Operation Wolfe Cub: A Chilling Historical Thriller (THE TIME TO TELL Book 1) (50 page)

As she slipped into the home without making a sound, she tiptoed toward the kitchen where she saw a dim light. As she peeked around the kitchen doorway, the first thing she saw was Eddie sitting up in his chair, fast asleep.

His being there was not what Chantain wanted to see. She leaned on the edge of the doorway, letting her posture fill with irritation, ready to pop. When it did, she stomped across the floor as loud as she could with her heels. Then, she slammed kitchen cabinet doors with no rhyme or reason as to what she was looking for. She saw a coffee cup in the last cabinet, so she grabbed the one in back to make more noise.

Eddie jumped, twitching like a poor soul being awakened from an electric chair. His mind was left in worse shape than cell division. He didn’t know which of his two worlds to go to, apparently. For the moment, he was back in his home, but when he noticed Chantain barreling through the dark kitchen, he tried to grab for protection, but nothing was there. Finally, he realized what he was doing and spewed a
gust of air. Only afterward did he politely come around. “Oh, it’s you...my God, I think I was having an awful dream.”

Chantain smirked, “Oh? What was it?”

“I don’t know…these-these…these aliens ending the world or something…wow,
whew
…I guess it was that.”

Chantain stopped to pour herself coffee as she listened from the dark side of the room. She paused, holding up her cup in front of her face, then realized her science fiction book on the table had been moved. “So…you’ve been checking out my book, I see. Funny—our radio station uses almost the same name.”

“What? Oh, ‘War of the Worlds?’ I know…funny having complete different names by moving one letter.”

“The book title isn’t what’s funny. The war stuff on the radio is…besides, I’ve read better books.”

“Oh, yes, well,
uh
, I guess that would explain my dream.”

Chantain already had a cigarette lit, puffing her first smoke as Eddie tried peering through the light of the kitchen. All he could see was her shadowy face, glowing with a cigarette ember in the middle.

He fumbled a bit before politely pulling a chair out from the table. “Here, sit down…tell me about your work at church.”

Chantain took her time. While picking up her coffee cup from the counter, she swaggered over to the kitchen table. Hesitation crossed her mind as she lowered herself into the light above the table to sit across from him.

Eddie didn’t quite know what to think of the guilty look on her face. “Well? It’s past eleven o’clock, so,
um
—what happened?”

“Oh, John’s got so much to do it’s not even funny. He’s way behind.”

Eddie grabbed up his cane and held it close. “Oh, John? You mean Pastor McKoowey, don’t you?”

Chantain tapped her ashes in the tray before looking away. “Pastor, McKoowey, John…whatever. He’s all the same guy.”

“Are you all right? I mean, you sound like you’re in a bad mood.”

“I’m fine. I just didn’t think you’d be waiting up for me—reading my books.”

Eddie looked at her book on the table. “Oh, I didn’t read a thing, just looked at the cover…I was
um
, just starting to get a little worried about you, that’s all. I guess I fell asleep after that.”

Chantain softened up. “Well, there is some more news now that you mention…John needs assistance at all three of his churches now. He decided that after seeing me tonight, he would like to hire me.”

“Oh…hire you?”

“Yeah, two fifty an hour, ten hours a week at each church.”

“What? That’s three churches times ten. That’s, wait… that’s thirty hours a week. Did you tell him ‘No?’ I mean, I don’t think we can handle it…you know…working…a working wife I mean.”

Chantain dumped her ashes, blowing smoke straight up. “Not exactly. Why would I do that? It’s forty hours a week.”

Eddie scooted his chair closer to the table. “Say forty hours? Where’d that come from? We need to talk some more. Don’t you—”

“That’s what we’re doing, aren’t we?”

She took a drag of her cigarette, blowing smoke straight into his face. “The extra ten hours involves helping him with books and running around.”

“What about…what about Doll?”

Suddenly, she sweetened up. “Doll?
Um
, look Eddie. You know you wanted to buy this house from the landlord so listen to me…if I saved my money in a separate house account, we could do it someday.”

“Separate account?”

“Yes, my account. This way we know it gets saved and not spent.”

“Am I hearing right? Your bank account? Since when do we divide things?”

