by Twyla T
Mrs. Miller hadn’t seen or heard from Crystal since that day, but Crystal had been keeping up with everything. She was watching and waiting, while putting a plan into action. Skeletons had been released from the closet and more were bound to land on top of those.
Chapter 18
Malcolm eased out before any of the women could look his way. While they were all in shock about the secret that was revealed before them, he took that opportunity to escape in peace. There was no telling what else might transpire at Charlotte’s house, but he was not about to stick around to see. The graze from the gunshot wound on his arm was stinging and burning like hell, but going to the hospital was out of the question. Malcolm knew he would have to give a story about what happened and that would involve talking to the cops and he hated police. The officers who wanted him arrested for Cameron’s accident had finally stopped harassing him. It took Malcolm paying them five stacks each to back off, but he wasn’t sure it was completely over. They didn’t know that he pulled in that amount in one week and it was really chump change to him.
As Malcolm was driving away, he started thinking back to how all of this started. He tried to stop sneaking around with Charlotte several times, but she would never take no for an answer. In fact, on this very trip he was only stopping by to end things once and for all, but when she broke down crying about how her whole life was a lie, he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Malcolm initially had Charlotte believing that Cameron hated her guts and bad-mouthed her often. Charlotte was obsessed with Cameron’s life and it didn’t take much to convince her to give up the pussy; she really threw it to Malcolm before he ever asked. Malcolm thought about how it all began…
Before Mr. Miller finally got Cameron to agree to marry me, we had several conversations. He almost backed out more times than one, but he really didn’t want me to tell what I knew about him. I felt like blackmailing him to get such a beautiful woman was well worth it. His oldest daughter, Charlotte, was pretty, but I didn’t care for light-skinned women. I wanted his beautiful chocolate daughter and I had him right where I wanted him after I found out some information about him at work. In the deal we made, I agreed to leave the job and start driving trucks cross country, which is the job I had just started, due to a great referral, when I met Cameron.
On the night of the rehearsal dinner, Charlotte overheard us saying something about the “arrangement” and she approached me afterwards. I didn’t know how much she heard so I wasn’t about to give anything away. “So what are you willing to do to keep me from telling my sister about this arrangement between you and our dad?” Charlotte asked me. “What are you talking about?” I asked her trying to play dumb.
“Don’t try to play me, Malcolm. I heard y’all.” She replied.
“Well, you tell me what you heard, and I’ll tell you what I will do to keep you from telling her.” I said to her. I had her right there because she couldn’t say anything. Well, I thought I had her. She walked away and we went into the sanctuary of the church for rehearsal. Charlotte was eyeing me the entire time. I tried to ignore her, but it was very hard. I started thinking that maybe I should have given her a chance instead of Cameron. We made it through the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner with ease. As soon as the dinner was over, Cameron bolted out of the door. I knew she was excited to get to her bachelorette party so I sent her a text telling her to have fun because she would only have one bachelorette party in life. I didn’t want a bachelor party the night before my wedding because I knew how out of hand it would get, which is why I had one the weekend before and it was one for the books.
Cameron never texted back and I assumed she was with her girls having a good time. They said they wouldn’t have strippers and I hoped they weren’t lying, but I couldn’t be so sure, which is why I was planning to pop up on them. My plans were changed when I was trying to walk out of the bathroom at the church and Charlotte walked in, pushing me backwards. “So, do I have to tell my sister about this arrangement or do you want to know more about the black car she just jumped in and left?” Charlotte said to me. I stood there speechless. Charlotte never gave me a chance to answer before she kissed me passionately and grabbed my dick. The way she massaged brought it to attention immediately. “If you won’t tell, neither will I. This won’t even count as cheating since you aren’t married yet.” Charlotte whispered in my ear. I thought about what she said. I knew it was wrong, but with the way she had been staring at me all night, I was very turned on. I picked Charlotte up, placed her on the counter, and tongued her down. She unbuckled my pants and pulled her shirt over her head. “Just this one time,” I told her. She agreed and I dived into her pussy. She dug her nails into my back as I pumped for dear life. After a couple of minutes, I pulled out and my nut landed on her thighs. “Wait, you mean to tell me you a two minute brother with this decent sized dick? You gonna have to come with me. We changing our agreement to one night instead of one time,” Charlotte said. Her comment kinda insulted my manhood, but since she offered, I went to her hotel room that night. What was supposed to be a one night fling, turned into us sneaking around behind Cameron’s back our entire marriage. Getting caught never really crossed my mind because the two of them never got along and I sure as hell didn’t expect them to make a surprise visit. I don’t know how the hell I’m gonna get out of this shit.
Chapter 19
Charlotte knew she was wrong, but she felt like the lies that had been kept from her justified her actions. As she was sitting there on the floor, she thought back to how she got into this mess.
