Chapter Fifty-three
A year later . . .
Angel wiped the tears from her eyes. She knew someone was going to come looking for her, but she needed just a few moments to herself. She was grateful to Reverend Freeman and Lenora for allowing her to screen
The Elisa Roberts Story
at Victory Gospel Church. She had spent many nights determined to pull the memories of her mother's tragedy together. Some nights she had wept as she edited and spliced together photos and precious footage from family videos.
She was hesitant about including Eddie's footage, but he was a part of the story. Eddie's claims that he was Nick's son still hadn't been proven. From what Wes could dig up, it appeared that her granddad was briefly involved with Eddie's mother. Why Eddie had made it his goal to claim Nick Roberts as his father was unclear. Whether he was really her uncle or not, she didn't care. The trial would start soon, and if all went well, Eddie would spend the rest of his life in prison.
Sadly, any opportunities to rekindle a friendship with Denise had been lost. Denise and Kenneth had called off the wedding and had gone their separate ways. She'd seen Kenneth around, but Denise had taken little Kenny down to Florida.
Someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Angel, are you okay?”
“Yes.” Angel went over and opened the door. She laughed and said, “Wow. Grams must have sent the cavalry after me.”
Candace eyed her. “Girl, you know no one is about to let you disappear.” Both Candace and Lenora walked into the bathroom and stood on either side of her.
Lenora reached for more tissues from the box on the sink. “I understand this was emotional for you. I believe there aren't too many dry eyes in the room. Even Reverend Freeman shed some tears.”
Candace added, “Darnell tried to play hard, but I caught him wiping his eyes too.”
Angel giggled, and then she caught sight of Candace's hand. “OMG! What is this?” She grabbed Candace's hand. “Is this . . . ?”
“Yes, child, that man proposed.” Candace beamed as she showed off the diamond on her hand. “You know I accepted. We grown folks, and it was about that time.”
Lenora laughed. “You know you are both going to have to make an appointment with Reverend Freeman right away for marriage counseling.”
“I'm going to start following you two around with my video camera so I can get some good footage for that wedding video.” Angel reached over and squeezed her friend. “I'm so happy for you two.”
“Thank you, honey. Speaking of happy, we need to get you out there before Fredricka gets up with her walker and starts looking for you herself.”
The three women walked out of the restroom and into the Victory Gospel Center. Most of the guests were lined up around the tables, adding food to their plates. Angel saw Grams looking around for her. Sitting at the same table were Jacob and Liz, along with Wanda. Angel hadn't realized Liz had made it down for the screening. She thought it looked a bit awkward to have Liz and Wanda at the same table, but Jacob looked good. Her uncle looked happier than he'd ever been. As Angel approached, Grams struggled to stand.
“No, Grams. You can sit,” Angel told her.
“No. I don't want to. I'm standing to hug my Angel.”
Angel bent down and let her grandmother reach up to hug her. It was a strong, comforting hug. Grams whispered in her ear, “I'm proud of you, and so is your granddad.”
Angel thought she would burst out and cry again, but she held it in. She moved around the table, hugging Wanda next. “How's Lenny?”
Wanda said, “He's as good as he can be. He would love to have you visit with Wes again. I heard you sang for him the last time.”
“I enjoyed the last time I visited. He really seemed happy when we played some of Southern Soul's CDs.”
“Oh, he loves music. Best medicine for him.”
Angel walked around and hugged Liz. “It's good to see you. Both of you.”
Jacob stood. “She surprised me.” Liz and Jacob were still separated, but they were keeping in touch. Her uncle reached down and hugged her. “I'm proud of you, kid.”
“Thanks.” That meant a lot coming from her uncle Jacob. “How are the business plans coming along? My dad said you were going to take off in no time.”
Angelino and his family couldn't make it to the screening, but Angel had been enjoying spending time with her dad and his family. She had quite a bit in common with her younger half sister. Surprisingly, Jacob, who was making his way back from his bout with depression, had struck up a friendship with Angelino.
“Your dad is something else,” Jacob commented. “I think there will be another entrepreneur in the family. I owe it to you for being an inspiration.”
“Ah, stop. I'm liking this new uncle.”
“I'm your only uncle.”
“You are right about that.” Angel hugged her mother's brother again, her thoughts turning to the other man she had affectionately called uncle most of her life. As she pulled away from Jacob, she tried to hide a shudder that had moved up her body.
“You okay?” Jacob asked.
“Yes.” She smiled. Her mouth stretched wider as she saw Wes walk over. His eyes were all for her.
“I have someone who wants to see you,” he told her.
Angel looked at him. She had questions, but Wes's eyes were sparkling. ”Okay.”
She placed her hand in his as he led her down a hallway and into a conference room. Sitting in a chair facing the window was a woman. Angel walked around Wes to see her face more clearly.
“Melanie.” Angel ran over to her as she stood. “How are you? You look so good.”
“Thank you. Sorry I'm late. I had to come.”
“I'm glad you were able to make it to the screening. I know coming back to Charlotte was hard.”
“Yeah, well, it was good to be in Oklahoma. Being around my aunt, I felt connected to my mother.”
“That's beautiful.” Angel looked behind her to where Wes stood at a distance. She lowered her voice. “How are you sleeping now?” Angel looked into Melanie's eyes and squeezed her hand. “I know. We will keep praying for each other. It will get better. I know neither one of us wants to be near the woods anytime soon.”
They both giggled at Angel's attempt at a joke. The two young women had shared an experience together that had forever changed them both but had bonded them as friends. Not only had Melanie been saved, but the authorities had recovered Angel's mother's bones. It was a bittersweet thing for Angel.
She asked Melanie, “Are you singing?”
Melanie nodded. “I am. I feel more like myself when I am singing. I saw the video. You need to get out there more.”
Angel nodded over her shoulder at Wes. “Believe me, I hear that all the time.”
Melanie peeked around at Wes. “You got a good one. Thanks again for everything, my sister.” They hugged each other.
Angel watched as Melanie walked out.
Wes came up and placed his arms around her. “Did you see Candace's hand?”
Angel smiled. “I did. Darnell did well with the ring.”
“He did all right.”
Wes and Angel had been datingâor as Candace liked to say, courtingâfor a year now. Angel didn't know how she would have made it through the past year without Wes. Some days she had pushed him away as she struggled with her long overdue grief and anger. Wes had stood by her with a listening ear and prayers.
She smiled at Wes. “What? You think you can do better?”
“I don't know. Let's find out.”
Angel watched as Wes dropped to one knee in front of her. She gasped as he pulled out a ring box from inside his jacket.
He opened the box. “Angel, I would love for us to make a lifetime of memories together. Would you marry me?”
The joy that flooded her soul sparkled inside more vibrantly than the diamond Wes held out to her. She beamed down at Wes and answered, “Yes.”