“You know me so well,” I said smiling just a little.
“How is it going in there?” Vanessa asked.
I let out a sigh before answering, “Several key witnesses have been called to testify. Alyssa, Omar, and Darren are the last ones to testify. They will go up after the break.
“That is going to be hard for Alyssa,” Lamar said.
“It’s going to be hard for all of them,” I responded. None of them are the same anymore. I am not the same anymore. I betcha that anytime I think that abuse and neglect is going on I am calling the Department of Social Services. I waited too long on this situation and maybe this didn’t have to happen,” I finished.
“I feel you, but at the same time, if we call too much we lose our creditability,” Vanessa said.
“Children need for someone, somewhere to be able to protect them. Children should feel safe at home and it is sad that we live in a society where our children can’t walk in a neighborhood that they didn’t grow up in without getting shot. It is sad that our children can’t listen to music in the car without getting shot. It is sad that our children can’t go the park and play without getting shot,” Domonique said becoming emotional.
“You are preaching to the choir, honey,” Vanessa said.
“It’s even sadder that our children aren’t safe in some of the communities that they did grow up in. Our kids can’t go to school and not get killed in a bathroom over a boy. Our kids can’t play outside without catching a stray bullet. They are being taught by society to hate themselves and to hate each other,” I said back in earnest.
“There is only so much that we can do,” Lamar said clearly disgusted.
“I know, I know,” I said getting my emotions back under control.
Y’all it is almost time to be back in the courtroom, Vanessa said bringing us back to our current situation.
~Alyssa~
From the mouth of babes….
Please raise your right and place your left onto the Bible.
Do you promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?
“I do,” I said in a quiet manner.
“Alyssa can you tell me what happened on the day that your father was killed, right in front of you, your mother, and brother?” the plaintiff’s attorney asked.
“It started out like any other day,” I said lowering my eyes to my hands, which were folded in my lap.
“Can you elaborate?” the plaintiff’s attorney asked the child.
“Aiden was a mean drunk. He came over to the house and woke us all up with his yelling and cursing,” I said growing misty eyed.
“You don’t like your father very much do you?” the attorney asked accusingly.
“It is hard to love someone that doesn’t love themselves. It is hard to respect someone who doesn’t respect you or your family,” I responded.
This kind of stunned the attorney but she shook it off.
“No further questions your honor,” she said as she walked back to her side of the courtroom.
Diana Wells, Darren’s attorney, stood up and walked to the witness stand. I was supposed to be a witness for the opposition, yet I hoped that my testimony was helping Darren. Diana had long red hair that she wore in a tight bun on top of her head and a pencil straight skirt set. She had been hard and about the books with the adults but her features had softened with me.
“Alyssa, you are being very brave today and I thank you so much for that,” Ms. Wells encouraged.
I nodded my head.
“Alyssa, do you know the man sitting over there at the table?” Diana asked pointing to Darren.
“Yes, that is Police Officer Darren,” Alyssa answered.
“How do you know him?” Diana asked.
“He came around and helped us out. He was a positive role model for my brother,” Alyssa answered.
“Why does Omar get to hang out with Darren?” Diana asked.
“Mama wanted someone to help him to become a real man,” I answered.
“You are so angry, Alyssa. Can you please tell us why you are so angry?” Diana asked.
The tears that I have been holding on to slipped from my eyes like words without sound. Diana gave me a few minutes to collect myself and even handed me a few tissues.
“I am angry at the world right now. I am angry at my mom for not being strong enough to leave. He threatened her all the time with deportation and separating the family. If she had done just a little bit of research she would have known he was just holding her worst fears over her head. Instead she just believed his lies. She stayed imprisoned to his lies. Her choices enslaved us all,” I said pausing to take a breath.
“I am angry at Aiden for being himself, a mean, nasty drunk. He was a selfish man. He was very unloving and very unkind.”
I stood up and turned around. I lifted my shirt so that the courtroom could see the marks that the belt had left on my back. There was a loud collective gasp across the courtroom. I pulled my shirt back down and turned around and took my seat.
“No matter how much I will want to forget this part of my life, and believe me I do, I won’t be able too. My reflection will be a constant reminder.”
“Why didn’t you ask for help?” Diana asked me.
“You don’t put the family business out in the streets,” I answered simply.
“Yet, you did today. Why now?” Diana asked.
“The family business is dead for one. Two, I feel like this is a complete waste of time, energy, and money. I am twelve and even I believe in cause and effect. Because Aiden did what he did, he is dead today. Grandma, you love him and you want someone to pay, but he was the guilty one in this story. All of this is wrong,” I declared before the judge banged her gravel against the podium.
“Do not address people in the courtroom,” the judge advised.
