When Perfection Fails (21 page)

Eliza stayed in the hospital overnight for observations. Jonathan assured Lenora he still planned to officiate Darnell and Candace's wedding. He arose early so he could stop by the hospital before heading to Victory Gospel. Lenora was twitchy, unable to keep still for five minutes. The break-in piled on to a big wedding today was more than she could handle.

Jonathan stood in her path, to put a halt to her pacing. “Lenora, go take care of what you need to do at the church. Mother will probably be discharged this afternoon. No worries.”

“Don't you think it's odd that this man tried to break in while we were out last night? Michael and/or Eliza could have really been hurt. Suppose he comes back?”

Jonathan didn't want to admit the break-in bothered him too. “It wasn't technically a break-in. He didn't get in here, and now that he knows we have a good alarm system, the man would be wise to not think about coming back. Besides, we had a lesson learned last night; we need to fix the motion detectors out in front, which will get done before tonight. The house was just too dark and inviting.”

Lenora's eyes were weary. “You have an answer for everything, don't you?”

No, he didn't
. In all of the years they had lived there, no one had bothered them before. In fact, he had grilled the police last night. There had been no reports of break-ins in the area. “Let's just be thankful that God was watching over our son and my mother. Mother will be fine, and we will all return to normal. Now, you go ahead to Victory Gospel. You have an important day ahead of you.”

He followed Lenora downstairs and watched her grab her bag. She was dressed in a pale blue suit, looking very official as the wedding planner. Her hair was piled up high on her head in a mass of curls, showing off the curves of her neck. Despite the worry lines around his wife's face, she looked beautiful.

Jonathan walked Lenora out to her car and before she climbed in, he grabbed her by the elbow. She appeared puzzled. He pulled her close to him. For a few seconds her body was tense, but eventually, Lenora melted and wrapped her arms around him. They remained in the embrace, both aware of how much they needed to connect. He pulled away and kissed her softly on the lips. “Everything will be okay.”

She smiled, though there was still a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. As the garage door opened, Jonathan stood to the side and observed as Lenora backed her Lexus out of the garage. After a slight wave, he returned to the house.

He had knocked on his youngest son's door earlier in the morning, insisting that he get up despite the fact it was Saturday. Jonathan didn't want his mother to be alone, and he knew Michael and Eliza were bosom buddies.

He called upstairs. “You ready, son?”

Michael's footsteps sounded like a puppy galloping down the steps. The boy was always sullen, but today, he looked weary and apprehensive.

“Did you get any sleep, Mikey?” Jonathan asked as he pulled on his suit jacket.

“Nope.”

“Sorry to hear that, son. I appreciate your willingness to look after your grandmother today.”

He shrugged. “No problem. She can come home today, right?”

“Yes, I'm going to check to see if they will let us bring her home today. I know she will be ready because there's nothing like sleeping in your own bed.”

He and Michael walked out of the house and entered the garage. Jonathan started up the car. Before driving off, he waited for the garage door to close.

Jonathan knew Michael had made a statement to the police, but he didn't get the whole story. “Tell me again what happened last night.”

Michael had been looking out the passenger window. He swung around and said, “They're not going to find anyone.”

Jonathan frowned. “Why do you say that?”

“Because we didn't see anyone, Dad. How can they find the shadow of an unknown man?”

“Well, what alerted you to someone breaking into the house?”

Michael shook his head. “I was playing a video game in the living room. I heard a noise coming from the front door, but to be honest, I didn't pay attention at first. It wasn't until Grandma came into the room.”

He swallowed. “I could tell she was scared. She said, ‘Someone is outside the front door, Mikey. We need to check on it.'”

“So, I got up and we walked into the hallway. I started to turn the lights on, but Grandma said, ‘No, not yet.' At first, I thought it was you and Mom coming back, but . . .”

Jonathan pulled up to a light and stopped. He had been so engrossed in his son's conversation, he hadn't realized he was about five minutes away from the hospital. “Then what? What did you see?”

Michael shrugged. “I thought I saw a man's shadow standing outside the window next to the door. At first, I thought I was seeing things, but then Grandma had grabbed my arm. She squeezed really hard. Then, she started slipping. I could tell she was falling. I didn't know what to do.

“I was trying to concentrate on getting her to the living room. I got her on the couch. That's when the alarm sounded. I ran back out to the hallway, and whoever it was, they turned around and ran out. He was dressed in dark clothes and he had a hood on. I couldn't see his face. It happened so fast.”

Jonathan had pulled into the hospital parking garage by then. He looked over at his son. “I'm proud of you. You were brave, and you took care of your grandmother.”

