Sweet Tea: A Novel (13 page)

“Sure you don’t want a cigarette?” she winked.

I rolled my eyes and gazed toward the sky. I drove home and remembered to pick up the mail on my way in. Mostly junk mail, except a letter with a New York return address. Uncle Bradley’s.

I ripped the envelope open. He and his wife wanted to visit us the Saturday before Easter. When I showed Mama the card, she didn’t respond in a good way. That’s probably understating it. Actually, she yelled, “He’s not coming to this house!”

I supposed she still harbored anger toward him for abandoning his duty as an uncle all these years. Even so, I saw no harm in his visit. “Mama, it’ll be good for us to see family,” I said.

“Especially Luke. He doesn’t even know Uncle Bradley.”

“You didn’t seem to mind when he wrote us at Christmas,” Luke added.

CeCe laid a hand on Mama’s forearm.

“Mama, it’ll be good for Luke—for all of us to meet someone related to Daddy.”

Mama bit her bottom lip and fixed her eyes on the ceiling. “I suppose.”

But she wouldn’t make the call. In the end, CeCe called Uncle Bradley and told him we’d love to have him for a visit. A week later, he and his wife Belinda appeared outside our front door.

T
all and handsome, Uncle Bradley resembled Daddy. He spoke with the same accent, dropping his
R’s
at the end of words and adding them where they didn’t belong.

Aunt Belinda seemed nice but didn’t have much to say. Skinny, plain, and flat-chested, her main attraction seemed to be that she fluttered her eyelashes a lot. Not the way Mama did, more like she was trying to keep herself from sneezing.

The six of us squeezed in at the kitchen table and ate lunch - spaghetti and meatballs, one of the few meals Mama liked to cook. She said Daddy loved it, so Uncle Bradley would probably like it, too.

He told us a little about his job as an airplane mechanic and Luke ate up every word he said. Aunt Belinda continued to blink and nod while she listened and twirled spaghetti around her fork.

“Olivia, would you mind passing those delicious rolls?” he asked, and leaned back in the chair as he rubbed his belly with the palm of his hand.

“Do you want some more
soder
too?” Luke asked, and cackled beneath his breath.

Uncle Bradley grinned the same way I remembered Daddy had. “Sorry, Luke, I meant pop or maybe some sweet tea.” He said it with a pretend southern accent.

Luke giggled in a way I hadn’t heard in years. “It’s not pop, it’s Coke,” he said with a smile.

“I forgot you and your sisters are only half Yankee. I think you need to spend a little time with me and learn how the other half lives. What do you think about that, Luke?”

Luke turned toward Mama with hopeful eyes.

“I suppose.” She sighed as her eyes darted back and forth, up and down. “Where do you plan on taking him?”

Uncle Bradley squirmed in his seat. “Actually, before we get settled in Jacksonville, Belinda and I figured we’d stop for a visit at Disney World. We thought maybe Luke would like to come with us.”

“Disney World?” Luke jumped up from the table. “I’ve never been to Disney World!”

Uncle Bradley smiled. Belinda did too. “Does that mean you want to go?” he asked.

“Heck, yeah. I can go, right, Mama?”

“Right now I don’t have enough room in the car to take you girls,” he said. “But next time I’d like you to come for a visit too.”

CeCe and I smiled. Mama’s eyes continued flickering back and forth, not resting on any of us.

“I can go.
Right
, Mama?” he said louder.

CeCe jumped in. “Of course Mama will let you go. You have the entire week off from school.” Her eyes dug into Mama, trying to get her to come back from wherever her mind had taken her.

Like she’d just heard the snap of fingers from a hypnotist, Mama said, “You’ll have him back before school starts, right?”

Uncle Bradley sat straight in his seat. He seemed excited too. “Of course I will. The boy needs his education. Don’t worry about a thing. We’re gonna have a great time. Now go get packed, Luke. We need to be on the road soon.”

