The Joneses

by Shelia M. Goss

“Let me talk to her.”

  I looked at her. “Do you really think that’s going to help?”

  “Once I tell her the news that Royce and I talked and we have decided to cut out your huge allowance, she’ll be changing her mind.”

  “When did y’all decide this?” I asked.

  “A few weeks ago. We were just waiting on the right time to talk to you all about it.”

  “Well, that’s fine with me. It’s your money, so I’m not going to pout.”

  “You and Lovie will do fine. But I’m really worried about Hope,” my mom confessed.

  “She’ll be all right. She needs to learn that pretty looks don’t always pay the bills.”

  Hope wouldn’t get any sympathy from me. I felt my parents babied her too much and she was a spoiled brat. She was getting older, and needed to learn how to be more responsible.

  “Dear, looks like your dad needs rescuing,” my mom said, as she left me alone with my thoughts.

  I walked outside to get a breather.

  “Nice party,” Tyler said.

  I turned to face the sound of his voice. My mouth dropped open. “What…what are you doing here?”

  “I think we have some unfinished business.” Tyler eased from out of the darkness and under the bright light.

  “Now is not the time.” I walked closer to him. I didn’t want to risk anyone else seeing him, especially Hope.

  Tyler rubbed his hands together. “I was wondering how festive things would be if I crashed Royce’s birthday party.”

  I pulled him by the arm and led him toward the driveway. “There’s nothing you and my dad have left to talk about.”

  Tyler stopped. I almost fell trying to pull him. I continued, “I’m serious. You’re not welcome here. I suggest that you leave.”

  “Not before I do this.”

  Before I could protest, Tyler kissed me. I slapped his face.

  “Ouch.” He rubbed his cheek.

  Hope yelled, “You’re busy telling me to leave him alone, because you want him for yourself.”

  I faced her. Fortunately, everyone was still inside so there were no nosy bystanders.

  “Hope, it’s not what you think.”

  “The hell it isn’t.” Hope folded her arms.

  “Tyler, leave now or I’m calling the police,” I said. I retrieved the cell phone from my small purse.

  He held up his hand. “No need to do that. I’m going. Tell your dad I said Happy Birthday.”

  Hope and I watched Tyler walk down the driveway.

  “Hope, before you go mouthing off, Tyler kissed me. I didn’t kiss him. Since you saw everything, you saw me slap him too.”

  “You probably just did that because I was there.”

  “He was trying to be a party crasher. I was trying to get him to leave.”

  “Sure you were.”

  “Believe what you want. I don’t have time for the drama.”

  “Whatever.” Hope threw her hand up in the air and followed behind Tyler.

  “Hope!” I called out her name several times, but she ignored me.

  I rushed inside the house and located Lovie. I pulled him to the side. “Hope’s outside with Tyler.”

  Lovie stormed out with me fast on his heels. He walked straight to Tyler’s car. Hope didn’t see Lovie until he grabbed her by the arm.

  “Get back to the house,” Lovie said.

  “You don’t tell me what to do,” Hope responded.

  A police car flashed its lights and stopped. One of the officers stepped out of the car. “Ma’am, are you alright?” he asked Hope.

  I answered for her. “She’s fine.” When did policemen started looking this good? I reminded myself to focus on the problem and not the officer.

  “Little lady, I wasn’t asking you. I’m asking her.” I read his badge.

  “Officer Underwood, this is my sister and my brother. The man in the car is trespassing, and we need for him to be off our street.”

  “And you are?” he stared at me.

  “I’m Charity Jones.”

  “Well, Ms. Jones, the only person causing a disturbance is your brother and sister. This dude is on a public street, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”

  “But—”

  Tyler smiled. I wanted to smack the evil smile off his face.

