“Yes, ma’am,” Devon said, answering for them both. “Thank you for the plane ride.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Zoey thanks you too.”
“You’re welcome, Zoey.” The little girl and the little deacon seemed to have bonded, and Bernadine saw that as a positive sign. Something told her that Devon might be just the friend Zoey needed to get her talking again if it were at all possible.
When the limo turned into Tamar’s yard and Bernadine saw all the people standing around, she looked to Lily in confusion.
The kids were staring out of the one-way tinted windows as well.
Amari asked, “Are we here?”
“Yes,” she answered before asking Lily, “Is this part of Marie’s birthday party?”
“Not that I know of. Party’s not until tomorrow.”
The driver parked. As he came around and opened the door, Bernadine stepped out and heard a band of horns begin playing, “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
Applause broke out. She stared around at all the smiling faces, then froze at the sight of the long white banner strung above Tamar’s porch that read in big letters: WELCOME, along with the names of the kids. Tamar stood beneath it beneath wearing a big grin and Bernadine realized this was a party, but for the kids. She wanted to kiss everybody for this kindness.
Grinning over at the musicians, who included Malachi, Trent, and Clay all dressed in black and wearing shades, she motioned for the kids to get out, and as they did the applause started again.
“Wow!” Preston said, looking around. “This is crazy.”
As she and Lily and the kids made their way to the porch, people Bernadine had never seen before came up to shake the kids’ hands and welcome them to town. Others patted them on the backs and told the children how glad they were to have them there. The enthusiastic welcome left her speechless. By her guesstimate there had to be fifty or sixty people in Tamar’s front yard, and they were all clapping and cheering.
Crystal tugged on Bernadine’s sleeve. “Is this for us?”
Bernadine smiled, “Yes, ma’am. See your name up on the banner?”
Echoing Preston, all Crystal could manage to say was, “Wow.”
Feeling like a mother duck, Bernadine shepherded her ducklings to the porch, where the band was playing. Malachi blowing on a sax caught her eye and winked. She grinned.
Lily said, “Is this cool or what? I had no idea they were going to do this.”
Bernadine looked out over the crowd and was blown away, “You know I didn’t, but it is cool. Real cool.”
Tamar cut off the musicians and in the silence that followed said in a loud voice. “It’s not often that we get new residents, so I want to thank you all for coming out to meet our new kids. They and Ms. Brown represent the Henry Adams of the future.”
More applause. Tamar looked to Bernadine and said, “Would you do the honors and introduce them.”
So one by one, she introduced the children, and when their names were spoken each was given another rousing round of applause. Devon and Zoey looked uncertain, Crystal waved like a Texas beauty queen, Preston grinned and bowed, but Amari struck a rapper’s pose, arms crossed, chin up. The crowd roared. All Bernadine could think was Lord help us.
Tamar rolled her eyes at him and said, “We’re going to get these kids fed and home so they can relax. We’ll see you all tomorrow at Marie’s.”
Still wondering where all the people had come from, Bernadine directed the kids over to her trailer, and they went inside.
Inside, they looked around. Crystal said, “A trailer? I thought you lived in a mansion?”
“I told you I didn’t.”
“It’s nice though,” she said, looking around at the beautiful furniture, the art on the walls, and the sweet light fixtures and lamps.
“Thanks, Crystal. Make yourselves at home. We’ll be having dinner next door with Ms. July. After that, Crystal and Zoey will sleep here and the boys with Ms. July’s grandson, Trent July.” She saw Amari and Preston share a glance. Zoey and Devon shared one too, but none of the kids said anything.
She directed them to the restrooms and the bedroom where her big screen hung on the wall. “Go on in and get comfortable. And you older kids, nothing inappropriate on the tube. Devon and Zoey aren’t old enough for drama.”
Crystal shot a look at Amari, “Don’t worry.”
He rolled his eyes, and he and Preston headed off.
