Authors: Brenda Jackson
Perfect Timing
To the love of my life, Gerald Jackson, Sr. and to my sons, Gerald Jackson, Jr. and Brandon Jackson.
To all those who attended the 1971 Class of William Raines High School 30-Year Class Reunion Cruise aboard the Carnival Jubilee. Thanks for the wonderful memories and all the fun.
To Sheryl Muraca of Cruises and Tours Unlimited, Jacksonville, Florida. Thanks for making our 30-year class reunion cruise to the western Caribbean so memorable.
To a very special little girl, Mya Ki'Shae Sheppard.
To an avid reader and friend, Brenda Woodbury.
To fellow authors, Carla Fredd, Maggie Ferguson, Francis Ray, and Rochelle Alers. Thanks for listening to my plot and providing your feedback.
To Denise Coleman and Pat Sams. The beginning of our friendship was definitely perfect timing. Thanks for giving me sistah love and support when I needed it most.
To Randy and Andrea Watts, Terry and Dawn Johnson, Daryl and Tonya Knox, and Ben and Nina Davenport. I couldn't resist because you're all very loving couples.
To my Heavenly Father. I'm everything I am because you love me.
“W
hy are you so sad?” Seven-year-old Maxine Chandler pushed the long braids covering her head away from her eyes to get a better look at the girl sitting alone watching the other kids play. Just that morning the teacher had introduced her as Mya and said she was new at school and had moved to town from someplace where it snowed all the time. Maxine wondered if the reason she looked sad was because she was missing the snow.
“I want my mommy and daddy,” the little girl answered in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry.
“Where are they?” Maxine asked curiously, feeling herself about to cry too, although she didn't know why.
“They went to heaven and left me behind. Now I have to stay with my granny,” the little girl answered.
Maxine nodded as she looked down at the girl thoughtfully. She shoved her hands into the deep pockets on her dress and asked. “Don't you like your granny? I like mine.”
The question made the little girl lift her head up and push her chin out. “I like my granny just fine, but sometimes I miss my mommy and daddy awfully bad. I get lonely.”
Maxine nodded knowing that if her parents went away she would miss them too. She suddenly felt really bad inside. “Do you want me to sit with you for a while so you won't be lonely?”
Mya looked up at Maxine then after a short while she scooted over. “If you want to.”
Maxine sat down on the bench next to Mya. Silently they watched the other kids in the schoolyard who were running around having fun. After a while Maxine said. “I'll share my parents with you. My momma said my daddy always wanted another child.”
“You're the only one?”
“Yes.”
“So was I,” Mya said softly.
Neither said another word for the longest time. Then Maxine asked. “Well, do you want to be my parents' other child or not?”
Mya thought about Maxine's offer. “Does that mean I'll have to leave my granny and come live with you?”
Maxine pondered Mya's question then answered. “Yes, more than likely you'll have to live at my house. My daddy says he only feeds what's living under his roof, so you'll have to come live with us if you want to eat.”
Mya tossed Maxine's words around in her mind. Blinking away more tears she looked at her. “But I don't want to leave my granny. She needs me now that my mommy and daddy are gone.”
Maxine nodded. “All right, but if you change your mind let me know. But we can be friends can't we?”
Mya wiped away her tears and smiled. She was glad she didn't have to leave her granny and go live with someone else for now. “Yes, we can be friends.”
“Best friends?”
Mya's smile widened. “Yes, the very best. For the rest of our lives.”
Maxine scrambled to her feet and reached out her hand to her new best friend. “Come on, let's go play.”
Evelyn Jerott, the girls' teacher, watched as they rushed off with their long braids flying in the wind behind them. Standing not far away while watching the other kids in her care, she had overheard the two little girls' conversation. She smiled. Maxine Chandler's approach to Mya Ross had been perfect timing. Evelyn had been concerned whether Mya would sit by herself all day or whether she would eventually mingle with the other kids. Mya's grandmother had explained the situation to her that morning regarding Mya's parents' death in a car accident. Her heart had gone out to the little girl but now she had a feeling she would be okay. Mya was laughing and running around with a new friend.
Evelyn sighed. She had a feeling that the friendship that had just been made between Maxine and Mya would be a special bond that would last a long time.
A very long time.
When the clouds are heavy, the rains come down; when a tree falls, whether south or north, the die is cast, for there it lies.
âEcclesiastes 11:3
Maxi
Twenty-one years later
M
axine “Maxi” Chandler hated the smell of a doctor's office. It was the same scent one found in a hospitalâa medicinal, antiseptic, and sterile odor.
Since she was Dr. Frazier's last patient for that day, the waiting room was empty. She'd had consultations scheduled earlier with four of her students and had appreciated the late appointment time. The side door opened and Pauline Warren, a lady in her early sixties appeared. It seemed Mrs. Warren had been Doctor Frazier's nurse for years.
