Blessings From the Father (12 page)
Read Blessings From the Father Online
Authors: Michelle Larks
The couple's heads turned toward the entrance of the dining room when they heard a female voice yell, “Carson, is that you?”
Their eyes turned toward the sound. A woman walked hurriedly to the table.
“Hey, Tiffany. What are you doing here?” he said to the pretty, young woman as he rose from his seat. She turned her head and he kissed her cheek.
“I might ask you the same.” She looked point blank at Mariah.
“This is my friend Mariah. Mariah, this is my youngest sister, Tiffany,” he introduced the women.
“Hello, Tiffany.” Mariah offered her hand.
The women checked each other out as they shook hands.
“Nice to meet you. Do you live in Hammond? I don't remember seeing you around,” Tiffany observed. She slid into the booth next to her brother.
“No, you wouldn't,” Mariah explained. “I literally just moved to Hammond.”
Tiffany glanced back at the waiting area. One of her friends waved her hand, indicating their table was available. She turned back to Carson. “I'm having dinner with some of my friends. It looks like our seats are ready. I'll talk you later, big brother,” she told Carson. She looked at Mariah with her head tilted. “It was nice meeting you, Mariah.”
“Same here,” Mariah answered. She and Carson watched Tiffany walk back to her friends.
Tiffany's gaze wandered back to Carson and Mariah as she talked to her friends.
“Your sister seems nice,” Mariah said. She watched Carson watching his sister.
“I wouldn't say all of that.” Carson shook his head. “If anything she's a pest. But, I love her. Now, where were we? Tell me about this transitional house you plan to open.” He gave Mariah his undivided attention.
A twinkle sparkled in Mariah's eyes. “Growing up in the projects gave me a lot of insight into people, the good, bad, and ugly. There seems to a growing epidemic of mothers inside prisons. A good many of them don't have the people skills to reenter society. They need help trying to enter the work world. I'd like to provide short-term housing, with counseling sessions and parenting classes, to get them ready to reenter society.” Mariah had a fervent expression on her face as she explained her plans.
“That's a tall order,” Carson noted after he took a sip of water. “Somehow I have the feeling you'll accomplish that and more. What made you decide on prison mothers? Surely there are other social programs you could have pursued?”
“I guess not having a real mother”âshe made quote marks with her fingersâ“has just made me sensitive to the needs of female children. My mother has always been an embarrassment to me. I remember as a child, if I saw her in the Garden, I'd go out of my way to avoid her. I want to help girls who find themselves in similar circumstances.”
“What have you done so far?” Carson asked after he chewed the last bit of steak. He leaned back and placed his arm across the top of the booth.
“I've applied for licensing and grants,” Mariah answered with a smile, warming to her favorite subject. “I think it will be a win-win situation for Hammond and prospective clients. The project will create jobs in this tough economy. If all goes well, we should be up and operational in a year to eighteen months. One of my church members is a grant writer and she wrote an awesome proposal. So I have a lot on my plate right now. I am also hiring a construction company to work on renovating my father's house if I get approval. That's where I plan to house the facility. I know you mentioned you own a construction company. I'd like to work with someone local, so if you're interested in submitting a bid, I can give you an application.”
“Wow! You plan to take Hammond by storm,” Carson said admiringly. “I think what you're doing is great. Of course I'd like to submit a proposal. What is your vision?”
Mariah leaned forward in her seat and gave him an overview of the house renovation.
As Mariah continued talking, her happiness and dedication to the project became contagious. Carson was receptive to her plans and reacted enthusiastically.
Before long the waitress returned and removed their dishes from the table. “Can I get you anything else? How about dessert?”
“No, I'm stuffed, but I would love a cup of espresso,” Mariah answered as she patted her tummy.
“I'd like a cup of decaf,” Carson replied. “Are you sure you don't want anything else?”
“I'm positive. I can't eat another bite.” Mariah shook her head
“I know dinner is your treat, but I'd love to pick up the check. This evening has been special. I feel comfortable with you, like we've known each other forever.”
“Same here.” Mariah smiled. “You can't pick up the tab, at least not this time. It's my repayment for helping me out the other night.”
