by Cora Brent
I was lucky that the adults in my life were unflinchingly honest. All the people I called Aunt and Uncle weren’t really all my aunts and uncles. Some, like Uncle Deck and Uncle Stone, were cousins. And Uncle Conway was my father’s half brother, a fact he’d kept to himself until he was an adult.
Of course I knew about how it all began, how once upon a time there were two brothers named Chrome and Benton, born in a dusty prison town called Emblem where the Gentry name was as worthless as sand. But that was a long time ago and those brothers were dead. In the case of my grandfather - cruel and violent Benton - everyone was unanimous that his death was a relief.
And what happened to all the fierce Gentry boys who’d come from that place called Emblem?
They all grew up and met beautiful women and had families of their own.
Yet still I wanted to know more, always more.
What’s your biggest regret?
What was the happiest moment of your life?
What was the worst moment of your life?
Some of the stories they told me were terrible.
Uncle Conway lost his first love in a tragic car accident.
Uncle Stone spent years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.
Aunt Jenny was born into a fearsome cult and was married off to a crazy religious leader when she was only sixteen.
My father and his two brothers, Uncle Chase and Uncle Creed, survived horrific neglect and cruelty.
My mother escaped a terrifying abusive relationship when she was my age.
There were more. Other stories. I never tired of listening to them. I was always proud to be a Gentry. Those of us in the next generation were born and raised by survivors.
As I watched my cousin Jacob walk confidently across the stage and receive his diploma I thought about that. Fortunately the ceremony was being held in a concert arena or else there was no way Jacob’s entire family would have received enough tickets. The second his name was called we were on our feet, hollering and cheering and making so much noise we received a few dirty looks from other attendees. We didn’t mind. Jake didn’t either. He pumped a fist in the air and smiled broadly as our section erupted in noise.
“Way to go, loser!” hooted Derek, one of my cousins. His brothers, Kellan and Thomas, laughed while Aunt Stephanie reached from the row above to swat her boisterous teenage sons on the head with a rolled up graduation program.
After the ceremony was over we all piled into our cars and drove to Uncle Creed’s house. His wife, Aunt Truly, had outdone herself as usual with a banquet of delicious food and stunning decorations in the high school’s blue and white colors.
Every Gentry within a fifty mile radius was in attendance and as I filtered through the maze of relatives I felt extraordinarily lucky. Not everyone had this, a huge tribe filled with love and loyalty. Dalton, for instance, with his small family all scattered and estranged. From what he’d told me so far, a scene like this wouldn’t be at all familiar to him.
“Thinking about someone in particular?” Cassie asked as she appeared at my side.
“Ugh, what are you, telepathic?”
She pointed a finger at her head. “Twinsense.”
Of course I’d told Cassie all about my lunch with Dalton and mentioned that we had plans tomorrow. Some details were omitted, like the way the air had crackled with sexual energy and how the touch of his hand on mine nearly conjured an orgasm. Even a twin sister didn’t need to know everything.
Cassie had managed to squeeze between our many cousins over at the food table and liberate a plate of nachos. “Sit down and share these with me,” she ordered.
I looked around the crowded living room. “There’s not an abundance of empty seating in here.”
“Let’s go outside then.”
We found Uncle Creed in his backyard having an argument with Uncle Chase about whether a citrus tree in the middle of the yard was dying.
“Look at the way the leaves are curling,” said Uncle Chase as he stood with a beer in his hand and regarded the tree. “You ought to get a certified arborist in here to take a look at it.”
Uncle Creed scowled. No one could carry off a convincing scowl quite like him. Bigger and stronger than any of his brothers or cousins he was a quiet man who worshipped his wife, adored his children and reserved most of his scowls for the beloved brother who never grew out of the desire to get on his nerves.
“Tree’s fine,” he said curtly and took a long swallow from his soda can.
“It’s not fine. You at least need to prune the base branches.”
“Chase, leave my fucking tree alone.”
