Fifteen Years (32 page)

YOU NEED ME to catch a flight to Atlanta, bruh? You know I’ll do it,” Craig said between chews. It was Friday lunchtime, and since Josiah wasn’t there for them to have their regular end-of-the-work week lunch together, he was stowed away in his car again. “I can purchase a one-way ticket that would land me at Hartsfield-Jackson in the morning, and I can drive you back. With all that you’ve had to deal with, you may not be in any condition to take that long trip back by yourself.”

Josiah laughed a little as he adjusted his Bluetooth so that it fit his ear more comfortably. “You’ll do anything for a chance to get behind the wheel of my car, won’t you?”

Craig breathed heavily into the phone. “See? I can’t even show you no love. I’m trying to be there for you, and all you can think is that I’m taking advantage of your vulnerability by using it as an excuse to drive your car. I’m deeply offended. I can’t believe you
think I’d do something like that, JT. I’m full of hurt right now.”

“Yeah, right,” Josiah mumbled. “You’re full of something; that’s for sure. Take some acting lessons,” he added. “Your stage presence is beyond pitiful.”

“Really?” Craig asked. “’Cause I thought the way I fluctuated my voice right there in the middle was Oscar worthy.”

“Oscar Mayer Weiner worthy, maybe.”

“Didn’t buy any of it, huh?”

“Not true,” Josiah said. “Despite your need for medication, I do believe you’d catch the first thing flying if I really needed you to be here.”

“I really would, man.”

“I know, and I appreciate it. But I’m okay. I was a mess after I left the Smiths’ house yesterday morning, so that’s why I sounded so torn when I called you.”

“Suicidal would be a better description.”

Josiah shook his head. “That’s not true, and you know it. If you actually thought I was on the verge of something that extreme, you would have—”

“Dropped everything and been in Atlanta before you could get to the pawn shop to buy the gun.” Craig finished the sentence for him.

“Exactly,” Josiah said. “I was nowhere near suicidal, but I was pretty jacked up. It was way too much information to take in all at once. I was numb from head to toe—felt like I’d been living inside a stranger’s body all of my life.”

“Hey.” Craig jumped in. “That’s not good. That’s the same thing that dude said on the Biography channel last night; right before he went and had a sex change operation.”

Josiah nearly veered off the road. “Boy, shut up!” he said as he regained control. “Will you let me finish my testimony, please?
You’re so stupid it’s ridiculous. I need to make sure Danielle has a clear understanding as to what she’s getting into.”

“Dani knows she’s getting the best,” Craig boasted. “Speaking of which, what’s going on with you and
Peaches?”
He purposefully stressed the nickname that only Josiah called her.

Stifling a smile, Josiah said, “I’m getting to that. Let me finish, please.”

“Carry on, my brotha.”

Shaking his head at Craig’s antics, Josiah said, “I wasn’t angry when I left the house yesterday morning, but I felt the need to be by myself. I needed time to digest everything I’d just learned about who I was and where I’d come from. So I spent the rest of the day in seclusion—away from Peaches, away from my parents—a day with just me and God, and it was just what I needed.”

“You’re still referring to them as your parents, so that’s a good thing,” Craig pointed out. “When you called me yesterday after everything went down, I wasn’t sure what you were gonna do. I was hoping that you didn’t write off the Smiths, but to be honest, I felt like it could go either way.”

In retrospect, Josiah understood how Craig could have drawn that conclusion. “I know I sounded like all hope was lost, but I don’t think cutting them loose was ever a serious consideration. I need them. I prayed for the chance to reconnect with them. Peaches is one of them. I couldn’t walk away from her, and I couldn’t walk away from them.” He took a breath. “I went through a moment where it felt like my entire existence had been a lie. It’s a wonder I didn’t leak fluid when I walked, with all the holes I had in my life. I spent so much time in prayer yesterday that my knees got sore. And do you know what I came to realize?”

“That it’s way past time for you to get rid of that raggedy old prayer rug and find a new one that will provide some cushion for
your knees so they don’t get sore when you pray?”

Josiah burst out laughing in spite of himself. Sometimes he wondered if Craig had the capacity to be serious for more than a few minutes at a time. “No, you stupid titmouse,” he said. “What I came to realize is that despite everything, I’m just about the most blessed man on the planet, and I need to be thanking God for how I came out instead of blaming man for what I went through.” When his reply was met with only munching noises, Josiah added, “Did you hear me?”

