The Truth Is the Light (23 page)

Chapter 51

A
fter Gabrielle finished praying, her phone rang. Before she could pick it up, it stopped ringing. At first she thought whoever had called had changed their mind and hung up. Then she felt a pull to go check her phone anyway. When she looked, she saw the phone was registering that it was in use. She picked it up and pressed the talk button.

“I need you to get off the phone,” Gabrielle said in a quiet, calm voice.

“But I'm on it,” Angie said.

“I know that you're on it. And I need you to get off . . . my phone.”

“You are
so
stingy with your stuff,” Angie said to Gabrielle. “Listen, Trey,” Angie said to the person on the other end, “I'll hit you back later. My cousin is tripping.”

Gabrielle stayed on the line to ensure Angie had hung up. After she was sure, she clicked the phone off. The phone immediately started to ring. The caller ID didn't register a name or a phone number. Thinking it was most likely Trey calling right back, Gabrielle promptly answered it.

“Hello,” Gabrielle said at the same time the person on the other end was also saying hello. “Hello,” she said again. “Who are you calling to speak with?”

“You were the one who called here,” a male voice replied.

“Clarence? Is that you?” Gabrielle asked.

“Gabrielle?” Clarence said.

“Yes.”

“I just hung up from calling you,” Clarence said. “Some woman answered and said you were busy and you weren't able to come to the phone. She didn't ask who I was or anything. She just clicked me off without even saying good-bye.”

“Okay. I get what likely happened. It's happened before where I've answered an incoming call while I was already on the phone. If you don't hang up just right, it's like both numbers are still connected, and they ring back at both places simultaneously when you finally hang up from the other call. It doesn't happen every time, but it
does
happen.”

“Who answered your phone a few minutes ago?” Clarence asked.

“One of my houseguests.”

“Visiting?”

“Nope. Crashers, actually. They have nowhere else to go, so they decided to come and live with me,” Gabrielle said. “I'm sorry, Lord. I'm sorry. That was wrong of me.”

“No, you just told it like it is. But I thought you were a lot smarter than that. You do know that after they take root, it's going to be almost impossible to uproot them from your place, don't you? Well, all I can say is: you're a better person than me.”

“It wasn't like anyone
asked
me. It's my aunt and her family. And I'm talking about the
whole
family, including three grandchildren.”

“Wait a minute, you mean they didn't ask you? They just showed up at your door?”

“You got it.”

“Oh, girl, don't let anybody just do that to you. No one has a right to disrespect you in that way. And if you think this is something a Christian is supposed to lay down and take, you must not have read or paid attention to the scripture where Jesus turned over a few moneychangers' tables. Because they were pretty much taking advantage of the people. Thieves, that's what Jesus basically called them. And I don't think anybody can be more Christian than Christ. Sure, we are told to love, we're told to forgive, but we're not told to become doormats. Now, that's
my
interpretation of the scriptures
I've
read.”

“I was trying to talk to Aunt Cee-Cee, and she was telling me they plan to go to church with me on Sunday. And then they'll likely be out of here in a few weeks,” Gabrielle said.

“I understand you want people to go to church. But please tell me you didn't fall for that line. Please tell me you didn't.”

“Of course I didn't fall for it. It's just hard knowing you have somewhere to live and they don't, and you won't open your door up for them,” Gabrielle said. “It's hard.”

“Let me see if I can't break this down for you. Earlier this year, you were about to lose your house the same way they have lost theirs. I'm not saying to do unto others as they have done unto you, but based on what you told me when you and I first met: they put you out with nowhere to go when you were eighteen. Eighteen. Am I right?”

“Yes, but—”

“Just a minute. Stay with me, now. Had you been put out of your house, as it were, could
you
have gone over
there
to live with
them
the way
they
have now done to
you?
”

“But, Clarence, as a Christian—”

“But Clarence nothing. Just answer my question. Yes or no?”

“What is it with y'all and these yes or no questions?” Gabrielle said, thinking back to her earlier conversation with Zachary.

“Yes . . . or no?”

“No. But I want to do what God would have me to do.”

“Do you think they will be out of your house in two weeks?”

