Chapter 2 - Page 15 - Vision Of Africa

   “Mary, I hurt someone who was very close to me.” Tears welled up in Jim’s eyes. “I was cruel to Christine.” Christine was Jim’s ex-wife. “I loved Christine with all my heart, and I still do.” Jim paused to wipe the pooling tears from his eyes, then continued in a voice that had become shaky and weak. “She was beautiful, and I built her a beautiful house. She was my trophy in my trophy case, but I was too busy to notice her. Now she’s gone.” Jim hung his head in shame, and when he spoke again, the words came out in a whimper. “She married a man whose wife died three years ago.”

   Mary could see the pain in his face. “Jim,” she said, “everyone makes mistakes. You can’t change the past.”    Jim composed himself and wiped more tears from his eyes. “I wish I could. I would spend every minute of every day with her.” He thought about the years he and Christine had spent together. “My road to success collided with my marriage. It left Christine with no direction for her life.”

   Jim thought about what he’d just said. “Mary,” he exclaimed, suddenly excited, “Christine searched for a new direction in the church. The man she married six months ago is a preacher!”

   Mary looked confused. “And you’re happy about that, Jim?”

   “Yes! Don’t you get it? I’ll be with Christine in heaven!”

   Mary didn’t want to talk about religious things, so she changed the subject. “Jim, I came in to wish you good luck on your trip to Africa. We’ll all miss you.”

   “Thank you, Mary,” Jim replied. “I’ll miss everyone here, too.”

   Mary smiled at Jim and left the room. She closed the door behind her.