Home Again

chapter 17

Brad came back out in the hallway leaving the door cracked enough so that Beth could see out. "I'm gonna go into town to get doc Belfry. He is the only one that is familiar with Grans medical file. Ruby will you please get Gran something to help her sleep?"

"Of course,"

"Brad is it safe for you to leave? I mean the roads are bad"

Beth let out a moan "Bradley" She cried out.

"Yes granny" They both stepped to the side of the door.

“Where is Melanie?” Dena was concerned. “Tell me everything is okay.”

“We had a bit of a mix up this morning,” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I accidentally hit her with the door It busted her nose. We couldn’t really deal with our issues due to the phone that would not stop ringing.

“You could have said you couldn’t, and what do you mean you hit her with a doo…”

"Can you please hurry Bradley?"

"Of course, Granny" He glanced at Dena and took to the stairs. “I am taking the kids with me to the hotel maybe they can beg her to forgive me.”

“Good” She went over to her grandmother and adjusted her blanket.

“Dena” She yelled “Will you stop fussing and let me get some rest?”

“I just want you to be comfortable granny.” She smiled sweetly.

“My Bradley made sure of that before he left so never you mind. So, go on and do whatever it is that you do and let me rest.” She watched her ease back to the door, “And call Ruby for me”

“Yes, Granny” She closed the door with force. “I bet she isn’t’ even sick” She grumbled down the steps,

“Oh, but Miss You’ins granny is sick, she has all kinds of them health problems.” Ruby appeared around the corner.

“Well, Miss Ruby does she have anything that would leave her bedridden wrong with her.”

“Well, the mistress in her age could have plenty to cause her to lay in bed.” The woman exalted “She gonna get awful mad at me but I just can’t dos it no more Mam’” She brought out a little box of letters, “Can you try not to let her know I’s be the one steelin’ these.”

Dena took the box from the woman’s hands, “What is this?”

“It’s the reason for all this ruckus I rekon.” Ruby lowered her head, “See you grandma told me about this box said it was yawls history that must notta ever come out. Says it would destroy this dynasty she built. Now I be thankin’ that this nonsense be caused from whatever is in that box.”

“Oh, Well let’s see what granny has been keeping from us all this time.” Dena started for the drawing room.

“How bout I makes us some tea mam’ while you read through em’” Ruby went toward the kitchen.

Melanie

The hotel was smaller than Ben thought it would be as they came through the lobby. “Mom” He ran into Melanie’s arms.

“My baby boy” She smiled “I think you have grown a bit taller since earlier this week. The boy beamed. “Where is your sister?”

“Outside with Da… Mr. Singleton and Faith.”

Melanie touched the boy’s cheek “It’s okay to call him dad, you know?” She smiled kneeling down in front of the child,

“Something Happened that was bad didn’t it?” He glowered.

“Look at your face. Did you fight?” The boy was almost shaking,

“No baby, I had was in a car accident, but I am fine; Bruised but fine. He didn’t know and he felt hurt that’s all. He is a great man who deserves for you to get to know him.” She hugged him even tighter than before.

“Melanie.” Brads voice caught her off guard and she stood to face him. “Please, can we talk?”

She could tell he looked terrible, “I…”

“Please Melanie?” Annie walked up behind her, “Give him a chance.”

“That is unfair.” She smiled as Regina and Ben stepped back to stand with Annie almost like they agreed with her she thought. “Well it would appear I am outnumbered,” She laughed taking them all in. “In my room follow me. Faith…”

“I’ve got the kids; I will get them started on make-up and stuff take your time.” She smiled.

He followed her into her room and gently closed the door behind him. Melanie sat on the end of the bed but didn’t say a word. She just stared at him, “Mel, I can’t ever…”

“Brad, I don’t really want to do this right now. Can we just let it go for the moment and…”? His lips were on hers in lightning speed. If there was one thing, he knew if there were any hope of her forgiving him, she wouldn’t pull away or push him back either.

His kiss was deeper than she remembered, and his lips moved with an urgency she didn’t recognize. He was sorry and he had been torching himself. What would stop him from doing it again… He had ignited a fire in her; a need that wouldn’t be denied. She lost all thought as his hands found her hair.

He leaned her back on to the bed slowly and released her lips only to glide down her throat removing the buttons of her shirt. “Brad…” she groaned. “The children” She rasp.

“There fine Mel…” He flicked his tongue against her left n****e while teasing the other. “Faith, said take our time remember.”

“I don’t…MMM” She moaned, “Think this is what…” She was breathless, “she meant.” Her lips may have been saying no but she knew Bradley was aware her body was saying please.

“All due respect Mel,” He rose to look her in her smoldering eyes, “I think this is exactly what she meant.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her senseless, “SHH Mel” He hushed her as she tried to come to her senses. “This is me trying to apologize for being a screw up.”