“It hasn’t even set fruit this season. I’m telling you, Big C, the thing is hurting.”
“You’re gonna be hurting if you fuck with my tree.”
Chase sighed. “Don’t you get tired of busting out the same threats decade after decade?” He noticed us standing nearby. “Anyway, knock if off with the bullying. You’re going to upset my nieces.”
Creed raised an eyebrow at us. “Are you girls upset?”
“Nope.” I popped a tortilla chip in my mouth. “This is extremely entertaining.”
“Better than going to the movies,” Cassie laughed.
Chase sighed. “They’re too terrified to be honest with you.”
“All right, all right.” Creed irritably set his soda down on a nearby table and stalked over to the hose spigot, picking up the spray nozzle. “I’ll give the tree some extra water if it’ll make you shut your mouth.”
Chase didn’t get a chance to retort because he was blasted with a jet of water. His yelp attracted some attention and my father, the lifelong peacemaker among the rowdy Gentry triplets, appeared.
“Aw hell, does nothing ever change?” he thundered but then he was grinning. I knew as well as the rest of the family members that trailed outside to witness the commotion that this whole act was as old as those three men. The hose that Creed dropped was picked up by ten-year-old Rider Gentry and he wasted no time turning it on his cousin and best friend, Ethan.
“Gonna get you!” Ethan howled and tackled Rider to the dirt. Their fathers, Stone and Conway, pulled them apart and lectured them about behaving at a family gathering while the boys smirked at one another. Anyone watching could have no doubt that they’d do the exact same thing again if the opportunity came up.
Aunt Truly emerged holding a stack of fluffy towels and began tossing them at anyone who looked remotely damp while warning, “Y’all better not sit on my furniture like that,” in her distinct southern accent that managed to sound sweet and musical even when she was trying to be stern.
Cassie decided to settle down on a wicker patio couch and began sharing her plate of nachos with the cousin who sat beside her. Deck’s daughter, Isabella, was the image of her pretty, red-haired mother, Jenny.
I felt a tap on my shoulder and found Uncle Chase beside me with a blue towel wrapped around his head. “So Cami, I hear we have a mutual friend.”
I played dumb. “Oh yeah, who?”
“A certain former student turned baseball player turned coach and simultaneous night club manager, Mr. Dalton Tremaine. No point denying it. My blabbermouth son already spilled the beans.”
I glanced across the yard where Thomas was clowning around with his older brothers.
“Yeah, I know Dalton,” I acknowledged. “Uncle Deck got me a job at the Wild Spring Resort and since I started working there this week I’ve, ah, bumped into Dalton a few times.”
Chase crossed his arms. “Define ‘bumped’. No, on second thought, don’t. I’m not sure I can handle it.”
I laughed. “I thought you liked Dalton.”
“I did. Until I heard he was drooling over my precious niece.”
“Is that what Thomas told you?”
“No. It’s just my assumption because I know what men are like.”
“You don’t need to worry, Uncle Chase. I’m not a little girl anymore.”
“That’s exactly why I do worry.�
� He exhaled and gazed at me with affection. “In a distant, unremembered past your father and I shared a womb, which of course means you are my de facto daughter.”
I snorted with laughter. “It doesn’t mean that at all.”
“Just the same,” he said seriously. “Be careful. I’m fond of Dalton. I don’t want to have to kill him.”
“Who are you killing?” demanded the deep voice of Deck Gentry.
“That missing link over there who shot me with the hose,” Chase said. He squeezed Uncle Deck’s shoulder. “Think I’ll go sit in a quiet place and plot my revenge. “
Uncle Deck smiled at me. “How’s your summer going, Cami?”
“It just started but I have no complaints. Oh, thanks again for getting me the job at the resort.”
“No thanks necessary,” he said. “I just made a phone call.”
