On the Corner of Hope and Main

by Beverly Jenkins

  “No, but I’ll whip you if you want.”

  “Then let’s go, missy.”

  They set up the board. Aided by the wavering flames of the fire and her big battery-powered lantern, and with Stevie Wonder as their background music on her battery-operated DVD player, they began. Scrabble had always been one of Bernadine’s favorite board games. Growing up, she’d ruled as house champion, beating her parents and sisters regularly. However, Mal was the ruler in Henry Adams and she’d been humbled by her huge loss to him the first time they’d played a few years back. Her reading material consisted of nonfiction business books, newspapers like the Wall Street Journal, and the occasional autobiography, like the one tied to the former First Lady she had yet to finish. Mal read political magazines, sci-fi and fantasy, mysteries, true crime, and everything in between. As a result, he had an amazing vocabulary. The only other person in town with an equal command of words was Genevieve. It was always a treat to watch the two of them go head-to-head over a game of Scrabble. Unfortunately for Bernadine, she was not Genevieve. For her, beating Mal would be like winning the lotto.

  As the play began, she held her own. The tiles were kind and she picked up a variety of good letters. As things progressed though, Mal’s score increased, and her letters became more and more useless. She was not happy.

  “Are you pouting, little girl?” he teased softly.

  She stuck out her tongue. “Just play, July.”

  “You sure?”

  She glared.

  “Okay, since you insist.” He set down the word: quixotic. “Bam! Who loves you, baby?” The game was over. He’d won again.

  She hung her head in defeat. Raising her eyes and seeing amusement shining in his, she said, “I hate you right now.”

  He laughed softly. “I love the smell of jealousy by firelight.”

  She was so done with him.

  “Another game?”

  She looked at him as if he’d asked the dumbest question ever. “No.”

  Laughing, Mal fell back against the sofa pillows they’d placed around them to create their nest in front of the fire. “I’m sorry, but you always look so outdone when you get whipped.”

  Unable to hide her smile, Bernadine fussed, “Hush!”

  He sidled close. “I think you need a hug.”

  She let him pull her into his side and she laid her head on his chest. He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Should I let you win next time?”

  “No. I want to beat your behind fair and square.”

  “Not going to happen in this lifetime, but you can dream.”

  She looked up at him and realized how much fun they’d always had together. She’d missed this part of their relationship very much.

  “Penny for your thoughts.”

  “Just thinking how much I’ve missed this part of us.”

  “So have I.” He traced a slow fingertip down her cheek. “Shall we keep it going?”

  “Yes.”

  He gave her a squeeze. “Sounds like a plan.”

  During the game, the temperature in the house had fallen dramatically. “Let’s put more wood on the fire,” he said to her. “And I’m going to get my coat.”

  “Bring mine too, please.” She didn’t want to know what the thermostat presently read, but it was cold enough to need not only coats but hats and gloves, too.

  He returned with their coats. They put them on and she said, “Grab a flashlight. I want to go upstairs.”

  He followed her up and they pulled all the pillows and bedding off the beds, took them downstairs, then went back up to gather every spare blanket, quilt, and bedspread in the closets. Once that was accomplished, they covered themselves and settled in.

  He asked, “Warm enough?”

  “I think so,” she said lying cuddled against him.

  “We should’ve done some popcorn.”

  She laughed softly. “Maybe next time. I’m way too warm now to brave the tundra again.”

  “Me too, to be honest.” He looked down at her. “Will you be offended if I go to sleep on you.”

  “Not at all.”

  “Thanks for offering me a port in the storm.”

  “Thanks for accepting.”

  He placed a gentle kiss on her brow. “Good night, baby girl.”

  “Night, Mal.”

  And they slept.

  BERNADINE AWAKENED TO the smell of bacon and a very stiff body. Struggling to sit up, she groaned, and Mal appeared standing above her. “Morning,” he said.

  “Morning. Please tell me the power’s back.”

  “It is.”

