Something Old, Something New

  “No. We thought we’d wait to see how you want to play it. Her adoptive mom, Roni, flew in from New York last night so she could be here.”

  “Does the mom work there?”

  “For the moment.”

  When Paula heard who the mom actually was, she stared in stunned silence. Finally, finding her voice, she said, “Zoey’s been adopted by Roni Moore? THE Roni Moore?”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh, my goodness.”

  “Would you like to meet her after we eat?”

  “I would. I have all her albums.”

  “She loves Zoey like she loves breathing. She and her husband, Reg, couldn’t be better parents.”

  Paula was blown away.

  After a lunch that definitely hit the spot—who knew a place with such a strange name would serve such awesome burgers—Paula and Lily left the diner and headed for the school to meet up with Roni and Reg.

  Once there, Lily made the introductions, and Paula had to stop herself from staring at the music legend by mentally reminding herself why they were there.

  Reg asked, “Do you think she’ll remember you?”

  Paula shrugged. “Only way to find out is to bring us together.”

  So, while Lily, Paula, and Reg waited in the hall, Roni quietly stepped into the classroom. A moment later she returned hand in hand with the skipping Zoey. Upon seeing Paula, Zoey stopped and looked at her quizzically.

  “Hey, Zo-Zo.”

  Zoey’s mouth dropped open, her eyes went wide, and she began taking in deep, quick breaths, as if her excitement made it difficult to breathe.

  Paula held out her arms and asked softly, “Can I get a hug?”

  Tears were already streaming down both faces as Zoey ran to Paula and was scooped up and held tight.

  “Oh, baby girl. I have missed you.”

  Lily and Roni were crying as well. Reg wiped at his eyes.

  An emotional Paula gave Zoey a solemn kiss on the cheek and held on to her as Zoey sobbed with a rawness that pierced everyone’s heart.

  Paula asked the adults, “Is there an empty room we can use? I’d like to speak to her alone, if that’s okay.”

  The wariness on the faces of Zoey’s parents was plain and somewhat expected, so Paula sought to reassure them. “Just for a minute.”

  Zoey’s nonstop weeping made them finally nod, and a tearful Roni whispered, “This is breaking my heart.”

  Paula’s, too.

  They were led to the school’s clinic and left alone.

  Paula sat on the nearest chair, the still-crying Zoey curled up in her lap. “Hey, it’s okay,” she whispered as she rocked the sobbing child. “It’s okay.”

  Seeing a box of tissue on the counter, Paula pulled a few free and handed some to Zoey. After a while, they both wiped at their tears and blew their noses. Paula took a moment to ponder what tack to take. She’d been thinking about Zoey’s muteness almost nonstop since meeting Bernadine and Lily, and she was pretty certain she knew the cause. With the sniffling Zoey now curled in against her like a lost child, Paula held her close and said quietly, “Ms. Brown told me about Bonnie. I’m so sorry for your loss. It had to be scary when you were alone.”

  Zoey’s eyes welled up again, and she nodded.

  Paula placed a kiss on the top of her head and gently tightened her hold. “Ms. Brown also said that your new parents love you very much. Do you love them?”

  The dark eyes looked up at Paula’s, and she nodded her head again.

  “Honey, did Bonnie tell you not to talk to anyone before she went to heaven?”

  The nod this time was short and tight.

  “She’d be real proud of you, you know. From what I’m hearing, you haven’t said a word for almost two years. I’m guessing it’s been real hard not being able to tell your new parents how you feel, or how great they are.”

  And for the first time since her mother’s passing, Zoey used her voice to croak, “Yes.”

  Above her head a smiling Paula silently praised God. “Well, I think if Bonnie was here now, she’d say it’s okay to start doing just that. In her own way, your mama was trying to protect you.” Paula looked down into her eyes. “Does your throat hurt when you try and talk?”

  Zoey nodded.

  “More than likely it’s from not using it for such a long time.”

  Zoey croaked and then coughed as if her voice was stuck in her unused vocal cords. She whispered, “Daddy Reg is a doctor. Maybe he can give me some medicine.”

