The Miles Family: An Introduction

By Tandrea Madison Thysell

This is a story about us, about family, and about the things that tear us apart, as well as the things that hold us together. Meet the Miles'--a perfectly imperfect family that usually supports each other through thick and thin. Usually. But when things get thicker, can the ties that bind keep them together? Can they survive infidelity, drugs and rape? Will the Miles' still be family when the skeletons start tumbling from the closet?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468541519

Tandrea Madison Thysell

Tandrea has been writing since she was a child, beginning with poems and eventually moving to books--it's always been her passion. She later majored in Journalism and earned a Bachelor's from San Jose State University in California. She also has counseling experience and much of what she writes is from a personal perspective--issues that she's faced herself or helped others to get through. Tandrea is a Bay Area native--born and raised--and currently resides there with her husband.

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© 2012 Tandrea Madison Thysell. All rights reserved.

Cover art by Antonio Anderson.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 2/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-4152-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-4151-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012900383

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and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter 1:

The Fish Fry

Chapter 2:

Denise & Vaughn

Chapter 3:

Serenity & Taylor

Chapter 4:

Sucari & Deon

Chapter 5:

Divian & Derek

Chapter 6:

Catana & Ellis

Chapter 7:

Antoinette

Chapter 8:

Antoine

Epilogue

I dedicate this book to both sides of my family. I love all of you. Thank you for being you.

I want to thank my parents particularly, for loving and supporting me. Thank you so much Mama (Linda Brown), Daddy (Alfred Madison Jr.) and Niecie (Karen Purdy Madison).

And a special thanks to my husband, Steven Thysell Jr. Love you babe.

Chapter 1:

The Fish Fry

With an impatient fingernail tapping against a front tooth, Antoinette Miles sat staring at a blank computer screen, waiting for inspiration to rain down on her. It wasn’t happening. She’d been sitting in front of the computer, staring at the same screaming blank screen and accusatory blinking cursor, for more than two hours and still…nothing. She hated days like this.

Antoinette looked around her office, feeling comfortable but distracted. The second-floor room was decorated in pale shades of yellow and blue, making it feminine but bright. There were two white, wicker chairs and a matching couch in the room. All three pieces were accented with yellow seat cushions and blue throw pillows. She’d even put up a blue and yellow, flowered border around the room. The office was spacious with a sliding glass door, covered by white vertical blinds that lead to a nice-sized balcony. There was a white, wicker lounge chair and end table out there for days when she just wanted to soak up some sun.

Her siblings always joked that she’d overdone it, especially when they saw the wood desk she’d had painted white. Antoinette didn’t care. This was her home office and she wanted it to be comfortable. As far as she was concerned, she’d accomplished that.

Irritated, she blew a breath up towards her hair, to get the bangs out of her eyes, then suddenly pushed herself away from her desk. She was frustrated, unfocused, and she should have known better than to try to write in that state. She needed to do something to make herself concentrate, to get her thoughts together. She didn’t know what to do though and nothing was coming to her. She sighed, then turned off the screen before leaning back in the desk chair, folding her arms across her chest and trying to think. Why was she doing this? Why was she making herself try to write this book? Because I haven’t written for myself in so long, because I miss it, because I need to, because there’s something in there itching to get out, because I’m tired of making excuses to myself about why I’m not, she thought to herself. Whatever that it was, though, was playing hide and seek and Antoinette was tired of trying to coax it out.

It was a beautifully clear, crisp Friday afternoon and there was no real reason that she should be cooped up in the house, being anti-social. Despite the fact that it was the beginning of October, it was a little over 70 degrees in Concord, where she lived. Some light rain had been forecast for next week, but she wasn’t worried about that. Today, it was a gorgeous fall day and maybe if she went out and had a little fun, the words would flow better. The truth was, she was stressed about Accents, her magazine, and though she was trying to ignore that fact, the stress was blocking her. She knew it, fighting it, but knew it. It was time to try something else. Get rid of the stress, get rid of the block, she thought.

Reaching to her right, Antoinette picked up the cordless phone and held it lightly in her hand while she tried to think of who to call. She had four sisters and a twin brother to choose from, not to mention two best friends. Who to call? Who to call? And then it hit her and she smiled, All of them.

Leaving messages for them all, Antoinette figured she had her bases covered. One of those nuts was bound to call her and get her into something tonight. In the meantime, she was hungry. Stretching her arms above her head and legs straight out in front of her, she took in a deep breath and felt her body release some tension as she let it out. As she was standing up, the phone rang and a grin spread across her face as she saw the caller ID.

Tanelle! she hollered.

Girl, what you doin’? Tanelle laughed.

Trying to write, stressing ’cause it’s not coming, need to do something else, Antoinette began as she strode into the kitchen. What you getting into tonight? I know you’re doing something, so where you going?

Actually, I’m going to spend a night at home with my man. He’s demanding quality time. Said I’ve been acting like I’m not committed.

