When Everything's Said & Done (13 page)

“So were Michael and Brenda happy?” Sheila asked. “From what I heard they were. But I only saw them once in awhile. Still, in a neighborhood you’d hear

things. For instance, I heard they were doing well, and people in the community seemed to look up to them. Michael’s business was growing like wildfire, and I got to believe a lot of that had to do with Brenda. Brenda worked hard to make her marriage work, and to help Michael be successful. So, I would say she was happy to a certain extent. But you know, some wise folks say happy is just a time between two points of sadness, and sadness is just a time between two points of happiness. Life goes on. It’s not always pretty, but it goes on.”

CHAPTER 16

"Brenda. I’m home,” Michael called.

“Hi, baby,” Brenda replied from the dining room. She had worked a
half-day. There was an appointment that afternoon that she did not want to miss.

Anxious, Brenda glanced at the dining room door. She had asked Michael to call right before he left the office so everything could be timed perfectly. With pre
cision, Brenda struck the matchbook and lit the two candles. “How was your day?” She continued to engage Michael as his approaching footsteps sounded on the hardwood floors.

“Great!” he replied. “Where are you? I got some
thing to tell you.”

“I’ll be right there.” Brenda looked at the curtains that had been drawn to set a romantic mood. Then at the table that was set with their best china, silverware and napkins, before she flipped off the light and hur
ried to intercept Michael.

“Hi, baby,” she repeated. “You sound excited.” She put her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss.

Brenda closed her eyes as Michael squeezed her. “Seems like this is a special day all around.”

“You can say that again.” Michael smiled. “We picked up a record number of customers today, but out
side of that...” He grabbed her forearms. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“You do?” Brenda giggled.
“I guess this is also a day for surprises.” She took his briefcase from his hand and placed it on the floor before she led Michael toward the dining room.

“Okay, here it goes.” Michael shook his finger as they walked. “I’ve been waiting and waiting and wait
ing to see if this guy was going to accept an impromptu but serious offer that I made.”

“What offer?” Brenda asked as they stood outside the back entrance to the dimly lit dining room.

“We’re going to buy another piece of property,” Michael exploded. “Our second piece of property, Brenda. You know how we’ve been discussing it, well; a great deal has finally come our way. The building will need renovating, of course, and your approval,” Michael said with his face full of anticipation.

“That’s wonderful, Michael.” Brenda hugged him again.

“It is.” Michael burst into another smile. “And it’s only the beginning, because we’re going to buy more and more, and we, as the Dawsons, might single- handedly renovate this part of St. Pete.”

Brenda’s smile dimmed a bit. “Wow. It sounds good, but extremely ambitious.” She glanced at the roman
tic table inside the room. “But, honey?”

“What?”

“What do you think?”

Brenda lifted her arm toward the dining table. “Now, this is wow! ” Michael said as he looked at the room and the table for the first time. “This is beauti
ful, Brenda.” He kissed her forehead. “Looks like I’m in for quite a treat tonight.”

“We’re in for a treat,” Brenda assured him. “And I fixed your favorite food.
Meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes. Green beans.” She lifted her chin with pride. “And I even made a peach cobbler.”

“No, you didn’t!” Michael smiled mischievously.

“Yes, I did. Can’t you smell it?” She waved her hand in front of his nose.

“I can. And now I’m instantly hungry.”

“Good.” Brenda’s enthusiasm continued to rise. “Well, you take off your coat and get relaxed, and I’ll bring all the food out. We’ll just dine from the middle of the table and celebrate.”

“You are wonderful.” Michael pecked Brenda on the lips. “It’s like you knew that this was going to be a special day in our lives.”

“It is a special day, Michael.” Her eyes glistened. “It really is.”

Moments later they were seated at the table, serving
themselves while Michael continued to chatter about the acquisition he planned to make.

“And this is quite the building. It needs some work, but it’s beautiful, Brenda. And if we turn it over right away, I think we could make a nice little chunk of change off of this one. But who knows, maybe we’ll just keep it and rent it out, because it has four units. It’s a fourplex. And the truth is I can see it as a possible
long-term source of income for us.”

Brenda chewed and listened, listened and chewed as Michael went on.

“So of course with this kind of purchase we must watch our money now. We’re going to need extra cash to put into the building to bring it up to par. So whatever you do, honey, watch the shopping, don’t bring in any new things, at least not for a minute.”

