by Denise Daye
Ben shook his head. “Wait. Attraction?” He grimaced. ”…Maybe I am drunk,” he laughed before he waved back at one of his grandfather’s business partners who approached him with long steps.
“Money never sleeps,” he mumbled to himself before stretching out his to hand welcome the guy to talk business.
“Y
ou’re slacking off on the issue!”
The voice was loud and the foot stamping even louder. Benjamin ran his hand through his hair and stared out the study window, his eyes fixed on nothing but the slow-moving clouds and the gloomy sky. What I would give for decent sunshine, he thought.
“Why are we even having this argument in here?” he asked and moved away from the window. “Why are we even having this argument at all?” he glared at his mother.
“You’re slacking off!” her voice was harsh and firm.
“You’ve said that already.” He hoped she’d simmer down, but she somehow looked relaxed and angry at the same time, her body coiled on the couch next to the cozy fireplace, a glass of wine in her hand, but angry in her face, every muscle tense.
“I’ll say it again,” she hissed through clenched teeth and sipped her wine, wincing as if taking a sip out of a glass of poison or lava. “Her game of playing the innocent savior of the homeless seems to be getting to you, I’m sure. You’re young and naive… you’re just a man, after all.”
Benjamin let out a long, exasperated sigh. “A man after all?”
“I’ve known a few cunning gold diggers in my life, son, and I can tell you this for sure. I know when I come across one, and that Ava girl is definitely one of them. How else would you slip into someone’s will when you aren't even part of the family?” she leaned back and shrugged, mumbling, “Who knows what she had to do to get your grandfather to—”
“Jesus…” Benjamin interrupted her, throwing his face into his palms.
“What? It wouldn’t be his fault. He was old and demented in his final days,” she defended herself.
“I can handle this, mom. I’m serious. Please stop.”
Benjamin moved over to a stack of books, trying to avoid his mother’s scowl. He stared at the hardbacks, reaching out and touching some. Latin books, he thought, Grandpa’s favorite. For a moment he was distracted, even as his mother’s voice droned on in the background.
The books were huge and old, and in near-perfect condition. There was one on ‘Modern Art’, whatever that was all about, and then there was a book with a red cover that caught his attention. It had his grandfather’s name on the spine.
I didn’t know Grandpa wrote a book.
He was about to reach for it when his mother’s voice stopped him.
“You aren't even listening to me!”
He sighed and his shoulders dropped. “What do you want me to say? At this point, mom, you are draining me emotionally more than my marriage.”
A gasp escaped his mother’s mouth and she shook her head. Without wasting another second, she bolted towards the door dramatically, only pausing to mutter loud enough for him, and perhaps the whole house, to hear:
“She has turned you against me—”
“It’s not like that.” He turned around to face her, but his mother continued shouting.
“I knew you’d be weak, Benjamin. That she would implant doubt into you with fake smiles and flirtatious eyes. You are just another man after all.”
She paused for a moment, looking at her son who was clearly close to throwing himself out the window to spare himself another word from her, but Lucy got right back at it.
“Which is why I’ve decided to take things into my own hands. She has no place in this family, even though you keep giving her more than enough room.”
“Mom! Don’t you be doing anything stupid.”
She shook her head. “Stupid? That’s not what I would call a long-overdue family reunion with your uncle Barney.” She grinned.
“What?” Benjamin yelled.
“Yes, you have heard me right. He will come stay with us for a while… to reconnect. Be a family again.”
“Uncle Barney? You hate him.”
Lucy crossed her arms. “Don’t be absurd. I don’t hate my brother. He is just a little…well, he is… you know what I mean. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get a lock installed on the wine cellar and extra smoke detectors in the bathrooms before he gets here.”
The room was less tense when she left, and she made sure to slam the door behind her. Benjamin sighed and slowly walked back to where the books were.
“Uncle Barney? Christ!” he muttered to himself. “How long has it been?”
He closed his eyes and remembered the visits from years ago. Uncle Barney was the kind of person who imprinted himself into the lives of others, despite how brief the interaction was. Benjamin had actually always liked Barney, but his mother had broken off all contact at some point when he was still young. Benjamin had visited him once when he was in college, but after that, the connection had totally faded.
He picked up the red book with Elijah’s name on the spine and opened it to the front page.
To my grandson, Benjamin Radcliff, a great man in the making.
He stared at the words scrawled in blue ink, like an accusation, and then slammed the book shut, his breath quickening.
“Great man,” he mumbled and replaced the book, his hands shaking. He settled down on the chair opposite his grandpa’s desk and sighed. “It’s still a good thing, I guess,” he mumbled to himself. After all, Uncle Barney might get Ava out of the house. That’s still the plan, right?
His eyes settled on his grandpa’s seat and he felt uncomfortable, getting flashes of those days when he actually had to sit where he was sitting right now, while his grandpa sat across from him, admonishing him and trying to make him a man. A great man.
“Is that what all this is about, grandpa?” he said out loud, his eyes still on the empty chair. “Are you trying to test me, to see if I can meet your expectations?”
His eyes lowered, and his hands clenched into tight fists. The study was almost completely quiet, except for the slow, steady ticking of an old clock. He waited, listening… his thoughts almost silent.
