THE HONOURABLE MAN

Episode 54

Time passes by as Bryce and Sam swap stories while eating up their ice cream. It seems like the plan to stop for ice cream is paying off. Sam is comforted although the conversation he had with his mother about keeping her secret still plays in his troubled mind.

Soon they arrive back home and Sam joins Bryan by his play room. While Courtney is basking in the sun by the pool side, Bryce decides take the time alone to talk to his wife about Janet's request. He leads her away to their home office. Kiana quietly wonders what it is he wants to speak to her about.

"So...how did it go...how did Sam react to seeing his mother in that place....and how is Janet coping?" She rambles as she takes a seat and crosses her legs.

"It was emotional for Sam to see his mother in there...but...I believe he had a wonderful time with his mother," he rubs the back of his neck.

"Okay...that's great...and...how about his mother...how is she coping?" She expectantly peers at him.

"You know Janet..."

"Actually I don't...you are the one who does," she quickly reminds.

He exhales and looks away, "Right! Well...she is hanging in there...she is a tough woman I'm sure she will survive. It's kind of you to care enough to ask," he says.

She hesitates for a moment, "She is Sam's mother and since I care about him I guess I have to show a little care for his mother too," she responds.

Her statement gives him hope that she will take the news of Janet's request with empathy and understanding.

"I'm glad to hear that...there is something I need to discuss with you," he clears his throat and she notices the serious expression on his face.

"What is it...should I be worried?" Her eyes widen.

"No...not at all," he assures.

"Okay...so what is it?" She impatiently asks.

"Janet... asked me to...uh...to...send her money on a monthly basis," he blabs.

Kiana rises from her seat, bewilderment inkling in her eyes.

"Isn't it enough that we are looking after her son? What does she need money for in prison?" Her forehead wrinkles.

Bryce asks her to return to her seat and she reluctantly does so. Thereafter he explains to her how prison life works and the privileges that money can buy an inmate to make their stay a bit comfortable.

"I don't believe this! The point of being in prison is to make someone pay for their wrong doings. Why should Janet enjoy any privileges...and why must you be the one sending her the cash. She has relatives here doesn't she?" She stoutly expresses her disapproval.

"Sweetheart Janet's family doesn't give a damn about her,"

"Oh and you do?" She raises her brows.

"No!...Not in that way...The only reason I want to help her is because of Sam," he states.

She silently mulls over his words while lightly tapping her right leg on the floor.

"Look at it this way...if Janet has money she can get access to emails to communicate with Sam, he can send her his pictures and staff like that, she can also be able to call him and buy postage stamps to be able to send Sam letters," he adds trying his best to convince his wife.

After a minute of silence she sighs, "I guess that would really make Sam happy...how much are you thinking of sending her?" She pouts.

"I think around thirty to fifty bucks would be okay...she promised to pay it back once she gets out,"

"We both know that's not going to happen," she smirks.

"It's fine...we will add that fifty dollars to our monthly budget," she grits her teeth.

Bryce excitedly pulls her into a hug but she doesn't wrap her arms around him and she soon pulls away.

"I'm doing this for Sam...he deserves to stay in touch with his mother and get comfort from that," she clarifies.

"Thank you for being so thoughtful and kind," he simpers at her.

***

Courtney keeps to herself pretty much the entire afternoon and everyone is pleased by that because no one is up for her drama. Unfortunately dinner time comes and she joins everyone at the dining table.

The family dig into their plates without a word, only the sound of forks scratching on plates and little ones chewing loudly can be heard.

Courtney sighs out of boredom, "it's awfully quiet in here," she rolls her eyes.

Kiana locks eyes with her husband before turning to face her sister and giving her a warning look which she ignores.

"So Seth...how was the trip to Alandro Correctional Institution and how is your mother?...I hope she doesn't already have a prison tattoo branded on her ass," she chuckles.

Kiana almost chokes on her food whilst Sam and Bryce stare at her with astonishment and shock glimmering in their eyes.

"Why is everyone staring at my sister like that?" Courtney mutters.

"I can't believe you told her...why would you do that?" Sam's eyes begin to sparkle with tears. The crushed look on his face sends a twinge in Kiana's chest.

She swallows hard and slowly looks up to peer at her husband. Although he is clearly taken by surprise he doesn't seem to be disappointed or mad at her. She takes it he understands why she had to disclose the news to their guest.

"Oh...wasn't I supposed to know? How many times must I say this...I'm not a stranger in this house...I'm family...in fact I'm family more than Seth will ever be but I'm being treated like an outsider...why?" She sneers.

"I'm not Seth...my name is Sam," he grumbles before turning to Kiana and flashing her a heart breaking glance. He pulls his chair back and runs off to his room.

Kiana glares at Courtney,

"What did I do?" She shrugs, acting innocent and confused.

"I didn't tell you about Sam's mother for you to torment him over it...what do you have against that poor child?" She glowers.

"What's so special about him? From the minute I got here it's been Sam this and Sam that. He is not your family Kiana but I am...why aren't you giving me the same love and concern that you are giving Sam?" she prattles.

"You are acting like a child! What do you expect when you come into our home uninvited as if that's not bad enough...you throw a party...inviting strangers into our home then you go on to be rude and unkind to our foster child who has done nothing wrong to you....Sam is a good child who brings kindness, love and happiness into this home...what about you Courtney...what are you bringing into this home besides drama, rudeness and displays of immaturity?" Bryce thunders, leaving his wife and Courtney shocked.

He has tried to be kind and polite towards Courtney but she has finally succeeded in pushing him to his breaking point. Today was a bad day for Courtney to pick on Sam, not when he already went through enough emotional strain seeing his mother in prison and leaving without her.

"Kiana...are you going to let your husband speak to me like that?" Her cheeks blush red with humiliation.

Bryce glares at her before getting on his feet and storming out of the room without a word.

"What is your problem? What kind of a person are you? If you continue like this...I will have you thrown out of my house," Kiana furiously threatens. Courtney spots the fury of anger inkling in her eyes and decides its best to zip her mouth and not anger her any further.

She blinks her eyes and opens her mouth to say something, after a moment's hesitation she mutely pulls her chair back and flounces out of the room without looking back.

Kiana is left alone at the table with Bryan and Kiandra. She is thankful that Bryan is still too young to understand what was being said although he could tell that his parents were not happy with his aunt Courtney.

"Mommy.. is aunt Courtney being naughty again?" He peers at his mother with his cute eyes.

Staring into her son's cute and innocent face always gets her to calm down and quirk her lips into a smile.

"Yes my darling...your aunt Courtney is being very naughty," she responds.

Her heart is aching for poor Sam, she needs to speak with him, explain herself and apologize to him but Bryan is still eating and she doesn't want to leave him all alone unsupervised.

"Bryan my darling...mommy needs you to stay here for a minute...I will go and get daddy to come sit with you okay?" She hangs her head low so her face is at the same height as his.

"Okay mommy," he quickly nods.

She takes baby Kiandra and she clutches onto her hip. She walks into their bedroom and finds her husband on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling.