Authors: Faith
Chapter 5
The driver dropped Junior off at home. He was exhausted, but seeing Lacey sitting up waiting for him renewed his energy.
“How’s Mama Eloise?” Lacey asked.
“She’s fine. But don’t ask me how we’re going to get her to relax, because she was trying to leave the hospital tonight!”
Lacey laughed. “Well, you know how your mama is.” Getting up from the sofa, she asked, “Are you hungry?”
“No. I’m going to take a shower and lay down. I am completely drained.”
“It’s been a long day.”
“That it surely has.” Junior then found himself staring at Lacey.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Nothing. I’m just admiring your beauty.” He walked over to her and rubbed her belly. Lacey’s silk pink nightgown hugged her body in all the right places. He kissed her gently on her lips.
“You need to eat something. I’ll make you a sandwich,” she said, and sashayed into the kitchen as he watched her booty bounce underneath her gown. She felt him watching her and turned around and winked. Junior chuckled as he headed upstairs.
Junior checked in on the kids and kissed them both as the slept before jumping in the shower. By the time he finished, Lacey had placed a tray on the bed with a sandwich fit for a king, and an ice cold Pepsi. He dried off and slipped on his pajama pants before digging into his sandwich. To his surprise, he was actually starving.
Lacey climbed on the bed behind him and massaged his back as he ate. When he finished his food and soda he placed the tray on the nightstand.
Lacey stared at him lovingly. “I love you, Junior Blanks!” she said. Passion filled her eyes. She climbed on top of him and planted kisses all over his chest, neck and face before sucking on his bottom lip.
“I love you too, Mrs. Edwin Blanks!” Junior said as he ran his hands through her hair.
They continued to kook deeply into each other’s eyes, and in that moment they became lost in one another. They made hot passionate love to each other, becoming one in the spiritual realm. It was perfect. Their lovemaking session went on and on until they both tapped out.
________
The next morning, Lizzie waited anxiously for Elisea, as she was having the DNC procedure done. Lizzie was worried about her sister. She was used to her mouth, but Elisea was lost in her own thoughts on the way to the hospital.
Everyone had been texting her to get an update on Elisea. As she returned their texts the double doors opened and a pale, weak looking Elisea was being wheeled out. Lizzie tried to smile, but her heart ached for her sister. No matter the circumstances surrounding her pregnancy, she knew how much her sister wanted this baby.
“Hey you!” Lizzie smiled. “Everyone’s been checking on you, and Mama has called three times.”
Elisea plastered a fake smile on her face.
“So, you want to stop and get something to eat?” Lizzie asked after they got into the car.
“Nah, I’m good,” Elisea answered dryly.
“Well, I’m hungry, so I’m going to stop at Cook Out and get some chopped barbeque sandwiches with some good ol’ coleslaw, and an Oreo shake with extra Oreos,” Lizzie taunted as she nudged her, knowing it was her sister’s favorite. “You sure you don’t want anything?”
Elisea looked over at Lizzie, who was cheesing from ear to ear. “Well… I guess I could eat a little something.”
“Now that’s my girl!” Lizzie said.
They pulled into the drive thru, ordered their food then headed home.
Once inside the house, Elisea made herself comfortable on the couch. Lizzie covered her with a chenille blanket and slid in under it next to her. She watched her sister as she ate.
Elisea cut her eyes at her. “Would you stop staring at me, woman? I’m fine.”
“No you’re not, but you will be.”
Sadness filled Elisea’s eyes, and she cried; really cried. She cried for the loss of her baby, she cried for redemption… she just cried. And Lizzie held her through it all.
After Elisea released the pain she had been keeping bottled up, they put on “The Twilight Saga”, their favorite movie.
Five movies later, as “Twilight, Breaking Dawn 2” went off, the doorbell rang. Lizzie went to answer it, and James stood there along with a man she had never seen before. “Hey, James!” She was happy to see him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call first.”
“No, come on in.” Lizzie opened the door wider so the men could step in.
