By the Dawn’s Early Light

The shrill of the old rotary phone on the kitchen wall shook me from a sleep so deep I didn’t recognize my surroundings. Golden sunlight streamed through the skylight, giving the room a warm glow. My head rested on a down pillow that smelled of Hugo Boss, my daddy’s favorite cologne. I still wore the stretch pants and T-shirt Rico had chosen for me the morning before. My feet were bare, and I was covered in a burgundy comforter. Pain shot through my chest as the memories of the previous day’s events flooded back.

I was lying on the burgundy leather sofa in the den of the house where I’d grown up. I was on this sofa with the deep soft cushions because a little more than twenty-four hours previous, Edward Naylor had decided that his time on earth as my daddy was done. I just had to make it in this life without his strong shoulders to lean on.

I could hear Uncle Thomas in the kitchen whispering. “She still sleepin’. We had a long talk when y’all left ’n’ when she laid down in mah lap she jus’ fell right ta sleep. I took off heh shoes ’n’ covered heh up. I knowed she wanted ta sleep in heh daddy’s bed, so I put his pillow under her head. What time you comin ovah here? … You shouldn’t make dem chirren go ta school. Dey grandpa is Dead.… Well, you dey mama, do as you please. I’ll see ya ’bout eight-thirty then.… I loves you, too.”

I knew from the conversation Renee had been at the other end of the connection. I tried to sit up, but my head hurt as if I had drunk several shots of vodka the night before. Uncle Thomas peeped in just as I managed to get myself upright.

“Good mornin’, Miss Sleepyhead. Yo’ sistahs on dey way ovah ta git on wit’ dis here funeral-plannin’ bizness. Ya want some coffee?”

“Good morning, Uncle Thomas. Thank you for covering me up. I don’t remember anything except lying down on your lap last night. I’d love a cup of coffee. My head really hurts.”

“It’s all dis here stress.”

“I guess you’re right. I’m going to shower and change while you make coffee. You want me to help you cook some breakfast for the gang?”

“No, chile. I got dis kitchen unda control. You go take yo’ time doin’ what evah it is y’all womenfolk do ta make yo’self look so pretty. Ya want some Tylenol or sumin for yo’ headache?”

“I have some in my bag. Uncle Thomas …”

“Yeah, baby?”

“Thanks for last night. You shed a new light on Daddy. I guess I always knew he had a love life, but I never wanted to think about it.”

“I should be thankin’ you. Ole Thomas jus’ let it all go las’ night. You know a man ain’t suppose ta be breaking down like dat. But I sho’ ’nuff feel betta dis morning. Some of dat pain done ease up outta mah chest.”

“Uncle Thomas, who wrote that stupid rule about a man not crying?”

“Dunno. Jus’ know dat’s how it is. Now go showah and change b’fo’ yo’ sistahs git here. Ya know da first thang on da list is da call ta dat lawyer fella.”

“Well, I’m a little more than curious what he has to say about this Nina person.”

“Kinda curious, mahsef.”

As I folded the comforter, I wondered what secrets would be unveiled. Did Daddy have a life that none of us knew about? Was he a man different than the one we all knew and loved? Was Nina Blackford another woman? Poor Estelle must be in pure torment wondering if the man she was about to marry loved another woman. A woman he loved enough to make a part of his will and the beneficiary of a rather sizable insurance policy. He bequeathed the same share to her as to the rest of us.

I decided to shower and change in the guest bathroom. I didn’t want to face all of the memories in my daddy’s bath. I dressed quickly and added only enough makeup to put some color back in my cheeks. Just as I began hanging my clothes in the guest room closet, I heard Dawn yelling greetings from the front door.

“Good morning, we’re here!” Devin’s voice had changed since the last time I’d spoken to him.

“Hey y’all. Where’s everybody?” Dawn sang out.

“In da kitchen.”

“Good morning, sis.” I was so glad to see Dawn. “Boy, you sound like a man, Devin. Come here and give your auntie a hug and kiss. You’re so tall and handsome. You sure look like your grandpa.”

