His mother often told him, “Stiles, you’ve got the very best of two good men in you, son. You’re a blessed child.”
Stiles couldn’t wait to get home. It had been a long time since he’d been to 3290 Pepper Oaks Drive. The church in Durham, where he was one of three associate ministers, had taught him a lot. His time in school had been a tremendous opportunity for him as well. Now he could go home to Memphis and stand next to his father as associate pastor of Holy Rock and work as the adjunct professor in the Religion Department at the University. Stiles also had big dreams for Holy Rock ministries. He and his father had made plans for this day, when he was finished with his ministerial training and education.
Three hours and forty eight minutes later, after an hour lay over in Atlanta, Stiles arrived in Memphis. Stepping off the plane, he was exhilarated, energized, and enlivened. It was good to be home.
Proceeding to baggage claim, he felt the tugging of his heart. He couldn’t wait to hug his sister. His prayers for her had never ceased. When his mother shared with him about Frankie’s wild ways, he was troubled. Frankie used to be such a dainty little girl who loved to play dress up and get in their mother’s make-up. She used to love church so much that Stiles thought she would be called to the ministry along with him. But everything had changed in Frankie’s life. Well, almost everything. Rena was the constant in Frankie’s life. Rena…Rena Jackson. Stiles wondered what she was up to these days. She was quite a pretty girl with a beaming personality back then.
“Hello, son. Do you need some help with those bags,” he heard the gruff voice looming behind him. Stiles whirled around just in time to land in the massive arms of his father. Pastor embraced his son in a tight, emotional bear hug. Stiles held on to him like he was holding on for dear life.
“Father!” Stiles said and took a step back to look at his father. “It’s good to see you.” Joy bubbled in his short laugh as his dark brown eyes stared into his father’s graying ones.
“You too, son. It’s good to have you home,” Pastor emphasized with a tiny tear glistening in the ridge of his wrinkled left eye. Grabbing hold to one of Stiles’s pieces of luggage, he used the other hand to place around the shoulder of his son. Proudly, the two men walked along the airport corridor outside to meet up with the beaming Memphis sun and sizzling heat.
“Good Lord,” Stiles said. “Some things never change, huh, Pastor?”
“You’re right, son. This Memphis heat is one of ‘em.” Both men laughed and kept chattering until they reached Pastor’s metallic blue Deville.
“How have you been?” Stiles asked as they drove along Winchester Boulevard toward Emerald Estates.
“Blessed, son. Blessed and highly favored. The congregation is growing steadily. We have close to seven hundred members. I’m thinking about adding on to the church.”
“That’s good to hear,” remarked Stiles.
“We’ve blacktopped the church parking lot. Did I tell you that we purchased the land across the street from the neighborhood store? Remember it had two houses on it?”
“Yes, sir, you told me. Have you decided what you’re going to use it for?”
“No, not yet. I was thinking there might be enough space to turn it into a youth center. I’m negotiating with the owners of the store too. I was hoping we could purchase it as well. I could keep it open and that could provide jobs for some of our young people. It could teach them the importance of ownership and show them ways to be more responsible. You know we can never have enough ministries and programs for our young people. So much is going on out in the streets. They need a place of refuge; somewhere they can come and be safe, have good, clean fun and meet other like-minded kids.”
“I totally agree, Pastor. Sounds like I came home just in time. There’s a lot of work to be done.”
“Yes, there is. The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, son. It’s time for us to be about our father’s business.”
The Deville turned into Emerald Estates. Turning left on to Pepper Oaks they pulled up into the driveway of the elegantly landscaped split-level house. Pushing the remote, the garage door opened and Pastor maneuvered the luxury vehicle inside the immaculately kept garage.
Before Pastor could shut off the engine, the door leading inside the house swung open. Audrey raced out into the garage screaming.
“Oh, baby, you’re home,” she cried. “My son is home.” Tears flowed from her eyes, and ran down her piled on make-up, ungluing it from her face and eyes. She was quite an attractive woman, even without make-up. But Audrey Graham was not the type of lady that would never look unkempt or unprepared. Her sense of fashion was impeccable. Laden with expensive perfumes, large diamonds on both hands, and two carat diamond studs in the second hold of her ears, she was a sassy and classy woman. She fit the stereotypical role of a first lady.
