Albany, Georgia, Tuesday, 14 September 2004, 10:13
Claire and her half-brother, Ernie Robinson, sit in the conference room of an attorney’s office staring across the table at Hugh Frederick and Melissa Dawkins. Hugh is a serious looking man who appears to be in his early-70s, wearing a barn jacket over an oxford shirt. Melissa is wearing a dark sweater and pearl earrings. Claire’s attorney Stacey, a Black woman in her early-30s, is seated beside Claire, and Ernie’s lawyer, Hal, white, middle-aged, and with a goatee, is between him and Stacey. Seated between Hugh and Melissa is their attorney, Ron, clean-shaven with greying hair and a studious expression.
Hugh focuses on Ernie. “I’m still not sure why this young man is even here.”
Claire makes eye contact with Ernie then turns to Hugh. “Ernie’s here for the same reason I am. We only found out about one another in the past year and haven’t taken a DNA test, but given our resemblance to one another we really don’t need one.”
Hugh looks Ernie over and shrugs.
“He does somewhat remind me of the men in our family.”
“Somewhat?” Melissa leans toward Hugh and points at Ernie. “That’s Uncle Duke when we were kids.”
Hal places his hand on a folder. “We do have a deposition from Joyce Robinson attesting to her relationship with James Frederick. It was taken late last year before her unfortunate death from cancer.”
Hugh drops his eyes. “Our sympathies to your family.” Ernie lifts his hand in acknowledgement. “We’re not here to speculate. Ms. Belmonte proposed taking a DNA test and we’re willing to accommodate that. I assume it’s as easy to compare DNA to two people as it is to one.”
Claire looks back and forth between Hugh and Melissa. “When I spoke to your sister several years ago, she didn’t seem too interested. What changed your mind?”
Melissa folds her hands on the table and looks down. “I apologize for that. The story you told me took quite a bit out of me. I wasn’t ready to see Jimmy that way.”
“That I can understand but my question remains.”
Melissa looks to Hugh for a response. “Ms. Belmonte, I can’t imagine what you went through while you were with our brother, and there’s no way we can ever make up for any of that. The fact that you have never approached us for restitution speaks to your sincerity in this matter.”
“We’re not looking for money, in other words.”
“You’re entitled to some relief in this situation and we’re willing to provide what little we can. In addition to our cooperation, there are other assets.”
Hugh nods to Ron, who opens his briefcase and removes some paperwork which he holds up as he addresses Claire and Ernie.
“James Frederick owned a house.”
Claire rolls her eyes. “And I’d rather live in Zachariah Messner’s house than go back to James Frederick’s.”
Ron waves his hand. “The house was sold long ago, and I believe it’s been torn down and replaced with a filling station or retail outlet but proceeds from the sale of it could be made available to you both.”
Stacey retrieves several envelopes from her briefcase. “That’s something we can iron out later. For now, we appreciate your willingness to help clear up the central question. I have the consent forms here, outlining what we hope to accomplish and everyone’s responsibility.”
She passes two to Ron, and one each to Claire and Hal.
“Of course.” Ron takes the documents and turns to Hugh and Melissa. “I just need you to verbally acknowledge that you’re willing to proceed.”
Hugh says, “I am.”
Melissa nods. “Yes.”
Ron bobs his head. “Very well.” He reads over the forms then passes them between Hugh and Melissa for signatures. “Arrangements have been made with a nearby clinic for collection of samples, so, if there’s no further business we need to discuss, we can head over and get that sorted out.”
As they’re gathering their things, Melissa addresses Claire and Ernie.
“I’d like to believe that if Jimmy had known about the two of you, he’d have done the right thing.”
Claire can read the disbelief on Ernie’s face. She returns her eyes to Melissa.
“I guess we’ll never know, will we?”
The clinic is a block away, so everyone walks. Claire and Ernie lag behind the others.
Ernie leans his head toward Claire. “What did you think about the money?”
“I don’t want it. I’d rather you use it to send your kids to school or summer camp. After what Frederick did to me, the last thing I want is to get paid for it.”
“I heard that. I’m surprised they’re even willing to have the DNA test.”
“That surprised me as well. When I knew him, I was aware Frederick had family, but sitting across from his brother is a bit of a jolt. Lots of mannerisms in common. I’m just glad they weren’t twins.”
At the clinic, the group is led back into the exam area to watch as the samples are taken. The attorneys pay particular attention to the procedure. Afterward, they reassemble in the clinic lobby, where Hugh addresses Claire and Ernie.
“I know this may sound unconventional, but if the two of you would care to join us, Missy and I would like to treat you to lunch. Maybe get to know you better. The attorneys are welcome to join us if need be, but they’ll have to fend for themselves.”
