Mattie's Call (14 page)

“He left a few hours ago. So you plan on calling him to call the police on me?”

Her stomach dropped. She suspected he had been watching her. Joshua's neighbors were young professionals who took pride in getting out to work every day. She missed the old days when meddlesome neighbors reported everything to each other and the police. Trapped in her thoughts, she didn't see Beryl get out of the car. He tottered over to her, placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Alice, this isn't you. I said I was sorry. Baby, don't do this to us. I can change.”

Alice batted his hands from her shoulders. He smelled as if he'd fallen into a vat of vodka. He'd missed several buttons on his shirt, his pants were unzipped, and his unkempt hair matched his unshaven face.

“Don't you miss me, Baby?”

Images of him with Davina came rushing back. “No!”

“We both vowed for better, worse, richer, poorer, through sickness and health. Did you forget?”

“I'm moving on with my life and you should too, Beryl.”

“Is that why you went to Savannah State today? To move on with your life?”

“You followed me?”

He closed the space between them and whispered in her ear, “Looks like my old Basset Hound is working on some new tricks. What will you do with your degree?”

She pushed him away, headed back inside.

Beryl spoke to her back. “Thirteen years of my life gone and you can't excuse one mistake?” The word “excuse” came as an indictment. “All I tried to do was protect you and this is the thanks I get?” His voice cracked on the word “get,” and she heard something from him she'd only heard once in all the years she'd known Beryl: crying.

Her feet glued to the front porch. He'd violated the Temporary Protective Order, but something inside her broke at the sound of him crying. The feminist discourse, the vows, the thought of starting over all swirled together like a tornado inside her. She didn't know what to do. Barely able to stand, he staggered toward her back and spilled his tears on her dress.

“Help me, Alice. Please.”

“Let me lock the house up, Beryl.”

 21

J
oshua stood outside Deborah's pediatric dental practice, unsure of what he'd say to her. Calhoun Pediatrics. The alluring office sign and building were exactly as he expected.

Deborah did nothing half-assed, and he knew she'd be successful in whatever career path she chose. He entered the building on Cascade Road determined to complete the task at hand. He was greeted at the front door by a smiling receptionist behind a desk and a little girl who immediately attached herself to his leg.

“Carissa, no! We don't touch strangers,” said a woman who pried the youngster from his leg.

“She's okay,” he said.

He sat down to catch his breath from the nervousness. Carissa held Ken and Barbie dolls dressed as doctors and ignored her mother. She sat next to him and held out the dolls.

“Barbie had a heart attack and Ken is going to resissitate her,” she announced through the space where two teeth once resided.

“I'm sure he'll
resuscitate
her and make her feel better,” he corrected.

She placed Ken atop Barbie and made huffing sounds as Ken's stethoscope swung from side to side.

“Carissa, get over here!” her mother yelled.

He scanned his surroundings. The waiting area was reminiscent of an arcade and the sea. Video games nestled against the wall blended in with a blue-and-white mural of floating fish, bubbles, and sea kelp. An elevated treasure chest held colorful toothbrushes, floss, and mouthwash.

“Sir,” the receptionist called to him. When he reached the desk, she asked, “What is your name and where is your little one today?”

“I'm Gary Ames. I have a ten o'clock appointment. I mentioned I wanted to speak with the doctor before bringing Gary, Jr. in.”

“That's right. I remember now. I still need you to fill out insurance information for me. If you'll take this clipboard, we'll get you processed as soon as possible.”

He filled out the forms with bogus information. All he needed was ten, fifteen minutes alone with Deborah to plead his case. If he could see Langston once, he'd walk away and never bother them again. He had so many questions, he didn't know where to start.

“Mr. Ames, come on back,” said a hygienist.

He followed her to room three.

“Dr. Calhoun will be with you in a few.”

Before-and-after patient photos lined the wall. The children smiled as Deborah hugged them or held out a piece of fruit. She was as beautiful as he remembered, and he still melted at the sight of her smile.

“Hi, Mr. Ames, it's so nice to meet—” She stopped midsentence when she saw him and locked the door. “Joshua?”

“Deborah.”

She waited a few beats. “I saw the Mattie's alert a few months ago. I wasn't sure if authorities found her. I see they didn't.”

“We had a memorial service a few weeks ago.”

She dropped his chart on a station next to the faucet. “Ms. Mattie was something else. She kept the secret all those years.”

“I'm surprised you kept the secret all those years. How could you do that to me, Deborah?” He didn't realize he'd raised his voice until Deborah jumped.

“Not here, Josh. I've got patients and a ton of paperwork. How about dinner tonight? I promise I can explain everything. I've been prepared for this day for twenty years.”

“What about your husband?”

“He's out of town on business until next weekend.”

“May I meet my son?”

“Not yet. Now's not the right time.”

“When will it be?”

“We can talk about it.”

He sighed. His practiced speech turned dusty on his tongue. He had choice words for her, but he couldn't speak them. They were nasty and mean-spirited. Years separated them from their last encounter, but he sensed she felt as badly about things as he did.

