When Everything's Said & Done

by Snoe, Eboni

“Don’t do this to yourselves,” Reverend Benson reasoned.

  “It’s a little late for you to say that. Because by tomorrow morning, she gon’ be gone.” The gangster walked backward. “And if you tell anybody that I said so, your next sermon might be a silent one, from a casket.” He opened the door. “Let’s go,” he said to his companion.

  Michael’s heart jumped when he heard the threat against Cora, followed by footsteps headed toward the pastor’s office door. Quickly, he hurried across the hall into the men’s room and into one of the stalls. Michael waited several minutes before he rushed and opened the bathroom door. He nearly bumped into Reverend Benson.

  “Reverend,” Michael said. They both looked startled.

  Michael hurried on. “I was just going to knock on your door and let you know that I’ve got to cancel our appointment.” He looked at his watch. “Can we schedule another time to talk about that investment? I feel it can really help the church in the long run.”

  Reverend Benson ran a hand over his sweaty forehead. “Sure, we can reschedule.”

  “I’m in a hurry now.” Michael looked at his watch again. “But I’ll call you tomorrow and we’ll set a time.” Reverend Benson nodded before he wiped his forehead again. He looked up the hall. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Good afternoon,” Michael said as he walked to the stairs. Once out of earshot he ran outside to his car and jumped inside. “They’re going to kill Cora. They’re going to kill her,” he said as he started the car. “I can’t let that happen. I’ve got to warn her.”

  Michael took off for the Robinsons’ building. Minutes later he pulled up out front and ran up the walkway and up the stairs. He rang the doorbell several times. Cora answered the door.

  “Michael.” She looked surprised. “Come in. I haven’t seen you since Warren’s funeral.”

  “I’ve got to talk to you, Cora.” He looked around the living room.

  “All right,” she said.

  He went to the window and looked out.

  “Who is it?” Laura’s voice drifted from the rear of the house.

  “It’s Michael, Mama.”

  Michael came back to the center of the room.

  “What is it, Michael?” Cora asked as she watched him. “Did you hear about the young man that died this morning? It involved food poisoning.”

  Cora looked him straight in the eye. “Yes. Nebia told us about it not too long ago.”

  Michael didn’t seem to be able to catch his breath. “Well his friends think that you are responsible.” He shook his head. “They intend to do something about it.”

  “Like what?” Cora folded her arms.

  “God knows what, Cora! What difference does that make?” Michael leaned against the wall. “They intend to get you because they believe you’re behind it.” He held his head in his hands. “You threatened them. Two of them got sick after being at your place and now one of them is dead.”

  Cora sat on the couch. She rubbed her hand down her thigh. “Well...we shall see.”

  “No. This is not a we shall see.” Michael sat beside her. “This is what are you going to do?” He looked into her eyes. “If they get a chance they are going to kill you.” “They’re not going to get a chance. I’ll just go to the police and tell them I did not intend for anyone to die.” She looked down, then up again. “And that’s the truth. ”

  Michael looked away. “You go to the police and tell them you didn’t poison them. What difference is that going to make to the Gangster Disciples?” He looked back at her. “You don’t understand. I told you they believe you killed him. And they intend to kill you. I heard them say it.”

  “What?” Laura exclaimed. She rolled her wheelchair forward.

  Cora looked at her mother, then down at Faith. “Faith, baby. Go upstairs and look at that book Mommy bought for you. I’ll call you and tell you when we’re through down here.”

  Faith looked frightened. “I don’t want to—”

  “Faith. Please, baby. Go upstairs and read your book. I’ll come up when we’re done.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly, and ascended the stairs.

  Laura waited until Faith was out of sight. “Now what did I hear you say?”

  “I heard a couple of those gang members tell Reverend Benson they plan to get revenge for the death of that Gangster Disciple that died this morning.”

  “Reverend Benson?” Laura said. “What’s he got to do with this?”

  Michael squeezed his forehead. “It seems he promised some of the gang members honest work as long as they toed the line, but with that boy’s death this morning they told Pastor Benson that deal was off.”

