With This Ring
By
Retta Michaels
Preface
Dear Reader,
In a lot of my writing, I've never felt the need to write a preface. With this story, I want you to know what to expect. For me, the story is a mixture of a whole lot of truth and a whole lot of fiction.
For me to explain it, I must sit and tell you what my conceptual plans were for the novel
IN LIFE, we are not given a set list of directions and plans how to complete it. Some people don't like the unknown, so they don't take any foreign steps into different territories. With others, they know no structure.
Rather than having a nameless character out there who could sue the fuck out of me for even inferring they're a member of the mafia, I chose to go personal and use my own name. It's a lot less messy and a lot more friendly for my lawyer.
I am not a member of the mafia. I will not say I do not know a lot of the family members from several cities, but I am not a member myself.
I will state at one time I was with a man named Gino who headed a crime family. He's since passed and this story has been released with permission and editing done by his son who is still a dear friend of mine. (Thanks Dave.)
The names I've used in the story besides my own are ficticious. The names have been changed to protect everyone. Where names weren't important, I have not used them.
I have given enough references to who the person is so if you can read between the lines, you can see who they are. With that said, I will not say more about the characters.
The story is made up. It is totally ficticious. None of the incidents happened, and nothing of the sort ever occurred. If you choose to believe it did happen, and if you choose to believe it's true, then that's on you. I will state now if I receive an email asking me if such and such part is true, I'll be polite and refer you to the Preface and leave it at that.
The reason I'm writing this preface is because I want people to know when I write, I write fiction with an air of the style of writing used by the National Enquirer or the Sun. There's an air of truth in there someplace, but it's actually fiction. If you choose to believe it's truth, then do so...I've got about twenty acres of swamp land I'll sell you and someplace on that land is a complimentary Iphone. If you can find it, it's yours.
With that said, I'll now state the characters of this story will probably be used time and time again. I think I've found a niche in this style of writing. I'll tell you now, it's done in the style of Mack Bolan “The Executioner”, James Bond, or Scarface.
“With This Ring” is the first book of the saga. It shows how someone can go from leading a normal life wanting to lead a normal life to being thrown into a complex cast of characters which require him to be more and more of what he doesn't want to be.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Chapter 4:
The next morning, the sound of the phone awoke us. I rolled over and answered it.
“Rhette?”
“Yes mom.”
“They caught the last guy.”
“Good what time is it?”
“Nearly six am here.”
“Man, that means it's eight here, I think that's the most I've slept in a long time.”
“Oh, I'm sorry I woke you but I just saw the news and they had him.”
“Kevin told me last night they had him.”
“I wasn't aware. What's on your itenerary today?”
“We're driving on home and sometime I've got to call and get phone service turned on and get a shower so I can go meet his family. We're then going to drive up there and I'll have to wash the car before taking it to meet them.”
“Is it nice?”
“You'd love it. The seats are like recliners. They're puffy under all that leather.”
“Oh, I bet it's nice.”
“When you come out, we'll see what you think of it and I'll get you one if you want.”
“That's too high of a car. I like my Buicks.”
“You'd love this though and Buick doesn't make a convertible.”
“Well, Kevin is going to go up and get your things out of the house today and get Gyp taken to the big house. “
“She'll like that. She'll feel like a queen.”
“Kevin said he's going to drive out with you guys next week to see the house, do you think that's a good idea?”
“Yeah, Steve secure with it and I want Kevin to know we're going to be good friends.”
“Well, don't invite trouble. I love him, but he still loves you dearly.”
“I know mom. There's no invitations which are going to be extended except friendship.”
“Good. Do you think he'd like living out there? He mentioned it.”
“It's a bit more laid back, but I think he'd like it. I've got some extra parcels of land so if he wanted to build on one he could.”
“How much land came with it?”
“Mine sits on five acres. There are two to the left and two to the right and he'd be able to have a nice area.”
“Do you think you'd like him that close?”
“Yeah, He and Steve have a lot in common so they'd be able to get along.”
“When you get all settled, I'll see about coming out.”
“How about we make plans for Easter here.”
“That'd be nice. Do you have the space?”
“There's five other bedrooms and an apartment above the garage. We'd have plenty of space.”
“We'll see. I'll buy a ham and have it shipped just in case.”
“Would you call the phone company and have them turn on the phone? We can stop someplace and buy a phone and it could be turned on by the time we get there.”
“It might take more time than that.”
“If it does, tell them to forget it and call Southwestern Bell. They only took one day to get the house phone turned on at the big house.”
“Ok, if I need anything I'll call your cell.”
“Love you mom.”
“You too, bye.”
I hung up and rolled back over to an empty bed.
I got up and went to the bathroom. Steve smiled and said, “It's hard pissing with this thing.”
“Turn the water on at the sink.”
“It doesn't work for me. It's got a mind of it's own.”
“I'm glad it decided it liked me then.”
He laughed and said, “Don't make me laugh, this is painful.”
“You need to drink more water.”
“I know I should but it tastes bad.”
“We'll have to get bottled water.”
He finally went and I said, “Thank you.”
“You could have came over and went, you know.”
When we were done, we packed and went down to the lobby. We gave the pass key back and went in and got their breakfast. I had strawberry bagels with strawberry cream cheese and strawberries on the side. He had one of everything I think.
He smiled at me and I said, “No lunch until we get home.”
“We'll stop someplace around Savannah to get your phone and get a quick sandwich.”
“Ok, you heard the call again.”
“Yeah, what'd your mom have to say?”
“She told me that Angel got arrested, but Kevin told me that last night.”
“Oh. Ok. It must be making big news back there.”
“It's on CNN too.”
“Really!”
“Yeah. Kev said there are satellite trucks parked outside of the little house.”
“Man, I'm glad we're not there.”
“Me too. He's going over today and getting Gyp and my things loaded. What will be interesting is the press will think I'm staying at his place and they'll move there. They have no clue I'm here.”
“Good. What'd they say on CNN?”
“It's a big splash about the police chief being arrested and all the charges.”
“Oh man, so your name got put out?”
“No, but all it would take for the press is to ask around as to who it was that got beaten and all fingers would point to me. Mom was rather aggressive with the law there.”
“I bet she was.”
When we were finished eating, we went out and gassed the car. Gas was notably higher than in Missouri, but I'd find it interesting what the fuel mileage would actually be. I know the car felt more solid than any car I'd driven, and knew the metal used was the way they used to make all cars, so a good coat of undercoating would probably be in order.
We drove and I locked the cruise at seventy five. Steve looked at me and said, “I'm glad we're together.”
“Me too”
I held out my hand and he held it. “This feels nice.”
“Yeah, do you mind if we listen to the radio?”
“Sure, what channel?”
“See if the Sirius is working and find the news.”
“Ok”
He turned on the radio and we programmed all the channels in I thought I'd like. It held two hundred in it's memory, but I knew from past experience only about twenty of them would be used. When we got to the dirty joke channel, we listened. Steve and I laughed for a long time and finally, he said, “I'm sorry, we were going to get the news. I'm so tired of laughing my ribs are sore.”
“It's you tensing back up after being relaxed. It happens. That's why I want to get one in the house.”
“We ought to get the construction done during the off season because once Summer hits, they'll be focusing on the communities.”
“Ok, how fast do you think the approval will take for the swimming pool?”
“IF I get the plans, it will take a day. If I don't take them in, it could take six months.”
“So you know someone?”
“Yeah. A lot of things like that are accepted without going before a zoning board if there are others in the communities. For an outsider who doesn't know that, the zoning board will drag their feet to exert their authority.”
“It's going to take Kevin six months to clear hurdles?”
“Hon, between you and I, I can get it done quicker if you'd let me.”
“How do you mean?”
“Kevin could get the house designed to his specs. Then, once it's designed, I could say I'm building it and rush it through. Once it's built, Kevin could buy it and no one would be the wiser.”
“That's good. I don't think he'll mind.”
“It's just a shell game is all it is. They'll rush things through for me because they know they'd want the returned favor.”
We listened to the weather channel and got told there'd be rain and storms. On the news channel, we listened to the national version of what the story was and it didn't give my name. Steve said, “Good, no one here will know your past. I think that will be good.”
I nodded.
The miles rolled along and Steve used the phone to call his mom. She said she'd hold supper for us and for us to drive safe.
When we got to Savannah, I saw a Circuit City and made for the exit. We went in and I went to the computers. They didn't have Dell's but they had some nice duo processor ones which were nice. Steve looked at them and asked, “Why do you want on this fast?”
“Hon, the speed of the processing is where it's at. The duo munches through the information fast. We could use this on a plasma and have it for a monitor at home. I'm thinking that's what I might do.”
“Why don't we wait and check Dell's site and just get a phone today.”
“Ok,
but I know if we order a Dell it will take about three weeks to get
it here.”
“I'm not going anywhere, so let's just shop around.”
“Ok”
We went over and got a set of phones for the house. They had the Vtech add-on phones. The original set of three were decent priced, but the add-on ones were seventy dollars each. I stood there doing mental math as to how many we'd need and Steve said, “Carry it with you and put one on each floor.” So, we bought the three and got a spare.
On the way back to Bluffton, Steve said, “Don't take this wrong, but I don't want to see you wasting your money.”
“That's ok. Sometimes I need someone to reign me in. Thanks for not being afraid to say what you think.”
“You want things nice and I know that. But there's such a thing as too much.”
“I don't mind. I was trying to think of all the rooms, but you're right, the bedrooms don't need phones.”
“No and to be quite honest, they don't have to be wireless. The phones are going to be replaced at the Sheriff's office soon and they throw the things away. We've got a nice Merlin system, so we can use them.”
“Good, I like Merlins.”
“They're a nice phone.”
When we got back to the house, we saw a news truck across the road. Sam waved us on through and I didn't stop. I looked in the rear mirror and saw the crew carrying their camera across the road.
Steve said, “When we get ready to leave, they'll probably try chasing us. We could drive the Viper if you want.”
“It's up to you. They could find a person under a rock.”
“I imagine it was the guy who you upset yesterday. There's not that many who know you're here.”
“No, so it'd have to be him. IS there anything you can do?”
“No. They were parked legally and it's their job to get a story.”
“Maybe we could speak with them and I could tell them something.”
“No, just leave them be. If they attempt to chase us then I'll pull over and arrest them once they pull upon my parents property. They don't know that road is our as soon as they leave the highway, so I'll do that.”
“Ok, but isn't it a ways up there?”
“Just north of Beaufort. You'll love it up there.”
We went in and I hooked the phone up. There was a dial tone. I took the second one to our bedroom and the last I put in the skyhouse temporarily. Steve came out of the shower and said, “I'll be getting dressed and then carry in your shopping while you have a shower and then we'll get up there.”
“We have a phone but I'm not sure the number.”
“Dial your cell and you'll have it.”
“Glad you're here.”
He smiled and said, “I am too.”
I went in and took a shower. As I was finishing, Steve came into the bathroom and asked, “What do you want to wear.”
“That shirt I got at the Outfitters and the Levis. I'll take that new pair of shoes and some ankle socks.”
“Ok, I'll get them laid out.”
I dried. When I was done, I went out and hugged him. He motioned with his hand and said, “Your clothing sir.”
I turned around and stepped back into his arms. “You sure make it hard to look at your butt.”
“Yeah, it could be hard.”
He kissed my neck and said, “You're getting it that way.”
“Good, that feels good.”
He rubbed my chest and nipples. The feeling was such I ground back into his cock. “Oh babe”
“Yeah, you're feeling as I am.”
“I want to make love with you, but I want it special.”
“You have a date, but when?”
“Tomorrow night?”
“Fine with me. I'll cook us up a nice dinner and we'll do it up special.”
He smiled and said, “Get dressed. I've got to get away from you. You standing naked is too much of a turn on. I'm dripping real bad.”
I got dressed and he came back in as I was lacing up my sneakers. “Man, it's a sin to cover that body.”
“I'm not the only one stud.”
He smiled and said, “You really think I'm hot?”
“Yeah”
“I've never really had anyone that's thought that.”
“I don't know why not. People around here have to have eyes.”
When I stood up, he came over and hugged me. “Hon?”
“Yes babe.”
“I'm going to speak to TJ tonight about getting my soda machines loaded into his truck so we can bring them here. We need to get things moved over here from my place if that's fine with you.”
“Sure, that's no problem. Where do you find the bottles for the machines.”
“They sell them about once a year. I stay in contact with the company as to when and get twenty cases. It's not much, but I allow myself one a day.”
“You might want to get a bunch of them. I'm sure our guests will enjoy them.”
“How many do you think?”
“Let's see. Mike's kids will be here for about six weeks this Summer. Six kids and an adult probably three a day so that's a case a day. That's forty two cases there. Other family members will be about that many, so we might want to get a hundred and fifty cases.”
“They're ten dollars a case.”
“I'll pay for them.”
“No, I can help but it's a lot to put out for just Cokes.”
“Feeding everyone will cost a lot too but I think we need to think about getting freezers.”
