God Has Spoken (19 page)

Over the next few weeks Dwight did everything in his power to spend more time with Eleanor. Everywhere she turned, there he was with his fine self.

It was almost Christmas and Eleanor was still working at the hardware store, now fulltime as the assistant manager. It was a busy day, and the store was crowded. Eleanor was wearing a few hats that day, from cashier to store clerk, running from one end of the store to the other, attending to their customers' needs. Suddenly a hush fell over the store. Eleanor looked up from the register to see what was going on. Her mouth popped open in surprise.

Dwight strolled into the store with swag, wearing one of his many expensive business suits that molded to his long frame, nicely muscled body. He was sporting the biggest smile, carrying a large bouquet of exotic flowers. Gorgeous colors burst from them. Like the Red Sea, the crowd parted for him, watching in fascination as he made his way to Eleanor.

Eleanor watched him approach almost as if in a daze. Her face flushed, her heart raced. His captivating eyes met hers and held, almost in a hypnotizing spell.

“Hello, beautiful,” Dwight greeted when he was standing in front of her, separated by the counter, his dimples winking at her. He held out the flowers to her.

“Hi,” Eleanor responded in a low voice and took the flowers from him. “Thank you.”

“You are welcome. Anything for you,” Dwight replied, resting his elbows on the counter and staring at Eleanor through those love-filled, dreamy eyes.

There were “oohs” and “ahhs” from some nosy customers who stepped closer to listen to the private conversation. “Girl, if you don't want this fine thing, I'll take him,” one brave woman volunteered.

Eleanor blushed. If she was light skinned, she would have been red in the face. She leaned over and whispered to Dwight, “See what you did, Mr. Humphrey?” with a gigantic smile on her face, showing all thirty-two sparkling teeth. She felt special, a feeling that had evaded her for many years.

“What did I do, gorgeous?” Dwight was laying it on thick, determined to let Eleanor know how he felt and that he wasn't going anywhere, any time soon. “You deserve only beautiful things in your life, and I'm going to see to that.” He bridged the small gap between them, leaning over to kiss her softly on the forehead.

“Sweetheart, you better not let Mr. Lover-Lover go,” a customer said loudly and the store erupted in laughter.

Eleanor laughed until tears filled her eyes. She was still smiling minutes later, after Dwight left with the promise that she would have dinner with him that evening.

Over the next few weeks Eleanor and Dwight saw each other on a regular basis. Dwight still dropped by the hardware store frequently with flowers or lunch for Eleanor. They would go out to dinner after work or to catch a movie or Dwight would have dinner with her and Mama Pearl. On rare occasions when they would not see each other, they made sure to catch up on their day by telephone.

It was an exciting time in Eleanor's life but just as frightening. She knew things were getting serious between them and therefore, she needed to tell him about her past—all of it. What would he think of her then? Would he still want to be with her?

 

 

The New Year of 1987 came with lots of optimism for Eleanor. She had sent for and received a copy of her birth certificate from the Registrar General's Department and had even obtained her passport. But most importantly, Eleanor had made up her mind to tell Dwight everything there was to know about her. They had continued to spend a lot of time together, but there was a pink elephant that followed them around. It would not go away until the secrets did.

Eleanor tried many times to break away from Dwight, but she had grown so attached to him. He made her feel safe and loved. When Eleanor was with him, the demons that tormented her stayed away.

She needed him, especially on a day like today, January 25th. It was Dupree's eighth birthday, and Eleanor woke up feeling depressed and heartbroken. She went to work as customary but lacked the bubbly personality that everyone came to know and love. A few people mentioned it, but she quickly assured them that she was fine.

What if I go to Falmouth without Officer Bailey finding out?
Eleanor pondered as she leaned against the store's counter.
I could go and see Dupree and Aunt Madge real quick and come back.
Just then, an image of the ogre popped up in her mind.

“I have contacts everywhere,”
Officer Bailey had told her.
“If you ever come back here again, I'll know and your daughter and aunt will pay dearly.”

“I can't go back there,” Eleanor mumbled. “I can't let that monster anywhere near Dupree and Aunt Madge.”

So Eleanor dragged through the day feeling as if the world weighed down on her shoulders. Later that evening as she exited the store to walk to the bus stop, she stopped short when she saw Dwight leaning up against his bright sports car, arms crossed, eyes twinkling and teeth sparkling.

“Your chariot awaits, ma'am.” Dwight waved his hand toward his car.

Eleanor stood for a few seconds looking at the man that she was falling in love with.
I'm going to miss him when he's gone.

“Babe, you okay?” Dwight was now standing in front of her. “Aren't you feeling well?” He placed the palm of his hand on her forehead, his eyes searching her face worriedly.

“I'm fine,” Eleanor said in a very low voice. “I'm just very tired.”