  Officer Underwood passed me his business card. “If he comes to your house, then you can call me, and I’ll do something. In the meantime, I suggest you all hold it down. You do have neighbors, and I would hate to get a call about you all disturbing the peace.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

  Reluctantly, Hope followed Lovie and me back up the sidewalk. The officer stayed behind and said something to Tyler. A few seconds later, I noticed Tyler pulling away. The officer waved at me. I smiled, turned back around, and continued back into the house.

  CHAPTER 54

  Hope

  “I’m tired of everybody treating me like a helpless child.” I addressed Lovie as we walked in one of the bedrooms, with Charity behind us.

  Charity shut the door.

  Lovie said, “I can’t protect you if you keep putting yourself in harm’s way.”

  “Charity, tell Lovie what happened.”

  “The kiss with Tyler is nothing to tell. He snuck it on me. I slapped him. That’s it.”

  “I feel like you don’t want me with him because you want him all to yourself.”

  Charity threw her hand up in the air. “Are you serious? That’s crazy. I don’t want Tyler. He’s a snake that purposely set out to hurt you, me, and our family. Why would I want to be with a man like that?”

  Lovie interjected, “Why would you want to be with a man like that?”

  “Because…because I might be pregnant,” I responded. My hand flew to my stomach.

  “No. Say it ain’t so,” Charity pulled me into her arms.

  I tried my best not to cry. I pulled away. “I have a doctor’s appointment to make sure. I took a test, and it came back negative, but I still haven’t gotten my period.”

  Lovie looked at me with fury in his eyes. “How could you be so irresponsible?”

  “I’m sorry. When it comes to Tyler, I’m weak.”

  Lovie held both of my hands. “Look at me.”

  I did as instructed. “I’m sorry,” I said again.

  Lovie squeezed my hand. “You are a Jones. You are stronger than this hold this man has on you. You will not talk to him or see him again. Understood?”

  I looked away. “I will try.”

  “No, promise me, you won’t,” Lovie said.

  “But, if I’m pregnant, I will have to,” I responded.

  Charity said, “If you’re pregnant, you have us. We’ll help you with the baby. But Tyler is not welcomed here.”

  The door flew open. My mom walked in. “You all are having a family meeting, and didn’t invite me?”

  She walked in and closed the door. Guilt swept across my face. Charity and Lovie tried to come to my rescue.

  Charity said, “It’s time for the gifts.” Charity grabbed my mom’s hand and led her out of the room.

  Lovie said, “Come on.”

  He pulled me out, and I followed him to the living room. I tried to be happy and laugh appropriately as my dad opened his gifts, but on the inside I felt bad. In fact, my stomach felt queasy. I ran to the nearest bathroom and relieved myself of dinner. I washed my face with a cold, wet towel. I looked in the mirror and didn’t like the face staring back at me.

  I couldn’t keep this up. All of the lies and secrets were taking their toll on me. I pulled out my cell phone. I pulled the toilet seat down and sat on it.

  Someone knocked on the door.

  “I’ll be out in a minute,” I yelled.

  I dialed a number. “I need your help.”

  Slim answered. “Anything for LJ’s little sister.”

  “If I wanted to get rid of somebody, how much would it cost me?”

  “Whoa. Hold up. I
’m going to pretend like I didn’t hear you say that. In fact, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “But, Slim, I need you.”

  “I suggest you talk to your brother. Good-bye.”

  Slim hung up without waiting for me to say another word.

  If I was pregnant, there’s no way I would share my child with Tyler. I opened up the bathroom door to go out. Lovie rushed me right back in and shut it.

  “Hope, have you lost your mind?”

  “What?” I hope he still wasn’t tripping about Tyler.

  “I just got a call from Slim. Don’t you ever, I mean ever, call him about something like that again.”

  “He’s your friend. I’m sure with everything else he’s in to, he could take care of my problem for me.”

  Lovie scolded me. “Whatever you’re thinking about doing, don’t. Don’t make that request to anyone else. You hear me?”

  “Yes.” I pouted.

  Lovie was all in my face. “I’m serious. You could get someone killed talking like that.”

  “That’s the whole point.”

  “Let me deal with Tyler. Stay away from him.”

  I rubbed my stomach. “I can’t have him trying to take my baby.”

  “So, you are pregnant?”

  “I’m not sure. But if I am, I just don’t need any interference from him.”

  “I got this. Just chill out. Dad’s looking for you.”

  We left the bathroom. Our dad stood mingling with his guests. I tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and gave me a hug. I wished I could stay wrapped up in his arms forever and remain his little girl. In his arms, I felt protected.

  CHAPTER 55

  Lovie

  I felt like I was working security. Between the incident with Tyler outside and having to check Hope, my nerves were on edge. I understood why people resorted to drugs and alcohol. I needed something to ease my mind.

  I grabbed a glass of champagne from the first tray that came my way. I gulped it down so fast, I ended up grabbing a second one before the waiter got far.

  “Slow down, or you’re going to need me to drive you home,” Charity said.

  “Keep an eye on Hope. She’s calling around looking for a hit man.”

  “She’s lost it. I’ll deal with her when we get home.”

  “Please do. Slim’s my man, but when it comes to his life and freedom, there’s no love.”

  My dad walked up to us and placed his arm around my shoulder. “Son, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you. Because of you, I have the money back. Business is booming and things between me and Lexi…,” He looked at my mom. “Well, let’s just say, your pops is one happy man.”

  He pulled me into a bear hug.

  My mom clapped. “My two favorite men.”

  Michael said, “So LJ, when are you going to let your old man retire and take over the family business?”

  My dad responded, “This old man has no immediate plans on retiring.”

  Michael was my dad’s first cousin, and in my opinion he had always been a little jealous. My grandfather didn’t have any other kids, but he did provide for his siblings’ kids. Although they didn’t have a lot of stake in the funeral home, they had job security and were given small shares. Big Daddy made sure he took care of his family before he died.

  Michael was only concerned about his money. As long as RJ’s was making money, he was making money.

  “No business talk tonight,” I jumped in and said. “Tonight’s all about celebrating The Man.” I grabbed another glass of champagne. I raised it. “To the hero of my life. To my dad.”

  We clicked our glasses, and I took one big gulp.

  A waiter whispered something in my mom’s ear. I watched my mom head out the front door. I didn’t want to interrupt my dad’s conversation with his guest, so I excused myself and followed her.

  People were coming in and out. I looked around to see where she went. I caught a glimpse of her standing outside, away from the light. I squinted my eyes. It looked like Jason. My mom moved her hand back and forth. They appeared to be arguing but I couldn’t hear what was being said.

  I didn’t want the situation to blow up and get out of hand, so I walked up to them. “Everything all right here?” I asked.

  “No. He needs to leave,” my mom responded.

  “I’m not going anywhere until I speak to Royce.”

  I jumped in Jason’s face. I held my nose. His breath reeked of alcohol. I backed up a little. “Look. You need to leave.”

  Jason staggered back. “Lexi, tell him. Tell Royce, I’m sorry.”

  “Lovie, go back inside. I got this.”

  “No, Mom. I’m not leaving you out here with this drunk.”

  “I’ll be alright. I don’t need Royce to come out here. He’s been having a good night. This would ruin it.”

  I looked at my mom and then at Jason. He was in no position to drive. I could care less what happened to him, but I didn’t want to risk him hurting anyone else.

  “Come on,” I said.

  “I told you I’m not going anywhere until I say what I came here to say.”

  “Tell me. If it’s something I feel my dad should know, I’ll tell him tomorrow.”

  “Lexi, you better get this boy.”

  “Lovie, I told you, I got this.” My mom snapped at me, causing me to pause.

  “Yes, son. She told you she got this.”

  I ran back up in his face. “Stay out of this.”

  “Lexi, you want to do the honors of telling him?” He staggered back a little.

  “Go, Lovie. Please,” she begged.

  My feet were glued. I couldn’t move. Jason laughed. “Since you want to play the messenger, tell Royce he’s not your dad. I am.”