  Paula smiled. “I’ll bet he can.”

  “Will they be mad?”

  Paula searched the seriousness in her eyes. “That you’re talking? No, doll. Not if they love you as much as I keep hearing they do. Your mom, Roni, will probably cry and let you eat Cheerios and bananas for the rest of your life. You do still like Cheerios and bananas, right?”

  Smiling shyly, Zoey nodded, then her eyes turned serious again. “I was scared they’d get mad and send me back if I said I could really talk.” Tears filled her eyes again.

  Paula gently eased her closer. “It’s okay. I’ll explain. It’ll be all right. I promise.” Changing her tone, she added, “And check this out. I’m going to be living here, too. Ms. Brown is going to build me a church, so I’ll get to pester you every day, just like in Miami.”

  Zoey’s face lit up like this was the best news she’d heard all day, and she threw herself against Paula and hugged her as tightly as her skinny little arms could muster.

  Paula hugged her back. “I like the sound of that, too. Now how about we go talk to your parents? I know they’re probably worried.”

  Zoey looked up and whispered in her froggy voice, “I’m glad you came, Reverend Paula.”

  “So am I.”

  Hand in hand, they left the office, and Paula silently gave thanks to the Almighty for bringing them back together again in this remarkable little town called Henry Adams.

  Later, while sitting in Bernadine’s office, Paula explained to Bernadine and Lily the whys of Zoey’s muteness. “I had this talk with Reg and Roni earlier, and they wanted me to share it with you. As for our Zoey. One of the first things drilled into children on the streets is to keep your mouth shut. You don’t talk to the police, the lady from the welfare office, or the social workers. If you’ve ever been around kids, you know that given half a chance, they’ll tell all your business.”

  Lily smiled. She liked the reverend’s plain way of talking.

  Paula explained further, “If you’re a parent on the street, you don’t want anyone to know where your drugs are stashed, or where you sleep at night, or that your kid doesn’t attend school. If a child lets slip something that parent doesn’t want her worker or the police to know, she might be locked up or declared unfit and lose her children to the state. Zoey was all Bonnie had.”

  Lily thought the muteness all made perfect sense now.

  “The night Zoey was found by the police, she did exactly what her mom had schooled her to do. Around people of authority, keep your mouth shut.”

  Bernadine whispered, “She had to have been scared to death around the police and the doctors and the social workers.”

  “Yes, but in a way the muteness became her shield, something she could hide behind so she wouldn’t have to answer a bunch of questions about herself or her mother.”

  Lily asked, “But why did she hold on to it? She’s been adjusting well. It’s easy to see how much she’s loved around here.”

  “She was scared that if she told the truth, you all might be mad and send her back to foster care. Remember, she’s only eight years old. Stuff’s hard to figure out when you’re little.”

  “She had just turned seven when she came to live with us.”

  Bernadine shook her head sadly. “So simple, yet so complicated.”

  Paula agreed. “But for me, having grown up dirt-poor in Oklahoma, totally understandable. Saying anything to the social workers, teachers, or anyone else about what was going on at home got you a
serious whipping.”

  Lily said, “But now you’re our miracle worker.”

  Paula chuckled. “Oh, lord. I just want Zoey to be okay.”

  Bernadine said, “Roni and Reg are going to fly her to Manhattan in the morning and have a specialist check out her throat and vocal cords and see what kind of therapy she may have to do to get her pipes working again. I can’t wait to hear what that child has to say.”

  “Remember you said that,” Paula said sagely and with a smile. “The Zoey I knew could talk up a hurricane.”

  “Reverend, thank you,” Bernadine said in a tone that conveyed genuine emotion. “We are so grateful. I’ll build you a cathedral if you want, for all you’ve done.”

  “No cathedrals, please, but a place to lay my head would be nice. It’s been a long day.”

  Lily stood. “Come on. I’ll run you out to your trailer.”

  Because the three emergency trailers were being used by Rocky, the Clarks, and Jack and Eli, whose new home in the subdivision was almost ready for occupation, Bernadine had Lily purchase another trailer for the reverend.

