The Deepest Side of Love

By Adriana Jai Wynn-Yeldell

The Thomas and Mayfield family are closer than ever. From the outside things look great, but personal and emotional issues have surfaced to cause serious problems. Everyone has gotten older and despite the successes the family has enjoyed there is distrust, unhappiness and more secrets. Adam and Aira's relationship is in trouble and some of the children in the family needed a good whipping. Junior Mayfield have major decisions to make and Delano Devereaux, the ex-drug dealer comes face to face with his past. Aira C. Mayfield narrates the story and takes you through each family member's house to show you that we will all go through trials and storms that can shake the foundations of your life. But they are holding on until they can get right! Each Sunday they receive reaffirming relief from Pastor Miles sermons, while forcing their minds not to drift and to pay attention to the signs. Relationships become tore and the evilness of sin are upon them. One by one they struggle to understand the changes and how to effectively overcome any battle the world brings because they know money can't fix all their woes and sorrows.

Love and patience can conquer all but there is no getting through to some people. Is the pain too great or are they that hard-headed and stuck in their ways? Will there be forgiveness?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491844878

Adriana Jai Wynn-Yeldell

Adriana Jai Wynn-Yeldell published her first novel, "Climbing Trees and Hiding in The Bushes" in 2009 and followed up with the sequel, "The People Talking In My Head", in 2010. Currently she is working on her fourth novel. Born in Ohio, she now lives in Texas with her two teenage children.

Book preview

The

Deepest Side

of

Love

Adriana Jai Wynn-Yeldell

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AuthorHouse™ LLC

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2014 Adriana Jai Wynn-Yeldell. All rights reserved.

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 01/03/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-4488-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-4487-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013923086

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

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

IN THE THICK OF IT

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

STRUGGLING

CHAPTER 6

I’D RATHER

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

Proverbs 16:24, Pleasant words are like an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones

IN THE THICK OF IT

Hey! Adam went to the store so I have some time to give you a quick update. There has been so much going on with my family and I know everyone wants me to break it down fast but don’t rush me because I know I’ll forget something, I got kids! Let me warm up and I’ma tell you. Don’t act crazy and try to get to all the juicy parts right away or get weird and read the last page first, STOP THAT!

I’ve always hit you up every couple of years with the storyline being in the right then and now stage. Okay, well nothing has changed. I stay so busy running things inside this big house, yet I write whenever and as often as I can. I guess that’s a good thing because everybody else is busy these days too. My sister-in-law Debra Ann has stepped up her game with her interior decorating. She put Ethan Paul’s bad butt in preschool after her first private counseling session with Dr. Beverly Devereaux, and Doc Bev suggested that she get her life. Sedrick put up a fuss but I’m proud of my girl. We all need something special for ourselves.

My Dad and Uncle Leon bought a playhouse kit for Greg and Roxy’s twin girls, Paris and London, and put it together; that gave them the idea to custom built their own and I must say that they are doing pretty good. It’s not about the money for them; it’s something they like to do to stay out of the house. Speaking of which, Greg and Roxy are doing wonderful. Greg still has his own business and Roxy is doing her thang as the anchorwoman for the local evening news. Tyson and Sean are still getting into trouble and blaming each other; they need to bring them over here so I can whip them! Sean has to take Ritalin for his ADHD and we caught Tyson taking it too. Roxy had the girls tested for any learning disabilities and they are fine. Thank the Jesus!

I know you remember that I had twins also, well Jared and Zaya are going on three years old and I believe they are gifted. I know what you are saying but they really are. Zaya does more talking than Jared but they both are already reading and doing basic mathematics. Now in between the last time you heard from the Mayfield’s I got pregnant again and Adam and I have another son that we named Amir. Adam better never fix his mouth again talking about having another baby because I am done, I mean it, I am done! Something must have been in the collard greens that year I don’t know how I got pregnant. Junior and Tammy had a boy also, and named him Carter. I don’t know what’s going on over there but Tammy is a real trip these days.

Mark Eric and Frederick’s restaurant on the Kemah Boardwalk is the talk of the town. The excellent food and romantic ambiance right off the ocean is doing very well. They like to say the business is steady, but I got eyes, I know… Frederick’s blood pressure is in the normal range again, he almost had a stroke when his son Malcolm refused to go to college but every morning he’s there at the restaurant learning the business from the ground up. His mother Cynthia made sure he started as a dishwasher, she still hoping that he’ll go to college and earn a degree in something. Squirrel is one cool nerd, with the long braids down his back. At sixteen he’s in the 11th grade and taking college classes toward a degree. Don’t ask what, he has about three different things that he is interested in. When he walks across the stage at his high school graduation he will have an Associate’s degree also. Now that’s cool. Stacey is still running things at the telephone company; and little Erin is doing excellent in school and I wish some of her study skills would rub off on my daughter Nadia.

Quinton and Isha got married over a year ago and he is playing his second year with the Houston Rockets. They both graduated from the University of Houston and they aren’t taking anything for granted. Do you remember Haven Sinclair, Isha’s nephew Dino’s mother? Well her husband Kane Montgomery is one of the ministers at the church where Quinton and Isha attend. He has become a good spiritual mentor for Quinton with all the temptations lurking while on the road traveling with the team. Last month Haven had her second baby, a little boy, so Dino is a big brother now to Kane Jr. aka K.J.