Stiles gathered his mother into his arms. His oversized frame enveloped her, appearing to swallow her whole. He planted kisses all over the top of her perfectly coiffed hairdo.
“Momma,” he said repeatedly. “You are a vision of loveliness.” He hugged her again before walking inside the house. Just as he entered into the kitchen, he stopped.
“What is it, Stiles?” Audrey asked as Pastor looked on, waiting on Stiles’s response.
“It’s…it’s just good to be home. That’s all. Good to be home.” This time he gathered Pastor underneath one of his arms and Audrey underneath the other. The three of them walked through the kitchen into the family room.
“Sit down, honey. I’ll fix you and Pastor an ice cold glass of tea with lemon. I know it’s hot outside. You’re probably thirsty and hungry too, aren’t you, sweetheart?”
“Mom, a glass of your delicious iced tea will suit me just fine. I’m really not all that hungry right now.”
“What about you, Pastor?” Audrey asked as she walked into the kitchen to pour her two favorite men glasses of tea.
“I’ll take a light sandwich, honey,” he answered.
“All right, darling,” she replied as she stood at the kitchen island looking out over the family room. Preparing the sandwich, Audrey smiled.
Moments later, Audrey brought out the tray with the iced tea, fresh cut lemon slices, a Dagwood style deli sandwich on sourdough bread with low fat baked chips.
“Mom, looks like you haven’t lost your touch in the kitchen.”
“I can vouch for that, son,” Pastor interjected.
Audrey smiled and took a seat on the corner sectional next to Stiles. Sitting next to him, she rubbed through his hair like she used to do when he was a little boy. It felt good to have him home again. Her prayers had been answered. Over the past years, since he left for college, he’d promised time and time again to return home. But there was always something that managed to persuade him to change his mind. Pastor would never admit it, but Audrey knew him better than anyone, which meant she realized that Pastor needed his son in the pulpit of Holy Rock, working right along side of him.
When Stiles first told his father that he had been called into the ministry, Pastor was speechless because it was an answered prayer to have his children work in the ministry. He hadn’t given up hope for Francesca. He understood that sometimes God allowed His children to travel pathways that others may not understand, including the person going down the awkward pathway. But no matter what happened in life, whether it was good or whether it was bad, Pastor believed God was in control of every facet of a person’s life, and that Frankie was not excluded.
He and Audrey never openly discussed Frankie’s way of life, but from the way she dressed and the fact that she didn’t seem the least bit interested in boys, Pastor suspected that Frankie was practicing a homosexual lifestyle. He wasn’t pleased with it, but he didn’t bash her or condemn her either. He continually lifted her up in prayer and believed that one day God would remove the scales from her eyes and she would own up to her mistakes. For him, sin was just that, sin. He often reminded his congregation that every human bein
g was far from perfect, including him.
“Is Francesca coming over?” Stiles finally asked between the chattering.
“Honey, I don’t know. But if I were you, I wouldn’t count on it,” Audrey said.
“Audrey, I wouldn’t give up on our daughter just yet. You know that young lady, she’s full of surprises. If she knows her brother is home, she’ll show up sooner or later.”
Audrey raised her furrowed eyebrows. “Humph.”
Stiles laughed it off. He could tell that there was something much more going on that his parents obviously were not willing or ready to talk about. His mother kept him informed about Frankie and her constant trouble with the law off and on over the years. But what else could it be? Had his rebellious sister become involved in something way over her head? He was determined to find out. But not tonight. All he wanted to do was take a shower and climb into bed for a good night’s sleep.
“Mom, Dad, I’ve had a really long day.”
“You don’t have to say another word,” Pastor spoke up. “Your mother and I know that you’re tired. You go on and get yourself some rest. We’ll talk to you later.”
“Pastor’s right, baby. If you want me to fix you a bite to eat, just holler, okay?”
