by Vera Roberts
“Because of Jasmine?” Deborah asked.
“Because of Skipper.” Andrew replied. “I had lunch with him and Mariana the other day. Sweet woman. Beautiful spirit. He’s going to marry her soon. They talked about it at the lunch.”
Deborah warmly smiled. She wanted her son to be happy, no matter what. She hadn’t seen him that happy in years. “He’s very happy with her.”
“He’s extremely happy with her,” Andrew pointed out. “He would be happier if he knew the two most important people in his life were behind him.”
“We supported him marrying the Great Disaster,” Deborah countered. “And look how that turned out!”
“That’s not the only reason Skipper hasn’t been back to Decatur, Deborah,” Andrew replied. “Should I spell it out why you and Firecracker haven’t seen him in years?”
Deborah sighed and a large frown grew on her face. “He shouldn’t have gotten mixed up with that one.”
“Her race had nothing to do with how evil her soul is,” Andrew grabbed Deborah’s hands and held them. “Listen, I’m sorry for all of the hurt and anguish I caused you and our family. It took Skipper a long time to forgive me and I know it took me a longer time to forgive myself. And it makes me sick, just absolutely sick knowing that I somehow contributed to you and Firecracker’s thinking that all Black women are the devil. I’m truly sorry for that. But you can’t have your personal feelings get mixed in with how Scott feels. You always wanted him to be happy, right? He’ll be happy knowing that you support his relationship.”
Deborah wiped the tears falling down her cheeks. Andrew was speaking the truth to her, no matter how uncomfortable it was to hear. She and Scott used to have a close bond, practically joined at the hip. He didn’t mind being labeled as a mama’s boy as long as it meant he respected his mother.
Now he would send her Tiffany gifts and expensive gift cards in lieu of actually seeing her in person. He couldn’t stand to be around her and didn’t want to admit it. She just saw him a week ago and she couldn’t remember the last time she saw him before that.
Deborah missed her son terribly. “I want my son back, Drew,” she sniffled.
Andrew squeezed Deborah’s hands. “Then fight for him.”
****
Scott was sitting in a department store chair, waiting for Mariana to come out and give him a fashion show when he received a text from his mother. I want you and Mariana to come back over for dinner tonight.
Scott’s lips curled into a half-smile. His technology-challenged mother was texting him. It only meant his father was with her and they had an interesting conversation with each other. Or he politely threatened her, which seems more likely.
If Deborah invited Scott and Mariana, it also meant she sent the same text to Christine and Hassan. Scott texted his mother back. We’ll be there tonight. I’ll bring wine. Scott looked back at his text. “Yep, I’ll need a lot of wine for tonight.”
SEVENTEEN
Christine Reed Alhamadan looked down at the test message she just received. She shook her head and tossed the cell phone aside. There was no way she was going to be in the same room with her brother, her father, and their Black girlfriends. It was bad enough she had to stomach that three times separately; she wasn’t about to go for a fourth helping.
“Something troubling you, Chris?” Hassan asked.
“No,” she replied, “nothing really.”
“Which means, something is bothering you,” Hassan walked over to his wife and sat beside her. “Wanna fill me in?”
“We were invited to dinner by Mother. She wants all of us there. My dad was with her; that’s why she sent the text,” she clarified.
“Ah, I wondered how she was able to text you,” Hassan nodded.
“I’m not going,” Christine was adamant. “I’m not going to go over there.”
“Chrissy, don’t you think you’re being immature about all of this?”
Christine shot an annoyed look at her husband. “No.”
“Chrissy…”
Christine got up from the living room sofa and walked over to the window. “Hassan, you don’t understand!” she quietly said.
“Then please fill me in,” Hassan begged, “What is it that I don’t get?”
“I can remember the day when I came home and Mother was in the kitchen. She was nursing a bottle of red wine and sitting quietly as my Dad was saying something to her. I couldn’t figure out what he was saying to her but all of a sudden, Mother went into a rage. She smashed the bottle on the floor and she screamed out, ‘I knew you were leaving me for that Black bitch!’ and other things I don’t care to repeat.
“Father quickly packed up a week’s worth of clothing and headed out. I rushed to see Mother in the kitchen and she was sobbing on the floor with splattered wine all around her. And she was crying, Hassan…” Christine’s lips trembled as she fought back tears. “She was crying.”
Hassan got up and walked over to his wife. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her head as Christine continued. “Scott was over at a friend’s house, so he didn’t see any of this. I told him when he got home and he was angry with Father. He was angry with him for a long time, but they worked out their differences and became really, really close. My mother dated several men but that was just to have someone in her bed. But she never allowed us to go anywhere with Dad’s Black girlfriends because of how she felt. I never understood what she felt until I went into social work and I dealt with it myself. And I hated him. I hated them. And when Scott brought home, Caprina? Forget it!”
“But Jasmine is different,” Hassan said quietly. “So is Mariana.”
Christine shook her head in silent protest. “Two different ones don’t erase the lifetime of bullshit.”
