A Friend Indeed

Suddenly the house was filled with activity. Sister Greene buzzed around the kitchen warming food and making iced tea. Three of Daddy’s coworkers had stopped by with cards, food, and soft-spoken words. Church members were arriving by the carload. Most came, said a prayer, and left. David and Lillian Morgan had stayed to offer assistance to Sister Greene. Uncle Thomas entered with Mister Willie on his heels. We waited for Renee and her clan to arrive so that we could reveal our secrets to her. Thankfully, she hadn’t returned Collette’s call.

“Y’all wash up so you can eat. You need to put some food in your system.” Sister Greene loved bossing us around.

“Call me Willie. Call me Silly. Just call me to the table.” Mister Willie made a pathetic attempt at poetry.

“You need to go sit yo’ old wannabe-playa ass down somewhere, Willie. There ain’t nobody here for you to impress,” Uncle Thomas jokingly chastised Mister Willie.

“I don’t know what you talkin’ ’bout, ’cause Sister Greene is lookin’ good!” Mister Willie winked at Sister Greene, making her blush.

“Willie Johnson, you need to quit. I’m too old for that kinda talk.You need to be somewhere leading a prayer meeting.” Despite her words, we all saw a twinkle in Sister Greene’s eyes.

Laughing, I teased, “Sister Greene, now you know you’re never too old for a little romance. Mister Willie here just recognizes a good woman when he sees one.”

“Well, if he sees a good man he should send him my way!” Sister Greene snapped her neck so hard that her snow white shoulder-length ponytail danced a jig all its own.

“Oh, Willie, she done calt chu out!” Uncle Thomas teased.

“Yeah, she wants me!”

“The same way I want death and taxes. Everybody gather around the table so we can bless this food. We need to pray for Willie here, too. This man needs Jesus! David lead us, if you will, to the Throne of Grace.”

“Gracious and Heavenly Father, we come before you asking that you give us peace in our minds, strength in our bodies, and joy in our souls. Bless the hands and homes of all those who have prepared this wonderful food. Amen.” Deacon David Morgan, a long-time family friend, eloquently blessed the food.

“Where’re Renee and Estelle?” Deacon Morgan asked as he scooped mashed potatoes.

“Well, you know how slow Renee is all by herself. So I figure she’ll be here around seven,” I said.

“Well, she needs to get here, because we need to talk.” Collette was pulling a cigarette from her pocket.

“Put that cancer stick down and come here and fix your plate,” Sister Greene scolded. “Y’all gonna start passing out around here, and then what we gonna do? We don’t need any more drama!”

Collette, despite her respect for the wannabe matriarch of the Naylor household, retorted, “I’m grown, Sister Greene. I eat when and if I so please. But thank you for your concerns.”

Sister Greene’s face flushed red. “I’m just trying to help.”

“Well, you don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll eat her share and then some of that fine Sister Greene’s fine greens!” Mister Willie struck a pimp-daddy pose.

“Oh hush up, Willie!” Sister Greene blushed like a schoolgirl.

“Willie, you da man!” Dawn laughed. “You da man!”

Everyone gathered around the table filled with all our favorites: greens, yams, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, baked chicken, chicken and dumplings, chicken, chicken, and more chicken. The food seemed endless. It appeared everyone in the state had dropped off a dish.

Using more decorum than Collette, I began to speak, “Sister Greene, everything looks wonderful. I have a bit of a headache. Would you mind making a plate for me and putting it away for later? I’m sure I’ll feel more up to food then.”

“See, that’s why your head is hurting, not enough food and rest. All I see you young folks doing is walking around with bottled water. Since when is Baltimore water not good enough to drink straight out of the faucet? I’m willing to bet my pension that is exactly where that came from.” She pointed at the bottle of Evian in my hand. “Just a license to print money in my opinion … a license to print money. But you know I’ll put a plate up for you, baby.” Sister Greene went into the kitchen muttering and shaking her head.

Recognizing the perfect opportunity to slip away, I made my way into the den. I needed solitude before Renee arrived. Although Collette was not visibly hostile, I knew she was angry and was lying in wait to pounce again. I hoped we could spare our visitors the airing of our family’s funky laundry.

As I looked around the room where we’d spent so much time, I felt a sense of peace. The last Christmas before Mama died came to mind as I sat on the window seat. Collette, Renee, and I had sneaked into the den on Christmas Eve for the annual package shake, thinking that Mama and Daddy had already turned in for the night. Much to our surprise, Mama’s head lay on Daddy’s lap sleeping as he stroked her hair. He smiled at us and put his fingers to his lips indicating we should be quiet.

He beckoned us to him and kissed us each good night, sending us off to bed. For the first time in my young life I understood what it meant for a man to love a woman. I knew then that a man had to love me enough to stroke my hair as I slept. The thought of that night gripped my soul. My soul yearned for its mate. I’d found the man who loved me enough—Anthony Sanders.

My momentary solace was interrupted by Renee and company’s arrival. Three of the four children ran to me for hugs and kisses. Derrick junior was so tall and handsome. For sure breaking hearts was his pastime. Stephen was my daddy’s spitting image. He was going to be tall, too. Shanelle was stunningly beautiful, with the best features from both Derrick and Renee. She was definitely no longer a little girl, but Krystal was the poster child for Daddy’s little girl. She clung to his hand as Derrick walked into the den to hug me.

“How you holding up, Glynda? I see you’re in here all alone, as usual. Renee is trying to be tough, but we’re late because she was crying so hard she couldn’t get dressed. This is a real tough pill to swallow. He was so alive, so happy, so healthy. I guess we just never know what tomorrow will bring. For that matter, we don’t know what today will bring.” Derrick held me close as he talked.

