Troublemaker

by Trice Hickman

  Allene watched Alexandria as she walked over to the large gold-colored flowerpot where Victoria had instructed Percy Jones to leave the house key.

  She bent down and picked up the key. “I feel blessed to be at the home my great-grandfather built.”

  “It’s quite a house and an impressive legacy that he left,” PJ said.

  “Yes, it is. My grandpa Isaiah was a strong man, and I know I’ll gain a lot just by virtue of being here this weekend. This house holds so much more than just furniture and shelter. I believe it’s going to provide healing.”

  Allene knew that Alexandria’s words were true, but she still said a quick prayer of protection to cover her, and their entire family, for the time they’d be here.

  After Alexandria and PJ settled in upstairs, Allene watched with delight as Victoria and her small entourage arrived. They all looked a little road worn from their drive. They’d left out at sunup, and then traveled seven hours on the highway to reach Nedine. But now that they were safe at the family homestead, Allene knew they would be all right. She decided to take a quick nap so she’d be alert for tonight’s activities. But her rest was interrupted when she felt a strong force jolt her from her sleep.

  “Have mercy!” She opened her eyes and saw that it was Christian She knew instantly that he had liquor on his breath, drugs in his system, and trouble brewing all around him.

  Chapter 16

  Allene

  Allene watched closely as Christian made his grand entrance. She shook her head at his extravagance. He couldn’t get a basic rental car like Alexandria and PJ had gotten. His vehicle was a sporty, black two-seater with a drop top. “Everything he does is over the top.”

  Christian turned his coffee cup up to his lips, which was filled with Hennessy, and drank it down as if it was water. He was grinning from ear to ear as he got out of the car, stumbling slightly while throwing his overnight bag on his shoulder.

  “Man, it’s hot as hell out here,” Christian mumbled with irritation. He stopped a few yards short of the porch where Allene was sitting in her rocking chair, and took in a full view of the house. “Damn! This place is nice.” He removed his designer sunglasses for a closer inspection, then walked around to the backyard and surveyed the grounds. “Mom said this place was a showstopper, but I never imagined it would be like this,” Christian said in a whisper as he walked back around to the front of the house. “When one plan ends, a new one begins. I can rake in a pretty penny with this place. It’ll make a great bed-and-breakfast, and I’ll make a killing.”

  Allene sucked in a deep breath of the stiflingly hot summer air. She didn’t like inserting herself into situations unless there was a dire need, because doing so could sometimes produce negative and unintended consequences, and she preferred to let things happen naturally. But right then and there she decided that this was one situation she was going to step into. There was no way in this world or the one beyond that she was going to sit back and let Christian get his hands on any part of their family homestead, or the surrounding land and rental properties.

  “Isaiah worked hard and even risked his life so he could build this house for his family,” Allene said with conviction. She’d never forget the night that the Klan had tried to burn it down. The white-hooded racists would have succeeded in their mission of hate had Allene not stirred up the fear of heaven and hell inside each of them who’d gathered to do her family harm. It was one of the times that she’d known interference was necessary. And just as she’d interceded in that situation, she was prepared to do the same where Christian was concerned, if she had to.

  Allene slowly rose from her rocking chair and followed Christian as he walked into the house. He stood in the elegant foyer, inspecting the natural wood details, expensive marble and high-end antiques that decorated the home’s entrance. “I’m here,” he announced loudly, as if he were royalty waiting to be greeted.

  Alexandria and PJ came out from the den in the back to greet him and immediately, they could see that not only had Christian been drinking, he was high on top of that. It amazed Allene how he could look so clean-cut and presentable when most addicts literally wore their addiction on their face and body. But Christian was a different breed. He was like a white collar criminal, and they always knew how to set themselves apart.

  Allene watched as Alexandria glanced from her brother over to PJ and let out a sigh. She knew just as everyone else did that PJ didn’t care for Christian. From the moment he’d met Christian last year, his future brother-in-law had rubbed him the wrong way.