By the time everyone arrived for dinner, Tamar’s house was hot and bursting at the seams. Luckily the meal would be held outside, where it wasn’t much cooler but at least there was a breeze. Joining the kids were Clay and Bing, Malachi and Trent, and Agnes and Marie. Trent brought in an old-fashioned ice cream churn and set it the shade near the house.
Introductions were made. The kids were polite but didn’t say much, as if they were waiting to see what kind of people the old people were going to turn out to be.
Bernadine looked over at Devon sitting in a lawn chair next to Zoey. “Would you like to bless the food?”
“Ye, ma’am.” He stood up and said, “Join hands, please.”
Tamar and the others stared at him curiously for a moment but did as instructed. Crystal changed spots so she wouldn’t have to hold Amari’s hand and went to stand between Trent and Lily. She looked up at Trent and asked coyly, “Are you going to be one of the foster parents?”
Lily glanced over. “Change places with me, Crystal.”
She poked out her heavily glossed bottom lip but did as she was told.
Preston snickered.
“What are you laughing at, Bubble Butt!”
“You don’t want to mess with me,” he warned her calmly.
“Why, you gonna sit on me?”
“Not unless I get shots first.”
Amari hollered ecstatically, “Yeah!” He broke the circle walked over and gave Preston five. “My man!”
Malachi looked at Trent, Trent looked at Bernadine, who looked at Tamar, who asked, “Are you three done? Do you see this boy standing here waiting to say grace?”
The three shrunk.
“Apologize, Crystal,” Tamar demanded.
“Why?”
“For calling Preston out of his name. And Preston, you apologize for that shots remark.”
They both looked mutinous.
Tamar folded her arms. “We’ll wait.”
They mumbled apologies in voices that could hardly be heard.
Tamar wasn’t through. “We are all family here in Henry Adams, and as family we don’t dis each other.”
“Did she just say, ‘dis’?” Amari asked surprised.
Bernadine smiled and nodded.
He looked Tamar up and down. “Who are you, Tyler Perry’s Madea?”
“Madea’s fiction. I’m not.”
“Oh.” From the look on his face it was easy to see that he had no more questions.
“Anything else?”
“No, ma’am. Not from me.”
Tamar turned to Devon. “Go ahead now, Devon.”
“Dear God. Thank you for this gathering today. Bless the food that we are going to eat and bless the hands that prepared it. Please stretch out your hand to the poor and to those who lift them up, so that your blessing will be complete. Amen.”
“Amen.”
It was a great meal. Lots of barbecued chicken and ribs, coleslaw, Marie’s prize-winning baked beans. Throw in some of Ms. Agnes’s light-as-a-cloud biscuits and you had a meal the kids kept getting more helpings of. It was obvious to Bernadine that the senior citizens had been cooking all day, and she loved them even more.
The ice cream was a big hit.
“What is that?” Amari asked when Trent dragged the churn and its tub over to the table.
“Ice-cream churn.”
“What?”
He took the top off and drew out the paddle, which was covered with the thick cold dessert. He grabbed one of plastic spoons and dipped out a small p
ortion and passed it to Amari. “Taste.”
With all the skepticism of his age, he asked, “What is it?”
Clay told him, “Ice cream, man. You think we’re going to poison you your first day here?”
Bing tossed out. “The poison comes next week.”
Amari grinned, and while the other kids looked on, he popped the spoon into his mouth. He swooned, “Oh, this is the shit.”
“Amari!” Bernadine warned.
“Sorry, but this is good.”
So good in fact, that when Preston tried to go back for his third helping, Malachi said, “You’ve had enough, son. Too much and it’ll give you nightmares.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“You ever had homemade ice cream before today?”
“No.”
“I’ve had it all my life. Too much will give you nightmares.”
It was easy to see why the twelve-year-old was overweight; the boy was a heavyweight eater, and because of his asthma he probably got very little exercise. The disappointed Preston walked slowly back to his chair. Bernadine caught Malachi’s eye and mouthed a silent, thank you.
