He spent a few more minutes telling them about the Ninety-Fifth’s transfer to Europe after leaving Alaska, and when his talk was done, the kids applauded. Jack did, too. He’d learned a lot. “Any questions?”
From the hands that shot up, they had a ton, so Jack sat back to enjoy the rest of the morning.
At lunchtime, Preston sat at the picnic table he and Amari claimed as their own and ate the burger Siz brought over from the Dog. The Dog usually provided lunch for the students—yet another bonus of living in Henry Adams.
Like everyone else in town, they were excited about the Henry Adams Idol competition.
Preston asked, “Are you going to enter?’
“Not sure. After being dissed on the rap idea, I’ve been trying to come up with something else. I can’t sing, so that’s out. What about you?’
“Unless I can do a talk on the periodic table, I’ll be in the audience.”
Amari laughed. “My parents were talking this morning about entering as somebody called Peaches and Herb, whoever they are.”
“No clue.”
“Me either.” Amari asked around a bite of his fries, “Do you know what time your grandmother’s coming?”
“No, but I figured if she was here, Ms. Bernadine or Ms. Lily would’ve brought her over by now. Maybe she changed her mind.”
On one hand Preston kind of hoped she had, but on the other, he hoped she hadn’t. He was pretty mixed up. “The colonel says I should play it by ear, and that he and Mrs. Payne have my back.”
Amari paused in mid bite. “You two talking again?”
“Sorta, I guess. He gave me this long speech yesterday about wanting to start over as father and son, and that the issues we’ve been having are mostly his fault because he doesn’t know how to be a dad.”
“At least he’s honest. What did you say?”
“That I was okay with trying again, but didn’t trust him.”
“That was honest, too.”
“That’s what he said.”
Leah sat down with her bag from the Dog and pulled out a takeout container holding her usual salad.
Preston asked, “Tiff still sick?”
“No, she’s faking. Just doesn’t want to come to school. She’s missing Mom. Dad told her she’s coming tomorrow whether she wants to or not.”
Preston knew that Amari wasn’t missing Tiffany Adele one bit and waited for him to say something sarcastic, but Amari remained silent.
Leah asked, “So when’s your grandmother coming?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think she’s going to be real nice.”
“How do you know?”
“Woman’s intuition.”
Preston saw Amari roll his eyes, but he hoped Leah was right.
She wasn’t.
Right after lunch, while they were working on their Mississippi River reports, a short, gray-haired woman wearing an expensive red suit, fur stole, and gold jewelry swept into the classroom. A guy in a chauffeur uniform trailed in her wake. Before anyone could react to the surprising entrance, she looked from Amari to Preston and asked, “Which one of you boys is Preston?”
No one moved.
Mr. James asked, “Um, who are you?”
“Lenore Crenshaw. Preston’s grandmother. Where is he?”
“Does Ms. Brown know you’re here?”
“Who?”
“Ms. Bernadine Brown?”
“Oh, her. Yes. I spoke with her when I got off the plane. She said my grandson was at the school. I am in the right place, aren’t I?”
Preston saw Crystal take out her phone and go out into the hallway.
Mr. James asked, “Did she give you permission to come here without her?”
Preston glanced over at Amari, and the look on his face confirmed that Preston wasn’t the only person studying the newcomer warily.
“She said to stop by her office, but I didn’t think that necessary. After all, I am his grandmother.”
Preston stood. “Who gave up all legal claims when I was sent to foster care. How are you, Mrs. Crenshaw?”
She stopped, turned, and after a silent moment of regard, replied, “I should have known. You look just like him.”
“Who?”
“The man who fathered you.”
“Do you know where he is?”
“Dead. Which made everything easier, if you don’t mind my saying. A boy from the projects was not my idea of the man my daughter should have been with, and definitely not one she should have a child by.”
Preston felt like he’d been punched in the stomach.
Mr. James stepped in front of her. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
She looked him up and down. “You obviously don’t know who you’re talking to.”
