Back at Bernadine's office, she and Tamar sat in Lily's office in silence. Bernadine had purposefully turned on the com on her desk before leaving with Tamar because she wanted to hear what Diego said to her daughter, and as the mom, she had a right to be nosy.
Tamar said, “Sorry Crystal's hurting, but I'm glad the so-called relationship turned out to be not what she thought.”
Bernadine agreed. Her heart ached for Crystal, but not the way it would've had she really taken it in her head to run away from home. “Thanks, Tamar.”
“You're welcome.”
W
hen Bernadine got home from work, Crystal was sitting out on the deck. “Hey, Crys.”
“Hey.”
“How'd it go with Diego?”
She shrugged. “He said he was too old for me, and that he hadn't been hitting on me. I feel so stupid.”
“You shouldn't.”
“Well, I do, and I feel like I can't breathe. I like my life here, but I miss my old one.”
Bernadine sat down in one of the empty chairs at the table. “And what do you miss?”
“You want the truth?”
“Always.”
“Being able to go and do what I want, when I want. I miss the streets and the noise and the people. I can't tell you the last time I smelled a McDonald's.”
Bernadine showed a small smile. “Out here is definitely different.”
“Sucks sometimes.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“I don't know. Diego said I'm not the same girl I used to be. He called me a princess because I get to fly on jets.”
“Regular kids don't get those kinds of perks. So, do you want to be the old Crystal?”
“Sometimes, yeah, I do. She was fly.”
“And the new Crys isn't?”
“I'm still fly, but I'm rich-girl flyâthere's a difference.”
“Ah.”
“It's hard to explain.”
“I understand. Growing up is hard.”
“Tell me about it.”
“But we all hope to reach a point in our life where we're comfortable in our skin, and for some us it takes a while. You've been plopped down in a whole new world, Crysâno one expects you to find your footing right away.”
“It's been three years, and the old me is still inside, wanting to get out.”
“She's always going to be inside. We can't just turn off our past like a light switch.”
“I guess.”
“On the next school break we can fly down to Dallas or New Orleans and let you smell a McDonald's, if you want.”
Crys smiled. “Maybe.”
“And you can always go and talk to Reverend Paula if you need helping figuring stuff out, too. One of the blessings of being here is you have a large extended family willing to help out any way they can.”
“I know. Maybe I will talk to the Rev.”
Bernadine stood. “Whatever you do, just know that I love you, and I'm here for you.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“I'm going to go change clothes. Who's cooking tonight, you or me?”
“I'll cook. It'll give me something else to think about.”
Bernadine moved around the table and planted a kiss on her cheek. “Hang in there, sweetie.”
Crys hugged her tight. “I will.”
On her way up to her bedroom, Bernadine was glad they'd had the talk, but she felt something looming on the horizon, like the smell of rain before a thunderstorm.
T
he Fourth of July dawned sunny and bright. The cookout at Tamar's began with breakfast and ended early that afternoon so that everyone could head over to the rec's auditorium for the Idol contest.
When Bernadine entered the auditorium, it was already filling up. She spotted Reg Garland, seated by himself. “Can I sit with you?”
“Sure. I think we may be the only two people in the county not performing.”
“You may be right.”
In spite of his smile, she sensed sadness. She wondered if he and Roni were doing better as a couple now that Roni had been home for a while, but it would be out-and-out rude to ask something so personal, so she didn't and watched the people entering instead.
For the next half an hour people filed in. Twenty minutes before the curtain was due to rise, a quick look-around showed that all 125 seats were filled. The air in the room was electric.
At precisely eight o clock, Sheila came out onstage. “Welcome to the first Henry Adams Idol competition.”
Thunderous applause greeted her words, and she smiled. “We have some great acts for your enjoyment this evening, so sit back, have fun, and if you feel the urge to stand up and shake a tail feather, that's all right, too.”
Laughter greeted that.
“First up, we have Five-O! Let's give them a hand!”
The curtain lifted and there stood Sheriff Will Dalton, of all people, wearing a long rocker's wig over his buzz cut and holding a guitar! With him were three other guitarists and a guy behind a huge drum set. She stared wide-eyed at Reg, who was grinning ear to ear. Before she could put her shock into words, Will hit some chords on his guitar and began rocking the house with “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones. And to her delight they were good, damn good. Will not only sang but played lead, lighting up that guitar with a solo that had people on their feet shaking tail feathers and everything else. She then understood what he meant about winning the competition. The next people up were going to have to grow wings and fly around the room to beat the performance of Five-O.
When the band hit the last note, the frenzied audience went nuts.
Next up was a little girl who appeared to be no older than ten. She was cute, and though she had a terrible voice and even worse dance moves, she was trying. Bernadine leaned over to Reg. “What's she singing?”
“Katy Perry.”
Bernadine wanted to ask who that was, but rather than put her ignorance on display, she sat back and let the girl's performance help her recover from being rocked half to death by Will Dalton and his band Five-O.
