Heaven or Hell (30 page)

Ralph made a smacking noise with his mouth. “No, Juan’s not homeless.”

“You know that woman with the missing teeth? She says she saw you with Juan today.” The priest didn’t understand why he couldn’t drop it—Juan was gone. His denial was starting to play tricks on his brain.

“Juan’s dead.” The smile left Ralph’s face when he spoke. “I know Juan well enough to tell you that wasn’t him.”

“Do you know that woman out there, too?” Father Benjamin asked.

“She’s nuts. Don’t believe a word she says.” Ralph shook his head.

The two men worked in silence completing the setup of the dining room. Father Benjamin pulled a few dollars out of his pocket and tried to give them to Ralph.

“I can’t take your money, Father.” Ralph waved his hands in the air.

“Why not? You took Sam’s money,” he responded.

“That’s different—it didn’t come from the church,” Ralph said.

“I want you to hold it then and give it to Sam when you see him.” The priest pushed the money toward Ralph.

“What’s this obsession you have with Sam? He’s like everyone else out there.” Ralph raised his voice as he walked toward the front door. “And I think you scared him away, so I lost my place in line.”

The priest followed behind Ralph. “Stay here. It’s okay. In fact, you can eat in the kitchen and then you can help clean up. I’ll get you a bed at the shelter for later.”

“I don’t want no special treatment,” Ralph said. “You’ll be driving me crazy following me around for weeks asking about that old guy. I know you, Father.”

Ralph slammed the door as he exited the dining room. The priest watched from the window as the man found his place in line but wasn’t allowed back in until a fight almost broke out. Somehow the waiting homeless worked it through.

“Are you ready, Father?” Anna yelled across the dining room as she approached the front door. “Darn, it’s raining harder now.”

“I know. It’s weird, I saw this man in line with Ralph and now he’s gone. The woman without her teeth said he was Juan.” The priest ran his hand through his hair and babbled on. “I’ll tell you something about him was so familiar, but I was distracted so I didn’t see him completely. It was his eyes, though. I don’t know. And now he’s gone.”

“We all miss him, Father.” Anna put her hand on the priest’s shoulder and patted him. “Are you okay to lead the prayer? I’m going to bring them into the dining room before we open the line and we need to tell them. Let’s get them out of the rain, okay?”

“Yes, bring them in.” Father Benjamin realized he sounded like the crazy one. He closed his eyes for a second and exhaled.

Anna opened the door and waved in the group. Most of the men walking past Father Benjamin mentioned they’d heard about Juan from someone else that’d been in line with them. Word had definitely gotten out.

As the bodies filled the dining room, Father Benjamin motioned for their silence.

“I know you’re hungry, cold, and wet. It’s unfortunate that we have some bad news to share. As expected after his recent hospitalization, Juan Torres passed away this morning. We’re going to have a few minutes of silence in his honor. And then I’ll lead the room in a prayer.”

Normally this group of people was rowdy and ill behaved, so Father Benjamin was surprised at the somberness that descended. It was as if the crowd sobered up and became respectful for those few minutes.

CHAPTER 27
 

THE CAKE MELTED IN JESSIE’S MOUTH, and she let her mind escape into the sugary flavors of the topping as she savored every bite. After a few mouthfuls, she sipped her coffee and allowed herself to believe for the moment that Marion had sent the recipe from beyond the grave.

Jessie wondered what had gotten into JJ with his recent antics. She couldn’t imagine what had been the cause; acting like a hoodlum wasn’t at all like her nephew. JJ had always gotten good grades at school and helped around the house. He behaved better than Teresa had when she was growing up, before the tragedies.

Jessie wanted to talk to Teresa about the notebook but didn’t know if this was the best time to approach the subject. Thinking about the story Joe’d concocted made Jessie chuckle. Angela in the clouds and Marion yelling at him for years?—ironically, that part was something Marion would do. Jessie laughed a little louder.

“What’s so funny, Auntie?” Teresa asked.

Jessie looked up and found both JJ and Teresa staring at her. “I was thinking about your dad and something he said.”

Teresa, who had found Jessie’s magazine collection and was flipping through the pages of an old issue of
Cosmopolitan
while sipping her coffee, put her face back in the magazine and muttered, “He had a story to tell, that’s for sure.” Then she smirked and rolled her eyes.

