The Presence (11 page)

He turned the corner and pulled up in front of a brownstone house. “Number forty-six, Bancroft Place. Real nice home. Your friend must be doing all right. Yessir, hope you enjoy your stay here in Washington.”

TJ glanced through the window and saw a charming three-story home with white shutters trimming large windows. The house was tall and narrow, with space for just one window on either side of the front door, three on the second floor, and another tiny one under the eaves. A minuscule lawn with carefully trimmed shrubs fronted the house. A battery of gaslights flanked the front door, the driveway, and the walk. TJ decided the place must be worth a fortune, wondered what Jeremy was up to, telling him to come here.

“I surely enjoyed what you had to say,” TJ said to the driver as he paid him.

“Nothin' but an old man ramblin' on ‘bout things been dead and gone for too long. Don't hardly ever talk ‘bout those things no more. Been nice havin' someone wants to hear ‘bout 'em.”

TJ found himself reluctant to get out. Beyond the safety of the taxi lay an unknown world and untold responsibilities. “What's your name?”

“Sam'l. Sam'l Jones.”

“Well, Samuel, it's truly been a pleasure making your acquaintance.” He stuck out his hand. “My name's Thomas Case. All my friends call me TJ.”

The man's grin threatened to split his face. “Likewise, Mr. Case, sir. Likewise.”

“Call me TJ. Please.”

The door to the taxi opened and Jeremy stuck his head inside. “If y'all are gonna sit there jawin', slide on over and make room for me.”

TJ introduced the two men and watched Samuel retreat behind a barrier of reserve in the presence of the white man. He said, “I sure would like to see you again, Samuel, once I'm settled in.”

“That'd be just fine, Mr. Case, just fine,” the man replied, recovering a bit of his former friendliness. “Matter of fact, I goes to a church not far from here. New Jerusalem Baptist, over on P Street, ‘bout ‘leven blocks thataway. You'd be mighty welcome.”

TJ handed him a pen and paper. “Write down that address, will you? And put your phone number down too, if you don't mind.”

“Nossir, I don't mind. You need something, you jes' call us anytime.”

“I truly appreciate that, Samuel. I'm sorry, I don't have a number yet—”

“Yes, he does,” Jeremy interjected. “It's 376–9924. And this is his address.”

Samuel gave the house another look, took in the new gray Continental in the driveway, returned to his former reserve. “Well, that's just fine. Say, I best be gettin' along. Got a livin' to make. Been nice meetin' you, Mr. Case. You too, sir.”

“See you in church, Samuel,” TJ said.

“Sure thing, Mr. Case. Y'all welcome anytime.”

After they had unloaded the bags and waved Samuel on his way, TJ said, “What's this about my living here?”

Jeremy lifted the two heaviest bags, said, “You sure you want to talk about that right now, TJ? You look plum wore out.”

“I asked you a question, Jem.”

Jeremy headed for the house, said over his shoulder, “I've taken a lease on it. ‘Bout the only place I could find that'd come furnished.”

“You've done
what
?” TJ hefted the remaining luggage, hurried after his friend.

“This here street's called Bancroft Place. Area's called Kalorama. Realtor lady said it means ‘beautiful view,' but she couldn't say in what language. Didn't know what the view was of either. Another too-expensive house prob'ly. Or a million-dollar pothole. City's full of 'em.”

“I can't live here,” TJ said.

“Don't talk nonsense. ‘Course you can.”

“This house is worth a fortune.”

“No, you got it wrong there. This house mighta cost a fortune, but it ain't worth half of what people here'd like to make you
think
it's worth.” Jeremy stopped, turned around, and said, “Tell you what, TJ. Why don't you just sleep on it tonight? You look about as tired as I've ever seen you.”

TJ saw the concern in his friend's eyes, felt the barriers melt. His shoulders slumped and he sighed. “I don't know if I can do this, Jem,” he said, his voice low.

“Yeah, I kinda figured you weren't gonna be all thrilled about leavin' your world behind. Don't know anybody who'd be real happy about that, come to think of it. It sounds all nice and noble when some preacher says, ‘Follow the Lord's will.' And you're sittin' there thinking ‘bout the country ham and biscuits waitin' back home, your mind buzzin' with this ‘n that. Then around He comes and tells you to drop everything and go shootin' off to the ends of the earth, to the last place you'd ever want to live. You're gonna be happy, right?”

