Stepping to a New Day (16 page)

Because there was no Wi-Fi, Paula sat and read her Bible until nightfall, then prepared for bed. Passing her grandfather's bedroom, she gathered her courage and walked inside. The space was just as she remembered: same bed, dresser, and small closet. His presence was so strong she expected him to come up behind her and demand to know what she was doing. Shaking that off, she stepped in further. Growing up, she'd never been allowed in his room and she'd rarely violated the unspoken law even when she was home alone. She pulled open the closet door and the scent of Old Spice, his cologne of choice, wafted to her nose. Hanging inside were a few threadbare suits along with a small collection of blue and brown work shirts and pants that matched. She wondered if Della had plans for his things. For most of his life he'd worked for a wealthy white family in a town a few miles away as their handyman, doing everything from painting to lawn work to mopping their floors. The pay had been minimal but enough for him to stay on top of his bills, and it was steady. Paula had no idea what kind of financial shape he'd been in when he died or if he'd left a will.
She assumed Della knew the details. On the shelf above the clothes she spotted what appeared to be a thick book. Reaching up, she took it down. To her surprise it was an old photo album. Taking a seat on the bed, she blew off some of the dust and opened it. The photos were dull with age. There was one of him that looked to have been taken in his twenties. He was thin, dressed in a wide-legged pin-striped suit, and had a cocky smile on his handsome face. She could probably count on one hand the number of times she'd seen him smile. None had ever been directed her way. She turned more pages and found pictures of her mother and Della as youngsters and teens. The next picture stopped her heart. It was a wedding photo. The groom was her grandfather and the bride—a younger version of the old woman in her dream. Heart pounding, Paula read the name. Myrlie Parks. Her grandmother! Now she understood why the woman had looked familiar. Paula had seen her face in an album at Della's house years ago. Myrlie died when Paula's mother was in her teens.
What in the world!
She studied the picture again and in her face saw a resemblance to all the women in the family who'd come after her: Patricia, Della, Lisa, Robyn, and Paula herself. Unlike the families in Henry Adams no stories of Myrlie had been passed down. Paula knew her name, that she'd died, but nothing more.
Why were you in my dream?
There was no answer, of course. Closing the album, Paula placed it back on the closet shelf and left the room.

Later, lying in the dark on the hard uncomfortable twin bed, Paula's mind swirled with all she'd done, seen, and heard that day. There were so many unresolved issues, missing pieces, and pain. The priest in her said: Let go and let God. Paula hoped she could.

T
he next morning back in Henry Adams, Clay and Riley were just finishing breakfast when Clay said, “Bernadine called a little while ago. Wants to see you.”

Riley studied him over the cup of coffee in his hand. “She say what she wanted?”

“No.”

Riley hoped it meant she'd be offering him the barber job. “Got some good news from the lawyer last night.” Riley had spoken with him via Clay's phone.

“And?” Clay asked

“The dealership in LA dropped the charges.”

Clay looked suspicious. “Why?”

“Because they got their vehicle back in one piece and didn't think it made sense to waste all that time and money trying to prosecute me. They took my age into consideration, too.”

“So you got off scot-free.”

Riley smiled smugly. “Yep. Just not allowed within fifty feet of their dealerships anywhere in the country and I can't set foot
in LA County for the next three years. Which is fine and dandy because I'm never going back there anyway. Hate LA.”

“What about the identity theft charges?”

“Dropped, too. Lawyer said he argued that I didn't do Trent any real harm. Didn't open a bank account, apply for a credit card, or sign his name to any documents. Apparently the prosecutor agreed.” Riley guessed Trent wasn't going to be happy, but he didn't care.

“You were lucky,” Clay said grudgingly, getting to his feet. “Let's hope you're lucky enough for Bernadine to hire you. I'll be ready to drive you over after you clean up the kitchen.”

Riley froze. Wasn't he the guest? As Clay strolled out, Riley glared at his back but got up and got to work.

Once the kitchen was done, Clay drove him to the Power Plant and dropped him off. “Meet me at the Dog when you're done.”

Riley entered Ms. Brown's office and tried to ignore the chill in her eyes as he took a seat.

“Riley,” she said coolly.

“How are you, Ms. Brown? You wanted to see me?”

“Yes. Kelly said you stopped by her place yesterday wanting a job.”

“Yes.”

“And why should I hire you after all the commotion you've caused?”

He cleared his throat. “Well, I really need a job. I thought I'd run for mayor again in the next election but until then—“

The expression on her face stopped him cold.

“You plan to run for mayor again.” It was a statement. Not a question.

“Sure. Why not? I have a lot of ideas that'll help this town
grow.” And he might find a way to prove his theory that she'd gotten her millions illegally.

She shook her head. “What's the latest on your court case?”

