Gate Wide Open

by M. T. Pope

  “Stay right here,” I said to my son as I continued to slowly walk through the house.

  “Sherry!” I yelled out.

  No answer.

  I heard the television on, so I assumed she was ’sleep. I walked to the back bedroom, where I heard the television going. What I saw sent my stomach into convulsions. I had to hold my hand over my mouth just to keep everything down.

  I immediately turned and headed back in the direction of the front door. Just as I got up to Li’l Shawn, my stomach emptied itself all over the carpet and floor.

  “Daddy, what’s wrong?” Li’l Shawn said looking at me with confusion and concern all over his face.

  “Nothing. I need to go outside and make a phone call, okay.” I looked at him with sorrow in my eyes. How in the hell am I supposed to explain to him that his mother is dead?

  I walked outside and put him in my car and stood outside the car as I made the call to the police.

  “Nine-one-one. What is the nature of your emergency?”

  “Three people dead,” was all I could get out before I threw up once again.

  “Are you okay, sir? I need for you to calm down and tell me what is going on, so I can get you the help you need.”

  “Ma’am, I’m at Dunhill Village Apartments on Liberty Road. I was dropping my son off at his mom’s house. When I walked in, I found three people dead.”

  “Okay, sir, where are you now?” the operator asked.

  “I’m standing outside in the parking lot with my son in the car.”

  “Okay, sir, stay where you are. I am dispatching the appropriate authorities within minutes.

  “Okay, okay. Thank you.”

  I was a nervous wreck, and I wasn’t prepared to explain to Li’l Shawn the details.

  Within about five minutes, three police cars and an ambulance pulled up and approached me. I gave them the apartment number, and they raced in with guns drawn.

  After about twenty minutes, the police came back out to question me. I told them I was a lawyer, that I knew two of the three people murdered in the apartment. I hadn’t the slightest clue of who the third one was, and that could stay that way, for all I cared. My real problem was explaining to my family how I had an addition to the family waiting to meet them.

  The police gave me permission to leave the premises after they took down my info. As I pulled off, I was thinking of a way to tell Mona about Li’l Shawn.

  Li’l Shawn asked me about his mom as we drove up Liberty Road. I lied and told him she wasn’t in the apartment and had left a note saying that she would be back later. I told him that I was going to take him to see someone special in the meantime.

  I pulled up in front of the house and exited the car with Li’l Shawn in tow. I didn’t know how she was going to react. It was all or nothing, so I put my key in the door and made my way in.

  “Hey, son.” My mom greeted me with a tight hug. She was still a vision of loveliness, even with her graying hair. She looked amazing and was the epitome of the phrase “black don’t crack.” She looked over at Li’l Shawn. “And who is this young man?”

  I just looked at her, trying to gather my thoughts.

  “This is my son.”

  “Son?” she said with raised eyebrows. “Boy, get in the living room and sit down so you can tell me what mess you have gotten yourself into now.” She pointed toward the living room.

  Li’l Shawn and I made our way to the living room as instructed and sat down. I purposely asked for something to drink for Li’l Shawn so I could get my thoughts together quickly. I didn’t want to do this to my mother, I had no choice.

  She made her way back in with a soda in hand. “Here you go, baby,” she said, handing the drink to Li’l Shawn.

  I instructed my son to go into the kitchen to drink his soda because I didn’t want him to hear what I was about to say to my mom.

  “Now back to you,” she said, looking at me intently. “Spill it!”

  “Okay.” I breathed hard. “I have a son I didn’t know about by the paralegal I slept with to drop the charges when Mona beat her up in front of my office building.”

  “So why are you here?”

  “I need you to keep Li’l Shawn until I find the right time to tell Mona.”

  “Are you serious?” She looked at me with a smirk. “I have raised my children and I don’t plan on raising any more. I’m an old woman, and I don’t plan on chasing after any more children, Shawn.”

  “Look, Mom, I need this favor. All I am asking for is another couple of weeks to get Mona ready, okay. Besides, you owe me this.”

  “Owe you?” she said, looking puzzled and offended.

  “Yeah, Mom. It’s the least you can do for not stopping Daddy from putting his hands on me.”

  She looked at me in shock, a single tear sliding down her face.

  I couldn’t believe I’d said it myself. How could I say such a thing to my mother?

  Before I knew it, she had hauled off and smacked me so hard, I was seeing stars. My mom had never hit me before. Even as a child, she would just send me to my room.

  I sat there as I rubbed my cheeks and took in the shock of the blow, mentally and physically.

  “How dare you come into my house and tell me what I owe you?”

  Her voice was a little above a whisper, but I could still hear the hurt loud and clear.

  “I made my mistakes and done asked the Lord for forgiveness, and it was given so easily. Why can’t you?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that, Momma.” The tears welling up in my eyes flowed freely down my face. I was so ashamed of who I’d become at this moment, but I still pressed on with my plan. “I just need your help right now, and you’re the only one that can help me.” I got up out of my seat and made my way over to my mother and hugged and kissed her sagging cheeks. Tears still flowed from the pain of my past mistakes that were still fresh in my mind.

