by Tyora Moody
“Yes, we are. We really love this community and want to be a spiritual hospital for those in need. I would appreciate it if you would do some features. I would like the community to know about our food bank, after-school program, and all the other ministries we offer.”
“I will definitely plan to do a feature. Now, I hope this is okay, but today I wanted to talk to you a bit about the music part.”
Minister J.D. raised his eyebrow. “I’m intrigued and honored.”
“I have been reporting updates on Melanie Stowe, and I understand she was coming to see you about a recording session maybe.”
The minister bowed his head. “Yes, yes. Melanie was a special young lady. Is a special young lady. I hate that she has been taken from our sight for so long and do hope she can be returned to us. I’ve known Melanie all her life. I watched her sing as a little girl, and for her to be on American Voices, well, that was a proud moment.”
“She had some problems with really making it after the show. I imagine it was hard for her to see her dreams dry up a bit.”
“Yes. We never know what plans God has for us, but I felt that God had a plan for Melanie. My goal was to support her and give her the encouragement she really needed.”
“Are you aware of any record companies approaching her?”
“You know, today is different. Lots of independent record labels out there. I have one myself.”
“Yes, I noticed. Royal Records. You are a busy man.”
“Like I said earlier, you deliver the good news in a way the audience needs. Music is a powerful tool. Melanie had the voice. She also wrote songs. I told her to meet with me and let us sit down and work out a plan for her. Unfortunately, that meeting has never taken place.”
Wes saw an opportunity to dig a bit deeper. “You said you knew her all her life. So, you knew her dad?”
Minister J.D. laughed. “Yes, I did. Larry, better known as El back in the day, was a good friend of mine. We were young and stupid. We had skills and loved making music. All of that went south, so to speak, after we lost K-Dawg.”
Wes stared at Minister J.D. Questions were whirling in his mind so fast, he didn’t know what to ask first. He wasn’t sure where this was going, but Melanie and Elisa seemed to keep connecting in some way in his mind. He just couldn’t figure out how. “You all hung around K-Dawg?”
“We grew up together. Got signed together at the former Royal Records. We were his posse.” Minister J.D. sat back in his big leather chair. “K-Dawg has been gone twenty years. Kelvin Dentin was his name. He was my cousin. I decided to bring the label back under new management, hoping to bring something good back to Charlotte musically.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize he was family. You don’t have any ideas who may have shot K-Dawg that night?”
“I had ideas, but everyone had their alibis. I eventually got out of the whole music game. For so long we just wanted to make music, and then he was gone.” Minister J.D. sighed. “But God had another plan for me. I was to not sit in pity over my friend, but let young people know the kind of lives they need to lead.”
“What about the old Royal Records?”
“What about it?”
“Well, I heard the former company wasn’t the best place to be for artists.”
Minister J.D. let out another belly laugh. “No! It wasn’t. Back then Royal Records was run by thugs. Greedy thugs. They wanted to get the money and the fame. We should have had legal counsel look at those contracts. Did you know for many years, none of us saw a dime from ‘We Down With It’? Years ago I finally got a lawyer. I didn’t need the money, but K-Dawg’s momma, she suffered so much. The least they could do was take care of his mother after he was killed. He was at the club that night, promoting the upcoming album release.”
Wes asked, “Do you remember the woman who sang background on the song?”
Minister J.D. leaned forward. “Yes, I remember her. She had a great voice, really pretty too. I think she went to the same high school we did. She was a couple of grades ahead of us. K-Dawg was kind of sweet on her, but she wasn’t really interested. I think she had a kid.”
“Yes, her kid is a friend of mine. The woman was Elisa Roberts, and she went missing a month after K-Dawg died.”
“Really? I didn’t know that. I mean, I remember her going missing. I just didn’t realize it was around that time. I was probably still torn up over losing K-Dawg.”
“The night K-Dawg was shot, do you remember if Elisa was there?”
“K-Dawg had a lot of women around him. My memory ain’t what it used to be. I couldn’t tell you. Why the interest?”