“The dealership dropped the charges.” He didn't tell her the rest because it was really none of her business.

“I see.” She didn't appear happy. “I made some calls last night to see if a barber was indeed needed and was told by men like Mal and others that there was, and that you were fairly decent at it.”

“I was the best,” he boasted. Inwardly though he was pleading for her to say he could have the job. Regardless of his good news, he was still flat broke and homeless.

“I'm going to give you the job temporarily.”

Riley stiffened.
Temporarily?

“If you prove yourself to be an exemplary employee over the next thirty days the job will be yours permanently.”

Recalling being chastised by Tamar, he said, “Thank you, Ms. Brown.”

She leaned forward. “But let me warn you, if you steal even a dime or do anything remotely illegal, Eustacia's lawyers won't be able to save you from
my
lawyers. Do you understand me?”

He nodded hastily.

“Good. Report for work tomorrow at nine and Kelly is in charge. Not you.”

“Okay.” He thanked her again and beat a hasty retreat.

Because the day was so nice the students at the Marie Jefferson Academy took their lunch outside and Amari asked Eli, “So are you going to talk to Tamar about the Father's Day party or not?”

“I am. Today. Promise.”

Amari said, “Good, because I talked to my mom about helping us order the material for the flags and she suggested we come to the next Ladies Auxiliary meeting so they can assist with oversight.”

Leah said, “That's a really good idea. Did you tell her not to tell your dad?”

He nodded. “She knows what's up. So who wants to go to the meeting with me?”

Devon asked, “Why do you get to go?”

“Because he has the gift of gab,” Preston pointed out.

“Can I go?” Zoey asked.

“Sure.”

“I want to go,” Leah said.

Tiffany did too and so did Devon.

Amari threw up his hands. “How about we all go and be done with it?”

Everyone agreed. Except Wyatt, who sat eating silently. Eli glanced his way but said nothing. On the way back into the building, Eli stopped him. “Hey. You want to come by my house later and we go look at some skateboards?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

“Your enthusiasm is scintillating,” Eli deadpanned.

Wyatt smiled.

That made Eli feel better. “I'll text you after I talk to Tamar.”

Wyatt gave him a nod and walked away.

Eli was nearly at the door when Crystal stopped him and said, “Hey. What's up with you and Sam? You two haven't been joined at the hip lately.”

He shrugged. “Split City. Her call.”

Crystal searched his eyes. “You want her killed?”

He laughed. “No.”

“Just checking. You're okay, though?”

“I am.”

She nodded at him and went inside. Eli thought he couldn't have a better friend.

Heading to Tamar's after school, Eli didn't see her having an issue with them using her yard for the party, but he knew better than to assume when Tamar was involved. He'd sent her a text earlier, so she was expecting him. Walking to the porch, he thought back to the very first time they met. He and his dad had just arrived in town and Eli was an angry pain in the ass. She'd set him straight right quick, and he hadn't liked it, or her, at all. They ended up talking about his mom's death and when the conversation was over, he realized what a great lady she was. That she'd offered him pancakes that day hadn't hurt. He knocked. She opened the door.

“Come on in.”

“Thanks.”

She gestured for him to take a seat. She sat too and asked, “So what can I help with? Am I right in assuming this is another one of my great-grandson's grand ideas?”

“Yes, but it's a good one. We want to have a Father's Day celebration and your permission to have it here.”

“Since this is Amari's plan I have to ask if the police will be involved.”

“No, ma'am.” Eli knew she was referencing an incident that took place the first year Amari, Preston and Crystal came to town. Amari's plan to help Crystal run away so she could find her bio mom went sideways and landed them all in the backseat of a squad car. It happened before he and his dad moved to Henry Adams. In a way he wished he'd
been around to witness it, but in reality was glad he hadn't been.

“Good.”

“Do you have a date for this?”

He gave her the date and watched her put it in her phone. She had to be the most tech savvy senior citizen he'd ever met.

“Okay,” she said. “I have it marked. So tell me what this celebration will involve.”

He told her about the food and the flags and the games they wanted to play and she listened attentively.

“Do the fathers know?” she asked when he finished.

“No. We want it to be a surprise.”

“Pretty hard keeping secrets around here but it can be done.”

“Leah's uncle, Mr. Barbour, has offered to help too, and Ms. Lily suggested we attend the next Ladies Auxiliary meeting so they could do the oversight thing.”

“Good idea. This sounds pretty straightforward. You'll need tables, chairs—you can borrow those from the rec—plastic ware, plates, tablecloths, napkins, condiments—you might want to write all this down, Eli.”

He startled. “Oh, sorry. You're right.” He took out his own phone and made a list.

“I'll have Gary save potato sacks for the sack races. I'll tell them I need them so he won't suspect anything.”