Valentine’s day years ago…

“Bradley!!!” Beth called from the kitchen table.

“Yes Gran,” He bounded into he kitchen.

“What is this charge for two hundred dollars out of your savings?”

“Roses.” He smiled.

“What?” She removed her glasses staring at the young man with chagrin’.

“For Valentines Gran. I got Melanie some roses.” He poured a glass of milk smiling behind the glass.

“That is an expensive set of roses.” She demanded, “Isn’t she used to the cheaper flowers. I mean flowers picked yourself seem like a more impressive gift to me.”

“If I had time I would but I want them to be a surprise for her their being sent to school for her today.”

“Oh well then, I mean Why would I be upset, what’s two hundred dollars right.” The older woman jibed.

“I knew you would understand that’s why I am planning the perfect dinner at that one Italian restaurant downtown.” He left the glass on the table and exited the house before the old woman could say anything further.

“Seems like expensive plans for a meaningless holiday.” Dena caught up to him quickly as she entered the school building. “You are most certainly the pickin’ flower kind. So why you spendin’ so much money.”

“How do you know…?”

“You and Gran in the kitchen before we left.”

“I love Melanie, do I need another reason to spoil her with roses?”

“What did you do?”

“Who said I did anything?” He gritted his teeth.

“No man spends that much money for no reason.”

At that moment Melanie came rushing down the hall “Bradley” She had the Biggest Smile He had ever seen. “You didn’t have too.”

“Yes, I did.”

“They are beautiful.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love them.”

“So, what did he do?” Dena ask her.

“What do you mean?” Melanie laughed. “Oh, he and Dillion got in huge fight.”

“So, you like part of my apology?” He wrapped his arms around her.

“Part?” She smiled up at him.

“You will just have to wait until tonight. You and me alone.” He kissed her nose.

“Oh Bradley” She giggled. And Dena thought she maybe sick as she walked away…

Present

“So, where are the flowers this time.”

“I am sure he will get around to it” Melanie continued to dab at her face.

“It was nice of the kids to be so understanding.” Faith mused “I think that Richard would much rather prefer to put off the photo shoot. They seemed more interested about going back to Denas.”

“I just hope they don’t cause to much trouble for Beth.” She laughed. “And I wish they hadn’t seen me like this though. But I was so happy to see them.” Melanie replied from the bathroom.

“I hope they do but you know It’s not that bad.” Faith bit her lip.

“Really” Melanie was hopeful when she came back in the room.

“It just looks like you might have had a run in with a Tyson, but it looks like you won” She laughed.

“You are totally not funny.” Melanie jumped up to the mirror “Oh my gosh it looks like I have a trunk on my face.”

“Well hello Dumbo” Faith cackled.

“Why don’t you go hound someone else? I am frustrated here, and you are not helping” Melanie rubbed more foundation on her face

“Honey darlin’” Richard bust into the room, “Concealer isn’t going to fix this problem besides you have more bones to chew.”

“Bones? Richard what are you talking about? What is more troublesome than my arm, my ankle and this tangle my face is in” Melanie twirled around mortified what in her line work could be more devastating than the monstrous swelled nose on her face.

“Your father and brother know about everything and there in the other room waiting your appearance.” The older man opened the conjoining doors.

“PaPa” She hugged him “Oh Dillion” She smiled painfully.

“What in Sam hill?” Her father grabbed hold of her face.

“What’d that ass hole do to you?” Dillion fumed.

“Now wait just a minute, He can be prickish at times but certainly not an A- Hole. It was an accident.” She touched her head “This was from the steering wheel when I wrecked my Jeep and the limp is from where I had my foot on the break peddle.” She tried to reason. “This was an accident we were having a disagreement, but he opened the door about the time I stepped forward, Honest Pa.” She knew her father and her brother. They were the jump first ask questions later kind when it came with anyone messing with her. She could see the blood boiling in her father’s eyes and the steam from her brother’s ears.

“You really gonna lie for him?” Dillion asked, “It don’t matter we gots some talkin’ to do anyhow.” Both men went for the door.

“Please listen, I promise it isn’t what you’re thinking.” They left the room as quick as the come. “Oh gosh Faith!!!” She stared in their wake mortified, “Did you see where I laid my phone. I have to call and warn Brad.”

“About what?”

“Them”

“Sounds to me like he deserves it.”

“Faith, will you help me please? I can see it unfolding before my eyes. My papa has a bad heart this could give him a heart attack. My brother will find him, and tick Brad off and Brad is liable to beat him to death. You don’t know Bradley’s temper I do. Then there is the possibility my papa and brother may just shoot him.”

“Here” Faith pulled the small pink phone from her coat.

