“I’m surprised they had a service seeing as how they didn’t come to see about her in the home,” said another woman Alice recognized from her mother’s hall. “I still shudder at the thought of Mattie’s body lying in a wooded area somewhere.”
Alice’s neck whipped around, insulted by their words. She turned on her heels to address them when someone tugged her arm.
“Would you like something to eat?” asked Roxy Coleman, her parents’ neighbor.
“No ma’am.”
Mrs. Coleman embraced her. “A group of us from the neighborhood are in back fixing plates and drinks. We set up the head table for you and your siblings. Are they coming down soon?”
“Yes, Ms. Roxy.” She took a deep breath, ignored Agatha and her cronies. “I don’t have much of an appetite. I’m gonna take a seat until they get here.”
She found a seat and engaged the sympathizers as best she could. Amid the “I’m sorry,” “Hold on the God’s unchanging hand,” and “Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning” clichés, her bowed head rose when a familiar voice said, “Things haven’t been the same without you. Please come home.”
She jerked in the direction of the voice. “What are you doing here?” she asked through gritted teeth. She shifted in her seat in order to avoid a scene. The din in the room grew louder as people fellowshipped. No one noticed Beryl.
“She was my mother-in-law.”
“Who didn’t care for you, nor you for her.”
“I loved Ms. Mattie. We just didn’t see eye to eye on what it means to be head of household.”
She yanked his arm and slid into an unoccupied room. She paced a few steps, then faced him. “Beryl.”
“What, Baby?”
Beryl’s favorite scent, Versace Eau Fraiche, tickled her nostrils. He’d lost weight and wore an impeccable pin-striped suit. He held out her favorite flowers, daffodils.
“You can keep them. I don’t want anything from you. Except your signature on the divorce papers.”
“Did you have to serve the papers to me at my job?”
“Oh, would it have been better to do it at home with you and Davina present?”
“Alice, I made a mistake. If you come back home, things will be different.”
“I’m never coming back there again. I bet it still smells like onions and roses in my house.”
His face blanched. “What about your things? You have shoes and clothes at the house.”
“I have new things.”
Disgust crept on his face. “I see. You look like a Jezebel with that war paint on your face.” He closed the space between them. “Where’d you get the dress? Other women dress that way, not my wife.”
Alice touched the belt of her navy blue and red apple dress. Mattie loved red and blue, so the siblings each wore outfits in variations of the hues. The dress, ultra conservative and stylish, only outlined her curves. No cleavage was exposed, and the dress fell past her knees.
“There’s nothing wrong with my dress.”
“It’s too short, and a man can see your breasts and hips.”
She mock gasped. “Heaven forbid someone took an interest in Beryl Parker’s old lady!”
He dropped the flowers, further narrowing their stance. He pushed her against the wall, attempted to kiss her. “You know you miss me. Admit it, Alice.” His breath reeked of alcohol. He pushed his tongue slightly forward, licking the side of her face and ear. His hands traveled the length of her dress as he stuck his right leg between hers. He pried them apart and lifted her against the wall.
Incensed, she pushed his chest, scratched his face. “I don’t want you!”
“Alice. Alice, where are you?” Synaria’s voice moved closer to the door. She pushed the door open as Beryl stepped away, hands dropping to his sides. “What’s going on in here? I saw you two walk away when I came downstairs. You disappeared before I could stop you. Is everything okay?”
Alice took a few deep breaths and gave Synaria an unfocused gaze. “I’m fine. Beryl paid his respects and was leaving.”
Synaria didn’t miss lines of blood trickling down his face. She hoped the scratches were accompanied by a good groin kick. Defeated, he picked the flowers up from the floor.
“This isn’t over. I won’t stop fighting for our marriage.”
“Goodbye, Beryl.”
Synaria waited for him to leave. “Alice, what happened?”
Her chest tingled and her stomach clenched. “He tried to…I’m not sure. A part of me misses him, but I know we can’t be together again. He’s all I’ve ever known.” She fell into Synaria’s arms, willing her tears to stop.
“My offer still stands if you want to move out of Joshua’s place and live with me. We’ve got you. All of us.”
15
Your Eyes And Ears
Dear Mrs. Benson:
Your homegoing service was magnificent! El Bethel was filled to capacity. People crammed the sanctuary and the overflow. It was awkward without your body, but that was to be expected. We started this thing with the idea of you being gone for the weekend. Just to see if your children would do their best to find you. I thought you were coming back, but I guess I can carry on this game if you’re willing to play as well.
Let me tell you something: Agatha’s granddaughter is a powerhouse! She may as well have been a charmer and the church members’ cobras. She sang “When You Hear of My Homegoing” and “Goin’ Up Yonder,” as I’ve never experienced.
Alice, Gabrielle, and Joshua placed a beautiful photo collage of you and Mr. Benson in the entryway of the church. So many of your friends and staff from Grand Oak came that they sat in a section together. Karen sat up front with the family, though. The jury is still out on the eulogist. He did a fine job, but he wasn’t needed after people spoke of your kindness, deeds, and commitment to your children. You were a generous woman! I mean you are a generous woman. One woman said you paid her electric bill, another talked about the groceries you purchased, and one man spoke of the gift cards you provided for his family during their quadriplegic son’s illness. You were busy indeed.
