Black Lies White Lies (21 page)

“That’s why I loved her all these years.” Aunt Sally and Uncle Tee got in the car together. Daddy was riding with us.

You could smell the barbecue from the road when we got to Sabrina’s. “Anthony’s got that grill fired up. That food smells terrific,” Bryan said.

“This is an enormous house, Tee. I would never see you in here.”

“That just young folk today, Sally. They always have more than they need.”

Sabrina walked around from the back of the house to greet us. “Come on in. We are out in the backyard. Anthony’s been up since early this morning.” Sabrina kissed Aunt Sally. “I’m so glad you got to come. Where’s that Daddy of mine? I’ve been waiting for you, Daddy.” She hugged him tight. “I’m so glad you decided to come. I’ve missed you.”

“You look just like your Momma, Sabrina, maybe even prettier.”

“Thanks, Daddy. Now let’s go out back with Anthony and the boys.”

We had a good time that day. Most of Anthony’s teammates were there, so the men ate and talked about football. Sabrina, me and Aunt Sally sat by the pool playing spades while the kids all played in the pool.

“I know you brought me some pound cake, Aunt Sally.”

“You know I did. And potato salad.”

“You didn’t have to bring all that. I cooked.” We all laughed at that.

“You know you had this food catered in.”

“You know that’s right. I didn’t cook a thing. I’m not the domestic type.”

“You know that’s right. Daddy said you can’t boil water.”

“I can’t, he didn’t lie.”

“At least you’re telling the truth,” we laughed. “I talked to Candice the other night. She said she’s getting married.”

“What? She’s getting married? I didn’t get to talk to her, but I’m glad for her. Did you tell Daddy, Sandra?”

“I haven’t gotten to talk to him about it. He’s staying with me tonight so I will talk to him then.”

“Who decided that? I would like for him to stay here.”

“Don’t you two start. We’re going to have an enjoyable time today. Your father is off ‘til Tuesday. He can stay with you both.”

“That’s right. He can stay with you tomorrow, Sabrina.”

“It doesn’t matter to me, as long as I get to spend at least one day with him. Candice is getting married. I wonder where the wedding will be held.”

“You know she’s going to want to get married in New York, Sabrina.”

“Do you think Daddy’s going to walk her down the aisle?”

“Well who else would? It’s the only father she has ever known. Her father didn’t even stick around.”

“You girls are going too deep now. Of course your father will walk her down the aisle.”

“Aunt Sally, do you know who Candice’s real father is?”

“I do, but we don’t need to dredge up them dead dogs.” 

“It truly doesn’t matter to me. Candice is our sister.”

“Then why did you ask, Sabrina?”

“I just think we are all grown now and we’ve made our own mistakes. Believe me, I’ve made some careless ones. But secrets just hurt in the long run.”

“That’s true, but Buck would die if he knew I told you.”

“This won’t go any further than this table.”

“The Mayor of Brownsville, Sam Willet, is Candice’s father.”

“You know what, Aunt Sally? I knew that all the time. He was always at the house when Daddy was working.”

“They had an affair for a lot of years. I think Buck knew, but he just loved Mattie so much. I liked Mattie well enough, but when it came to my brother, she was wrong. He did his best for that woman, but all she ever did was disrespect him. I think he stayed as long as he did because of you children. I wish she would have moved on, done her thing and left him. I think his drinking was all because of Mattie.”

“Aunt Sally, is Daddy ok?”

“Buck’s been sick for years. He has that liver disease. Sabrina, you and sisters need to spend more time with your father. He’s all you have now. When he’s gone, that’s it.”

“You’re right, Aunt Sally. I had already decided to spend more time with Daddy. Anthony and I are going to see if Daddy wants to come stay here in Memphis.”

“I don’t know about that. You know your father. He has his own mind and he will never leave his job.”

“Maybe Sandra and I can come to Brownsville more.”

