God Has Spoken (25 page)

“Please help her, Lord,” Eleanor prayed softly as she walked back into the living room. She knew Dupree was hurting very badly and it tore her up that she could not be there for her daughter. “Please touch her heart that she will allow me to explain everything to her and be there for her.”

Eleanor soon found out that was easier said than done. Dupree was like a volcano about to erupt.

“Dupree. Telephone.” Jas's voice was very low as she waved the telephone in front of Dupree's face as she lay on the couch in the living room facing her.

“Who is it?” Dupree rolled her eyes dramatically and gave a big sigh.

“It's your mother, again,” Jas whispered.

“She is
not
my mother,” Dupree yelled. “She wouldn't know what to do as a mother even if it bites her on her little, cute, rich behind.”

“Dupree!” Jas was appalled. She tried to cover the telephone by pressing it to her stomach.

Dupree rudely sucked her teeth, rolled over on the couch with her back now facing Jas and the offensive telephone, her eyes closed as if she was taking a nap.

Jas took a few deep breaths, and then placed the phone back up to her ear. “Hmmm, Mrs. Humphrey, she is—”

“I heard her, Jas,” Eleanor sounded as exhausted as she was. “Tell her I am not going away, and one day we will have to talk. I love her.”

“I'll tell her, Mrs. Humphrey.”

“Thanks, Jas. Is Aunt Madge available?”

“She just went to take a nap.” Jas looked at the extra bedroom that Aunt Madge was occupying while she stayed in Kingston to help Eleanor and Dupree through this rough time. “Do you want me to see if she is awake?”

“No, it's okay. Dwight and I will stop by this evening.” Eleanor shifted positions on the bed that she had been spending most of her time on. It had been a week since Dupree had found out that Eleanor was her mother, and she still refused to speak to her. Whenever Eleanor and Dwight stopped by to see Aunt Madge, Dupree locked herself in her bedroom with the radio playing loud, refusing to see or listen to a word Eleanor had to say. Luckily for Dupree, Eleanor hadn't been back to work since her secret was exposed. Dupree was glad she didn't have to deal with her there. At least for now.

“Thanks, Jas. I'll see you later.”

“Bye, Mrs. Humphrey.” Jas hung up the telephone and jumped when almost instantaneously it rang again. “Hello?” She listened for a few seconds before she looked over at Dupree who still had her back turned. “Please hold.” Jas took a few cautious steps toward Dupree. “Dupree, telephone, again.”

“Tell them whatever they are selling, I'm not buying,” Dupree threw over her shoulder at Jas.

“It's your father,” Jas informed her. “He said he is just asking you for a few minutes of your time.”

In a flash Dupree turned around and sat up straight on the couch with eyes blazing. “Tell Mr. Gregg to please not call here anymore.” She had officially dropped the “Officer.” “I don't want to talk to him,” her rigid finger pointing, “and I don't want to see him,” her neck rolling. “I don't want a darn thing from him. Tell him to get lost!”

Dupree furiously jumped to her feet, stamping them loudly as she marched with her head held high to her bedroom, slamming the door shut. Gone were the tears. Dupree was just plain mad. She woke up mad, spent the day mad, and went to bed mad. Lying crossway on her bed, with her bare feet hanging over the edge, her chin resting in her open palms, Dupree contemplated her future.
I need to go far away from them. Somewhere they can't call me or stop by to try to see me. I really need a break from those two.

“Dupree, Tony is on the phone for you,” Jas hollered from outside the door. “I told him you weren't taking any calls, but he insists on speaking with you.”

“I don't want to speak to Tony. He's a traitor,” Dupree screamed, curling up on the bed in a fetal position. “I wish they could all just leave me alone,” she muttered, fighting against that awful pain that was buried deep inside her. Truth be told, she really missed her best friend.

“He said you both are going to talk one way or the other real soon,” Jas yelled. “We have heard from all your nemeses for today, at least for now, so you can stop hiding.”

Dupree shook her head at Jas's antics. “Come in, big mouth.”

Jas entered with a smirk on her face. “You know I'm going to start charging you for my operator services, right?” She went and lay down beside Dupree on the bed, nudging her in the side with her elbow. “You can't avoid them forever, girlfriend.”

“I know, but I'm going to run as far away as possible,” Dupree replied in a cold voice as she tried to visualize herself in New York.

After Tony had found out that Dupree was his sister, he demanded that his parents pay for her to attend New York University with him, without yet revealing to Dupree that Officer Gregg was her father. He convinced Dupree to accept the generous, life-changing opportunity and to apply to NYU. Finally with Aunt Madge's blessings, Dupree did. Dupree started the fall semester at UTech in September of 1995. She wanted to attend NYU in the fall of 1996 but was instead accepted for next spring, which would begin late January of 1997.

