One Good Thing

By Christine Pauls

Madelyn Johnson's life is hardly what she'd envisioned it to be. Blind to the man of her dreams, a caretaker to her elderly mother and holding years of resentment towards her two older sisters has her mind on overload. These characters will take you on their own personal journeys and in the end, will have no choice but to become transparent in all aspects of their lives for a healing to take place

• Language: English
• Publisher: Silver Pen Publication
• Release date: Jul 21, 2017
• ISBN: 9781735351544

Christine Pauls

Christine Pauls, an author of Contemporary Women's Fiction and Romantic Suspense is a native of Delaware, born and raised in the city of Wilmington. She penned her first novel in 2012. The mother of two and grandmother of three is an accountant by day in the banking industry. She is a beta reader and a member of NK Tribe Called Success. Her website is www.christinepauls.com

Book preview

AUTHOR’S NOTE

One Good Thing was a joy to write. I actually started this book about four years ago and I wasn’t sure I’d ever finish it. After my second book, the characters began to form and speak, taking on lives of their own. It also doesn’t hurt to have a mentor, writing buddy and accountability partner as a friend. I met Dr. Joyce Brown on social media a few years ago, but in person at The Cavalcade of Authors in Chicago in 2015.

Our friendship formed instantly. She’s helped me to bring forth my own unique qualities when it came to my style of writing and to love the stories that I create. Thank you, Joyce. I wouldn’t have been able to finish this, nor Belinda’s Song without your guidance and encouragement. I’m thankful for learning so much more this time around and look forward to bringing more wonderfully written stories to the world. Thank you to Maurice Scriber for creating another beautiful cover, Shonell Bacon and Maurice Gray for their editing skills.

Thank you to my family, friends, co-workers and all of my readers. Your love and support pushes me to keep writing. I hope you enjoy One Good Thing. God Bless!

CHAPTER ONE – 1975

The torrential downpour hit the roof with force. Madelyn almost fell on her backside as she slid, teetering back and forth to place a bucket for the water that was trickling from the cracked ceiling above. The house had been her grandmother’s for thirty plus years and now, six months after her death; she was there, trying to figure out what the heck she was going to do with it.

I can’t believe I have two sisters. Acting so high and mighty they won’t help me fix up the place, Madelyn mumbled. They the ones with the money.

Georgina and Nola left the small town of Lula, Mississippi, five years ago, moving up north to Harlem, New York, to pursue singing careers. Madelyn, the youngest sister, was left the responsibility of caring for their mother Ophelia and Grandmother Estelle.

I’m sick of this, Madelyn thought while mopping the large puddle. It was hard to believe she was just thirty for how beat up she felt from working her fingers to the bones trying to keep things afloat. Her beauty was hidden behind the dingy white uniform, old nurse shoes and untamed thick black hair that she kept braided under a scarf. Her body was a shapely size twelve on her five-foot-six frame, and her dark skin shone with Vaseline. People said she looked like the actress Cicely Tyson.

Madelyn worked as a seamstress for Miss Bessie’s Boutique in town, a job she’d had since the age of sixteen, and she was one of the best at it. She also cleaned houses on some weekends and did ironing for a couple of white families her mother used to work for on the outskirts of town. It was back-breaking work, but Madelyn had to support herself and take care of her mother. She didn’t even have a high school education; she dropped out in the tenth grade to work for Miss Bessie full time. If she could get the house fixed up a bit, maybe it could be sold, or even rented out so she could make some kind of profit. Nana didn’t owe anything on it, so that money would be hers straight out. But Mama said no matter which way it went, the profits would have to be split between everybody, and unfortunately that included her nowhere to be found sisters.

The forest green Chevy came to an abrupt stop, smoke coughing from the exhaust. Madelyn jumped out and rushed to the mailbox. Her sisters promised to send a money order for one-hundred and fifty dollars to help with patching up that leaky roof. She’d taken that money from her own account and really needed it back in there to pay her own bills. She opened the rusty flap, pulled out the small stack and anxiously thumbed through it.

Where is it? Madelyn panicked. There was nothing from her sisters, and she was fuming. This is gonna be the death of me.

She stormed inside the three-bedroom red brick ranch house and threw the mail on the kitchen table in a huff.

Georgina or Nola won’t even return my calls. And where is that money they was supposed to send over two weeks ago, Mama? Madelyn’s voice rose a higher than normal octave as she paced back and forth.

Oh girl, hush and sit down somewhere! You know they not gonna do a darn thing! Ophelia shouted, startling her daughter. When they left Lula, they left everything behind that reminded them of this place and that included me and you. You just dumb enough to keep thinking they gonna drop their high and mighty lives for us. They don’t call me on a regular. What make you think they gonna keep their word to you?

***

Ophelia, was a five-foot-tall, light-skinned, plump woman with snow white shoulder-length hair that still showed remnants of the burnt orange that it used to be. Her hazel-colored eyes were a gift from her Creole mother, who fell in love and married Nathan Brown, a black man from Mississippi. They’d send their daughter to spend summers in his hometown of Lula with her cousin Julie, Nathan’s sister’s daughter throughout her childhood.

Ophelia Brown was eighteen when she first lay eyes on Charlie Johnson. He was singing in the church choir; his baritone voice sounded like the soothing rhythm of a saxophone. They fell in love, married after one year, and together had three daughters, Georgina, Nola and then Madelyn, who she gave birth to years later, calling her a change of life baby because she certainly thought that she was done having children as she was approaching fifty. Charlie was a janitor at Nelson Boyd Elementary School and provided for his wife and three girls on that salary. They never wanted for anything.

