Home Again

chapter 12

“Bradley!!!” Beth wailed from her bed. She could see the pole lights kicking on through the windows.

“Granny?” Brad approached the bed.

“Hello pet” She reached for his hand. “Where is everyone?”

“Gone, except Ruby she is drawing you some tea. Will you let me please take you to the hospital?”

“I don’t want to go to the doctor” she coughed weakly “I just want to spend time with you Bradley.” She patted his face. “Now Help Granny to her chair, please baby” She reached for his hand.

“Granny you should rest,” Brad protested but helped her anyway.

“And add some more wood on that fire.” She requested, “Someone could catch the flu in here.”

She settled in and straightened the blanket he had laid on her lap, watching him. How to explain this, she thought. It will crush him, but it must be done. “Bradley, could you hand me my purse darling.”

He did and he knelt beside her as he done as a child listening to stories, “I want to show you something,” She pulled out an envelope, “This is very hard for me to admit. Bradley pet, but I have been keeping a terrible secret. The only reason I am doing this now is that I love you and I can’t bear to see it all happen all over again. I feel just awful!!! I haven’t been able to rest in years Bradley over what I’ve done, I only hope you can forgive an old woman.” She gave it to him. He pulled out several photos and a letter that read,

Granny,

Here is the information you wanted. I have followed every lead I had and even made friends with the little rat. I can’t believe this is happening. I followed her to Nashville and found her in every bar, truck stop and honky tonk that would give her an entrance. Brad really dodged a bullet here. The sleazy drug and alcoholic addicted men, she is associating with isn’t fit for animals. She is even subjecting her children which I suspect to be Brads to these traumatic lifestyle choices. Has she contacted him yet? I am praying that he isn’t dumb enough to take her back. She is as you suspected trying to take all she can. Here are the photos I have gathered.

Love,

Justin.

“You see darlin’, Justin is a private investigator and I feared you’d take her back one day. I thought you’d like to know what she was really like.” She watched him; his face was hard as he read every line repeatedly. “I had him follow her, you parents wanted the best for you and so do I. She continued her trailer park ways even as far as Tennessee.” She coughed, “You can take the trash out of the park Bradley but unfortunately you can’t take the park out of the trash. By the time I found out about the twins and that they were most definitively yours, I was distraught and indecisive.” She held her chest tighter, “They were already four and compromised by her lifestyle and you had Annie who had just turned three you were married to Daphne who was fine girl from a good solid respectable background. You were dealing with her illness and had so much on your plate already. I was afraid of ruining your life Bradley can…” She coughed again and held her chest a little tighter, “You... ever forgive granny?” She had tears strolling down her face holding her chest and left arm giving slight deep breaths.

He put the letter down, “How could she do this to me? I trusted her, I loved her. Granny, why didn’t you ruin? How could my children ruin my life?” He paced

“Her lifestyle, the way they were raised; The years of endless therapy they would need after living in such conditions. Oh, and the habits or even illnesses they could have picked up along the way … Ohhh! Bradley, I need to lay down My heart hurts.” She reached for him.

“Oh, Granny I’m sorry” he helped her to bed. “It will be fine it will work out. Don’t worry Granny. You should go to the doctor.”

“No No!!! Call for Ruby dear, she is my home nurse! She will take care of me. I feel so relieved darling that your here and I have been able to talk to you.” Her eyes fell shut as she appeared to drift off to sleep.

When the small black woman appeared in the hall, he approached her “Granny is resting now. Call the number on the notepad beside the bed if things get worse and I will get here as soon as I can.”

“But Mr. Bradley sir, where yous’ be goin’?” Ruby ask before entering the room.

“Well Ruby, Granny informed me on a few things about some people I didn’t know about and I think it time they faced the music.” He tipped his hat to her and jogged down the steps.

He drove in silence, no radio just his thoughts, the tramp. All this time not one damn phone call or letter, nothing. The last couple of days he had spent tons of time with her and still she hadn’t said a word. How could she do this? Was it all just a game? He didn’t even know her anymore. He was racing to the hotel where she was. He was surprised he had not been stopped as he glanced at the speedometer and it was reading seventy- five at one point. The whole time he kept seeing the children’s faces from the photo in his head. A little girl with beautiful light curls swinging and a handsome Brown headed boy eating an ice cream, he had missed so much. That tramp knew during all the conversations, she had plenty of chances to tell him and to explain this mess. She knew she could have called him but no she didn’t’ even try, the tramp. She probably even slept with Justin to buy his silence that’s why she was so surprised to see him at Ricky’s place last night. And to think he was gonna ask her to marry him. How stupid... He slammed his door and marched upstairs.

