Free from Guilt

by Pat Simmons

  “I guess you didn’t hear a word I said.” Drexel cleared his throat and turned to Cameron. “As you can see, it’s far too early for Gabrielle to entertain guests. My sister’s just moving in,” Drexel smarted off. He squinted at Cameron. “And it doesn’t appear you came dressed to help.”

  Removing his hand from the spot on her back, Gabrielle could feel Cameron tense. She recognized the testosterone standoff and began to pray. These were two professionals, surely they were not about to embarrass her in a brawl.

  Taking off his glasses, Cameron dismissed Drexel. “Don’t let my appearance fool you. I am fully capable of lifting, moving, and dusting. Bring it on.” With that sharp rebuke, he reached for Gabrielle’s hand and squeezed it. If it was an intended gesture to irk her brother, he had succeeded.

  “I wanted to be here to welcome you to St. Louis. I came straight from the university, but I’m here to work,” he explained himself to Gabrielle.

  Before she could reply, her brother cut in, “Jamieson, this is my only sister. She’s not a toy for you to play with. I know what you want, but—”

  “Good,” Cameron stepped closer, “as long as we have an understanding that I want your sister with the sincerest intentions.”

  Cameron’s boldness caused Drexel’s nostrils to flare and his hands to ball into fists. Gabrielle could tell her brother was using all the restraint God gave him.

  Dignified, mild-mannered, highly educated, loving, and walking with Jesus, Drexel didn’t let people get under his skin. Somehow, Cameron had succeeded, and this was only the second time the two met.

  Not good. She didn’t want to add friction to her life. But right now, she was standing beside a major source. Gabrielle desperately wanted the Duprees’ stamp of approval on Cameron if they were going to spend a lot of time together. There was no doubt about it; he was going to have to come around soon.

  A honking car and yelling ended the stalemate.

  “Fight, fight!” Grandma BB shouted from the window of a dark Hummer that pulled up next to Talise.

  Gabrielle cringed. “What is she doing here?”

  “That seems to be the number one question of the hour,” Drexel said snidely.

  Gabrielle hoped she wasn’t bringing “ghetto” to this idyllic neighborhood. First, two men were poised to throw a warning punch. Now this crazy woman pulled up, hanging out of a vehicle, encouraging a fight. Were there any more surprises waiting to happen? she wondered.

  “At ease, men,” Grandma BB commanded, as a bear-sized man assisted her out of the SUV. “Before the boxing match begins, let’s get your girlfriend moved in and then I’ll referee the fight.”

  Grandma BB made her way to Gabrielle and embraced her. “Let the good times roll.”

  Decked out in her Stacy Adams shoes, Grandma BB didn’t look dressed to lift a box. Talise quickly came to her friend’s rescue. Looping her arm through Gabrielle’s, she steered her away from the drama.

  “Grandma BB hasn’t stopped singing your praises about your Mace incident at my nuptials. She has replayed the scene numerous times to the Jamieson wives. You’ve become her hero, you know.”

  “Okay.” Shrugging pensively, Gabrielle still didn’t understand.

  “She’s here to convince you to team up with her for covert activities in her neighborhood, in case you get bored.” Repeating the elderly woman’s words, Talise tried to explain. With a clueless expression, she finally threw up her hands. “Hey, don’t ask me. I’m just celebrating my six-month wedding anniversary.”

  God, if this is Your will, I’m definitely not getting off to a good start. Everybody seems to be crazy. Somewhat perplexed, Gabrielle wondered again if this was a good career move.

  “Since none of our husbands were available to give you a hand, Grandma BB enlisted help from some of her personal assistants,” Talise further explained.

  She stepped closer. “Before you do, don’t ask. I can’t imagine what work they do for her. Girl, wait until you see the muscles on those men. Whew. I had to close my eyes and thank Jesus for the good man I have.”

  Gabrielle laughed. “You’ve got a praying man. That’s worth money, looks, or health. You are truly blessed.”

