Sacred Ground

Jeff named the movie that had good reviews in the action-suspense category, and arrangements were made to pick Drew up at five o’clock.

Gabe turned to Makima. “Thanks for the introductions,” he said warmly. “I enjoyed it. I didn’t expect people to be so friendly. I’m looking forward to a real visit with Miss Selina so I can hear more about my great-grandmother.”

“Now that she’s retired she truly appreciates visitors, Mr. Bell.”

“Please call me Gabe. That’s what I go by at home.”

“Gabe,” Makima said, “could I make an appointment with you?” She shifted her bag from one hand to another.

He looked surprised. “Certainly. What about?”

“It’s a business matter and will take some time. Are you free tomorrow?”

He looked even more puzzled. “Just name a time that’s good for you and I’ll make myself available.”

Chapter 5

“Drew, I’m so proud of you, man,” Gabe said as they walked home from church. He nodded to a couple who spoke to them in passing.

“Why? What’d I do?” Drew said in surprise.

“You kept your cool when we were introduced to Miss Gray and acted like you’d never seen her.” Drew was growing too fast for the investment of a suit but he looked fine in his tan slacks and navy sport coat.

Drew’s face lit up and his laugh was one of pure youthful enjoyment. “Yeah, that was something, wasn’t it? She looked like she was gonna faint. I sure didn’t want to make her feel any worse, so I just played along with you.”

“You handled it like a man and I know she must have appreciated it.”

“I’m not a clunk all the time, you know.” Drew hid his pleasure with bluster.

“All that stuff the preacher said about Great-Grandfather was pretty cool. I kinda wish I could have met him.” There was a wistfulness in his voice that found an echo in Gabe.

They crossed the street and as they came to their block, Drew said, “This might not turn out to be too bad. I didn’t expect people to be so friendly. Jeff sounds like he’s okay. He’s just four months older’n me and he likes swimming, too.”

Gabe felt relieved. One of his concerns in coming to South Carolina had been about Drew finding friends. He’d have to check Jeff out, but meanwhile all systems seemed set to go.

“Your turn to fix lunch,” he reminded Drew as they were upstairs changing their clothes.

“Do I hafta?” Drew grouched automatically.

“Yeah, you have to. There’s plenty of food in the refrigerator. Call me when it’s ready.”

Gabe had decided to use this opportunity to introduce Drew to cooking responsibilities since he wouldn’t be going to school on a regular basis.

He’d made arrangements with Drew’s school for home studies and tests. He didn’t know how that was going to work out but at this point it wasn’t high on his list of priorities.

Drew produced monster sandwiches and chocolate-chip cookies for lunch. He drank a quart of milk while Gabe had apple juice.

“Not bad,” Gabe said when the meal was over.

“Best thing is no dishes to wash.” Drew gathered up the paper plates and napkins and sailed them into the trash can. That was a compromise Gabe had agreed to. Dishes were only for dinner. Paper ware for everything else.

Valerie and Jeff came by for Drew promptly at five, assured Gabe they’d take care of him and gave him Valerie’s cell number. The movie started at six, then they’d eat and should be back around ten, Valerie said.

Gabe went up to the bedroom and began a thorough search through every piece of clothing in the tall dresser. Each shirt, underwear, pajama set, pair of socks, handkerchief and scarf was gone over. He’d told himself at the outset that he must be methodical, so he took his time.

His CD player provided music for the laborious task and meanwhile he let himself relive what had happened at church.

Walking to church with his brother in the March sunlight and then being met by all kinds of people who smiled and said, “Hello,” as if they knew him had lulled him into a pleasant sense of comfort. It had taken one critical instant to snatch him rudely awake.

The deacon who’d officially welcomed him and Drew was about to let them proceed into the sanctuary when he called a woman over to meet them. Gabe scarcely heard the introduction, he was so shocked.

All he could take in was that the girl who had spilled potato salad on his jacket and embarrassed him to the max lived right here in Grayson. She was standing right there in front of him. What were the odds of that happening?

Thankfully Drew hadn’t said anything. The girl looked like she was about to faint so he cut the moment short and went on into the church. Drew had said, “That’s the same lady from the restaurant, isn’t it?” Gabe had nodded a yes.

The service began and since it was so similar to his mother’s church service, he knew when to make the right responses as part of the congregation.

He’d been touched and surprised by the minister’s remarks about Great-Grandfather. There was something to be said after all about small towns where people stayed all of their lives.

The minister began his sermon. Gabe couldn’t have said what it was about because he was thinking of the girl whose last name was Gray.

How awkward was it going to be with both of them living in Grayson? He thought the deacon had said the girl knew everyone in the community. That meant she had status and it also meant they’d be bumping into each other while he was here. That could be a problem.

Did she have a job? He could find out and avoid the place. He didn’t mind being cooperative for the brief time he’d be in Grayson. She, on the other hand, had a life here. He’d keep a low profile and that should take care of it.

Satisfied with this conclusion, he’d stood for the final prayer, had a short but friendly exchange with the man who’d sat next to him and exited the pew almost into the arms of the girl he’d vowed to avoid.

She’d looked totally different. Her eyes shone with a friendly smile and her color was back. She was stunning in a navy blue outfit that looked like it had been made for her.

She’d said she wanted them to meet some people and took them around as if they were celebrities. That’s when he found out her name was Makima Gray, because people kept calling to her. The deacon was right, she was well-known.

Gabe finished with the dresser and found nothing out of the ordinary. Next was the closet. It didn’t take too long to go through the pockets. His great-grandfather apparently had emptied his pockets as a habit.

Gabe handled each garment then took all the shoes out to see if there was something hidden in them. Shoes made good hiding places. He even examined the bottoms, remembering stories of hollow heels. He felt silly but he couldn’t afford to pass up any possibility.

Makima had been wearing some nice shoes with three-inch heels and she’d walked confidently in them. He always noticed women’s shoes; you could tell something about a woman by the shoes she wore.

That Alana. She certainly was different from Makima. Makima had a sort of dignity about her even under stress while Alana was all gaiety and sparkle. The deep red pants outfit she’d worn had clung to her slim body. She wasn’t as tall as Makima and didn’t have her sister’s curves. Her shoes had been black sling backs and he’d bet she could have a date every night of the week if she wanted it.

He wondered how the sisters got along. Their brother, Bobby, seemed to be the quiet one of the siblings. He’d seemed to be all wrapped up in Valerie Wolf.

As Gabe searched through the rest of the room, even looking under the mattress, he speculated what Makima could possibly want to talk about with him that involved a business matter. She had seemed very serious about it.

By the time Drew came in he’d finished the room and had gone downstairs to have a bowl of chili and a salad.

“Have a good time?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah.” Drew opened the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of ice cream. “Want some?”