Legacy: It's Never Black and White in Love and Business

by E. W. Brooks

“Let’s go ladies. We have to be in Charlotte in an hour,” Tesha instructed as her girlfriends loaded into the party bus she’d rented for the trip. She had 10 ladies in her wedding party and she was happy. It didn’t matter that half of them wouldn’t spit on her if she were on fire.

  The ladies jumped out smelling like alcohol and reefer, all too trifling to be embarrassed. Shantay quickly ushered the group to the private room in the back before her shop began to reek. There was an attendant assigned to help each lady get dressed. It was all overkill, but if the bride was willing to pay $1000 to dress and accessorize each of her ladies, this designer would lay out the red carpet. Happy customers become repeat customers and Shantay knew that for a fact.

  Each girl’s dress fit perfectly, but after the fitting. Tesha sent the rowdy group of ladies back to the bus.

  “Okay, Shantay. What’s the damage?”

  “Your total is $10,700, Ms. Edwards.”

  “No problem,” Tesha smiled, pulling out her Bank of America card.

  Shantay was glad to swipe the card. This was a great sale for her. Then her smile changed as the register buzzed, so she swiped the card again.

  “I’m sorry Ms. Edwards, but your card has been declined.”

  “That’s not possible. Run it again.”

  “I ran it twice already, Ma’am.”

  “Do you know who I am? I am a fucking millionaire. I am marrying into one of the wealthiest families in this state, and you say my damn card was declined? That can’t be possible,” Tesha yelled as she opened her mobile banking app.

  Tesha hit the screen to pull up her account and quickly turned the phone around to Shantay.

  “Does it look like I’m broke to you?”

  “No Ma’am, but I see why your card was declined.”

  “What? Don’t you see over a million dollars in that account?”

  “No Ma’am. There is only $10,000 in this account.”

  “What?” Tesha said, spinning the phone around to view her own balance.

  “What the fuck?” Tesha screamed.

  “I’m sorry Ms. Edwards. Would you like to use another card for payment?”

  “No, just take $9000 from the account, and I’ll pay the other $1,700 in cash,” Tesha responded feeling momentarily defeated.

  ***

  Matthew shut off the television as Edwina hit the lights.

  “Can you believe that cop threw a dog in that dude’s car?”

  “Who does that? If I hadn’t just seen it on the news, I wouldn’t have believed it,” Matthew answered.

  The couple made it to their bed and had just gotten under the covers when there was a loud knock at the door.

  “Who in the world could that be this time of the night?” Matthew asked as he got up. Edwina grabbed the metal bat in the corner and followed her man to the door.

  The pounding became even louder. “Open the door, Bitch. Do you think you can steal from me?”

  “Oh hell. It’s my mom,” Edwina said trying to hide her face.

  “She can’t do that shit here, Baby. You don’t have to be afraid of her anymore. You are almost my wife and I promise to protect you. We can handle this together, okay?”

  Edwina looked away, her eyes full of tears.

  “I see you and that white boy in there. Open the damned door. I want my fucking money, Edwina,” Tesha screamed.

  “You with me, Baby? I need to know you are gonna stand with me, Edwina. You have to be okay with what’s about to happen,” Matthew queried.

  The traumatized daughter couldn’t speak. She could only nod her head as a loud boom hit the door. Tesha was kicking the door. Matthew watched the angered mother lift her foot to kick the door again. Then he opened it. Tesha almost fell inside.

  “How can we help you Ms. Edwards?” Matthew asked standing in front of his frightened fiancé.

  Tesha reached around Matthew to hit Edwina, but Matthew grabbed her hand mid air and said, “We can talk about this like adults, or I can hold you here and have you charged. You can decide, but if you ever hit her again, you will answer to me. Do you understand?” he asked as he tightened his grip on the woman’s arm.

  “This wench stole my fucking money, and I want it back.”

  “Enough with the language, Tesha. If you want to make it past this foyer, you’d better tone it down.”

  Tesha went for bad, but Matthew had no fear and the bully quickly relented. Besides, she just wanted the money back.

