<< Go Back

Testament, An Unexpected Return

By T. M. Brown

Order Now!

CHAPTER ONE
“Theo, wake up! Mary’s here.” Liddy jostled my hammock, disrupting my mid-summer siesta.
Pressed by Cornerstone Publishing, my former employer until eight months ago, the final draft of my expanded manuscript of Jessie’s Story rested in the gifted hands of Mary Scribner. Over the past four months, I had holed myself up for hours on end leaving no stone unturned as I combed through dog-eared files and scrawled notes used in writing the articles first published in the Sentinel last December, retelling Jessie Masterson’s story.
As Mary exited her sky blue hatchback, I swung my legs onto the floor and stepped beside Liddy at the foot of the steps.
Liddy tendered an approving smile as she smoothed the back of my hair. “That’s better,” she whispered as she squeezed my waist and added, “Mary’s Cheshire Cat smile must be a good sign.”
“Theo, I think you’ll be happy. Jessie’s Story is ready to earn Cornerstone’s editorial final blessing. Your rewrites provided the conclusion the entire town will be proud to read.” Mary extended the swollen envelope she’d been cradling.
Brown / TESTAMENT / 2
“Thanks, Mary. I couldn’t have done this without you.” I slid the immaculate manuscript from the envelope.
Liddy chuckled. “Mary, this most certainly looks a far sight better than all those raggedy, yellow legal pads filled with his chicken scratch.”
Mary’s eyes danced between Liddy and me. “Oh, it wasn’t that bad Miss Liddy,” she managed to say stifling her giggles.
“Mary, truth told. You don’t know how much I’ve admired your uncanny knack of deciphering and transcribing the maestro’s handwritten drafts.” Liddy eyed my laughable expression of faked innocence.
Mary attempted to hide her growing smile with her hand. “Miss Liddy, it was my pleasure. Besides, whenever he took exception to any suggestions I offered, he never said anything I hadn’t heard my dad spout at work. I enjoyed working with the maestro on this project.” She removed her hand, unveiling an amiable grin.
Mary eyed my appreciative stare before she added, “I gotta confess, though, I’m still amazed that you dedicated all your royalties to support Sanctuary. I just know the pre-Thanks- giving book launch right here in Shiloh will be nothing short of a huge success.”
Liddy grabbed Mary’s and my elbows and prompted us up the porch steps. Storm clouds overhead infused a whiff of dampness within the increasing Gulf breeze. Liddy excused herself to fetch some sweet tea while Mary and I sat in our porch rockers.
“As good as some rain will feel,” Mary said looking skyward, “I sure hope it passes through tonight. When I stopped by Priestly Park to take some photos for the paper, city employees scurried about, sprucing up the grounds and erecting the stage for tomorrow’s ceremonies. I
Brown / TESTAMENT / 3

even managed a candid shot of Harold Archer surveying the work sitting behind the wheel of his big old black truck.”
I walked up to the porch rail. “Looks to me as though this should blow over pretty quick, and bring temperate breezes from the Gulf tomorrow.” I turned and leaned back against the rail scratching my chin. “So you saw Harold behind the wheel of his truck? I haven’t seen him out and about much since Hal became mayor. It’ll be good to catch up with him tomorrow.”
A silly grin rose on my face moments before I noticed Mary in deep thought. “Hey kiddo, having second thoughts about your visit to Cornerstone?”
Mary vacated her mesmerized stare. “Oh, no. Mom’s already agreed to cover for me at the office.”
“You’ve earned this trip. And don't forget, Barry and Agnes expect you for lunch, so you best leave first thing Monday morning. They’re anxious about your visit and plan to provide you with the nickel tour of the facilities and introduce you to the staff right after lunch.” I paused until she looked up and made eye contact. “If you’re still dead set on exploring your career options in Atlanta, this trip might present you with a good beginning. But you know, I still hope a rewarding opportunity manifests right here. Shiloh needs talented, homegrown go-getters like you. And, I think your dad needs you too.”
Liddy stepped onto the porch juggling our drinks. “Mary, you still contemplating leaving Shiloh?”
“Oh, Miss Liddy, I’m merely considering my options.” She reached for a glass and took a sip. “Anyways, this decision isn’t as simple as I had figured a few months ago.”
Brown / TESTAMENT / 4

