The List (38 page)

“I was interested in learning about my father, not upsetting their apple cart.”

“You said that, but most people aren't as straightforward as you are. They have hidden agendas.”

The waiter brought their food and set it down on the table. “Careful, the plates are hot,” he warned.

“We need to work through this,” Renny said, suddenly uninterested in the steaming burritos and rice in front of him. “There are people on the List who are scared of you because you are a loose cannon, not committed or controlled. I almost wish you had taken the million dollars and given it away; you were entitled to a lot more than that. From their perspective, you are a potential threat because you don't have any stake in the game, so to speak.”

“Do you think I'm in danger?” Jo asked, startled.

“When there is money involved, people will do things. We can't be naive.”

“Do you think you're in danger?”

“I doubt it. I'm part of the fraternity.”

“I'm not sure that's protection.”

“Why not?”

“Would you consider it a good health insurance policy? Ask Bart Maxwell.”

“You have a suspicious feeling, but that could be coincidence. We need to think about facts, not theories.”

“Excuse me,” Jo said testily.

“Sorry. That was too blunt. But one fact you don't know is that LaRochette asked me to keep an eye on you after you walked out of the meeting in Georgetown. I guess he wanted to know if I thought you were going to tattle. This morning in the parking lot, Layne asked me if I was doing my job.”

“Why didn't you tell me this before?”

“I forgot about it. I was too busy watching you on my own time to think about it from LaRochette's point of view.”

“Forgiven. What did you say to Layne this morning?”

“Nothing really, but maybe I should now.”

“Why? What would you say? That I'm not interested in what they do?”

“No. I've a better idea. I can tell them the truth. That I am in love with you and want you to marry me. Then, even though you know about the List, you aren't likely to do anything that would harm your husband-to-be.”

“That means you have to stay involved. I'm not comfortable with that approach.”

“All I want to do is hang around for the next distribution. It's only a few months off.”

“I'm unconvinced. I've already told you—”

“I know, I know,” Renny cut her off. “Don't worry. Let's eat. There's nothing worse than cold Mexican rice.”

Renny drove under the canopy of trees on Queens Road. “It doesn't have the beauty of Anne's Avenue on Prince Edward Island, but it offers a stately welcome, don't you think?” he asked.

“Yes, the old oaks are royal greeters on Queens Road.”

Mrs. Stokes was listening to music and humming when they knocked at the kitchen door. “How was church?”

“Ugh,” Renny said.

“What?” she asked.

Coming to his aid, Jo said, “Renny was sidetracked, but he'll get it straightened out. How long will it take us to get to the airport?”

“We need to leave a couple hours before your flight. You've plenty of time to pack, then I'd like you to come upstairs for a few minutes before we leave.”

“OK.”

As the door closed behind Renny, Jo leaned against the counter. “Renny missed a golden opportunity to acknowledge Jesus publicly. Then he felt shut out from the Lord.”

“I see.”

Tears gently pooled in Jo's eyes. “He's under a lot of pressure from several angles, Mrs. Stokes. I'm worried about him.”

The old lady took Jo in her arms and held her with firm strength. A single tear escaped and ran down Jo's cheek onto Mrs. Stokes's shoulder.

“I know he's special,” Mrs. Stokes said. “He's special to you, to me, and to the Lord.”

Jo sniffled. “I'm going to leave my phone number with you. Call me and let me know how things are going with him.”

“I will, I will. Now, go pack your things.”

Jo reluctantly said good-bye to the blue bedroom with its secret holy place. Putting her suitcase on the bed, she noticed a small white box on the pillow with a loosely tied blue bow on top. A card was lying beside it. Opening the card, she read, “This gift is a symbol of God's promises for you and our connection in him. With love, Daisy Stokes.” Inside the box, Jo found a crystal Star of David identical to the one in the prayer closet. Jo held it up to the light and turned it so it cast its display of color across the white bedspread. Mrs. Stokes was one of those unique people grown so used to the path of blessing others that no other walkway was familiar to her feet.

Jo carried her suitcase and garment bag into the kitchen. She could see Mrs. Stokes outside the window filling her hummingbird feeders with sweet red liquid.

Mrs. Stokes came back into the house. “Ready to go?”

