My Man's Best Friend II

by Tresser Henderson

  “No, ma’am,” the guy said, visibly irritated.

  “What that equal to?” one of the other women asked.

  I shook my head at their ignorance.

  “Man, what does that mean?” a guy wearing a black baseball cap asked, not giving the reader an opportunity to respond.

  The reader paused and said, “Ten names were called. Ten thousand divided by ten would leave each of you one thousand dollars.”

  “One thousand dollars,” many blurted in disbelief.

  “That’s it,” another one yelled.

  “I thought this man had hundreds of thousands of dollars and he leaves us a thousand dollars.”

  The reader continued without commenting on their reaction. “Shanna, Nathan, Tony, and Hope, I leave five thousand dollars apiece,” the reader said, angering the ones who only got $1,000.

  “How come they get more than me? Why didn’t we get the same amount?” Crusty, sitting next to me, said.

  “He ain’t got no land or some cars to leave me?” one guy asked, standing with a toothpick in his mouth.

  “What about some vacation homes or artwork we can sell?” another one asked.

  The reader looked on without saying anything. Really he couldn’t because the room had erupted into utter chaos again.

  “You called me way down here to tell me that sorry excuse for a father only left me a thousand dollars,” Crusty beside me blurted. “It’s going to cost me that to pay my rent and put gas in my gas guzzler of a car. He could have at least left me enough money to buy me a new ride,” she said. “And they get five thousand. I want to overrule this reading.”

  “Ma’am, you can’t overrule the reading. This is not court. If you do have a problem, what you can do is contest the will.”

  “Well I’ll do that then,” Crusty said.

  I looked over at Kea, who was looking in astonishment also. We both made eye contact before smiling because we knew what the other was thinking: these ungrateful individuals and they could be some kin to us.

  “The man ain’t never done a damn thing for me and he pays me back by leaving me nothing,” another woman yelled.

  “Well I got five thousand so I’m good,” one said, angering the ones who received less.

  Many were on their feet, screaming at the gentleman reading Mr. Hanks’s last words.

  “I want some more money,” a few of them shouted.

  “You can alter his thing and distribute that money evenly. It’s only fair, man,” a guy told the reader.

  “Settle down please.” He motioned for them to sit but no one listened. He tried to explain to them that the man gave a reason why but no one wanted to hear it. Their dreams of living the good life had vanished with the speaking of three words: “one thousand dollars.”

  “He can’t explain nothing to me. I don’t want to hear nothing else this man has to say to me,” Crusty next to me said. “Give me my check so I can go,” she said, getting up and fanning that awful odor around. “If I wasn’t broke, I would tear this check up. But maybe I’ll go find his grave so I could spit on it. I think that will make me feel better.”

  She walked up to the man, demanding her check. That ended up with the reader passing out checks to those ready to leave, which was the majority. I thought he was supposed to wait until the reading was over to pass out the money, but I knew he was ready to get some of these people out of his face in order to continue. I knew he did this so he could continue in peace.

  Many exited with Crusty, including the woman wearing her nightgown and slippers. One guy was so mad about his thousand he kicked one of the chairs, causing it to bounce off the wall. But none of them were mad enough to not take the money. All that talking and all that unnecessary ruckus, when they were walking out of there with more money than they came in there with. Talk about ungrateful.

  When I looked around the room there were only seven individuals who remained, and they were me, Kea, Mama, my aunt, and three other women. Seeing my mama and my aunt threw me for a loop. I didn’t see them enter, but how could I when they were standing at the back of the room?

  Once they noticed I saw them, both of them came over and sat next to me. They could sit now since some chairs were available.

  “Mama, what are you and Aunt Henny doing here?” I asked, looking at both of them with a questionable stare. I hadn’t seen my Aunt Henny in over a year.

  “Derrick, baby, how are you?” Aunt Henny asked, giving me a big hug.

  “I’m good, but what are y’all doing here?” I asked again, this time looking at Mama.

  “We are here for the same reason you are,” Mama said.

  “And you didn’t bother to tell me you were coming.”

  “Baby, I had to wait on Henny to get to the house first before we came.”

  “But you still could have told me.”

  “I know, baby, and I’m sorry.”

  “So both of you are in the will?” I questioned.

  Aunt Henny’s eyes shifted before she said, “Yes. I guess. I was called too.”

  “So how did you know him?” I asked my aunt.

  “I grew up with Otis. You know I know him from your mama hooking up with him back in the day,” she said, laughing.

  I frowned at the thought of my mother hooking up with anybody. “Is hooking up how I was conceived?” I asked Mama, but neither of them found that to be funny. I knew the annoyed tone I used didn’t help matters.

  “Derrick, my sex life is none of your business,” Mama said.

  “Mama, it was made my business when I found out, from Zacariah no less, that the dad who I thought was my real dad isn’t, and that this man whom I’ve never met is. I’m still waiting for you to explain that one to me,” I said angrily.

  “I will, but not now,” she tried to say quietly as the reader tried to bring order back into the room to continue the reading of Mr. Hanks’s will.

  I swore if I wasn’t confused before I got here, I was certainly confused now. What the hell was going on and why wouldn’t Mama tell me why she lied to me all my life?