Jessie set her hand on the magazine to interrupt Teresa’s reading. “What do you make of him becoming such good friends with that priest?” she asked.

Teresa looked up, a slight smile on her face. “At first I thought it was unusual. Now, I’m glad he had a friend.”

“I think you should read the notebook. If not right away, maybe some other time.” Jessie wished her niece were a little more open-minded. She realized the story was impossible, but it was also something like a fable with her brother as the hero. And that thought made her feel much better than Joe simply dying. At that point though the somber feeling took over once more, and she felt sorrowful over the reality of the situation. “It’s all such heartbreak. Hey, what happened to that ‘family’ book?”

“Oh gosh, I think I left it in the backseat of my car.” Teresa returned her eyes to the magazine and then calmly added. “Why don’t you hang on to Joe’s journal. Don’t burn it just yet.”

“Okay. Do you want a brief summary?” Jessie felt pleased that Teresa would consider reading her dad’s story.

“No, not right now …” Teresa’s voice trailed off.

Jessie’s thoughts traced back in time as the three of them sat quietly at the kitchen table. Years ago Jessie had promised Marion she’d take care of Teresa, and as a result she’d found herself spending most of her time with Teresa, like a mother would. When Teresa married and started a family of her own, for a while Jessie felt freed of the responsibility. A guilty freedom, but freedom nonetheless.

Then Teresa’s marriage had failed, and Jessie felt accountable for that because she’d quietly celebrated her own liberty. In some ways the divorce was probably a greater hardship for Jessie the protector than it was for Teresa. The whole guilt/happiness thing was crazy, though, and unnecessary, because Teresa wasn’t a high-maintenance individual.

Her niece knew how to take care of herself; she really didn’t need Jessie for that. But the constant worry tugged at Jessie. Mostly because she was unable to prevent Teresa from having to go through more disappointments in her life. After all these years, Jessie still couldn’t let go of the worry, and she still couldn’t protect Teresa from the pain.

Teresa’s cell phone rang. “It’s the attorney,” she said jumping up and answering the phone. Then she held the phone to her ear while she paced throughout the house.

Jessie and JJ watched Teresa move back and forth, into the living room then back through the kitchen, rarely saying a word other than an occasional, “okay” or “yes.”

Teresa found a notepad in the kitchen drawer and began taking some type of dictation as a result of the conversation she was having with the attorney. And then the call ended with her closing remarks. “Okay, well, I’ll see you at my father’s funeral then.” She paused and listened. “Okay, thank you, Steve.”

Teresa put her phone away and moved with a deliberate calm to the table where JJ and Jessie were still seated. She then pulled out the chair next to JJ and sat down. “After the funeral we’ll need to speak to the district attorney. JJ, the police are mad.”

She put her hand to her chin and scanned the notes she’d made. Then she touched JJ’s arm as she spoke. “Apparently they have reason to be angry. A false police report was filed by Murphy’s mom, the parking lot was trashed, underage drinking and fighting went on—disorderly conduct. Not to mention the public demonstration without a permit.”

Jessie interrupted. “So the car was Murphy’s?”

“I knew it. I knew he did that.” JJ’s eyes took on an expression of resentment, and the paleness on his face became a pink color. “I can’t stand that guy.”

Teresa pursed her lips and ignored JJ’s comment. “Yes, Auntie. The car was Murphy’s.” She then referred to her notes and continued. “JJ, your attorney is actually working a deal with the district attorney that entails community service.”

“What? I didn’t do anything,” JJ whined.

“Oh, my son, but you did.” Teresa lifted JJ’s chin so that she could look into his eyes. “He said they talked to your friends and they actually have enough to press charges against you and maybe send you to a juvenile detention center.”

JJ bit his lip while Teresa stared him down.

“They could take away all the computers in our house and really mess up your life, you know?” She let go of his chin and looked down at her notes.

“Your good grades and the principal’s reference have led them to suggest no charges, no court date—straight to community service. Clean up with a road crew, one hundred hours minimum, and this will be monitored by the district attorney’s office.” Teresa’s face was expressionless. She looked at Jessie and gave her the quiet sign while JJ hung down his head. The two women waited in silence for the boy to respond.

