by Lisa Smartt
Mr. Groeden yelled, “Jimmy, call 9-1-1! We need an ambulance.”
Janie Evans moved quickly to kneel beside Jerry. Brian Carter ran from the back of the room to join her. He took off his suit coat and wiped the blood from Jerry’s head and face. I could hear him calling out Jerry’s name. But he wasn’t responding. Janie sighed and whispered, “Thank God. He’s alive.”
Bob Garrett ran to the front just as Dusty was releasing Matthew from his grip. “Mr. Prescott, I’ll need to take you in. Don’t make this hard on yourself, Son.” His right eye was starting to swell as he turned and put both hands behind his back.
When Matthew turned, I moved in front of him. “You’ll need a lawyer.”
He lowered his head. “No. Don’t get involved, Sarah.”
Mr. Garrett handcuffed him and yelled, “Mike, pull the car around!”
I spoke one more time. “I’m coming with you.”
“No. Stay with Doug and Carlie. Please. Doug, help me out here.”
Carlie hugged me. Doug wrinkled his brow and whispered, “He’s embarrassed, Sarah. It’ll only make things worse if you go. Give him time. I’ll talk to Mr. Garrett and keep you posted.”
Then there was the walk. The walk of shame. In front of nearly every citizen of Sharon. Matthew’s lip was still bleeding a bit so Janie carefully used some wet wipes to clean up his mouth. He smiled slightly and thanked her. She patted his back and said, “No problem, Honey.”
Mr. Garrett grabbed his right arm and they walked slowly toward the back of the room. Matthew bowed his head. Mama and Mabel were sitting at the end of the pew on the last row. I could clearly see Mama’s facial expression. It was the same expression she had when I made a “D” in College Algebra. The same expression when she told me she got laid off a few years ago, right before Christmas. The same expression she had when Officer Thomas came to the house that evening and told her Jim Hill wasn’t gonna do any time for Daddy’s death, that it was all just a terrible accident. Yeah, her expression today was like that last one most of all.
The EMTs came down the aisle about three minutes after Matthew left. They put Jerry on a stretcher. He was still out cold and there was blood everywhere. Jerry looked like one of those mafia guys who had been roughed up pretty good by another mafia guy. But after they wheeled him up the center aisle, Janie put her arm around me and whispered, “I feel certain he’ll be fine. He’ll have some recovery time. But unless there are internal injuries, he should be alright. Oh, and don’t tell anyone I said this, but Lord, Sarah, he deserved every blow.” She shook her head and leaned in closer. “There’s not a man in this room who wouldn’t have done the same thing. Sad, really. The whole thing. Everybody loses with this one.”
Brother Dan was always the voice of calm. “May I have your attention, please? We are going to have the funeral today. But we’re going to take an extra twenty minutes or so. So, just know we’re going to try to start around 2:30. Thank you.”
Mr. Groeden and his dressed-up worker men were busy scrubbing the carpet with stain remover. One of the men even wiped the caskets where blood had splattered. I couldn’t help but wonder what Mrs. Ida and Chester would say about all the mayhem at their funeral. I had a feeling Mrs. Ida would say, “That ornery Jerry Conner just couldn’t leave well enough alone. He just kept pickin’ at that scab until it finally bled.” I figured Chester would say, “Well, one thing’s for sure, Ida. Ain’t nobody ever gonna forget our funeral.” And he’d be right.
Chapter 43, CARLIE: A Fight and a Funeral
Well, good gosh a-mighty. It’s all broken loose here in Sharon, Tennessee. Matthew’s been hauled to the Weakley County Jail. Jerry’s been rushed to Volunteer Hospital. Mr. Groeden is busy cleaning up blood stains. And Brother Dan’s left to direct a funeral. Bless his heart.
Oh, and I can only imagine all the unbelievable film footage the red-headed cameraman is getting from across the street. Matthew in handcuffs. Jerry Conner on a stretcher, out cold. And the community folks running here and there, wondering how all this could happen in a town where the most exciting thing that ever happens involves Mabel putting hamburgers on sale, 2/$5.
