Ties That Bind

by Brenda Jackson

  His relationship with his father’s family had begun to fall back when he and his mother moved to California because of his stepfather’s job. Especially when his mother had told him the truth about a number of things, including the role his father’s wife had played in the breakup of his parent’s marriage. His mother had sworn him to secrecy, too full of pride to want others to know that another woman had taken her husband away from her.

  Trey rested his head against the seat as the plane left the Los Angeles airport headed for South Carolina. He couldn’t help but recall those lazy days spent with Ma Mattie on Glendale Shores. Those had been very special times for him. She had been a very kind woman who had always made him feel special. And now, against his mother’s wishes, he was going back to be there when she was laid to rest.

  Richmond, Virginia

  “Do you think Trey will come?”

  Slipping into his dress shirt, Randolph gazed across the room at his wife. He thought that at the age of fifty-five, she was still the most beautiful woman he knew. “I really don’t know, Jen. More than anything I’d love to see him but Trey made a decision years ago not to have anything to do with this family and as much as that decision hurt, I’ve learned to live with it.”

  “But he doesn’t know that what Angela told him were all lies.”

  “No, but I wasn’t going to be the one to tell him the truth about his mother. He wouldn’t have believed me anyway. Angela did just what she said she would do. She turned my son against me.”

  Jenna crossed the room to her husband. Even after all these years she could still hear the pain and hurt in his voice whenever he spoke of his firstborn. She had given him another child, a daughter they had named Randi, who was eighteen and about to enter her first year of college at Howard University.

  Randolph reached out and pulled Jenna into his arms, still loving the feel of having her there. It was hard to believe that they had been married for twenty-one years. And they had been twenty-one wonderful years. His thoughts then shifted to his stepdaughter Haywood. She had been six when he and Jenna had married and he thought the world of her.

  “How did Haywood take the news?”

  Jenna released a deep sigh. She had reached her daughter in Paris where she was working as freelance photographer—a love she had inherited from her biological father. “She didn’t take the news well. For once I was glad that Aaron was there with her. She and Gramma Mattie were very close.”

  Randolph nodded. “Yeah, I know. Gramma adored Haywood.”

  Jenna smiled. “And Haywood adored her. I spoke with her again earlier today. Her plane will land sometime later tonight. She said not to worry about anyone picking her up at the airport. She’ll take a taxi.” Jenna placed a kiss on her husband’s lips. “I hope Trey comes. It will be the first time we’ve had all our children together at the same time in years.”

  Randolph nodded. “But let’s not get our hopes up about Trey. There is a chance he won’t come.”

  Jenna nodded. “Yes, but there’s that chance that he will. He was close to Gramma Mattie.”

  “Yes, but even she couldn’t get the truth through that hard head of his about you and me. Angela has convinced him that you’re the reason his mother and I got divorced.”

  She sighed and laid her head on his shoulder. “One day he’ll find out the truth.”

  “Yeah, but when? It’s been over twenty-one years and he still doesn’t know it.”

  Jenna’s arms around her husband tighten. “But one day Angela’s lies will catch up with her and I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes when they do.”

  Twenty-nine

  Washington, DC

  Zachary Wainwright glanced across the ER waiting room, frowning at his sister. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming here. It’s just a scratch.”

  Noelle shook her head, grinning. “Is that the reason you were bleeding all over my kitchen? Stop being a wimp. All the doctor will do is put in a few stitches and send you home with a prescription. Then you’ll be good as new.”

  Zach glared at her. “I don’t like doctors.”

  “Who does? But you’re going to have to suffer through it anyway. How would it look in tomorrow’s paper if it read, ‘Senator Noah Wainwright’s thirty-five-year-old son bleeds to death after helping his sister fix her garbage disposal’?”

  Zach smiled. “Sounds rather funny, doesn’t it?”

  “It won’t be funny if you stick with your plans to enter politics yourself in a few years. That’s the kind of stuff the tabloids enjoy printing. And to make it juicy they’ll come up with their own version—which won’t be comical.”