My children will run over to Quinton and Isha’s in a heartbeat. Anything you could imagine in state of the art luxuries they have inside and outside their beautiful, custom built home. Some days I have to tell them no because Quinton and Isha are still newlyweds and need their privacy. Quinton paid off his mother and step-father’s mortgage, so now Rachel only works part-time and Joseph was suppose to cut back on his hours to spend more time with the family. Rachel let Adam handle her 401k and now she’s smiling after only working full-time for 16 years. But Joseph hasn’t changed; he says he’ll work until they force him to retire. Colby is at the age where she really needs her mother and father around because her body is forming into a young lady which makes her look older. Malik is a senior and Xavier is a sophomore and they both can play some ball, but they ain’t Quinton, at least not yet.

Antoine is a freshman at Rice University; he is on the football team and majoring in Business and Mass Communications. He comes home enough where we don’t have to hunt him down. Brent and Justin are students at Austin High School; we switched them from Travis High because I’m more comfortable with the teachers I knew there. They both ran track last year, and their team made it to Regional’s with my baby as the scratch leg, and Brent on anchor, but the third leg dropped the stick/baton and they were disqualified.

Nadia and Colby are in the sixth grade and they are really close. I can see a change in Nadia; I don’t think I’m her best friend anymore. I had to cut out all those sleepovers, unless it’s necessary or planned well in advance. Nadia doesn’t like anything I pick out for her, so I have learned not to bring anything home from the stores unless she specifically asked for it. Nadia’s main problem is she thinks too much about what others girls have physically that she doesn’t have; like straighter hair, bigger boobs, who is prettier and she fails to take her school work seriously. She seems well adjusted around the family, and Felecia and Briana always make time for her even though Sedrick and Deborah still have all of their kids in private schools. Felecia is still real quiet, and Briana ain’t taking any mess, that’s a little Debra Ann right there! I think David takes video games too seriously; his grades are good but on the weekends it’s nothing but his video games so my brother Sedrick bought him a BB gun to shoot targets in the backyard.

Uncle Tootey let this young hoochie momma named Latisha move in with her three sons. When the paternity test confirmed Tootey was the father to the youngest, he went on and married her, now she’s dogging him left and right, but Tootey is happy that he finally has a child. He was bragging the other day that his son Thaddeus could dance. Aunty Lu told him to teach him his A, B, C’s first and he told her to stop trippin. Tootey still loves to see Bessie Collier, Aunty Lu’s neighbor when he goes by the house. They are friendly towards each other but Bessie hasn’t forgotten how he spiked her ice tea. Tootey wishes she would, she called him an old fool for getting that young girl pregnant but he don’t care, Lil Thad has his heart.

My mom, Clarisse and Aunty Lu are still doing their daily walks and volunteering at the church. Adam and I taught a class together in the Couples Ministry. My second book "Anything is Possible" did very well and I think my last pregnancy made me slower, I think I have head problems or something. But I always need some form of an outlet, something of my own to complete me.

Adam and Delano Devereaux have become good friends; they keep each other up on what’s happening on the financial market because that Delano loves talking money. Since Isha married Quinton we are all one big happy family. I personally think Delano is a little too slick but Beverly is really down to earth and cool. I’ve gone shopping with her and Debra and they wore me out.

Mercedes, my BFF and her husband Brian are talking about adopting another baby so that Brice can have someone to play with. Well they better hurry up he’s already four years old. It’s so amazing how by living with someone for long periods of time can generate characteristics that have others thinking you have the same DNA. I love how when I ask Brice for a hug, he gives me that extra squeeze letting me know that his feeling are genuine and he knows he is special to me. With a house full of kids I try to make sure everyone feels loved. I don’t need any more people running around my house, but I think adopting is cool. Mercedes and Brian’s schedule is crazy; Brice is supposed to start pre-k when school starts; I ain’t going to say much about that because Mercedes and I don’t see eye to eye on it. I’m teaching mines at home, Brice just over there running things, he’s around adults more and he says what he wants but honestly not in a bad way. Sometimes he looks like a George to me, so curious and he wants to know everything, a Curious George.

Remember Rachel and Debra’s father Thomas had that heart attack years back? Well he’s not doing well, he refuses to listen and all he does is sit around all day watching the sports channels as the rest of the world goes by. He looks thinner and older but not his wife Miss Cheryl; she does her Zumba class three times a week and works in her garden. She really looks good, last time we were all together I heard her tell Mr. Thomas, to Shut up, life is too short and you will not stop me from living my life! Debra said her parents haven’t had sex since her father got sick. I was like dang…

Sara and Lloyd, Brian’s parents left the golf courses in Arizona and moved back to Houston. Lloyd figured as long as he stays active his rheumatoid arthritis wouldn’t flare up any worst living back in Texas; Brice has his own room at their new condo. Anna and Hank, Mercedes parents are doing wonderful. Anna is still the housewife, yet she is becoming more active outside the house. Hank always hangs out with his retired military buddies down at the VA hospital.

Sedrick has C&S Landscaping on major projects throughout the city. When my Daddy stepped back, Sedrick stepped up. Now we have a new office building, a warehouse and motor pool for the vehicles. Sedrick still take the boys on camping trips and his entire family on yearly vacations. Their oldest Christopher looks like he’s not even trying to do right in school, his grades are poor and all he wants to do is talk to girls and party. Yeah Mr. Christopher has loss his mind. My oldest nephew barely makes it to class most of the time. It’s sad, he has so much potential but he doesn’t want to do right. Some people are afraid of success; some mature slower and it takes them longer to get ahead in life. But we are not giving up on Christopher, he will yes sir or no maam you to death, smile in your face and then won’t do anything he is suppose to. Sedrick says he kicking him out the house once he graduates, my father Big Curt says Christopher needs to struggle because he had it too easy. I would have thought after getting whipped by your father and grandfather that a person would get their act together. Not Christopher Emmanuel Thomas.