The will reading, per your instructions, has been set for next Friday at Roastfish & Cornbread. I will keep you updated as to the findings. On a moral note, there is still time to come back. You can say you wandered away, got lost, was abducted by aliens—okay, I kid, I kid—anything. Your children seem lost without you. I’d hate for you to miss the opportunity of bonding with them again.
You are fascinating, and I’m in your service.
Best,
Your Eyes and Ears
Mattie tucked the letter in her pocket.
“Come back, my foot. They miss me about as much as the Klan wants to attend an NAACP meeting. Maybe they need to see what it’s like without their parents.”
A light tap at the door broke her thoughts. Refusing to open the door, she vowed to avoid her neighbor as long as she could.
16
I Need Every Dime Of That Money
The lively crowd at Roastfish & Cornbread made the occasion bearable. The ambience—soft music playing, a painter indulging patrons outside the building, chitchat at every table, and children negotiating with parents about menu items—felt like old times. This was Mattie’s favorite restaurant, and they weren’t surprised when she requested the will be read there.
A waiter escorted them to a private area in back. Gabrielle scanned the room for bandless men, one of whom could be Colton’s replacement. He’d sent a flower arrangement to her mother’s funeral but had kept his distance since the night of the disappearance. A few men winked and smiled; she gave polite waves.
They sat, gave their drink orders. “I’ll be back with the drinks shortly. Attorney Durk will be with you soon,” said the waiter.
“Thanks,” said Joshua.
“Remember how Mama always took our sweet potato cornbread?” Alice asked.
“She picked on our cornbread and stuck her fork in my fresh catch,” said Joshua
.
“She sure did. She was a magnet for kids, too. Whenever we were here, a child always came over to show her a drawing or touch her hair,” said Joshua.
Alice noticed Gabrielle’s reticence first. “Don’t you have at least one good memory of being here with Mama, Gigi?”
“We’re here to discuss money, not memories.”
“I want to get this over with, too. It makes me nervous thinking about getting money from our parents,” said Alice.
“Parents are supposed to leave a legacy for their children. You should be happy they set something aside for the three of us. I am glad I won’t have to toil away like a slave working for people every day,” said Gabrielle. She stared at her phone in anticipation of a response from Colton. The last four texts she’d sent him went unanswered.
“Whoa! Mama and Daddy didn’t have money like that, Gigi. Daddy always talked about giving us enough to make us whole and maintain a decent living. I’d be surprised if we had half a million total.”
“What? You don’t think they gave us a million each?”
Joshua nearly choked on his gum. “In what world do you live?”
“Gigiland. Where no one’s feelings matter and it’s all about her,” said Alice.
“My, haven’t we become more vocal since escaping the Parker Plantation?”
“Gigi, stop!” said Joshua.
“She started it by insulting me. Is it so bad men are willing to pay for the pleasure of my company?”
“No, it’s bad that you allow them to.” Alice smirked.
“You two—”
“Am I disturbing something?” Attorney Durk asked. He stood at the table, eyed his watch, and made a mental note to get back to the beach as soon as possible. The siblings looked at his guest.
“What is she doing here?” Gabrielle asked Attorney Durk but kept her eyes on Karen.
“She’s part of the proceedings as well.”
The waiter returned with the drinks. Attorney Durk took a seat and the waiter placed a seat at the table for Karen.
“How is everyone?” she asked. Joshua and Alice said hello; Gabrielle continued to stare.
“Drink for you too?”
“I’ll have an Arnold Palmer,” said Karen.
Attorney Durk had dressed down for the day with a golf shirt and khakis. He’d gone bald since they last saw him. His attempt to hold on to the last of his hair was a topic of conversation amongst them for years. He was their family attorney and they watched in vain as his hairline receded throughout their lives. He’d hit the tanning bed again; his sunburned skin told the tale.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all together. I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing.”
“She disappeared,” said Alice, laying her head on her left arm.
“She is no longer with us and I’m sorry for your loss. Your mother and father were wonderful people,” he said.
“She was like a grandmother to me,” said Karen.
“I have other business to attend to, so I’ll make this short and to the point. This is a very unconventional reading because your mother left personal messages for each of you.”
“Really?” asked Gabrielle. “If that’s the case, should she be listening in?” She pointed to Karen as her lips curled.
“Actually, a personal message was left for her as well.”
Attorney Durk opened his briefcase and removed contents from a large manila envelope. The notes were sealed, and he pulled an unfolded legal document from the folder.
When the waiter set their drinks down, Karen removed the paper from her straw and dunked it in her Palmer. Gabrielle grabbed Karen’s hand.
“Where’d you get that ring?”
Karen jerked her hand back. “Ms. Mattie gave it to me.”
“Liar! That’s the ring Mama asked for before she disappeared. Why would she give you her wedding set and not her children?”
Attorney Durk lifted his hands in a cease-fire position. “It will all be explained soon. Be patient, Gigi.”
He held everyone’s rapt attention as he opened the envelope marked “Karen.”
