Looking For Trouble (30 page)

Chapter 43

T
hey were all fanned out around the elegantly appointed dining-room table, eager to enjoy a delicious meal. Isaiah sat at one end, while Henrietta was settled in at the other. John and Elizabeth were seated beside each other, and Allene was happily planted across from them. They bowed their heads as Isaiah blessed the food. Once the amens had been echoed, they were ready to partake in the down-home Southern meal in front of them: smothered pork chops, buttered rice, seasoned string beans, sautéed okra, fresh-from-the-oven biscuits, and scrumptious banana pudding, all prepared with loving care.

John couldn't wait to dig into his mother's food. With the exception of the peanut butter crackers he'd eaten while filling the tank of his rental car at the HandiMart before he'd picked up Elizabeth, he hadn't had a bite since lunchtime yesterday.

He was thankful that this meal and the entire mood were decidedly different from yesterday's when he'd brought Madeline home to meet his parents. What a mistake that had been! As John looked beside him at Elizabeth, he smiled, appreciating the difference twenty-four hours had made. More important, he realized what a difference having the right person in one's life meant.

He'd exhaled with relief when he saw his mother's eyes light up the very second Elizabeth had offered to help her in the kitchen.
Thank you, God!
he'd silently shouted.

John smiled as he passed another serving platter to Elizabeth.

“Thank you,” she said, smiling back. She pierced a large pork chop with the silver serving fork and plopped it onto her plate, ready for the next dish to pass her way.

Unlike Madeline, who'd skimmed over the food his mother had prepared, Elizabeth gladly filled her plate until it was covered from one side to the other.

Damn!
John thought as he watched her lift her fork to her mouth with vigor. She must have caught him staring, because she smiled and said, “Despite my size, I've always had a pretty hefty appetite.”

“That's good.” Isaiah grinned. “Ain't nothin' wrong with a woman who likes to eat. Plus, you like to cook, too. That's always a winnin' combination in my book.”

“And she cooks well,” Henrietta said, nodding. “Elizabeth sautéed the okra, and it turned out absolutely delicious.”

“You did?” John looked at Elizabeth with surprise. He put a spoonful of okra in his mouth and wanted to moan when he tasted the flavorful goodness, which was close to his mother's perfection. “Elizabeth, this is really good.”

Elizabeth blushed. “I can't take full credit for it. Your mother instructed me and I just followed her directions. A little garlic here, a pinch of salt there, and a dash of pepper. It was easy.”

John could see that Elizabeth had won over his mother, which wasn't an easy feat. Although Henrietta was kind and loving, she could be ferocious about protecting her family, especially her children. This was one of the reasons why John had been reluctant to bring women home in the past. But now, everything had changed. In his heart, John knew that Elizabeth was the last woman he'd be introducing to his family. However, little did he know, another woman was going to take it upon herself to do the honors that very afternoon.

 

The next hour was filled with laughter and good conversation. John was pleased that Elizabeth blended seamlessly with his folks. A small prick of disappointment gnawed at him when he thought about the fact that he couldn't experience this kind of feeling with Elizabeth's family. As he looked over the table full of food, the happy smiles, and the laughter, he hoped that one day he'd be able to break bread like this with the Sanderses. But he was a realist, and he knew that the probability was unlikely, so he decided to be grateful for the moment in front of him.

John pulled himself away from his thoughts and glanced over at his grandmother, who had been largely silent during most of the meal. He knew this wasn't like her. Allene always had something interesting to say. She was a natural storyteller and loved regaling company with tales from what he called “the olden days.”

“Grandma, you all right?” he asked.

Allene raised her napkin to the corners of her mouth, brushing away a few crumbs. “I'm fine, baby. Just sittin' back, enjoyin' my family and this lovely young lady you brought home to meet us. It's real good to have you here, Elizabeth.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Small.” Elizabeth smiled. “I'm so happy to be here. You-all have made me feel right at home, and I appreciate it.”

