God Has Spoken (26 page)

“Hi, Aunt Madge, how are you feeling today?” Eleanor walked over to the opened window in her living room, the telephone pressed to her ear.

“I'm doing all right, baby. But your daughter is another matter.”

“I know she's hurting. But she refuses to see or talk to me, Aunt Madge. I don't know what else to do.”

“It's going to take time but don't give up on her. Her brother is here. They have talked and are mending the gap in their relationship.”

“I'm glad to hear that because he has nothing to do with all this.” Eleanor gazed down the hill at the beautiful Jamaica landscape, the bright sun reflecting off the leaves of the tall trees swaying softly in the wind, sprinkling the green, luscious grass with its yellow rays.

“I'm going back to work next week. I hope to see Dupree.”

“Remember to take it slow with her, sweetheart. I was also planning on calling you later,” Aunt Madge added. “I have a message from Beverly Gregg for you to call her. She left her personal number and said it was urgent.”

Eleanor froze.
The nerve of that . . . Lord, please hold my tongue.
“What's the number?” She wrote it down and waited anxiously for Dwight to get home from work.

“What does she want?” Eleanor asked her husband that evening as they sat around the dining table. “She lied and told me all was well with my daughter and aunt when she knew that Aunt Madge had a stroke.” Eleanor indignantly threw down her fork into the plate of food that she barely touched. “Now she wants
me
to call
her?
I'll call her. Yup, I'll
definitely
call her because I have a few things to say to her.”

Dwight rested his elbows on the table, his eyes fixed on his irate wife. “Did you really expect her to tell you the truth, knowing that you would probably come back to town?”

Eleanor looked at him without a response.

“After keeping her husband's secret all these years, why would she help the person she thought could ruin her life?” Dwight held up a hand when Eleanor opened her mouth. “It wasn't right, babe. But there were a lot of things that happened over the last few years that weren't right.”

“You're blaming me, aren't you?” Eleanor blinked back the tears. “I should have gone and seen for myself that Dupree and Aunt Madge were okay. I honestly thought I was doing the right thing, Dwight.”

“I'm not blaming you, darling. You did what you thought was best. We can't go back, so let's try to move forward for Dupree's sake.”

So against her better judgment, Eleanor called Beverly Gregg.

“I'm sorry for lying to you, Tiny, but what else could I have done?” Beverly's voice broke as she struggled to speak. “The last eighteen years of my life have been one big lie; the secrets, the guilt, the inner rage at my husband. I did what I thought was best for my family.”

It was those words that touched something within Eleanor. For over eighteen years she too did what she thought was best for her daughter . . . but look at the way things had turned out.

“Anthony and I would like to come up there and meet with you and your husband if—”

“
Meet?
” Eleanor practically shouted.

“Yes. I think it's time we all get together and discuss where we go from here for Dupree's sake. I know it will be a painful and uncomfortable situation for all of us, but it's a start. The Lord will get us through it.”

Eleanor shook her head from side to side as if Beverly could see her. “I don't think so. I know you mean well, but this is not a good idea. I will deal with my daughter my own way.”

“What about her father? You can't pretend that he doesn't exist anymore. I have a strong feeling Dupree won't.”

“
He
is the problem. If my husband sees him, there is no telling what Dwight will do.” Eleanor's grip tightened on the telephone. “I won't let that happen. Sorry.”

“We could meet in a public place. Please discuss it with your husband and get back to me. It would mean a lot to Anthony and me to try to right our wrongs against you and Dupree.”

Eleanor ended the call, and then relayed Beverly's suggestion to Dwight.

“Absolutely not!” Dwight looked at Eleanor as if she had lost her mind. “If I see that man I won't be responsible for what happens, babe. I'm telling you right now.”

“Sweetheart, as much as I hate to admit it, I agree this is a move in the right direction. He is Dupree's father.”

“He is a slimeball!”

“We might never be friends, but we have to coexist for Dupree's sake,” Eleanor told him.

