by Stacy-Deanne
“Anderson, you promised.”
“So does Sonjay feel the same way about Dex?”
Channing nodded.
“Then why the hell is she marrying Klein?”
“No one’s explained that yet.”
“What about the baby?” He scowled. “Is the baby Dex’s?”
Channing swallowed cake. “I plead the fifth.”
****
“What the fuck?” Zayden got out the passenger’s seat of Jimmy Lou’s beat-up, blue Mustang.
Piles of his clothes, electronics, and Star Trek collectibles had been thrown in Avon’s front yard.
“Whoa.” Jimmy Lou walked from the other side of the car. “What the hell, man?”
“Pop!” Zayden stormed up the porch steps and yanked the screen door open. “Pop?”
Avon hobbled into the living room on his cane, chewing tobacco.
“Why is my stuff in the yard?”
“You’re so much smarter than everyone aren’t you?” Avon sat in his chair and grabbed the cable box remote. “Can’t you figure it out?”
“This ain’t funny.” Zayden turned in a circle, touching the bandage above his bruised eye. “I spent the night in jail, you wouldn’t even take my calls and I come home to this?”
Jimmy Lou stayed by the couch. “Are you all right, Mr. Voight?”
“No, I’m not all right.” He spit into his cup. “My son’s a monster who doesn’t have one ounce of empathy in his body and it’s maddening.”
“So this is a tantrum you’re throwing?” Zayden asked. “Pop, I was in jail and you were nowhere to be found.”
“I told you the last time you got arrested I wouldn’t be there and as far as you getting beat, you’re lucky it was just Dex because if Boyd had gotten a hold of you, you wouldn’t be here.”
“Get a grip. I’m your son.”
“I wish you weren’t. I used to worship the ground you walked on, Zayden. When your momma died—”
“Don’t.” He closed his eyes. “Don’t bring Momma into this.”
“You were never the nicest person in the world but now you’re crazier than an outhouse rat. You used to at least care about something other than yourself. I’m sick of trying to figure you out. I don’t owe you shit.”
“You can’t throw me out.”
“It’s done.”
“What about the promise to Momma on her deathbed, huh?” Zayden yelled, tilting his head. “You told her you’d always be there for me.”
“I ain’t got to support no twenty-five-year-old man who treats me like shit. This is my house and if you can’t act with some sense, then get your own place.”
“Okay, hold on.” Zayden swept his hands over his face. “Listen.”
“No, ain’t no listening.” Avon stretched out his legs. “I can’t believe what you did to Sonjay Mills. You’ve done a lot of horrible things but this is the worst.”
“She’s a slut.” Zayden pulled up his pants, scoffing at Jimmy Lou. “I should’ve fucked her that night at the school house.”
“Get out.” Avon pointed his cane toward the door. “Get out of my house.”
“You gonna make me, old man?”
“Z?” Jimmy Lou grabbed him. “Let’s go before you end up in jail again.”
“Yeah right.” He taunted his father. “I dare you to call the cops on me, Pop. Go ahead.”
“Oh, I don’t need the cops.” Avon stood and pulled his pistol out his back pocket.
“Jesus.” Jimmy Lou backed up, raising his hands. “Mr. Voight.”
Zayden laughed, clapping his hands. “Great acting, Pop.”
Avon shot a hole in the plank floor.
“Fuck.” Jimmy Lou leapt on the couch. “Mr. Voight, you crazy?”
“Pop.” Zayden shivered, huffing and puffing. “You’ve lost your mind. Something ain’t right with you.”
“I want you out my house and I’m not asking. I will kill you, boy.” He raised the gun and what hurt was Zayden couldn’t be sure whether or not he’d actually use it. “You’re my son but I’d rather see you dead than to hurt someone else. You’re hateful and cruel. I won’t tolerate it anymore.”
“Pop.”
“Get out. Now.”
“Come on.” Jimmy Lou ushered Zayden to the door.
“Where the fuck am I supposed to go? I ain’t got no one else.”
“You got them thugs you hang out with.” Avon sat. “Let one of them put you up.”