“You don't belong here either, Jem.”

“Now that's for certain. But I heard His voice too, ol' buddy. Said to hustle myself on up to Babylon and make sure His man don't get eaten alive.”

“You're a real piece of work,” TJ said. “You sound about ten times more hick than you really are.”

“Can't let these boys know how much you know, TJ. That's lesson number one. They don't mind a fool. It's the smart ones they gotta guard against. You might shake their little house of cards. Upset the power structure.”

“You saying I got a lot to learn?”

“Anything you need to know, TJ, He'll tell you. Talk when He tells you to talk. The rest of the time, keep your trap shut. I always figured that's why He chose Moses, with his speech problem and all. Lord chooses the silent ones ‘cause they know when to keep quiet.”

Jeremy led the way up the brick steps to a massive oak door. “I'm doin' what I gotta do, TJ, same as you. I'm your butler, your chauffeur, your bodyguard, and anything else that comes up.”

“You're nothing of the sort, Jem.”

“Listen to what I'm sayin'. My service to God means servin' you right now, same as yours is to be His mouthpiece.” He pushed the front door open with his foot. “Now just let it drop. You're so tired you're slurrin' your words. Anything else you got to say can wait till tomorrow.”

TJ hesitated, then nodded his agreement, glad in spite of himself for the reprieve.

Jeremy led him into an entrance hall that would have been better suited to a full-sized mansion. A crystal chandelier was suspended from the ceiling two floors above their heads.

“The living room is there on the left, and what I guess is going to be our den is on the right—unless you want a study all your own. The kitchen and dining room are at the back, down that hall. Catherine's and your bedroom is up at the top of the stairs. Mine's on the left there beside it.”

“This is too much, Jem,” TJ murmured, looking up and around. “I can't—”

“Let it ride, I said. Go on up and get some sleep. We can talk about it in the morning, once you've had a chance to get your strength back. You couldn't whip a wet rag right now.”

****

After his Bible study the next morning, TJ came downstairs. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee lured him to the kitchen, a room equipped with white breakfast table and chairs, white cabinets, and all the most modern conveniences. Light streamed through floor-to-ceiling bay windows opening from the breakfast nook onto the garden.

Jeremy was seated at the table with a cup of coffee and an open Bible in front of him. TJ paused in the doorway long enough to take in the two places set for breakfast, the coffeepot on the stove, the bacon draining on a paper towel, and the eggs waiting beside the frying pan.

“I don't recall ever seeing you in a tie before,” TJ said in greeting.

Jeremy did not even look up. “Catherine warned me not to expect a civil word out of you until you'd had your second cup of coffee.”

“When did you talk to Catherine?”

“This morning. She said to tell you that Elaine's doing much better. She also said for you to behave yourself and remember what you're up here for. I told her that if you started to forget I'd take it as my personal responsibility to whang you upside the head with that fryin' pan over there.”

“Did she say when she was coming up?”

“Directly.” Jeremy stood and moved to the stove. “How many eggs you want?”

“One. What does that mean, ‘directly'?”

“Exactly what it sounds like. Your daughter still isn't well enough to manage two little kids and a house by herself.” Jeremy broke an egg into the skillet. “She didn't say it, but I imagine Catherine figures you're gonna have your hands full gettin' used to this new work. She'll be up after you've had a chance to settle in.”

TJ poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table. “I don't imagine this job is going to be so difficult that my wife has to wait to join me.”

Jeremy turned around, propped the hand holding the spatula on his hip, and gave his friend a look of pure pity. “Wasn't either one of us talkin' about the job, TJ.”

TJ sipped his coffee, slid Jeremy's Bible around. It was opened to Habakkuk. “What are you reading him for?”

“Now that's an intelligent question if I ever heard one.” Jeremy took a pitcher of orange juice out of the refrigerator, poured two glasses, and set them in front of TJ with a clatter. “You ‘bout ready to tell me what's really botherin' you?”

“All right,” TJ agreed. “How long do you intend on keeping this up, Jem?”

