Something Old, Something New

by Beverly Jenkins

  Mal was yelling for them to stop bashing his tables, but they ignored him and kept up the beat. The singers were in full voice, chanting in a foreign-sounding language while Mal continued to yell. Crystal was caught in the aisle near their booth. Lily saw her being smiled at by some of the younger members dancing by. One July with the face of a brown-skinned god and a body encased in worn black leather grabbed her around the waist, dipped her, and asked with a grin, “You old enough to be kissed?”

  Crystal’s eyes popped, and she grinned. “Yeah.”

  Trent grabbed him by his leather collar. “Don’t make me shoot you, Diego. Back off.”

  Diego smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, cousin, but she’s gorgeous.”

  Trent let him go. Diego gave the wide-eyed Crystal a wink before dancing away to rejoin his relatives.

  Mal was still yelling.

  Tamar apparently had had enough. Raising a shotgun that made Lily’s eyes go wide, she aimed it above her head and fired. The loud blast took out one of the lights and a portion of the ceiling. Then all the electricity died.

  She’d been right about shotguns getting their attention. One moment there’d been pandemonium, but now you could hear a pin drop.

  In the silence, Mal looked up at the damage and whined, “Dammit, Tamar!”

  “I’ll pay for the damage.” She stared balefully around at the momentarily cowed but smiling members of her brother’s clan. “Where’s Thad?”

  “Right behind you, Tammy.”

  He was in a wheelchair pushed by one of the most gorgeous men Lily had ever had the good fortune to see. He, too, was all in leather, and the black hair flowing down his back rippled like a stream.

  Paula asked in an awed voice, “Who is that behind his chair?”

  “My cousin Griffin, and thank God he’s here.”

  “Why?”

  “He’s the only one who may be able to keep these knuckleheads in line.” What Trent didn’t say aloud was that Griffin might possibly be Amari’s biological father, too. It was the only reason he could come up with to account for the presence of the Lakota men sprinkled in with the crowd of Julys. Their only connection to Trent’s family was through Griffin. His mother, Judith, was Lakota, but his late father, Neil, had been Uncle Thad’s youngest son. Were the Lakota there to help Griffin welcome Amari into the clan?

  Trent’s thoughts were broken by Davis saying, “The knuckleheads certainly know how to make an entrance.”

  “I agree,” Lily said, watching them. Many of them were talking to the now-smiling Mal. Others raised hands of greeting to Trent before taking seats at some of the unoccupied tables and conversing with the patrons nearby.

  Jessica seemed to have pulled herself together enough to snap, “Davis, get me out of here! I’ve never been so terrified in my life. Bunch of heathens should be arrested.”

  Apparently Davis was as through with her as Tamar had been moments before. “How about I take you back to the airport, and you just fly home?”

  Lily wanted to cheer, even as she pretended not to be listening.

  “If I go, that’ll be the end of us, Davis.”

  “Then by all means, let me call you a cab. It’ll take you back to where we parked the rental car, and you can cut me out of your life right now.”

  Without a word, Trent handed him his phone. The number of the local taxi company was highlighted.

  “Thanks, Trent.” Davis made the call.

  “I’ll wait outside.” Jessica grabbed her coat and purse and pushed her way past the Julys to the door.

  Lily gave her son a high five.

  Paula said, “I love this town!”

  Now that some semblance of calm had been restored, the electricians in the crowd went with Mal to see what could be done about getting the electricity back up, while Trent told Lily and the others, “Come on. I want you all to meet my great-uncle.”

  Up close, Thad looked very much like Tamar. He had the same lean build and the familiar hawk-black eyes. He was dressed like a gentleman rancher in a blue long-sleeved shirt and matching pants. Around his neck was a silver bolo tie, and on his knees sat an ivory-colored Stetson.

  Trent made the introductions.

  Thad looked Lily up and down. “You sure you want to marry him? July men have a hard time holding on to their wives. I know. Had and lost three. How many times you been married, Trent?”

