Angelica ignored them. She found that, by not giving Aunt Louise any ammunition to get on her soapbox, she would be left alone.
“Edward, I’m not in the mood for the repast. I can eat something at the hotel,” Angelica said in a low voice.
“All right, but you might want to stop by the fellowship hall for a few minutes and say a few words to some old friends.”
“Old friends like whom, Edward? I’m really not up to the Barnes clan this afternoon,” Angelica whispered, not wanting Aunt Louise to hear.
“I think it would do you some good if you spoke to Margo. Might ease your conscience where she is concerned.”
“I don’t think I can face her. She gave me a second opportunity, and I failed miserably. I’m not up to being hospitable or faking the funk. As much as I want to, today is not the day.”
“Well, it looks like they are taking us back to the church anyway and we don’t have a ride to the hotel.”
“Oh, Edward, use your imagination. I’m sure you can call a taxi if you want to.”
“Too late. Look who’s standing at the curb. Don’t part your lips to say it.”
Angelica sat in silence as the limo pulled in front of the church. On the curb stood Margo and Jefferson, talking to several other people-the plainclothesmen close by. The day had gone off without a hitch, and everyone seemed to be in a more relaxed mood.
Edward offered his hands as Aunt Louise and Aunt Dot filed out of the limo. He extended his hand to his sister, and Angelica finally got out.
“Margo, Jefferson,” Angelica began, “I’m glad you were able to come to the service. I’m so sorry about what happened the other night at your place.”
Edward shook Margo and Jefferson’s hand. “We’re lucky to be alive,” Jefferson responded. “I’ll feel a lot better when they catch Santiago.”
Edward rubbed his right side. “I’ve got something for him, should he decide to ride up in here.”
“You packing?” Jefferson asked. “It’s a wonder the cops didn’t throw you out of the church today.”
“I guess since I came in with the family, they didn’t think to check me for hardware.”
Margo continued to stare at Angelica, who turned her head slightly in light of the awkward silence. Angelica wished she had stayed in the car, not relishing this moment at all. She tugged at Edward’s sleeve so they could move to the fellowship hall, say a few thank you’s and be on their way. Ignoring her, Edward continued to talk to Jefferson.
“How are you doing?” Margo finally asked, a coldness to her tone.
“Could be better, Margo. I’ve been through a lot these last couple of days.”
“I know what you mean. I can’t even go home-in fact, I’m afraid to go home because of some crazy lunatic that tried to kill us.”
“Look, Margo, I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything.”
“Ladies,” Jefferson cut in, “maybe we should go into the fellowship hall. It might be much safer than being out on the street.”
“Can I say this while I have the courage to do so?” Angelica asked. Jefferson looked at Margo and then at Edward and back at Angelica.
“Sure,” Jefferson said.
“Margo, I know you don’t think much of me. I don’t blame you. I’m sure you’re wondering why I left Fayetteville without saying a word. I was offered a job in New York, and since my assignment with Malik didn’t work out, I was ready to go. You know how I am. I make rash decisions without thinking them through, but I felt I needed to get as far away from Fayetteville as I could-get away from the memories that seemed to haunt me and wanted to destroy me in the process. I fled on the first thing smoking.
“When it didn’t work out in New York, I didn’t want to come crawling back. I couldn’t face you after you had extended a peace offering to me and I defaulted. One day, when I’ve finished chasing my shadow, when this whole mess with Santiago is over, I’d like to sit down and tell you about it. I so badly wanted a brand new start, but the old keeps overshadowing the new.”
“Maybe someday we can sit down and have that talk,” Margo said. “Now we better go inside. I think our shadows are getting pretty anxious because we’re making ourselves targets for whomever is trying to rattle our cages.”
“Good idea,” Edward said, pulling Angelica along.
“After you,” Jefferson said and kissed Margo on the nose. “I love you.”
52
Five four-by-six tables were filled with Barnes’ family members and close friends, Angelica and Edward included. More friends of the family occupied the other tables in the fellowship hall as they joined them in a meal that consisted of fried chicken, country ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, snap peas and green beans, and buttered rolls. A slideshow of the highlights of Hamilton’s life played out on a giant screen.
Jefferson and Margo sat close to Angelica and Edward at their request and melded right into the family. Even though Hamilton’s life had been heavily tarnished, he had been a friend of the family. Margo recalled the times in her memory that she had drooled over the handsome man, although privately, but in all of her dealings with Hamilton and Angelica, she never thought that his end would be so tragic.
Margo excused herself to go to the restroom. It had been a long day, and now her body sent an urgent message to care for it. Crossing the room, she saw familiar faces and acknowledged them but stopped cold in her tracks when she saw Malik standing at the end of the row.
If he had been at the service, she didn’t see him. Margo looked back at Jefferson, who was busy biting into his chicken and conversing with Edward. She was not ready to face Malik or be reminded of the unthinkable thing she had done with him.
His smile made her wet herself as she fought the nerves that racked her body. How was she going to tell him that she made a mistake and that her heart belonged to Jefferson? She was angry for so easily giving herself to him, but she knew without a doubt who held her heart.
Malik stepped in front of her. “Hey, Margo. How are you feeling?”
“Like I really have to get to the restroom.”
“You go on; I’ll wait for you to come out.”
“I’m with my husband, Malik. This is not a good time.”
“When is a good time? Look at him. He can’t seem to get enough of Angelica. Dragged you by his side so he could…”
“Stop it, Malik. Angelica and Edward asked us to sit with them. I’ve got to go. I’ll talk with you later.” Margo left Malik standing there with a puzzled look on his face.
Margo closed her eyes and breathed in and out. Encounters with Malik had to be avoided because she was afraid he wouldn’t understand that she really didn’t want to be with him. With her shoulder, she pushed into the stall and hugged the wall until her urgency made her dance in place until she found relief. She washed her hands and exhaled, praying to God that Malik had gone to his seat.
Slowly opening the door to the restroom, she peered out. Not seeing Malik, she tried to make a mad dash back to her seat. Before she got two feet, a hand grasped her arm, making her flinch. Margo turned and looked into Malik’s quizzical face.
“Take your hands off of me, Malik.”
“Margo, what’s wrong with you? I want to talk with you. I grabbed your arm because you were moving so fast, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to speak to you again before you waltzed to your seat.”
Margo looked at her arm and up at Malik. “Malik, we have to talk, but this is not the time or the place.”
“You’re making me crazy, girl. I want you so bad. The other day was so wonderful, I could make love to you