“Uh-uh, he shouldn't exist any at all,” Dwight hissed under his breath.

Eleanor tapped him on the behind. “What do you say we give it a try, darling?” She draped her arms around Dwight's narrow waist, giving him the puppy dog look that always lets her get her own way. “Please, for Dupree's and my sake. I need some resolution about the past.”

Dwight playfully rolled his eyes, but knew there was very little he could deny his wife, especially in this situation. As much as he hated the thought of seeing Officer Gregg, he was anxious for him and Eleanor to put the past behind them and move on with their lives. “I'll try to restrain myself, but I'm not promising anything.”

Eleanor squeezed him tight in gratitude. “Now I have to tell the family what's going on. They deserve to know,” she said in reference to Mama Pearl and her sons.

Dwight clicked his teeth together. “Officer Gregg might not be around for our meeting after all. You're worried about me. Wait until the guys get
their
hands on him.”

Eleanor shuddered at the thought.
Lord have mercy.

Silence blanketed the room. Mama Pearl sat beside Eleanor as stiff as a statue, her lips folded so tight Eleanor feared they would fuse together. Sydney, Robert, Alwayne, Gerald, and Omar were rendered speechless, tears running unashamedly down their faces. To see these grown men openly crying for her touched Eleanor's heart. Dwight, who had heard the story a few times, with every time seeming like the first time, was hunched over on the chair where he sat, his face almost resting in his lap.

“So that's my story,” Eleanor finally said in a teary voice. “That's how I came to be a part of this wonderful family that saved my life.”

“I. Am. Going. To. Kill. Him,” Omar spat through his teeth. “As a matter of fact, both of them are dead. Officers Gregg and Bailey are about to meet the devil up close and personal. I'm going to make sure of it.” He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face.

“No, they are
mine,
” Gerald said a little above a whisper in a deadly tone. “I'm going to show these lowlifes the penalty for abusing young girls and dishonoring the badge I have proudly worn for over twenty years.”

“Let me take care of it.” Robert blew his nose loudly into his handkerchief. “I know people. I'm going to make a call now and by tonight they are dead.”

“No, I got—”

“Enough!” Mama Pearl's voice sounded like rolling thunder as it ricocheted around the living room. “I raised law-abiding, God-fearing men, not murderers. Now if I didn't have the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, I would say those men deserve all that and more. But Romans 12:19 reads, ‘Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.'”

“Well, I'm going to help out the Lord.” Omar peeked at his mother's austere face before quickly looking away.

Mama Pearl tugged Eleanor closer to her side, her arm around her shoulder. “My heart aches for you, baby.” She kissed Eleanor's forehead. “I wish all those things hadn't happened to you, but you probably wouldn't have been in our lives had they not. See, what the devil meant for evil, God turned around for your good. I know you are a stronger, wiser, and better person because of it.”

Eleanor leaned closer and hugged her. “I am, Mama Pearl. Thanks be to God.” Just then Eleanor's cell phone rang in her handbag that sat in her lap. She reached in, pulled it out, and flipped it open to answer the call. “Hello? Yes. Okay, my husband and I will be there shortly.” Eleanor ended the call and noticed every eye was trained on her. “That was Beverly Gregg. Dwight and I are going to meet her and her husband at the Wyndham Hotel.”

“What?”

“Like heck you are.”

“You must be crazy.”

The five brothers were speaking at once, their outrage splashed across their faces. Even Mama Pearl was staring at Eleanor as if she had lost her mind. Omar and Gerald got up and began pacing the floor angrily.

“Baby, do you think that's wise?” Mama Pearl leaned her head toward Dwight, her eyebrows rising and falling questioningly. “I can understand why you want to do this but . . .”

“I'm going with my wife, Mama Pearl.” Dwight's face seemed to be carved in stone. “We are in this together all the way.”

“I know, Dwight, but you might not be able to control yourself.”

