Vengeance

by Mychea

  “Nai, do you have you TV on?”

  “No, why? What’s wrong?” Naima asked hearing the urgency in Haven’s voice.

  “Turn to the news quick, your Dad’s picture is on there.”

  “Are you serious? What are they saying? Shoot, I can’t find the remote.”

  “Wait a minute. They’re saying something about a fire.” Reaching for her remote, she turned the TV up to hear the news reporter.

  “Behind me, a house caught fire on the eighteenth block of Lee Drive earlier this evening.

  The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, we do have news that two individuals were inside the house. We have confirmation that both victims have been pronounced dead. We here at Fox 5

  send our condolences to the families of Camille Hunter and Kenneth Vaughn.

  “Oh my God. This can’t be true, it can’t.” A broken up Naima said over the phone.

  “I don’t believe it either. I’m so sorry. Do you need me to come over?”

  “No, oh my God,” She said again. “I have to check on my Mom.” Haven could hear her sobbing on the other end of the line, “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Ok, I’m on my way. I’ll meet you at your Mom’s.”

  Haven hung up the phone, “Chris!” she yelled as she got up to go to the closet to put on some sweats. Having downed the sweats and still seeing no sign of Chris, she began walking toward the nursery where he had been feeding Kadir. Not finding him in there, she saw a dim light coming from his study. She pushed the door open slowly, “Chris,” she said softly. She found him holding a sleeping Kadir in his arms with tears coming down his face. The Channel 7 news was on and they were recapping the fire incident.

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  Haven watched as her husband cried for his mistress with their child in his arms and shut the door quietly to not disturb her sleeping baby. Her eyes mirrored his pain, as much as she would have loved to do or say something, she couldn’t, she had to get to Naima’s Mother’s house. Her friend was more important right now, than anything, she and Chris were dealing with. Leaving a note saying where she would be she left.

  Arriving at the Vaughn house, you would have thought it was the Fourth of July. The whole house was lit up it seemed like. Testing the front door to see if it was unlocked, which it was, Haven walked in. Following the sound of the voices, Haven found everyone congregated in the family room.

  She thought that Mrs. Cynthia would be the one needing the most consoling, but Emeri was sitting in the middle of the floor crying her eyes out damn near hyperventilating and Mrs.

  Cynthia was consoling her. Kaden was doing his best to calm a weeping Naima and Namiyah and Kalani were sitting there not saying a word.

  Haven was at a loss for what to do. She went over to the kids to see how they were holding up. Kneeling down on the floor in front of them, she touched Namiyah and Kalani on their knees.

  “Hey guys, how are you feeling?” Kalani didn’t seem connected to what was going on, but Namiyah was trying hard to hold back her tears. Reaching up Haven pulled her into a hug.

  Haven smoothed Namiyah’s long hair back, “It’s ok honey. You can let it out. Your God Mommy is here.”

  Namiyah broke at that moment. She lost the fight to be strong willed and allowed the tears to fall. She couldn’t believe that her Granddaddy was gone. She had a crazy Aunt, her Granddad was pronounced dead, what planet was she on? Why was he at that women’s house anyway?

  Hugging her Godmother back as hard as she could, she was fed up with this crazy life.

  “I didn’t even know Daddy knew Camille.” Naima said to no one in particular as she wiped the tears from her eyes. She watched her mother comfort a distressed Emeri, which angered her.

  Her mother was the one that just lost her husband and though she seemed to be fairing the best out of all of them, she should be the one being comforted.

  “Momma, you should sit down,” Naima said, “Are you doing ok?”

  “Chile, you know I can’t sit and rest with all these folks in my house. I’ll be back, I made hot cider for everyone.”

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  Naima followed her Mom to the kitchen, “Momma stop, I’ll take the tray,” Naima said as her Mother sat the last cup of piping hot cider on top of it. Grabbing a hold of her arm forcing her Mother to look at her, she tried again.