  Zach shook his head, grinning. “Yeah, you’re right about that.”

  At that moment, the receptionist called Zach’s name. “The doctor will see you now.”

  Zach stood. So did Noelle. “Do you want me to go back there with you?”

  He shook his head. “No, I plan to take it like a man.”

  Noelle rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “At thirty-five I hope so.” She kissed his cheek. “Go on, break a leg.” Then she smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, I guess that wouldn’t be the right terminology to use.”

  “You’re right on that account, kid. I’ll be back.”

  Noelle watched as the brother she simply adored walked off. She was proud of him. He was considered a one of the brightest attorneys in Washington and had a promising career in politics like their father. He was slowly rejoining the living after the wife he had loved and adored had been one of the victims in the September 11 tragedy a year ago. She had been a flight attendant, leaving Washington for Los Angeles. The plane had crashed into the Pentagon instead. And for a while it seemed all of Zachary’s hopes and dreams had died that day along with Shaun. But with strong family support and love, he was slowly getting back to his old self again.

  She sat back down, hoping Zach didn’t embarrass her or himself by fainting when they gave him a tetanus shot. She hadn’t warned him about that since everyone in the family knew that he had an aversion to needles. A part of her felt downright sorry for the doctor who would be attending him.

  Back at his apartment, Zach began packing, mindful of his injured hand, grateful it wasn’t as serious as it could have been. He closed his luggage at the exact moment the telephone rang. “Yeah?”

  “Zach?”

  He recognized the voice immediately. “Haywood?”

  “Yes.”

  He heard the tears in her voice. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just that I just saw Ma Mattie last month before I flew out for Paris and she was doing fine, messing around in her garden as usual.”

  “She was almost ninety, honey. It was her time to go and I’m glad she did so in her sleep and didn’t suffer, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, I suppose.”

  Zach knew that Haywood, the daughter of his mother’s closest friend from college, had been close to the woman who’d been her stepfather’s grandmother. “Are you in Virginia?”

  “Yes, I got in last night. We’re leaving for South Carolina in a few hours.”

  He shifted the phone to his other hand. “Dad, Mom, Noelle and I are leaving later today. We should arrive on Glendale Shores this afternoon. Any word on whether Trey is coming to the funeral?”

  “No. I’m surprised you don’t know since the two of you used to be as thick as glue. A part of me wishes that he won’t come. He’s caused Dad a lot of unnecessary pain.”

  Zach sighed deeply. “For the past few years Trey and I haven’t kept in touch like we should have. But regardless of how you feel about him, Haywood, Mattie was his great-grandmother.”

  “I know. I know. It’s just makes me furious how he’s treated Dad over the years.”

  Zach smiled. The one thing he knew about Haywood was that she was fiercely loyal to the people she loved. The two of them had dated a few years back, before he had met and married Shaun. After going out a few times they had decided the only thing the
y wanted was friendship. He had become one of her closest friends, although not the best. Noelle was her best friend.

  “I tried calling Noelle today and couldn’t reach her. Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. You probably tried reaching her the same time she had taken me to the emergency room.”

  “The emergency room? What’s happened?”

  “Nothing serious. I cut my hand at her place earlier today fixing her dilapidated garbage disposal and had to get it bandaged, not to mention a tetanus shot.”

  “You had to get a shot?”

  “Yeah, and lived to tell about it. Noelle is suffering with a guilty conscious and wants to play mother hen. I had to force her to go home a few minutes ago, so you can catch her there in an hour.”

  “All right.”

  “Haywood, how’s Aaron?”

  Haywood sighed. She knew Zach couldn’t stand the man she was currently involved with. “Aaron is fine but I left him in Paris.”

  “Good.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “You really should try and get along with him, Zach.”

  Zach snorted. “Give me one reason why I should.”

