Driven to be Loved

by Pat Simmons

  After a short ride from the airport, they turned onto a tree-lined street of cottage-style houses. Inside Brecee’s childhood home, the hardwood floors gleamed, and the furnishings appeared strategically placed. Nothing appeared out of order, not even a throw pillow. The dining room table was ready to go with place settings for a crowd.

  Mrs. Carmen didn’t waste any time retrieving platters from the refrigerator, assisted by her daughters. The smell and sight of food made Adrian’s stomach growl. In no time, the impromptu party had begun.

  When Victor announced that he was heading out, Adrian pulled Brecee to the side, away from prying eyes and curious ears, to kiss her goodbye and whisper, “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she whispered back with a tight hug.

  Once in Victor’s SUV with him and Dino, Adrian regretted bringing up Mrs. Daniels’ name. It opened the door for Victor to rave about Judith, the great-granddaughter. By the time they reached the guys’ apartment, Adrian was ready for bed. Sleep couldn’t come fast enough, if it would mean not having to listen to Victor mention Judith’s name again. The morning couldn’t come soon enough.

  Chapter Twenty- Four

  “S

  o, Mom, what’s the latest between you and Uncle Marcellus?” Brecee asked on Saturday morning as she and Shae prepared brunch for the houseful of family they were expecting soon.

  “We’re in love and waiting on you to get married so we can tie the knot, too,” she said matter-of-factly.

  Brecee slowly turned around and eyed her mother, who was sitting snugly at the table, holding Sabrina. She nuzzled her granddaughter’s neck as if what she’d just said was business as usual.

  Shae was the first to respond. She planted her hands on her curvy hips. “So, he’s the one? You’re really sure that he’s the second love of your life?”

  Their mother’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, he makes me happy.” Then she frowned and glanced at the stove. “Don’t you burn those eggs!”

  Whirling around, Brecee used the spatula to fold the egg over the bits of sausage, onion, and green pepper in the skillet, then faced her mother again. “Have I really held your love hostage?”

  When she nodded, Brecee teared up. What mother would put her own love on hold for the sake of her child? “Mom,” Brecee said softly, “you sacrificed so much for us while we were growing up. You don’t have to do that now. I was feeling sorry for myself when I set those terms. Who knows how long I’ll have to wait for Adrian to propose? He’s so busy with school, with his job, and, now, with digging up his grandmother’s history.”

  Shae checked the biscuits in the oven, then slammed the door none too gently. “Well, I think my sister should fit in there somewhere!” she huffed.

  “I do....” Was it wrong to want more? Brecee cleared her head. This was about her mother right now. “If Uncle Marcellus makes you happy, then you have our blessing, including mine. Go for it.”

  Beaming, their mother stood, still holding Sabrina, and hugged both of them. “Then I officially invite you girls to be two of my four bridesmaids next month in our wedding on the Spirit of Philadelphia.”

  Just then, the doorbell rang. Their mother practically floated out the kitchen to answer it.

  Brecee looked at Shae. Neither of them blinked. “What just happened?” Brecee mumbled.

  “We’re going to be in a wedding,” Shae said slowly, then moved in slow motion to check on the biscuits.

  Brecee forced herself to take a deep breath. “Okay, so we did hear the same thing.”

  Mrs. Carmen opened the door with little Sabrina in her arms, and the tantalizing aroma of breakfast greeted Adrian. But it couldn’t compete with the scent of his lady when she finally appeared.

  He kissed her lips. “Babe, why didn’t you tell me your cousins were late sleepers? I’ve been ready for hours.”

  When she didn’t respond, Adrian scrutinized her more closely. She looked slightly stunned for a second but quickly offered him a smile. “Sorry about that.”

  He frowned and leaned in. “Is everything all right?”

  She nodded, then turned to greet her other family members as they came through the door.

  Taking her word at face value, Adrian thanked Mrs. Carmen for inviting him to brunch.

  “Sure,” she said, but her attention was on Marcellus as he strolled through the door. Mrs. Carmen handed Sabrina off to the nearest relative. The woman was clearly smitten.

  “Good morning, everyone,” Marcellus said in a commanding voice without taking his eyes off Mrs. Carmen. After engulfing her in a hug, he smacked his lips against hers.