He stopped drifting off into the depths of his mind and stood abruptly, heading straight out of the room as if responding to a summons that only he could hear. His stomach rumbled and he sighed, changing directions to the kitchen. He rummaged through the fridge for food and found a sandwich and a bottle of juice. Using his leg to close the fridge, he decided to eat in the garden.
“I’m not slacking off,” he said out loud, his voice muffled by the sandwich in his mouth. He walked out of the kitchen and, just like before, nearly clashed with someone. He didn’t see her at first.
“Watch out!” he said and looked up to see Ava staring at him. He saw the surprised look on her face, which lasted only a second.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” she apologized.
“I—” he made to speak, but she’d already gone into the kitchen.
Just leave, he sighed, but for some reason he was rooted to the ground, waiting for her. He could hear her in the kitchen. What now? You gonna ask her to join you in the garden or what?
He could see her shadow moving around. Then the sounds stopped, and she appeared from the kitchen with a plate in her hand.
“Would you like to join me in the garden?”
She looked a bit shocked.
“I’m sorry…maybe another—”
“Sure… why not.”
You’re slacking off… he heard his mother’s words echoing through his head. He shook the thought off as they both walked into the garden to the area near the porch with the wicker furniture seating. Ava smiled at him as they both sat down across from each other. Benjamin smiled back.
“This can count as one of the mandatory dinners,” he said, watching her smile vanish in seconds. She nodded.
Great
, you idiot. Make things worse again so the next few months will be hell once more…
They both ate in silence for a moment but then Benjamin remembered something that had happened at one of the gym chains he owned. He was dying all week to tell her about it; he almost couldn’t wait. He knew she would appreciate the story, make a funny joke about it.
He put his sandwich down with a huge grin on his face. “Oh gosh…I have to tell you about this…”
Ava’s curiosity almost swallowed her.
“Remember that crazy gym trainer I told you about? Who insists on being called a Native American name although he is white?”
“You mean Dances-With-Muscles?” She instantly smiled, knowing where this was heading. They had talked about this before at dinner, both cracking up.
“Yeah, that guy. Well guess what. On Monday I had the manager of the gym storm into my office, sweating, his face desperate for help.”
“Why?” Ava beamed with excitement. Benjamin laughed out loud.
“Well…apparently, Dances-With-Muscles has turned the basement of the gym in a secret rescue mission for homeless pigeons.”
They both cracked up.
“Pigeons?” Ava blurted.
“Pigeons! There were hundreds of them. It was like that movie you know the one - The Birds.”
“Gosh I love this guy, please don’t fire him,” she begged wiping a tear of joy out of her eye.
“You kidding me? I will promote this guy the way he makes us all laugh… after we are reopening the gym again that is. Right now, we are re-homing the pigeons and cleaning the basement with that biohazard team the city made us hire.”
Benjamin watched Ava throw her head back in loud laughter, her eyes filled with joy, glittering like stars. She was beautiful.
You aren’t slacking off, just enjoying some time with your wife. We would divorce in a few months anyways. So why not… he thought.
Everyone would always remember the day Barney Reds showed up at the Radcliff Mansion. His old lifted truck grumbled loudly, its tires screeching and crunching on the gravel as he drove into the compound, his customized horn blasting the hook from some country music song. He wore large sunglasses which reflected the morning sun.
Ava sat high on the balcony and had a clear view of the man as he drove in. She’d be off to work in about half an hour, much later than normal, but her attention was momentarily pricked by the truck and its loud, eccentric driver. Ava expected cans and bottles of beer to spill out as soon as the loud man stepped out of his truck. He burped and pulled up his pants by the belt, scanning the beautiful environment.
“Where’s my reception?” he grumbled, his crocodile boots making a loud clunk against the paved floor. He wore faded blue jeans and a loose white shirt, ripped at the edges so that his arms were bare. He had a brown moustache that drooped all the way down to his chin.
Lucy came out to meet the man, her expression torn between stilted pleasure and anxiety.
Letting out a long whistle, he exclaimed, “Damn! So, this is the extent of my sister’s luxury. Some place this is.”
Barney was big and muscular, although he was running to fat in certain areas. He looked like he could lift the truck that was now gleaming under the sun. Leaning against the truck, marked with various stripes and emblems, he took out a crumpled pack of cigarettes, picked one out, and stuck it between his lips.
“A lighter… gonna need a lighter,” he mumbled, peeking into his breast pocket and digging his hand into the back of his jeans. “Dammit!” The cigarette bounced between his lips as he mumbled to himself and then, after a few futile seconds, he looked up and saw his sister approaching. He smiled, albeit cautiously. His sister had never invited him to the exotic world that she had married into.
“Lucy!” he greeted her and spat out the cigarette. Lucy followed the movement of his boots and saw the tobacco smear on the pavement. Barney watched her watch him, wondering if she was about to send him away, but she smiled instead and opened her arms.
“It’s been too long, Barney.”
He wrapped his massive arm around her. “That’s on you. You never return my calls, remember?”
She broke the embrace and stepped back, inwardly seething at the faint smell of beer and tobacco that now combined with her elegant perfume.