  “Because it would mean a lot to me. Aaron has his faults but—”

  “He’s a first-class jerk and that’s being kind. Look, I’ll see you later this afternoon on Glendale Shores, all right?”

  Haywood blew air through clenched teeth. She knew that nothing she said would change Zach’s opinion of Aaron so she decided not to bother. “All right. I’ll see you later.”

  Glendale Shores, South Carolina

  It was late when Trey arrived in South Carolina. He had called Ma Mattie’s home from the Hilton Head Island airport and his half-sister Randi had answered the phone. He could tell she had been surprised to hear his voice. She had been born a few years after his father had married Jenna, and the last time he had seen or spoken to Randi had been ten years ago, when he had graduated from law school. She could not have been any more than seven or eight at the time. Now she had finished high school and was starting her first year of college. Randi’s voice had been rather friendly although she’d indicated that they hadn’t expected him to come.

  He sighed as he stepped off the ferry and noted a car parked near the pier. As soon as the man got out of the vehicle he recognized him immediately, although it had been ten years since he’d seen him. But there were some things about some people you just didn’t forget. Especially if you’d been a young boy who had loved your father as much as he had. That deep love had made the hurt and pain of his father’s desertion that much harder to bear.

  Randolph deeply inhaled the scented ocean air. No matter how much he’d tried to prepare himself, once he’d known for certain that Trey was coming an intense amount of pleasure had overtaken him. Automatically, tears came into his eyes when he saw him. The son he loved with all his heart was now a thirty-four-year-old man.

  He inwardly accepted that too many years had passed, and too many lies were deeply embedded for him to convince Trey that his mother had not told him the truth, and that she had deliberately set out to destroy their relationship because of her obsessive jealousy.

  Randolph had suspected something was wrong the first summer Trey had returned to Virginia after moving to California. He had seemed withdrawn and unhappy and no matter how much he and Jenna had tried, they hadn’t been able to get him out of his funky mood. And when Angela had called later that year to say Trey didn’t want to spend the holidays with them, Randolph knew Angela had made good on her threats to build a wedge between him and his son. The following summer when Trey turned fifteen proved him right.

  Trey had arrived with a horrible attitude, a chip on his shoulder and no matter what he or Jenna said or did, he let them know he wasn’t happy to be there with them, and preferred being in California with his mother and stepfather. They had tolerated his attitude until the day Randolph had walked in on Trey telling Haywood that her mother was nothing but a home-wrecking slut. At nine years old Haywood hadn’t known exactly what the term fully meant but had been old enough to know it wasn’t flattering. That had been Trey’s last summer visit since after that he refused to come again and no amount of coaxing and pleading had made him change his mind.

  During the remaining years Randolph had been the one to initiate any type of communication between them. Most of the time he was the one to fly out to California to visit with Trey since he had let it be known that he would not visit his father in Virginia as long as he was married to Jenna.

  The last time he had seen his son was when Trey had graduated from law school at twenty-four. Instead of following the tradition of Fuller men by attending Howard University, Trey decided to remain on the West Coast and attend Stanford. Randolph, Jenna and Randi had attended the graduation ceremonies. Haywood had taken a trip with her paternal grandparents to Paris and had been unable to attend.

  Trey had been cool to everyone and had broken Randolph’s heart by making it obvious that he considered his stepfather to be his father. When Randolph had left California to return home, he had made up his mind that the next attempt at some sort of a relationship would have to come from Trey. Emotionally, he could not handle any more animosity from his son.

  Gramma Mattie, on the other hand, had been determined to keep Trey a part of the family no matter what he thought he wanted. The summer Trey turned sixteen, she invited him, along with Noah’s son Zach, to spend the entire summer with her on Glendale Shores. The two boys had enjoyed themselves so much they had returned the following two summers after that, partaking in all sort of fun and adventures that teenage boys do as well as building a close friendship between them.