He nodded and put the top back on the churn. Tamar and the other ladies seemed taken by Devon and the silent Zoey, and so they spent most of the evening seated near the two, making sure they had enough to eat and were comfortable. They seemed to be, although with Zoey it was hard to tell. Bernadine had noticed the happy swing of her little feet in the green flip-flops when she’d been eating the ice cream, which let her know that underneath the traumatized surface was a child who could still be reached.
Crystal, on the other hand, continued to sulk. Marie tried to draw her out but was rebuffed, albeit politely, so folks just left her alone.
With the meal over, everyone pitched in to help clean up, and when they were done, everyone prepared to leave. Tamar had one last thing to say, though. “We’re all glad you children are here. Everybody in town is going to help with your raising, so if you need something, just ask. See you tomorrow.”
The kids said good night and Bernadine and Lily escorted them out.
Trent had the boys grab their stuff, and they left to spend the night at one of the new trailers he’d claimed. Malachi, Clay, and Bing tagged along.
After Lily and Marie said their good-byes, Bernadine was left alone with Zoey and Crystal. “Guess that leaves us, ladies. Let’s go see your room.”
CHAPTER
13
Bernadine’s guest bedroom with its cream and beige color scheme held twin beds. “There’s a bathroom through that door with plenty of towels and soaps. Help yourself if you want to take a shower or wash up. Do you need anything?”
“Toothbrush. I try and take good care of my teeth.”
Bernadine was glad to hear the teen had some measure of hygiene because you couldn’t tell by the bad weave, tattoos, and all the makeup slathered on her face. “There are some new ones in the medicine cabinet.” She’d asked Tamar to pick up a few when she and her friends did all the grocery shopping for the houses. “You need anything, Zoey?”
She gave a small shake of her dark head, which both surprised and pleased Bernadine. “Okay. I’ll be down the hall. TV is on the wall over there if you want to watch something. I’ll come back and check on you in a bit.”
“What time is it?” Crystal wanted to know.
Bernadine checked her watch. “A little after nine.”
Zoey yawned.
Crystal pointed out, “It’s too early for me to go to bed.”
“That’s fine, but we’ll be getting up at eight for breakfast. No sleeping in allowed.”
“Okay.”
Bernadine left them to themselves and walked down the hall to her own bedroom. The room had been decorated to reflect her stylish tastes, and like the other spaces of her home it was accented with the artwork and sculptures she’d collected on her travels. She came out of her heels and her black suit and sighed with relief. Long day. A quick shower gave her a second wind, so she donned a pair of lightweight silk-blend sweats and a tee and checked in on the girls. Zoey was in the shower. Crystal was watching TV.
“Do you have pajamas, Crystal?” She noticed the tatoos were gone, and was glad that they’d been only temporary ones.
“Nope.”
“How about Zoey?”
Crystal searched through Zoey’s little suitcase. “Nope.”
“Okay. I have some T-shirts you can use.”
Crystal said, “I’m good. I’ll just sleep in my underwear like I always do.”
“When we go shopping, we’ll get you and Zoey pajamas.”
“We’re going shopping?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Because we can.”
Crystal looked impressed. “I like that.”
“Let me get the shirts. Be right back.”
After leaving the shirts with Crystal, Bernadine headed back downstairs to relax a bit before bed.
She wound up outside. It wasn’t fully dark yet, but the sun had already gone down and the breeze was a good one. She thought about the girls inside watching TV and hoped they were getting along. Although Crystal had seemed protective of Zoey at first, the teen was a loose cannon, so Bernadine hoped she’d be nice. All of the trailers were spread out on Tamar’s vast property, and she could see the front of Trent’s trailer clearly.
A few moments later, Malachi came out and seeing her walked over.
“Everything okay over there?” she asked when he got close.
“Seems to be. Devon’s just sitting back and watching everything, but Amari’s asking a thousand questions a minute. Trent may have to gag that boy so he can sleep. Amari and Preston both are real quick.”