“That’s for sure, Derrick. Thanks for taking care of Renee. She always thinks she has to be so strong for the rest of us.” I reluctantly broke our embrace.

We walked hand in hand to the dining room. Everyone seemed so happy, which just pissed me off. Didn’t these people know that my daddy had just died and that no one should be happy?

As though Derrick could read my thoughts, he spoke, “It’s okay, Glyn. This is how people show their respect. You and your sisters need to mingle with the people who have come here. I know y’all want to be alone, but it is best if you mingle. Best for everyone.”

Though I wanted to be mad at Derrick for suggesting this was the cocktail hour at Martin’s West, I couldn’t. He was absolutely correct. I understood why Renee has loved this man for so many years. “I know you’re right, brother-in-law. They all mean well, I’m sure.”

“People just want to feel like they are making you feel better, even if they have no clue whether they are or not. Come on, let’s get something to eat.”

“Glynda, phone. It’s Rico,” Collette yelled from the kitchen.

“I’ll get it in the bedroom.” I was glad to take leave from Derrick’s well-meaning optimism.

“Hey, gurl, I was wondering when I was going to hear from you.” Relief washed over my tired body as I heard my friend’s voice and fell onto the bed.

“Hey there, yourself. Are y’ll holding it all together?”

I liked that Rico wasn’t speaking to me in that whispered I-feel-sorry-for-you tone. “Other than being at each other’s throats constantly and crying for absolutely no reason, we seem to be doing okay.”

“I’m really glad. I’ve been worried about you all day. I have had one surgery after another, and then I had to get someone to cover the ER for me while I’m gone. Jonathan and I are on the red-eye tonight, getting in at five in the morning. We’ll be staying at the Sheraton at BWI and will be over to Papa Eddie’s place after we take a nap. Do you need me to bring you anything?”

“Why are you staying at a hotel? There’s plenty of room here!”

“We don’t want to be intrusive. We want any available space to be for family.”

“You are family!”

“I understand you feel that way, but I know the rest of your sisters don’t. You never answered my question. Do you need me to bring you anything? I just finished up at the hospital, and I’m heading home. We’ll finish packing, have a little dinner, and then go by your place before we go to the airport. That way we’ll miss the traffic.”

“We’re all wearing either gray or burgundy, so if you could get my charcoal suit and pumps I’d appreciate it. I guess you’re right about my sisters. We’ve had more than a few heated discussions about Roberta imposing herself on the family, and now I’m being a hypocrite because I feel like you’re family. Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

“No, gurl, and you’re slacking on the job! Speaking of loving, Jonathan spoke to Anthony this morning. He’s a mess! He wants to be with you so badly. He broke down, told Jonathan how much he loves you.”

Like a switch had been flipped, tears filled my eyes. “He told me today when he called. I’ve been such a fool. I’m not going to find a more loving and devoted brotha, and I’ve just been too stupid to see that.”

“Gurl, you got enough going on without concerning yourself with your stubbornness. I’ll go by and pick up the clothes. Anything else you need while I’m there?”

“No, just get here. I need you.”

“When’s the funeral?”

“Friday evening, with a Saturday morning burial.”

“Now when I get there, please put me to work, whatever you need, whenever you need it. Is that clear?”

“Yes, ma’am. There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Gurl, you know you can tell me anything.”

“I think my daddy had a secret life,” I whispered as though someone else was in the room.

“What are you talking about?”

“There’s a woman in his will who no one knows. We don’t know who she is or what she meant to him. But she gets an equal share of his estate. And that is a pretty sizable piece. Then Dawn and I being nosy found her number in his phone book, called it, and a teenager named Edwina answered the phone!”

“Oh my Gawwwwwd! Do you think he’s had this woman on the side all the time? What’s Estelle saying about all of this?”

“She just casts her eyes down and cries. This is so unbelievable about my daddy. And, are you ready for this? She’s only three years older than Renee!”

“Damn, Glyn. I don’t know what to say!”

“Gurl, there’s nothing to say. We just have to wait it out and see what she says when she calls back. We contacted Daddy’s lawyer about her, too. We just need someone to clear this up. My imagination is running wild! Can you imagine what this must be doing to Estelle?”

“There has to be a logical explanation. The Papa Eddie I know wouldn’t have any major skeletons in his closet. He was such a good man. I hate to ask this, but did you get the coroner’s report yet?”

After a long pause I answered. “Yes, an aneurysm. Never knew what hit him. As if I haven’t laid enough heavy news on you, there’s more. He was taking Viagra.”

“Stop!” Rico gasped with laughter. “I’m sorry, I know that’s not funny. But it is so hard for me to think of Papa Eddie that way.” It was hard for Rico to talk, she was laughing so hard.

Despite myself, I started laughing, too. Amazingly enough, it felt so good to have a belly-roll kind of laugh. It became contagious, and we could no longer maintain our conversation. I was finally able to speak. “See, you’re so far to the left, you can’t even see right! I shouldn’t be laughing, and my daddy is lying in a funeral home.”

“Gurl, you know I mean no disrespect, but Papa Eddie knocking pictures off the walls and lamps off the nightstand. I ain’t mad at him.”

“Yeah, that is pretty funny when you put it like that!”

“He embraced life with all he had, and you can’t begrudge him that. They wouldn’t have the toxicology back yet to know if the Viagra actually caused the rupture. Did they say when they would know?” Rico was serious again.

“In a few days. Rico?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for being my friend. I feel so much better just talking to you. Just hurry up and get here.”

“Hold on. I’m coming!”

We talked for a few more minutes and then said our good-byes. I tried to convince her to stay at Daddy’s, but she was adamant. I couldn’t wait to share this information with Roberta.