Family Values Read online

  This surprised Grandmother Ella. Trenity fell to the floor and sobbed uncontrollably. He took his hands and beat the sides of his head. Grandmother Ella walked over to him and kneeled on the floor beside him. She wrapped arms around him. Trenity became limp. His cries acknowledged that he felt lost and didn’t know his next move.

  Grandmother Ella aided Trenity to the couch. She gave him a Kleenex to dry his tears.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Let me tell you something that I have NEVER told anyone else.

  Trenity looked over at her.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  This family has so many secrets. So many. I have fought tooth and nail to keep everything together. There were times that I wanted to walk away from it all. The family, the money, everything. You have seen me be heartless to many people and some family members. Now what I am about to tell you-you can never tell anyone. Promise me

  Trenity didn’t know how to respond.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Promise me.

  TRENITY

  I promise.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Jefferson cheated on me several times. You know that I have one child and that is Madison and was Landon’s father. True everyone knows that Dwight doesn’t belong to my son.

  TRENITY

  Do you know who is father is?

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Jefferson Davis Cove.

  This rattled Trenity.

  TRENITY

  Does he know?

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  No. And he shall never know. This is why I am baffled about the “will” that left him executor.

  TRENITY

  So that is why you hate him so.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Yes. If that was to ever get out it would destroy everything. I don’t need any of scandal in this family.

  TRENITY

  So that is why you want me to remain married to Madison.

  GRANDMOTHER ELLA

  Exactly.

  43

  Watching me in the shower was making Robin want me more for personal reasons. In spite of everything I was always the perfect gentleman to her – wining and dining her and treating her with the utmost respect. The sight of my manhood brought on an orgasmic tingle throughout her body.

  When I turn in full view of her, she caught sight of what I gave her the first times we made love. A gasp escaped her and she was caught. I slowly stepped out of the shower. I grabbed my towel and wrapped it around my waist. I walked over to my bed and I knew that she was watching me.

  I grabbed the remote and the sounds of Kandi Burruss singing “I Want You” surrounded the room. I patted the bed for Robin to come and have a seat.

  ROBIN

  Are you sure that you want to do this?

  DWIGHT

  Over the past few months I have grown to love you. I love our talks, the outings, and everything.

  ROBIN

  You are not marrying me because I lost your babies?

  DWIGHT

  No. No. I am marrying you because I want to. I know this may seem strange but we were kind of forced to get married in the beginning. But after spending time with you I have grown to love you. The pregnancy just brought us closer.

  ROBIN

  I am not going to take the money.

  Dwight grabbed Robin face and caressed it.

  DWIGHT

  That decision is yours to make.

  ROBIN

  You are such a great guy.

  DWIGHT

  There is one thing that I do want to talk to you about.

  ROBIN (without hesitation)

  I will sign them.

  DWIGHT

  How do you know what I was going to say?

  ROBIN

  Come on Dwight. We both live in the real world…sometimes. You would be a fool not to have a prenup.

  DWIGHT

  I had my attorney, Merrick Grant, draw this up. In it you will be well taken care of if the marriage doesn’t work.

  ROBIN

  It’s not about the money with me.

  I could not hide what I was feeling. I stood and showed Robin that she was making my manhood rise.

  She was bold at this point and didn’t turn her head away. Instead she crawled to the end of the bed and met my manhood, mouth to skin. I didn’t realize how much tension had built up in me. I wanted her so bad.

  She started by sucking the tip, but as she became more comfortable, she took the whole thing.

  DWIGHT

  Oh my gosh!

  I could not stand it any longer. I bent over and grabbed her by the waist, and flipped her over several times.

  Her nipples stood erect. I sucked each one over and over.

  After a few minutes of attending to her needs I placed my manhood at her opening. I was ready to enter Robin with love and compassion. Before I could enter my phone begin to ring on the nightstand.

  I ignored the call. After a brief silence it started again.

  DWIGHT

  Let me check this. It might be about one of the rigs.

  ROBIN

  Go ahead.

  I picked up the phone and the screen showed a picture and the name “BRIAN”.

  44

  DWIGHT (talking to Robin)

  I have to take this call.

  Robin grabbed the sheet and Covered herself. I walked into the next room.

  DWIGHT

  Why are you calling me?

  BRIAN

  I don’t get a “How are you?”

  DWIGHT

  You walked out on me when I needed you. What the hell do you want?

  BRIAN

  I have something that belongs to you.

  DWIGHT

  You shipped my shit to me. What else could you have that it mine?

  BRIAN

  Your grandfather left you a bag with some goodies in it.

  DWIGHT

  Mail it to me.

  BRIAN

  I want to bring it to you.

  DWIGHT

  I don’t know if that would be wise.

  BRIAN

  D…D…Dwight…I miss you. I still love you and want you in my life. I can’t live another day without you.

