Latter Rain
Page 14
“Sleep, where I’d like to be.”
Rolling his eyes, Charles said, “Can you wake them? This is important.”
Isaac walked off without answering Charles. He knocked on Nina’s door and told her that the assistant DA wanted to talk with them. He then went down the hall and barged in Donavan’s room unannounced. He’d already decided that the Privacy Act didn’t include his son. He was going to stick his nose in everything that concerned him, including entering a room unannounced. “Get up, boy. We’ve got company.”
Rolling over, Donavan asked, “Who’s here this early in the morning?”
“The DA,” Isaac told him. He left off assistant while talking to his son. But for some reason, he needed Nina to understand that Charles Douglas III wasn’t running the show. Petty, he knew; but, hey, whatever works.
Donavan frowned. “What’s he doing here?”
“You just get dressed and bring yourself downstairs.” Isaac picked up a sweatshirt off Donavan’s floor and threw it at him. “Now.”
“Good morning, Charles,” Nina said as the four of them sat in her living room.
“How’ve you been?” Charles asked.
“I’m making it. What can we do for you,” she asked, keeping it real business-like.
Isaac eyed her, trying to see if any of that I-want-you-back-oo-baby stuff was behind that business-like tone.
“I thought you might like to know that we’re going for the death penalty,” Charles told Nina with a satisfied glint in his eyes.
Heartbreaking. Nina bent her head. Tears would not come for Mickey, but that didn’t stop her heart from aching.
Fury blazed through Charles’s eyes. “What’s wrong with you, Nina? Don’t you dare pray for that animal.”
“I feel sorry for him, Charles. I can’t help that,” Nina replied, lifting her head.
“Even after everything he’s done to us—I mean, to you and Donavan?” Outrage was written across Charles’s face.
Holding Charles’s gaze, she told him, “I have chosen to forgive him. Some days my choice is easy, some days it’s a burden.”
Isaac couldn’t help but admire Nina’s ability to forgive, even after all Mickey had done to her. It was tough to admit, but he was in Charles’s corner on this one. Burn Mickey, burn.
“What do you need from us?” Donavan asked.
Charles calmed himself. He managed to project pure professionalism as he said, “As you know, you and your mom are about the only two victims this animal ... Mickey has left alive. We need both of you to testify. But it is your testimony,” he looked directly at Donavan, “that will get us a conviction.”
“Why me?” Donavan asked nervously.
“You are the only one that can connect Mickey with JC. We need your testimony, Donavan. Can you do it?”
Tears glistened in Donavan’s eyes. He looked from his mother to his father. “Are you guys ashamed of me?”
Nina reached out to hug her wayward son. “Never.”
“No matter what you’ve done, we’ll never be ashamed or turn our backs on you,” Isaac chimed in.
Donavan wiped his eyes and looked at his father. “Sometimes, I’m ashamed of myself. I feel like I’ve let you and Mom down.”
Isaac looked to Charles. “What about immunity?”
“If Donavan testifies, nothing he says will be held against him. I promise you that.”
Sitting next to Donavan, Isaac said, “I’ll tell you what, son. Mickey has hurt a lot of families. So, when you get on the stand and tell what you know, I will be very proud of you indeed.”
Half smiling, Donavan turned to Charles and told him. “You’ve got yourself a stoolie, Mr. Douglas.”
They took a few more minutes to discuss the case, then Nina got up and slowly walked Charles to the door. They huddled a little too close at the front door for Isaac’s comfort. He would have given anything to know what Charles whispered in her ear. Why was she still standing there talking to him? She must like getting played.
He wasn’t going to sit there and watch this pathetic scene. He got up and stormed out of the living room. “Come on, Donavan. Let me fix you some breakfast.”
“Nooo,” Donavan screamed. “Mama said she was going to fix the breakfast this morning.”
Donavan sat on the stool next to the stove and watched his father scorch some bacon and drown a few eggs in a skillet full of grease. Gulping, he wondered how clogged his arteries could get before they ceased to function.
