I paused, “What do you want Brian? I am here listening. You’ve been over here about twenty minutes now and you have yet to...” Brian cut me off.
“Put your phone up, Bree!” he yelled
“I don’t have to put up my phone,” I told him.
I can hear the lawnmower going in the backyard.
He yelled again, “Put up your goddamn phone, Bree!”
I got off the swing and said, “Brian, leave.”
He raised his hand.
I yelled, “Leave now! You are not going to disrespect me, my parents, or my home!”
He snatched my phone out of my hand and threw it so far it landed in the street. I took a couple of steps down off the porch. He grabbed my hand and said, “Where do you think you’re going? I hope a car runs over that bitchy-ass phone.”
He pushed me as he let my hand go.
As I was walking to get my phone, two cars and a moving truck ran over my phone.
Brian looked at me, “Well, I guess I am going to have your undivided attention now.”
I clenched my lips together and said, “Brian, leave my house now. If I tell my daddy what you did, you will not leave here alive. I am giving you a chance to leave. Now.”
He looked at me coldly. “I don’t have to go no damn where.”
Right before I opened my mouth to say something, my daddy came out of nowhere with his gun. He quickly ran up the steps and forcefully pushed Brian on the glass door (the door shattered) as he had his hand around his throat.
I screamed very loudly out of fear as I shouted, “Daddy, no! You are going to kill him!” I yelled as loud as I could, “Mommy, help!” I didn’t know what to do. I was scared as I saw him hold Brian against the shattered door. Holding the gun under Brian’s chin, Daddy said, “You punk bitch, better get the fuck off my property before I shoot to kill your ass.”
My mother yelled, “Luke Senior! What are you doing? Put the gun down before you do something you will regret!” Daddy’s expression was very scary as he looked directly into Brian’s eyes. He said, “I will do anything for my children, even kill if I feel like they are in harm’s way.”
My mother said, “Please, Senior, please let him go. He isn’t worth it.” My face was wet with tears. I walked over to Daddy, my hands shaking. I put my hand on the gun and said, “Daddy, I am okay. I am not hurt—I am fine. Please let him go. Please.”
I had a tight grip the gun. As I slowly, pushed the gun down kept saying over and over again, “Daddy, I am okay. I am not hurt. I am fine.”
Daddy kept his eyes on Brian as he said, “My baby girl saved your life. Get your ass off my porch and I don’t ever want to see you around here again.”
Daddy let him go, and Brian ran as fast as he could without looking back.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt as if it was about to fall out of my chest. I sat on the swing and put my left hand on my chest, trying to catch my breath. I said to myself, I am so happy Summer wasn’t here to see this. My mother looked Daddy and asked, “Senior, have you lost your damn mind? What happened for you to…?”
Daddy cut my mother off as he looked at her and said, “Vanessa, I apologize for that, but that little boy is not going to come to my damn house and disrespect my daughter, you, me or my goddamn house.”
My mother was looking confused as she said, “You didn’t answer my question. What happened for you to react this way?”
Daddy’s tone changed as he looked at me. He was calm and patient. He saw that I was a nervous wreck and said, “Breana, I heard Brian yelling at you. That is when I walked over to my truck to get my gun. It pissed me off I saw him push and pull on you.”
He looked at my mother and said, “That is why I ran up on that fool because I was going to kill him for putting his hands on my baby.”
Mother looked at Daddy without saying anything as she started to shake her head. She looked at the glass on the door and said, “Let me call someone to fix the glass.”
I know my mother had more to say, but she knows Daddy doesn’t play around when it comes to his children. She knew that was a battle she wasn’t going to win. I am more than sure that he knows he is never going to hear the end of what happened today. My mother will have the last word without me being in their presence.
Daddy sat beside me on the swing and said, “Breana, tell me what is going on. Don’t you lie to me, either.” I knew I couldn’t lie to him, but I didn’t want to tell him what’s been going on because I was afraid he would load up his gun and head to Brian’s house.
I looked at him then looked down at my fingers. The tips of my fingers were cold. I was nervous. My heart once again was pounding out of my chest.
