Southern Comfort

by ANDREA SMITH

  “Good morning, everyone,” she said. “I thank you all for being so kind and welcoming to me during the past several weeks. I thank the Lord for your charity and patience as I did my best to learn the lay of the land in the community.

  “Reverend Dawson selected a great theme for today’s sermon, one he shared with me this past week so that I could prepare in advance. I’d like to share a couple of my favorite passages regarding humility if I may. Psalm 147:6, ‘The LORD supports the afflicted; He brings down the wicked to the ground.’ Or Psalm 18:27, ‘For You save an afflicted people, but haughty eyes You abase.’

  “These two passages are so appropriate for today’s sermon. And rather than having me stand up here and preach to you, how about we have you come up and tell us all about your experiences with humility, or even humiliation for that matter. None of us are here to sit in judgment, because none of us have walked in your shoes,” Julie paused and perused the congregation. “Do we have anyone who wishes to share their pain or speak their piece?”

  From the back of the church, a female voice sounded. “Yes, I would like to give my testimony on humility.”

  The woman who spoke stood and walked to the front of the church. Dressed in a lavender dress, with a matching hat, Stella Martin took her place behind the podium and told her story.

  “Hi. Y’all know me, but if anyone doesn’t, I’m Stella Martin. I haven’t been around lately, and I’m pretty sure y’all know why what with the ugly rumors that have ran their course. Here’s the thing though, they weren’t rumors. They were the truth. And I have to tell you, the humiliation I’ve suffered, and that which I caused my husband has been no easy thing. When Ms. Bailey visited me earlier in the week, we talked for a long time. I asked her whether she thought the people of this community could ever forgive me.”

  Stella stopped to dab at her eyes with a linen handkerchief. “Ms. Bailey told me that it wasn’t the community’s forgiveness I needed. It was Kenneth’s and God’s. Well, my husband has forgiven me, and hopefully, with all the prayers I’ve said, the Lord has forgiven me as well. But what I’ve learned is that forgiveness is a two-way street.”

  Stella turned to look at Avery Dawson who was sitting behind her, his face appeared as if carved in stone. “Reverend Dawson, I’m here to tell you that I forgive you as well. For telling me that having sex with you those times in your office was the only way I could save my marriage. You see, that was an evil thing to do, but I blame myself for ignorance. Still, I trusted you, Reverend, so I hope you know I forgive you, but I’m not sure the Lord will until you stop your evil ways. Thank you all for listening to me.”

  Stella left the pulpit, and Avery was immediately on his feet until two rather muscularly built male members of the congregation, one of them being Kenneth Martin, stepped out from the door to the sound room and stood in front of him. Kenneth pushed him back down in the chair, crossing his arms in front of him and taking a firm stance.

  “Thank you for your testimony, Stella. Anyone else?”

  “Me!” a voice called out.

  Gloria Margolis-Sanders walked up to the pulpit, dressed in a black dress, her hair pulled up on top of her head. She pulled the microphone closer. “I’m here to say that I, too, was drawn in by Avery Dawson’s manipulative ways. But I have to admit that because I didn’t fight the temptation, I’m every bit as much to blame. I’m not proud of the sexual relationship I had with Reverend Dawson; it nearly cost me everything. I regret my actions, and have asked God’s forgiveness. And, if it’s in your hearts, I ask for your forgiveness and compassion. Thank you.”

  The buzz in the church was almost deafening.

  “What is this?” Avery shouted, making like he was going to try and stand up again. He thought better of it when he took a moment to see the two men inching even closer to where he sat.

  “These,” Julie Bailey said, “are members of your congregation Reverend Dawson. And they’re speaking about the humiliation they endured at your hands. You used their pain to ease your own evil desires. And now I’m afraid it’s time you answered to them. Anyone else?”

  “Me!” a voice came from the back. And everyone knew the voice. It was the voice of Avery Dawson’s wife.

  The congregation gasped as Donna Dawson walked through the wooden doors of the vestibule into the main church, wearing a white half mask across her face. Her nose, lips, and chin were visible, the rest obscured by the mask. Once she reached the front of the church, she didn’t stop at the pulpit. She went directly to where Avery sat and stood before him.

