Time and Tide
Chapter 3
Lana's funeral was two days after Will's transfusion. Sweet stayed at the hospital with his god-son, while everyone else attended the church service. After the burial, friends and family gathered at Lonnie and Lana's home. When the guests began to look for Lonnie to offer their condolences, he was no where to be found. Harriet finally found him sitting under a tree far out in the backyard.
"How're you holding up, Lonnie?" she asked.
"I guess I'm doing okay, Harriet. I suppose you know I wasn't in love with her. But she was my wife and Will's mother. I feel kind of empty."
Harriet smiled, sat down in the dirt, and took her son in-law's hand. "I'd wonder about you if you didn't feel empty." Neither of them spoke for a moment, and then Harriet asked, "What about this thing with Will?"
Lonnie half smiled and said, "Someone told me once that a real man didn't need anybody to tell him when he was looking at his own flesh and blood. I guess I always knew that Will was Lee's, from the first moment I held him in my arms. But after losing Monica and watching Lana turn into an alcoholic, having a son was the only good thing in my life. Even with everything that was wrong with Lana, I suppose I had a little of Bill in me. I just couldn't let myself believe that she'd do something that hateful, and that Will wasn't really mine."
"So, no one knows the truth?"
Lonnie shook his head. "Just the family. And Monica. I'd rather to keep it that way."
Harriet nodded her head in agreement. "Speaking of Monica…are you two…"
Lonnie cut her off. "No. It'd be real bad for us to even start thinking of getting back together anytime soon. But I will tell you that I plan on marrying her as soon as the time is right, and if she'll have me and Will. I'll need your help with Bill on that."
Harriet hugged Lonnie and said, "And you'll have it. Bill's still upset with the funeral and all, but he finally knows the truth about Lana. Monica sent flowers for the service today, by the way. She didn't sign the card, but she told me which ones she sent."
Lonnie smiled. "I knew which ones were hers the second I saw them. It was the sunflowers. She and Lana both loved sunflowers. They said they were a symbol of their friendship." At that moment, Lonnie began to shake. "I need to get out of here for a while, Harriet."
"I understand. Let me get the keys to Virgil's car. It'll be less noticeable leaving than yours will."
XXX
Monica was sitting on the steps of the trailer crying. Even with everything that Lana had done to her, on the day of her funeral all Monica could remember was their friendship. She missed the Lana she had first met, the Lana that had always made her laugh, and the Lana that had been her first friend. Monica also cried for Lonnie, the man she loved who had just buried his wife. She wanted to be there for him, but she knew how inappropriate that would be. So she shared his grief with him the only way she could, by spending the service at their summer place. She had hoped that Lonnie would feel her there and know that she was thinking of him.
Just as she was about to get herself together and leave, a strange car pulled into the driveway. The vehicle was vaguely familiar, but Monica couldn't place it. At that moment, a very tired looking Lonnie stepped out of it. Without thinking, Monica ran to him and threw herself in his arms. Lonnie pulled her close to him and the two of them stood in the driveway, entwined in each other and crying over the loss of the woman who, in her own way, had been important to them both.
XXX
The next year crept by, but things slowly began to get back to normal after Lana's death. Bill and Lonnie had mended their relationship and were back to spending Sunday afternoons together at Bill and Harriet's home. It was on one of these Sunday afternoons that Lonnie decided to tell Bill about his plans to marry Monica.
"Lonnie, I swear that boy of yours is going scare Beauregard into a heart attack one of these days."
Lonnie laughed while they watched Will, who was now four years old, trying to teach the dog how to jump through a hoop. Will thought he'd help the dog by grabbing his legs and forcing them through the hoop himself. "I don't know, Bill. I think old Beau knows it'll be over quicker if he just lets Will have his way."
Bill took a swallow of sweet tea from his glass and said, "I saw Miss Etta the other day. She's enjoying taking care of Will. And having you in the house as well."
Since Lana's death, Etta Kibbey had been taking care of Will when Lonnie had to work. Since Lonnie pulled a lot of late nights and very early mornings, Etta had insisted that Lonnie stay over at those times instead waking Will up. Once again, Etta had a family to take care of, and she loved it. Lonnie saw this as a good place to begin what he wanted to say.
