Yeah, I know I said May (and I still mean it lol) but I just wanted to post this chapter to give you a taste of what is coming next. So please, enjoy!
"Genie? Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking that's all." She sniffed.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"It's nothing really. Today is William's birthday. Arnold is picking me up so we can visit his gravesite. I can't help but get all emotional around this time. It's like the tears just fall out and I can't control them."
"Oh Genie, it's going to be ok."
"Thank you baby. I miss him so much."
"I know, I know. Let it all out. That's why I'm here." I held her as tight as I could. I grabbed some tissues that were on the nightstand and began wiping her face.
"You're so good to me Rosa. I appreciate it."
"No problem. Now, let's get you ready. Dr. Arnold will be here any minute."
"Ok."
Today was William's birthday. It was also the day of the opening of the Geneva R. Irving Recreation Center.
I remembered asking Genie about William. She would tell stories about him and show me pictures of him from when he was baby to his adult years. He had the same light complexion as his Kenyan father Stanley and was around Leonard's height. William was only twenty-eight when he died. He was Genie's youngest son. William died in a bank robbery gone wrong. He was depositing his check when two masked men came in. A woman could not stop her hungry baby from crying. One of the men threatened to shoot the baby if she could not make him stop. The man never gave her a chance and opened fire. That's when William was hit by the bullet meant for the baby as he rushed to save him.
After William's death, things began to fall apart for Genie. Her health began to fail and her children were not making things better. Her second oldest, Kaprice began taking over her house when she abruptly moved in after falling out with the father of her youngest child. She allowed her four children to run about and destroy Genie's house.
Then came Morgan who moved back home from Atlanta after her singing career went bust with her gaggle of men with wives, girlfriends, and sometimes boyfriends, ready to get their hands on her. Morgan could have been a chart topper but figured partying was more important. Her record company released her and want nothing to do with her. Morgan has not learned anything and continues to party.
Dr. Arnold and Genie's other foster children tried to help as best as they could. Though they did, their efforts were blocked by Leonard who had other plans for his mother. It had come to a point in where no one wanted to be around Genie because of Leonard. She had lost many friends and family due to his interference. Once Leonard placed his mother in the nursing home, Genie began getting her life back. She would tell me that being there was the only place that felt like home.
The time was seven o'clock and in three hours, center was going to open. I got out of bed to get ready.
While heading to the kitchen to make breakfast, I decided to go check on my brother Marco who was on break from school.
I walked to the guest bedroom to see he wasn't there. I figured there was only one place could have been since I was sure he wasn't sleeping.
"Marco!" I yelled for him.
"In here!" he was in my office.
I went inside to see him on the computer.
"What are you doing up so early?" I asked. "I figured you would have wanted to sleep the day away."
"Nah, I can do that during the day in the summer before work. I'm not going to take any classes this time."
"Really? Why?" I wondered. I was unlikely of my brother to do that. He has attended every summer session since he started college by taking four classes each time. He was determined to finish on time. Him not going was shocking.
He stopped typing and turned to me. "Well I'm tired for one. And for two, I want to spend more time with you before you go to Africa. I don't want you to leave and feel bad that we didn't spend enough time together."
"Ohhh that is so sweet! I love you so much you know that?" I hug him.
"Eeww alright. I love you too. Now get off me." He said pushing me of him. He continues to fight me off when I try to give him a kiss on the cheek. He finally stops resisting and lets me plant one on him. He pushes me off again.
"You are the greatest little brother in the world," I smiled.
"Yeah whatever."
I ruffle his skunk colored hair as he swatted for me to stop.
"So you want to come with me to the center opening?"
"Sure. I don't want to spend my entire break on Facebook reading about how much people hate their lives. I hear enough of that at school." Marco got up from the chair and stretched. I noticed that he had gained a bit of weight in his medium build since the last time I saw him. It was probably from those late night cram sessions that he had almost every week.
"Great. Go get ready now. We have to be there at 10:30," I point to the clock on the wall hanging above the flat screen monitor.
"Ok, I'll see what I have to wear." Marco made his way out the room. I quickly slap him on his butt before he leaves.
"We're leaving at 9:30 so be ready!"
"Whatever!"
I left the office to go get the day started.
The center was only an hour away as we made it there just in time. When I pulled up, I saw Wade talking with David and his wife Jennifer. Marco and I got out of the car and began walking to the sight.
Wade, David, and Jennifer noticed us approaching and turned their attention toward us. It was hard to keep from smiling, especially seeing Wade dressed up. Marco reached for my hand just like when we were kids as we walked toward the small group. No matter how old we were, we would still hold hands. It was something I never took for granted.
"Well look at you Ms. Rosa. I'm loving the dress," Jennifer said. I had on a form fitting beige colored dress with a scoop neckline and brown snakeskin pumps. I didn't wear any colorful lip gloss since it was not appropriate for an event like this. I also dyed my hair back blonde. Genie was right, darker hair did drown my features.
'Thank you. You look good yourself," We embrace in a hug. "Hello David."
"Hi Rosa. It's nice to see you," David hugs me.
"Same here. How is DJ?" I asked.
"He's good. He's heading into this terrible two's. Not my idea of fun" David said shaking his head.