  Suddenly, the devil taunted her. Look at you, you’ve been faithful to God longer than your friend, and what has He given you? A man who you’ll have to compromise to have …

  Before Satan could continue his lies, Gabrielle called on the Name of Jesus and rebuked the seeds of doubt. She may not get a mate that she so much desired, whether Cameron surrendered to Jesus or not. But she was determined to get God’s reward for righteous living—a crown of life, according to James 1:12.

  It seemed as if God sent a distraction when Grandma BB came to her side. Glancing over her shoulder, neither Cameron nor Drexel had budged. Instead of a physical exchange, they were having a heated debate.

  As a judge, Drexel believed in solving worldly matters in the courtroom and spiritual struggles in the prayer room. Nevertheless, he would return a swing if necessary when it came to defending his sister. She had witnessed it while growing up.

  “It’s a matter of time before you go down, chile.” Grandma BB shook her head, as her three workers/bodyguards/boy toys waited near the Hummer for her instructions. She winked at Gabrielle. “Just don’t go down without a fight. But right now, we need to separate them two.”

  Swallowing hard, Gabrielle could only stare in bewilderment.

  Jesus, what have I’ve gotten myself into?

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Look, Drexel,” Cameron tried to reason with Gabrielle’s brother, “we’re both men who could have our pick of women. I’ve made my choice—Gabrielle. There’s something about your sister that makes me crazy without her. For that reason, to keep my sanity, I need her in my life.”

  “She deserves better than you,” he snapped.

  “Better?” Cameron laughed. “I’m the descendant of an African king. I have a bank account that might surprise you—”

  “Surprise me.”

  Cameron ignored the bait. “I am a newly appointed chairperson of the engineering—”

  “Listen, Jamieson,” Drexel cut him off again and folded his arms. “Public records are just that, public. If I want to know anything about you, I can obtain your background information through legal means. However, my concern is your intentions. Since you’re bent on giving me your résumé, I would be interested in hearing what you do for the Lord.”

  Recognizing the trick question, Cameron didn’t back down. “I donate time and money to various organizations.” He began to list his philanthropic deeds.

  Drexel sneered. “You’re too smart for your own good. You can always tell a saint of God because he has a ready testimony of what God saved him from.” He glanced over his shoulder and so did Cameron. Gabrielle gave them both a worried look. Drexel faced him again. “If you don’t have one yet, keep living. Sure enough, by the time my sister finishes with you, you’re going to be praying for deliverance.”

  What was that supposed to mean? The man was crazy. Gabrielle had tried and failed to run him away. Jamiesons had staying power. Cameron could only shake his head at her brother’s absurdity. He and Gabrielle were getting along just fine. And as long as they kept Christ out of their personal conversations, they would have perfect harmony in their relationship.

  The following week, things were already not going as Cameron planned. Somehow, instead of exploring the new hot spots in St. Louis with Gabrielle, he got stuck babysitting the men in his family.

  Grandma BB had just upped him by orchestrating a women’s-only housewarming party for Gabrielle. He became suspicious when Gabrielle told him no men were allowed besides those who were paid to wear aprons and serve the ladies. Grandma BB was legendary for being the life of the party, or, better put, bringing mayhem to a shindig. So what was she up to?

  His family, who met the sassy senior while he was away in college, said Grandma BB was harmless. However, rumors involving h
er reached him all the way in Boston. If a person didn’t know that she shot Parke’s father-in-law, served jail time, and escaped from a nursing facility—along with other outlandish tales—they would think she was just a sweet old lady. What havoc was she looking to reap in his life with Gabrielle?

  “It’s great to have you living back home, Cam,” Parke said, interrupting his musings.

  “I know. The more Jamiesons, the merrier. I was long overdue returning, especially after the Boston bad boys left town,” Cameron joked. He was referring to Ace and Kidd before the Lord saved them. He stretched out his legs on an ottoman. “It’s hard to separate us. And we’re what generation of cousins?”

  “Twelfth,” Parke confirmed.

  “That doesn’t matter, we have each other’s back,” Ace chimed in, bumping fists with Cameron. “Through thick and thin … and through Drexel and Drexel.” He snickered.