  “We’ll talk about building you something more permanent in the spring.”

  Paula opened her mouth to explain that she didn’t need anything built, but before she could find the words, Bernadine looked her in the eyes. “Just say, ‘Okay, Bernadine.’ ”

  In an amused tone, Paula replied, “Okay, Bernadine.”

  “Good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  On the ride out to the trailer with Lily, Paula stared at the blackness of the countryside. “I haven’t seen darkness this thick since leaving Oklahoma.”

  “What part are you from?”

  “Okfuskee County. Outside Boley.”

  “Family still there?”

  “Yep.”

  “They’re pretty proud of you, I’ll bet.”

  “You’d lose your money.”

  Paula could feel Lily’s questioning eyes, but she didn’t offer anything further. There’d been enough revelations for one day.

  Lily stayed at the trailer with Paula just long enough to get Paula settled in. They spent a few moments making arrangements to get her into town in the morning to meet more of the residents and back over to the Power Plant to sign some paperwork.

  Finally alone, the tired Paula took a slow walk through her new home. Growing up, she’d lived in a trailer, but as she was finding with all things Bernadine, this one bore about as much resemblance to the one back home as an elephant to a Cuban cigar.

  Now, as she lay in the dark in her stylishly furnished bedroom, she thought back on her day, the people she’d met so far, and Zoey. What the little one must have gone through. Under the same circumstances Paula thought she’d’ve stayed mute, too. That Zoey had been adopted by the Garlands was a good thing. It was her hope that all the love and understanding they’d showered on her would somehow make up for what she’d endured after Bonnie’s death. A yawn seized her and reminded her how long a day it had been. She took a moment to say her prayers before turning over and slipping effortlessly into sleep.

  When Lily got home, she went over to Trent’s to pick up Devon. She’d called earlier to let Trent know how the meet between Zoey and the reverend had turned out, and he’d been ecstatic upon hearing the results. He’d also promised to tell the boys, so as she walked home with Devon, she asked, “Did Mr. Trent give you the good news about Zoey?”

  “Yes.”

  “Isn’t it wonderful?”

  “She’s just a faker,” he said belligerently.

  She sighed. Considering his recent behavior, she supposed his reaction was to have been expected, but she’d been hoping for the best. His moment of bonding with Mal over baseball had given her hope, too. “She had her reasons, Devon, and she was scared.”

  Devon didn’t seem to care. “She ought to get a spanking for lying.”

  Lily shook her head. “What happened to the kindhearted, caring Devon that used to live with me? I really miss him.”

  But he didn’t respond.

  Chapter 12

  The next few days were bittersweet ones for the residents of Henry Adams. The bitter parts were tied to the memory of Ms. Agnes and her passing. The sweet to the news about Zoey. Word about her spread like a late July grassfire, and Lily thought it a good thing that Zoey and the Garlands were in Manhattan, because all the interest might have been too much for the town’s favorite little girl. Everywhere Lily went, she was asked to explain the story, and each time she did, the questioners would shake their heads sadly and say, “Poor baby girl.”

  Everyone also wanted to meet Reverend Grant, and the task of making that a reality fell to the new VP of social affairs.

  On Friday evening, when Lily and Trent, accompanied by Amari and Devon, arrived at the rec where the welcome reception was being held, they were pleased by both the size of the crowd and the tasteful but festive way the big meeting room had been decorated. The town’s residents were present, of course, as were some local dignitaries from neighboring communities. Also in attendance were a few men decked out in clerical collars. None of their faces were familiar, but Lily assumed they were area pastors who’d come to check out Paula. The only people who appeared to be missing were Tamar and Marie. Neither of them had been seen since the funeral, as far as she knew. She had talked to Marie the day after the memorial about coming to dinner on Sunday, but her godmother had asked for a rain check, her way of saying she needed space. Respecting that, Lily hadn’t called since.

  Lily was about to suggest they get in the line with all the other people wanting to shake Paula’s hand when Sheila Payne rushed up.