During the break, Aunt Charlotte came running to the front to embrace me as though we’d both been spared injury in a world war. “Law, wouldn’t Chester and Ida have had a fit over all this? A fit, I tell ya! I had a mind to sock that Jerry Conner myself. But Lord knows he was gettin’ plenty of all of it without my part. Are you and Doug staying for the funeral, Baby?”
“We would. But Doug wants to go to the jail and see how things are goin’ with Matthew.”
“I reckon. What am I supposed to do with that little Julie gal?”
“Well, she has a car. I guess she can stay for the funeral or go to Sarah’s house.”
Sarah interrupted. “I want to go with you and Doug to the jail.”
“Doug doesn’t think that’s a good idea. Matthew doesn’t want that, Sarah. And he definitely doesn’t want you to see him in a situation like this. We’ll find out what’s happening and what needs to happen and let you know. I promise.”
“Okay. Call me tonight.”
“That’s fine. Oh look! Seems your house guest is busy getting to know the good Dr. Carter.”
Sarah sighed. “That doesn’t surprise me in the least.”
Doug arranged to meet Jimmy Wilson at the jail. Jimmy’s a good lawyer and one of Doug’s best friends. Matthew was released by supper time and I didn’t ask Doug for all the details. It may have involved us posting bond or setting a hearing date or I’m not sure really. But I know this for sure. When Doug walked through the door, his countenance was certainly not one of victory. Neither was Matthew’s. There was a definite assumption that Jerry Conner would be pressing charges. Considering the fact that Matthew was out on parole, it could be a very strained situation, at best.
Doug didn’t even sit down. “Carlie, Matthew needs to eat and drink something. I’m heading to the hospital. Jimmy said the extent of Jerry’s injuries has a lot to do with what we’re facing.”
I handed Matthew one of Doug’s t-shirts. “I thought you might want to change.”
“Thanks.”
Matthew walked into the bathroom slowly, like an old man whose joints were hurting. Doug shook his head and put his arm around me. His voice was quiet. “Pray Jerry’s not hurt bad. If he’s hurt in a permanent injury kind of way, Jimmy said Matthew’s going back to jail. He’s almost certain.”
When Matthew opened the bathroom door, Doug tried to put a positive spin on it. “Hey man, I’ll be back as soon as I can. But before I go, can I pray for you? Figure we all could use it about now.”
Matthew nodded. “Yeah. And for Jerry too.”
“Oh, absolutely.” Doug grabbed my hand and the three of us bowed our heads. “Lord, we’re desperate right now. Desperate for mercy. Mercy only you can give.” He paused. “And healing. We ask for healing for Jerry’s physical body. Healing for Matthew too…in whatever way he needs that. Thank you that we can ask. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Doug looked up but Matthew grabbed his arm. “Wait. There’s something I need to say too.” He bowed his head. “Please forgive me, God. The anger. The doubt. Forgive me for hurting Jerry. Please help me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Doug opened the kitchen door. “I’ll be back soon.”
I kissed him on the cheek and whispered, “Thank you. For all of it. For caring.”
An hour later, Matthew and I were drinking coffee and eating peanut butter sandwiches when we heard Doug’s car pull into the driveway. We both waited silently at the table like our lives were in the balance.
The kitchen door made the familiar squeaking sound. Doug shook his head. “Not good, man. Not good.”
Matthew’s face grew pale as he dropped his head. “I figured. I knew he was hurt.”
“The right cheek bone is broken. Doc says it may require reconstructive surgery. A few broken ribs. At one point they thought he had swelling on the brain, b
ut he doesn’t. He’s conscious now. Seems to know where he is. Thankfully. They’re keeping him overnight for observations. Things could change by morning. Better or worse.”
Matthew looked down at a half-eaten sandwich. “Yeah. I knew it was bad.”
Doug moved toward the table. “I got a chance to talk to him though.”
“And?”
“And he’s willing to drop all charges.”
Matthew jumped to his feet. “What? You’re kidding!”
“No. But there are conditions.” Doug leaned against a bar stool. “And they’re not good.”
“Let me guess. They involve me leaving the area.”
“Right.”
“I figured. I guess he’s thinking as long as he never sees me again, everything’s forgotten, right? Back to normal.”