  “Thank God. If I have to sleep on the floor again, I’m going to need hospitalization. I’m stiff everywhere.” She rubbed her bleary eyes.

  “If you want breakfast, there’s bacon, eggs, and toast. I need to get going. Our esteemed mayor is raring to fire up the snowblowers.”

  She sat up fully. “Bathroom first, then coffee, then food. Is it still snowing?”

  “Just a little. Weather says the storm is heading to Illinois.”

  “I hope the Windy City is ready. Are you leaving now?”

  He nodded.

  She was saddened by that. “Okay. I’ll see you later. Thanks in advance for breakfast.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  She wanted to tell him to come back once he finished plowing and shoveling, but she kept it to herself. They were supposed to be taking it slow. She got to her feet. Her coat was as wrinkled as the bedding. She took it off and stepped out of the nest. “Don’t overdo it out there.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll text you when I’m done.”

  “Please do.”

  He seemed as reluctant to leave as she was to see him go. So she told him, “Go on before the mayor shows up and yells at us both.”

  He nodded. “Stay in until the roads get better.”

  “I’ll be right here.”

  “Good.”

  He left and she missed him as soon as the door closed behind him.

  TRENT AND THE grounds crew spent the entire day and into the evening, snow blowing, plowing, shoveling, and salting. The kids, led by Amari and Preston, cleared the walks and driveways in the subdivision with the family snowblowers, and once done had a huge snowball fight that brought a smile to Bernadine’s face as she watched the fun-filled melee through her front windows.

  That afternoon, Bernadine answered her doorbell and was surprised and concerned to see Deputy Davida Ransom on her porch. Letting her in, Bernadine asked, “Has something happened?”

  “We got a call from Leo Brown’s boss. They haven’t heard from him in a while and asked our department to do a wellness check. No one is at his home. Do you have any idea where he might be?”

  “I don’t.” Bernadine told her about being asked the same question by Al Stillwell and Riley.

  “I just left Mr. Curry’s place. Did Mr. Stillwell give you a reason why he was looking for Mr. Brown?”

  “He had questions about a land lease he and Leo are executing.”

  Davida took notes. “Okay. I’ll run down Mr. Stillwell and see if he was able to make contact. Do you have names of anyone who may know where he’s gone?”

  “No. He has a couple of ex-wives but I’ve no idea how to get in touch with them or where they live. He has a brother named Sylvester, but I haven’t spoken with him in at least a decade. I don’t know where he lives or if he’s still alive.”

  “I should be able to find that out.” She closed her notebook. “Thanks, Ms. Brown. If you hear anything, please call us.”

  “I will.”

  Deputy Ransom went back out into the snowy day and Bernadine closed the door. The search for Leo had taken an interesting turn.

  Mal called that evening and she could hear the weariness in his voice. “I wanted to swing by and see you,” he said, “but I’m a dead man walking.”

  “Not a problem. Have you eaten?”

  “I have. Now going to take a shower and head to bed. I’ll see
you tomorrow.”

  “Okay. Get some rest.”

  “You too.”

  And the call ended. Happy that he’d checked in, Bernadine settled in for her evening. Scrolling through the newsfeed on her laptop, a story on Cletus caught her eye. As a result of the ball’s mayhem, the movie studios and the trainers of the terrorizing animals were being sued by a slew of people. Producer Alvin Malone needed six stitches in his hand from being bitten by Cletus and was so angry about his wife being bitten too, he’d pulled the film Cletus Goes to Hawaii from distribution. He was quoted as stating the hog would never make another movie in Hollywood again. The article went on to reveal that trainer Ben Scarsdale had been hospitalized due to a heart attack, and that Cletus’s nomination for the Animal Oscar had been rescinded. There was no indication as to the hog’s present condition or location. Bernadine wondered if the world of Cletus could get any stranger or crazier.