“You can’t do this.” Zayden lunged forward and Jimmy Lou held him back. “You lied to Momma then, huh? Lied to her when she was dying and you said you’d always be there for me. But why is that a surprise
since you were cheating on her while she was fighting cancer.”
“Get out.” Avon threw his cane at them. “I don’t want to hear one more word out that disgusting mouth of yours.”
“Fuck you.” Zayden spit on the floor. “I don’t need you. I don’t need anybody!” He pushed Jimmy Lou and tore out the house. “Fuck this dump!”
Jimmy Lou followed Zayden off the porch. “What about your stuff?”
“Fuck it.” Zayden got in Jimmy Lou’s car as Avon hobbled out the door.
“You’re gonna mess with the wrong person one day, Zayden.” Avon waved his cane. “Got your momma rolling around in her grave.”
“Drive,” Zayden ordered Jimmy Lou.
“I’m telling you,” Avon yelled from the edge of his porch. “Someone’s going to kill you!”
Jimmy Lou drove.
“Fuck that old bastard.” Zayden blasted rock music, drowning out his father’s warnings. “I don’t need him.”
He covered his face, hiding his tears.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Saturday
“You sure you want to do this?” Channing stuck the white rose behind Sonjay’s ear.
“Yes, for the hundredth time.” Sonjay slid her hands over her snug, white dress with spaghetti straps. “This is the best option for everyone.”
Channing sat on the wooden porch swing on Pastor Leto’s patio. “Once you do it, it’s no turning back.”
“I’m sick of having this conversation every time I turn around.” Sonjay snatched her bouquet off the patio table decorated with a white tablecloth and flowers for the ceremony. “People marry people for different reasons, Channing. It’s not always about love.”
“Is that the marriage you want?”
“Klein’s a good man.” Sonjay pushed the flower further into her pristine bob. “He’ll be a wonderful husband and father. Can we promise to never have this conversation again?”
Channing shrugged, swinging her legs. “You’re killing Dex.”
“He’ll get over it.” Sonjay sashayed to the sliding doors as Anderson walked out the house.
“My, aren’t you gorgeous?” Anderson kissed Sonjay’s cheek. “I wish you and Klein the best.”
Sonjay smiled, glancing at her sister. “Glad to see someone’s happy for me.” She went in the house.
“Man.” Anderson chuckled with his hands in the pockets of his coral blazer. “They need to fire the local weatherman.”
“What are you talking about?”
He sat beside her, snickering. “He said it was eighty-five degrees, but it’s cold as heck out here.”
“Funny.”
“Sonjay looked pissed.”
“If she wants to be a fool and wreck a bunch of lives that’s on her.”
“I feel horrible.” He sighed. “Klein’s going on and on about how happy he is and Sonjay doesn’t love him. It’s killing me not to tell him.”
“It’s their business.” Channing moved her spritzed bangs out her eyes. “I’m tired of worrying about it. Whatever happens, happens.”
“I like the sound of that.” He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. “We have our own love life to concentrate on. You look so beautiful.”
The casual, sky-blue lace dress made her feel like a princess.
He whispered against her cheek, “You’d make a gorgeous bride. You wanna get married one day?”
“To you?”
He grinned. “I’d be down, but I meant in general.”
“Course, I do.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “What little girl doesn’t dream of having the perfect wedding day?”
“I went by the church earlier and the street’s packed already for Presley’s celebration.”
“Was Khadija acting a fool?”
“No, it was nice. Everyone was marching peacefully and carrying signs with Presley’s picture. It was touching to see how so many people care. I interviewed Khadija for the story.”
She groaned. “Why?”
“You know why she’s so passionate about civil rights? When she was growing up she didn’t have a voice, so she swore she’d be the voice for others.”
“I wish she could do it more civilized.”
“Sometimes just making noise is what’s important. I didn’t agree with her methods either, but I understand her better now.”
“So, you’re a Khadija fan now?”
“She cares, Channing. Why don’t you try to see things from her perspective?”
Pastor Leto walked out, smiling with her bible tucked under her arm. “Are we ready for a wedding?”
