“Do we get to meet him tonight?”
“Not tonight. He’s working.”
“Any idea what this occasion is?”
“Not at all. Mother insisted I be here though.”
“Same here.”
“You two can catch up later. We must make a timely appearance,” Mrs. Kinman snapped.
Father and daughter glanced to each other grinning. “Appearance is everything,” they laughed.
Her mother turned a scolding look on them and quickened her pace.
“We are here for the Abbott/Kinman party,” her mother informed the hostess.
“Yes, ma’am. Josh will show you to your room.”
“Nealy you go ahead, we'll follow,” her mother urged.
Nealy followed him to a private room to the right. As she entered the room her hands curled into fists and she felt heat flush her face.
People from her past filled the room. Across from two long tables with place settings stood a smaller round table decorated with gifts and a cake. Above that table hung a banner: Congratulations Nealy& Conner.
She whirled on her parents who stood behind her. Her mother beamed with hands clasped together at her chest. Her father's mouth and eyes wide as he shook his head and guided his wife past Nealy into the room.
“What…Is…This?” She shrieked.
“Nealy. Sweetheart,” cooed a voice from behind.
She spun to find a familiar face.
Conner Abbot stood facing her. Dressed as always in a suit and tie with gold cuff links that he once told her he wore to show off his financial status. He was tall and slim with impeccably styled blonde hair. At one time she thought him to be the most handsome man alive. That was before she got to know him. Now she would never look twice in his direction.
He grabbed her hands. “You don’t know how elated I am to know you are ready to move forward. I know this may seem presumptuous, but you know our mothers; they took care of everything. Forgive me if it’s a bit overboard.”
“Excuse me?” Astounded and confused, Nealy stared at Conner then to the banner on the wall.
“Our engagement party.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. Kneeling he opened it to reveal a ring. A stunning ring. Large. One many women would die to have. “Let's make it official. Nealy will you marry me?”
Her blood boiled and her heart pounded. She mentally willed her fury to ease before speaking to not screaming.
“Can we talk outside?” she hissed through clenched teeth.
“Of course; you desire privacy. My apologies.” He gripped her hand and led her to a corridor.
Jerking her hand away, “What has possessed you to pull…” her arm shot up pointing toward the room, “this?”
“Baby,” his arm reached for her as he stepped forward.
Nealy knocked his arm away and pushed his chest. “Don’t baby me! This is crazy! How could you possibly think I would marry you? We don’t date. We don't talk. I haven’t even seen you in over a year.”
Conner's teeth flashed. “I love you and…”
“Stop right there.” She crossed her arms and glared at him. “You don’t love me and I don’t love you. All those women you keep company with, what are they if you planned to marry me?”
“None of them mean a thing. They only passed the time until you came back. You’re the type of wife a man like myself needs.”
Her hands dropped to her waist as she bent forward. “That’s crap and you know it.”
“You know our mothers are close and your mother keeps mine up to date about you. So, I haven’t needed to keep in touch with you,” Conner pleaded.
“That explains it all right there.” She spun and stormed to her parents table. Head held high she focused on her mother.
“You need to stop planning my life. This…,” She leaned in. “This is not going to happen.”
“Young lady, it’s time to stop being an embarrassment to me and act like the daughter I raised,” her mother shouted as she shot out of her chair.
They glared at one another across the table. Each out-waiting the other. Nealy had never stood up to her mother, not even when she moved out. She looked to her dad.
He nodded.
She pushed back the hurt and continued. “An embarrassment?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! You live in a tin box. And work a menial job,” her mother barked.
“My home is nice and it’s mine. I pay for it with my menial job. I support myself and I’m happy. I like my life. You can’t force me to live your life.”
“You’re being ridiculous!”
“I’m sorry I’m an embarrassment for being me.” Nealy scanned the room. “You have fun with these people. You fit in well here.”
Nealy stepped toward the door, but her mother's words caught her.
“Nealy Ann Kinman! If you leave now don’t bother to ever come home.”
The coldness in her mother's voice pierced Nealy's heart. Her shoulders fell. She looked down and closed her eyes and let out a breath before turning back to face her mother. Slowly she walked to the table where her mother still stood.
Nealy glanced to see her dad shake his head and drop his chin to his chest in disagreement. She opened her purse and pulled out her wallet and opened it.
The whole room silent now.
Her mother stood proud.
“Here are your credit cards you insisted I have. You will notice they have never been used.” Her voice void of emotion.
Two cards dropped on the table.
Her mother's smirk faded.
“Bank card for my trust fund.”
Another card dropped.
“Your house key and garage remote.” They joined the cards.
“Don’t think I need your money to survive.”
Mrs. Kinman's wide eyes began to narrow on Nealy. “You sure don’t mind wearing what my money bought.”
“You want them back? Take them.” She unclasped the bracelets and dropped them on the pile followed by her earrings and ring.
Pulling her key ring from her purse she removed her house key and stepped to her dad holding out her car key.