“Freezers with an s?”
“Yeah, dependent upon what meat prices are here, I'll look at shopping back home and we can haul it out here.”
“Will meat stay good?”
“I”ve learned to pack it so it stays good. The key is not having any air space in the coolers. We can buy a cow back home and have it slaughtered and also have another for ground beef. Then we can have a freezer for chicken as I like to cook rotisserie chicken. I'll have to buy another rotisserie, but that's no biggie on Ginnys.com.”
“What's Ginny's?”
“It's a neat little catalog which has all sorts of kitchen things cheaper than I've seen them in stores. The feather mattresses are way cheaper.”
“Have you checked to see what we have for linen?”
“No, I've been using that towel hanging from the bar in the bathroom.”
“Me too. We ought to look.”
“Let's do that on Saturday. I'll be off. We'll make lists and go shopping. Do you think five days will be enough to go out there and come back?”
“Yeah, I doubt if it's that long. With Kevin packing things, it'll be easier. That way, all I'll have to do is go in and grab the server and all the hook ups.”
“Why didn't you ask him to get it for you?”
“Hon, Kevin and I have an agreement. He doesn't mess with my computer stuff and he stays alive. Him with wires is like a cat with string. I've set all the servers up and he now knows what to turn on first to get everything back up, but I imagine there will be a lot of panic phone calls over the computers.”
“How'd you learn so much about them?”
“Trial and error. Lots of that and hours of pulling my hair out. It gradually sunk in. When things were rough, I'd go to either Sun's forum or Dell's forum and would get a lot of answers to questions which would help me with the others.”
“How many servers do you have?”
“We've got twelve and then I've got the eight Sun monsters. Each one of those is a quarter of a million dollar machine. I got them on the government auction site for a hundred and nine dollars.”
“Oh man”
“Yeah a city was selling their computers and I'm guessing no one knew what they were because they weren't clearly labeled and the description didn't state they were what they were. I did some snooping around and found where Sun had a press release about selling them. So, I bid hoping I'd get them. When I got them, I drove through a blizzard both directions to get them.”
“Where were they?”
“Out in Ohio.”
“So which are you bringing out here?”
“I'd love to bring two of the Suns and my Dell. The Dell has attachments which one is an array which gives me a terrabyte of storage and then there's my HP jukebox which holds and burns two hundred dvd disks.”
“What do you do with all that space?”
“The master code for the plasmas are on the Suns at the shop, but I want to have a copy of them before Kevin sells out. That code took me almost three weeks to write.”
“What's so special about it?”
“Ok, we've got eight jumbotrons in a row up at West Quincy. The speed limit is 45 mph there. As you drive along, you see a GM pickup truck. The next sign shows the truck from the side. The next shows it from the back. Then, the next four signs sell you the truck. The signs click so it's like they're following you, but they click over for a period of six point one two five seconds. We had to do a lot of driving through that area and finally I hired a high speed video crew to drive it at speed so we could get the timing down perfect. Once we were done, GM gave us a huge contract.”
“Sounds neat, but it sounds complicated.”
“It's something that wasn't done before. Once I wrote the code, we figured it could be done with different spacings of the signs and different speed limits. It all sounds complicated, but a good person who knows a lot more math than me offered to do the equations and he got them to all sorts of distances and speed limits. The thing is each sign has to be spaced equally apart.”
“And they gave you a big contract for that.”
“Yeah, those signs are exclusive to GM. Nothing else can be advertised due to the timing. GM bought up the ad space on all of them for two years and then got me all sorts of fees. It's a twenty million dollar contract.”
“Twenty million dollars!”
“Yeah, but Coke's got one set of them now and we're setting up another set for McDonalds. Once word got out about the neatness of them, we had a really good turn out.”
“How much does one of those signs cost?”
“The plasma which I call a jumbotron is six hundred thousand each. The signs cost about thirty thousand each, so the investment paid for itself nicely.”
“Oh man. I'd want that code too.”
“What I do is I now sell that code to other sign companies. They tell me how far they want it spaced and what the speed limit is. There are a string of twenty signs going up out in Los Angeles. They paid two hundred thousand for the code to experiment. The advantage for them is the speed limit is the same on all the interstates, so if they space the signs the same, they can use that code multiple times.”
“Why don't you make it exclusive.”
“No, the only thing I do is I make it for only their use. If they resell it, I go in suing for copyright and breach of contract violations.”
“They wouldn't do that, would they?”
“No because I've got a patent pending on it and it's a real money maker.”
“How'd you come up with the idea?”
“I don't watch television much but one night I saw a commercial on television of a similar thing where all the ad signs were changing. I thought to myself it could be done and told Kevin I wanted to try it. Little did I know how complex it would become, but it's sure nice when you get that check in for that contract.”
“I imagine.”
“Now you know why I was able to sell my part of the company for so much. There's a lot of money in ad revenue and what you don't know is I sold out for a graduated price.”
“What's that mean?”
“Ok, through the years, the prices of advertising goes up. I projected what the revenue would be for this year and then each year for the ten years. Last year, we grossed twenty one million. The GM contract is in this year's budget and not last, so it's a lot more. The good thing is GM has pledged a contract of the next ten years if we bring down the price ten percent a year.”
“In ten years, you'd be giving the ads away!”
“No hon, each year it's less, but it's a two year contract. The second contract in two years is eighteen million. The next one after that will be sixteen point two. It will still be five million a year at least after then end of that contract, but by then the company will have up more and more signs. The plasmas are huge money makers.”
“Why's that?”
“On an average sign, you only have one advertiser. That sign stays the same for the entire month. On a jumbo, that sign changes every ten seconds or six seconds during peak hours. For each ad that goes up, it's a thousand a month and it's a twelve month minimum with two changes of ad which are fifteen hundred each. That's fifteen grand a year. If you sell ten ads, that's a hundred and fifty thousand. Now, what is slick is people do a lot of changing of their ads. I was just involved in the change over from Black history month to Valentines. Then will be Easter. Then luck leprochaun which is half price changes. That's still seven hundred and fifty to change a photo in the computer.”
“You mean drag one in and pull one out and that's it!”
“Yeah.”
“Man, that's sweet.”
“They get seen because stop lights happen along a road and a person's eye is drawn to the sign because of the change of movement. What we're wanting to experiment with is gif or moving pictures. Cullegan is wanting us to do that so they have their lady saying, “Hey, Cullegan person!”
“Is that going to be more?”
“No, but it's a benefit a lot of companies will like. I started that and Mazda was on in an instant doing their Zoom Zooms.”
“Ok, that's cool”
“So now you've got the gest of what I did to make the money.”
“And the sign shop will make that kind of return?”
“Oh yeah. We have investments in the signs and once they're paid for, they return nothing but profit. So far, we've not had one go black, so it's good and believe me, it seemed we put them up and a hail storm will come. None of them have taken any hits by lightening or high wind, so we're lucky.”
“They insured?”
“No one will insure them. Those up there in the air are nothing but loss if one goes down.”
“You ever had a bunch of signs go down like that in a storm?”
“Yeah, we had a tornado that knocked seventeen of them down. It seemed that thing had an eye for great advertising. Fortunately, we put in sheer bolts which allows the sign lay over in a high wind.”
“Why do you do that?”
“Same reason you were worried about that fence out back. Once one of those signs gets to wiggling, it will rip apart and become a missile. Now all I need is a sign that's not insured to come flying and hit a car and decapitate them all. The lawyers would run from me.
Rather than do that, I'd rather the sign lay down and us some sheet metal to straighten it back up and get a crane to re lift it.”
“Is that difficult?”
“You'd have to ask Kevin. He took a crew over and had them all back up in a week. Fortunately, none of our advertisers asked for refunds.”
“If you come over here and put up signs, how many would you seek to put up?”
“I don't know. We'll have to get traffic counts and see where the traffic is. I could put up a sign in every buffer zone there is but that doesn't mean I could get advertisers to sign on. Right now, I'm not even sure it's possible. I'd have to check with Lamar.”
“They'd let you, wouldn't they?”
“Yeah, we've had no problems with them, but we're between two cities and I'm sure that interstate out there has the traffic count, but just as soon as I went to compete against them, they'd put up signs to compete and that'd be a mess.”
“They'd do that?”
“Yeah, but zoning is where we'd fight them if there's an ordinance. If there's not, they could put up a sign right next to mine or right in front of one. I'd doubt if they'd do that, because I'd come and move a sign in front of theirs, but I'll look into it. If they're covered, then I'll see if I can buy rights for this area from who has it.”
“They'd sell to you?”
“Yeah, there are variances we all do. I sold away a chunk of good advertising space down in St. Charles county What I kept was the best of the best, but they wanted it bad enough to ask and we made the agreement.”
“What's the agreement?”
“Ok, say you have a strip of interstate in your area I want. I come in and offer you a hundred thousand a mile for the use of that area for ten years. At the end of the ten years, I have to leave my signs on the poles and you get them free.”
“That's sweet.”
“Yeah because I wouldn't have had the income to get that stretch of interstate populated. They did, so they really helped us out because they bought thirty miles worth. When you multiply that by two, you've got a nice pay check.”
“Why two?”
“Each side of the interstate. That's how it's done.”
“I'm learning and I can't believe the money involved.”
“It's a huge investment, but the returns are great. I've had no complaints.”
“I'd say not, how long you been in it.”
“Five years.”
“You started with nothing five years ago and you just sold out to him for that much!”
“Yeah, but he really got the best end of the deal.”
“Why?”
“I just signed over half the company to him in December.”
“So, if you hadn't, you could have sold for a hundred million.”
“Yeah, but here's the wisdom of how we got so big so fast. I saw the price of signs raising as metal costs were raising through the roof. I bit the bullet and bought fifty signs which I figured is what we'd put up in a year. The price of those signs tripled in cost right after I got the order in.”
“Oh man, so you have them as spares.”
“Yeah, now lets get out of here.”
He smiled and said, “You drive because I want you to know how to get there.”
“Ok hon.”
We went out and got into the Viper. I pulled it out of the garage and saw it was a four car garage. I had Steve pull the Rolls in and he came back with a remote in his hand. “Where'd you get that?”
“It was on a shelf in there. There are four of them.”
“Good, I'm glad we found them, I wonder if they operate the gate?”
“I don't know, but we'll check.”
When we got to the end of the drive, I tried the remote and it didn't control the gate. There had to be something that operated the gate so I'd call Robert when I had a chance to see what operated it.
At the end of the road, I pulled up to the guard shack and said, “Sam, if those guys over there are too much of a problem, give us a call and we'll come get them.”
“Why are they after you?”
“Problems back home. It's on CNN.”
“Were you the one beaten?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
“That's ok. You'll see me scoring like a bandit when it's over.”
“I'll let you know if they're a problem, but they've been good so far.”
“They'll get the hint they're not going to get a story after a while.”
“They said they'd not be here after five o'clock.”
“Ok”
We left out and they didn't follow us. When we got to the buffer zone, Steve showed it to me. I did a quick scan and said, “We could put up double signs on each side.”
Every so often, he'd show me another zone and it was always the same. The road was void of any signs along the way.
Once we were out to the main highway, the signs picked up but most were mom and pop shop signs...plywood on wood poles...which are unsafe during any kind of wind after they've rotted.
We continued up to Beaufort and on past. When we got to the exit, Steve said, “Just remember this truck stop and you'll be fine.”
“Ok”
“Turn right.”
We went down the road and he said, “Slow down because when that white fence over there begins, you're going to need to be prepared to make the turn.”
We drove for what seemed a mile and he told me to turn left. We turned and went through an elaborate gate. “You're now on our property.”
“This is you guys?”
“Yeah”
“Ok, I'm going to start clocking on the odometer to see how long it is.”
“It's
about three miles”
“Three miles! Damn, that must be a helluva bunch of snow!”
“It doesn't snow here hon.”
“Oh yeah, I forgot. How do you mow all this, or is this the greens patch?”
“You'll see the horses up there.”
“Horses? I thought you said they got rid of all the horses.”
“We got rid of the ones we ride. These are quarter horses which are bred to be race horses.”
“Must be a lot of money in them.”
“Three Kentucky Derby winners.”
“Really!”
“Yeah, it's mama's one social event of the year.”
“She goes to the race?”
“Yeah, but with the way daddy's sick, I don't know if she'll go this year.”
“We'll watch him.”
“I doubt if he's around that long myself.”
“Oh man, I'm sorry.”
“That's ok hon, I'm prepared. He's not young.”
“They had you late?”
“He was married previously and she died. He wed mama straight out of high school.”
“How old was he?”
“Nearly fifty.”
“Jeez, what the hell was she thinking!”
He laughed and said, “Believe it or not, she loved him.”
“How'd they meet?”
“Let her tell you, just up around this bend you'll see the house.”
We went through another set of gates and I saw the house. “Oh man, it's beautiful!”
“Yeah, it's been in our family since the late seventeens.”
“Oh man, is that the ocean out there?”
