Skeletons In My Closet

by Dynah Zale

“ ‘Image means everything’ isn’t that the motto your mother lived by. I remember her using that quote quite often.”

  “Yes, she did, but you know how the media can misinterpret the most innocent of intentions. I can see the headlines now, “Councilman Dunn, proclaims he’s a sinner.’

  “Let me give you a piece of advice.” Reverend Tomlin sat on the edge of his desk. “Be more fearful of God’s judgment than of man’s judgment because His judgment is everlasting.”

  The pastor’s words hit the center of Garrett’s heart like a bull’s eye.

  A light rapping at the pastor’s door interrupted them. Without waiting for an invitation to enter the intruder slightly opened the door and Sawyer stuck his head in.

  “Garrett.” He tapped the face of his watch. “We have to get a move on if we want to make that appointment at the hospital. I’ll have the other driver take Mecca and the kid’s home.”

  Garrett rose up, “Reverend, I’m sorry; it looks like I have to be going.”

  The two shook hands. “You know this is only the beginning of your relationship with the Lord. I can’t stress how important it is to be nurtured in the right way. Why don’t we set up some time for you and I to talk?”

  “Rev.” Sawyer stepped further into the office. “I’ll have his secretary give you a call. Garrett’s calendar stays full of appointments.”

  The pastor smiled at the young man, “Well, what about you? Do you know the Lord? You know you are more than welcome to sit in on the meetings with us, since you seem to know Garrett so well. I see you with him everywhere he goes, at press conferences, in the paper, on the road. Everywhere except at church services.”

  Sawyer gave a condescending smirk. “Yes, Rev. I am one of Garrett’s top advisors, I help him on just about every major decision he makes in his career. But I hate to disappoint.” He placed his hand on the reverend’s shoulder, “The only God I worship is the Numbers God. I need the right numbers to make sure this man…” He pointed to Garrett, “is elected in November.”

  The mood in the room turned silent.

  “I am so embarrassed.” Mecca whispered underneath her breath. She couldn’t believe Sawyer was so self-absorbed that he would blatantly talk about a Numbers God in church. She always believed Sawyer’s soul would end up I hell, now she was sure of it.

  “What’s your name again?” The pastor asked.

  “Everybody calls me Sawyer.” Sawyer reached out to shake the pastor’s hand.

  “Well, Sawyer, I’m going to be sure to keep your name on my lips as I pray.”

  “You do that pastor.” Sawyer turned to Garrett, “I’ll be outside waiting for you.”

  “I’ll be right there.” Garrett said his final goodbyes. “Pastor, I promise to make time for you and I sometime next week.”

  As Reverend Tomlin escorted the Dunn family to the door, one of the junior deacons ran up, “Pastor, somebody’s been hit by a bus right outside the church.”

  The pastor broke out in a fast sprint through the church. He avoided trampling any children or senior citizens by dodging around them like a linebacker. Garrett came running up behind just as the pastor was making his way through the crowd. When they finally made it to the clearing, Garrett was not ready for what he was about to see. It was Sawyer, laid out on the ground with a pool of blood seeping from underneath his head.

  “What happened?” The pastor asked anyone standing around who could answer.

  “I don’t know.” A curious bystander responded. “The guy just seemed to walk right out into the street. He didn’t even see the bus coming. Before we knew it, he was in the air thrown at least one hundred feet.”

  Garrett took off his suit jacket and gently placed it under Sawyers head.

  “Careful.” Reverend Tomlin said. “We don’t know the extent of his injuries. We don’t want to cause more damage.” Then Sawyer’s body involuntarily started violently jerking. “He’s having a seizure. Try to restrain him.” Reverend Tomlin instructed.

  “Call the ambulance.” Reverend Tomlin hollered. “I need for someone to call an ambulance.”

  An ambulance arrived in record time and whisked Sawyer off to the nearest hospital. Garrett accompanied him. Inside the ambulance Garrett watched the paramedics work profusely to save his friend’s life. He couldn’t help but to say a silent prayer for his friend.