“Just looking for connections,” Wes answered.
“You think she saw or knew what happened? That someone came back to get her? Lord, have mercy.”
“I don’t know. It just seems funny. I came to talk to you about Melanie, and I had no idea about the connection. So was Larry Stowe an artist too?”
Minister J.D. laughed. “El, Larry, was the hype man. Like the Flavor Flav of the group. He knew how to get the crowd going. He was close to K-Dawg too.”
That explained why Larry always seemed to be dressed like an old-school rapper. The man had never given up the identity. Wes looked at his watch and realized he needed to get back to meet with Alan. At least he would have something to present to the producer this time. He stood.
“Minister J.D., I need to run back to the station. This was a very interesting conversation. Thanks for your time.”
The minister stood and extended his hand to Wes. “Not a problem. You need to come out and visit us sometime. Where is your church home?”
“I attend Victory Gospel.”
“I see. One of Reverend Freeman’s members. I like him. He’s a good man. I know it’s been hard on him, taking over the church for his dad. I hear it’s growing over there.”
“Yes, but I will be looking forward to your Be a Man Conference this summer.”
“You been before?”
“First time last year. Still hanging on to my finding a wife commitment.”
“Well, all right now.” Minister J.D. grinned. “That’s what I want to hear. I imagine God is going to lead you to your future wife real soon too.”
Wes smiled. “I hope so. Seems like all my friends are getting married or thinking about getting married.”
“Well, you want to find the right one. Don’t just settle. Be sure the woman is the one God sent you.”
“Thanks.” Wes left Minister J.D.’s office, still smiling about the minister’s advice. As he headed back to his car, his mind went to Angel. He had a couple of things to share with her, but his mind was more on what the minister had said. Be sure the woman is the one God sent you. Wes wondered if God might have sent her already. He shook his head. Angel was definitely an interest and had been ever since she’d showed up that Sunday. Still, he needed to rein himself in and not jump ahead.
He glided the car from the parking space. Before Wes drove off, he caught sight of a man who looked vaguely familiar walking down the church sidewalk. Wes slowed the car down and watched as Larry Stowe entered Kingdom Building Church. So, Larry had come to visit an old friend today. Wes wondered why. If he didn’t need to get back to the station, Wes would’ve parked the car and headed right back inside the church.
He knew his gut was right. Melanie’s father knew something about why his daughter had gone missing. Now, where Elisa Roberts fit into the scenario, Wes didn’t know. But there was a connection from the past to the present. That Wes was sure of.
Chapter Thirty-two
Angel liked Ella Mae Jenkins. The nurse from Trinity Home Health Care was sweet and joyful, despite Grams’s fussing. She heard Ella Mae say to Grams, “Now, sugar, it’s going to be all right. You sit back and let me get you dressed.” Angel was glad her uncle had hired the nurse to help look after Grams. While she had improved some, her mobility had not come back fully on her right side. She needed to be bathed, dressed, and helped w
ith meals. This wasn’t too foreign to Angel due to the fact that her granddad had had to be cared for in a similar way.
She knew her fiercely independent Grams must be feeling even more depressed since she was not the one in the caregiver role. Angel could mostly understand what she said, but oftentimes she felt the heat of Grams’s frustration when it took a bit too long for Angel to catch on.
She showed Ella Mae to the kitchen, where they kept the medicine.
Ella Mae said, “Oh, you have quite a few medicine bottles up there.”
“I know. I’ve been meaning to get rid of most of those, which were for my granddad.” Angel looked at the bottles, remembering the night Grams had had the stroke. The doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. “That’s my grams’s hairstylist. Do you mind if I get her situated and then come back?”
“Not a problem, honey. I will get rid of the bottles that are not needed so we can start fresh with the new regimen for your grandmother.”
“Thank you.” Angel sprinted to answer the door. It was beautiful of Candace to take the time to bring Crown of Beauty Salon services to Grams. She had called ten minutes ago to let Angel know she would arrive shortly.