Liddy handed me a glass and sat on the other side of Mary. “Is everything okay with your dad and mom?”
Mary navigated the rim of her glass with her index finger. “They’re fine. I’m just cogitating over everything. That’s why this trip means so much to me.”
I glanced beyond Mary toward Liddy and cleared my throat. “Looks like we’re in for a good soaking rain this afternoon.”
Liddy shifted her attention from Mary, still rimming her glass, and searched the gray clouds. “Yep, think you’re right.” Liddy wore a silly smirk as she winked.
The unfamiliar rumble of a truck approaching broke Mary’s fixation upon her glass. She peered at Liddy and then me before she left her rocker and approached the porch rail. A moment later, the three of us watched Pete run his fingers through his curly red hair and smooth the tuck of his shirt before he quickstepped up the walkway.
“Hope I’m not disturbing y’all. Mary’s mom said she’d likely be here.” Pete looked at Mary with puppy dog eyes and a crooked smile before turning his ruddier-than-usual, chiseled face toward Liddy and me. “I’ve got some news for y’all too.” His eyes begged our approving response.
Liddy stood with extended arms prompting Pete to stomp his dirty boots at the foot of the steps. In the midst of Liddy’s welcoming embrace, she asked, “What kind of news?”
“Andy’s getting back from Waycross tomorrow morning, and he’s bringing Megan with him. They particularly inquired if the two of you would be at the Jubilee tomorrow.”
“What’d you tell them?” Liddy’s emerald eyes prodded Pete’s stuttered response.
Brown / TESTAMENT / 5

“I told them as far as I knew you planned on attending. And, before you ask, neither said anything else.” Pete shrugged his shoulders and turned his attention to Mary. “Mare, I couldn’t wait to show you how my truck turned out.” He reached his hand out.
Mary beamed. “Will you excuse us for a minute?”
I chuckled. “Sure, go right ahead.”
Pete looked back with a sheepish grin. “Y’all coming? I’d sure like your opinion too.”
Mary grasped Pete’s calloused hand and we followed them back down the walkway.
I had gotten wind that Pete had been working on his truck the last couple of weeks, and
his arrival a few minutes earlier came without the usual clickety-clack and rattling that previously advertised his truck’s comings and goings. At the curb, I hardly recognized his truck with the shiny cherry-red exterior and glistening chrome grill and bumpers. Pete had transformed his former rust bucket into a showroom-ready, classy pickup.
Pete beamed as he opened the passenger door and pointed to the new black leather seat covers and matching vinyl floorboard. A stark contrast to the torn and tattered seats, and mud-caked, bare-metal floors that used to haunt his thirty-year-old pickup truck.
Mary and Liddy stood speechless, shaking their heads until Liddy busted out and said, “Pete, this just cain’t be the same ol’ beater we’ve gotten used to you driving around town.”
Pete’s face dropped. “Miss Liddy, don’t you like it?”
“Of course I do. I’ve just never considered what it’d look like all fixed and gussied up.” Liddy spun in my direction with a wrinkled nose half-grin.
Brown / TESTAMENT / 6

“If you ask me, there’s only one rational explanation why a young man, like Pete, would invest all this money and effort to spruce up his prized runabout truck.” With my arms crossed and a half-cocked stare, I measured Pete and then Mary.
Mary’s cheeks matched Pete’s by the time he cleared his throat and said in a fluster, “Mary, you just never mind that ol’ coot. What matters to me is what you think?”
Mary sat in the passenger seat and ran her hands across the metal dashboard before grinning at Pete’s nervous stare. “I’ll let you know after you take me for a spin and promise to drive me to the Jubilee tomorrow.”
Liddy poked my side. “Y’all better hurry to take your test drive. These clouds are about to let loose. In fact, this ol’ coot and I are headed straight to the porch.”
Mary jumped out of the truck. “The dedication ceremony begins at eleven. Come hungry. There will be lots of food followed by all sorts of games and activities throughout the day.”
“We’ll see you there.” I smiled and waved before taking Liddy’s hand.
Mary hollered at Pete, “Meet me at my house!”
The first raindrops dotted the street and sidewalks as we stood arm in arm on the porch
and watched Pete and Mary’s vehicles disappear.

Order Now!

<< Go Back