I simply nodded my head.
“I have no further questions,” Diana advised. I stood and walked back to my seat.
~Omar~
The innocence of a child…
Please raise your right hand and place your left hand on the Bible.
Do you promise to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help you God.
“I do,” I responded.
“Do you miss your dad?” the plaintiff’s attorney asked.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Your father shot you and you still miss him,” the plaintiff’s attorney asked.
“He is my dad. I love him and I miss him,” Omar answered.
“Can you tell me what happened the day your dad died?” She asked.
“Daddy came over and he had been drinking. He knocked on the door until we all were up. Mom asked him to leave and warned him that he wasn’t even supposed to be there,” I said as it all started to play over in my head over again.
“Then what happened.”
“Dad started kicking at the door and mom ran and called the police. The banging stopped for a while. A few minutes later he came back with a gun. He started shooting at the lock until the door opened,” I said pausing.
“Go on.”
“It all happened so fast. When the door opened Dad was yelling and cursing at mom, but he was pointing the gun. And the rest is kind of history. He jumped on mom and Alyssa jumped in. He was hurting Alyssa and she didn’t look like she could take no more, so I jumped in. But we aren’t supposed to jump in. Mom said she is strong and she can take it. She didn’t want us to get hurt,” I tried to explain I didn’t want my mom to get into trouble.
“The older police officer came through the door and dad reached for the gun and he shot quickly, too quickly because he shot me. I fell to the floor because my stomach was hurting so bad, but I know it was an accident. He shot again before the older police officer had time to react and this time he was hit. Mom was crying. It was the worst sound I ever heard.”
“Do you remember the moment that your Dad was shot?”
“Sort of. I heard talking and then a shot wa
s fired.”
“Anything else?”
“No.”
“No further questions, your honor.”
Diana walked over to me.
“Do you know that man seating over there?” she asked me.
“Yes, that is by big brother Darren,” I said.
“How long have you known Darren?”
“Almost a year, I think.”
“How would you describe Darren?”
“He is a lot of fun. He respects authority. He is humble and kind. He loves his family. He loves his job. He is a real good man.”
“Do you think that Darren cares about you and your family?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think that Darren would hurt anyone if he could avoid it?”
“No.”
“No further questions.”
~Darren~
F.E.A.R. has two means Forget everything and run or Face everything and rise-Unknown
Your honor may I please approach the bench?” the plaintiffs’ attorney asked as she began to walk forward.
Diana walked forward to hear what was going on.
My clients do not wish to continue. They humble asked that the case be dismissed. They are willing to make generous settlement offer at this time of $50,000 plus all legal fees.
Can I have a moment to take this back to my client please? Diana asked.
“I will allow it.”
“Diana, what is going on?” I asked as soon as she approached me.
“They want to drop the case. She wants to offer you a reasonable settlement of $50,000 dollars plus legal fees,” Diana said like she couldn’t believe it.
I looked back at the kids and then back at Shanice.
“Deal,” I said.
***
I didn’t keep all the money. I kept $10,000 to help with my custody/visitation. I donated $10,000 each to Alyssa and Omar because I was sure that they needed it. The other $20,000 was donated to the Help Center.
A few months after the court case was over and before my custody mediation was to start I took Shanice out to a nice dinner. I wanted to talk to her about Manny and the direction our lives were headed in.
We went to a nice seafood restaurant in Columbia. I had the captain’s catch, which had flounder, popcorn shrimp, and stuffed crabs, with French fries and coleslaw. She had a flounder platter with a baked potato and a tossed salad with hushpuppies on the side. She had been trying to eat healthier since Vanessa had gotten her to try Plexus. She was taking the triplex combo, which was Plexus Slim pink drink, one Bio Cleanse before lunch and a Probiotic 5 before dinner.
“Baby, are you still dieting?” I asked before our meals arrived.
“I don’t look at it as dieting, but more of a lifestyle change,” she responded.
“I think that you are prefect just the way you are?” I responded being sincere.
“Aww, you are the kindest man,” she said back.
Once our food arrived, I blessed the food and we dug in. There was so much food, and it was hot and fresh. We both ended up passing on dessert and requesting a doggie bag.
“I wanted to talk to you about Manny, I said as casually as possible. Well not just Manny, about us too and where this is headed.”
“Just ask me what you want to know,” she said cautiously.
“First things first, I care for you deeply. Do you understand that? You are my everything. You have been my best friend, my lover, my ace in the hole. You make me better. You inspire me, you have coached me. and motivated me. You have been my hope when I have needed it. You prayed for me when I couldn’t pray for myself. When things were at their worst, you stood by me every step of the way. I sincerely appreciate that,” I said to her trying not to allow the emotions to show in my voice.