"Oh it's that time huh?"
"Yeah but we're ready for it," Jennifer said as she placed her arms around David's waist.
I look to Wade who was talking with Marco.
"I must say, you clean up nicely Mr. Mendes. I gather you sister made you looked your best" Wade straightened up Marco's tie. They were almost the same height. We both got our height from our mother. Macro's father barely came to his shoulders.
"Yeah, she wouldn't let me walk out the house with my hair so I had enough time to dye it." Marco always liked to play with different hairstyles and colors. I did not mind it but if he was going to be a representation of me, the emo hair had to go.
"It looks good. You should always listen to your sister. She has your best interest at heart," Wade smiled at me.
A man in a silver suit with grey hair approached us.
"Hey folks, we're getting ready to start. So let's get seated." He said motioning us to the rows of seats that were a few feet away from us.
We began walking to our seats when I heard the man call for Wade and David.
"Yes Scott?" David answered.
"Your dad wants the both of you up on stage with him." He informed the two men. Scott Stanford was Leonard's publicist and longtime friend. The met the same way Wade and David did, in college. They were also roommates and were each other's best man at their weddings. Scott was also David's godfather.
"Really? Since when?" David asked looking confused.
"Since now. Come on, the ceremony is about to start."
While Jennifer, Marco and I were seated, we seen Wade and David making their way toward the stage. Jennifer and I both gave our men looks asking what was going on. They both gave quizzical looks as their answers as they stood next to Leonard on stage. Leonard then pulled them into a huddle.
Jennifer tapped my hand as I leaned closer to her.
"What do you think is going on?" she wondered.
"Maybe Leonard wanted them up there for support?" I guessed, "I have no idea. This just seems weird."
"Tell me about it." Jennifer and I kept guessing as to what could have been going on. When Mayor Lawler reached the podium, the crowd grew silent.
"Good morning ladies and gentlemen," the mayor said.
"Good morning" the audience replied.
The mayor spent about ten minutes with his speech before introducing Leonard. Leonard began his speech about Genie from her birth to her death. I looked around at the audience and there was not a dry eye in sight. I saw Dr. Arnold's wife Cecile and his son Wilson comforting him while they wipe their tears as well. I then felt Marco putting his arm around my shoulder and handing me a tissue. I didn't notice I was crying as well. Leonard's speech was too convincing. I was starting to believe that maybe he did have a soul after all. Leonard had mentioned also mentioned that the basketball court was named in memory of his brother William. Something I'm sure Genie would have liked.
When he was finished, he introduced David and said he that he would like to say a few words about his grandmother. Shocked, David composed himself. He told the audience a memory of him and his grandmother baked together every Sunday after church when he was a child. David said that is was a tradition that he wanted to continue with his own son, David Jr. I was starting to realize that David was up there for sympathy value. Nicely played Leonard. But I couldn't figure out why Wade was on stage.
When the ceremony was over, Leonard moved to a press conference about the University of Cornerstall's trip to Ghana. He informed reporters that he and his crew of construction workers went to the country themselves to help build the hospital after an accident injured half of the workers. As it turns out, Wade was one of those workers who went. Leonard praised Wade for this excellent work and that he invested some of his own money into the hospital.
Wade told me that he had to leave the country on business but he was not specific about what it was. He was gone for at least three months. During that time, he would visit me for at least a week each month. We would contact each other through Skype, Twitter or E-mail. Wade was very secretive which made me think he was having an affair. I kept my cool the entire time. I felt bad for doubting Wade. Though I did, I couldn't help but feel proud.
When the ceremony was over, Wade, Marco, and I went back to my place. During the lunch, I couldn't stop gushing over what Wade had done.
"I can't believe you actually went over there! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise. As soon as Leonard heard about the accident, he began arranging workers to go over there and finish building the hospital. That's when I volunteered. Leonard tried talking me out of it but I didn't back down. I told him I knew how much this meant to all of you. I didn't want your donation to be for nothing."
I took Wade's hand in mine, "Thank you so much baby. For everything."
"No problem," He kisses me on my cheek then my lips. I understood why Wade was brought on stage. I guess Leonard was warming up to me after all.
Wade and I talked about Leonard's speech. When Wade mentioned the basketball court being named after his brother, it reminded me about his birthday.
"Hey, did you know today was William's birthday?" I asked Wade.
"No, I didn't. Why do you ask?" Wade wanted to know.
Instantly it hit me.
"Get your coat, we're going to Grand River." I jumped up from my seat and reached for my keys that were on the counter.
"The cemetery? Why?" Wade was drinking the last of his lemonade. He sat back and folded his arms.
"Just trust me. Get your coat and let's go." I demanded. I left a note for Marco, who was asleep, telling him that I was stepping out for a moment and I would be back by dinner. Wade slowly go up for the table and grabbed his coat from the back of the chair.
"You ready to go?"
"Yeah. Lead the way my love."
I rushed to the car with Wade following close. It took a while for us to reach the cemetery because I forgot to get gas before I came home. We finally reached the cemetery. I immediately ran to Genie's burial plot, which was next William's. As I came to it, I had seen a tall man standing over both with his hands in his pockets.
"Leonard?"
