole was running. He let her use the room in the back of the restaurant where she was able to bring her youngest child while she worked. The pay was not much but she made up for it in tips. She worked hard, and treated the customers with respect and with a smile.

After two months of working at the restaurant, Nicole saw a tall good-looking man come in. Yes, it was Jonathan. He came in looking very sure of himself and sat down at one of her tables.
"Nicole," YOU HAVE A CUSTOMER."
She thought to herself why did he had to sit at one of her tables. Nicole said in a low voice "HELLO"! My name is Nicole and I am your server for the day. May I take your order please?" When Jonathan looked up and saw who was talking in that low voice he just stared at her.
She then repeated herself, "May I take your order, sir"? Jonathan could not say anything, all he could do for the moment was to stare at her.
Nicole then said, "Maybe you still need a few more minutes," and turned to walk away.
Just as she started to walk away Jonathan said, "WAIT, MISS I am ready. I was just taken by your beauty." Nicole told herself that this man was not anything but trouble.
He then said "Excuse me, but what did you say your name was?"
Nicole pointed to her name tag and said to him, "Just so you know I don't mix business with pleasure" and I am not that easy to pick up. Now would you like to order, or try to pick me up as she smiled? Jonathan was amazed with the way she smiled at him as well as with her beauty and said "I would like to order."

The next day, Jonathan came back into the restaurant and sat at the same table, Nicole was off that day. There he was sitting down at the table with his head down when Keshia another server walked up to take his order.
When she said her first word, he knew that it was not Nicole; he then looked up to see and said, "Where is the other server?
"Who are you talking about?" Keshia asked.
His reply was "The other server that took my order yesterday."
Keshia told him that she had the day off, now would you like to order.
"No," he said, "But I would like to know when she will be back."
Keshia said, "I cannot give you that information." Jonathan then orders a cup of coffee and handed her a ten-dollar bill, he said "Keep the change."
Keshia said, "I cannot tell you when she will be back but if you stop for tomorrow, who knows she just might be here." Jonathan knew he had to see this woman again. Therefore, he thanks Keshia and leaves before he get his coffee.

Jonathan walked in the restaurant the next day only to fine Nicole leaning over the counter talking to another man. It looked to him like she was flirting, when all she was doing was pointing out some of the foods on the menu.

He quickly sat down and said, "MAY I GET SOME SERVICE OVER HERE." When she looked and saw who it was, she asked one of her co-workers to take care of him.
Keshia said "NO, besides he doesn't want anyone else to take his order."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, he came in yesterday; I tried to take his order." "And when he found out that you were not here, he did not want to order, he just wanted information about you."
"About me! Nicole wonder to herself if Eddie or her parents had hired someone to find her. What kind of information was he looking for?" Nicole asked nervously.
"He wanted to know your name and when will you be back. Why are you so nervous?" "Did you tell him?"
"NO"!

I just suggest that he should stop in today. But still why are you so nervous? I am not; I just do not like people asking about me. Well, he came to the wrong place for information about you. Seeing that nobody knows anything about you, other than you came in one day looking for work.

Jonathan called for the server again as Mr. Harry was coming from the back "Is that your table?" Mr. Harry asked. She went over to take his order, but all Jonathan wanted to do was talk to her. Nicole asked, "Why did you make all that noise? "I am ready to order," said Jonathan.
Nicole was getting upset because she knew this man did not want to order. Jonathan began his order with a question "How long have you worked here?"
And the questions just went on. Nicole brushed her hair back and said angrily, but with a smile on her face "Are you going to order now? "Yes" was his answer as he told her to calm down. He could see that she had become angry, but asked himself how she was able to keep that smile.
Jonathan replied "I just wanted to know your name and if you would like to have lunch with me sometime."
Nicole hurried up, and said "NO!", and walked away.
Jonathan called her back with some anger in his voice. "Let me order a cheeseburger, fries, and a coke."
"And by the way you just missed out on a tip."
"Do you really believe that I need to sit and have lunch with you in order to make my money?"
"If you do then you are a very sad person." Nicole then walked away. Nicole had already been in one bad relationship and was not going to let herself get into another.

After months of coming in the Resolution Restaurant and sitting at the same table, ordering the same thing Nicole felt sorry for him and knew that she wasn't showing how a Christian should behave and decided to apologize for the way she must have sounded in the past. She started out by apologizing, then ended up taking his order.