Eli liked having her on their side.

She asked, “If you think of anything else bring it to the meeting. I'll also let it be known that I need you children at that meeting so you won't have to lie about where you're going or why.”

“Thanks, Tamar.”

“You're welcome. So sorry neither you nor Crystal won the art competition.”

“Yeah. Thanks. We were both pretty disappointed.”

“Understandable, but you have a bright future. There'll be triumphs ahead.”

“I guess.”

“Gemma said you're taking Wyatt under your wing.”

He wondered if there was anything in town that she didn't know about. “I'm going to try.”

“That's a good thing, Eli.”

“We'll see. He doesn't seem real happy about it.”

“That's okay. You weren't real happy about me when we first met.”

He grinned. “I was thinking about that on the way over. I was a mess back then.”

“True, but look at you now. It's been a pleasure watching you grow into yourself.”

Eli met her eyes and saw the kindness there. “That means a lot.”

“Whether it does or not, it's the truth. No matter where you go you'll always take Henry Adams with you.”

He made the split-second decision to seek her advice. “Is it wrong for me to want to go back to California?”

She didn't hesitate. “No. The spirit sets up its own call. Have you talked to your dad?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“He's just going to say no.”

“And you know that how?”

“You sound like Crystal.”

“Lord, I hope not. But then again, she's growing into her
self, too.” Her eyes showed her amusement. “Tell me what you've been feeling.”

So for the next few minutes he poured out his heart and longings. She didn't interrupt. She simply listened. And when he was done, she said, “Either you ask your dad or don't. Both offer a path. If he says yes, you'll open the path that California offers. If he says no, your future will emanate from here. However, if you don't ask, you may never know what California brings. Does that make sense?”

He nodded.

“Step out on faith, son. You can't go through life cowering because someone might say no. If the Dusters had cowered none of us would be here today.”

She was right, of course, and although he wasn't African American the lessons he'd learned about the Dusters and their quest were applicable to his own life.

“Does this help?” she asked.

“It does, Tamar. Very much.”

“Good,” she responded softly. “Keep me posted. I can't ask Jack for you but I'm here if you need to bounce things off me.”

That meant a lot, too.

“Okay,” she said, rising to her feet. “Go home so an old lady can go on with her day.”

He stood, too. “Thanks, Tamar.”

“You're welcome.”

As he started to the door, she said, “Eli?”

He stopped.

“Your mother's real proud of you. Keep making her smile.”

With a full heart, he stepped through the door and back out into the afternoon sunshine.

Buoyed by Tamar's praise and advice, Eli drove to Wyatt's.

“Why do you like skateboarding?” Wyatt asked when he got in the car.

“I'm an only child and when I started it was something I could do by myself.”

“Never thought about it that way.”

Eli said, “Look, if you don't want to do this and want to do something else, we can.”

“No. It's okay. I've been looking at videos on YouTube. Can you do all those tricks?”

“Maybe not all but I'm pretty good. I'll show you my trophies sometime.”

The wonder on Wyatt's face made him chuckle. “I ride like a boss, kid. Don't believe me—just watch.”

Wyatt grinned.

And with that, Eli drove them toward Franklin for Wyatt's first visit to a skateboard store.

Inside, Eli nodded at the proprietor, a guy named Mike, and introduced him to Wyatt. He suggested one of his beginner's boards and they looked at a few. Eli rejected a couple of them because the balance was a bit off when Wyatt stood on them and another because the paint job was flat-out ugly.

Wyatt asked, “Are there any with maps on them?”

Mike stopped. “Maps.”

“Yeah. I want to be a cartographer.”

Mike seemed confused so Eli translated. “He wants to study maps.”

“Oh.” But he looked at Wyatt like he'd come from Mars.

Eli told Wyatt, “You can probably find some decals online for your board.”

“Good.”

In the end, they found a board to Eli's liking, along with
a helmet and pads for his knees and elbows. Mike threw in a cheap pair of gloves as well. Once the purchases were rung up they headed back to the car.

“Thanks, Eli. Never had anybody do something like this for me before.”

Eli saw the sincerity in his eyes. “You're welcome. Just trying to be a friend.”

And they drove back to Henry Adams.

When he walked in his dad said, “I just got a call from Sam's parents. She wants to finish out the year at Franklin High with her friends.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Upstairs in his room, all he could think was: so much for that.

Marie wasn't trying to be a friend to Rita Lynn, but she was sitting at her laptop waiting for their Skype connection to start so she could apologize and cross her high school nemesis off her 12 Step List. She'd already made her peace with Trent, who'd reacted in much the same way as his father in declaring he was just happy to have her back in his life. Marie wasn't sure how Rita Lynn would react so when her face came up on the screen Marie drew in a calming breath and said, “Hey, Rita Lynn.”