  “Mom Carmen, can you two exchange smooches later?” Stacy's husband, Ted, said with a straight face. “We’re starving.”

  The fathers occupied the children while the women finished the meal preparations. Soon, everyone had gathered around the table. Marcellus said grace and the dishes began their circuit.

  Seated beside Adrian, Brecee was unusually quiet. Was she giving him the silent treatment because she wanted to give him a tour of her hometown? True, he had been absorbed with Mrs. Daniels; but Brecee meant everything to him, and her happiness was of prime importance. “Babe, if you want to show me a few sights before we head over to the nursing home, I’m okay with that.”

  Instead of taking another piece of bacon from the platter, she swiped his and took a bite. “Okay.” The light returned to her eyes, but it was dim.

  “Make sure you check out the Mural Arts exhibition,” Shari’s husband, Garrett, suggested as his son asked for more milk.

  “But he has to see the Benjamin Franklin Museum first,” Ted countered. “And, of course, the Liberty Bell Center.”

  Brecee said nothing. Adrian was becoming concerned. “Is everything okay?” he whispered in her ear.

  She took a sip of juice, a convenient excuse not to answering.

  “I’d suggest making no more than one stop before we meet Judith at the nursing home,” Victor said, bringing an end to the circus of ideas.

  Since she and Shae were visiting, they were the center of attention. Maybe when they were alone, she would talk to him. Until then, Adrian watched the time until Victor suggested they get going.

  Her sisters and brothers-in-law gathered the children, and soon the group was headed for the Liberty Bell Center.

  While out and about, Adrian doted on Brecee. If he wasn’t holding her hand, he had his arm around her waist, until she finally relaxed and opened up as his personal tour guide. The glow, the smile, the teasing were back. But what had taken her joy away in the first place?

  He did his best not to keep checking the time until they’d stopped at a vendor’s cart for something cold to drink.

  Finally, they said their good-byes to the others, then followed Victor back to his SUV. Instead of sitting in front, Adrian slid into the backseat with Brecee. Victor grunted. “I’m nobody’s chauffeur,” he mumbled.

  Too bad, Adrian thought. “Indulge us,” he said in his defense. As they drove off, Brecee rested her head on his shoulder. He snuggled her closer, then kissed the top of her hair. “I love you,” he whispered.

  She nodded. “I know.”

  When the GPS alerted them that their destination was two miles away, Adrian's heart began to pound. Soon, the nursing home came into view: Fairview Care Center Bethlehem Pike. After they had parked, Adrian helped Brecee out, taking note of the surroundings. The grounds were well- maintained, and the place seemed peaceful.

  Taking Brecee’s hand in his, he started across the parking lot. A woman was standing just outside the entrance, and she smiled when Victor waved. The man picked up his pace and greeted her with a hug.

  “Judith must be a special lady,” Brecee remarked. “Victor doesn’t fall for any woman. She’s certainly very pretty.”

  Adrian quickly scanned the woman. She had nice legs, a nice face, and a nice figure, but he wouldn’t pick her over Brecee—that was for sure.

  “Meet my cousin, Dr. Sabrece Carmen,” Vi
ctor said.

  “Please, call me Brecee.” She smiled, then turned to him. “And this is Adrian Cole. He is extremely eager to speak with Mrs. Daniels.”

  “Gran likes company,” Judith said. “Let’s go.”

  Victor was holding the door open before Judith turned around. Adrian smirked. Whether Victor would admit it or not, he had fallen for Judith. Adrian saw so much of himself in the man’s actions.

  After signing in at the front desk, they followed Judith down a hall. The nursing facility was fresh and modern. The staff acknowledged them with smiles or waves. Victor patted Adrian on the back. “Ready?”

  “I’ve been ready,” Adrian confessed. He just hoped Mrs. Daniels would be ready and able to give him the answers he sought.

  Brecee squeezed his hand as if she were in tune with his thoughts. Turning the corner, Adrian swallowed as they walked into a small room that looked more like a tiny furnished apartment. A thin brown-skinned woman with her hair in two long braids sat in a rocking chair, staring out the window.