I followed him to his room to help him gather his clothes together. He’d never gone away from home before, and I didn’t want him to forget his underwear or socks. Luke beamed as he threw his clothes into the old suitcase, which not long ago had transported Mama’s things back from the hospital. It was the only one in the house. I’m surprised it didn’t bother him at the memory. I guess he was just too happy.

When Luke strolled into the living room carrying the suitcase, Uncle Bradley cringed. “Tell you what. Let’s take a quick ride to K-mart. We’ll get you a suitcase for a man, not an old lady.”

“I beg to differ,” Mama said. “I was a
young
lady when I bought that suitcase.”

“Sorry, Cass, but to a young boy this is an old-lady suitcase.”

Mama’s eyes narrowed. “I suppose,” she said.

Luke seemed to be holding his breath. Like if he moved or breathed, Uncle Bradley would change his mind. He wasn’t accustomed to special treatment like this. When Uncle Bradley finally said, “Let’s go,” Luke grinned so wide, his cheeks looked like they were taped to his ears.

When they returned from the store, Luke not only had a new suitcase, but an entire new wardrobe. Uncle Bradley also brought CeCe and me a few items that Belinda must have picked out. I was surprised at how good it felt to be doted on. I felt a little envious of Luke, but in my heart I was happy for him. I’d forgotten that I’d prayed that God would find someone to help us with Luke. God answered my prayer, and I didn’t even realize it until that instant.

Mama kissed Luke goodbye, and I noticed her whisper in Uncle Bradley’s ear. I listened intently.

“Nothing better happen to my boy. He’s Jimmy’s son, and I’m not so sure he’d approve of you taking Luke, even to Disney.”

He placed his arm on her back. “I can’t change what’s been done in the past, but I can make it right now. Please let me.”

Luke interrupted. “I’m ready.”

I shoved some candy in his pockets and tried not to cry when Uncle Bradley and Aunt Belinda drove him away in their black Mercedes while we waved goodbye.

* * *

I hadn’t anticipated how empty the house would feel without Luke. Mama continued running off with Westin every chance she got. CeCe kept her business to herself, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t focus on anyone but me.

I relentlessly read textbooks during vacation. Determined to do well on the SATs, nothing else mattered to me except for obtaining a scholarship. If I managed to pull this off, Mama would be shocked, but thrilled. She couldn’t deny me such an honor, regardless of her dreams for CeCe.

I hadn’t really talked about my future before. CeCe was always the topic of our conversations when it came to the future. We couldn’t afford for me to go away to college anyway. I didn’t want to go to the community college like CeCe. I dreamed of going somewhere prestigious like Princeton or Harvard, but mostly, somewhere far away from Landon. Anywhere.

Although CeCe planned to leave for Hollywood, she wouldn’t expect me to give up a scholarship. Hollywood would still be there when I finished. That was my plan, the only way I could leave. I had every detail worked out. My guidance counselor would write a glowing letter of recommendation. And I needed to get involved with extra-curricular activities. Perhaps I could help out at a soup kitchen or a home for the elderly. The best place for me to start was the library. I hopped on Luke’s bike.

When I got to the library, I hid the bike behind some shrubs. After brushing the leaves from my jacket, a woman’s voice called out to me. A voice I never expected to hear again. When I looked up, Minta Gray was waving at me.

“Hello, hello!” she said. “You’re Cassandra’s daughter. It’s me, Minta. Minta Gray!”

I lowered my head, pretending not to hear her. It didn’t work. Before I knew it she was standing in front of me.

“Hi, Minta. Nice to see you,” I said and forced a smile. Although she seemed like a nice woman, I didn’t want any reminders from Mama’s time spent in the hospital.

“You’re Olivia, right?”

I reluctantly met her eyes. “Yes. You have a good memory.”

“Oh yes, I remember everyone. How’s your mama doing?”

              “She’s doing fine,” I muttered. “Thank you for asking.” I lifted my hand to wave and walk away, but she followed me and continued talking.