After hearing, him order the same thing for months she asked, "Do you ever get tired of eating the same food everyday?
Jonathan said "no". But in fact, he would have loved to try something different, but would not know what to order since the menu didn't have a number 1 on it.
Therefore, he asked, "What do you suggest?
Nicole then said "The steak dinners are excellent."
"Oh, that does sound good" he replied." Will you be ordering the steak dinner"?
"Yes." "Will there be anything else for you?
"Can I get you to join me for lunch?"
She looked and smiled and said, "I will be taking my break in about 30 minutes, can you wait that long?
He smiled and said "Yes."
"I can wait until then to put my order in." Nicole went to finish taking care of her customers while Jonathan sat there with a dumb smile on his face watching her walk away. Nicole went on to have lunch with him and right away, she felt that something was wrong as they looked at the menu; his menu was upside down.

Jonathan looked up from the menu and asked her proudly, "What will you be having?"
Looking at him with the menu turned the wrong way she said, "I will have the T-bone steak, bake potatoes and a salad," that was the most expensive lunch on the menu. Jonathan looked back down at his menu as if he was reading it; Nicole just sat there watching him, wondering if he was going to turn it the right way.
As he than said, "I will have the same, thank you."
Nicole asked him, "Why have you been ordering the same food for the last six months?"
"How can you order with your menu upside down?"
Jonathan answer and said "Don't you think it is time for a change?"
And the menu was not upside down.
Then he changed the conversation by asking her "How good are the steaks here."
As they sat and talked, he was thinking if he would have enough money to pay for what sound like a very expensive 30 minute lunch date. He could not read the menu and did not know how much the food cost.
As they continue the conversation, Nicole asked, "Are you from here?"
"No," he replied I am from Phoenix Arizona.
"Oh, what brought you to New York City?"
Jonathan then changed the subject around to her and asked, "What is a beautiful woman like you doing working in a place like this?"
She said "I will take the beautiful woman as a compliment, but what do you mean a place like this? What I meant is that you look like you should be a model."
"Have you ever done any modeling before?
"No! Nicole said.
"Well I know a photographer that would be glad to photograph you. And that way you can have a portfolio if you decide to try modeling. I also know an agent that is looking for new faces."
"Thank you, but everybody cannot be a model, and I am not interested in having someone taking my picture."
"I am doing just fine working here." When her break was over, she got up quickly before he could ask another question.
"Thank you for lunch and have a good afternoon."
As she walked away, she thought to herself "this man must really think I am stupid".
Keshia asked "Nicole how did it go?", and right away Nicole told her that something was wrong. "What do you mean? He had his menu upside down and, then looked at me and said I will have the same as you. On top of all that, he wants me to believe that he can get me a job as a model."

As Jonathan sat looking at her walking away, he just shook his head. He could not believe that he let that beautiful woman go not asking her for her phone number. He thought to himself, "I must be slipping". He looked at the check and saw the small amount that he had to pay and was happy, he didn't know why it didn't cost as much as it sounded, so he just put the money on the table and left. Nicole had paid for her half so that she would not have to pay for it in some other way later. After he left Nicole said to Keshia, "You see he did not ask me why I paid for my lunch, something is wrong with that man."
*******************************
Jonathan kept coming back asking her to go dancing at some club or go to some party that his friends were having.
And every time she would say "NO! I do not dance, I do not go to clubs, and I do not go to parties."
"What do you do when you are not working" Jonathan asked.
"Before I came here, I would take long walks in the park and I like going to the theater to see a good play. I like going to the ballet, and church social events where we can raise money to help someone in need."
Well, that was more information that Jonathan needed. With all that, he could put his next move into action. He knew that taking her to a play or ballet was to expensive, but getting the use of a friend's house would be cheaper. Jonathan sat the wheels in action. He began to call around to some of his friends to get a house lined up for this event. When he began to tell his friends about her, they wanted to know who this woman was. She sounds somewhat stuck up.
"Is she," they asked? You are going through a lot for this one woman.
"Well I tell you what; if you saw this woman you would know why" Jonathan said.
"Why" the friends wanted to know.
"Because she is beautiful and a challenge". All the others were easy; they were like taking candy from a baby. Nicole is different.
"Nicole. that is her name; See how it rolls off my tongue, Nicole."