  “Good, you’re here. Trent, I need you to say a few words of welcome.”

  And before they could blink, she whisked him away.

  “Ms. Payne looks real happy,” Amari said.

  Lily had to agree. “Yes, she does.”

  “Preston says she really likes her new job.”

  Lily was glad to know that. She’d yet to talk to Sheila about how the colonel felt, but decided she’d find out soon enough. Lily spotted Bernadine and received a thumbs-up, which Lily assumed meant the Boss Lady approved of the affair. Lily threw the sign back at her and grinned. Bernadine had also been skeptical about Sheila’s abilities, but everything looked lovely, from the fresh flowers on the buffet table to the fancy tablecloth and gold-rimmed china.

  Lily glanced down to ask Devon how he liked the affair so far and saw him shooting daggers Paula’s way. She sighed sadly and looked up to find Amari watching her with concerned eyes.

  He said softly, “Don’t worry, Mom. It’ll work out. You’ll see.”

  She was so moved by his caring spirit and calling her Mom, she felt the sting of tears. She wanted to give him a big fat hug and a kiss, but rather than embarrass him in front of a room filled with people, she replied simply, “Thank you, Amari. I really appreciate that.”

  “You’re welcome.” He shot Devon such a pointed look that Devon lowered his eyes to his shoestrings. Seemingly satisfied that he’d put his soon-to-be younger brother in his place, Amari added, “Now let’s get in line so we can meet Reverend Paula. I’m ready to eat.”

  A buoyant Lily let him lead the way.

  Trent’s speech was short, and when he was done, it was the reverend’s turn.

  She looked out over the assemblage and said, “I’m very honored to be in Henry Adams, and I’m looking forward to my new life here with you.”

  That her remarks were short, too, seemed to endear her to the crowd, because she left the mic under thunderous applause. Once she did, the reception line Lily and the boys were standing in began to move once more.

  When their turn came, Lily made the introductions. The lady priest shook Amari’s hand, who promptly said, “Your red boots are off the chain.”

  She laughed and looked down at her red-and-silver cowboy boots. “I think they’re pretty cool, too. Thanks.”

  Amari added, “And thanks for helping Zoey.
”

  “You’re welcome, but I think it was more the Spirit. I was just the vessel.”

  Amari studied her for a moment. “I had to do a Spirit Quest this summer, so I actually understand what you mean.” He looked at Lily with such an expression of astonishment, she laughed.

  “You’ll have to tell me about this quest,” Paula said, smiling.

  “Right now?”

  “No”—she laughed—“but how about in a few days?”

  He nodded.

  She then peered at Devon. “How are you, Devon?”

  “Fine,” he tossed back curtly.

  Lily held on to her temper and said evenly, “Your attitude’s not real becoming, Devon.”

  Paula didn’t seem to be put off by his mood. “Devon, I’d like to talk to you in a few days, too, if you have the time. I want to hear all about your preaching.”

  Lip poked out, arms crossed tightly over his suit, he nodded.

  Lily rolled her eyes and prayed for strength. “Come on, guys. Let’s move along. Thanks, Reverend Paula.”

  “No problem.”

  Once they were out of earshot, Amari asked Devon, “Do you know how embarrassing you are?”

  Devon didn’t reply.

  Lily agreed with Amari but didn’t add her two cents because she was too mad. She was also afraid that if she opened her mouth all hell would roll out, and only a bad parent cussed out a child, especially during a reception for the new reverend.

  Across the room, Trent stood patiently listening to the low-voiced, judgmental concerns of Cecil Donovan about Paula Grant. Donovan was the new pastor of a small Black church in Franklin, and to hear him tell it, Paula and her Episcopalians were the epitome of what was wrong with religion. Not only did they accept gays and lesbians into their congregations, they allowed them into the ranks of clergy as well.

  Donovan was eating from a stack of shrimp piled high on his plate. As he daintily held on to the tails before taking a bite, his manicured fingers glistened. His expensive suit could have come from Leo’s closet.