The Last Chapter

SUNDOWN IN ZION

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

The wedding happened on a Saturday. It took place in a wooded park in the City of Armistead. Sheriff Love pulled some strings and made it happen. In a well-kept secret, he and Nelson paid for most of it, telling the couple that the funds were from a public source. It was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. but the crowd started showing shorty after lunch. By one o’clock, it had become obvious that extra seats would be needed. Two deputies departed for the Methodist church to borrow more.

Nelson arrived shortly afterwards. For reasons even he probably could not have explained, he had chosen to wear his full dress blue Navy uniform, complete with its array of ribbons and a gold insignia of an eagle grasping a trident, an anchor, and flintlock pistol. He shook several hands and then moved to one side of the area to watch. He hadn’t waited long before a loud voice behind him shouted, “Holy shit,” and he turned. It was Tricia Davenport dragging her mother by hand. She ran to face Nelson and looked him from head to toe.

“Damn, Copper,” she said. “Look at your bad self.” She pulled her gasping mother to her side and pointed at Nelson. “Look, Mama,” she said. “He could make me go straight if he was just a little bit taller.” She laughed. “And now he’s blushing. What kind of war hero blushes when a bull-dyke busts his balls?”

“Tricia please,” Ramona said. “You promised to behave.” She looked around as if to see if a crowd was gathering around them. “Hello again,” she said to Nelson.

Nelson had regained himself. “Hello,” he said. “What brings you here? Don’t tell me you are related to one of the Betrothed?”

“Oh hell no,” Tricia said. “We’re just here to see you.”
            “Tricia,” her mother said.

“Not really then,” Tricia said. “The feds came for a visit and told us all about the excitement and we thought we would come so I could meet Bridgette maybe. I hear she’s more than just hot.”

“Tricia!” her mother said.

“I’ll behave,” Tricia said. “I think I want to impress this guy. Let’s go mingle. See you around, Marine.”

“Sailor …” Nelson said, but Tricia was gone.

Sheriff Love arrived, also in dress regalia. He led a frail woman to the front row of reserved seats and they both sat. The woman’s hair had greyed and was poorly arranged, but despite that and the wrinkles, an inner beauty glowed. Nelson walked toward them. When he neared, he saw that she was wearing a beautifully tailored pink dress and an equally well-fitting green blouse. She stared straight ahead as Nelson approach. At the last minute, she turned toward him and he could see that her lipstick had missed its intended target in places. She smiled and said nothing.

“Meet my wife, Evelyn,” he said. “Evelyn, this is the deputy I told you about.” Evelyn continued to smile but said nothing. At that moment, Gina Matterson arrived wearing a formal outfit, complete with a fashionable lady’s white church hat. She sat beside Evelyn and took her hand.

Evelyn made no response. The sheriff’s cell phone buzzed. “Damn,” he said. “I forgot to turn this off.” He looked at the screen and said to Nelson, “Let me take this. It’s Acting Chief Patterson from over at Connorville.”

“Acting Chief?

“Long story. Later.” He punched the phone and put it to his ear. “Ralph,” he said. “What’s new?” He listened. “Interesting,” he said. “Interesting. That makes four counting the Weasel, don’t it?” Nodded, listened. Then said, “No problem. We understand. I’ll give Clifton your regards. See yah.” He fiddled with his phone and pocketed it. Turning to Nelson who was sitting beside him now, he said, “All hell’s breaking loose over to Connorville.”

Elvis Barker, Martin, and a statuesque woman in a white dress and a hat as elaborate as Gina Matterson’s interrupted them. The men wore matching white slacks and blue sport coats. Elvis said, “Sheriff, you know Louisa don’t you? Boats, meet my housekeeper.”

Louisa punched his arm and said, “You just added another month, boy.” She extended a hand to Nelson. “I assume,” she said, “that you’ve heard about me from these two.” She pointed to husband and son. “All lies,” she said, smiling.

Nelson returned the smile, nodded, and said to Elvis, “Quite a crowd.”

“Ain’t seen nothin’ like this since Ronnie Johnson passed,” he said leaning down to speak low to Nelson and the sheriff. “Of course they ain’t been lettin’ us go to white folks’ funerals and weddings for that long.” He winked, and led the Barker family back into the growing crowd.

