Home Again

Chapter 5 Villian Reaveled

“It’s two o’ clock, Faith,” Melanie paced in the room, “He’s always early in everything he does.”

“Mel, it’s been how many years maybe he changed?” She sat Indian style on the bed watching her go back and forth.

“Changed!!! That’s hilarious Brad change. The man is a rock he doesn’t change. In fact, he hates change!!! He doesn’t change, others change for him. He is always in charge!” She shrugged.

Faith jumped and grabbed her by the shoulders “Mel, Calm down and remember he is dealing with two girls”

“What do I say to him?” She began to walk again, “Hey do you know about the kids? Did that witch granny of yours tell you your children were fatherless and that she has made hell for all three of us? Do you…”

“Wow no... maybe ease into when his daughter isn’t around.”

She stopped, “What, oh yeah, I know that. What do you take me for a moron?”

Faith looked her over “Well…! No! But perhaps a deer in headlights, yes!”

She looked at her pleading.

“Okay Mel, listen, stop thinking about it. He...”

“He’s on his way with the girls they couldn’t decide what to wear.” Dena smiled and laughed nervously.

“Oh! Faith go tell Richard please.”

“Yes mam”

“And go call the kids make sure my mom’s keeping them entertained.” She shook her head, “and make sure they haven’t killed mom of exhaustion.”

“Yes, mam those twins are a handful. I wouldn’t be surprised if they haven’t tied her up to a chair by now playing cowboys and Indians” Her laugh echoed down the hall.

“Your children are beautiful. I saw them on the dresser” Dena smiled nodding toward the photo of the two in front of a large fish tank. Must have been an aquarium or something, Dena thought.

“Oh, thank you” She looked puzzled but continued to fluff her hair.

“Mel, we were close once, tell me the truth. Why haven’t you said anything to me or to Brad about them? I never imagined you would do any of this.” She looked at the floor.

“What are you talking about?” She turned in horror.

“I can see Brad in the boy’s face. Ben is his name isn’t it? Named after our grandfather, He is so much like my brother?”

“How do you...”

“The internet gave me the names and his eyes gave me Brad. I know you love Brad and I understand he hurt you but how could you do...”

“Elisabeth” She griped the side of the dresser so hard her knuckles turned white.

“What?”

Melanie went to her bag and pulled out a small box with some papers in it and handed it to Dena.

“What’s this?”

“Just read,”

“Dearest Melanie,

Your letter finds us at the most inopportune time. Brad left you for the most noble of reasons one only wishes you had the intellect to realize that. His family fortune and the fact you were not willing to wait proves what kind of gold digger you are, and I had been preaching you were, Thank you for that. I am sorry you have compromised yourself dear, but Brad will not take responsibility for drunken mistakes. It has been months since you two have been together and God only knows what sort of people you have had relations with. So, considering your age dear being 18 and my Bradley being underage, and the law frowning upon that sort of thing. I would assume with your less than idea dreams of fame and fortune you wouldn’t want a record. So, Let us stop this nonsense and have an agreement; you shall have no further contact with Bradley, and I will not have you arrested on charges of r**e, fraud, and anything else our lawyer can come up with.

Good day,

Elisabeth Gelding Singleton

“I can’t believe that she could do this?” Dena rasp still scanning the tattered tear stained letter.

“I didn’t either before I lived through all this.” Melanie was rummaging through the papers. “I know that this is hard to swallow Dena but it feels so good being able to finally share this with you.”

“Still, although this is a threat, it had... I mean she wouldn’t be so cold especially to her own great grandchildren, and certainly

you could have fought this.” Dena looked at Melanie with chagrin and disbelief. “You could have gotten an attorney, or your family could have told us, I mean your brother has run into me a thousand times at the grocery or at the club.”

Melanie stood, “Could had If I had the money to get an attorney; seriously Dena, I was going to school taking night classes, singing gigs at bars and small clubs on my days off and working for tips at a truck stop making a dollar and twenty-five cents an hour. How was I supposed to compete with the Singleton’s family Fortune? I wanted to trust me. She would do this, she did do this to her Great grandchildren, I got this shortly after,” handing her a stack of crinkled up papers.

“Ms. Michael,

My name is Jordan Shaffer the residing county attorney for Jacksonville, Tn. I am writing to inform you that a complaint has been filed in our offices and you are being investigated for the following charges, harassment, terroristic threatening, and child abuse. It is in your best interest to find an attorney or the court will provide one for you.

Jordan Shaffer

“I had two detectives from the Jacksonville police department that delivered this with a bunch of theatrics, I was taken to the police department in hand cuffs. Ben and Regina were taken away from me for three whole days, until my parents could get me a lawyer worth a crap to get me out.”

“Oh my gosh.” Dena had tears in her eyes.

“They convicted me on the harassment and charged me with a misdemeanor and gave me a warning after the judge heard my side of the story, which of course with my side of the story, it never went to court. I was advised by my Lawyer to avoid telling the court about the kids and keep it as I was trying to contact a high school boyfriend and promised to never try to contact her grandson again. Their determination was based on my phone records and postage from where I had been sending letters.” Melanie paced,

“Why did they take the kids?”

“She had called in neglect and I had been placed in holding at the local police dept. So they brought them here to moms. They had no proof of child abuse obviously; so I got my children back and an apology from the court, even the detective said they should have thrown it out. Beth went as far as putting a restraining order on my parents, my brother and me to stop us from contacting you or Brad in anyway. Then I got this to add insult to injury.” She handed her another letter this one still in the original envelope.

“Dearest Melanie,

I warned you this would happen if you continued to harass us. The next time you try I promise you will not get off on a misdemeanor. The next time I will get the r**e charge for Brad being underage. Do you see now that I have power to reach you even in Tennessee? Stay there dear in your bars and cheap truck stops. With the trash where you belong! You will be happy to know that Brad has fully gotten over you, he has takin himself a wife. Who is mature and respectable; something you could have never hoped to be! They are expecting my first grandchild in a few short months. Things are as they should be darling, and I Hope this finds you broken.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Gelding Singleton

“She is evil.” Dena had tears in her eyes. “I am so sorry Melanie.”

“I know, but it doesn’t matter. I thought she had joked about him getting over me; at that time, it had just been a year; and to think he was married and having another child. Oh well, it’s the past. Please, I don’t want Brad knowing anything until I figure out how to break the news to him about his children.” Melanie looked at Dena in pleading.

“I won’t, but I would like to meet my niece and nephew.” She wiped her face.

“You bet”