  Christian’s first mistake with PJ had come when Christian invited him to an Atlanta Hawks game. But instead of cheering on the home team in courtside seats as Christian had said they’d do, he’d taken PJ to a strip club, where he’d proceeded to get drunk. When he refused to leave PJ had to call a cab and ended up watching the game from the seat of his couch. Christian’s second misstep came when he’d had the nerve to ask PJ to write him prescriptions for Oxycontin, Valium, and Percocet, and then acted as if he was offended when PJ refused his bold request.

  Allene watched as Alexandria approached her brother with caution, but PJ stepped up to him, displaying what Allene thought was a good amount of civility when he gave Christian a firm handshake accompanied by a smile. “What’s up, man? How’ve you been?”

  Christian flashed his brilliant white teeth and spoke with slurred words. “Lovin’ life, man. It’s all good.”

  Alexandria rolled her eyes and couldn’t hold back. “Christian, I can’t believe you came here drunk. Did you drive?” she asked incredulously.

  “First off, I’m not drunk, and if I was it’s really none of your business. And second, yes, I drove and my rental car is parked out front.”

  “I can’t believe you.”

  “Believe what?”

  “You smell like alcohol.”

  Christian let out a frustrated sigh, “There you go.”

  PJ looked on in silence while Alexandria crossed her arms and shook her head. “You’re drunk,” she said. “I can smell liquor on your breath, and I can look into your eyes and tell you’re high.”

  Allene knew that last week Christian had scouted out where he could find drugs in Nedine. As soon as he got off the plane and picked up his rental car, he’d headed straight to a part of down known as The Bottom, a notorious hangout for unsavory characters. He’d met with his connection to get his supply of cocaine for the weekend and he’d snorted two lines on his way to the house, followed up by the cognac he’d picked up at the ABC store in town. As Allene reflected on what she’d seen, she knew that Alexandria was looking into his recent past as well as what he’d done in the present.

  Christian crossed his arms just as Alexandria had done and looked at her with the same scrutiny she’d leveled on him. “Why’re you monitoring me? I’m a grown ass man and if I want to sip a little drink to start my weekend off right, it’s nobody’s business but mine.”

  “See, that’s where you’re wrong. The minute you walked into this house you made it PJ’s and my business, Mom and Dad’s business, and everyone else who’ll be under this roof this weekend.”

  “Oh, so now I’m fuckin’ up everyone’s weekend just because I want to enjoy myself. Man, that’s some bullshit.”

  “Hey man, watch your tone,” PJ piped in. “Your sister’s trying to help you.”

  Christian glanced at PJ, looking as if he wanted to say something, but knowing he better tread lightly. He cleared his throat and smiled. “I don’t need any help. I’m fine.”

  Alexandria shook her head. “You don’t even realize what you’re doing, Christian. Just because you’re educated and you’re able to dress yourself up that doesn’t mean you don’t have a problem.”

  “Right now you’re my only problem.”

  “No, your problem is that Vodka and Hennessy you drink and the cocaine you snort.”

  “I don’t have to listen to this self-righteous shit. Fuck you!” Christian spat out.

>   “Lord Jesus, help ’em,” Allene whispered as she watched on.

  “You must be out of your mind!” PJ shouted. He was an easygoing man, but when it came to Alexandria, he didn’t play around. “Apologize to Ali, right now,” he said in a threatening voice.

  Alexandria put her hand on PJ’s arm. “Calm down, honey.”

  “You better listen to your little wifey,” Christian said in an equally threatening tone.

  PJ narrowed his eyes on Christian and looked as though he was ready to take him down. “Apologize,” he demanded.

  Christian widened his legs to balance himself, clearly feeling his high. “Man, I know you not tryin’ to flex”

  “Boys flex, men step straight to you,” PJ said as he took a step toward Christian. “You will not disrespect your sister. Period. And I’ll be damned if I’m gonna stand by and watch it.”

  “Man, fuck you, too!”

  Allene could see anger rising up in Alexandria. She closed her eyes and sent her a gentle message, warning her not to engage Christian any further because of what would surely happen if she did—a physical confrontation between her fiancé and her brother. But Alexandria was too far gone. She was so angry that she lost control, allowing her mind to get to a state that Allene couldn’t penetrate.

  “Oh no!” Allene said. “She’s gon’ tell what she knows.” Allene knew what was coming when she saw Alexandria take a deep breath, briefly close her eyes, and then aim them like bullets on Christian. She’d read his thoughts and knew the sneaky plan he’d laid.

  “You low down, dirty dog,” Alexandria hissed. “You pretended like you wanted to come here this weekend for our family’s sake, but the only reason you’re here in Nedine, standing in the house that our great-grandfather built, is because you have plans to swindle it right out from under Mom’s nose.”

  Christian raised his hand and tried to interrupt her, but Alexandria kept going.

  “I know about the misleading documents you’re going to ask her to sign that will cause her to lose everything while you take control of it all . . . and I also know about the other low-down, despicable crime you’ve already committed. You think you’re slick, but you’re not. I even know about the professor you’re screwing so she’ll give you an A in your summer class.”

  Lord, she done gon’ and exposed everything! Allene thought.

  Christian’s face went blank. He knew his sister had an amazing gift, one which he still didn’t fully understand, and the fact that she’d looked into his life more closely than he’d imagined made him visibly frightened.

  By this time, Tyler, Samantha, and Uncle Maxx heard the commotion and were coming out to the foyer to see what was going on. Allene was glad that Chase was still up in his room listening to music, unaffected by the drama unfolding around him.

  It was only a matter of seconds before Victoria and Ted entered.

  “What’s going on down here?” Ted asked as he descended the stairs with Victoria hot on his heels. Ted looked from Alexandria to PJ, and finally to Christian. “I said, what’s going on down here?”

  No one said a word, but it was clear that tempers were high. Then, without warning, Christian burst into a big smile as if someone had just handed him a winning Lotto ticket. “Hi, Mom and Dad!” He greeted them as if all were well and he hadn’t just been fussing and cussing like he was in a bar. “Great to see you. I just got here and everyone came out to welcome me. Now we’re one big happy family.”

  “You’re sick,” PJ said under his breath as he shook his head.

  “And twisted,” Samantha threw in.

  The room fell silent as Ted and Victoria looked from person to person, with no one saying a word.

  “Something is wrong because we heard raised voices down here and now everyone is quiet,” Victoria said, looking between Alexandria and Christian. “What in the world is going on?”

  PJ looked straight ahead while Alexandria and Christian remained silent.

  “Well?” Victoria stood with her hand on her right hip, this time aiming her question at Tyler, Samantha, and Uncle Maxx.

  Allene could see that no one wanted any part of the family feud. Samantha craned her neck and looked at Christian with disgust. She was getting ready to open her mouth when Tyler touched her arm.

  “Sam, this isn’t your business to tell,” Tyler cautioned in a low voice.

  “It’s not my business, but she’s my friend.”

  Over the past year, Allene had grown to love Tyler and his family as if they were her own. Tyler was the voice of calm reason to Samantha’s well-intentioned but often confrontational manner. Allene knew that Samantha meant well, but Tyler was right, and she needed to stay out of the fray.

  Victoria’s eyes grew wide. “Samantha, what are you talking about?”

  Tyler cleared his throat. “Victoria, you and your son need to talk.”

  “About what?” Victoria asked as she looked at Christian.

  The disappointment and concern on Victoria’s face made Allene want to reach out and hug her. No matter what the situation, no mother wanted to see her child unhappy, unsafe, or unloved. Christian had always been loved, but his reckless behavior invited a mountain of unhappiness and danger into his life. Victoria narrowed her eyes on her son. “What have you done now?”

  “Mom, I just got here and I haven’t even unpacked. Why don’t we save it for later, when I’m more rested?”