Allene nodded. “You mighty welcome.”

“Yes, we're glad to have you, Elizabeth,” Henrietta said as Isaiah smiled in agreement.

Allene tilted her head and looked at Elizabeth with a warm expression. “You got a royal name. Did you know that?”

Elizabeth nodded. “Yes, ma'am. My mother said she named me after Queen Elizabeth.”

“I don't know about the queen of England,” John said, “but you're my Nubian queen.”

The moment he made the statement, he could feel every eye at the table firmly aimed on him. He knew his family understood that there was something going on between him and Elizabeth, just by virtue of her being there. But he wasn't sure if they knew how he really felt. When he looked back around the table he could see they were staring at him with concern. Finally, his grandmother spoke up.

“Sound like you two done already gone way beyond courtin',” Allene said, looking from John to Elizabeth.

John smiled. This was the Allene Small he was used to: straight to the point, wise, and all-knowing. He'd been waiting for his grandmother to make some sort of comment, and he was surprised it had taken her so long to speak up.

He took hold of Elizabeth's hand as he answered her. “Yes, ma'am. I know this seems sudden, and, honestly, it caught Elizabeth and me off guard, too.”

John couldn't read the expression on his grandmother's face, but the intensity in his parents' eyes left no question. He knew they were wondering if he'd lost his mind.

Henrietta nearly choked on her sweet ice tea. “When did all this happen?”

“Mama, I know this seems sudden, but, trust me, this is real. I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life. I know I've made some recent mistakes, but this isn't one of them. I know what I want, and I know what I'm doing.”

“What you want?” Isaiah said, with raised brow.

From one man to another, John knew the meaning behind his father's question. Isaiah wanted him to be crystal clear about what exactly it was that he “wanted” to do with Elizabeth. “Yes, Pop. I know what I want out of my career and out of my life. I'm going to open the bank, and I want Elizabeth to be a part of my future.”

Allene sat back and smiled. Isaiah sighed loudly and leaned forward on the edge of his seat, while Henrietta moved her napkin from her lap to the table, signaling that she was finished with the business of eating.

The energy in the room had completely shifted in less than five minutes.

Henrietta looked at her son. “I'm sorry, but what did you just say?”

John cleared his throat. “Elizabeth and I have started seeing each other.”

“Since when?” Henrietta said. “How have things changed so drastically in just one day?”

John silently cursed himself for bringing Madeline home, but he was ready to address his colossal mistake. “I know what you're thinking. And if I were you, I'd probably be concerned, too.” John held Elizabeth's hand even more tightly. “Madeline was a huge mistake. I wish I'd never brought her here to Nedine, much less to this house to meet you. But that situation has been corrected. A very wise woman once told me that making mistakes is a part of life, but it's what you learn from them that counts.” John had just used the words his mother had told him once.

“Yes, son. That's true.” Henrietta nodded. “I'm not implying that you're making another mistake. What concerns me is that you're talking like you and Elizabeth are in a relationship. And unless I'm mistaken, you've been seeing each other for . . . um . . . how long?”

John shifted in his seat; and with complete confidence, he said, “One day.”

Isaiah rubbed his temples. “Son, I know you got a good head on your shoulders, but do you realize what you just said?”

“I know how it sounds, Pop. But like I told you, this is real. I can't articulate it so that it'll make sense to you, but it makes perfect sense to Elizabeth and me.”

Elizabeth nodded her head. “And now that we have this opportunity to be together, we're going to take it . . . with your blessings, we hope.”

Everyone around the table was silent for a long beat. John and Elizabeth's news wasn't as easy to digest as the delicious food.

Isaiah finally broke the stillness that had blanketed the room. “I've done a lot of livin', and one thing life's taught me is that nobody knows a person's heart but them.” He looked at John, giving him a thoughtful stare. “Son, you a fine young man and I'm proud of you. You doin' great things and you got a big future ahead of you. I trust that when you make a decision about somethin', especially somethin' this serious, that you know what you doin'.”

