"Not because someone ordains a time for dinner."
"How pedestrian," Grandmother Hudson said. Victoria's eyes widened. She took a deep breath.
"I'm not here to discuss my eating habits."
"Well now that we know a couple of reasons why you are not here, why don't you tell us just why you are here, Victoria? I'm glad to see you, of course, but you look like you have a hive of angry bees buzzing around in your head." Grandmother sipped some water and held her nondescript expression.
Victoria placed her long hands on the table, palms down, the fingers curling up slightly. She began, looking down at her hands as she spoke.
"This morning I called our attorney, Mother, on a business matter and I learned you've made a change in your will."
Grandmother Hudson lowered her fork, gazed at me and sat back.
"He had no right to discuss that."
"He didn't actually discuss it. It came up in a convoluted way because of some trust changes I was suggesting. Fortunately, it came up," she added and looked up at Grandmother Hudson. "Does Megan know about the changes you've made?"
"No, it's not any of her business, either."
"Can you explain to me why or how a complete stranger gets included in your legacy?" Victoria demanded, glancing at me.
I stopped chewing, nearly choked on what I had in my throat, and gulped some water. Grandmother Hudson had put me in her will?
"I don't care to discuss that right now," Grandmother Hudson said. "It's not a topic conducive to dining."
"I don't think it's a topic conducive to anything. It's maddening and bizarre. What has this ... this girl," she said gesturing emphatically at me, "done beside cooking you a good meal to deserve being included in our family fortunes?"
"It's what I wish," Grandmother Hudson said. "And it's my decision."
"It's not a rational decision. It's not the action of a woman who has all her faculties."
"How dare you," Grandmother Hudson said, slamming down her fork. Her face turned a bright shade of crimson and her eyes widened.
"Mrs. Hudson really shouldn't be disturbed at dinner," I said.
"What?" Victoria spit at me with her eyes like two hot coals.
"If you are in direct contact with Doctor Lewis, you'd know that," I continued.
Victoria's mouth opened and closed, her rage reaching such a peak she strained the veins in her neck and her very vocal cords. Her face turned so red, I thought blood would come shooting out of the top of her head like a geyser.
Grandmother Hudson looked at me, relaxed, and then continued eating calmly.
"How did you get this flavor into the string beans, Rain?" she asked as she held up a forkful.
"I think it's because of the almonds," I replied.
"Oh yes." She laughed. "You know I didn't even realize. Victoria, you must try some of this."
"I said I wasn't hungry." She rose as if a fire had been lit under her chair. "I'll be back on the weekend when Megan arrives. The three of us should have a family meeting."
"Yes, we should. It's been... what, ten years or so since the last one?" Grandmother Hudson asked.
Victoria looked like she would swallow her tongue. She glanced at me and then mumbled something indiscernible and marched out. We heard the door slam.
"So?" Grandmother Hudson said as if she never noticed Victoria had come and gone. "What surprise do you have for dessert tonight?"
I didn't ask her about the will nor did I mention it again for fear it would make her angry, but I couldn't stop wondering, just like Victoria, why Grandmother Hudson had suddenly decided to include me. Did that mean she was preparing to acknowledge me as part of the family? What would my mother say or do?
I didn't have long to wait. On Saturday, just as she had promised, my mother drove up with Alison and Brody. After breakfast, I had done some straightening up. Grandmother Hudson hadn't settled on a new maid yet. Since we didn't use all that much of the big house, there was just some light dusting to do and washing the dishes and silverware we used. I volunteered to prepare a lunch for us all and put together a shrimp salad. Jake had gone to the supermarket for us and brought back a few loaves of French bread, too. I was happy to keep busy and my mind off meeting my half-brother and half-sister for the first time.
Afterward, I went up to my room to shower and dress, putting on a casual navy blue dress with my matching shoes. Despite her blustering about so-called duty visits and such, Grandmother Hudson chose a very nice print dress and did her hair up with some very pretty combs. I joined her in the living room to wait. She was listening to one of her favorite Saturday talk shows on the radio and doing a needlepoint. She looked up at me when I entered and took me in from head to foot in a single visual gulp.