Claire and Ernie give each other a look and simultaneously shrug then reply, almost in unison.
“Sure.”
Claire adds: “I think we passed a T. J. Bailey’s, didn’t we?”
After a bit of discussion, they decide to go there.
Melissa tells them, “I worked at T. J. Bailey’s when my kids were little. They always liked it whenever I brought home desserts that were left over on a slow night.”
“I was a server in restaurants while I worked my way through college,” Claire says. “When I turned twenty-one, I started tending bar in a gay club.”
Melissa finds this interesting. “How’d that go?”
“Better tips, fewer propositions.”
“Yes.” Melissa reminisces. “The men at the bar could get rather grabby. My husband always insisted on picking me up after work and I was thankful for that.”
“Places like this represented fine dining for my family when I was a kid,” Ernie says. “If we went to Burger King after church, I thought we were living in the lap of luxury.”
“Were you raised near Perry?” Hugh asks.
“Yes, sir. We moved to Warner Robins when I was around ten. Near the airbase.”
Hugh nods. “I somehow managed to convince the Air Force to let me serve my final tour at Robins. Made it a lot easier to visit home on furloughs.”
“How long did you serve?” Claire asks.
“Twelve years. Finished as a Senior Airman, earned two degrees, and learned electrical engineering along the way.”
Claire raises her glass. “Sound engineer, DeKalb Tech, early-90s.”
“Is that your chosen profession as well?”
“Deejay and sound engineer. I work with a lot of recording artists and spin records for parties and office functions.”
“I met with you at your place of work, didn’t I?” Melissa says.
“You did. I’ve moved to a larger studio since then. I also have a mobile unit for outdoor gigs.”
“As a child, I always equated engineers with trains,” Hugh says with a chuckle. “It wasn’t until high school that I realized what a wide variety of fields was covered by the term.”
“Yes. I have a friend in Atlanta whose father is an architect and civil engineer. It’s certainly a wide-ranging profession.”
“Hugh’s the scientist.” Melissa says. “I always worked in restaurants and retail. Jimmy was the salesman of the family.” She covers her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring him up during lunch.”
Claire holds up her hands. “Not a problem. Most of Christine’s interactions with him were pleasant, at least until her mid-teens. Of course, she only saw what she wanted to see.”
“Why do you refer to yourself as ‘Christine’ when talking about your past?” Melissa says. “I noticed it once before. It’s like you’re talking about someone else.”
“Because I am literally a different person. I guess it’s like in the Bible when Jacob wrestled an angel and became Israel. The moment Christine realized that everything she had hoped and prayed for and dreamed about was all a lie — just a little girl’s fairy tale and never really existed, everything around her perished and was washed away. All that was left standing was me, the barest elements of the girl she was, the strength, the resilience. But that was enough. It was enough.”
Melissa says, “How did you decide on the name you have now?”
“My friend Lawrence had a sister named Claire who had died, and I looked it up in a baby book and found out it means ‘clear’ and that’s why I chose it, because I was starting all over from zero. Complete reset. I kept the name Christine, so I’d have a reminder of where I came from, but otherwise, she was gone.”
Hugh shakes his head. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like.”
“If Deacon Frederick had lived, Christine would have forgiven him and probably continued in some form, but Messner took that opportunity from her as well. Instead there was no redemption, no grace, no closure. Nothing left but a blank canvas to start over from scratch. So, I did just that. Since that time, with one notable exception, I’ve never cried again.”
This catches Melissa’s interest. “Never?”
“Christine shed more than enough tears for the both of us. The only exception is when I went to see Messner in Perry, to let him know where his wife had gone and that was more nerves from being in the same room with him than sorrow. In fact, I was more angry than sad.”
Melissa takes out a tissue and dabs her eyes with it. Ernie puts his hand on Claire’s shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“My only real sacrifice was having to listen to Baptist preachers until I graduated high school.”
The rest find this amusing and it lessens some of the tension. Claire says, “Lucky you.”
Hugh leans on the table. “We haven’t been part of your lives for most of the time you’ve been around. I suppose we had that opportunity taken from us, though we didn’t do much to rectify the situation once we knew about you. We realize that you don’t expect anything from either of us and we understand and respect that. But, if you’re willing, we would like to stay in touch. Maybe be there for you if you should ever need us. For anything.”
Melissa nods. “We can never make up for what Jimmy did, but you’re family. That matters to us.”
Ernie glances at Claire. “I appreciate the gesture.”
Claire considers it. “I think this is one of those situations we should probably play by ear. But maybe it is a good idea to stay in touch.”