“Oh, thank heavens…” She dialed “Dena where is Brad? No, you don’t understand. Dillion and my pa are looking for him…”

Dena’s

The door creeped open slowly, the four children tip toed inside. “Wow look at her” Regina whispered.

“Jesse and I always thought she was scary looking too” Annie commented back looking at Jesse as she shook her head.

“What’s wrong with her, Any way” Ben looked kind of concerned shying away from the bed side.

“I don’t know she hasn’t really left this room since she got here. Jesse said, “Mom said though it had something to with her heart.”

“You mean the she has one?” Ben asked.

Annie touched his arm “Let’s find what we came in here for and get back out please.”

“And what did you come looking for?” Beth sit up.

“AHHH,” Regina shrieked.

“SHHH” Annie calmed the girl the last thing they needed was to get caught up here.

“I understand how these three have no common curtesy but you Annie. I am impaled at your audacity. Coming into someone else’s room, without so much as a knock.”

“I’m sorry Great grandmother.” She looked at the floor.

“Well I’m not.” Ben stared at her sternly “So tell us where you hid my momma’s letters?”

“Letters?” The woman asked innocently, standing up and getting a good look at the boy for the first time, she almost lost her breath as she looked at him so much like my Jasper. Why the boy was like his clone. “Come here boy,” She demanded as she sit in her rocker.

“What?” He took a step back, “No, I ain’t going nowhere near you, mam’” He was shaking his head very fast.

“Why not?” Regina asked him.

“Are you scared?” Annie Jibed.

“I think he is a scared cat” Jesse giggled.

“No, I ain’t scared of nothin’” he was terrified of the old hag taking in her eyebrows that he was pretty sure were just made by a pencil, and her other crazy make up she looked like a possessed clown. And who wouldn’t be afraid of her right? He reasoned with his self. Her raspy voice was straight up from a haunted house. She could be Its stunt double.

“Boy, come here I say” She repeated.

“Nah uh” there was no way he was going over there near chuckles, He thought.

“What is wrong with your eyebrows?” Regina asked her going up to the woman’s side.

“How rude?” She gave the girl a stern look.

“My name is Regina, what’s yours?” The little girl tilted her head to the side looking at the old woman’s face.

“Of course, your name is Regina, your rude.” She turned back to the boy. “What is your name boy?”

“His name is Ben.” Regina answered.

“Well hello Ben” She laughed

Annie, Regina and Jesse all giggled, Ben wasn’t about to laugh the sound she was making was unnerving. She was scary when she was angry even more so now. “I think we should go guys”

“Granny, I have never heard you laugh before” Annie laughed

The old woman ignored her “Of course your name is Benjamin.” She laughed some more.

“What is wrong with you?” He asked

“My husband your great grandfather’s name was Benjamin and I loved him dearly. Will you please come here and let me see you, granny has bad eyesight?” She held out both arms toward him beckoning him to come to her.

Annie and Regina got behind him and gave him a nudge. “What No” He tried to get away, but they pushed him right into her embrace.

The old woman laughed “Oh, my darling boy. You don’t have anything to be afraid of, granny wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

The three girls stood back in the corner laughing as quietly as they could.

“Hang on lady… hang on… come on let me go…” Ben yelled struggling to get free. For an old sick woman, she had a grip like a wrestler. “You two just wait I’ll get you I promise. Y’all the lick when I get free” He called out to his sisters.

“There, There” She petted before letting him go. “I am so amazed why you look just like your grandfather. Did you know? Do you know anything about him?”

The two girls came over and sat in front of her “No, not really” Annie was still giggling. “No one ever talks about grandpa. Was he handsome?”

Jesse was and Regina was still laughing, and Regina was poking him in the side. “You were afraid”

“It’s not funny” Ben snarled.

“Girls!” Elisabeth scolded. They quietened down immediately. “Your grandfather’s name was Jasper Wayne Singleton and he was the most handsome man, like his father was. He had the face that would make any girl swoon.” She had a whistful smile with her hands clasped in front of her and began to rock back and forth in her chair. “I’d wager he is one of Gods most gorgeous angels these days. He was an amazin’ pilot too; began takin’ lessons when he was about your age. What are you now, Ben, eight or nine?”

“Nine.” The boy answered, he was very interested. He loved planes and his grandpa was a pilot. Wow

“He loved the air almost as much…” She was still talking so she knew where she was, but she could almost see him, hear him smell his cologne. Her boy, her beautiful boy. “As he loved horses. OH, how he could ride. You’d think he was a real live cowboy from the west, his structure ridin’ high up on horseback. Women he dated had described him as majestic.” She laughed.

“Did our mom ever meet Him?” Ben asked, scooting closer.

“Why yes, they were very fond of your mother…” The old woman's face creased into a sadness while she looked at Ben. Perhaps she had been wrong…