A strong voice rang out, “And you obviously don’t know where you are.”
They all turned, and there stood Colonel Barrett Montgomery Payne, dressed in full uniform, eyes blazing. “Are you always so disrespectful of the dead? How dare you say something like that to my son?”
She had the sense to step back.
Preston was still reeling, but he wanted to cheer. Like the colonel, he wanted to know, What kind of person said hateful stuff like that to a kid? Especially when she claimed to be his grandmother! Did she expect him to feel the same way about his dad? It made Preston wonder if his birth mother knew about this visit, and if so, why she hadn’t come along. He was now more confused than ever, and although he was trying not to let it show, hurt too.
Beside him, Amari asked quietly, “The colonel showed up right on time, but what’s he doing here?”
“He said something this morning about meeting Mr. Bing here so they could ride out for a vets’ event together. He must have gotten his times mixed up.”
“Well, if this lady has any sense, she’ll book before Ms. Bernadine gets here.”
Too late; Bernadine came striding in a moment later. She took a look at Preston, then at the angry faces of the colonel and Mr. James, before settling cool eyes on the woman in the fur with the chauffeur.
“I thought we agreed on the phone that you’d come to my office when you arrived?”
“You must be Ms. Brown.”
Ms. Bernadine didn’t respond; she just looked mad.
His grandmother gave her a snooty up-and-down glance. “I didn’t realize it was mandatory, nor did I expect such a rude introduction to this tacky little place. What exactly is your function here?”
Ms. Bernadine leaned in. “I own this tacky little place.”
“Are you the mayor or something?”
“No. I’m the ow-ner.”
“Well, I’m here to retrieve my grandson.”
Preston stared, wide-eyed.
Ms. Bernadine appeared just as surprised. “Retrieve, as in how?”
“I’m taking him back east. I was about to explain that when I was verbally accosted by this so-called colonel.”
Preston wondered if this woman was crazy. He prayed that whatever she had wasn’t genetic.
“Do you want to talk to her, Preston?” Ms. Bernadine asked.
“No, ma’am.” If he never saw Lenore Crenshaw again, life would be good.
“Barrett, do you wish to speak with her in my office?”
“Yes, I would. Sheila’s at Tamar’s. I’ll give her a call and have her meet us there.”
The tension in the air was thick.
Amari leaned over and whispered, “This is better than TV.”
“Shut up!” Preston whispered out of the side of his mouth.
“Ms. Crenshaw, you can come to my office, or you and your chauffeur can leave my tacky little town. Your choice.”
“I will not be bullied.”
“Nor will I, so what’ll it be? I can have you escorted off the property if you prefer.”
Preston’s and Amari’s eyes widened again.
“You’re threatening me with the police?”
“Nope. County sheriff. We ca
n also slap you with a restraining order if you want. I’m sure Judge Davis won’t be hard to find.”
It was apparent to Preston and everyone else in the classroom that Lenore Crenshaw was unaccustomed to having someone get in her face who wouldn’t back down. She viewed Ms. Bernadine as if she’d never seen anything like her before, and he was pretty sure she hadn’t; the owner of their tacky little town was one of a kind.
“All right, fine,” Mrs. Crenshaw finally huffed out. “Your office it is. Come, Phillip.”
She swept out, and Phillip the chauffeur, who’d remained as emotionless as a statue the entire time, followed as ordered.
After their departure, Ms. Bernadine told Preston reassuringly, “Don’t worry. Even if she had the right to take you anywhere, I’d tie her up in court so long, you’d be forty years old before the final ruling came down.”
He gave her a smile.
The colonel asked him, “Are you okay? Do you want to go home?”
“No, I’m good.” Preston wanted to tell him how great it was that he’d shown up when he had, but didn’t want to get all emotional in front of his classmates.
“We’ll get this straight and talk about it when you get home then.”