“Lizzie, this is my older brother, Andrew. Andrew, this is my Lizzie,” James said by way of introduction.
Lizzie blushed at the way James said her name.
Andrew held his hand out to shake hers. “Finally I can put a face to a name,” he said.
“Nice to meet you. Come on in the living room. Elisea and I were just watching ‘The Twilight Saga’”.
“‘Twilight’?” Andrew asked and made a face.
Lizzie turned around and squinted her eyes at him. “Hey, don’t start! I get enough of that from your brother!” she laughed.
“Hey, Elisea, this is my older brother, Andrew. Andrew, this is Lizzie’s sister, Elisea,” James said.
Andrew smiled. He was in awe of Elisea’s beauty. “Hello!” he said.
Elisea just gave him a head nod. She wasn’t really in the mood to entertain company. But even in her grief she recognized how fine Andrew was. He resembled James, but was taller. He was 6’3”, and had a muscular build and a pecan-brown complexion.
“Make yourself comfortable. Can I get you anything?” Lizzie asked.
“No, I’m good,” James said, looking over at Andrew, who shook his head no.
Lizzie took a seat next to her sister and asked, “So Andrew, what is that you do?” She already knew a little bit about him because James always talked about his hard working brother.
“I owned a computer software company, but I just sold it.”
“Oh wow! Why did you sell it?”
“Mainly because it wasn’t fun anymore. When I had so many employees that I had a hard time remembering their names, it went downhill from there.”
“Yeah, Drew likes to be hands-on,” James added.
“Oh… I see,” Lizzie said. She really didn’t see, but she didn’t know what else to say.
“But the main reason I sold my baby to the highest bidder was because it took over my life. What’s the point in being successful if you don’t take the time out to enjoy it?” Andrew explained.
“Oh, we know all about that, don’t we, Elisea?”
Elisea shot Lizzie a “I don’t want to be bothered” look.
There was an awkward silence in the room because the brothers caught the look Elisea dished out.
“So, are you married? Any kids?” Lizzie continued with Andrew’s inquisition.
“No, I never married, and no kids. That’s another reason. I was too busy for a wife and kids. My business was my wife.”
“Oh wow! Maybe now you’ll find that special lady.”
“That’s what I’m counting on. So, when my baby brother called me in a panic about the fire, I jumped on a plane to be here for him. By the way, I’m glad you all made it out safely.”
“Thank you. We are too.”
“Plus, I had to see the woman who turned my brother into a love sick puppy!” Andrew teased.
Lizzie blushed when he said that.
“Shut up, Drew!” James exclaimed.
Everyone laughed, and even Elisea managed to smile.
“Sissy, what do you want to watch now?”
Elisea just shrugged.
“Fellas, any ideas?”
“Anything with Kevin Hart. That cat is funny,” Andrew suggested.
“Alright, a Kevin Hart movie fest it is,” Lizzie said, getting up to find a movie.
________
Everyone had gathered at Mama Eloise’s house because they were waiting on Junior to bring her home. Lacey and Ruthie had been in the kitchen preparing a delicious, health conscious meal.
Madear walked into the kitchen. “Y’all babies are cooking it up, but you know Eloise likes her soul food.”
“Yes Ma’am, but she needs to eat healthier,” Lacey said as she prepared a humongous chef’s salad.
“Good luck with that!” Madear stated before going back into the living room and mumbling, “Poor babies gonna get their feelings hurt.” She sat down next to Elisea and patted her leg. “Hey, baby, how are you doing?”
“I’m okay, Madear.” She still didn’t want to be bothered, but she figured if she showed her face once her mother got home, she could slip away to her bedroom.
“You know, baby, let me share something with you. You know I had a bunch of youngins, but before any of them came into this world, I had three miscarriages.”
“Did you, Madear?” Elisea asked, deciding not to tune her out.
