I hated to say I should have seen the ambush coming, but I didn’t. Between Pastor Jones’ sermon, my loss of a dear friend and a MIA daughter, I forgot to prepare myself.
Holding Mr. Amos’ hand, Kisha had skipped ahead of me. The sight warmed my heart. As I recalled, Amos had grandkids of his own, but they lived somewhere on the west coast. I’m not even sure if I’d seen any of his kids since his wife died.
Before I reached the vestibule to shake the pastor’s hand, the twins cornered me.
“It’s a sad thing.” Annie Mae shook her head.
This puzzled me, “What’s sad?”
“You know?”
I turned towards Willie Mae. She had a lopsided smile on her face. I wish I knew where this conversation was headed. Those two old biddies were dropping hints like we were in the twilight zone or something.
Other members pushed past us, some giving us ugly looks. It wasn’t my fault the twins decided to interrogate me in the middle of the church aisle.
Willie Mae leaned down and cupped her mouth, whispering. “Mary. It’s a shame about her death.”
“Yeah, we heard you found her.” Annie Mae’s breath floated across my nostrils, a mixture of coffee and tobacco. I didn’t dare inhale again until she moved out my line of breathing. Annie Mae posed as the saint of all saints, but she couldn’t lay down her stronghold with chewing tobacco.
I took two steps backward since Annie Mae insisted on breathing toxic fumes over me. “Yes. Look I’m still … well, I can’t talk right now.”
Willie Mae pulled her arm down in front of me like a stop sign on a bus. Why wouldn’t these two leave me be and let me pass?
“Honey, you okay? Maybe you should sit down. This must be a shock to you seeing how you two used to be such good friends.”
I didn’t want to and wouldn’t sit down. “I’m fine. Yes, I’m going to miss her.”
“You two never did make up. Oh, but I guess that would’ve been hard considering Mary had a breakdown and everything.” Willie Mae smiled, but her words sliced through the air like a Ninja going in for the kill.
That was her mistake. Mary and I weren’t close for the past five years, but she was a godly person. A bigger woman than I ever could be. I wouldn’t stand for her name to be smeared even before her body was laid in her final resting place.
“Now you two listen here. If I’m not mistaken both of y’all have been through some tough times.” I pointed at each sister, looking them both in the eyes. Annie Mae, her one good eye.
“Mary lost her family and she had a right to grieve. She wasn’t crazy and I won’t hear anything like that come from either of you again.”
Sucking in her breath, Willie Mae touched her chest. “Oh now Eugeena, Annie Mae and I loved Mary as much as you. We know she had it hard. Calm down.”
“Yeah, we were really concerned about you finding her body. The cops must have really wanted to talk to you.”
Oh my Lord!
If I wasn’t still standing in the church sanctuary, I would’ve … well. I was scared of my thoughts. God said pour good on your enemies head. I needed to walk away now before applying that principle slipped my mind. “Have a blessed afternoon, ladies.”
Before I took two steps, Willie Mae’s voice rang out. “You know the cops been asking questions. We’re church folks and we can’t cover up the truth.”
Annie Mae agreed, “No sister, that wouldn’t be right in the eyes of God.”
I didn’t bother to turn around. I couldn’t. I would’ve seen the same self-righteous smirk on those two women I had seen so many times before. Plus, I was holding my new grandbaby. No time for foolishness. I had enough of that to deal with when I returned home.
Besides I had nothing to hide from the police. So I got angry with an old friend, fussed her out in the church parking lot and then ignored her existence for months. Months turned to years of indifference. I had plenty of opportunities to reconcile our friendship. It became easier to leave the past alone as time went by.
Finally, I reached the pastor. Pastor George Jones was probably my favorite pastor ever. His father, Rev. Tennessee Jones, the one who co-founded this church and who remained the pastor most of the thirty-some years I attended had gone on to glory late last year. His son was about the age of my oldest son and appeared to be holding his own. This couldn’t be an easy assignment for a man in his late-thirties. Most of the congregation knew him when he’d sported nothing but a diaper.
“Sister Patterson, how are you and who’s this cute little fellow?” Pastor Jones touched Tyric’s little hand. Now awake, Tyric peered up at the preacher, looking puzzled by the new face.