  I punched him in the face. My mom grabbed my arm. “Lovie, you shouldn’t have.”

  Jason grabbed his cheek. “Go ahead. Hit me again, if it’ll make you feel better.”

  I pulled my hand back to him again. My mom grabbed my arm. I jerked it away, causing her to stumble. “Mom, is what he said true?”

  Her silence was all the confirmation I needed. Every vein in my forehead felt like it would pop.

  Jason laughed. “What you got to say now, Son?”

  “Stop calling me that,” I yelled.

  I pushed him when I walked past him. I hopped in my car without saying anything else. I jumped on the interstate and pushed the car to over one hundred miles. I jumped off on the exit that led to the club.

  I sat in the parking lot and decided not to get out of the car. I drove and drove, ending up in Dallas, Texas, three hours away. I checked into a hotel. I fell on the bed with all of my clothes on. I closed my eyes and thought back over my life.

  Did my dad know he wasn’t my biological father? So many questions floated around in my head.

  Sleep evaded me. My phone blew up with messages from my mom. She was the last person I wanted to speak with.

  CHAPTER 56

  Lexie

  Getting Jason to leave after Lovie stormed off was no easy task. He finally agreed to leave once I lied and promised to talk to Royce on his behalf. I refused to let anything spoil Royce’s night.

  After everyone left, Charity stayed behind to take care of the cleanup. I took care of Royce. I made sure his night ended with us making love. Now that my job was done, he was snoring next to me in the bed.

  I was concerned about Lovie. I eased off the bed and grabbed my cell phone. I checked to make sure Royce was still sleep and went to the bathroom.

  I called Lovie over and over until he answered. “Lovie, are you all right? Where are you?”

  “Dallas.”

  “We need to talk.”

  “You’ve had twenty-six years to talk to me.”

  “Jason was drunk. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

  “Why didn’t you say that when I asked you?”

  “Because.” I looked at the door to make sure it was still closed. “Bec
ause, although it was only one time, there’s always a possibility.”

  “I can’t believe this shit.”

  “Stop cursing,” I said.

  “Damn, Mom. What do you want from me? You’ve put me in a real bad situation. Do you know how it makes me feel to find out that the man who I thought was my father is not my father?”

  “That hasn’t been confirmed. Royce is your dad as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Was there ever a DNA test?” Lovie asked.

  “No. I don’t need a DNA test. You are Royce’s son in his heart and in mine.”

  “I need to know. I need to know who my daddy is.”

  “Royce is your daddy.”

  “I don’t care how you want to handle this, but in the morning, I’m driving back to Shreveport. I want a DNA test done by the end of the week.”

  “But, Lovie.”

  “No buts, Mom. I mean it.”

  Lovie hung up the phone.

  I hugged myself and rocked back and forth. What was I going to do? News like this would devastate Royce. Our relationship was solid, but would it be able to withstand a twenty-seven-year-old secret?

  I closed my phone and slid in the bed beside Royce. I wrapped my arms around his waist and tried my best to go to sleep, but couldn’t. I held him tight throughout the night.

  I don’t know when I drifted off to sleep. The light from the sun peeking through the curtains greeted me. My hand was no longer around Royce’s waist. His spot in the bed was empty. I stretched and eased from under the covers.

  Saturdays were busy days in our business, so it wasn’t a surprise that Royce had already left. I dressed and went downstairs. The house was neat and clean. It didn’t look like a party had been held here the night before. If Charity wasn’t my daughter, she would get a nice tip for taking care of everything. With her taking charge, I was able to concentrate on Royce, and it was very important last night that I did.

  The house phone rang.

  “Mom, I’m headed over there,” Lovie said and hung up.

  Instead of making a cup of coffee like I’d originally planned, I drank a glass of vodka and orange juice. I checked the refrigerator and made a plate from some of the leftovers. I didn’t really have an appetite, but I needed another drink so I had to put something on my stomach.