by Jane Gill
“Ummmm hmmm, we know that. He broke the promise,” members of the small congregation acknowledged.
There was a momentary silence while Reverend Parker drew a glass of water from beneath the lectern. He sipped slowly, waiting, his steely eyes on the congregation. The assembled were still, anticipating the thunder that was sure to come. Their hand fans were motionless in mid-air as they waited. He carefully set the glass back beneath the lectern.
Lu watched him carefully, remembering all too well his theatrical devices. Here it comes, she thought.
Gripping the lectern with both hands, he roared out, “And so, oh, yes, Sebastian walked down the road! He walked down that old dusty road like his granddaddy before him. He walked for his daddy and for his granddaddy. And he walked down that road for his chilren’, Martin and Luella Sue, here.” He pointed at them. “And he walked down that road for each one of us settin’ here this mornin’.” Again, the pause as the old man waited for the “Um hmmm” that was sure to follow.
“And brothers and sisters, let me tell you here today: Sebastian, he walked down that road with JEEESUS!” he shouted and slammed his Bible on the lectern without warning. “Oh, yes, he did!”
Even though she knew it was coming, Lu jumped involuntarily, and her eyes went wide. She could see Susan and William out of the corner of her eye. It had frightened them, too. Zach softly patted her shoulder.
“Sebastian Stovall wasn’t the first in his family to look that old devil, FEAR, in the eye. No, Sir! Oh, no.” Reverend Parker shook his head. “Sebastian, he set his mind, and he learned to read and write, and then he took off walkin’ down that road. A hard, hard, scary road. The first one of us around here to register to vote! And Jesus walked with him.”
He leaned forward again and lowered his voice, glaring at the congregants. “And purty soon, why we all went on down that road, too. Because of Brother Sebastian. He showed us the way to walk that road.” He threw his hands into the air, suddenly appearing taller than he was.
“Yes! He did, um hmm, he did,” a quiet murmur of acknowledgement rose up from the mourners.
The preacher leaned on the lectern with his right elbow and forearm. “Now, old Sebastian, he’s gone and walked down another road. Um hmmm. Praise the Lord,” he mourned. “And we don’t need to watch for him no more. And do you know why? Because the LORD is watchin’ for him now!”
“Oh, Yas, the Lawd is watchin’ now,” came the response.
“Oh, yes! He’s done gone out of our sight, but he is still walkin’. Walkin’ tall, he is! That’s because Sebastian Stovall ain’t on that old dusty road no more.” He pointed toward the road outside again. “No, Sir! Brother Sebastian, he is on the GLORY ROAD!” he shouted, raising his hands higher and standing on his toes. The air was electric when he came down. “Oh, Sebastian, my brother.” He gazed at the casket, then raised his dark eyes, their whites yellowed with age, and announced in a voice loud enough to wake the dead, “Let me tell you, old Sebastian, he is STILL walkin’ with Jeesus!” He shook his head like a wet dog as he stepped back from the lectern. “Hallelujah, brothers and sisters!”
“Amen!” a collective shout went up from the congregation as the choir rose and the pianist pounded out the spirited notes of “We’re Marching to Zion.” The Reverend stood to the side of the lectern, his rich baritone leading the song.
Lu let out a sigh of relief, unsure of how long she had been holding her breath.
Thank you, God, that’s over, she thought.
Chapter Twelve
The community hall, a separate small building behind the church, was just one large long room. It was about twenty feet wide and forty feet long. At the far end, a half-wall with a pass-through separated the main area from a small kitchen. Fabric screens stood against one side wall indicating the room served the dual purpose of reception hall and Sunday school building.
Lu spoke quietly to Zach. “This is quite an improvement. When I was little there was no community hall. Our classes were held out on the grass.”
“What if it was raining?” he asked.
“Then we had to sit in church through the whole service, sermon and all,” she frowned.
Six cafeteria tables, in two rows, metal folding chairs alongside them, made up the seating area. The tables were draped with white paper tablecloths. Each was graced with two short jelly glasses stuffed full of tiny ferns and colorful wildflowers. Pitchers of chilled sweet tea and lemonade sat in the center of each table. Along one wall a fifth table served as the buffet table. It was crowded with pans of baked chicken, large bowls high with potato salad, fresh garden salad, steaming dark green beans, and casserole dishes of macaroni and cheese. Golden biscuits and squares of cornbread were stacked, pyramid style, on separate trays, and two huge glass pans held sweet, homemade banana pudding. Lu recognized a couple of the women from the choir as they bustled back and forth from the kitchen area, setting out stacks of paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware.
Miss Pearl came from the kitchen, hurriedly tying a white cook’s apron around her expansive middle. “Oh, Miss Pearl,” Lu hugged her tightly, suddenly realizing where she smelled the jasmine. “God bless you for all of this. It’s just lovely.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “We’ll talk later. I want to be sure everything is paid for, okay?”
Miss Pearl hugged Lu so tight she thought her ribs would pop. “Oh, my precious little Luella,” she scolded. “Don’t you worry about that right now. The ladies and I took care of everything and we kept good track. We’ll get together before you go back.” Finally, she released her grip, but she kept Lu’s hand as she steered her back to the entrance. “You know, your daddy was sure well thought of. Just look at all these folks that turned out. Mm mmm, that is a testimony,” she said. “But there’s a lot of folks wantin’ to see you.” She patted the back of Lu’s hand as she artfully maneuvered her into the reception line next to Martin.
For the next half hour, the two families, Lu’s and Martin’s, together with Miss Pearl, stood inside the doorway welcoming the mourners. Miss Pearl hugged every one of them as if she hadn’t seen them in years, although Lu guessed she saw them every week. She held Lu’s hand and was careful to greet each guest by name. Lu was grateful, because while many of the faces had some familiarity to them, too much time had passed. Former neighbors and fellow churchgoers had aged twenty years. For the life of her, Lu could not remember their names.
Reverend Parker was the last to enter. He was busy talking as he gracefully ushered the last of the mourners into the hall. He patted Martin on the shoulder and took Elizabeth’s hand in both of his, murmuring words of comfort. When he came to Lu, he took her in his arms, wrapping himself around her, nearly burying her face in his thin chest. His manner was so loving that she was immediately comforted by his warmth. He had been a good friend to her father for many years, she remembered, and she was sorry now that she had judged him harshly based on her foolish childhood memories. Her eyes were moist when he released her and she held both his thin hands in hers as she expressed her gratitude for his kind words at the loss of his friend.
“Thank you, thank you so very much, Reverend,” she said sincerely. He was quick to smile as he held her at arm’s length.
“You are most certainly welcome, Sister,” he said. He glanced around the room, sniffed the air and immediately began praising the church ladies on their selfless energy and culinary talents.
After everyone filled their plates and took their seats, the Reverend offered a prayer of thanksgiving, again lavishing compliments on Miss Pearl and the ladies of the church. The mourners took their seats, and the noise level in the room rose as they chatted with one another. At last, Lu headed toward the buffet table herself. She picked up a plate and Elizabeth appeared at her side.
“Why don’t you go on and sit down, Lu?” Elizabeth offered. “Let me fix your plate. You must be worn out.”
“Oh, no, I’m fine, really,” Lu said. “Maybe I’ll just have some tea.�
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Elizabeth didn’t move. “Can we talk for a minute?” she asked.
Lu didn’t know why she felt drawn to Elizabeth, but there was something in her demeanor, a peacefulness that was comforting and, well, almost familiar. Still, she was reluctant to let her guard down. “Of course,” she agreed as she took a seat at the end of the nearest table and out of earshot of other guests.
“Is something wrong?” Lu asked, making sure her voice showed concern.
“Well, I know we don’t know each other hardly at all,” Elizabeth began, choosing her words carefully. “We’re family just the same. I just want to ask you not to take anything Martin says right now too hard.”
“Oh, that’s okay.” Lu said with some relief. “He’s my brother. I know how he is.”
“Well, he may be your brother, but he’s my husband,” Elizabeth corrected. She picked up a nearby pitcher and poured Lu a glass of tea. She set it before her. “I know how stubborn he can be—how he comes across.” She reached for Lu’s hand. “He’s a good man, a real good man. And he loves his family and works hard to take care of us. It’s just that he’s mad right now.”
“Mad?” Lu asked, remembering what Zach said about being angry when his own father died. “Well, I think it’s normal sometimes to be angry when someone dies unexpectedly, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yes, I think that’s partly true,” Elizabeth said. “Right now, Martin feels bad because he wasn’t here for his father when he might’ve been able to do something. He’s always felt bad about leaving the farm. You know—guilty-like.” She looked Lu straight in the eye. Hesitantly, she added, “But Martin’s mad at you, too.”
Lu couldn’t look back at her. Instead, she used her thumbs to wipe away the condensation on her ice tea glass. “I know, I know,” she finally said. “But he’s been mad at me for way too long now. He needs to get past all that, don’t you think?”
“I think the two of you need to talk, that’s what I think.” Elizabeth said.
Lu was suddenly uncomfortable, so she decided to change the focus of their conversation. Clearly, this was not the place to discuss her dysfunctional family.
“Elizabeth, I feel bad for Martin, but I mean, he shouldn’t feel bad about not being here when Daddy passed on. Daddy was just probably worn out,” she said. “Even if Martin was here there’s no way anyone can know when someone is going to die. And, as far as leaving this farm, I honestly don’t know how or why he stayed as long as he did. There’s nothing here for a young man, for a young family. Martin was right to leave and I’m sure Daddy never wanted him to feel guilty about it.”
“Yes,” Elizabeth agreed. “That’s right, and you and I know that. But right now Martin doesn’t. So some of what he says, well, it might be a little hard to take.”
Lu nodded, pleased that she had been able to sidestep any discussion of herself. She decided she liked Elizabeth and felt she could be honest with her.
“You’re right, though, he can definitely be a little hard to take. I mean, like last night when he said he couldn’t stay and work all this out. I was completely shocked. I mean, I get the feeling that he wants me to have all the responsibility, yet he wants it done his way!”
“Well, yes. But,” Elizabeth glanced around the room. “I see that’s not fair to you. That’s why I wanted for you and me to talk—so I could tell you I’m sorry he went and did that. I understand how he is, and I’ll be tryin’ to work on him to make things easier for the two of you.” Lu saw her nieces approaching them. Elizabeth touched Lu gently on her forearm. “Let’s just give him a little time, okay?”
Lu nodded in spite of her confusion. What exactly did Elizabeth mean, ‘give him a little time,’ she wondered. She took a quick swallow of her tea as she watched Elizabeth walk away. She felt a headache creeping up the back of her neck, and it was no surprise. Keeping her emotions at bay weighed her down. She took a quick look around the crowded hall. The sea of vaguely familiar faces and the buzzing conversations suddenly crowded in on her. She realized she didn’t see Zach. Her heart began to race. She struggled to calm herself. Why am I panicky—Elizabeth’s right. I’m just tired, she reassured herself. I’m fine, really fine. She saw Susan and William engaged in conversation with Martin and the Reverend. Still, she didn’t see Zach. She pushed her chair back and stood to look around.
“Well, well, if it isn’t Luella Sue Stovall herself,” the voice at her back startled her. She turned abruptly to face her high school sweetheart, Dwight Powell. He had grown a little pudgy around the middle but he still had his devilish grin.
“Oh, I can’t believe it,” she said, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Dwight threw one arm around her waist and hugged her, then turned to introduce his wife, Faith.
“This is just wonderful,” Lu said, “It’s so good to see you. I never expected you to be here—I didn’t see you come in.”
“You were busy at the door, so we snuck around behind the crowd,” Dwight said. “Hey, how did you like old Reverend Parker coming all the way over from Eatonville to preach the service, huh? Now, that’s something! That man is, like, well, I don’t know, but he must be a hundred years old.” Dwight laughed conspiratorially and leaned toward his wife. “And, you know what? He probably drove himself! Now, that’s something you only see in Florida. Ha ha.” He winked.
