Mattie's Call (10 page)

She found a seat and engaged the sympathizers as best she could. Amid the “I'm sorry,” “Hold on the God's unchanging hand,” and “Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning” clichés, her bowed head rose when a familiar voice said, “Things haven't been the same without you. Please come home.”

She jerked in the direction of the voice. “What are you doing here?” she asked through gritted teeth. She shifted in her seat in order to avoid a scene. The din in the room grew louder as people fellowshipped. No one noticed Beryl.

“She was my mother-in-law.”

“Who didn't care for you, nor you for her.”

“I loved Ms. Mattie. We just didn't see eye to eye on what it means to be head of household.”

She yanked his arm and slid into an unoccupied room. She paced a few steps, then faced him. “Beryl.”

“What, Baby?”

Beryl's favorite scent, Versace Eau Fraiche, tickled her nostrils. He'd lost weight and wore an impeccable pin-striped suit. He held out her favorite flowers, daffodils.

“You can keep them. I don't want anything from you. Except your signature on the divorce papers.”

“Did you have to serve the papers to me at my job?”

“Oh, would it have been better to do it at home with you and Davina present?”

“Alice, I made a mistake. If you come back home, things will be different.”

“I'm never coming back there again. I bet it still smells like onions and roses in my house.”

His face blanched. “What about your things? You have shoes and clothes at the house.”

“I have new things.”

Disgust crept on his face. “I see. You look like a Jezebel with that war paint on your face.” He closed the space between them. “Where'd you get the dress? Other women dress that way, not my wife.”

Alice touched the belt of her navy blue and red apple dress. Mattie loved red and blue, so the siblings each wore outfits in variations of the hues. The dress, ultra conservative and stylish, only outlined her curves. No cleavage was exposed, and the dress fell past her knees.

“There's nothing wrong with my dress.”

“It's too short, and a man can see your breasts and hips.”

She mock gasped. “Heaven forbid someone took an interest in Beryl Parker's old lady!”

He dropped the flowers, further narrowing their stance. He pushed her against the wall, attempted to kiss her. “You know you miss me. Admit it, Alice.” His breath reeked of alcohol. He pushed his tongue slightly forward, licking the side of her face and ear. His hands traveled the length of her dress as he stuck his right leg between hers. He pried them apart and lifted her against the wall.

Incensed, she pushed his chest, scratched his face. “I don't want you!”

“Alice. Alice, where are you?” Synaria's voice moved closer to the door. She pushed the door open as Beryl stepped away, hands dropping to his sides. “What's going on in here? I saw you two walk away when I came downstairs. You disappeared before I could stop you. Is everything okay?”

Alice took a few deep breaths and gave Synaria an unfocused gaze. “I'm fine. Beryl paid his respects and was leaving.”

Synaria didn't miss lines of blood trickling down his face. She hoped the scratches were accompanied by a good groin kick. Defeated, he picked the flowers up from the floor.

“This isn't over. I won't stop fighting for our marriage.”

“Goodbye, Beryl.”

Synaria waited for him to leave. “Alice, what happened?”

Her chest tingled and her stomach clenched. “He tried to…I'm not sure. A part of me misses him, but I know we can't be together again. He's all I've ever known.” She fell into Synaria's arms, willing her tears to stop.

“My offer still stands if you want to move out of Joshua's place and live with me. We've got you. All of us.”

15

Dear Mrs. Benson:

Your homegoing service was magnificent! El Bethel was filled to capacity. People crammed the sanctuary and the overflow. It was awkward without your body, but that was to be expected. We started this thing with the idea of you being gone for the weekend. Just to see if your children would do their best to find you. I thought you were coming back, but I guess I can carry on this game if you're willing to play as well.

Let me tell you something: Agatha's granddaughter is a powerhouse! She may as well have been a charmer and the church members' cobras. She sang “When You Hear of My Homegoing” and “Goin' Up Yonder,” as I've never experienced.

Alice, Gabrielle, and Joshua placed a beautiful photo collage of you and Mr. Benson in the entryway of the church. So many of your friends and staff from Grand Oak came that they sat in a section together. Karen sat up front with the family, though. The jury is still out on the eulogist. He did a fine job, but he wasn't needed after people spoke of your kindness, deeds, and commitment to your children. You were a generous woman! I mean you are a generous woman. One woman said you paid her electric bill, another talked about the groceries you purchased, and one man spoke of the gift cards you provided for his family during their quadriplegic son's illness. You were busy indeed.

The will reading, per your instructions, has been set for next Friday at Roastfish & Cornbread. I will keep you updated as to the findings. On a moral note, there is still time to come back. You can say you wandered away, got lost, was abducted by aliens—okay, I kid, I kid—anything. Your children seem lost without you. I'd hate for you to miss the opportunity of bonding with them again.

You are fascinating, and I'm in your service.

Best,

Your Eyes and Ears

Mattie tucked the letter in her pocket.

“Come back, my foot. They miss me about as much as the Klan wants to attend an NAACP meeting. Maybe they need to see what it's like without their parents.”

A light tap at the door broke her thoughts. Refusing to open the door, she vowed to avoid her neighbor as long as she could.