  “Twice, but the third time will be the charm.”

  “That’s what I thought with my third one, until she caught me and her sister one night. Man can run pretty fast with buckshot going off around him.”

  Trent and Griffin both shook their heads.

  A perturbed Tamar asked, “Why would you tell her that?”

  Lily could see his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  “Because it’s the truth.”

  “Since when have you ever told the truth?”

  “Oh, here we go.”

  “Don’t oh-here-we-go me, Thaddeus July.”

  “Tammy, if you want to fight, let’s save it for later when I’m not so tired. You got my room ready?”

  “What room? You’re not staying with me.”

  “The hell I’m not.”

  Trent attempted to be peacemaker. “Uncle Thad, you can stay with me.”

  “Nope. Came all this way to stay with my sister. You get Griffin. She gets me.”

  Tamar looked mutinous but gave in. “Griffin, bring your grandfather and follow me in whatever it is you’re driving. He does not get to ride in Olivia.”

  “Like I want to ride in that old relic. Damn truck’s old as she is.” Thad ignored the anger on her face and said politely, “Ms. Lily, Davis, Reverend Paula, nice meeting you all.”

  Griffin nodded farewell and turned the chair to follow the already departed Tamar out the door.

  “Sounds like maybe he should stay with you, Trent,” an amused Lily noted as they all walked back to their booth.

  “What concerns me is that they’re both armed.”

  For the next little while, Trent held Lily’s hand as he introduced her to his cousins and the members of Griffin’s family whom he was familiar with. The Julys had numerous Neils, Madisons, Harpers, and a couple of Edwards, but only one Diego.

  Later, as he drove Lily and Davis home, she asked, “Why all the same names?”

  “Uncle Thad named them after the original family members.”

  “Why only one Diego?”

  “Because the world can only hold one at a time. He’s been arrested more times than Amari.”

  “For what?”

  “Car theft.”

  “Lord. He isn’t Amari’s father, is he?”

  “Hope not, but I should know more on that tonight after I’ve had a chance to talk to Griffin.”

  He drove up into her driveway and left the motor running while they got out.

  “I had a good time, Trenton.”

  “Glad my family didn’t scare you off.”

  “No chance. You are signed, sealed, and delivered.” Leaning in the window, she gave him a kiss. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Davis whined, “Come on, you two. The California boy is cold!”

  Lily let her freezing son into the house, and Trenton drove home to wait for Griffin.

  Inside, Lily called over to the Garlands and was surprised to hear that Amari had come and gotten Devon so he could hang with him and Preston.

  She hung up. “Looks like Amari’s playing big brother. Can I ask you a question?”

  “Sure,” Davis said.

  “Why you and Jessica? We won’t even talk about her age, but she didn’t seem to be your type.”

  Davis sighed. “At first I was trying to be nice. I was new in town, I liked jazz, she took me to a few clubs. I told her I liked plays, and she got tickets. Next thing I knew she was planning my weekends. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings, and she was fun, sorta, but there was a lot of what you saw today, too.”

  “Women don’t l
ike pity, Davis.”

  “I didn’t know what to do.”

  “You handled it today, though.”

  “I couldn’t take it anymore.”

  She walked over and gave him a hug. “So good to see you.”

  “And with no Jessica around, I can enjoy myself.”

  “Hear, hear. Come walk with me over to the Paynes’. Devon is going to flip, meeting you in person.”

  Trent didn’t get a chance to talk with Griffin until much later that evening. They were in Trent’s kitchen, catching up over a beer.

  “My guess is that you’re the father. Right or wrong?”

  Griffin saluted him with his glass. “You always were smart. How’d you figure it out?”

  “I didn’t until I saw the Lakotas with my cousins. Figured Amari had to be the reason they were along.”

  Griffin then told him the story behind their son Amari’s conception and about Griff’s meeting with the mother.