He looked at me as he put his hand on my hands and said, “Breana.”
I looked at him with tears in my eyes and said, “Daddy, I am so sorry. If I didn’t invite him over none of this wouldn’t have happened.”
Tears started to run down my face as I tried to talk. I couldn’t catch my breath, because my crying had gotten the best of me. I didn’t want to disappoint Daddy, nor did I want him to put his life in danger for me.
Daddy looked at me, wiped the tears off my face. “Breana, baby, stop crying and talk to me.” I laid my head on his chest and said, “Daddy, I don’t want you to be disappointed in me.” He rubbed my head. “Bree, baby, there isn’t anything you can do to make me disappointed in you.”
As I laid on his chest, I said, “Daddy, Brian and I have been broken up for some months now. Remember, I told you that he broke up with me a couple times in one day because I was tired of being his crutch? So, I started to say no because he wanted and needed too much of my time.”
Daddy didn’t say anything. I know what he was waiting to hear. He wanted to know if Brian ever hit me before. I went on to say, “I wasn’t happy when I was with Brian. I know I should have listened to you, Momma and Luke.”
He said, “Baby girl, we all have to learn on our own time. I always knew you deserved better than that boy, but kids nowadays want to do what they want to do. As parents, we have to step back, yet stay close.” Daddy continued, and he got straight to the point. He said, “Breana, I want you to be honest with me when I ask you this.”
I sat up and waited on his question.
He looked at me in the eyes and said, “Bree, has Brian ever hit you before?”
I looked at him and replied, “No, he never hit me before, but he has grabbed and pushed on me before. Months ago, he did say at least he doesn’t hit me like his boys do to their girls.”
His face was livid.
I put my hand on his hand and said, “Daddy, I am okay. We need you here, and Mommy is right, Brian isn’t worth it. I know you want to protect me. You do a great job at doing so.”
Daddy didn’t say anything. He hugged me and rocked me in his arms.
For about five or so minutes there was complete silence until he said, “Brenna, I know you know your worth.” I looked at him and nodded yes, and told him, “Yes, I do.”
He looked at me with tears forming in his eyes and said, “My sweet baby girl, if a boy or man ever hits you, pushes you, pulls you, disrespects you, yells at you, please don’t be afraid to let me know.”
I cried because this was the first time ever that I’d seen him so emotional. “Daddy, I promise I will tell you.” His lips trembled as he said, “Bree, you, Summer, Luke and your mother are my life. You all are my world and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you all. I will protect all of you with every being in my body.”
He went on to say, “I never put hands on your mother and I never will. Your mother is my queen, she and I are one, and I wouldn’t ever want to harm or hurt her in any way because I love your mother dearly.”
I smiled because he spoke with so much passion when he talked about my mother.
He continued, “Bree, don’t ever lower your standards to where you feel it is okay for a boy or a man to put hands on you to physically, mentally, verbally, or spiritually ab
use you. If a boy or man pushes and pulls on you, that is a form of physical abuse. If a man yells at you, that is a form of verbal abuse. If he put you down in any kind of way, that is mental abuse. If he tries to break you down in any way possible that is spiritual abuse—meaning he is trying to break your soul and who you are as a person. That is when a person starts to think they are not worth happiness or start to believe in what they are being told.”
He looked at me with great concern in his eyes as he said, “Breana, I never raised you to be abused in any kind of why. I’ve led by example and will accept nothing less in our household. Breana, you know you are a queen and you deserve to be treated like one.”
I looked at him and said, “Yes, Daddy, I know that I am a queen, and I know I should be treated like a queen and nothing less.”
I hugged him and laid on his chest as I said, “Daddy, don’t worry—I know my worth. You raised an intelligent young lady.”
I smiled. “Daddy, I am blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being the best daddy in the world!”
My mother opened the door and said, “I finally found someone who will be willing to come and fix the door tomorrow. I made dinner while you two had your ‘daddy and daughter’ talk.”
My mother walked over to him. “Senior, I knew I was your queen from the day you said hello.”
