Down On My Knees (26 page)

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Authors: Victor McGlothin

BOOK: Down On My Knees
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Shelia cussed up a storm because she hadn't been there to witness any of it, but Linda was looking at Grace as if she had sprouted a second head. “Grace, Edward's situation is a trip, granted, but what about yours? I've sat here and listened to your Wallace this and Wallace that. You're really into him?”
“The question is, has
he
been getting into Grace?” Shelia jabbed distastefully.
When the phone rang, Grace hopped up to get it. “Good girls don't tell,” she said, suggesting that there was somethingto be told. “Anyway, Wallace had to fly down to Miami on business.”
“Truth be told, I can't say what good girls do,” Shelia declared,“but I do know that good girls don't have three bucketsof soup sent to 'em from Florida.”
“Shush!” Grace hissed. “It's Wallace and he didn't send all of that stuff. He had it delivered from that Chinese restaurant over on Parker.” With a schoolgirl's giggle, Grace answered the call. “Hey, you,” she sang into the receiver. “No, I'm not sick anymore, thanks to someone in particular. Huh? Nobody but Lin' and Shelia, the girlfriends I told you about.”
“Nobody but?” Linda objected jokingly. “I'll say.”
“Mmm. Oh, hold on, Wallace.” Grace held the phone against her chest to muffle her voice. “It's time for y'all to scram. My man-friend wants to talk to me, and I don't need nobody sitting up under us. Y'all might hear something you like, and I've got enough competition already, so run along.”
Shelia walked over to the refrigerator and cracked it. “See how easy a sistah's nose can get pushed wide open. Let one, ooh-wee fine black stallion get inside her head, and suddenly she ain't got no more room for her girls. I, for one, ain't mad atcha. Be like that, Grace. Linda, help me get this bucket of wonton, and we'll be out.”
“Yeah, I'll take the egg drop and be on my merry way, thank you very much,” Linda agreed, with a sleeve of Grace's double chocolate-chip cookies tucked inside her purse. “Give us a shout when you get sick again. We'll be right back here to look in on you.”
“And your groceries,” Shelia clamored honestly. “Give Wallace our love after you've given him what he's calling long distance for.”
“Mind your business, and lock the door as you leave,” was the best way Grace could say “hurry up and get out of my house” without hurting somebody's feelings.
Grace didn't hesitate to tell Wallace how thoughtful his gesture was, and also how much she'd missed his company over the past two days. She got around to hinting about accompanyinghim someday when he had another business trip. Wallace did Grace one better. He offered to take her along to help celebrate his parents' fortieth wedding anniversary in two weeks. Of course, Grace voiced her trepidations concerningwhat André might think about it and what to do with him while she was away. By the end of their lengthy conversation, she knew exactly how to keep her son busy for an entirefun-filled weekend. He could stay at his father's and play big brother to May and Fay or whatever Muriel had named those two little darlings of theirs. After Grace agreed to travel with Wallace on a short road trip to Austin, she found herself counting the seconds until she'd have him all to herself,one on one.
27
Lawd Have Mercy
D
ays after Grace had dropped the bomb on Edward Swenson's household, she was back to doing what made her tick. Corporate Grace held the reins, guiding the Pinnaclemarketing firm into an extremely profitable quarter. Ted, the senior partner, seemed pleased as punch with her idea of bringing Miss Pearl aboard until he barged into her office one afternoon wearing a wicked scowl. “Grace, I'm having a big problem with that new hire of yours!” he snarled. “I know we're trying to do right by Miss Pearl, but I can't take it anymore.”
Grace was upset. She'd heard nothing but great reports about the older woman's stellar cleaning skills, so this was news to her. “What's wrong with the way she's keeping up around here, Ted? The restrooms have never been cleaner, and I absolutely love the homemade desserts she's spoiling us with.”
“That's the problem!” Ted argued. “Since she's been here, I've gained ten pounds, and boy, I don't have to tell you how that's becoming a big problem in the Lansford master bedroom. It's getting so that I can't
keep up
with that greedy young wife of mine.”
Grace tried to hide her face but couldn't restrain the hilaritycoming out of it. “Whooo, too much information. I'm sorry for laughing, but that's a visual I'd rather not have. I'll talk to Miss Pearl and convince her to cease and desist with the goodies.”
“No!” he objected hurriedly. “Let's not get hasty. All I want is for her to slow down the production, not close up shop. I'm in love with those peanut butter truffles she makes, and I'm not looking to give 'em up completely. How about we ask her to scale back the snacks to once or twice a week?”
“I see. Consider it done.” When Grace got a load of Ted's pot belly, she curved her lips into a smile. “Maybe you could do some sit-ups or crunches to even things out.”
“I'm not a fanatic. It's taken me years to build a shed over the good stuff. It adds character.”
