He stood up. “Well, dinner’s over. Ready to find something else to work on?”
Nathaniel stood as well. “Yeah, let’s find some woodwork that needs fixing.”
* * *
Corra sat in the back of the local AME Church listening to Tayler talk to a handful of young girls about the importance of education. The topic of this Wednesday evening’s workshop was Education Enhancement. A local college professor was the guest speaker. Every time Tayler gave a presentation, Corra was in awe. With each workshop she learned something new, and gained a measure of confidence in herself.
The Color of Success, a nonprofit organization Tayler and Corra’s cousin Nicole started years ago in Chicago, was building momentum in Danville. Since Tayler’s relocation they’d held a kickoff meeting, organized a fund-raiser and were officially accepting girls into the program. Unfortunately, her Katie was too young for the program that supported middle school and high school girls.
Most of the girls had been dropped off by a parent. However, a few parents lingered outside the room waiting for their daughters. Corra hadn’t recognized any of the girls until the workshop ended. One girl stood out from the rest. She had long braids running down her back, but it was her nose and slanted eyes that identified her as a Hayden. Corra followed her out into the hallway. The child walked right up to Cookie Hayden, Eric’s sister. Like her daughter, Cookie had long braids as well. Corra hadn’t spoken to Cookie in over three years.
Just then, Cookie glanced up and spotted her. She leaned over and whispered something to her daughter, who ran off with her friends. Cookie crossed her arms and screwed up her face.
Any other time Corra would have ignored Cookie, but she couldn’t have planned this better. She needed to find Eric, and like Rollin said, Cookie was her best bet. She swallowed her pride, and reluctantly walked over to her sister-in-law.
“Well, if it isn’t Corra Coleman. That is your name, isn’t it? You took your name back?” Cookie asked, with a sharp tone.
Corra opened her mouth to respond, but thought better about the smart-alecky response she had in mind. Instead, she cleared her throat and smiled politely, but not genuinely.
“Hi, Cookie. I’m surprised to see you here.” Corra had never known Cookie or anyone in her family to attend church.
“Well, you haven’t seen me in years, so you’d probably be surprised about a lot of things.” She lowered her arms, and softened the features of her face. “So, you’re a part of this organization?” she asked.
Corra nodded. “I am. Rollin’s fiancée runs it. I work with her.”
Cookie fiddled with her bracelet, examining it as she spoke. “I’ve heard good things about the organization. And JoJo practically begged me to bring her. I think all of her little friends are involved.”
“That’s good. It’s a great program.” Corra held her chin high. This was the first civil conversation they’d had in Corra didn’t remember how long.
“Cookie, I’m actually glad I ran into you. I haven’t seen Eric in a couple of years and the kids are asking about him. Have you spoken with him lately? Is he still in California?”
Cookie flipped her braids and ran a hand through them. “In all this time you haven’t called, or come out to the house asking about him.”
Corra caught the neck motion and knew Cookie was about to slip into a bad attitude. Corra maintained her professionalism. “His son would like to see him, Cookie.”
“You mean my nephew that I never get to see? The kids you never bring around?” Cookie asked.
Before Cookie lost her composure and embarrassed them both, Corra asked, “Can I speak to you outside a minute?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
They followed other parents out a side door and walked over to the steps.
“Cookie, I know we haven’t been on the best of terms, but I genuinely need to get in contact with Eric. He just disappeared from their lives.”
“What you need, some money? Or, are you trying to file for child support when you got sole custody?”
Corra snorted. “No. I’m not asking him for child support. I just want him to get in contact with his kids.”
Cookie stared a hole in the ground before she looked up at Corra. “So you really don’t know where Eric’s been?”
“Somewhere in California was the last I heard. But he hasn’t picked up the phone once to call, or write, or do anything for his kids.”
“There’s a reason he didn’t call.”
Corra laughed. “There’s no reason for a man not to call his kids for two years. I divorced him, not them.”