  “Sounds like she had to make some hard choices after she found out she was pregnant.”

  “I just wish she’d called me, written, something. I never would have let him be taken into the welfare system, you know that.”

  “I do.”

  “I feel like I failed him.”

  “He’s back where he belongs now, so don’t beat yourself up.”

  “I can’t believe he was a car thief.”

  “That shouldn’t be a surprise. Wants to race NASCAR when he grows up.”

  “I like that. Have you talked to him about any of this?”

  “Only that the family was looking into his parentage. I wanted to wait until I learned who it turned out to be before saying anything.” Trent searched Griffin’s face for a moment. “So what do you want to do about his raising? He’s legally adopted, and I will fight you in court if you’re planning on contesting my rights.”

  “Please. Where would I raise him, on the back of my bike? No, he’s your son. All I ask is that my mom be able to call him grandson, and that he come to Pine Ridge and stay with her for a week or two during summers. I am her only son, you know.”

  “I have no problem with that. In fact, I think it’s a great idea. Is she coming for the wedding?”

  “Yes. She wants to meet Amari and your Lily—who is gorgeous, by the way.”

  “Thanks—just keep your distance. She’s mine.”

  “Be glad you met her first.”

  “I am.”

  “Can I meet Amari?”

  “Sure. He’s across the street, hanging with his friend Preston. Let me send him a text.”

  When Amari walked in, he said excitedly, “Dad! Mom said the other Julys tried to trash the Dog, and Tamar shot up the ceiling.”

  He noticed Griffin for the first time. “Sorry. Didn’t know you had company.” Amari studied the man closely, especially his leather jacket, pants, and long hair. “I’m Amari.”

  “Griffin July. Great to meet you, Amari.”

  “Same here. You with the Oklahoma clan?”

  “I am.”

  “You hair looks like that Samoan dude’s that plays defense for Pittsburgh.”

  “He’s an awesome player, isn’t he. I’m Seminole and Lakota, though.”

  Amari turned to Trent. “Did you need me for something, Dad?”

  “Yeah, just for a minute. Pull up a seat.”

  Amari was pretty intuitive, and as he sat down, Trent could see him trying to determine if something was wrong.

  “This isn’t bad news, is it?”

  “No, son. Just wanted you to meet your biological father.”

  “This is him?” He studied Griffin for a longer moment. “I’m not going to have to leave and go live with him, am I, Dad?”

  Griffin answered first. “No, Amari. I’d never separate you from your dad.”

  Amari sighed audibly with relief. “Good, because I’d only wind up running away a thousand times. Do you ever see my birth mom?”

  “Saw her a month or so ago, which is when I found out that she and I made you. I’m sorry about not knowing before.”

  “That’s okay. Does she know I live in Kansas?”

  “No.”

  “She want to be contacted?”

  Griffin shook his head solemnly. “I’m afraid not.”

  Amari shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I have a real mom now.”

  But Trent could tell that deep down inside it did matter.

  “And that real mom is very pretty, too,” Griffin added.

  “Yep,” he replied proudly.

  “Your mom and mine are probably the prettiest ones I know. My mom would like to meet you. I’m her only child, which makes you her only grandchild.”

  “That okay, Dad?”

  “Yes. You’ll like Judith.”

  Amari asked where she lived, and when he learned she lived on the Pine Ridge res and wanted him to spend some of the summer with her, he replied, “I might like that, but is it okay if I meet her first before I decide? Not trying to offend her or anything.”

  “Absolutely. You just let me know,” Griff replied.

  “You said you were Lakota? That’s the Sioux Nation, right?”

  “Yes. I’m impressed that you know that.”

  “Blame it on our teacher Mr. James. He makes us learn a lot about Native culture.”

  “That makes him a great teacher in my book. Maybe you can introduce me to him while I’m here.”

  The conversation moved on to many subjects after that: Amari’s dream of being a racer, his newfound finesse at chess, and his Spirit Quest.