“Don’t you think you’re acting strange given what I go through on a regular basis?” Hassan asked. “I constantly have people follow me around, thinking I’m about to scream something in Arabic and run while a bomb goes off. Do you know how many times I’ve been pulled over just because the police have suspected something? Mind you, this was before I moved here.”
“What you go through is different, Hassan,” Christine turned around and faced her husband, “People are ignorant. They think all Arab people are bomb-makers and terrorists.”
“Just like how you think every Black woman is ghetto and a welfare recipient?” Hassan smiled.
“That’s different and you know it,” Christine warned.
“Well, Chrissy, I don’t know what to tell you,” Hassan didn’t want to fight with his wife’s obvious ignorance, “but I’m going to go over there and have a good time. If you want to stay here and mope, suit yourself. But the only one being hurt by this is you.” Hassan picked up his keys and left.
Christine watched Hassan start the car and leave. She hated to admit her husband was right, but she was damned to go over to her mother’s house and put on a show for everyone. Scott was hell-bent on marrying a woman he had only known for a few months, just like the last one. And her father? He was into that hippie bullshit.
Christine looked around her large home and noticed how deathly quiet it was. Everyone else was over at her mother’s house, probably joking and laughing and eating some of her famous peach cobbler.
Begrudgingly, Christine picked up her purse and jacket. She determined she wasn’t going to stay long. Just long enough for a slice of peach cobbler and that’s it.
EIGHTEEN
Scott stood outside his mother’s home and looked at the place he had grown to love and loathe. So many wonderful memories were of that very place. Like the time when he won his first Little League game and his parents celebrated all weekend. Or the many times he was playing around in his Sunday best suit before church and all the whoopings he received for dirtying up his clothes. Or when he graduated from high school and his parents threw a graduation party before he left on a full scholarship to USC.
Scott then thought about the awful memories. The many time
s he came home to find his mother passed out on the floor from drinking her problems away. Or the numerous screaming matches his parents had when they thought he couldn’t hear them. Or the many suitors his mother had entertained in front of him and his sister as if she were a salesperson.
Truth to be told, Scott left Decatur to get as far away from his mother and sister as possible. Sometimes he wondered if California was far enough.
Andrew had wanted to take Scott and Christine away from Deborah, but Scott knew if he left his mother, she would die. He couldn’t in good conscience at the ripe age of ten years old do that to his mother. So he prayed. And he prayed. And he prayed. He prayed to God to heal his mother. He prayed to Jesus to give her a blessing.
He prayed to everyone to save his sanity.
The prayers worked. Deborah got help for her depression and turned her life around. Scott felt comfortable enough leaving his mother behind in Georgia while he pursued his career in California. He remained close with his family and often went home to visit them.
Until he met Caprina. And that’s when it was shot to hell.
Caprina was the best and worst thing that had ever happened to Scott. It took him years to clean up his reputation, which she damaged so viciously in the press. Over time, word got around— not through Scott’s doing—that Caprina’s version of events was made-up of lies. Her career suffered while his steadily climbed. Every so often, Scott wondered what his life would’ve been like had he not met Caprina.
There were many horrible things about Caprina Scott could detail and it would’ve been a grocery list for anyone who wanted to listen. But he would never forgive her for the damage she had done to his family. Seven years later, and he was still cleaning up her mess. He wouldn’t have cared if it weren’t for the fact he was serious about the love of his life. He had a love for Mariana so strong, he wondered if he was able to stand it sometimes.
“Do you plan on staying out here all night, honey?” Mariana quietly asked.
“Sorry,” Scott shook his head to relieve his thoughts, “I was in deep thought.”
“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, Scott,” Mariana pressed.
“No, I have to,” Scott let out a deep breath, “I can’t avoid my family forever.”
“Okay,” Mariana nodded, “but if you don’t want to be here, we can leave.”
“No, I’ll be fine,” Scott wrapped his arms around Mariana, “I got you here so I’ll be fine. Go inside and help Mother set up. I’ll be right in.”
“Okay,” Mariana kissed her boyfriend goodbye, “don’t take too long, now.”
“I won’t,” Scott smiled and watched Mariana walk inside. He looked up at the starry sky. “All right, Big Man, I’m going to need Your help tonight. I know it’s been a while since I’ve prayed to You, but I really need Your help. Please just heal our family tonight. Please? Amen.”
Scott began to head inside when he suddenly stopped. He turned and looked around. Scott wasn’t entirely positive but he had the feeling that someone was following him. But who? And why would they follow him to Decatur out of all places?
He convinced himself he wasn’t getting enough rest and it was making him loony. He was on vacation with the love of his life and things were going wonderfully. All he needed was peace of mind about his family and everything would be settled.
****
Caprina sunk down in the driver’s seat of her rental when Scott spotted her. Her heart was racing and pounding through her chest. She waited a few minutes for him to suddenly show up by her car but was relieved when he went inside his mother’s house instead.
She needed to be more careful.
NINETEEN
Deborah looked around as she set the table. Her home would soon be filled with love once again. Scott and Mariana would sit next to each other. Andrew and Tim would be seated at the head and foot of the table, with Jasmine seating on Andrew’s right and Deborah would sit on Tim’s left. Hassan and Christine would sit next to each other
Deborah waited for her Firecracker to show up.