  Chapter 14

  Kea

  To my surprise Derrick’s mother and a woman who looked a lot like his mother were sitting next to Derrick now. He didn’t seem happy about seeing either of them as they conversed. Whatever was being said I could tell Derrick didn’t like it. The way he was clenching his hands clued me in. His mom glanced over at the woman with a worried look. I did wonder what that glimpse was about.

  The man continued to read Mr. Hanks’s last will and testament. $10,000 was left to two of the remaining people, who also retrieved their checks and left. One was satisfied but the other was angry that she didn’t receive more. Both were women and I couldn’t tell if they were his children or his baby mamas. Either way, both collected their checks and got out of there.

  The next recipient was the lady who used to bring meals by for Mr. Hanks. He left her with $20,000. She dropped her head in appreciation as tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “Thank you, Lord,” was what she said as she cried tears of joy. She also got up to leave.

  “To Henrietta and Shirley, you two are a hoot.”

  This caused both Derrick’s mom and the woman sitting next to her to chuckle.

  “Y’all know why y’all a hoot but I’m not going into that right now. I want to thank you for being there for me. Shirley, I want to thank you for the gift of raising such an awesome son. Derrick is the son I’ve always wanted even if he didn’t know anything about me. Still I appreciate you keeping me informed of how he was doing. It made these last years worth living knowing I had my blood running through such an amazing man.”

  Ms. Shirley looked over at Derrick, who was looking down at the floor. She took his hand into hers like a proud mother as she continued to listen to Mr. Hanks’s last words.

  “Henrietta, I leave you twenty thousand dollars and, Shirley, I leave you with fifty thousand dollars. This isn’t much but I hope this can somehow make up for all
the trouble I’ve caused in your life.”

  Ms. Shirley began to cry as the woman next to her wrapped her arms around her. I couldn’t understand why both of them received money, but who was I to try to comprehend this situation when I was sitting here getting ready to receive a gift from Mr. Hanks that I didn’t think I deserved?

  The reader asked, “Would you two ladies like to get your checks now and leave also?”

  Ms. Shirley looked at Derrick as he said, “You two can go, Mama.”

  “We can stay,” Ms. Shirley said.

  “I’ll be fine. It’s almost over so you two leave and try to enjoy one another. I’ll be over soon, okay?” Derrick said with a forced tone.

  Ms. Shirley kissed him on the cheek and she and the other woman gathered their checks before leaving the room. Now Derrick and I were left. How ironic was it for us to be the last two standing? We peered at one another. I wanted to go over and hold his hand. We were in this together and I wanted my reaction to reflect that but I didn’t move. I continued to sit as I awaited the final results of Mr. Hanks’s will.

  “To Derrick: I’m leaving you one hundred thousand dollars.”

  Derrick’s eyes almost fell out of his head when the man spoke those words.

  “Can you repeat that?” Derrick asked surprised, as we both chuckled. The reader repeated the amount to him. Derrick stared in astonishment.

  “He had an explanation if you want to hear it,” the reader said and Derrick nodded.

  “I guess you are wondering why I left you this amount of money since we never had a relationship.”

  Derrick nodded in agreement to Mr. Hanks’s words, with his hands clasped in front of him and elbows on his knees, leaning in like a child waiting to hear something bad.

  “Well, son, I loved your mother. At one point in my life, I loved that woman more than I loved myself. I still love her.”

  Derrick’s eyes glistened and I knew these words brought twinges to his heart. I knew he wasn’t going to let a tear fall but he was moments away from it happening. His mother was his life regardless of the secrets she harbored from him.

  “Your mother never knew my sordid past and she didn’t care. Shirley was the type of woman who would forgive anything even after all the wrong someone like me has done. I let a good thing go with your mother but I’m happy she found love in someone who I knew accepted you as his own child. I couldn’t have asked for a better father for you. He was a better man than me. Your father never tried to keep me from you. It was I who made the choice to stay away once I saw how happy your family was. I didn’t want to interfere with that. So I let things be. She always let me know how you were doing and when your games were and sent me pictures every chance she got. I loved her for that and she was the only mother of my children who went out her way to do so. You have grown into a wonderful man. You are a better man than I am and I know that’s due to your dad and Shirley. I wasn’t there to help you then, not that you needed it, but I can help you now. Maybe this can make up for some of the heartache I have caused. And I have no doubt in my mind you will continue to be great. Hopefully I will be that angel looking over you if God permits me to enter heaven’s gates. It can go either way but still I’m thankful to call you my flesh and blood. I love you, son.”

  Derrick nodded in agreement, choking down as much emotion as he could.

  I, on the other hand, was crying like a baby. Those were the words coming from our biological father and I knew it hit the core of Derrick’s feelings. I got up and went to him. I sat down beside him and took his hand into mine. I could tell by the look on his face his unanswered questions were now answered, at least from this end. I wasn’t sure about his mother’s end but I did know a weight had been lifted from Derrick and the peace of knowing showed through him. I laid my head on his shoulder. I felt his lips kiss the top of my head and I closed my eyes in contentment.