“Yeah, out there where those trees are is where the house used to be.”
“Oh man, it would have been ruined.”
“Yeah, but we've got a good while to go before it comes close again.”
“No hurricanes in that length of time?”
“Yeah, but as you can see, they've got it up so it's not going to get a lot of water. The wind doesn't catch it on one side but on two which splits the wind.”'
“That works?”
“Yeah, Hugo hit and we rode it out. It was exciting.”
“You stayed!”
“My dad was the Sheriff. He evacuated everyone and then came home. We rode it out and all we lost were trees.”
We pulled up front and got out. His mom came running down the steps and into his arms. She turned towards me and said, “My God you're handsome! She came over and said, “Welcome to Jacksonland”. She gave me a hug and said, “What's that cologne”
“It's his smell mama. He thinks that's body odor.”
“Oh really!”
“Yes ma'am”
“You call me Rose. My name is Pearl Rose, but just call me Rose.”
“Thank, you can call me Rhett.”
“Rhette! He said that was your name, but I thought he was giving me a clue as to how you looked. You look nothing like a Rhette.”
“I know, but it's a name I can't outrun.”
“Man you're a good looking kid.”
“Thanks ma'am, I can see where he gets his looks too.”
“Thanks” she said blushing. “Well come on into the house and let's sit for a spell.”
We went in and as soon as we entered, I could smell the old wood. “Cyprus?”
“You know your woods.”
“Mine at home is river cypress, but the stain's not the same. Mine's more of a mahogany.”
“There are different varieties. It's rot resistent.”
“That's what the woman told me that used to own the house.”
“Smart people back then, I hear you bought one of those new old mansions.”
“Yes, it's nice, but this one is awesome.”
“It's lovely, but it creaks and groans with old age.”
“I've got a question and excuse me for being so forward, but he said this place was built in the seventeen hundreds. There's electricity in the ceiling.”
“When it was moved, they took it apart piece by piece and added in the electric and plumbing.”
“Ok That was nice. Look at that view. Oh man!”
“Yes, for me, that's what I think of whenever I'm away from here.”
“It brings tears to my eyes. I couldn't leave here.”
She came over and hugged me and said, “Hon, it'll be yours one day. Love it like that for me and I'll be obliged.”
“It's already got me thinking mine is nothing but a cheap knockoff.”
“Hon, they don't make them like this anymore because they're too costly to build. I'm sure yours is lovely.”
“It's beautiful, but this takes my breath.”
“Well come into the parlor and we'll get our tea.”
Steve brought in the tea and I said, “Rose, from now on, he's going to be doing his own laundry.”
She laughed and said, “I like you. If you can get him to do it, then you've got ways I don't.”
“He's gotta. I'm not going to do it.”
“I hope you've got plenty clothes hon, because he'll wear everything down to the hand me downs before he'll wash.”
“Oh no he won't! He'll be in doing chores just like me, or else!”
She laughed and turned to Steve, “Good kid. Where are you from and tell me about yourself”
I told her everything and as I spoke, she listened. Steve went out to the car and got my laptop. When he came back in, he sat down next to her and said, “Mama, look here. This story is on CNN right now about the police chief up where he lived.”
He showed her the story and then said, “He's the person. If you want, you can see the photos of his beating and you'll be sick”
He opened them and she said, “Oh dear”
She came over and hugged me. “That had to be horrific.”
“It was, but I managed.”
“You did quite well.”
“Well, thanks to Steve, I've managed to remember everything. He brings me back to security.”
“That's a fine compliment. He does do that. She turned to Steve and said, “Honey, I'm going to take him for a walk. You need to go prepare your daddy.”
We went out the side door and down the double stairs. She took the left and I took the right. “You did that like a Southern gentleman.”
“I won't look at your ankles.”
She laughed and said, “When Summer's on, you'll see more than ankles. I don't get out of my pedal pushers.”
She came over and caught my arm as we walked. “You love him already, don't you?”
“It's growing more and more all the time.”
“I can tell. Your eyes and his are both telling me their stories. What I wanted to talk with you about is his daddy. He's up there dying right now and he's not long. When he passes, it's going to be terrible.”
I reached over and touched her hand and said, “We'll be here. I'm supposed to go home, but it can wait.”
“He told me you were, but I chose to tell you because he's going to be shocked at how much his daddy's went downhill since yesterday morning when he last saw him.”
“He wanted me to meet him so he knew he'd found someone finally.”
“I'm happy about that because his daddy got told last night. I told him and then as we were talking, JT came in. He's quite taken with you too. Which I can see why, you're tiny!”
“Yes, but I'll tell you now I've only got eyes for Steve. You're going to hear about my ex coming here to live, but you must know we're dear friends. So please don't be worried.”
“I'm glad you told me because I hear a lot, but I can tell you're about your word. If you were up to no good, you'd not mentioned it.”
“Everything's completely honorable with me. Do I have your son's hand?”
She giggled and said, “You don't know how that makes me feel. A part of me says my son's a man, and a huge part of me knew this day would come when I'd meet his love. You being the way you are, I just get a sense you've got an old heart and you've come home.”
“You're right. I've lived in Missouri and it's beautiful there, but when we came out here when I was a child, I fell in love with Beaufort. Don't ask me why, but Myrtle Beach and Charleston grab me, but Beaufort hung in my mind. Interestingly, my first pick for a house was Tifton, Georgia, but there wasn't anythign available. I continued to search until I saw our house, so I got right on buying it. That's when I met him and oh man, the first impression of him took me. I'm not one to instantly make passes, but if you'd seen me, you'd not been impressed.”
She laughed and said, “His daddy did that too. What's funny is I was a car hop at a diner. A lot of men would whistle, but he's one that treated me like a person. Each day, he'd come in and bring me a rose and order the same thing. Biscuits and honey. That's it. Just biscuits and honey.”
“Oh man.”
“Finally one night, I was walking home and he came along the stretch of road. I had my uniform on and they were sort of like koolots in a red gingham with a white apron and bib and a white hat with lace edges. He pulled over and offered me a ride. I accepted and knew my daddy would raise cane if he knew. As we drove, he apologized for not having a rose with him. I told him he didn't need to bring me a rose and he said someday he'd give me a diamond to make up for it. My heart just melted then and I knew he was the one.”
“Oh man, I've got tears in my eyes just thinking about it.”
She smiled and said, “You're a softy.”
“I write romance stories.”
“Really!”
“Yes, they're gay romances, but a lot of women like them too. My mama reads them.”
“I'll have to read them.”
“You'll like them. A lot of time and effort goes in them.”
“Do me a favor and write our story. Tell the world so they know he loved me and I wasn't after his money. When I met him, I had no idea this place was here. The first time he brought me here, it grabbed my heart like it just did yours. That told me you belonged here. If you'd not said anything, I'd've known it wasn't for you.”
She patted my hand and said, “Now, let me show you something which makes my heart.”
We went down to the beach and I saw the holes of the hermit crabs. “These crabs are my heart. They're the one thing I know I can come out and see and know as much as life changes, they've been here forever and they'll continue to be here forever. “
“I understand. You look at the house and say, It's been here but someday it'll be gone. This land has been here forever and I am but a trace upon the history of this place.”
“Oh man, you've got it.”
“When I was laying in the hospital, I knew I was hurt and hurt bad. The bandages on my face were all over. For the life of me, I couldn't remember what happened, but everyone wasn't letting me have a mirror. When Kevin came in, his eyes were so sad but he never stayed long. My heart broke because I was so afraid of losing him. I mean it's hard because when everything in your life goes, you know the one that loves you is going to be there and when you've lost that, you don't know how it happened.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yes, so I made a pact with God and I willed myself to go through he pain of the surgeries to have me put back together. For a while, they thought the nerve in my face wasn't going to mend and I'd have a pull to my bottom lip. One day, I tried and tried and I felt a burn and a rip, but the end of that pain was my lip not pulling anymore.
To make a long story short, I got to go outside and I looked at the hospital and remembered the field that used to be there and the windmill. Somewhere I had the serenity to look at it and tell myself it was all a piece of time and with time I'd be better and with time, things would change. It was funny because I looked at it and said, “I'm nothing but taking a ride on a grain of sand in an hour glass and that's my life span in there.”
“That's beautiful.”
“Yes, but with accomplishments comes pain. Kevin screwed around and we got back together and then he screwed around and I finally gave up. We've managed to keep our friendship, but the trust has taken a beating. I'll tell you, your losing him is going to be painful. It's going to hurt like you wouldn't believe. At times, you're going to want to lay down and die, but you've got Steve and JT. Through Steve, you've got me and I'll be your listening post and your strength when you don't think you can take another step. Without that man, you wouldn't have them and without him, he wouldn't know love. You gave him that and some day, you'll once again find each other.”
She came over and hugged me and put her head upon my shoulder and began crying. “You know the loss I'm feeling.”
“Yes My first lover blew his brains out and laid there for four days. During that time, I had time to get used to it and feel the loss before I actually lost him.”
“It hurts, but I know I can't take away that pain. It's to the point he can't take anymore pain medication and get any relief. Now, he's having seizures. They're small, but I know they're happening. I called the doctor and all he can do is offer me words and nothing to him. My hands are tied.”
“What are his moments of lucidity?”
“They're not often. He had one this morning and I'm hoping he will this afternoon so he can know Stevie got you.”
“IF he doesn't, we'll stay. I want that for Steve. It might be the last opportunity and I don't want Steve to feel compelled to go back because I'm here. I've got nothing to do and his job will wait.”
“He's not running again, did he tell you?”
“Yes. He said he'd help JT with it.”
“JT's a good kid, but he's going to make changes which will be his own. I really wish JT had someone as a source of strength.”
“I'll be there for everyone.”
“If it comes down between he or I, you go help him. I'll be fine.”
“Ok, but I'll tell you now you're going to think some of the things I do are off the wall and make no sense but afterwards, you're going to realize why I did them.”
She looked at me and I said, “I've told Steve about what I went to college to be and I'll tell you. It was to be a Mortician. I've had extensive grief counselling and know what it takes to get you back from turning someone you love over to the other side. It's sad and painful, but in the end, you'll know the love will continue.”
“I'm glad you're here. Your eyes tell me things are going to be ok and at this moment, that's what we need. I have a feeling there are more depths to you than you let on.”
“If you read my stories, you'll get all of me. I put it all in my stories. What I'll do is I'll leave my laptop here for you to read them. It will whittle away the hours of waiting. My advice is to read Jordan because you'll see a story which is going to give you strength. One of the chapters in it is so sad with the sense of loss, you'll think it's entirely true. The loss is true, but the story isn't “
She
smiled and said, “You just prescribed that story like a doctor
would a prescription. Did you know that?”
I smiled and said, “I just thought of it. There are times when I write something I don't know why I write them, but later can use that moment to help someone later. One of my stories I just wrote is helping a dear friend get over the loss of someone. When the moment is right, I'll have you read that story because it's another part of the grieving process.”
“It sounds like your calling was to help people with the death process.”
“Yes, but I hope that's not all I'm called to do because that's rather depressing.”
She laughed and said, “JT says you're sexier than hell. For my straight son to tell me that was shocking. I don't think that's your calling.”
“JT's like a little brother. He's lonely right now and I think he's crying out for someone to share his life.”
“You know, I can see what he means. That's what's interesting and I'm really happy Steve found you.”
“That story's funny. Steve got called because I got into it with a real estate man. The man called after I fired him and told them I was an intruder. Steve came as he was in the area and I invited him in. He told me I was the intruder and I still invited him in for tea.”
She laughed and said, “Steve's so serious. I bet that took him back a bit.”
“I couldn't tell you but right after he came in, the Supervisor of the real estate place showed up and I kept referring to Steve as that hot hot man. It was funny because it was obvious I was telling him what I thought without being too overt.”
She smiled and said, “That's what it took hon. Steve won't tell you, but when he came out to me, he told me he'd never be an embarrassment to our family. Without knowing it, you were putting yourself out there and telling him what you liked, but you weren't making a spectacle of him or yourself.”
“No, I couldn't do that, but Steve's surprised I think he's so good looking.”
“He's always wished he was something different than what he is. He's went through stages where he wanted to be better built or lesser built or something what he's not. He's found you and I can see your differences are something he'll be attracted to. Your experience is something he's needing too.”
“Yes, but I try not to delve into that. It's not becoming.”
“You said it and that's why you're so wonderful. You use it but it's not something you find attractive about yourself, therefore you don't hang it out like a banner.”
“No, I couldn't do that.”
“Steve's daddy was someone much like JT in his day. He knew all the women and I'm sure he knew more than he let on with me. He was attracted to me, but my virginity scared him. He knew in order to get it, I wasn't going to give it without marriage. You know that too and I sense you know you're committed to the relationship.”
“Yes, I think he doubts that a bit, but for me, when I go into one, there's no one else. I've told him that and you need to know that too. There are going to be those that talk and as much as I hate it, I know when the trial comes for these guys, the police chief is going to sling mud.”
“Why'd that man do it?”
“I wrote something on a message board of a web page. He took offense because I called him out on a lot of things. The man turns a blind eye to people's suffering because of their economic bracket and location of their home. My house is nice, but it's in a neighborhood that saw it's better days fifty years ago. Because of that, when it was robbed, his basic reaction was “Well you're insured what are you complaining for?”
It's not the question of being insured, it's the sense of violation. Someone out there knew what was in my home just like I did and they had a mental inventory of what they left so if someone needed something, they knew where they could go and they did. The second time, my home was robbed, I actually got told to turn it into my insurance. The result of that was the insurance company cancelled the insurance.
The only way I could get insured then was the house and not the contents. So when it was robbed again and they took a washer and dryer and large appliances, I took that on the chin. When I decided to speak to the man and tell him my mind, the wrong thing to tell me was I was insured and to just report it to them. That's when I told the man his failure to perform his job was why I had no insurance to cover those items.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yeah, but being vocal, I went onto the message board and wrote my opinion. He took offense and rather than being a man of law, he chose personal retaliation. I'm sorry, but sweeping me under the carpet isn't going to make the fact he's a lousy person for the job go away. Fortunately, he did it because it cost him his job. Yes, I have enough money to replace the things, but it's not the principal of the matter, the principal is he went about things wrong. He's now going to find what the inside of a jail cell feels like and how it is to be totally embarrassed in the community. His reasoning for giving second class service to me was because I was gay. Isn't that a crock?”
“I knew things were like that, but I had no idea how things were.”
“It's not fun. What's bad is there are people out there who willingly took it upon themselves to mess up my life for money. A dollar bill messed up my face and my relationship to the point of breaking. Prison's too good for those people.”
“Let's go back in and talk. You've told Steve all this, haven't you?”
“Yes ma'am. Steve's the one that got the guy arrested. I remembered everything because I felt secure with him. When it came back, he got on the phone and began jousting the windmills.”
“Oh dear.”
“Yes, but what I need to tell you is he was insecure thinking I'd go back. He didn't think I'd stay with him. He has no clue what he did for me. He reaffirmed my belief in the law and he gave me back what couldn't have been gotten. I didn't think.”
“He's a good man.”
“Yes and that's why it blows me away he'd think I'd leave him just because things are better there.”
“Hon, his heart was broken once before. I don't know who did it because he wouldn't tell me, but it happened one Summer we had guests and when they left, he was despondent. I was so busy with uprighting my house I never realized and by then, he was in a sad state. I knew with time things would be better, but I had no idea they'd take this long. Maybe it was meant to be he had this long to wait because his appreciation is more, but I think that's why he thought you'd leave.”
“He knows different now.”
“Good. I know you've got him and things like that will cause the bond between you to grow. You know I really like speaking with you because you don't cut or varnish anything. I feel I get honesty and yet, I feel you're going to capture everyone's heart with it.”
I smiled and said, “If you knew my mama, you'd know why. We might've been dirt poor but there was always a bottle of Ajax on the sink. Believe me, I learned when she asked me to pick up a bottle at the store to get a flavored one.”
She laughed and said, “You know! I did the same thing! And my mama was the same way. If we cussed, or if we told a lie, there was that bottle. Man, I hated that thing.”
“Yeah, but you know if kids were raised that way more, they'd be better off.”
“Things will right themselves. It's always darkest before daybreaks.”
“Remember that for the upcoming days. When we have a few moments after everything begins to settle, we'll go to that light house and we'll walk the steps. There are I believe either one hundred and eighty seven or one hundred and seventy eight steps up there. My fear of heights wouldn't let me go out near the railing, so I sat down and crawled out with my aunt. While we were up there, she told me the most wonderful story I'll have to write one day.”
“What was it?”
“I'll tell you when we go up there.”
“Hon, I'm afraid of heights too.”
“That's ok. We have to go up there so we can stare out at the ocean while I tell it.”
“You do know Stevie's grand daddy helped build that light house don't you?”
“No ma'am, I wasn't aware of that.”
“Yes.
They used concrete mixed by hand and poured by bucketful. When we go
there, you'll see handprints and palm prints of where they patted and
smoothed it as they went up. What always amazed me was how when they
got up to the top, they were able to build that platform.”
When we got back up to the steps, I held her hand upon my arm and walked her up the steps.
“You are a true Southern gentleman. You knew to do that.”
“I must've read it someplace.”
When we went in, Steve was sitting and had a dazed look upon his face. He had tear stains upon his cheeks and with a breaking voice said, “He's bad. I've called JT home.”
Rose went over to sit by him and hug him. I went over and got upon my knees in front of him and hugged him.
“Mama, I'm going to take Rhette up to see him. If you would bring us some broth, we'll attempt to feed him when he awakes.”
“Honey, he's got fluid building in his lungs. It's not going to be long.”
“If we can get him to eat, he'll be better.”
She started to speak and I put my hand upon her knee and patted. She went silent. “Babe, let's go up so I can meet him.”
Steve got up and I looked at Rose. “Just bring it. You and I know he won't need it, but it'll make Steve not worry.”
“Ok dear.”
I went over to Steve and he said, “He's bad.”
“I know dear. You're needed here and so am I. We're not leaving until this is over.”
“You've got to go back.”
“No, it can wait. There's not a thing there I can't buy here. This is where I'm needed so I'm staying.”
When we were at the top of the steps, he turned and hugged me. “You know, I needed to hear that.”
“You need to call the the Sheriff's department and tell them to order black crepe.”
“Why?”
“Steve, he's not going to make it the night.”
“You think?”
“I know. I can hear him breathing from here. When those breaths get quieter, he's leaving.”
“Don't tell me that!” he hugged me and began crying.
“I've got to babe. Let's go meet him and let's make him know you've got me forever.”
“Thank you.”
“Hon, thank you.”
“I just spoke to my mama like she was a servant.”
“Hon, I told her to go ahead an get it so I could have this moment with you to tell you. She knows you didn't mean anything by it and she knows you did it with love.”
“She's going to be so heart broken.”
“Yes, and I'll be here for her as will you and JT.”
“JT's going to be so lost.”
“We'll make it. Together we'll take him to death's door and give him to the angels. I'll be here to guide you back.”
“You're schooling is kicking in, isn't it? I can sense it in your voice.”
“Hon, I'll tell you a quick story and then you'll know what strength is and the power of God's wisdom. A bunch of people and a bunch of animals were on an island. A fierce storm came and it blew everyone off it. When the sun came out, even the animals were gone. Laying in a nest upon a beach was a bunch of eggs. Battered and beaten, they managed to survive because of their shape. The one shape created by God to survive most anything. The sunlight hit them and as the waves washed over them and washed them and retreated, those eggs were comforted by the sun and they hatched. That island now has only those kinds of birds upon it.”
He looked at me strangely and said, “What's the meaning.”
“Through God's wisdom, we're given strength. Through warmth we hatch to become what we're destined. You're sad right now because your daddy's egg is about to hatch. What you know now isn't what's going to be for the future. Don't be sad about the eggs because you're one too. One day, we'll all be angels and be together. “
“Oh man.” He hugged me and said, “I needed that. I'll be strong. I won't crack.”
“When JT gets here, he's going to be needing. Once he's sure his dad is still alive, I'll go out with him and talk, ok?”
“Ok, that'll be good.”
We sat by the bed and I picked up the man's hand and looked at his fingertips. “Good, he'll make it before it happens.”
“You can tell?”
“There are signs. The breathing is one. And his fingertips still holding color is another. When his respirations shallow, the circulation will not be as strong. That says his heart is getting weaker. His fingertips and his feet will go white and will get cold.”
“Thanks for telling me. I've never been with someone like this when they're dying.”
“It's painful. It's going to be emotional, but if you've got anything to say, you get it said when he has a moment of lucidity. Don't waste your time telling him about me. If he asks, then tell him, but you use this moment about you and let JT have time to talk too.”
“Do you think he'll become lucid again?”
“Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn't. A lot of times, they'll come to and they'll be really clear like they've not been in a long time. You need to know you're not going to be able to hang on to him and that whatever time you've got is a blessing.”
Rose's hand went upon my shoulder, “I'm so thankful you're here. I didn't even know that. Forgive me for listening in, but I'm glad I did.”
I patted her hand and said, “Here, take your seat and the same goes for you. Tell him all you need to tell him and get it said. He'll know it's time and he'll sense it's your present to him to take with him on his trip to comfort him. He's going to be confused because the angels won't talk. They'll ride that white light and when they get to St. Peter, they'll go right on past the gates.”
“You sound like you've been there.”
“Once.”
Both of them turned to me and I shrugged. This wasn't a time about me, it was to comfort them and ease their pain.
I went over behind Steve and put my hands upon his shoulders to hug him back towards me. His hands found mine and he clasped them. I heard a sound of a full throttle coming roaring towards the house followsd by the sound of skidding tires in gravel and a door slamming. Footsteps came running up the stairs and ran towards the bedroom.
“The sound of my son coming home.” Mr Jackson said. “That kid needs to take his time and drive more sane.”
His eyes opened and he looked towards us. They rested upon me and then registered Steve and I hugging. “Good. I can tell by looking at you, you're both in love.”
He looked at me and said, “Treat him like you've never treated anyone and love him like you've never going to get the next sentence spoken and you'll love him about as much as I love her.”
Rose began crying and said, “James, he does.”
“Good”
I could tell his breathing was labored. He said, “JT, come over here.”
JT came over and he held JT's hand. “Son, I'm sorry but you've got to hear this. You've let life grab you by the balls and bring you down. Now it's time to kick it in the teeth and get them back and let it know you're a man. If you don't, you're not going to find the one meant for you.”
“Daddy, I love you.”
“I love you too. I know it's not going to be long. I just heard how it's going to be and it sounds beautiful.”.
His voice was growing more faint and he turned to Rose, “Rose, I've loved you more than anyone could be loved by me. I hope you know that.”
“I do James. I've loved you the same. You gave me our babies and I can see our future.”
He cleared his throat and said, “I don't know you son, but thank you. I'm glad you're here. It's strange because I see a peacefulness about you that says you're home. My mama had that peacefulness too and she looked just about like you.”
Rose took a rapid intake of breath and said, “You're right James. I never thought about that until you said it.”
“He's a good man son. Love him.”
“I will daddy.”
James' eyes rested upon mine and I said, “He'll have that and more.”
“Good, now let me be and rest. Rose, you stay and JT, I need to speak to you.”
Steve stood up and turned around and hugged me. “Come on.”
We went to the top of the steps and Steve said, “Thanks. I needed to know.”
As we went down the steps, I felt the railing in my hand and said, “There's a notch here.”
“Where?”
“I felt it and there felt like a trigger within it. I pushed the trigger and Steve said, “That step just opened.”
“He looked in it and said, “Jemeny, look at this.”
“He held up a platter with silver upon it laying down and covered with dust.”
He took it into the bedroom and said, “Look at this.”
James looked at it and siad, “You found it.”
Steve said, “He felt a notch in the railing. He pushed it and the step popped open.”
James smiled and said, “Only one person knew. I knew you looked like her.”
His voice was really faint. The glazed look was coming back across his eyes and he said to JT, “Open your mind and your heart and accept whatever comes to you. Love will be in amongst it. When you need help, ask that one there to help you. Now go, I need to speak to your mama.”
JT turned and looked at the silver. He picked up a piece and said, “Loretta”
Steve took a look at it and said, “OH man!”
We walked out of the room and at the top of the steps. I felt compelled to stomp my foot and did. Steve looked at me and “You just shut it.”
“I didn't know. I just felt like I had to stomp my foot.”
He smiled at me and said, “Come here, I want to show you a photograph.”
We went down the steps and in the downstairs hallway was a grouping of photographs. JT looked at them and said, “Man, would you look at that.”
I was staring and said, “GO in to my laptop and bring it here. You're going to die.”
The photograph showed three women standing circa 1940's singing ala Andrews sisters.
Steve brought me my laptop and I opened my photo files and pulled up the shots of me in drag. “Before the beating, we took this photo of me and two other drag performers. We were singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”.
JT saw it and said, “IT's the same picture! Yours is in color, but it's identical.”
I shut the laptop down and said, “Steve, this is too strange.”
“You telling me! Daddy knew.”
JT smiled and said, “I knew you were hot, but jeez, that photograph is awesome.”
I smiled and said, “Steve, JT and I need to go talk.”
JT looked at me and said, “What do you want to talk about?”
“Let's go out here.”
“We went out upon the front porch and I said, “JT, sit down there and I'll sit here. I need to speak with you about what's going to happen.”
“What do you mean?”
“We don't know each other and a whole lot of what you're going to be facing in the next few days is going to require trust.”
“You mean about my dad dying?”
“That and some other things.”
“Ok”
“Look at me because I need to ask you a few things.”
“Ok”
“Are you ready at a moment's notice to take over being Sheriff?”
