Inspiration 32

 http://goo.gl/1eLv66

If you are a wife, you must put your husband first. Even if he opposes our message, you will win him over by what you do. No one else will have to say anything to him, ² because he will see how you honor God and live a pure life. ³ Don’t depend on things like fancy hairdos or gold jewelry or expensive clothes to make you look beautiful. ⁴ Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special. 1Peter 3:1-4, CEV

Inner beauty. Can a person's attitude, actions, words, example reach another person's soul to bring about change? Can person fall in love with another simply by watching that person? 

After much wheedling and pouting, Ray relented and allowed Cherie to go to New Orleans to shop for new clothes. It took even more persuasive skills to convince Raif to allow Lydia to accompany her. Finally, on the road, Cherie confessed to Lydia, "Okay. We're meeting Scott and Darren."

"What?" shouted Lydia. "Take me home."

"Come on, Lydia. Darren likes you."

"I don't like him. He's nasty. He thinks my family is dirt. I can't believe you put me in this situation."

"Don't you even think he's attractive?"

"Beauty is only skin deep. Ugly goes all the way to the bone."

"Darren's not so bad. I talked to him. He's a victim of his family. He's scared of his dad and Derrick."

"I am, too, Cherie!" she huffed out.

"We're only gonna have beignets. Then, we really are going shopping."

"Oh, you owe me. If that slug touches me, I'm gonna slug you." Lydia held up her fist...

"You actually came," said Darren in disbelief.

Lydia jabbed, "I didn't know you were gonna be here until we got on the Interstate. Cherie was driving too fast for me to jump out."

"Figures," sighed Darren.

"Oh, stop whining," said Lydia. "You have never shown anything but contempt for my family."

"I'm sorry. I still can't act nice to you back home."

"Yeah, yeah."

They ate a mound of pastries before heading back to the River Walk. "You're going with us?" asked Lydia.

"We parked at the River Walk, and we are buying clothes," stated Scott. "Lydia, be nice. You're being as bigoted as your think Darren is. Give him a break, at least for today. Help him pick out some clothes that actually look good on him." Scott grinned.

Lydia looked from Scott to Darren. She could not understand what was happening. Is there a decent person somewhere inside Darren McAlpin? She said, "Okay. Just don't touch me. I'll help you shop for nice clothes. You need them. Darren, you can help me pick out a pair of shoes."

"What?"

"If you show me you have what it takes to help a woman pick out a pair of shoes, not sneakers, I'll believe there's more to you than what I've seen."

"Like sexy type shoes?" Panic showed in Darren's eyes and his voice came out shrill.

"Yeah. Are you up for the challenge?"

"Yeah, but you don't need sexy shoes to be beautiful."

Lydia gawked at Darren. "Maybe a little of Scott is rubbing off on you, and not the other way around. That's a good thing.  We'll meet y'all at the food plaza at four."

Cherie could not believe she just watched Lydia Gautier walk off with Darren McAlpin...

Cherie and Scott shopped for clothes. Lydia and Darren shopped for clothes. Darren allowed Lydia to pick out numerous things for him before they went to the shoe store. Lydia tried on several pairs of shoes.

Darren picked up a pair of black spiked heels with an ankle strap. "I like these," he said.

"Why?" asked Lydia.

"I think the strap around the ankle is sexy."

"Are you into bondage?"

He gulped. "No, but I like ankle bracelets, too. I think, maybe…maybe I just like ankles."

Lydia laughed. "Darren, have you ever actually had a real girlfriend?"

"No," admitted Darren, looking at the floor. "The only girls who want to have anything to do with me are skanky, fat, or daughters of Bald Eagles who don't realize their daddies view them as livestock and good breeders. I don't stand a chance with a girl like you because of my family."

"So, you like ankles, huh?" Lydia asked, trying to lighten the sudden mood change. She got close to Darren and whispered, "What if I tattooed, 'Nigger lover,' on my ankle?"

"Lydia!"

She stepped back. "I heard Derrick had a baby with a black woman in Texas."

"No. She was Mexican. Yeah, they had a kid. He told me he actually loved her. You know, he had decided to stay in Texas. He didn't hurt her. It was her family that killed her and the kid because they didn't want her with a white man. That made Derrick angry and bitter. Yeah, he was rakish before that, but that broke his heart. It made him the way he is. Darrell was always that way, like my dad. I wanna get away, Lydia, but I don't know how."

"Talk to Uncle Ray."

"He's a cop," muttered Darren, clutching the shoe.

"Yeah, and he'll help you."

"I'll think about it. What about your shoes?"

Lydia took the shoe from Darren. "These are the ones I wanted all along. I wanted to see if would pick them out."

On the drive home, Lydia said, "I'll never forgive you for today."

"Why?" asked Cherie. "You don't look any worse."

"No, I'm not. Now, I'm really worried about Darren. I hope he'll talk to Uncle Ray, but he's scared. I never realized he was scared. I just thought he was mean. Cherie, he needs someone to care about him and to believe in him. He's actually sweet."

"Oh, my God," moaned Cherie. "What have I done?"

The first day of school, Lydia wore a skirt and her new shoes. During class change, Darren deliberately bumped into her and slipped her a note. It read:

"Sexy Legs, would you like me to tie you up?"

Lydia ditched the note as fast as possible, but she blushed every time she saw Darren. On the drive home, she told Cherie about the note.

"Oh, my God!" squealed Cherie. "Do you?"

"What? NO!"

"Do you want anything from him?"

"He's got to get away from his family. There couldn't be anything until then."

"Do you like him?"

"No more than you like Scott. They're both bad news. We're crazy."

"Yep. That's our family—crazy."

The first week of school was relatively uneventful. Walking down the hall on Friday, Scott caught Cherie's hand and deposited two movie tickets with a note, "Yours and Lydia's." Cherie handed the tickets to Lydia in the car after school.

Lydia asked, "Do you think he got two more for him and Darren?"

"Yes. Why couldn't he just ask me out?"

"He's trying to help Darren. Cherie, there's something strange about him."

"Yeah. He's a conundrum."

"Conundrum?"

"Yeah. Learned it today in the story we're reading. A mystery. Is he or isn't he a skin-head?" She backed up and headed home.

"I don't know. Are you going to the movie?"

"Absolutely. You know, he hasn't kissed me, really kissed me, yet."

"Now, that's strange."

"Tell me about it. Oh, God!" Cherie gripped the steering wheel.

"What?" gasped Lydia.

"Do you think he's gay?"

"No. He's too good-looking."

"What's that got to do with it? Robert LaFontaine was handsome. I've seen his pictures."

"He's not gay, Cherie." Lydia rolled her eyes. "I'm sure it has to do with your being a cop's daughter, and he's a criminal."

"I'm still going to the movie. Are you going?"

"Yes. I wanna see Darren."

"Really?"

"And, I'm gonna wear my sexy shoes."

"Lydia, I'm not the one asking for trouble. I just want a kiss."

"I just want Darren to be safe. If getting close to him will help, I'll do it."

Cherie was afraid she had created a monster, but the girls went to the movie. 

Will Darren become a new man because of Lydia? OR will one or both pay the ultimate price?

Cover by Christopher Chambers.

The Romeo & Juliet couple as I visualize them: Darren & Lydia