Trial By Fire - Bouncing Back, Book 1

Twenty-Eight

"Kenni, my family is just being petty." Thomas said as he watched her pack a bag of clothes. “It’s not a big deal.”

"Memphis, did you pack your shaving kit? Thom, stop. It’s meaningful to Memphis, and it’s time he gets what he wants for once in his life without fighting for it. I can’t believe your stupid father was childish enough to call just to say he burned the invitations we sent. Bella’s promised to keep an eye on the family and help where needed, too." She said as she moved to grab the bag off the bed.

"I'm not stalling. You're making a mountain out of a molehill,” he countered. Scowling, he grabbed the duffle before she could and shook his head. “Try me.”

She turned, her hand on her hip, "Thomas, please. If I wasn’t carrying your grandchild, I would totally take you up on that. Memphis wants his family together while having his dream wedding, and I want that too. I don’t have many people, so just my sister and her immediate family will be there. This is the family-only wedding. The Mafia and MC will witness the second one after Boo gets back with Romie. I promise I’ll play nice unless they cross me in any way."

Walking into the room, Memphis shook his head, "Dad, let's just do it. The timing coincides with the family reunion, so everyone's bound to be there. I’d love to see the looks on the faces of Grand-pere, Darren, and that i***t he calls a son when arrière grand-mère takes my side in this."

Knowing that he was trapped, Thomas glared at Kennedy. "Try not to let your Runaway Mouth Syndrome ruin your wedding day."

"As long as your brother and his son keep their mouths to themselves, we won't have a problem."

******

Getting to the sprawling estate owned by the Slade family, Memphis spotted his grandmother, Marigold, anxiously awaiting their arrival by the door. Personally coming to Kennedy's aide as the girl stepped into the bright August sunshine, the woman said, "Chérie, bienvenue! It is good to see you again. Come, let’s get you settled."

"Merci, Madame Rouzes," Kennedy breathed as she took in her new surroundings.

"Non, to you, I am grand-mère," the woman answered.

The carefully cultivated landscape was dotted with flowers of every variety. Trees swayed in the mid-summer breeze, their leaves rustling in the wind. A cobble stone path led to a beautifully designed mansion with a double wrap-around veranda – one on the lower level, and one on the floor above. White-painted wooden rails lined the semi-circle stone steps, contrasting nicely with the dark, red-brick manor.

Another woman came over, intrigued by the young girl with one of the elders of the family. She smiled, offering her a glass of champagne. “You must be Kennedy.”

"I am, yes. Thanks for the offer, but I have to respectfully decline," Kenni said politely. Her hand covered her belly, "I'm pregnant."

Others started toward her, their murmurs filtering through the large garden area.

Memphis snarled when he turned the corner with his father and saw that his bride was being boxed in. It was something she hated with a passion. It was also something that triggered her fight response without fail.

"Could the lot of you please give her some room," Thomas said.

Memphis grinned, pulling his girl into his arms. "Arrière grand-mère wants to meet you."

“I can see why you wanted to get married here. This garden is gorgeous, Mem.” Kennedy said as he led her inside.

As they walked into the house, he explained his family history as slaves that escaped to Canada. Once they were safe and freed, they began businesses, later owning a massive landscaping business that cemented their up-and-coming status as a rich family.

"That poor woman must be drove crazy with how some of her descendants behave," Kennedy said, not realizing that they were within earshot of the woman in question.

"I am very tired of it, dear," an elderly woman said as she rose to her feet. Her hair was half up, tied around the crown of her head in an intricate braid that must have taken hours to do. She was a tall woman, standing at least a good four inches higher than Kennedy. Her long, powder blue dress was delicately embroidered with poinsettias around the hem, arms, and neck. A snow-white shawl decorated her shoulders, clutched lightly in a weathered hand to keep it from falling.

Kennedy paled, "Je suis désolé. I didn't mean to seem disrespectful."

"No apology is needed. When a truth is spoken, it’s best to accept it and move on," the woman said as she beckoned her closer. "Come."

Pulling her gently, Memphis sat her down in the chair next to his great-grandmother. In perfectly fluent French, he said, "Grand-mère Tanisha, this is my chosen life partner, Kennedy Rubin. We're happily in love and expecting a baby."

"She's a pretty one," the woman replied.