  “Shawn, I know you’re sorry, and I know that it was just the desperation talking. Just remember what happened the last time you let issues go unresolved in your life.” She rubbed my face with her hands. “Shawn, I will do this for you, but don’t let history repeat itself, because life is too short to do re-dos.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said getting up and wiping my face at the same time.

  She got up as well, and we embraced in a tight hug. I needed this hug. I savored this hug. It was the hug that only a mother could give. The one that says it’s going to be okay, even when you feel like you’re at your wits’ end.

  “Li’l Shawn!” I called out for my son, so I could formally introduce him to his grandmother.

  He walked in and stood at my side, as if afraid I was going to leave him with a stranger.

  “This is your grandmother. You will be staying with her for a little while, until I get things ready for you to come and live with me.”

  Still looking a little apprehensive, he nodded his head.

  “Go on and hug her. She’s not going to bite.”

  He did as instructed and embraced my mother.

  I was so elated to see my son and my mom bond just for the short bit of time that they had met. “Okay, you guys, I have to go, but I will be back tomorrow.” I hugged my mom and whispered another word of apology into her ear.

  Li’l Shawn grabbed and hugged me and hung on for dear life. After a couple of minutes of reassuring him, I made my exit to my car.

  As I drove home, I thought about what my mom said to me and how it rang in my ear over and over again. She was right, and I knew it. I just needed to follow through with it. I also had no clue how I was going to explain to Li’l Shawn that his mom was dead. The only plus was, James was finally out of my hair.

  Chapter 44

  Mona

  Say What!

  February 1st, 2019, 9:03 A.M.

  Shawn was acting very sneaky lately, but I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. I knew he was up to something. I was hoping and praying that he wasn’t messing around with James a
gain. I didn’t know what I was going to do if it turned out that way.

  I was in the house this Monday morning after I’d just dropped all the kids off and was about to start cleaning the house, like I normally did. Scrub this, polish that, you know, the usual. I was sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in my hand and looking over the seating arrangement for the reception after our renewal vows. I decided I was going to do it up, since this was going to be the second time around.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  I was expecting no one, so I was a little hesitant. My mind instantly flashed to James. I paused at the door, trying to gain my composure. I wasn’t ready for this.

  Knock! Knock! Knock!

  “Oh, shit! What do I do?”

  I wasn’t afraid of him. I was afraid that I could be weak and give in to his charm and end up on the floor again with his dick in me.

  I threw caution to the wind and reluctantly opened the door. It was FedEx delivering a certified package. I wondered what it was.

  “Hello, ma’am. I have a package for a Mona and Shawn Black.” The Caucasian man smiled a bright smile as he handed me his hand-held computer to sign for the package.

  I had on some raggedy sweat shirt and pants, and my hair was slightly messy. I was a little ashamed. “Thank you, sir.” I handed him back his portable computer, grabbed the package, and went back into the house.

  I walked back slowly from the door to the kitchen, reading the envelope. “Sun Trust Insurance,” I read aloud to myself. I sat down and opened the letter.

  The Will and Testament of Jerry Parks.

  I, Jerry Parks, of sound mind and body, hereby leave three checks in the amount of thirty thousand each to the following people, Diana Black, Alex Black, and Ashley Black upon my death.

  My mouth was wide open. I was in complete shock. Say what! James is dead. I was relieved, but not happy. I wasn’t heartless. I even felt a tear slide out of my left eye. I quickly wiped it away. I looked in the envelope, and sure enough, there were checks made out to all of the kids. I still couldn’t believe James was dead. Gone. Forever.

  I shook my head in disbelief. I sat back in the chair and absorbed it all. I noticed another piece of paper sticking out. I opened it. It was a letter from James addressed to his children.

  To the children I never got to know,

  If you are reading this, I must be dead. At first I wasn’t going to write this, but I felt that all of you might want to know a little bit about me. Well, let me start by saying that it was never in my plans to father any children, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t care for you. In fact, I secretly loved all of you. I wish I could have gotten to know you better, but that was out of the question, since you already have a father in your life.

  As your mother and father may have told you, I am a bi-sexual man. I was forty-five when I wrote this letter. I am pretty sure you are wondering how your mom and I got together. Well, your mom is a good woman, and I took advantage of her in a moment of weakness. Don’t think anything bad of your mother. I was the one at fault.

  To my two beautiful and precious daughters, Diana and Ashley, I have seen you both on several occasions. You were unaware that I watched each one of you as you waited outside of school waiting to be picked up. Both of you young ladies are very beautiful and spitting images of me. I love both of you.

  To my energetic and strapping son, I prayed as I watched you during football practice. You never saw me watching you, but I was so proud of you, even from a distance. I can’t tell you how proud of you I am.

  I have made many mistakes in my life, but you three weren’t any of them. I left you financial gifts, assured that you all will be accepted in college. I know it isn’t a whole lot, but it is the best that I could do under the circumstances. Again wishing I could have gotten to know you all better, I wish you all the success in the world. You have good parents, so cherish them and make them and me proud.