              “Cassandra and I became good friends in the hospital. You know both of us have experienced a lot of sadness in our lives, she with your daddy and me with my daughter. My daughter would have been your mama’s age.”

              “Yes, I remember you mentioning that,” I said. There were people on the sidewalk, and I kept my voice low, fearing she would say “Milledgeville” or “Central State Hospital.” If she did, I could never go to the library again.

“I’ll tell Mama you said
hi,
” I said quickly and tried to leave, but she inserted her arm in the crook of mine and nearly dragged me inside the library.

              “Let me write down my phone number again. Maybe Cassandra lost it. I could really use a friend these days.”

We were in the main room now. Minta sat down at a reading table. She opened her pocketbook and dug around in what resembled the inside of a trashcan. She pulled out a card and said, “Oh, this’ll do,” and wrote on the back of an appointment card. She placed it in my hand and closed my fingers over it. “Please have her call me, won’t you?”

              “Sure,” I said. “Have a nice day.”

              Although I was relieved she’d gone, I couldn’t help imagining her and Mama together. How could two mentally ill people hanging out together be a good thing?

Before I slipped the card in my pocket, I read the other side of it. It had an upcoming doctor’s appointment written on it
.
I sure hoped she memorized the date because there was no way I was giving Mama the card.

              I headed for the librarian’s desk and then followed her instructions to the right shelf, pulled out the SAT-prep book and headed for the checkout. But the book was a lot bigger than I expected. I didn’t think I could carry it home while driving a bike. Though it would take a while to read and more than one trip to the library, for the first time in years, I had nothing to rush home to. I figured I would stay and study. Only when my eyes began to ache, I returned the book to its spot and headed for home.

              Just as I pulled Luke’s bike from the bushes, I saw Monica and Tuck coming down the sidewalk, laughing and holding hands. I turned my head, pretending I didn’t see them and started peddling trying to keep my focus off them.

Also, like with Minta, I couldn’t get away unnoticed. Monica bumped her shoulder against mine nearly knocking me off the bike. In a sing-song voice she said, “Spelling Slut.”

This didn’t surprise me. I knew it was Monica who had written that note all along. I also knew she needed a dose of her own medicine. But it would have to be someone else who gave it to her. I had enough to deal with making sure Mama got hers.

T
he Easter break was almost over and Uncle Bradley hadn’t returned with Luke. Although he called and asked if it would be all right if Luke stayed with them a little longer, Mama began pacing the kitchen floor when she hung up, like she used to when she got upset.

“He’s a liar! I knew I couldn’t trust him. He wants to steal my boy.”

CeCe looked up from her textbook. “Mama, he said he’s only keeping him an extra week. He even offered to call Luke’s teachers to get the work he’ll miss. And you gave him the school’s number.”

              “People do it all the time,” I said. “It’s the first time Luke’s ever been away. Stop worrying.”

              Mama continued to pace. “I’m thirsty. Olivia, pour me a glass of sweet tea.”

              “Yes, Ma’am.” I poured her the drink and glanced over at CeCe.

Fear simmered on CeCe’s face as it did in my stomach once again. I remembered how the doctor said Mama would never be completely well - the medicine would only help her remain functional. I wondered if she’d even been taking her medicine. At first, everything seemed great. Then she began complaining that it made her gain weight. And she’d prided herself on her girlish figure.

              When she left for the bathroom, I rushed to CeCe and whispered in her ear. “I think she needs the other medicine. The one that makes her calm.”

              “Go get it,” CeCe said. “It’s in her top dresser drawer.”

I rushed into Mama’s room and tore through her top drawer. Then the drawer beneath. I went through every drawer in her dresser before I found the bottles, tucked under Mama’s few winter sweaters. The bottle of Ativan was empty and the other bottle only half full. It looked like she’d stopped taking them. Judging from the dates, it looked like she hadn’t taken them for weeks. And we had forgotten about Mr. Shimmering’s instructions to make an appointment with Mama’s new doctor.

I could almost feel CeCe’s heart pound. Since she had always taken care of Mama, Luke, and me, I knew she felt it was her responsibility to make sure Mama took her medicine.