Did I tell you that Deana got married? Yeah Adam’s ex-wife married this guy named Emery Randolph. He’s a successful lawyer in California, a divorcee with three grown children and he’s a little older than her, but they seem to be in love. Antoine and Brent think he’s okay but Adam doesn’t care for him. Over the last five years I’ve gotten to know my husband better and let me tell you, all that glitter ain’t gold. From the outside you see a person who has everything going for them; but when you get to really know them you’ll see that they have funky insecurities that keeps popping out and going back in like a booger. I told my mother about certain things he would say or do and you know what she said?

Well I’m glad you know

I was like, Wow mom what are you saying that you already knew?

And she said, No baby but ain’t nobody ever gonna know your man like you do unless they lying underneath him too. You ain’t got that to worry about do you?

Well no

Then everything fine. Learn him, know him and keep on loving him.

You see that right there is a mother for you. She always makes me think and stir my own pot. Adam and I love each other. And like my momma always says, as long as he ain’t beating, cheating or mistreating then I will stick by him. When I was a young girl I heard a woman in church say, Love is as love does. When your man says he loves you, then you watch him! And that’s what I do and I had to tell Adam to do the same, Watch me!

The thing is when God blesses you some people will get insecure, paranoid or doubtful about what they are doing or what they got. Everything God gives you is for you to use. I told Adam that whenever I have a problem with him I’ll let him know and I ain’t fickle or holding back my love for him. Love continuously grows if you let it. My man ain’t perfect, but for all you women out there whispering about what I just said while I’m trying to tell you something or autographing books I want you to know that I hear you, but Adam Darius Mayfield is mines!

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CHAPTER 1

The news of Dr. Beverly Devereaux return to her practice had many of her old clients trickling back in over the last two years. Her staff was eager, enthusiastic and proficient which made her new clients comfortable and everything overall was better than ever. Most people need someone to talk to and some needed help in learning how to deal with stressful problems in their lives, relationships, and jobs. Now let me tell you all of her clients do not have serious mental issue; that is only the assumption a lot of people have. People come to her depressed, lonely, and eccentric; they are extroverts, introverts and over-worked stressed out regular citizens and ex-military personnel that probably only need confirmation that they are normal. They all come in seeking understanding and a cure; they decide whether to sit in a chair or lay on the sofa, and they speak while the doctor listens.

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Beverly’s 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S had 62,000 miles on it; she was behind the wheel as it purred down the Beltway with the Easy Tag tracking the trip. She had just left a soccer game where her grandson Dino’s team had played. Beverly and her husband Delano had missed so many years with him and whenever Dino called they made him their priority. Dino’s maternal grandparents The Sinclair’s often came off snobbish and a few holidays were ruined or cut short because Delano refused to put up with them. If they didn’t want to love Dino unconditionally because they didn’t approve of his conception, the Devereaux’s were more than willing to take up the slack and then some.

All children are gifts from God and despite how he got here Dino was a welcomed blessing to the Devereaux’s. Without realizing it, sometimes they stared when they found similarities of their deceased son King William Devereaux in Dino. The birthmark above his eyebrow, the shape of his head, the texture of his fine hair when it’s cut close, his feet and the way he made them laugh. At first glance you saw his mother Haven, but the older Dino got the more they saw the son they affectionately called Will. Now that he was almost a teenager Dino wanted to be taller but his short stature hid his years. Thankfully Haven’s family pictures of his first bath, first tooth and first baby steps filled the missing gaps. Some days Beverly would look at the pictures over and over, imagining herself there when the photos were taken. She shifted gears in the sports car her handsome grandson had already laid claims to; Beverly knew the car would be too much for a boy who undoubtedly would be trying to impress the girls.

Delano had come to the game in a separate car so they split up afterwards because Beverly had a late appointment with a female soldier who had been having problems adjusting being back home. The woman’s husband divorced her while she was away and had custody of their son whom she rarely saw because of her PTS, Post Traumatic Stress.

The speedometer read 82 mph so she took her foot off the gas to slow it down. Clicking on her right blinker to change lanes, she glanced at her rear-view mirror and began moving over. A horn blasted from behind her and to avoid being hit she went back to the left yet so did a black Nissan truck. The sound of brakes forced her back to the right and a car on the far right clipped her backend causing her to spin around three times and crashed into the right concrete wall barrier leaving the car facing the opposite direct. Each time the car spun around she heard the crunch of metal and fiberglass as the cars hit hard and bounced against each other. Fearful the small car was about to flip yet the concrete wall stopped it completely. A yellow Dodge Challenger with its front grill torn off sat sideways in the middle of the freeway and the black truck had a huge dent on the passenger’s side. Beverly’s heart was pounding loudly; she touched her own body to see if what just happened was real. Quickly she found her phone, hit speed dial and Delano answered.

Hey baby

D.D. come get me I been in a car accident!

What, are you okay, baby where you at?

I have to get out this car and see if anybody is hurt. The truck was coming too fast behind me, I can’t believe this!

Bev tell me where you at?

On the Beltway near Memorial Drive, I hear the chopper and I’m getting out, I’m okay, I think…

Ain’t no choppers, take deep breaths and get your bearings baby. I’m on my way don’t do nothing I’m not far from that exit

There is a helicopter… Beverly’s phone went dead leaving Delano thinking she was flipping out. He was on the Beltway and drove faster to find her, to get as close as possible to help his wife. Bev found her purse and forced open the driver side door. In the middle of the multiple lanes were large pieces of her beloved Porsche. Quickly moving away from what was left of the vehicle, thick black smoke rose up in the air and she remembered the keys to her home and office were on the key ring in the car’s ignition, but it was too late. There was a helicopter flying overhead and she waved before carefully running across the freeway to check on the other people involved in the accident.

