The Good Book

Abe, they chose ABE. They didn’t appreciate any of his sacrifices, first one in and the last to leave and vacation, what was that! Adam contemplated his abysmal work life when he spotted Eden, his favorite bistro, and stopped for some amazing lemonade. A warm smile greeted him as the waitress asked what he’d like to start with. All the anger and frustration melted away and peace washed over him the moment he walked in. He ordered peach lemonade and a half gallon to take home to his wife. Eden was their favorite restaurant before he began working at Sin Rostro. Sipping his lemonade he felt better so he ordered meals to take home and surprise Eve. While waiting for the food he noticed Dominating in Industry: Successful Habits and Strategy of the Successful. “What have I got to lose at this point?” he thought. He began reading … “In the beginning ….” strange beginning but he stuck with it. The book gripped him so that he didn’t even notice the waitress return with his order.

Meanwhile back at home Eve received Adam’s message about dinner and while it was a happy surprise she wished he hadn’t waited so late to mention it. It made her feel like an afterthought. She finished cooking and packed it up for tomorrow. “MOM!” She shifted back to the present and of course it was Cain and Abel. Why couldn’t they get along? She really felt bad for them. Abel was quiet and often pushed around by his older brother trying to keep the peace and Cain was so jealous of Abel. True, they were opposites, but they were inseparable when they were younger. “In here”, she yelled from the kitchen. “MOM! Why is Abel’s award hanging on the main board? What about my math and baseball awards?” “ Cain, they are both hanging right here.”, she motioned to the message and memo board in the kitchen.. “Oh,” Cain mumbled but also not giving an inch, “but why is Abel's on the big main board?” She resisted the urge to comment on the pitfalls of jealousy, yet AGAIN and instead stated simply, “Because he brought his home first. But no worries, you know we’ll change them out next month.” She leaned over and kissed the top of his head and told him “Now get your brothers, dad’s bringing home dinner.” That validation did little but she kept planting seeds. “Hey losers, mom said hurry, dad’s on his way with dinner.” Cain taunted them. Seth and Abel grinned at each other, and the race was on.

After Adam dropped dinner in the kitchen, he wondered where everyone was. Abel and Seth were playing basketball out back and Cain was working on his music, but where was Eve. He checked the laundry room, living room, and bedroom but he found her happily working in her craft room. She was so talented, he sometimes regretted and felt guilty that she had given up her dreams. He gently kissed her neck and massaged her shoulders. “Hey beautiful.”, he whispered. She smiled and kissed his hand. “So, does this mean that the meeting went well?” she asked and immediately regretted the words sensing him tense. “No, they gave it to Abe.” but he relaxed again after saying it. “I’m sorry babe. I know you were really excited for this one and you are perfect for the position.” she told him. “It’s ok. I just want dinner with my beautiful wife and my boys. Oh and I gotcha some peach lemonade.” he whispered teasingly. Lemonade was her favorite drink but she rarely had it and in that moment she felt loved by this simple thing. Picking up some lemonade reassured her that he does think about her and does still desire her and she missed and longed for this.

Dinner was awesome, even the boys got along, but Adam felt dread thinking about the office. He stayed up late with his new book and decided to take some vacation time. He needed more nights like this. The following morning he was up early and with no work he made breakfast. He forgot how much he loved cooking. Eve worked so hard Adam left her in bed to enjoy a late morning, which she did until she sprang out of bed thinking she had overslept. No time to think, she grabbed her robe and ran straight to the boy’s room. “Seth, Cain, Abel!” she called out upon finding their rooms empty then she heard laughter coming from the dining room and she smelled … Adam’s apple cinnamon pancakes? Her mouth watered. It had been so long! She smiled when she found them devouring the pancakes and thought, “They don’t eat my pancakes like that!” Adam got Eve's plate from the kitchen when he saw her in the door. Eve wasn’t sure what had gotten into her husband but she was happy to see the man she fell in love with again. Adam explained he was taking some vacation time and he would walk the boys to school so she could shower and relax.