  Your Father,

  James Parks

  I folded the letter and placed it back inside the original envelope. Tears poured out of my eyes as I thought about what I had read. James had a heart. I didn’t believe it until just now. He was secretly watching them and all. He gave the impression that he could have cared less, and here it is in black and white. He loved his children, but from a distance.

  I sat in the chair for at least an hour pondering how I was going to tell Shawn that James was dead.

  Chapter 45

  Shawn

  Case Closed

  February 1st, 2019, 11:32 A.M.

  I sat in my chair in my office, my door closed, and I had the obituaries of Jerry Parks and Sherry Adams in my hand. James’ funeral was about two weeks after I had found him dead in the apartment with Sherry and the John Doe. The family had a double funeral, since they were killed together.

  I had secretly taken the day off to go because I just had to see what his family was like. Were all of them as crazy as those two? I had snuck in the funereal and sat in the back row, hopefully unnoticed. I had gotten there just in time to see a couple of people at the caskets.

  It was a closed casket for Sherry. From what I saw in the apartment, she was shot in the forehead at close range. James’ casket was open because he was shot in the back of the head at an angle, so the hole in his head wasn’t visible. I decided to get a quick look at him and make it back to my seat.

  As I walked away from the casket, I saw an older, thin lady that James heavily favored in looks being consoled by various mourners as she sat in the front row. I also happened to notice a dude with dreads crying harder than most. You would have thought they were messing around or something.

  I continued to walk away and passed my seat. I exited the chapel, deciding not to stay any longer. I felt kind of bad, though, because the way he died was horrific. Nobody needed to be murdered.

  Buzz!

  “Mr. Black, your wife is on line two.” My paralegal, Renee, buzzed into my office, breaking me out of my recollection.

  “Okay, I got it,” I said, picking up the phone. “Hello.”

  “Shawn, do you have a minute?” Mona asked, a little shakiness in her voice.

  “Sure. A couple.” I sat up in my chair, ready for some bad news. What else can go wrong? “I don’t have to be in court for another half-hour or so.”

  I was actually trial free today and planned on going to spend some time with my newfound son. It was getting harder and harder to look at him, knowing that I had to tell him soon that his mom was dead.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked wearily.

  “Well, ah, I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just say it.” She was breathing into the phone like she was blowing out candles on a cake or something. “James is dead.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Is that all you have to say?” she said, surprised by my reaction.

  “Well…ah…yeah.” I paused. “What should I be saying, Mona? This dude tried hard to wreck our lives, and you had two affairs with him. I’m glad he’s gone and I surely don‘t miss him.” I got up from my chair and walked toward the window. I wasn’t ready for this conversation.

  “Well, Shawn, you don’t have to be so heartless about it.” She sounded like she was on the verge of tears. “He was a human being. And I told you that sleeping with him was something I regretted deeply.”

  “Look, Mona, baby, I apologize for bringing up you cheating on me with him. I said that I forgave you, and I meant it, but you still have to take into consideration what he did to me.” I quickly wiped a tear that slid out of my eye.

  “I know, Shawn. It’s just too much right now, and I don’t know how much more I can take of this.”

  “Don’t worry, when James died, most of our problems died with him.”

  I didn’t even believe that one myself, but I had to say something to calm her down. Shit. James’ dying only left me with one thing to do—Get Li’l Shawn in my house without Mona giving up and leaving me. That wasn’t going to be an easy pi
ll for her to swallow, especially considering she and I didn’t have any biological children together.

  “Okay, Shawn, if you say so.”

  “All right, baby. I love you. I will see you when I get home.”

  “I love you too.” She hung up the phone.

  As soon as I hung up my office phone, my cell phone started ringing. The caller ID said that it was James calling me. What kind of game is going on here? I know, the fuck, James didn’t fake his death. And I know that was his grimy ass in that casket at the funeral.

  “Hello,” I answered the phone, afraid of what I might hear. James pulling the ultimate stunt. Insurance Fraud. Then, again, I didn’t think he’d be that dumb.

  “Who am I speaking with?”

  “Shawn Black. Who wants to know?” I said, putting on my authoritative voice.

  “I’m a friend of James, and I, he was my”—The guy’s voice started to break up like he was about to cry. He continued, “James was my lover, and I found…he left his phone in the house the day…the day they found him murdered. They killed him, and they wouldn’t even tell me who.” He broke down again.

  There was a long pause.

  “I just needed to know who you were because your number was in his call log several times, and I figured you could tell me about my baby.”

  “Look, buddy, I am just James’ lawyer, and I really don’t know a whole lot about him.”

  “Oh, ah, his lawyer,” he said, sounding a little happier. “Well, maybe you could tell me who did this to him.”

  “Look, ah, um, um—”

  “Wallace.”

  “Okay, Wallace, that’s something I can’t do. I really don’t know much.” Well, I knew some stuff, but why should I help the nigga who was sleeping with my nemesis?

  “Oh, okay,” he said, disappointment in his voice.

  I paused for a couple of seconds. “Look, ah, Wallace, let’s meet somewhere. Maybe I can help you out.”

  “Great!”

  “But, like I said, I don’t know much.”

  We decided on a meeting place, and I headed out of the office.