She does not drink, she does not party. All she has done since she has been here is, go to work and church. I did find out a little of what she did before she came to New York. I will use that and work my way into her heart. First, I need a house and a few of my friends to pull this off. But after this party, she will be easy for the next man. I will just have a little fun with her. I will have her just where I want her, drunk and delirious. Jonathan thought that she would be easy to break.
Kevin, a friend of Jonathan said, "Man she sounds like a hand full but okay. Tell us why you need the house. The house is just a front."
"One of the things she liked to do before she got here was to help people. So, I will give an event that she cannot turn down." Jonathan decided to come up with an event that helped abused women. He did not know that she once had been abused. All I need for you to do is get the party together. Will there be any alcohol beverage. "YES" but not openly she needs to think that this party is the real deal. She does not have to know what is in your glasses just keep it on the down low. All she needs to know is that this is a fundraising event to raise money for abused women.

A few days later, Jonathan went back into the restaurant. He did not order anything he just asked Nicole if he could talk to her alone; they then moved to a table.
"What do you need to talk to me about, she asked"?
"Well, I was thinking about what you said." Oh! And what is that?
"How you don't go to parties or clubs. So in order for me to get to know you I have put together a fundraising event and would like you to come."
"Why are you raising the money?"
"We are raising money for abused women." Nicole looked at him, and thought to herself what is this man trying to do. Jonathan does not know that I was a victim of abuse. It is this weekend I would really like for you to come.
She looked at him and said, "Why do you want to get to know me? And how do you know that I want to know you?"
"Well you had lunch with me and I thought I heard something in your voice that sounded like you would like to get to know me. Therefore I have put together this event where we can help someone and at the same time get to know one another."
"I did not hear anything and besides we come from two different worlds. I serve the living God, and I do not know whom you serve. Sense you brought up lunch, why did not you say something when you only had to pay for one lunch plate? Did you not see that or can you read?
"I believe in God" said Jonathan, "here is a number to call me if you decide to come."
Then he tried to hurry up to leave. As he was leaving, he saw Corey and Martin (two of his friends) come into the restaurant.
"Hey" guys, what's up."
"What are the two of you doing here?"
"We were just around the corner doing some work on a woman's house, and decided we would stop here to get something to eat."
"What are you doing here?
"Nicole works here."
"You know the person I have been telling you about."
"Where is she?"
He called her over to the table not by her name, but as a server. "Excuse me server can you come over here".
As she was talking to Keshia telling her about the event he invited her to. Keshia was all for her going and even said that she would go with her. First I did not say I was going and if you want to go somewhere with me, you can go over to this table with me to start with.
When she got to the table, she asked Jonathan "Did you forget my name or were you trying to impress your friends."
Jonathan quickly said "I am sorry" as Keshia jumped in and said, "So you are Jonathan. I do not believe Nicole has introduced us, but Keshia already knew whom Jonathan was.
Jonathan jumped back in and said Nicole "I am sorry. This is Corey and Martin. You see I did not forget your name." Martin asked Nicole "Who is your friend?"
"I am Keshia." Well Nicole, Jonathan tells us that you are the woman that he has invited to the fundraising; why not bring your friend."
"Well thank you" Keshia said, as she accepted the invitation.
*******************************
The girls spent all week looking for the right gowns. They went from one store to another looking for that right gown for the event. They finally came across a little boutique on the corner of 5th avenue.
When they entered, the woman who works there asked, "Might I help you?" She was looking at them as if they did not belong.
Keshia quickly asked Nicole, "Do we need her help? She was excited as she moved over to the rack of unrevealing dresses.
Nicole said "Yes!"
Nicole began to tell the sale person what she was looking for, "I am looking for a nice evening gown for a fundraising event."
The sales person showed them a long, white eloquent gown. The gown has lace covering the chest. "Oh wow that is beautiful." The woman then showed them the handbag, shoes and a pair of lace gloves.
Nicole was so thrilled and said "This will do just fine."
The woman was surprised at her choice and asked, "Is your friend in need of something of the same."
"No!" Keshia quickly said, "I'll be getting one of these dresses off the rack."
"The event does not call for clothes like that." Nicole tries to get her to purchase something suitable for the event, but Keshia was determined on getting another dress.
"What do you know about gowns like this? Where I am from, we have many fundraisers."
Therefore, "I was reared up to keep myself covered." Nicole paid for the gown and thanked the sale person for her help.

The morning of the event Nicole went to work. She was so excited that she sang all morning with a smile on her face, she even had the customer smiling and singing. The atmosphere was very good in there that day. Everybody seemed to be having a good time while they were eating breakfast. Nicole always made good tips, but that morning she did great for herself. Mr. Harry was happy with how she was handling the customer, and had planned to give her a bonus at the end of the month. She has really worked hard over the months and earned it, besides Mr. Harry always had good reports on her. When it was quitting time for her, she left still singing and smiling.

