Dangerous Bonds

by Shani Greene-Dowdell

  I stood up, pulling Kemara up after me. “We should go Mom, but thank you for being so amazing.” We walked over to her. I kissed her on the cheek, then Kemara and Mom hugged. It was a sight I feared I would never see, and yet it happened right before me, when I was the happiest I’d been in a long time.

  “It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Holloway,” Kemara stated.

  “Same to you, dear. As long as I’m here, you’re always welcome in this house,” Mom said. That made me feel good to hear her say that, and Kemara was beaming.

  “Thank you!” She looked at me and the grin was apparent.

  We started to walk to the front door, when it swung open and in walked my father and brother. We froze and my father’s eyes landed on me. He put down his tackle box and his voice roared. “What are you doing here, Son?” He then shot a look to Kemara. “What’s that black bitch doing here? She’s not welcome here and you knew that already.”

  “Chadwick Luther Holloway!” My mom snapped.

  Kemara inched closer to me, and I held her tight. I wouldn’t let go of her for anything.

  He looked at Mom. “What the hell are you doing?” Dad asked. “You know good and damn well we don’t allow black skinned people into our home.”

  I felt Kemara’s muscles tighten as I held her. Her breathing was shallow and her eyes turned dark.

  “As long as I’m here, we do. She’s a good woman and you should be happy for your son,” Mom argued. Dad opened his mouth to argue, but Mom quickly continued. “We’ve always said we would love those that found love for our children, well that’s Kemara. You don’t know her and if you keep this up, then you’re going to lose it all.”

  The fire in my dad’s stare could melt ice. He glared at Mom, a look of distaste oozing from him. “Don’t you speak back to me,” he said, scolding her. “I’m the man of this house and what I say…goes.”

  I held Kemara close to me and watched it unfold as Mom and Dad argued. When I looked at Kemara, her eyes were darting back and forth. I was impressed that my mom was holding her own but didn’t want to cause trouble between them. I just wanted what was right to prevail.

  “You need to allow our sons, both of them, to do as they so choose. They’re both of age and you have them pinned down underneath your thumb doing what you want them to do. It’s a new world, Chad. For God’s sake, let them breathe.”

  Damon tried to get in the mix, by defending our father. “Mom, I’m happy with the life I lead. Channing just doesn’t know what’s good in life. This black bitch must have him fooled.” Damon turned to me.

  I moved a step closer to him, but Kemara didn’t let up her grasp on me. “Don’t call her names, or you will have hell to pay,” I warned him.

  Damon laughed. “You and what army? Hey…maybe her black gang can come protect you. Do you need their protection, little brother?”

  I would have gone one step further to go after him, but I heard Kemara’s soft words. “Please…don’t,” she whispered, softly exhaling. I turned to look at her and our eyes met. She was right. I couldn’t get into a fight with my brother. Nothing good would come of it. One of us would win the fight, but the war was a losing battle for me. He had too much hate in his heart for me to stamp out with a beating.

  I stepped away from Damon and he snickered. “Damn straight, you know you need to back down. Let the little lady put you in your place.”

  I shook my head. I just wanted out of there. “We are done here,” I said and moved my arm down, until my hand rested in hers.

  Dad turned to me, glaring in my direction. “I just want to know is she worth losing your family? We’ve been here for you all your life, and now you’re ready to throw us away for her. Is she worth it?” he asked me, basically cutting Kemara out of the equation.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her jaw drop slightly. When she was done looking at my father, she turned to me. I didn’t even need a second to respond to his question. I knew that answer. I was ready to prove to him, and anyone else that asked the burning question, that our love was real. No matter what anyone thought, Kemara was the one for me.

  “Yes, because I love her and nothing is going to change that. If that means walking out of here and never seeing you again, it will hurt me as a man to not be around my family, but I will live with that.” My heart pounded in my chest. That’s when I felt some hesitation from Kemara. I glanced at her.

