He handed the microphone to Carl, who said, “I’m Carl Jessup and this is my sister Addie on the keyboard. Maxine’s father is our uncle. We’re glad to be here, and I just want to say that Max had a powerful testimony. We’ve all been through something, and I think that it was very brave of her to stand up and tell her story.”
Everyone clapped, and Carl handed the microphone back to Reverend Ferguson. They were about to walk off the stage when Grandma Nellie spoke up.
“Hold on a minute! Jessup, you say? That’s my maiden name. Who’s your mama?” she asked them.
Carl looked confused for a moment and then smiled. “Betty Jessup is our mother, ma’am.”
“Well, I’ll be!” Grandma Nellie exclaimed “How old are you two?”
There was laughter from the audience, who then clapped.
“Well, I’m fifty and Addie is forty eight, ma’am.” Carl said.
“Well, in case you don’t know it, I’m your grandma boy!” Grandma Nellie said, looking at them.
Carl looked at Addie and they both looked back at Grandma Nellie stunned. Carl laughed nervously.
“I beg your pardon?” Carl said, confused, and anyone could tell that he was wondering what Nellie was talking about.
“Ma, now’s not the time-” Rev. Ferguson said, looking nervous trying to take the microphone from her.
“It’s the perfect time!” she snapped snatching back the mic looking at Carl and Addie. “I’m your grandma! Ask your mother.”
Carl and Addie looked out in the audience and didn’t say anything, but walked slowly off of the stage.
Nadine glanced around at the stunned faces in the audience. This was beginning to be a very interesting Thanksgiving indeed!
James Rogers couldn’t believe his luck! Carl had bought him to the center and the program had already started. He sat at a table and Jessup had told him that he had to play the drums for a number his cousin was going to sing.
Rogers sipped some tea and sat in the corner. When Max got up and gave her testimony, he instantly recognized her. Of course, she had filled out quite a bit. She had almost flat chested when he had her. Normally, he didn’t go for grown women, but after she gave that emotional testimony, he knew that he had to have her again.
He listened with glee as she talked about him. She was talking about him!
She remembered! Oh, but he was a man that girls didn’t easily forget. He snickered to himself and reached in his pocket and fingered his treasure he had dug up in the graveyard.
So, she hadn’t married. That was even better. He had to have her, but he had to play his cards right. He had to take his time. Most of all, he had to try to make sure that she didn’t recognize him while he was here or the game would be up. This mob of her family members would most likely string him up including Jessup!
He watched as the women fanned Max as she was dancing around crying. Was all of that for him? He felt himself become excited. His mouth watered with anticipation and the room grew hot. He sipped his tea and tried to get himself together.
He glanced around and saw Jessup coming back to the table. He appeared upset.
“I’ve got to talk with my Mom a minute. Do you need anything?” Jessup asked him.
“No, I’m fine,” Rogers said, trying to sound calm “Your cousin is something else. Is she all right?”
“Yeah, her Mom and sister are back there with her. She really went through something. Some pervert raped her when she was a kid. She’s still dealing with that I guess.”
“That’s a shame.” Rogers replied trying not to grin.
Jessup was distracted. “Yeah, look I’ll be back. I’ve got to take care of something.”
He walked over to a table where an older black lady was sitting and Rogers continued to sip his tea. Yes things were working out quite well and he made up his mind that he was going to have the delectable Maxine James once again.
CHAPTER 18
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom,
and instruction, and understanding. Proverbs 23:23
Max sat in the kitchen with Rachel and her Mom as the program continued. She could hear Rev. Ferguson talking and she opened her eyes that had been closed for a moment. She then quickly sent the women away who had been fanning her.
“I’m fine now,” she said at their worried expressions. “Thanks.”
The ladies nodded and looked at her mother who was standing close by and the two women walked back out to the program leaving Max with her mother and Rachel.
Just then Matt came into the kitchen with Jeremiah on his heels. “Are you all right?” he asked looking worried.
“I’m fine. Just a little overheated.” Max replied avoiding his eyes.
“Max that was a very brave thing for you to do,” Jeremiah said putting his arm around her as Matthew glared at him.
“Hello there,” Rachel said smiling at Jeremiah. “Are you one of Max’s cousins?”
“Jeremiah is like a son to me” Max’s mother said proudly. “He grew up with my girls.”
“Max is like a big sister to me” Jeremiah said smiling. “I had to come back here and make sure she’s alright.”
“I’m fine. Stop fussing over me and go on back out there.” Max said pulling away from him.
“Well, if you’re sure you’re alright, I’ll get back out there,” her mother said, smiling and nodding at Matthew.
Mrs. James linked her arm with Jeremiah’s. “You come along too.”
“Go on now.” Max said waving at him in a dismissive fashion. I’m fine.”
Nadine then came rushing into the kitchen after her mother and Jeremiah had departed. “That was really something,” she said, grinning and looking at Max. “I guess the spirit took over, huh?”
“I guess,” Max replied, standing. “Don’t you two fuss over me now, I’m fine. I’ve had enough of that already from Mom and Jeremiah.”