“Mm-hmm, sho’ did. I didn’t understand. I was hurt and I was angry, but looking back, I can see what God was doing. The man I lost those three babies with beat me something terrible.”
“Not you, Madear!” Elisea was shocked. She always saw her as a strong woman. She couldn’t imagine her letting a man put his hands on her.
“Yes baby, me. I didn’t come out the oven like this, chile. Life will either make you stronger or weaker. It’s all a choice.” Madear reared her head back and laughed a hearty laugh. “I was once young and dumb baby, and I just knew I was in love. He was my first, and I just knew he was the one. Baby, let me tell that man was the devil! Mean and evil I tell ya! See, many times we don’t know why or understand why God allows bad things to happen to us. But all things—not
some
things, but
all
things—work out for the good for those who love the Lord. There is no telling how my life would have turned out had those babies lived. But after I left that fool and came crawling back to my mama, I went to church, and within a month I met my husband. And he was a good man, baby. So, in your pain, know that God won’t take something from you without replacing it with something even better.”
“Thank you, Madear!” Elisea said and hugged her.
“Always, baby. Always.”
The door opened, and Junior and Mama Eloise walked in.
“Mama!” All of her children, except for Elisea, ran to the door like little kids. They all embraced her.
“A’ight! Y’all don’t smother my mama!” Junior told them.
“Hush, boy!” Mama Eloise laughed. Shoot, she was enjoying the attention.
“Come sit down, Mama,” Mud said, guiding her to her recliner.
She sat down in her favorite chair, closed her eyes and exhaled. It felt good to be home. Feeling all eyes on her she opened her eyes and made a face. “Ugh! Ugh! Y’all are not gonna be staring at me like y’all are waiting on me to keel over! Now go on and do something!” She shooed them away.
Not wanting to upset her, the Blanks clan tried to act busy and dispersed throughout the house.
Mama Eloise looked over at Elisea, who was sitting on the sofa next to her recliner. They looked into each other’s eyes, and she grabbed her daughter’s hand. No words were spoken between the two, but the message was loud and clear. In that moment Elisea knew that everything was going to be alright. She didn’t know when, but she knew she was going to be fine.
Sitting in between two of the strongest women she knew, Elisea felt comforted by their strength. Their energy surrounded her like a blanket. And if even for a brief moment, Elisea felt more peace then pain.
“Mama Eloise, we cooked a delicious healthy dinner for you!” Lacey yelled from the kitchen.
“Healthy? If I can survive a fire, I can keep eating my soul food! Humph!”
Madear shook her head and laughed. She knew that was what she would say. “I tried to tell them. Just be nice and eat the food.”
Mama Eloise rolled her big eyes.
As the ladies set the table the doorbell rang, and Lizzie opened the door to Denard and Maria. “Come in, Deacon. Hello, Ms. Maria.” They embraced and exchanged greetings. “Mama’s in the living room.”
“Denard!” Madear said in her boisterous voice.
“Madear! Eloise!” Denard kissed them both on the cheek.
“Have a seat, Denard. Hey, Maria.”
“Hello.” Maria seemed nervous and sat closely under Denard.
“How’s my girl doing?” Madear asked.
Denard shook his head.
“What?” Mama Eloise asked.
“She won’t eat. I don’t know what’s wrong with my sister. She’s being difficult with people. I don’t know what to do.” Denard started to get flustered.
“I think she’s depressed. She can’t say many words, and it frustrates her,” Maria added.
“Well, we’re just gonna have to do something about that,” Madear said, looking at Mama Eloise.
“You got that right! Don’t worry, Denard. We’ll get her together.”
“Sho’ will!” Madear said.
“Come on, y’all. Let’s eat!” Lacey said, announcing that dinner was ready.
Everyone got up and held hands at the table. Before Junior could bless the food, Mama Eloise spoke: “Thank you, Lord for this bountiful blessing. Lord, we thank you for allowing us to be in the number one more time. Bless the hands that prepared it, and the bodies that it shall nourish.” She threw her head back and shook before belting out: