Waiting and Watching (2 page)

With the athleticism and grace of a ballet dancer, Connie removed her bag from the overhead bin and exited the plane. Her brownish sun-streaked hair, worn in a casual ponytail, only enhanced her American girl beauty. Dressed for travel in a brown warm-up suit that complimented her dark eyes, she walked out of the terminal to the curb and spotted Julio two lanes over in a sporty red convertible.

Leave it to Julio to cruise around in a flashy sports car. Her heart leaped when she saw his handsome, tanned face and sparkling white smile. He jumped out of the car and wrapped his arms around her, causing joyful tears to well in her eyes. Julio saw them and wiped them away. She was so happy to see him; she couldn't help it.

“Thanks for meeting me here. I know it's going to be just as hard for you, but I couldn't do it alone.”

After settling into the car, Connie told Julio she'd called their former neighbor, Nola Perkins. “She seemed glad to hear from me, but didn't have much light to shed on anything related to the crime. She insisted we come by to see her.”

“Yeah,” Julio said, “she always liked you, but I don't think she cared for your little brown Cuban brother.”

“That may be true, but I think she knew you didn't like her, either.”

“How could she know that? I was only a little kid.”

“Well, my little Julio, your feelings were obvious, even as a little kid, about who you liked and who you didn't. I remember one day when Nola was babysitting us and we went for a walk to get some soft ice cream. On the way back, you ran ahead into the house and locked the door. We rang the bell and banged on the front door, but you kept saying, ‘Only Connie can come in. That other lady has to go away.' We saw you through the glass in the door and you kept sticking your tongue out at her. You were such a little stinker.”

“Was Nola pissed?”

“Yeah, I think she was. I don't remember her having much of a sense of humor.”

They drove in contented silence for a few minutes until Connie pointed ahead of them. “Julio, pull into that chili parlor over there. Do you remember Cincinnati Chili?”

“Not really, but if it makes you happy, let's go.”

Julio parked the car and they walked into the restaurant. Outside the state of Texas, Cincinnati was probably the most chili-crazed place in the U.S. Authentic Cincinnati chili starts with a two-way, which is meat sauce on spaghetti noodles. Add shredded cheddar cheese to make a three-way, onion to make a four-way, and kidney beans to make it a five-way.

They found an empty table near the back and both ordered a five-way. After making sure the waitress would bring them plenty of oyster crackers to top off the chili, Connie got back to relating her conversation with Nola Perkins.

“She told me our house remained empty for over a year after Mom and Dad were killed. Someone finally bought it and did some renovations, so it doesn't look the same. The owners travel a lot, and in twenty-two years, she's only talked to them a couple of times.”

“What about that creepy, geek son of hers?”

“It's funny, Julio, but I don't remember Martin that way. He was always an exceptional student, quiet and very nice. Anyway, Nola said he went to a small private college in Pennsylvania where he graduated cum laude with a double major in psychology and pre-med. He never went on to medical school, but got his masters in psychology and joined a small clinical group outside Philadelphia. I wonder if Dad being a psychiatrist had any influence on Martin going into that field.”

“That's possible, especially since he hung out at our house a lot. Without his own father, maybe he saw Dad as a role model. I mostly remember his cool tree house. He was always up there, but he'd never let me go inside. He had a big ugly bird that he took up there. Remember? I spied on him a lot. He was always scoping out your room through a big telescope.”

“No, he wasn't. I can't believe that.”

“Believe it. I saw him.”

“Well, now that you mention it, he was a bit of a loner. I never gave much thought about Martin not having a father. I don't remember him hanging out with friends or dating anyone, either. Anyway, he's not married and he's back in Tilden Park and temporarily staying in the apartment above Nola's garage. Nola mumbled some double talk about a career change, but she was vague and I couldn't pin her down on it, although I honestly didn't try.”

“Lucky him. He was in your class, so he's at least thirty-eight and living with his mother. That must help him get the babes.”

The waitress delivered their piping hot, spicy order. As they stuffed themselves, Connie glanced at her brother and shrugged. “We've never discussed Mom and Dad, y'know. Their murders and all. It never seemed like the right time to bring it up, but I've always wondered what you remember of that awful day.”

“I remember you and a woman from child services I guess, coming into my classroom, and then my whole life changed in a flash. I remember my body felt numb and tingly, and I couldn't believe that Mom wouldn't be there to tuck me into bed and say my prayers that night or any other night ever again. Who would fix my lunch for school? I remember hanging onto you so you wouldn't go away and die, too. I couldn't stop crying when they separated us. I never saw my old room again. Who packed my stuff, Connie? You?”

She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders, too moved to speak.

“I think I cried for weeks in Miami. I didn't understand why we couldn't live together in our old house. I felt so alone, like there was a big hole in my heart. My cousin was sweet, but she wasn't my family. What about you, Con? It must have been terrible for you, especially when Andrew was arrested for the murders.”

“It was totally numbing. I don't think I began to feel again for years. Aunt Viv was great, but as you said, she wasn't Mom. It seemed like I cried forever. I hated my new school. I was the only one there without parents, and it felt like everyone was talking about me behind my back. I missed Mom and Dad, you and my friends, especially Andrew. I tried joining some clubs and going to school functions, but it was so hard trying to act happy and carefree like all the other kids.

“Some of my friends from Tilden wrote to me saying that Andrew had been arrested for the murders. He was my boyfriend, Julio! I would have known if he was capable of hurting anyone. He was such a gentle person. I tried to keep up with the events of the case by reading the Cincinnati Enquirer at the library, but once it became old news, there wasn't much about it anymore in the papers.”

“Have you heard anything more about him?”

