Day of Atonement

by Yolonda Tonette Sanders

  Troy said goodbye to his friend one last time and then left to meet up with his family.

  June 12, 1989—My name is Elana Marie Campbell. Today is my fifteenth birthday. Jeff promised to give me a calendar each year so I will always know the date. I’m sad. I miss my mama and my brother. Sometimes I wonder if they remember me. Jeff says that they probably don’t. He says that mama told him to bring me to his house that day and that she would pick me up later. She never came. At first, I hated her. I hated my brother and Troy, but now I know that Jeff did not tell me the truth. For my birthday, he brought home another little girl, named Karen. She’s six. Jeff told her the same thing, that her mom told him to bring her here and would get her later. I know that’s a lie because I heard him and some of his buddies talk about her being next. I wish I could tell her that everything will be okay, but I don’t want to lie to her, too. I don’t think she has been touched before like I have been by uncle Bill, Herbert, Jeff, and a bunch of Jeff’s friends. I told Karen that everything they do to her will hurt at first, but eventually she will get used to it. I have.

  “Maybe you should follow Elvin’s lead,” said Natalie who sat beside Troy on the plane. “I can tell by your face that you don’t like what you’re reading.”

  She was probably right, but Troy flipped through to another entry anyhow.

  February 5, 1993—Jeff sold Karen yesterday. He said he would never do that to me because I remind him of Mama and he says that he loves her. I guess he thought that would make me feel better to hear him say. He knows I write in the journals now. He encourages it. He says that I need a healthy outlet for everything I am feeling. I don’t know if I feel anymore. I think I stopped feeling a long time ago. Well, maybe not, because I feel scared for what’s going to happen to Karen. Sometimes when Jeff wanted a performance, I would volunteer so Karen could get a break. She still hadn’t gotten used to this lifestyle. Sometimes Jeff would let me fill in for her. Other times he was insistent that she play out his fantasies. I know Karen liked me protecting her. I don’t know if she will have someone looking out for her the next place she goes.

  Elana had not been consistent in chronicling her experience. Sometimes she wrote every day for a while, then other times she skipped months. There was only one entry for the entire year in 2000 and that was on January 1. Elana expressed her disappointment about the world not ending as she thought it would.

  Instead of leafing through them all, Troy picked up the last of Elana’s entries, curious to see what her thoughts were during her final days.

  July 27, 2011—I didn’t get my period. Jeff says that I’m pregnant. I hope not. I don’t want him to do to my baby what he does to me.

  April 7, 2012—Having this baby is going to hurt. Jeff has been learning about childbirth so he can deliver the baby. I tried to talk him into letting me go to the hospital, but he won’t. He’s scared that I am going to tell someone. I told him that I wouldn’t. I don’t have anywhere to go if they take me away from Jeff. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Mama. She may not want me back now. Jeff takes care of me. Like he said, I don’t have anyone else. He showed me this thing called the Internet the other day and showed me information about missing children. Jeff said that they only put information about children whose parents wanted them back. Some of the kids were missing a long time and there was still things about them. There was nothing about me. Mama doesn’t miss me. I still miss her.

  He forwarded through the entries once again to the very last one several weeks before her death . . .

  October 9, 2012—I think Jeff is going to kill me one day. He killed my baby. He says he didn’t. He says he dropped her off at the hospital nursery, but he’s lying. I heard her crying and then a big pop and after the pop she wasn’t crying anymore. I will never forget that sound or how horrible I felt knowing I would never see her again. It’s been months and I miss her. I didn’t even get to hold her, but for a few minutes. I named her Lilly like my mom. Having Lilly and loving her taught me that there is a special connection between mothers and their children. No matter what Jeff says, Mama loves me. So what, I’m not on the stupid Internet. She loves me and she misses me. If I could talk to her, I would tell her that I’m sorry. If she asked me why I got in the car with Jeff, I would tell her everything that happened. I went outside to see if I saw Troy’s dad because I needed him to pay for my push pop. Jeff pulled up, asking me what I was doing there. I told him and asked if he would buy my push pop. He gave me the money to go back in the store to get it. When I came out with his change, he said Mama asked him to get me and keep me until she came. (I heard him talking to one of his friends saying that he wanted to take me way before he did, but he never had a chance to get me alone until the day at the store.) I think he’s going to kill me because he says that he is tired of keeping secrets and wants to live a normal life. I guess me and the other girls that passed through here over the years were his secrets. Jeff said that he and Mama have been talking again and he wants to marry her, but he can’t with me being here and so he has to send me away. A guy came to look at me, but he didn’t want to buy me. He said I was too old. I asked Jeff why I can’t see Mama and he said because she doesn’t want to see me. I know he’s lying. Mama doesn’t know I’m here. One day if she ever finds out, I hope she knows that I know she loves me. I love her, too. I don’t know how he’s going to kill me, if he will, but I think he will. I’m not scared of dying. It has got to be better than living locked up in a room. If he kills me, I will be free and I will get to be with Lilly.