  Uncle Maxx exhaled deeply and looked around the room. “I’ma tell y’all right now. I’m too old to be goin’ through any bullshit. If Mr. Isaiah was alive, God rest his soul, he wouldn’t tolerate family actin’ a damn fool up and under his roof.” Allene nodded her head in agreement as Maxx continued. “This is a time for celebration, not raisin’ hell. Respect this house and respect your family,” he said, throwing a hard look at Christian.

  “Well said, Uncle Maxx.” Christian stared back at his great-uncle as if he hadn’t done a thing. He picked up the envelope with his name written on it from the foyer table. “I’ll be heading up to my room now. See you all in a bit.”

  Christian boldly walked up the stairs as everyone stood in silence and looked on with a mixture of frustration and worry. Allene could see that no one wanted to get into it with Christian so early in the trip, but she also knew that things would reach a confrontational head tomorrow, and she was glad because the boy was in need of an intervention.

  “I noticed that the bar in the den is fully stocked,” Samantha said, “I’m about to mix some drinks. Anyone want to join me?”

  “You my kinda woman,” Uncle Maxx said with a flirty wink.

  They all followed Samantha and Uncle Maxx back to the den so they could decompress after the tense moment that Christian had created.

  “That boy’s gonna make somebody hurt him bad,” Allene said as she walked back out to the porch and sat down in her rocking chair. She looked up at the sunny sky, just as she’d done so many days in the past, and nodded her head at what she’d just heard. Alexandria had used her powers to whisper into Allene’s ear. “I’m sorry for my outburst, Grandma Allene. I’m going to listen to you the next time. This won’t happen again.”

  “It’s all right, baby girl,” Allene answered back. “Sometimes you got to tell the truth and shame the devil.”

  Chapter 17

  Alexandria

  Alexandria had known that this weekend was going to be filled with challenges, but she hadn’t bargained on an immediate confrontation with her brother. She’d hoped that by some miracle, Christian would’ve shown up sober, calm, and ready to change his life. But when she saw what kind of shape he was in, and then read his mind and discovered the underhanded things he’d done to their father, and was planning to do to their mother, she lost it. She knew she was going to have to exercise better control of her gift, not just with him, but with a few others this weekend as well.

  After the intense scene that Christian had caused, everyone calmed themselves with Samantha’s delicious but potent mixed
drinks, before gathering outside to relax by the pool. A few hours later, they changed clothes and then piled into their vehicles and headed downtown to enjoy Nedine’s grand festival activities.

  The night air was hot, humid, and sticky, but it didn’t stop the residents of the small town and neighboring hamlets from coming out to celebrate in the droves. Alexandria was hoping the good time would rub off on PJ because she’d never seen him so upset.

  Other than her father, PJ was one of the most even-tempered, easygoing people Alexandria knew, and like Ted, he didn’t let stressful situations or people get the better of him. But she knew that when her brother was drunk and high, he could make the devil curse, and this afternoon he’d pushed PJ’s buttons.

  Alexandria wanted PJ to enjoy this weekend and she knew she needed to say something to lift his mood. She spoke to him in a soft, gentle tone. “Honey, I know you were upset today, but please let it go. I’m not thinking about my brother, and you shouldn’t either. Don’t let him spoil our weekend.”

  “I don’t like the way he disrespected you, Ali, and I’m not going to stand by and let any man, family or otherwise, talk out of order to you. You’re going to be my wife, and I’m not going to tolerate the kind of nonsense that Christian pulled this afternoon. And then trying to swindle your mom? What kind of person is he?”

  “The kind we have to pray for. He’s an addict,” she whispered in a sad voice. “This isn’t my brother, this is the drugs inside him.”

  “Baby, I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but I know how this goes. Yes, he’s an addict, but he also knows what he’s doing, and he’s taking advantage of everyone’s patience with him. But trust me, this isn’t the time to be understanding or sympathetic. He’s in trouble and he needs tough love before it’s too late.”

  “I’m hoping this weekend will help him. Maybe this will be the start of Christian’s new beginning.”

  Alexandria wrapped her arms around PJ, causing him to soften in her embrace. “Thank you for standing up for me today, and for caring enough about my brother to see that he needs help. Did I tell you today that I love you?”