God Has Spoken (18 page)

The child had her back turned toward the road, so Eleanor only got a back view of her. She drank in the sight of the little girl in her long, flower dress with her thick hair piled high on her head. Eleanor just knew in her heart that she was looking at her daughter. She hadn't been much of a mother to her but wouldn't she know? “Turn around, baby,” Eleanor pleaded inside, the car edging slowly away from the market. “Please, Dupree. Let me see your face one last time.”

But Dupree's back remained turned. It was almost as if she was saying to her mother, “I don't want to see your face.”

Disappointed, Eleanor sat back in the car as it rolled away from the market. She blinked rapidly so she would not cry. Mixed emotions ran through her; happy she caught a peek at her daughter and sad because she never got a chance to meet her. She still had no idea what Dupree really looked like, and she may never know.

“Here we are,” Officer Bailey said roughly, turning around in his seat to face Eleanor. “You are going to get on a bus and go away. This never happened. I don't know you, and you don't know me. Got it?”

Eleanor nodded, yearning to get out of the car and away from him.

“I asked if you got it!” he yelled, the veins standing up in his neck.

“Yes, yes. I got it,” Eleanor said quickly. She nervously glanced out the window at the people walking up and down the street, feeling a little safer than she was before.

Officer Bailey got out of the car and opened the passenger door. Eleanor hastily leaped out and ran to the bus as if she was being chased by demons. A few people glanced at her curiously but continued on their way. Breathless from her sprint, Eleanor boarded the bus to Kingston and walked to the back. Sitting by the window, breathing heavily, she looked out at the hustle and bustle for the last time. Under no circumstances would she ever come back to Falmouth. She had to stay away for the sake of the people she loved. A deep ache settled into Eleanor's heart as she bid farewell to Aunt Madge and Dupree . . . again.

“Yo, Gregg! Come here!” Officer Bailey yelled over the loud chatter in the police station, waving his hand in the air to get Officer Gregg's attention. He then walked into the bunk room at the back of the station and waited for his fellow cop.

“What's up, Bailey?” Officer Gregg asked as he walked in the room, a smile on his handsome face. The years had been very kind to him. He looked almost the same as he did eight years ago when Tiny became infatuated with him. “You need me to cover another shift for you?”

Officer Bailey chuckled. “No, I'm good for now. That's not what I wanted to talk to you about.” He now had a serious look on his face.

Officer Gregg walked closer to Officer Bailey, his eyes fixed on his face. “What's up?”

“You remember that problem you had a few years ago?” Officer Bailey asked in a low voice. Officer Gregg moved closer to hear him better. “I took care of it for good this time.”

Officer Gregg looked at Officer Bailey for a few seconds, wondering what he was talking about. Suddenly it dawned on him. Officer Gregg was stunned into silence. He looked at Officer Bailey in disbelief. “Wha—What do you mean you took care of it?” he finally stuttered, glancing around the room to make sure they were still alone. “Bailey, what did you do? Did you—”

“No, I didn't kill anyone,” Officer Bailey said pointedly.

Officer Gregg breathed a sigh of relief. He knew Tiny had left town shortly after she had the baby and no one had heard from her since. This he knew because the few times he attended church, Aunt Madge requested a special prayer for the safe return of her niece. Finding it too uncomfortable and nerve-racking to look at his daughter every week and not being able to acknowledge her, he stayed away from church as often as possible without arousing suspicion. With too much to lose, Officer Gregg hid in his web of lies and denial, trying to convince himself that he was doing the right thing to save his family.

“What happened? I thought she left town? Did she come back? Where is she now?” he worriedly fired off one question after the other, sweat slowly dampening his face.

“Calm down, man.” Officer Bailey patted him lightly on the shoulder. “You don't need to know the details. Just know that this time she's gone for good.”

“So she
was
here?” Officer Gregg asked in disbelief. “In Falmouth?”

Bailey nodded. “But she is on her way to wherever the heck she was all this time. I saw to it personally.”

“But—”

“Gregg, just let it go.” Officer Bailey's tone clearly said that the subject was closed. “I took care of our problem. That's all you need to know.”

There it is again,
Officer Gregg thought.
He took care of “our” problem.
He looked at Officer Bailey's rigid face and knew he wouldn't be getting any more information out of him.
At least he didn't hurt Tiny. I better just let it go.

“We good, man?” Officer Bailey's voice snapped Officer Gregg's attention back to him.