"Bill, I want to tell you that Monica and I are going to start seeing each other."
Bill looked Lonnie dead in the eye. "You mean you haven't already?"
Lonnie saw no need to lie, especially since Bill would know if he tried. "Yes, we have. What I mean to say is that we're going to start seeing each other publicly. We both wanted you to know first."
Even though he knew it was coming, Bill still felt a bit of pain when Lonnie said the words. But it had been a year since Lana was buried. And half the town knew about Lonnie and Monica anyway. He took off his glasses and wiped his eyes.
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised. I suppose you'll be marrying soon?"
Lonnie nodded his head. "In a couple of months."
"You two will be in for a bumpy ride. You know that, right?"
Lonnie smiled. "Yes sir. But my in-laws are pretty good teachers. We figure if we need any advice, we'll go to them."
Bill smiled back. "So I'm still your in-law, uh?"
Lonnie stood up to go. "Yeah. I reckon it's too late to start trying to break in another one. You were hard enough!"
XXX
Lonnie and Monica decided to make their debut at the City Council's Policeman's Ball, two months after Lonnie's talk with Bill. Bill was right when he said that half the town knew they were seeing each other. But after all of these years, no one could truly say that they had ever seen Lonnie and Monica together on a date. The Policeman's Ball would be their first official date.
Luann and Monica were out shopping for their dresses. "I still can't believe you're seeing Ken Covey."
Luann laughed. "You? I still can't believe it. But neither one of us is serious about it. We're just, uh, hanging out."
Monica punched Luann lightly in her arm. "It's about time you got you some! How's work with all of this between you and him?"
"Well, you know your future husband. He figured it out pretty quick. He actually could care less, but now that I'm a Lieutenant, he was worried that Ken might a have a problem taking orders from me, or if we're on a call together we might not be able to keep our heads. Anyway, 'officially', Ken and I are just friends. If there's anything else going on, Lonnie DOESN'T want to know about it."
Monica laughed. "That's him. But I know you and Ken had enough sense not to tell anybody. How'd Lonnie figure out there was anything to talk to you about to begin with?"
Luann suddenly stopped walking, put her hands on her hips, and stared at Monica. "Now, I know you didn't just ask me that question!"
The women laughed and continued on with their shopping trip.
XXX
The Policeman's Ball went better than expected for Lonnie and Monica. Everyone there complimented them as a couple and appeared thrilled that they were there together. Even Holly Colmer was overheard saying that he was glad the two of them were finally dating.
"Now don't get excited," he had said. "I still don't believe in race mixing. But those two right there? They're both sneaky, moody, mean as snakes, and too damn smart for their own good. If they marry each other, we can keep all that craziness contained to one family instead of spreading it all over Sparta! Hell, maybe they'll have a lovers spat and kill each other off…if we're lucky!"
A few brave souls asked if they were engaged, and scolded Lonnie for not having a ring on Monica's finger! The evening went without incident, although Lonnie and Monica were shocked by it. What Lonnie and Monica didn't understand at the time was that the City Council was still getting some static for their treatment of Bill in response to his relationship with a black woman, even though it happened almost three years ago. For that reason, the Council saw Lonnie and Monica as yet another perfect and sad attempt to prove how open-minded they were. Lonnie found out just how cruel the game of politics could be when he arrived for work the next morning.
"Well now, if ain't Capt. Sunshine come to join us all for work!" Parker was grinning from ear to ear as he greeted Lonnie. Lonnie had finally been promoted to Captain about three months ago.
"Good morning, Golden Boy!" Luann sang out.
Lonnie put his hands on hips and stared at his colleagues in frustration. "What in the world are you two talking about?"
Parker, who was still desperately trying to talk Lonnie into training him to become a detective, approached Lonnie and handed him the morning edition of the Sparta Herald.
"We're talking about this," Parker said as he handed Lonnie the paper. Lonnie opened it up and right in the middle of the society page was a half page photo of him and Monica dancing at the ball. The headliner read 'Sparta's Golden Couple'. Underneath were the words 'Will Sparta's Queen of Design and Investigative King Tie the Knot? 68 of Our Readers Are Hoping For a Wedding!' Lonnie rolled his eyes in disgust.