Watching Payne and Ms. Bernadine exit the classroom, Preston felt better, but he didn’t want to see Lenore Crenshaw ever again.
He glanced over at Crystal. “Thanks for calling in the big guns.”
“No problem.”
From the front of the room, Mr. James said, “Okay, everybody, let’s get back to our reports.”
Chapter 8
By the time Bernadine entered her office, she was so outdone, she was sputtering. She’d specifically told the Crenshaw woman not to approach Preston without her, but she’d done so anyway. Then again, she was probably unaccustomed to having anyone tell her what to do. Judging from the attitude she’d displayed at the school, it was no wonder Dr. Winthrop had changed her name. “Have a seat, Ms. Crenshaw, Barrett.”
Both chose a chair and complied. The hard set of Barrett’s face showed he was still steaming, and from the phone video Crystal had sent Bernadine of what transpired at the school before she arrived, he had every reason to be. Crenshaw, on the other hand, just looked haughty.
Bernadine was about to begin the interrogation when Sheila Payne rushed into the office. “Got here as quickly as I could.”
Bernadine did the introductions. Lenore Crenshaw gave Sheila a dismissive glance and turned away. Sheila’s jaw tightened at the obvious slight, but she took a seat next to her husband and sat silently.
The rude behavior only increased Bernadine’s ire. “Now, why are you here again?”
“To fly Preston back to Boston so he can take his rightful place in my family.”
Sheila pointed out icily, “Legally, you forfeited all rights when he was put up for adoption.”
“I understand that, but when I explain to the courts that it was a mistake, I’m certain it can be straightened out.”
“A mistake?” the colonel echoed skeptically. “Are you saying your family wanted to keep him?”
“Oh, of course not. No one wants their only child impregnated by a boy from the projects, no matter how smart he’s supposed to be.”
Bernadine bit down hard on her tongue. She wanted to curse the woman up one wall and down the other, but that might delay her departure, and Bernadine wanted her gone—as did her blood pressure. “So where was the mistake supposedly made?”
Her chin rose. “I didn’t realize the impact the adoption would have on my relationship with my daughter. She hasn’t spoken to me since the day the nurses took him away fourteen years ago.”
Bernadine went still. Dr. Winthrop hadn’t mentioned that. She looked at the Paynes. They appeared equally taken aback.
“Margaret didn’t even attend her father’s funeral,” she added bitterly
According to the report, Martin Crenshaw had passed away two years ago.
“Did your husband agree to the adoption?” Sheila asked.
“Oh, yes. He didn’t find the Mays boy acceptable son-in-law material either. Martin was one of the first African-American jurists in this country. We’re both descendants of free Black men who fought in the Revolutionary War. There was no way we could have welcomed a boy with his roots into our bloodline. We’d always encouraged her to set her sights on an Ivy Leaguer, or a Morehouse man—as long as his people weren’t descendants of slaves.”
Bernadine blinked. She’d heard there were people in the race like the Crenshaws, but never wanted to believe it was true.
Barrett said emotionlessly, “You and your husband must have been quite a pair.”
The sarcasm went right over Mrs. Crenshaw’s head. “Yes, we were. And when Margaret began showing serious interest in this Mays character, my husband and I presented a united front.”
With a mother like this, Bernadine was surprised Margaret hadn’t volunteered to go on a deep space, no return mission.
“Let me be frank, Mrs. Crenshaw. Even with your husband’s connections, no court in the land is going to void the adoption papers that your family signed, nor will they force Preston to live with you if he chooses not to. He’s fourteen, not four.”
“I’d still like to speak with him.”
“He’s chosen not to speak to you, remember?” Barrett reminded her.
“I demand that you bring him to this office now! Did you not hear me say I need him to get my daughter back?”
Bernadine kept her voice even. “Shouting at us like we’re servants is not going to change the situation. I suggest you fly back to Boston, Ms. Crenshaw. There’s nothing for you here.”