  ***

  “I always thought you never heard my prayer.” Garrett said.

  “I heard you, but Sawyer’s fate had already been written.” God’s words sounded like a final judgment.

  ***

  Upon arrival at the hospital the ambulance doors swung open. Light bulbs flashed from cameras and reporters stuck microphones in Garrett’s face seeking comments. The media were like blood sucking vultures; they chased a story like a crack addict chases the pipe. They were everywhere. Garrett figured word would get out about Sawyer’s accident, but he didn’t expect this kind of reaction from the media.

  Sawyer was rushed into surgery; the police escorted Garrett to a secluded private area.

  “How did the media find out so quickly about this?” Garrett questioned the cop. “It looks like they beat us here?”

  “Sir, they were already here when we got the call about the accident.” The officer sighed. “Apparently, your campaign manager had already arranged for them to be here. Weren’t you supposed to visit with the hospital today.”

  Garrett closed his eyes in regret. “Yes, I was.” It all came back to him. He remembered Sawyer saying that he would have the press ready and waiting at the hospital. “Officer, do you mind getting me an update on my friend.”

  “Sure councilman.” Garrett loosened his tie and sat back in a nearby chair. He couldn’t help but think about the things Sawyer said just minutes before the accident while in church.

  Mecca rushed into the waiting area, “Garrett.” Her voice pulled him away from his thoughts. “I came as soon as I could get a babysitter. How’s Sawyer?”

  “I’m not sure, but it doesn’t look good.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Mecca caressed her husband hand. She never did like Sawyer, but she didn’t want the man to die, especially not in such a horrible way.

  They sat in silence, until Garrett couldn’t hold his tongue any longer. He had to find out what she thought.

  “Mecca,” Garrett chose his words carefully. “Do you think God is punishing Sawyer for what he said in church?” Mecca couldn't even look her husband in the face because the same thoughts ran through her mind.

  “I think we must trust that God’s word is true especially when he said, ‘Place no other Gods before me.’

  “Listen, I am the first to admit that Sawyer has a messed up way of thinking, but he’s still a good guy. He doesn’t deserve to go out like this.” Garrett stood and paced the floor.

  “Being a good guy doesn’t save your soul.” Mecca reminded him.

  A long blonde-haired woman wearing a white lab coat approached them. “Excuse me.” Her green eyes were made to adorn the silver designer frames that wrapped around her eyes. “I’m the hospital administrator. I came to let you know they’re still working on your friend.”

  “Thank you.” Mecca replied.

  “I also have a request to ask of you. I hate to bring this up when I know you’re probably very upset over your friend, but we have a patient here, who…” She paused and swallowed. “…who is very anxious to see you.”

  Garrett shook his head no. “Ma’am, I know my campaign manager promised you that I would visit with a lot of patients today, but I’m really not up to it right now. We can reschedule for another day.”

  “I understand and usually I wouldn’t push the issue under these circumstances, but this patient has been looking forward to your visit for some time now and when Sawyer told us that you would be able to spend a couple of moments with her it brightened her day. The patient is terminally ill. I’m not sure she’ll be alive the next time you come.” It didn’t look like Garrett was g
oing to relent. “Please sir, just a few minutes.”

  Mecca touched his arm. “Go ahead. I’ll stay here just in case they have some news about Sawyer.”

  Garrett took a deep breath. He could hear Sawyer’s voice telling him to not let anything get in the way of being mayor, “Okay, but I need to clean myself up.” Garrett looked down at his blood stained shirt.

  “Of course, if you take off your shirt I’ll have the nurse run down and have that cleaned up. She’ll have it right back up to you and then she’ll escort you to the patient.” The administrator held out her hand, “I really appreciate this.”

  ***

  “Was Sawyer being punished for what he said in the church that day?” Garrett asked a question he had wanted to know the answer to for a long time.

  God waved his hand and turned back the hands of time. They watched as Garrett’s life rewound backwards and it stopped at Sawyer walking down the church steps.

