Southern Comfort

by ANDREA SMITH

  And for the next ten minutes, Gina explained the situation, occasionally turning to me so that I could fill in the blanks relative to what I’d overheard as I hid under the bed in my mother and stepfather’s room.

  If Monsignor Donahue was shocked, he sure hid it well. But then again, after hearing confessions for all these years, I seriously doubted if anything shocked him anymore. I was just thankful that Gina had offered to do the talking because there was no way I was gutsy enough to ask him if he were my father.

  Still, when she got to that part, I lowered my head, my eyes stayed glued to my bleeding cuticles. I was too embarrassed to look over at him.

  The room grew silent for several moments. And then his voice cut through, his tone warm and compassionate. “Sunshine,” he said, “you have no worries about any of this. I confess to baptizing you all those years ago, but I did not father you, my dear. If I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now before you as a priest. So rest assured, for whatever reason, your mother has chosen to bear false witness against me. But that is on her, not on you.”

  I finally raised my eyes to meet his dark brown ones and all I saw was honesty and compassion. “Thank you for that, Father,” I whispered. “But since you were the one who baptized me, did Mama ever tell you who my father was?”

  He shook his head slowly. “I simply presumed Michael Gardner was your father. I knew his work took him on the road for days and weeks at a time, so it didn’t seem strange that he wasn’t at your christening. He wasn’t Catholic according to your mother.”

  I nodded. “Mama led me to believe the same. It was only recently that I found out from him that none of that was true. It almost seemed as if he might’ve believed I was his daughter up until he left us. I can’t imagine him faking his affection for me all those years...”

  “I’m sorry for the pain this has caused you, dear. My advice is to continue to press your mother for the truth. I wish there was more that I could do for you.”

  “But there is,” Gina interrupted. “You can help us stop Avery Dawson from making this big announcement at next Sunday’s services. The whole congregation is going to look upon the both of you as damaged goods, to put it politely.”

  “I suspect Reverend Dawson’s motivation for this is tied into the brief meeting we had. It did not go well. He was extremely insulted by my interference.”

  I stood up and paced, running a hand through my hair. “But as long as Mama doesn’t tell him the truth, he feels it’s his duty to expose this as some…some horrible scandal. He wants to take you down,” I finished.

  “I don’t doubt that.”

  “Monsignor Donahue,” I continued, “Avery Dawson is an evil, evil man. I am not exaggerating that one bit. There are things I could tell you, but I get the feeling that you already have his number. Something needs to be done to save both of our reputations.”

  Monsignor Donahue stood up and circled around his desk. He stood before me, his hands braced on each of my shoulders. “The only thing you can do, child, is to convince your mother to be truthful with you, and with her husband. If she’s not inclined to be truthful, I don’t know how I can help you.”

  “Wait!”

  We both turned to look at Gina with that outburst.

  “I know how we might find out the truth,” she said, smiling widely.

  “How?” the priest and I both spoke at once.

  “My mother. She was at your baptism, remember?”

  “Yeah, but they were friends back then,” I argued, “They sure don’t like one another now, that’s for sure.”

  “Exactly. Maybe it’s time you and I find out why.”

  The priest was looking back and forth between us. “It’s worth a try, Ms. Margolis. I do recall the two of them being close back then. I guess I had forgotten that. Will you let me know what you find?”

  “Absolutely, Father. Keep your fingers crossed.”

  “I’ll do one better,” he replied, “I’ll say a prayer.”

  Chapter 38

  Gloria Margolis-Sanders was in the middle of a dye job on Millie Perkins when her daughter Gina came back to her station.

  “Hey Sugar, what’s up?”

  “Mom, we need to talk.”

  “How much do you need?” Gloria asked, testing the rinse water before she shampooed Millie’s hair.

  “No, Mom, I’m not hitting you up for money. This is something more important. It has to do with Reverend Dawson and Sunny.”

  Her mother quickly shot her a look as Millie’s eyes flew open and she wiped a streak of red dye from around her ear. “I’m working, hun. It’ll have to wait until I get home.”

  “Well, don’t you get a break?” Gina pressed. “I mean when you get home, you’re busy getting dinner ready, and this is really, really important.”

  Gloria sighed as she lathered up Millie. “Give me five minutes. I’ll take a quick smoke break. Now go on out. I’ll be there in a few.”

  Gina smiled as she turned to leave. She knew that when her mother came outside and saw that Sunny was there to double-team her, it would just be mere minutes before they got whatever information she had regarding Sunny and Donna.

  Outside, she quickly went over to her car and opened the passenger side door. “Come on, let’s go out back. Mama’s taking a smoke break in about five minutes. This is our chance. I know she won’t talk to us if Eddie’s around.”

  Sunny got out and followed her best friend around to the back of the building where the staff parking lot was located, and a picnic table was placed in a grassy area under a tree.

  “This is where they take their breaks. Hopefully, no one else will wander out at the same time. Put on your cute little sad face, Sunny. My mother’s going to need convincing if she really has kept a secret like that for all of these years.”

  Five minutes later, as promised, Gloria came out of the back door of her salon, with an unlit cigarette hanging out of her mouth. She stopped briefly, flicked her Bic and lit up.