16

T
he lively crowd at Roastfish & Cornbread made the occasion bearable. The ambience—soft music playing, a painter indulging patrons outside the building, chitchat at every table, and children negotiating with parents about menu items—felt like old times. This was Mattie's favorite restaurant, and they weren't surprised when she requested the will be read there.

A waiter escorted them to a private area in back. Gabrielle scanned the room for bandless men, one of whom could be Colton's replacement. He'd sent a flower arrangement to her mother's funeral but had kept his distance since the night of the disappearance. A few men winked and smiled; she gave polite waves.

They sat, gave their drink orders. “I'll be back with the drinks shortly. Attorney Durk will be with you soon,” said the waiter.

“Thanks,” said Joshua.

“Remember how Mama always took our sweet potato cornbread?” Alice asked.

“She picked on our cornbread and stuck her fork in my fresh catch,” said Joshua.

“She sure did. She was a magnet for kids, too. Whenever we were here, a child always came over to show her a drawing or touch her hair,” said Joshua.

Alice noticed Gabrielle's reticence first. “Don't you have at least one good memory of being here with Mama, Gigi?”

“We're here to discuss money, not memories.”

“I want to get this over with, too. It makes me nervous thinking about getting money from our parents,” said Alice.

“Parents are supposed to leave a legacy for their children. You should be happy they set something aside for the three of us. I am glad I won't have to toil away like a slave working for people every day,” said Gabrielle. She stared at her phone in anticipation of a response from Colton. The last four texts she'd sent him went unanswered.

“Whoa! Mama and Daddy didn't have money like that, Gigi. Daddy always talked about giving us enough to make us whole and maintain a decent living. I'd be surprised if we had half a million total.”

“What? You don't think they gave us a million each?”

Joshua nearly choked on his gum. “In what world do you live?”

“Gigiland. Where no one's feelings matter and it's all about her,” said Alice.

“My, haven't we become more vocal since escaping the Parker Plantation?”

“Gigi, stop!” said Joshua.

“She started it by insulting me. Is it so bad men are willing to pay for the pleasure of my company?”

“No, it's bad that you allow them to.” Alice smirked.

“You two—”

“Am I disturbing something?” Attorney Durk asked. He stood at the table, eyed his watch, and made a mental note to get back to the beach as soon as possible. The siblings looked at his guest.

“What is she doing here?” Gabrielle asked Attorney Durk but kept her eyes on Karen.

“She's part of the proceedings as well.”

The waiter returned with the drinks. Attorney Durk took a seat and the waiter placed a seat at the table for Karen.

“How is everyone?” she asked. Joshua and Alice said hello; Gabrielle continued to stare.

“Drink for you too?”

“I'll have an Arnold Palmer,” said Karen.

Attorney Durk had dressed down for the day with a golf shirt and khakis. He'd gone bald since they last saw him. His attempt to hold on to the last of his hair was a topic of conversation amongst them for years. He was their family attorney and they watched in vain as his hairline receded throughout their lives. He'd hit the tanning bed again; his sunburned skin told the tale.

“It's been a while since I've seen you all together. I'm so sorry to hear about your mother's passing.”

“She disappeared,” said Alice, laying her head on her left arm.

“She is no longer with us and I'm sorry for your loss. Your mother and father were wonderful people,” he said.

“She was like a grandmother to me,” said Karen.

“I have other business to attend to, so I'll make this short and to the point. This is a very unconventional reading because your mother left personal messages for each of you.”

“Really?” asked Gabrielle. “If that's the case, should she be listening in?” She pointed to Karen as her lips curled.

“Actually, a personal message was left for her as well.”

Attorney Durk opened his briefcase and removed contents from a large manila envelope. The notes were sealed, and he pulled an unfolded legal document from the folder.

When the waiter set their drinks down, Karen removed the paper from her straw and dunked it in her Palmer. Gabrielle grabbed Karen's hand.

“Where'd you get that ring?”

Karen jerked her hand back. “Ms. Mattie gave it to me.”

“Liar! That's the ring Mama asked for before she disappeared. Why would she give
you
her wedding set and not her children?”

Attorney Durk lifted his hands in a cease-fire position. “It will all be explained soon. Be patient, Gigi.”

He held everyone's rapt attention as he opened the envelope marked “Karen.”

“Karen, thank you for making my days at Grand Oak wonderful. You were more than a CNA, you were a friend. It's like God gave me a chance to go back in time and share sage wisdom with my younger self. Remember everything I told you about family and relationships. Family is the code word for fellowship; make sure you continue to do that with your parents, your brother, and eventually, your husband. The ring I gave you is expensive, the priciest one Daniel ever purchased. When you do get married, use that as your wedding ring and make your husband get you really good bling—isn't that what you called it—on your ten-year anniversary. The traditional gift is tin or aluminum, but Honey, if you can stay with a man ten years in this day and time, by all means, get yourself a fat diamond from him. I also left the rest of the jewelry I wanted you to have in the safe deposit box at Grand Oak. Attorney Durk will see to it that you receive the $50,000 cashier's check I willed to you. Don't stop at being an R.N. Keep going. You can do it, and I hope this helps you along the way.”