Home Again

chapter 18

Years ago, …

A Singleton Family Christmas was written on the door in golden letters. How unique she had heard the girl say when she got here. “Regina” Elisabeth called, trying to adjust the angels on the mantle.

“Yes, Mother dear.” She smiled with her brown eyes aglow. The little tramp knew she hated that. She was not her mother; she didn’t want to be her mother-in-law, never mind her damned mother.

Elisabeth smiled sourly, “Why is she here?”

“Who?” Regina attempted to readjust the stockings.

“Brads infatuation. You know exactly who I am talkin’ about.” She whispered.

“You mean Melanie.” She grinned “She is more than an infatuation, Elisabeth. Brad proposed once already. Of course, I suspect he intends to put a slightly more impressive ring on her hand this time.”

Before Elisabeth could hand off a snide remark, Jasper strolled into the room. “I certainly hope they give us a date this time. I can’t wait for them to make it official. It will be so great to announce the date at the next board meeting.”

“Have you both taken leave of your senses? Brad has a bright future ahead of him, he needs to go to college and be groomed to take over the firm.”

“Oh momma” Jasper laughed, “Yes, they are young, but momma, we had just graduated high school when we got married.”

“You met in college, Jasper; doesn’t that tell you any thang.”

“Momma, he can go to college and be married too. It’s not like he has to worry about money unless he wants to work, of course.”

“And knowing our Bradley, he will, but the point is Elisabeth is that they love each other, and we love Melanie. We know how worried you are over Brad. She will make an excellent member to our family.” Regina mused, putting a tray of cookies on the counter.

“You are blin…” She was interrupted by the doorbell.

“Come in everyone.” Jasper laughed.

“How do you do?” Elisabeth greeted the family as they entered. “Love you darling” She greeted her niece; the party had begun. She thought, but where was Bradley and that girl?

A few hours later, they were all singing Christmas carols by the piano when Melanie and Brad came through the front door hugging. She wasn’t the only one that saw them. Regina and Jasper did as well, and they exchanged a nod and a hug. It was as she feared they were getting ready to make a public announcement to every Singleton in the mountains.

“May I have your attention, please?” Jasper stood clinking a spoon on a coffee cup as if it were a wine glass. As the music stopped, everyone turned to him, “Well, I know we’re all here to celebrate the holidays, Christmas and such…”

“There the same thing” one of the cousins responded, laughing.

“Your right Jim”, he laughed. “but as I was saying you all know, I have been grooming Bradley here, my eldest, to enter the family business for the last year. He will be graduating this summer, and he will be going off to take the business classes he needs to train at our firm.” He waited for the applause to end before adding, “Also… hold on everyone…” He chuckled, laying one hand on Bradley's shoulder, “Also, Bradley has informed me tonight that we shall be welcoming a new member to our family.” He smiled putting his arm around Melanie’s shoulders, “This is Melanie. She and Brad have decided to get married right after they graduate.” The applause picked back up and Brad side stepped his dad to wrap his arms around the embarrassed Melanie’s hips…

Present

“Wow, so they really loved mom”. Regina smiled, “That’s nice.”

“But if they got engaged why didn’t they get married?” Ben asked.

The old woman had tears in her eyes, “Children Granny is tired perhaps.”

“Guys,” Dena, who had been standing in the doorway was on the verge of tears herself, “Let’s let Granny get some rest.” She ushered the children out the door, closing it behind her and laying the box on the dresser. “I read them.” She croaked leaning on the door facing.

The old woman stared at the box as if it was a ticking bomb under threat of explosion. “I have made a huge mistake, Dena” She rasped, “Terrible mistakes,” She had tears streaming down her face as she stared at the box. “I have caused pain and I have created turmoil. I have meddled with yours’s and Bradley’s lives when I had no right. I have justified it to myself as taking care of you both. I thought I was protecting our family’s integrity. I was wrong, Dena, I was so wrong.” She slowly stood and straightened her gown and shawl. “I need to repair them, I’m sorry Darlin’. I know I don’t deserve it, but could I borrow your car? Ruby could drive me where I need to go.” She began to get dressed and she couldn’t get her hands to operate.

“And where is it you need to go, Granny?” She helped her adjust her belt.

“To see what I can do to fix this mess”

“How is it possible to fix it? All hell is getting ready to break loose.” Dena questioned, following the old woman to the top of the steps where they were greeted by the four children.

She bent down in front of Ben and Regina, “I am so sorry. You are the two I owe the biggest apology too. Can you ever forgive me?”