“Yes, his being here is quite a compliment,” Lu commented, relieved by Dwight’s easy manner. “He preached it good though, he really did,” she acknowledged.
“Well, didn’t you know your daddy was a local hero? His passing marks the end of an era around here,” Faith said.
“Oh, I knew Daddy always went down to vote,” Lu answered, “but until today I never knew he was the first one around here. He never told us that.”
“Hey, come on over here and sit for a minute,” Dwight said as he steered Lu back toward the end of the table. “Tell me what you’ve been up to all this time! Did you become your heroine, Diahann Carroll?” He looked at Faith. “Luella was the only one I ever knew that didn’t want to grow up to be Diana Ross. She was hung up on that TV show. What was the name of it?” he asked.
“Julia,” Lu answered embarrassed at Dwight’s familiarity. “And, just in case you’ve forgotten, she was the first African-American actress to star in her own television series where she wasn’t cast in a subservient role! So there.”
Dwight’s laugh was easy. “So what have you been doing all these years?” he asked again.
“No, no, first you tell me,” she said as she reclaimed her seat.
“Oh, I’m just an old country lawyer these days,” Dwight spoke humbly.
“A lawyer! That’s super,” Lu said, openly surprised. “I’ll bet you’re a good one too. Where’s your office? Around here?”
“No, actually, Faith and I live over in Flagler Beach. There’s no real business here besides real estate and even most of that gets done elsewhere. The big construction companies and agribusinesses have their own legal staff back in their home offices. I practice in estate planning and probate which sometimes involves a little real estate. Still, there’s a fair number of retired old folks in Palm Coast, so I manage a decent living.”
“No big class-action lawsuits for you, huh?” Lu chided.
“Naw, I’m not big on litigation,” he replied. He leaned across the table toward her. “Too much fightin’ and fussin’ there. My practice is mostly—”
Faith clearly knew what he was going to say. She smacked him gently on the arm, “Don’t you go and say that, Dwight,” she cautioned.
“Oh, this sounds good,” Lu said, leaning in from her side of the table.
“It’s dead dudes and family feuds,” he whispered quickly, and then leaned back, a twinkle in his eye.
“Oh, Dwight, you haven’t changed a bit.” Lu chuckled. “Please don’t make me laugh out loud in here. I don’t think that would look too good.”
“You’re probably right about that,” he responded.
/> Zach appeared at the table and introductions were made all around before Lu had to take her post back at the doorway to bid her father’s friends good-bye. Martin and Elizabeth stood with her, shaking hands with everyone and expressing their gratitude. When the last guest left, Martin turned to Reverend Parker, who was standing opposite them at the doorway. “Well,” he said, “You ‘bout ready to go?”
“Just let me git my hat,” the old preacher said.
Lu glared at her brother, dumbfounded. She could see now he’d undoubtedly gone out of his way to pick up the Reverend in Eatonville and drive him there for the service. Now he was going to take him back home before he headed to his own home in Atlanta. She remembered his words at dinner the night before, “It’s a long haul back up to Atlanta.” That meant Martin knew all along that Reverend Parker was going to preach the service. Yet, he’d let Lu go on in the parking lot of the restaurant, criticizing the old preacher as if he were dead and buried. Martin put his arm around her to hug her good-bye. She barely moved.
You rat! she thought bitterly. You set me up!
Chapter Thirteen
On Wednesday morning, Zach insisted the family forego the meager breakfast buffet at the hotel in favor of a local restaurant. Once he was fortified by a hearty country breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, and hot biscuits at the Chicken Pantry, he drove the family to a small gas station that advertised ‘We Sell Boxes’. There he bought several boxes, a roll of tape and a couple of markers which he loaded into the back of the SUV. He pulled out onto the main road and drove toward the farm. Although the country road was straight and flat, like most country roads in rural Florida, it bore no shoulder, but was bordered on both sides by deep ditches overgrown with wild grasses and weeds. Even without opening her window, Lu smelled the dankness of the ditch water. Every so often, Zach would steer around a dead opossum or upside-down armadillo. “They must’ve just been done in last night,” he commented. “Else the turkey vultures would be here by now.”