The List

by Robert Whitlow

  The phone rang four times while the old man took a tentative sip of his Bloody Mary. Like Renny, he was recovering from the remaining vestiges of the morning’s headache.

  “No, I feel terrible,” he said in response to the caller’s greeting. “Get to the point.”

  He listened and took a few more swallows of his first cocktail of the day. “Satisfactory. Keep me posted.”

  He put on dark glasses before walking into the sunny kitchen.

  20

  Parting is such sweet sorrow.

  ROMEO AND JULIET, ACT 2, SCENE 2

  Renny turned onto Park Road, an open boulevard flanked by newly developed residential areas that fed a steady stream of minivans and sport utility vehicles onto the busy roadway.

  “It shook me up a bit seeing Thomas Layne in the parking lot,” he said.

  “That was obvious. I could tell you were uptight as soon as you came into the church.”

  “He’s intimidating.”

  “Did he tell you to pretend you’d never met him?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m glad it wasn’t your idea, but I didn’t like it. At best it was phony; at worst it was deceptive.”

  “I didn’t know what to say. It caught me off guard. The parking lot of the church on Sunday morning didn’t seem the place to open a discussion with Layne and his sister about a 140-year-old secret society that neither he nor their father ever told her about. She seems happy enough without the information.”

  “That should tell you something about happiness.”

  “You mean that ignorance is bliss?”

  “Not exactly, but go ahead.”

  “Well, I had trouble concentrating in the meeting, and I knew you were upset when I asked you to play dumb about Layne. Worst of all, I think I should have gone forward at the end.”

  “I wondered why you didn’t. I thought about giving you a nudge but decided you were able to hear from the Lord yourself.”

  “Earlier today I would have thought so, too. I know what happened at the mountain and the times I’ve had with God in the mornings the past couple of days have been real, very real. But at the church everything was thrown into a barrel of doubt and questioning.”

  Renny turned into the restaurant parking lot. Inside, they sat across from each other in a high-backed booth under a multicolored piñata. Dipping a tortilla chip in the salsa, Renny continued, “When the rector asked people to come forward and openly acknowledge Jesus before the congregation, I knew it was my opportunity to take the next step. I was a little hesitant to walk forward in front of a group of people, but the real reason I stayed in my seat was concern about Layne. What would he think? I doubt he would have approved of an open religious display.”

  “Probably not. But remember what George Manor said.”

  “What part?”

  “God is not like your father.”

  “How does that apply to Thomas Layne?”

  “Don’t let your father, Thomas Layne, or the List determine how you respond to God.”

  The waiter took their order.

  “You’re right,” Renny said thoughtfully. “I’ll try not to miss my opportunity to respond to what God is telling me. And before I eat this whole basket of chips, will you pray a blessing?”

  Jo prayed.

  “Hearing you pray reminded me of something,” Renny said when Jo finished. “Speculation about your religious beliefs was a hot topic in Georgetown. While you were out of the room, they asked me about your Christian faith. I didn’t think it was relevant, and I bet most of the men on the List are church members, probably more ‘whiskeypalian’ than Episcopalian in their theology. But I’d guess they’re tolerant of casual religion; it’s part of their tradition.”

  “What did you say?”

  “Oh, I told them Christianity was very important to you. I’d already heard you pray and felt your missionary zeal toward me as a potential proselyte when we went to Pawley’s Island.”

  Jo smiled. “You were a difficult prospect. Too much of a know-it-all.”

  “Hey, I think I’ve been easy. Anyway, I think some of them were scared by your religious fanaticism. Religion is not a threat unless it affects behavior. And since the List operates on the edges of law, some of the other members were concerned you might create problems. Why else would they offer you a million dollars and ask you to keep everything confidential?”

  “I was interested in learning about my father, not upsetting their apple cart.”

  “You said that, but most people aren’t as straightforward as you are. They have hidden agendas.”

  The waiter brought their food and set it down on the table. “Careful, the plates are hot,” he warned.