Dwight looked at her for a few seconds before nodding his head. “Well, I have the perfect solution to take care of that.” He reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.

With her face nestled in the crook of his neck, inhaling his cologne and masculine scent, tears filled Eleanor's eyes. Blinking rapidly, she tried to keep them from falling. It was not yet time to reveal everything to him.

“I'm going to take you somewhere you can relax for a while. Is that all right?” Dwight asked as he released her from his arms, separated by a few inches.

“Yes. I would like that,” Eleanor said softly. “Where are we going?”

“That, my dear, is a secret,” Dwight said excitedly. He walked to the car and opened the door for her. After Eleanor was in, he closed her door and skipped around to the driver's seat, grinning like a shot fox when he drove off.

Eleanor leaned back into the leather seat and closed her eyes. The soft purring of the car rocked her to sleep within minutes.

Dwight glanced at her sleeping form, a knot in his gut. Even in sleep her face was contorted in grief. “We are going to have a long conversation later,” he whispered. “I think that is long overdue.”

As the car ate up the road and mounted the hill to their destination, Eleanor slept restlessly, twisting and turning, mumbling incoherently. Soon Dwight pulled in the driveway and shut off the car. He got out and walked around to Eleanor's side. After pulling the door open, he reached in and gently lifted Eleanor in his arms.

“No! No! Let me go!” she yelled, waving her arms wildly, thrashing her feet. She slapped Dwight hard across the face, struggling to be released, her eyes still closed.

Dwight stumbled away from the car, his grip still tight on Eleanor in his arms, rapidly blinking his eyes and shaking his head to keep focused. “Eleanor, stop it!” he said loudly, rocking her vigorously in his arms. “Wake up. It's me. Dwight.”

Eleanor's eyes immediately popped open and widened in alarm as she looked up into Dwight's worried face. “Hmmm . . . I think I had a bad dream.” She hid her face in his shirt. “I'm sorry,” she mumbled.

With his face still stinging, Dwight looked down at the shivering woman in his arms for a while before he walked with her up to the front door. Almost effortlessly, he lowered Eleanor to her feet, facing him, one arm still wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to his body. With his other hand he took keys from his pocket and unlocked the front door, pushing it open.

Eleanor turned away from Dwight and peered inside the house curiously. “Where are we?” she asked, walking slowly inside, her eyes scanning the beautiful living room that she had entered.

“My home,” Dwight said from behind her. “I wanted to show you where I live.”

Eleanor turned around and looked at him silently for a moment. A small smile on her face, she turned and began walking around the elegant room, admiring the thick, posh bronze and gold carpet that seemed to sparkle under the sunlight that poured through the high floor-to-ceiling windows. The walls were embellished with bright, exquisite paintings that complemented the soft russet four-piece leather reclining sectional.

“It's exquisite,” she said as she looked out the window, staring down in the valley at the tops of thousands of houses in Kingston City.

“Thank you,” Dwight replied from behind her, wrapping his hands around her waist, his chin resting on the top of her head. “I'm glad you like it. I'll show you the rest of the house after dinner.”

“Dinner?” Eleanor asked with a smile. “You cooked?”
This man always knows just what I want.

“Not exactly.”

Eleanor turned around to look at him, her hands intertwined around his narrow waist. “What does that mean?” her eyes sparkled in amusement. “You ordered takeout?”

“No, my part-time helper,” Dwight used his fingers to make quotation marks, “part-time cook, Adassa, made dinner for us before she left.”

“Sounds good,” Eleanor replied. “I'm starving. I haven't eaten all day.” She gasped loudly and stared up at Dwight wide-eyed. She never meant to say that last part which she knew was going to lead to questions. Questions she didn't want to answer at the time.

Dwight's brown eyes seemed to laser through her, his brows mopped together as if in deep concentration. “We need to talk, Eleanor.” He held up a hand when Eleanor opened her mouth to speak. “After dinner we will talk. No more secrets. I've been patient, but we are getting closer and our relationship is growing. Am I wrong in this assumption?”

Eleanor shook her head.

“There are a lot of things I need to tell you also about my parents and our strained relationship,” Dwight continued. “So today, we will lay all the cards out on the table, sweetheart. I think it's time.”

Eleanor looked at Dwight with fear lurking in her eyes. Aunt Madge used to say “You can run, but you can't hide.” She guessed the time had come for her to tell Dwight everything. Would he run or would he stay? She would soon find out.

“That was absolutely delicious.” Eleanor leaned back into the chair, wiping her mouth with a napkin. “I have eaten so much food, I think I might have gained ten pounds.” Eleanor was blabbering, but she couldn't help herself. Butterflies were swirling around in her full tummy, and her palms were getting sweaty. “Wow, absolutely mouthwatering.” Her eyes glanced agitatedly around the dining room, conveniently avoiding contact with Dwight.