“Yeah, we good, Bailey.” Officer Gregg reached out to Officer Bailey, and they exchanged a man hug. “Thanks, man.”

The man of law nodded and briskly walked out of the bunk room, leaving Officer Gregg staring at his back, his brows knitted in confusion.

It was dark when Eleanor got off the bus on Red Hills Road. Weary, she slowly walked home, her body feeling as if it was trampled on by horses. Her face felt swollen and bruised where she was slapped. She hoped Mama Pearl was asleep and Omar wasn't home. How could she explain what had happened to her today? She could not. This was yet another secret that she had to live with.

As Eleanor approached the gate, she saw a tall figure leaning up against it. The fluttering of her heart confirmed exactly who it was. Great! The last person she wanted to see her like that. Eleanor paused, contemplated her situation, and knew there was no way out. So slowly she walked up to Dwight, her eyes looking everywhere but at him.

“Hi, Dwight. What are—?”

“What happened to you?” he asked as he walked closer to Eleanor, concern splashed across his face. “My God, were you mugged? Were you in an accident? Are you hurt?”

“No, I'm fine,” Eleanor said. “I was attacked, but it looks worse than it actually is.”

“You were attacked, and you are
fine?
You look as if you are about to fall down,” Dwight stated as he looked her up and down. “Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital so they can check you out. Then we're going to the police station to file a complaint. In fact, I think Gerald is also working tonight.” He grabbed Eleanor's hand and took a step before he was pulled back.

“Dwight, please stop,” Eleanor said strongly, tugging on his hand. “I don't need to go to the hospital, and I'm not going to the police.”

“But why? Eleanor, you were attacked.” Dwight looked worried, his eyes pleading with her. “You need medical attention.”

“What I need is a . . . a . . .” Eleanor burst in tears, the stress of the day finally catching up with her. “It's just too much sometimes,” she sobbed.

Dwight pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “It's going to be okay,” he whispered softly. “You are going to get through this.” For a few minutes he held Eleanor as she cried, his heart breaking in the process.

Dwight had stopped by earlier for a visit and was very disappointed when Mama Pearl informed him that Eleanor was working late. Extending his time until Mama Pearl and Omar were ready for bed, he finally left the house reluctantly. As Dwight closed the gate behind him, he glanced up the street and saw the woman he had been hoping to see. Feeling happy, he waited for Eleanor to reach him.

“I'm all right now.” Eleanor pulled back a little from Dwight. “Sorry about that.” She looked down at the ground, unable to make eye contact with him.

“Here.” Dwight handed her his handkerchief.

Eleanor took it and gave him a little smile. She wiped her face and blew her nose loudly. “I should go in.” She looked toward the house. “I hope no one is up because I really can't deal with this anymore tonight.” She sniffled as if she was about to start crying again.

“Come with me,” Dwight said and reached for her hand. “Let's take a ride so you can get yourself together.”

Eleanor looked at him through red, puffy eyes and saw the compassion on his face. “Okay,” she said, nodding her head. “But we can't stay too long.”

“I'm parked over there.” Dwight pointed to his car parked across the street. Still holding Eleanor's hand, they crossed the road, and he opened the passenger door for her to get in. After he strapped himself behind the wheel, he drove off.

The ride started off quiet, but was much more comfortable than the last time they rode together. Eleanor and Dwight kept stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. The chemistry between the two of them was sizzling.

As the car drove down Red Hills Road, Eleanor looked out the window lost in thought.

“You still feel okay?” Dwight asked, looking between her and the road. “Are you hurting?”

“I have been hurting for years, Dwight.” Eleanor was surprised that she had shared that with him. “I have a strong feeling that I'll be hurting until I die.”

“No, you won't, Eleanor,” he replied. He reached over and patted the hand folded in her lap. “Not with the God we serve.”

Eleanor shrugged her shoulders, staring straight-ahead.

“Okay, let's stop here and talk for a while,” Dwight said moments later. He pulled in and parked in a secluded area in the parking lot of the Red Hills Mall. “I figure you wouldn't want to go anywhere with too many people.”

Eleanor nodded and gave him an appreciative smile. “Thanks, this is fine.”

“There's a restaurant inside. How about I grab us something to eat?” he asked. “We'll stay right here in the car. Is that all right?”

As if on cue, Eleanor's stomach rumbled loudly. She hadn't had anything to eat all day as food was the last thing on her mind. Embarrassed, she nodded without looking at him.

“I'll be right back.” Dwight exited the car.