Stiles leaned over and kissed his mother on her cheek before he stood up and started down the hallway toward the room he used to call his own.
“Good night, you guys.” Stiles stopped midway in the hallway. Turning around he said, “Oh, if Francesca comes by or calls, let me know. If I’m asleep, just wake me up.”
“Sure,” answered Audrey, with a hint of doubt in her voice.
Audrey waited several minutes before she reached over on the side of the sofa for the cordless phone. Walking into the kitchen, she dialed Rena’s cell phone. Pastor peeped around the corner and watched as Audrey paced back and forth on the ceramic tiled floor.
“Rena, why don’t you answer your cell phone?” Audrey said out loud. Pastor stepped from behind the small wall that divided the den from the kitchen.
“Francesca will call or come by. Be patient, dear.”
Audrey ignored Pastor, something she rarely, if ever did. She mashed the button on the cordless phone and then hurriedly began to dial Rena at home. After four rings, Rena picked up.
“Hello,” Rena answered
“Rena?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Honey, have you seen Frankie? We still haven’t heard from her. Stiles is at home and he’s been asking about his sister. I tell you, that child is going to be the death of me yet.”
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Graham. Frankie’s here. She’s asleep. “She wasn’t feeling well so I picked her up from her apartment when I got off work. She took something for her headache. Now she’s out cold. I don’t think she remembered what time Stiles was supposed to arrive.”
Audrey listened to Rena. She was skeptical about what Rena was telling her. She wondered if Frankie had been in jail again. It seemed to be her home away from home. Was Rena covering up for her?
Frankie could manipulate people into doing and saying things they wouldn’t ordinarily do or say. Rena, for some reason, seemed to be more prone to it than anyone.
“Listen to me, Rena.”
“Yes, Mrs. Graham?”
“When Frankie wakes up, tell her that her brother is here,” Audrey emphasized in a less than pleasing voice. “Tell her that we expect to see her here first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, ma’am, I’ll be sure to bring her over there. You have my word on that, Mrs. Graham. I can’t wait to see Stiles myself.”
“Honey, I know Frankie is my daughter, but I’m telling you, that girl is taking advantage of your kindness, not to mention your friendship. Sometimes, sweetheart, you just have to let folks go. You should be somewhere spending time with a nice young man. Someone who will appreciate you for you. But I tell you, as long as you let my daughter use you, then you won’t have time for anyone in your life. Do you hear me, Rena?” Audrey stopped and sighed loudly.
“But Mrs. Graham, I can’t push her out of my life that easily,” Rena reluctantly explained. She hated getting into these kinds of discussions with Mrs. Graham.
“Just think about what I said, Rena. Pastor and I will see you two tomorrow morning. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Mrs. Graham.” Rena hung the phone up and stared at it. She walked into the bedroom. Frankie was curled up in the queen sized bed with her head underneath the vintage rose comforter, asleep.
When they had arrived at Rena’s apartment, Frankie took a hot bath while Rena fixed turkey burgers and garden salad. Frankie wolfed down the food like she hadn’t eaten in days, which she probably hadn’t.
Whenever she was carted off to jail, Frankie was sure to lose a few pounds from refusing to eat the poison they dished out, as she described it. Rena had told her that Stiles would be arriving today, but Frankie refused to call her parents to find out the details. Instead after she finished eating, she told Rena she was going to crash. And that she did. As soon as her head hit the downy pillow, she was sleep. Rena knew better than to wake her. Frankie could be mean as a witch when her sleep time was interrupted. So Rena stood in the bedroom door for a few seconds and then turned to leave. She went into the sitting room.
“I wonder what’s up with Stiles,” she said to no one. “Who would have ever thought that boy would grow up to be a preacher,” Rena recalled and then laughed. “I’ll see what he’s all about tomorrow,” she spoke out while simultaneously picking up a novel by one of her favorite authors. She read until she drifted off to sleep.
7
To see what's in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle. George Orwel
“Frankie, are you ready?” Rena asked impatiently.