Dwight looked at Eleanor, noticing how uneasy she had become now that they had finished dinner and it was time for their “talk.” He hated putting her on the spot, but they had to cross this hurdle in order to move forward. “Come with me,” he said as he pushed back his chair and stood up. “Let's go back into the living room.” He walked over to Eleanor's chair and pulled it out for her. He held his hand out to her, a serious expression on his face.

Swallowing hard, Eleanor stood to her feet, placing her trembling hand in Dwight's. With each step they took toward the living room, her pulse beat faster and faster.

“It's going to be okay,” Dwight said as he lowered himself onto the couch, gently pulling Eleanor down beside him. He turned slightly so he was looking directly at her. “It can't be that bad. Is it?” He leaned over closer, looking at her intently.

Her eyes filling with tears, her lips quivering, Eleanor looked at Dwight and nodded. “You don't know the awful things I've done, Dwight,” Eleanor said a little above a whisper. “I abandoned my aunt who raised me after my mother died in child birth and my one-week-old daughter.” She covered her face with her hands and began to sob.

Dwight seemed to have frozen in his seat. His mouth hung open, his enlarged eyes gaped at Eleanor in shock. Of all the possibilities that ran through his mind of what secrets Eleanor harbored, he never once thought of this. “A daughter? You have a daughter?” he finally croaked. “How . . . I mean, where . . . Where is she?”

Eleanor's crying only intensified. To her ears, Dwight sounded disgusted with her.

Dwight scooted closer and pulled Eleanor into his arms. Tears filled his eyes as he rocked her gently, his heart breaking for her. “It's going to be fine,” he said softly, running his fingers through her hair. He continued to whisper encouraging words to Eleanor until her crying dwindled down.

“I was only fifteen-years-old when I had my daughter,” Eleanor said against his chest, the tears still leaking from her eyes. “It all started the night I met this police officer.” Eleanor proceeded to tell Dwight about her affair with the married policeman. Hard as it was, Dwight remained quiet, but his heartbeat escalated with each word Eleanor spoke.

“He attacked me when I told him I was pregnant,” Eleanor said, shivering as she relived the night. “He choked me and—”

“Grrrr!”
Dwight growled, causing Eleanor to jump to her feet alarmed. Her eyes widened when she saw his hands tightened into fists, his nostrils flaring like a mad bull. Tears ran down his face as he trembled uncontrollably. “I'm going to kill him,” Dwight spat. “Tell me who he is and where I can find him.”

“No,” Eleanor said, shaking her head. “Please, I'll tell you everything but not that. Too many people's lives are in danger.”

“Do you think I'm scared of him?” Dwight asked angrily. “A punk who beat on defenseless young girls? Let's see what he does when he gets a worthy opponent.”

Eleanor shuddered at the thought. Now she knew for sure that she could not tell Dwight Officer Gregg's name or where she was from. He would probably try to find the man and have to deal with him and the gorilla, Officer Bailey. Those policemen would do anything to keep their dirty secrets hidden, even if they had to kill to do so. She would never let that happen to Dwight.

“Oh, babe. It was my fault too. I—”

“
Your
fault? He got involved with a
child
, impregnated her and tried to kill her!” Dwight stood up and went to stand in front of Eleanor, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. “He's a monster!”

Eleanor bridged the small gap between them and hugged him tight. They clung to each other crying, bonding in the pain they now shared through their love for each other.

Dwight's strong arms around her gave Eleanor the strength she needed to resume the horror story of her life. It took a long time because she had to stop at intervals to calm Dwight down or he had to comfort her until she could continue. Tears and snot ran down their faces, her words ricocheting around them, like arrows sticking into their hearts.

Dwight screamed loudly and ran into the bathroom when Eleanor began speaking of the almost rape in the park downtown. Down on his knees with his mouth over the toilet, he threw up his dinner. His intestines felt like they were suffocating him internally. “Help me, Lord,” Dwight muttered as he flushed the toilet. He sat down on the rug, leaned his head against the cool, white porcelain toilet, and wept. “How did one girl survive all that?”

Eleanor slowly entered the bathroom and found Dwight on the floor, shaking and crying. She felt bad seeing him in so much agony, but her heart leaped at the love he had for her. It was as if Dwight was experiencing everything that she had. Her pain became his as well.

“I'm sorry,” Dwight said when Eleanor sat down beside him on the floor. He hugged her as if his life depended on it. “I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I'm sorry for the hell you have been through.” They cried together.

“I'll save the rest for another time,” Eleanor said when their crying tapered off. She hiccupped. “It's too much.”

“No,” Dwight quickly replied. He moved his head back and looked at Eleanor. “Let's finish this tonight.”

“Are you sure?” she asked him with concern.

Dwight nodded, wiping his wet, red eyes with the back of his hand.