Two patrol cars broke thru the traffic jam that had quickly backed the toll road up for two miles. Dr. Devereaux treated the victims for shock, administered first aid and reassured everyone that they were okay and help was on the way. Unknown to her the accident was caught on tape by the Channel 2 News crew and before she got home the entire city watched as the red sports car broke into pieces, and it’s driver walked away uninjured. Apparently the film crew was doing a story of how drivers were illegally riding the toll road and the huge fines they could suffer from not paying the fees. The film did show Beverly’s car speeding but the accident was the truck’s fault for driving too closely and irractically. The reporter’s comments were, A war hero’s life was spared due to her quick thinking, yet her $150,000 luxury sports car is on its way to the junkyard. Two others were taken via life flight to Ben Taub Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. After Beverly gave her statement to the police but refused to be examined at the scene and a police officer took her to the next exit where Delano was waiting. Delano took her to Hermann Memorial hospital anyway and after three hours of exams and x-rays she was released. Demi, Beverly’s sister met Delano and Beverly in the driveway of their home and their daughter Isha pulled up soon after. Kathryn Bray, Beverly’s secretary arrived and began handling all the calls that were coming in, while Isha prepared a nice bubble bath for her mother.

I appreciate all the love but I’m fine

Did your life flash before your eyes? Did you see Momma?

No Demi I told you I never blacked out or anything, move out the way and where is Mari?

She’s still at the babysitters. I can’t believe you Bev. You stopped traffic for miles and you acting like it ain’t anything

Leave her alone she probably still in shock or something, said Delano.

All I need is a glass of Merlot

What if I called the masseuse, you want that baby?

I don’t need that. Did you see my car, there isn’t anything left?

I saw it thank God you didn’t get hurt. When I saw you running across the road on the TV, I though you was going to help I didn’t realize you were involved, Demi shook her head.

Look, it’s on the news now, look at that! Delano pointed the remote control to raise the volume. Demi, Beverly and Delano watched the entire accident and aftermath of the traffic jam from Memorial to I-10.

Isha cell phone rung when she came down the steps, she talked for a minute and then handed it to her mother. Somebody wants to talk to you

Hello, said Beverly as she took the cell phone from her. Isha saw slivers of glass in her hair and carefully pulled them out.

Why I go online and see my mother-in-law running down the freeway like it’s a sidewalk? Huh, what we gonna do with you Doc?

Hey Quinton, what do you mean it’s online?

Woman you done made the news. Texas superhero, wonder woman, phenomenal death defying and all that. It sure is good to hear your voice, but you on punishment, stay off the road!

I have to go to work crazy man, when you coming home?

I’ll be back in a few days, do you need anything?

No I’m fine, thank you for asking. Try to come to dinner before you go out on the road again. I love you

I will and I love you too. Now may I speak back to my wife before she gets jealous, he laughed.

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That night when Delano slid into bed, he gently spooned himself closer to his sleeping wife. Everybody he loved was safe and on Sunday morning he would put something extra in the collection plate.

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Leon and Lucille Mayfield were sitting at their kitchen table when there was a loud knock at the back door.

H.P.D. Open up! They both looked at one another before Leon got up to open the door. What up Lee, what yall doing?

Tootey! Man it’s too early in the morning for all that, Tootey laughed and walked in carrying his nine month old son Thaddeus.

Morning Lucille, Thad say good morning to your Aunty. Thad yawned and Tootey kissed his cheeks.

Morning, hey Thad how you doing sugar? The baby smiled showing the few teeth he had. He sure looking like you Tootey

Yup this here my boy! I came by to see if you and Big Curt needed any help putting together them playhouses?

That’s a lie, you ain’t got groceries

Naw Lee, I got three eggs but I’m missing the butter. But I’m here to work for real, but Thad ain’t got no milk. You hear his little stomach growling, we poor

You here to work, how you gonna do that with a baby in tow? asked Leon.

I was gonna find somebody to watch him

You need to take him back to his momma

Latisha’s friend Pruella came by last night, and she and her boys left with her. I don’t know why Pruella hang around Latisha, they ain’t nothing alike. You know I had given her money for food and I paid all the bills with the rest of my check

You married her

I’ve had worst but I got my son, that’s why he with me. All we do is argue but she better not be treating this baby bad because of me

Bring him here Tootey, let me feed him and you get something on your stomach, Lucille held her hands out for the baby who happily went to her.

What I tell you about messing with them young girls? I told you!

For your information Lee she was real sweet in the beginning and I couldn’t pull away. She ain’t a bad person just jacked up in the head; always wanting things right now and she see me working to get us the things we need. And remember I didn’t know about them other two boys of hers, somebody else had them. I wanted me a woman with no kids; I blame you Lucille for inviting us to supper and having two forks

What? Who doesn’t know about a dinner and a salad fork? I’m not thinking about you Theodore James Mayfield. You were doing great while you were living here; don’t let that trifling woman throw you off. Greg said you could still pick up extra money working for him

I know but Latisha always complains when I’m not at home to help with him. I don’t know maybe we need more time to get use to each other. Tootey sat down with a plate of food and began sprinkling hot sauce on top of the thick pat of butter sitting in the middle of the grits, he crumbled up the turkey sausage and mixed it with the scrambled eggs, and then he stirred it all together.

Big Curt bringing more paint so we can start on a new project, we adding a small porch on this one

Sounds good to me, Thad you like your Aunty’s grits don’t ya? Thaddeus opened his mouth anticipating the buttery grits Lucille was feeding him.

Did you bring his diaper bag?