Maxi took a deep breath. Pauline had called her yesterday to let her know that the results of her tests had come back. In a few minutes she would know if the medication the doctor had prescribed for her a few months ago had improved her medical condition, or if the worst-case scenario was what she was now up against.
“The doctor is ready to see you, Maxi,” Mrs. Warren said, smiling.
Maxi stood, returning Pauline's smile. That same smile had had a calming effect on her frazzled nerves when she had undergone her first GYN exam before leaving home for college at eighteen, almost ten years ago. Also, that same smile had offered sympathy to her four years ago when Jason had gotten killed.
“And how is your mom?” Pauline asked as she led Maxi to one of the empty examination rooms.
“Mom is fine and wanted me to tell you hello.”
Pauline nodded, closing the door behind them. “I take it that she and Mr. Hudson still haven't made any wedding plans?”
Maxi laughed. “No they haven't.” Her mother, a widow for nearly ten years and Walter Hudson, a widower for probably just as long, had been seeing each other for years. “Do I need to undress?”
“No. The doctor just wants to talk with you and go over the results of your tests.”
Maxi nodded. She'd had a queasy feeling in her stomach ever since receiving Pauline's call.
“Dr. Frazier will be with you in a minute,” were Pauline's last words before turning and exiting the room.
Maxi sat down in one of the chairs. No matter what Dr. Frazier had to tell her, she had to believe that she could handle the news. How many times had her mother told her that the Lord never put more on you than you could bear and trouble didn't last always? Taking a deep breath she glanced around the room. For the second time that week she thought about Jason and how his death, which had occurred a week before their wedding day, had nearly destroyed her. He had been on his way to pick her up for dinner when a drunk driver crossed the median and hit him head-on, killing him instantly at the age of twenty-six. He had moved to Savannah seven years before from Ohio to open an insurance agency.
Maxi's thoughts came to an end when the door opened and Dr. Frazier entered. Although she studied his features for any tell-tale signs, there weren't any. There was nothing about him that gave anything away. Not even a small hint. He appeared jovial as usual.
“How are you, Maxi?”
“I'm fine, Dr. Frazier, and you?”
He chuckled. “I have one year, three months and twenty-four days before retirement, so I'm doing pretty good. I talked to Sonja last night and she's making plans to go on your class reunion cruise. What about you?”
Maxi inhaled deeply. Dr. Frazier's daughter Sonja, now a gynecologist herself in Atlanta, had graduated from high school with her. To celebrate their ten-year class reunion, a seven-day cruise to the western Caribbean had been planned. “I've decided not to go. This summer will be much too busy for me.” As a college professor teaching African-American studies at Savannah State University, she had agreed to instruct several classes during the summer term.
“Everyone can use some R and R every now and then, Maxi. Always remember that. There's nothing worse than working yourself to death. Vacations are things people should strive to have at least once a year. Besides, I'd think you'd want to go to the reunion. According to Sonja you were the most popular and most well-liked girl at Beaches High, and were friends with just about everyone.”
Maxi nodded. And that was one of the main reasons she didn't want to go. Five years ago she had attended her five-year reunion with Jason, as an engaged couple. Although she had gotten over losing him, she didn't want people who didn't know about his death to open old wounds by asking her about him. “I'll keep that in mind, but I know you didn't summon me here to talk about my high school class reunion.”
“No, I didn't.” Dr. Frazier took a seat across from her. “The results of your tests came back.” He opened the chart he held in his hand. “I'm sorry to inform you that the medication I placed you on isn't working like I had hoped, and there's no other alternative now but surgery.”
Maxi took in a deep breath. “Which means if I want a child I need to get pregnant before the surgery.” It was a statement and not a question. She bowed her head. It had always been her dream to have children. But then she'd always wanted a husband too. Now it seemed that both were lost to her forever. “Is there any chance the test results are incorrect?” she asked, knowing she was pulling at straws but pulled at them anyway.
“No, Maxi, I'm sorry, but then deep down I think you knew surgery would have to be the answer, didn't you?”
“Yes.” She tried smiling. “But a girl can have hope, can't she?”
“Yes, she can.” For the longest time he didn't say anything else but continued to look at her with concern on his face. “I still think you should consider going on that cruise. Being around old friends will do you good.”
Not if I have to put up with them pulling pictures out of their purses and wallets, displaying their perfect families
, she thought. After ten years most were heavily involved in careers and families. More than likely they would want to talk about both. Although she had the career she'd always wanted, she didn't have the family she'd always dreamed about having.
She stood. “I'll think about it,” she said, knowing deep down that she probably wouldn't. She checked her watch. “I'd better go. I'm sure it's been a long day for you. Thanks for everything, Dr. Frazier. You will be the one doing the surgery, won't you?”
“Yes, if you decide to do it.”
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not if you want to be completely well.”
“Then I guess that's that. But, I want to put off the surgery for as long as I can.”
“All right, but if you begin having problems I want you to rethink that decision. Your monthly cramps will only continue to get worse until the matter is taken care of.”