“No.” He stood with a sad smile. “That was a gift from me. I want you to have that.” He took her hand in his wrapping it around the car key. “I’m so proud of you. I still want to meet that special man of yours. I love you and wish you all the happiness in the world.” His smile was sad but true.
Her lips turned up but the emotion did not reach her eyes. Slowly she turned and walked to the door.
Fingers dug into her arm. “You will regret humiliating my son,” Conner's mother hissed.
“Shut up, Mother. You can’t bully her. She has more guts than anyone in this room.”
She jerked away without a word and hurried to her car, determined not to allow a tear to drop.
She always knew the importance her mother put on appearance and social position. But to have her rebuke her so publicly, choosing her reputation over her only daughter. Nealy was heartbroken.
Needing to hear Brick's voice she dug her phone from her purse and dialed.
* * *
“Your woman’s calling.” King pushed the phone down the bar to Brick.
Brick picked it up pushed the power button and tossed it to his bag at the end of the bar.
“Not my woman. Just a bad boy experience.”
“Bullshit! You don’t believe that any more than I do.”
Brick glared at him while he shoved the last item in his bag and zipped it up.
“What the fuck happened? Not like you to run.”
“Not,” Brick grunted.
“Where you headed?”
“Reality check.”
King's head popped up with large eyes and clenched teeth. “No! Do Not go there.”
Without a word Brick grabbed his bag and bed roll and stormed out of the clubhouse to his bike.
King stayed on his heels. “Don’t do it!”
&
nbsp; “Gotta go.” He tied the items to the back of his bike.
“Damn,” King stood next to Brick's bike. Fists resting on his hips, he blew out a long breath. “If I can’t stop you… Be back in a week. One. Week. A day longer and I’m gonna kick your ass.”
Brick's body stilled and he slowly raised his eyes to King's.
“It may take me and the whole club, but I’ll do it.”
Brick chuckled and nodded. “One week.” He straddled his bike revved it to life and shot out of the club grounds.
He would come home a harder person than when he left. He always did.
Chapter Eleven
After riding hard for a day and a half, Brick pulled into a trailer park on the wrong side of town and stopped next to the second trailer to the left. He cut the engine and sat. It had been a while since his last visit. Had anything changed? Did she still live here?
The door opened and out stepped a woman. Tall. Thin. Store bought red hair cut short and wild. Dressed in skin-tight jeans and cut off t-shirt and slippers, she took the steps with caution while studying him.
“Jethro, is that you?” She asked as she crossed the yard.
“It’s me,” Brick answered as he stood by his bike.
He looked different today. Just for her. Motorcycle boots and jeans were standard but the leather vest he usually wore was replaced with a faded shirt with cutoff sleeves that had seen better days.
“Well, look at you. Her head tilted back to focus on his face. You ain’t changed a bit. Maybe a bit bigger and meaner looking, but still good for nothing I suspect. Surprised you found time to see your momma.”
She squinted at him. “You want something, boy? Or in trouble? Don’t think you can hide out here. I don’t need no trouble with the law. And ain’t got no money to give ya.”
“No trouble. Just a visit. How are you, Ma?”
“In that case come on in.” She waved her arm for him to follow. “I’ll give your sister a call. She lives just down the park a bit. She'll be surprised to see ya.”
He followed her inside and watched her move around the small space.
It was hard to believe she was only fifty-six. Wrinkles and hardness showed on her face. Skin dark and leathery made her look years past her age. She had him young and married his dad. Said it changed her life for the worse. She wanted to move to a big city and live a glamorous life.
His dad wanted a simple life. He worked and provided well for his family and raised Jethro while his mother spent evenings spending money and rubbing elbows. His dad began drinking when he discovered her sleeping with men for money. Home life became hell then.
He sometimes wondered who the father of his sister was. Didn’t really matter. They were never close anyway.
The door creaked opened. In walked a younger version of their mother only with natural red hair and a boy about eight years old in tow. Nathan. He had been a baby last time he had seen him. The child looked nothing like his mother. Must look like his father.
“Say hello to your uncle then run out and play.”
“Hey,” the boy coolly obeyed then turned and ran out the door.
“He’s here for the day. His dad just dropped him off. They moved out several months ago but brings him to me twice a month.”
He nodded. If she was like their mother, he had surely seen a lot of “uncles” come and go.
“I didn't believe her but it's really you. Dang, been a long time big brother. Where ya been?” His sister came further inside and fell into a chair.
“Around.”
“Don't be naggin' now girl. He just got here.”
“Ain't much but always got beer.” Mrs. Jackson circled the small table separating the kitchen from the sofa where Brick sat. She handed him a bottle then turned to hand her daughter a bottle before sitting.
“You alone?”
He nodded.
“Good. Best way to be. Nettie here done got herself hitched to that boy's daddy. Now look at her. Should o' listened.”
“Momma don't go there. That's past. And I get a check regular.”
“Divorced?”