  DWIGHT

  Aww man, come on. We haven’t seen nor talked to each other in a year. What is it…your new man left you?

  BRIAN

  If you want me to be honest…when I left you I haven’t been with anyone else. Dwight I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

  I placed the phone next to my heart and threw my head back. I took a deep sigh. My eyes went from corner to corner of the room.

  I heard my name coming through the phone.

  DWIGHT

  Yes…yes I am here.

  BRIAN

  I will be flying down in a few days. I want to be with you when you open this bag. I want to be the one that is there for you when you open it. Chanh Kha said “A bell is not a bell until someone rings it, a song is not a song until someone sings it. Love wasn’t put in the heart to stay, for love isn’t love ‘til you give it away.” Please don’t give our love away.

  45

  A large red and white truck pulled up at Madison’s house. A stocky medium brown man walked up to her door. He rang the doorbell and after a few minutes Trenity opened the door. The driver handed him a package that was addressed to Madison. Trenity signed for the package and then handed the clipboard back to the driver.

  Trenity examined the package before calling out to Madison. He noticed that it was from Josh Wiley. Trenity walked into the bedroom where Madison was combing her hair. She turned when she saw him in the mirror.

  MADISON

  Who was that at the door?

  TRENITY

  The delivery man. Here (handing her the package).

  Madison looked at the address label on the box. She quickly grabbed her chest. She turned the box over on its side and pulled the opening string. When she reached in she pulled out some papers a
nd a smaller box.

  Before reading the papers she decided to open the small box. She glared at the content and began to cry. She rose from her chair and ran into the bathroom slamming the door behind her. Trenity walked over and picked up the papers. Scanning through them he became extremely infuriated. He slammed the papers down and raced out of the house.

  ______________________________________

  SECRETARY

  You can’t go in there sir.

  Trenity ignored the secretary’s orders. He stormed over to Josh’s desk and punched him directly in the right eye. Trenity threw punches from the left and right. A burly white security officer rushed into the office and pulled Trenity off of Josh. The officer tasered Trenity in the groin once that caused him to bowl over.

  The security officer assisted Josh off of the floor. Josh looked over at Trenity. Trenity lay on the floor in pain.

  JOSH

  I take it that Madison got my package.

  Trenity was in much pain but he forced a few words from his lips.

  TRENITY

  You-you-you stay a-way away from my wife.

  JOSH

  So she is your wife again? Well she was mine first. Tell her that her son said hello.

  Josh looked at the security officer and directed him to throw Trenity into the street.

  ____________________________________

  Upon Trenity’s arrival back at his house, he stormed into the bedroom.

  TRENITY

  Why didn’t you tell me you had a child?

  MADISON

  What are you talking about?

  TRENITY

  Your ex-husband…

  Madison rolled over in the bed. Trenity pulled her back over.

  TRENITY

  Tell me the truth.

  Madison released everything that she had been hiding from Trenity. Trenity could not believe the words that were floating into his ears. Madison walked over to him and tried to put her arms around him.

  MADISON

  Trent please don’t be angry.

  TRENITY

  You can have a baby for him but not for me. You always tell me that you are not ready.

  MADISON

  I didn’t have a baby for him.

  TRENITY

  I heard him say to tell you that your child said hello.

  MADISON

  I got pregnant by someone else when I was married to him.

  TRENITY

  You are a worthless bitch.

  Madison was taken by his words. Trenity grabbed a bag from the closet and began to throw his clothes into it. Madison grabbed the bag trying to pull it away. Trenity snatched it from her. He raced between the closet, chest of drawers, and his bag.

  TRENITY

  Why did I ever listen to your grandmother and try to make this work with you? Your family is so fucked up. You and your grandmother have no sense of family values. Your grandmother definition of belonging is fucked up. I wanted to let the past go. All of it. We forgave each other but you continued to lie.

  MADISON

  I didn’t lie.

  TRENITY

  Not telling the whole truth is a lie.

  Trenity finished packing his bag. He walked out of the door and turned and looked at Madison.

  TRENITY

  I don’t think that I ever want to see you again.

  MADISON (flipping the script)

  Fine (yelling at Trenity). Fine. Get your black ass out of my house. If I ever catch you here or around my family again I will shoot you. And since you have no heart it will be somewhere more violent.

  TRENITY (walking out of the door)

  Damn woman is out of her mind.

  46

  Madison lay in her bed when the curtains to her window fanned from a breeze. She ignored it until she heard footsteps. When she rose she found Noah standing at the foot of her bed.

  MADISON

  What are you doing here?

  NOAH

  I need you to listen and listen well. I want everything your own.

  MADISON

  Get the hell out.

  NOAH

  Make me.

  Madison reached under her pillow for her pistol. To no avail it was gone. She rushed from the bed towards Noah. Noah stood firm in his place.

  MADISON

  You won. You got him - now leave.

