“No problem. Do you want me to talk to Clay?”
“If you want to, but I don’t think it will make a difference. He’s got his mind made up and we both know how rigid he can be sometimes.”
He nodded knowingly. “Well, hang in there. For what it’s worth, I like the new you.”
That earned him a smile. “I like the new me, too.”
“How’s Marie?”
“Still the same. I want to smack her and shout, ‘Snap out of it!’”
“Same here. While you were in DC I went to the house to check on her, hoping we could talk, but she wouldn’t even answer the door.”
“This is so stupid.”
“Tell me about it.”
“I want her to talk to Reverend Paula, but I don’t see her agreeing to that.”
“Me either. We’ll just keep hoping and praying that she comes to her senses.”
He left her to help with the cleanup and she was grateful to have him as a friend. Putting Marie out of her mind for the moment, Gen looked around for someone to hit up for a ride home. She saw TC Barbour talking with Gary and the Garlands. He glanced up casually and their gazes locked. He nodded and smiled. She nodded back, and while their gazes held, time seemed to suspend itself to the point that it took her a moment to realize Lily was standing beside her.
“Does Clay know you’re ogling another man?” Lily asked.
Embarrassment heated her cheeks. “I’m doing no such thing.” Even as she wondered why he kept drawing her attention.
“You could’ve fooled me. Although for a man of a certain age, Gary’s uncle is kind of hot.”
Laughing, Gen asked with mock severity, “What do you want, Lily July?”
“I wanted to know if you enjoyed your trip to DC.”
“I did.” And Gen filled her in on some of the highlights before asking, “Can I stop by your office tomorrow? I need your help and advice on some things.”
“Sure. I have something to work on in the morning but I’m free in the afternoon.”
“I volunteer for the seniors’ lunch tomorrow at the rec. How about one-ish or so?”
“Works for me. We can talk business and then about what’s going on with you and Clay.”
Gen responded with a soft chuckle. Nothing like living in a small town. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lily moved on. Gen spied Mal’s mother, Tamar, putting on her coat. The July matriarch didn’t live far from Marie’s.
When Gen asked for a ride, Tamar replied, “Sure. Grab your things and meet me outside.”
Gen picked up her coat and purse, and although the urge to glance TC’s way one last time whispered, she didn’t succumb on her walk to the door.
Outside, she got into Tamar’s truck. The ninety-year-old Tamar drove her ancient truck, Olivia, as if they were qualifying for the Indy 500, so the drive home seemed to take only seconds. Tamar was one of the wisest women Genevieve had ever known, so before getting out she asked, “Do you think I’m being silly for trying to remake myself and my life?”
“Do you think you’re being silly?”
“No, but apparently Clay does.”
“Giving you grief?”
Genevieve nodded.
“Would you be happier being who he wants you to be?”
“No.”
“Then step into your new life without him,” Tamar advised easily. “You wouldn’t be the first woman to do so. Or man for that matter. Some people spend their entire lives trying to live up to someone else’s expectations and go to their graves wondering why they were never happy.”
Gen felt the rightness in that.
Tamar continued. “In the scheme of things you’re still relatively young. The Spirit willing, you have a good twenty, maybe thirty years left and you want to greet the sunrise with the smile you put on your own face, not the frown worn by someone else.”
“Wise advice.”
“Haven’t lived this long for nothing.”
Gen smiled. “Thanks, Tamar.”
“I’ve been watching you these last few months, Genevieve Gibbs, and I like what I’m seeing. Keep being you and damn the torpedoes.”
“Yes, ma’am. In fact, I’ll be talking to Lily tomorrow about ordering a double-wide because I want to move out.”
“Makes sense. You want to ride into town with me in the morning?”
“That would be great. I need to learn to drive, too.”
“Another good idea. Who’re you going to have teach you?”
“Are you volunteering?”
“I love you a lot, but not enough for that. I’m elderly, remember?”