Brenda looked down. “What’s a minute, Michael?”

“I’d say, let’s give ourselves about six to nine months of not making any big purchases, because we don’t want to increase our debt. We’re doing great, but just to be on the safe side I’d rather have more money than what we’ll need for the renovations, than to have just enough, because you never know what you may come across when you get involved with this kind of project.” “I can imagine.” Brenda’s face looked drained.

“But don’t worry. You’ve done a great job of man
aging our money, and I know that at this important time you will do just the same.”

Brenda placed her forehead in her hand. “Michael, as you said, you know that I’ve always supported you in whatever you’ve done to make our lives as rich as they are.” She looked around the well-furnished room. “I’m all about that.”

“I know,” Michael replied.

“So—um. I just don’t know what to say right now.” Brenda shook her head. “There’s already something that’s in the works that probably will call for more money than we’ve ever needed.”

Michael stopped eating. “Like what?”

“Well, like... "Brenda hesitated. “I didn’t want to tell you this way. ”

“You didn’t want to tell me what this way?” Michael sat back. “What are you talking about?”

“I didn’t want to tell you during a business discussion that we’re having a baby. We’re having a baby, Michael. ”

“A baby.” Michael repeated the words.

“Ye-es. A baby.” Brenda’s eyes softened.

“A baby.” Michael looked down. “My goodness. I just don’t know what to say.” He looked up. “It’s wonderful. I mean...it truly is, but at the same time we promised that we would not start having children for a couple of years.”

“I know that.” Brenda looked hurt. “But...Michael, you work so much and everything. I just...and I’m working, too. I mean our lives are so busy with busi
ness, I just felt as if a baby would make us closer, would make our home more of a home. You’d be around the house a little more, around me a little more, and...” “Brenda, I’m around you a lot, we work together.”

“But it’s not the same thing. Working together and being at home as a family is not the same thing,” she pleaded.

“I know that.” Michael took another forkful of meatloaf and then a deep breath.

“Michael, even though I know we agreed, I thought that you would be happy that we were having a child. I really did. I guess I was wrong.”

“You’re not wrong.” He touched her hand across the table. “I just...I just wasn’t expecting this at this time...when this project has come available. I’m thinking about the verbal commitment that I made.”

“Well, but it’s verbal. You haven’t actually signed the papers for the building. And it’s not that we don’t have plenty of money, Michael. We can always buy another piece of property after the baby is born. You’re such a go-getter, Michael, you’ll be able to find another deal.”

“But that’s not promised. Something like this comes only once in a lifetime. I can’t just walk away from it, and like I said. I’ve given my word.”

Brenda’s shoulders drooped. “And an opportunity like this, a baby, this particular child born from us, comes only once in a lifetime, Michael. We can’t walk away from it, either. We are going to have this baby like it or not.”

Brenda got up and walked away from the table as Michael called, “Brenda! Brenda!”

Nebia’s Story...

“Ohh boy,” Sheila remarked. “There’s already signs of trouble in paradise.”

“There were signs in the very beginning that there would be trouble,” Nebia said. “But Brenda loved Michael so much she felt she had enough willpower to make things work. And she had enough love to make them work perfectly.”

“But it doesn’t sound like Michael didn’t want the baby,” Erica said. “It sounded like, in his mind, it was bad timing because they had agreed not to have any children for a while.”

“Obviously, they had agreed,” Nebia replied. “But Brenda knew there was something missing in their mar
riage, and this was one of the ways she was trying to fill that gap.”

“Did it work?” Cynthia asked.

“If only life was that simple,” Nebia replied. “Then earth itself would be paradise, wouldn’t it?”

CHAPTER 17

"Shh-shh-shh. Be quiet. Here comes Mr. and Mrs. Dawson,” a voice warned. Pastor Benson looked up from the papers in front of him.

“Well, good evening,” the minister greeted them. “Glad to have you two back. You know you’ve spoiled us, Brenda. We can barely do anything without you.” He patted her hand. “So it’s good to see both of you. You’re looking well.”

“Thank you. Pastor Benson.” Brenda looked nervous. A chorus of “You look great, Mrs. Dawson,” and “You’ve never looked better,” circled through the church basement.