“No”
“JT, your daddy just told you life had you by the nuts and for you to get them back. Please don't take offense, but Steve told me what happened about you and that girl.”
“That's fine. It hurt, but I'm glad in a way.”
“Me too. Now, I'm going to ask you questions you're probably going to wonder where the hell I'm coming from here and I'll do so at a rapid clip. You need to see where I'm going with this and I'll tell you until I stepped foot out of that car, I had no clue this place existed. Yes, Steve told me we were coming out here and about the house, but I had no idea.”
“I understand. Things are going strange.”
“JT, your daddy probably won't make it an hour.”
“You think?”
“I can tell.”
“It sounds like you know quite a bit.”
“Yeah, and really things are coming together for me and it's amazing me.”
“I know how you're feeling. Can I ask you one thing?”
“Sure.”
“What's it like to be gay?”
“It's no different than being straight if you follow your heart. Men are attractive whereas women are attractive for someone who's straight.”
“I'm attracted to you and I have no clue why.”
“It's what's in my heart. You feel a kinship of the spirit and you're drawn in like a moth to a flame. What's interesting is you're finding yourself drawn to me and since yesterday morning, you've been thinking about it and wondering if you're gay.”
“How'd you know?”
“Because as much as I love him, there's a part of me that feels it with you. It's like I'm here to tell you things are ok no matter which way they go.”
“So you think I'm gay?”
“I didn't say that. I actually don't know. I think on the road of life, there's a ditch over there and a ditch over here and in between we travel. One lane is straight and the other is gay. Right now, you've been over in that other lane and you've been meeting cars which are dressed as women. The number you've went through tells me you're not happy. I think you've met an obstacle which knocked you hard and really fucked you up mentally. Now, I'll tell you this. I'm not a bullshit artist. If I tell you something, you can take it to the bank that's what I feel. I think you weren't ready for marriage and you told someone something which pushed her back. It hurt, but there was a reason for that. You've since bounced on each successive woman like a trampoline looking for the right one and you've still not found it for a reason. Then, I come along and you feel feelings which scare you, but at the same time draw you in. What's the reason and purpose?”
“I don't know.”
“Next question. What is it you most desire in life?”
“Oh man there are a lot of things but I thought about this the other night. IF I asked for money, I'd be rich and unhappy because money doesn't buy happiness and it sure doesn't buy love. It will buy someone who will tell you they love you, but you just never know. If I had to ask for one thing, it'd be someone who loved me as much as I could love them.”
“And what would happen if that someone happened to be a guy?”
“I thought about that today and I've actually thought I could accept it and love him if he'd love me.”
“What if he was butch and wasn't looking like me, but looked like Steve?”
“I'm not fucking my brother if that's what you're getting at.”
“I didn't say that you little hot head, so think about the question instead of jumping to conclusions.”
“Can I ask a question?”
“Yeah, this isn't a conversation if you can't talk too.”
He smiled and said, “Thanks. You need to tell my brother that sometimes. What I want to ask is how painful is it?”
“Loving someone? Unless you're into that whips and chains, it hurts a lot. Loving someone isn't supposed to hurt.”
“No not that” he giggled “Taking it up the ass.”
“Ok, let me see how to best answer this. Come over here to this well and I'll show you.”
We walked to a well where it had an old pump handle type of well. I pumped it and water began to flow.
“Now, stand over there and pump it.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“This is stupid.”
“You'll get it in a moment.”
HE went over and lifted the handle and brought it down. Water began to flow.
“Was that hard?”
“No”
“Was it painful?'
“No”
“Was it the first time you learned how to do it?”
“I don't know I was really little. We used to play out here.”
“Right. Now, for me to answer your question, I'll tell you. For me, sex is like you are now. You've gone and done it so often you don't really remember the first time. I can give you what it was like, but it's different for each person. My suggestion is to find someone you love and those feelings will make it so beautiful all you'll feel is the water flowing from within you.”
“IF I could find someone that loved me, I wouldn't be asking you.”
“You're confusing love and sex. Loving someone is wanting to share every day with them. Loving someone is wondering what life would be like ten, twenty, fifty years away. If you're loving someone and you're wondering what it will be like without them, then you're setting yourself up for failure because you've mentally pictured yourself up without that person. When you meet someone, you really should look at that person and wonder to yourself what it'd be like to live with them sitting out front of your home in a rocking chair looking at them in their eyes and wondering if they're feeling frisky. Now, here's what love is to me....ok?”
“Yeah.”
“The thought of me having sex with someone whose ninety frigging years old sounds disgusting.”
“Me too”
“What happens when your sitting in that rocking chair and the person you love is sitting across from you and you're both ninety years old?”
“We go up and hump like bunnies.”
“And suddenly that thought of fucking a ninety year old person isn't so bad, now is it?”
“Oh man, I forgot about that.”
“That's love. Forgetting about what you think and more about what they think.”
“Man, that's awesome.”
“Yeah. Now, I'm going to turn you onto something and it's entirely up to you.”
“What's that.”
“We're going back to Missouri sometime soon. It was supposed to be next week, but I have a feeling your dad's going to be buried on Monday.”
“Ok, I'm mentally prepared for that.”
“Hon, come here.”
He came over and I hugged him. “Your mentally prepared, but you'll never be ready to bury your daddy. Being prepared will ease the pain, but when you need someone, I'll be there.”
“Ok”
“And you little horn dog, it's not going to be in that way.”
He giggled and said, “You're sexier than hell.”
“Hell's not sexy. It's hot, but it's not sexy. Hell fries your nuts and everything else.”
HE laughed and said, “You're crazy.”
“Yeah, but you love me, don't you.”
“You know, I don't know you, but you're like a brother.”
“Yeah, and I feel the same way.”
“You treat me with respect and you listen. Steve doesn't do that a lot.”
“Steve's learning things too. I promise you he's going to be listening more.”
“No, because then it's fake.”
“Bullshit. If he learns to listen because he finds out it's painful to you because he hasn't, then that's fake?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Have you ever went up to him and said, “Steve, when you're done ripping my heart out by not listening, I need to speak with you brother.” because I bet he would have dropped everything and went to see what you had to say.”
“Ok, so I should have told him it was hurting me.”
“Yes, so how long has this went on?”
“Since before I had the engagement thing go on.”
“A helluva lot of time wasted. Well, you know what it takes, and I'll help, but in return you need to be a brother to him and listen to what he has to say.”
“He doesn't try.”
“Oh he will. He'll be coming to you and he'll be asking you how you do laundry because his ass is going to start.”
He smiled and said, “Mom does it for him.”
“Does she do it for you too?”
“No, because I don't want her to see my underpants.”
“Well, at least you've got pecker tracks to hide.”
“Gross dude.”
“Well, your brother is going to be having some so he'll need to do his own laundry.”
HE laughed and said, “He doing yours too?”
“Every other week is how we're going to do those things. I'll do those one week and he'll do them one week.”
“That's cool, so that's what being in a relationship is like?”
“It was for me and Kevin.”
“Who's Kevin? Your ex?”
“Yeah, you'll get to meet him. He's probably coming out here to live.”
“How are you going to deal with that?”
“Surprisingly, I'll deal with it great and Steve will too. They've got a lot in common and they'll rib each other hard on sports. Through that, I think they'll be good friends.”
“Is Kevin cute?”
“Kevin's a babe. It wasn't his looks that caused us to split up.”
“What caused you to split up?”
“A lot of things really. He changed and I changed and through the changes my trust eroded and his trust did too.”
“Sounds sad.”
“Yeah because I still love him.”
“Why don't you get back together with him.”
“Because it wouldn't be the same as when I first fell in love with him. I think that's why I'm falling so hard for your brother. Besides, if you're so interested in Kevin, why don't you meet up with him.”
“What's he like?”
“Looks wise, he's built like your brother.”
“Ok”
“Well, there are a lot of things but I've got pictures in there of him on my laptop. If you're interested.”
“Do you think he'd be interested in me?”
“If you're serious about a relationship and won't lie to him. The reason I say that is he just started dating a guy who I dated back in college. The guy hasn't changed and he's still lying his ass off to get by. I had to break Kevin's heart and tell him about the guy.”
“Man, you really care for him.”
“Yeah, I love him enough to hurt him than see him build something up with someone who's going to hurt him bad.”
“I can understand that. I guess I'd rather have someone tell me something bad than not tell me and me know they knew.”
“Yeah, that would suck.”
“What if I said I was serious about a relationship. Would you introduce us?”
“I'll do that, but you'll have to get to know him first and not hop into the sack. I think it'd be great because I would know him and know you had someone who was good for you.”
“So you think he'd be good for me.”
“Yeah, in our relationship, we did a good job of tearing each other down at the end. He did some irresponsible shit and so did I. I wasn't willing to back down and neither was he.”
“You care to talk about it?”
“That's all I can tell you. My advice is to be there for him and see if he'll tell you more. He might, or he might not, but if he doesn't then it's because he still cares enough about me to not let out the bad shit either.”
'Have you told Steve what went on?”
“Every last bit of it. It's not so bad Steve's not going to like him, but Steve now knows the reasons I'll break it off with someone.”
“So you broke it off with him.”
“Yeah if you call chasing someone from the house with a ball bat breaking it off.”
“Oh man! You had to be pissed.”
“I was, but moreso, my feelings were hurt and he did something I don't think he'll do again to anyone he loves.”
“Oh man, so he has to be feeling bad.”
“We both were/are. I mean we were together for fourteen years. It just doesn't go away.”
“I imagine not.”
“Well, let's go back in the house and I'll show you some photographs.”
“Ok”
We went in the house and he put his hand around my waist and I put mine around his shoulder.”
“You feel so much like a girl it's amazing.”
“Maybe, I've never felt a girl.”
He laughed and said, “You've not missed much and no matter what you hear, I didn't fuck hardly any of them.”
“Really!”
“It wasn't there for me.”
We went over to the laptop and sat down upon the sofa. Steve wasn't there, so I imagine he went back up to be with his mother. I opened the file with my drag shots and shots of Kevin and I.”
“This is him!”
“Yeah”
“He's built!”
“Yeah, he and Steve are built just alike.”
“Man, he's awesome.”
“Yeah, and he's a really sweet guy.”
“That's good to know.” He looked at all the photographs and said, “Man, that shot of you in that neglige is hot.”
“Thanks, but the photographer didn't catch the nipple slip.”
“I was wondering if that was what I thought it was.”
“Yeah, now there's me at Halloween as a blonde.”
“I thought that was a woman. Man, you're even better as a blonde.”
“Most people think so.”
“That one there is a shot of my ass in a g string and the next one is of me doing Kylie Minogue on a mechanical bull. Kevin is off to the side.”
“He's got muscles on top of muscles.”
“We'll kill the volume and you can watch the whole video.”
“Ok”
I closed down the volume and then went to my video files and pulled up the video. I pressed play and he watched. “Oh man, you're hot.”
He continued to watch and as I rode the bull, Kevin began to strip. When he got down to his silk boxers, he said, “Man, I wished he'd rip them off.”
I watched his expression when Kevin began to pull them off. “He's not going to go nude, is he?”
“Just wait.”
“Oh man, what a cock.”
“Yeah, but he's tasteful with being in that mesh thong.”
“Oh man, you really promise to introduce us, right?”
“Yeah, let me go call him and tell him I'm not going to be in and tell him about you. Ok?”
“Ok”
I went into the kitchen and called Kevin. He answered and I said, “Kev, about next week, I'm not going to be able to make it in on Monday.”
“That's fine. Things are hectic as hell around here. What's going on with you?”
“Steve's dad is on his death bed. He probably won't make it much longer, so I imagine we'll be doing a funeral on Monday.”
“Ok, tell him I feel for him.”
“I will.”
“By the way, I told Danny it's a no go. He got real hateful and I hung up on him. Thanks for telling me though I appreciate it.”
“I'm sorry you just had to hear it from me.”
“That's fine hon. I mean you know how to tell me things and I'm glad to have found out.”
“Ok, now you want some good news?”
“If it's real good I do.”
“I've got someone here who wants to meet you.”
“Really!”
“Yeah. He's serious about attempting a relationship and he's doing it for the right reasons. If you're interested in building things, I think he'll be excellent for you.”
“Tell me more about him.”
“His name is JT. He's a real sweetheart but you might have to keep your relationship on the down low because he's going to be working in a job that will be not well received for now.”
“What's the for now mean?”
“Hon, I'll just tell you and then you'll know what I'm talking about. Ok?”
“Yeah.”
“It's
Steve's brother. He works at the Sheriff's department and when the
next election comes up, Steve's not running but retiring. Steve's
going to support JT for getting elected.”
“Babe, do you think I'd be good with a Sheriff?”
“Kev, listen. If you've left prison behind, then he's good for you. If you're not, then go back.”
“Well for your information, I've gotten past that.'
“Good, I'm glad you gave me the information. Now, would it matter if it was the fucking President if you met him, and built something with him and found you loved him and he could love you equally?”
“I dont' like the secrecy issue.”