  She quieted down and Matthew embraced the woman of his dreams, as he led her menacing mother to the kitchen table.

  “Would you like a glass of water, Momma?”

  “No, you damned thief. I want a beer.”

  “That’s enough Tesha,” Matthew stopped his mother-in-law to be. Edwina handed her a glass of water.

  Tesha took a sip and then continued her rant, “Edwina, what did you do with my money?”

  The motherless child took a seat in front of the woman who could never really love her, and for the first time ever, found courage.

  “Are you talking about the $10,000 Cannon Keen put in the trust fund for me every month since I was born?”

  “It doesn’t matter about all of that. I took Mandell’s money to take care of you.”

  “No, you didn’t. You smoked it, you drank it.”

  “You ungrateful bitch, you always had the best. You had Nike, Tommy, FUBU, Roc-A-Wear. What else did you want?”

  “Well, according to Bank of America, I want $1.5 million.”

  “You’ll never get it.”

  “Stop threatening me, Momma. You can’t scare me anymore and the truth is I already have it. I am happy that you’ve found someone to love you, but it will be up to the two of you to finance this half a million dollar wedding. The buck stops here, Mom.”

  “You can’t do this to me, Edwina.”

  “Ma, you’ve done it to me my whole life. If you need help with a wedding, you’d better downscale tremendously, because I left $10,000 in the account for your wedding. I’ll write a check for $10,000 more, but that is my last check to you. I want you away from me and out of my life.”

  “Don’t get brand new on me because you have money now, Tesha.”

  “I am brand new, and I don’t apologize for it. I want nothing to do with the old depressed, afraid, and lonely me. I am happy with the new me I’ve created and that person won’t allow you to bully her.”

  “Oh, so you self-righteous now?” Tesha asked sarcastically.

  “Nope, I’m just not as dumb as you thought. Now, please leave our home before I’m forced to call the cops and let them know that you collected money from Mandell by lying and saying I was his daughter. I’m sure that constitutes some type of fraud.”

  “You little, Bitch. You wouldn’t?”

  “Look, Mom. I’m finally happy and I hope you are too, but I can’t do this anymore. I wish you well, but I don’t want to know you. You’ve ridden my coattails long enough. It’s time for me to live my life, my own way, with my own money,” Edwina stood.

  “Please lock the door behind this woman when she leaves. I’m gonna go to bed now.” Edwina leaned over to kiss her mother on the forehead and Tesha smiled, knowing she’d won her argument. Her mouth fell open as her only child turned on her heels and proceeded down the hall to her bedroom.

  “Don’t you walk away from me, Edwina,” Tesha screamed as her daughter ignored her. “Come back. What about me? What am I supposed to do for money? Edwina!

  Edwina refused to turn around. Unable to hide her anger, Tesha hurled the glass down the hall.

  The now motherless child hid her tears as she heard the glass, once full of water, break on the wall behind her. She heard Matthew order the bitter woman out, and alas, their home was silent again.

  “Can you believe that woman?” Edwina asked as she fought back tears. “Why is there always some shit with her? She can never play it straight. She always has some shit in the game. I am so sick of her bullshit. Why can’t she just
grow the fuck up and do the right thing for once in her life?”

  Matthew never interrupted his fiancé. Instead, he listened as she got it all out. That night Edwina cried herself to sleep, as the amazing man in her life held her in his arms and gently stroked her hair, nappy roots and all.

  Smoke and Mirrors

  (1 year later)

  “Hello, this is Carlton Webber, and I am sitting here with Senator Marcellus Marlowe as he travels on the road. Senator Marlowe, is a North Carolina candidate for Governor running against Mr. Cannon Keen. Good Morning, Sen. Marlowe. How are things on the road?”

  “Well Carlton, things are going well. I’ve met a lot of people, and I’ve listened to their concerns. That is why hitting the road here in North Carolina was so important to me. You can’t represent people if you don’t know them, and if you want the vote of the people, they need to know that you are willing to listen. Otherwise, the system is not working as it should.”