“Well, you just sit down and rest a minute. You’ve been going nonstop all morning. That most likely has something to do with it.” Rachel said, walking over to her. “Matt, why don’t you take her outside for a minute to get some air?”
Matt stood up and held up her coat which was on a hook in the kitchen.
“Come on.”
Max didn’t argue and slipped it on. Maybe some air would do her good.
They walked outside for a moment. “What are you thinking about?” Matt asked. “You’re quiet.”
“You, actually,” Max admitted.
“What about me?”
Max paused a moment. “I want us to continue our earlier conversation.” She opened the door and Matt got in wondering what she was going to do. She got in the driver’s seat and shut the door.
“I was thinking about you before I did my song. I don’t know why but when I began to sing, all my pent up feelings about what happened to me just sort of came rushing out.” Max sighed and glanced at him taking his hand in hers. “I feel so much better now.”
Matt looked at her. “I was surprised that you did that. You know, talked about what happened to you. I was also a bit surprised that Jeremiah was your brother. I thought-”
“I know what you thought,” Max sighed. “You had turned down my invite to dinner that night at the gym…”
“So you wanted me to pay, right? Touche!” He responded. “I deserved your wrath.”
He grabbed her hand. “Are you sure you’re OK?”
“It took me years to realize that what happened to me wasn’t my fault. I have nothing to be ashamed about. Talking about it helps my healing. I realize that now. For so long my mind was filled with the ‘what ifs’. ‘What if’ I had done this or that, I had to let that go and realize that I didn’t cause what happened to me. Did my talking about it bother you?”
“Of course not,” Matt replied quickly. “I was more worried about you.”
Max was quiet for a moment. “I kept thinking about what you said and the gift you gave me Matt. I feel that you’re sending me mixed si
gnals. For so long you kept saying that you didn’t want a relationship with a black woman. Now you’re indicating that you do. It’s very confusing. I mean, what changed? I need to know what you really want from me.”
Matt was quiet a moment. “I just want to be with you. I know what I said in the past. It’s what I was always told, but my feelings for you interfered with my upbringing. I kept saying it trying to convince myself and all the time in my heart I knew that I wanted to be with you.” He confessed looking at her. “I haven’t been with anyone else in months because I only want you, Max, and for me that’s saying a lot.”
Max stuck her keys in the ignition thinking about what Matt had just told her.
“Where are we going?” he asked curiously.
“Nowhere. I just want to start the engine because it’s cold out here.
“Matthew, even though I’m happy that you want to be with me, I’m not sure how things will go between us. I’m not ready for a physical relationship with you.”
“Max I’m not rushing you,” he insisted.
“I know. It’s just that I go to Dr. Nelson twice a month and we talk about what happened to me, what my triggers are-”
“What are triggers?”
“Triggers are the things that give me flashbacks to what happened to me. When I first saw Eric shirtless, he has all this chest hair and he was close to me. It was hot and I freaked out. I came to realize after talking to the doctor I had an episode because Rogers had a lot of chest hair and the apartment he kept me in was hot.”
“Do you think you’ll have these episodes with me,” he asked.
“I don’t know. I mean I haven’t thus far. I’m still learning what my triggers are. I have to deliberately expose myself to them over and over again so that I can desensitize myself to them so that I don’t associate those things as being something bad.”
“So it helps to talk about what happened to you?”
“Yeah, it does. I didn’t think that it would but it does,” she admitted.
“What about when we were in your office that time? Did I do something-”
“No,” Max replied interrupting him.
“Tell me what he did so I’ll know to avoid doing something that will upset you.”
“He didn’t do anything but snatch my clothes off and rape me, Matthew,” she said. “He didn’t kiss me; he didn’t caress my body, nothing. He just did his business.”
“Oh Max” Matthew gasped shaking his head.
“Even though it was horrible, I realize that he did me a favor in a small way by not taking his time. I can’t associate any of your kisses or touches to what happened to me.”
“That’s good to know,” he said, leaning over and kissing her lips. “I love kissing you, woman. I’ve fallen hard for you.”
Max smiled. “So you think you’ve fallen for me, huh?”
“I’m willing to let you love me, Max. I want your love and I want to give you mine,” he said huskily. She reached over and pulled him to her and his lips found hers. Matt pulled her closer to him. She continued to surprise him. He had not thought of her being the romantic type. Now she melted in his arms and he had to remember where they were, but he didn’t want the moment to end.
“I can’t believe this is really happening,” Max said with a smile.
“I’m falling in love with you Maxine James,” he confessed “And I don’t know what I’m going to do about it. I’m scared as hell.”
She laughed kissing him. “That makes two of us.”
Addie watched as her brother walked back over to their table. Their mother would not meet their eyes.
“Mama, what’s this all about?” Addie asked. “Why did that woman say she’s our grandmother?”
“Crazy I guess,” Betty mumbled. “Don’t pay that no ’tention. I don’t know that woman!”
Addie looked at Carl. Something was up! They didn’t believe their mother for a minute! She could not even look them in the face and she was fidgeting nervously.
