Mississippi Nights

by D. M. Webb

  Sophie had spied David when he came in and had launched herself into his arms. Three years had changed her from a scrawny girl to the dark curly-headed teenager dressed in a lacy white dress beside him. She had the face of a classic beauty for a thirteen year old. Someday hearts would break because of her.

  David pulled his niece’s pen out of her hand and responded to her note.

  No Girlfriend. Your friends are too young.

  She smothered her giggle behind her hand and took back the pen. David felt a thump on his ear and turned to see Darlene pursing her lips at him.

  “What?” he mouthed.

  “Listen. To. Sermon,” she mouthed back.

  Sermon? It was just the announcements.

  He winked at his sister as Sophie handed him another note. Such beautiful handwriting.

  Will you be at Grandma’s?

  David accepted the pink pen back and started to reply. A hand lashed out from behind him, and the pen and paper were ripped from his hands. He turned around and glared at a furious Sarah. Oops. An irritated Darlene was okay. An angry Jeremy or Dad was tolerable. But a furious Sarah was a tsunami of pain.

  David gave Sophie a lop-sided smile. He leaned down and whispered, “Yes, I’ll be there, but we better pay attention now.”

  He sat back up and settled against the inside corner of the pew. Sisters and sister-in-laws. The know-it-alls of the world. He propped his arm along the back and crossed an ankle over his knee. David smiled down at Sophie as she sidled up closer to him. At least someone truly missed him.

  Bro. Johnny closed down the last of the announcements. Something about a zoo trip for the little children, some picnic thingy at the river, and a love offering for Ms. Phyllis Wardlaw and family. David cast a glance at the last pew on the far side. Yeah, there sat Ms. Better-than-thou. He wondered how Bro. Johnny handled her, or if she handled him like she did the last preacher.

  A flash of color in the corner of his vision caught his attention. He returned his gaze to the front. Maggie and her little protégé sat three pews in front of him. Poppy squirmed around. Maggie bent her head and whispered. The girl quieted.

  David gazed at Maggie. Her hair glistened in the light from the windows. He noticed earlier that she wore no make-up. She didn’t need it. Those freckles were absolutely gorgeous on her. And that pink dress and shoes made him think of cotton candy. Bet she was just as sweet.

  A sharp elbow stabbed him in the side. The congregation had stood. Sophie handed him the hymnal. He stood beside her. Dread ate at him. He hated these old, grandma songs. The pianist, someone he didn’t recognize, strung the notes together in a smooth form. It might not be so bad after all.

  Sophie sang beside him. He glanced down at her. Where did she get those vocals? The beautiful sound of an angel. Once the song was over, they sat. A man he didn’t know stood, led them in prayer, and then they sang another grandma song.

  David closed the book and slid it back into its holder.

  Sophie stood. “I need by, Uncle David.”

  He angled his knees to let her by and then turned around to Sarah. “She’s singing the special?”

  Sarah held her finger to her lips. David faced forward. Already he could feel eyes on him. Now that Sophie was up on the platform, his mom and dad were in his line of sight. His dad sported a slightly amused expression. His mom raised an eyebrow at him, so David turned his face away. He felt Sarah’s stare dig into his back. Sheesh. He just asked a question.

  The lights dimmed. David watched with apprehension as Darlene’s husband came down from the choir and picked up an acoustic guitar from its stand. At Sophie’s nod, he picked at the strings. David’s eyebrows rose. He had forgotten how good Marty was with the guitar.

  Entranced, David listened as his niece sang the popular Casting Crowns song Who Am I? No CD. No accompaniment other than the guitar.

  Her voice wove through the congregation. It was more than her voice. It was the words. He hadn’t heard that song in so long. A lump crawled up his throat. David gulped in a heavy breath. The words drove into him.

  “Who am I that the voice that calms the sea. . .”

  Could the storm within him be calmed? The image of a voice calling through the pounding and hated rain as he bobbed in the raging sea reached out to him. It wasn’t possible. Nothing would quiet the storm in him. They were just words.

  Who am I? That question again.

  Who was he?

  His chest heaved.

  His fists balled.