“Yes, they are. If we can keep them from setting Crystal off, we might live through this.”
He waved it away. “They’re kids. They’ll work it out.”
“Since when did you become such an expert?”
His mustache lifted in a smile. “Used to be a kid myself once upon a time.”
“This has to be scary for them, though.”
“Sure, but once they figure out they’re safe, it’ll be okay. How are you doing? After flying all over the country you have to be whipped.”
“I am, but there’s still miles to go. The Paynes and Garlands will be here sometime tomorrow. I hope they’ll all get along. I so want this to work.”
“It will.”
She appreciated his support. “I’d like you to think about the kinds of renovations you want done to the D&C.”
“Really?”
“We need a diner, and since we already have one, I thought we’d fix it up.”
“Okay. When you get the chance how about we get together and do a walk-through and see what we can come up with?”
“Sounds good.” In the silence Bernadine could feel his presence washing over her like the evening breeze.
“You know, what you’re doing here is fantastic and I’ll do whatever I can to help. I might be made out of snake oil, but I am a July. This means a lot.”
The sincerity in his tone touched her as much as his presence. Bernadine had to admit she hadn’t felt this kind of heat around a man in a long time, and because of that, this little interlude had to end. She stood and said quietly, “Thanks, Malachi. I appreciate that. Now, I’m going in to check on the girls. You have a good evening.”
“Running?” he asked.
Bernadine chuckled at his insight. “Yeah. I am.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“I am that, if nothing else.”
The silence rose between them again until she finally said, “See you tomorrow, Malachi.”
“’Night, Bernadine.”
He walked back toward Trent’s place and she went inside.
Later, after all the lights were out in the new trailers and everyone was supposed to be asleep, Amari lying on a sleeping bag in the dark asked Preston, “What do you think about all of this, my
man?”
Preston was in a sleeping bag close by. “Best first day I’ve had in new place, so for now, it’s okay.”
“My best too.”
The two boys had opted for sleeping bags on the floor of Trent’s guest bedroom. Devon was in the big bed.
Amari called to him softly, “Hey, Creflo, you asleep?”
There was no response.
Preston raised up to look. “I think he is.”
There was silence again and then Preston asked, “You think the foster parents are going to be wack?”
“Aren’t they always? Wish I could stay here. Trent seems pretty straight.”
“Yeah. We’ll probably wind up with some crazy old bitch who’ll feed us dog food.”
“Been there.”
“Me too.”
For a few moments they each thought about the past. Finally, Preston said. “I’m going to sleep. Been good hanging with you today, Amari. See you in the morning.”
“’Night.”
Preston drifted off, but Amari lay in the dark thinking for a long time.
Over at Bernadine’s, Crystal woke up and groggily looked around. Something had awakened her but she wasn’t sure what it was. Lifting up, she saw the moon streaming into the room through the open curtains and Zoey sitting in a chair bathed in the light. “What’s the matter, Zoey? Why you got the drapes open?”
No response.
Crystal slowly tossed aside her lightweight blanket and got up. She walked over and knelt beside her so she could see better. Zoey looked like a little ghost. Crystal placed her hand on her forehead. “You sick?”
But her forehead was cool.
Crystal knelt there for a moment looking at Zoey and trying to figure this out. She studied Zoey and then looked over at the opened curtains letting in the wide beam of moonlight. “Are you scared of the dark?” Zoey’s eyes met hers, and the look in them told Crystal all she needed to know. “Okay,” she said softly. “How about you come sleep with me? I won’t let anything get you. I promise.”
Zoey continued to hold her gaze.
“If you want to keep the curtains open, that’s okay, but you can’t stay up all night. You got a big day tomorrow. Come on,” she urged gently. Standing up, she held out her hand. “Nothing’s going to get you. Me and Ms. Bernadine will beat the hell out of anything that tries. Anything, I swear,” she promised again.