“Maybe you can dump a couple of those sleeping pills in her tea again.” I ran my fingers through my hair and took in a deep breath. “It worked before.”

“Yeah, maybe I’d better,” CeCe said. “And when she falls asleep, I’ll call the doctor and order more.”

              Mama calmed down a little, but she didn’t go to sleep. It wouldn’t be until the next morning before CeCe could call the doctor. We got tired of waiting and went to bed with the hopes Mama would too.

* * *

“She’s got to get to the doctor’s office,” CeCe said and left our bedroom to break the news to Mama, but she was gone. Her car, her purse, and her mink coat were gone too.

“Maybe she went shopping,” I said, trying to deny what I knew we both felt in our hearts to be true.

“You know Mama would never shop on a Saturday morning,” CeCe said while she rummaged through a pile of papers on the kitchen counter for clues. “She hates crowds.”

Like a bad dream coming back, I saw the card that Minta had given me in CeCe’s hand. She’d picked it up off the counter. But how did it end up there?

“I think I know where she is,” I said, and pointed to the card.

CeCe stared at me waiting for an explanation.

“Minta. The woman I met at . . . at the hospital . . . I ran into her at the library. She kept babbling about getting together with Mama.”

CeCe yanked the phone off the hook and thrust it and the card in my direction. “Call her.”

The man who answered said he was Minta’s son. He told me she and her friend left early this morning. He described Mama to a tee, and mentioned that Minta said she might be gone awhile.

“A
while
!” CeCe said when I shared the information. “She said she might be gone awhile. What does that mean?”

My stomach churned like spoiled buttermilk. “What should we do?” 

CeCe rubbed her forehead between her thumb and forefinger. “Mama hasn’t had a friend in a long time. Maybe it’s a good thing.”

“Sure,” I said sarcastically. “If Westin sees Mama at her worst, we’ll never see him again.”

“Where do you think they went?” she asked.

              I shrugged. “Not a clue.” Pacing the floor just like Mama does, I wracked my brain trying to figure out where she could be.

              The phone rang. I jumped and grabbed it off the hook. “Hello. Yes? Hi, Westin. No, Mama’s not here. When was the last time you saw her?”

              “Not in a couple of days,” he said. “She told me she was leaving on a trip today— to New York—I wanted to catch her before she left. Am I too late?”

“New York! Why would Mama go to New York?”

              “Uh, she said something about taking care of family business. Is everything all right?”

I couldn’t answer him. I had a strong feeling he
was
too late. I held my hand over the receiver. “He asked if everything is all right. What should I say?” I asked CeCe.

              “Give me the phone.”

              “Hi, Westin,” she said. “You know a little about Mama’s condition, right? . . . Well, look, here’s what we think might have happened.” She explained about Mama not taking her medicine, and her being upset about Luke being gone to Florida. Then she said, “Do you think you can help us?”

              My thumb slid underneath my upper eyelid. I gently pulled while I anticipated his response.

CeCe hung up and smiled wryly. “Pack your bags. We’re going to New York. And Westin’s taking us.”

              I let go of my eyelid - this time with only a small wad of mascara and a lash or two beneath my fingernail. “First, we have to call Uncle Bradley,” I said. “You know she’s angry about him keeping Luke. And since he’s from New York, maybe he can help us figure out where she’s gone.”

              CeCe called Uncle Bradley, and sure enough, he told us that Mama might have gone back to Daddy’s old neighborhood.

              “Where
is
his old neighborhood?” I asked.

She put her hand on the phone’s mouthpiece and whispered to me, “Brooklyn. He said our great-grandmother lives there. Maybe she went to visit her for some reason. Get me a piece of paper, quick.” She wrote down an address and phone number Uncle Bradley gave her.

I swallowed hard. As soon as she hung up with him, I said, “Brooklyn is huge. If Mama’s not at our great-grandmother’s house, how are we going to find her?”

“Pray.”