"You look very nice," she said.
I thanked her and sat where I had a view of the driveway.
"It's almost time for them to be here," I said.
"I wouldn't count on Megan being on time. The clock might as well not have hands as far as that girl is concerned?'
"Victoria strikes me as being the exact opposite," I said.
"Oh, she is. She hates it when someone is late. She was always bawling Megan out for being tardy." "Why are they so different?" I asked.
She stared at me for a moment, looking as if she was about to reveal her theory. I was really expecting an explanation when she turned off the radio, but before she could reply I saw my mother drive up.
"They're here!" I cried and my heart began to pound. "You'd better go let them in. I'm sure Megan's forgotten her key," Grandmother Hudson said.
Let them in? Me?
"Well?" Grandmother Hudson emphasized with her eyes wide.
I rose slowly and went to the door, opening it just as my mother and Alison were reaching the first step.
"There she is. How are you, dear?" my mother called.
Alison squinted when she looked at me and scrunched her nose up so that little wrinkles rippled along the top of it. She had hair almost as black as mine, but snipped short and brushed up in front exposing far too much forehead. Rounder faced with just a little pouch under her chin, she looked indulgent, spoiled, fifteen or so pounds overweight with most of it on her waist and hips so that her light blue dress clung too tightly there. She looked very uncomfortable in it, and I imagined it was something she didn't really want to wear. Her shoes didn't match the dress. They were more like military boots with thick heels. Both of her ears had tiny jeweled crosses filling the pierced lobes, and she wore all sorts of silver rings on every finger. A stack of silver bracelets adorned her right wrist and a shiny steel-banded watch was on her left. When she opened her lips a little more, I had a good view of a treasure chest of orthodontia work.
After she drew closer, I saw we had the same color eyes, only mine weren't as round, and hopefully, not as dull.
"This is my daughter Alison," my mother said. "Alison, I'd like you to meet Rain."
"Rain?" She pulled the corners of her mouth in so tightly, it made the crests of her cheeks balloon. "Is that really your name?"
"Yes, it is," I said. "Is Alison really yours?" I countered quickly.
She smirked.
"You're so funny, I'm hysterical," she said.
I looked past her as Brody came up the steps with a beautiful flower arrangement in his arms. He was tall, six feet two or more and his shoulders were so wide, they could almost fill the doorway. He wore his maroon and gold varsity jacket and a pair of black slacks with soft looking black leather loafers. His hair was also ebony and his eyes were more green than brown, although I saw hazel specks in them. He had a mouth like mine but a very firm, tight jawbone. His complexion was vibrant, athletic, with a rosy tint in his cheeks and full, dark crimson lips. There was something very assured about him, only a step or two away from pure arrogance.
"Hi, I'm Brody Randolph," he said extending his hand while he held the flowers in his arms. I quickly shook his hand and was the first to let go. His grip surprised me and for a moment we just
gazed into each other's eyes.
"We're not going to stand out here all day, are we? Where's my grandmother?" Alison demanded impatiently.
"She's in the living room."
She nudged by me. My mother smiled and followed but Brody waited for me to turn and go in first.
"How do you like Dogwood?" he asked. "I hear the girls can be very snobby."
"Let's just say I've seen more nostrils than a nose and throat specialist," I replied and he laughed so hard, Alison turned before entering the living room. She wore a look of surprise and annoyance.
"Hi Granny," she sang as she entered.
"How are you, Mother?" my mother asked following on her heels.
Brody and I came up behind them.
"We hope you're feeling better, Grandma," Brody said handing Grandmother Hudson the flowers. She held them out stiff-armed as if she were preventing an allergic reaction from starting and then looked to me.
"Rain, please find a vase for these."
"Yes, ma'am," I said and hurriedly did so.
Alison gazed at me with delight.
"Is that what Rain is, your new maid, Granny?"