Kennedy shook her head, letting her long hair fall around her face to hide her blush. Memphis reached into his shoulder bag, pulling out pictures of the ultrasound. He growled angrily as they were snatched from his grasp by one of his cousins.

"No wonder," the girl said. "Is it even yours?"

"Celene, you hand those back, right now," another woman snapped. "Keep your nose out of other people's business. That your cousin is happy with his choices is enough for me. Your grandmother told me that your father is sour because that girl put him in his place. Memphis, dear, congratulations on your nuptials and the baby."

He nodded, “Thanks, Aunt Monica.”

"Papa said she's only after our money," Celene whined.

"Oh, you mean the money that the rest of the family was sitting on after Memphis’s mother cleaned them out? Thomas is twice the man his brother will ever be, so I helped them out. I’m not in a relationship for the money," Kennedy said calmly.

Guilt hung thick in the air as the older woman beside her looked on in amusement. "You come from money, child?"

Shaking her head, Kennedy said, "No. Recently, my sister and I received a hefty inheritance from our parents when a trust fund we didn’t even know about was unlocked. For everything he's done for me since I met him, I gifted some to Thomas."

"Oh, so now you're superior because you gave my uncle money?" Celene huffed, crossing her arms.

"She never said that," Thomas’s voice sliced through them, making Memphis sit a little straighter. He knew that his father was pissed despite the chilling calm he seemed to have mastered. "I struggled for years to make ends meet for my son, and every one of you, except for Grand-mere et Maman, turned me away. Kennedy, baby, we're leaving in a few minutes. I didn't bring you here to be subjected to this."

"But, Thomas," she cried out.

"No buts, Kenni. You and the baby don't need the stress when you've been nothing but respectful. I knew this was a bad idea, especially after I saw my father and brother with their mouths going just now.” He snarled, snatching the pictures with a heated glare in his oldest niece’s direction.

She grabbed his arm, "Thomas, please, don't do this. Please?"

"You don't need the stress." He repeated.

She pulled at his arm gently, "You're the only one stressing right now. I'm fine, I promise. I'll let you guys know if I'm not feeling well, okay? Just, please, stop. They're your family, Thomas. This is what Memphis wanted - his family to be at his wedding."

"Where's your family," Celene asked.

"My family will be arriving in half an hour," Kennedy answered. "Sadly, my best friend is away on his honeymoon, so he's unable to make it to this wedding. We're going to have a redo when he gets back."

Touching the girl on the arm, Tanisha said, "Child, sit down. Tell me, do you love Memphis?"

"I wouldn't be here if I didn't,” Kennedy answered, sitting down beside the woman. “I don’t believe that the colour of a person’s skin defines them. Their actions do, so anyone who wants to pull the race card around me is gonna be burping shoe leather for a few weeks.”

From somewhere deep in the bowels of the house someone squealed happily. Before she had a chance to realize who it was, Kennedy was swept into the arms of one of her own people.

"I heard someone mention a sassy red-head being here, so I had to come check. Oh, honey, you’re already showing a bit with that baby, aren’t you?"

"Bella, I was hoping you were still here," Kennedy said as she hugged the woman.

"It's good to see you," Bella sighed.

"Belladonna Garret, calm down, and tell us how you know this child," Tanisha said with a laugh.

"Grand-mere, do you recall the woman that used to babysit for the family? Well, this is her youngest daughter," Bella said. Her excitement was contagious, brightening the atmosphere of the house.

"The owner of the Scorpions? That Kennedy Rubin?" Celene gasped out. "I want in!"

"Denied," Kennedy snapped. "You don't have the traits I look for in my people."

"Oh, you mean I'm not white?" The girl scoffed hotly.

Bella's hand shot out before anybody could stop her, smacking her cousin hard. Seething, she picked the now crying girl up off the floor by the throat. "You take that back. I’m in the crew you just dissed, and I can tell you for fact that she’s talking about loyalty, trust, and respect. You already showed her what you’re made of, and that’s why you got denied."

Having heard enough, Tanisha stood up and took the red-head by the hand. Leading her through the house to the yard, calling the attention of the rest of the family. Turning her smile to Kennedy, the woman rubbed her hand. “I wonder if Dante is too busy to officiate for you, seeing as this reunion just turned into a wedding.”