  “Gran?” Judith said. “You have company.”

  Slowly craning her neck to look over her shoulder, the woman grinned as she peered at them through her thick glasses. For being in her nineties, she had very little gray hair to match the wrinkles marring her face. She scanned each of them before stopping at Brecee. “My, my. If it ain’t another kin to Theodore Carmen. Aren’t you a pretty little thing.”

  Adrian’s heart nearly stopped as Mrs. Daniels glanced back and forth between Brecee and her cousin. He wanted to scream and fan his arms in the air to get her attention. Instead, he impatiently awaited his turn. Besides, her compliment made his lady’s face glow.

  Brecee blushed. “Thank you. My cousin told me you remembered my grandfather.” She stepped closer to shake the woman's hand. “How exciting.”

  “Mmm-hmm. That Teddy was something else, too.” She chuckled to herself. “Y’all have a seat.”

  Judith shook her head. “We’ll be out here in the lounge.” She reached for Victor’s hand. “You visit with Dr. Car—I mean, Brecee and Adrian.”

  Mrs. Daniels didn’t even look at Adrian as she leaned forward. “You a doctor?”

  “I am,” Brecee said softly. She never carried an air of importance. Adrian had been around enough people with money to know they usually did everything in their power to stand out in the crowd, and he was in the business of helping them accomplish that in style. “What kind?” Mrs. Daniels asked.

  “A pediatrician.”

  She frowned. “A what?”

  “A children’s doctor. I love children.”

  The woman slapped her knees. “Me, too. I had seven of them after Mother Mattie B. Poole prayed for me during one of her healing services.”

  Mattie B. Poole! Her name was mentioned in the letters, which made Adrian more eager to dispense with the niceties and get down to the business he came for.

  For the first time, Mrs. Daniels made eye contact with Adrian. As she stared, he silently prayed that she would see his grandmother’s features in him. She squinted, then turned back to Brecee. “And who is he? Your husband?”

  Adrian watched Brecee’s body stiffen before she slowly exhaled. “No, I'm not married.”

  Mrs. Daniels frowned again. “What’s wrong with him? A pretty little thing like you? I got thirty grandchildren and....” She paused, tilting her head. “Seventeen great-grands. I even have my first great-great-grand on the way.” She shifted in her rocker and puffed out her chest.

  Before Mrs. Daniels could marry his woman off, Adrian cupped Brecee’s hand in his. “She’s taken.”

  “Is that so? Humph. In my day, when a man loved a woman, he put a ring on her quick. But that was a long time ago. Christians kept themselves pure and married....”

  Brecee squirmed in her seat as Mrs. Daniels relaxed in hers. She pointed to Brecee. “I like her.”

  “Me, too,” Adrian said. But he’d had enough of the warm-up exercise. Just as he was hoping to get to the meat of the discussion, Mrs. Daniels invited Brecee to ask her anything she wanted to know about her grandfather.

  Adrian began to practice the breathing technique he used when a customer couldn’t make up his mind on a car color.

  “You gave my cousin a lot of information,” Brecee told her. “I want to personally thank you for not being ashamed to talk about the gospel and for being a witness to my grandfather. It’s because of you that I’m a third- generation Apostolic.”

  “Good.” Mrs. Daniels seemed tickled. Then she shook a finger at Brecee. “But that man was a hard one to crack. At times, he was downright mean. But we knew it was nothing but the devil messing with his mind. I was glad to hear the Lord had saved him. I reckon God will give me credit for planting the seed in that soul.”

  Breathe in, breathe out, Adrian coached himself.

  “Chile, I couldn’t help myself. If you had seen the power of the Holy Ghost back then, through Mother Mattie B. Poole, you’d be foolish not to be a believer.”

  “Who was she?” Adrian asked.

  The woman laughed. “Who was Mother Mattie B. Poole? Only one of God’s greatest servants in my young days. She had the gift of healing. My husband and I would travel to Chicago every chance we could to go to Bethlehem Tabernacle.... Wooooweeeee.” She shook her head. “No building could hold the power of the Holy Ghost working through Mother Poole.

  They had to keep moving to bigger and bigger spaces, and they changed the name to Bethlehem Healing Temple.”