“Once again, too much information,” Grace insisted, “way too much. Now you've gone and pushed the envelope clear off the table. I'll speak to Betty Crocker, and you ... you go on back to your office and take that shed with you.” Ted stared down at his tight button-down shirt and massaged his belly all the way out of Grace's office. “Good grief,” she sighed, pushing her assistant's extension on the telephone. “Marcia, please send in Miss Pearl when you see her. Thanks.”
Within seconds, Skyler's grandmother stuck her head into Grace's office. “Yes, Miss Grace, you wanted to see me?” She shuffled in slowly, fearing that her work wasn't up to par, or worse.
“Miss Pearl, you don't have to be so formal with me. Graciehas been fine up 'til now and it still is,” Grace said compassionately.“How is everything going?”
“Okay, I guess. The people are nice and respectful. I like the job you got me, if that's what you're asking.”
“Yes, that's what I'm asking, but I'd also like to know how things are going at the house.”
“Oh, me and Skyler love it so. It's a blessing. An oven that don't short out makes it a heap easier to bake all those sweets I've been bringing up to the break room.”
“Funny you should mention that,” Grace said, looking for the right words to soften the blow. She knew that providing afternoon treats made Miss Pearl feel very important. “It's been brought to my attention that while everyone absolutely adores your treats, we're starting to enjoy them too much for our own good.”
“Huh, 'specially that head man, Mr. Lansford. Last week, I had to clean up a mess of crumbs from around his desk. He must've eaten a dozen truffles before the others had the chance to get a single whiff.” Miss Pearl's lips curled into a soft grin when she thought back on the fuss Ted made over them. “If he don't watch out, that pretty little wife of his is gonna be sore at him.”
“And we can't be a party to that, Miss Pearl. Why don't you cut back on the sweets to once a week, and together, you and I can save Mr. Lansford's marriage.”
“I guess he don't have to know we're helping him out behindhis back,” she decided. “That it? Okay, I'd better get back to work then. Yesterday I caught that Bob fella, who likes wearing frilly clothes, coming out of the men's room, and I almost tore up my knee trying to get outta the way. They got a name for boys who parade around in soft getups, but I can't recollect what that is right now.”
“It doesn't matter. Bob's a good employee. He's just going through a phase at the moment,” was Grace's best effortat squashing that particular discussion, although Miss Pearl had another comment to get off her chest.
“That's what they calling it now, a phase? Lawd, when I was coming up they called it sissified. He might as well come on out the closet. It's a heap more room out here than it is in there. Thanks for the talk, Gracie, I love this job and would hate to lose it flapping my gums with you. Good day.” She tossed Grace a grand smile as she climbed out of the chair to leave.
After having been warmed throughout, Grace listened to Miss Pearl humming a few bars of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” while she trod along, pushing a mop bucket down the hall. Long gone had been the days of fighting for equal rights for colored folk, the cleaning lady once told Grace, but the fight to maintain dignity while working the most menialof jobs would continue forever. Grace remembered the prostitute from the fast food restroom and couldn't have agreed more. Pride was a luxury that poor people couldn't afford when the lights were cut off.
Later in the day, the call Grace had been anticipating interruptedher thoughts of seeing Wallace again. “Yes, Edward,I can talk. Go ahead.”
“I'll bet you don't feel bad about dragging our business in front of Muriel's face?”
“Actually, I've never felt better. My world is clicking on all cylinders now that I don't have to keep anything from our son.”
“I don't like hiding anything either, Grace,” Edward elucidated,not too convincingly. “It's not like she didn't already know about André, but springing him on her was kinda cruel. She's gotten over it, but I'm afraid she's not quite over you.”
Grace leaned back in her chair and rocked in it before questioning the last comment. “What do you mean? Has Muriel come out and said so, or has she been hinting around to something bothering her after meeting me?”
“I can't explain it. Maybe it's petty jealousy, a woman thing. She's been up late worrying about you creeping behindher, I know that much.”
“Far be it for me to help you with your wife's esteem, but she'll see that you and I have only one thing in common, a boy who enjoyed being with his father. Tell her I said she doesn't have a reason to be concerned about me, not one.”
“Well, I'll see what I can do to smooth things over. Would it be all right with you if I contacted André at home?” Since Edward seemed to be on the straight and narrow, Grace told him that would be just peachy with her. “I'll try to reach him in a day or two. The girls can't stop talking about their new big brother. They think he hung the moon.”
“Play your cards right with Dré and he'll begin to feel the same way about you,” Grace informed him before ending the phone call. She was glad for the first time that Edward had called. Her neck wasn't sore from overwhelming tension like before, and it seemed that the wedge between them was weakening. Grace had God on her side, and He was using Wallace to help facilitate a number of changes in her life. Wallace's friendship inspired Grace to expect more from men. How to go about getting it had to be orchestrated properly if she expected things to blossom into a long-term relationship. In no time flat, something suggested what Grace's next move should be. As usual, she responded in grand fashion.
