Cover Girls by T. D. Jakes Read Free Book Online

not be viewed as a good thing. She made herself smile. Snatching that bun out might feel good, but Michelle was pretty sure Mrs. Judson would not see it as a career-enhancing move.
    When Michelle got close enough to see her desk, she smiled. There was a small bouquet there—pink, yellow, and white carnations; daisies; and some mums that were almost purple—arranged in a brightly colored vase. A card leaned against the vase.
    She dropped her purse and slid into her seat. She pulled the vase toward her, pushed her nose against the flowers, closed her eyes and inhaled. It was just what she needed. The flowers didn’t match her red suit, but color was color.
    She rotated the vase. It was too thoughtful a gift from Trench. The flowers had to be from Todd. It was funny, but he always seemed to know exactly when she needed cheering. Michelle breathed the scent in, again, even more deeply.
    “Good morning, Michelle.” It was Tonya. She was sitting at her desk with a goofy smile on her face. Michelle nodded her head and then closed her eyes again. She was not going to let Tonya ruin this moment. She let the petals of the flowers tickle her nose.
    Todd really was a good man, always thinking of her and doing nice things for her. Sometimes it was too much. He was too kind, too forgiving. It confused her. Michelle couldn’t tell if it was just something he did—something he would do for anyone—or if it was special just for her. She didn’t know if he was so strong he didn’t care what people thought, or if he just didn’t have sense enough to know that people would use him.
    She hadn’t been good to him. She thought of all the things she had said to Todd . . . and she thought about Trench. Her relationship with Trench had to make Todd feel like less of a man. It had to make him doubt himself. She had thought it was the one thing that was sure to make Todd leave, but he still held on.
    Michelle opened her eyes. Tonya waved at her. What was
wrong
with her? Why didn’t she get a life? But even Tonya’s goofiness wasn’t enough to ruin the moment.
    Michelle could hear Todd’s voice.
“I’m fighting for you. You’re my wife, my gift from God.”
    Yes, Todd was fighting. She just wasn’t sure why. Was it because he didn’t have enough sense to know better, or because he loved her that much? It bothered her.
    No one could love another person that much. That kind of love was only in fairy tales. That kind of love couldn’t really exist . . . could it? That kind of love wasn’t even human.
    There were times when Todd reached in and touched her heart, or something even more elemental than her heart—something that fluttered inside of her, something with wings like a tiny bird. There was something delicate and alive in her that only Todd seemed to see, believe in, and touch. When he was able to climb over her insecurities, crest the height of her anger, and ford the rivers of her disappointments and fears—when he arrived at the shores of that delicate fluttering place, it renewed her. It was like drinking from some eternal, crystal fountain that nourishes, refreshes, and cleanses.
    When Todd held Michelle, her past washed away—the drugs, the prostitution, the molestation . . . But the place he took her to also frightened her. It gave him too much power, too easy access to her heart. What Todd did, what he made her feel, was too good to surrender to. It was too good to trust.
    At least for now.
    Michelle smelled the flowers again. Maybe . . . some day.
    She filled her lungs with the sweet perfume then set the vase down and, avoiding eye contact with Tonya, opened the card.
    There were flowers on the front of the card that looked like the bouquet on her desk, only they were tied with pink ribbon.
    This is the day that the Lord has made,
the front of the card read.
Rejoice and be glad!
    Definitely Todd. He couldn’t resist putting in a good one for the Lord, even when he was trying to sweet talk her. Michelle could feel a