“Me neither, but you and I know the relationships that are that way are able to work. Look at Matt and John. It works for them.”
“Yeah”
“But hon, between us, I think there's acceptance if you and he are seen out in public as friends and let everyone see you as that way.”
“That'd be good.”
“Yeah, and with a lot of these areas, things are changing. Steve and I will be there as support and we'll be friends with you guys.”
“Rhett, I'd appreciate the friendship. Is he cute?”
“He's no slouch. I can't say really because he's not my cup of tea. Steve's built like you and he's smaller and more my size. The last time I saw Danny, you could compare their body types.”
“Ok, so he there?”
“Yeah, but their dad's dying right now.”
“Ok, I understand. Tell him I'm interested if you think he'll be good for me. Tell him I've learned my lessons and I'm not going to pull that shit again.”
“Kevin, I never went into all that. I told him we both had issues and rather than rebuild it, it was too far gone, but I did give you the highest recommendation I could.”
“I appreciate it.”
“You deserve that from me.”
“What's going on here is I've got a buyer. I'll split it down the middle with you and you'll be surprised.”
“Ok, but don't go into a non competitive agreement for both of us.”
“Why?”
“We've got an opportunity here we could possibly make work.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, check with Lamar and see who has this area.”
“I'll look, but you've got to be more specific.”
“See who has Charleston and who has Savannah and see if there's an open space in between around Bluffton. It's a gold mine.”
“Ok, you're really getting me hyped on that area.”
“Kevin, what I need you to do before you sell out is I want you to copy those codes.”
“Already done and they got told they can use them but any future signs that go up, they have to pay you royalties to use the codes. They've signed the contracts as anyone else would do.”
“Ok, but you've not said how much they're going to be getting it for?”
“I keep the big house and all the rental properties and they get the sign shop and the outdoor advertising for a hundred and forty.”
“Million!”
“Yeah.
They've signed the contract and I've got a escrow check for the
forty. If they can't come up with the financing, we keep the check.
I've spoke with Skip out at the bank and he said they can get
financing from what he sees. It's the same people that own all those
motels.”
“Man, that guy said he had personal financing for two hundred million when he bought the last one.”
“Well, apparently they bought a bunch more motels and they're now wanting the signs for the advertising.”
“They'll make a lot off of them.”
“Yeah, but I don't rightly care. Now, between us, you're selling me the big house, right?”
“Hon, it's yours. Our deal was you buy me out and that's what I'm concerned about. If you handed me that check for forty, I'd take it.”
“No, because you'd be getting fucked. What I'm going to do is I'm going to hold onto this check and give you the hundred. Does that sound fair?”
“If that's what you want, but you better not take that check and run and leave me hanging with the business. I'll hunt you down and rip ass hairs out.”
“Rhette, I love you.”
“I love you too. Now, what's your plans?”
“I'm selling the big house. I've got an offer from some good people for it and I'll double the money. They'll do good with it and what I've done is I've offered them all the rental units for another four hundred and they're seriously considering it.”
“Ok, they're yours so I won't tell you I think you're biting a bullet on them, but if that's what you want then you'll be out.”
“Ok, now, I'll get off here and let you go.”
“Ok, give me a call later and I'll set you up.”
“Give it a wait unless that's what he wants.”
“Ok”
I got off the phone and went into the living room. Steve came down and said, “He just went back to sleep.”
“You ok babe?”
“Yeah”
“Come here”
He walked over and we hugged standing and just held each other.
“Hon, you want some surprising news?”
“Ok”
“This house is mine.”
“That's fine. We'll move here and take care of your mom. We'll give my house to your brother and Kevin as a wedding present.”
“Huh!”
“Oh, he didn't tell you did he.”
“Maybe you need to explain.”
“Ok, let's go out on the front porch”
We went out onto the front porch and sat down with our backs against the columns.
“When I came out earlier, I spoke with JT aobut things on his mind. One of the things on his mind is building a relationship and finding someone that will love him. Through our talk, I learned he's more interested in guys than he's let on and most of the girls he's dated hasn't been for sex as it's something he's not able to get into.”
“Ok, where'd the part of Kevin come in?”
“I felt him out and asked him if he was really serious about a relationship and he said he was. I broached the subject of introducing them and then took him in to the laptop and showed him Kevin's pictures. He's attracted so I told him I'd ask Kevin. I called Kevin and he's interested.”
“So what all is going on with Kevin.”
“Well, that's the surprising part. He's gotten the sign shop sold to some people who have the financing basicly locked. That deal is swinging now for a hundred and forty.”
“So he made ninety on his half.”
“No. They gave him an escrow check for the forty and they're financing the hundred. When that comes in, he wants to give me the hundred. I told him I'd take the check for forty, but he wants to do it that way. I told him whatever he does not to sign a non competitive agreement because that'd lock us out of Lamar. Then, I told him we could look into things here.”
Steve nodded and said, “I think that'd be a wise move on your part.”
“We're going to look into it.”
“Now, he's going to sell the big house for nearly doube what we paid and invested in it and that's fine with me. He's also offered them all the rental units for four hundred and they're considering the offer. If they don't take it, they're fools because those are worth about a million.”
“So Kevin just wants out.”
“Yeah”
“Who are the people who are buying the sign shop.”
“There's a family who owns a ton of motels. I think they own everyone of the ones in that area. They had personal financing for two hundred million, but I guess they bought a bunch more motels and sucked that well dry, but the banker there says they can leverage and get the financing.”
“Good. Now, are you going to be fine with Kevin being here?”
“I think he'll be fine. I've spoken with him about JT's future and he's content with that as long as they can go out in public together as friends. I told him you and he had a lot in common and you could be friends and we'd be friends all as a group.”
“That sounds nice. He'll be good for JT, right?”
“I think he will. He told me to tell him that he's learned lessons and he's not going to do those things again.”
“Good. Now the hard part is finding the time for them to meet.”
“Kevin said he'll be patient.”
“I appreciate that. Now, what my daddy told mom was he wants her to stay here and I'm to take care of her. Is that going to be fine with you?”
“Yeah, I like her.”
“She likes you a lot too. She told me she really respects your honesty. Now, I've got a question for you.”
“What?”
“You're fine with Kevin and JT having the house there?”
“Yeah, it's till death do us part, right?”
“Yeah, that's the way I'm taking it.”
“Good, then that's what I want.”
He smiled and said, “My daddy said you're the spitting image of my granny. He told mama the secret to that compartment and others died with her. She hid things away and they never found anything. He knows they're in this house and he thinks it's funny you'll be the one finding them. What I want to know is your story behing the 'once' comment.”
“Not hard at all. When I was in prison, I got raped. When I was laying on that operating table, I felt myself rise up and go with two angels. They wouldn't speak to me. They looked forward and it was confusing. I asked questions and they'd not answer. When we got to the gates of Heaven, St. Peter met us and he held a golden book in his hand. It had some really ornate script on it but I couldn't read it. They sat me down and trucked right on in the gates. What's interesting is this...
All the descriptions I've read of those experiences describe people seeing multicolor prisms or something in the light. I didn't see that. It was like the white light was a highway or something to them, but we went towards it. The gates of Heaven were white with gold ornamentation at the top. The wall around Heaven were made like the two columns at the sides which held up the gates and ornamentation. In my mind, I always imagined the columns being like Greek columns, but they were like brick instead. It was like stucco over the brick. The gates weren't gold, but they were wrought iron. What's more interesting to me was you hear the streets are paved with gold, but they looked like clay brick to me and the scene I saw in through them looked like the Tuscany part of Italy. So maybe I went to the Italian heaven, I don't know, but St. Peter looked nice. He never spoke to me but I heard him say, “It's not your time, go back and I will get you when it's time.”. The next thing I knew, I'm waking up in the recovery room.”
“Ok, so maybe everyone has a different thing happen to them.”
“I don't know, but here's another thing. People talk about seeing their body laying on the table but I didn't. It was like I just stepped through a door into a black room with a window that had a bright light up near the ceiling. We rode it up and when we got to the window, we were there.”
'Interesting.”
“Yeah, but you're being quiet over there.”
“No, it's not that I don't believe you because you sound sincere in everything you say. I caught myself looking at your facial features when you were talking like I was looking for the signs you were lying and you weren't. I believe you saw what you said. One thing I've believed is we all have a purpose and I've read some of the Bible and Revelations. What I think is there are seven levels of Heaven and maybe you were at the one that's like the Silver card of Mastercard instead of the Gold one.”
I chuckled and said, “Ok, maybe they'll give me the next one some day.”
He smiled and said, “What I think hon is you've got a heart of gold and I believe your heart has the key to mine.”
“Yours has mine, so as long as we keep them locked up, no one else will get them and we'll die in love.”
He smiled and said, “Babe, my mama's going to be so lost.”
“I know. It's going to be rough, but we'll make it if we all hang together.”
He stood up and said, “Have you thought about any of the other hiding places?”
“Two, but we'll wait.”
“Why not now?”
“Because one is going to take some work to get to and the other is so obvious I'm surprised you kids didn't find it when you were little.”
“Where?”
“First, I want to ask you about an old house that's over two fields.”
“How'd you know about it?”
“Something is telling me about something there. I can describe that house to you and I see it perfectly. It's white clapboard. One story and looks to be four rooms with the front door being on the side rather than on the front. Is that correct?”
“Yeah.”
'The porch is just two four by fours holding up a roof that faces down towards the front and it's a green roof on he front part and the back part is black roll roof. The house looks to be settling towards the back faraway corner.”
“You've described it perfectly. What about it.”
“She doesn't like that house falling down. She thinks it's a disgrace it should be collapsing and wants it raised so it's back on it's foundation.”
“That was their house when my great great grandparents lived in this house. The way it goes, all the eldest sons get the property. Daddy was worried mama would sell it.”
“What does she want to do?”
“She wants to go into Beaufort and live in a condo.”
“IF that's what she wants, I'll buy it providing she and I shop for groceries together and we have lunch at least once a week.”
“That'd be fine with me” Rose said from the front door.
“I see where Steve got the listening from.”
She smiled and said, “Hon, I just heard that part.”
I smiled and said, “I have to ask when you stopped wearing your hair with that silver hair thing?”
She looked at me and said, “You're her, aren't you!”
Steve looked at his mom and said, “He just described that house of her and grandpa's perfectly. She doesn't like it's collapsing and wants it brought back up.”
She nodded and said, “I've not been over there in ages, but to answer your question, the hair comb was made from whale bone and I heard it was really valuable. It's upstairs in my jewelry box.”
“Let me describe it to you and you tell me if I'm seeing it right. It's silver with black filagree. Right?”
“Yes!”
“I can see it in your hair, but your hair was a shiny brown.”
“That's what it was when we first got married. She gave me that comb when we were first married because I refused to keep a hat upon my head”
“Tying it in a knot wasn't becoming.”
“Man! You had her voice down and the same thing she said when she gave it to me!”
“It's flashing in my mind. Rose, in the living room there on that side of the window is a hiding place at the bottom of the pocket shutter. That's where you'll find a cream pitcher and a baby boot that's silver. Polish up the baby boot because it'll be tarnished black. The cream pitcher will have a tan colored felt bag around it and it will be shiny as the day it was given to her which is etched upon the bottom.”
“Let me go check.”
She went into the house. Steve looked at me and asked, “Is that the easy one?”
“No, that one just came to me.”
“I wish you could train that upon crimes and get me suspects.”
“I'm not training it hon. This is just flashing in my mind. Believe me! I'll be writing about this someplace!”
“What's the one that's easy.”
“Someplace in this house upstairs is a burgundy velvet sack. In that sack is the original plat map to this house and property. She said you'll need that soon”
“Is that the easy one?”
“No, that just popped into my mind. The easy one is in the attic near the chimney and it's floor boards that are able to be lifted. If you'd moved a baby carriage, you would have found it, but neither you nor your brother ever played with that carriage.”
“The carriage is right where you described. We'll go look in a moment. Tell me where the hard one is?”
“I'm supposed to tell you and your brother at the same time and both of you will need to do this together. It'll help build your relationship and get you to communicating better.”
“Ok, let me get him.”
“Ok, but think about that plat map. She's nearly screaming it at me now and I think we need to get upstairs.”
He looked at me and yelled for his mom, “Mama, we need to go upstairs! JT, upstairs!”
He ran upstairs and Rose went running up the steps. I went behind her and she said, “Ever the gentleman. You knew you were supposed to go up after me.”
“It's just popping into my head.”
She smiled and I said, “Over there behind that door frame is that plat map. If you pull on that door frame it will open on a hinge. Up about your head height is a space which you'll see the burgundy velvet.”
She looked at me strangely and said, “Are you sure?”
“Yeah”
I went over and pulled the door frame, It came open and she looked inside.” Well I'll be!”
“Come on”
We went into the bedroom and I said, “Ok, everyone join hands and say our Prayer of thanks.”
“Huh!”
“Prayer of thanks for giving him to us for as long as we had him.”