“Well, I’m going over there and ask her myself!” Carl said, looking back and forth between his mother and Grandma Nellie who was watching them.
“Leave it be, Carl,” his mother demanded.
Carl looked at Addie and she got up and walked off toward Grandma Nellie.
“Where’s she going?” Betty asked looking nervous.
“Look Mama, we deserve to know the truth. I don’t remember my daddy and you said he died when we were young, but I ought to remember something. I mean I’m the oldest, Addie is 48, Richard is 47 and Joan is 46. I would have been five when he died and I don’t remember a thing.”
“I don’t want to talk about it!” his mother snapped.
“Fine!” Carl said, getting up. “But we’re going to find out the truth and we’re going to find it out right now!”
He walked over to the table where Nellie Ferguson was seated. Addie was talking to her. Carl searched the older woman’s face for some sort of connection. Addie was tall, like those Fergusons! She was light skinned with long brown hair. He laughed to himself when he thought about what Rogers said, that he looked Hispanic.
“All right, what’s going on?” he asked gruffly looking around. There were several other people at the table that he didn’t recognize, but he didn’t care. He needed to know the truth!
“It’s like I told you, I’m your grandma. Sorry to just blurt it out, but it’s about time you knew the truth.” Grandma Nellie replied.
“If that’s the truth, then who’s our father?” Addie asked.
“My son Charles.”
“Charles? You mean Charles Ferguson? He’s your son?” Addie shouted. “He was supposed to be our father’s best friend and he was always over there helping us out.”
“That’s right.” Carl snapped angrily. “He would come over from time to time and help Ma out. She told us that he was Papa’s friend before he died. No wonder he was always around, buying us things. People used to whisper and say things, and I never believed it! He used to tell us that Papa saved his life once which is why he wanted to make sure his family was taken care of and we believed him!”
“He’s your father.” Grandma Nellie insisted. “All that stuff is a lie. There is no other man as far as I know. How many of you are there? What are their names?”
Carl sat down on shaky legs, still stunned. His whole life had been a lie. He looked at the two other people who were at the table with her and they avoided his gaze.
“Where is he?” Carl spat. “I think he owes all of us an explanation!”
“He went to pick up his brother Wilbur who is having car trouble.” Grandma Nellie said. “In fact here he comes now.”
Carl looked up and saw Charles Ferguson coming in the door with his brother.
Charles walked over to them with a wary look on his face after seeing Carl and Addie with Grandma Nellie.
“Hi Ma. Carl it’s good to see you. How’s your mother?” he asked nervously looking from Carl to his mother.
He looked over at Addie who wouldn’t meet his eyes. “Are you enjoying the get together, Addie?”
“Is it true?” Carl asked his voice like ice. He looked from Charles to his brother Wilbur.
“Is what true?” Charles asked sitting down.
“Are you our father?” Carl replied looking at Addie and then back to Charles.
“Who told you that?” Charles asked surprised.
“Your mother!” Addie said standing and facing him.
“Ma, why did you tell them that?” he asked looking at her.
“Because it’s true. You need to come clean, Charles.” Nellie said. “These children need to know their family. I need to know my own grandchildren.”
Charles looked at her. “Ma, now is not the time-”
“It’s the perfect time.” Nellie countered. She looked at Carl.
“Do y’all have children?”
“I have two,” Carl replied. “Addie has a daughter. We’ve also got another brother and s
ister, Richard and Joan. Richard lives in Florence and Joan lives in Wilmington.”
“See, Charles, suppose their children meet up with Wilbur’s grandchildren? That’s incest. You need to come clean!” Nellie shook her head. “What’s done is done, but you need to face the truth and talk to your children about this.”
“I don’t have to talk about anything that I don’t want to talk about.” Charles snapped.
“It’s not right. How could you and our mother do this?” Addie replied angrily. “How could you?”
“Look, Addie,” Charles said as Carl put his arm around his sister and she wiped her tears with a napkin. “Now is not the time to discuss this. We’ll all get together later and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know, but not here, not now.”
Reverend Ferguson came back to the microphone and their attention was drawn back to the podium.
“Dinner is served! We will have everyone line up after Jessica gives the blessing over the food.”
“We’ll continue this later.” Addie said, not looking at Charles. “Come on Carl. Let’s not let this ruin our Thanksgiving. Let’s go talk to Ma.”
Carl did not reply, but followed Addie back to their table.
Rogers debated how he was going to go through the line without running into Maxine.
He pulled his cap down over his eyes and held his head down as he went through the food line. He took everything that was offered and soon his plate was full.
He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that Max was not one of the women serving the food. Still he knew that he had to be careful.
He reached for a piece of pie and still averted his eyes trying not to look at anyone directly.
He then spotted Maxine coming in the building from outside with a tall blonde man who had his arm around her. He figured that the guy must be her boyfriend by the way he was holding her so possessively. He watched as she headed his way and he looked down. She bypassed him not looking his way and went into the kitchen.
Broken: The sequel to THE PREACHER'S SON Page 22