  Randolph signed deeply as he crossed the short distance to meet his son. He fought the knots that began forming in his stomach. Trey was here, for a sad occasion, but Randolph’s heart sang a song of happiness at seeing his son again after all these years.

  “Dad, how are you?” Trey greeted his father cordially when the two finally stood face-to-face after exchanging handshakes.

  Randolph was immediately filled with pride. It was like seeing himself all over again twenty years ago. “I’m fine, Trey. What about you?” he asked, as he helped him load the few pieces of luggage he’d brought into the back of the Lexus SUV.

  “I’m doing fine.”

  “And your mother and stepfather?” Randolph asked out of politeness.

  Trey’s eyes didn’t waver when he met his father’s. “They’re both fine. Thanks for asking. How is everyone here?” Trey knew their conversation sounded so distant, detached and formal.

  “Considering everything, they’re fine. Gramma Mattie meant a lot to everyone.”

  Trey nodded. She had meant a lot to him as well. He enjoyed those summers he had spent with her.

  “Zach is here.”

  Trey smiled. “Is he? I’d like to see him again. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen or talked to each other.”

  “I’m glad you came, Trey.”

  Trey met his father’s gaze. “Ma Mattie was a special woman. Nothing could have kept me away. Nothing and no one.”

  Haywood sighed as she moved around in the kitchen. “I can’t believe Mom let Dad go pick up Trey alone.”

  Noelle raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Don’t you think you’re overreacting, Haywood? Zach offered to go with your father but he said he wanted to go alone. Trey is his son. Although this is a sad occasion, it might be the perfect time for the two of them to reconcile any differences between them.”

  “I wish that were true but I can’t forget the animosity Trey felt toward my mother. It was completely uncalled for.”

  Noelle slanted a glance over at Haywood as she put the dishes away. “You seem to go out of your way to protect your parents and what they have together. Why?”

  Haywood knew she couldn’t answer Noelle’s question. No one knew that at sixteen she had done the unthinkable when she’d stumbled upon her mother’s diary in the attic one
day and read it. It had taken her only two weeks to read what had covered a huge span of time that started with the night her mother had met Randolph Fuller at a college social function. She could feel the love pouring off each entry. She knew about the week the two of them had spent on Glendale Shores alone during one of their spring breaks, becoming lovers, and how over a family Bible they had committed their lives to each other. She had read how Trey’s mother’s treachery and pregnancy had ultimately led to the breakup of the couple.

  Her heart had gone out to her biological father who had married a woman still in love with another man. He had never been able to replace Randolph in her mother’s heart. At first Haywood had had a tough time dealing with that, but then, had accepted that it was predestined for Randolph and her mother to be together. That belief had made her more determined than ever to protect what they shared.

  Because she knew Noelle was waiting for an answer, she said, “Because I think what they share is beautiful. Just like what I think your parents share is beautiful, too. Just think of how long they’ve been together. That’s a long time for any couple.”

  Noelle smiled. “Yes, that is a long time and I hope my marriage to Donald lasts just as long.”

  Haywood returned her best friend’s smile. “And it will. Have the two of you decided on a date yet?”

  Noelle sighed. “No, not yet. He’s supposed to be returning home from South America next month. We plan to talk about dates then.”

  Haywood nodded. Don was a fighter pilot in the navy and had been gone six months already. She thought that he and Noelle made such a beautiful couple. As she wiped down the countertops she couldn’t help but think of her relationship with Aaron. It didn’t bother her as much as it used to that he was holding back and not letting their relationship progress to where she wanted it to be; where she felt it should be after an entire year. Aaron owned the publishing company where she worked as a photographer for his elite magazine line. She knew her mother and Randolph, not to mention Zach, didn’t approve of her relationship with Aaron, a man sixteen years older than she was, especially since it was obvious the relationship was headed nowhere. Aaron had been married before and had teenaged children. Although he’d told her he had no intention of marrying again, that didn’t stop her from trying to get him to change his mind by seeing that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. So far he hadn’t gotten the picture.