He put his arms around my mother’s hips, kissed her a couple times and told her, “When I laid eyes on you for the first time, I knew you were my queen and I was going to be your king.”
My mother and daddy were hugged up on each other as they talked and kissed. I let them be as I left them alone to have some lovers time.
When I walked into the house, I smiled because I want a relationship and marriage like my mother and daddy.
I do know there are some good men out here because my daddy is a prime example of one. The Universe sent him to my mother, and I know one day the Universe will send me a good man too. Until then, I am going to let the Universe lead the way as I focus on the now.
13
Chapter thirteen
I love family gatherings!
Summer, my mother and I were up all night cooking Thanksgiving dinner. We had so much fun! Throughout the morning hours, Daddy came in to taste some of the food we’d prepared. More so the desserts! After we made the chocolate cake batter, he would sneak in and scoop up the chocolate batter that was left. My mother, her sister Piper and I laughed because he always knows when we are making desserts. He says he smells the aroma in the air. My mother said, “Luke Senior, you need to sneak some collard greens and mixed vegetables instead of the leftover cake batter.” He put his finger in the leftover sweet potato pie bowl, put some of the sweet potato mix on my mother’s lips and kissed her.
Summer’s face told it all when she said, “Yuk, get a room!”
As I was putting the icing on the red velvet cake I smiled and said to myself, I adore the relationship my mother and daddy have. I know one day I am going to be in a healthy marriage and relationship just like my parents.
***
Later that evening, the family arrived for dinner. My Aunt Rita bought her famous apple pie. I took it to the family room and sat it on the table. The aroma of her apple pie was a cinnamon spicy sweet smell—I closed my eyes as imagined the taste on the tip of my tongue and washing it down with some warm homemade almond milk. My Aunt Rita is a hot mess; she doesn’t have a mouth filter. She speaks her mind and keeps it moving without thinking twice. She’s my daddy’s sister—to let daddy tell it, her mouth always got her in trouble.
As she walked into the family room, she called my name. I turned around and smiled. Aunt Rita said, “What are you doing in here all alone, my little precious sweet bug?” She always called me her little precious sweet bug. I always wondered how she came up with that. In my opinion, it is a long nickname. I smiled and said, “I personally wanted to bring your yummy apple pie in the room, that way, I know that nobody will sneak a piece.” As she walked closer with her tight red jumpsuit on, I must say, it fit every curve of her body. Her butt looked like two juicy melons. She had on a green scarf and black shiny high-heel boots that resembled a mirror—you really could see your reflection in them. Her gold earrings were oval, and it seemed like they were the size of her cheeks. I seriously do not know where she got her style from. Her lips were glowing like always. She normally wears cranberry lipstick but today she is rocking red cherry lipstick and the finishing touch has to be a bright glowing clear gloss. Her skin was so smooth—I always loved her brown blaze glow. She looked as though she was going to a disco party because her hair was in an afro. With every move she made, her curly hair bounced freely from side to side.
As she walked closer, she had her arms out to give me a hug. As she rocked me from side to side, she kissed me on my cheek and said, “How are you doing? How is school going? And how is that no-good raggedy-ass boyfriend of yours?”
I burst out laughing, “Dang, Aunt Rita, you get straight to the point and come in for the kill without hesitation.” I added, “I am fine. School is going well—better than I expected. I am working hard to receive an Associate degree and high school diploma at the same time. I am going to make it happen, too. As for raggedy Brian, he is dismissed. I am surprised Momma or Daddy didn’t tell you what happened.”
Aunt Rita sat on the couch, patted the cushion beside her and said, “My precious little bug, they didn’t tell me anything. What did that little shit do to you?”
I burst out laughing again, “It doesn’t matter. I could care less to talk about it. I’m over it now.”
Aunt Rita said, “Okay, as long as you are fine, we will not talk about it. I never cared for his ass anyway. He just wasn’t any good for you. He really was a waste of your time.”
I heard my mother call my name. As I got up, I agreed, “Aunt Rita, you are so right about that. He was a waste of time and drained a lot of my energy.”
I put my hand out and said, “Come on, Aunt Rita.