  “Don’t go there,” Cameron warned. He had nothing to prove to Gabrielle’s brother, only to her. “Anyway, we might not have ever connected if it wasn’t for the genealogy quest in our blood. That’s why it’s important to connect with other members on the Jamieson tree.” He spied Kidd’s reaction.

  Kidd scoffed. “It’s a good thing you and Ace connected, because I had already written you off as crazy. But now, in hindsight, I see the dots that God connected to lead me to the beautiful wife I have. With that said, I believe in leaving well enough alone.”

  Ace’s older brother wanted Cameron to butt out of any discussion around bonding with recently discovered half siblings. At first, Cameron had agreed to honor Kidd’s wishes, but he couldn’t let it go and eventually changed his mind. After meeting Denise at Ace and Talise’s reception, Kidd’s request now seemed unreasonable. This is about family, he reasoned to himself.

  His cousin may not be a Bible scholar, but Kidd always had one Scripture handy. Whenever Cameron attempted to reopen the discussion, he would quote chapter and verse. “‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances,’ Philippians 4:11”, Kidd would inevitability say.

  “I’m content. I’m saved in Jesus and happy to be a husband and father. Let it alone, cuz,” he said repeatedly.

  For now, Cameron would respond inwardly.

  Tonight, he turned his attention to the other Jamieson men in the sunroom. They were feasting on hot wings, soda, and pizza. Engaged in a friendly family rivalry, they watched an unusual baseball matchup between the National League St. Louis Cardinals and the American League Boston Red Sox.

  During the commercial break after the Sox took the lead by scoring one point, Cameron broached the subject again. Denise was depending on him to convince Kidd that regardless of the sins of Samuel Jamieson, they were all brothers and sisters and should meet each other.

  “What do you all think about a Jamieson family reunion, get-together, or what not?” Cameron took another shot, shrugged, and crossed one leg over his knee. Casually, he exchanged a quick glance with Parke. His brothers had already agreed to help sway Kidd’s mind.

  “Don’t we already have one at Jamieson family game nights? Speaking of which, it’s at your house next,” Kidd said with a grin. “I cleaned up for hours after y’all left.”

  Not to be sidetracked, Cameron pressed, “Well, I thought we should expand it a bit.” He wondered if Kidd suspected a setup.

  Kidd had a hard edge. Not much fazed him unless it came to his brother, mother, wife, or daughter. Ace was the free spirit in the family. Although he was willing to meet Denise, Ace wouldn’t go against his brother if Kidd wasn’t on board for a large-scale meeting.

  “You’ll have to admit that without my zeal, you wouldn’t have met your wife. Can you imagine what else you’re missing by not knowing other family members in the Jamieson bloodline … such as your half siblings in Oklahoma City and Hartford? They are all eager to meet you. Denise took a chance coming to Ace’s ceremony, not knowing how she would be received.” Once Cameron opened up the floodgate, he wasn’t about to back down.

  The one tidbit he omitted was that Denise’s youngest brother was just as adamant as Kidd about not meeting his half siblings. Zaki was a carbon copy of Ace in looks and mannerism, but he was all Kidd in attitude. The man’s raw emotions stood out when Cameron and Gabrielle visited Denise.

  Throw the two brothers in a dark alley, and it would have been a pit bull fight. Cameron agreed with his brothers, with that type of mindset, a person like Kidd needed Jesus. When his cousin couldn’t control his emotions and temper, church was the necessary alternative to change his lifestyle. On the other hand, he himself didn’t need to be caught up in the religious whoopla; his life wasn’t in disarray. At least, that was Cameron’s assessment of how he and Kidd differed.

  He looked at Parke to back him up, and his big brother stepped up to the plate. “Kidd, man, we’re all part of Paki and Elaine. No one has a big happy family—without skeletons in their closets. Over the years, we’ve taken chances when we’ve contacted folks,” Parke explained. “More than once, we’ve been hung up on or told we had the wrong Jamieson when all the information pointed to them. All we want to do is reach out, even if it’s just a hello and goodbye.”