  Laura’s eyes filled with apprehension as she looked at Cora.

  Michael shook his head. “I’ve seen different gang members coming in and out of the church before. Reverend Benson’s been counseling them, trying to help them change.”

  “And you say some of those gang members are planning to kill Cora?” Nebia asked.

  “I heard it with my own ears,” Michael said. “I went to talk to the reverend, and I was coming up the hall when I heard loud voices. So I stopped and listened. That’s when I heard it. I heard them say she’s going to be gone by tomorrow morning.”

  “This can’t be happening.” Laura’s face sank with worry.

  “But it is,” Michael said. “And that’s why I’m here.” He looked at Cora. “You’ve got to leave, Cora. You’ve got to take your child and go.”

  Cora sat back. “I’m not going anywhere. St. Petersburg is my home. I was born here and I’ve finally accepted this is where I belong. I’m not leaving.” She pointed downward. “This is the place I’m going to die.”

  “You’re right.” Michael almost looked ashen. “If you don’t go, you’re going to die...right here. And it could be before tomorrow morning.”

  Cora shook her head. “Warren was a policeman. They loved him down there. They wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”

  Michael took hold of Cora’s shoulders. “These gang members don’t work inside the law. What are you going to do? Go down to the police station and have them lock you up to protect you? Because that’s what you’d have to do. But even if you did that, how long would you stay there? Those folks have long memories, Cora. If they don’t get you now they’d do it later.” Michael let go. “But guess what? If they can’t get you during a time that satisfies them, they’d go after your mother. Or Miss Nebia. Or your child.”

  Cora’s eyes grew big. “They wouldn’t do that.” Michael simply stared at Cora. The room went silent. “They’d do anything,” Michael finally replied.

  “You got to get out of here, Cora.” Laura rolled forward. “You’ve got to leave, baby.”

  “Leave and go where?” Cora turned to her. “Where am I going to go?”

  “I don’t know.” Tears rolled down Laura’s face. “But you got to get out of here. I can’t take another one of my children dying before me. I can’t.” She could barely speak. “You’ve got to go.”

  “Oh, no. What have I done?” Cora clutched at her heart.

  “You did what you thought you had to do,” Laura said. Nebia nodded.

  “And this ain’t no time to stop,” Laura continued. “You got to get you and that baby out of here.”

  “But what about you? Michael, you said if they can’t get me, they might get Mama or Nebia.”

  “Your mama and me can take care of ourselves,” Nebia said. “We been around on this earth long enough that if something happens to us, maybe it will just be our time. Our due. Don’t you worry about us. You worry about you and that child.”

  Cora closed her eyes. “I don’t have anywhere to go.”

  “Yes, you do,” Nebia refuted. “You can go back to Africa.”

  “Africa.” Cora looked at her mother.

  “You’ve lived there before.” Laura lifted her chin. “And you can live there again. It won’t be forever.”

  “Even if I decided to go back,
” Cora said, “I don’t have money for Faith and I just to jump up and go.”

  “I’ve got the money,” Michael said. “I’ll help you.” His love was plain to see. Michael looked down. “I’m sure Brenda and I both will help.”

  “Michael, I can’t ask you to—”

  “Don’t.” He closed his eyes. “Let me do this one thing for you, Cora. Before you go. Please.”

  Tears rolled down Cora’s face. She touched Michael’s arm. “All right. I’ll take the money.”

  Michael exhaled.

  “But we won’t be gone long.” Cora looked at Laura. “Just long enough for things to cool down.”

  “Yes,” Laura repeated. “Time heals all kinds of things.” But her tears started up again.

  Michael stood up. “You get on the phone and make all the arrangements. I’ll go right now and get the money from the bank.”

  Cora stood, too. “I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

  “There’s no need for thanks between us. You—” his eyes filled with love “—have always been dear to me. All of you,” he added quickly. Then he went to the door and opened it. Michael looked at Cora again. “I’ll be back within the hour.”

  Across town Brenda walked out of the doctor’s office and up to the receptionist’s desk.

  “So I guess we’ll be seeing more of you now.” The receptionist smiled.

  Brenda smiled, too. “You sure will.” She handed the woman a twenty-dollar bill, took her receipt and walked to the office door.

  It opened and Brenda stepped aside. “Hello, Mrs. Dawson.”

  “Hello, Mrs. Smith. How are you?”

  “Doin’ just fine. I hope you’re well. You look good.”

  “Thank you.” Brenda’s smile broadened.

  “What a coincidence. I just saw your husband a little while ago.”

  “You did?”

  “Yes. He was going up to your mother’s house. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen y’all over there, so I spoke to him. He waved but he seemed like he was in such a hurry, I didn’t say anything else.”

  “Oh.” Brenda’s smile vanished.

  Mrs. Smith pushed her pocketbook up on her arm. “So it’s good seeing you, too.”

  “Same here,” Brenda said and went outside.

  She drove up the street. “What was Michael doing over there?” Nervously, she licked her lips. “What could he have been doing?” Brenda stopped at a traffic light. “Now that Warren’s dead, has Michael finally decided he wants to be with Cora?” She shook her head. “And here I am going to have a baby.”

  She started to cross the street when a siren sounded. Brenda could see the ambulance through her rearview mirror. She pulled over to the side and waited. The ambulance passed and Brenda proceeded toward her house. Then she made a sudden turn in the opposite direction. Minutes later Brenda parked out front of her childhood home. She got out, slammed the car door, walked up to the house and rang the doorbell.

  Someone peeped through the lace curtains of the front window before the door opened. There Cora stood with tear stains on her face.

  “Is Michael here?” Brenda asked.

  “Oh, Brenda.” Fresh tears flowed. “You don’t know,” she said softly.

  Brenda stared at her. “Know what?”

  Cora opened the door farther so Brenda could come inside. Brenda looked at her mother, sitting in her wheelchair, and at Nebia, who stood beside it.

  “Michael left here about thirty minutes ago. He got in his car and drove up the street.” Cora kept her eyes focused on Brenda’s face. “He had a major heart attack, Brenda. The ambulance workers tried to revive him, but they couldn’t.”

  “What?” Brenda looked from one face to another. “Michael is dead?”

  Cora covered her face with her hand.

  “When the ambulance pulled off they hadn’t been able to revive him,” Laura said. “There’s a strong possibility that he is.”

  “I just called your house.” Cora wiped her eyes.

  “Michael was here seeing you, then he had a heart attack and died,” Brenda repeated with disbelief.

  “Michael came to tell Cora those Gangster Disciples are going to try and kill her because their friend died early this morning,” Laura said. “They blame Cora. They think she poisoned him.”

  Brenda looked as if she might faint. “How did Michael know that?”

  “He overheard a conversation between Reverend Benson and two of the gang members,” Nebia said. “The reverend’s been trying to put them boys on the right road, but it’s obvious it didn’t work.”

  Brenda’s eyes fluttered. “None of this can be true. It can’t.”

  “It’s as true as you’re standing here,” Laura said. “All of it. And them threatening to kill Cora is real, too. Michael told us they plan to do it by tomorrow morning. So he helped us convince Cora that she’s got to leave. Go back to Africa.” Laura wiped her eyes. “He was heading to the bank to get money for Cora and Faith’s airplane tickets when he had the heart attack. ” Brenda slumped down and Cora caught her and helped her to the couch.

  “I know this is hard,” Cora said in her ear. “God knows I know this feels unbearable.”

  Brenda began to cry, but it had no sound. Her mouth opened wide, but nothing came out but torrents of tears. Finally, she turned slowly and looked at everyone. “I just found out that I’m pregnant.”

  Cora sat down beside Brenda and drew her in her arms. They cried together. Brenda was the first to pull back.

  “I gotta go to the hospital. Maybe Michael didn’t die.” She wiped her face. “But first I’m going to write you a blank check.” Brenda looked at Cora. “Cash it at our bank. Write it for whatever you need to make your trip.”

  Cora and Brenda looked deep into each other’s eyes. They hugged again.

  Brenda stood up. “I’ve got to go.”