Melanie sat in the floor with a guitar beside Faith facing Annie and Jess. Dena stood in the hallway outside the glass door. “Brad, what are you...”

“Did you know? What did you get a kick out of seeing her make a fool of me too?” He demanded of her.

“Bradley, what has gotten into you? Did I know what?”

He shoved past her into the door “Come on Annie get your things we're leaving.”

“But dad we just got started....”

“I said get your things and don’t sass me again girl. I said Now!”

The child had tears streaming down her face as she ran out of the room.

“Brad,” Melanie stood walking toward him she put her hand out to touch him, but he caught it in midair. Richard had his walkie on immediately calling for security and Faith was at Melanie’s Flank in an instant with Dena hovering in awe at the door. The hotel staff was gathering, wondering and whispering...

“Don’t even Brad me. Ms. Michael, my name is Mr. Singleton to you and your kind,” He stunned her with a stare that felt like he was eating her soul, “You are the worst…” he appeared to be at a loss for words…

“Ms. Michael...” she looked at her arm which was being held up in the air by him.

“You two bit lying w***e. How could you do this to me? I offered you the world twice. I never looked at you or treated you like trailer trash!!!” HE was yelling at her still holding her arm and practically shoving her backwards with every word, “I defended you, I loved you and you repay me like this. How long did you think it would take me to find out? Was it some type of sadistic game to you? Or did you see it as some sort of sick twisted revenge? Do you really think I am that stupid?” He released her arm with a jolt and jerk that made her unsteady on her feet.

“What the Hell, Brad? two... bit... lying w***e?” She had tears in her eyes, and she laid one hand on her stomach, he knew about the children. But those words sounded familiar... Justin, she thought, that’s where she had heard those words before.

“Your nothing to me now, nothing” He spat the words, “You lil’ back stabbin’ gold digger. We are gonna do this one of two ways” He pointed his finger in her face, “Either your parents will release my kids to me tonight so I can get to know them and I will bring them home tomorrow and you will hear about visitation from my lawyer. Or I can go now and file for custody and drain your tiny ass bank account and ruin you financially and through the media.” With that he turned and stormed out only glancing at Dena who was whiter than Casper and had not moved a muscle. He almost shoved people out of the way as there was a crowd in the hall blocking all the entrances with cell phones and cameras going off like a firework show, The eleven o clock news is gonna be fun tonight and she deserved every last bit of it, He thought.

Melanie fell to the floor against the wall red faced and Angry. Faith and Richard sounded mumbled as they were ushering people out of the room; offering rewards for turning in their footage. He had crushed her; her heart was in her stomach. She had never seen Brad so mad had never seen so much hate in his eyes. His words lil’ back stabbin’ gold digger reminded her of Elizabeth, the witch was in town and had gotten to him she just knew it.

Years ago,...

Melanie sat on the porch swing of the funeral home waiting for Brad to come out. She was worried about him; he and his dad had been very close. To lose both of his parents at once was extremely traumatic for him. She wanted to be on his arm, at his side and never leave but his grandmother wanted to call a family only meeting. Who does that, she thought, A family only meeting at funeral? You’d think his parents had been a topic for a company meeting instead of a tragedy. She sat alone outside looking at the gardenias and jasmines that climbed the porch rails. “Must be confusing for you.” Elizabeth came around the corner watching her.

“I’m sorry?” She asked as she tried to sit a little straighter.

She came and sat down effectively forcing Melanie to give her room, “It must be confusing for you to see all the expensive proceedins’. I can’t imagine that you have all these nice traditions where you’re from.” She looked hard and mean.

Melanie felt like crawling under a rock whenever Brads grandmother was around. Her southern belle accent and her “better than you” attitude made her uncomfortable. She always acted as if because her family was poor, she wasn’t good enough to be part of their family. Now this woman who hated her was to have complete control over Brad for at least another year. “Where I’m from Mam’?”