  A hand landed on his arm a second before he bolted. His dad had reached across the small space that Sophie vacated and patted him on the arm. David relaxed.

  What was wrong with him? What was he running from? He nearly embarrassed himself.

  In moments, Sophie finished. A few shouts of amen rose from the back. Marty hugged her and returned to the choir loft. David lifted his eyes to the choir. He had been ignoring it, knowing that Jeremy sat up there in the baritone section, but he had to see Jeremy’s reaction to his daughter’s song.

  A soft smile played across his brother’s face, and his eyes glinted. Jeremy watched Sophie as she returned to the pew. David locked gazes with him.

  For one brief second the three years of estrangement fell away. They smiled at each other. Then the wall returned. David looked away. He wouldn’t give in that easily. No way.

  He leaned over to Sophie as she sat down. “Beautiful, So-so.” She beamed at the old nickname.

  Bro. Johnny stood up and removed his jacket. Not a good sign. When a pastor removed his jacket, that was when the Bible beating began. Hellfire and brimstone would be cast amongst them.

  “Sophie, thank you for the blessing. Let’s hear another amen for such an angelic voice bringing us the message of salvation in song.”

  Amen echoed around him.

  “Let’s get to business, shall we? Open your Bibles, and if you didn’t bring your Bible today, then people, let’s share God’s Word out there.”

  David swore the preacher looked at him. He couldn’t help it that his Bible was still in the moving truck and hadn’t made it here yet. A voice inside his head told him that wasn’t true.

  Sophie held her white Bible open and placed it on his knee. “We’ll share, Uncle David.”

  David gave a half-smile. She was an angel. And he was the devil.

  “Open to Ecclesiastes chapter three. Everything has its time . . .”

  David leaned down with Sophie, heads touching, and followed Bro. Johnny as he read the Scriptures. Before long, David lost himself in the words.

  : : : : :

  Jeremy ushered his teenagers out the church door. Service was great, and now he looked forward to watching his baseball game before his shift started at four o’clock. His teens took off in different directions as they passed the threshold. He stopped by Bro. Johnny and held out his hand.

  “As always, Bro. Johnny, great sermon.”

  The preacher gripped Jeremy’s hand and slapped his shoulder with the other. “Thanks. Heard you were starting mid shift again.”

  “Yeah. Tonight. Going to be rough the next few days making the change over.” He watched as Sophie bounded like a gazelle across the paved parking lot.

  “How’s things going with David back home?”

  Jeremy gave a half-smile. Bro. Johnny had never been one to hold back a question. “Don’t know. Haven’t talked to him yet.”

  “There’s always now.” He gave Jeremy a pointed stare and then looked across the lot.

  “Subtle, Preacher. Subtle.”

  Bro. Johnny smiled and greeted the next person in line as Jeremy took the short brick steps down to the lot.

  Across the parking area, Sophie launched herself at David, who staggered under the assault. Jeremy heard his brother’s laugh mingle with his daughter’s as they stood by the red Harley. So David got it going.

  Jeremy raised his eyebrows and eased his way across the pavement. His brother hadn’t seen him yet, and Jeremy
watched as David bent his head down to hear whatever it was that Sophie was saying. His steps faltered, and he stopped behind the Parker family’s van.

  He knew David and that stupid hard-headedness of his. Jeremy cast a look back at the steps. Sarah and Darlene stood at the bottom of the steps, involved in conversation with one of the women on the activities committee. Sarah looked up and met his eyes. She gave him a small nod towards David and then turned back to her conversation. He blew out his breath and advanced, swinging wide around his brother. Better to flank him than to go straight in.

  As he neared, he overheard some of the conversation.

  “Why won’t you sing with me, Uncle David? Your voice is pretty.”

  “Men don’t have pretty voices, So-so. We have nice or booming voices.” David threw a leg over the Harley and settled down onto its seat. “I’ll catch you later, okay?”

  “When will you take me for a ride on the motorcycle?”

  “When your mamma says you can. I’m sure your dad would be okay with it, but it’s your mamma who scares me.” David put his finger to his lips. “Shh. Don’t tell anyone I said so.”