“Thank you,” she said again, looking more embar
rassed than ever.

Michael pulled one of the folding chairs out from be
neath the table. Brenda sat down. Michael followed.

“We’ve got a small agenda today,” Pastor Benson said. “And mainly it focuses around Community Ties. Are you prepared to give us an update on the situation, Brenda?”

She nodded. “Yes. The tutorial program is set up and ready for students. So you can put that in the church bulletin and we can get the word out. As far as the neighborhood watch goes, it’s well on its way. We’ll have another meeting next Friday. ” Brenda cleared her throat. “I know I haven’t been very active over the last week or so. But I’m feeling up to the task again. And some of you can look forward to me contacting you.” She looked around the table with a forced smile. “Because I’ll need all the help that I can get.” Brenda glanced at Michael then looked down.

The meeting continued, covering a few other issues, including a church bake sale scheduled for the upcom
ing weekend.

“Pauline, would you be in charge of the sale for us, please?” Pastor Benson asked. “Since you make the best German chocolate cake in St. Pete.” He smiled.

“I’ll be glad to,” Pauline replied. “You know I’ll do anything I can for the church. But I’ve got to bring up something that I know we are all dealing with right now. ”

“What’s that?” Pastor Benson folded his hands on top of the table.

“This gang problem.” Pauline looked at each face. “It’s really beginning to affect our community. My boy, James, he come home the other night and I could tell he’d been crying, but he didn’t want to talk to me about it. And when I finally forced him to tell me what was wrong, he told me he had been threatened by these gang members because he refused to join. They told him if he didn’t join, they’d do something to my house, like set it on fire. This had him so upset. I can’t tell you how long it had been since James had cried.”

“I would think it would,” Pastor Benson replied. “But what scares me is it upset him so much he con
sidered joining. We can’t have our children being threatened like this.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Pastor Benson looked down. “And I tell you they’re bringing dope in here, and they’re
selling it. Ain’t no telling what all isn’t going on,” Pauline continued. “And the kids see that money, and you know, it’s attractive to them when they compare it with folks who work like me, struggling hard just to make a living. It looks like easy money. It’s all I can do to hold on to my child and let him know there is a better life, but he’s got to go about it through education. The proper way.”

“This is where Community Ties can come in,” Brenda spoke up. “To help your son realize there are opportu
nities for him outside of this neighborhood if he prepares himself. Take the tutoring program, for instance. If James is not feeling strong in English, or in his communication skills, the tutoring program can make him stronger. And of course the neighborhood crime watch will help us band together against this negative element that is coming into our community. We do want our streets to be safe for our children.” Brenda’s voice faltered.

“And don’t worry, Ms. Harris. I know some of those boys in the gangs, and their parents. I’ll talk to the par
ents about it,” Michael said. “I’ll see if they’ll be willing to help in any kind of way.”

“Would you, Mr. Dawson? You’re such a great man. An inspiration. We all look up to you.”

Michael put up his hand. “No, I just—”

“We do,” Pauline insisted. “You’ve done some of the best things I’ve seen done in this community in a long, long time. You’ve been like a beacon here. You started that insurance company and made a way for lots of us to get insurance at rates that we wouldn’t have been able to get. Then you opened your loan company. And I tell you, I know I wouldn’t have my house today if it wasn’t for you, and I thank you with all my heart.” Michael looked in her eyes. “You’re welcome.”

“So I know if you talk to them boys, maybe to some of their fathers that I know don’t come to church and some of them may not have the best intentions themselves. But maybe still they’ll listen to you.”

“I’ll try,” Michael replied.

“That’s right,” Pastor Benson chimed. “We can definitely try to bring this community together, by being instruments of the Lord. We can try to uplift it while the Lord watches over us and guides us.”

“Amen” rose from the end of the table.

The meeting broke up. Cake and punch were served. Brenda took one of the smallest pieces and stepped over into a quiet spot. She nibbled slowly on the cake. A few minutes later Pauline joined her.

“I just want you to know I was sorry to hear what happened.”

“I appreciate that.” Brenda couldn’t look in her face. “But I’m okay.”

“I truly understand,” Pauline continued. “I want you to know that. You see it’s happened to me before, but I have four children now. So don’t be discouraged be
cause this was your first baby. Sometimes your body just got to get accustomed to carrying a child.”