So right there on the bathroom floor, Eleanor finished telling Dwight about her former life. Dwight broke down again when she relayed how she got sick in the old, abandoned car and almost died. He crushed Eleanor to his body as if he was scared of letting her go.

“I want to tell you about my relationship . . . or lack thereof, with my parents,” Dwight began in a low voice, moments later. He proceeded to tell Eleanor about his childhood and the estrangement between him and his family.

Eleanor's heart broke for Dwight as she listened to the hurt in his voice as he spoke. Protectively, she tightened her hold on him, sharing his pain as he did hers.

It was a draining, excruciating, heart wrenching process that left the two of them feeling battered and bruised, like they had been trampled by a herd of elephants. They continued hugging for a long while before Dwight moved away and sluggishly got to his feet. He reached down and helped Eleanor to her feet.

He handed Eleanor a towel he took off the towel rack and nodded toward the face basin. After rinsing out their mouths and washing and drying their faces, they walked out of the bathroom into the living room. “I'll go and get us some water,” he said hoarsely before he disappeared into the kitchen.

Eleanor lowered herself slowly onto the couch, her heart heavy with all that took place. She felt somewhat relieved, though, that she had shared everything with him. Well . . . almost everything. The names of Officers Gregg and Bailey had to remain a secret for now.

Dwight returned and gave Eleanor a glass of cold water, taking a seat beside her on the couch. Eleanor drank thirstily, moistening her dry, parched throat.

“You know I am going to find that animal, right?” Dwight said, and then took a sip from his glass. “Wait until Omar and the guys hear about this. He's as good as dead.”

The glass almost fell from Eleanor's hand. “No,” she said firmly. “Dwight, you can't say anything to them about this.”

“Why not? We are first going to make sure that monster pays for what he did to you. After which we're bringing your daughter and aunt to live here in Kingston.”

He makes it sounds so easy,
Eleanor mused as she touched his face gently.
If only he knew everything that is at stake here.

“Please promise me you won't say anything to Mama Pearl and the family,” Eleanor begged him. “I'll tell them when the time is right. Please.”

Dwight nodded solemnly, not comfortable with her decision but decided to let it go for now. “So when are we going to see your daughter and aunt? I think it's time for you to start mending that bridge.”

“We are not,” Eleanor replied and shivered as she thought of Officer Bailey. “Not now anyway.”

“Eleanor, what are you afraid of?” Dwight asked her. “I know that slimeball had threatened you, but he can't hurt you anymore. We'll go and get Dupree and Aunt Madge and bring them here.”

“Aunt Madge would never leave her home,” Eleanor stated. “She always said she was born in Falmouth and she would die in Falmouth.”

“So what do you plan on doing? Ignore them for the rest of your life?” Dwight asked her. “You have to stop blaming yourself for all that has happened. It wasn't your fault. I'm sure Aunt Madge will understand that and forgive you.”

But Eleanor shook her head stubbornly.

Dwight refused to give up. “As for Dupree, you probably saved her life when you ran,” he said.

Eleanor looked at him surprised.

“I think you suffered from something my aunt's friend had in New York when I was there. It's the extreme form of postpartum depression known as postpartum psychosis,” he explained, remembering her telling him of the hallucinations she had of the little scary creature. “Had you stayed around the baby without getting help, you may have hurt her without even knowing it at that time. I'm no expert, but I think it went away on its own because of the time you were separated from the baby. That was eight years ago. I think it's time for you to see her again.”

“I can't do that now,” Eleanor stated.

“Why not, Eleanor?” Dwight asked wearily. “I'm trying to help you here.” He got up and walked over to the window, staring out into the night, unsure of what else to say or do. He just wanted to fix all her problems and make everything right for Eleanor.

Eleanor knew that deep inside Dwight was disgusted with her. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked over to get her handbag that was on the other end of the long couch. Almost on tippy toes, she lightly moved toward the door.

“Where are you going?” Dwight's voice stopped her in her tracks.

Eleanor cringed and turned around to face him, unshed tears dancing in her eyes. Without a word she watched as Dwight's long feet ate up the short space between them.

“You are done running, babe,” Dwight said gently. He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately. Eleanor responded fervidly.

“I love you, Eleanor,” Dwight said as he looked intently into her eyes. “You are an amazing woman.”

Eleanor smiled happily. “I love you too,” she replied. “Thank you for being such a strong rock for me to lean on. I need you to get through this.”

“I'm not going anywhere,” Dwight assured her. “We'll speak some more about my stepdaughter and Aunt Madge very soon. I don't agree with your decision to stay away, but I'll leave it alone for now.”

“Your stepdaughter, huh?” Eleanor asked, beaming from ear to ear.

“Yup,” Dwight said with a chuckle. “I'm in this for the long haul, sweetheart.”

Dwight and Eleanor's unity created a powerful bond. But it would be tested to the max.