“That's why I made an appointment to go to the embassy for my student visa on Monday.” Dupree looked at Jas apologetically. “I need the break from them, Jas.”

Jas was silent for a moment as she stared at her friend. “It's okay. I'm going to miss you, but this is such a great opportunity for you.”

“He paid the tuition for the first semester,” Dupree said in reference to Officer Gregg. “I hate to take his money, but I need it to get away from him. Does that make sense? Do you think I should tell him to take back his money and just stay here?”

“Oh, no, you won't.” Jas rolled over and sat up on the bed, tucking her legs under her body. Dupree did the same. “He
owes
you this, Dupree. After all these years and everything he has done, you deserve this and so much more.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. Go and get what's yours. Don't worry about me. I know I will have to move from here, but I'll manage. I can work full-time at the bank and go to school at night. With full employment I'll be able to get an apartment with a roommate in a nice neighborhood.”

“We'll look for an apartment for you before I leave so I can help you move.” Dupree reached over and hugged her friend. “I thank God for you every day, Miss Operator.”

Jas laughed and gave her a squeeze before letting go. “I thank Him every day for the excitement that you and your folks are giving me.” She ducked, allowing the pillow that Dupree threw at her to bounce off her back.

 

 

“I got it, Aunt Madge.” Dupree sat down beside her grandaunt on the couch. “I got a five-year student visa. See?” She opened her passport to show Aunt Madge the visa stamped there. Dupree had applied for her student visa the day before. She just came home from the U.S. Embassy where she went to pick it up that afternoon.

“I am happy for you, baby.” Aunt Madge took the passport from Dupree's hand and looked down at it with a smile. “You are going to study abroad, huh? What an awesome God.”

“I'm going to call you every day, and I'll be home to see you every holiday. It's just you and me as always, Aunt Madge.”

Aunt Madge closed the passport and reached for Dupree's hand. “But it's not just us anymore, sweetheart.”

Dupree tried to pull her hand away, but Aunt Madge held it firmly. “Look at me, Dupree.” She waited until Dupree made eye contact with her. “You have a mother who we thought was lost, but she is alive and well. You also have a father and a half brother.”

Dupree sucked her teeth loudly, pushed out her lips, then shook her feet impatiently. “They don't matter to me,” she mumbled.

“I am going to ignore that suck teeth business because you are hurting right now.” Aunt Madge gave Dupree an earnest look. “Baby, I'm not asking you to forget everything that has happened. Nor am I telling you to just forgive your parents. I know it's going to take time. All I'm asking is that you give them a chance to tell you their side of the story, especially your mother. She has . . .” Aunt Madge closed her eyes, shaking her head from side to side, holding in the tears. “She has suffered too, Dupree. Please talk to her. I know it will make a difference toward both of you finding your way to each other.” Her eyes opened and silently pled with Dupree. “Promise me you will at least think about it.”

Dupree searched Aunt Madge's face and noticed the unshed tears in her eyes. Eleanor had been visiting Aunt Madge regularly, and they have talked for hours on end. Obviously, she had told Aunt Madge something that was pretty upsetting.
What could that be?
Dupree wondered.
Maybe I should hear what she has to say.
But just as quickly as the thought came, so did the memories of the hell she went through growing up while her mother was alive and well.
No, Tiny can stay dead for all I care. I don't want to hear the lies she took eighteen years to make up.
“I'll think about it,” Dupree replied with a nonchalant attitude. “It will probably take a lifetime before I'm done thinking, but at least you know I am.”

Aunt Madge opened her arms, smiling. “Come here, my dear.” She wrapped her small arms around Dupree as she would when she was a child. “God is hammering away at the ice around your heart, piece by piece. You have a right to be angry, but I'm praying that you will forgive them soon. Not just for their sake but yours. I want you to move on from the past so you can enjoy the present and embrace the wonderful future ahead of you. I want you to be happy, baby.”

The tears came and wet Aunt Madge's shoulder where Dupree's head lay. “I want to be happy too, Aunt Madge. But it just seems as if I can't be for long. Something or someone always comes along and takes it from me.”

Aunt Madge whispered. “John 16:20 says, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.' Your time is coming, sweetheart. It's coming very soon.”

But Dupree had many rivers to cross before she could find that happiness that she so deserved.

“What is he doing here?” Dupree slammed the door shut, then marched angrily over to Aunt Madge and Jas sitting on the couch. “Didn't I say I don't want to talk to him?” her finger moved accusingly back and forth between both women, “So why on earth do you think I want to see him?” Hands folded across her chest, Dupree stared down at them with eyes blazing.