When she got home, she cooked for her children and sat with them while they had their dinner. She was still singing and smiling. One of the children asked "Mommy, why you are so happy." She said that she was just happy with the way God has been working in her life. Nicole then called for a baby sitter, then went and took a long bubble bath. After her long bath, she called Keshia to ask what time she would be picking her up. They both talked about how excited they were about tonight. Keshia was excited because she had never been to what they thought was a fundraiser. At home, there are events like this going on just about all the time said Nicole. What do you do at these type parties? Well, they were held to help different kinds of organizations raise money, or just to be neighborly. Jonathan said that this event is to raise money for abused women. They is given by people of some kind of high political background. Therefore, that means that Jonathan holds some kind of high position. Keshia started feeling less excited and more scared as she thought that if Jonathan is a man of high position, that could only mean that Martin was of some high power also. "Yes" He must be, why do you think he is giving this event."
"What time will you be picking me up", Nicole asked.
"About 7:00, "okay that will be alright".

When they arrived at what they thought was Jonathan's house, they were both surprised at how beautiful the house was. As they walked up the stairs to the door, they saw Jonathan standing there greeting his guests in a black tuxedo.
Nicole turned to Keshia and said, "I did not know he would look that good in a tuxedo."
As she walked through the door, Jonathan said "Hello! I am glad you were able to make it."
"Thank you for inviting me" Nicole said as her voice was cracking from being nervous.
"Come on in" he said as he pinned a beautiful corsage on her gown. She looked around the lovely house and wanted to know if this was his house.
"Do you like it"?
"Oh! Yes, it is beautiful."
Nicole was so overwhelmed with the house and how good-looking Jonathan is. She did not seem to care about whom the other people were, and she did not even notice the alcohol some of the other people had. Jonathan then introduced Nicole to a friend and told her that he is a photographer. To make this look real he had Kevin to walk around with an expensive camera taking pictures of everyone.

Everything was done great; the table setting and the caterers. She did not have any reason to think that this wasn't anything but a fundraiser, and not the part one of the plans. Jonathan made sure she stayed with him. So that she was not able to notice anything that was not right, causing her to be suspicious. He gave her a tour of the house. He showed her rooms that she only needed to see. When dinner was ready, he made sure she sat next to him. There was wine being serve with the dinner, but Nicole said "No! Thank you. I will just have water." Jonathan knew then that she was going to be a hard one to break, but he welcomed the challenge. After dinner, Kevin and some of the others wanted to know when the real party was going to start. When was it going to be time to take off these suits and bring out the liquor, so that the fun can begin, but Keshia's fun had already began. "Just keep everything on the down-low."
Jonathan said. "My plan is not working out give me a little time to get rid of her."
There was not much he needed to do, or say because it had started getting late and Nicole needed to get home.
Therefore, she thanked Jonathan for a good evening and said, "I have to get home."
"Well your friend is really enjoying themselves."
"Can I give you a ride home?"
"No! "Thank you, that want be necessary, but can you call me a cab and that way you can stay with your guests."
"Thank you again and good night."

The next day she spent all day with her children, starting with and shopping. They had been in New York for about eight months and they never saw any of the city. So she decided after they had lunch they would go and see the Statue of Liberty. They started out to see the statue, only to find they were lost. The children started getting frustrated and tired. Jonathan saw her, and knew she was lost. However, he turned and went the other way because he was with another woman. Nicole flagged down a cab and they were on their way to Liberty Island to see the woman. In addition, when they got there, there she was standing in the New York Harbor about 151 feet with the pedestal and foundation adding another 154 feet to her. As they stood looking at how beautiful, she was.
April, (the oldest girl) asked "How tall the woman is all together from top to bottom?"
Nicole reading from a pamphlet about the statue, and said "She stand 305 feet and has 354 steps on the inside and has 25 windows in the crown."
The children were so amazed with her and wanted to know how they could get over to the woman in the island.
"A ferry will take us over." Nicole replied.
While they were waiting on the ferry and being amazed by the size of the statue Nicole turned and saw Jonathan. As she called to him, "Jonathan", a woman came out of the shadow (Vanessa) and grabbed him by the arm. He turned and saw that it was Nicole, and grabbed Vanessa and walked away. Vanessa who was the women that stepped out of the shadows "Asked who that was."
He replied, "She's nobody, just a waitress from the restaurant where I eat at from time to time." However, why is she calling for you?"
"I do not know", Jonathan replied.
She could not help but to wonder who this woman was.
She started to follow them when the children said, "Here come the ferry, and now we can go over to the woman." Nicole started going back to the children still looking back to see where they were going, but they were gone.
*******************************
The following day Nicole just could not shake that vision of seeing him with another woman. She asked herself over and over again 'who was this woman and why did it seem like they did not want to be seen.' She then wondered 'why she was even thinking about this man at all.' She could be using that time more wisely. Anyway, that was his business, but, she just could not stop wondering. Nicole got up, went into the kitchen to begin getting breakfast ready.