“Oh, yeah,” Craig said. “I heard you. That was deep; real deep.”

“You didn’t hear a word I said,” Josiah accused. “What are you doing?”

“I heard you,” Craig insisted. “I was just a little preoccupied.”

“Doing what?”

“Looking up titmouse on my Blackberry to try and see what kind of rodent you just called me.”

Josiah twisted his lips. “It’s not an actual mouse, Craig. It’s not a rodent at all, as a matter of fact. A titmouse is some type of bird—I forget what kind. I just called you that because the name sounded stupid enough to adequately describe you at the moment.”

“Whatever.” He was munching again. “So now that you’ve had your time with God and your knees are all sore, now what?

“I’m gonna embrace life.”

“Meaning?”

“When I made this trip to Atlanta, I was dying on the inside. On the outside, it looked like I had everything.” Josiah began counting his blessings. “I’m a God-fearing man, I’m a college graduate, I work at a Fortune 500 company, I go home every evening to a nice crib, I’ve got a few G’s in the bank, I’m debt free—”

“You drive an Audi R8….”

“I drive an Audi R8,” Josiah echoed with a short laugh. “I have
no crazy exes, no baby mama issues … All of that paints the portrait of perfection to some folks, but all that notwithstanding, I was still dying on the inside. When I found my foster family, it literally felt like new life was breathed into me. So many voids were filled simply by reconnecting with those four people, that the private internal bleeding that I’d done for the last fifteen years was completely healed. When God plugged me back into their outlet, I was instantly charged with parents, and siblings—”

“And maybe even a wife and kid?”

Hearing the words from Craig’s mouth gave Josiah goose bumps. Of all the women he’d dated and admired over the years (including Eva Pigford), Patrice was the first that made him visualize wedding bells. And Arielle? Man, oh man! He’d love the chance to apply for the position of Daddy in that beautiful little girl’s life. The grin that spread Josiah’s mouth nearly cracked his lips. “Yeah,” he admitted. “Maybe even a wife and a daughter.”

“Is a double wedding with me and Dani possible?”

Josiah couldn’t believe how hopeful Craig sounded. It was endearing. “I’m afraid not. That’s too soon. And as much as I don’t want to sound selfish, if and when Peaches and I take that step, I don’t want us to share the spotlight with anybody else. It’ll be our day and our day only.”

“I heard that.” The answer didn’t offend Craig. “I’m just blown away to hear you talking about the possibility. Love looks kinda good on you, JT.”

Still smiling, Josiah thought to himself that it felt good too. “Thanks, man. Listen. I’m pulling up to Peaches’ job right now. Thought I’d surprise her with some roses today during lunch.”

“Roses? Wow, man. You got it bad already, don’t you?”

It sure felt like it. Josiah navigated his car onto the school property and headed for the visitor’s parking area. “Nah,” he said in
spite of the truth. “I didn’t talk to her during my little sabbatical. She gave me the space I needed, so I just wanted to do something extra nice to show my appreciation.”

“Uh-huh,” Craig was clearly not convinced. “I told you Atlanta was the place to find yourself a triple B.”

“Beautiful, brilliant, and Bible-believing,” Josiah said as he reached toward the driver’s seat and grabbed the dozen roses that lay there.

“Didn’t I tell ya?” Craig bragged.

Josiah couldn’t deny him his props. “Yeah. You did.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to hurry. There are only twenty minutes left before her next student arrives. Call me tonight when you get home from your date with Danielle. I should be home by then.”

“Am I reading between the lines correctly? Are you going out tonight?” Craig sounded impressed, like he was proud of Josiah for making plans to be romantic.

Josiah almost laughed. One would think he’d lived as a hermit if they listened to Craig. He’d admit to the fact that he’d always been selective, but that hadn’t stopped him from having his share of dates. “If she accepts the invitation, yes,” he answered as he shut off the engine and climbed from the car. “I went to this great little cozy restaurant the other night, and I want to take her there. Mama and Dad have already agreed to babysit Arielle. I stopped by their house this morning so we could talk. They needed to know that I’m not holding any grudges against them and I’m fine about the whole thing. I’ve talked to them and arranged for childcare. Now it’s time to talk to Peaches. I saved the best for last.”