“No.”

“Three? Four? Six weeks?”

“Honestly?” Gabrielle said. “I believe a year from now they'll likely all still be here unless something major happens.”

“Will that be okay with you?”

“No.” Her voice cracked.

“Then why put yourself through all of this?” Clarence asked.

Gabrielle heard the phone line open. “Are you still on here?” Angie asked, smacking on something. “How much longer are you going to be on the phone? I need to make a call.”

“Please hang up the phone,” Gabrielle said calmly. When Angie didn't hang up, she said again, “Please . . . hang . . . up . . . my phone.
Now
.” She heard the line close.

“Again,” Clarence said. “Why would you put yourself through this, knowing that it's not going to end anytime soon?” Gabrielle didn't answer him; she only sighed. “Gabrielle, when people are trying to get themselves together and do better, that's one thing. When people are just trying to use you or get over on you, it's up to you to draw a line. You can't allow the devil to use others to stronghold you. I'm telling you now.”

“So you think I should put them out now,” Gabrielle said.

“I can't tell you what you're supposed to do. I
can
give you wisdom from my perspective. I can tell you what God is saying to me on the matter. But ultimately, you have to hear the Lord for yourself. You know what God has been telling you. You know, Gabrielle. Sometimes we think we're helping people when it's possible we're merely getting in God's way. Who's to say that God isn't using this situation to get your family's attention so that they can hear
Him?
”

“You're right, Clarence. But you called here, and I'm sure you didn't call to talk to me about my family or my troubles.”

“Yeah, but it's okay. That's what friends are for. We're told to bear one another's burdens. I called to see if you'd like to rehearse tomorrow for my grandfather's birthday celebration. We don't have a lot of time to get together. After we see what we're looking to do, you can practice at home on your own time.”

“Tomorrow? Yeah, sure.”

“Well, I
was
thinking about coming to your house, but now that I hear about what you're dealing with, I think it would be great, for both of us, if you just come over here.”

“Yeah, we do need to get together. I can't wait to see what song you've chosen.”

“Oh, I believe you're going to love it. I'll play it when you get here. I bought a copy of the song for you so you'll have it for your own rehearsals,” Clarence said. “So, tomorrow, around what time?”

“Noonish is good for me.”

“Then noonish it is. I'll see you then.”

As soon as Gabrielle hung up and placed the phone back in its base, it rang one time. When she looked at the number on the caller ID, she could tell by the name that it was for Angie.

She couldn't do anything but shake her head.

Chapter 52

J
ohnnie Mae walked in on Angela and Gramps as they sat in the activity room.

“Well, hello,” Johnnie Mae said to Angela, since she was most surprised to see her there.

Angela stood up and greeted Johnnie Mae with a hug and a kiss even though they had seen each other at work at church earlier.

“I came by to see my mother,” Johnnie Mae said. “If you had told me you were coming this way, we could have come together.”

“I wasn't sure I was coming until the last minute,” Angela said.

“Hello there, blessed woman of God,” Gramps said.

Johnnie Mae realized that with her preoccupation in trying to figure out why Angela might have been there, she had failed to acknowledge Gramps.

“Gramps, I'm so sorry. I guess you thought I was completely trying to ignore you.” Johnnie Mae hugged him. She looked down and noticed the photograph he held in his hand. “Who is that a picture of?”

Gramps handed it to her. “That beautiful, feisty woman is Pearl during her younger years,” Gramps said.

Johnnie Mae took it and looked at it. “I remember seeing this.” She glanced at Angela, hoping she might shed a little more light on what was going on. But the more she thought about it, it did make sense. Ransom knew Angela's great-grandmother, and not only had Angela been close to Pearl, but Pearl had raised her. Of course she would want to talk to the person who knew her great-grandmother back in the day. He could fill her in on things while she filled him in on the Pearl she'd grown up knowing.

“And do you know who that fine fellow is standing beside her?” Gramps said.

“He looks like you,” Johnnie Mae said. “But that can't be you, can it?”

“I had this friend named Sam, Samuel L. Williams—”

“That's my great-grandfather,” Angela interjected.