Brenda looked into Pauline’s encouraging eyes. “I guess so.”

She patted Brenda’s hand. “So you take heart.”

“I will,” Brenda said with water in her eyes.

She watched Pauline walk away. Brenda hoped no one else would come over with condolences because she didn’t know if she would be able to take it. Before they could, Brenda wrapped the remainder of her cake in her napkin and walked over to Michael. He was in the middle of a conversation. “I’m ready to go if you are,” she interrupted.

Michael looked at her strained face. “Sure. We can go right now if you want.”

Brenda nodded.

They said their goodbyes and climbed up the stairs and went out into the parking lot. Michael opened the car door for Brenda before he climbed into the driver’s seat.

“Pauline came over to me to give her condolences.” Brenda sighed, heavily. “I don’t think I could have stood it if anyone else had come up and told me they were sorry about my losing the baby.” She paused. “And Lord knows I didn’t want to just break down and start crying in front of everybody. I thought I was stronger than I am right now. I stayed away for a week, but I guess I still am hurting from it.”

Michael touched her cheek. “And more than likely you’re going to be. But don’t worry. It’ll pass.”

“Michael.” Brenda focused imploring eyes on his face. “I want us to work on having another baby as soon as possible. I think that would really help me.”

Michael looked at the steering wheel. “I think it’s a
little early for that.”

“It’s my body,” Brenda replied too quickly. “And I think I should be the judge of that.”

“But Dr. Mills said you need to let your body build back up, and that we need to hold off doing everything because of the complications that you went through. Remember?”

For a moment Brenda was quiet, then her lip trem
bled. “If you don’t want to make love to me, Michael, you don’t have to use what the doctor said as an excuse. ” Michael rubbed his forehead. “That’s not why I said that. Please.” He shook his head. “Don’t start.” “Don’t start what?” Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Don’t you think I can tell? We’ve been married for one year and you barely think of touching me. I have to come to you. You don’t desire me, Michael. I can feel it.”

“That’s not true. I...” He looked straight ahead.

“Look. I don’t want to argue about it.” Brenda sniffed. “I really don’t. All I know is, I feel that when I have our baby we’ll be closer. That whatever is holding you back from loving me completely, Michael, will be small in comparison to our having a child.”

Michael took a deep breath. “All right.” He turned to her. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. But if you feel that a baby will make that big of a difference for us, I want one, too. But,” he added shaking his index finger, “I want you to get stronger first. I want you to be strong so that you can carry the baby to term, and things can be just like you want them to be. Okay?” Michael searched her eyes. “Let’s give it a little time.”

Brenda looked down at her hands that were clenched tightly in her lap.

Finally she said, “Alright. But I don’t want to wait too long.”

Nebia’s Story...

“Brenda had a miscarriage.” Cynthia sat back with her arms held tightly against her abdomen.

“Yes. Yes, she did,” Nebia replied.

“How far along was she?”

“Almost three months. While it was happening she actually sent for me. She thought I could do something about it.” Nebia exhaled. “Perhaps stop it with my herbs. But in her heart, she already knew it was too late. Her pride wouldn’t let her call the doctor, although Michael made her go see him afterward.”

“Poor thing,” Erica said.

“Ye-es, she was pretty pitiful around then.”

“Did Laura come and see her?” Sheila asked.
“No-o, that woman was as stubborn as a mule. She didn’t come see her, but she picked me about her every opportunity that she got. I told Laura she needed to go herself but she wouldn’t go.” Nebia lit another brown cigarette. “But in Laura’s defense I got to say it was difficult for her to get around. Real difficult. By then they had amputated her leg, just below the knee.”

“Oh, no,” Cynthia exclaimed.

“They had to. That sugar wouldn’t let that wound heal. They had to cut it off, and they did.” Nebia blew a stream of smoke into the air. “And Laura was down about that, real down. They sent her for therapy, and—^uh...she was given one of them legs. Pr-pra—”

“A prosthesis?” Sheila said.

“Yes, yes, that’s what they called it. But Laura didn’t like to use it. When she was around the house she refused to. She said it was too heavy. Laura said it was more of a burden than a help.”

“So basically she was confined to the wheelchair,” Erica replied.

“Basically, she was,” Nebia agreed.

