My Son's Ex-Wife: The Aftermath

by Shelia E. Lipsey

  Rena heard bellowing and sobs emanating from behind. She looked back over her shoulder and saw Pastor, Stiles, and Francesca being escorted into the sanctuary. Francesca’s voice was loud and her limp was more pronounced. Someone was holding her on each side. She looked better than Rena remembered. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? Rena didn’t know whether to be glad or sad. To hear Francesca’s screaming seemed to scare some of the small children that were there. Rena was grateful for Robert’s decision to leave the kids with their aunt.

  “Ohhh, Lord. Ohhh, why, Lord? Why my mother?” Francesca screamed.

  Rena became almost physically ill; confused at Francesca’s response over Audrey’s death. Is this one of Francesca’s acts? She despised Audrey. Rena’s mind was spinning with bewilderment, confusion, and swirling emotions. Her nails dug deep into Robert’s jacket when she saw Stiles and Pastor. Stiles was handsome as ever. A lump formed in Rena’s throat, and her tears poured as the family came nearer. Pastor looked like a broken man. His shoulders slumped and his head hung low. His sobs were deep and penetrating.

  They reached the row where Rena and her family sat. For a quick moment she met Stiles’s gaze. His eyes were hollow. Holding his hand and walking next to him was a woman who was exquisitely dressed. Underneath the woman’s hat, Rena saw that she was as beautiful as the outfit she wore.

  The family passed by her as if in slow motion. One by one they were led to Audrey’s casket. In unison, they cried, sobbed, screamed, and begged for God’s mercy.

  Francesca collapsed. Ooohs and ahhs of pity could be heard throughout the sanctuary. Two men who were walking by her side, helped to carry her out of the sanctuary. Pastor was consoled by Stiles, and Detria consoled them both. They lingered at Audrey’s casket until other relatives and friends gathered around them and ushered them out.

  Rena eased up, and then leaned over to her parents. “I’m going to go speak to Pastor,” she whispered.

  “Honey, do you think you have the strength to do that?” asked her father.

  “I have to.”

  “We’re coming with you, then,” said Mr. Jackson and proceeded to stand, followed by his wife and Robert.

  Robert held on to Rena’s hand and led her out into the vestibule. She looked back once more at Audrey’s body lying peacefully in the casket.

  It took Mr. Jackson to find where they had taken Pastor, Stiles, and Francesca. Holy Rock had been remodeled since the Jacksons and Rena left Memphis. There were several additional rooms and corridors.

  “I’ll check with one of the armor bearers,” Mr. Jackson told his wife with Rena and Robert in earshot. Mr. Jackson approached a gray-haired, short, stocky gentleman. After talking with him for a few minutes, Mr. Jackson returned to his family.

  “What did he say?” Mrs. Jackson asked her husband.

  “He said they’re in one of the rooms reserved for the family and some of their closest friends. He said it would be too much for the Graham family to remain in the sanctuary for the viewing. I explained that we were longtime friends of the Grahams. I asked him if he could allow us to see the family for just a few minutes to let them know that we were here and that our prayers go out to them,” Mr. Jackson explained.

  “And?” Rena asked.

  “He said we could, but only for a few minutes. The family is taking Sister Graham’s death really, really hard.”

  Rena and her mother followed Mr. Jackson and Robert. The armor bearer led them down a corridor, turned to the left, and opened a door marked PRIVATE. He ushered them inside where the Graham family members were gathered. Rena spotted Francesca right away. She was seated in a chair next to several other people who Rena did not recognize. It was at this time that she wished she’d told Robert everything about her past. There was no way to tell what kind of mood Francesca was in, or what she would say.

  Robert took hold of Rena’s hand and caressed it without saying anything. Rena exhaled. It felt good to have someone standing next to her that cared about her wellbeing.

  Stiles was engaged in conversation with some people, one or two of whom Rena recognized. Pastor was in the same huddle. Rena took her parentslead and she and Robert followed them to where Pastor and Stiles stood.

  “Pastor,” Mr. Jackson said. Pastor turned around. His eyes immediately glistened with tears. He hugged Mr. Jackson and then Mrs. Jackson.