Antoinette could almost hear Tanelle roll her eyes over the phone. Girl, do what you do. Got to take care of the man, he’s a good one, she laughed.

Yeah, well, you know, that’s why I’ll be with him tonight instead of at Ruby Skye. You might want to think about going though. I heard it’s supposed to be off the hook tonight.

Oh, for real? I might just swing through then. I gotta check with everybody else, see who wants to go. I have to do something tonight though. Can’t stand still, girl. I’m antsy as hell, she said.

I understand. Do what you do and if you go, call me and give me all the dirt when you get home, Tanelle said, laughing.

You know it. Bye. Antoinette said, hanging up.

Antoinette opened the refrigerator, still grinning. Tanelle Mills had been her best friend since they were kinders. Of course, they’d had their share of fights, but over the 20 years they had been friends, they’d always been there for each other. They’d been known as the dynamic duo and were partners in crime, strictly to each other, until fifth grade when Zora Durant showed up. Since her arrival, they’d been the three musketeers; inseparable. The three of them had survived elementary, middle and high school together. They’d learned about menstrual cycles together, discovered sex and shared experiences, crushes, proms, heartbreaks and for Zora, childbirth. There was no parting them.

Deciding on a Chinese chicken salad, Antoinette pulled out everything she would need from the fridge. Pulling a bowl down from the cabinet, she fumbled it as the phone rang again, startling her.

Yup she answered, not looking at the ID as she cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder.

What’s going on, Twin?

Hey Antoine, how are you?

Good. You?

Doing okay she said, putting the bowl on the counter and starting on the salad.

How’s the writing?

Not coming. That’s why I called. I think I need to get out for awhile, get a change of scenery or something,

You could be right. What you got in mind?

Well, I talked to Tanelle a few minutes ago and she suggested Ruby Skye. Said something about it being jumpin’ tonight, she muttered absently.

Sounds good. You talk to Broomhilda and ’nem yet?

Antoinette laughed. Twin, shut up. You talking about my sisters.

Them witches is my sisters, too. I just like them less than you do is all, he joked.

No, I haven’t heard from them yet. I left messages for all five of you, Tanelle and Zora. Wanted to see what everybody was up to. Push comes to shove, we could do a fish fry over here,

Oooh! Let’s do that!

Antoinette smiled as she added in the last of the salad ingredients and then put in the dressing. I said a change of scenery, boy. Are you listening? HARD OF HEARING? she yelled.

Okay, okay I HEARD you. Damn. I’ll find out what’s going on at the club. If it’s nothing major, can we do the fish fry?

Yes, yes, yes. Geez. Bug Jesus off the cross, she said, rolling her eyes and biting into the salad.

Good looking, Twin, I’ll call you back, he said and hung up.

Shaking her head, with a mouthful of salad, Antoinette hung up. She loved her brother to death. Out of the six Miles children, he was the only boy. He was forever cracking jokes and making light of a situation. He was also the one most like Vaughn, their father. Maybe it was because they were twins that they shared a deeper connection with each other than they did with their other siblings. Then again, it could be the age difference. There was an eight-year gap between them and the next sibling, Catana. Antoinette connected with them all differently and next to Antoine, she was the closest to Sucari, who was the second oldest. She never quite understood how that was, but it was.

She was able to finish her salad without the phone ringing, which gave her some more time to think. The truth was, being surrounded by her family and friends tonight might be even more inspiring for her book than a loud, noisy club. The fish fry was sounding better and better. While cleaning up and putting the salad fixings away, she decided to have the fish fry instead. It had been more than a month since the last one. She’d even invite her parents. As she picked the phone up to call Antoine back, it rang.

Hello?

Hey NiNi, what you up to?

Hey Divian, glad you called. I was just about to call all of ya’ll, Antoinette said.

For what?

I’m gonna have the fish fry here tonight, she said, sitting back in her chair.

Oooooh, for real? Nice! We’ll be there. What time?

Around 8,

You got it! See you then, Divian said and hung up.

Antoinette put the cordless phone back on the base, straightened up the kitchen and then went back into the office. She turned off the computer completely this time and then sat down to call the rest of the family. She started with her parents, knowing how busy their restaurant, DeVaughn’s, could get, she wanted to reach them as soon as she could.

DeVaughn’s Soul Food, Denise here, her mother answered cheerfully.

Hey Mom, what you doing tonight?

***

Antoinette and Denise stood in the kitchen, side by side at the sink, laughing and talking, fish and cornmeal up to their elbows. Antoinette enjoyed being in the kitchen with her mother, enjoyed the closeness and camaraderie. Denise had been the first one to arrive and help after Antoinette called everyone. She’d come without Vaughn since Friday night at DeVaughn’s was packed. He’d promised to stop by later. Her mom was another story. The minute she walked in the door, she said, Put me to work. So, Antoinette did.

Having her family and friends