Gen scoffed and laughed. Tamar was the youngest elderly woman in the county. “Then I’ll ask Lily or Trent or maybe Bobby.”
“All good choices.”
Gen thought about the main reason for wanting to move out. “What are we going to do about Marie?”
“As much as it hurts me to say this, nothing. The only person who can do anything about Marie is Marie. She’s in my prayers, though.”
“Mine, too. Thanks for the ride and the advice.”
“Anytime. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Gen got out, and beneath the beam of the porch light stuck her key in the door. Once she stepped inside, Tamar and Olivia roared off into the night.
CHAPTER
4
Eli dropped his backpack on his desk and removed his books. This would be his last year at the Marie Jefferson Academy. He was pretty sure he’d miss interacting with the other kids on a daily basis, but he wouldn’t miss being taught by his dad. When your teacher was your father he knew when you had homework or a big test coming up. He also knew when you had a major paper to do and what day it was supposed to be turned in. The other kids could scam their parents on that kind of stuff, but not Eli. Case in point, last night after the town meeting instead of going up to his room to chill and maybe fire up his Xbox, he’d been asked about his readiness for today’s test on the solar system, particularly Jupiter and its moons. Eli knew he was ready, well, sort of, but when his dad asked him to name the Galilean moons and what they were composed of he’d stumbled a little. His dad raised an eyebrow and said, “You might want to look over the material again.”
So he did, and now knew Io from Calisto but like most teens had no idea when he’d use the knowledge IRL—in real life. It wasn’t as if he planned to be an astrophysicist. He’d be leaving that to Leah and Brain. Eli was a sculptor and was pretty sure when Rodin created The Thinker, not knowing Jupiter’s Galilean moons hadn’t kept him awake at night.
Speaking of sculpting, news from the artist competition he’d entered a few months back was due in the mail anytime now. He’d submitted a bust of his mom. Working on it had been one of the toughest experiences of his life. Memories kept rising and some nights he’d cried so much over losing her he couldn’t see the clay for his tears, but he’d been proud of the finished likeness and so had his dad. Crystal had also sent in an entry. She was a painter though, and submitted a triptych based on her life. First prize was scholarship money and the opportunity for the winner’s work to be displayed in a big-time California art gallery. He and Crystal really wanted to win, but seeing as how only one of them could come in first, they’d agreed to be happy for each other no matter the outcome.
While the other students like Amari, Preston, and the Clark sisters filed into the classroom and took their seats, he glanced Crystal’s way. The grin she shot him made his heart speed up. He continued to have deep feelings for her even though she’d made it clear she’d rather be friends, which was why he was dating Samantha instead. He and Sam had a good relationship and he thought she was pretty special, but she wasn’t Crystal. Seeing Sam enter the room, he shot her a wink and settled in for the start of the day.
As always, class began with the pledge and the Negro National Anthem. It was Zoey’s day to accompany the singing on the piano. Eli had been in Henry Adams going on three years now and knew the word
s by heart. When he and his dad first arrived it had been weird being one of only two White kids in town and he’d been pretty sure he wasn’t going to like it, but nobody made a big deal about it and he’d done a lot of growing up since then. He’d also learned a ton of Black history and realized people were people. As Amari once pointed out, Eli was now bicultural and personally he thought there was a lot of cred in that.
After their math lesson and the test, it was time for lunch. Having been born and raised in California, Eli still had no love for the Kansas winter but the day’s weather was filled with sunshine and temps that confirmed spring’s warmth would show up for real sometime soon, so they all put on their coats and headed outside.
Once they were seated at the picnic table, Amari said, “I think we should go big for our dads on Father’s Day.”
They all knew that the former Detroit car thief seemed to wake up each morning with a plan tied to something big, so Eli said, “Okay. I’ll bite. Big as in how?”
Amari shrugged. “Not sure. Thought we’d brainstorm. We have some awesome fathers so why not celebrate.”