Several minutes passed and then JJ asked, “What about Seth?”

“Oh, all of you boys will be participating. Murphy may have other troubles because he was the cause of the false police report,” Teresa said.

Jessie noticed her niece was amazingly calm during this whole serious discussion. She thought this was good considering what they’d all been through so far this week.

“Murphy is the cause of this whole thing,” JJ charged.

Teresa frowned. “No, son—you are. Mr. Flashster …”

Red outlined JJ’s eyes, and his checks were now covered with splotches of pink. But he seemed to do a good job of hiding his anger when he spoke. “Okay, I get it,” JJ whispered.

“We do have a meeting with the district attorney’s office—after we get through the funeral. Steve, your attorney, assures me if you finish up their program properly no formal charges will be brought against you. I believe you can get out of this if you do what they say.” Teresa raised her brows. “Okay?”

JJ nodded and spoke in a hushed voice. “Okay, Mom. Thank you.”

“Oh, one other thing. The principal wants to talk to you. Your friends shared your ‘flashster’ status with both the police and the principal.” Teresa rose up, pulled her notes off the pad of paper, folded the page, and then put it in her purse.

“Just remember, the principal got all of you boys out of trouble. You will do as he asks.” Her tone of voice was stern as she scolded JJ.

The pink turned into bright red across JJ’s cheeks. His jaw muscles flexed, and he appeared to be grinding his teeth. “Oh, no. I’m dead at school. Everyone’s going to know,” he said.

“Why would you say that? You don’t know how they’ll react,” Teresa responded.

JJ appeared to be deep in thought, and then he asked, “Can I have my phone back? I can at least find out what I’m up against at school tomorrow.”

“Let me think about it,” Teresa answered.

Jessie was glad the matter was almost resolved. She took another bite of cake and commented, “I can’t stop eating this,” with her mouth still full.

Teresa stood up and exhaled. She smiled as she put her hand on Jessie’s shoulder. “Auntie, we’re going to go home for a while. I’ve got some work to do and JJ has homework.”

“Now that you’re not in hiding.” Jessie chuckled.

Teresa laughed. “It was touch and go for a while there.”

Jessie was proud of how Teresa had handled her son’s situation, and she seemed to be in a decent frame of mind over her father’s demise. JJ, on the other hand, was not having a good day. He pouted his way to the front door dragging his backpack behind him and continued slowly down the sidewalk—in the rain—with his shoulders slumped.

Jessie laughed to herself. He’d get through this fine. She heard Teresa comment about the sprinkles and then she told JJ to step it up or move out of her way—she didn’t want to get wet.

CHAPTER 28
 

JOE HESITATED OUTSIDE THE CAFE. HE didn’t know which way to go. He moved to the left, then spun around and decided to go toward his right, which was when he almost ran into Angel.

“Have you been with me this whole time?” asked an elated Joe.

Angel’s frown turned into a smile. “You can see me, Dad?” she wanted to know.

“Yes, where in the heck did you come from, and where have you been?” Joe was grateful to find his daughter here. He’d been worried about how this would play out, and now, for the time being, anyway, he felt some much needed relief from worry over his youngest daughter’s plight.

“Finally. I’ve been following you.” Her eyes sparkled. “I remember it all now, Dad.”

Not yet
, he thought. She was going to leave him again. Joe’d been warned by Marion that once Angela really knew exactly who she was, that’d be the time she’d be leaving—but it would happen before his job with Teresa was complete. And the confusing part about the communication from Marion was her claim that Angela’s departure was imperative to Teresa’s own ability to move forward in her life. He didn’t get that.

“I’m happy for you, baby. It’s time for you to go to Mom now.” Joe wiped his eyes, and then made a face—no tears, again, please.

He inhaled and quickly smiled at his young daughter, both happy for her and sad to be losing her now at the same time. “I’ll take care of Teresa and your girls. You’re late by several years—it’s time.”

He bent over to eye level and held her cheeks between his hands memorizing her face. Angel’s eyes conveyed a stubbornness she’d sometimes shown even as a tiny baby. “I’m not leaving you here, Daddy.”

“Oh, no. That’s what happened last time. I won’t let you get stuck again. You’re going,” he insisted.