When Perfection Fails (22 page)

Serena rarely felt guilty about anything. She hated to admit crashing Darnell and Candace's wedding had shifted her guilt meter to a new level. A level of shame. While Mr. and Mrs. Darnell Jackson were introduced, Serena ducked behind a group of men whom she assumed were Darnell's colleagues. For a brief second she contemplated what if she could have been Mrs. Darnell Jackson.

The thought left her as she refocused on her mission.

The woman she came to see was standing across the room hugging the wedding party. Serena thought hard about the best way to get near Lenora Freeman without causing any scenes. Serena just needed her for a few moments so they could talk in private.

Serena crossed her arms. Really, she could have waited to contact Serena on Monday. But something was driving the sense of urgency. For Serena, her interest in Charmayne Hudson's death had long turned from being just another story.
She
wanted to know. Even more important, Serena was concerned that someone else was in danger.

She turned her head and noticed that a young man stood slouched against the wall. Serena guessed he was maybe fifteen or sixteen. His face looked familiar, and then it dawned on Serena that this young man was probably Lenora's son. He looked just like his father. She slid closer to him.

“Hey, do you know where I could find Mrs. Freeman? I have a delivery outside she has been waiting on and I don't know where she wanted me to put it.”

The young man pulled himself off the wall. “I'm her son. I could take it.”

“Oh no, I need her to sign for it. Can you let her know that I'm outside the office?”

The boy pointed to where his mother was standing. “She's over there. I'll go get her.”

“Thank you.” Serena watched as the boy made his way over to his mother. She didn't want to be standing there when Lenora turned around so she sneaked out the door. Serena had been in the Victory Gospel Center for other events and headed down the hallway she thought led to the office.

She turned the knob and the office door opened. Serena walked inside and hoped Lenora wouldn't decide to throw her out.

Soon she heard the tapping of high-heeled shoes coming down the hallway. Lenora Freeman stood in the doorway and peered in. They made eye contact; Serena could tell Lenora was not pleased. “Were you the one who lied to my son?”

“Yes, I'm sorry. I needed a way to talk to you without disturbing the festivities.”

Lenora put her hands on her hips. “And you couldn't do this on another day?”

Serena stepped forward. “Look, I have been researching information the past few days about your friend Charmayne and I really need your help on getting some answers. I know you want to see justice.”

Lenora closed her eyes. When she opened them, Serena thought the woman would melt. Before Lenora walked away and completely dismissed her, she pulled her phone out and showed the photo. “Do you know this man?”

She watched as a lightbulb moment dawned in Lenora's eyes. Lenora looked at her. “Why are you asking?”

Serena didn't like that Lenora wouldn't just come out and say what she knew. “Mrs. Freeman, it's really important to know if you can identify this man.” Serena shoved the photo of the heavier set Lance standing next to Charmayne.

“That man was engaged to Charmayne.”

“What?” Serena thought she would choke on her own words. “You're kidding, right? Him?”

Lenora nodded. “I only met him a handful of times, actually, more like two times. She seemed to think he treated her well, and believe me, Charmayne had her run of men. Most weren't good for her or they became intimidated by her because of her father. I got the impression she liked him because he stood up to her father.”

Serena looked back at the photo and felt a tremor in her hand. She flipped over to another photo and held it up for Lenora to see. “Do you recognize him?”

Lenora frowned. There was a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. Then Serena watched as another emotion appeared.

She nudged. “What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost or something.”

“No. I'm confused. Is that the same man?”

“Yes. A lot thinner looking these days and without the chunky glasses.”

Lenora stared off into space as if she was trying to remember something. “I have seen him at least two times. He felt familiar to me, but I didn't know where I had seen him before. Why are you asking about him?”

“Why didn't Charmayne marry him?”

Lenora shook her head. “I have no idea. No, wait. I'm sure her father had something to do with it. She told me the bishop really didn't like him, but still Charmayne was a grown woman. She could have made her own decision, and it shouldn't have mattered.”

Serena rubbed her chin. She was still stunned that Charmayne had been prepared to marry this man, not the muscular cut man she had run into, but this incredibly large man whose eyes appeared huge behind the thick glasses. She asked, “Where have you seen the new and improved version?”