  “Sunny,” she said, blowing out a breath of smoke, “I didn’t know you were here.”

  “This is about her, Mom,” Gina explained. “And it’s really, really important that you tell us what you know.”

  An immediate feeling of dread enveloped Gloria. She knew before another word was spoken what she was going to be asked. She’d mentally kicked herself in the ass multiple times since she’d let it slip that she’d been at Sunny’s baptism. In fact, Gloria had been surprised she’d not been questioned about it sooner being that it was no secret that she and Donna weren’t fond of one another at all.

  “Avery has something cooked up for this Sunday’s services, Mom. And it’s pretty hateful.”

  Gloria took a long drag on her cigarette, her heart rate escalated, and she nodded for her daughter to continue. Several minutes later, she knew that she had to come up with something to help the situation, without divulging anything she knew about Sunny’s paternity. It wasn’t about protecting Donna. It was about protecting herself.

  Chapter 39

  It was almost time for Avery to leave for his Wednesday prayer service. Mama was going with him because it was practically a mid-week social event for her. There was always a dessert and coffee hour afterwards. This was Mama’s week to bring the dessert. She had baked six-dozen cinnamon oatmeal cookies, and a chocolate sheet cake with caramel icing.

  “Are you sure you won’t come along with us, Sunny?” she asked, as Avery helped her on with her coat. “The youth group Avery started is usually in attendance. Wouldn’t hurt for you to participate in that to show your support, you know?”

  “No thanks, Mama,” I replied, grabbing my backpack and heading upstairs before she picked an argument and forced me to go. I heard Avery mumble something to her as they walked out the front door, no doubt voicing his displeasure at my total disinterest in supporting anything to do with Avery’s church.

  I picked up the upstairs’ extension, and quickly dialed Gina. My hands were shaking. It seemed
to take forever for her to answer.

  “Yeah, Sunny,” she answered.

  “How did you know it was me?”

  “I told Mom I knew you’d be freaking out right about now. Everything is going to be fine. Craig and I set up the sound system to play the reel to reel we switched out from the one in there that plays that faux organ music and choir song at the end of prayer service. The tape is queued up so that when Avery’s foot hits the floor button near his pulpit, it starts. And the door to the sound room is locked, so unless he has the key right there with him, it’s going to play out before anything can be done. Is my mother brilliant or what?”

  “Is she going to be there?”

  “Yep. She and Eddie are going to prayer service just like they do every Wednesday. Wouldn’t look good if they suddenly missed a week, now would it?”

  “I suppose not,” I breathed, my anxiety still apparent.

  “Relax, Sunny. We discussed this remember? It was dumb luck or maybe an omen that the extra key we copied belonged to the door to the sound room. I damn near wish I could be there to witness Avery’s demise.”

  She started laughing.

  “Don’t laugh,” I hissed. “What if he comes home and takes it out on Mama—or on me?”

  “Now why would he do that? He has no reason to think either one of you are behind this. Trust me, he won’t be spewing any shit about Father Donahue or you this coming Sunday. I can tell you that the cassette we put into that player is definitely the “Best of Reverend Dawson.”

  My pulse quickened once again. “Who’s on the tape?”

  “Don’t worry. Craig is genius. We dubbed out any names that Avery spoke. You can hear the female voices, mewling out Avery’s name and moaning; of course, nothing from my mother is on there, mostly it’s Stella Martin—her sessions were extremely vocal. Got the mayor’s wife, and some of Gwen Marshall’s sessions. Damn, the twins would be shocked at the potty mouth she has!”

  “Gina! You can’t expose Gwen! Robin and Rene are our friends for shit’s sake!”

  “Chill. They don’t attend that church anymore, remember? And it was so long ago, nobody is gonna recognize Gwen’s voice. Besides, in the throes of passion it was difficult even for me to recognize her voice.”

  “I just hope this doesn’t come back to bite us in the ass.”

  “It’s a brilliant idea my mother came up with. It’s going to work, trust me. Craig knows what to do and when. Try and relax. I’ll call you once he calls me. I promise it will be before your mother and Avery hit the door.”

  I swallowed nervously. There was a gnawing pain in the pit of my stomach. This wasn’t me. But then again, I wasn’t about to let that evil son-of-a-bitch tarnish my name and reputation. It was only right to take him down first. “Later,” I said to Gina before hanging up.

  I settled down with a glass of sweet tea and started on some homework to take my mind off what was about to go down at the Southern Baptist prayer meeting.

  Chapter 40

  Avery Dawson stood behind the pulpit in the front of his church and looked out upon his congregation. He enjoyed the Wednesday prayer meetings because they were more relaxed, and interactive. He often gave them a preview of the upcoming theme for Sunday’s sermon. He was pleased that the turnout was good this particular Wednesday.

  “We are a flock among wolves,” he said. “We are a gentle, God-fearing people, hard-working, law-abiding, but forever striving to fight off the temptation of evil, aren’t we?” He stopped, looked around him and saw the nods of agreement in the congregation.