Today is Sunday and heart, soul, and mine should be on getting the children ready for Sunday school. She said a little prayer and thought no more about Jonathan or the woman. While she was praying Roman 8:1-2 came to her, there is therefore now no condemnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Thinking about those verses made her remember who she was and how she has always depended on God. So she went on to Sunday school with her children. When Sunday school was over, the pastor started his sermon. His sermon was about beware of your adversary and that sin will take you places you don't want to go, and will keep you longer than you want to stay. Oh! The church was on fire, Nicole cried, shouted, and repented for the thoughts she was having about Jonathan. When church was over, she stayed around talking with some of the saints, and when she left, she was feeling good about her salvation. Her and the children went out to dinner and had a good time. It reminded her of home and her family. When she got home, she picked up the phone to call her parents but could not. She was not ready to let them know where she was fearing they would tell Eddie. Besides that, they would not believe why she left anyway. Therefore, they changed clothes and went out for ice cream and a walk in Central Park. She was able to sit and talk to them, something that she has not been able to do since they left Washington D.C. While sitting and watching the girls' play, Nicole had no idea that a lovely afternoon would soon turn into an ugly afternoon.
She looked up and saw Jonathan walking towards her "Hello, Nicole I have not seen you since the fundraiser."
"How have you been?"
"I am just fine."
"How have you been?"
"I am just fine."
"You may not have seen me, but I have seen you."
"Oh"! Yes I saw you at the harbor, with a woman."
Jonathan stood there with a surprise look on his face and said, "Are you sure, it was me?" By the way, when were you at the harbor?"
"Yes! I am sure. Now who was she?"
Jonathan was shocked with the way she began to question him and therefore, saying "If it was me, why didn't you say anything."
"I doubt if it was me, seeing that I have heard there is someone who looks like me.
He became upset with the way, she began to question him and said, "Do I now have to answer to you. Are you my woman?" Nicole looked at him and said "No! I am sorry for acting as if I were." Jonathan then replied "She is my sister," he lied.
Nicole got up, called for her children, and said, "It was good to see you again, goodbye."
*******************************
When Nicole returned to work on Monday, she was more than willing to tell Keshia about her days. She did not give Keshia time to ask before she said, "I saw Jonathan with another woman."
Keshia then asked, "Where were you when you saw him and this other woman?"
"On Saturday the children and I were at the harbor waiting for the ferry to take us over to the Statue, when I saw this woman take him by the arm and walk away. On Sunday, we had ice cream at the park, we were going to go to the Washington Monument until I saw Jonathan at the park." "Was he with the woman?"
"No, to my surprise he was alone."
"Do you believe that he had the nerve to come to me as if nothing had happen?
"Therefore I worked up enough nerve, and asked him about her."
Keshia stopped her before she could continue, and said. "What did he have to say about that?
"He said that was he sister."
As far as I know it could have been his sister. I really do not know much about him so it could very well be the truth."
Keshia thought to herself "Truly this girl cannot be this gullible."
"Maybe she is, now that I think about it." We were all at the same party and she was clueless about what was going on then."
Nicole went on for about two hours about this man.
Then he finally walks in the door. "Oh! No"! Can you wait on him Keshia?"
"No!" besides we are busy this afternoon, you will need to cover your own tables today."

Keshia did need to talk to him, but did not want Nicole to ask what was going on. Nicole began to tell Keshia why she wanted her to wait on him when Mr. Harry yield, "Come on girls, we are too busy to be standing around! There are customers waiting to be served." When Nicole was not looking and not knowing that Jonathan could not read Keshia passed by his table leaving a note that said, "I think she believes Vanessa is your sister." Keshia really does not know what is going on, but she does know about Vanessa. She walked over to the table smiling as always, and Jonathan placed his order. After he placed the order, he ask, "When are you going to let me take you out? All Nicole said was "If that is all for you sir, your order will be right out." As she turned to walk away he grabbed her by the arm and said, Nicole wait. "I know you are busy but can you answer me." She turned and looked at him and said, "I am working." When the rush hour was over, Jonathan was still sitting there waiting for an answer.