Three years later I met James Cox. He was living with his Mother’s Pastor Charles and his wife. We met on the job and became friends. James passed his physical for the fire department and he wanted to go out to celebrate. He took me to a very nice restaurant called Max House. Once we were seated he smile and said thank you for accepting my invitation. I brought you here to show you how much I appreciate you for working the extra hours and allow me to get paid for it. Few people would work another’s shifts and gave them the hours. That was the only way he could go through his training and still keep his pay.
I had not minded doing that for him. While we sat in the restaurant he thanked me repeatedly for helping him. Then he told me about his life. He came to New York City to go to school on his basketball scholarship. He has a brother that lives with his grandma in Minneapolis. I asked him about his mother. His grandma kept his brother and him while his mother worked out of state. She moved to Ohio where her job was. They stayed behind and lived in Minneapolis with his grandmother. Then he moved here. He said I’ve never lived in a different state from my kids. We talked a while about my son and I.
Then he told me he had a girlfriend. They met in college and fell in love. Now they live in different states. He said, “I don’t think this long distance relationship is working for me. I told her I did not feel we should continue to see each other. ” I asked, “So what did she say? ” He continued “She said just give it more time. ” After a moment of silence, he took my hand and said, “We’ve worked together for years and you have always stayed in my corner. I feel you’re the only family I have here. ” I smiled and thought well that good to hear.
I’ll help you out when I can. The ext day we were at work and he was taking out the trash. I was doing my paperwork. A woman who worked with us liked him a lot. She walked up and asked me why are you keeping your relationship a secret. You and James are a couple. I asked her what she was talking about? She said James told me and everyone else at the job you guys were a couple. I asked him about it when he came back inside and he responded. “If I date anyone here it’ll be you because you’re the only one who means everything,” I told him to stop telling people that because the office girls are getting mad at me.
His mouth said okay, but his eyes said maybe. One day at work the department manager for men’s wear walked over to our department. He asked if | wanted to come to his party that Saturday night. He said it was all right to bring someone. When I took my lunch I called right away and asked James to go with me. At the party, James noticed Gerald looking at us and asked if I knew him. I said, “Yeah, we dated awhile but are just friends. ” He replied, “No, you are friends with him but he wants to be more than friends with you. He’s sitting over there with another woman looking over here at you. I told him “I don’t think so.
We are just friends and I don’t want to mess up our friendship. ” Gerald finally walked over to James, introduced himself and they talked a long time. Once he came back in the room Gerald said, “That man has his head on right. You should give him a chance because | do not want you to end up dating someone like me again. “|| replied, “Whatever! ” went to find James. The next day at work James asked if we could try getting to know each other better. I told him I would let him know. I had to give thought to if I was ready for another relationship.
The next week when James asked if he could pick me up from home and take me to work? || said “Okay. ” He was there early the next morning to pick me up with roses in his hand. After work, we went out to dinner. When I got back home I told the Lord that I didn’t want to be in sin again. Please keep him away from me. James kept coming around. This is the way the devil works. He will wear you down until you give in and let him into your life. James finished the academy and became a firefighter. I was so happy for him. After he became a firefighter he would call and ask what bills I had for the month.
Then he would bring the money over to pay them for me. James was doing the same thing Gerald used to do. He was paying my bills even if I never asked for help. In my heart | knew that was not God’s doing, but it seemed so helpful. I was praying and asking God for help with my life and finances. I did what I wanted to and what was easier. James and I got closer and closer. He was such a good man. I trusted him with all my heart. “Even when” he messed up he would tell me the truth and I would forgive him. If you never change what you have always done. You will never have a new result. I would remember these words.
