Loves Redemption

jitters.
Even in late spring, San Antonio weather was warm, the temperature comfortable enough
for her to put on old cutoff gray sweatpants and an old tee shirt. She laced up the short yellow work boots and grabbed a baseball cap to protect her eyes from the sun.
Before she headed to her garden, she grabbed her MP3 player and wrapped the elastic
belt around her arm, looking forward to the day of physical labor, sunshine, and music.

CHAPTER 13
Mark had risen early to get a good workout in before he and Jordan worked on his house.
He’d briefly spoken with Maya on Friday, and she’d confirmed the date for today. He’d decided that a safe bet would be the River Walk. The atmosphere was nice to walk around, and it had a variety of restaurants to choose from.
After throwing on sweats and running shoes he waited for Jordan to arrive. Just as he was
attaching the house key to his laces, Jordan pulled up in his driveway.
They exchanged early morning grunts and stretched before setting off at a casual clip,
warming their muscles before they picked up the pace. By the end of the fast-paced four-mile run, both men were exhausted and panting, and collapsed as soon as they made it into the house.
Mark went into the kitchen to grab two bottled waters, as soon as he caught his breath.
He tossed one to Jordan and twisted off the cap of his before taking a deep swallow.
Jordan finished his in record time and placed the empty bottle on the table in front of him.
“Man, what was that all about?”
“What was what all about?” Mark asked, as his breathing returned to normal.
“I don’t know the last time I ran that fast for that long. The last time was with you, and
you’d gotten into an argument with your dad about practicing law. Everything okay with the
family?” Jordan asked, leaning back on the sofa and closing his eyes in exhaustion.
Mark answered, “Yeah everything’s fine. I felt like having a good run, that’s all. Why?
Was it too much for you?” He returned from the kitchen and tossed Jordan a second bottle of water. Mark flopped down on the opposite sofa, and once again guzzled his water in record-breaking time.
“No, I can hang, buddy, any time any pace-- don’t worry about me. I was wondering
where your extra energy was coming from. You think maybe it’s from this date you have with Maya tonight?” Jordan asked straight-faced.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Mark asked as he rose from the sofa and took the four
plastic bottles into the kitchen and tossed them into the recycle bin.
He knew Jordan was screwing with him, but he also recognized the truth behind his
words.
Maya had been the last thing on his mind when he’d gone to bed last night and the first
thing on his mind when he’d woken up this morning. It had been that way throughout the week.
He’d found himself wondering how her day was going, and had to stop his hand more than once from reaching for the phone to give her a call.
They’d spoken on the phone almost every day that week, learning more about the other.
Although most of their conversations had been short, a couple had lasted long into the night.
Mark had never been able to talk on the phone to a woman for that long. With Maya, he’d
not even noticed the time, a definite first for him. In fact, she was the reason he ended the conversation. After yawning for more times than he could count, he reluctantly allowed the
conversation to come to a close.
“I don’t know, maybe you have some sexual energy to work off and running is your only
option. Now me, I’m not having that problem right now. Sheila has been very very
accommodating,” Jordan gloated, referring to his latest girlfriend, and laughed at Mark’s
mumbled curse. “Speaking of Sheila, I need to pry my ass off this couch. You’re not the only one with plans for the night.”
When Jordan left, Mark looked at the clock and decided he had more than enough time
for a soak in the hot tub he’d installed, knowing the hot water would relax his bunched muscles.
With that in mind, he headed toward the tub with a smile of anticipation creasing his face, as he thought of the night ahead.
* * * *
Maya had been in her garden for most of the day, and before she realized it, the morning
had given way to late afternoon. Calling it quits, she placed her gardening tools away and came face-to-face with Dalia when she closed the shed door.
“Hello, Maya. So this is what you have been doing with your day.” Dalia wiped a
smudge of dirt from the end of Maya’s nose.
“Hi, Dal. Yeah, and it’s been a wonderful reprieve from everything. It’s been too long
since I was in the garden; the weeds were taking over my rose bushes. And it helped eased the jitters about this date with Mark,” she admitted, as they walked to the back entrance of the house.
“What is there to feel nervousness for, Sesute? He is only a man, and the two of you will have a wonderful time.”
“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve been out on a date, Dal. I know I know, you think it’s
my fault,” she said when Dalia’s expressive eyebrows rose. “I haven’t met anyone I’ve been
interested in. And definitely not enough to take my time or mind away from Imani House--you know that.”
“Yes, and I also know this detective has caught your interest. Where are the two of you
going tonight?” Dalia asked with a sly smile.
“To the River Walk. It’s been awhile since I’ve been there.”
“Have you decided what you are going to wear?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t given much thought about it.” She glanced down at her watch
and was surprised to note the time. “Do you want to