Chapter 47
“We’ll be waiting.”
“Hi Benny!” Johnnie said with false excitement. How did you get this number? “What state are you in now?”
“I’m here,” Benny said firmly. “How do I get to your place?”
“Huh? My place?”
“Yeah, Mama told me all about you and Earl, the house, and some boy you like—the whole nine. I believe his name is Lucius or something like that.”
“Well, uh, uh, uh,” Johnnie continued stammering, unable to find the words she felt obligated to say. Feeling Sadie’s and Lucas’ eyes burning a hole in her back, she turned around and saw them staring at her, bewildered by what was happening. “Benny, I’ve gotta come home anyway. I can show you how to get here.”
“Okay, when you leavin’?”
“About an hour. Is that too long?”
“No, well be waiting,” he said. “Brenda and my first-born son are here.”
“Okay, bye,” Johnnie said quickly and hung up the phone.
“So, your brother Benny is home, huh?” Sadie said. “Isn’t he the boxer?”
“A boxer?” Lucas repeated, feeling a little intimidated.
“Yeah, he’s a boxer,” Johnnie said mechanically. “Sadie, I don’t know what I’m gonna do. My mother told Benny about Earl and the house—everything.”
“Weren’t you going to have him stay here anyway?” Sadie asked.
“No. I had decided not to tell him anything. I was gonna talk him into letting me stay here until I graduate, but now I gotta come up with something else.”
“Why don’t you just tell him the truth?” Lucas asked. “Maybe he’ll kick Earl’s ass. That’s what he deserves.”
“Lucas, please,” Johnnie said. “You’re not helping.”
“I know you don’t expect me to help you and Earl stay together, do you?” Lucas asked.
“You’re upset right now. Can we talk about this later, baby?”
The telephone rang again. Reluctantly, Johnnie answered it. “Hello,” she said tentatively.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Earl crooned. “I told you I have some news I need to tell you. I’ll be by tonight, okay?”
“Earl, that’s not such a good idea,” Johnnie said, putting her index finger over her lips.
Annoyed by what he had just heard and seen, Lucas curled his lips and sucked his teeth. Sadie watched him stare at Johnnie with increasing anger, and knew it was time for her to make a quick exit. Otherwise, she might have to witness the same sort of shouting match they had all watched the previous night at the Edwards’ house.
“What do you mean it’s not a good idea, Johnnie? I told you I have something very important to tell you. Why can’t I come by tonight?”
“Apparently you haven’t heard, but my mother was murdered.”
“Murdered? Why didn’t you tell me this last night?”
“I would have but you had to go, remember?” Johnnie asked, watching Lucas simmer as he listened to her conversation.
“All the more reason to get together. You need to be with someone. You shouldn’t be alone at a time like this.”
“I’m not alone,” Johnnie said unintentionally, closing her eyes immediately after she spoke the words. “Sadie’s here and my brother’s in town. He just called.”
“Who is Sadie?”
“You know, the lady next door that waved at us that day before you had to leave town. How was Chicago?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Earl said, lowering his voice as if someone was coming.
“You wanted to talk to me about Chicago? Why? What happened?”
Lucas was fuming. It looked as if smoke was about to come out of his ears. Sadie picked up her plate of food and mouthed, “I’ll catch up with you later,” then she tiptoed out of the kitchen and quietly closed the door.
“Any chance you’d be able to meet me tonight at the Savoy?” Earl asked.
“I can try. What time?”
“About nine-thirty.”
“No promises.”
“Okay,” he said and hung up.
Johnnie waited for a second click, but didn’t hear one. Slowly, she hung up the phone.