“I want to speak to someone in authority!”
Bernadine hit the button on the speaker. “Lil, you there?”
“Yes.”
“Can you call Sheriff Dalton for me. Tell him I need assistance in escorting someone off the property.”
“Right away.”
Lorene puffed up. “You wouldn’t dare!”
Bernadine sat back in her navy blue leather chair and folded her arms.
Although Lenore Crenshaw might’ve been arrogant and full of herself, apparently she wasn’t stupid. She obviously sensed that Bernadine and the Paynes weren’t playing. She stood. “This is not over.”
Sheila countered evenly. “Yes, it is. Bother our son again, and we’ll have you arrested.”
Face filled with fury, Crenshaw turned to Bernadine, who responded with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Have a safe flight.”
She snapped at the chauffeur, “We’re leaving, Phillip.”
And they did.
Bernadine hit the button on the speaker and had Lily cancel the call in to the sheriff.
“Sheila and I will be following through on the restraining order,” Barrett said.
“Good, because if you don’t, I will.”
Bernadine knew he’d had issues with the birth search, so she was a bit concerned about how he might handle discussing this meeting with Preston.
Apparently, Sheila had misgivings, too. “You aren’t going to tell Preston I told you so, are you, Barrett?”
He shook his head. “I saw his face when she said those awful things about his father. I’m not going to pour salt on the wound.”
“Good,” she said softly.
Bernadine was pleased, but she had one more question for him. “Why are you all dressed up?”
“I was supposed to meet Bing at the school and ride with him to a meeting about the Memorial Day parade some of the vets want to organize, but I must have written down the wrong time. He was already gone when I got there.”
Sheila said, “I think you were supposed to show up at the school when you did.”
He nodded. “You could be right, but let’s not make it any deeper than it is. All that matters is that I was around when Preston needed someone.” He then spoke thoughtfully. “You have to wonder why that woman thinks having him back will help her reconcile
with her daughter after such a long time.”
Bernadine wondered, too. “Maybe it’s her age. Sometimes when we see the grave looming, we want to make amends. She doesn’t have any other children, and with her husband gone, she might be looking back over her life and regretting some of the things she’s done. Who really knows?”
“Maybe she should try talking to her daughter instead of throwing her weight around,” Sheila pointed out tightly.
“I’m with you on that. I was surprised to hear about the estrangement, though. When I met Dr. Winthrop last winter, she admitted that she and her mother weren’t close, but to not speak for fourteen years? That’s a lot of anger and bitterness.”
“And the doctor hasn’t called you or e-mailed you since?”
“Nope. Nothing. As I told you and Sheila, she doesn’t want further contact, but I’m hoping she changes her mind. If she were to meet Preston, she’d be so proud.”
“I agree. He’s a great kid,” Barrett voiced.
Bernadine added, “And Winthrop didn’t seem anything like her mother either, which is a good thing.”
“Yes, it is,” Sheila said, nodding.
Pleased with how the situation had turned out, Bernadine told Barrett, “Thanks for your help at the school.”
“I didn’t do anything but scare her off my son, but you’re welcome.”
He got to his feet. “I should find Bing and apologize for missing the meeting. Feels good wearing the uniform again.”
“And you wear it well, Barrett,” Sheila added.
He snapped off a salute, gave them a smile, and left them alone.
In the silence left behind, Sheila said, “He was the handsomest man I’d ever seen when my cousin Gayle introduced him to me.”
“He’s still real easy on the eyes, Sheila.”
She chuckled in reply. “That he is, and I’m glad he was there for Preston today. I’ve never wanted to strike another person, but I wanted to pound Mrs. Crenshaw.”
“I wanted her in a cage match, myself. Let’s hope she takes our advice and stays away. Were you and Tamar working on the Idol project?”
“Yes. We already have ten contestants, and we haven’t even put the word out yet. I texted Roni and received a reply this morning. She’s pretty excited about being one of the judges.”