book.pdf (10 page)

48

type of flowers to order, and would there be a soloist? The list of questions

seemed to go on and on. The last item to decide on turned out to be the

easiest—changing the funeral home music to that which Cynthia had chosen.

Both she and Clarence decided Craig’s favorite music should be piped in,

instead of traditionally solemn organ music. Further bucking tradition,

Clarence suggested to Vi that they lay Craig out in his favorite Mets jersey

instead of a suit. “He wore a suit maybe six times in his whole life. I think

he’d like to rest in something comfortable.”

Vi agreed with Clarence and promised the director she’d bring Craig’s

personalized Mets jersey by later in the day. The jersey had been a birthday

present from Clarence, and Craig wore it to every home game the Mets

played. She remembered Craig joking before each game –
the Mets couldn’t

win unless he was watching them in his lucky jersey.

They were just about to leave when the funeral director thought to ask if

there would be pallbearers for the procession. Momentarily stumped, Vi

looked to Clarence for help. Clarence, bless his heart, didn’t let her down.

“That nice young man Clayton mentioned yesterday there might be close to a

hundred officers at the funeral from the state and county police. It seems

they always turn out when someone in their ranks is laid to rest. Maybe, we

could ask him about pallbearers, dear?” Clarence suggested in his gentle,

baritone voice.

It took nearly two hours to undo the things Cynthia had put in place. They

worked to change the funeral arrangements to what she and Clarence felt

Craig would want. Feeling calmer now that it was all done, Vi walked out

of the mortuary arm in arm with Clarence, the anger she’d felt earlier

completely gone. Outside the sun shone bright, positioned high in a

cloudless sky. Rush hour was over and only sporadic mid-morning traffic

coasted by on Route 110. Across the street a bus was stopped at the corner

picking up passengers, most of them elderly citizens and mothers with baby

carriages.

“Well, that settles it,” she told him as they walked toward Clarence’s car, a

large Chevy station wagon.

Clarence shot her a questioning look, “What’s that?”

Looking to him for confirmation, she told him, “Well, I was going to put

off getting Craig’s things together, but maybe the sooner I do it the better.”

“You sure you’re up to that today?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” she continued, “Besides, we need to get his clothes back

here by 5:00 today, before the mortuary closes.”

“Okay, if you’re sure, I’ll go over there with you.”

49

As they drove over to Craig’s apartment Clarence and Vi talked about

Craig, reminiscing on some of the times that stood out in both their minds.

“Remember the time his team won All State Champion in his senior year?”

“Yeah, I remember. I loved going to those games. He was quite a short

stop.”

“How about the time he paid a scalper $250 for those Luther Vandross

tickets because the show was completely sold out?”

“Oh my, do I? I remember nagging him nonstop about blowing his first

full paycheck on it even if—as he put it—his date was ‘really hot’.”

Clarence pulled up to the apartment complex, shut off the engine and

turned to face Vi. Reaching for her hand, he enclosed it in his large, age-

spotted palm. “Before we go in there, I want you to know that if it gets

difficult for you, I’ll be there with you and so will Clayton.” Pausing to gain

control of his own emotions, he eyed her solemnly before continuing. “Vi,

we both know it’s not easy being a parent, and times like these are some of

the hardest. But we need to remember we had Craig for twenty four

wonderful years and nothing can take that from us.”

Vi reached over and touched his weathered cheek, wondering how it was

possible to love this man more than she already did.

Clayton strode to the door, answering it on the second knock. Freshly

shaven, he opened the door wearing jeans that hung a bit low on his hips and

nothing else.

“Mrs. Simpson,” he said in surprise. “I didn’t know you’d be stopping by

this morning.” He grabbed a shirt hanging on the coat tree next to the door

and quickly put it on. Not bothering to button it, Clay stepped aside,

allowing Clarence and Vi to enter the apartment. Momentarily, her gaze

traveled over him, stopping when she reached his eyes. His eyes were tired

and red and he looked like he’d had a rough night.

Vi said hello as she crossed the threshold and gave him an affectionate hug.

A faint, woodsy aftershave lingered in the air and she noticed the subtle

change in him from yesterday. Yesterday he’d seemed strong and solid, but

today he looked slightly vulnerable. When they parted, Clayton turned

toward Clarence, giving him a strong, firm handshake.

“Clarence, good to see you again,” Clay replied.

“Clayton, how are you holding up, young fellow?” Clarence gave Clayton

a solid clap on the back in greeting, walked briskly inside and sank down

onto the soft, leather sofa. “We’re sorry to barge in like this, but Vi forgot

her cell phone so we couldn’t call you ahead of time. The funeral home

50

needs some of Craig’s things and we thought it might be best to try and get

some of his things together today, if that’s alright with you.”

“It’s fine with me, I just…” he trailed off, reluctant to finish what he’d

been about to say.

Sensing his hesitancy, Vi urged him to speak freely about whatever was on

his mind. “No, don’t stop, please finish what you were about to say.”

“I just thought this would be pretty hard on you and that maybe Tony or

Janae would be here to help you.”

Hearing the concern in his voice, Vi tried her best to reassure him she was

going to be okay. Besides the fact she hadn’t actually planned to do this

today either, she certainly couldn’t have enlisted the kids help this morning.

Last night had been a particularly rough night for both of them. Wearing a

brave smile, she spoke to him reassuringly. “They were asleep when I left

this morning. We all had a pretty rough night. Anyway, Clarence is here.