  “Momma, you don’t have to be so tough all the time. This is Daddy, it’s ok to cry.” But Naima knew her mother, as long as the sky stayed up above and the ground down below, Cynthia Vaughn would not shed a tear for the world to see.

  “Baby, you and Emeri are crying enough for me. I’ll be fine. Now shoo, take that tray for me and I’ll be out in a minute.”

  Naima picked up the tray as she was told and rejoined everyone in the living room. Cynthia picked up a rag to wipe off the counter and noticed Kenneth’s favorite whiskey glass sitting there. Lord how that man loved his whiskey, she thought with a half smile. Picking it up slowly, the tears slowly ran down her cheeks. Her husband would never drink out of his favorite glass again. The reality of that came down on her like a ton of bricks. Placing the glass in the sink, she retrieved her rag and cried as she finished cleaning the kitchen.

  Across town

  Coleen had just finished putting Justin down for the night when her cell phone rang. Shocked to see her Mother’s name appear on the screen she answered, “Hey Mom.”

  “Coleen baby, you’re ok.”

  Huh? She thought, “Yeah, I’m ok. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “I was afraid you might have been over Camille’s this evening.”

  “Mother, you’re not making any sense, why would you be afraid I was over Camille’s? Why would it matter where I was?”

  “Oh sweetie, it’s all over the news.”

  “What? What’s all over the news?” Coleen was baffled, as she looked for her remote so she could cut the TV on and see what had her Mother in such an uproar.

  Finally locating her remote, which she had put on top of the TV to keep out of Justin’s reach, Coleen cut on the TV turning to the news.

  “Mom, what’s on the news?”

  “Camille baby. Her house burned down tonight.”

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  Coleen dropped the phone as Camille and Kenneth’s faces came onto the screen. She saw the fire fighters in the background still attempting to dowse the flames. She began to shake her head in disbelief. This could not be happening to her family. Hearing her name being called, Coleen returned the phone from where it had landed.

  “I’m here.”

  “You alright?” Coleen’s whole body shook. No she was not alright.

  “Coleen. Coleen” Her mother was frantically calling her name.

  “Mom, I’m here.”

  “Maybe you and Justin should come here for a little while.”

  “Tomorrow Mom, I promise. I have to go.” Practically hanging up on her mother Coleen fought to get her thoughts and emotions in check, what was she going to do with her life now?

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  Chapter 13

  Emeri had fucked up royally. Sitting in her room after Kenneth’s funeral waiting for all the visitors to pay their respects to the family, she felt like shit. When she’d set Camille’s house on fire, she had no idea that the visitor that was there was her Father. Feeling the moisture on her cheek, she brushed the unwelcomed tears away. She was now an orphan in the world and there was no one to blame but herself. This was a huge mistake, big, colossal. She had never intended for Kenneth to get hurt.

  Hearing a soft knock on the door, she turned and wiped the remaining tears away, “Come in,”

  she said.

>   Tyson strolled in joining her on the bed. It was obvious from her tear-streaked face that she wasn’t feeling the greatest.

  “Do you want to talk?” He offered.

  “No.”

  “Do you mind if I sit here with you?”

  “No.”

  “Are you going to say anything other than no?”

  “Tyson, I’m not ready to talk. When I am, I will let you know. In the meantime can you just lay here with me not asking questions?”

  “You got it pretty lady. I’m hear when you’re ready.”

  “I know you are and I’m thankful for that.”

  Namiyah was the one to answer the door for Coleen when she arrived at the Vaughn house with her cute son from the photos in her office. She was glad to see Coleen, she had seen her at her Granddad’s funeral earlier but before that she hadn’t seen her since before her sister died. Coleen had cancelled all of their therapy sessions until further notice.

  “Hi Coleen.”

  “Hello Namiyah,” Coleen said as she clenched her son’s hand tightly, “is it alright if we come in?”