Yeah it’s in my car

When you finished eating go get it, this baby got a hard turd in his pants. Babies need more than milk, they need water for their bowel movements. Not Kool-Aid Tootey and when you give him juice sometimes you have to add water to it

Yeah I smelled it on the way over. Thanks, Lucille that’s my little man right there and I’m doing the best I can

I can see that so I’m gonna help you out. This baby is a miracle and I don’t want any harm to come to him

That’s what I’m saying, I got me one finally and he needed to have my last name and be around me!

Leon listened and sipped his Folgers decaf that Lucille made him drink. At sixty-two years old he never knew his father and always held in the pain of not knowing who his father could have been. His mother Bertha Mae never felt the need to tell him the truth. He had a few names of men he knew his mother dated but nobody ever showed up on his door. When his cousin Tootey’s mother Thelma Jean died of Alzheimer’s last year any and all information was sealed in her head and lowered in the coffin forever. I think any man who lies up with a woman and get her pregnant and then don’t do nothing for his own child is a punk. Even if you don’t know for sure, you need to find out

And I did, Latisha cut the fool up there at the hospital with them people about me wanting to get the test. Her lying tail probably wasn’t sure like she said she was. But 99.9 % makes me damn sure! Excuse me that slipped

You sure did slip, why didn’t you protect yourself?

Lucille I told you I tried but I ran out, he and Leon laughed. All I need now is a good woman said Tootey and Lucille shook her head.

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Junior and Tammy

Carter stop that, you hear me? No, don’t touch that you’ll hurt yourself. Stop Carter! Tammy comes into the family room and sees her husband Leon Jr. on the sofa trying to read some documents.

Carter you want your raisins? Carter pointed towards the kitchen. I’ll get them, sit down in your chair and put your puzzle together. She kissed his forehead after he sat in the little blue chair next to his table with the undisturbed six piece wooden puzzle of primary colors.

Don’t know why he listens to you

Because you play with him all the time

The girls did

He’s not a girl, Tammy got a small bowl for the raisins and sat it on Carter’s table.

Daddy here, said Carter.

What you want? Junior put his work down and went to help Carter with the puzzle. He said the colors out loud while his son placed the right color in the correct colored square. Good job, give me five! Carter raised his little hand in the air for his father to tap. The girls Tara, Taylor came in the door and Carter got excited over which one would pick him up first.

Tee get me, he called them all Tee.

Hey girls, yall got any homework, asked Junior.

Do we have homework? said Taylor. I did mines at school; can I take him for a walk?

Stop being smart I know what I said and why I said it. He ain’t a dog, how you gonna walk him?

Gonna? said Tara smiling at her father.

May I push him in his stroller, around the block old country one?

Watch it, ask your mother

I asked you

Taylor your mouth is entirely too smart, just do what I told you to do!

Chill out Dad I need to go to the restroom first, move Tara I got him

Let me play with him until you get back, Daddy said to stop taking him in the bathroom with us, stop Taylor! cried Tara.

Tayan where you been? said Tammy seeing her daughter coming through the side door. She took Carter from Taylor and checked his pull up to see if they were wet or soiled. Go change your school clothes Tara

I was outside with Jericka, said Tayan.

Didn’t nobody know that you had went out that door

Dad I was in the yard

You know the rules young lady; you can’t just disappear and go off by yourself without someone knowing where you are going

You always let Tara, why you treat me like I’m a baby?

Because you sneaking out the house!

"Daddy I watch CSI I know what happens in the world"

Glad you do now go change, we going to drive the go-carts after dinner

What are we eating tonight Mom? asked Tara.

Go change your clothes Tara, I’m making a salad and baking wings, I put it in the oven you can’t smell it?

I don’t smell anything, said Junior watching Taylor come back in the room with jeans and a pink hoodie on. Tammy put a jacket on Carter and handed him to her.

Let me make sure I put the oven on. Carter was trying to say something but Taylor told him to be quiet because he couldn’t talk. Stop Taylor! said Tammy.

Just kidding man…

Toppit Tee! repeated Carter as they went out the door.

What has happened to her?

She thinks she knows everything but I’ma pop her in the mouth, she got one more time and I’m going off on your daughter, Tammy sat on the arm of the sofa and reached for the remote control.

I thought you were going to check the oven? Junior grabbed the remote before she could get it. Tammy ran into the kitchen and came back a minute later.

Ooops I didn’t turn it on. Give me the remote I want to check the news. Junior and Tammy wrestled and she ended up on top of him. He held her and they were quietly watching the news when Tara came back into the room.

I guess I’ll do the salad, she said quietly.

Would you sweetie, the eggs are already boiled

Okay Mom, do we have any garlic bread?

Check the freezer, Tammy’s eyes stayed glued to the 70 inch television screen. Tara prepared the salad, made a pitcher of pink lemonade and set the table. Tayan soon joined her and twenty minutes later Taylor came back with Carter. The girls had always been close and the two oldest girls were a freshmen and sophomore in high school which sometimes had Tayan feeling left out. But at home it was cool; they laughed, danced, played video games and talked about what boys they thought was cute. It took the wings about an hour to cook, and then the girls popped their favorite garlic bread in the oven and put ice in the drinking glasses. Tammy had to pull Junior up when dinner was ready. Carter sat in his high chair next to his Daddy and as usual the two of them were the funny and pleasant entertainment at dinner. Afterwards a tired but satisfied Junior backed Tammy’s SUV out of the driveway with his family all buckled up inside. The family’s weekly night out was to any place where they could all enjoy themselves. Junior remembers that back in the day Leon and Lucille would let him and his brothers play in the yard while they listened to music and watched. There weren’t many family vacations except to Astroworld or SeaWorld, once they rented a cabin and fished on a lake, but mostly they were in their own backyard. Tonight Junior’s family was going to have fun and make memories that would become the guideline for his children on what family time is. He made more money than his father but he adjusted his time at work in order for the girls to know him, not only as Daddy but as a person.