Eleanor watched him as he walked away, admiring the way his jeans hugged his firm hips and buttocks. “Oh my gosh,” Eleanor muttered. “I can't believe I was just doing that. Girl, get ahold of yourself. You and Dwight are as different as cheese is from chalk. What would a man like that want with someone like you?” But in the back of her mind, she wondered at the possibility.

Eleanor knew nothing about relationships. Her only sexual encounter was an adulterous affair with Officer Gregg when she was a teenager. An exciting experience at the time that became a living nightmare. Having sworn off men, Eleanor was confused and at times resentful of the feelings she was developing for Dwight. It was said that “once bitten, twice shy.”

“Here you go.”

Eleanor jumped a little as she turned around to see Dwight sitting in the car beside her, handing her a large plastic container. So caught up in her thoughts, she never saw him return.

“Thank you.” She took the food from him. He then handed her a plastic fork and some napkins from a bag in his lap.

“I'll put our drinks right here,” Dwight said and placed them in the drink holder.

Eleanor opened the container and almost drooled when she saw the stew chicken, rice and peas, and fried plantains. The aroma was enough to cause her mouth to water. Famished, she held the food closer to her mouth and dug in. Dwight was temporarily forgotten.

Dwight peeped over at Eleanor as he ate, noticing how fast she was devouring her food.
It looks as if she hasn't eaten all day. I wonder what happened.
He waited until Eleanor cleaned the container and gulped down almost all of her drink before he spoke. “Want to tell me what happened today?” Dwight asked as he put his half-filled food container and Eleanor's empty one in the plastic bag by his feet. “Where were you attacked, and do you know who did it?” He turned in his seat to face her.

“Dwight, thank you for being here for me, but there are a lot of things going on in my life that I can't share with anyone,” Eleanor told him. “Not even you. Sorry.”

“You have to talk to someone, Eleanor,” Dwight said gently. “You are carrying too much. If not me, then pray some more. Talk to God and allow Him to work it out for you.”

Eleanor smiled sadly. “Don't you think I have been doing that? I have rededicated my life to God, attend church regularly, pray and fast, yet I'm not free. My mistakes are always dangling over my head,” she told him, her eyes filled with tears. “Do you know the worst part? I don't think I deserve God's forgiveness.”

“Look at me.” Dwight used his hand to lift her chin until she was looking him in the eye. “God's mercy supersedes any mistake and every failure.”

Eleanor stared at him solemnly without a word.

“I'm not going to stop until you finally realize that,” Dwight told her. “I like you, Eleanor. I like you a lot.”

Eleanor blushed and looked away. “There is not much to like, Dwight. Trust me on that.”

“I think I prefer to trust God and follow my spirit.” he grinned. “There is something about you that drew me to you from day one. Do you feel it too?”

Eleanor ignored the question and asked instead, “Has anyone told you how I came to live with Mama Pearl and her family?”

Dwight shook his head. “Mama Pearl called me in New York and told me she has an adopted daughter and Omar constantly bragged about his naughty little sister.”

Eleanor laughed out loud with Dwight joining in. For a few seconds they just laughed freely, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Dwight watched how Eleanor's countenance lit up and her eyes sparkled when she laughed. Despite the swollen face and puffy eyes, she was so beautiful. Unable to stop himself, he leaned over and kissed her.

Eleanor froze when she felt Dwight's lips on hers. Her eyes widened in alarm. She had never kissed a man before. During her fling with Officer Gregg, not once had he kissed her. This should have told her something, but her young, immature, impressionable mind just never got it. So she sat there as stiff as a straitjacket.

Dwight felt Eleanor's body stiffen and her unresponsiveness. Ashamed, he drew back from her, lay his head back on his headrest, his eyes tightly closed. “I'm sorry,” he whispered. “I shouldn't have done that. Please forgive me.”

Eleanor looked at him and felt even worse for the way she reacted. “There is nothing to forgive, Dwight,” she said softly. “It's not you. It's me.”

Dwight opened his eyes and looked at her questioningly. “You're not mad at me?”

Eleanor shook her head and smiled at him. “Not at all. In fact, it was very nice hanging out with you. Thank you for the food, the encouragement, and for just being here for me. I appreciate it.”

Dwight smiled. “You're welcome. Can we do this again soon? I mean get out of the car and go somewhere where we can stretch our legs?”

Eleanor punched him lightly on the arm, their laughter echoing into the night. This seemed to be the beginning of something beautiful. However . . . It would get worse before it got better.