Take My Hand(58)

She gave a quick rap on the door, and we trickled in. The senator and Lou stood. The senator was shorter than I’d expected. A high forehead shaped his wide face and a thick lock of curl fell over one eyebrow.

“Senator, let me introduce everyone. This is Civil Townsend, the girls’ nurse. She is the brave lady who brought this case to me in the first place, as I’ve been telling you,” said Lou.

I blushed. I hadn’t expected any kind of credit for anything. I hadn’t even expected to be introduced to the senator. I was just a chaperone.

“This is Mrs. Patricia Williams, the girls’ grandmother. She has been helping to raise these girls since their mother passed. And this is Mr. Mace Williams, their father.”

The senator extended a hand, and when Mace didn’t immediately step forward to accept it, the senator came out from behind his desk. “Mr. Williams, welcome to Washington. I’m so pleased you could come. Mrs. Williams, it is my pleasure.”

“The pleasure all mines, Senator,” she said a little too loudly. “Ain’t every day you get to meet a Kennedy.”

The senator smiled shyly, and the rest of us tittered. “Mr. Williams, I appreciate you traveling all this way. I know how difficult this time must be for you and your family, and I want you to know that I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I didn’t think some good would come out of it. I want people to hear the story of what your family has been through. You have the power to make a difference in your country tomorrow, and I want you to know that I stand with you.”

“Thank you, sir. I mean, Your Honor.”

The senator laughed, a deep belly laugh. “Call me Ted,” he bellowed.

“And Senator, here are two very special young ladies,” Lou continued. “India and Erica Williams.”

“India and Erica. You do me the honor of being here today.”

Erica offered the senator four limp fingers. India held on to my blouse, a section of it balled in her fist. Erica stood so close I could feel the heat coming off her body. She was still sweating after our walk in the sun.

“Please, everyone, sit down. India and Erica, you can sit here.” He gave them the seats closest to his desk.

The senator spoke quietly to Erica for a few moments, asking about her school and what grade she was in. The more he talked, the more Erica loosened up. India held on to her yarn-haired doll, and I saw the senator glance at the doll more than once. Lou had obviously informed Senator Kennedy that India wasn’t verbal, because he did not ask her anything directly. He spoke to both of them but directed his questions at Erica.

A young woman brought in a small tray with several glasses and a pitcher of iced tea.

“We drink tea up here, too.”

The tea was a nice gesture, but it tasted bland, despite the pretty glasses and fresh slices of lemon. We sipped politely as he told us how the proceedings would go the next day. As he spoke, I took in the office. There was a fireplace and a model of a sailboat on the mantel. Two people stood quietly in the back, taking notes. The office warmed with all of us in it.

“Tell me, Mr. Williams.” He turned to Mace, lacing his hands together. “What did the nurse say to you the morning she came to your house?”

“She tell me and my mama to sign some papers. We ask her what was the paper for and she just say . . . federal government.”

“That’s all she said?”

“She say she taking the girls to the clinic for some more shots.”

I wanted to interject, tell the senator that the family didn’t speak out of turn to the government workers. They depended on us too much. They did what we told them or they didn’t get their benefits that month. They let the girls go with Mrs. Seager because they were told to. They signed those papers because they were told to. He probably did not understand all of that. He seemed like a nice man, but he was undeniably part of that system.

“Then what happened?”

“I ask her where was Miss Civil.”

I moved around in my seat. I was having a hard time keeping my mouth shut, but I reminded myself that the senator had not asked to interview me.

“What did she say?”

“She say Miss Civil ain’t working today.” Mace imitated Mrs. Seager’s voice.

The senator turned to the girls. “Do you know what happened to you?” he asked, and before I could interrupt, Erica answered.

“They do surgery on me. It hurt real bad.”

“Yes, I understand you were in a lot of pain when Miss Townsend came to your room.”

Looking into the senator’s intelligent face, I understood the charisma of a good politician, the ability to respond with empathy.

“Do you know what kind of surgery it was?”

“Me and my sister can’t have no babies.”

“How do you feel about that?”

“I want babies. My friend Dinesha got a baby. I want one just like her. I pray every day God change what happened to me and my sister.”

She had told me about this new friend Dinesha, but I had no idea the girl was already a mother. I placed my glass down. There wasn’t a coaster, and I worried it might leave a ring on his wooden desk. I uncrossed my legs, crossed them. There was a run in my pantyhose.

“Mr. Senator,” Mace began. “Ever since my wife died I been trying to make a way for these girls. I do the best I can.”