“Been ready.” Klein popped out the sliding doors, holding Sonjay’s hand. “I want nothing more than to make this beautiful woman my wife.”
Channing peered at her sister who ignored her stare.
“Let’s do this then.” Anderson stood, helping Channing off the bench.
They followed Leto into her steel gazebo covered with a white canopy and lit by string lights.
“This is lovely.” Channing stood with Anderson beside the table set.
“It’s not grand, but I tried to capture the moment with the decorations.” Leto smiled. “Before we get started is there anything you need?”
“No,” Sonjay said. “Klein’s all I need.”
“I love you so much, baby.” He gave her a long kiss, grinning afterwards. “Sorry.” He wiped Sonjay’s glittery lavender lipstick from his mouth. “Hard to control myself around this beautiful woman.”
“Let’s take our places.” Leto gestured to Anderson and Channing.
Channing leapt beside her sister while Anderson stood with Klein.
“It’s not too late to get out of this,” Channing whispered.
“Shut up,” Sonjay whispered back before flashing a goofy smile at Leto. “We’re ready, Pastor.”
Leto raised the bible. “We gather here to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. Klein Osgood, do you take—”
“Stop!” Dex climbed over Leto’s fence. “You can’t do this.”
Channing stood back, a gasp stuck in her throat.
“Dex?” Klein frowned. “Are you crazy? Get your ass out of here.” He covered his mouth. “Ooh, sorry Pastor.”
Dex grabbed Sonjay, his clothes twisted. “You can’t do this, Sonjay. I won’t let you.”
“Dex.”
“I can’t lose you.”
“What the hell?” Klein shoved Dex away from Sonjay. “What’s going on here?”
“Mr. Reinhardt,” Leto shrieked.
“Get out of here, Dex,” Sonjay said.
“No.” He swung his arms. “All the lies, the secrets, it ends today.” He turned to Klein. “Sonjay and I love each other and I’m not letting you have her.”
****
Zayden dragged the sack of empty beer bottles from Jimmy Lou’s garage and set it in the front yard.
Tilly and Morris sprung up in the rocking chairs on the porch while Jimmy Lou dug underneath the hood of his Mustang.
“What the hell is that?” Tilly asked.
“Empty bottles.” Zayden held up one. “We’re gonna throw Molotov cocktails at the Mills’ restaurant.”
Jimmy Lou yanked his head from the car. “What did you say?”
Tilly drank from his can of beer, laughing. “What you been smoking today, son?”
“Yeah.” Morris scratched over the hawk tattoo on his upper arm. “I’d sure like to have some.”
“I ain’t wasted.” Zayden spun the bottle. “We have to do this for Nate or else he died for nothing.”
“Hold up.” Tilly lifted his finger, scowling as if something stunk. “Have you lost the little mind you got left? We ain’t burning down someone’s restaurant.”
“Our homie is dead. If it weren’t for the Mills family, he’d still be here.”
“No, if Nate hadn’t been driving while drunk he’d still be here,” Tilly said. “Man, this is crazy. I ain’t doing this shit.”
“When did you get to be such a pussy?”
“You better watch your mouth, Zayden.” Tilly leaned forward.
“Nate’s supposed to be your boy.”
“That’s right.” Tilly stood. “Nate and I’ve been tight since the third grade when you used to make fun of him, remember? You didn’t give a damn about him until high school when he became a star football player and you wanted to ride on his coattails because you thought he was going to the pros.”
Zayden held his breath.
Tilly’s lips twisted. “Like a fool, I went along with the stuff you did but this goes too far. Arson, Zayden? You just got out of jail for the hundredth time.”
“I promised Nate I’d always be there for him and my word is bond unlike yours.”
“I loved Nate.” Tilly’s lips shook. “I knew him better than you ever could and let me tell you something, he’d been depressed ever since he lost out on the NFL. That’s why he drank so much. None of this will bring him back and Nate wouldn’t want us to do this, anyway.”
“What’s wrong with you, man?” Zayden turned his palms to Tilly. “Where’s your loyalty?”