  She shook her head slightly, as if telling me I shouldn’t have responded that way. I ignored it. I turned back to him. “I’m done with the cult you drug me into, and if I have to be done with you, too, then so be it. It’s time for me to start living for myself anyway.”

  Dad smirked, shooting me a devilish gleam. “Fine! Then get your ass out of here! You and her should leave and never come back. I stand by my decision and you and your black whore aren’t welcome in this house as long as I live.”

  “I’m not a whore or a bitch, Mr. Holloway. I’m just a girl that loves your son. And, I will forever love him.”

  “So, you two should leave now,” he said without acknowledging Kemara. He looked away from me.

  I nodded slowly, fuming that he would call her the degrading name. However, I didn’t expect anything more from him. He had a right to his opinion, no matter how small-minded that opinion was. Before leaving, I looked at Mom. “Thank you for trying, and I love you!”

  I pulled Kemara after me and we left the house and I never looked back. A part of me was sad that I had to walk away from my mom like that. A bigger part of me was relieved I never had to go back there and live a lie. I was finally free.

  When we got back to the truck, she stopped me. “He’s your father, Channing. Make things right with him. You shouldn’t screw up things between your family. If that means that we have to stop this…”

  I broke her words off with a kiss. When I parted, I touched my thumb to her lips and her eyes locked on mine. “Do you love me?” I asked.

  “You know I do,” she softly stated.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “With all of my heart,” she responded.

  “Then, you should trust that you are all I need. I mean that when I say it. I don’t want you to ever doubt that what I’m doing comes from a deeply sincere place.” I reached for the door. “Let’s get out of here.” I opened her door, and she slid into the seat. I looked up towards the house that held so many childhood memories for me. Tears stung the backs of my lids, but they didn’t fall. I had a feeling that was it. I would never walk through those doors again, and I would be able to handle that.

  With just one look, Kemara always made me feel that I was the only person in the world. I respected her as a person, as a friend, and as a lover. I couldn’t lose her. We’d gotten to know one another heart to heart, soul to soul, body to body, and I truly felt that I would do anything for her.

  It was just vital that I proved that to myself and to her. By walking away from my family, I wasn’t just doing it for Kemara, I was doing it for myself. I was tired of doing everything my father wanted me to. It was time I did something to make myself happy, and by all regards that was being with Kemara. I got in the driver’s seat and turned to her. She still looked unsure, so I lifted her hand in mine and softly kissed her knuckles.

  “Everything is going to be alright. I’ll make certain of that. As long as, you’re willing to give me your love, I’ll do anything to prove I deserved it,” I poured my heart out to the woman I would one day marry, God willing. When the slightest smile broke through her barriers of doubt, I cranked my truck and drove away.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kemara

  I rushed into the restaurant. I was running fifteen minutes behind to meet up with Sharon at Moss Tavern, yet again. When I reached our table, I collapsed into the booth.

  “Sorry, I’m late,” I said.

  She shrugged. “No worries here. I always plan for you to run a little behind. Are you alright though?” she asked, as worry lines began to crease her otherwis
e cute, oval face. She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail, and wore very little makeup, so her concern shined bright.

  “I’m fine, just stressed out from work, and a few other things.” I waved over a waiter and ordered a beer, then heaved a sigh. It’d been a rough week and I looked forward to having some girl time. “How are you doing?” I asked her.

  The waiter passed me off a beer and I took a drink.

  “I’m doing well. Work has been a bitch, but really hanging in there. Are you sure you’re fine? You’re looking a bit stressed, Kemara.”

  I laughed. “Well, you could say that.” I paused, wondering how much I wanted to divulge to my friend. I had told her a lot about Channing already, and she was well aware that his father and brother didn’t approve of us being together. When I talked to her last, I told her I was going to have the talk with his mom. I didn’t tell her what happened at that meeting, so I shared that.

  “I just don’t get what his father has against black people. I did nothing to him,” I argued.