The night before my sister’s wedding, I was upset because my dad was jumping head over heels to make sure his baby girl’s wedding day was perfect. I know it wasn’t their fault that I jumped up and got married without telling them, but everything was always about Cameron. EVERYTHING!! It didn’t help that my marriage didn’t even last a full year and here my baby sister was about to marry a man who was already pulling in six figures. When I saw my dad and Malcolm talking in the corner, they were looking guilty so I decided to sneak up and try to hear what they were whispering about. By the time I made it close to them, the conversation was ending but I could tell that my dad was upset and I heard him say something about wishing he had never made this arrangement with Malcolm. I decided to play on that and act like I knew what was up. I should have never approached Malcolm. After that two minutes in the bathroom at the church, I should have really been done, but I felt like I was in control and wanted more. After we left the church and went to my hotel room, Malcolm made up for his two-minute game with that tongue of his. He had me climbing the walls. He wouldn’t let me go down on him that night and I was a bit hurt because I wanted to return the favor. A year later, he opened up to me about his childhood and I understood why he never wanted head and I told him I wouldn’t pressure him. He said it was easy to talk to me. He told me that Cameron hated me and talked about me all the time, so I saw no reason to stop fucking him. I did feel guilty at times, but Malcolm always told me something that Cameron said or did every time I tried to break things off.
A few weeks ago, when I made it home, a car was parked in my driveway. I was irritated because everyone I dealt with knew not to park in my driveway, so I had no idea who was parked there. When I pulled up behind the car and got out, a woman who looked a lot like my mom got out. “Hi Charlotte, I know you don’t know me, and I have a lot of explaining to do, but I’m your mom,” is what the lady said. I looked at her like the lunatic she was and told her if she didn’t leave my home within the next minute I was calling the cops. I guess she didn’t take me very serious because she kept standing there trying to talk until I pulled my cell phone and mace from my purse. “I know this is a bit strange, but please hear me out,” she said.
“You have less than thirty seconds left to leave my house,” I said, as I walked right past her and into the house. When I made it inside, I looked out the window and she was sitting in her car. She sat there for about two more minutes before finally bac
king out.
After the woman left, I told myself that it was time to finally get an alarm system and a gun wouldn’t be a bad idea, because if someone is bold enough to show up at your house saying they are your mom, then there is no telling what else they might do.
Later on that night, I jumped when my doorbell rang, completely forgetting that Malcolm was stopping by. That lady who said she was my mom had me shook. I had been thinking about her for the past few hours, wondering why she resembled my mom so much. “A lady came by here today and said she was my mom,” I told Malcolm.
“What? What are you talking about?” He asked me. I told him how everything happened and he sat there like he was in deep thought. I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking, but I knew that he knew something by the change in his body language. At that moment, I had no idea about the exact details of the “arrangement” my dad and Malcolm had made, but as he talked, the pieces started falling into place. I slapped the shit of him because I realized right then that he had played me and my entire family.
I sat there in a daze; thoughts running wild. I thought Malcolm would leave after I slapped him, but he knew he had fucked up. I really didn’t know whose life was more fucked up; mine or his. He leaned over and started massaging my breasts through my tank top. Sex with Malcolm had gotten better as time passed by. We both had agreed not to get our feelings caught up in each other because we knew what we were doing was already wrong. I knew he had a couple of other women he was sleeping with anyway. I got wet from his touch, but sex wasn’t on my mind at the time. I had some shit I needed to figure out. I told him that he could stay, but I needed some time to process everything that was happening.
The next morning when I got up and got ready for work, I was still confused. My mom, or who I thought was my mom, had called and left a voicemail and she had even texted me. I didn’t want to be bothered with anyone and I definitely didn’t want to confront her and be dead wrong about everything. I decided to keep my distance for a while which wasn’t out of the norm for me anyway. When I walked out to get in my car, there was an envelope on the windshield with the words PLEASE READ!! I pretty much knew it had to be a letter from the mystery woman that stopped by yesterday. I grabbed it and put it in my purse and told myself that I would read it on my lunch break. I hated my job and really wanted to call in, but I had bills to pay.
I took a few calls and after a lady cussed me out about something she ordered, but didn’t want to pay for, I put my phone on hold to look like I was still on a cal,l and pulled the envelope from my purse. When I opened it, four pictures fell out. One was a baby picture of me, one was a picture of me and the woman who said she was my mom, one was a picture of my parents, and the last one was a picture of my two moms, I guess. I was scared to open the letter after examining the pictures for about five minutes straight. I finally gathered up enough nerves to open it:
I can’t even imagine the thoughts that are running through your mind, but the first thing I need to say is: I’M SO SORRY!!! I really am your real mother and the woman that raised you is my sister. I made some terrible mistakes in the past, and the biggest one was leaving you. I was upset that things didn’t turn out the way I felt like they should. I did a terrible thing to my sister and my life has never been the same since then. Words can’t even describe how sorry I am. I know you must feel like your life is a lie, but that’s not true. Charles is your father and Carla has been the best mother possible. I know it was hard on her, but she treated you like you were her very own. She never wanted anything else to do with me and I can’t blame her. Every letter I sent was always returned without even being opened. I went to have an abortion after I found out I was pregnant with you, but I just couldn’t go through with it. I know you must be wondering why I am bringing all of this up now. That’s a fair question, but it is also difficult. I would rather not get into all of that on this letter. I would love to meet you for dinner so we can talk face to face. I plan on meeting with your parents within the next month, but don’t mention anything about me until we talk please. Meet me at the Bistro on Main Street tonight at 7:30 please. Just ask for Crystal if you decide to come. I pray that you will.