The doorbell rang. Before seeing what my mother wanted, I answered it—and there was a boatload of people. My mother’s brother, Trip, my daddy’s siblings, and many family and friends. We had a houseful!
My mother and I made eye contact. I knew what that meant. I had to hide my mother’s, Summer’s and my belongings that were valuable, as Aunt Teresa would take them. Sad but true, my daddy’s sister, Aunt Teresa, was always taking stuff. She calls it “borrowing.” However, if you do not ask and take what’s not yours, that is called stealing.
The house was packed. I peeped in Summer’s room to see how all the little kids were doing. Summer was playing with my little cousins. Like always, she was telling them what to do. Believe it out not, they were following Summer’s every move and word without hesitation.
The doorbell rang again, so I ran downstairs to open the door. It was Chloe and her mother. I gave them a hug and thanked them for coming. Chloe had on an ugly Christmas sweater. I told Chloe, “You know this isn’t an ugly Christmas sweater party. Right?” Chloe smiled and said, “Momma, you owe me a movie day, with homemade popcorn in bed!” I was looking lost… Chloe’s mother smiled. “Chloe and I made a bet that you would say that.” I said, “Oh, okay, I see. Chloe thinks she knows me.” Chloe said, “I know you very well!” She pulled out the Yin pendant we gave each other when we were younger, saying, “I am the Yin to your Yang and you are the Yang to my Yin.” My eyes teared up because I had on my necklace too and pulled out the Yang pendant. Chloe said, “Stop it, cry baby,” as she teared up too.”
Chloe’s mother said, “Breana, you look pretty. I am going to call you ‘Ms. Lady Dressed in Red’ tonight.” I smiled and said, “Thank you.” Chloe’s mother continued as she touched my hair, “I see you blow-dried your hair out. You have beautiful hair. I didn’t know your hair nearly touches your behind.” I laughed and said, “Thank you, the shrinkage is real!” I added, “You two, come on in.”
Chloe whispered in my ear, “Ms. Lady in The Red
Dress, who are you trying to look good for?” I laughed and said, “What? Just because I straightened my hair?” Chloe pulled my arm and said, “Yep, because the Bree I know does not like heat on her hair.” I said, “Hello, we are having a gathering. I want to look my best for me.” Chloe looked me up and down. “Well, maybe it’s the lady in the red dress personality trying to come out and do her thing instead of Breana.” Chloe’s mother said, “What are you girls chatting about?” We both laughed. She then added, “Breana, where is your mother?” “In the kitchen,” I replied.
Chloe’s mother had on her baby blue uniform because she just got off from work. She’s a nurse practitioner and she’s attending medical school. I admire Chloe’s mother because she started from the bottom and worked her way up. She’s always been a single mother, and she started off as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). She worked the midnight shift at an assisted living facility for the elderly and went to nursing school during the day to become an LPN. After she got a higher position, she continued to work the midnight shift as she went to school to become a Registered Nurse.
When she became an RN, she found another job and continued working the midnight shift as she went to school during the day to become a nurse practitioner. Once she became a nurse practitioner, she then worked the day shift because Chloe was older. Sometimes I envy Chloe and her mother’s relationship because her mother made many sacrifices for her. The reason why her mother worked the midnight shift was because she did not want “the streets” to raise Chloe. She wanted to make sure after Chloe got out of school she was able to help her with her homework, feed her dinner, spend quality time with her, participate in her life by going to her activities, parent-teacher conferences, PTCA meetings, etc. She wanted to make sure she was there for every moment of Chloe’s life.
After Chloe was old enough, she made the decision to work during the day and go to school as well. Chloe knows she’s highly favored because she has a mother that always puts her first. Not to mention, Chloe and her mother have an amazing relationship. I asked her mother a while back, why she was going to medical school because she’s doing very well for herself. She said because she’s come this far, she might as well aim for the top, reach for stars and complete her journey. Chloe and her mother will be celebrating their graduation together. Her mother will be graduating from medical school, and Chloe from high school.
Unapologetic for My Flaws and All Page 15