Regina smiled and wrapped her arms around the old woman, “I have never had a great grandma before.” She smiled.

“Why should we?” The boy barked and took a step back.

“Because everyone makes mistakes, Ben, I just happened to make a very bad one. I am a proud woman, but I am big enough to accept my short cummings. I am going to put your parents back together.”

“You are?” He stepped forward.

“Yes I am.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, old woman.” He scowled.

“Benjamin!!!” Dena scolded

“No, Dena, he is OK. You keep that fire child you hear; That Singleton fire is important.” The woman smiled, “It is a promise and I can keep it. For once, I will be using my scheming plans to put them together for good. If I can break them up I can get them hitched I reckon.” She laughed, hearing Dena gasp.

“Do all great grandmas smell like snowflakes and baby powder?” Regina asked with her head tilted to the side.

“No darlin’ only the most dignified ones.” She touched the child’s nose. “Come Ruby.” She descended the stairs to meet her, coming out of the living room holding her coat.

“Where are we headed, Mrs. Singleton?” She opened the door.

“To the hotel where Melanie is staying. I have a date with destiny.”

Ricks

Bradley was sitting in his and Melanie’s booth when Dillion walked through the door. He could tell by his posture he was angry. Be calm, Brad, after all, he loved her too or he wouldn’t be mad, he thought. “Dillion. have seat bub” He smiled, motioning to the seat across the table in front of him.

“Have a seat!!!” The man spit through his teeth, “That is what you have to say to me. I came like you asked, without dad and I didn’t tell Mel. What the hell do you want? I saw her face, you jack ass. I never would have believed it…”

“To explain!” Brad stood interrupting; he wasn’t going to let him tower above him. “I know what I said to Melanie was harsh, cruel and mean. I should never have said anything to her like that. We made up and I will continue to try to make it up to her for the rest of my days.” He grinned.

“Oh, you made up. So, I guess that explains how she totaled out her jeep. If you hadn’t forced the children to go with you the day before a snowstorm hit. Now explain to me why you busted her in the face?” He clinched his fist at his sides.

“I had every right to see my kids, I am the one who saved her from where she wrecked her Jeep…”

“Oh well, who’s the big hero? That’s rich Singleton!!! Get em’ in trouble and leave' em’ that’s your motto; I’m surprised you helped her. After all, you left her the last time you got her in trouble; stranded pregnant, working herself to death. Does it make you feel inferior that you had your fortune handed to you while my sister made hers herself?”

“Listen here you little jerk, I have worked hard myself. I didn’t know about her condition and it’s not like you were full of damn answers. I don’t know the kind of people that you deal with, Dillion, but you are not gonna talk down to me like trash. So, you better just put those damn fingers down and point them somewhere else.” He jabbed him in the chest with his finger.

“Is that right, Singleton? Well, what the hell are you gonna do about it, woman beater?”

With that Brad saw ten shades of red, he swung and missed. Dillion was a fast-brat. He would have to give him that.

“What’s the matter, he had a few too many Bradley.” He jabbed, catching him underneath the chin. But the blow wasn’t hard enough; it didn’t even phase him, as Dillion soon noticed when Brad tackled him to the ground and right through two rows of tables. He made quick work of the boy’s face, but Dillion was a scraper himself. He caught hold of a bottle that had been knocked onto the floor and cracked Brad upside the head with it. Blood gushed from the side of Brad's head almost as badly as it did from Dillion’s mouth and nose, which was already turning hues of purple and blue.

“That’s enough, their Brad,” The sheriff added insult to injury when he and two other men in uniform jerked him and Dillion up back to their feet. “What did I tell you son? This ain’t high school no more and there ain’t no second chances.” The old man shook his head, taking in the spectacle the two made. “Gotta admit though; I didn’t think it would be Dillion.” He stepped over to the lanky young man, “Dillion this ain’t your first rodeo either son. So ya know the drill as well; It looks like you guys have a long night ahead of ya” The old man tipped his hat to the Irishman who was standing behind the bar shaking his head and finger combing his red beard. He wondered if the boys would ever learn their lesson.

Would Melanie come visit him in jail? He wondered, sitting in the emergency room hand cuffed to the old sheriff. How mad is she going to be when she sees her brother's face? Perish the thought, he rubbed his face. His cell phone rung about this time, making him and the sheriff jump out of their skin. The old man grabbed his gun, “Calm down old man”. He joked “It’s just my phone. Am I allowed to answer it?”

“No, you’re not actually…” He argued “You’re under arrest, remember, and here I thought I was the old timer.” He snatched it away, answering it himself.