"Temporarily, she is my new maid and a new cook, yes," Grandmother Hudson said. "And you know how I dislike being called Granny, Alison. I'm not some backwoods, pipe-smoking old hag in a rocking chair."
"Sorry, Grandmother," Alison said, dropping the corners of her mouth and then plopping herself onto the sofa.
"Megan, haven't you ever shown this girl how to sit properly? What good was all that charm school?" Grandmother Hudson asked.
"I hated it," Alison said.
"It shows," Grandmother Hudson said.
Alison turned away in a sulk. I looked at Brody and noticed how hard he was looking at me. He smiled and I smiled back.
"Victoria called me," my mother said. "She said she would be here today, too. She said there were important matters to discuss."
"I wonder what," Grandmother Hudson said stealing a glance my way. There was that small, impish smile on her lips. "What is Grant up to today?" she asked.
"He's at a luncheon with our ambassador to the United Nations and our Attorney General," my mother bragged. "How have you been feeling?"
"Fine."
"You didn't need the nurse?"
"Will everyone stop harping on the nurse? I'm not quite the invalid yet."
My mother forced a smile and looked at me and then around the room.
"How have you managed to keep up the house without a full-time maid, Mother?"
"Rain has been doing a little and we're not very messy people. Once you see how easy the job is, you wonder why it's so hard to find someone adequate."
"Is that what you used to do before?" Alison asked me. "Maid's work?"
"I cleaned the house for my mama, if that's what you mean," I said.
"Your mama?" She looked to Brody, but he didn't smile or laugh with her.
"Rain has the lead in the school play," Grandmother bragged.
"Really?' Brody said. "What play?"
"Our Town. I play Emily."
"Is George Gibbs a black boy?" Alison immediately asked.
"No. He's actually ...quite white," I said and Brody laughed hard. Grandmother Hudson let her small smile explode into a big grin and then chuckled.
I saw the look of pleased surprise on my mother's face. "I'm impressed, Alison. I didn't know you knew the main characters in that play," my mother said.
"Our school did it last year," she said in a singsong manner.
"I'm sure it was better than ours will be." I said.
"So am 1."
"Can we take you all to lunch today, Mother?" my mother asked.
"No. Rain has prepared some shrimp salad and fresh lemonade."
"Who has been doing your shopping, Mother?"
"Jake fills the list Rain gives him,"
Grandmother Hudson said, "and twice she went along. We're surviving. I'm not settling on another
incompetent just to fill the position quickly," Grandmother Hudson emphasized. "How is everyone's school work?" she asked gazing at Alison. Alison looked away.
"Brody is in contention for valedictorian next year." my mother said.
"And Alison?"
"She has a few things to catch up on."
"Like math, science, English and social studies," Brody quipped.
"Shut up," Alison snapped.
"Alison!"
"He's such a dork." She looked at me. "I suppose you like hip-hop music the most."
"Actually no. I like Mozart. Your grandmother has a great collection of classical music."
"Oh pleeeeze. Classical music," Alison complained with a sour face.
"Why don't we all go for a walk down to the lake?" Brody suggested.
"Too many bugs," Alison said.
He looked at me and I glanced at Grandmother Hudson. She wore an expression of deep concern, but I didn't want to appear as rude as Alison.
"Sure," I said. "We'll have lunch in an hour, if that's all right, Mrs. Hudson."
"We should wait for my business adviser, my other daughter," she said, "but yes, an hour's fine."
"Can I watch television?" Alison asked.
"You came all the way here to watch television? Why don't you go with Brody and Rain?" my mother asked. "It's so beautiful today."
Alison folded her arms and stared down in a sulk.
"I'm tired," she said.
"Do what you want," my mother said.
We heard the front door open and moments later, Victoria appeared.
"Hello, Aunt Victoria," Brody said. "How have you been?"
"Busy," she said looking at Grandmother Hudson. Alison looked up and greeted her, sounding like a tape recorder.
"Can the three of us spend a few minutes together, Mother?" Victoria asked.
"We're just going for a walk before lunch," Brody told her.