“I appreciate it. You know I would have helped you whether I had dinner with you or not. I have enjoyed myself tonight. You are deep, Mariah, and compassionate. I find that a great combination in a woman.” He nodded approvingly. Then he smiled so brightly that Mariah's knees felt weak.
“Thank you, Carson. I've enjoyed myself as well.” She stood up. “I have to go to the ladies' room. I'll be right back.”
Carson stood up and watched her retreating figure. A smile played across his face. He was pleased with the way the evening had progressed.
A few minutes later, Mariah returned to the table. “I took care of the bill when I left the ladies' room. I need to get going. I have a million things to do tomorrow, and need to do some prep work.”
Carson exited the booth. “I'm sorry the evening has to come to end. Maybe we can do this again? My treat?”
Mariah knew Raquel would tell her to play coy, and how that would keep a man coming back for more. But Mariah had no interest in indulging in games. She liked Carson, enjoyed his company, and wanted to see more of him. “I think I would like that,” she said simply.
“I'd like to call you during the week. Is that okay? And we'll take it from there. I don't want to rush things. I want us to spend time to get to know each other.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Mariah said demurely. Her lips curved into a brilliant smile.
The couple departed and within twenty minutes, Carson had pulled inside Mariah's driveway.
“While you're here, why don't you come in and I can give you an application,” Mariah suggested.
Carson nodded. He got out of the truck, opened Mariah's door, and followed her inside the house.
She sped upstairs to her office and returned downstairs with a binder detailing the project.
Carson took it and tucked it beneath his arm. Mariah walked him to the door.
Before he exited, Carson leaned forward, he held out his hand, and then leaned forward and kissed Mariah's cheek. “Thank you for a great evening. I can hardly wait to do this again.”
“Thank you. I had a good time. Have a good week; we'll talk,” Mariah promised.
After Carson departed, she went upstairs and changed into a lounging outfit. She went into her home office, put a CD into the player, booted up her PC, and began checking her e-mails.
Later she fixed herself a cup of cocoa and sat in the living room with a new book she'd purchased. Mariah read, but she wasn't really reading. In her mind, she analyzed her date with Carson, over and over, until she fell asleep
Chapter Fourteen
Rosemary had been home all afternoon, relaxing after attending the eleven o'clock church service. The church was hosting a musical that evening and she debated attending because of the inclement weather. She had prepared Sunday dinner and had fixed enough food to feed a small army. She didn't realize until the food was actually simmering in the pots that she had prepared enough for herself, Mariah, Sonyell, Sasha, and Raquel. Rosemary chuckled to herself at the oversight. She decided to freeze the leftovers. Sooner rather than later, she knew that Mariah would want one of her granny's home-cooked meals. Mariah wasn't much of a cook. Rosemary's granddaughter could do many things well, but cooking wasn't on her list of accomplishments.
She bent over, opened the oven door, and checked to see if the pan of cornbread she'd put inside had browned. It had, so Rosemary removed the pan from the oven and turned the appliance off. She turned the pot down that contained the collard greens. Last, she turned over the candied yams with a spatula, and turned the pan off. The macaroni and cheese cooled on the countertop.
Rosemary turned on the water and rinsed her hands. She tore a paper towel from the roll on the wall rack, and then walked into the living room. Rosemary turned off the CD player and sat on the couch. She took her Bible off the coffee table and thumbed through it, rereading the scriptures from the earlier church service.
There was a rat-a-tat at the door. Rosemary stood on stiff knees to answer it. She opened the door. “Cassie,” she said. Her eyes lit up. “Come in.” She took her daughter's thin arm and led her into the house.
“I was just cooking,” Rosemary informed her daughter. “Give me a minute to turn off the pots and then we can have a good visit. I'd love for you to stay and have dinner with me. I made enough.” She left the room and went into the kitchen.
Cassie sat on the edge of the chair and fidgeted while she waited for Rosemary to return. She squinted as she looked around and took in her surroundings with red, bleary eyes.
Rosemary came back into the living room and returned the sofa.
“Look like you got new furniture, Ma. What happened? Where did you get the money from? You always said you'd keep the house the way it was when Daddy died.” She looked around the room disapprovingly. She tuned and stared at her mother intently.