"Well, it looks like Sparta might've finally learned a thing or two. You know, after what they done to the Sheriff and Mrs. Gillespie," Parker said.
Lonnie shook his head, but smiled. Just when he thought Parker was getting better at reading between the lines, he'd miss something that Lonnie felt was fairly obvious. "No way, Parker. This here picture's just another smoke and mirrors sham. They just need something to brag about now that Hamp's leaving."
Hamp Forbes was Sparta's first black police chief. The city council hired him after they ousted Bill in an effort to prove that they weren't racists. However, Hamp had been offered a director's position with the FBI and was preparing to leave Sparta within the next few weeks.
"With Bubba being named acting chief now and being white," Lonnie began, "and Luann's promotion to Lieutenant being almost a year old, they need a new diversity trophy, is all. I promise you, they hate me and Monica as much as they hate Bill and Harriet."
"Well, that may be, Capt. Jamison. But I'm with that there poll. Just when exactly are you two tying the knot?" Bubba had just entered the front office and heard the tail end of the conversation.
"Yeah. This 'star-crossed lovers' routine was cute for the first 100 years, but we're kinda ready for you two to wrap this thing up!" Luann was still smiling as she addressed Lonnie.
Lonnie smiled back. "I wasn't going to say anything until later today. But since ya'll ain't got no patience…..who's going to be off next Saturday?"
At about that time, Hamp came through with an arm full of boxes. He was really going to the miss the guys, but he had to admit that he was a city boy at heart. He couldn't wait to get to DC. "Who needs to be off next Saturday?" Hamp tried to sound forceful, but his smile was a mile wide.
"Hold on there, now. This is my department now, Hamp." Bubba stood up and puffed his chest out at Hamp.
Hamp put down his boxes and lightly punched Bubba in the chest. They both laughed and threw air punches at each other. The two men loved boxing and had been working out together since Hamp joined the department three years ago.
"It's still my department until next Monday," Hamp said, still laughing with Bubba. "And having said that, I think I have a pretty good idea who needs to be off that day and who doesn't. I'll take care of everything, Lonnie. I'll even cover for this sorry excuse of a police chief here! Consider it my wedding gift and my last official act as Sparta's Police Chief."
"Great!" Luann said. "Now, where exactly is the wedding of century taking place?"
XXX
While Lonnie saw the morning paper at the police station, Monica was reading it with Etta and Althea at the Tibbs' house on Elm St. Althea had flown in with the kids for Monica and Lonnie's impromptu wedding.
"It's not exactly what I had in mind, Monica," Althea said over a cup of coffee. "You two have waited so long. Are you sure you don't want a traditional wedding?"
"Right about now, I ain't caring what kinda weddin' it is, long as they get them papers. I'm too old for all this backwards and forwards they been doing." Etta, much like everyone else in Monica and Lonnie's life, was ready for the couple to finally get married.
Monica smiled at both of the women. "Nope. Althea, I really hate destroying your dream, but Lonnie and I couldn't think of a more perfect place for us to get married."
Althea hated it, but she understood where Monica was coming from. "Okay, okay! I'll stop begging. But really, Monica. 'No' to a reception as well?"
Once again, Monica shook her head. "We don't see the need. We don't care about any of that. We know you all love us. We're just anxious to get married."
"Humph." Etta grunted. "I don't see why. Ya'll been celebrating your weddin' night for near about seven years. Ain't no need in being anxious now. He done seen everything."
Etta cleared the table and took the dishes into the kitchen. And as soon as she was gone, Monica and Althea burst into giggling fits.
"What's so funny?" Virgil asked after bounding down the stairs.
"Good morning, Virgil," Althea said as he kissed her on the cheek. "We're just laughing at your aunt."
Virgil and Althea had been spending more time together over the past year. Actually, they were dating. Virgil had left Sparta and moved to Philadelphia to be closer to the twins and Michelle. Neither Virgil nor Althea was rushing things, but it appeared that reconciliation was around the corner. The two of them, along with all three children, traveled down to Sparta together for the wedding.
After Monica and Althea filled Virgil in on what Etta had said, he just shook his head in shame. "I'm really very sorry, Monica. But you know how she is."
Monica laughed. "It's okay Virgil. Just until she finds out that I'm wearing white!"