Page 52 of Broken Halos
“I love you so much, Golden Boy. Your goodness blows me away and inspires me to be a better man.”
“I love you too, Arch.” I wasn’t sure how proud he’d be if he knew how badly I wanted to search out the nearest bottle of alcohol or a hit of something to make the pain from the confrontation go away.
“You okay?” he asked, reading me so well.
“I’m not,” I admitted. “Not at all.”
“What time do you meet Drew?”
I looked at my watch and realized I had five hours before our appointment. “Not until three.”
“Why don’t you call him now to see if you can meet earlier,” Archie suggested. “If not, maybe Andy would be a good choice until you can see Drew.”
His understanding broke something inside me. I choked out a sob which was quickly muffled by Archie’s shoulder when he held me tight in his arms.
“Let it out, baby,” he whispered in my ear. “I’m no expert, but I know it’s unhealthy to hold these toxic emotions inside you. I’m here however you need me.”
Once I calmed down, I called Drew. He was a freelance writer for several publications and was able to meet me in thirty minutes. “I can’t go without talking to Mama first.”
“I can’t believe they haven’t busted down the door yet.”
“You had about thirty seconds left,” Mama said. “It’s a terrible thing to hear your child crying their broken heart out.”
Archie released me to cross the room and open the door. The three ladies burst into the room like it was Macy’s Black Friday Sale. Mama reached me first, and her hug lingered until she felt me relax.
“I love you so much, Oliver Knight. You’re a good man, and your father would be just as proud as I am right now.” Making Pastor Randall proud was my number one goal when I left that jail. I wanted to earn his trust and respect and be worthy of the chance he gave me. “You go on and meet with Drew. Be sure to call me later, okay?”
“I will, Mama.” I hugged Esther and Maria too then they followed Mama out of the office, leaving me alone with my guy again. “I’ll be back soon, Arch.”
“I love you, Ollie.”
“Love you too.”
Archie’s sweet goodbye kiss was the balm I needed for my bruised and battered soul. I wasn’t in any condition to drive, so I walked to Claire’s. Her big smile dimmed a little when she saw me.
“Everything okay?”
“It will be,” I said, and I believe it was true. “I’d like one of those pumpkin pie cupcakes and a salted caramel mocha. That will steer me in the right direction.”
“Please tell me you’re not upset about the pompous windbag who harassed you yesterday.”
“Not in the least. Life just threw me a curveball, Claire. I’m meeting a good friend who will help me process and get back to feeling like myself.”
“Okay, Ollie.”
I’d just sat down with my treats when Drew came into the store. He took one look at Claire and stopped in his tracks.
“Hi,” she said cheerfully. “Can I help you?”
Drew just stood there staring, so I got up to rescue him. “You’ve seen pretty women before, Drew.”
“Not like her,” he said.
“Claire, this is my friend I was telling you about. His name is Drew, and he’ll take a black coffee and two of your peanut butter cookies. My treat.”
“You told her about me?” Drew asked when she turned her back to pour the coffee. “What did you say?”
I snorted. Drew’s enamored reaction to Claire chased away some of the chill that had permeated my body. Helping people had always made me feel better which was my favorite thing about being a pastor. “I only told her I was meeting a friend.”