  Griffin said, “I did my Quest twice. Once as a Seminole with my grandfather, and then the next year as a Lakota with my uncles.”

  Amari told him about catching a fat trout with his hands, and how a hawk had swooped down and stolen it from him.

  “You have to watch those hawks,” Griff added.

  Then came sports, favorite foods, and movies. They even walked out to the garage and spent a few minutes looking over Griffin’s vintage Harley, which impressed Amari the most.

  “This is awesome. How fast will it go?”

  Griffin told him what the top-end speed was, and Amari’s mouth dropped. “Man. The cops would’ve never caught me on this. Can you give me a ride before you leave?”

  “Will do, if it’s okay with your dad.”

  “As long as he wears a helmet.”

  Back inside, Trent happened to glance up at the clock on the kitchen wall and saw that it was almost 11:00 p.m. They’d been talking for hours.

  Amari yawned and asked Griffin, “Where are you staying while you’re here?”

  “Your dad wants to put me upstairs in the guest room, but I wanted to make sure it was okay with you first.”

  “It is.”

  “Then I’ll grab my stuff off the bike and head up. It’s been a long day. I’ll see you two in the morning.”

  When Amari and Trent were alone, Amari said, “It’s pretty sweet meeting him. I like him.”

  “I’m glad. He’s a good person.”

  “But just so you’ll know, he may be my father, but you’re my dad.”

  “That means a lot.”

  “Don’t want you getting it twisted.”

  “I won’t.” Trent was glad the meeting had gone well. “You go on to bed. See you in the morning.”

  After Amari went up to his room, Trent sat in the silent kitchen and thanked God and the Ancestors for all the blessings in his life. Finally getting up from his chair, he put on the locks, turned out the lights, and climbed the stairs to his own bed.

  Chapter 22

  On the Saturday before the wedding Lily drove over to Tamar’s for the bridal tea. All of the women in her circle of friends were in attendance, including Zoey and Crystal. They ate the tasty little appetizers Rocky had brought, drank tea and sodas, and ate cake. For Lily, the highlight, besides all the support and love she received, was the bestowing of what Sheila called Borrowed, Blue, Old, and New.

  The Something O
ld was a blue-and-white carved cameo that Tamar explained had originally belonged to Mayor Olivia July. “I had it restored back in the eighties, hoping you’d wear it back when we all thought you’d marry Trent the first time, but when it didn’t happen, I put it away. Guess it’s been patiently waiting for you all these years.”

  “I’ll wear it proudly. Thank you.”

  The Something New came from Bernadine. “You know how much I love to multitask, so what I have is something that fits the Something Blue category as well as the Something New.” She handed Lily a slim black velvet box. Inside lay the most beautiful gold and sapphire bracelet Lily had ever seen. The exquisite detail and craftsmanship rendered her speechless.

  “And if you start fussing at me about it being too expensive for you to accept, I swear I’ll never speak to you again.”

  Lily couldn’t take her eyes off the beautiful bracelet. “This is gorgeous.” The spendthrift side of Lily did want to fuss—the bracelet had probably cost more than her car—but she accepted it in the spirit in which it had been given. “Thank you, Bernadine.”

  Roni presented the Borrowed gift. “You and Trent are going to need love songs while on your honeymoon, so here’s a copy of my new CD. I borrowed it from the studio when Sheila told me what my category for the tea would be. You don’t really have to return it, but it was all I could think to get. Sorry.”

  “Sorry? Are you kidding? Trent and I were big fans of your music before we even met you, and for us to have this before anyone else? Makes me feel real special. Thanks, Roni.” Lily couldn’t wait to stick it in the CD player.

  Crystal and Zoey stepped up. “Zoey and I didn’t know what to get, so Ms. Bernadine suggested we get you something that might help you relax and work off the stress. Like maybe she doesn’t need something like that her own self.”