Dress uniforms were the style of the day, along with white dresses. The Stubblefields arrived next and took their place alongside Nelson. Eli’s dress uniform matched Nelson’s in terms of badges and ribbons. He sat slowly and whispered to Nelson, “This thing is beginning to shrink. If I pass, don’t try to bury me in it. Just cremate me and dump my ashes from one of those C-40s over at the air base.” Nelson laughed as Eddie Glover appeared before them and said to Nelson, “About time. You got the ring?” Nelson patted a pocket, rose, and followed Glover to the front the crowd where they stood behind an exquisite white arch festooned with flowers, courtesy of Eli and Martha Stubblefield. Rick Duffey rushed in behind the crowd carrying a serious-looking camera.

            Nelson heard sounds to his left and turned to see Clifton Sikes walking toward him. He moved with a cane, resolute but unsteady. Sheriff Love was by his side, assisting him. Clifton came to the front, thanked Sheriff Love, turned, and stood beside Nelson. He wore khaki slacks and a brightly flowered shirt.

Music filled the air and the crowd turned to face rearward toward a small community center building. A park worker opened the door. Rose and Bridgette walked out, each wearing white dresses trimmed in a pale blue the color of the Arkansas sky. They each carried bouquets of pink flowers. Each wore a small band around their heads, also fashioned from pink flowers. The crowd gasped. They gasped again when Christina emerged on the arms of one the physicians who had treated Clifton. They marched through the crowd to the arch where he left Christina beside Clifton without comment.

Eddie Glover stepped forward and spoke.

“Welcome,” he said. “We are gathered here in the presence of family and friends to unite Clifton Sikes and Christina Lopez in matrimony. Marriage is an honorable estate, and is therefore not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, advisedly, soberly and with the blessing of all. Today, they will receive one of life’s greatest gift; another person to share with, grow with, change with, be joyful with, and to stand with as one when trials and tribulations enter their lives.

Although many of you know me as a preacher, the couple has requested that we avoid religion. But, as you know, I am a preacher and can’t resist a few comments.” He flashed a broad smile and the crowd murmured approval.

“With that said, let us all acknowledge that the love represented before us grew from some hard times in our community, hard times that touched almost everyone here, some more than others. We might ask ourselves, “What hope is there for happiness in such a troubled world?”

Let us think for a moment. The man that I worship told us, ‘Let not your heart be troubled.’ I accept that and offer it to you. Let us remember, as we celebrate this preciously wondrous day, that it is made all the more so by the fact the love given here grew from trials we can only imagine. Let us remember that orchids grow from the most dismal plots of ground on earth, that the greatest apostle of my faith was a hater and persecutor before he saw the light, that a former slave-runner wrote that great hymn, Amazing Grace, and that a modern and prosperous country grew from the smoldering ruins of the Nazi regime. Let us be comforted that, like the love of Christina and Clifton, wonder and beauty can emerge from the worst trials of life.”

He smiled at the couple and said. “Sermon over. Let’s get these folks married.”

The rest of the ceremony went well. Nelson found the ring as he was supposed to, Clifton placed it onto Christina’s finger, and Eddie Glover pronounced them husband and wife. Clifton, for a second, appeared ready to flee, but Christina held him and placed a loving kiss on him. Clifton responded and the formalities ended.

Clifton and Christina stayed for the duration. Nelson stuck around for a shorter time, mingling. He visited with Rick Duffey, who thanked him for the scoop and predicted a Pulitzer Prize in his future. Nelson said goodbye to Martha Stubblefield and an obviously uncomfortable Eli. Sheriff Love begged Nelson to stay with the Sheriff’s Office before he led a still-smiling Evelyn to their car. Bridgette and Rose came to thank him for everything again. Eddie Glover was with them.

“What plans loom in your future?” Glover asked Nelson.

“Rest and relaxation, maybe college,” Nelson said. “You?”

“I had intended go to the Delta and serve the poor among us who need help the most,” Glover said. “Then I found out that there are poor in my own back yard that need help, including the poor in spirit.” He looked at Rose and she took his arm in her hands and placed a head on his shoulder as Bridgett beamed.

Nelson stared at her.

“Me? Who knows?” Rose said. There may be a law school in my future.”

            Nelson took the old highway back to Little Rock. Someone watching would have deemed him deep in thought. Reaching home, he changed into exercise clothes and took a long, slow run. Back, he poured himself two fingers of Jack Daniels over ice and drank it slowly. Emptying it, he banged his fist on the table where he sat, walked to a lamp stand, and retrieved a notebook. At his kitchen table, he flipped through the notebook, took out his cell phone, and dialed a number. He waited while it operated. His face seemed to transform into a glow. Then he took a long breath and spoke into the phone.

            “Barkis is willing,” he said.

End of Sundown in Zion