Lenora sat down in the chair against the wall. “I saw him at Pastor Jeremiah's funeral. He looked familiar to me, but I am ashamed to say I couldn't recall where I had seen him before. In this business, I meet so many people. I felt an urge to try to talk to him because he was staring at me. Anyway, he moved so fast, I never saw where he went.”

Serena watched as the woman paused as if she was recollecting the memory. Finally she continued, “The second time I saw him was at Charmayne's funeral. I wasn't feeling well, but he had walked up to me and we talked.”

Serena leaned forward. “What did you talk about?”

“I honestly don't remember. I was so out of it with a fever that day. You still aren't telling me why you have questions about this man. Do you think he had something to do with Charmayne's death?”

“I don't really know how he's involved or what his intentions are, but I will say he was the one who brought me the story about Hudson Housing Development. He wanted me to look into the financial records. I have to say, I saw some discrepancies and I'm still not sure what to think.”

Lenora began twisting her hands. “Charmayne had been receiving threats after her father died. She told me that it seemed like everyone was against her all of sudden.”

Serena prodded, “The
they
Charmayne was referring to are the mayor and the other council members, right?”

“I guess. She wasn't very specific. We didn't have a lot of time to talk, and I wish I had asked her to let me see the threats. The police didn't find anything. What do you intend to do with this information? How do you think this man . . . you know, I don't even remember his name,” Lenora admitted.

“He's been going by Lance Ryan whenever we talk.”

“Ryan?” Lenora looked away.

“You know something else?”

Lenora shook her head. “No, I just—” The woman stood suddenly. “I can't do this right now. It's been nice of you to come share this information with me, but I need to be getting back to the reception where I belong.”

Serena grabbed her arm. “Wait, you were about to say something else. What is it? I don't know what's going on here, but I believe this man, whoever he is, is a real threat. I think he wants to get to you.”

Lenora wrenched her arm out of Serena's grip. “For what? I barely knew the man. I don't really know what Charmayne saw in him, but there is no reason for him to be bothering me. I planned their wedding up until Charmayne called me and said it was over. No explanation. I filed all that work away.”

“Maybe something happened back then that you don't remember.”

Lenora rubbed her temples. “I need to get back to the wedding reception.”

“Okay, fine.” Serena pushed her card into Lenora's hand. “If you can think of anything else, please call me. I have been up and close with this man and something isn't right about him.”

There was a haunted look in Lenora's eyes that caused fear to slither up Serena's back. She watched Lenora return down the hallway. When the door opened to the Victory Gospel Center, laughter and good times poured out, and then went silent once Lenora entered and the door closed behind her.

Serena thought,
I don't doubt this man had something to do with Charmayne's death.
What was puzzling Serena was why Charmayne would want to marry this man.

It took all of her strength not to go into the boutique on Sunday. Jonathan showed concern, but Lenora simply could not explain her thoughts to her husband. What she did know was she needed to look deeper into a man she barely knew. First, she had to know his name. She was having a difficult time connecting the two photos of the men that Serena had shown her. It appeared as if it was the same man.

She awoke Monday morning, trying to appear normal despite the anxiety that had been there for a few weeks, and had now increased. Lenora kissed Jonathan after handing him a steaming cup of black coffee with two tablespoons of sugar. She fixed some toast and a boiled egg for Eliza. Finally, she encouraged Michael to grab a bowl of cereal. She was thankful Keith had returned to UNC late Sunday afternoon. In her pursuit to appear normal, she noted odd looks from her family.

She knew the reporter was after a story, but Lenora was grateful that at least someone was digging in areas of Charmayne's life that the police probably wouldn't. Lenora's only real ally was now off on his honeymoon with Candace. When the couple returned in a week from the Bahamas, Lenora hoped to present convincing information to keep Charmayne's case alive.

Her drive to Michael's school was quiet. Her son was sullen as usual. Having to protect his grandmother over the weekend, and then have his mother drop him off at school as if all was normal had to be taking a toll. Jonathan and she had talked about getting Michael his own transportation but wanted to wait until he reached his senior year.

She waved good-bye to Michael and drove the Lexus with as much speed as she dared down the street and then off to I-77. Lenora fought to keep her patience in Monday morning traffic and within ten minutes, she pulled off at her exit. No one was parked at the strip mall where Lenora's Bridal Boutique was located. It was just a little after eight o'clock, and most of the other businesses opened around nine.