Christine was always pretty stubborn as a child, though she had never given Deborah and Andrew any problems. She was always firm in her beliefs, no matter how right or wrong they were. It was that quality that made Christine special and authoritative. She had the take-charge personality, and it showed when she was a social worker and even more so when she became a teacher.
It was that quality that also caused a rift between Christine and Scott. They were close growing up and remained so even when Scott moved to California. But Caprina…the Great Disaster…she caused more than her fair share of grief in the family. Bless her heart. Scott never defended his relationship with Caprina and avoided talking about her at all costs. Christine, however, kept bringing up Caprina every chance she got.
It used to be Scott would come home every six months. Then it became every year. Then every two years. Now it was whenever he had time. But Deborah knew better. Scott had the wealth and ability to fly home; time wouldn’t have been an issue.
He didn’t want to see her or his sister. That killed Deborah.
Deborah prayed to God every night hoping He would ease their hearts and find their way back to each other. Deborah just wanted her family back.
She saw Scott entered her home and he greeted everyone with a hug. He warily approached his mother. “Mother,” he politely addressed her.
“I’m glad you came back here on your last night,” Deborah nodded.
Scott shoved his hands in his pockets. “I almost didn’t.”
“I know,” Deborah breathed a sigh of relief. “I know.”
“Do you need any help in the kitchen?” Scott asked.
“No, it’s fine. Mari helped me,” she added.
Scott nodded in agreement. “She’s a good woman.”
“I know this, and even though you don’t believe me, I think she’s perfect for you and you two will have a wonderful marriage.” Deborah admitted. She couldn’t see her son with anyone but Mariana. “I only want the best for you, son.”
“I know that, Mother,” Scott admitted, “but I need you to trust me.”
“Trust you? Don’t be silly, Scott Christopher! I do trust you and –”
“And leave my relationship out of your concern,” Scott politely warned his mother. “I need you to accept my choices and let me make my own mistakes, Mother.”
Deborah wrapped her arms around her son and held him close to her. “It doesn’t matter how old you get, Scott, it doesn’t matter,” she whispered as tears fell down her face. “You’ll always be my little boy.”
“I know, Mother,” Scott whispered as he held her, “but your little boy has to grow up sometime.”
****
“I know Chrissy may seem like a hard-ass and she can be at times,” Hassan addressed Mariana as they set the dining table, “but she’s a real sweet person.”
“Are you a racist, too? Because I don’t see any other reason why you would accept your wife like that.” Mariana replied.
Hassan smiled as he took the insult. “No, I’m not, and I’m not saying you should accept what Chrissy has said to you. But she’s going to take some time to warm up.”
“Whatever,” Mariana no longer cared, “if she doesn’t want to accept me, that’s fine. But she’s going have to accept changes in the family sooner than later.”
“She will,” Hassan nodded. He heard a car pull up and recognized it was his wife. Christine decided to come to dinner after all. “Look, she’s here. I’ll go outside and meet her.” He left to meet his wife.
“Yay,” Mariana quietly replied, “this should be a fun last night.”
****
Christine entered the home and saw Scott and Deborah still wrapped up in their embrace. “I hate to break up this dance, but I would like to speak to my brother alone for a minute?”
Deborah let go of Scott and wiped her eyes. “I bet my makeup is just ruined! I’m going to go upstairs to fresh
en up and will be back down to start prayer! Your father and Jasmine should be here any moment.” Deborah left the siblings alone.
Christine waited until their mother was out of earshot before she spoke to her brother. “Scott, I want to apologize about the other night. It was wrong of me to accuse you for destroying the family and I was a complete bitch about it. I hope you will forgive me.”
“I forgive you, Chrissy,” Scott nodded, “but just like what I told Mother, you need to let me live my life. I don’t meddle into your life or what Mother is doing and I respect you both. I need the same respect towards me.”
Christine slowly nodded. “It’ll be a while before I accept your little girlfriend.”
Scott swallowed his real thoughts. “Her real name is Mariana and I suggest you learn it.”
“Fine.” Christine gritted her teeth. “It’ll be a while—a long while—before I accept Mariana.”
“That’s better,” Scott nodded, “and I don’t expect it to be instant, as long as you eventually do.”
Christine dropped her stance. Scott wasn’t the lovesick puppy who followed Caprina around everywhere. He was a grown man and confident of his decisions. “You really love her?”
“More than anything.” Scott had never been surer of his feelings.
“You really want to marry her?” Her voice was quiet.
“Soon.”
Christine shrugged. “That’s good enough for me,” she walked over to her brother and gave him a hug. “I don’t want you to get hurt again, Scott. We all love and care about you very much.”
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take, Chrissy,” He hugged his sister back. “You and Mother have to trust me.”
“We do trust you, Scott,” Christine whispered.
“Then prove it to me,” he rubbed his sister’s back, “and to Mari.”
****
Dinner was wonderful. Everyone got along and the conversation was pleasant, and touched on social issues to dishing about the latest celebrity news, to which the men rolled their eyes in disgust.