All my life I’d always heard that Uncle Deck was sort of like The Godfather of the Gentry family. A former Marine who had his hands in a dozen different business ventures, he was rumored to be connected to all kinds of people in a variety of mysterious ways. But if he were ever involved in anything illegal, I would guess he had shed those links years ago. Deck Gentry was now just a happy family man living in the suburbs. Still, he did have enough name recognition to call in favors here and there. Since I needed the money from the summer job I was grateful he’d made the effort on my behalf.
“Just the same, I appreciate it,” I said. “Hey, Uncle Deck, you ever hear anything about a club called Aqua Room?”
“It’s connected to the resort, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
Deck shrugged. “I’ve heard it’s a popular place but that’s about it. Then again I don’t really keep up with that kind of news anymore. You probably have more insider information than I do.”
“I see.”
Deck was a perceptive man and he was watching me closely now. “Is there a reason you’re asking, Cami?”
I smiled. “You know how I like to ask questions, Uncle Deck.”
“Indeed I do. I remember when you were about eight you forced me to endure an in depth interrogation. You particularly wanted to know whether I had any pet dogs when I was a kid.”
“I think I was trying to persuade Mom and Dad to get me a puppy.”
“You were such a smart little thing. You were always smart, Cami. I’m going to offer you a random piece of life advice right now.”
“Okay, shoot.”
He turned serious. “Be careful when it comes to what questions you ask and who you ask them to.”
“Not sure I understand.”
“Some people have secrets they’ll do anything to keep. And the sound of a question can remind them of that.”
It didn’t seem like he was talking about any particular threat. But it was basic, earnest advice from a man I greatly admired and so I accepted it graciously.
“I get it, Uncle Deck.”
He looked satisfied with my answer and when my Aunt Jenny joined us seconds later he slipped an arm around her waist.
“Anyone who plans on eating should visit the food table now,” she advised. “For there are male teenagers in our midst and they are consuming everything in sight like locusts.”
Even though I hadn’t eaten a thing aside from a few tortilla chips since this afternoon’s lunch with Dalton, I wasn’t that hungry. I noticed Jacob and my sister, Cadence, having an oddly intense conversation by the controversial citrus tree but I didn’t want to butt in.
Since Isabella had been pulled away from her nacho eating by Jacob’s younger sister, Zoe, I took her place on the wicker sofa beside Cassie.
“Can you believe those two will be in high school next year?” I mused, gesturing to the two girls.
Cassie groaned. “Kind of makes me feel old. I’m having trouble getting used to the fact that baby Thomas is now officially taller than me.”
“Yeah, it’ll be his turn to enter high school the following year.” I looked down and tapped her wrist. “I was afraid you’d have some bruises today.”
She looked annoyed that I was bringing up the Ivan encounter. “No bruises, Cams. I told you I was fine. Not the first girl to get grabbed by a drunken creep. I do wish Dalton had kicked him in his fat guts though. It would make me happy to think of him pissing blood.”
“I think Dalton would have been pleased to oblige if Griffin hadn’t stopped him.”
Cassie made a face. “Let’s not talk about it anymore.”
“You got it.”
The remaining sunlight in the backyard was rapidly disappearing. I checked my watch. It was after eight. I wondered what Dalton was doing. More than likely he was already working at the club, mingling and receiving hopeful smiles from a variety of women.
“Knock it off,” Cassie groaned.
I was defensive. “What?”
“You are brooding and you’ve never been the type to brood. That’s my territory.”
“I’m not brooding. You can keep your territory. Hey, Jake! Jacob, come over here.”
My cousin was heading back into the house when I bellowed at him. He paused but then headed in our direction.
Jacob Gentry flashed a handsome grin and eased his tall body into a patio chair across from us. He was the biological son of Aunt Truly’s sister. Nothing was known of his father, only that he’d died before Jacob was born. His mother wasn’t resourceful enough to care for her baby boy so she brought him to her sister. Jacob was still a baby when Creed and Truly adopted him. I could remember the first time I ever met him, how Cassie and I were in awe of his huge dark eyes and how we fought over who would get to hold him first. That day was a lifetime ago and yet it seemed like it had just happened.