Lenora unlocked the door and closed it behind her. Despite her day off, she needed to do research. She opened her office and turned her computer on. While she waited, she started coffee because she was going to need it.

The office phone rang as the coffee started to drip in the carafe.

Lenora picked up the phone. “Hello.”

“Mrs. Freeman?”

“Yes.”

“How are you? I wanted to be sure that you could still come in this afternoon.”

Lenora racked her mind. What appointment had she made?

The man on the other line reminded her. “Sorry, this is Charmayne's lawyer. I had some instructions for you from her will.”

Lenora held her hands to her chest. “Oh. I'm so sorry. It's been such a busy weekend with the wedding and . . .” She stopped herself from babbling. “What time was the appointment again?” She looked at her desk calendar. “Oh wait, I see it. I wrote it down. It's one o'clock this afternoon, and your office is at Parklane.”

“Yes, that is correct. I will see you then, Mrs. Freeman. Good-bye.”

“Thank you, Mr.—” Before Lenora could finish her sentence, the man had hung up. She stared at the phone, not sure if the man had been rude or annoyed at her for forgetting the appointment. Lenora glanced down at her desk calendar. She didn't notice where she jotted down a name.

It was a personal policy of hers to always get the name and phone number of people who called. Apparently she'd been so distracted she didn't do either.

She'd worry about that later. Lenora turned to her computer and clicked to find the external hard drive she had attached last week. She went straight to Charmayne's wedding folder. After a few clicks through her organization of folders, Lenora found what she was looking for in the files.

The invitation stated,
The pleasure of your company is requested at the marriage of Charmayne Ann Hudson and Lance Ryan Matthews.

Lenora held her hand over the mouth, staring at the invitation and the name.

Lenora asked out loud. “Who are you, and why would you have a reason to come back to harm Charmayne?”

The invitation that Charmayne had asked her to create wasn't unusual, but it said a lot. Lenora remembered asking Charmayne why her parents weren't doing the invitation. In fact, Lenora pulled up the original invitation. It stated
Bishop William Hudson and Valerie Hudson request the honor of your presence at the marriage of Charmayne Ann Hudson and Lance Ryan Matthews.

Lenora had assumed the wedding would take place at Greater Heights Church, but in the second invitation, Charmayne asked her to add the Ritz-Carlton. What surprised Lenora even more was Charmayne's off-hand comment.

“We don't have to get married in the church.”

Lenora recalled responding. “No, but you're the daughter of Bishop Hudson. Why wouldn't you want the wedding ceremony at Greater Heights? I can see the reception being at the Ritz-Carlton.”

“No, it will be easier for the guests with the ceremony and the reception at the same place.”

At the time, Lenora didn't question the logic but thought Charmayne could have chosen a venue for the reception in the vicinity of Greater Heights Church. It was like Charmayne used the wedding as some stance to rebel against her father. Lenora was used to Charmayne's conflicts with her father, but she thought her friend would have moved forward with her wedding plans in an adult fashion.

“The wedding never happened. Why?” Lenora said out loud. Even though Lenora was furious at the months of work she had put into it, she never questioned or pushed Charmayne for an explanation. She had always assumed the bishop probably had managed to convince Charmayne to cancel the wedding.

Or did the decision come solely from Charmayne? The threats were directed at Charmayne after the bishop died, almost as if the man's presence was no longer a hindrance.

Lenora pulled up the bridal portrait Charmayne had taken. The photo was perfect. Not a strand of hair had strayed from Charmayne's updo. The makeup and Charmayne's skin were flawless, not a single blemish. Her friend smiled back at her from the computer screen with a bright white smile and joy in her eyes. There wasn't a hint of anything other than a woman delighted to be a bride.

Or was that what Lenora was seeing? The joy of finally being a bride, not so much a wife. How often had Lenora come across the woman whose sole focus was on the wedding day? Lenora could almost sense the crash of reality coming after, if not during, the honeymoon.

She had planned hundreds of weddings, with all races, nationalities, and religions. Like God was no respecter of people, love could come to a person in all forms, shapes, and sizes. Still, of all the men that had pursued Charmayne in her lifetime, why was this the man she chose to almost marry?