Chantain rolled her eyes. “Since your money’s not going anywhere, that’s when…your money can take care of the rest, like the bills.”

Eddie rubbed his eyes, refocusing. “Excuse me?
Ho
,
whew
…honey, look what you’re saying…I mean, I may have gotten this wrong but—”

“I did it, Eddie. What do you want me to do? Take charity from our church?”

“No…I’ll get a job if that’s what you think we need. With my pension, plus whatever I can make on the side. Sounds good, don’t you think?”

Chantain toyed with her cigarette. “Wouldn’t want it on my conscience with that bad leg of yours.”

“Wow, this is too fast…I mean this could kill my idea of…
ah
, who cares?”

“Cares what?”

Eddie plopped his hand down. “I can’t believe what you’re saying. You got any other surprises? Go on, because I’d love to hear more.”

“Kill what? Finish what you were going to say.”

“Okay then. This kills my idea of a, you know, kids and all.”

Chantain put her coffee cup and cigarette down and grabbed his hand from across the table.

Eddie thought he saw fluttering signals of love as she continued. Passionately, she brought her face closer into the light, moistening her red lipstick with the tip of her tongue while being careful not to lick it. “I know how much you want this house, Eddie. We’ll never be able to afford it with your money alone. Don’t worry. I can still manage the finances and bills if you like…I’ll do my job, and you can watch Doll.”

Eddie stroked his jaw. “I don’t know…I wanted Doll for you so we could grow together.”

“Grow? What are you talking about?”

“How can you, you know…see him or help him grow up—if you’re not here?” He went on, “I mean, I feel like something’s missing between us…I’ll never figure it out if you don’t do what mothers do.”

Chantain came closer. “I still have Doll. Don’t you understand? It’s the moneyyy...you’ll do a great job with him. He needs a father figure too—to grow up with and be a bigger man someday. I mean it’s not all about the woman.”

He looked into her beautiful eyes. “I know, it’s about me too…the house means a lot, I have to say.
Whew
…I can’t believe this.”

“Believe it, Eddie.”

“This can’t work. I mean it’s not—”

“Of course it will Eddie, honey. Just believe in yourself.”

Eddie couldn’t look away. “If we bought the house afterward, like in a year—would you quit?”

“Of course I would…you know me.”

“
Ah
, don’t do this to me, Chantain.”

“Come on…you know it’ll work.”

“I—I know what you’re talking about. The money…we can get somewhere maybe.”

Chantain quickly got up from the table. “Good. I knew you’d see it my way. I’m going to bed. It’s getting late.” Without another word, she headed straight out of the kitchen.

Eddie didn’t feel like leaving his chair. He stayed there for a while, looking and wondering. He picked up her cigarette from the ashtray and gently put it out. After putting her coffee cup in the sink, he fell back down into his chair, folding his hands into a dismal knot. Slowly, he dropped his forehead onto his thumbs, weeping.

Chapter 14

Almost a week had passed since the Coolidge’s ended their discussions at the table that one gloomy evening. A brand-new Sunday was upon them, intended for perhaps meaningful discoveries as they approached Pastor McKoowey’s establishment in their car. Their heads were on swivels as they walked up together to the doors, wide open with an invitation to come inside. As they stepped in, they couldn’t help but stand there with the expectations of what they already knew. After last week’s seemingly antic performance by Pastor McKoowey, the psychological damage was still quite clear to see. They were gazing across the pews, half full.

Chantain’s jaw dropped as she walked through the congregational. “I don’t believe it…the people. Where did they go?”

Eddie walked up beside her, gripping for words. He tapped a little sarcasm all the way down to the bottom of his cane as he rustled with coins in his pocket. “What? You were expecting them to return? I’m glad…
real
glad I don’t have to fight for a place to sit.”

Further inside the church, behind closed doors was Pastor McKoowey, sitting at his office desk and looking a psychological mess. Carefully, he went over his notes for that day’s sermon, but none of it pleased him. Nerves and jitters quickly caused him to shove all of his material aside. As he covered his face, he strained to muffle, “Oh God. What’s next?”

Just then, Sister Thelma opened his door, fanning her face. “Pastor McKoowey, you still had about half show up. Did you hear me?” She stopped abruptly. “Pastor McKoowey… did you hear what I said?”

Pastor McKoowey looked up. “What?”