“You sure she's going to be okay?”

“Yes, you know nothing knocks my mother down. Let's go inside to check on her. She will be tickled to have you with her.”

They walked into the hospital together. Jonathan pressed the elevator button. It dawned on him that he had been inside this hospital a number of times in the past few months. He came to visit sick patients, but it was his own family that had him walking these corridors recently.

His father passed away just last month in this hospital. Then Keith's accident, Lenora's sickness, and now his mother. He wasn't a man who spent too much time worrying or complaining, but he had some discomfort that he was not accustomed to feeling.

He knew not to take his family for granted, but the number of wake-up calls was like sharp-edged reminders from God. There was a sense of uneasiness in the pit of his stomach as they approached his mother's room. Maybe he was letting Lenora's paranoia rub off on him.

Eliza seemed to be in good spirits and had just finished her breakfast. Jonathan leaned over and kissed his mother on the forehead. “Did you sleep okay, Mother?”

She patted his hand. “I slept as well as I could in this bed. I was tired though, so I closed my eyes for a bit. How you doing, baby?” Eliza had turned her attention to Michael.

Michael reached down and hugged his grandma.

She grinned, “Baby, you saved your grandma's life.”

Michael shook his head. “I just wanted to make sure you got help, Grandma. I'm no hero.”

“Well, you're my hero. Did you eat something yet?”

“No.”

Eliza said, “Why don't you go grab something to eat? Jonathan, you give the boy some money.”

Jonathan peered at his mother. She seemed a bit agitated this morning, though she was putting on a good show of being in good spirits. He handed his son a twenty-dollar bill. “Don't be gone too long. I will need to drive to the church in a bit.”

“I'll be back soon, Dad.”

When Michael had left the room, Jonathan turned toward his mother who had been watching him intently. “Something on your mind, Mother?”

“How's Lenora?”

“She's fine. I sent her up to the church so she can get what she needs in place before the wedding this afternoon.”

“It's good that she stays busy.” Eliza had folded her arms and looked around the room.

“There's something you aren't telling me. You sent Michael to get something to eat for some reason. Why?”

Eliza unfolded her arms and placed her hands in her lap. “I think someone is after Lenora.”

Jonathan leaned forward. “What do you mean? I talked to Michael, and he couldn't see anything more than a shadow at the door. Did you see someone?”

“That's all I saw too. I knew the person was a man.” Eliza twisted her hands. Not looking at Jonathan, she stated, “I wondered if he could've been the same person.”

Jonathan sat very still, hoping he misinterpreted what his mother said. “Did you say ‘same person'?”

“You know I was the one who found Lenora when she got sick after Charmayne's funeral. I didn't think anything of it until after we got her in the ambulance, but there was a man who I could've sworn was standing awfully close to the bathroom door. He might have even been coming out. He saw me and hightailed it in the other direction.”

The sense of uneasiness that Jonathan had experienced previously bubbled like a pot of boiling water. “Why didn't you tell me this before?”

“Because it didn't make sense. Besides, Lenora was really sick that day. It was all about getting her fever down. Anyway, I overhead Lenora one day sounding really upset. Is it true that she doesn't think Charmayne killed herself?”

Jonathan rubbed his head as though he wanted to wipe away any mention of what his mother revealed. “Lenora needs to accept the truth, and you can't be leading her on.” He closed his mouth shut as the door opened.

Michael had returned. The boy looked from his father to his grandmother, unspoken concern on his face.

Jonathan stood, shifting his eyes from his mother's intense gaze. “Michael will stay with you, and we will work on getting you discharged if the doctor says you're clear to come home. I need to get a couple married today.”

Before Jonathan walked off, his mother reached for his hand. Her grip was quite firm, which indicated his mother was indeed on the mend. He eyed her.

Eliza said, “Don't be so quick to ignore her. A woman's intuition is a powerful thing. I can tell you something wasn't right about the man I saw.”

For most of her drive to Victory Gospel, Lenora tried to keep her thoughts focused on the impending wedding ceremony instead of the previous night's events. She had drawn comfort from Jonathan's embrace. That man was her second rock. God being her first. It was those two thoughts that kept her from falling completely apart. She was clueless to what was going on in her life, but God knew, and today, she would trust His grace and mercy.

Lenora parked the car and headed into the side door of Victory Gospel. She stopped to check the sanctuary for a few minutes. None of the guests had arrived yet. She liked arriving early, not just to make sure all was in place, but during this time she walked and prayed.