“Uh, yes, Mari came into a little money. So she, uh, bought new furniture,” Rosemary stammered. She clasped her shaking hands together and rested them on her lap.
“So, where is she?” Cassie peered into the kitchen and then looked upstairs. “You two are like Frick and Frack. Where you see one, you see the other.” Cassie scratched her arm as she giggled at her little joke.
Rosemary licked her lips, and paused before answering the question. She knew if she told her daughter where Mariah lived, Cassie would shoot over to Hammond in a minute to get a share of Mariah's legacy. Unfortunately, anything she got from Mariah would be used to replenish her stash of drugs.
“So, where is she?” Cassie asked again. She focused her attention on her mother, and then scratched her arm.
“I was going to wait for Mari to tell you herself. She moved and got her own place.”
“Her own place where?” Cassie wanted to know.
“Well, she moved to Indiana. Hammond.”
Cassie did a double take and stared at her mother. “I know you didn't say Hammond, Indiana.” Her thin hand fluttered in the air. “Why would she want to go there? It's nothing there.”
“She's working there now. So she decided to move there.”
“Really?” Cassie snorted. “That doesn't make much sense. It would take wild horses to separate that girl from you. Are you telling me the truth, Ma? What's really going on?” Cassie's gazed held her mother. Cassie seemed to have built-in radar, and knew when Rosemary was being evasive with her.
“Yes, I'm telling you the truth. She moved yesterday,” Rosemary added.
Cassie stood up and walked upstairs. She returned a few minutes later. “She is really gone. I don't believe it.” Cassie slouched down on the couch.
“Well, you didn't think she was going to stay here the rest of her life, did you? Mariah is a grown woman. It's time for her to show a little independence and move out,” Rosemary said staunchly. She had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Cassie could become manipulative and make her reveal information she didn't care to share.
“Hmmm.” The lids on Cassie's eyes drooped. “Well, maybe I'll have to pay her a visit and find out what's really going on. I know you and Mariah think I don't know what's going on, because I stay high all the time. But I hear things and when I hear them”âshe pointed to her headâ“they stay up there. It just don't make no sense to me that Mariah would leave her job. We both know how proud she was of that little group she started,” Cassie said sarcastically.
“Just because a person work in one place don't mean they're going to work at the same place their entire life. At least not in this day and age. Mariah is young, so she moved. Her new job is a promotion.”
Cassie pursed her lips together tightly and looked at her mother skeptically. “You almost sound convincing, Momma Dearest, but I know you're lying. I been hearing things, and I heard Mariah came into some money.” She shook her head. “Do you really think Mariah would get money, and I wouldn't get my fair share?” She lifted her arms and spread them out along the top of the couch.
A look of horror shot in Rosemary's eyes and her body trembled. “Uh, Mari won the lottery so she decided to fix up the house.” Rosemary glanced up.
Forgive me for lying, Lord.
She then looked at Cassie with a steely glare. “Why can't you just leave her alone, Cassie? Let Mariah live her life the way she sees fit. She's done a lot of good in the world. She don't need you around pulling her down.”
Forgive me for lying, Lord.
She then looked at Cassie with a steely glare. “Why can't you just leave her alone, Cassie? Let Mariah live her life the way she sees fit. She's done a lot of good in the world. She don't need you around pulling her down.”
A cold look came into Cassie's eyes. “Now that wasn't a nice thing to say.” Venom dripped from her voice. “I brought her into this world. I feel I should get a little something for that. I didn't even want to have her. Who would want a child thatâ”
“Shut your mouth,” Rosemary barked at her daughter. “A baby is a gift from God, and it would behoove you to remember that.” She pointed her finger at Cassie.
“To me it could go either way: be a gift from God or from the devil. And we know it wasn't nothing holy about the way Mariah was conceived, now don't we?”
Fear struck in Rosemary's heart. She told her daughter coldly, “Don't talk like that. Mariah has been a blessing to me her entire life. She's a good girl, and I don't want you to do or say anything to hurt her.”
“See that's always been your problem. You screwed up my life by making me have Mariah. Then to make up for what you did, you treated her like she was your child. And you threw me away like yesterday's news.” Cassandra pointed her finger at her mother.