“I see I taught you well,” Craig gloated.

“In your dreams,” Josiah said. “Okay, I’m getting ready to walk inside. I gotta go.”

“Peace,” was Craig’s reply.

Elementary school had changed drastically since the days that he was a child. Josiah looked around as he entered the doors. Girls who couldn’t have been older than ten or eleven had bodies that seemed to belong on females five years their senior. And they shamelessly eyed Josiah like he was a McDonald’s Happy Meal, and all they needed was some ketchup and a couple of napkins. It was sickening.

The boys weren’t any better. They had barely reached double digits, but from the sound of things, they’d already been to college and taken an advanced course called Profanity 301. The words they spewed would make drunken truckers blush.

What on earth?

Knowing that this was the caliber of male that Arielle would be left to choose from one day made Josiah want to take off his belt and start swinging. The urge to do so was so strong that he found himself quickening his steps so that he could put a safe distance between himself and the children.

Inside the front office, Josiah quickly discovered that Friday wasn’t being kind to the office administrators. He stood in line behind two displeased mothers. The first was arguing with a guidance counselor about being forced to come to school to pick up her daughter who they deemed was dressed inappropriately. The child stood nearby popping gum and looking annoyed. Her skirt was so short it barely covered her eight-year-old behind.

The other mom stood in a corner apparently talking to her son’s father on a cell phone. She was forewarning him that whether he had gotten married or not, he was still responsible for the child they had. Like it or not, she told her ex, she was sending the boy there (wherever
there
was) to live with him and his new family because she was sick and tired of having to leave work and come to the school to deal with his behavioral problems. Behavioral problems,
she claimed, that weren’t inherited from her side of the family. Somehow, seeing her make such a scene without a smidgen of shame, made Josiah doubt it.

Josiah sighed at the disgracefulness of it all.

“Oh, how pretty,” a voice said from behind him.

Josiah turned and saw an attractive teacher wearing an eye-catching tan skirt suit entering the office. “Thank you. I hope she feels the same.”

The teacher hesitated, then said, “I promise I’m not flirting.” For emphasis, she held up her left hand for him to see her dazzling wedding set. “But you have gorgeous eyes.”

It was a compliment Josiah had been given many times in his life, but every time he heard it, he still reddened. “Thank you.”

She looked back at the roses again. “Are you a parent? Is it your daughter’s birthday?”

“Actually, I’m here to see a teacher.”

The woman’s hair moved freely as she turned her head and looked around the office. “Has anyone helped you yet?”

Josiah wanted to say, “Are you kidding me? Nobody has even acknowledged my presence.” But what he actually said was, “No. I guess they’re busy handling other matters.”

The teacher looked around the office again, rolled her eyes, and then sighed. From that, Josiah concluded that the goings on were not unusual. “See that open binder on the counter?” She pointed. “Just sign your name, the time of your arrival, and who you’re coming to see. Then you can go ahead and pay your visit. I’d love to see the look on her face when you give them to her.”

Josiah carefully placed the flowers on the counter and began scribbling in the information. “Actually, you can have that chance if you like.”

The teacher looked confused. “How so?”

Josiah laid the pen back on the counter, retrieved the flowers, and then smiled at her. “This is my first visit. I have no idea where to go.”

“Oh.” She walked closer and looked at the notebook. “Patrice Anderson.” She said the name aloud, and then thought awhile. “She teaches English, right?”

“Speech pathology,” Josiah corrected.

“Right. Come on. Follow me. It’s not far.”

During the brisk walk to Patrice’s room, Josiah found out that the helpful teacher’s name was Frankie Carter. She didn’t look like a Frankie. A Faith, maybe. A Felicia, definitely. But not a Frankie. And though she said she’d love to see the look on Patrice’s face, Frankie never walked inside. She pointed at the name on the closed door, then headed back to the front office to finish the business she’d gone there to take care of in the first place.

Josiah knocked on the door, thinking it was only right since it was probably closed for a reason. He could hear approaching footsteps from the other side and his heart began to pound in sync with her steps. When Patrice opened the door, it was clear that Josiah wasn’t who she expected to see on the other side.