“We are meeting in the hotel's restaurant. I don't want any witnesses around, so I won't kill him today,” Dwight replied as serious as a judge.

The other men smirked with satisfaction, nodding their approval.

“We'll get him when he least expects it, my friend,” said hot-tempered Omar. “He won't even see us coming.”

Mama Pearl peered from face to face, giving them the evil eye, but her sons turned their attention elsewhere, not ready to give in to their mother's admonishment.

“You guys are going to behave yourselves.” Eleanor stood to her feet and placed her handbag over her shoulder. “There won't be any killing going on here.” She walked from one stiff-postured man to the other, kissing one cheek after the other. “I love you,” she repeated to each of them. “I loveeee you,” she said as she kissed Mama Pearl good-bye.

Dwight gingerly got to his feet and took his wife's hand in his. “Well, let's get this over with.”

“Good luck,” Mama Pearl called as the couple walked out the door, leaving her with her furious sons.

Eleanor's knees felt wobbly as she walked with Dwight behind the waitress escorting them across the restaurant, through mazes of tables and chairs, her hand clutched tightly in his. Breathing deeply through her mouth, her heart felt like it was doing somersaults in her chest. “I can do this,” Eleanor muttered under her breath. She felt Dwight's hand tightened on hers and gave him a reaffirmed squeeze.

Then there they were: Officer and Mrs. Anthony Gregg seated around a table for four in the back of the restaurant. They quickly jumped to their feet when they saw Eleanor, Dwight, and the waitress approaching.

“Here is your party that has been waiting for you.” The waitress waved her hand toward the Greggs. “I'll give you a few minutes, and I'll be back to take your orders.” She sashayed away on high stiletto heels, leaving an awkward silence behind her.

After nineteen years, Eleanor and Officer Gregg came face-to-face. The two stared at each other as if the meeting was a figment of their imagination. Dwight slipped his arm protectively around his wife's waist, pulling her closer to his side.
This is the man I was infatuated with as a teenager,
Eleanor thought as she looked at the now older, still handsome, Anthony Gregg.
The man who got me pregnant and almost killed me when I told him about it. The man who is responsible for me running away from my daughter for all these years.
But where was the anger?

Officer Gregg took a few slow steps toward Eleanor with Beverly right on his heels. Dwight stepped before Eleanor with his fists clenched and stood face-to-face with the man he wanted so badly to punch in the face.

“I'm so sorry,” Officer Gregg said in a very humbled voice, tears wetting his eyes. “I was a monster.”

“Do you know how badly I want to get at you—
huh?
” Dwight took two long steps and bridged the small gap until he was nose to nose with Officer Gregg. “I want to wipe up the floor with your pathetic—” Dwight stopped when he felt Eleanor's arm around his waist.

“You promised,” she whispered to him, poking him a little in the side. “Why don't we all sit down and talk,” she said to the Greggs.

Relieved, Officer Gregg and Beverly both hurried back to the table and took their seats. Eleanor gently tugged on a red-faced Dwight, who reluctantly dragged himself over to the table. He pulled out Eleanor's chair for her to sit before he threw himself in the other, his chest rising and falling in anger.

“You both have every right to be angry.” Beverly's pain-filled eyes went back and forth between Eleanor and Dwight. “Tiny, what we did to you and Dupree was despicable.”

“It's Eleanor now. I left Tiny behind when you both ran me out of town.”

“You must hate me, and you have a right to.” Officer Gregg stared down at his hands clasped together on the table.

“I used to but surprisingly, not anymore.” Eleanor looked at him sincerely. “The Lord has made a big difference in my life. So has this wonderful man that He blessed me with as my husband and my adopted family that rescued me from the streets. It took many years, many nightmares, and a lot of work, but I'm in a better place. It will only get better when my daughter forgives me and welcomes me into her life.”

“Tiny . . . I mean, Eleanor, I'm so sorry. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would.” Officer Gregg wiped the tears that escaped down his face. “I was a different person back then. Please believe me. I'm sorry for the way I treated you and our daughter. You both deserved better.”