  Sophie hid her smile behind her hands and smothered her giggle. David looked up, and the laughter died from his eyes. Jeremy tried to smile. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he thought.

  “David.”

  “Jeremy.”

  Jeremy stopped by Sophie and ruffled her hair, ignoring her protest. “I see you got the Harley running.”

  “Yeah. Decided to ride it today, test it out. She’s a little rough. Needs more work.” David slumped, looked at his hands, brushed imaginary dust from the gauges, anything to avoid meeting his gaze. Typical.

  “Sophie, go tell your mom it’s time to go. And round up your brother, please.”

  “Yes, sir. Bye, Uncle David. See you later.” She whirled and half ran back to the church.

  Jeremy turned back to his brother. David spoke first. “She’s turned into a beautiful little woman.”

  “Yes, but she’s got Sarah’s temper.”

  David snorted. “I bet.”

  The conversation lagged. Jeremy cleared his throat. David’s eyes narrowed as Jeremy set a hand on the handlebar. “Dad said you took C shift at the station.”

  His brother sniffed and looked away. “Yeah. C Shift Captain.”

  “That’s a downgrade from Battalion Chief, isn’t it?”

  David gave a heartless laugh and shook his head. “You come over here to bust me about my position?”

  Jeremy sighed. Leave it to David to get confrontational for no reason. “No. I just came to say ‘glad to have you home.’”

  “Okay. You said it.” He brushed Jeremy’s hand off the handlebar.

  His brother wasn’t getting away that quickly. Jeremy gripped his brother’s arm and leaned in close. “I meant it, David. I’m glad you’re home. Can’t we make amends this time?”

  He watched his brother stare off into the distance toward the cemetery for a moment, and then he peered down at Jeremy’s hand and turned a raised brow to him.

  “What’s with the glove?”

  Jeremy let go and shrugged. “Nothing. Just wear it out of habit.” He stepped back as David started the bike. “David?”

  “Look, I didn’t come here to make amends. I didn’t come here to forgive. My reasons for returning are my own.” David’s mouth clamped shut, white lines forming around the edges. His nostril flared a couple of times. “I won’t talk about it, Jeremy.”

  “Fair enough.” What else was there to say? “I’ll see you around then. I might drop by Mom’s for dinner tonight. Will you be there?”

  David’s face was a closed book again, but Jeremy knew his brother. Three years didn’t make that much difference. Something swam on the surface moments before.

  Another shrug. “I probably will. Staying there for the time being.”

  “Plan on moving out soon?”

  “Yeah, Mr. Inquisitive. Going to check out a prospect right now.” He revved the motor.

  “Whoa!” Jeremy stopped him. He met his brother’s cold green eyes. “Where’s the helmet?”

  “Not wearing it.” David smirked and threw him a wink. “Arrest me.”

  Jeremy grimaced as his brother peeled out of the parking lot. Stupid idiot. David didn’t even check both ways before tearing off down the country road. The Harley’s rumble faded, and Jeremy stood there, tapping his thigh with a fist. For a first talk, it didn’t go so bad. Although, he detected a roiling storm underneath David’s cold demeanor.

  “Jeremy!” Sarah called from the car, passenger door opened. “Ready?”

  Yeah, he was ready for home. Ready to put his brother out of his mind for the time being. He walked to the car and slid into the driver’s seat.

  Sarah kissed his cheek and then gripped his gloved hand. “How did it go with David?”

  So much for putting his brother out of his mind. “Better than I thought. Probably because we were in the church’s parking lot this time.” Jeremy started the car and backed up. His kids were in the backseat already listening to their iPods. “I just don’t know how to speak with him, Sarah.”

  She stroked his knee with a light touch. “It’ll happen in time, sweetie. From what I understand from Mom, he’s not the same. You think he’s on something?”

  “Sarah!”

  “I’m just asking.” She shrugged as he pulled out of the parking lot and turned for town. “He doesn’t even look the same.”

  She fell into silence, and Jeremy considered her words as he drove in the same direction as David. She was right about David not looking the same. His brother looked angrier, like a man fighting and burning in his own inferno.