“I got a photo almost identical to that one,” Gramps said, nodding his head in the direction of the picture. “It's funny how people tend to save the same things. That proves how close Pearl and I were. Angel was telling me that Pearl had this photo in a cigar box. I got one similar to it in my room, inside my Wings of Grace box. You two care to see it? It's a little different.”

“Sure,” both Johnnie Mae and Angela said. Angela was at least thankful to know there were two photos around of her great-grandfather with her great-granny.

“All right,” Gramps said, slowly standing to his feet.

Johnnie Mae turned, still holding the photo, trying to decide who she should give it back to. She decided on Angela, since it was hers. Gramps would have enough to occupy himself with.

He found the picture rather quickly. “This little box has really come in handy. The things that are most important to me can be found right in here. Amazing how we can reduce our lives to fit ever so neatly into a box. Birth records, important papers, copies of your will if you have one, captured images in time that hold memories even when your own mind no longer can.” He handed the photo to Johnnie Mae first.

Johnnie Mae looked at it, smiled, then handed it over to Angela.

“My great-grandfather is a lot more animated in this photo. In the one Great-granny had, he looks so stiff—like he didn't know quite what to expect. Here, he's playful. I like your photo, Gramps.”

Gramps started to chuckle. “I'm sorry, but that's not your great-grandfather in that photo. The man in that photo as well as your photo is me. Sam and I did look somewhat alike, so I can understand you mistaking him for me. But that's a photo of me and Pearl, not Pearl and Sam.”

Angela looked at the photo again and allowed her legs to ease her down slowly onto the tan leather recliner.

Chapter 53

“A
ngela, are you sure you're okay?” Johnnie Mae said as she handed Angela a cup of water she'd gone out and gotten for her. “Angel?”

Angela took a sip of the water. “I'm okay,” she said. “I'm okay.” Then turning back to Gramps, she asked, “Are you certain this is you?”

“Of course I'm certain.”

“But earlier you said it was your friend, Sam. When we were in the lobby area, you said something about this being Samuel.” Angela looked from the photo to Gramps.

“Actually, I was trying to say that I had a friend named Sam who
took
that photo. He'd borrowed the camera from another friend who had one, which was rare to have back in my day. Sam took that picture.” Gramps laughed. “We didn't know how to take no picture. He must have given Pearl one and me another. I didn't know she had that one; she probably didn't know I had this one. These are the earliest known photos of me, before pictures ever became the norm.” He scratched his head, then rubbed his chin.

“Come to think of it,” Gramps said, “my daughter asked if I had any pictures of me when I was young. I didn't even think about that photo when she asked. She wanted to use them for my birthday celebration.” He smiled. “She told you about my birthday party when we were at your house,” he said to Johnnie Mae. “And Angela . . . Angel, you certainly are welcome to come if you like. It's going to be Saturday, November seventh, at Pastor Landris's church, from what my daughter told me the other day.”

“Yeah,” Johnnie Mae said. “Pastor Landris and I are definitely going to be there. In fact, your family has asked him to say a few inspirational words, nothing long, since it sounds like it's going to encompass lots of people saying all kinds of wonderful things about you and your life.”

“I told my daughter to keep things short and simple. But she ain't paying me much attention. I think she's trying to go all out.”

Angela hadn't said a word. She was staring at the photo Gramps had allowed them to see.

“I suppose you're thinking about your great-grandmother right about now,” Gramps said when he noticed Angela was preoccupied with his picture. “If you like, you're welcome to take that picture and get a copy of it. I'd like to keep the original, though. You understand. It's all I got left of me and Pearl.” He smiled upon saying Pearl's name. “That woman know she cared about me. She was truly one in a million.”

Angela was polarized when it came to what to do at this point. Should she tell him what she suspected to be true and see what light he might be able to shed on it? Should she do it right now, since the perfect opening had presented itself? Or should she wait until Johnnie Mae left and discuss it alone? Should she talk to Arletha first? Maybe she should ask Johnnie Mae to step out of the room and ask her advice on the matter.

God, I need You to tell me what to do. Please . . . just tell me what to do
.
Please
.