  Troy wiped his eyes hoping to catch any tears before they fell. Surprisingly, there were none. Only the silent cries from his heart, relieved that, in the end, Elana had some sense of peace.

  “You okay?” Natalie reached over and gently squeezed his hand.

  “Yes,” he replied, putting the journal back in the bag and deciding he would not read thrugh any more entries, “Elana is finally free.”

  Epilogue

  Two Months Later

  “You’re doing great babe, keep pushing.” Troy sat by Natalie’s side, holding her hand in the hospital delivery room. His parents and Salome were in the waiting area anxiously anticipating the new arrivals, along with Aneetra and Corrine. Tracy couldn’t come because she had to teach, but she was planning a trip in the very near future. With the exception of Aneetra, who had been sworn to secrecy, Troy and Natalie had decided to keep everyone in suspense about the babies’ genders.

  Finally, one screaming male child was out and a few pushes later came the baby girl. Both had a healthy set of lungs. Natalie grinned from ear to ear as she held them while Troy snapped a picture. “We make beautiful children, babe.”

  “Don’t get any more ideas, buddy. These are the last beauties we will ever make as long as I have a say in it.” He laughed and joined them in the photo while the nurse took a picture. Troy and Natalie mutually agreed to give the babies names that started with E in honor of Elvin and Elana. The middle names were the same as Troy’s and Natalie’s.

  The boy, Ean Jermaine, was seven pounds, six ounces and twenty-one inches long. The girl, Ebony Reneé, was seven pounds, two ounces and nineteen inches long. The name they had chosen fit her perfectly as it meant, “Dark beauty,” and it so happened that she had a gorgeous mahogany skin tone. Ean, who was lighter than his twin, had a name that meant, “God is gracious.” Neither Natalie nor Troy had been aware of the meanings when they’d originally picked the names, and upon learning the meanings they liked them even more. Natalie joked that if Ebony was light-skinned it might confuse her.

  After being given the clearance, Troy headed to the lobby to get their family. His mom was relieved to hear that both babies were healthy. She’d gotten mad when Troy notified a few of his friends to tell them that Natalie had gone into delivery. She claimed that it was bad luck to notify anyone other than immediate family members until after the mother delivered. When Troy called her superstition ridiculous, she went to the gift shop and bought bubb
le gum, which, if chewed by at least one grandmother during delivery, would offset the curse. When Troy announced that each child safely entered the world, Salome teased his mom about having saved their lives.

  Over the past couple of months, Troy had begun building a relationship with his newly discovered sister. The more Troy learned about Salome, the more he liked her. She fit right in as though she’d been part of their clan all along. She got along well with everyone and tended to liven things up a bit for their family with her hippie/afrocentric flavor and she’d been the needed glue to help repair relationships, especially between Troy and their father, whom she still called by his first name.

  One by one, everyone passed the babies around. Troy took a few more photos and sent them to Tracy and Elvin. Within minutes Elvin was ringing his phone at the same time his mom was dialing Tracy.

  “They are beautiful, man! We can’t wait to get up there during spring break and spend some time with y’all.” Elvin had always been instrumental in Troy’s spiritual life and Troy admired him more and more for the way he had handled the recent tragedies. He was still faithful, still taking things one day at a time, and still not ready to read through any of Elana’s journals. “What does Nate think about his baby siblings?”

  “He hasn’t seen them yet. He’s with Sylvia and Richard.” Elvin hadn’t been around Nate’s surrogate grandparents much, so Troy had to remind him that Sylvia was Natalie’s godmother and Richard was a DA whom Troy initially knew because of their working relationship. “They are going to bring him up here later.”

  “You’ll have to send me a picture of Nate with the twins.”

  “Will do.”

  “Give Natalie a hug for me and tell the fam I said hey. I love y’all, man.”

  “I love you, too, bruh.”

  Troy then sent pictures to a few other friends and family members in one mass text message and replies started pouring in. There was only one message that disturbed him.

  Congrats on the new arrivals. They are gorgeous. Let’s talk soon. Love, Cheryl.