We joined hands and I said, “Dear Lord, we give his soul to your angels so they might take him on in the gates. Please help keep him and comfort him and let him know he's one of your own. Thank you Lord for giving him to us for the amount of time he was here in our lives. In your name we pray, Amen.”
I looked down and saw James exhale and that was it. He never took another breath.
Rose went over and James sat straight up in bed. “Rose, can you see them! They're coming on the chariots. Oh my God they're beautiful!”
He fell back upon the bed and she looked at me. Steve looked at me and said, “Gold card”
“Man!” JT said, “I just got a pat upon my back and told they let him in.”
Rose turned and hugged me and said, “Thanks Rhette” She had tears beginning to stream down her face and looked up at me.”Your head is glowing white”
Steve turned and I said, “She's going back up to be with him. She thanked me.”
“Oh man” JT said, “That was awesome.”
I looked at Steve and asked, “Did you call the department?”
“Yeah, they have no idea where to get black crepe”
Rose looked up at me and said, “Black crepe?”
“Yeah, it's a custom to decorate door handles and mirrors with black crepe. If you call a florist, you'll get them to do the bows.”
“Would you do that for us?”
“Sure, who do I ask at the Sheriff's department?”
Steve gave me a panicked look and said, “Why?”
“A florist is going to show up at the place with a bunch of black ribbons and they're not going to know what to do. I imagine the first thing they'll do is they'll take it as a sick joke and my ass will be arrested. So, to save some hassle, I figured I'd call them and give someone a heads up as to what to do with them.”
“Oh” he said, “Call and ask for Donovan. He's my assistant and will handle it.”
“Ok, now I need the number.”
They gave me the number and I called and asked for Donovan. He came on the line and I said, “Hi, this is Rhette Michaels. I'm with the Jackson family and the former Sheriff has passed away.”
“Oh man, tell them I'll be right over.”
“One moment. What I need from you is you to leave word there's going to be a lot of black ribbons and bows coming to the station and door handles should be fastened with them.”
“Ok, we've not done that here before, but I'm glad we're starting the tradition. I'll also call all the county offices and ask the flags to be put at half staff.”
“Good looking out.”
“Might I ask your connection to the Jackson family?”
“Steve will tell you when you arrive.”
“Ok, tell them I'll be there shortly.”
“Thanks.”
I got off the line and said, “He said he'll be here shortly. It's up to you to tell him my connection to your family.”
Steve looked at me for a moment and said, “Thanks. I don't know what I'll tell him.”
JT looked at Steve and said, “IF I were Rhette, I'd be walking out of here right now. You tell the man the truth and he'll be able to deal with it.”
Steve looked at JT and said, “JT, it's a problem because once I do that, I'll most likely resign. It's not that we're lovers. It's that he's an ex-con and it will make everything I do seem suspect.”
“Tell him and then run everything through him and give him reasons I'll probably do the same thing when I'm in office.”
“You coming out to him?”
“Not today, but I will when I have Kevin here if we're together. I want him to meet the man face to face and not just run off thinking he's someone he's not.”
“Good plan” Steve said. “I've got to call the funeral home and I'll call the Coroner.”
“You could pronounce him if you wanted.”
“No, I'll do it this way since I'd prefer to have my bases covered.”
“Ok, I'll go call the florist.”
“Thanks.”
I turned to Rose and asked, “Would you help me find a telephone book and get me a pan of water, some soap, and a wash cloth?”
She looked at me and I said, “It's best if we look after our own.”
She smiled and said, “I'll get it.”
Steve looked at me and said, “What are you going to do?”
“I'm going to bathe him properly before he goes to the funeral home.”
“You don't have to do that.”
“No, I don't and the place you send him to doesn't have to either. They could short change you and put him in a casket the way he is. I'm trained in this. Let me do it.”
JT said, “Rhette, do what you need. He's on auto pilot right now.”
I went over to Steve and said, “Babe, look at me.”
He looked at me and said, “Rhette, I just lost my daddy.”
“Yes, and I'm here to help you, JT, and your mom. Right now, I've got to help your daddy. He might not be here in spirit, but his body is. Trust me, if I don't do it, you'll start thinking about the small details and you'll know I was here to step in.”
I hugged him and I began to hear sniffles. “Thanks.”
“No problem hon. That's what we'll be doing for each other.”
Rose came back in with the telephone book and said, “I've thought about it. Order twenty of them and I'll help you bathing him.”
“Ok”
I looked up the number and ordered them. The girls said, “That's an unusual request. Not many people follow that custom here.”
“They don't anywhere anymore, but if we start, maybe they will.”
“We'll get right on them and get them taken over.”
I got off the phone and said, “JT, take Steve out to the well and figure out how you two are going to get that pump up off that well.”
“Why?”
“Back in the Civil War, your great great grandmother put all the heirlooms down on a long rope. One way or another, they've got to be brought back up.”
He looked at me and said, “My grandmother told you that!”
“Yes. She said the woman, I believe Matilda “Tilly” told her on her death bed and she held the secret. It's time things come back into the house.”
Steve smiled and said, “All this time I've never known these things about this house, but she told you.”
Rose
turned to them and said, “I've lived here for 45 years and
never knew that door frame did that. I'm glad he showed us. I don't
care what you say, he's earned his way into our family.”
“While you're at it, go up in the attic and get those things before I forget. It will give you guys something to do until the funeral parlor comes to get him.”
Steve nodded and said, “Come on JT.”
When they left Rose said, “You're amazing me. Little things you're doing are what they did ages ago. I remember being with my granny when we bathed a family member before the undertaker came.”
“Yes, but it's something that just came into my mind. It's like this house wants someone here who remembers the old ways.”
“You're getting them done. I'm glad you're teaching my boys because they can carry it forward.”
“No problem.”
“Hon, would you do me a favor?”
“Sure”
“My friends call me Ro, would you?”
“Sure”
“What's your friends call you?”
“A wide variety of things. Rhett which sounds like it only has one t on it, or Retta which sounds like Rhette-uh.”
“I find it ironic because her name was Loretta. JT showed me that photograph and it's uncanny.”
“Yes, but where the eerie part of that happened is that night I wasn't supposed to do anything more than one drag performance. I got ready and they found out one of the drag queens was having a drama moment and wouldn't come. They had that performance planned and since I fit the dress and I knew the song, I went on. Kevin was so blown away I was doing it, he snapped the photograph and the angle and the background are identical. It's like it was meant to be.”
“Yes, she was something else. I'll tell you a few things some day and you'll just laugh. She was what you call a flapper. A lot of her clothing is upstairs still from that period. Use what you want if you would like. I was too big for them.”
“Maybe, but it's not something I do all the time.”
“You're good.” she smiled, “he showed me that video too. Kevin's impressive. I think JT's going to be in love before he s here.”
“It's not proper for them to meet now.”
“It might not be proper, but no one's going to stop the Chains of Love. Do me a favor and get them to talking on the phone. It will take JT's mind off his daddy's death. Them two were the closest. He'll take it hard.”
“Why do you think the plat map is insisted on so much.”
“Damned inheritance taxes. They're going to appraise this place and you two will have to pay sixty percent of what it's valued.”
“Ok, so there are horses, so it's agricultural.”
“That's why the horses stay. Once they leave, a tax man will be at the door asking for higher taxes. This place is worth enough without them.”
“Sixty percent, man, that's having the place resold every generation.”
“Yes,
and it's not one bit fair.”
“Let me see what I can come up with. Didn't they ever set up a trust?”
“No, they discussed it once and James was hard headed. Now you have to pay the taxes. And that's why the plantation you live on got developed.”
“Ok Let's see if it's valued at fifteen hundred an acre, that'll be nearly ten million.”
“Hon, it's appraised at thirty five hundred an acre.”
“Ok, so twenty five million. Jeez, no wonder people develop it rather than pay it. Well, I've got that much, I'll pay it.”
She smiled and said, “My advice is you have Steve sell it to you for a lot less.”
“It's got to stay in the family's name.”
“And it shall. It doesn't matter whose name is on the deed, it matters who lives upon it.”
“I want you here.”
“Hon, Steve wants me here too. You don't understand. You two will never get a foothold if I'm here to coddle him. I do that because he's my baby. JT is so much like his daddy and I give him his space. With Steve, he's let me do it because he knows I do it out of love. I'd like to be in town where I can keep my finger on the pulse of things. There's going to be vicious talk and no one can stop it from happening more than I. I've gotten distant from my girlfriends the past year or so because James was so sick, but between us, I think we can stop rumors.”
“If they get to be too much, let me know.”
She smiled and said, “People are going to talk and we can't stop that. What Steve's done is he's went around to all these old ladies and he's gotten them on his side. Those women got him elected and they'll keep this family in that seat. The man you just told he could come out is going to give JT a run in the next election. He's a damned Democrat and I doubt if one ever gets elected in this part of the state.”
I smiled and said, “Steve and I aren't going to talk politics but I'd like for him to run again some day.”
“Good. His daddy wanted that. I believe if he played his cards right, you two could end up in the Governor's mansion together.”
“If I did, he'd be one of the most progressive Republicans in history.”
“Don't tell me you're one of them!”
“No, I'll tell you how I feel on things. It doesn't matter who a person is in office. IF they're not doing their job, I'll be voting them out. I won't stand on a party line and promote anyone who's not for their constituents. So, when I'm asked, I tell people I'm an American.”
She smiled and said, “You know, you're right. I've had to tow the party line because of James. For a long time, I've felt the same way while this state's lost jobs overseas. We're in for some tight financial times, and I want the boys to know that they have this place to come home to always.”
“Ok, then we'll concentrate on getting Steve aligned so he can get into that seat. Fortunately, he made a good connection yesterday. He now knows someone who can give him the best advice possible because he's gay and he's made it into that seat.”
“Really!”
“Yes, albeit with a lot of silence from his partner, but just the same, that advice will come in handy.”
“Hon, you and I have to talk.”
“Yes, but not soon because we've got a funeral and I'm worried Steve's going to crack.”
“He'll be solid, but I don't know what you told JT, but he's really a lot stronger than I thought he'd be.”
“It's interesting because one day, you'll all sit down and you'll compare notes and you'll see what I told each of you worked, but it would have applied to each one of you.”
She smiled and said, “I know you're in tune with this land and this house. You know, she's the one that got me to going to see the crabs. She'd go out and feed them crabs and would shoo off the Seagulls.”
“We need to get that house up to shape over there. I don't know why it's so important, but it is.”
“I'll tell you why and you shall know. Before this house was built, that house was there. It's the original settlement. The way we got this land was a land grant. To be honest, I think you could fight the taxes through that land grant, but I don't know. I'd sure pay a lawyer to investigate it because it was given before the state was even here. No one's fought it, and they've all let their places be divided and subdivided. It's a crime.”
“I'll contact a lawyer.”
She nodded and said, “Between you and I, when James' will gets read, you're going to be really surprised. I've got the money put back for what I'm going to receive, but I told Steve he'd have to pay these taxes if he must. What I'll receive is what James and I built and bought in our marriage. I think Steve is overwhelmed because he's afraid of losing this land. He needs to know your love will strengthen if you stand united.”
“We'll make it.”
“You have a good way with him. Well, for that matter with both the boys.”
“Yes, but you need to know it's a survival trait.”
“What do you mean?”
“In prison, I started seeing guys faces change, but the personalities remained constant. There are about fifty different sorts of personalities in a man. If you put one of each in a room and an identical set in a different room and so on and so forth, you'd be amazed to see they'd all do the same thing. I learned to use that information to learn them and know what made them tick. What I just did was what I learned. I spoke to each of you and used something different.”
“Interesting.”
“Yes, now what you'll see is when Steve runs for office, I'll not let a speech writer near him. I'll sit and I'll write those speeches and I'll use the pulse of this state to guide me. It's the people who vote and it's them who make that choice. It's selling him to all of them that gets that done.
A speech writer is a lying bastard. He'll write something for one group to get their vote and something else for another. When you stack it all up, it has their candidate looking like an idiot.
One thing you must know is truthfulness gains even someone against you. If you tell them this is what you're standing for, you get their respect because you stood upon that even though they were prepared for you to sell them a dream. You can still sell them a dream by telling them what you stand for and getting them to see the correlation of what they would have gotten from the other guys. Much of it's the same, but there are subtle differences.”
She smiled and said, “I've thought that for a long time. James would stand and tell a Democrat he was a fool for wanting to do something one way. The Republican would come in and say something different and by the time it got through the Senate, it'd be something in between.”
“Exactly. Now, if you have someone coming in telling the people that that is going to be down the middle, the Democrats are going to see things they like and the Republicans are going to see things they like so they're going to support him. With him never waivering, everyone knows he's a solid person.”
“You've got me sold, but you've got to get him to even begin seeing where he would serve the state better.”
“Well, the reason I'm concentrating on Governor is because it's most likely going to get out about us. When that happens, I want him not to be known as the gay congressman, but someone who is going to serve the whole state. I figure he can strike out and the whole state will support him rather than just one area.”