  “God bless you. God bless you for coming.” He cried heavily until Stiles turned and patted him on the back. Stiles’s eyes were glued to Rena’s. “I’m glad you came,” he told her while he eyed Robert up and down. “You don’t know how much this means to me, I mean our family,” he corrected himself.

  Rena’s tears started. “I am so sorry,” she said. “So very sorry about Audrey,” Rena repeated. Detria remained close by Stiles. Neither Detria nor Robert said anything. At the moment, it seemed that maybe the two of them felt like outsiders. This moment belonged to Stiles and Rena, Pastor and the Jacksons. There would be time to include others, but not now.

  “Are you all going to be here for mother’s funeral tomorrow?” Stiles asked and looked from Rena to the Jacksons. He hugged Mr. and Mrs. Jackson while he waited on their response.

  “Of course,” Mr. Jackson assured Stiles and Pastor.

  Stiles half-turned slightly and rather quickly. He placed his arm around Detria’s shoulder. “This is Sister Detria Mackey. I don’t know if you remember Rena or not?” he looked at Detria and then at Rena.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t,” Detria responded softly.

  “Well, Detria, this is, well no other way to say it but to say it—this is my ex-wife, Rena Graham and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson. I’m sorry, I don’t know you,” he said and looked at Robert.

  “Nice to meet you,” said Detria and nodded at each of them as she shook each of their hands.

  “Hello, Sister Detria.” Rena extended her hand and Detria accepted the handshake. “I don’t remember you either, but it’s nice meeting you, even if it is under these circumstances.” Rena looked at Robert and took hold of his hand. “This is Dr. Robert Becton. Robert’s a very dear friend of mine,” Rena seemed to emphasize as she introduced him. “When I told him about my Audrey, he insisted on coming with me for support, and I’m so glad he did. She looked at Robert with gratefulness sparkling from her tear drenched eyes. He kissed her on the cheek.

  Stiles looked somewhat taken aback when Robert kissed Rena, but he reached out his hand and the two of them shook hands.

  “Well, well, well, look who’s popped up. My best friend. You mean it took Audrey’s death to bring you back to Memphis,” Francesca remarked as she walked up and planted herself in the middle of the huddle.

  Rena’s face immediately changed shades. God, please don’t let her make a scene. Please, God.

  “Francesca, it’s good to see you. Certainly not under these circumstances, but it’s good to see you still. You look well,” Rena said nervously. She leaned over and hugged Francesca. Surprisingly, Francesca reciprocated. “Francesca.” Rena called her name.

  Francesca slowly looked up at Rena with enlarged eyes. Like a person with a split personality, Frankie’s tone of voice and sharp look changed. “Oh, Rena. Thank God you’re here. Thank God the only person who ever really loved me and understood me is here.” She kissed Rena one on each cheek.

  Robert and the rest of the brood stepped to the side slightly and allowed Francesca to release her grief.

  Rena was finally able to break their embrace. “Frankie, I’m so sorry about Audrey. I don’t know what to say.”

  Francesca glanced at the man who stood close to Rena. ‘Who is this?” Frankie asked.

  “This is Dr. Robert Becton; he’s a dear friend of mine. He was gracious enough to come with me for support.”

  “Oh, I see,” Frankie responded. She stretched forth her hand. “I’m Francesca Graham, a long time friend of Rena’s. The two of them shook hands. “It’s nice to meet you, Robert,” Francesca said first. “Did Rena tell you h
ow close we used to be?” she asked him.

  Rena wanted to crawl in a hole and die when she heard what Francesca asked him.

  “She’s mentioned that the two of you were close friends when she lived in Memphis,” Robert responded casually and placed his arm around Rena’s waist.

  Rena started talking. “I hate to see Pastor so heartbroken; and that goes for all of you,” Rena told her.

  “We all have to go some time or other,” Francesca said.

  Stiles interrupted the conversation. “Francesca, I don’t think this is the time to talk about whose friend was who’s or a lot of other unnecessary banter.”

  “And who died and made you king?” Francesca said with a look of bitterness. “Oops, I forgot. Audrey did. Well, excuse me. Next time I’ll make sure I get permission from my dear old big brother here,” she mocked.