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Brian and Mercedes

I want a burrito

Where are we going to the Taco Cabana?

Nerp, I want to try that place with the five pound burrito

That will take hours to digest Brian, you don’t need that

Why you say that, if I don’t eat it all I’ll bring the rest home

But look what time it is, it’s already six o’clock

So? Alright what you want to eat, please don’t say I can just eat a salad, he mimicked.

Whatever, can I have some of your burrito?

"No that’s defeating the purpose of going I want to see if I can eat it all by myself. Call my mother and tell her we’ll pick up Brice in another two hours. Let’s head to the Grilled Onion". Brian’s mother Sara fussed and his father Lloyd took the phone and yelled for Brian to bring him something good back. Brian loved watching the cooking shows like Man vs. Food or Diner, Dives and Drive-ins. Recently he watched a man eat a 5 pound 18 inch burrito and felt he could do it too.

Mercedes should have known the incident wouldn’t be a quiet feat. The restaurant manager recognized Brian and Mercedes as being Houston Rocket’s star forward parents and seated them in a booth with Rocket’s jersey #34 hanging on the wall above it. The owner prepared the enormous burrito himself.

Mercedes ordered a burrito bowl with lime chicken, rice and beans. With all the attention Brian was getting from the other patrons he was being his silly self and took pictures with them that ended up on Facebook. Mercedes recorded the beginning, the middle and the end of her greedy husband’s funniest moments. He ate the whole thang! Got a free meal, picture on the wall, tee shirt and he left a hundred dollar tip.

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Mercedes

Sure I was proud of him but I had to drive home and babysit his crazy butt because he couldn’t lie down or get comfortable. He took some antacids and we played pool for four hours before I had to go to sleep. He and Brice slept in the following morning while I went to work. By eleven o’clock I had gotten several calls about Brian being on the internet and Quinton tweeting that he could do it too.

I found out that working with younger people had its advantages and disadvantages. What I liked was they kept me updated on what was phat, bad, cool and hip. The classic cut of my suits hadn’t changed but the seasonal fads kept the boutique busy. And now since I’m doing a men’s line I get more than I can handle with the custom tailored tuxedos. The girl’s were trying on gowns too risky and revealing for their age and I sided with the mother’s on how low they could go for a school function. It was one of the short yet busiest times of the year and I wasn’t about to ruin my business by creating an expensive gown that made sweet innocent girls look like a street walkers.

I placed a sign in the dressing room letting the young men know that sagging in a formal was a no-no. If they were renting a tux and purposely ordering it too big that’s was a whole other matter; but to have one tailored specifically for their height and body measurements wasn’t going down. I’d eliminate business to high schoolers before I put my name on some disrespectful crap like that.

In 2007 when I bought my home, the three thousand square feet dwelling was really too much for me but I got an excellent deal on it. Now the space is still good but the floor plan really makes things feel jammed with all the bedrooms on one side. Brian and I talked about gutting the interior and adding because we need to be able to spread out more before we adopt another child. Together we have looked at other properties but we haven’t found anything that we have fallen in love with. Another thing is our parents; will any of them need to come live with us in the future? Anything could happen and I love my neighborhood even though they are changing the Grand Parkway into a toll road. Right now we are doing well, saving money and we are very comfortable. Buying a two story home had been out of the question, so that means the new home must have a decent lot with a nice size backyard.

The telephone wakes Mercedes from her daydreaming.

Hello Mercedes Williams speaking

Mommy

Hey Brice what are you doing?

Playing, Daddy said come home

Tell your Daddy it’s not time to come home, there’s a pause and Mercedes hears Brian telling him what to say.

Him say you the boss

Where are you at Brice?

I’m selling shoes

Make that money baby now put your father on the phone

Okay, Daddy Mommy wants you

Hello beautiful, how is your day going?

I’m fine, what time did you get to work?

Late, I had to show off my burrito tee shirt; you know the manager let me leave some flyers and business cards at the restaurant. We won’t be here long

Good for you, I have a new shipment coming today and I need to supervise a final fitting

Supervise?

Yup, the customer’s check bounced and I want to be here when she makes good on it. She was very nasty to Leslie and I want her to talk that same mess to me!

Don’t accept another check

I won’t because this is the second time this happened, the first time we laughed it off with her but now I see home girl has a problem

You gonna get ghetto I can tell

If I have to, you know me. Leslie has been managing my store since the beginning and has bent over backwards for this woman and she cussed Leslie out over something that was her own fault. She needs to stop ordering stuff she can’t pay for

Some people are like that; I got a guy that comes in every time Nike put out something new. He told me one time he knew his light bill wasn’t going to get paid because he was getting the sneakers. Oh, me and Brice going over to The Mayfield’s so he can play with his cousins

No fair I wanna come

Too bad, Aira said she cooking two hams, mash potatoes, the garlic butter brussel sprouts and some pecan pies, I can’t wait!

She cooking that, how you know? Brian you are the greediest, I hope you can’t boop, I’ma call her and tell her to send your butt home. If you go over there without me I’m changing the locks on the bedroom door, slash your tires and I’m calling your momma!

My momma is invited too so you can be mad all you want; me and Brice can go home with them because they love us

What, Aira having a dinner on a week day?

I told you two hams, mash potatoes…

What’s going on?

Dinner what you think, I just got off the phone with her, she said Adam took two hams out the freezer and defrosted them, so she had to cook them. Uncle Leon and Aunty Lu coming and I think your parents too

Brian?