Crystal cracked, “Some of you might have awesome dads but mine kidnapped me and held me for ransom, remember?”
Eli did. Ray Chambers wound up being a tornado snack and impaled on the points of a picket fence for his efforts. As far as Eli knew no one mourned his demise.
Amari’s little brother, Devon, asked, “Is this going to be a secret?”
“Maybe,” Amari replied.
Brain, always the voice of truth and reason, offered, “Good luck with that.”
He was right, of course—there were no secrets in Henry Adams.
Zoey took a sip from her juice box and added, “Even if we did try and keep it secret, we’d still have to get permission from somebody for whatever it is we’re doing. Probably Tamar.”
She was right, too. Eli believed the sun didn’t rise without the town matriarch’s okay.
“How about we have an all-day picnic?” Leah asked.
Amari’s face brightened at the idea.
Eli’s did, too. “Maybe Tamar would let us use her field.”
After that the brainstorming session began to flow hot and heavy. They discussed decorations, maybe having a short program and what kind of food they might want to serve. Tamar’s homemade ice cream topped the list. In the middle of the planning, Wyatt got up and walked away from them without a word.
Eli asked, “What’s up with him?”
Zoey speculated softly, “Maybe he’s feeling kind of left out because he doesn’t have a dad.”
Wyatt’s soldier mom died in Afghanistan and he was being raised by his grandmother, Gemma, one of the clerks at the town’s grocery store. Eli didn’t remember the boy ever mentioning his father.
“Damn,” Amari said. “I forgot. Be nice if we could find him one.”
“True,” Brain said as they all watched Wyatt walk stiffly toward the school’s doors. “But it’s not like we can hook him up with one on eBay.”
Eli felt bad. He couldn’t imagine not having his mom and his dad.
“So do we call off the idea because of Wyatt?” Leah asked.
Amari shook his head. “I say we go ahead. We’ll figure out a way to help Wyatt somehow. And Eli, since you suggested we use Tamar’s field, you get to ask her. Let us know what she says.”
Eli sat there dumbfounded while everyone else gathered up their trash. Lunch was over.
Crystal smiled. “I saw that coming the minute you opened your mouth. You are such a sucker.”
Smiling, he lowered his head, then joined the trek back.
The Henry Adams Ladies Auxiliary provided lunch to area seniors three days a week, and once the cleanup was done, Genevieve put on her coat, waved goodbye to her friends, and walked the short distance down to the Power Plant for her appointment with Lily. Inside, lush green plants filled the redbrick atrium and basked in the sun streaming down through the skylights overhead. A few small fountains had been recently added and the soft sounds of the water added to the space’s calming Zen-like feel.
The administrative offices lay beyond the double glass doors and a short walk down the carpeted, art-lined hallway led Gen to the space occupied by the lady whose hand turned the world. She poked her head in the open door. “Afternoon, Bernadine.”
As always the Boss Lady was at her desk. “Hey there, Gen. How are you?”
“I’m well. Have an appointment with Lily. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Okay. I’m all yours if you need my input.”
“Thanks.”
Lily was working on a laptop when Gen arrived and she looked up with a smile. “Come on in, Gen. Have a seat. Be with you in just a sec. I need to send these blueprints for the Henry Adams Hotel to Mayor Hottie. He and Bobby are in Franklin talking to a supplier.”
Gen took a seat. It was no secret how much Lily loved her husband Trent. Gen envied their relationship. That she’d never experienced such a special connection was one of her life’s biggest regrets.
Once Lily hit send, she asked, “Can I get you some coffee? Juice?”
“Coffee would be wonderful.”
After they both had their cups, Gen revealed what she’d come to discuss. When she finished, Lily asked, “How soon do you want to move?”
“As soon as I can find a suitable mobile home. And after, when Trent has time, I’d like to get with him and have some blueprints drawn up for a new house.”
“You’re going big.”