  “You’re the lone holdout in the group, Kevin ‘Kidd’ Jamieson,” Cameron asserted. “Is it going to be a hello or goodbye?”

  “They know about us. We found out about them, isn’t that enough?” Kidd argued back, throwing up his arms in frustration. “When I say I’m content with my life right now, I am.” Then, just as Cameron expected, Kidd quoted Philippians 4:11. Afterward, he added, “I’ve lived with drama all my life thanks to my absentee father. I don’t want to meet any more victims of his mass destruction.”

  “That’s understandable, but we’ve got to have each other’s back. I remember when I was barely a teenager. Our grandfather, Parke IV, had a favorite saying, ‘Be kind to one another because you never know whose hand is going to give you that last piece of bread.’ You never know when you may need something or somebody,” Cameron advised.

  Parke nodded in agreement. “Yeah, that was so long ago.” With a quick shift, he then addressed Kidd directly, “Speaking of having each other’s back, remember when you first came here and I was about to put you out of my house?”

  Kidd lifted a brow. “You’re telling that story wrong, cuz, because I was about to leave.”

  “Whichever version doesn’t defend your manhood. Anyway, even though you and I were in the middle of an argument, I still needed you when Grandma BB had her stroke. Just because we’re grown men doesn’t mean we’re self-sufficient and don’t need our families,” Parke said.

  “This isn’t time for a parable.” Cameron regained the conversation. “Denise wants to plan a family reunion with as many of the descendants of the five brothers as she can find. It appears your two older brothers—”

  Kidd scowled.

  “Face it. You’re not in Kansas anymore. That was Samuel’s first family. They’re all older than you, except two, and then two other siblings died.”

  At the mention of death, his defiant expression softened. “How?”

  Everyone in the room knew the story, except Kidd. Cameron swallowed and explained, “There were two sisters in Oklahoma. One died of complications from lupus. She was three years younger than Ace. That left the younger sister alone. She needs you, Kidd. The oldest son was killed in a car accident. He was behind the wheel driving drunk.”

  It wasn’t meant to be a guilt trip statement; the others gave Kidd a moment to digest the information.

  When the tied baseball game became lively again, all eyes focused on the screen, except for Cameron’s. He squinted at Kidd, trying to read his thoughts. Not liking to be the bearer of bad news, he tried to lighten the mood.

  “Hey, I just knew I was the lead genealogist in the family, but it appears I have some competition. I guess I became so engrossed in other areas of my life that I lost my edge. Denise and the others have found descendants of one brother, Fabunni, on the Ohio
census, beginning as early as 1830. I don’t know how I missed them. They were listed as White. I guess they could pass because they were never classified as freed Blacks, mulatto, or Black on any of the census data.”

  “Hmm.” Parke tilted his head. “From what Elaine described in her journal, all her children had colored skin from dark to very fair. I guess Fabunni was fair enough and passed as White. The lie kept going until the descendants no longer knew it was a lie.”

  “Why does it have to be a lie?” Ace countered. “People should classify themselves however they want, Latino, Asian-American, whatever. When I wore my hair in a long ponytail, many people thought I was Cuban. Go figure.”

  “That classification thing is so annoying.” Parke shook his head. “It reminds me of when I was talking about salvation to a group of men. One guy said he was Jewish, as if that was going to end the discussion. I told him I was a Gentile, and that ended the discussion.” He grinned. “Later on, he came back and told me that I had blown him away with my answer. He totally expected me to say Baptist, Pentecostal, or some other denomination. In reality, Jesus is coming back for a church wearing His name only.”

  “We’re digressing,” Cameron charged, after Parke slipped his testimony into a conversation that had nothing to do with religion. “Back to what the pretty boy of the family was talking about.” Cameron laughed and balled up a napkin, then aimed it at Ace.

  “Let me clarify my statement. During slavery, all it took for Whites to keep Blacks enslaved was the one drop of Black blood. That’s how they had you pegged. The same mentality is still used today where a person has to choose. Evidently, Fabunni’s descendants are comfortable in their skin.”

  “And that’s why folks need to leave well enough alone,” Kidd stated.