“My goodness, Miss Nebia—” Sheila shook her head —life wasn’t going too good for the Robinsons, was it?”

“For a while there it seemed like there was a pretty dark cloud that had descended on them. And it looked like nobody could see through it. But just like the sun can burn too hot but is needed, Cora came back again.”

CHAPTER 18

“Aww, shoot!” Laura said. She whirled her wheelchair toward the stove and turned off the flame beneath the overflowing pot. “Nebia! Nebia!” Laura grabbed the sawed-off broom and hit it against the ceiling as the stew continued to spill over onto the range top and down the front of the stove.

As Laura focused on controlling the hot stream of stew, she did not hear the side door that was usually left unlocked for Nebia to come and go, open. She rolled to the kitchen sink and grabbed a drying towel before she returned to the stove to soak up the hot liq
uid. Laura stretched and spread the towel on the top of the range. “They make these stoves too doggone tall. How folks like me suppose to be able to clean them off? But, no, they not thinking about me.”

Right then, a warm hand covered hers and took the towel.

“Let me do it. Mama.”

Laura looked up into Cora’s face. Cora leaned for
ward and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I’ve got it.” She took control of the situation as Laura sat back in stunned silence. When Cora was done, she turned to her mother.

“You’re back.” Laura found her voice. “I never thought this day would come again. I hoped that it would, but I just wasn’t sure, and Cora... ” She beamed. “You’re as bright as the day you left.”

“Mama.” Cora dropped to her knees, and placed her head in her mother’s lap. “And this time I’m home for good.”

“It’s a great day.” Laura patted Cora’s locked hair. “A great day.”

They stayed that way as they shared tears. Then Cora sat back on her haunches. She looked at her mother’s aged face, and then at the wheelchair. “What happened?”

Laura shook her head. “I had a fall one day and with my sugar being so bad I guess my leg never healed right. So they had to take it, Cora.”

Cora’s tears started again.

But Laura sat up straighter. “There’s no need for that. I’ve been doing fine. Just fine. And they gave me a prosthesis that I know how to use real
good. Isn’t that right, Nebia?” Laura looked at Nebia who had entered the kitchen.

Nebia affirmed the lie with a slow nod, but her eyes were locked on Cora,

“Nebia.” Cora stood up. She went over and took Nebia’s gnarled hands in hers.

“Has she? Or did I abandon everyone at a time when you needed me most?”

Nebia opened her mouth to answer but Laura cut her off.

“Abandon? There’s no need for that word. You didn’t abandon nobody, Cora. I’ve been doing just fine. Nebia. Get my leg for me so I can strap it on and show Cora there’s no need to talk like that.”

Nebia turned to do as Laura asked. Her face was expressionless. It did not betray her friend.

“My plan is to lose a little weight, Cora. My size makes it a little more difficult for me to get around. But I’m going to do it. And now that you’re back that’s just the encouragement that I need. But you go on and take your things upstairs. Nebia and I will finish up in here. Dinner’s almost ready anyway.”

Cora hesitated.

“Go on and put them up,” Laura insisted.

It took two trips for Cora to place her suitcases in her old bedroom. When she returned downstairs Cora saw the prosthesis in the corner. She looked at her mother, who was setting the table from the wheelchair. Nebia was dishing out the stew. “None of Brenda’s things were in the room. Did she move out?”

“Yes,” Laura replied. “She moved awhile back.” “Where?” Cora was shocked. “Is she still in St. Pete?” “Um-hmm.” Laura concentrated on placing the plate on the table.

Cora’s eyes narrowed. “Then why did she move? It seems you need her around here more than ever. I know you’ve been helping, Nebia, but—”

“Every way I can,” Nebia
replied.

“It just doesn’t seem like Brenda,” Cora persisted. Laura put another plate of beef stew and biscuits down. “Brenda got married, Cora.”

Cora gasped. “Brenda is married.” Her mouth spread into a smile. “I should have known that she would be the first one between the two of us to do it. Don’t tell me she’s a mother, too.” Her brow wrinkled. “I’ve missed so much.”

Laura shook her head. “No. No, she’s not a mother.” “Well who did she marry? Do we know him?” Cora looked from her mother to Nebia. “Tell me!”

Laura sat back in her wheelchair. She looked into Cora’s eyes. “She married Michael, Cora.”