mansions. I finally gave up the idea of finding parking along the street and entered a parking garage north of Broad Street.
With help of my cane, I headed by foot toward the Waterfront Battery Park on an idyllic seventy-five degree October day.
From the quaint alleyways to the majestic steeples, Charleston gave off the historic feel of another era. I passed a pineapple-shaped fountain that welcomed me to the park. My steps were slowed by apprehension, spotting the white gazebo where I was to meet Byron.
The sight of him trapped in a wheelchair tainted the perfect day for me. It just didn’t look right. And I was struck by the irony of the strongest man I knew, both physically and mentally, constricted by a chair.
Behind the chair was his mother, known affectionately as Mama Jasper. Standing to Byron’s left was his long time girlfriend, Tonya. It didn’t surprise me she stood by him in such a troubling time. It would have surprised me if she hadn’t. Not only was she beautiful-often mistaken for Tyra Banks-but also one of the most loyal and supportive people I’ve met. It’s not easy to find someone who understands the crazy business that we chose. Byron found a good one.
Mama Jasper was a large woman, but she wore her weight proudly. She was the first to spot me and gave me an enthusiastic “over here” wave. I felt a fleeting sense of relief to see the friendly smiles. When I reached the group, Mama Jasper gave me a big hug that knocked the breath out of me. Tonya followed with a much gentler one.
The last embrace came from Byron. Attempting to get my arms around a man strapped to a chair was an awkward movement, but even more so for me, since I knew I was the one responsible for him being in that chair.
Because he always thought of others first, he first said, “I’m so sorry about Noah.”
I nodded a thank you, but was unable to shake my feeling of guilt, which Byron picked up on. “Do you remember what we talked about in the hospital?”
“I just wish it happened to me instead of you.”
Byron laughed so hard I thought he was going to tip over. “JP, God only gives people what they can handle. You couldn’t handle this.”
He was right.
“Besides, I can still beat you one-on-one. When you can beat me on the basketball court,
Everyone laughed, except Mama Jasper. Overcome by emotion, she was busy wiping tears from her cheeks.
“Thank you so much, JP, for what you and Carter did with the renovations. I don’t know how I can ever repay you,” she said in a deep voice, seasoned with a southern accent.
I tried to speak, but she wrapped me in another affectionate hug, crushing my diaphragm. “You don’t have to repay me,” I replied the best I could.
“Maybe not, JP Warner, but you ain’t leaving Charleston without gettin’ a meal at Mama Jasper’s … on the house.”
Byron had bought the restaurant for her-her dream-when he signed his first NFL contract, allowing her to leave her job as a seamstress. I kept saying for years that I would make a trip there, but instead, I found myself eating with her son in places like Beirut and Sarajevo.
Tonya, with her gentle style, pulled Mama Jasper away. “What do you say, Mama, that we leave the boys alone and go do some shopping?”
She agreed, but not before delivering last words, “I expect you two at Mama Jasper’s at six o’clock sharp.”
We nodded our heads like obedient children and watched the two women walk away.
Always the reporter, I had noticed the large rock on Tonya’s finger. “Is there something you’re not telling me, my friend?”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he played coy.
“Are you getting married?”
“I almost forgot that I was talking to the great J-News. Yes, we got engaged the night before we left for Serbia,” Byron said, unable to hold back a grin. “I would have told you on our trip, but those terrorists tied my gag a little tight.”
We slapped hands-it was the best two crippled men could do to celebrate.
“I’m taking the plunge,” Byron said, as I took the pushing position behind him. “I guess I couldn’t run away anymore.” He tapped the sides of the metal wheelchair to make his point, and then snorted a laugh.
I was too conflicted to see the humor. I was glad he couldn’t see my face, and notice the tear roll down my cheek. After collecting myself, I asked, “So what did Mama say when you told her?”
“When the hugging ended, she said it’s about time.”
“I’m happy for you two, and
“Is Gwen Delaney one of the six?”
I wasn’t going to touch that one. “Somebody’s been talking to Carter. Let’s get out of here.”
I handed Byron my cane and pushed him toward the waterfront. “Don’t you need it?” he asked.
“Not as much as I thought.”
I looked out at the calm, beautiful waters of Charleston Harbor-a refreshing sea breeze filled the air. We traveled through the battery and began to move up Meeting Street. We stopped for a moment to admire Calhoun Mansion, one of Byron’s personal favorites.
We then returned to South Battery Street and went east two blocks, passing one old mansion after another. We stopped for a moment so I could rest my still-healing lungs. I used the time to dial Gwen’s number, but once again received no answer. I still couldn’t believe she was out on the lake with that lunatic, and not having heard from her since our brief call, she was making me more nuts than usual.
We took one last view of the harbor before heading north. As we made a right on Church Street, Byron spoke excitedly about the foundation he started to try to cure spinal cord injuries. By the time we passed Catfish Row, I was convinced that he would.
“If anyone can it will be you, Byron.”
He shook his head. “No JP, I will play a role, but you should have seen these brilliant doctors I talked to yesterday. They’re getting close!”
“But I’m sure, like anything else, it’ll cost money. I’d like to help out with the fund-raising.”
“Appreciate it, but I will only accept it on one condition.”
“You’re putting conditions on my money?”
“The condition is that you let me help solve your brother’s murder.”
The request sobered me. “If I can think of anything, you know I’ll call you. A lot depends on…”
“What Carter and your girl find in Ocracoke?” Byron cut me off in mid-sentence. “I can hear the anxiety in your voice, JP.”
“I’m just worried about her. It was a crazy idea to try to bait him. Jones has killed before, and you know as well as I do, if you kill once then you’ll kill twice. She’s lost her mind.”
“Just a dumb enough plan to sound like something JP Warner would have come up with.”
I had no argument for that one. “This guy Jones is a mystery. I feel like the answers are right in front of my face, but I just can’t see them.”
“Sometimes you just need a fresh set of eyes, which I can provide. And JP…”
“Yeah?”
“She’s going to be fine.”
I sure hoped so. “It’s almost six. We better get to your mother’s restaurant.”
“Or we won’t be fine.”
As I began to push him toward Mama Jasper’s, he added, “And one more thing.”
“Which is?'
“If I ever catch you shedding a tear on my behalf again, I’m going to give you a reason to cry.”
I nodded.