  “What would you say that you’ve learned about our state?”

  “I’ve learned that our state does have some problems to iron out, but there is brilliance and intelligence here in North Carolina. Teaming up with local church groups, schools, and other outreach programs has allowed us to meet some very talented and intelligent people who can certainly help direct the course our state will take going forward.”

  “And, how’s the family handling all of this?”

  “Well, as most of you know, I like to keep my family around me. We’ve traveled a great bit together, but my beautiful daughter-in-law is due any day now, so my wife Lena is at home with her and my son.”

  “Do you plan on heading home for the birth?”

  “Absolutely, the moment she feels the first contraction, we’re gonna turn this bus around. I can’t miss the birth of my first grandbaby.”

  “That is an amazing thing. Do you plan to share the experience with your voters and friends?”

  Marcellus let out a hearty laugh, “No, I can’t say that we’ll allow cameras in the delivery room, but we certainly don’t mind you all meeting the newest extension of our family.”

  “That sounds great Senator Marlowe. We look forward to meeting the newest little Marlowe and one last question, if you would.”

  “Sure, I think we have time for one more.”

  “What is next for your son? Do you anticipate him heading toward a life of politics?”

  “I can’t say that. But, what I can say is that wherever he is and in whatever he decides to do, you can rest assured that he will be helping someone. He’s a Marlowe.”

  “Well North Carolina, you heard it here first. Thank you for your time Senator Marlowe. We’re gonna hold you to sharing a photo of your grandchild.”

  “The grandbaby is our legacy. I look forward to sharing.”

  “This is Carlton Webber signing off.” With those words the lights went out and the cameras went down. “Thank you for allowing us to follow you during your campaign. I think what you’re doing is great, and I hope it really changes some things for the better,” the reporter continued.

  “No doubt it will,” said Marcellus before turning to his bodyguard. “Jackal, please show Mr. Webber to his car.” The tall strong man opened the door as watched as the eager young reporter step off the bus.

  ***

  “Mr. Keen, you have a phone call on line one.”

  “I’m a little busy right now Sarah, who is it?”

  “There’s a Mrs. Tesha Edwards-Brewer on the line.”

  What could she possibly want after all this time? The girl was in college and doing well according to his sources, but it had been a while since he’d checked in on Edwina. The last thing he heard was that she cleared her trust fund. This must be about money, Cannon thought.

  “Yes, Tesha. What is it? I was just heading out.”

  “I need to talk to you.”

  “About what? Our reason to talk should be old enough to speak for herself now. Is the money I send not enough to cover college?”

  “You have no clue, do you?” Tesha asked sarcastically.

  “Clue? Is there something I need to know?”

  “Cannon, I have never breathed a word to the world about you being Edwina’s father, but I need something from you now for being so quiet all these years.”

  “Don’t talk to me about money when you two just emptied the trust fund I set up.”

  “That was your daughter. She found out that she had a little money and went crazy. I don’t know what rock you’ve been hiding under, but she even went and married that Marlowe boy.”

  “What Marlowe boy?”

  “Matthew Marlowe, the son your opponent Senator Marcellus Marlowe.”

  “How could you have allowed this to happen, Tesha? She could ruin me.”

  “Stop being so dramatic, why do you think I’m calling you? Now, this disrespectful child of yours wants money from you to keep quiet.”

  “WHAT!?!” Cannon yelled through the phone. “After all I’ve done for her, how could she do this to me?”

  “I told you the little bitch was disrespectful. Do you know she’s passing as white, too?”

  “Passing? That’s very dangerous in this arena, especially with your black ass around here stirring the pot.”

  “Oh, so do you really want to talk about my black ass? Your love for my black ass is what got us here in the first place,” Tesha snapped back.

  “Enough, enough. How much does she want?”

  “Three million dollars.”

  “We both know that number is insane, Tesha. I will give her one million, and that’s just because she’s my child. I would never have her out there in the world living in the gutter and throwing shit on my name. You tell that girl of ours to take this money and keep her fucking mouth shut. There is too much riding on this, Tesha. You’d better have this handled. I cannot be in the midst of another scandal. I won’t survive it this time. Do you hear me? I’ll make the transfer later today, but you make sure she knows to keep her damned mouth closed.”