“Go big or go home, as they say. And I want to do both.”
“Has the county said it’s okay to rebuild on your land?”
“Yes. I talked to them before I went to Washington.” The last testing showed no toxins, but the soil was rich with pig poop. Perfect for the roses she wanted to plant.
“So, what’s Marie saying about you moving out?” Lily asked.
Marie was Lily’s godmother. “I haven’t told her yet. Wanted to speak with you first so I’d know what kind of time line I’d be working with. Honestly, in her present frame of mind, she’ll probably see it as just one more betrayal, but I can’t stay there any longer. Even the air feels oppressive.”
“I understand. I’ve tried talking to her too, but decided until she has her own come-to-Jesus moment, there’s nothing any of us can do.”
“Tamar said the same thing.”
“And that’s sad.”
“It is because I’ve loved her like a sister all my life.”
“I know, but in the meantime, let’s get going on this move. Depending on what you want and what’s in stock I might be able to have a home on your land sooner than later. How big do you want it to be?”
They spent the next few minutes discussing square footage and amenities. Lily pulled up the website she’d used for the double-wides Bernadine had on Tamar’s property for new residents. Genevieve saw a two-bedroom that she thought might suit her needs, and loved that it had a small front and back porch. “I like that one, Lily.”
Lily checked availability and to their delight there was one in stock on the lot. Gen handed over her credit card. Lily made the deposit online, and once all the paperwork was printed out, reviewed, signed, and scanned back, Gen had a new leased double-wide.
Lily added a small warning. “Trent has a ton of projects on his plate. I’m telling you up front he probably won’t get around to building your home until next year.”
“That’s fine.” And it was. That she’d have a new home to live in as early as the middle of next week was godsend enough for the present. “Thank you, Lily.”
“No problem. If you need help moving you know everyone in town will volunteer.”
“Everyone except Clay.”
“So what’s up with him?”
Genevieve filled her in.
“That is so sad. This isn’t the fifties. Why is he expecting you to act like it is?”
“I don’t know.” And truly she didn’t, but she did know that he’d b
een changed by his service in Vietnam. He’d left Henry Adams a carefree, laugh-filled jokester and returned joyless and rigid. Mal had been changed by the experience, too. She couldn’t imagine the horrors they’d lived through. As far as she knew, unlike Mal, Clay hadn’t sought help from the VA or anyone else, but then again, the country hadn’t been kind to the returning vets of that era, and as a result many men and women continued to suffer in silence to this day. Clay never talked about his time overseas but it was the only possibility she could point to as the reason for him changing. That and the fact that she’d thrown him over for Riley just a few months before he was drafted.
“Gen?”
She startled at the sound of Lily’s soft voice. “Sorry. I was drifting in the past. Forgive me.”
“No problem. How about asking the Ladies Auxiliary to help you pack. We’re always looking for a way to get together. Maybe us being there will help Marie out of her funk.”
“I’d love that, and if it helps Marie, so much the better.”
“Do you have a lot of stuff to move?”
“Not really. I left Riley in a huff and most of my belongings were still in the house when Cletus trashed the place.” She remembered how devastated she’d been upon viewing the aftermath of the hog’s rampage on the news. Curtains hanging listlessly on torn-away rods. Floors littered with pieces of broken furniture, lamps, and her precious curios. “I’m looking forward to buying new things.” Things that gave her comfort, fed her soul, and reflected her and her new life.
When the girls came in from school, TC had snacks of fruit, cheese, and juice waiting just as he’d done for his own kids years ago. The smiles on the girls’ faces made his heart swell with memories. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I had to guess. If you have a preference for something else just let me know and we’ll pick it up when we go to the store tomorrow.”
Leah, in the process of biting into a crisp red apple, paused. “We?”
“Yes, ma’am. You and Lil Bit will do the shopping with me tomorrow. Preparing you for independence, and so you’ll know exactly how much food costs.”
“Oh.”