“Karen, thank you for making my days at Grand Oak wonderful. You were more than a CNA, you were a friend. It’s like God gave me a chance to go back in time and share sage wisdom with my younger self. Remember everything I told you about family and relationships. Family is the code word for fellowship; make sure you continue to do that with your parents, your brother, and eventually, your husband. The ring I gave you is expensive, the priciest one Daniel ever purchased. When you do get married, use that as your wedding ring and make your husband get you really good bling—isn’t that what you called it—on your ten-year anniversary. The traditional gift is tin or aluminum, but Honey, if you can stay with a man ten years in this day and time, by all means, get yourself a fat diamond from him. I also left the rest of the jewelry I wanted you to have in the safe deposit box at Grand Oak. Attorney Durk will see to it that you receive the $50,000 cashier’s check I willed to you. Don’t stop at being an R.N. Keep going. You can do it, and I hope this helps you along the way.”
Gabrielle slammed her fist on the table, spilling a little of her drink. “She coerced Mama into giving her the money! She wouldn’t have done that herself.”
“Gigi, you know Karen was there for Mama when we weren’t,” said Alice. “I’m surprised she didn’t give her more.”
“Speak for yourself! I was there to visit her as often as I could. That dictator you called a husband wouldn’t let you see her, so don’t judge me.”
Joshua piped in. “As long as it was convenient for you, you saw her.”
Gabrielle rolled her eyes at Joshua and addressed Attorney Durk. “Please get to my letter so I can leave. I don’t want to be here with these Judases any longer.”
“Her instructions were to read Karen’s letter first, then yours in birth order, youngest to oldest. Alice and Joshua, do you mind if I change the order?”
“Not at all,” said Joshua.
Alice tilted her head in consent.
“Before he starts, I have to go back to Grand Oak for my shift. I’m sorry for the confusion all this has caused. I did nothing to coerce or bribe Ms. Mattie. She loved me and I loved her. Plain and simple.”
Karen exited the restaurant as he opened the letter. He cleared his throat and proceeded.
“Gigi: I apologize for enabling you all of your life. You were our first, and Daniel and I wanted to make sure we did everything right with you. The right schools and the right friends. He treated you like gold, and I stood aside and didn’t teach you things a mother should teach her daughter. You grew worse after the incident. All these years you’ve been living on the flowerbeds of Eve, sleeping with other women’s men, taking gifts from them, never thinking of the hurt you caused people. You’ve gotten by on your looks and charm, but no more. At least not on our dime. You no longer have access to my or Daniel’s money, and you have thirty days to vacate the house. Since it is in Joshua’s name, he will have to see to it that you leave. No grown-ass, forty-nine-year-old woman needs to be living in her parents’ house, even if they’re both gone. Get you a job, get you a life, and get a man of your own before somebody’s wife sends you to a local funeral home.”
Heat tinged her face. She muttered, “How did I let this happen?” Her voice grew louder. “All this mumbo-jumbo apologizing and no mention of how much money she’s giving me? I need every dime of that money! How am I going to start over?”
She snatched her purse from the chair and left, ignoring her siblings’ calls for her to return.
“Attorney Durk, this is a tad heavier than I expected. Do we have to continue?” Josh asked.
“Yes. It’s tough but necessary. I wasn’t finished reading to her, though.” He looked at the time, decided his golf game and trip to the beach were a wash. “Let’s take a quick break and come back to the table in ten minutes. Fair enough?”
“Deal.” Joshua took Alice’s hand
and led her outside.
17
If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time
A breeze flowed between them as they stood outside. Joshua stuffed his hands in his pants pockets, rattled change, and chawed on his bottom lip, habits he practiced when nervous.
“I can’t believe Gigi,” he said.
“I know. What incident was Mama talking about?”
“I don’t know. Something happened when we she was a teen that no one ever spoke of. Mama and Daddy were so tight-lipped about it that I stopped asking over the years.”
She shook away thoughts of her selfish sister. “I can’t believe Mama and Daddy. I know we weren’t the best children, but I didn’t think they’d withhold money from us.”
“I don’t need their money.”
“I do. Beryl isn’t taking me or the restraining order I have against him seriously. I don’t make much at the library and I need to get on my feet.”
“What’s wrong with staying at my house?”
“I want my own space. It’s something I should have done a long time ago. I feel like this is my punishment for all the money Beryl stole from me.”
“What money?”
She sighed. Her family lost track of their religious affiliations over the years, so she didn’t bother telling Joshua about the financial scandal. She knew her workaholic brother probably didn’t pay attention to anything other than women or his career pursuits.
“Money went missing through the leaders of our last church.”
“Went missing? You make the money sound like it was a Learjet that flew away.”
“May as well have been. Lots of families are suffering. Some people lost their life savings.”
“Why haven’t you pursued getting it back?”
“I am done with Beryl and the money. If starting over with nothing is the route I need to take, that’s what I’ll do.”
“Let’s get back inside. Whenever we see old man Durk in casual attire, it means he’s having down time.”
In spite of the day’s tension, they managed a small laugh.
Mattie's Call Page 7