“Woohoo, congratulations, graduate,” Cassie said and clapped theatrically.
Jacob languidly shifted in his chair and rolled his eyes. “Yes, graduating from high school is an enormous accomplishment.”
“Don’t trip over your own enthusiasm,” I said. “We chipped in to buy you a gift card to the Tempe Marketplace. I don’t think they sell car parts there but I’m sure you’ll find something to spend it on.”
“I’m sure I will. Thank you.”
He seemed distracted, his eyes straying to the shadows in the yard. Derek, Kellan and Thomas were throwing a football around now. Rider and Ethan were begging to join in. Cadence sat quietly on the brick edge of one of Truly’s raised bed gardens.
“So I hear you’ll be working full time at the garage?” Cassie prodded.
“What?” He snapped back to attention. “Oh, yeah. Stone and Con were nice enough to offer me a job. My folks are still hoping they can talk me into taking a few classes at community college.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to give it a try,” I said. “Maybe you’ll find something you like.”
“Maybe,” he said quietly, frowning at the ground.
Cassie glanced at me with a question in her eyes and I shrugged.
Suddenly Jacob got to his feet. “I should get inside and see if my mom needs any help. Thanks for being here you guys.”
“See you later, Jake,” I said.
“Poor kid,” Cassie said once he was indoors. “It’s scary.”
“What is?”
“Trying to figure out what you’re going to do with your life.”
I tried to remember how I’d felt upon graduating from high school. Exhilarated, invincible.
But I knew it was not the same for everyone. It wasn’t that way for Cassie. Her senior year turned into a nightmare and she stayed away for nearly an entire semester. Due to her homeschooling efforts she was allowed to walk with our class but she wasn’t quite the same. I’ve often wondered how differently things would have turned out for her if she hadn’t been so cruelly betrayed, if she would have had enough confidence to go away to school, if she would have found love in the arms of a good guy. No one had a bigger heart than Cassie and even though she held her head up every day I knew how she sometimes struggled inside.
“Ah, what’s that for?” she demanded when I grabbed her in an impulsive hug.
“I love you, Cass.”
“Have you been drinking?”
“No. Should I?”
“Don’t. All the old folks are weepy enough with Jacob’s rite of passage today. Acknowledging that some of the Gentry kids are old enough to drink won’t make them feel any better.” She stood up and stretched. “I’m going in. Too many mosquitos out here. You coming?”
“In a little bit.”
Cassie paused at the sliding glass door and then turned back.
“I love you too, Cams,” she said and then disappeared inside.
My eyes were drawn to movement at a window and I saw my mother there, watching me from inside the house. She blew a silent kiss. I blew one back.
My cousins had abandoned their athletic endeavors and were returning to the house for more food. Cadence was alone in the darkening yard.
“It’s loud in there,” I said, joining her on the low brick wall and pointing to the house where laughter blended with many voices.
“It’s always loud when the whole family’s together,” my sister said.
“What’s wrong, Cadi?” I nudged her, using an old nickname that had largely been abandoned years ago.
“Nothing.” She took a deep breath. “Everything. I feel like I’m losing my best friend.”
“You’ve only got one more year left of school and you’re not losing anybody. Jake is still living a few short miles away and he’ll be working at The Brothers Gentry garage, right?”
A funny look passed over my sister’s face. “Right.”
I didn’t know what the deal was with Cadence and her mood. It wasn’t like her to be melancholy. Maybe we were all a little out of sorts tonight. Growing up, growing older, seeing the people you love change, knowing that the children you shielded with fierce love will evolve into independent people. There were emotions everywhere.
Aunt Truly poked her head outdoors. “Girls, don’t you want some cake?”
“Hell yeah, I want some cake,” I shouted. I held a hand out to my little sister. When Cadence was a newborn I was amazed at how tightly she could grip my finger in her tiny palm. “Let’s go consume large quantities of sugar.”