  “Sure,” Namiyah said as she moved aside to let the two of them enter. Coleen looked a mess.

  Her face was red and puffy, eyes almost swollen shut as if she had been hit by a two by four. Her Copyright © 2010 Mychea

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  son on the other hand looked so handsome in his little black suit clutching his ninja toy. “Mostly everyone is in the basement. If you’re looking for Gram, she’s in the kitchen with my Mom.”

  “I want to see your Gram. Thanks sweetie, I’ll find the way.”

  Coleen had only been there once before for the counseling session with Emeri, but she was sure she could figure it out. Locating the kitchen relatively easy, she saw most of the family in there.

  Cynthia was the first to notice Coleen hovering in the doorway. She walked over to receive her with a hug.

  “What a nice surprise. I saw you at the church, but didn’t get a chance to say hello.”

  Coleen returned the hug she offered. “I wanted to speak as well, but decided to just stop by the house to see you.” Looking at Cynthia, “Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

  “Yeah, we can go into the sunroom. It should be empty.” Noticing the little boy by Coleen’s side, Cynthia offered to have him join the other children.

  “No,” Coleen quickly stated, “I prefer for him to stay with me.”

  As she followed Cynthia down the hall, Coleen couldn’t help but take notice of the many photos that lined the halls. On the outside, the Vaughn’s seemed like your typical American family, it wasn’t until a person delved deeper did they find out how corrupt and tormented their family really was.

  Sitting in one of the chairs in the room, Cynthia pointed to another for Coleen to have a seat.

  “What’s on your mind Dear?”

  Coleen had no idea how to begin. All of her psychological training went out the window. She had no idea how to bring up the topic she needed to discuss with Cynthia. Figuring the direct approach was always best, especially with a no nonsense type of woman such as Cynthia, Coleen forged ahead.

  “I was wondering when the meeting for Kenneth’s will reading will be taking place, or if his lawyer has contacted you as of yet because I haven’t received notification.”

  Cynthia was confused by this conversation. Why did Coleen care about Kenneth’s will?

  “As a matter of fact, our lawyer has contacted me, but I don’t see why that would concern you.”

  “It concerns me because I need to make sure Justin is taken care of.”

  “Who is Justin?”

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  Coleen nodded her head in her son’s direction. “That is Kenneth’s son.”

  “Momma! Momma! Wake up” Cynthia opened her eyes slowly to Naima frantically calling her name. Trying to sit up, Cynthia had no idea how she had come to be lying on the floor.

  “What in the world happened?”

  “You passed out Mommy. And it’s no wonder, you’re probably under too much stress. If Coleen hadn’t been in here to break your fall, who knows what could have happened. You need to rest.”

  Hearing Coleen’s name jarred Cynthia to full awareness. She saw her standing in the corner and everything she told her came flooding back to the surface.

  “You need to leave my home. You are not welcome here.” Coleen’s face turned crimson.

  Naima stood back shocked; her Mom never spoke to anyone that way. What was going on?

  “Momma, Coleen tried to help you. She didn’t do anything, Why are you being so rude to her?”

  “Naima, stay out of this.” Cynthia reprimanded lightly, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Addressing Coleen again, Cynthia said, “I asked you to leave.”

  Snatching up Justin’s hand, Coleen was mortified. Trying to do exactly as Cynthia had suggested, she ran smack into Emeri who materialized in the doorway. Standing eye-to-eye Emeri smirked at her. Not knowing what got into her, Coleen smacked her with all the strength she could muster, knocking the smirk clean off Emeri’s face.

  Emeri grabbed her face in shock, and then tackled Coleen to the ground. “You whoring bitch!”

  Letting Justin’s hand go as Emeri took her down, so he wouldn’t get hurt, Coleen braced for the fall.

  “I know you had something to do with their death’s you psycho bitch,” she spat out as they wrestled on the floor, “And when I prove it, the state is going to fry your ass.”