  Rena closed her eyes and thanked God that Stiles interrupted.

  “No problem,” Robert said. “I do want to say that I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I can imagine how you feel. My mother died when I was nine years old.”

  Rena stared at him. Robert had told her he was young when his mother died, but he didn’t tell her how young. It made her think about all the things they still had to learn about one another.

  Stiles and Francesca both said, almost at the same time, “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Next, Mr. Jackson walked up and butted in. “Francesca, darling it’s good to see you. I’m sorry, honey, about your mother. I really am.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Jackson.”

  “Francesca, child you look wonderful.” Mrs. Jackson stepped up next and hugged her. “But are you all right? I mean you fainted; are you sure you’re going to be okay?” Mrs. Jackson’s voice radiated genuineness.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jackson for asking. But I’m fine. It’s a lot to take in, and I hadn’t had much to eat. And seeing Audrey like that, well it was just too much to take.” Francesca said and held her stomach.

  “Mrs. Jackson touched Francesca’s shoulder. “You take care of yourself, Francesca.”

  It was Mr. Jackson’s turn to interject. “That’s why, we’re not going to keep lingering. I know all of you are probably tired and tomorrow is going to be an even longer day,” Mr. Jackson told them.

  “Yes, it is,” added Pastor. He started crying again. “My poor Audrey. We have to put my sweet angel to rest,” he said.

  “We’re sending up prayers for you, Pastor,” Mr. Jackson said before he embraced Pastor.

  Rena caught Francesca’s eyes rolling up in her head, but ignored her. Instead, when her father stepped aside, Rena hugged Pastor and tried to console him the best way she could. She then hugged Stiles, Detria, and Francesca again.

  “Good-bye. We’re here for you,” Mrs. Jackson said while they walked away.

  Back at their hotel, Rena and Robert met up and had a bite to eat in the hotel restaurant, while Mr. and Mrs. Jackson ordered room service.

  “Are you feeling all right?” Robert asked. He touched her hand; it was reassuring the manner in which he lightly caressed it.

  “I don’t know, Robert. It’s so much you don’t know about my past. I shouldn’t have invited you to come to Memphis.”

  “First of all, you didn’t invite me. I offered. And what else do I need to know about your past? If that’s the case, there’s a ton of stuff you don’t know about my past. Like the fact that my mother died when I was nine. You didn’t know that because I never told you. You didn’t know that my older brother raised me because my father died two years later from lung cancer. You didn’t know I worked three jobs to put myself through school, and I even flunked out of school one of those times.”

  Rena’s eyes widened though she was tired and sleepy. “No, I didn’t know any of those things. But it doesn’t matter. You’re a great man, Robert, and an even dearer friend.”

  “See,” he pointed one finger up, “that’s the problem I have with you, Rena Graham.” Robert half smiled.

  “What on earth are you talking about?”

  “What I’m talking about is that I don’t want to be classified as a dear friend. I’ve told you that. Don’t get me wrong, we do have an awesome friendship, but I want more. And I believe you do too. Maybe being in Memphis for your ex mother-in-law’s funeral isn’t the perfect setting, but the truth is the truth. Then again, maybe it is because it reminds me that tomorrow is promised to no man.” Robert toyed with her slender fingers. “Don’t you know that I’m in love with you, Rena? I love you so much,” he said.

  Rena didn’t move. She didn’t say a word. Stiles kept flashing through her mind. Stiles had been the only man she ever loved. Stiles was the only man that she’d given herself to completely. She didn’t know how to respond to Robert.

  “Robert. I . . . I . . .”

  “Let me save you from embarrassing yourself and me. You don’t feel the same way,” he blurted out. A muscle flexed in his jaw. “You like me as a friend. You love my children. But . . . He paused and his face split into a wide, fake grin. “You don’t love me. You’re still in love with the man who treated you like crap.”

  “Robert,” Rena reached out for him, but he moved back out of her reach.

  “Are you done eating?” he asked coldly. “You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. Better try to get some rest,” he said as he placed the money in the check holder and stood up.