“I think so. Thanks for the Star of David. I love it.”

“I bought two of them in Jerusalem when I visited Israel three years ago. I knew someone who would appreciate it would cross my path.”

“I have the perfect place for it in my bedroom.”

“I know you'll enjoy it.”

Jo picked up her bag. “Thanks. Thanks for everything. I'm going to leave my suitcase by the door while I go upstairs to get Renny.”

“I have a meeting to attend, so let me give you a hug before I go. Come back anytime.” Mrs. Stokes blessed Jo with a final smile. They walked outside together.

“Bye.”

Jo walked up the steps and knocked once. Renny opened the door, and Brandy gave a welcoming bark.

Jo entered and scratched Brandy behind the ears.

“I wanted you to meet one more person before you leave. She's a special lady, and I know you want to talk to her,” Renny said.

“Who is it?”

“I'm going to call Mama A. Unless she is spending the day with her family, she should be at her house by now.”

“That would be great.”

“Here's the cordless phone. I'll call on the extension in my bedroom.”

Renny dialed the number, and Jo listened in as the phone rang in Charleston. On the third ring, Mama A answered, “Hello.”

“Mama A. It's Renny. Are you doing OK?”

“Fine, fine. A little tired today, but I took a nap after church. How are you?”

“I'm good. Guess what happened?”

Mama A was silent a moment, then said, “You tell me; I'm too old for guessing games.”

“I've become a Christian, a real one.”

“Praise the Lord, Renny.”

“It happened Friday up in the mountains.”

“Your mama is jumpin' for joy,” Mama A exclaimed.

Renny hadn't considered his mother's reaction to the past two days' events. On earth, she never owned a pair of sneakers to jump in.

“Maybe she is,” Renny conceded. “I've got someone else on the phone, Mama A, a girl I've met who helped me down the path toward God. Her name is Jo Johnston, and I think she is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

In the living room, Jo blushed and said, “Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you. Renny's told me some wonderful things about you.”

“It's good to meet you, too, though this is a poor substitute to seein' you with my own eyes. Renny, I wish you were here. I'd give you the biggest hug you've ever had.”

“I want to see you again soon,” Renny said. “Next time I'm down that way I'll call you.”

“Jo?” the old lady said.

“Yes.”

“You come, too. Renny doesn't throw around compliments like horseshoes. I can tell from your voice that you are something special. Where are you from?”

“Michigan.”

“Jo's a nurse,” Renny said.

“Well, if I have to pretend to be sick to get you to bring her here to meet me properly, I will.”

“I hear you, Mama A. Thanks for all you've done for me, especially the time I had with you the other day.”

“I told you, you're like one of my own, Renny. Always have been, always will be.”

“I'll talk to you soon.”

“OK. Bye, Renny. Bye, Jo.”

“Good-bye,” they echoed.

“Do you have a picture of her?” Jo asked when Renny came into the living room.

“I'm sure I do. Let me check.” Renny did an about-face and disappeared. Jo could hear him opening drawers. “Here's one,” he called.

He set a picture album on the coffee table in the living room, and he and Jo sat next to each other on the couch. “These were taken a few years ago on the Fourth of July. Her family had a big cookout, and I was invited. This is Mama A.”

Agnes Flowers, a proud smile on her face, was cradling a newborn baby in the catcher's mitt. “This is one of her grandchildren. She is always the catcher in a family softball game, and I came up with the idea of taking a picture with the baby in the baseball glove.”

“Is there one of the two of you?”

Renny turned the page. “Here's one. Typical. I've got barbecue sauce all over my face.” Renny was standing next to Mama A with his head tilted toward her so she could kiss him on the cheek.

“She loves you, doesn't she?” Jo picked up the album and looked closer.

“Yes. I wish I had kept in closer contact with her the past few years.”

“She doesn't seem to hold it against you.”

“She's not that way at all.”

“Do you think we could see her sometime?”

“Of course. It will give me another reason to buy you a plane ticket.”

“Speaking of planes, is it time to leave?”

Renny glanced at the clock. “Unfortunately, yes.”

The airport was crowded, and they had to walk quickly to the boarding gate.

As they called her flight, Jo said, “Phone or e-mail after you talk with Layne, and don't forget to set up something with Paul Bushnell.”