The couple was married forty-five years when Charlie passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack. He was outside working on his old pickup truck when he collapsed to the ground. It was a devastating blow to the family but it didn’t stop Georgina and Nola from leaving not long after. With them gone, Madelyn had to give up the small three-room apartment she rented over Miss Bessie’s and move back home to care for her mother and grandmother. She never felt the same about her sisters after that.

So what I’m supposed to do, Mama? I can’t do this all by myself. We can’t afford to take care of this house and Nana’s even with both our incomes. I could only get that roof patched up and it’s only temporary. I need to get the house rented or sold before we go broke. Georgina and Nola don’t care about nobody but themselves. Tears threatened to fall from Madelyn’s eyes from the thought.

Ophelia watched her daughter feeling a sense of guilt. She desired much more for her baby girl, but Madelyn was always the responsible one, the one she could depend on. Her daughter was right; those other two did leave without a thought or care, but right or wrong, it was their decision.

Well Maddie ain’t like you can’t find a nice man and build a life around these parts. If you fix yourself up some and stop putting all that grease on your face, you could catch the widower Wilbert Truce.

Madelyn frowned. Mama, please. I ain’t got no time to worry about how I look. All I do is work and come home to more work. Wilbert may like me, but I don’t care about him with his old self.

So you say. Remember, Wilbert got his own. He’s established, got a big home, a nice one I might add, got his own business, and he’s sweet on you. So what he’s a bit older? You thirty-years-old, Maddie. Don’t you want to get married and have a family ‘fore it’s too late?

A family with Wilbert, Mama? Please stop talking about him. He’s not my type, anyway.

What do you know about your type? Ophelia laughed. You act like Wilbert is a hundred years old. He’s only in his forties and you need to give him a chance. He ain’t interested in those single women from church who chase him around town, especially that Savannah Moses. She ain’t right upstairs, if you ask me. Anyway, Wilbert only got eyes for you. Plus, he’s a nice looking, dark skin man. Reminds me of your daddy. And those eyes… Ophelia smiled in remembrance. You stubborn like that man was, girl. Don’t miss out on a good thing!

CHAPTER TWO

It was four in the morning and still dark on Fletcher Road when Madelyn opened the front door stepping out into the humidity filled summer air. Sliding inside of her car, she turned the key. The old Chevy hummed weakly, but wouldn’t turn over. She tried several times, realizing it was only matter of time before the old clunker would sing its last song, and now, she had to walk using the two feet God gave her.

I don’t know what I’m gonna to do, she mumbled under her breath, stepping quickly on the dark dirt road. Not getting that money from her sisters really put her in a bind. It was bad enough that even with patching up the roof, Nana’s house still wasn’t selling and she hadn’t had one inquiry about renting it out. Times were hard for everybody. She could relate because she was also struggling. The light bill was past due, and would be turned off today if she didn’t come up with the eighty- dollars and twenty-five cents.

Madelyn was in such deep thought she didn’t hear the sound of the black Ford pickup truck pulling up next to her. The handsome, dark brown skinned man, with close cut black hair and a short beard that had sprinkles of silver had brown eyes lighter than normal for someone of his complexion. He crept along speaking with concern.

Madelyn, what on earth are you doing walking this time of morning? Where’s your car? Wilbert asked, his tone solemn.

I’m on my way to work. Miss Bessie got a rush order, and this here is the only way I can get there. My car wouldn’t start.

Come on and get in. I’ll take you to work.

I’m fine, Wilbert, thank you anyway. She waved, continuing on her way.

Wilbert frowned as he watched Madelyn move quickly on. He drove up next to her. Why you so stubborn, woman? I’m just trying to help. I don’t want to see you out here by yourself. I’d be less than a man if I didn’t see to it that you were safe. I’m on my way to open the store, and your work is on the way. What’s the problem?

Madelyn stopped, gazing at Wilbert through the rolled down driver’s side window. ‘He’s so handsome and those eyes, she thought. She walked around to the passenger side, opened the truck door and got in.

Thank you, Wilbert. The two traveled in silence until they arrived at Bessie’s fifteen minutes later.

Well here we are, Miss Madelyn, safe and sound, Wilbert said, trying to break the tension.

Madelyn smoothed out her dress. Thank you for the ride. I apologize for being so difficult earlier.

It’s not a problem. He smiled. What time you get off work? I’ll pick you up and take you home. Unless, you plan to give me a hard time about that too? He teased opening the passenger side door. Allow me.

Madelyn could feel herself blushing as she looked into the eyes of a man who stood at least six feet tall.

Thank you. I get off around six today, but I don’t want to put you out your way, Wilbert. I know you busy.

You’re not putting me out. I asked, remember? Wilbert extended his hand, helping her out of the truck.

Well, all right.

I’ll see you then, and Madelyn?

Yes?

I want to take you out sometimes, like dinner? What do you say? Wilbert asked, hopping into his truck.

I’ll think about it and give you my answer when you pick me up this evening. Madelyn spoke shyly.

I’ll take that. A broad smile appeared on Wilbert’s face.

As he drove off, Madelyn stood watching until the truck was no longer in sight. She thought about what her mother said and couldn’t believe she was feeling a little giddy about seeing him again.

***

"You let who give you a ride?" Gloria grilled Madelyn smacking and licking her fingertips after each bite of the barbecue rib, at Miss Gwen’s little soul food joint on their lunch break.

Gloria Dane, born and raised in Lula, and Madelyn’s childhood and best friend, was one of the five seamstresses at Bessie’s. Average height, she was a full-figured woman, as she would say of her size eighteen frame. A cute face, large brown eyes, and dark, smooth brown skin, she never wore the same hairstyle twice as she always sported one of her many wigs in whatever style she chose. No makeup needed; only