“Me too,” said Beverly. “I'm not making excuses for what I did, but the devil played us like a flute. I'm a better person now. I know you probably regret ever knowing us, but—”

“I don't.” Eleanor leaned back in her chair, her eyes locked with the older woman. “If I should say that I regretted everything, that would include Dupree, and that's not the case. I love my daughter. What I regret is everything bad that happened to separate us and the hurt and suffering Dupree endured.”

“I won't give up until Dupree gives me another chance. It will take her some time, but she is a kindhearted young woman.” Officer Gregg's eyes shone brightly like a proud father. “I don't deserve her, or even your, forgiveness, Eleanor, but I am hopeful. I would also like to ask yours as well, Mr. Humphrey.” He stole a glance at Dwight who had been silent all this time, listening and watching what was going on.

“Let's keep the focus right now on my stepdaughter,” Dwight replied in a hard voice. “By the way, where is that other creep
Officer
Bailey?” The “officer” was emphasized with disdain.

Officer Gregg's mouth opened wide as he looked from Dwight to Eleanor. “Bailey?”

Eleanor nodded and told them of her horrifying encounter with him.

Beverly sobbed silently, Dwight's nostrils flared dangerously, and Officer Gregg was rendered speechless.

“My God,
that's
what he meant,” Officer Gregg said after a few seconds. “Dear Lord . . .” He closed his eyes tightly but not enough to stop the tears from pouring out. “I . . . I . . . I'm so, so, sorry, Eleanor. It's my fault.”

Officer Gregg admitted that he had confided in Officer Bailey and told him about his affair with Tiny and her being pregnant. He also told him of the threats he made against Tiny to keep her quiet. “He told me I should have shut you up permanently.” Officer Gregg looked at Eleanor with remorse. “I told him I wasn't a killer, and I just let it go. It wasn't until about nine years later that he came to me and told me you had come back to town, but he took care of you for good this time. At first I was scared that he had harmed you, but he assured me he never hurt you. He refused to give me any details, only that he had put you back on a bus to Kingston.”

Officer Gregg felt his wife's accusing eyes on him but refused to look in her direction. This was the first time Beverly was hearing about this. He hung down his head in shame.

“No wonder he died the way he did,” Beverly said through her teeth. “He was actually going to
kill
her!”

“Died?” Eleanor looked at Officer Gregg for an explanation. “Officer Bailey is dead?”

“You mean someone beat me to it?” Dwight sat up straight in his chair, ignoring the stern look that his wife threw his way.

Officer Gregg informed them that two years ago, Officer Bailey had failed to turn up for work. This was unusual because if he wasn't going to work, he would have had someone cover for him, which he didn't. Two of his concerned colleagues went to his house to check on him. They found Officer Bailey in the bedroom. He was naked, tied to the bedpost, a bullet hole in his forehead, his neck cut from ear to ear, and his severed penis stuffed into his mouth. Officer Bailey died with his eyes wide open.

Eleanor felt sick to her stomach. Astounded, she pressed her hand over her mouth to keep down her breakfast from that morning. Thank God she hadn't yet eaten lunch.

Dwight turned away his head in disgust. The man was a beast, but did he deserve that? It was obvious someone thought he did.

“The house was stripped of everything, except the four walls and his deathbed,” Officer Gregg continued. “In a hidden cellar in the kitchen, the police found tons of marijuana. I guess his killer or killers missed that. None of us knew exactly where he came from and no one came forth to claim the body, so four of us got together and buried him in the local cemetery. Except for us, no one else attended the funeral. There was an investigation, but we got no leads. The case is still open, but I seriously doubt it will ever be solved. No one is saying a word.”

Instantly, Galatians 6:7 came to Eleanor's mind. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Eleanor began, “What a horrifying way to die. I mean—”

“
There
he is!” came Omar's angry voice before all hell broke loose in the restaurant.