  Focused on his blackberry Sawyer, bumped into an elderly lady, “Hey lady, watch where you’re going.” He screamed at her. He looked back down at his blackberry and stepped out into the street.

  That’s when Garrett saw it. He could see one of Satan’s angels perched on Sawyer’s shoulder.

  Kiel pointed to the demon, “That demon never left Sawyer’s side. He practically lived on Sawyer’s shoulder. Sawyer was constantly fed selfish ideas. He was always looking out for self.”

  Garrett shook his head no, “I don’t believe that. That man looked out for me. If I couldn’t rely on anybody else to have my back, I could rely on him.”

  “And why was he doing that?” Kiel asked. “Because he knew that once you became mayor you would set him up with a cushy high paying job in the mayor’s office.”

  “But that’s not being selfish. That’s how the game is played. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. It’s politics.” Garrett argued.

  “Do you think God would be pleased with you being in a position of power for selfish gains?”

  God sat on his throne waiting for Garrett to reply.

  “No, he wouldn’t.”

  “Unfortunately, Sawyer lived by the motto ‘Self First’.

  Garrett turned his attention back to the screen, just in time to see the bus collide with Sawyer. A single tear rolled down his cheek.

  Chapter 10

  Garrett followed the nurse through the white cold corridors until they came to room 707. “You can go in. She’s expecting you.” She left quickly.

  Garrett knocked softly. “Hello ma’am.” He stuck his head through the door and slowly entered. A small black and white television sat in the far corner of the room. The volume was turned down low and the blinds were drawn shut. He walked farther in. It was rather dark in the room while the sun was shining brightly outside.

  In the hospital bed laid a small frail figure wrapped tightly in blankets.

  Garrett walked closer. “Excuse me ma’am, I’m Councilman Dunn. I just wanted to come and introduce myself—”

  “Ca-ca-ca-can you open the blinds for me?” She stuttered.

  Garrett couldn’t see her face, but he heard her request. He walked over and opened the window blinds. Sunlight poured into the room and upon her face revealing her identity.

  “Reneé?” Garrett was shocked to see his first love lying in that hospital bed. At any moment it looked like she would take her last breathe.

  “Hello Garrett.”

  This woman barely resembled the Reneé Kendricks he once loved. It was obvious by her sickly appearance that she was very ill. Gone were her rosy red cheeks; they were replaced by dull ashy skin. All that remained of her thick shoulder length tresses were a few strands of hair on her head. She looked like a skeleton.

  Raquel, Reneé’s sister, watched them from the doorway of Reneé’s hospital room. “What are you doing here?”

  Garrett was surprised to see Raquel. It had been such a long time since he last laid eyes on her.

  “I called for him.” Reneé’s voice was weak.

  “For what?” Raquel brazenly sashayed in and then slammed a box of tissues and toiletries down on the nightstand next to Renee’s bed.

  “It’s time.” Reneé reached out for Garrett’s hand. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk with Garrett alone.”

  Raquel sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes at Garrett before making her exit.

  “Well if it isn’t the big time councilman.” Renee stared at Garrett with nothing but seriousness in her eyes. “I always knew you would be successful. You look good.”

  “Thanks.” He wanted to say the same to her, but couldn’t. He turned away to stop himself from looking at her bald head.

  “It’s okay.” She sensed his uneasiness. “I’ve accepted the fact that I’m dying.”

  Those words ‘I’m dying’ nearly stopped his heart.

  “I have ovarian cancer and I don’t have much time left.”

  “Reneé, is there anything I can do for you?”

  “As a matter of fact there is?” Garrett was ready and willing to do whatever she needed him to do if it would make her feel better.

  “Remember, the accident at the abortion clinic—”

  Garrett cut her off. “Reneé I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. Something happened. I can’t really tell you why I never made it to the hospital, but you know it had to be serious. By the time I came looking for you; you had left to go to college and your parents discouraged me from looking for you.”

