Donnie bent to my ear yet again. “That’s Pastor Bron. Mandy’s dad.”
Mandy must have gotten her stature from her mother; her dad was roughly the same size as Donnie, and nearly as muscular. He was extremely handsome. Close-cropped steel-gray hair, square jaw, wide-set shoulders, and Mandy’s bright blue eyes. He was the kind of man who only became more ruggedly handsome with age. I trusted that Mandy knew what she was talking about when she said she had noticed a sadness in her father, but it was not something that was put on display; both his smile and eyes shone with unfettered joy. I couldn’t help but be drawn to him as he spoke. I let myself get lost in his sermon. Donnie and Mandy had told me at dinner the night before that, during the transition period, her dad was preaching the three Sunday morning services, while Pastor Thomas oversaw the Sunday evening and the Wednesday night prayer meeting service. They had yet to decide if Pastor Thomas was going to continue his role in the Wednesday evening service or if he would hand that over as well at the beginning of the year. This morning, Pastor Bron taught on the uncertainty of life and how to find God’s presence in the midst of the ambiguity. I hadn’t ever heard a preacher like him before. It wasn’t like he was preaching and informing those underneath him from the vats of his wells of knowledge. He spoke as if he were a friend over for dinner and was discussing his life experiences. He talkedabout his doubts, his fears, his weaknesses. I quickly forgot about being in church and that I had a couple of hours of interrogation scheduled directly after the sermon.
I began to sweat again as we stood for the closing prayer. All too soon, the congregation was dismissed and people began to file out of the pews and head to the reception area for the potluck.
Maudra asked Donnie to go to her car and bring her cookies. Before I could get very far down the aisle, old Sister Heinz grabbed my hand. Standing over her, I noticed how much she had shrunk. Her upper back was bent at nearly a ninety degree angle, and looking up to my face obviously took extreme effort. From this closer perspective, I could see that she was missing several of her teeth.
Her speech had become slurred, reminding me of Rose. I wondered if she too had suffered a stroke. “Brooklyn Morrison! It is mighty fine to see you, young man. Quite the handsome man you’ve become. How proud yer grandmother and grandfather would be to see you. They were such good people. I have missed them so much over the years.”
“Thank you, Sister Heinz. I miss them too.”
Her smile widened. “Why, you remember my name. Bless your soul. That’s very sweet of you!”
I couldn’t believe this tiny sweet old lady was the same woman who had terrified me as a child. I smiled down at her. “Of course I remember you, Sister Heinz. How could I forget?” No need to add that fear tends to cement things in a person’s mind.
“I would love to have you and Maudra over for tea sometime. I hear you are staying with her, if I am not mistaken.”
“That’s true. She has very kindly taken me in. I’m sure she would love to get together with you.” Great, one more joy to look forward to.
“Well, I’m sure you are a comfort to her. She’s lived alone ever since poor Ray died all those years ago. ’Course, I know what it’s like to live alone. You probably don’t remember Mr. Heinz?”
I hadn’t realized that she’d ever been married. “No, I don’t. I’m sorry.”
“No need to be sorry. Can’t remember which of you young people were alive when Mr. Heinz died. Died in a train accident. Worked on the railroads, you know.”
“I’m so sorry, Sister Heinz.” She was sweet enough, but her reminiscing could go on for hours. Of course, maybe that was better than the alternative conversations I could be having.
“Oh, no need to be sorry, dear.” She put her hand at the base of her throat. “I’m sure it won’t be too long till I’m with him again.” She lowered her voice. “I can meet him with a clear conscience. I’ve been faithful to him all these years. It ain’t like I haven’t had offers, you know.”
I just smiled at her, unsure of the appropriate response. This was definitely worse than some of the conversations I could be having. Although I already looked forward to telling Donnie about it. The thought of old Sister Heinz involved in some torrid love affair could keep us speculating and laughing for hours.
“Look at me, keeping you from getting some lunch and seeing everyone else you haven’t seen in all these years.”
“It’s okay, Sister Heinz. I’m not sure how many people here will be that anxious to talk to me after all these years.”
Her eyes twinkled in a fashion Maudra would have been proud of. “Oh, my dear, I’m quite sure there will be many that want to talk to ya. And a right more than that who are already talkingaboutyou.” She chuckled softly.
Again I was at a loss for words. Living in a city had allowed me to forget what it was like to have an entire town talk about you. Until the end, at any rate.
“Well, you best get going. Don’t want to be the cause of you missin’ all the food. Let me just get my purse, and I’ll meet you there shortly.”
“I’ll walk with you, Sister Heinz.” I went back to her pew and retrieved her purse.
“You always were a sweet boy.”
With that, old Sister Heinz and I made our way down the new hallway, into the old section of the church and the mauve-colored reception area. I’m sure it was just my paranoia, but every eye turned to us as we walked through the doors and made our way to the food line.
Maudraand the Durkes had saved me a seat at their table and made room for Sister Heinz as well. Zephyra hadn’t come back from college, so she was missing, but the rest were there. Della and Nolan’s three girls had already left the table. They’d left little Duncan in a dog carrier in the car during the service, but the girls had rushed through their dinner and were now outside with several of the other children playing with the puppy. It reminded me how much I’d loved the frequent potlucks the church had when I was a child. Donnie, Della, and I would play outside with our friends for hours, spying on the adults and playing endless games of tag and hide and seek. The food brought back a fount of memories as well. Table upon table was heaped with Southern food and desserts.
I was nearly done eating. I had filled two plates at once, and I wanted to go back for seconds, but I was too nervous to walk through again with the entire room watching. A few times during the meal, random people would come up and say their “hello,” “good to see you,” and “been a long time, hasn’t it?” Overall, though, I hadn’t been the center of much attention, which was a relief. I wasn’t naïve enough to think the lack of direct attention meant people weren’t intrigued or opinionated about my presence, but I was grateful they were only whispering among themselves. So far, it had been all older women who had come over to say hello and speak about my grandparents; a few had managed to drag their husbands along.
After Hazel and Clemet Moore had walked far enough away, Sue leaned over to Chuck. “I am surprised Clemet was willing to come by. Hazel told me last week that his arthritis was really acting up again. He must be doing better.” Chuck nodded absentmindedly with his mouth full.
“Oh, that ain’t why.” Maudra’s voice was a little too loud, and she lowered it after a look from Sue. “He wanted to get a good look at Brooke.”
Sue’s voice had a reproachful tone. “Now, Maudra, I don’t think that’s fair. I seriously doubt he was willing to walk over here when he’s hurting so bad, just to get some gossip.”
“Who said anythin’ ’bout gossip?” Maudra waggled her eyebrows at Sister Heinz. “Brooke’s a good-lookin’ boy. From Ray’s speculations, I’m sureMr.Moore was jist wantin’ a better view!” The two old women giggled together.