Eve noticed a little black book in the family room after cleaning the breakfast mess. She wondered if it was the same book Adam had last night. She read the title, How to Reclaim Your Lost Love. Her heart fluttered. She couldn’t believe he was reading this but it explained his attention and thoughtfulness lately. She opened and read “In the beginning”, how fitting going back to the beginning to reclaim a lost love. Her reading was interrupted by a knock at the front door. She would surprise Adam and slip into a negligee. She ignored the fact that Adam wouldn’t knock on his own door in her excitement. She swung the door open, only to be greeted by the prize committee. She stood in the door frozen and confused until she registered their surprise, THE NEGLIGEE! “Mrs. Allen? Sorry for the intrusion but we are from CoJen Designs. You entered our International Design Competition? Well, you won our $150,000 grand prize.” they told the door that had been slammed in their faces. With shaking hands she wrapped in her robe and opened the door. Cameras flashed and they handed her a BAG OF MONEY! She put the bag in the closet and wondered what she was gonna do with $150,000. She didn’t even hear Adam come into the room. “Hun, you ok?” he asked. “Ummm, yeah, I’m gonna go soak.” she answered. “Okay.” he chuckled, reaching for the book. “Oh, can I read it while I soak?” she asked bashfully. Adam was confused that she wanted to read about workplace strategies. “Okay if you’re sure.”, he said. “Thanks.”, she kissed him on the cheek and stumbled to the tub.

Adam grabbed them a lover’s lunch and learned Eden’s was closing after over 50 years. He was sick at the thought and asked why they were closing. The owners were struggling to keep up with the growing business at their ages, his waitress told him. They had received offers but didn’t sell to protect Eden from becoming another soulless fast food restaurant. Before he could stop himself, Adam asked what the asking price was.

$125,000 was a lot of money but he knew Eden was worth it, he thought while driving home. Eve was just getting out of the bath when Adam made it home. She couldn’t believe how the book was reading her. Her life had been all about sacrifice and she didn’t intend or even notice it but bitterness and a bit of resentment grew in her as she stayed home giving up on her dreams to support Adam. She didn’t really mind at first but as Adam worked more and more trying to fulfill his dreams, she felt more and more alone in her marriage and she loved her family but had lost herself. This little book was awfully powerful!

They ate together on the patio in the midday warmth. Adam looked over at Eve and was mesmerized by her glowing mocha skin, she was just as beautiful today as she was the first time he saw her. How would she react when he told her his thoughts of getting a second mortgage to buy Eden. The thought brought him so much excitement he could barely contain it but what would she think?

After lunch, Eve went about her daily routine and Adam read. He strongly believed in healthy competition and hated losing but this book taught things like people over profits and helping others reach their potential, self sacrifice and being a servant leader. It was so different from anything he had been taught but he connected with. He scheduled a meeting with the bank and Eden’s owners tomorrow. The day flew by.

Soon the boys were home and Cain went looking for his dad. He found instead the little black book on the couch in the family room. Cain picked it up, Defeating Your Enemy, Brothers and Adversaries. Now this was a book he could get into. He opened it and read “In the beginning”. Before he knew it he was reading of kings, kingdoms, wisdom and even love. There was even a group of brothers that tried to kill their youngest brother, Joe, because he was dad’s favorite and they were just tired of it. But they sold him as a slave instead but he eventually became THE KING’S RIGHT HAND GUY! Of course he did, Cain thought with an eye roll. But he read on and discovered the brothers and father were starving back in their homeland until the brothers went crawling back to Joe begging for food. He felt anger growing in him at the thought of this, imagining him and Abel. But then Joe forgave his brothers and, wow, he even cried because his brothers hurt him. So, Joe loved his brothers even after all that, Cain thought. Joe moved them to the kingdom and gave them the best land. Maybe he was looking at this thing all wrong and he felt bad for how he treated Abel. He thought about how Abel used to try and do everything he did and wanted to go everywhere he went when they were little.

“Hey what’s up buddy?” Adam asked and gave Cain a hug. Cain felt even worse because he had hated his brother for taking his parents' love.. He quietly asked, “Dad what’s the deal with this book? From the title I was expecting something very different.” Adam looked at his eldest son even more baffled that Cain was reading the book than Eve. “You were reading this book?” he asked. “Yeah, I hope its ok. I saw it there and the title looked interesting.”, Cain told his dad. “REALLY!? Well ok then. I don’t know but I thought the same thing. Like father like son huh? Anyways get your brothers we’re gonna have dinner early, I need to talk with mom after dinner, oh, and Cain try to cut Abel some slack. He doesn’t have all of your outgoing dynamic charm but he’s your little brother and looks up to you and loves you man. Okay?” “Yeah, ok dad.” Cain mumbled.

After dinner Adam and Eve went for the big talk. He told her about Eden and what he wanted to do and she was moved to tears. It was as if her prayers had been answered. Adam was worried by the tears and thought she was disappointed with his failure to climb the corporate ladder, until she silently got up and walked to the closet. She came back with a bag … FULL OF MONEY! She told him about the contest and gave it to him for the restaurant and their future.

Adam and Eve felt at home and complete in Eden and it was all thanks to that little black book.