“Hey, Aunt Glynda. Yeah, Mom tells me that all the time. I’m real sad about PaPa, though. He was my hero.”

“Baby, you ain’t said nothin’ but a word! Eddie Naylor was a whole bunch of folks’ hero. Uncle Thomas is making us some breakfast. Renee is on her way over, too. Have you talked to Lette this morning?” I hugged Devin again.

“Yeah, she’s stopping by her office to tie up some loose ends with her assistant and will be here about nine-thirty. She said not to call the lawyer until she gets here.”

“Why don’t we just wait until he calls us?” Collette was going to really work everybody’s nerves before this was over.

“Gurl, you know your sister. If money is involved, she has no patience. We talked a long time when we got home last night, and she still says Estelle will have no say. I tried to reason with her, but she won’t budge.”

“So does she think we are incapable of talking to the lawyer, or has she forgotten that I am a lawyer?”

“Auntie Glynda, don’t be mad at Mom.” Devin’s voice had the typical young male octave variables.

“I’m sorry, Dawn. Devin is right. It’s not you who is being unreasonable. But if the lawyer calls, we’ll sure as hell talk to him. I’ll deal with Lette on my own.”

“Can I pop some popcorn and watch? That should be quite the show. Better than any movie Devin has dragged me to this year for sure.” Dawn’s words drew a genuine smile from my face.

“Come on in here and make yo’sef a cup a coffee, Miss Dawn. I made it jus’ like ya like it. Strong ‘n’ jet black.” Uncle Thomas poked his head around the corner smiling.

“Oh, Uncle Thomas, just like I like my man. With just enough sugar to take the bite out of it! Oooow weeeee!” Dawn ran to hug Uncle Thomas’s neck.

Everyone turned at the sound of a key slipping into the frontdoor lock. Eddie had never taken the house keys from us girls as we moved out one by one.

“Oh chile, them kids wore me out this morning. They didn’t understand why they had to go to school. I want to thank you very much, Devin, for blabbing that you weren’t going.” Renee was heavy laden with bags.

“Good morning to you, too!” Dawn was very defensive when it came to Devin.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I been up so long and done so much, I feel like it is afternoon. How y’all feeling? I didn’t sleep a wink last night. I dozed off about four, four-thirty, and the clock went off at five-fifteen. Phone started ringing at six. People were just calling to see what they can do to help. Nobody wants to believe it. I smell food. I’m starved.” Renee hadn’t given anyone else a chance to say a word.

“Breakfas’ be ready in a few minutes. Come git chu some coffee ’n’ I can make a fresh pot. What’s in all dem bags?”

“People started dropping food by the house at seven this morning.We got pastries, coffee, sandwich meat, bread, liquor, all kinds of stuff. Everybody sure did love my …” Renee started to cry.

“Oh Renee, why you gonna start this again?” Dawn was dabbing at tears.

“We need to organize the kitchen so we can accommodate all of this food. This is just the beginning, and we are already running out of room. Come help me, Devin.” My main goal was to busy myself to the point of exhaustion. It was my only solace.

“Collette called me on my cell a few minutes ago. She is on her way. She went to the office, but she says she can’t concentrate and wants to be with us. She said the lawyer should be calling soon.” Dawn poured a cup of coffee.

“She just doesn’t want us to talk to the lawyer without her being here. I’ll lay you dimes to donuts she walks through that door before nine o’clock. If I’m wrong, I’ll fly both of you to L.A. first class.”

“Damn, please let her get here at nine-oh-one!” Renee high-fived Dawn.

“Well, she only has eight minutes. First class, did you say?” Dawn raised her eyebrows, which made her look so much like our daddy.

“First class!”

“Since ya done predicted Lette’s soon-ta-be arrival, we’ll jus’ hol’ breakfast. Den we need ta git ta da serious business of plannin’ all dis here bidniss out. Eddie left some real good instructions so it won’t leave a lot of decisions ta be made. Da funeral-home man called ta change da time he gon’ git here to ele’em.” The phone rang, interrupting Uncle Thomas.