“When I spoke to Nola, she told me Andrew's folks were devastated and insisted their son would never hurt anyone. They felt the only reason the police and neighbors even looked at him was because he was black, or as Nola says, colored. The fact that he spent so much time at our house compounded the theory. They never had any proof, but they charged him anyway. Nola said his parents moved away from Tilden Park when Andrew was released. It's a miracle he was exonerated. I guess his father hired the most expensive defense attorney in the country and he proved Andrew's alibi.”

“Do you know where Andrew is now?”

“I have no idea,” Connie said.

“What about his parents?”

“No.”

“You have to wonder why Andrew's parents moved to Tilden Park in the first place. Weren't they the only black family in town? I mean, talk about uncomfortable.”

“Yes, but they're just like everyone else. Once you start making money, you want to move to a nicer, safer neighborhood. Upscale black neighborhoods and clubs were scarce back then. They probably moved there hoping other blacks would follow, and that's what the neighbors feared. Both of Andrew's parents were scientists at the University. They wanted a good life for themselves and their son, just like everyone else, and you know how Mom and Dad loved them. Andrew and his parents were always welcome in our home. Our parents were very special and saw people for what they were, not for the color of their skin.”

“Luckily, Andrew was smart and athletic, so he was accepted at school pretty quickly. Let's face it; if it hadn't been for him, our football team would have stunk. He was the nicest and best looking guy I'd ever seen with the exception of my precious little brother.”

“I'm glad you made that exception, Sis.”

She gave him a wry grin. “Anyway, I think about him a lot. He was my first love—only love—and I'll never forget him.”

“I always liked him too. He was my idol because he was different, like me, and I watched how he handled that. He seemed comfortable in his own skin, and he always talked sports to me like a real person. Once I came home from school crying after some kids called me names because of my dark skin. I fought back the tears all day until I saw Andrew, but then I started to cry because I knew he would understand. He told me I was better and smarter than the rest of those idiots. He said to work hard in school and someday I would be richer and more successful than any of them. I asked him if he ever cried and he said, yes, especially when kids made comments about him being different.

“Andrew could always say something to make me feel better. It makes me sick to think of him being accused just because he was black and hung out at our house. I would love to see him sometime. I can't imagine he would consider coming to your reunion.”

“Would you come back if you knew the whole community thought you were capable of murder?”

“I doubt it.”

“I'm so sorry because I never realized how much Andrew meant to you, Julio. I remember you following us around when he came over, and I always chased you away. Sorry I called you a pest and told you to go away and leave us alone.”

“That's okay. I never really left. I would hide and spy on you guys all the time. I learned some of my best moves watching Andrew trying to romance my sister.”

“You're a shit, Julio. I had no idea you were spying on us.”

“I know. I spied on a lot of people.”

Some of the tension melted away as they finished their meal, paid the bill and walked back to the car.

“Besides facing our ghosts as you put it, what else is on your agenda while we're here in the land of the Big Red Machine?”

Connie sighed and said she wanted to talk to Nola about their parents and see their old house. Julio reiterated that he was not particularly fond of Nola, but was curious to see his old home again, too.

With that, they drove over to their old neighborhood and parked several streets away from their house. There was the fall smell of chimney fires in the air and the crunch of dried leaves under foot. As they walked through the neighborhood and saw people going in or out of their homes, they wondered if any of them had known their parents.

The neighborhood looked prosperous with all the Tudor homes still maintained to perfection. Each had a manicured lawn and lots of big shade trees. Connie felt a lump in her throat. It was hard seeing old sights and remembering how happy she had been living here.

They walked by their church, which hadn't changed at all. Melancholy struck Connie as she recalled all the youth meetings she'd gone to with Andrew.

Finally, they reached their street and stopped in front of their former house.

“Well, I'm looking at it, but with my lack of memory coupled with the renovation, I have no emotional reaction at all.” He glanced at Connie who had her eyes shut. “Go on, Sis. Take a look.”

It wasn't as difficult as she expected. Yes, the renovation made it look different, but it was probably the passage of time that had dulled the expected pain. The driveway was the same and the neighbors' houses were as she remembered.

The color of the house was gray now instead of white and the front porch had been enlarged. It was as though an old familiar picture frame now held a slightly altered painting. The overgrown landscaping gave it an empty, lonely feeling. Silently, they stared at the site of their happiest memories and most horrid nightmares. A chill went down Connie's spine as she wondered what really had happened inside their home that awful day.

They passed Nola's house, but couldn't tell if anyone was home. She wondered about Martin; he had been a good friend and neighbor growing up. Hopefully, he would be at the reunion either Friday or Saturday night.

She recognized Earl Lookey's house across the street. Her memory of him was of an elf-like man with a spry step and a witty personality. He had a big old basset hound, Sniff, which he took everywhere. Sue, his wife, was a popular teacher at the local elementary school. Mr. Lookey had spent a lot of time at their house, verbally sparing with their parents about politics. He must have been inside because smoke rose from his chimney.

After staring at the house for several minutes, Julio put his hand on Connie's. “Let's go check into our hotel,” he said. “It's been a long day and I need a rest and a shower before dinner.”

They drove to the old Tilden Park Inn on the town square. The exterior of the Tudor-style hotel had not changed. Connie remembered her dad going to the barbershop in the lobby. As a young girl, she'd liked coming here with him and watching all the activity. She used to marvel at the shoeshine man who could whistle any song beautifully. She would gaze at the variety of candy sold at the newsstand and always came home with a bag of her favorite chocolate nonpareils and several comic books.

As they entered the lobby, it was obvious the hotel was no longer the center of the town's activities. The barber and beauty shops were gone along with the newsstand and the shoeshine boy. The lobby now had a minimal sleek and modern look incongruent with the Olde English exterior of the inn. The bustling activity was gone and was now replaced with soft music. The emptiness of the lobby reflected the hollow feeling she felt at coming back to Tilden Park.