Sister Thelma walked back to the door, peeking outside again. “Yes, that’s right…I’m surprised they came back. Have you been praying because—you got a second chance. Don’t blow it this time.”

Pastor McKoowey quickly gathered his notes. “Blow it? Who said I blew it? Well, well, well…straighten my necktie a little bit here…how’s my hair, Thelma?”

“You look like you always do, John. You should know that.”

He stood up. “Okay, then…I guess I’m ready to show my stuff.” He headed to the door. “After you, Sis. Let’s get on with the show.”

As he took his first step out into the room, a proud and renewed Pastor McKoowey emerged. He nodded, waved, and greeted almost everyone in his path. Similar to a mayor in a town hall meeting, he shook hands practically all the way up to his podium where he then gazed at all his people with smiling faces.

The crowd wasn’t quite as jubilant as he was. To garner the pastor’s attention among those standing, one might have had to stand out from the crowd. Chantain did precisely that with her high heels tipping up higher than ever. She even waved at him a little too long.

Pastor McKoowey noted her audacious presence among other things. He blushed and grinned as well, but shortly after, he became all business. He went through a few routine preparations: adjusting his tie, running his fingers through his hair, and then he looked in his mirror below the podium.

As the crowd seated themselves, Chantain was among one of the last to sit down. As she organized her bible and other belongings, she whispered, “He likes me.”

As Eddie sat Doll down between them, he asked, “What? You talking to me?”

“Oh no, excuse me. I mean John. He likes to see.”

“Oh, I thought you said something else. What did you mean by that?”

“You know—he likes to see his people. They’re back.”

“Oh yes, I bet he does. Sometimes it’s good for people to hear. I don’t care what anybody thinks.”

Chantain stopped smiling. “You kidding me? That speech of his had a man’s ego written all over it. They’re just coming back because they like him, and he’s different. That’s all.”

Eddie brushed his face, looking bamboozled. “I see. So is that why you want to work for him?”

She stopped in the middle of fluffing her hair. “No… people change. You should know that better than anyone.”

“Ouch…well I guess I
do
know better than anyone. Maybe you should try a little bit of that change-o-range-o yourself?”

Chantain pulled out her lipstick and mirror, whispering to herself, “I don’t change for nobody.”

Pastor McKoowey started by silently quieting the crowd with his hands. Nobody seemed to be paying attention to him, so he loosened his necktie to speak out, “I am so surprised…hey, I’m surprised to see some of you back tonight. Was there a barbeque last week? If there was, I didn’t get invited to it. Maybe that’s what it was?”

Everyone settled down completely to ready themselves for the pastor’s prayer. Quickly thereafter, he got his notes together and systematically laid them out on top of his podium. He looked well prepared. “Tonight’s lesson, I promise you, won’t be quite as intimidating as last week’s…it’s a story at the beginning. The beginning of the Bible. It’s a story
in which I have less interpretation. But that doesn’t mean I won’t tell you what I think.”

He continued, “It’s a famous story you all know. It’s about Adam and Eve. The Book of Genesis. The so-called beginning of
mankind
. Let’s turn to chapter two of Genesis.”

As the soft noise of pages spread throughout the church, Chantain was one of many who sat to wait for the others to find the spot in their Bibles. She yawned then whispered indirectly to Eddie, “Oh, I forgot. Your father called the other night.”

Eddie shut his Bible. “The other night? I’ve been waiting all week for his phone call, Chantain.”

“Don’t be so bothered. It was two days ago. You act like everything’s such a big deal.”

Eddie opened his Bible up again. As the pastor kept lecturing, he whispered indiscreetly, “What did he say? Wait, I gotta better idea. Just talk to me about it next week, okay?”

Chantain ticked her tongue. “Real funny…he said you should call, and that’s all he said. It’s not like he ever has anything important to say.”

“Important? What about
your
father? He’s missing in action. He never says anything at all?”

“Don’t even go there, Eddie…he doesn’t talk because he left me and my mother a long time ago.”

“That’s not what he said.”

“Since when did my dad talk to you? When they invented the wheel?”

“Not exactly…back when we first met.”

Chantain huffed, “Whatever he said was a lie. I told you that too many times. He wouldn’t be interested in talking to you anyway.”