  “Thank you for being here with me,” Derrick said through choked-up emotion.

  I lifted my head and said, “I will always be here for you.”

  We both looked at the reader and the man continued. “Last but not least, Kea. You have been more like family to me than anyone ever has besides Shirley.”

  I felt bad knowing he died not knowing I was his daughter.

  “You helped make my last days special and for that I’m grateful. You brought sunshine to my gloomy days and for a young person, you can throw down in the kitchen, girl.”

  I chuckled at his words.

  “I’m going to miss the food you used to bring me and our conversations on the stoop. Don’t let anyone interfere with the great person you have become. I know life is hard but don’t let anyone change you. That’s as good as the devil wants. You have such a kind heart and I pray no one changes that. I love you, Kea, this is why I’m leaving you one hundred thousand dollars.”

  I looked over at Derrick who had his hand over mine now. My mouth was open in amazement.

  The reader continued to read but I didn’t hear anything else after $100,000. This figure kept echoing in my head, and it was in this moment I was happy it was only Derrick and me sitting here to hear this, because everyone else might have jumped us in rage.

  The reader continued. “Kea, I hope this money brings you happiness. And don’t spend it on that lowlife, Jacobi.”

  I giggled, knowing Mr. Hanks called him by the wrong name on purpose. That’s just how much he disliked Jaquon.

  “Don’t let that man spend up all your money or I’m going to come from my grave and haunt you. Anyway, Ms. Kea dear, keep striving to make every one of your dreams come true. I love you as if you were my own.”

  Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wished he did know I was his own.

  “Congratulations, Kea,” Derrick said.

  “I can’t believe this.”

  “Believe it,” the reader said. “Mr. Hanks thought a lot of you, Kea. More than you could ever know.”

  “But one hundred thousand dollars? I knew the rumor was true about his lottery winnings but I never thought . . .” I said, choking on my words.

  “Mr. Hanks was private about his funds. He knew if it really got out, all those ingrates you saw today would have come with their hands out while he was living. After paying all his back child support he had, he banked the rest and lived the life like a man who hardly had any money. He knew neither of you were like that. Today is proof. You saw his children and family only wanting what they thought they deserved, only to get disappointed. If you ask me, it felt great to see their reaction.”

  “Oh they were a trip,” Derrick said.

  “Count this as another blessing,” the reader said, getting up to leave. “Here are your checks,” he said, passing Derrick and me each a checked filled with more zeros than I had ever seen on a check. I was going to count this as a huge blessing and pray to God that Mr. Hanks was up there with Him. Regardless of his past I knew he could repent for his sins. I just prayed he had time to do that before he died. I knew I could pray for his soul, and hoped when my time came, I was going to heaven to see him again. Until then I knew I had to do my best to live the best life ever here on earth.

  I just wished those days could have been spent with Derrick.

  Chapter 15

  Derrick

  Walking out of the building, I held the door open for Kea, who was behind me. Once we were outside both of us paused. I took a moment to take in how good she looked. With a black shirtdress and heels, Kea looked so sexy. Her legs looked like they went on for miles and I loved they way they glimmered.

  “Crazy day, right?” she said, putting her shades on to block the sun.

  “Crazy wasn’t the half. I can’t believe we are related to any of those idiots.”

  “Me either. And I hope none of them hear about our money and try to establish a connection just so they can get close to it.”

  “They can try but it’s not going to happen.”

  “Well I guess I better get home,” she said, reaching into
her bag drooped in the crook of her arm for her keys.

  “Kea, do you think we can go somewhere and grab something to eat?” I asked, wondering where my words were coming from.

  “I . . . don’t . . . know,” she said hesitantly, finally finding her car keys in the enormous bag.

  “It’s just lunch. Nothing more. Just because we can’t be together don’t mean we can’t act like siblings for real. Besides, I haven’t had a chance to do anything for you for your birthday.”

  “You remembered,” she said, smiling.

  “I’m a day late with it but I knew I would see you here today.”

  I could see the wheels in Kea’s head turning as she looked at the passing cars driving to their destinations.

  “Okay. I don’t see any harm in that,” she said, smiling. “But where are we going?”

  “Krispy Kreme,” I blurted, and she hit me on the arm, laughing.

  “Ha ha, very funny.”

  This was funny because this was the spot where I really got to know Kea when she came to me about my ex-best friend, Jaquon. She suspected he was cheating, which he was, but at the time I didn’t feel it was my place to tell her. From that day on our connection grew.

  “I’m just joking. We can go anywhere you want. It’s your choice, birthday girl.”

  “Well they do have this new soul food restaurant that just opened up downtown. I heard the food was good. Have you been there yet?”

  “I can’t say that I have.”

  “I have a taste for some wings.”

  We ended up getting some grub and talking like old times. I hadn’t felt this good since the hours before my cookout. I soaked up her cheeriness. She was talking about what she may do with the money and how she would like to go back to school or write a book about her life. I listened intently, not saying a word. My nods let her know I was hanging on her every word. I missed Kea’s company so much. She made everything around me seem tolerable.

  “You are not saying much, Derrick.”

  “I’m listening to you.”

  “I can tell something else is on your mind,” she said.