  Adrian’s heart surged when she mentioned Chicago. “Do you remember ever traveling with a woman named Cora—”

  “Cora Nichols!” Her eyes widened, and she slapped her bony knees, causing her legs to kick out. “That was my friend!” Then the jubilation seemed to seep out of her body as she slumped back in her rocker. “I made a promise to her that I couldn't keep.”

  “What kind of promise?” Adrian leaned forward. “Cora Nichols married Solomon Lambert, and I’m their grandson.”

  Mrs. Daniels gasped, then removed her thick glasses as if she could see better and leaned forward for a better look at him. “You’re Cora’s grandson?” Tears began to stream down her face. “Well, I’ll be. Why didn’t you say so?”

  As if she’d really given him a chance to do so.

  Leaning even farther forward, she crooked her forefinger, motioning for him to come closer. Adrian got up and crouched before her. She reached out and held his face in her hands, turning him from side to side as if examining a head of lettuce.

  “You sure are—whew! And handsome—woo-wee. Your grandpa was handsome, and your grandmother was a beauty. We worked at the bakery together.”

  The pieces were coming together. Adrian had to know if his grandparents and Brecee’s had crossed paths. “Do you know if our grandparents knew one another?”

  “Who?”

  “Cora Nichols and....” Glancing over his shoulder, he reached for Brecee’s hand and squeezed it. “Theodore Carmen.”

  “She’s a pretty thing, ain’t she?”

  Not again, Adrian inwardly groaned. His lady’s beauty had already been established, but he answered again, “Yes, she’s very beautiful.” Adrian didn’t need any prompting to express what was in his heart.

  Brecee must have felt his sincerity, because her eyes misted.

  He had to force his gaze back to Mrs. Daniels. “Did Theodore Carmen and my mother work the same shift?”

  “Oh, no, baby. I worked second shift with Teddy, and your grandmother worked the first shift. There were a lot of us colored women who worked there back then, and God provided for our families.”

  “So, they never met?” Why did he feel such crushing disappointment? Maybe because he’d been chasing a dream.

  She twisted her mouth, then scrunched her nose—her gesture wasn’t as cute as when Brecee did it—and smacked her lips. “I wouldn’t say that. Back then, black folks stuck together and knew just about everybody and their business. If somebody needed help or go
t in trouble, we knew about it.”

  Brecee must have felt his disappointment, because she began to rub his back. “I would like to hear how Cora and Solomon met.”

  Rocking back in her chair, Mrs. Daniels glanced out the window. “George and I wanted a baby so bad, but the doctors said we couldn’t have one. This was back in the forties, when I was almost twenty-two. People all over the country listened to Mother Poole’s radio broadcast, and many would visit her church on Campbell Avenue in Chicago. That’s one place I will never forget! She always said on the radio, ‘Why suffer while others are being healed? Why die before your time?”'

  “Those sound like bold statements to back up,” Brecee said, giving voice to Adrian’s very thoughts.

  Mrs. Daniels chuckled. “She didn’t back it up, chile; the Holy Ghost did. God used her in mighty ways. One mother was raised from the dead simply by Mother Poole’s rebuking the devil over the phone. People would walk into Bethlehem Healing Temple on crutches, or ride there in wheelchairs, and leave them behind after God healed them. Last I remember, they were still hanging on the walls. Deaf people started hearing and talking. Mother Poole also prayed for women who couldn’t carry babies, and they conceived. My seven children were all products of that miracle.”

  Adrian whistled. Unbelievable. “I guess those train rides to Chicago were worth it.”

  She nodded. “I got pregnant seven times and never lost one of ’em.” Turning away from the window, she looked at them as if she had finished reading from a script. “Once, while Cora and I were in Chicago, an ambulance detoured to Bethlehem Healing Temple. Them workers took patients from the ambulance in on stretchers, and ushers moved them to pews in the church. Mother Poole told them medical people they could leave, because their services were no longer needed. Ha!”

  “Wow,” Adrian and Brecee said at the same time.

  “Mmm-hmm.” Mrs. Daniels nodded. “It was something to see back then, God’s mighty work as the saints of God spoke with authority.”