Sacred Ground. Adrienne Ellis Reeves
He was evidently as shaken as she was. The boy was different. He was trying to keep from smiling and there was a sparkle in his eyes when he looked at her.
A few moments later the choir marched in and the vestibule doors were closed. Makima usually sat in the front of the church to be on hand if needed, but now she crept into the last row and was thankful to make it there before she collapsed.
She was numb.
How could this have happened? The man she’d spilled her salad on was the same man she had to persuade to sell her a piece of the land he’d inherited.
Was this some cosmic joke being played on her?
She opened her bag after a few minutes to look into her compact mirror. She was still colorless so she made quick repairs and settled down to try to compose herself. It was useless. All she could think about was that Gabriel Bell lived right here in Grayson and now that she’d seen him here, somehow she had the impression that he was not going to be the kind of person who took one look at Grayson, tucked in his tail and ran back to the city.
He’d looked solid in his dark gray suit, white shirt and blue tie. A man not interested in staying would hardly have made it his business to come to church the day after he’d arrived.
She wondered what he’d thought when he saw her and realized from Paul Miller’s introduction that she lived in Grayson.
She closed her eyes. Images have power, and probably his image of her kneeling at his feet and dabbing ineffectually at his jacket would always be with him and associated with the name of Makima Gray. She’d have to change that.
She began to look around for him and his brother. Had they sat in the central section or on one of the side sections? There they were just four rows in front of her in the central section.
Gabriel sat up straight; she liked that in a man. His dark hair was cut short, his neck well trimmed. When he’d looked at her, his eyes hadn’t been as cold as they’d been in the restaurant. His primary emotion, like hers, had seemed to be astonishment.
The church secretary read out the names of visitors and invited them to stand and be recognized. There was warm applause when Gabriel and Drew Bell stood. Later when the minister came to the pulpit he greeted them again.
“Mr. Ezekiel Bell was a founding member of this church,” he told them. “Everyone called him Mr. Zeke. He was known throughout the community as a caring man who would help anyone when help was needed. His wife, Miss Sarah, taught school here many years and together they contributed a great deal to Grayson. He was a magnificent craftsman, as his house will testify. He lived well beyond his three score and ten years, for which we are all grateful. He will be missed and we are happy to welcome you, his great-grandsons, to Grayson.”
When the service was over, people were going to want to meet him and his brother. It was her job to see that it happened.
Personal discomfort had to be put behind her. She was in God’s house doing God’s work.
When the final prayer was over, she straightened her shoulders and went to the aisle. She ignored Gabriel’s look of surprise.
“I’d like to take you around and introduce you to some people,” she said with a warm smile. “Miss Selina Moore wants to meet you because she was a dear friend of Miss Sarah’s and they taught school together.”
Mr. Nelson came next, then Mr. Weber who had the only drugstore in Grayson, and after them enough people that Makima felt it was time to move the Bells out of the church. Gabriel was friendly and relaxed but Drew was looking dazed. Maybe they didn’t do this in New York churches.
As they came out onto the steps, a stylish young woman flashed a smile at Gabriel, stuck out her hand and said, “Hi, I’m Alana Gray, Makima’s sister, and I’ve been waiting to meet you.” She was one of a small group of young people.
“Glad you waited,” Gabe said, returning the handshake and the smile. “I’m Gabe Bell and this is my brother, Drew.”
“I’m Bobby Gray, Makima’s brother,” said the man in the group. “And this is Valerie Wolf and her brother, Jeff.”
Valerie was a petite brown-skinned girl with a Cupid’s-bow mouth and long eyelashes. Jeff looked to be about Drew’s age.
Alana seemed to have taken over the conversation with her exuberance as she explained that they were all planning to go to a movie in Swinton later and then get something to eat and asked if Gabe, Drew and Makima wanted to join the party.
Gabe glanced at Drew and, seeing that he and Jeff were talking, excused himself but said Drew might want to go.
“I have another engagement,” Makima said. “I won’t be through in time to go with you. What’re you going to see?”
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