  “We need to work through this,” Renny said, suddenly uninterested in the steaming burritos and rice in front of him. “There are people on the List who are scared of you because you are a loose cannon, not committed or controlled. I almost wish you had taken the million dollars and given it away; you were entitled to a lot more than that. From their perspective, you are a potential threat because you don’t have any stake in the game, so to speak.”

  “Do you think I’m in danger?” Jo asked, startled.

  “When there is money involved, people will do things. We can’t be naive.”

  “Do you think you’re in danger?”

  “I doubt it. I’m part of the fraternity.”

  “I’m not sure that’s protection.”

  “Why not?”

  “Would you consider it a good health insurance policy? Ask Bart Maxwell.”

  “You have a suspicious feeling, but that could be coincidence. We need to think about facts, not theories.”

  “Excuse me,” Jo said testily.

  “Sorry. That was too blunt. But one fact you don’t know is that LaRochette asked me to keep an eye on you after you walked out of the meeting in Georgetown. I guess he wanted to know if I thought you were going to tattle. This morning in the parking lot, Layne asked me if I was doing my job.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this before?”

  “I forgot about it. I was too busy watching you on my own time to think about it from LaRochette’s point of view.”

  “Forgiven. What did you say to Layne this morning?”

  “Nothing really, but maybe I should now.”

  “Why? What would you say? That I’m not interested in what they do?”

  “No. I’ve a better idea. I can tell them the truth. That I am in love with you and want you to marry me. Then, even though you know about the List, you aren’t likely to do anything that would harm your husband-to-be.”

  “That means you have to stay involved. I’m not comfortable with that approach.”

  “All I want to do is hang around for the next distribution. It’s only a few months off.”

  “I’m unconvinced. I’ve already told you—”

  “I know, I know,” Renny cut her off. “Don’t worry. Let’s eat. There’s nothing worse than cold Mexican rice.”

  Renny drove under the canopy of trees on Queens Road. “It doesn’t have the beauty of Anne’s Avenue on Prince Edward Island, but it offers a stately welcome, don’t you think?” he asked.

  “Yes, the old oaks are royal greeters on Queens Road.”

  Mrs. Stokes was listening to music and humming when they knocked at the kitchen door. “How was church?”

  “Ugh,” Renny said.

  “What?” she asked.

  Coming to his aid, Jo said, “Renny was sidetracked, but he’ll get it straightened out. How long will it take us to get to the airport?”

  “We need to leave a couple hours before your flight. You’ve plenty of time to pack, then I’d like you to come upstairs for a few minutes before we leave.”

  “OK.”

  As the door closed behind Renny, Jo leaned against the counter. “Renny missed a golden opportunity to acknowledge Jesus publicly. Then he felt shut out from the Lord.”

  “I see.”

 
Tears gently pooled in Jo’s eyes. “He’s under a lot of pressure from several angles, Mrs. Stokes. I’m worried about him.”

  The old lady took Jo in her arms and held her with firm strength. A single tear escaped and ran down Jo’s cheek onto Mrs. Stokes’s shoulder.

  “I know he’s special,” Mrs. Stokes said. “He’s special to you, to me, and to the Lord.”

  Jo sniffled. “I’m going to leave my phone number with you. Call me and let me know how things are going with him.”

  “I will, I will. Now, go pack your things.”

  Jo reluctantly said goodbye to the blue bedroom with its secret holy place. Putting her suitcase on the bed, she noticed a small white box on the pillow with a loosely tied blue bow on top. A card was lying beside it. Opening the card, she read, “This gift is a symbol of God’s promises for you and our connection in him. With love, Daisy Stokes.” Inside the box, Jo found a crystal Star of David identical to the one in the prayer closet. Jo held it up to the light and turned it so it cast its display of color across the white bedspread. Mrs. Stokes was one of those unique people grown so used to the path of blessing others that no other walkway was familiar to her feet.