What?

Listen. Mercedes hung up on Brian and dialed Aira. Aira are you having a dinner tonight?

Aira began fussing, Girl he makes me sick sometimes, Adam defrosted all this meat and I know it will just be wasted. He was suppose to separate them but he didn’t so Joon put them in the oven thinking that’s what I wanted

Hold on I hung up on Brian, she places Aira on hold. Hey baby

Hey baby nothing why you hang up on me?

I didn’t mean to

Yes you did you little munchkin, you probably on the phone with Aira now? Poor Buttercup when she wrong she just melts down. You crazy woman you know that? He laughs when she hangs up on him again.

Okay I’m back. I have something to take care of but I’ll be over

Cool, it’s nice outside so we can have wine and coffee on the deck after dinner

What about Sedrick and Debra you heard from them?

They’ll be here. Antoine said he coming for a plate but he has to get back on campus to study

Cool, Aira did Brian tell you what he did last night?

I saw it on Facebook, and yeah he was bragging and getting Quinton all hyped up. They were tweeting back and forth a little while ago

"You should have seen him, he was biting it but it didn’t look like he was chewing. He got an eating disorder"

Don’t say that, Aira laughed. Guys do that food challenge stuff; everything is a competition with them

He couldn’t even go to bed; we were up until early this morning

What was yall doing, never mind I forgot who I was talking to

Nothing juicy, his stomach was packed so we drank beer and shot some pool. You know you like my dirty little secrets

No I don’t

Aira you might not say it out loud like I do but you write some pretty serious love scenes

Being descriptive isn’t a bad thing, you just nasty

Speaking of nasty, you haven’t come to the boutique. I hope you not letting your sexy underwear get old and dusty

Never that, I been wearing my Hanes girl but I haven’t bought anything sexy in a long time. I had worked so hard getting my body back in shape and then I got pregnant again

What size you wearing now?

A fat ten

"It looks good on you"

Shut up, my face looks full and my thighs are touching. I have to start running again

You shut up, you over there trying to be Superwoman. You got the help so use it; the last time I called you were using the bathroom with Amir in there

Each child is different, Amir is needy and not use to being separated from me, he getting better but he’s my last baby

I understand that just like I understand your opinion of Brice needing to go to school more to be around kids his own age. Unfortunately I can’t have kids, it would have been wonderful to experience being pregnant but nobody gets everything they want in life

Don’t go there Mercedes

What you can think it but I can’t say it?

No I wasn’t thinking it so don’t try to think for me

Now why would I do that, look lets change the subject

Sometimes I can’t stand you; the only solution to this problem is we need to find a school

You said you was two months ago, I’m waiting on you

I’ma do it!

When?

Mercedes the day you put your child in a nursery or school is the day things change. Other people that you have to pay get to enjoy your child

That’s what my mom said and that’s why he spends time with his grandparents. They enjoy him and he’s learning stuff with them. Maybe we can let the kids go for a half a day or something?

A half a day sounds about right. I can work on my projects, go to the spa or hire a personal trainer

Or come meet me for lunch, go bother Debra or oh my God turn on the news hurry up!

What channel? Aira ran to the 24 near the refrigerator

Channel 11!

Aira and Mercedes silently watched the news about a woman who crashed her car into a concrete wall on Beltway 8. They see her get out what’s left of the vehicle, pull her Dolce Gabana purse on her shoulder and run across to the other vehicles involved in the accident.

Is that Bev? Aira said but already knew the answer.

I can’t believe it, Aira let me call Isha and I’ll see you soon

"Okay, but let me know what’s up. Drive careful!"

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Large serving trays lined the kitchen countertops. Piles of ham, wing dings, mash potatoes, brussel sprouts, salad, fresh home bake rolls, mustard greens, string beans, dirty rice, boudain, country style short ribs swimming in thick BBQ sauce and three cheese Mac & cheese. Antoine brought his teammate Butch Davis and stayed for about two hours. Pecan pies were devoured and the coconut cakes fought over. Styrofoam take home plates were available and Adam told everyone to take food home.

Big Curt found Aira sitting on the steps near the living room. I know that ain’t the same plate you been nibbling off of all night?

Aira looked for Adam because he had been teasing her about her thickness. No, it’s mostly vegetables

I see that. Baby girl you invited your family over to eat and it looks like you depriving yourself

I have to watch my weight Daddy

Watch it all you want you got my genes. Over the years my food portion has gotten smaller but I eat several times a day. He smiled and sat beside her. Aira noticed the deep set crow’s feet around his eyes and the silver streaks of hair around his temple of his head.

Don’t talk about me Daddy

I ain’t talking about you. I like how my little girl has become a woman. We all change as we get older, you been staring at yourself in the mirror and getting scared

How do you know?

Because I see the change in you, you’re just as beautiful as ever only now you got that wisdom shining in your eyes. A few extra pounds is good for you, help your body to fight off germs

You sound like Granny

She must have whispered it in my ear when I was sleeping

Don’t let her bother you too much

Why not, we all got to die baby

Hush your talking, Aira spoke her Granny’s words in his ear. Big Curt kissed her cheek longer than normal and Aira snuggled in his big arms. Together they watched the room full of family while sitting on the steps like it was their own private island. Justin walked to the dining room table to kiss both his grandmothers Clarisse and Lucille. Leon stood up and he and Justin stood back to back, it was measuring time. Justin finally had him by an inch, which made him taller than Aira too. A fresh breath caught in her throat, Justin’s profile matched Benji Jacob’s. You see that Daddy?