  ON ELECTION DAY, the residents of Henry Adams arrived at the Power Plant to vote for a new mayor. The members of the Election Commission were there to make sure there were no irregularities or tampering with the ballot box. Having no campaign manager to get him through the day or organize a victory party, Riley spent his time at home. He was promised a call about the results as soon as all the votes were counted. Even though Leo Brown had skipped town, Riley was confident he’d be the one moving into Trent’s office at the Power Plant. He was concerned about Cletus, however. He’d seen the news reports about all the lawsuits, Malone pulling the film, and Scarsdale being in the hospital, but none of the reports said anything about how Cletus was doing or where he might be.

  Later that afternoon a large truck pulled up into his snow-lined driveway. The driver, wearing a heavy coat and overalls, got out and came to the door.

  “You Riley Curry?”

  “Who’s asking?”

  The man rolled his eyes. “Do you own a hog?”

  Confused, Riley answered, “Yes. The most famous hog in Hollywood used to be mine.”

  The man thrust a clipboard and a pen at him. “Sign by the X, and take this.” He handed Riley a sealed envelope.

  Still not understanding what any of this meant, Riley saw another man get out of the truck and open the back and put up a ramp. Down the ramp came Cletus and Riley yelled with joy. He quickly scrawled his name, then ran out into the snow. He didn’t know who squealed louder. Him or his hog. Kneeling, Riley hugged him like he was made of gold, then led him past the truck and inside. He was so elated he never even noticed the truck drive away. The envelope held a note from Ben Scarsdale that read: He’s all yours! May you both rot in hell!

  Smiling, Riley hugged Cletus again. “Welcome home, big boy.”

  SHEILA SPENT THE day at home as well. If she won the election, there’d be a party at the rec on Saturday to celebrate, but like her opponents, she had to wait for the winner to be announced.

  “You’re going to win,” Preston told her when he got home from school that afternoon.

  Amari, who’d come with him, added, “Nobody’s going to vote for Mr. Curry.”

  “Stranger things have happened, guys. We’ll see.”

  “You’d get my vote if I were old enough,” Amari assured her.

  “Ditto,” her son said.

  “Thanks.”

  The boys went up to Preston’s room to work on a group assignment from school, and she was left in the kitchen alone. She glanced up at the clock on the wall. Barrett was at the Power Plant. Due to his ties to Sheila, he wouldn’t be allowed to help with the tally, but he’d be at the polls until they closed at seven. According to a text he’d sent to her a short while ago, a large number of people had shown up to cast their votes. She was pleased that so many were exercising their constitutional rights, but she wished 7:00 p.m. would hurry up and arrive so the ballot counting could begin.

  WHILE THE TOWN waited to find out who Trent would be passing his gavel to, Sheriff Will Dalton and his people were still searching for Leo Brown. His brother, Sylvester, hadn’t heard from him in over a month, and his ex-wives hadn’t either, but wanted the name of his lawyer to ask about a will in case Leo was dead. The deputies found his car in the garage, and his phone on the floor in the living room. His car keys and wallet were on the mantel of the big stone fireplace. A small spot of blood was discovered on the floor by the door. It was sent to the lab for testing. A search of the abandoned Stillwell homestead and barns turned up nothing. They brought in a canine that led them to the driveway, but no farther.

  AT 10:00 P.M., all three candidates were called and told that Sheila Payne was the newly elected mayor of Henry Adams. Sheila was so ecstatic tears filled her eyes.

  Barrett, just as happy, hugged her tightly, “Congratulations, Your Honor.”

  “I won! I actually won!”

  “Yes, you did. You did an amazing job campaigning, and you’ll be just as amazing when you take office.”

  She cupped his jaw affectionately and said seriously, “Thank you so much for supporting me.”

  “You’re welcome. After all these years, it was my turn to step up to the plate for you. You deserved it. Now, let’s have some of the bubbly that Bernadine slipped me a few weeks ago just for this occasion.”

  “She gave you champagne for me?”

  “A bottle of her best and two crystal flutes.”

  He retrieved the bottle and the crystal from their hiding place in the garage. Once back, he popped the cork, poured some for her, and then some for himself.