“I care for you to, Darren and I was honored to stand beside you,” she replied simply.
“Well, you know I am about to start mediation for visitation/custody of Manny?”
“Yes,” she responded.
“It is important that I provide a stable environment for Manny.”
“I understand that, Darren. I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your relationship with your son. If you need me to take a few steps back so you can handle your business then, that’s fine. Just say the word,” Shanice said.
“No, that is not what I am saying, I hurried and said. Shanice do you want a future with me because I more than care about you. I love you. I was tiptoeing around the topic because I didn’t want to rush things. But I sincerely do love everything about you.”
“I thought you were trying to break up with me,” she said.
She was in shock.
“No, I wouldn’t be me without you.”
“So, are you asking me to marry you?” she asked still confused.
“Not today, or tomorrow but at some point in our lives I would love for you to marry me and be my wife. I just wanted to know that you feel the same. I want to know if you wanted to continue to live in two separate dwellings or if you would want to live together? I want to know if you are willing to help me raise Manny.” I finished searching her face for an answer.
~Shanice~
Missing you is my hobby, caring for you is my job, making you happy is my duty, and love you is my life - Unknown
My first instinct was to run like the wind. What was happening here? Panic was creeping up in Darren’s face so I know I needed to say something quickly.
“I should have told you this sooner. I didn’t because I didn’t know where this was going. I told you about my ex, Dexter. Well I didn’t tell you that as a result of the abuse, I …am no longer…able to have children,” I finally got it out and I released a sigh.
He was sitting there just looking confused.
“You are the type of guy who wants the white picket fence, a house full of kids, and a dog. I can’t give you kids,” I said with a watery smile.
“I don’t know when it happened but somewhere between “do you want to dance?” and today, I fall hopelessly in love with you. We just fit. We go together like peanut butter and jelly. Loving you is my heart’s purest joy,” tears were flowing now.
He handed me a tissue and held my free hand and just used the pads of his thumbs to massage my hand.
“Shanice I love you. I don’t have to have more kids if you don’t want to or you can’t. We have so many options in regards to starting a larger family. You are my rib, of that I am sure.”
“You would be open to adoption or even having a surrogate?” I asked as I mopped up my face.
I didn’t quite believe my ears because Darren was one of those guys. The ones that dreams are made of.
“Yes, I am open to those options, he said sincerely. Now will you stay in this relationship with me? You have tried to dump me twice,” he said light hearted.
“Yes, Darren Christopher Rodriquez!”
~Eulogy ~
A year later….
If I had had my way we would have eloped. So much has happened since that beautiful night in the restaurant.
Manny’s mother had signed over her rights as a mother and now Darren has full custody. Darren had gotten out of his lease agreement and we have turned my home into our home. Darren had added three more rooms onto the house for when we decided to add on to our family.
Today is my wedding day. I am marrying my best friend in front of a host of friends and family. Lamar was my man of honor and Sam was his best man. Vanessa, Maribel, and Domonique were my maids of honors and of course Damien, Marcus, and Angela were his groom’s people. Manny was the ring bearer. Everyone was in there place and the traditional wedding march started. The double doors opened and my father began to walk me down the aisle.
Nothing else mattered besides the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle. I never believed in happy ever after but look at me getting mine….
About The Author
Deborah R. Brandon, is married to her best friend Alex Brandon and they share three beautiful children. T
hey reside in a small town in South Carolina. Deborah R. Brandon is a Plexus Worldwide ambassador as well as a student at Piedmont Technical College earning a nursing degree while minoring in Human Services.
She is one of three partners who own and operate Loyalty Reigns Publications.
A Few Words from Deborah: Writing has always been my passion. I love how a really good book invites you to be a part of the story. You laugh, you cry, and you celebrate with them. This has been a life changing journey. I hope that you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Love Always
Deb
If a fan wishes to connect with Deborah can do so via email:
[email protected]
Via her Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/www.emeraldgroveresidents29108.net/?ref=br_rs
Via twitter: @AuthorDeborah.
She would love to talk with you. Happy Reading.
Other Books available by this author are:
To Love & to Protect 1: Semper Fi
To Love & to Protect 2: His Desert Rose
I'll Be Home For Christmas
To Love & to Protect 3: Daddy's Home
Come Into His Presence
Fallen Angel: From Revenge to Redemption
***Customers who are interested in Plexus Worldwide may inbox Deborah as well. She would love to talk with you about your health goals and introduce you to products that have helped her tremendously***
Meet the Loyalty Reigns Publications Team
Tywanda Brown-Johnson
Monica Mz Hollywood Owens
Nicole Corley Shepard
David Smith Jr.
Simply Shonda
Fallen Angel From Revenge to Redemption Page 7