Rosemary shook her head sorrowfully. “You know that's not true. I've always been there for you, until you turned to the streets and drugs. If you would just get yourself cleaned up, life could be so much better for you. You need Jesus in your life and let Him lead you to a good rehabilitation center.” She leaned forward in her seat and held out her hand, and said, “Let us help you, Cassie. Let me and Mariah help you. She loves you because you're her mother, but she just doesn't know how to deal with your addiction. Please let us help you,” she begged passionately.
Cassie threw her head back and laughed with ugly, harsh tones. “Help me? You're going to need help when Mariah learns the truth about what happened twenty-eight years ago. Just wait until she finds out the part you played in the lies. I bet Daddy is still turning over in his grave,” Cassie spat at her mother.
Rosemary's body heaved with unshed tears. She felt mortified. “I did what I thought was best at the time. And I'm not going to sit by and let you mess up Mariah's life any more than you have.” She stood up and walked to the door. “I think you'd better leave now.” Rosemary opened it.
Cassie stood up and shook her head. “Same old Ma.” She walked to the door. “I'll go for now, but if I find out you've been lying to me, and I know you have, I'm going to tell Mariah everything about her precious grandmother,” she spat.
Rosemary recoiled from her daughter's body. She stared at Cassie fearfully like Cassie was the devil himself.
“In fact, if Mariah has come into money like I heard she did, then you'd better make sure I get my cut. Or I will make you and her life miserable. Did you get that, old lady? I'll be back, and you'd better have something for me.” Cassie shot a sinister smile at her mother and walked out the door.
Rosemary slammed the door with all her might. She walked to the sofa and sat heavily on it and put her hands over her face. Her shoulders heaved as she cried. She couldn't believe what had just transpired. She knew her daughter was sly and cunning. She had to be to survive on the streets. Never in a million years did Rosemary imagine those traits would be turned against her. She tried to help Cassie in her own way. She gave her food and money when she could. And for her daughter to turn on her like that was a shock to her system.
Rosemary's breathing became shallow. She felt light-headed as she went into the kitchen and picked up her inhaler. She pressed the pump, and the medication shot into her mouth. After what seemed a long time, Rosemary's breathing returned to normal. She went into the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. Rosemary returned to the living room and sat down. Her mind raced a mile a minute as she tried to figure out how to diffuse the situation. There was no doubt in Rosemary's mind that her daughter would make good on her promise to tell Mariah what really happened regarding her conception those years ago.
Rosemary didn't have a lot of money. She knew if her daughter got a whiff of how much money Mariah had, she would blackmail Rosemary over and over. Rosemary wasn't ready to tell Mariah the truth of her beginnings just yet. Rosemary planned to tell her in the future after she settled down and had a family.
She rocked in her seat, closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and implored the Lord to help her. “Father, I know the way I handled the situation wasn't the best way to do things. I hurt Cassie in the process, and she may hurt Mariah. I can't allow that to happen. Lord, please stop by here and guide me. I need your help. Help me, Jesus. I can't fight this battle alone. Please show me the way.” Her voice cracked as tears streamed down her eyes.
Rosemary sat on the sofa and prayed for a long time. With shaking hands, she picked her Bible up off the cocktail table and opened it to Psalm 32 and read aloud the first five chapters. “âBlessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid, I said, I will confess my transgressions until the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.'”
Reverend Dudley gently suggested many years ago that she read that scripture. Rosemary had sought counseling on how to handle the events regarding Mariah's conception. Rosemary read the scripture and it had given her comfort when she needed forgiveness for her sins. Now she knew the text by heart and it had become part of her daily prayers. Reverend Dudley also advised Rosemary to tell Mariah everything that happened.
Rosemary heart rate accelerated at the thought. She decided not to return to church for the musical. She needed time to decide how to proceed with Cassie's threat. Rosemary felt betrayed, like a viper had struck her heart. Dinner was long forgotten as she sat in the living room, as daylight grew dim. “What should I do, Lord?” she beseeched her Father above. “What should I do?” A few hours later she picked up the phone to warn Mariah about Cassie.
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