Angel opened the door. Grateful to see her friend, she hugged her. “You need any help?”
Candace answered, “Nope, I have everything I need in this bag. How are you feeling?”
Angel replied, “Overwhelmed. I’m praying a lot.”
“That’s a good thing. When we are weak, God is strong. You’ve been through a lot in a few months and in the past few weeks alone. After I finish Fredricka’s hair, I want you to tell me more about your visit with your father. That had to be incredible.”
“Yes. Wes said the same thing. I’m still soaking it all in, but it is an opportunity to get to know one of my parents.”
Candace stopped in her tracks. “Wes? Is this a young man? I haven’t heard you mention him before, and you said his name so endearingly.” Her friend eyed her.
Angel blushed. “What? I have mentioned him. Wes Cade, the news reporter. His grandfather was the detective who looked for my mom. He’s been trying to help me.”
“Is that all?” Candace winked. “You know he’s friends with Darnell. They play and coach the basketball team together at Victory Gospel Church. If I’m not mistaken, he is one of the most eligible bachelors in Charlotte.”
“Where did you get that?” Angel led Candace down the hall to Grams’s bedroom.
“Darnell showed me this Charlotte area magazine that comes out monthly. Your guy had a half page.”
“I didn’t know,” Angel said quietly. “And wait a minute. We are just friends. He’s not my guy.”
“Mmm, by the look on your face, I would say you have more than just friendly feelings.”
Angel couldn’t disagree with Candace. She was pretty surprised with how quickly she and Wes had grown to be friends. She wasn’t really looking for more. And if he was known as an eligible bachelor, Angel doubted Wes would even be interested. He probably had all types of offers.
Candace went into Gram’s bedroom. “Hey, foxy lady. You ready to get that hair done?”
Angel watched as Grams’s face lit up at seeing Candace. Grams held her good arm in the air and pulled on her hair.
Candace leaned over and hugged her. “I know you do. All the girls miss seeing you at the salon. I’m going to get this hair looking fabulous.” Candace ran her fingers through Fredricka’s hair. “Angel, you don’t know how I love this woman. She has been like a mother to me. Can you help roll Fredricka into the bathroom?”
Candace pulled items out of her bag, while Angel pushed her grandmother’s wheelchair into the bathroom. Candace followed behind and set up bottles around the sink.
“You are a pro at this. Do you do this often?” Angle asked.
Candace smiled. “Well, you know my aunt Maggie stays with us. She has good days and bad days from the cancer. Something about having nice clean hair always lifts her spirits, so I looked online and researched the best way to help someone who has a hard time standing at a sink or in a shower.”
Angel watched as Candace set up the hair-washing tray on the back of Grams’s chair and leaned the tray into the sink. Then she connected the hose to the faucet.
Candace winked at Angel. “Almost like the beauty salon experience.”
“This is great. I’m going to go check with the nurse. I left her in the kitchen.” Angel patted her grandmother on the knee. “I will see you in a bit, Grams. After Candace has hooked you up.”
Angel entered the kitchen and gasped. Then she shook her head in amazement. Ella Mae had removed most of the old bottles and had placed new bottles on the shelf. “Wow, you’ve already taken care of everything.” Angel pointed to the shelf. “This has to be above and beyond your duties.”
Ella Mae waved her hand. “No, not a problem. I threw away a lot of the bottles in there and have added your grandmother’s on the shelf here. On this door, I taped a chart of what medicines are here and the times they should be administered.”
“Thank you. That is a big help.” Angel took a look at the chart Ella Mae had created.
The nurse said, “One more thing. I found this stack of mail in the cabinet.”
Angel noticed a large white envelope in the stack. Before she saw the return address, Angel knew who had mailed it. She tore open the envelope and pulled out the card. She read the message inside. You turn twenty-five today. May all your dreams come true. Love, Dad. He had sent her the card. Her dad was telling the truth.
“Honey, are you okay?” the nurse asked.