The little girl finally finished and made her exit to a round of polite applause.
The house lights went down for a minute, and when the curtain rose, this time there were three girls standing in a spotlight with their backs to the audience, arms extended. They too were wearing fake hair, but their costumes were glitzy-looking ball gowns like Diana Ross and the Supremes wore in the 1960s. It was easy for Bernadine to figure out that the girls on the outside were Crystal and Leah, and that the shorty in the middle was Zoey. The lights slowly came back up, and the small orchestra behind them was revealed for the first time. She stared at Reg.
“My wife the music director never does anything halfway. The musicians'll be onstage for the rest of the competition.”
Bernadine was about to ask him how come she knew nothing about any of this when the musicians began, and Zoey, holding the mike, whipped her head toward the audience and belted out like the diva that she was, “What you want, baby I got! What you needâ”
Bernadine's mouth dropped. Aretha! Sure enough, with Crystal and Leah singing backup, Zoey tore up the place, prancing and posing and singing her little butt off. She sounded like Teena Marie's Mini-Me, and the folks in the audience were on their feet, singing and dancing and clapping in time with the song and the jamming musicians.
Zoey was in her element, and she appeared to be having a ball. Crystal and Leah didn't miss a step in their moves, and went through their routine grinning giddily.
When they were done, the appreciative applause was deafening, and a smiling Sheila walked back out to center stage. “That was the group Girlfriends! Let's give them another hand.”
The audience didn't have to be asked twice.
Once they quieted, Sheila said into her mic, “And now, doing another Motor City favoriteâ“You Got to Earn It,” by the TemptationsâJack and the Mad Dads!”
Bernadine stared.
Who?
Out walked Jack, Trent, and Gary. Jack stood in front of the floor mic, and Trent and Gary flanked him on the left and right. They were dressed in black suits and white sneaks. Bernadine was so blown away, her hand covered her mouth in delight.
The drummer started the rhythm. The bass guitar followed, and when the rest of the small orchestra took up their parts, Jack took the mic and crooned, “To get stones from a rock, you got to break it . . .  ,” and Gary and Trent sang, “Yeah yeah yeah.”
Jack's falsetto was nothing compared to Eddie Kendricks's original, but in Henry Adams it was enough to make the women start screaming, especially Rocky, who was on her feet. The Mad Dads worked their way through the easy-paced R&B classic, and once again folks were on their feet, dancing, clapping, and singing. Bernadine looked around the partying audience and cracked up at the sight of four old white guys doing the Temptation walk in the center aisle.
At the music's bridge, the Dads did a series of Temptation steps that brought down the house. They then repositioned themselves, and Jack pulled the mic free and crooned on. When they were done, they bowed in unison, and the audience screamed themselves hoarse.
Bernadine said to Reg, “These folk are trying to put me back in the hospital!”
Reg rolled his eyes in response.
Mal came out next. He sat on the stool he'd carried out with him and sang the Otis Redding classic “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.” He was goodânot spectacular, but he appeared to be having fun, and that was all that mattered.
Next up, to her surprise, was Clay Dobbs, who walked out to center stage dressed in a fine looking cream-colored, western-styled suit and a matching wide-brimmed Stetson. He was carrying a big brown guitar. He positioned himself on the edge of the stool Mal used, and his opening series of twang-filled notes made even Bernadine jump to her feet as he sang, “The thrill is gone . . .”
His voice was outstanding, and his skilled guitar playing awesome. Once again the audience added their voices, and soon the lyrics to the old B.B. King classic rose to fill the space. He sang effortlessly and flawlessly. He was so good that were she in charge, he'd be the night's winner.
When he finished, he stood, bowed, and walked smoothly back into the wings.
Lily and Trent walked on and sang “Reunited,” by Peaches and Herb. Their voices blended well, and Bernadine thought their choice of song was very sweet and appropriate, considering all love had taken them through.
Reverend Grant came out next and did a cover of the lovely Yolanda Adams gospel tune “I'm Gonna Be Ready.” She had a good strong alto voice, and Bernadine could hear a few people in the seats behind hers singing along.
Following her was an elementary school student from Franklin, who played “Flight of the Bumblebee” on his violin. He was pretty good, not good enough to win, but the audience gave him a rousing standing ovation.
The stage lights went down, and Tamar walked out. “Next, Colonel Barrett Montgomery Payne and his wife, Sheila, in the tango!”
A spotlight came on, and there they were, posed like a couple in a ballroom competition. Bernadine couldn't believe her eyes!
The sultry music began, and the Paynes began their strut. Barrett steered Sheila through the steps, pausing every now and then so she could snap her head back and forth. It was obvious that they knew what they were doing. They moved as one, leaning against each other and then backing awayâthe crowd loved it.
The stunned Bernadine glanced over at Reg, and he laughed and shouted over the mayhem, “Amazing, right?”
“Yes!”