  Naima and the family watched in horror as Emeri continuously pounded her fist into Coleen’s face. Kaden was the only one brave enough to pick a swinging, kicking, biting Emeri off Coleen.

  Naima looked around for Tyson and he was nowhere in sight; She could not believe what was going on; everyone was behaving like raving lunatics and for what?

  The family watched as Kaden carried Emeri out of the room.

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  “Namiyah, take Coleen’s son downstairs so he doesn’t have to witness anymore of this.”

  Naima said.

  “No, don’t any of you touch my son!” A swollen beat down Coleen yelled from the floor.

  Speaking slowly and patiently, Naima tried to reason with her, Emeri had messed up her face pretty bad. Her lips were busted, her left eye was already turning blue and black, teeth marks were visible on her cheeks and blood was oozing out of a cut above her right eye.

  “Coleen, let me help you get cleaned up. No one here is going to hurt your son.”

  Pulling herself off the floor slowly, Coleen was not having it. She didn’t want anything from this family except to make sure Justin was taken care of.

  “That won’t be necessary, we’re leaving. Turning to Cynthia she said, “My lawyer will be in touch.” Marching across the room grabbing Justin’s hand she left, practically dragging him behind her.

  Naima was at a loss for words. Her Mother was still sitting on the floor from having passed out, Kaden was somewhere in the house trying to calm a crazed Emeri and the house was still packed with friends paying their respects.

  “Momma, what in the world is going on? I’ve never seen you be so rude in my life.” Naima bent down to help her mother to her feet as she waited for a response.

  “I need to lay down Chile. Today has been a trying day.” She turned before exiting the room,

  “Naima can you thank everyone for coming, but to please excuse my absence , I need to rest.”

  “Of course Momma, anything.”

  “Thanks baby.”

  Naima was genuinely concerned. This behavior was completely out of character for her Mother. Looking over at Haven who was seated in the corner, she watched her shrug her shoulders.

  “I have no idea what just happened either.”
<
br />   “Ok, good.” Naima said sitting down next to her, “I thought I was the only one losing my mind for a second.”

  “No girl, you are not. What do you think Coleen meant when she said she knew Emeri was responsible?” Haven’s eyes widened in horror, “You don’t think Emeri set Camille’s house on fire do you?”

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  “I wondered about that myself, but it doesn’t make sense, why would she burn down Camille’s house, especially with our Dad there? It doesn’t add up.”

  “Why was your Dad there?”

  “You know, that’s the same question I’ve been asking myself since I found out about the fire.

  Nothing about this situation is making any sense.”

  “That’s for damn sure. This place and these crazy sequences of events are pure madness.”

  “Speaking of madness, how is Chris holding up?”

  Rolling her eyes at the ceiling, Haven hated to even discuss her home issues and how Chris was moping in corners and shit crying over Camille.

  “Ugh, he’s crying all over the place looking crazy. I didn’t sign up for this dumb shit.”

  All Naima could do was listen, rather than say anything, because in all actuality Haven did sign up for this and she continued to stay signed on even after she knew what the deal was with Chris and Camille. Deciding silence on the topic was the best course of action, Naima wisely changed the subject.

  “Maybe I should check on Emeri.”

  “Why? She can handle her own. She doesn’t like you anyway, why waste your breath?”

  “Because she’s still my sister and she lost her Dad too. Now she has no one.”

  “Mmugh, suit yourself.” Haven rose to her feet, “I think I’m going to go. Kaven and Kadir both need to be feed and put to bed.” She gave Naima a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “If you need me you know you can call anytime.”

  Naima returned her hug, “I know. Thanks for coming by the house today. I appreciate it.”

  “Girl stop, don’t even mention it.” Haven turned yelling down the hall, “Kaven, let’s go! I’m in the car.” She turned back to face Naima, “Aight girl, I’m out.” She said making her way to the front door, “Remember, call me if you need anything.”