“My loyalty is to my baby girl. I got a two-year-old daughter and baby mama to think about, Zayden. You only worry about yourself.” He sat, waving dismissively. “Fuck that. We ain’t in high school anymore. Grow up.”
“Get your bitch ass out of here then.”
Tilly jumped up and Morris grabbed him. “You gonna make me?”
“Fellas.” Jimmy Lou ran up. “Stop, all right? We’re friends and we all loved Nate. He was my cousin, remember?”
“I loved Nate like a brother.” Tilly pulled away from Morris. “But I ain’t going to prison for nobody.”
“Chill,” Zayden said. “We won’t get caught and no one will know it’s us.”
“I’ll know.” Tilly yanked on his wife beater. “I ain’t doing this and if that means you guys don’t want me around then so be it.” He hopped off the porch and walked past Zayden, mean mugging him. “I’m out.”
“Tilly, wait.”
“I’m out, Jimmy Lou.” He got into his black Corvette and yelled out the window, “You guys are stupid if you do this.”
“Yeah, get the fuck on.” Zayden threw a bottle at his car as Tilly backed out the driveway. “And don’t come back.”
“Zayden.” Morris sighed.
Tilly sped through the dusty road.
“Tilly’s right,” Morris mumbled. “The Mills didn’t do nothing to nobody. We can’t burn down their restaurant. They worked hard for that.”
Zayden spit in the grass. “Since when do you care about some niggers? Nate didn’t deserve the way he was treated.”
Jimmy Lou wiped oil on his jeans.
“Come on, guys.” Zayden stomped his foot. “We’ll do it tonight. Heard the restaurant won’t be open because of Khadija’s ceremony for the girl. No one will see us. All we do is throw the cocktails, and that’s it.”
“Nah, man,” Morris said. “There’s a difference between tearing up signs and arson. I loved Nate, but I can’t be going to jail again over this shit.”
“Just following Tilly, huh? He owns you?”
Morris scowled. “No one owns me.”
“We have to send a message.”
“Then you’ll be doing that wi
thout me.” Morris looked at Jimmy Lou, shrugging. “I’m not setting someone’s restaurant on fire.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this shit.” Zayden held his head. “What has happened to you two?”
“You act like nothing fazes you,” Morris said. “Like you got no heart and compassion. It’s not your responsibility to look after Nate. He was a grown man. He drove drunk and hit that little girl.”
Zayden slapped his thighs, looking at the sky. “Am I losing my mind here?”
Morris walked off the steps. “This is your battle not mine.”
“Fine.” Zayden grinned. “Fuck you and fuck Tilly. I brought your ass over here but you can walk your ass on home.”
Morris shrugged, heading to the road. “Fine.”
“Don’t come back either, pussy!” Zayden kicked the bottles and turned to Jimmy Lou. “With friends like those who needs enemies? Fuck them, all right? We’re winning this battle.”
Jimmy Lou’s beard shined with sweat. “Battle?”
“It’s a battle for Nate’s honor.” Zayden swatted Jimmy Lou’s cheek. “We can’t stop until it’s over.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“Sonny?” Klein pulled Sonjay to him. “What’s going on here?”
“Tell him, Sonjay,” Dex demanded. “Tell him once and for all.”
“What are you up to, Dex?” Klein reached past Sonjay and grabbed Dex’s shirt. “You’ve cooked something up?”
“Tell him, Sonjay.” Dex shoved Klein away and yanked Sonjay by the arm. “You tell him and you tell him now.”
“Klein.” She dropped the bouquet on the gazebo floor and broke into tears. “I’m so sorry, and I never meant to hurt you.”
Klein titled his head, his face set in confusion.
“I can’t marry you. I love Dex.”
Channing and Anderson looked at each other.
“It’s not fair to keep lying like this,” Sonjay said. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, but this has to stop.”
Klein scoffed, focusing on Sonjay. “I was right?”
“What?” Dex asked.
“I might seem like all I do is work, but I pay attention to more than you realize. I’m not stupid. Have to be blind not to know you and Dex had something going.”