“That’s all I’m asking you girls to do. Candice needs to be closer to home.”

“All the good doctors are here in Memphis. I’m going to talk to him if he stays till Tuesday.”

“You can come over to my house and we can talk to him together.”

“Not today, he’s had a few drinks.”

“What’s Bryan think about Daddy having a few drinks?”

“He’s ok with it, Sabrina. Daddy seems to be ok.”

“I know Bryan, Sandra, and he’s not ok with it. Just let daddy stay here tonight. We can all come over tomorrow after church.”

“He’s my daddy too, Sabrina, and if I say it’s ok, it’s ok.”

“I was just trying to help you out.”

“Thank you, but no thank you.”

“You know what, Sandra?” Aunt Sally interrupted. “Sabrina may be right. It’s not that you don’t want your father there, your husband is a powerful preacher. You don’t what people to talk, let him stay here.”

“Aunt Sally, I could care less what people think. People talked about Jesus Christ.”

“I’m sure it will be ok with you, Sabrina,” said Sandra, “but it’s Bryan I’m concerned about. Tell you what, let’s ask Daddy. Whatever he decides, that’s what we’ll do.”

“That’s fair enough, let him decide.”

It was getting late and the kids were getting tired. I didn’t want to fight with Sabrina about where Daddy stayed tonight. We got our things together, said our goodbyes and left. Aunt Sally and Uncle Tee were staying at Sabrina’s also.

The day had certainly taken its toll on me. I got the kids bathed and put to bed. Bryan was waiting for me in our bedroom. “I thought your father was staying here tonight.”

“We all thought since Daddy had a few drinks it was best he stayed at Sabrina’s.”

“First of all, I knew your father was drinking. I was there, remember? I don’t like it when people think for me, Sandra. Every day we’re together, I realize how little you know me. I’m a minster, but I’m not shut off from the world.

“I talked to your father today, man to man. I see and hear his pain. He has years of scars that only few see. Your father wants to be free, Sandra. Free from the demons that have plagued him all his life.” I’d never heard my husband talk like this. It was as if he’d felt my father’s pain for the first time. “I’m picking him up in the morning. We’re going to pray. I just want him to know Christ the way I do. He’s agreed to give the Savior a try.”