The woman ignored her and carried on, “May I speak with you about something dear.” She grabbed her hand.

“Of course,” she was hopeful maybe his granny did like her, “Mrs. Singleton.”

“Now that my poor darling Jasper is gone all I have is my baby boy Bradley.” She wiped the corner of her left eye with the smallest edge of handkerchief.

“I’m so sorry Mrs. Singleton I can’t even imagine the pain and sorrow you must be goin’ through.” She started to hug her and thought better of it.

“Oh, I am sure you couldn’t imagine anything about us and the way we feel. You do try to be a good girl, don’t you?”

The look on her face turned sour almost demonic, “Melody,”

“It’s Melanie actually, mam’”

“It doesn’t matter what your name is; Did I ever tell you that you put me in mind of Regina very much?”

“Thank you” Melanie was touched. Regina was a kind person who had always welcomed her.

“Oh, it wasn’t a compliment.” She chuckled, “You see I made a huge mistake and allowed Jasper to marry that lil’ back stabbin’ gold digger. She was like you from a different sort.” The woman winked at her, “I’m old school if you will dear. She didn’t belong with Jasper, my sweet boy, and she cost him his life. You do not belong with Bradley and I shall not make that mistake again. You do understand child don’t yah?” She watched the confused and sad expression on Melanie’s face. “I mean you have to see the difference between you and well, all of this?” she stood extended her arms to suggest the surroundings and then dusted herself off from where she had been shoulder to shoulder with Melanie. She turned to stand directly in front of her and speared her with the most terrible cold face, “You don’t belong here no more than that trash lying in there did. You see girl you can put on makeup and a costume and play princess all you like but you can never hide from what you truly are.”

“What...I truly am?” She was almost sobbing.

“Trailer trash, A dumpster rat, Vermin!!!” She turned at this and headed toward the long procession of expensive cars.

Melanie sat horrified, crushed to the bone. She put her feet up in front of her beginning to cry just as the door swung open and the Singleton family poured out in small groups. She dared not look for fear someone else would say something to her. If only she had a car, she thought she could make her leave so Bradley would not have to be embarrassed by her anymore. No, because that would leave him by himself on this terrible day. At that thought a cold hand touched her arm and thank heavens it was Brad his hat hung low as it did when he was upset, she could barely make out his eyes. “Mel?” he questioned.

“Yeah,” She stood trying to fix her face.

“What’s wrong?” He wiped a tear away.

She could see his granny standing by the car staring at the two of them. She could tell him, but would he believe her? If he did or didn’t it would only upset him more and he was going through so much already. “I was just thinking about all this, ya’ll did a good job with the service and all. I was thinking about you and all your going through.” He wrapped his arms around her and pressed her against him; her head laid on his chest and she could hear his heartbeat, steady... He never said a word, they stayed like this for a good thirty minutes or more. He was taking strength from her and so comforted by her being there. They were surrounded by tons of Singletons from all over the country and executives of the family company. All their voices were muffled all of them carrying on about business and how tragic it all was. Discussing his father’s business sense, or that case and this case, none of it about the man or woman themselves. She noticed that not one person there had been there out of respect of his mother but after the way Elisabeth had spoken about her, none of her family were probably invited. She knew he was trying to block it all out and who could blame him.

“You know I can hear your heartbeat?” She looked up into his eyes.

He smiled but said nothing.

“Here”, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her silk covered chest, “Close your eyes and hear what you feel.” She laid her head back on his chest as one arm pulled her close again. He did as she said, and it worked. She could feel him relaxing a little and she listened to his heart trying herself to block out Beth. She could still feel her hate ridden gaze all over them. She allowed herself to be filled up in his presence, thump… Thump… Thump… Thump...

Present

The room was dark, the only light coming in was through a small crack from a door across the room where people were talking but she could only make out mumbles. She had a terrible headache and her eyes were heavy. She put her feet on the floor and groaned a little she must have been asleep for a while.

“How do you know that? Isn’t there something we can do? I mean come on this nutty!!! I knew she was evil but not sick and twisted.” Faith stood in front of the mantle staring at Dena and Richard.