  She smiled politely. “Girl, this isn’t about you. You know that. It’s about black people in general. He’s one of the old fashion, stick up the ass hateful people and there’s nothing you can do to or for him that will change his mind.”

  I nodded, grabbing the menu and looking it over. When the waiter came back, I was ready to place an order, then we got back to the conversation.

  “His mom is great. She seemed supportive and probably wouldn’t be any problem for us. When his father and brother came in, all hell broke loose again. He’s willing to lose his son over him dating me, and I don’t want Channing to have to choose me over his own parents. I will feel like shit having to live with that.”

  “Whoa…this is deep.” Sharon mumbled. “How does Channing feel about walking away from his family? What has he said to you?” she asked.

  “Well, he said he’ll choose me every time, and I believe him, but can I in good conscious really allow him to make that decision?” I shook my head. “No, I can’t. You know how strongly I feel about family. Sometimes, I think Channing fighting them over their beliefs is just not really worth it.”

  My friend heaved a sigh and tilted her head. “Um…so are you saying that you’d be alright with letting him go and that you would encourage him to pick up his white hood and carry on?” she asked.

  I knew that answer too well.

  No.

  I didn’t want Channing out of my life. And, if he was the one saying we should weather the storm ahead, who was I to argue?

  “Sharon, I don’t want to let him go, and it’s not like their saints, but it’s his family. I’m willing to be the bigger woman and step aside so he can keep his relationship with them,” I said.

  She smiled. “Yes, it is his family. He knows that, and he’s choosing you. That means a hell of a lot, don’t ya think? Who knows, maybe he knows that you’re meant to be his future family.”

  Warm tingles went up and down my spine, remembering Channing and me together smiling, gazing into each other’s eyes and fusing as one. “I suppose you’re right. It means everything to me that he chose me. I care a lot about him.”

  “Girl, face it. You’re so in love with him that it would take me months of sister-girl talks, dinners and Netflix nights to help you get over losing him. So, don’t talk yourself out of your blessing. Channing’s family is hateful to their root. His leaving them behind may be so much bigger than you and him together. It could be his evolution into being his own man…a good man that helps fix the world we live in, instead of breaking it.”

  “I thought about that, and I know you’re right. Even Channing said I make him a better man. I just hate to be the catalyst for him leaving his family behind.”

  “What had to be done…had to be done, Kemara. Now, let’s eat,” Sharon said as the waiter reappeared at our table with our food.

  We ate while we continued to talk and Sharon had me feeling better about things long before I left the Tavern. I couldn’t wait to see Channing and embrace the fact that he was choosing me, no matter how wrong I wanted to make it seem.

  ***

  I left Moss Tavern and headed towards Channing’s place. I needed to see him, express how much I truly loved him for being there for me, and tell him I wasn’t going to let the stress get to me. We were together and nothing else mattered. However, when I arrived at his apartment, he wasn’t there.

  “Dammit,” I mumbled and fished the phone out of my purse to text him.

  Me: Baby, I’m at your place and I need to see you. Where are you?

  I waited twenty minutes for a return text, but he didn’t reply. I got discouraged after sitting around another ten minutes and figured he wasn’t coming home. It was starting to get dark outside, so I decided to drive the hour back home. I would try to see him the next night.

  The whole way home, I waited for his response to come, but it didn’t. When I got home, I saw that his truck wasn’t in front of my building. I was bummed that he hadn’t responded. I sent him another message, before getting out of the car.

  Me: I came home, but please call me. I love you!

  I got out of the car and headed up to my apartment. When I reached my apartment, I spotted a note taped to my door. I looked around to see if anyone was around, then grabbed it from the door and opened it up.

  Meet me at Collier Park. I have a surprise for you.

  Love,

  Channing

  I smiled at his note. Without going inside, I turned around and ran back to my car. I couldn’t wait to get to him and wondered what the surprise could be.