“My… my grandchild.” I croaked. I wanted to tell the pastor I could give ole’ Job some competition about having the worst day of your life, but that wasn’t entirely true. Just felt that way. My soul was troubled and even now more so thanks to Willie Mae and Annie Mae. Instead I said, “Pastor Jones, your sermon this morning was something else.”
“I’m glad you liked it, Sister. I am terribly sorry to hear about Sister Fleming’s passing. That’s an awful way to leave this world. I know God has her in his arms.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that. Mary was a dear soul.”
“Well, I spoke to Mary’s eldest sister this morning before service. It looks like the funeral will be on Thursday. She did have a request. Sister Patterson, would you be willing to say a few words on behalf of the church?”
Me?
I remembered Mary’s sister, Natalie. Hadn’t seen her in years. From what I remember, both sisters weren’t that close. Surely, she would know I was not the person who needed to be speaking at her sister’s funeral.
I stared at Pastor Jones. He was pastoring at another church during the time Mary and I had our falling out. Maybe he doesn’t know about the blow up between us. There were few members who didn’t know. I could imagine the smirks on the twins’ faces from the front row on Thursday. Could I even stand beside Mary’s casket and call myself having words to say? The entire scenario seemed a tiny bit awkward.
“Pastor, I don’t know if I’m the right person to speak at her funeral.”
“I know it will be a hard time for you. But please consider. I think you would be the perfect person.”
“Thank you, Pastor. I appreciate you asking me.”
After I stepped outside, it took me a few moments to get adjusted to the early afternoon sun. I used my free hand to wipe some moisture from my eyes. I couldn’t blame it on my bifocals. Through my rapid blinking, I saw the parking lot was pretty empty except for a few cars. I appreciated not having anyone see how torn up I really felt.
Amos smiled when he saw me, but his face changed to concern. “Everything alright?”
“I’m fine. Thanks for looking out for Kisha.”
“My pleasure.”
I buckled Tyric in the car seat and then made sure little Kisha was fastened into her booster seat. I’m happy they have all these safety measures these days. I shudder to think of all the ways my own children traveled in the car.
I still couldn’t believe the audacity of my daughter. Couldn’t she have asked me instead of assuming I would keep her kids while she was Lord knows where?
Amos drove up beside me in his truck. We came in separate vehicles, but he’d followed me over to the church. “You sure you are doing okay, Eugeena?”
He really was a sweet man. “I’m fine, Amos. I hope you enjoyed service this morning.”
“Sure did. I will follow y’all to make sure you get home safe.”
Amos seemed determined to act as my guardian angel. I can’t say I was complaining. After all, I was the one whining to God about being lonely. Have to be careful what you pray for sometimes.
In about ten minutes, I pulled into the driveway of my house. There were still no signs of Leesa’s Altima anywhere. It was the car her dad gave her, probably the last gift she’d received from her dad before he passed. I gave her credit for at least keeping up with the car. It was paid in full and there wasn’t a need for her not to maintain it.
As I unbuckled Tyric, I heard raised voices in the distance. Sounded like a man and a woman. Not wanting to be nosy, I peered through the back window of the car. Across the street, Tamara was waving her hands in a man’s face. Come to think about it, Tamara never did return to her seat after the offering. She must have left the church and went home.
I could only see the man from the backside, but I assumed he must be her husband.
With Kisha dawdling behind me and Tyric in my arms, I glanced back over at the couple. The man proceeded to get in the red sports car, and backed out the driveway. He took off down the street, burning rubber in the process. Poor Tamara stood with her arms folded. If I didn’t have the children with me, I would’ve walked over to her. Married life was hard. I should know. As much misery as it brought me I missed Ralph.
Tyric started wailing. Must have meant it was time to eat. I decided to try to reach out to Tamara later.
We had only been in the house all of fifteen minutes when the doorbell rang.
Now who could that be?
Maybe Tamara came over to vent.
Still holding Tyric, who seemed to have become a member of my body, I peeked through the door’s peephole. My visitor’s eyes were hidden behind dark shades, but I could tell from her stance it was a very official visit.