The routine was about five minutes long, but she could've watched them for an hour or more. Skill and finesse could be seen in every move. When they ended the mesmerizing performance, they bowed, exited to roof-raising applause, and Bernadine finally closed her mouth. Who knew!
There was a short break while the musicians and the audience tried to catch their breath, and then Sheila walked out again. “Okay, our last act of the evening,”
A drumroll sounded, and over it Sheila yelled, “The hardest-working entertainers in the state of Kansas. Devon W. July and the Flames!”
And out they came, Amari, Preston, Eli, and Devon. The audience went wild upon seeing the shiny black pompadours on their heads. Devon had on a suit, but his Flames were wearing black tees, jeans, and sneaks.
The musicians started a bluesy number, and Devon grabbed the mic and pleaded, “Please, please don't go.” Behind him, the Flames moved slowly to the left and right, answering with the same sung phrase. Devon kept pleading as he and the boys covered the old James Brown tune. And soon Devon was singing and spinning and moonwalking and dropping to his knees, begging the mythical woman to please don't go.
Folks in the audience were screaming.
Then the song slowed as if ending, and the begging Devon was hunched over and pleading into the mic while the Flames kept up their slow-moving chant. Still bent over as if he were dying from his broken heart, he began moving offstage, singing all the while. That's when Eli draped the cape over Devon's back, just like in the old James Brown Revue, and Bernadine leaped to her feet along with everyone else in the audience. And just like Brown, Devon kept the cape on for a few seconds, thrust it off, and went into a dizzying dance routine. He snatched the mic up and pleaded again, “Baby, please don't go.”
Even the musicians were on their feet as they played away. The cape was draped over his back three more times, and three more times, Devon shook it off, whirled the dance moves that did James Brown proud, and added a series of splits.
It was apparent to everyone watching that Devon belonged on the stage. His performance was wild, funny, and most of all sensational. When he and the Flames finally slowed and walked their way back into the wings, the applause and cheers went on endlessly.
Bernadine finally fell back into her seat, feeling as if she'd run a marathon.
Reggie asked, “So who's the winner?”
“Everybody was good, but I'm putting my money on Clay.”
He said, “I'm going with the Paynes.”
The judges, Roni and Siz, were polled while the audience waited expectantly. A few minutes later, Sheila walked back out to announce the results. “In fourth place, and the winner of one hundred dollars: Devon and the Flames!”
Applause.
“In third place, and the winner of two hundred and fifty dollars: Clay Dobbs.”
Louder applause.
“Our second-place prize of three hundred dollars goes to Five-O!”
Insane applause.
And then she grinned. “In first place, and the grand prize winner of five hundred dollars, drumroll, pleaseâ”
The drummer obliged.
“The Paynes!”
The musicians struck up the tango music again, and a smiling Barrett ran out onstage, took his wife by the hand, and they tangoed like nobody's business. The screaming crowd jumped to their feet and gave the winners their due.
O
n the ride home with Mal, Bernadine couldn't believe how exhausted she was. All the clapping, screaming, shaking, and singing had left her limp. “That was fun. Sorry you didn't win.”
“It's okay. Glad Clay won something, though.”
“How long has he been playing guitar?”
“Since we were probably seven or eight.”
“Wow. He was excellent. And how long has Will been playing? His group was good, too.”
“He shouldn't've even been allowed to enter.”
“Why not?”
“Because he used to play with one of those old rock groups back in the day. For all intents and purposes he's a professional.”
She smiled, leaned over, and hooked her arm in his.
He said to her, “Got something for you in the glove box.”
“And it is?”
“You have to open the box and see.”
Wondering what this wonderful man was up to now, she did as he asked and withdrew a small blue velvet box. She opened it and was awed by the sight of a small faceted sapphire, centered on a gold chain. “Mal, this is beautiful.”
“You like it?”
“I do. Are we celebrating something?”
“Yes. Me and you. I'm calling it a Promise Necklace.”
She looked over at him in confusion. “And what's that mean?” She lifted the delicate chain free of the box.
“Means, since we decided to not decide on marrying, I promise to love you like no other, in sickness and health and in sunshine and rain.”
“Oh, Mal.”
“Not done.”
She chuckled softly, and her heart was full. “Sorry, go on.”
“I promise to be there when you need me, and stay out of your way when you don't. I promise to be upfront and honest, dependable, understanding, and to make sure you stop turning the world every now and then long enough to smell the roses.”
“Anything else?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“That's some pretty powerful promising.”
“I have a pretty powerful woman.”
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I love you.”
“And that's a good thing.”
That night, as she lay in bed thinking back on the day, she was once again very thankful to be living in her little town on the plains. Her foster kids were thriving, their parents too. She'd found love in the arms of a man who could make her laugh and send her heart soaring all in the same moment. She was building a church and a grocery store and a fire station. There were a few things nibbling on the edge of her contentment, however, the most important being Crystal. She sensed something not right with the daughter of her heart, and she wasn't sure how it might manifest itself, but she planned to keep loving her no matter what the future held.