Lenora walked down the church aisle, her feet cushioned by the deep, thick carpet. She prayed for Darnell and Candace who would exchange vows in a few hours. This was a second time around for both of them. Lenora prayed for them to walk into this marriage as a new beginning for both. She stopped and straightened one of the baby's breath arrangements at the end of the pew.

As she rounded the sanctuary, she prayed for the wedding party which included Wes and Angel. Those two had sprung a surprise on her, but she was delighted to plan a New Year's Eve wedding.

Lenora thought of her oldest son, Keith, and Candace's daughter, Rachel. Would they be like her and Jonathan, falling in love so young and remaining together for the next twenty years? Lenora prayed that both Keith and Rachel would be granted wisdom as they moved forward together.

Before she exited the sanctuary, Lenora looked back to where her husband would stand and marry the couple. She prayed for him and his role as shepherd of Victory Gospel. She prayed he was walking in his true calling.

“Lord, let this day be as perfect as it can be. I leave all of this in your hands.”

Lenora let the doors of the sanctuary close behind her and headed back toward the classroom she had set up as the bride's room.

Soon, Candace arrived with most of her wedding party in tow.

Lenora squeezed Candace. “Your hair looks beautiful.”

“Thank you. Beulah insisted on starting early this morning. Hopefully, the curls will last me until tonight.”

Lenora grinned. “I'm sure your hair
and
you will hold up just fine. I'm so excited for you. It's been a long time for this day to come.”

“You're not kidding. I hated not being able to talk to Darnell last night. You know we talk every night.”

Lenora thought how sweet. She and Jonathan used to stay up for hours talking into the night when they were younger. She touched Candace's shoulders. “You will have a lifetime to talk to each other.”

Tears had brimmed in Candace's eyes. “That's what I'm hoping for.”

Lenora squeezed her bride's hands and went to check on the bridesmaids to be sure all of them had arrived. When she was satisfied that everyone was starting to dress, she walked to the other end of the hallway to check on the groom. She knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Lenora poked her head in to see Darnell and Wes standing and talking. Keith was in the corner on his phone. He looked up and walked over. “Hey, Mom, I've been texting Mikey. How's Grandma doing?”

“What happened?” Darnell asked.

Lenora noticed Darnell and Wes were focused on her. She took a deep breath. It was not her intention for last night to come up at all. She waved her hand. “We had a bit of a scare. Someone tried to break in when we were at the rehearsal dinner. The alarm system worked perfectly. The intruder was scared off.”

Keith piped up, “What about Grandma?”

“Mother Eliza did faint from the excitement, but she will be home with us this afternoon.” Lenora looked at Darnell. “No worries.”

“Are you sure? Who took the report last night? I can certainly check on it for you,” Darnell inquired.

“No no no! You're not going to have Candace wanting to kill me. Everything is fine. This is your day.” Lenora checked her watch. “Remember, I want you and your best man to be at the altar ten minutes before we start the processional.”

Darnell saluted her. “Yes, ma'am. I will be standing there waiting.”

Lenora closed the door behind her and took a deep breath. She hoped the confidence she had displayed worked, because she had suddenly felt like she lost her peace. She quickly prayed as she headed back down the hallway.

Soon the time had arrived and everyone was in place. Lenora took a peek inside the sanctuary. She guessed that at least one hundred people were seated in the pews. Lenora turned her attention to the front. Darnell fidgeted with his tuxedo tie. Behind him Wes stood with his hands in front of him. On the other side of Darnell, Jonathan stood in his robe. He looked back at her, and she waved to indicate it was time.

A few minutes later the wedding party began the processional down the aisle, one couple at a time, as Chrisette Michele's voice belted out the song “Golden.”

Lenora's eyes watered as she watched Candace hook her arm into Mr. Harold's arm. Beulah's husband had insisted on walking Candace down the aisle. Lenora was touched to see Beulah and Harold stepping in as surrogate parents for Candace today.

Any troubles that had invaded her mind, her home, and her family were a distant memory as she watched Candace and Darnell exchange vows. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders as Darnell lowered his mouth to kiss his new wife. Mission accomplished.

Lenora looked over at her husband.

Jonathan returned her gaze.

Lenora began to ponder the vows as Candace and Darnell walked arm in arm down the aisle.

In that moment, the dark cloud that seemed to linger over Lenora threatened to return. She knew the smile must have disappeared from her face because that concerned look that Jonathan seemed to always have lately flashed in his eyes.

This was one of those times when she would have loved to hear her mother's strict, but logical advice. Instead, in the back of her mind, a still, small, and quiet voice said:

So, Lenora talked to God.