“Kindly sit down right here.” Aunt Madge patted the space on the couch to her right. “And you watch that tone with me, young lady.”

Dupree sat on the edge of the couch, rapidly shaking her legs, her face twisted up like she was drinking Verjuice. “I can't wait to get away from all of them,” she mumbled under her breath and pursed her lips disgustedly.

“Hello, Pree.” Tony leaned forward on the couch across from her. “I told you we need to talk. That's why I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere until we do.”

Dupree sucked her teeth and quickly glanced over at Aunt Madge who gave her a stern look.

“I never wanted to hurt you, Pree,” Tony continued, his voice fortified with grief. “You know I love you, first as my best friend, then as my sister. I did what I thought was best at the time.”

“You love me, huh? Is
that
why you and your father watched me struggle after Aunt Madge got sick and neither one of you helped me?” Dupree bent forward, her eyes pinning Tony to the couch. “You introduced yourself to me like you never knew me, and all this time you knew I was your father's bastard child!”

“Dupree,” Aunt Madge said loudly. “Look at me, baby. You are no one's bastard, you hear me? You are a child of the Most High God. He loves you, and I love you too.”

“I love you too, Pree.” Tony eyes were swimming with tears. “I love you so much that I moved out of my parents' house when I found out you were my sister.”

Dupree looked at him. “So that's why you went to stay with your grandparents?”

“Yes,
our
grandparents, by the way. I found out the same night you were attacked by Deacon Livingston.” Tony proceeded to tell them of getting home late that night after leaving the hospital and hearing his parents arguing. “I was curious because they rarely fought, so I went and listened by their bedroom door. My mother was telling my father that they were going to hell for what they did to you, Dupree, his daughter. My father was shocked because he never knew that my mother had known all this time of his betrayal and the child that resulted from it.” As the story unfolded, Dupree, Aunt Madge, and Jas didn't say a word. “She knew that he impregnated a teenager, and she covered it up.” Tony's voice grew louder. “Can you see now why I couldn't stay in the same house with them? They betrayed you.” Tony stood to his feet and began pacing the floor. “They denied you so they could keep their secret hidden.”

Aunt Madge groaned deep in her throat.

“Instead of helping your mother when she told him she was pregnant, my father threatened to kill her and Aunt Madge if she ever revealed that he fathered her child. Did you know that?” Tony stopped in front of Dupree, looking down at her with compassion.

Tears leaked down Dupree's face.

“I hated them for it, Pree.” Tony knelt down in front of his sister, taking her trembling hands in his own. Both were crying. “It took many family counseling sessions with Bishop Chude in Clarendon before I was able to even speak civilly to them again.”

“That's where you always disappeared to? With them?” Dupree said in a low voice.

Tony nodded, got up, and squeezed in beside Dupree on the couch, his leg squashed against hers. “Yes. I gave them some ultimatums as well.”

“Uh-huh, such as paying the tuition for me to attend NYU.” Dupree used her fingers to wipe the tears from her face. “I wondered why they were doing that for me, you know. Why would these perfect strangers do something so generous for their son's best friend? All this time they were trying to appease their guilt.”

“For what it's worth, Pree, they are really torn up over what they've done. I know it's going to take some time for you to forgive them, but I know you will one day. It takes time, just like it did for me.”

“Yeah, it will take some time.” Dupree looked sadly at Tony. “Like a lifetime.”

“No, it won't. You are just mad right now.” Tony gave her a small smile. “I didn't tell you because you were badly hurt and had a long road to recovery. We thought it was best to wait.”

“We?” Dupree looked at Tony with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, my parents and I discussed it. Dad wanted to tell you when everything came out after your attack, but it would have been too much for you. I did it for you, Pree, and I would do it all over again to protect you.”

The siblings stared at each other.
He is as much a victim in this whole mess as I am,
Dupree contemplated, her anger toward Tony sidling away. “Maybe I should ease up on you a little.” She gently elbowed him in his side, a smile flirting at the corners of her mouth. “Although you could have told me after I started college.”

“I eventually would at the right time, little sister.”

“Please, you and I are the same age,
little
brother.”

Tony reached over and hugged Dupree, who clung to him. “I'm sorry about everything, Pree. I hate that you are hurting so much, but I know you will come out of this a stronger and better person. I'm always here for you.”

“Thanks, Tony. I'm so confused,” Dupree confessed. “I don't know what to do, where to turn, or who to talk to.”

“For now, why don't you focus on talking to God? He'll lead you down the right path for you to follow.”

In silent acquiescence, Dupree pulled back and looked at her brother. Over the last few days she had spent so much time being mad and so little time seeking God. Maybe it
was
time to get back on track.