Alison jumped up.
"And I'm going to watch television."
Brody and I left the house.
"My sister's a little bitch these days," he offered as an explanation. "I guess it's just a phase girls go through."
"I never did," I said. "Where I come from you don't have the luxury of going through a phase."
"Tell me about where you come from," he said as we walked.
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything." He smiled. "That is, everything you're willing to tell a complete stranger."
Yes, I thought, we are complete strangers. The blood going through your body is similar to mine. If you looked closely at me, you might see resemblances you never expected. We have the same mother, and yet, here we are, strolling down this beautiful walkway toward a lake that glittered like a new dime, hearing each other's voices for the first time.
I told him about my family, about school life in the city, about Beni's horrible death. He listened with interest, not saying a word. I didn't realize how much I had been talking until we were standing on the dock, looking at the rowboat.
"Alison should have heard some of this, just so she learns how lucky she is. I swear, she's more spoiled than year-old apples. The complaints start flowing out of her mouth before she opens her eyes in the morning. You get along well with your brother?"
"Yes, very well," I said. "He always looks out for me."
"Yeah, well, Alison throws a fit every time I try to do anything for her." He stared at me for a moment. "I bet you're really good in the play. You have a really nice speaking voice."
"Thank you," I said and looked away quickly. His intense gaze was making me feel very selfconscious.
"You think we have time to row across the lake and back?"
"No. I have to set out the luncheon," I said.
"You really are helping my grandmother a lot."
"Well, she's helping me, too."
"My family's finally done something I can appreciate," he said. He continued to stare and then he nodded. "Maybe I'll come see the play."
"
Oh, it's not going to be anything," I said.
"Hey, don't be so negative. Think positive about the things you do. That's what I do. Besides, I'm a critic. Leave it up to me to decide how good it is or isn't," he said laughing. "Come on. I'll show you my favorite place on the lake. We have time at least for that, don't we?"
I hesitated and looked back at the house.
"Come on," he urged taking my hand. He tugged me hard and I fell toward him. He embraced me to keep me from falling into the water. "Sorry," he said gazing into my eyes and still holding me close to him. "Sometimes, I don't know my own strength."
I pulled away quickly.
"No, you don't."
He laughed again, but he didn't let go of my hand. I had to follow him along the shoreline until we reached a place where there were half a dozen large rocks.
"Whenever I come down here, I always sit on one of these rocks and watch the water. You can see the fish clearly here. Come on, try it," he urged. He guided me onto a rock and we sat looking down. Sure enough, some catfish appeared. I cried out at the sight of them. "Haven't you been down to the lake before?" he asked, astounded at my surprise at the fish.
"Yes, but only when I first arrived. I've been too busy."
"Well, then I'm glad I came along. After lunch, we'll take another walk," he said. "I'll show you where I once built a tree house and you can recite some lines from the play. Too bad we just can't leave them all in there and have a picnic by ourselves."
"I don't think ..."
"I'm just kidding. I should spend some time with my grandmother, too. Tell you what," he offered before I could disagree, "I'll even help clean up after lunch and force Alison to pitch in. If she doesn't, I'll threaten to tell my mother about her smoking pot at a friend's house. What do you say? Okay?"
I looked away, unable to fight back a smile. I felt so strange. On one hand I was thrilled by the attention my new brother was lavishing on me, but on the other, I was a little frightened about what he would do and say once he learned the truth.
Lies, I thought again, are like termites weakening the foundation of your very soul.
Brody wasn't exaggerating about Alison's flair for complaints. At lunch they flowed out of her mouth faster than freshly sprayed roaches in any of the apartments in the Projects. She thought it was too hot in the dining room. She complained about the seasoning in the shrimp salad being too spicy. The lemonade was too bitter; she'd rather have a Coke, but Grandmother Hudson didn't have any Cokes. Wasn't there any normal bread? The crust was too hard on the French bread. It was stale. She spotted a smudge on her glass. The dishes weren't that clean. Why didn't we go to a fancy restaurant?
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