Maxi nodded. “I'll be in touch, Dr. Frazier.” She walked out of his office thinking that somehow she would deal with what lay ahead. Somehow she would find the strength to do so.
Â
Later that evening after enjoying a quiet dinner alone, Maxi went through her closets in search of her high school yearbook. Her conversation with Dr. Frazier had made her think about her former classmates. Many of them had moved away after graduation to attend college, never returning except for occasional visits. Out of a class of over two hundred students, only half of them still made Savannah their home. Although she had left to attend Howard University in Washington, she had returned to the historic coastal town that she loved.
She flipped a few pages of the yearbook, most of them now yellow with age, and checked the section where all the seniors' pictures were. She studied the pictures. The class of 1992 had graduated students who were now doctors, lawyers, federal judgesâ¦there was even a movie star or two in the group, as well as a few living the life of crime. She knew for a fact that George Buford was in jail for armed robbery. At one time he had made the FBI's most wanted list for robbing more than fifteen banks.
Maxi turned to her senior picture and smiled, grateful the hairstyle she had worn back then was no longer stylish. Her gaze then moved to the photo of the young man next to herâChristopher Chandler. She'd had a big-time crush on him during their entire senior year. Because they'd had the same last name it seemed they had always been in some of the same classes throughout their entire twelve years of school. He had come from an area of town that some considered ghettoville and was always known for getting into trouble. Rebellious, wild, and filled with anger and bitterness because of how society had treated him, Christopher had taken pleasure in being the town's bad boy. Raised by a mother with a reputation of sleeping around, who had enrolled him in school two years later than she should have and only after the school officials had threatened her with legal actions, he had barely made the grades to graduate. She couldn't help but recall the scandal that swept through Savannah during their senior year of school involving Christopher's mother and the city's mayor. To this day Maxi believed the reason their science teacher, Mr. Thompson, who'd for some reason had taken a liking to the rebellious Chandler, had teamed him up with her for their science project was because he had known Christopher's hidden potential. And giving him something to do that required a lot of concentration would take his mind off what was being exposed in the newspaper about the high profile affair. The project had taken first place at the Science Fair. Christopher had surprised even her with his hard work and dedication to the project. And she had found out something about him during the six weeks they had worked closely together on the project. It had been something the other students and some of the teachers had not known, and probably never discovered. Underneath his undisciplined bad boy exterior, Christopher had a brilliant mind. It wouldn't surprise her if the boy who'd been voted “least likely to succeed” had become a success. It would serve them all right, those who had snubbed him and had considered him nothing more than a thug. Although his name had come up at the last class reunion, no one had heard anything about him since the day he left town after graduation. His mother had committed suicide a week before graduation and he claimed when he left that he would never return to Savannah.
Maxi then turned the page and glanced at a picture of the guy who had been captain of the football team and the girl who had been captain of the cheerleading squad. Childhood sweethearts, their love had been the ultimate storybook romance. Both had left to attend college in Texas. After college they had married, and he had begun playing professional football. Mya and Garrett Rivers were still happily married and living in Dallas. She and Mya had been the best of friends all through school, each other's confidantes. But due to a misunderstanding they rarely stayed in touch. The last time she had seen Mya had been two years ago when Mya's grandmother had died and Mya had returned to Savannah for the services. Before then the last time she had heard from her had been when Mya had called offering condolences after hearing about Jason's death.
Jason.
Maxi closed the book and a feeling of loneliness washed over her when she thought about him. They had met at the birthday party of one of her co-workers, Sandra Miller. He had been a neighbor Sandra had invited. Maxi had liked him from the very beginning. He'd been a dynamic conversationalist. And he'd been pretty pleasing on the eyes as well, with his handsome features. He had asked her out and from that night on they'd become almost inseparable. They had enjoyed each other's company just that much. They'd been dating a little more than a year when he had asked her to marry him. Everyone thought they were the perfect match. And they had wanted the same things out of lifeâmarriage and a big family.
Maxi sighed deeply. The sudden loss of Jason had been a brutal blow. So was the thought that after her surgery, she would never be able to give birth to a child. She shook aside the brief moment of depression, not wanting to bring back into focus her conversation with Dr. Frazier. The last thing she needed was to feel sorry for herself. Seeing those red check marks under some of her classmates' names, indicating those who were now deceased, had reminded her that at least she was still alive. Five people in her class had died since their last reunion five years ago. So no matter how big you think your problems are, someone else's problems could always be bigger, which makes yours relatively small.
Dr. Frazier had been right. Maybe she should consider going on her high school class reunion cruise. She had always enjoyed the friendships of former classmates and maybe at this time in her life when all seemed bleak, being surrounded by friends was what she needed. Besides, there was a good chance Mya would be going and maybe they would be able to spend some time together renewing their deep friendship that had somehow fallen by the wayside.
Before she had a chance to change her mind, Maxi picked up the phone to call the travel agency that was handling all the arrangements. Since the trip was only six weeks away, she hoped it wasn't too late.