The thought of death by grease sent his mind on a journey. Back to the hospital. Back to his coma. “Dad, can I tell you something?”
Isaac flipped a couple of strips of bacon. “Shoot.”
Donavan pointed at the skillet. “For the love of God, man, take the bacon out already. How burnt do you want it?”
“Shut up, boy. This is thick bacon. It takes a while to cook just right. Now, what did you want to talk about?”
Hesitating, Donavan wondered if he should bring this stuff up. He didn’t want to sound crazy, or worse yet, like he was afraid of something.
Isaac turned the stove off and set several strips of crispy bacon and six grease fried eggs in a plate on the counter. He grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and sat down in front of Donavan. “Spit it out, son. What’s bothering you? Are you worried about testifying against Mickey?”
Shaking his head, Donavan told his father, “No, nothing like that.” He grabbed the dishtowel off the counter and fumbled around with it, steadying his trembling hands. When he was ready, he looked at his father and told him what was on his mind. “Have you ever seen those programs where people have near death experiences? And when they are brought back to life they say they were in some kind of tunnel with a bright welcoming light?”
“Yeah, I’ve seen a show or two like that. What about it?”
“Well, I didn’t see no bright light.”
“Son, what are you talking about?”
“When I died.” He shook his head. “I mean, when I almost died.” Looking thoughtful for a moment, he continued. “I was in some kind of tunnel all right—but I could tell that this wasn’t it for me. I was headed someplace else.” He lowered his gaze. “It was dark—dark and hot.”
Isaac lifted his eyes to heaven and silently prayed. Lord, Jesus, please let this be his first and last trip to hell.
Isaac put his hand on his son’s leg. “Do you know where you were?”
When Donavan looked up, droplets of tears were cascading down his young face. “They tortured me, Dad.”
Nina poked her head in the kitchen. “Everything okay?”
Isaac waved her back. “Let me take care of this.”
Worried, she excused herself and sat back down on the couch in the living room.
Grabbing his son, Isaac hugged him tight—real tight. “You know where you were, don’t you son?”
Shaking his head up and down, Donavan continued to sob. “Now I know what you and Mom talk about is true. There is a heaven, but there’s also a hell. I don’t ever want to see that place again, Dad.”
Isaac stood up, took his son by the hand and walked into the living room where Nina was. “I think your mom will want to be a part of this too.” He sat his son down, with Nina beside him, and explained the journey toward heaven. When Donavan was ready, Nina was given the honor of reciting the sinner’s prayer with their son.
Just after breakfast, but before Isaac could get out of the kitchen and get dressed for the day, someone knocked on the door again. He didn’t care if it was a Jehovah’s Witness this time, somebody was getting told off. You just don’t show up at people’s homes early in the morning without calling.
Nina was sitting on the couch. Legs propped up, waiting on him to answer the door. Oh, now she remembers doctor’s orders. But when Charlie was here, Isaac couldn’t keep her in her seat.
She pointed at his attire. “You might want to change before opening the door again, don’t you think?” The belt hung loose as his open robe r
evealed his chest. It wasn’t washboard beautiful, but the boy wasn’t nowhere near flab either. His well-toned thighs and legs were more than Nina should have to endure, let alone some unsuspecting visitors.
“These people deserve what they get. Maybe if I answer the door like this, they’ll think twice before going over someone else’s house early in the morning. Disturbing folks.” His hand was on the doorknob when he turned back and smiled at her. “However, if it bothers you to watch a fine brother like me strut through the house, I’ll go cover myself right now.”
“You don’t bother me, Isaac Walker. I don’t pay you any attention.”
Laughing he said, “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
He pulled the door open and his smile turned upside down. The last two people he’d ever want to see were standing in his face grinning. “What do you want?”
Cassandra rushed in and put her arms around Isaac. “Oh, baby, I couldn’t stay away any longer. I just had to know how you were doing. And how everything was going with your son.”
Donavan picked that moment to drag himself out of the kitchen.
Usually Wrong walked in. Unwanted and undaunted.
Isaac pulled Cassandra’s arms from around his neck and addressed his father. “So you’re just going to walk up in my house uninvited.”
Nina looked at Isaac as if to ask, “When’s the last time you paid rent over here?”
“I wanted to see you, son.” Marvin’s voice held the uncertainty he felt. His eyes were filled with regret.
Clenching his teeth, Isaac told Marvin, “I told you not to call me that.”
“Dad, is this your father?” Donavan asked, excitedly.
Marvin turned to look at his grandson. “Yes, I am. And I bet you’re Donavan. I’ve been waiting to meet you.”
If Donavan’s back didn’t still ache from the bullets being pulled out, he would have leaped for joy. At that moment, he didn’t look like someone carrying the burden of testifying so that families of Mickey’s victims could have some sense of peace. He looked like a kid again.
“Sir, I’ve wanted to meet you my whole life, Donavan admitted.
Marvin embraced his grandson. Isaac noticed the way they held on tight. Clinging to one another.
Beaming from the couch, Nina said, “I can’t believe you’re here. We’ve wanted to meet you for so long.”
Marvin released Donavan. Isaac wanted to check his son for fleas.
Nina’s outstretched hand greeted Marvin. “I’m Nina Lewis, Donavan’s mother.”
Isaac was mad. Fuming. He strapped his robe and went outside to stand on the porch. He wanted to throw that imposter out of the house, but he didn’t have the heart to hurt Donavan or Nina like that. He could see how much this meeting meant to them. They just didn’t know that they were saying cheese and posing for the devil.
The screen door opened and Cassandra came to stand next to him. Nina and Charles. Him and Cassandra. None of it made sense. It didn’t feel right to him.
“I’m sorry about what happened in Chicago, Isaac,” Cassandra said. She lowered her head, then continued. “I promise you, nothing like that will ever happen again. Just give me another chance. I really think we could be good together.”
He turned toward her and leaned against the banister. She was a pretty enough girl. He liked her long hair and he liked her endearing smile. Loved her voice. But again, it just didn’t feel right. Like he was trying to make a round peg fit into a square hole.
“I don’t know, Cassandra. Maybe this thing just isn’t supposed to happen for us.”
“That’s not what you said a couple of weeks ago.”
“Things change, Cassandra. And to tell you the truth, I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.”
She stepped closer to him. “I understand that, Isaac, and I’m not trying to pressure you. Just don’t forget about me. Okay?”
“Sit down right here and tell us about yourself,” Nina told Marvin after she watched Cassandra walk out of the house after Isaac. Nina wanted to leave Marvin in the living room with Donavan and go eavesdrop on Isaac’s conversation; but she wouldn’t stoop that low.
Marvin gently touched his grandson’s cheek. “I can’t believe Isaac named you after his brother.” He sat next to Nina. “But, you know something? You look just like him.”
“Really?” Donavan asked with a sparkle in his eyes.
“I tell you what. The next time I come to visit, I’ll bring some pictures.”
“That would be wonderful, Mr. Walker,” Nina pressed. “Now please, tell us what you’ve been doing these past years.”
A look of sadness crossed his eyes. “There isn’t much to my life. I’ve spent most of it just trying to put broken pieces back together.”
Nina’s heart went out to him. She covered his hand with her own and squeezed. “I’m sure it’s been hard for you.”
Tears clung to the corners of his eyes. “Not a day goes by that I don’t wish I could turn back time.”
“Donavan, go get your grandfather some tissue.” Nina squeezed Marvin’s hand again. “How did you find us?”
“Isaac came to see me about a month ago. Did you know that?”
Nina looked toward the porch. “No. He never told me.”
Marvin laughed. “It wasn’t his finest hour. He really came to my house to tell me how much he despised me.”
Quite different from the reason she kept encouraging Isaac to find his father. “I can believe it. ”
Marvin turned away from Nina. He stood and walked to her mantle. “I just wish he didn’t have so many reasons to hate me. Wish I had been a better father.” He turned back to Nina. “That’s why I jumped at the chance to come down here when Isaac’s fiancé offered to bring me. I wanted to show him that I’ve changed. I’m not the same man he once knew.”
After the word fiancé, the rest of Marvin’s conversation sounded a lot like blah, blah, blah. “Isaac’s engaged?” Nina asked while looking more curious than she wanted to, but she couldn’t help herself.
“When did my dad get engaged,” Donavan asked when he walked back into the room on the tail end of the conversation.
Marvin looked from Nina to Donavan with an oops-I-spilled-the-beans look on his face. “I’m sorry, I thought you knew.”
33
Now he was supposed to sit down and break bread with a man he couldn’t stand, and a woman he hoped to never see again. All Nina’s idea of course.
Pizzas for everybody ’cause he wasn’t cooking jack. Wouldn’t even burn a piece of toast or run water for some Kool-Aid. Let ’em dehydrate.
“What do you think we should fix for lunch, Isaac?” Nina looked at him stiffly.
“I have no idea, Nina.” See what you can fix with that sling on your arm.
“I know. I know. Let’s get some pizza,” Donavan said, all excited as if they were getting ready to have a pajama party.
“Okay, pizza it is.” Nina turned to Isaac again and smiled sweetly. “Isaac, would you mind going to Donato’s to get us a couple of pizzas?”
“Don’t think my car will make the trip all the way over to Main Street,” Isaac told Nina.
“What are you talking about, Isaac? You drive that car to Chicago and back,” Nina said. Isaac gave her a hard stare down. Nina rolled her eyes at Isaac and then turned to her son and asked, “Donavan, can you call Pizza Hut and order a couple of pizzas?”
The pizzas arrived within thirty minutes. All the wanted and unwanted guests sat at the dining room table to eat. Conversation was stilted around the table. Isaac was mad at Nina and hateful to his father. So, he sat with Cassandra on one side and Donavan on the other. Cassandra kept leaning into him, rubbing his shoulder and squeezing his hand.
Nina spent more time biting her lip than biting into her Supreme pan pizza. She was furious with Isaac for not telling her about this woman.
Isaac whispered something in Cassandra’s ear. Her head fell back, long black hair flowing, as she laughed.
A sausage lodged in Isaac’s throat and he almost choked. Cassandra hit him on his back a couple times as she told Nina, “Not yet, but I’m hoping that will come soon.”
Isaac picked up his glass of water and gulped it down.
Nina looked directly at Isaac. “Well, until you actually get married, I don’t think you should be clinging to this woman in front of your son. At least, not in my house.”
Cassandra scooted a little to the right. No longer rubbing elbows with Isaac, she gave Nina a scowling glare.
Isaac slammed his glass down. “I’m not clinging to anybody.”
Nina rolled her eyes and harrumphed. “She has been rubbing and squeezing on you since we sat down to eat. My God, Isaac, it’s obscene.
Isaac pushed his plate away and stood. He was angry, as he pointed at Nina. “You’ve got a lot of nerve sitting over there judging me. Judge yourself,” he told her and stalked off.
“What’s that supposed to mean,” Nina asked, getting out of her seat. She looked awkward trying to follow behind Isaac with that sling on her arm and her slow hesitant walk, but she did her best.
Looks were exchanged around the table.
Isaac stopped in the living room. He was fuming, but he didn’t want Nina to hurt herself trying to keep up with him. “Sit down, Nina. Sit down and mind your own business.”
She ignored him. “What do I need to judge myself about, Isaac?”
“Okay, I’ll tell you. How do you think Donavan took it this morning when you were all huddled up with Charles at the front door?”
She gasped. “I was not.”
This time Isaac harrumphed.
“You haven’t bothered to say two words to your father.” Nina pointed into the dining room where Cassandra, Marvin and Donavan wisely chose to stay. “That man traveled all the way from Chicago to see you.”
“I didn’t ask that wife beater to come here. I would have thrown him out, but as you informed me, this is your house.”
Nina gasped again. “Isaac Walker, at this very moment, I am ashamed of you.” She sat on the couch and turned her face from him.