  “To the future,” he said.

  They touched the flutes gently, sipped, and smiled.

  RILEY WAS DISAPPOINTED by his loss even though he’d received more votes than anyone had expected. Thad July had gotten less and, according to the talk around town, had left his sister’s place to return to Oklahoma. But now that he had Cletus back, Riley didn’t much care about anything else. When Bernadine allowed him to move into Eustacia’s old place, she’d specifically said no hogs on the premises, but he figured what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, so he’d keep the return a secret while he looked for another place to stay.

  BERNADINE AND MALACHI had dinner together every night in the days that followed the election. One evening, they watched a movie. The next night, she worked while he read. Thursday night, he convinced her to join him for a walk in the snow, so she bundled up, held his hand, and they set out under the stars. Each visit convinced her that Crystal was right. She and Mal needed to be under one roof, so she came up with a plan, but wanted to wait for the right moment.

  FRIDAY MORNING, AT an oil-processing plant in California, an employee pulled a drum off the line because it didn’t seem to be draining properly into the system’s pipes. Not sure what the problem was, he pried off the lid, saw what appeared to be a body inside with the oil, and promptly lost his breakfast. His supervisor sent him home and called the police.

  Saturday morning Will Dalton showed up at Bernadine’s door. “Did you find Leo?” she asked as she let him inside.

  “We’re waiting on tests but I’m 90 percent sure we have.” He explained the incident at the California plant.

  “Good lord.”

  “The serial number on the drum was from a batch from the field where Stillwell works, so we picked him up. He confessed right away.”

  She was stunned. “So, him asking me about Leo’s whereabout was a red herring?”

  “I guess you could call it that.”

  “Wow.”

  “He said he told Leo if he cheated him, he’d kill him.”

  “And Leo cheated him.” She was still blown away. “Now what happens?”

  “He’ll go before the judge and the court will take it from there.”

  “What about the remains?”

  “We contacted his brother and the ex-wives. No one seems willing to step up.”

  Bernadine reminded herself that although he was a jerk, she had loved him at one time. “If you can give me the phone number of wherever the remains are being held,
I’ll make the arrangements. Has his daughter, Alfreda, been contacted?”

  “Yes. She didn’t want to be bothered, either.”

  That was sad, but Bernadine supposed she understood the young woman’s thinking. Her grandmother Odessa had been responsible for the deaths of two of Alfreda’s friends, and now, this. She wondered how Odessa would react to Al’s arrest for Leo’s murder?

  Will said, “Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”

  “It’s okay, at least he’s been located. Thanks for letting me know.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He left and Bernadine sighed. What a terrible way for Leo’s life to end.

  THAT EVENING, MAL arrived to escort Bernadine to Sheila’s victory party.

  “You look nice,” he said to her.

  “You’re not looking too bad yourself, sir. I’m so happy for Sheila.”

  “We all are. Trent may be the happiest of all, though. He’s been wanting to pass on that gavel since day one.”

  Trent would still be responsible for construction and grounds, so it wasn’t as if Bernadine would be losing his expertise now that Sheila had his old job.

  “I’ve had a great time with you this week, Mr. July.”

  “As have I, Ms. Brown.”

  “I don’t want it to end, so can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure. Shoot.”

  “Will you marry me?”

  For a moment Mal appeared stunned. He studied Bernadine silently. He then eased her in against his heart and whispered, “Are you sure?”

  “Very.” She met his serious set gaze.

  “Even though—”

  She cut him off, saying gently, “Even though. We’ve come a long way and through a lot, and I love you very much.”

  He pulled her in tighter. “I love you, too. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. God, woman. You’re putting tears in my eyes.”

  There were happy tears in hers as well.

  He asked, “How about we keep this just between us for now, so we don’t steal Sheila’s thunder tonight?”

  “That’s a great idea. You have a good heart, July.”

  He wiped his eyes. “Well, shall we go?”