  Collier Park was just fifteen minutes from my apartment and I sped there, so it shaved off another five. When I reached the parking lot, I pulled into it. I parked and looked around. There were a couple cars, but I didn’t see Channing’s truck. I frowned, unsure what that meant, but I didn’t stop to think. I got out of the car, excited to see Channing.

  I looked around as I stepped into the park, then called out his name. “Channing?”

  I didn’t see when they crept up behind me, but felt hands on me and a cover over my nose and mouth. I went down, as darkness overwhelmed me.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Channing

  The meeting lasted longer than I expected. The conversation about construction sites was never truly exciting. That time, it seemed to even be duller than usual. All I could do was think about Kemara, as I sat in there listening to efficient ways to build a structure.

  I got out to my truck, ready to call her. I grabbed my phone and discovered the battery was dead. “Shit!” I mumbled.

  I looked around my truck to see if I could find my charger and reached in the backseat and grabbed it from the middle console. I plugged it into the lighter and tried to power on my phone. It didn’t power up right away, so I started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot.

  After several minutes of getting juice to the phone, I finally got it to turn on. That’s when I saw three texts and a voicemail on my phone. I pulled off to the side of the road, so I could read the messages. The first two were from Kemara. I smiled as I read her messages. I wanted to see her too, and I was headed her way after a quick shower.

  The final message was from my mom.

  Mom: CALL ME!

  I frowned at the message. It seemed a little frantic. Instead of listening to the voicemail, I dialed up Mom’s number. She answered right away.

  “You need to get to Kemara right away,” she frantically said.

  “What are you talking about?” I pulled the car onto the road and did an illegal U-turn to head to her place.

  “I found out that your father and brother are going after her. They intend on hurting her, and you have to get to her before they do something bad.”

  My heart started pounding. I picked up the speed to ten more MPH. “Are you serious, Mom? Where are they now?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t have the details, but I heard him talking to someone on the phone. I called you w
hen you didn’t answer my text to you. I’m just so worried about her…”

  “I had a meeting for work,” I mumbled. I couldn’t focus on the words. I didn’t know where they would be, but I had to go to her house and see if I could find her there. “Are you sure you didn’t mishear them, Mom?” I asked.

  “I wish, but they left the house about five minutes later and that was over an hour ago. I tried to call them, but they aren’t answering their phone.” She started to sob and I could hear the anxiousness in her voice. Something was definitely wrong. “It’s serious Channing. They’re going to hurt her. Oh, please be careful!”

  “I will Mom! Call you later!” I dialed up Kemara’s number. She didn’t answer. “Babe, call me ASAP. Don’t go outside and, if you see my father or brother, don’t go near them. Trust me. Call me!”

  I tossed the phone down in the passenger seat and hurried towards her place. Fury pulsed through my veins as I thought about what my father and brother were capable of doing if they got to Kemara first. When I got to the parking lot of her apartment building, I was disappointed to see that her car wasn’t there. I jumped out of the truck and hurried up to her apartment door. I beat on the door, calling out her name, but she didn’t respond. I was about to leave, then I noticed a piece of paper on the floor. I picked it up and read it.

  My jaw dropped when I saw what the note said. My blood boiled to the surface, as I slipped it into my pocket and left the apartment. I had to get to Collier Park. I put the information into my GPS, as I had never been there before, but found I could make it in fifteen minutes. I drove 80 MPH the whole way there, barely stopping at yellow lights or stop signs.

  When I got to the parking lot, I spotted her car. I parked next to her and jumped out of my truck. “Kemara? Kemara?” I called out to her, hoping to hear her voice. I ran around the park like a lunatic. My heart pounded in my chest. Where was she?

  I ran back to her car to look for a sign. Anything that would clue me into where she was in the park. She wasn’t in her car. I looked around inside, and that’s when I spotted her cellphone. I picked it up and looked it over. The text she had sent me was the first thing I came across. It was definitely her phone.