Chapter Fourteen
Lenora stepped back and smiled. “You are all beautiful. Candace, I do believe you picked a bridesmaid dress that works for everyone.”
Candace beamed. “I believe so myself. Angel, turn around again.”
The young woman was radiant as she twirled in the lavender cocktail-length dress. “Candace, this is nice. I like how it fits right above the knee.”
Beulah Samuels, a stylist in Candace’s salon and her maid-of-honor, sashayed. “Girl, even an old woman like me with these hips don’t look half bad.”
All the women laughed. Lenora noticed tears in Candace’s eyes as she watched the last bridesmaid arrive from the dressing room. While her right arm was in a cast, Candace’s daughter, Rachel, looked beautiful. The dress showed off Rachel’s long legs. Candace walked over and hugged her not-so-little girl.
Lenora noticed there was still a bruise on Rachel’s face from the accident last Thursday. She took a deep breath and tried to enjoy the special moment. It was with relief that both Keith and Rachel were on the mend, but Lenora was still angry. This beautiful girl should not have to have her arm in a cast on her mother’s wedding day.
She turned away to compose her face. Lenora felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Ms. Fredricka, how are you doing?”
“I’m good. I’m so happy to see these women getting ready for Candace’s big day.” Fredricka Roberts winked. “We have to make sure my granddaughter, Angel, will have her day soon.”
Lenora looked over at Angel. “She and I have talked. I think after participating in Candace and Darnell’s wedding, she will be ready to set a date. How are you getting along?”
Fredricka had a stroke last year, but seemed to be getting around more with her walker. “Good days and bad days, but I’m glad to be here. How are you? I know you must still be upset about the children’s accident. Have they found anyone yet?”
Lenora must have not done a very good job of hiding her emotions. Of course, Ms. Fredricka was a pretty sharp woman. Lenora shook her head. “No, ma’am. It does make me angry that this coward walked away from an accident he or she caused.”
“How’s your son?”
“Keith is getting better, still in a lot of pain, though.” Lenora swallowed, surprised by the tears that flooded her eyes. This was not like her to feel so out of control with her emotions. “It could have been worse, and that’s the scary part.”
Fredricka touched Lenora’s arm. “I know. Sometimes it’s those scary moments that remind us we need to draw closer to God, although we shouldn’t wait for the bad things to happen.”
Lenora leaned over and wrapped her arms around Fredricka’s petite, frail shoulders. She pulled back and smiled. “You are a very wise woman.”
“Honey, I’m old enough to have earned some wisdom.” Fredricka winked.
Lenora laughed.
“Lenora!”
Lenora turned to look at who had shouted her name. She widened her eyes, and then glared at her visitor. What in the world is she doing here?
She walked over and strained to keep her voice quiet and civil. “Charmayne, I’m with clients. What are you doing here?”
Charmayne’s short hair was sticking up on her head like the woman had decided she wanted to rip her hair out. “We need to talk. Now.”
Lenora turned around and caught Candace’s attention. “I’m sorry for the interruption. Candace, I will have Sarah take notes of any adjustments needed for the bridesmaid dresses. Everyone looked pretty good to me though.”
Candace was watching Charmayne. She glanced at Lenora and said, “Sure, we will touch base when you’re finished.”
Lenora mouthed a “thank you” to her.
She turned toward Charmayne, who appeared to be swaying. Lenora grabbed her arm. “Let’s go to my office before you embarrass yourself and me.”
Getting Charmayne to the office was no easy feat as her troubled friend leaned into her and proceeded to cry softly. Lenora guided her to the chair in front of her desk. Charmayne collapsed in the chair. Lenora closed the door and sat in the chair next to her. She swung the chair around to face her friend. “What is going on with you?”
“Someone is trying to destroy me,” Charmayne whined.
Lenora sat back. “Really? Who’s out to get Charmayne now?” She got up from her seat. “I can’t believe you came in here like this. I’m like your last friend, but I don’t need you to come with your pity party.”
“Listen to me, Lenora.”
Lenora shook her head. “I told you the other day I’m through with you. You get mean and ugly when you are like this. I don’t know why I bother with you.”
Charmayne brushed her short hair off her face. “Will you listen to me? I’m sorry, but I need your help.”
Lenora paced the floor. She didn’t want to be close to Charmayne because she had visions of smacking some sense into her. For the life of her, she didn’t know how Charmayne kept this destructive side of herself from the public. Maybe this was what Eliza was referring to the other day. Now Lenora was starting to see the bigger picture here. The people in Charmayne’s district did deserve better.
She took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “Charmayne, I spoke to Jonathan. He has not decided anything yet. You said yourself that the people support you. Really, you are acting like it’s the end of the world.”
“No, no. You don’t understand.” Charmayne picked up her bag. She pulled an envelope out of her bag, and with trembling fingers, she unclasped the envelope. “Somebody is threatening me.” She pulled paper-clipped papers out of the envelope and slapped them on Lenora’s desk. “Look at this.”
Lenora looked down at what appeared to be a newspaper article. There was a note held by a paper clip on top of the article. She reached for the document. Then she grabbed her stomach as a wave of nausea washed over her body. She read the note again . . . and again.
For the wages of sin is death. Death is knocking at your door.
She lifted her eyes to look at Charmayne.
Charmayne was visibly crying. “It’s not fair. I’m sorry for that night. I’ve made up for it.”
Fear shook Lenora’s body as she thought about the words she had just spoken to Fredricka a few minutes before. It does make me angry that this coward walked away from an accident he or she caused. The hypocrisy of those words rocked Lenora as she stared at the note.
Somebody knew. Lenora couldn’t even claim innocence. She was just as much a coward as Charmayne was that night.