“I kinda figured you weren't going to do the sensible thing and just let it be,” Jeremy said. He scooped up the egg, placed three strips of bacon beside it on a plate, opened the oven door and brought out a plate of toast, then set it all down before TJ. “One thing I gotta do today is buy us a toaster.”

“You're not joining me?”

“Be right there. Go ahead and start. We can bless it in your belly just as well as on the plate.” Jeremy broke two eggs into the sizzling pan. “Times like this, I really miss Ella. She had a way with words that I always loved to hear. Wasn't much she couldn't help a person understand. I never could decide if it was what she said or the way she said it that I liked better.”

TJ paused with a forkful of egg in midair. Jeremy seldom talked about his dead wife. The loss remained an open wound. “She was a fine woman, Jem.”

“That she was. Better'n anything I deserved havin', that's for sure.” Jeremy loaded his plate and sat down, then folded his massive work-worn hands above his plate and bowed his head. TJ laid down his fork and closed his eyes.

“Lord,” Jeremy began, “I've always been better at givin' orders than at persuadin' people. Takes ten times longer and a hundred times the words, and you never gave me the patience or the knowledge. My brother here needs me, and I know in my soul this is where you want me to be. But I don't know how to make him see that. So it's up to you, Father. In Christ's name I pray. Amen.”

“You forgot to bless the food.”

“It's a free country,” Jeremy said, digging into his bacon and eggs. “You got any complaints, you go right ahead and do your own thing.”

TJ picked up his fork, laid it down again. “I just don't feel comfortable having you do this, Jem.”

“Doin' it for
you
is what you mean. If you'd just get it through that thick head of yours that I'm doin' it for the Man upstairs, you wouldn't have any trouble with it at all.”

“You really feel that way?”

“Never felt surer of anything in my life. Felt it in my bones the first moment I realized He really had spoken to you. Now eat your breakfast before that egg freezes to your plate.” Jeremy chewed a few more bites, then said, “I've been starin' retirement in the face for a couple of years now, TJ. All those things I've been doin'—the schools and the boat and the relief program—it's all felt like I was just bidin' time. I always figured I was just gettin' ready to follow Ella on across the Great Divide. But not anymore. Nossir. For the first time in I don't know how long I
know
I'm where I'm supposed to be. Doin' exactly what the Lord wants me to do. And that's all that matters, old friend. I feel like my whole life has been leadin' up to this moment. Don't know why, but that don't matter either.”

“You're too young to be thinking about retirement,” TJ said mildly.

“I've got a great future, and it's all behind me. All I've got left is servin' the Lord, and where He wants me to be is right here.”

“Did you talk to Catherine about this?”

“Now that's a remarkable woman. I was all huffin' and puffin', figurin' she was gonna be up in arms about me crowdin' her. Know what she did? Kissed me on the cheek and said I was a blessing. That's what she said. A blessing. Said you'd put up a fight, but that I was to just hang in there and you'd come around.”

“Catherine said that?”

“The day I left and again this morning. Said you were prob'ly determined to go out there and face the world all by yourself. I was to remind you that the Lord didn't say anything about you marchin' in solitude. He just said ‘go.' ““But we can't afford this house, Jem.”

“We who?” Jeremy laughed.

“I mean
I
can't.”

“I thought that was gonna come up sooner or later. You think maybe you could refresh my mem'ry, tell me what the Bible says about pride?”

“What's that got to do with it?”

“Everything. You know good and well, better'n me prob'ly, how much I'm worth. What'm I supposed to do with it besides help others in the Lord's name?”

“There're others who need it more than I do, Jem.”

“Don't worry, they'll get their share. I've already started workin' on that.”

“You must be spending a fortune on this place.”

“Yeah, I had myself a real good holler when the real estate lady told me how much this cost. In actual fact, she told me I was gettin' it for a song ‘cause the owner was in a hurry to go overseas. The thing is, TJ, it seems expensive because we're used to down-home prices. This here house would fit in your basement back home, and that's a fact.” He held up his hand. “I know what you're gonna say. But listen, old buddy. There's gonna be some real tough times comin' down. I can feel it in my bones. He didn't bring you up here for any old picnic.”