Angel didn’t realize her hands were visibly shaking. “Yes, yes. I’m fine.”
Angel knew her Grams would lay down her life to protect her daughter’s only child. But Angel couldn’t really understand why Grams would continue to shield her granddaughter from the only living parent she had. She left the kitchen and sat down in the living room. Angel read the card over and over again. She wasn’t sure how long she had been sitting there when she heard her name.
Angel looked up and saw Candace at the living room threshold. “Hey, young lady, your grandmother has a fresh do and a smile on her face.” Candace entered the room and walked up to her. “Are you okay?”
Angel held up the card. “I found a birthday card from my father.”
Candace placed her bag on the floor and sat down next to Angel on the couch. She took the card from Angel. “You said you found it?”
“The nurse did. It was hidden in the kitchen cabinet. When I went to see my father, he told me he’d sent me cards and letters every year. I’ve never seem them. He sent this birthday card recently.”
Candace handed the card back to Angel and grabbed her hand. “I can’t begin to know how you are feeling, but remember the circumstances in which your grandparents lost their daughter, your mother.”
Angel tried to pull her hand away, but Candace held it tighter.
“Your grandmother loves you. She has always been there for you.”
“I know, I know.” Angel shook her head. “I love her. I just wish she and Granddad had given me a chance to find out things for myself. I mean, I met my dad, and I don’t know if he did or didn’t do something to my mom. I’m confused.”
“Trust God. Pray and let him lead you to where this all goes. In the meantime, treasure the card and the opportunity to know your father. Even more importantly, treasure your grandmother right now. Why don’t we pray together?”
Angel nodded and bowed her head.
Candace prayed, “Father God, thank you for blessing this young woman. Thank you for opening the doors for her to begin to deal with her past. This is a confusing time for her, but, God, we know you are not the author of confusion. Help Angel to trust in you and lean not on her own understanding about things that have been revealed to her. Bless her relationship with her grandmother and her uncle, the family that is her connection to the mother she has missed in her life. Bless her reunion with her fa
ther that they may be able to get to know one another. Finally, Lord, bless Angel as she forges ahead with new friendships. We ask this in Jesus’s name. Amen.”
Candace reached out to her. Angel hugged her friend and wept. After a few moments she lifted her head and wiped her tears.
“You okay?” Candace asked.
“Yes. Thanks for being here.”
“Hey, that’s what friends are for, to be there when we need support. When I needed support, Fredricka was there for me.”
Angel looked at her phone on the coffee table and noticed there was a text. She picked up the phone. “Wes sent me a text.”
“He did. Wow. Look at the smile on that face,” Candace commented.
“You need to stop.” Angel knew she was grinning.
Wes wanted to meet to tell her what information he’d found out. She was looking forward to seeing him again.
Chapter Thirty-three
Wes rubbed his hands together before ringing the doorbell. There was an unusual chill in the air after a thunderstorm last night. The low temperatures would have been comfortable except for the dampness that lingered. Some of Wes’s goose bumps were from excitement.
Angel opened the door. “Hello, Wes. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
He grinned. “How can I say no to having lunch with you and your grandmother?”
Angel grinned back. “She will be thrilled to see you. When I told her about you, she kept saying, ‘I remember that little boy.’”
He laughed and followed Angel into the house. After the week he’d had, Wes was delighted by Angel’s invitation to lunch. He wanted to catch up with her to tell her what he had learned from Minister J.D. Angel led him through the living room, which looked vaguely familiar to him.
“You grew up in this house, right?” he asked.
“Yes. So did my mom. My grandparents have been here a long time,” she responded over her shoulder.
Angel’s grandmother sat in a wheelchair at the dining room table. Angel introduced him to her grandmother and then excused herself. Despite her condition, Fredricka Roberts looked regal, her eyes sparkling. Wes saw that beauty indeed ran in the Roberts family. He walked over and shook Fredricka’s extended hand. Her handshake was quite firm, despite her recent frailties.