“Well, I can stick around and help out too,” Clayton volunteered.

“Clayton, please don’t feel like you have to hang around and help us. I

know you must have things to do.”

“No, I don’t mind helping. Really,” he assured Vi, then sat down on the

sofa opposite Clarence, facing the older man.

She watched him talk quietly with Clarence, offering to help them in any

way he could and deciding which room to tackle first. Thinking about what

he’d been about to say made her think of her children. Unable to sleep, Tony

and Janae had climbed into her bed during the night. However, out of all of

them, she knew this young man probably had the toughest time last night.

After all, he’d been closest to Craig for the past four years, sharing an

apartment and working together. She imagined it must have been very hard

for him to walk into this apartment last night. Not voicing those sentiments,

Vi walked over to the sofa. Always the gentlemen, Clayton stood up

immediately so she could sit down. Vi shook her head to indicate that she

was fine standing. She smiled at him as a sudden thought struck her. “Did

you eat my spaghetti last night?”

She watched as he placed a strong hand to his mid-section, where his shirt

lay open. Managing a slight smile, he rubbed the long fingers of his left hand

against an extremely flat abdomen. “Yes, ma’am, I ate all of it this morning.

It was real good, thank you.”

Looking away, Vi’s eye wandered around the living room until she spied

his cordless phone base, sitting on a small glass and chrome end table. When

Vi asked to use his phone, Clayton promptly retrieved the cordless phone

from the kitchen counter where he’d left it earlier.

51

After punching in the salon’s phone number, Vi was mildly surprised when

Cynthia answered on the first ring. Some of the anger she’d felt earlier crept

into her voice when she spoke to her sister.

“Cynthia, I’m at Clay’s gathering some of Craig’s things. I tried you at

home this morning, when I found out what you did.”

Cynthia heard the suppressed annoyance in Vi’s voice right away. Playing

for time, she responded slowly, “Vi, what on earth do you mean?”

Losing patience with Cynthia’s feigned innocence, Vi lost no time getting

right to the point. “Why did you go behind my back and make my son’s

funeral arrangements?”

“But Vi, I…”

“What gives you the right to do such a thing?” Cutting her off, Vi

deliberately lowered her voice, desperately trying to reign in her temper.

“Vi, honey, I’m sorry. I thought I was doing you a favor, what with

everything’s that’s happened.”

Vi felt herself losing it all over again. What Cynthia did this morning was

typical of what she always did—take charge. No matter whose feet she

stepped on, Cynthia always felt it was her right to take charge. Lowering her

voice to a firm whisper, she spat out. “You had no right.” Then, gaining

some of her composure back, Vi told her pointedly. “In any event, we were

able to change everything so I guess there was no real harm done.”

“Who’s ‘we’?”

The fact her father-in-law remained close to the family even after Vi’s

husband had died annoyed Cynthia, and Vi knew this. However, Cynthia’s

inquiry took Vi by surprise, so she answered honestly, “Clarence and I.”

There was no reply, so Vi filled the void. “Cynthia, before you leave today,

have Nicole call and reschedule everyone for the rest of the week. Then go

ahead and close the shop early. In fact, if Nicole is there, let me speak with

her.”

Cynthia took it upon herself to act as second in charge when Vi wasn’t at

Nu U Salon and the fact that Vi asked to speak with Nicole directly was not

lost on her. Suspecting Vi was still angry with her for making the funeral

arrangements, Cynthia handed the phone to Nicole, silently fuming.

In the background, Vi heard Andre yell, “Is that Vi?”

Nicole mumbled something she couldn’t hear, then her voice came back

clearly in the receiver. “Andre sends his love. How are you and the kids

holding up?”

52

“Oh, as good as the circumstances will allow. We forced ourselves to get

up this morning, take a shower and eat. It was more than any of us wanted to

do.”

“It’ll be rough for a spell Vi, but we’re all here for you.”

Appreciating the genuine concern in Nicole’s voice, Vi smiled wryly.

More than an employee, over the past few years Nicole had become one of

Vi’s closest friends. “My kids slept with me last night, Nicole. My kids

haven’t done that since they were in grade school. They curled up on my bed

and we talked about Craig till it was almost daybreak.”

“You must be exhausted, girl. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything and call

you later.”

Hanging up the phone, Vi stomach roiled as she walked back into the living

room. Hearing the unladylike noise, Clarence and Clayton looked up as she

entered the room.

“Sorry guys,” she apologized. Vi suddenly realized she hadn’t eaten in

over 24 hours and got Clarence up so early, he probably didn’t have a chance

to eat either. In a mildly embarrassed tone, Vi addressed the two men.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but when my stomach makes those

noises, it’s definitely time to eat.”

Clarence smiled in agreement and confirmed that he didn’t have time this

morning for anything but a cup of coffee. Clayton denied being hungry

when Vi asked him, but she quickly insisted that he needed to eat too. Vi

decided to run out and pick up breakfast at the bagel place on the corner.

Clarence stood up and immediately offered to go with her, suggesting they

stop at the supermarket while out there and to pick up some more boxes.

While they were gone, Clay wandered around the apartment. After a few

minutes, he ended up in the kitchen. Pulling out a chair, he sat down at the

kitchen table and paid a few bills. When that was done, he got up and

decided to get a head start boxing up Craig’s things. He started in his

bathroom.

Big mistake!

Craig’s shaver sat on the sink, as if it were waiting for him to amble out of

bed and use it just like he’d done hundreds of mornings in the past. His