  “You shouldn’t go alone,” Cora said.

  “What are you going to do? Come with me?” Brenda shook her head. “You don’t have time for that. And Michael was my husband.” Her thumb hit her chest. “I want to do this alone.”

  Cora looked down. “Yes. I understand.”

  Brenda lifted Cora’s chin. “But it’s so good to be back. To show I love my sister again. Even in the middle of all of this.” Brenda looked at Laura. “It’s so good to be back.”

  Two large tears made their way from the corners of Laura’s eyes. She opened her arms to Brenda. Brenda went down on her knees and into her mother’s arms. “Mama. Mama.”

  “I love you, child. I love you.”

  Cora covered her face and cried silently in her hands. Finally, Brenda rose to her feet. She hugged Nebia and Cora. “We’ll see each other again.”

  “Of course we will,” Cora replied. “Once this stuff is over I’ll be back. I just don’t want nobody else to be hurt because of me. But I intend to come back.” “Where’s Faith?” Brenda asked.

  “She’s napping upstairs.” Cora glanced at the stairway. “I’ll have to get her up soon enough.”

  “Here, Brenda.” Laura dug into her pocket. “You take this key, and come back here once you leave the hospital.” Brenda clasped the key in her hand. “This isn’t a time to be alone, no matter what you find out.” Laura lifted her chin. “We’re your family. And we’re here for you if you need us.”

  Nebia nodded.

  “Thank you,” Brenda said through fresh tears. “But I know Michael’s gone.” She wrote the check and handed it to Cora. “He’s gone. I can feel it.” She looked off. “And maybe, finally, he’ll have some peace. No matter what I did, and no matter how I tried to make him love me the way he loved you, Cora, I never could.”

  “Brenda, don’t,” Cora said.

  “But it’s the truth. It was my greatest fear from the moment we married. And I threw it up in his face often enough. But this is the first time that I ever really accepted it myself.” Brenda looked down. “And maybe it’s selfish of me that it comes at this
moment, at a moment when I know I will never have to share him with you again.” Brenda smiled a sad smile and went to her car.

  Nehia’s Story...

  “Damn,” Sheila said. “Michael died, too.”

  “With a heart attack. Not too far from the house. The car ran into a telephone pole,” Nebia said.

  “The timing sure is interesting,” Cynthia replied. “It’s like he died from heartache or heartbreak because Cora was leaving. Wow. That was some mixed-up stuff.”

  “It was a draining time,” Nebia said.

  “But Laura and Brenda finally made up,” Erica said. Nebia nodded. “That was something to see. Something to see.”

  “So was Cora and Faith able to leave safely?” “They left all right. Right in the nick of time.”

  CHAPTER 33

  Carefully, Nebia pulled the car over to the curb in front of the airport. She sat looking straight ahead.

  “I guess there’s no need to make this worse than it already is,” Cora said softly as she turned to Nebia, who sat beside her.

  “I guess not. ” Nebia looked at her with tears in her eyes. “Nebia, don’t you dare cry,” Cora said. “If you cry, how can I go? How can I go if you cry?” She threw her arms around Nebia.

  Faith moved toward them from the back. She slid her slim body between the two front seats. “Grandma Nebia, you crying?” Her tiny hands patted Nebia’s head.

  “No, child. Of course not.” Nebia blinked several times. “You’re going with your mother to Africa. There’s going to be lots of things to see there, big animals and I hear it’s beautiful.” Nebia smiled into Faith’s pudgy face. “But you got to promise Grandma Nebia one thing.”

  “What’s that, Grandma Nebia?”

  “You’ll always think of me when you see a giraffe.”

  “That’s the one with the long neck?” Faith’s tender brow wrinkled.

  Nebia nodded. “That’s right.”

  “But you don’t have a long neck, Grandma Nebia. I hardly see your neck at all.” She leaned her head to the side.

  “But I’ve always held my head high and kept my eyes open, and sometimes I can see what others can’t. I want you to be that way, Faith.”

  Faith nodded, although she looked uncertain; then she sat back as Cora got out of the car and opened the back door.