  “Robert, please try to understand.” She ran at his heels as he walked out of the restaurant. “This is the first time I’ve seen or heard from Stiles. It’s sort of, well, it’s all so screwed up.”

  “What’s so screwed up, Rena? The fact that he was with another woman? The fact that it’s over for the two of you? What don’t you get, Rena? When are you going to wake up and smell the roses?” He stormed off in the direction of the elevator. Upon reaching it, he continuously pushed the UP button.

  “Where do you get off assuming anything about my feelings or what I’m thinking? How was I to know that the only reason you came with me is to add brownie points to your list so you’d have a better chance of getting with me.” She stood frozen waiting on his response. None came.

  Robert pushed the elevator button again. A cold expression filled his reddened face.

  The door opened and he stepped in. His heavy heel clicked the tiled elevator floor. Rena scooted in before the door closed.

  “Robert, are you listening to what I said?” she screamed on the elevator that, thank God, held only the two of them.

  “Loud and clear,” he said. The door opened much too quickly for Rena.

  Robert stormed off in the direction of his hotel room. He pulled out his card and unlocked the door. He hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were done with their dinner. When he walked inside, the sitting area of the suite was empty and he saw Mr. Jackson lying asleep on the double bed.

  Rena stomped her feet and then pulled her door key out and ran into the adjoining room. She didn’t want to wake her mother, who she heard snoring lightly when she walked inside. She eased out of her clothes and took a warm shower. Upon finishing, she placed the towel on lid of the closed commode, and then sat down. Seeing Stiles tonight had stirred up so many mixed emotions. And then Francesca. Thank God Stiles interrupted Francesca. There was no telling what she was about to say. Something had to be done. And Rena had to figure out what that something was; maybe before she left Memphis.

  Rena tossed and turned in the bed. After sleep continued to avoid her, she eased up, so as not to wake her mother and went and sat on the sofa in the living room suite of their hotel room. She couldn’t escape thoughts of Stiles. Of all times, why did Robert decide to tell her he was in love with her? No matter how hard it would be, she had to be truthful to Robert, totally truthful about her past. She would see how much he loved her then. But confession would have to wait until after Audrey had been laid to rest. It also would have to wait until she found out if there was any hope of reconciliation for her and Stiles. There was n
o way she could move forward in her life unless she knew for sure, one way or the other, if there was chance for a future with her ex-husband. The woman he was with gave Rena cause to think that Stiles had moved on with his life. Detria stuck by him like glue to paper. It was obvious that something was going on; at least it was to Rena. Somehow she had to be sure.

  Chapter Twenty-one

  “The spaces between your fingers were created so that another’s could fill them in.”

  ~Unknown~

  When the Jackson family and Robert arrived at the funeral, it was close to standing room only. Rena scanned the aisles until she found a large enough gap that the four of them could squeeze in. The usher passed out the obituary that read like a short story. A gorgeous, graceful looking picture was on the front of the obituary, which was covered in a linen paper. Audrey looked like the queen she always demanded that she was. Past the picture, there was a poem that Rena read silently before the funeral started. It fit Audrey to a T. It also gave Rena cause to think about her own future.

  The funeral service began promptly at noon. The choir sang at full force, and from what she could see of Pastor, he looked like he was well pleased with the way Audrey was being honored. The program moved along nicely until Francesca started up. She flailed her arms when the choir sang, “I Shall Wear a Crown.”

  “Mother, oooh, Mother,” she screamed continuously. Ushers on duty from Holy Rock rushed to her side to calm her down. Rena noticed some of the people in the large sanctuary were shaking their heads from side to side, and she heard someone behind her whisper to someone else, ‘She know she ain’t doing nothing but clowning. She’s the one that drove her poor momma to the grave.”

  The ushers took Francesca out of the sanctuary; a replay of last night’s viewing. Only this time, minutes later, Francesca returned holding a huge wad of white tissue up to her face. She was seated again and the attention she’d brought on herself subsided.

  One by one, people walked up to the front, next to Audrey’s closed coffin. They paid glorious tributes to her, spoke eloquent words, talked of her service to Holy Rock and her love for her family, especially Pastor Graham.