She stood up from her desk and headed over to close the office door. On her way back, she smiled and clasped her hands gently as if one of them belonged to Wallace. Her smile hadn't dissipated one iota by the time the phone began ringing on the other end.
“Hello, this is Wallace.”
Grace melted as his voice hummed in her ear. “Hey you,” she purred tenderly. “I hope that I'm not disturbing you.”
“No, don't be silly,” he answered. “The only way you could do that is if you stopped calling me.”
“Ooh, you always seem to know just what to say to get a girl thinking. That's another reason I'm calling.”
“Okay,” he offered in a questioning tone, not sure how to respond to her loaded comment. “What's the other reason?”
“Well, like I said, I was thinking about you attending church service with me this Sunday. If you're not too busy,” she added, crossing her fingers.
“Oh, a church date?” Wallace said with a slow rise in his voice. “I see.”
“You see?
That's not quite the answer I was shooting for,” Grace admitted, somewhat disappointed.
“Then how about an emphatic
I would love to?
Will that one suit you, or should I have it written across the sky in bold print?” Wallace fully understood the implications of a church date when Grace invited him to worship with her and André. It was commonly known to be a precursor to a trip down the aisle. With that in mind, Wallace still agreed to accompanyher.
“A simple yes would have sufficed,” Grace replied eventually,after imagining Wallace going through the trouble of paying to have an airplane spell it out high above her office building. “It's a date then. And Wallace, thank you, for everything.”
“You're very welcome, for everything. And if you don't mind, I'd rather pick you guys up and ride over together.”
“Yes, that would be nice,” Grace purred again, “Very nice. I'll look forward to it. Bye.” She lowered the phone receiveron its cradle and sighed longingly. “Wow, what a man.”
As their date officially started at the church foyer on Sundaymorning, it swelled with the faithful awaiting services to begin. Grace was glowing inside, and outside, too, for that matter. The tangerine wool blend two-piece skirt set she wore, with matching pumps, was the perfect ensemble for the occasion. Fitting comfortably into a size ten, she didn't mind the short cut of the tailored jacket. After catching several brethren in the congregation stealing a glimpse, it affirmed that they didn't mind it, either. Grace was accustomed to beinggreeted with men's roving eyes. However, she didn't know what to make of the additional attention thrown at her by fellowsisters in the congregation. Single women who barely spoke to her before then casually struck up conversations to wrangle introductions with Wallace in the event that Grace failed to close the deal. Somehow, she'd obtained instant celebrity status, and by the end of the amens and hallelujahs, she proudly wrapped her arm in Wallace's and pulled him so close that the female wolves in nightclub clothing couldn't sink their teeth into her eye candy. Grace was beginning to understand the level of work that went into putting her brand on a fine hunk of man to discourage would-be rustlers with a mind to do the same.
“Grace, don't drag him off before I get the chance to meet him,” Albert the skirthound announced. “It's good to finally see what's been keeping Grace from me after all this time.” Amid Grace's cold stare, Albert didn't step off right away. “Watch your back, now,” he warned Wallace. “Until y'all tie the knot, I still got a shot.” Grace was looking at Albert cross-eyed like “I know you-do-not” when Sister Kolislaw tapped her on the shoulder outside the exit doors.
“Sistah Hilliard, you're looking mighty spry this afternoon.Who's the lucky man?” she questioned happily.
“Sister Kolislaw's the wife of one of the deacons, Wallace,”Grace told him, while flaunting him simultaneously. “This is Wallace Peters. Sister Kolislaw here has been my personal mentor in the matters of the heart, among other things.” André snickered when he overheard that comment. Grace was quick to run him off with a patented go-on-and-play-childmotherly expression.
“My, my, Sistah Hilliard,” uttered Grace's mentor, adorned in a light shade of pink from top to bottom. “When you set your mind to something, you go all out. He's a real looker.”
“Thank you, ma'am,” Wallace replied fondly. “Grace is quite the looker as well.”
“Uh-huh, you have a sharp eye for detail.” The gray-hairedlady took her time sizing up Wallace's expensive shoes and neatly pressed black designer suit. “Do you have a church home, brotha Peters?” she asked, and then winked at Grace.
“Yes, ma'am, I do. Though I'm not in attendance with the saints as often as I should,” he admitted openly.
“We can fix that lickity-split, huh, Grace?”
“If you say so,” she agreed, squirming out of that one.
“Well, I didn't aim to hold y'all from supper, but I had to see for myself what the fuss was about.” Sister Kolislaw squeezed both of Wallace's hands firmly. “I'm looking forwardto seeing you here again, son. And, if I'm as sharp as I used to be, Grace would too. Nice to know you.” She pulled Grace aside to confer quietly. “He found you all right. Now what are you going to do about staying found? You'd better get to knowing what his intentions are and where his heart is before bringing him back up in here. There were a lot of sistahstaking numbers and getting in line this morning, and not all of them had their husbands' blessings. If I hadn't investedover thirty years with the one I got, I'd have been right along with 'em.”

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