After reading that letter, I couldn’t do anymore work. I barely did anything before, but I certainly couldn’t function after, so I left work for the day and went home. I wanted to stop by the liquor store, but my brain couldn’t register anything except to go straight home, and that’s what I did. I went home and got straight in the bed and cried. I cried about all of the things that I had done in life. I cried wondering what my life would have been like if my real mom would have raised me instead of my aunt. I cried trying to figure out if Cameron and I would have been closer if we would have been raised as the first cousins we were instead of sisters. I always thought my mom treated me and Cameron different, but now I wondered if it was just me all along not feeling the connection that they seemed to have. I had too many unanswered questions. I must have finally drifted off to sleep because the sun was setting when I woke up. My eyes were red and puffy and I had a headache. I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and wrote a note:
Crystal,
I am really not sure what to say to you and I just can’t face you right now. My whole life has been turned upside down because of you. How do you give me away and disappear for twenty-three years? My mom loves me, but I never felt a connection to her and it’s all because of you. So you and dad had an affair and you just gave me to them to raise? How have you slept at night all of these years? There is so much that I want to say, but I’m not sure if it’s even worth it. Why did you come back now? Give your number to Jimmy that works at the restaurant and I will get it from him. Give me some time to process all of this information and I will get back with you when I have the energy to deal with all of this.
I took that letter and dropped it off at the Bistro because I didn’t want to face Crystal. Eventually, I knew that I would have to, but I couldn’t that day. A stop by the liquor store was not missed before I headed back home. I knew I was gonna need something to calm my nerves. At that moment, I knew for sure that I had to end things with Malcolm. Cameron was still my sister despite the circumstances that popped up and it was time to cut the bullshit, which is why Malcolm was at my house when they popped up. I know what it must have looked like, but he really was just about to hop in the shower. I asked him to open the door because one of my home girls was about to stop by and I assumed it was her. Never in a million years did I think my mom and Cameron would be on the other side of the door. I can’t blame Cameron for shooting at us but I’m glad she didn’t kill anyone. Now here we all are, each person lost in their own thoughts.
Chapter 20
Cameron looked at her mom and then she looked at her sister. As she scanned the room, she noticed that Malcolm was nowhere in sight. She got up and picked up her gun that was sitting beside her mom. Neither Mrs. Miller nor Charlotte budged, which confirmed that everyone was in shock. The house was eerily quiet. Cameron had never been in her sister’s home before, but that didn’t stop her from going from room to room looking for Malcolm. He was nowhere to be found. Cameron went and opened the front door and noticed that his truck was gone. “That black motherfucker left!” Cameron said to herself.
Cameron started thinking about how fucked up her life was. Blowing Charlotte’s brains out crossed her mind, but she couldn’t bring herself to shoot her in front of their mom. Malcolm was the one who had caused all of this drama and bullshit and was the one who needed to pay. If I would have just been a woman and did what I wanted to do, none of this would have happened. Why didn’t I just leave him? He’s killing me slowly anyway. Malcolm is gonna pay for all of this. There is no other way around it, Cameron thought to herself. She bent down and picked her purse up from the floor that she dropped on the way in and retrieved her cell phone to call him. Malcolm answered the phone, but no words ever left his mouth. Cameron was too furious to speak so the line was just silent. Tears streamed down her fac
e. After two whole minutes of silence, Cameron held the gun upward and fired it.
On the other end of the phone, Malcolm was speechless. He knew that Cameron would be calling soon and there was no sense in ignoring her because he had truly fucked up. She was silent which meant she was fed up, because her mouth was too smart and slick to be quiet. Malcolm knew it was best to remain quiet until she spoke. He heard sniffling and then her voice was low but he heard her say, “You have fucked over me for the last time and I refuse to live like this anymore,” and then a gunshot rang out loud!
Malcolm almost lost control of his truck. He had made it about twenty miles away from Charlotte’s house but he knew he had to get back there as quick as possible. He cried and cried and had to pull over. He called Cameron’s phone about twenty times, but she never answered. Malcolm called Charlotte’s phone next but she didn’t pick up either. Traffic was heavy and it would take him longer to get back, but he was headed back to see just what had happened.
Chapter 21
Back In Mississippi
Kingston ran into his paw paw’s arms as soon as he spotted him after school. He was so happy because he knew he was about to have the best weekend ever. Right after leaving the school, Kingston asked were they gonna go fishing. “Of course we are,” his granddad answered. Fishing was one of Mr. Miller’s favorite things to do and he had taken Kingston a few times and he loved it. They headed out to Choctaw Lake so they could get a couple of hours in before dark. When they made it, Mr. Miller put a life jacket on Kingston then himself, before loading and getting into the speed boat.