  She’d been a nuisance ever since Troy had returned from Texas. Despite the fact that he had not replied to a single one of her text messages, she was faithful in “checking in” with him every week. Concerned that he’d mistakenly included her on his distribution list, Troy double-checked. Nope. He stepped in the hall and looked around. There was no sign of her. How in the world did she know about the babies? He had not posted anything online and besides Elvin, no one else he’d sent pictures to knew Cheryl. Elvin would have never shared them with her, especially after Troy confided in him about her harassment. He’d encouraged Troy to tell Natalie, but Troy could not bring himself to involve his wife. He’d hope Cheryl would eventually get bored and move on.

  “Everything all right, son?” His dad came in the hall to see about him.

  “Uh, yeah. Everything is fine.” Troy took a deep breath and the two men walked back into the room. Cheryl was a problem he’d have to solve on another day. Right now, he simply wanted to enjoy his family.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. At age eleven, Troy had already decided against marriage after witnessing the things that went on in the relationships of those around him. Are there factors in your childhood that influenced your view (positively or negatively) of marriage?

  2. In general, the media has been accused of not giving the disappearance of minority children the same attention as that of Caucasian ones. Do you think this is true? Why or why not? Compare the cases of Natalee Holloway and Jahessye Shockley.

  3. Politics can often divide friends and family members. Have you and your loved ones been divided on political issues?

  4. What is your relationship with your father like?

  5. What do you think of Troy’s behavior at the family breakfast? Is it justified or is he being mean?

  6. From where do you think superstitions originated? Why do some people so easily believe in them?

  7. Given everything you know about Edgar so far up until chapter 6, do you sympathize with him? Why or why not?

  8. Have you or would you ever be willing to undergo hypnosis? Why or why not?

  9. Natalie recalls Troy telling her that she will make Nate “soft” by coddling too much. Do you agree or disagree?

  10. In chapter 9, Diane reveals a detail about the day Elana disappeared of which Troy is unaware. Do you think this information is significant in solving Elana’s mystery?

  11. In chapter 10, Troy walks into a scene at his parents’ home that sends him into a rage. Do you think his anger was warranted? Why or why not?

  12. How do you and your spouse normally settle conflicts?

  13. When Natalie talks to Diane about Jesus, Diane mentions being scared of change. Why do you think many people think that Jesus works for others, but not necessarily themselves?

  14. Describe the importance of a father’s role in a child’s life. How do fathers help shape a child’s identity?

  15. Lequocious isn’t really a word, but Bill uses it anyhow. Do you know the word he should have used?

  16. What, if any, are some Christmas traditions that you and your family have?

  17. How would you explain the definition of a superstition to a three-year-old?

  18. In chapter 18, Troy thinks about his three primary suspects. Which one do you think is responsible for Elana’s kidnapping and murder? Is there anyone else you would consider? Why?

  19. Do you agree with B.K. and Troy that justice has been served to Herbert?

  20. Did you pick up any additional clues after Troy’s session with Shauna?

  21. Natalie and Diane seem to have a pretty good relationship despite their differences. What is your relationship like with your mother-in-law?

  22. Natalie is clearly overwhelmed by Nate’s behavior in the airport. What are some techniques you use to correct the misbehavior of your children?

  23. What do you think the items Troy discovered in the bedroom mean?

  24. What would your response have been if you were Diane and presented with the same information Troy revealed in chapter 30?

  25. Has there been a storm in your life in which you have found peace, despite turmoil or pain? Does healing eventually come as a whole or is it a continual journey?

  26. What message can you take away from this story?

  Doug Melvin Photography

  Yolonda Tonette Sanders holds two bachelors degrees from Capital University in the fields of Criminology and Political Science, and a masters degree in Sociology from Ohio State University. After working for the State of Ohio for three-and-a-half years, she took a leap of faith by resigning from her job to focus more on writing. It was a leap that she has never regretted as she became a traditionally published author and also started her own company, Yo Productions, LLC, which specializes in literary services and theatrical entertainment. Yolonda has had four novels published so far, including Wages of Sin, which was the first book in her Protective Detective series. Currently, Yolonda resides in Columbus, Ohio and is the loving wife of David, proud mother of Tre and Tia, and joyful caregiver of her mother, Wilene. Visit the author at www.yoproductions.net, www.yolonda.net, www.facebook.com/yoproductions and on Twitter @ytsanders.

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  Wages of Sin

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  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  © 2014 by Yolonda Tonette Sanders

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever. For information address Strebor Books, P.O. Box 6505, Largo, MD 20792.

  ISBN 978-1-59309-526-0

  ISBN 978-1-4767-4455-1 (ebook)

  LCCN 2014936766

  First Strebor Books trade paperback edition November 2014

  Cover design: www.mariondesigns.com

  Cover photograph: © Keith Saunders/Keith Saunders Photos

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