Big Daddy Sinatra: There Was a Ruthless Man(50)

“Why should I? Charlie’s got a past. I’ve got a past. Every one of God’s children has a past. The key, for all of us, is not repeating it.”

Buzz nodded. “That’s the key, you’re right about that. That’s the truth.”

“Anyway, Buzz,” Charles said as he grabbed his jacket off of the back of his chair, “I’ll pay her a visit.” He began putting on his jacket.

“Make it clear to her, Charles, please make it clear to her. She won’t listen to anybody else. She has to get out today, or the sheriff is going to get her out of there tomorrow. And that will not be pretty. We’ve all forewarned her. Maybe coming from Big Daddy Sinatra, she’ll get the message.”

Charles glanced at Jenay when Buzz used that derogatory term. Jenay noticed his glance, but ignored it in front of Buzz.

“Let me know how it goes,” Buzz said as he was about to leave. “And nice meeting you again, Jenay. I hate losing money, but if it works out for you and Charles, then I’ll be willing to lose. . .I’ll be willing to . . . Never mind. I hate losing money!”

She laughed. Buzz left. “He’s a breath of fresh air, Charlie.”

“Yeah, he is. We’ve been good friends for years.”

“Your best friend?”

“If I had one, I guess so.” Then he looked at her. “Ready?” he asked.

“Always,” she said.

Charles began walking her, with his hand in the small of her back, to the door. “I’ll need to make a quick stop first.”

“To urge whomever you guys were discussing to leave wherever you guys were referencing?”

“That’s right.” Then Charles looked sidelong at her. “Aren’t you curious?”

“About what?”

“Why some people would call me Big Daddy Sinatra?”

“Why it’s because of your penis, of course,” Jenay said as if that was the only possible answer, and left the office.

Charles, taken aback, smiled at first, and then laughed a great laugh. “Yeah,” he said as he walked out behind her, feeling actually pretty good, “that’s it. That’s the reason.”



He took the scenic route, showing her the beautiful Jericho countryside. He showed her the coastline, and the farms and the plains, and some of his businesses. He showed her Jericho Mutual, his bank, and Sinatra Motors, his car dealership. He showed her Sinatra Sails, his boat rental business, and even his personal sailboat. He showed her rental homes he owned, an old factory he owned, and even a funeral home he hadn’t been able to unload yet.

She could understand, on one level, how people could really resent him. It seemed like too much for one man to own. But on another, more substantive level, she admired him. He was a smart and shrewd go-getter. He was the epitome of the American dream of working smarter, not harder, and going for it. She looked at him and smiled. If he was trying to impress her with the vastness of his holdings, he had.

But he kept on driving. He didn’t brag or explain. It was all self-explanatory to him. She liked that about Charlie. He never felt a need to prove anything.

His Jaguar drove down a long, dirt road until it ended at the front porch of a small, wooden-framed log cabin-style house. An elderly woman was sitting on the porch, and a handful of kids, from small eight year olds to twelve and thirteen year olds, were sitting on the steps.

“Wait here,” Charles said to Jenay as he got out of his car and made his way, walking around kids, up to the old lady. He kept the car running, so Jenay pressed down the window on her passenger side of the car. She was praying this visit wasn’t about evicting that old woman out of this old house. Charles could be hard, but this, to her, would be outrageous.

“Hello, Miss Winifred,” Charles said as he approached.

“Hello, Big Daddy,” the old lady responded.

“Buzz told me you wouldn’t listen to him.”

“I don’t trust him,” the old woman said. She was so wrinkled her skin looked like scales. Jenay figured she had to be at least eighty or more. What in the world was Charles thinking?

“The note came due on this property, Miss Winifred,” Charles said, “and you’re well aware of that. We’ve sold it from under you, and the new owners will be taking possession.”

“I know what y’all did. You don’t have to tell me what y’all money grubbers did.”

“Then why haven’t you packed up and moved?”

“Because I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“That’s not my problem,” Charles said firmly. “You’ve been given ample time to find another place. More than ample time. You decided not to do so.”