I kneeled down beside the bed where my husband was sitting and hugged him. I loved him more at that moment than I ever had. I wanted my father and Bryan to have this kind of relationship. I looked at him with renewed eyes. Maybe my father was finally going to release the pain my mother had caused. Tonight I just wanted to hold my husband in my arms, to let him know how much I loved him.

~~~

The next morning Bryan was up early. “I want to get an early start. I asked Brother Jackson to meet me there. We’re going to have
some
church. Anthony and Uncle Tee are going with us too.” Bryan was grinning ear to ear as he kissed me, “I love you, Sandra.”

Church was awesome. Bryan’s sermon was on forgiveness. Everyone met back at my house to have Sunday dinner. Daddy had gotten saved and all was right with the world. He was in high spirits.

Daddy and Bryan were talking about him maybe moving to Memphis and getting a new start. Bryan said he would help Daddy get a decent job. “I would like being closer to my girls and grandbabies.” God had a plan for my family this weekend.

After dinner, it was just the girls again as the men gathered in the den to watch sports on TV. “Sandra, that husband of your is some kind of preacher. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

“That’s the truth, Aunt Sally.”

“I never heard Bryan preach like that, Sandra.”

“My baby was on a mission, and he succeeded.”

“I’ve never seen my brother cry that way before. It was as if his soul was cried out. I believe Tee even shedded a tear. Guess what, Girls? Theodore asked me to marry him today.”

“Congratulations, Aunt Sally! It’s about time,” Sabrina laughed.

“Girls, Tee and I have been happy for years. We didn’t see any need for a piece of paper. I think after this morning he just wanted to make an honest woman out of me.” She laughed so hard.

“Well he did. So when is the big day going to be?”

“I don’t know yet, but it will be something small at my church.”

“Aunt Sally, I want you to let me and Anthony pay for the wedding. It’s the least I can do after all you and Uncle Tee have done for me.”

“I appreciate that, Sabrina. I have always loved you girls like my own.”

“Bryan and I can pay for the honeymoon. You both need a vacation. When was the last time you two left Brownsville? When was the last time you and Uncle Tee went any place exotic?”

“Never. We like living this ordinary life.”

“I’m going to send you someplace that has a beach.”

“You’re right, Girls. We needed this and I’m so glad you two want to give it to us. Well, Tee and I better be getting back towards home. It’s getting late and he has to work in the morning. Is Buck staying until Tuesday, or is he leaving with us?”

“Here they come now I’ll ask him.”

“Daddy, are you staying here, or going home?”

“I think I’m going to stay, if it’s ok with Bryan and Sabrina? I would like to spend more time with my grandkids.”

“If that’s ok? Daddy, you know you can stay.”

“That’s what I wanted you to say.”

“Congratulations, Old Man,” Sabrina shouted, “it’s about time you made an honest woman out of my Aunt.”

Anthony and Bryan looked at each other. “You weren’t going to tell us?” they laughed.

“Men, some things are private, but leave it up to Sally.”

“Tee, they were going to find out anyway.”

“Tee, you know who’s going to be your best man?” Daddy smiled.

“Buck, you know you’re my best friend, so who else would I choose?”

“The girls are going to take care of our wedding, isn’t that lovely, Tee?”

“That’s nice, but I can take care of it.”

“It’s not that we think you can’t, Uncle Tee, we just really want to do something pleasant for you and Aunt Sally after all you’ve done for us.”

“Thanks, Ladies,” and he hugged us both.

They kissed the kids, hugged everybody and headed back to Brownsville. I hated to see them go. “We’d better be getting home too. The kids go back to school tomorrow and Anthony has therapy. Daddy, I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll bring the kids by after school.”

“Sabrina, Anthony, we love you and thanks for a good evening.” After they left Daddy, me and Bryan, had a long talk.

Daddy just started talking. “Bryan, I first want to thank you for the prayer this morning. It did my soul a world of good. I guess I was holding on to unresolved loss. The way those men prayed for me this morning was a miracle in itself. I have never witnessed such a thing in my life.”

“Buck, you just witnessed the power of God.”

“That’s what I know, and it was incredible.”

“Daddy, was it that powerful?”

“You have no idea, Sandra. My life changed. This was something I wanted but didn’t know how to get it. I wanted you and your sisters to come together, but I was so wrapped up in what was happening with me and your mother.” He started crying.

“Daddy, don’t cry. It’s going to be ok.”

“I should have never let what your mother was doing…” he paused through tears. “I was hurt so I let you kids do without a father.”

“We turned out ok, so stop crying.”

“There is something I’ve wanted to tell you and your sisters for a while now.”

“What’s that, Daddy?”

“I have liver cancer. The doctor told me at the last visit. They want me to take chemo, but I’m not sure what to do.”

“Daddy, you can stay here with me and Bryan and we’ll fight this thing together.”

“I don’t want to be a burden on you two, but I want to be closer to my girls. Through my pain, I lost sight of what was valuable to me. All that drinking and running around still left me empty. Until today, I didn’t realize what truly mattered.”

“You could never be a burden on us, Daddy. You’re the only parent I have left.” My heart was breaking, the tears starting to flow. My daddy was sick and I was determined to help him fight this cancer. He needed to renew his faith in God. We prayed that night, just us three. My husband could see my father’s pain before I did. To me, that was a true gift from God. After we talked and prayed, we all went to bed with love in our hearts.

I woke to the sound of the kids downstairs in the kitchen and knew Rosa had already fixed breakfast. I went to Daddy’s room to find him already up. “Good morning, Baby Girl.”