  She removed the mask, tossing it onto his lap. “Recognize this, Avery?”

  His head dipped as his hands tried to cover the phantom mask.

  “You should. You were wearing it that night in Montgomery when you raped me, remember? I never knew…no, I never knew until I went through your belongings and found it wrapped in my black silk slip. The one you tore off of me while I screamed for you to stop that night. Ring a bell? You’re a fake. You’re a fraud. And you killed the baby I was carrying when you pushed me down those basement steps. There’s a special place in hell for you, Avery Dawson, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you don’t harm another person in this town!”

  The members were now murmuring to one another, not even trying to hide their outrage as the revelations each of these women had presented.

  “But guess what, Avery?” Donna continued. “There’s one baby you didn’t kill, although she’s tormented enough by knowing she has your blood in her to want to die. But I intend to do everything I can to make sure she knows just how much she is loved—and that despite her DNA, she is good and loving and so much more than you or I could ever, ever be. Meet your daughter, Avery.”

  Donna turned, and her gaze fell upon the back of the church. Avery gasped as he saw his stepdaughter walk down the aisle of the church towards him. Sunny had changed over the past year. She looked confident and determined. And she appeared to be on a mission. He swallowed nervously as she approached the pulpit, and then turned to face the audience.

  “Almost a year ago,” she started, “I left the only town I’d ever known. And I didn’t leave willingly. No, I left in shame. Shame that wasn’t mine to own. You people of this community, not just the women that Avery Dawson corrupted, but also the ones who supported him by believing his lies about me when given proof with those audio recordings, chose to turn your back on the truth. And when you did that, you turned your back on me. My mother included,” she continued. “Being away from here has actually been a blessing in disguise. I lived in California—with a brother that loves me, and reconciled with the father I had believed was mine. I learned the truth—at least part of it, from him. The rest I found out along the way with the help of others, not least of all, my friend Gina who went out on a limb and knew she couldn’t sit by and let my name be destroyed. Now I want to say something, and I’m going to say it loud and clear. I don’t forgive y’all for the way I was treated. Maybe I never will. But I guess it doesn’t matter because I know who I am.”

  Sunny stopped, and turned towards where Avery was sitting. “I’m your bastard daughter, Avery Dawson, but only by blood, certainly not by choice. Yes, I’m the product of when you raped my mother.”

  There was another resounding gasp from the congregation as some of them now stood, glaring at Avery who seemed to sink lower in his chair.

  “And while the thought of you being kin makes my skin crawl, there’s one thing that I know to be true: I am nothing like you, nor will I ever be. I don’t preach the gospel, or pray in a church. I don’t live my life by using evil manipulation and sanctimonious bullshit the way you do.”

  Sunny turned back to face the congregation. “As for the rest of you, I hope you remember this for a long time to come. You may preach chapter and verse of the Bible, but by God, I’ve not seen many of you living it!”

  As Sunny stepped down from the pulpit, there was another cry from the back of the church. “Don’t stop m
e, Mama!”

  It was Robin. And right behind her was her mother, Gwen Marshall. Robin reached Avery first, her face a mask of pure hatred. “It was you!” she yelled. “The mask you wore is just like that one!” She grabbed it from his lap and smashed it against his face. Gwen pulled her back, and stepped in front of her.

  “Why, Avery? Why’d you attack my baby girl?” Her voice was drained of emotion.

  Avery looked at her, and finally spoke the only words he’d spoken since demanding to know what was going on. “You know why, Gwen. It was those lies you were spreading about me. It had to be you,” his voice trailed off.

  Everyone in the congregation was now on their feet, fighting to get to Avery.

  “Stop!” Julie yelled over the loudspeaker. “Please, all of you, take your seats!”

  Slowly the noise subsided, and the members sat down.