“Almost, I’m trying to do something to this hair of mine. I have to look good for my brother, you know,” Frankie said and giggled.
“Your hair looks fine. All you needed was a good shampoo.”
“No, all I need is a good hair cut, Frankie countered. “These twists are nappy. But I guess they’ll do for now,” she said, surveying her head in the full length mirror on the back of Rena’s closet door.
Continuing to stand in front of the mirror, Frankie meticulously looked over her outfit. She wore a pair of loose fit signature jeans with a spice-orange short sleeve Polo. Her low quarter boots were black with a splash of orange in the design that set off her outfit. The only jewelry she wore was a small gold loop earring in her left ear. Walking over to the nightstand, she picked up her wallet and placed it in her back pocket.
“Let’s get outta here,” she ordered Rena.
Rena grabbed her purse. She looked the total opposite of Frankie with a chic indigo knot skirt and tiered ruffles that fell graciously along her knees. A flutter-sleeve V-Neck top complimented the skirt and enhanced her perfectly smooth, baby soft skin. A dash of her favorite perfume confirmed that she was indeed a woman and proud of it. The two girls hopped into the SUV and headed across the bridge toward Memphis.
The beat of Rena’s heart quickened as they neared Emerald Estates. Frankie hadn’t said much of anything during the twenty two and a half minutes drive from Marion to Memphis.
“Don’t be nervous, Frankie. It’s Stiles, remember? Not some stranger. This is your brother.” Rena reminded her as she drove up in the driveway of the Graham household.
“I know, but I’m still jittery. I don’t know why. I just am is all.”
“Everything will be fine. Come on, let’s go inside.”
They walked up the walkway and pressed the doorbell. Seconds later the red oak door swung open. Standing on the other side was Stiles.
Rena gasped.
Frankie stood next to Rena. Goosebumps broke out on her arms as she eyed her brother. She didn’t know she would be this happy to see him.
Stiles eyed both of the women. He opened the iron security door and stepped out on the porch, grabbing his sister and twirling her around in the air.<
br />
“Boy, put me down,” she squealed.
For the first time in a long time, Rena witnessed Frankie acting like the Frankie she once knew, happy and carefree.
Stiles planted sloppy kisses all over Frankie’s face before releasing her. Then he walked over to where Rena stood. He grabbed her into his massive arms and squeezed her tightly.
“Girl, look at you. Don’t you look good? You’re all grown up now,” he complimented Rena.
He kissed her on the forehead and held on to her hands, looking her up and down with a big smile plastered across his bearded face.
Frankie interrupted. “I don’t know what you two are going to do but I’m getting out of this scorching heat.” Frankie wiped sweat from her forehead and pushed the door open and went inside.
“You got that right,” Stiles agreed. “Come on, Rena,” he said and tugged her by the hand. The three of them went inside the house.
Audrey and Pastor both smiled when they saw Frankie walk into the kitchen along with Rena and Stiles. Audrey had paced the floor nervously most of the morning, hoping and praying that Rena could get Frankie to come.
Audrey had prepared a feast of food for the occasion. The table was set perfectly, adorned with fresh cut white and yellow roses from her rose garden. Bacon, eggs, sausage, home made waffles, buttered grits, buttermilk biscuits and a bowl of fresh fruit covered the dining room table.
Pastor felt proud to ask his son to bless the food and Stiles was more than honored to do so. Frankie felt somewhat uncomfortable listening to her brother pray. It had been a long time since she’d had anything to say to God. But she didn’t make her feelings known to any one. She glanced around the table at everyone while Stiles prayed.
As the family sat around the table, for the first time in years, things appeared normal in the Graham household. There was much talking, laughing, reminiscing and definitely lots of eating going on. Just like they used to do, when everyone finished eating, Frankie and Stiles jokingly argued over who would wash the dishes and who would dry them. They decided to toss a coin. Stiles called heads and Frankie called tails. Stiles ended up having to wash which made Frankie burst out in laughter. Rena cleared the dishes off of the table and Mrs. Graham placed the left over food in plastic containers.
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