“Nah. He pays my rent here so the kid has a place to visit me.” She lifted the bottle to her lips and downed nearly half the bottle. It thumped as she set it on the table. She wiped her mouth and laughed. “Says I shouldn't be hoppin' place to place. Said I can still be saved and have a life. Can you believe that? Me living in a suburb going to ball games and school plays and shit. Boring. Not taking my freedom away.”
“That's right girl, do your thang,” their mother shouted and held her beer up in a cheer.
“You understand, huh? Bet you'd never settle down.” She nodded and took another pull of her beer.
“Like minds. That's my kids.”
He shook his head.
“What?”
“My freedom...being me.” He nodded to Nettie. “Hers,” he shrugged. “Empty.”
“Empty?” Nettie questioned. “What's that mean?”
“You settle. No drive.”
“Like you have it all,” she snorted.
“I want something I get it. Myself.” He leaned forward on his elbows. “What do you want?”
She thought a moment. “Nothin'. Got a home rent free. What else do I need?”
He nodded. “No drive. Empty life.”
“Always did talk nonsense.”
The conversation turned toward memories of which few included Brick, or that he cared to recall. Talk of area changes and people from years ago filled much of the morning.
“You gotta feed that boy. Need to find him,” Mrs. Jackson reminded Nettie.
“He'll find me when he's hungry.
Brick walked to the fridge and opened the door. Not much food but plenty of beer and cokes. He grabbed one of each and walked outside. He found the boy walking down the drive kicking rocks. Brick joined him and held out the coke.
Nathan stared at Brick a moment then accepted it. “Thanks.”
They stood side by side in the middle of the trailer park driveway. Each opened their bottle and drank.
The boy studied Brick.
“You really my uncle?”
Brick nodded.
“Don't look like Ma or Granma.”
“Like my dad.”
“I look like my dad too.”
Brick nodded.
The door banged closed as the two women came out of the trailer. “Well, look at you two. Teaching the boy how to stand around avoiding work are ya?” his mother said.
“Thought me and Ma would go down to the corner store. Be back later,” Nettie offered.
Brick and Nathen watched the women stroll away until they disappeared from sight.
Brick went to the porch steps and relaxed. Arms resting on his knees with his beer bottle in hand.
Nathan watched then joined him, mimicking his actions.
“Where do you live?”
“Louisiana.”
“That's a long way.”
Brick nodded.
“Why'd you go there?”
“Just landed there.”
“My dad says you're the only Jackson with a brain.”
Brick cocked his head and looked at the boy.
“Cause you wanted to better yourself.”
He nodded.
They emptied their drinks.
“Still a creek back there?” Brick raised his chin toward some oak trees across the drive.
“Yeah,” Nathan beamed. “I got a fort. Wanna see?”
“Sure.”
Tossing their bottles in a barrel next to the porch, they stood and crossed the drive then made their way through the trees along a trail.
The sound of water running over rocks was welcomed music to Brick. He paused next to the creek and stared. So much time he spent here. His eyes drifted shut as he breathed in the fresh air and familiar scents: water, woods, berries.
“Uncle Jethro,” the boy called from somewhere to the right.
He opened his eyes
and shifted toward the boy's voice. There in front of him were bushes of dark round berries. His bushes. His hide away. Only overly grown and wild.
“Over here.” Among the bushes a head popped out. “No one would look here. I cleaned out underneath. Like a room.”
Brick grinned, “Clever.”
He ducked and followed him in and they sat for hours talking.
The boy was a good kid just making the most from a bad situation.
“My dad will be here soon. I gotta go.”
Brick nodded and followed him out of the fort.
Nathan's steps faltered, “Will you be back?”
Brick hesitated then shook his head.
“Thought as much,” he sighed. His face fell and he focused in the ground. “If I go to Louisiana one day can I see you?”
“Be disappointed if you didn't.”
The boy smiled and nodded then led them back to the trailer.
“You still get lost at this age Jethro?” His mother asked. “Ain't neither one of you good with direction. Thought we'd have to send the boy's father to find ya.”
Brick and Nathan grinned.
“I'm hungry Granma.”
“Always.” She held a honey bun in her outstretched hand. “Here.”
He took it and grabbed another one from the table. He handed the second one to Brick.
They snacked while the women went to the couch and settled in watching television.
HONK. HONK.
“Your dad's here. Come give your momma a hug.”
He stepped to Nettie and hugged her.
“See ya later Ma, Granma,” Nathen pulled the door open and hesitated. “Uncle Jethro?” He turned to Brick.
“Yeah.”
“Wanna come out and meet my dad?”
“Sure.” Brick followed him through the door and met the boy's father. They stood at the man's truck talking until dark.
The rest of the evening went by slowly, too slow for Brick's liking. The women talked and argued. He commented occasionally. Supper consisted of bologna sandwiches and chips washed down with beer.
“See ya tomorrow. Gotta get home to catch my show.” Nettie commented while putting the last of the dishes in the drainboard.
“Won’t be here.”
“What? You’re leaving tonight?”
“You can stay here for the night, boy. Just don't get comfortable. Don’t need no roommate.”
Brick Solid (Voodoo Troops MC Book 1) Page 8