  “Now, this is not a lynch mob. My purpose in coming to Layton was to investigate a complaint, and I did. I’m a minister on the Board of Review for the Southern Baptist Council in Birmingham. We received allegations several months back by a local priest. That’s right. Someone had reached out to him because obviously they didn’t feel comfortable in approaching Reverend Dawson, and with good reason. Thanks to the cooperation of these women, I have concluded my investigation. Reverend Dawson is stripped of his ministry certification, and will immediately be terminated as pastor of this church. There are criminal charges pending upon my full report.”

  She stopped talking to turn and face Avery. “And until then, Mr. Dawson, the local authorities will take you into custody on suspicion of assault on a minor. Gwen Marshall has filed a complaint, and there’s an officer outside waiting to take you into custody. Gentlemen, if you would be so kind as to escort Mr. Dawson out to where the deputy is waiting?”

  Avery’s head dropped to his chest as Kenneth Martin and the other man each put their hands under his arms and lifted him from the chair. Avery struggled, but it was to no avail.

  “Blasphemy!” he hollered as he tried to struggle from their grip unsuccessfully. “All of you are sinners for the blasphemy committed here today in the house of God! You will all burn in hell for this!”

  He was like a wild man, his eyes darting around, his penetrating gaze hitting everyone within distance as he was forcibly led from the church outside.

  The murmurs of the congregation echoed within the church.

  “Now I want to say one more thing,” Julie Bailey said to the people. “Let this be a lesson for all of you about humility, compassion, and forgiveness. Evil hides under many masks. Pray to God for the ability to see through them. I will be your interim minister until such time as a permanent replacement can be found. Please join hands now, for our closing hymn, Nearer My God to Thee.”

  She hit the floor bottom as the chords began, and everyone stood solemnly and sang the words to the hymn.

  Sunny, Gina, and Gloria walked out as the hymn ended, just in time to see Avery sitting in the back seat of the county sheriff’s car as it pulled away.

  Several minutes later, Donna came down the steps, dabbing her eyes with a tissue. “Oh Sunny,” she wailed as she approached her. “Baby, can you ever forgive me?”

  Sunny turned to her, “I can forgive you, Mama, but it’s going to take a while to forget. I am glad that you finally saw the light, but for us, it just might’ve been too late.”

  “Please,” she sobbed, “don’t say that. I can’t take it if you aren’t in my life.”

  “I need time, Mama. Just give me some time, okay? I’ll be in Millersburg with Gina taking classes at the community college. Dad paid for it.”

  Donna’s head shot up in surprise. “Michael? You saw Michael?”

  “Yeah, I did. Jamie arranged it. Pretty cool thing to do, huh? We’re close now. He wants to be my father. It’s probably the one thing that gave me the courage to do what I did today. Because you see, Mama, I’m a daughter worth having. At least that’s what he thinks.”

  She sobbed again into her tissue. “I deserved that. I deserved every damn word of that. I promise, baby girl, I will get my shit together. I will be the mama you deserve.”

  “I look forward to it,” Sunny replied.

  “In the mean time,” Gloria said, moving over towards Donna and putting an arm around her, “how about you and I going to your place. Let’s box up all that garbage Avery brought into your home and set it out on the curb for the trash pickup. What do you say?”

  Donna nodded, leaning into her old friend. “I think it’s the right thing to do. And thank you for offering, Gloria. I have fresh baked sweet rolls and coffee.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I think Julie will be joining us. She wants to help you, too.”

  Donna shook her head. “I realize that now. I guess her being here has blessed the community in ways we never expected.”

  “Amen.”

  Donna walked over and gave Sunny a kiss on the cheek. “Call me when I’m forgiven. I’ll be there for you, I promise. I love you, Sunshine.”

  “I love you too, Mama,” she whispered, hugging her back. “I’ll call, I promise.”

  After they walked away, Sunny exhaled a long sigh. “It feels good,” she said with conviction. “Somehow, I didn’t think it would, but it does.”

  “How does it feel good?” Gina asked as they walked towards Sunny’s car.

  “I don’t know. I feel like I’ve set myself free or something. I mean, Avery may have contributed his chromosomes, but it’s not what makes me who I am if that makes sense.”

  “Makes perfect sense to me, chick. And it’s what I’ve known all along—even before the discovery.”

  “What do you mean?” Sunny asked, unlocking the driver’s side door.

  Gina stood on the other side of the car, his arms resting on the top. “I mean that you always seemed to be defined by those around you. Your mom, the loss of your father, your stepfather—as if somehow their opinions, attention, or lack thereof defined who you were, but it never did. You just didn’t realize it until you were forced to when you found out the truth. I totally think it’s a far out thing—this journey of self-discovery. And I must say, I’m glad I was with you along the way.”

  Sunny smiled as she got into the car and leaned over to unlock the passenger side for Gina.

  “Well, I do thank you for that, Gina. And now I’m looking forward to being with you as we travel your journey of self-discovery.”

  Gina popped a piece of Bazooka into her mouth. “You’re a trip, Sunny. You know that? My journey’s over. As Popeye says, ‘I yam what I yam.’”

  Sunny giggled. “Don’t be so sure. I think you might have a bit more journeying to do before we see the real Gina.”

  She shrugged and smiled. “Could be. Anything’s possible. But you know what? We’re going to make our own waves this fall in school.”

  “Yeah,” Sunny agreed. “We are going to kick major college ass!”

  They high-fived one another as they hit the road to Millersburg never looking back.

  Epilogue

  1985 - Five years later

  Montgomery, Alabama

  I barely get across the threshold of my apartment, arms full of grocery bags, when I hear the repetitive soft beeps from my answering machine.

  Damn.

  I kick off my heels, just now noticing I’ve got a run in my stocking before I set the bags on the countertop. Pixie, my spoiled mutt, comes bounding into the kitchen, tail wagging and no doubt needing to go out.

  “You’re such a good girl,” I croon to her, unlocking the back door that leads out to my private patio and green space. A stucco wall around the perimeter lends itself to privacy from the rest of the townhouses in this section. “Go on, baby. Go out and do your business.”

  She bounces out into our courtyard and I go back inside to check the messages. I hit the button, and the male voice states: You have six new messages.

  Beep.

  “Hey Sunny, it’s Dad. Looking forward to
seeing you next weekend. Feel free to bring Brad. Dad approves.”

  Beep.

  “Sunny, it’s Mama. Thank you so much for the lovely card and flowers. Gloria and I are doing a spa weekend next month. You and Gina should think about joining us. The place is about a two-hour drive from here. It’s over in Georgia, but it is supposed to be simply beautiful! Gloria’s been there before. She said it’s like being in a tropical paradise. Palm trees, gardens with waterfalls, the whole nine yards. She got two gift cards and is giving me one of them, but I’m sure she can get a discount if you and Gina wan—”

  Beep. (Mama hasn’t quite caught on to the thirty-second window for messages on this gadget yet.)

  “It’s Mama again. What I was trying to say before your damn machine so abruptly cut me off like that was being that Gloria has her own salon, I’m pretty sure one of her suppliers can get a hold of more gift cards, or at the very least, offer a couple of discount coupons for you two girls. I think a mother/daughter weekend would be so much fun, don’t you? Let’s see, I want to give you the date. Where is that damn pamphlet? Hold on. Shit I hope your machine doesn’t cut m—”

  Beep.

  “Hey baby, it’s Brad. I’ll be at your place around seven. Don’t cook, I’m bringing Chinese. Love you.”

  My stomach does flip flops like it always does when I hear his voice, see his face, smell his scent…

  Beep!

  “Sunny, it’s Gina. Listen girlfriend, if your mom starts yammering about going with them to that spa weekend, do not agree! That’s the same weekend as the Cyndi Lauper concert in Birmingham, and I finally snagged tickets! Call me!”

  Beep.

  “Sunny, it’s Dad again. Got to thinking. I hope the fact I approve of Brad isn’t his kiss of death. You’re out of that rebellious stage, right? Love you.”

  I laugh out loud, shaking my head. Rebellious stage?

  Yeah, that lasted for all of what—ten minutes?

  Let me backtrack a bit. Gina and I did in fact attend the community college in Millersburg, and yes, being on our own for the first time in our lives, did bring a bit of my wild child out that had been lying dormant all those years.