“I talked to Jimmy to see if that were even legal. Stipulations, I mean. It is. Basically, what he’s saying is, if you leave town, he’ll decide not to press charges. But if you choose to stay here, he’s going to follow through with the charges and all that entails.”
“No. That’s good. I’ve already been thinking about it. I need to leave anyway. It’s not fair to Dusty. Not fair to…”
I broke in. “To Sarah?”
“Yeah. It’s not fair to Sarah. It was already going to be tough. But now…” He shook his head. “Well, there’s no reason to put her through all that. I’ll talk to my parole officer about moving to California.”
“But what about a job?”
“I could talk to my cousin, Stephen. He’s really a pretty decent guy.” Matthew let out a ragged breath and put his face in his hands. His voice cracked. “I’m sure it’s all for the best anyway, right? I was never going to, you know…this wasn’t my real home.”
Doug stood behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. “Chester and Ida thought it was.”
Matthew nodded. “They were good people. Probably a little naïve though.”
“What about the house?”
“I’ll sell it, I guess. If I can get a job in California, I’ll donate whatever it brings to the community in some way. The fire department, maybe. The Millers would have liked that.”
I took a napkin from the holder in the middle of the table and dabbed my eyes. “I, for one, don’t like this idea. I’m supposed to call Sarah. Let her know what’s happening.”
Matthew stood. “I can do that. I should do it. Doug, you’ve already done so much for me today. More than you should have. But do you think you could drop me by her house? Maybe that would be the best way to handle it. And before we go, could I borrow your phone so I can call Dusty?”
“Sure. Phone’s in the back room. And I’ll take you whenever you’re ready.”
Chapter 44, SARAH: No Long Good-byes
Julie and I sat out on the porch most of the evening. But I was never without my phone. Carlie had already called once to tell me he was out of jail. They were waiting on the hospital report. I asked to speak with him. She said he wasn’t ready to talk to me yet. What did that even mean? Whatever it meant, it wasn’t good.
I recognized Doug’s truck and flung the blanket off my lap. Matthew got out of the truck. He was limping a bit, wearing an old t-shirt and a denim jacket I’d seen Doug wear many times. He turned to wave at Doug and the truck pulled back out of the driveway. I ran down the steps as he started walking faster. I tried to speak as though none of it had happened. “I know you’re sore, but I’m gonna hug you anyway. I am.” I smiled. “I promise to be gentle.”
He held out his arms. “I trust you. Completely.”
I winked and said, “I’m pretty darn trustworthy. Ask anybody around here.” He slowly enveloped me in his arms and I laid my head against his chest. He breathed deeply. Peaceful.
“Sarah, I need to talk to you.”
“You have news? About Jerry?”
“Yeah. He’s hurt pretty bad. Broken cheekbone. Broken ribs. I had a feeling. May have to do some reconstructive surgery on his face.”
“Here, come sit on the porch.”
Julie came running to the steps. “Matthew, we were worried sick!”
“I’m okay.” He gently lowered himself into the white rocking chair. “How was the funeral?”
Julie started in. “Oh, it was the sweetest little ceremony. With Bible verses and God songs and God talk and everything.”
Matthew wrinkled his brow. “They’re called hymns, Julie. I thought you guys were Episcopalians.”
“Oh no. Daddy just always told people we were. He said people were more likely to trust a man who had a little bit of religion in him. Anyway, after the funeral we went to the church meal. And I ate catfish and chocolate cake and this dish made out of hash brown potatoes. I must have gained at least five pounds. And I met the nicest people too. There was this one guy, the doctor. Well, he just went on and on about everything. I don’t know if he was nervous or if he found me, I don’t know, intimidating?”
“I’m glad you both went to the meal. These are good people, Julie.”
“Well, I don’t know why poor Sarah went at all. She refused to eat anything. She worked in the kitchen most of the time. And I don’t know what happened back there but it wasn’t good. Sarah, did you say your mama was real sick? Is that why she left so early?”
“Yeah. Uh, she just wasn’t feeling well.”
Matthew looked at me like a kid looks when he brings home bad grades. Embarrassment. Shame. Regret. “I’m sorry about your mama, Sarah. That she’s, you know, sick and all.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’ll be feeling better soon. No worries, Matthew.” I picked up a pillow and placed it gently behind his head and shoulders.
