Chapter 37
“I’m ready now.”
Back home in her childhood house, Johnnie searched Marguerite’s bedroom for a Buchanan Mutual insurance policy. While she searched, she couldn’t shake the sight of Marguerite on a slab in the cold, poorly lit basement of the city morgue. As she opened each drawer, she continued to see flashes of her mother’s battered and bruised body. The coroner read off a litany of contusions and lacerations found on her face and body.
Marguerite had a broken nose, a broken jaw, missing teeth, broken ribs, and a punctured lung. According to the coroner, Marguerite would have probably died from the head injuries alone. Her head looked as if it had been beaten with a baseball bat. The bullet in her brain saved her from an agonizing death.
The coroner’s comments made Marguerite’s quick death sound like it was some sort of consolation prize. The only thing that made Johnnie feel better was the knowledge of her brother’s imminent return to New Orleans. She hadn’t seen Benny and Brenda in years and longed to see her nephew, Jericho. Nevertheless, Johnnie wondered how she would explain what had been going on since Benny moved to San Francisco. Her brother wouldn’t understand how she could be living in Ashland Estates while their mother still lived in the ghetto. Johnnie had a lot to explain.
Maybe I can just move back home until the funeral is over. That way, I don’t have to explain anything. But what if he asks me to move to San Francisco with him? What do I do then? He could try to make me leave.
Am I becoming my mother? Have I become greedy just like her? Why not move out West? I could leave this life and start all over. No one knows me out there. Yeah, and that’s the problem. I can learn the stock market business if I stay. I don’t know any stockbrokers out there. I’m just starting to make my mark here. I’ll leave when I have enough money and a career to go out West; not before.
I’ll just have to convince him I can handle things on my own here. What if he asks me how I’m going to live? What will I say? I better think of something. Oh, I know. The insurance money. It should be worth about ten or fifteen thousand dollars. Sadie said she could get me a job as a maid. I’ll tell him I’m going to wait until I graduate, then move to San Francisco. I’ll tell him I’m going to work after school to help support myself. He’ll think I’m very mature for my age and let me stay. He’ll have to.
“Ah, here it is,” Johnnie said aloud. “I wonder what it’s worth.”
She pulled the papers from the faded yellow envelope and unfolded them. She skimmed the policy, looking for the amount.
“Fifteen thousand,” she said, feeling good. “This’ll take care of the funeral and whatever bills need to be paid.”
The screen door, badly in need of oil, screeched when it opened. Johnnie could hear it from her mother’s bedroom. She was suddenly reminded of her first encounter with Earl in that very room. Someone knocked. Johnnie went to the door and moved the curtain to see who it was. She smiled when she saw Lucas standing there with a red rose.
“Hi, Lucas,” she said, surprised and excited. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. Where have you been?”
“I’ve been around, Johnnie,” Lucas said solemnly. “It’s just hard to find you since you moved out. I don’t have your address or anything.”
“Well, come on in and have a seat. I’ll write down the address and phone number for you.”
Lucas hesitated. Although he knew Marguerite was dead, he remembered the tongue-lashing her mother gave him the last time he came to her house. After realizing how silly it was to keep standing there, he entered the room and sat down on the couch. A few moments later, Johnnie came back with a piece of paper and handed it to him.
“Is that for me?” Johnnie asked, referring to the rose.
“Yes,” he said, offering it to her. “I forgot I had it in my hand.”
She took the rose and smelled it.
“Ummm. Where did you get it?”
“In the Quarter at Charlie’s flower shop.”
Johnnie kissed him on the cheek and thanked him.
“I’m sorry about what happened to your mother, Johnnie. Does the sheriff have any idea who did it?”
“No,” Johnnie said, fearing that if she told him the truth, he would do something foolish and get himself killed. She hugged Lucas and said, “I’m glad you’re here. Lucas, do you know how to drive?”
“Yep.”
“Can you teach me? I had my mother’s car towed here, but I don’t know how to drive. I need to go to Fletcher’s funeral home. Will you drive me?”
“I’ll be glad to, Johnnie,” Lucas said and held her tight. “Whenever you’re ready, okay?”
“I’m ready now. Let’s go.”