“I'll rip up this fake info, Gary Ames.” She scribbled an address on back of a prescription note. “See you at eight tonight.”

•  •  •

Joshua rang the doorbell of the upscale condo. He'd bought her pink roses after remembering those were her favorites. She opened the door wearing an apron.

“Hi, Joshua. Come in. Lasagna's almost done.”

He followed her and the aroma of good food. His mouth watered at the smell of his mother's lasagna. She had given Deborah the recipe when they were students; he was amazed she kept it all these years.

“Hang your jacket up in the closet,” she said, pointing to a door beyond the foyer. She took the roses and headed toward the kitchen. “Make yourself at home.”

Her condo was as stylish as the dental office. A huge portrait of Deborah, Ennis, and Langston sat on the fireplace. Order ruled the atmosphere. He watched her trim rose stems and put them in a crystal vase. She spoke over the running water, “I won't bite. Join me in the kitchen.”

“Where's a bathroom so I can wash my hands?”

“Your mother's gone but not forgotten. I was always washing my hands when I came to your house.”

They both laughed. He washed up and fell in step with her, setting the table and inspecting her wine collection. After placing the gooey lasagna and breadsticks out, he said grace.

“You look nervous. What's wrong?”

“I'm not too thrilled about being in another man's house when he's not home.”

“Our house is in Snellville. This is the condo we bought when we married. I stay here when I have a full schedule or don't feel like driving to the house. Our house is an empty nest anyway.”

“I see.”

“You don't have to worry about him barging in on us.” She sipped wine. “Should I be worried about Mrs. Benson? Ms. Mattie refused to discuss your personal life with me, so I never knew if someone else snagged your heart.”

“Not even close.”

“Come on. No one?”

“I've been engaged a few times. Never made it to the altar.”

“You were a good guy. I always wanted you to find the right woman.”

“You were the right woman for me.” He sipped more wine. “Let's cut to the chase. Does Langston have a clue Ennis isn't his father?”

“No. Ennis is all he's ever known. That was one of the agreements we made before we married.”

“So you two shut me out without any say? Deborah, you disappeared into thin air.”

“I didn't shut you out. My parents did. My mother never forgave me for going behind her back and having Lang. She took forever to bond with him, and she felt I ruined my life in the process. My goals took a little longer to accomplish since I had a baby.”

“How are your parents anyway?”

“Mom died of cancer four years ago. Dad's still a golfing widower.”

“Does this mean I have no chance to get to know my son?”

Deborah rubbed his arm and took his hand in hers. “I didn't lie to you when I said Ennis was out of town. The issue is
where
he is.”

Joshua didn't want to break her momentum, so he remained silent.

“He's in rehab. In Arizona. Cocaine was his mistress for years, then he finally went ahead with her. Daddy spent so much money covering for him and getting him out of trouble. I think Mom died from a broken heart. She was sure I had the perfect husband and it didn't turn out the way she planned.”

“Langston knows this?”

“Yes. He's already disappointed in Ennis. I can't spring you on him right now. He feels betrayed by everything that's happened since he graduated.”

He pushed away from the table and stood. “My timing's way off. I'm not sure what I thought I would accomplish by coming here.”

“I knew this day would come. I've been waiting for you to come back. I was afraid your mom would slip up and mention Lang. It's hard to forget your first, Joshua.” She stood as well.

He faced her, caressed her cheek. “I never stopped thinking of you, Deborah. I know we can't have a relationship, but I'm willing to pay back child support. Would you at least allow me that privilege?”

“No. That wouldn't be fair under the circumstances. I do well for myself and Lang. Until Ennis's fall from grace, he was a visible political figure here. The rumor my parents concocted is that he's working in the private sector.”

“This is too much for me. I'm leaving, Deborah. Sorry I interrupted your life.”

She followed him to the closet. “You don't have to go. Where are you staying tonight?”

“Downtown. I'd planned to be here a few days, but I'm going back to Savannah.”

“Give me a few days. Please. I'll come up with something.”

She followed him to the front door, not wanting him to leave. Seeing him stirred up feelings she'd forgotten. He was still handsome and chivalrous.

“Call me when you get to your room, Joshua.”

“Will do. It was good seeing you again.”

 22

G
abrielle coasted Daniel's Bonneville into a parking space at Target and waited. Job hunting had changed since the good old application days, and she was not pleased. She held a job at a call center twenty-five years ago; the call center manager rescued her by dating her and telling her she was too beautiful to put up with the stress of answering phones. She'd held a string of jobs but stopped working altogether after being dissatisfied with the job market. The nepotism. The pecking order. The gossiping, backstabbing coworkers and the short lunch breaks. She couldn't understand how a person could work thirty-plus years, have a retirement party, then waltz off into the sunset after giving a company they didn't create all those years and energy. Now, she realized a pension and insurance weren't so bad. She'd run into the store, get her items, and go back to looking for a job.