  NOAH

  You know what else I want.

  MADISON

  You will never get your hands on it.

  NOAH

  If I don’t…you won’t see the light of day again.

  MADISON

  I don’t know where it is.

  NOAH

  Why are you lying to me?

  MADISON

  I am not lying.

  NOAH

  Mother!

  MADISON (throwing up her hands)

  Don’t you ever call me that.

  NOAH

  Well that’s who you are - my mother.

  Madison could not stand to listen to Noah anymore. She turned to walk away when he grabbed her.

  NOAH

  This oil and this company is my birthright. I want it and I want the video.

  MADISON

  The video of what?

  NOAH

  Of the favor I did for you and your family.

  MADISON

  I don’t know what you are talking about.

  NOAH (changing the subject)

  Can we go into the kitchen for a drink? I am rather thirsty.

  MADISON

  Swallow some spit.

  Noah pulled a gun from his back waist and held it up. Madison politely turned and walked towards the kitchen. She poured two glasses of red wine.

  NOAH

  Please have a seat.

  MADISON

  How are you going to tell me to have a seat in my own house?

  Again he took the gun and laid it on the bar top. Madison pulled a stool out and sat down.

  NOAH

  Where shall I begin? Do you remember when you grandfather was in the hospital and he suffered that stroke? That was my doing. I was the nurse on call that night when he had his stroke. I gave him the dosage shot that I knew would cause him to have a mild stroke. When he was able to go home I talked to your grandmother about a live-in nurse. That is where my sister, Robin, came in. I guess you can say that I can sweet talk anyone. Then there “was” your brother Landon. My brother by my dad hooked him up with something that he could not live without – his drugs. Landon killing himself was genius. I wasn’t expecting that. (Turning to anger) I wasn’t expecting my brother to get killed in the process either.

  MADISON

  You are evil.

  NOAH

  I am your child.

  MADISON

  You are not my child. Your father took you from me.

  NOAH

  That’s only because he didn’t want me raised by a slut (taking a sip of wine).

  Madison quickly slapped him causing him to spit out his wine.

  NOAH

  Now that was good wine that I spit out.

  MADISON

  Would you please get out of my house?

  NOAH

  I am not finished.

  MADISON

  Yes you are.

  NOAH

  Then there is Trenity. I met him at the hospital one day and I knew that it was fate. I swayed my way into his life. I will admit that the sex was great. I don’t see how you didn’t want to a baby by that dick. He knew how to work it.

  MADISON

  You son of a bitch.

  NOAH

  Mother – please don’t forget I am your son. Don’t call yourself a bitch.

  MADISON

  I will call your father and tell him what you are doing.

  NOAH

  You think about that. Do you think after all these years that he would talk to you?

  MADISON

  I want you to leave.

  NOAH

  And then you
go and talk to Josh Wiley. Don’t you know that my father has him in his back pocket? Every time he hauls oil from this company my father gets a portion of that.

  MADISON

  My brother is selling it.

  NOAH

  I know. Now you or my sister will help me get more money.

  MADISON

  You will not get a dime from me.

  NOAH

  Too late. When you wrote Trenity that check…trust me – he made those big faces rain on me.

  Madison started to grow old of Noah. She gulped down the last of her wine. She pulled out a drawer at the bar. This made Noah nervous. She placed a checkbook on the counter top and began to write.

  MADISON

  How much would it take to get you out of my life?

  NOAH

  You don’t have enough…yet.

  MADISON

  Why are you here?

  NOAH

  I told you…my birthrights.

  MADISON

  You will never see it.

  NOAH

  Fine. I will make sure that you don’t either.

  47

  I waited at the airport in Jackson, Mississippi for Brian’s plane to land. I found the gate and stared out of the window. Within five minutes I saw a white and silver 777 plane pulling into the terminal. My heart started to beat faster and faster. I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t see Brian in a year.

  The passengers started to emerge through the door. I looked at each one of them as they entered. After what seem like ten minutes there was no Brian. The attendant started to close the door. I raced up to her and asked if there were any more passengers on the plane. She informed me that the plane was completely empty. My heart dropped. I was stood up. How could he do this to me? How could I do it to myself?

  Never should I have allowed myself to get excited about seeing Brian.

  I tucked my feelings back into my heart and started to leave the airport. I knew that thoughts of Brian would cross my mind on this drive back to Waynesboro.

  BRIAN

  You can’t wait?

  I was shocked when he was standing in front of me. I didn’t know whether to run and jump on him, slap him, or faint.

  DWIGHT

  Wait a minute. I was at your gate waiting on you.

  BRIAN

  I took an earlier flight. I could not wait to see you. I don’t get a hug or something.

  I walked closer to him and gave the “brotherly hug with the pats on the back.” I didn’t want to release him. From the embrace I felt that he felt the same. We finally let go of each other.