  Cannon slammed the phone down and pounded his fist onto his desk.

  ***

  “See how easy that was?” James said proudly. He loved his new wife. She was down for anything, and she loved the hell out of him. “Now, we just have to do the same thing to Marcellus, and we’ll be set for the rest of our lives,” James continued.

  Little did he know, Marcellus wouldn’t be as easy a sale.

  “I don’t give a damn what he says, James. I’m not giving Cannon Keen money. If he wants to blackmail me, let him go ahead. I promise you, he’ll have more to lose than me.”

  James wasn’t prepared for such resistance, and it showed.

  “Well Bro, a little birdy gave me the heads up, and I wanted you to know.”

  “James, stop lying. I know you like the back of my own hand, and this has you all over it. If you need money ask, but don’t come to me with this bullshit. Who came up with this? Was it that hood booger wife of yours?”

  “That’s your problem Big Bro. You always thought you were smarter, so what if it isn’t really Cannon Keen. The fact is, if you don’t get me 2 million dollars by tomorrow, I am telling everybody about your little African American family. I don’t mind being the poster child for that.”

  Marcellus knew his brother had him over a barrel, but all he needed was time and within a split second, the Senator had a plan.

  “Look, here’s the way this shit is gonna work. I ain’t giving you shit until after the election. How do I know you aren’t gonna come after more money then, too?”

  “Nah, Bro. Then you could get elected and not break bread.”

  “Shut up, you dumb mother fucker. You have a house, car, and monthly allowance because of me. Chill the fuck out before you’re making press release from a fucking box.”

  “Dang Big Bro, you don’t have to get so hostile.”

  “I’ll send you a postdated check if that’ll make you feel better. Now get your disrespectful and ungratef
ul ass off my phone.”

  Marcellus slammed the phone down, and as soon as he did it rung again.

  “What else do you want?” he asked.

  “Dad, what are you talking about? This is me Matt. It’s time.” Marcellus could hear his daughter-in-law scream as his son continued. “We’re heading out to the hospital now. Lena is taking charge as usual, so we’re fine, but get here as soon as you can. I don’t want you to miss the birth of Matthew Marcellus Marlowe, Jr.”

  “Don’t you worry about it son. I’m on my way.” Marcellus jumped up from his desk and grabbed his phone.

  “Jimmy!” he screamed, “Isn’t Cannon Keen here in Charlotte today?”

  “Yes Sir. He’s a couple blocks away at a venue downtown.”

  “Get him on the line for me,” Marcellus ordered.

  “Excuse me, Sir.”

  “You heard me, Jimmy. Get him on the phone for me, and you can do it right here. Just have a seat.”

  For the first time since he’d hired Jimmy, he realized that his nephew was sitting right in front of him. The boy looked just like James and his name was Jimmy. How could he have missed that all this time?

  Marcellus looked on as shaky hands dialed the opponent’s camp.

  “Hello. This is Jimmy, assistant to Senator Marcellus Marlowe. I’d like Mr. Cannon Keen, please.”

  The Senator looked on as the room fell silent. Finally, Jimmy began to speak, and within seconds, he was handing Marcellus the phone.

  “Hello My Brother,” Marcellus belted into the phone, “I think we should talk. I have an idea.”

  Jimmy had no idea how these two men were connected, but this phone call was evidence that they certainly were not enemies. They seemed like old frat buddies having a conversation. Jimmy was himself affiliated with another fraternity and he immediately recognized the camaraderie.

  “Great! I’ll pick you up in an hour and we can take my jet to the Port City. My daughter-in-law is about to have my grandbaby.” Marcellus hung up the phone and laid it on the desk before pouring his coffee all over the phone.

  “Oh, shit,” remarked the Senator, “We gotta get you another phone, nephew.”

  Jimmy’s look gave away his thoughts, as the word nephew resounded in his head but he remained speechless.