  “They told me.” Reneé’s breathing was labored. “I thought it would be best if you never found me.”

  “But why?”

  Once I was released from the hospital I called your house day and night,” she said.

  Garrett closed his eyes in regret. He remembered how the phone would ring non-stop and his mother would answer and politely tell Renee the he wasn’t available.

  “At first I thought your mother was trying to keep us apart by not telling you I called, but when a whole month passed and I still hadn’t heard from you, I figured that was your way of telling me to get lost.

  “No Renee, don’t think like that.” Garrett wanted to tell her so badly what had happened to him that day but he was too embarrassed. The words got caught in his throat.

  “Then your mother came to my house with an offer.”

  Garrett looked at her strangely. “What offer? What are you talking about?”

  “Your mother made it perfectly clear that there was no room in your life for me. She said that if I really loved you I would move on without you, and to sweeten the deal she offered to pay for my entire college education, get me an apartment and buy me a car. The only stipulation was that I never contact you again.”

  “And you agreed to this?” He never viewed Reneé as the type of person who would be manipulated by others; especially not by his mother.

  “Garrett, you wouldn’t talk to me. I felt like I had no other options. So I took her up on her offer.”

  “This doesn’t make any sense.” Garrett ran his fingers through his hair. “Why would my mother go to such extreme measures to keep us apart when she knew we were both going away to different colleges in the fall?”

  Reneé caressed his hand, “Your mother sent me away because she didn’t want you to ever know you had a son.” Garrett gave her a ridiculous look.

  “What son?” Garrett thought Reneé’s medication made her disorientated.

  “Garrett, the day of the bombing at the abortion clinic; I didn’t lose the baby.” Her words caught Garrett off guard. “Our baby survived.” His expression turned to a look of disbelief. “Seven months later I gave birth to a healthy baby boy.”

  “A baby…my baby…the baby…it’s alive.” He smiled broadly.

  “Yes.” Reneé was glad to see the happy expression on his face. “I remember the doctors saying they didn’t think the baby was going to make it. Before they put me under with anesthesia I begged God to save my child, I pleaded with God to spare my son’s life
and God heard my cries.

  ***

  “Did you hear her cries?” Garrett asked.

  “You bet I did.” God replied.

  ***

  “Garrett I can’t wait for you to see him. He looks just like you. He’s intelligent and inquisitive.”

  “This is a miracle.” Garrett was on the verge of tears. “All these years and I never knew I had a son.”

  Reneé squeezed Garrett’s hand to get his attention. “Blair needs you.”

  “Blair.” Garrett said the name over and over again then smiled in response.

  “Garrett, once I’m gone I want you to raise Blair.”

  “What?” He turned to her in surprise.

  “I have no other family. My mom and dad passed away a few years ago and my sister—as you can tell by her most recent performance—is not mentally stable to care for a child. I’m his mother and I have always done what’s best for him. Our son need’s his father. Garrett, my last dying wish is that you take custody of our child. I’ve never asked you for anything before.”

  Garrett looked at the pleading in her eyes, “If that’s what you want then I’ll do it.”

  “Great. My sister and I have been staying at my parents’ house. I’ll have Raquel give you a call in a couple days so you can arrange to meet Blair. I apologize for not being able to make the introductions myself, but I’ll explain everything to him later today.”

  “Excuse me councilman.” A nurse stepped in. “we have an update on your friend.”

  Reneé looked at him, “Is everything all right.”

  “Yes, everything is fine.” He kissed Reneé on her forehead. “I promise you. I’ll be back to see you.”

  “It’s okay if you don’t make it back. Now that I know Blair will be taken care of I can rest in peace.”

  Garrett stepped out into the hall. “Sir, I’m sorry but your friend just died on the table about five minutes ago.”

  Garrett slammed his fist into the palm of his hand.

  ***

  The slamming of a huge book startled Garrett. It sounded like it came from the far corner of the Throne Room.

  “What was that?” Garrett looked around the room.