  Jo carried her suitcase and garment bag into the kitchen. She could see Mrs. Stokes outside the window filling her hummingbird feeders with sweet red liquid.

  Mrs. Stokes came back into the house. “Ready to go?”

  “I think so. Thanks for the Star of David. I love it.”

  “I bought two of them in Jerusalem when I visited Israel three years ago. I knew someone who would appreciate it would cross my path.”

  “I have the perfect place for it in my bedroom.”

  “I know you’ll enjoy it.”

  Jo picked up her bag. “Thanks. Thanks for everything. I’m going to leave my suitcase by the door while I go upstairs to get Renny.”

  “I have a meeting to attend, so let me give you a hug before I go. Come back anytime.” Mrs. Stokes blessed Jo with a final smile. They walked outside together.

  “Bye.”

  Jo walked up the steps and knocked once. Renny opened the door, and Brandy gave a welcoming bark.

  Jo entered and scratched Brandy behind the ears.

  “I wanted you to meet one more person before you leave. She’s a special lady, and I know you want to talk to her,” Renny said.

  “Who is it?”

  “I’m going to call Mama A. Unless she is spending the day with her family, she should be at her house by now.”

  “That would be great.”

  “Here’s the cordless phone. I’ll call on the extension in my bedroom.”

  Renny dialed the number, and Jo listened in as the phone rang in Charleston. On the third ring, Mama A answered, “Hello.”

  “Mama A. It’s Renny. Are you doing OK?”

  “Fine, fine. A little tired today, but I took a nap after church. How are you?”

  “I’m good. Guess what happened?”

  Mama A was silent a moment, then said, “You tell me; I’m too old for guessing games.”

  “I’ve become a Christian, a real one.”

  “Praise the Lord, Renny.”

  “It happened Friday up in the mountains.”

  “Your mama is jumpin’ for joy,” Mama A exclaimed.

  Renny hadn’t considered his mother’s reaction to the past two days’ events. On earth, she never owned a pair of sneakers to jump in.

  “Maybe she is,” Renny conceded. “I’ve got someone else on the phone, Mama A, a girl I’ve met who helped me down the path toward God. Her name is Jo Johnston, and I think she is the most beautiful woman in the world.”

  In the living room, Jo blushed and said, “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Renny’s told me some wonderful things about you.”

  “It’s good to meet you, too, though this is a poor substitute to seein’ you with my own eyes. Renny, I wish you were here. I’d give you the biggest hug you’ve ever had.”

  “I want to see you again soon,” Renny said. “Next time I’m down that way I’ll call you.”

  “Jo?” the old lady said.

  “Yes.”

  “You come, too. Renny doesn’t throw around compliments like horseshoes. I can tell from your voice that you are something special. Where are you from?”

  “Michigan.”

  “Jo’s a nurse,” Renny said.

  “Well, if I have to pretend to be sick to get you to bring her here to meet me properly, I will.”

  “I hear you, Mama A. Thanks for all you’ve done for me, especially the time I had with you the other day.”

  “I told you, you’re like one of my own, Renny. Always have been, always will be.”

  “I’ll talk to you soon.”

  “OK. Bye, Renny. Bye, Jo.”

  “Goodbye,” they echoed.

  “Do you have a picture of her?” Jo asked when Renny came into the living room.

  “I’m sure I do. Let me check.” Renny did an about-face and disappeared. Jo could hear him opening drawers. “Here’s one,” he called.

  He set a picture album on the coffee table in the living room, and he and Jo sat next to each other on the couch. “These were taken a few years ago on the Fourth of July. Her family had a big cookout, and I was invited. This is Mama A.”

  Agnes Flowers, a proud smile on her face, was cradling a newborn baby in the catcher’s mitt. “This is one of her grandchildren. She is always the catcher in a family softball game, and I came up with the idea of taking a picture with the baby in the baseball glove.”

  “Is there one of the two of you?”

  Renny turned the page. “Here’s one. Typical. I’ve got barbecue sauce all over my face.” Renny was standing next to Mama A with his head tilted toward her so she could kiss him on the cheek.

