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around and dipped her back over the sink. When he brought her upright, Jury was
laughing and Beau was grinning from ear to ear.
 Or maybe. Jury hesitated.  I just want my husband every which way there is.
That comment rewarded her with a humdinger of a kiss and in exchange, she gave Beau
a whole lot of tongue. When their lips separated, Jury sighed and reached down to pull
up her panties and black shorts. It took a few seconds for her to smooth the creases in
her cotton blouse, which was worse for wear at this point.
Beau grinned.  My, aren t you the proper wife?
Jury stared up at him and rolled her eyes.  Yes, I am. And your proper wife says we
really do have to shower, change and get going. She slipped out from under Beau s
arms to head upstairs to change. At the last second, Beau pulled her back to him and
whispered in her ear,  I hope you are pregnant.
* * * * *
Jury noticed that Beau did not have a lot to say on the ride over to the senior care
facility. He seemed to be lost in thought as they neared Pelham Bluffs, a retirement
community situated on a plantation estate, with wrought iron gates and a long drive.
Their arrival in a limousine did draw some curious glances, but it was the only
transportation they had, so as the old saying goes, you work with what you got.
Jury wasn t sure what to expect when they stepped out of the limousine, but
certainly she did not expect Beau to reach out and take her hand in his as they entered
the exclusive facility where the rich came to die in Shelby County. Of course, there were
looks and stares at the sight of them together. But many of the residents had lived
through turbulent times of segregation. So seeing a white man holding the hand of a
black woman was still painful for some. Even though Jury had come to understand
their thinking and feeling the way they did, she would never condone their actions.
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Once inside, they walked a good while until they stopped outside a door with a
little brass plate that read J. Wainwright. Jury stood to the side, prepared to wait for
Beau, who needed to do this. Beau needed to let his father know, before it was too late,
that he was moving on with his life and starting a family of his own. The next
generation of Wainwrights.
But there was something about the way Beau was standing. His resolve told Jury
that there had been a shift because of what they had experienced and knowing now that
they were one. So when Beau knocked on the door and opened it, Jury did not hesitate
when he reached out to her. She grabbed his hand and then she followed right behind
him into his father s private room.
The first thing Jury noticed was that James Preston Wainwright was not a strong
man. Truth be told, he looked frail and small. Glancing over at Beau, Jury shook her
head, not wanting him to wake his father. But Beau just ignored her, leaned over and
touched his father on the arm.
The oldest living Wainwright in Tennessee stirred, then opened his eyes and Jury
got the shock of her life. She was so familiar with the color. Beau had his father s eyes.
Watching the elderly Wainwright struggle to sit up, Jury s natural desire to help
kicked in, but she knew it wouldn t be welcomed. She waited alongside Beau as his
father used a special remote control to raise the head of the bed slightly, so he could see
his two visitors. Mr. Wainwright s gaze focused on Jury first, and not his son.
 Odessa? he whispered.
Jury was stunned, because Odessa was her mother s name. She tried to move closer
to the bed, only Beau would not let go of her hand.
Jury turned her head to frown at him and tugged on her hand again. This time,
Beau shook his head and mouthed, No way.
Jury got as close to his father as Beau would let her and she smiled.  I m pleased to
meet you, Mr. Wainwright. My name is Jury Yates.
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Beau s father suddenly smiled.  Your name is Jury Odessa Yates. And your mother
used to call you Joy.
Jury s mouth fell open and she looked at Beau.  Did he know my mother?
Her heart skipped a beat when Beau nodded.
 It s going be okay, Jury, Beau said as he squeezed her hand and stared at her with
a look on his face that, for the first time, Jury couldn t read.  Talk to him, darling.
Slowly, Jury let her gaze drift back to Mr. Wainwright s face.  Yes sir. My mother
did call me Joy.
 I know. And she loved you so much, Beau s father said quietly. I met you once
when you were a little girl. Your mother introduced us. She told me your name was
Jury but that she had taken to calling you Joy.
Stepping closer to the bed, Beau said,  Hello, Daddy.
 My boy. It s good to see you. Beau s father lifted his trembling hand to his son,
and Beau reached over and grasped four thin, fragile fingers.
As Jury watched the reunion, it seemed odd, knowing how affectionate Beau was,
that he and his father would only shake hands. It was sad to think this was what it had
come to in the end.
When Beau stepped back, Mr. Wainwright once again focused his attention on Jury.
This time he was pulling her down with his other hand, which left her with two choices.
Either pull her hand away from Beau s father or kneel. So she knelt. It took all her
strength to pull on Beau s hand to make him kneel beside her. So there they were,
kneeling together next to a dying man.
Beau s father looked at them both.  I just wanted to let you know how happy I am
that you two have stopped by. I see my son has given you a ring. Mr. Wainwright
pointed to Jury s left hand.
 Yes sir. And I m going to marry him, Jury said, prepared to challenge his
disapproval. She didn t have to, as it turned out.
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 It s a good thing because my son loves you. And he s a good boy. A good man.
Then Mr. Wainwright reached over and touched Beau s arm.
 She s as beautiful as her mother. We all loved Odessa from afar. White men. Black
men. But I loved her more than all of them. I loved her the most.
Jury gasped and looked quickly at Beau, who nodded.
Mr. Wainwright sighed and slumped down in the bed as he began to speak out
loud with a faraway look in his eyes.  I wanted to marry Odessa. But my family
wouldn t allow it. They threatened to disinherit me and I turned my back on the only
woman I have ever loved. He shifted his frail body to stare at Beau with eyes filled
with regret.  And then I did the same thing to you, Beau. And I am truly sorry that I
did.
 Daddy  Beau began, but his father shook his head.
 No, let me speak while I still can. I know I never said it. But I love you, son. Too
much to see you unhappy. And Jury makes you happy. I can tell. Now promise me that
you ll take care of her. I know that she is a remarkable woman and a top-notch lawyer.
Beau nodded and Jury witnessed a change in his demeanor as he patted his father s
frail hand.  Daddy, I promise you, I ll take care of Jury. But she can be a handful
sometimes. He laughed.
 I ll bet. Beau s father smiled. He looked off for a second, just over Jury s shoulder.
Then his gaze rested on the couple again.  Oh, and Beau, you re to take care of the
children too.
Jury slowly looked behind her as a chill ran down her spine, but saw nothing.
 You can count on that, sir, Beau said, leaning over to kiss Jury on the cheek. She
closed her eyes and reveled in the moment.
When she felt Mr. Wainwright s light touch on the top of her head, she startled.
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Haven Isley [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]