Who Justin and Leon, yeah before long Adam gonna have to punch him in his chest

Who does he look like to you?

Studder, he laughed and stopped when he seen Aira’s eyes glazing over.

Oh girl now don’t get teary eyed, every so often they appear. They gotta come back to check on the ones they loved. My brother’s Earl and Vincent can still make me laugh and it’s been over forty years. I remember Christmases, going swimming, hot summer nights on the back stoop and Earl’s funky underarms pits. Momma always said your brother Popo reminded her of my Daddy, like he snuck down from heaven just to see us

What about Uncle Vincent what was he like?

The coolest brotha you ever wanna meet. Vincent could draw really good and Earl would get jealous because he couldn’t do it, you know them two were only ten months apart. With me being the youngest I wanted to be just like them. They had been in the army four years before I finally caught up to them over there. We had a real good time together and I wanted to get in their unit so bad. I wanted to be with them. Big Curt’s voice changed and he stomped his foot on the steps and stood up.

Daddy I know where Adam hides the good liquor, you want anything?

I just had the best time with you daughter, he said and walked away towards the front door.

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The morals values and traditions of their family weren’t something they just happen to come by; it was a conscience belief in right and wrong coupled with generational customs or beliefs. The main learning tool was from the bible which contained golden rules that were valued, accepted and passed down. Aira’s eyes sought out the personalities and found familiar sayings, gestures, and courtesies. She learned to cook from her mother, aunt and grandmother; she crossed her legs at her ankles because her mother did and her reflectiveness wasn’t her own, it was her father’s. Their earlier conversation had him hurrying away because he still didn’t know how to share his emotions. Aira wrote her innermost thoughts down; Curtis Thomas held his in secretively, tightly and buried deep in his core. The extra ham was an invitation to gather the family together to share a meal and fellowship together. Everything each of them did, sitting on the deck, playing on the lawn or wiping little noses were taught and passed down again and again.

Long ago in the slave quarters after a long hard day, the slaves sat around the cooking fire telling stories, and singing songs of a land across the ocean. The children ran around trying to catch frogs and fireflies, or lighting bugs as we call them today. On those nights where people gathered together traditions were regenerated; cultural ideas and beliefs were honored and everyone shared. They traded skills in order to stay strong separately or as a group. Around that fire not everyone was of the same tribe or of the same blood. Yet they all had the same need for survival and out of necessity they clung together like family. So while the children played and the women rocked the babies to sleep; the men bonded and new families were formed.

Tonight the talk of the economy, the price of gas and the proper way to flip a house were the main topics. Aira tied Jared’s shoes and sipped on her bottled water with three slices of lemon pushed down inside it. When she tried to clean up Sara Jane and Mercedes told her that they had everything under control so Aira slipped outside on the deck and began observing her brother Sedrick interactions with the family.

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Sedrick Thomas felt important these days, not a shadow behind a father, not a scrub to his successful friend; or the passive sibling behind a sister that had used one of her many talents and went after her dreams of becoming a writer and made it a reality. He may have been a momma’s boy but not in a negative way, he clung to her because she always showed him love. His daddy’s shoes couldn’t be filled by him but he knew he filled his mother’s heart and her talks helped him to understand his father. Sedrick loosened his tie and threw the ball back to Ethan, who looked like he needed a bath.

Sedrick, Sedrick! yelled Brian.

Yeah man what’s up?

I asked you how it go today, did you get that contract?

I don’t know yet I will know something by late tomorrow. Oh and I rode pass that property off Beechnut

What that old patio home?

Yeah, that thing need to be gutted, we would have to put $40,000 into it to make it livable. And they aren’t what they use to be. Some of the bricks are missing in big spots like somebody ran into the house

All the City want is the back taxes, which will give us a profit. I got workers lined up

Alright I’ll be downtown tomorrow and see what’s happening with the property

Cool. Man, I love it out here; you don’t have lots of neighbors, plenty of space to chill out

And you know this is only the front, the property goes deeper

I heard, the farthest I been was to the fence behind the pool area. Ha-ha, talking about that area gave me a flashback of Adam kicking old dudes butt

Man that fool James Jacobs still in jail

Maybe he likes it, the government steady building prisons for men like him. Look at my mother acting like she live here, Momma! Brian yelled.

What? said Sara Jane picking up plates and glasses.

Hey Momma, you so pretty! he smiled. Sara Jane blew him a kiss and said something to Aira who laughed.

Brian you didn’t get enough whippings did you? said Sedrick as he picked up Ethan.

A meal like what they had shared needed to be digested slowly. You needed to move your body in some kind of way so you wouldn’t feel lazy or fall to sleep. Aira smiled and quietly wondered how much of this night she would forget, and when she was gone from this earth how would she be remembered. From the two tier deck, to the flagstone path leading to the gazebo, the family had gathering and were laughing and having a good time. The things we do that make us feel good are part of our individual purpose, people are always watching and you just never know when something you say or do impact their lives. There was nothing physical we could do to hold on and stop time, the special moments were only for right now and it was all we had because once it’s over and we are gone, all that’s left are memories.

Zaya, Jared, Amir and Brice might not remember anything about tonight, but their bond would teach them how to be family, to love and how to share with others. Amir was sleepy and sitting contently in his Grandma Lu’s lap while she gently stroked his head real soft to help him to relax. I still do the same thing, like we all do things out of habit, never knowing where it came from or who started it. Tradition isn’t just about a holiday, it’s the common things you do every day, its being in agreement and learning something new even when things appear to be the same.

Sedrick held his son in his arms and walked towards his sister who appeared to have zoned out. He leaned down so he could kiss her, and then Ethan kissed her too.

Caught you day dreaming?