  “She loves you, doesn’t she?” Jo picked up the album and looked closer.

  “Yes. I wish I had kept in closer contact with her the past few years.”

  “She doesn’t seem to hold it against you.”

  “She’s not that way at all.”

  “Do you think we could see her sometime?”

  “Of course. It will give me another reason to buy you a plane ticket.”

  “Speaking of planes, is it time to leave?”

  Renny glanced at the clock. “Unfortunately, yes.”

  The airport was crowded, and they had to walk quickly to the boarding gate.

  As they called her flight, Jo said, “Phone or e-mail after you talk with Layne, and don’t forget to set up something with Paul Bushnell.”

  “Yes, dear,” Renny said teasingly. “Are you going to call me?”

  “If I need you to pick up something at the grocery store on the way home.”

  “I wish.”

  Jo laid her hand on his shoulder. “Also, remember what I said last night.”

  “I will.”

  “And remember everything else, too.”

  “I will.” Renny leaned over for their first goodbye kiss. “See you soon.”

  “Bye.” Jo stepped away, handed her boarding pass to the attendant, and walked down the ramp. She didn’t look back, afraid that if she did, she might not have been able to keep walking away.

  21

  Yond Cassius has a lean and hungry look.

  JULIUS CAESAR, ACT 1, SCENE 2

  The faces of the people in the airport concourse were as indistinguishable from one another as cornstalks in a field. Renny felt sharply the pain of separation and muttered his first airport prayer as he jostled his way through the throng to the parking deck. “Soon, God. Let me see her soon.”

  At home, he put Brandy on her leash, and they ran until both were gasping for breath. Upon returning to the apartment, Brandy lay down on her side in front of the air-conditioning vent next to her bed. Renny was finishing a second glass of water when the phone rang. It was Thomas Layne.

  “Are you feeling better?” Layne asked. “You looked a little under the weather at the church.”
/>   “I’m fine now.”

  “Glad to hear it.”

  Renny didn’t respond, and Layne cleared his throat. “I want to get together, just the two of us, while I am in town. Is tomorrow a possibility for lunch?”

  Renny couldn’t remember any scheduled conflict, but stalled, “I’ll need to check my calendar when I get to the office in the morning.”

  “Of course. I hope you’re not tied up; it’s important that we talk as soon as possible.”

  “Sure. Do you want me to call you tomorrow morning?”

  “No,” Layne said quickly. “Since I’m here with Lois and Jack, it would be better if I called you. I have your work number.”

  “OK.”

  “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

  At 9:30 the next morning, Renny was at his desk when the phone rang.

  “Mr. Layne on line one,” the secretary announced.

  After Renny picked up, Layne got straight to the point. “Are you free for lunch?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let’s meet at Alton’s at noon.”

  “All right.”

  “I’ll see you there.”

  Renny started to sweat. He decided to call Jo. Her mother answered the phone. “Hello, Mrs. Edwards, this is Renny. Is Jo available?”

  “Good morning, Renny. No, she worked from seven last night until seven this morning. She collapsed into bed an hour ago; I’d hate to wake her.”

  “That’s OK. I’ll try to catch her this evening.”

  “She said you two had a good weekend.”

  “Yes, we did.”

  “I look forward to meeting you. You need to visit us soon, before we build our igloos.”

  “Did she tell you about that?” Renny laughed. “I’d like to come. How about today?”

  “We’ll find a time, and I’ll tell her you called.”

  “Bye.”

  Renny pulled into the Alton’s parking lot a couple of minutes before noon. Except for a few uptown clubs, Alton’s was the most expensive restaurant in the city. Many businessmen considered it the perfect setting for a power lunch. More deals were settled over Alton’s steak roulade than in corporate boardrooms, but Renny would rather have a grilled cheese sandwich with Jo than steak with Layne.

  A snooty maître d’ greeted Renny in the foyer of the restaurant. “Are you meeting someone, sir?”