Allene smiled and nodded her head. “Yes, indeed. It don't take but a minute to know certain things. Y'all got my blessin'.”

Now all eyes were on Henrietta. John watched his mother as she moved her plate to the side and rested her elbows on the table. He knew she was beside herself. Breaching table etiquette told him that, so he braced himself for what she had to say.

Henrietta took a deep breath and looked from John to Elizabeth. “I'm not the kind of person to tell anyone what to do with his or her life. But, John, you're my son, so I'm going to speak my piece.” She paused, and then looked at Elizabeth. “I think you're a fine young woman, Elizabeth. And I know what a good person my son is—not because I gave birth to him, but because it's the plain and simple truth.” Then she turned her eyes to John. “It's going to take me a little time to sort all of this out in my mind.”

“I understand, Mama,” John said. “This is quite a bit of news we're springing on you, but, believe me, in time you'll see that this is real.”

Henrietta nodded. She was about to respond when the doorbell rang.

“You expectin' company?” Isaiah asked his wife.

“No, and I wonder who it could be. Excuse me,” Henrietta said as she rose from the table.

When she opened the door she was surprised to see the pretty young woman who was standing on her front porch, still dressed in her Sunday best from service today. “Well, good afternoon Mary-Marie. This is certainly a surprise.”

Mary-Marie smiled wide. “Good afternoon Mrs. Small. I hope I'm not interrupting your afternoon.”

Henrietta immediately became suspicious. She'd first met Mary-Marie several years ago after the young woman joined Rising Star. She'd heard the rumor that despite having a boyfriend, Mary-Marie was seeing John on the side, and she was willing to bet money that was one of her reasons for joining the church, which John often attended when he came home. Mary-Marie had never visited their house before, but now here she stood, and the look in her eyes told Henrietta she wasn't there for a friendly chitchat. “What can I do for you?” she asked.

“I was hoping I could speak to John.” Mary-Marie looked behind her. “I see his car in the driveway, so I was just hoping—”

“I'm sorry, but we're having dinner right now.”

“Oh, I'd love to join you,” she said with a smile.

Henrietta shook her head. “I'm sorry Mary-Marie, but John brought a dinner guest.”

Mary-Marie frowned. “Let me guess. Lizzy Sanders?”

“I'll let him know that you came by,” Henrietta said in a polite but firm voice. She wasn't about to tell this woman any of her son's business.

“Mrs. Small, I know that it might seem a little strange . . . me just showing up like this. But I want you to know that I care a great deal for your son. I just saved him from making a big mistake with the wrong woman, and I don't want to see him make another one. That's why I'm here.”

Henrietta was adamant. “You'll have to take that up with John at another time.”

Seeing that she wasn't making any headway, Mary-Marie raised her voice. “Can you please just ask him to come to the door.”

Henrietta was about to caution the young woman when she felt a hand on her back. She looked over her shoulder and she saw Allene standing close to her.

“I'll take care of this,” Allene said, “you go on back to the dinner table.”

“But Mama Allene—”

“Go on, now.”

Henrietta was a little hesitant, but she did as her mother-in-law asked. She walked down the hallway and stopped when she got far enough out of sight that she couldn't be seen. She wanted to know what was going on, so she stood and listened. She couldn't make out everything that was said, but what she did know was that whatever Allene told the young woman, it made an impact because the next thing she heard were the wheels of Mary-Marie's car screeching away.

Henrietta nearly jumped out of her skin when Allene appeared in front of her.

“Why didn't you go back to the dining room like I asked you to?” Allene said with a chuckle.

“I'm sorry Mama Allene, but I wanted to know what was going on. What did you say to her to make her leave?”

Allene smiled. “I talked to her, woman-to-woman, and I let her know that she needed to stay away from around here, and from John too.”

“That son of mine. I love him to life, but he's going to give me high blood pressure behind all these women.”