“I understand that this is emotionally distressing for Melanie Believe me I do. I am very sorry this happened, but I was hired to care for her needs in a financial and career standpoint. If He doesn’t allow the girl to sing and be part of this, I will have to give the press a reason why. Also, I need to make a statement about the incident in the meeting room yesterday, that was a very bad public interpretation of Melanie. Her whole reputation is on the line. We have always used her love and compassion mixed with a little country bad ass mom angle to identify her. She’s hot sexy with an edge and at the same time a mom who nurtures. All this is very bad! She not only is being looked at like a w***e but as someone who let someone walk over her. I am only thankful it didn’t end up online we were very lucky.” Richard sat in large chair covered in flowers sipping something from a glass.

“Richard, Melanie’s life just crashed down in front of her eyes. give her a break dude. I know that is your job description but is that all she is to you a job… A reputation?” She paced,

“Well of course not. I love Melanie we all do.” Richard gulped hard.

Faith fidgeted again rocking on her heels,“Okay give us time and you will have your damn statements.” Faith turned to Dena “So what exactly happened? What is this woman’s grudge against Mel anyway?”

Dena paced the room “I don’t honestly know. I knew granny had an attitude about Mel but I always just thought it was the age difference when they were in school. Mel is a year and half older than Brad. She was held back in school in fact they first met in summer school. Mel said she flunked intentionally so she could stay back to flirt with Brad.” Dena smiled slightly, “It is insane that Granny would do this.”

“How could he do this to Melanie if he truly loved her?” Richard questioned.

“My brother does love her, it’s just that He felt very betrayed by Melanie for a long time. When he thought she had moved on so quickly? He went to Nashville and found her at a little diner with a man he never told me who, but I always thought the man was our cousin Justin and he seen that she was pregnant. He was angry for a long time. My grandmother has a way of pulling Brad strings always has. I am sure she has spun some story that twisted all the facts and made Mel seem like the scourge of the earth.” She stood and put her hand on her chest mimicking Beth “With a little, oh Brad granny does need some rest. oh, darlin’ I feel a little faint. Unfortunately, she knows how to get to him.

“Beth did this. She’s here” Melanie staggered into the room suddenly remembering what had happened. “Why? When...?”

“She came home remember she was sick...” Dena begun a little stunned by her appearance. Melanie looked terrible; the dark rings around her eyes and her hair disarray one would have thought she had been beaten to death.

“Yeah.” She slowly paced to the small couch, “I guess I need to explain to the twins” Melanie tried to run her fingers through her hair but failed.

“It’s taken care of babe.” Faith knelt beside her, “You’ve been out for a couple of days.”

“Days… Couple…?” Melanie stared at her wildly

“Two to be exact.” Dena commented.

“What? Taken care of, what do you mean?” She slouched back into the chair.

“I took care of it.” Faith smiled weakly.

“I wanted to make sure you were okay.” Dena hugged her.

“I’ll be fine I’ve gotten over him before.” She stared out into space, “But I never in all my life thought he would ever say those things to me.” She began to cry.

“Oh, come on!!!” Richard stood and all three women stared at him in awe “You are Melanie Nicole Michael!!! Super star,” He held his arms up the air in a cocky fashion, “You are sexy, talented, and made the top ten bachelorette list the last two years. You have been on the top one hundred sexiest women alive three years running. You could walk outta here and get any man ten times more man than what’s his name. You cannot tell me you are going to sit here and cry and whine over some mountain man who plays with ponies.” He put both hands on his hips. If one didn’t know better Faith thought, they would think he was gay. The thought disgruntled her.

“Richard, he is more than some mountain man” Faith replied.

“You know your right; a mountain man has more sense about him. A mountain man would not let his granny dictate his life.”

“Richard that is Dena’s brother and the love of Mel’s life.”

“Really?” He peered around Faith to look at Melanie, who watched him through a tear-stained face. “The love of your life,” He chuckled, “I don’t think so. He is nothing more than an old high school flame who lucked up giving her two great kids and still hasn’t wised up or learned his lesson yet. He is a hot head with no brain. Am I wrong Melanie?” He extended his hand to her.

“You know your right. I am not all those things he said, and it is his loss. He had no right to accuse me of anything when he was the one who walked away from me.” Melanie took his hand, “Richard, you shall have your statement in the morning. Dena,” She raised her head high, “Go tell your brother…” She paused. “On second thought give me an hour.”