“Naylor residence, Dawn speaking.… Good morning, Bishop Hayes. We’re doing surprisingly well. Just a few tears so far this Morning.… Yes, I guess this will be the headquarters, as you put it, for all of the activities. There’ll be someone here all the time.… Daddy left very explicit instructions, so we’ll carry out his wishes as best we can.… Of course, you’ll be presiding.… We’d really like it if you’d stop by sometime today. Thanks so much for calling.” Just as Dawn was about to end the call, she seemed to have a thought.

“Bishop? … Does the name Nina Blackford mean anything to you? … I just thought I’d ask. Her name has come up and no one seems to know any details about her … We’ll see you this afternoon. Please give Sister Hayes my love. I haven’t seen her since I started attending seven-thirty services.… Bye now.”

“What did he say about Nina?” The words rushed forth from my mouth.

Before Dawn could answer, at precisely eight fifty-eight and forty seconds, Collette slipped her key in the door. “Damn you good, Sissy!” Renee laughed.

Laughter hit each of us. We laughed so hard we were unable to speak as Collette walked in.

“May I be let in on the joke?” She wasn’t amused.

“Oh lighten up, Lette. Glynda just promised to buy us first-class tickets to L.A. if you weren’t here by nine. She said there was no way you would allow the lawyer to call without your being here.” Dawn was still laughing.

“And just why is that so hilarious?”

“Like she said, lighten up. I wasn’t wrong, was I now?”

“Come hep me set da table for breakfast. ’Cuz y’all ’bout to start, and I ain’t havin’ it!”

“We betta straighten up, or Uncle Thomas is gonna get a switch for us,” I chided.

“Don’t thank I won’t now, ya hear?”

Uncle Thomas had fixed a small feast: homemade biscuits, slab bacon, grits, and eggs with fried potatoes and onions. I really don’t know why seeing all of that food made me feel famished. It was only six in the morning to my body since I was still on L.A. time, and I never ate before ten. We gathered around the table holding hands, and Renee prayed the blessing. We each took the seat where we had sat as children, with Uncle Thomas in Daddy’s chair. The resemblance was unsettling.

Several minutes passed before Devin spoke. “Do you think PaPa is in heaven?”

“Honey, if there is a heaven, and truly I believe there is, then Edward Zachary Naylor is up there directing traffic. What made you ask that?” Dawn leaned over to hug her son, but Devin, like the average twelve-year-old boy, squirmed away.

“Bishop says every Sunday that if we want to see our loved ones who died in the Lord again, then we better get saved. I think I’m saved. I prayed the sinner’s prayer and I’ve been baptized. But how can I make sure?”

“Honey, you’ve done all you need to do. God is not like people. We don’t have to keep begging him for salvation. It’s a gift. A gift you accepted when you were ten. And when we pray together, you always ask God to forgive you for sins you know you committed and even for those you didn’t know about. So to answer your question, yes, you will see Daddy again.” This time Dawn wouldn’t be denied a hug.

“See why you gonna start some mess, Devin? We were doing just fine!” I asked jokingly.

“I’m sorry, Auntie Glynda, but I had to know if I would see PaPa again.”

“I sho’ ’nuff undastan’ what chu talkin’ ’bout, Devin. I’m right pleased wit’ my place in da Book of Life mahsef.”

“How long has Daddy belonged to First United?”

“Gurl, since the big split off from Rehobeth back in the sixties. I was just a baby when he and Mama joined the church. Bishop was just a teenager back then.” Renee waxed nostalgic.

“He sure didn’t like change, did he?” I asked the rhetorical question.

“Not even a little bit.”

The phone intruded on our precious moment as we looked from one to the other. It was nine forty-five, and we assumed it was the lawyer returning our call. I couldn’t speak for my sisters, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer to the question that seemed destined to change our lives. Devin looked at each of us before finally asking, “Do you want me to answer the phone?”

“No sweetie, I’d better get it.” Renee moved slowly, trying to delay the inevitable.