  “It is only with God’s grace that we can combat this evil! We are imperfect humans. All of us. But that doesn’t excuse us from embracing evil, now does it? I’ve selected several Bible passages this evening that address this very thing. And I want each and every one of you to think about the meaning of these passages, and how it might pertain to your everyday life. We all fight temptation! Every day is a test of that battle, is it not?”

  He stopped again to peruse his audience. He had their undivided attention. He continued, and his voice bellowed even louder with his next declaration. “Come Sunday, I will reveal a truth that will test your compassion as a Christian in this community! Yes, evil lurks everywhere, even amongst those who choose to serve the Lord! But this revelation is not given for the purpose of throwing stones. No, it clearly is not! It is revealed to give each and every one of you the opportunity to become better Christians. To show compassion and understanding, and to know that the worst type of sin and deception is that which is spawned from the use—and abuse—of power or position for the purpose of doing evil!”

  He looked out among the congregations with his piercing eyes adding the desired effect he wanted. Sunday’s service was going to be the most important and riveting one of his career thus far.

  “Please open your Bibles to Galatians 5:16. ‘But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.’”

  For the next ten minutes, Reverend Dawson called on members of the congregation to get their interpretation of that passage. It was fairly straight forward, but he wanted to make sure they were all well prepared for Sunday’s message. It was important that they didn’t view him as a slanderer, but rather as one who sought to bring the truth to light so the sinners could repent and be freed from their chains of duplicity.

  “James 4:17 says, ‘So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.’ I want to see a show of hands. How many of you know what these passages means on a personal level?”

  Once again, Avery listened to their responses, clarified when necessary, and answered their questions before moving onto the final passage.

  “Revelation 21:8 says, ‘But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.’ My people, the message this evening is about the truth and the righteousness of those who seek it. Do not be deterred by worries of rejection. The truth shall always reign supreme. Now, let us all stand and recite the Lord’s Prayer.”

  Everyone stood, taking the hand of their neighbor and dutifully recited the Lord’s prayer. When they were finished, Reverend Dawson smiled from his pulpit, and extended his arms. “Let’s join in song as we end this session with ‘Bringing in the Sheaves,’ shall we?”

  When his shiny black shoe hit the floor button to start the tape, what followed most certainly was not ‘Bringing in the Sheaves.’

  Chapter 41

  Gloria Margolis-Sanders was still holding Eddie’s hand as the Reverend Dawson implored his congregation to join in with the usual taped rendition of the hymn. Their church didn’t have an organ or a choir, so this was how the hymns were played.

  The first sound she heard was a bit of static, followed by Avery Dawson’s booming voice.

  “It’s time you help yourself, woman!” Gloria froze. She recognized this as being the session he’d had with Stella Martin. This was going to be good.

  “I want to,” she whined, “I really do, Avery, but I’m afraid. Your penis is larger than my husband’s—much larger. I’m afraid it might…hurt. I’ve…I’ve never been with another man. I guess I didn’t expect that there was that much of a difference—in size, you know?”

  Gloria glanced up ahead where Stella Martin was seated next to her husband, Kenneth. She saw Stella’s head snap up with the recognition. Gloria didn’t have it in her to look at Avery yet.

  And then: “I’m sterile. You have no worries about me impregnating you.”

  A hush had fallen over the congregation. People weren’t totally getting what was happening…yet.

  “I’m not going to last much longer. Your pussy is so tight.”

  Audible gasps resounded throughout the church. Avery quickly stomped his foot on the floor button, too shocked to know that it wouldn’t stop the recording from playing.

  “Fuck m
e, Avery, fuck me good!”

  Gloria watched as Avery fled from the pulpit and ran to the door in front, which housed the sound system. He grabbed the knob but found it locked. She reveled in the desperation on his face, but on the outside, she appeared just as confused and shocked as everyone else.

  Avery’s voice came across loud and clear from another one of his sessions apparently.

  “Trust me to teach you how to please a man, the way that God intended for wives to please their husbands. Take my cock into your mouth and worship it with your tongue. Suck it until the fruit of my loin bursts forth to coat your throat with its goodness.”

  Gloria watched as Stella Martin stood up, and ran from the church, her hand covering the majority of her face. Stupid bitch had outed herself.

  “What the heck is going on?” Eddie murmured beside her.

  “I have no clue,” she whispered back. “Sounds like Avery has been flirting with some evil of his own though.”

  The recording continued, everyone seemed to be in shock. Donna Dawson was digging furiously in her purse, while Avery was digging furiously in his pants pockets.

  “Looking for the key that wasn’t there,” Gloria thought smugly, continuing to listen to the very private counseling sessions.

  Finally, Donna Dawson ran up to the pulpit as Avery was repeatedly slamming his shoulder into the locked door of the sound room trying to break it down. She clicked on his microphone and shouted over the taped recording that continued to play.

  “Everyone, please! There is dessert and coffee in the basement. Prayer service is over. Please find your way downstairs for cake and coffee!”

  No one budged.

  Chapter 42

  Christmas 1979

  Point Loma, CA

  “Jamie, you shouldn’t have,” I squealed as I pulled the geometric patterned sweater I’d been eyeballing for the last month out of the box, along with the pair of jeans I’d wanted.