“I didn’t see you at the funeral.”
Barney shrugged and, out of habit, stuck another cigarette into his mouth before his eyebrows arched and he remembered the lighter dilemma.
“Again, Lucy,” he muttered in a hoarse voice, clearing his throat. “I wasn’t invited. You know me; I’m hardly gonna crash a place when I’m not welcome.”
He ran a finger over his moustache and narrowed his eyes at Lucy. “So, how come I deserve this honor now? Pretty sure I’m still the low-class brother you had all those years ago, the one you were always embarrassed of.”
“Stop it,” Lucy calmly said. He shrugged, gazing steadily at her, and Lucy sighed.
“You’re here now, aren't you? Let’s not dwell on the past.”
“Sure am, sis. Let the past be pa—holy heck! Is that a real Lamborghini like those ones I see on them TV shows?” he moved away from his truck and walked along the driveway closer to the garage where Benjamin’s yellow Lamborghini was parked. “Wow, I gotta say, you are living the life.” He turned to Lucy. “Now don’t tell me you got a fridge full of them imported German beers too.”
Lucy chuckled, already picturing Barney’s encounters with Ava. He’d been here a few minutes and he was already being Barney. He was a loud talker—which always drew the attention of anyone nearby. Ava will be on the receiving end soon enough, Lucy thought with a smirky grin.
“Any chance you got a lighter on you?” he pointed his thumb at the cigarette dangling between his lips.
“I don’t smoke, Barney. You know that.”
He spat out the cigarette again. Lucy looked away when he crushed it, her head shaking from his ‘signatures’ already littering her home.
He brushed past Lucy. “Let’s go check out this mansion,” he said with excitement and mumbled to himself, “Ain’t ever been in a mansion before.”
Lucy followed, stopping to see the crude form the large truck made against the otherwise perfect form of the compound.
“If this is your way of telling me you’re sorry for all those years of mistreatment,” he paused and turned around to be sure his sister was listening, “then apology accepted.” With the way he yelled out his words, everyone had to be listening.
Lucy opened her mouth, but Benjamin appeared from around the corner. She sighed in relief.
“Uncle Barney!” Benjamin greeted him with genuine excitement.
“Well if that ain’t my favorite—and only—nephew. Come here!”
Their chests bumped and Benjamin let out a deep grunt as his uncle grabbed him and squeezed him. His loud voice boomed with laughter as he let go of Benjamin and looked him over.
“All grown up.” Using one strong arm, he bent Benjamin down by a few inches and rubbed his hair like he’d always done when his nephew was just a little kid. Benjamin chuckled and freed himself, patting his hair back in place. “It’s been too long, Uncle Barney.” His uncle grinned.
“Well, your mom invited me over and I thought to myself, hey, I gotta check on my hotshot nephew and snotty sis, see how they’re doing.” Stretching out his hands like a graceful magician, he added, “and here I am.”
“It’s nice to see you, uncle.”
Barney continued laughing as if listening to a string of jokes only he got, until his eyes fell on Ava coming their way. “Now, lookey what we have here. Who’s this beautiful lady?”
Ava smiled and greeted him. “Hi, I’m Ava.”
Pushing up his pants and wiping his hand on the side of his jeans, he took her hand in a strong handshake. “Ava, pretty name. I’m Barney, little Ben’s Uncle.” His eyes went to Benjamin who now maintained an uncomfor
table expression on his face.
“Nice to meet you, Barney.” Ava caught his western accent and the resemblance between him and Lucy. Barney laughed and cast a knowing glance at Benjamin, and then at Ava.
“Are you two…”
Ava looked at Benjamin, hoping he’d take over, but he switched his gaze to his uncle. Seeing that no one was finishing his sentence, he said to Benjamin, “Is she the one?”
Ava took a step back, waiting for an opening to escape.
Chuckling awkwardly, Benjamin muttered a weak “yes.” His uncle frowned. Barney would have pursued the matter on any other occasion, but everybody seemed just too uncomfortable right now. He let the issue die and marched around the house, giving himself a tour.
“Please tell me y’all have some kind of booze stash or something; I’m parched.”
“It’s ten a.m.,” Lucy shouted from the corridor.
“Exactly!”
Ava chuckled. “He seems… nice,” she said, drawing out her words. “So, is this the Uncle Barney who taught you how to fix cars?”
“Pretty much. That, and how to burp on command.”
Ava smirked. “What a gem.”
“You have no idea…” Benjamin smiled as well.
Ava giggled, drawing Lucy’s attention. “Yes, you have no idea.”
L
ucy knew if there was anyone who could annoy Ava and to get her to move a way, it would be her Barney.
“I just have to try not to go nuts myself,” she told herself. It might be a slow process, but it is possible; I will get rid of the intruder soon, better and more efficiently than my son’s own efforts.
Despite the semi-early morning a strange sound erupted from outside the house.
“What in the Lord’s name?” Lucy mumbled and made her way outside. She assumed that Barney was probably still in his new room, savoring the luxurious bed and sleeping until eternity, like he’d said he would when she’d first shown him the room. She was wrong.