  “It wouldn’t be drugs, Sarah. David would never risk popping positive on a drug test.” Jeremy took the right turn onto Abrams Street leading to his subdivision. “I’ll keep tabs on him.”

  “I know you will.” She pulled out a notebook and flipped it open. “Let me tell you what we came up with for the picnic in a couple of weeks. Give me your insight.”

  Jeremy listened with half an ear as she spoke about the church’s riverside picnic. The other half lingered on David. He missed those late night conversations while on duty, the crazy practical jokes, even the good-natured rivalry. Something was wrong, and he would find out what.

  : : : : :

  David rode the motorcycle into the opened garage. The aroma of charcoal reached him as he dismounted. That and burnt meat. Dad was grilling.

  He glanced at his watch. After six o’clock. He was late. Mom would just have to get over it. At least he was here. He grabbed the small package out of the side bag and slipped it into his back pocket. Then he pulled his shirttail from his waistband to hide the bulge.

  He entered the house, bypassing the laundry room, and peeked around the corner into the kitchen. So far, so good. Apparently everyone was out back. He darted through the kitchen and rounded the corner into the living room. He stopped suddenly as Jeremy‘s voice reached him. His brother found time to stop by, after all.

  Jeremy lounged on the sofa, ankle across his knee. “I’m telling you, Marty, that was a bad call on the Braves this afternoon.”

  “You’re just saying that ’cause your precious Braves are only two games ahead. You just wait until the next game. Cardinals’ll wipe them–David!” Marty Sr., his balding head gleaming in the light, jumped up from the couch opposite Jeremy and approached him. “Glad you’re home.”

  Marty’s arms wrapped him in a bear hug. David pounded the big man on the back. “How ya doing, Marty? Seems like you gained even more from Darlene’s cooking!”

  The man’s laugh was as big as his belly. “What can I say? Your sister took after her mom.” He backslapped David across the abdomen. “Looks like you could stand a few more home-cooked meals.”

  David laughed and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Probably so. Lost about thirty pounds. Can still take you down, though, big man.” He leaned back against th
e wall. “How’s the suing business?” He ducked the swipe Marty took at him.

  “I don’t sue people, man. I only help them relieve themselves of ‘burdens.’” Marty walked back to the couch and settled down with a grunt. “It’s good. Took on a few more clients. Mainly civil stuff.”

  Jeremy chimed in. “Yeah, and the mayor is furious about it too.”

  That struck his interest. The old mayor was latched onto the town like a cancerous barnacle. “You’ve got to tell me about that in a moment.”

  Marty laughed. “Oh, you will love it.”

  “I bet.” David nodded at the stairs. “I’ll be back.”

  He left Marty and Jeremy haggling over politics as he scurried up the stairs. He slid inside his room and closed the door gently. The wood was smooth against his forehead as he leaned against it. He didn’t expect to find Jeremy here so soon. Hopefully Jeremy didn’t read him this time.

  With a sigh, he pushed off the door and walked to his window. He peered past the white curtain and watched his family. Marty Jr. and Dennis tossed a Nerf football around, just out of Sophie’s reach. She jumped and leapt around, trying to grab it. Monkey in the Middle. He remembered playing that game a lot as a child. That was a long time ago.

  He let the curtain fall back into place and reached behind him to extract the small, brown-papered package from his back pocket, thankful for small miracles of passed laws and ordinances. A couple of years ago, he couldn’t have bought it on a Sunday. He slid it inside the nightstand drawer and left his room.

  Time to deal with Jeremy.

  Neither his brother nor Marty were in the living room. Must have made it outside, then. David padded through the kitchen and pushed aside the patio door. His mom turned at the sound and smiled.

  “David, you finally got here. Where’ve you been, sweetheart? Everyone’s been asking for you.”

  David placed a kiss on his mother’s temple. “Everyone?”

  “Well, the kids mostly.”

  “I bet. Well, I see Jeremy made it.”

  His mom set the stack of plastic plates on top of the table. “He said he happened to be in the neighborhood and decided to swing by since he was out this way.”