He grabbed me by the arm and looked into my eyes. “Thank you.”
“Do you want something to eat or drink? We have funeral leftovers.”
“No. I’m fine. Really. Sarah, can I talk to you…” He looked at Julie. “Alone? Just for a minute.”
Julie leapt to her feet. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to do whatever it is you do out here on the porch. Sarah swears up and down it’s not what I think it is, but…really…I wasn’t born yesterday.”
Matthew nodded. And Julie slammed the door.
I stood. “Would it help if I rubbed your back or your shoulders a little bit?”
“No.” He smiled. “And it might make it harder to say what I’m about to say.”
“Let me guess. You’re worried. About the hearing and everything.”
“No. Not anymore. Jerry has agreed to not press charges.”
“My gosh! That’s great! No, it’s wonderful!” Tears fell from my eyes. “I’m so relieved. You have no idea.”
He clasped his hands together and lowered his head. “There’s a catch.”
“A catch?”
“Yeah. He’s agreed to not press charges if I leave the area.”
“What? You’re kidding! That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. You have a job and a house, and a life and…”
“You?”
I knelt by the rocking chair. “Yes. You have me. And moving? Well, that’s crazy.”
He didn’t make eye contact. “No. I think Jerry’s right. For a lot of reasons. Look, that thing today was stupid. I flew off the handle.” Matthew stood and started pacing. “I could have killed him, Sarah! Killed him! And if Doug and Dusty hadn’t gotten there when they did, I probably would have killed him. And that kind of anger? That should scare you! Don’t you think that’s what your mama’s scared of? What happened today, don’t you think that’s what keeps her up at night? And if it didn’t worry her before, oh, I can assure you it does now! And it should worry you too.”
“No. Jerry was the one who showed out today. He’s even the one who touched you first. There are witnesses, Matthew! Look, you’ve got nothing to worry about. Let it go to a hearing, a trial, if need be. But don’t walk away with your head down. Please. Don’t.”
“Sarah, this was all just a fantasy. Don’t you see?” His voice grew so
fter as he pointed to the street. “They weren’t going to accept me. Not really. I’m not one of them. I’m not going to be one of them. You know that. Your mama knows it, even if you don’t.”
“No! Some people might talk. But the people that matter? The people that matter do accept you.”
He turned and faced the street as his hands nervously tapped the porch railing. “Look, I’m moving back to California. I’ve already talked to Dusty and he’s supportive of the idea. He gets it, Sarah. He knows what it’s like!”
“And what about the TV show?”
“I guess the cameraman squealed pretty loudly about everything that went on this afternoon. Shayla has already talked to Dusty about it. She knows I’m moving. Evidently, they’re gonna switch it up, do this contrasting thing between the life of an ex-con in Sharon and one in San Diego. I don’t know. I couldn’t care less. I’ll do what they say and leave it at that.”
“And your work?”
“Dusty will find help at the shop. He’s connected. I’ll talk to my cousin, Stephen, about getting a job with the company maybe. I still have a business degree and he knows people in San Diego. Surely one of them needs to make a big community service splash by hiring an ex-con. Kind of the ‘in’ thing to do right now, I guess. Especially if they think they’ll end up on TV. I have friends I can stay with for a while.” He moved toward me and placed his hands on my arms. “And if you want to visit me…”
“You’ll what? Introduce me as an ‘old friend’? Like Julie here? Someone you knew back in the day?”
He leaned back on the railing. “No. That wasn’t what I was going to say. You’re not an old friend, Sarah. And you’re nothing like Julie.”
“I can’t believe you’re letting Jerry Conner ruin your life like this! That you’re giving him this much power! Power to change, to change everything.”
Matthew walked down the porch steps. He turned back to face me. I couldn’t tell if it was sadness or anger that burned in his eyes. “You wanna know the truth, Sarah? Huh? Do you want me to stand here and tell you the REAL truth about all of it? About why I’m moving?” He raised his hands in the air. “Why I’m running? ‘Cause I assure you it’s not about Jerry Conner at all. Jerry Conner is not the one running me out of town. Not by a long shot.”