“You've got a good point.”
“And, what I see is when it comes out about us, he'll be in office and the moment it does, he's going to stand up there and say, “So what! I never lied to you and whom I share my bed with isn't affecting my performance in my job. I will not resign, so either throw me out or shut up.” Believe me, they can't and won't throw him out, so we'll then have him in that seat.”
“They'll probably not re-elect him.”
“I think if he does enough for the citizens, they'll see it's either him or the other guy whose record will not match up. The moment that re-election happens, my butt comes out and starts openly supporting him and running this state whereas the first lady does now.”
She smiled and said, “I think you'll do splendidly. They'll see you and I think you'll get a lot of votes from the good old boys who think you're attractive.”
When we were done, I said, “We'll need his best suit and we'll need a complete outfit to hand them.”
“He already looks better than he has in months. Thank you.”
“No problem. I wish I could have known him longer.”
“Me too. He'd be proud of what we discussed.”
We went out into the hall and down the stairs. When we got to the bottom of the steps, I met Deputy Donovan. His eyes raised and I stuck out my hand. “Hi, We spoke earlier.”
He turned to look at Steve and said, “This is your partner?”
“Yes, now Dan, if there's a problem let me know and we'll deal with it.”
“Umm, there's no problem.”
I turned to Steve and said, “You can go up with him and let him see him if you'd like.”
“Ok, but when we come down, we'll all go out and sit a spell.”
I went into the kitchen. “That man if you can win him over, you've got the support of this county. He's the biggest source of problems for Steve in that department. He runs against Steve every election and Steve takes him right back and it's business as usual. IF it had been me, he'd been out of there a long time ago.”
“Well, you'll be amazed. I've already seen a flicker in that man's eyes and I'll use it.”
She giggled and said, “You can read a person that fast!”
“Yeah, what you'll see is us do some walking out there and I'll stay about four steps ahead. He'll talk to Steve and his eyes will have to be upon me. He's the type that doesn't have the guts to be a man and sit down and not look at me. I already know that and it's his weakness.”
She smiled and said, “I'll watch. These pieces are lovely.”
“Those that come out of that well are going to amaze you. There's some crystal pieces that are what were designed for this house. What were the troops that were over on that field yonder?”
“We had both here. There wasn't a battle fought, but one bunch moved out and the other moved in on the same day.”
“And the house stood.”
“The house stood because they both loved it.”
“How many rooms are here?”
“We don't use the breezeway beneath it, but the door down to it is over there. Steve stores things down there and has it done nice, but I've made it a point of not going there. The downstairs has seventeen rooms. The upstairs has fifteen. The third floor has fifteen and the attic has one long room and three short rooms off the sides. They housed slaves up there.”
“Oh”
She smiled and said, “One word told me volumes.”
“I imagine. I have employees who at times when we were starting out who were better paid than us. None of them are unhappy and we don't lose the help. If anything, we have people waiting in line to work for us.”
“What line of business was it?”
“Billboard advertising. We also had groundskeeping and domestic help.”
“Is there good money in it?”
“Really good. I started telling Steve the numbers on the way up here and I think he was wanting to go into it. He fails to realize it can be used to get him into office, but when that happens, his name will be on the ownership papers alongside mine so he can do it legally and it's not counted as a political contribution.”
She smiled and shook her head. “I never considered what you had as a contribution, but it would.”
“Yes, so when we start this, his name will be upon everything I have so his election can draw funds directly. They can't tell him how much he had in there or how much I had. We have to report it, but we'll skirt those laws so smoothly it will be used by others who aren't gay in the future.”
She laughed and said, “Then watch out!”
“Yes, but we might just have to close that loophole!”
“Can I ask you a few things?”
“Sure”
“Out there along that interstate runs our property line. It's out back there and I'm sure we'll show you because the land runs along the other side a good ways. When we get a chance, I want a rest area built in Jame's name. I also want to have JT follow him in when he leaves that office.”
“It might be rougher on JT than it is for us because of Kevin's crime he went to prison for.”
“What was that?”
“Murder”
I told her the story and she said, “That's neither here nor there. In our state, a person is considered he's able to vote and be seen free of his debt to society seven years post his arrest. When the truth comes out, have JT hold up a sheet of all the people who have felony convictions in this state and have him make a speech stating if he can forgive the man he loves, he can forgive them too. The ones he's lost will be replaced by the ones he's just gained. I think you'll see a bunch of people who will proudly step over and vote Republican just over that speech.”
“I imagine, I know I would if I didn't know him.”
She smiled and said, “I think what you'll see is a whole lot of politicians waking up to that vote in future elections.”
“It'd be powerful.”
“Hon, one thing you need to know is in our state the population is predominately black. Steve keeps their vote because he's over there and he's spending time trying to make the situation in which they live better. When he runs, have some of his supporters over there do some campaign advertisements. You'll see he carries the state. They vote Democrat by habit, but the lines are so hazy now, I wish you could start a new party called the American party. People are so disillusioned with both I think it's time for a change.”
“IF he can't get on the ticket as a Republican, I'll suggest it. We might have JT switch parties too on the ticket here which would be a nice move.”
She scrunched her eyes and said, “When Steve runs, you run for Attorney General. It'd be a one two punch.”
“It'd have to be on the American party ticket then because I'd not ever hold to the Republican line.”
She laughed and said, “The way you said that was hilarious!”
We went into the living room when we heard footsteps coming down the stairs. Dan had his hat in his hands and Steve had been crying again. I went over to him and hugged him. I turned to Dan and said, “Don't ever be too much of a man, you can't give someone a hug when they need it. It'll free your soul when you do.”
He looked at me and I could see recognition in his eyes. Steve walked toward the door and said, “You wanted to speak with us, we'll go outside.”
“Let's walk across to that pasture. I want to see what lies beyond the yard.”
When I began to walk, Steve said, “Wait up!”
“I'm determined to see what's over there. We should really keep a four wheeler sitting out here so it's ready.”
I knew eyes were upon my ass and when we got to the pasture, the wind began to pick up. My hair blew around my face and the smile on Steve's face told me he was finding me alluring. I looked at Dan and said, “Tell me about yourself.”
“Well, there's not much to say. I'm married. I've got four kids and I've known Steve since he was in his early teens.”
“You a good person?” I asked this question because I wanted to hear from him what he thought of himself.”
He balked and said, “I feel like I'm being interviewed here.”
“You could be. We don't stay in our selected fields long and some day I plan on having him in the Governor's mansion. If you're a close trusted friend, then you'll be in a position of authority of something. If you're not, then you'll probably run and get that Sheriff's seat, but is that something you'd want if you were offered a position of maybe being over the prison system?”
“I hadn't thought of that.”
“He hasn't either, but it all starts with an idea. For it to build and gain momentum it takes creating a power base. I want to know the people we have will support us. If you let whom he shares his bed with affect your friendship with him, then there' no way I'd have you close to him when that happens.”
Steve had a shocked look upon his face. Dan looked at him and said, “Steve, you can count me in.”
“Hang on. I'm in this too. I'm sorry, but you never answered if you were a good person. You might find me presumptuous but I don't know you. As far as I know, you might have that wife and kids at home and none of them like you. OR, you might be a great dad who goes home and helps his kids with homework.”
“I like to think my kids are well mannered and well adjusted. None of them lack for schooling and they certainly excell in sports.”
I nodded and said, “Dan. It tells me your kids are good people. Are you a good person?”
“I've failed at some things I'd hoped to attain. I've overcome them numerous times and I've done so with a tainted conscience. Is that what you wanted to hear.” He said with tears in his eyes.
“Ok, that's honest.” I said going over to hug him. “Listen. You're never going to be an embarrassment to this campaign if I know it up front. Knowing your weaknesses helps me make them stronger. Now, what I want to see is your wife and family knowing you're a damned good dad. I want your wife knowing she made the right choice and if you can go to bed at night knowing you've got them on your side, then to me, you're a damned good person.”
He looked at me and said, “Steve, I've let you down in ways you've had complete rights to get rid of me. You've stayed strong and you've been someone who's able to do exactly that. You didn't have to tell me about him and you did. One thing I'm seeing is he's a strong fighter on your behalf. Just yesterday, I was thinking about my marriage and how much she's stood and fought for me through the years and how much I've been a horse's ass for putting her through it. One of our son's is gay and we've been at odd's over it. He just came and told us last week. I've been dead set against it, but if he finds someone who can love him like you've found and I've got, he's lucky.”
Steve smiled and said, “Dan, you know it's been damned hard keeping things a secret. When Rhette came into my life, one of the first things he did was he told me he'd consider being a secret, but he'd not be a secret long before I was put out the door. You have to ask yourself if you'd ever consider your love with your wife enough that'd you'd ask her to deny she knew you and you'd know where I am. I'm not ever going to be an embarrassment to my name, my family, or this area, but I'm not going to deny him either. He has a way of captivating me and hammering a point home like you'd never believe.”
“Oh, I can believe it. He's direct and he hits at a person's heart. He needs to to get my attention. I've never lied to my wife all these years because she can see right through me. I don't know how he did it, but as soon as he asked that question, I felt he'd known all the pain I'd been experiencing in the past few days. I can now go home and have a talk with my son and tell him I support him and know my heart's in it.”
Steve turned to him and hugged him. Dan began crying and said, “Steve, you're a good man. I hope I can help you reach that goal.”
“We'll make it Dan. I've got him fighting for me.”
Dan
chuckled and said, “You'll make it because you're what this
state needs. I'll tell you there are times I admire you and one of
the times is now.”
When they stepped apart, I said, “Dan, there are going to be some changes happening with polltics in this state and we're going to start them. One of them is Steve's coming off the Republican ticket and he's going onto the American ticket. I can't support him and ever tote the party line if he stays Republican. What our party is going to do is we're going for that part right down the middle which is where our country is the best. Both parties have good points, but if people don't expect to work in office, then they don't deserve to stay. I'll be upfront and tell you I'm an ex-con. You don't need to do a background check because you just got told. The reason I'm telling you is because the moment he steps into office, you're going to step in that office and be over the prison system. I'll tell you now, I'm probably going to try to get a seat in government. I'd never thought of it before, but without support, his policies aren't going to mean a thing. As his attorney general, you'll be amazed at how you and I work together and he and I work together.
One of the policies that will change is the prison lawsuit policy. It's breaking the back of every state and they know it. Hell, the number of lawsuits I've personally typed up are amazing, but most of them wouldn't have been needed if they would have changed one thing....the food. What we're going to do is we're going to buffet style where they get food and they get what they want to eat.”
“It's expensive.” Steve said.
“It's waste” It might be expensive in the county, but at the state level the amount of federal giving is incredible and the things they throw away are horrendous. I'll show you things you'll be amazed at and wonder what the hell they were thinking. But, we've got to get you there first.”
Steve smiled and said, “Dan, my daddy liked him.”
“Your daddy could read someone damned fast.”
“He can too. IF he passed daddy's scrutiny I knew he'd have passed the biggest hurdle of our relationship.”
“Your daddy was a hard man.”
“He was.”
We began to walk back to the house and I said, “Steve, I'm going to get a four wheeler and take your mama out to see that house. You two have a good visit.”
I took off running and went to the stables. Finding the keys was easy and I pulled out her four wheeler. When I pulled up to the front gate, they were just entering the parking area. I went up to the front porch and saw a pitcher of tea and three glasses sit out. “Steve, Dan, there's a nice glass of tea up here for you. There's no need to strain your eyes in that sunlight. We've got a seat up here to sit upon.”
I took my glass in and saw Ro coming down the stairs. She'd changed her clothing. “Would you like to ride over with me to see that house?”
“Sure hon, how'd it go?”
“I'll tell you once we get there, but it was amazing.”
Steve came in with his glass, but Dan wasn't there. “He had to leave. He wanted to take the rest of the day off to go speak with his son.”
He came up and hugged me and said, “You took that man's boat out of the water!” He laughed.
Ro said, “Now, tell me what you did!”
Steve told her and she said, “OH man, he has to wonder how you could read him so good.”
“I didn't know when I asked the questions anything, but he evaded the question. When I stacked the deck even higher he knew he wasn't going to have a choice but to face up to it and get the question answered.”
Steve said, “He's going to speak with his son and take his wife out to dinner. I wonder what's keeping the funeral home?”
“Sometimes thing's get hectic. They'll be along shortly. The most I ever kept anyone waiting was three hours, but right before I was set to leave, the hospital called and told me they had two bodies for me. When the hospital calls, you run to them first.”
JT came in and said, “I can't get the bolts to turn on that well casing. They're rusted.”
“You got a sawzall?”
“Huh?”
“Reciprocating saw. It's like a power hack saw.”
“We've got a lot of tools.”
“Come with me and we'll get it. I saw something in that stable we can use too. You might bring your truck over so it's wheels don't sink into the soil.”
Steve looked at me peculiarly and said, “You're headset on that, aren't you.”
“Babe, when you see what's down there, you're going to be amazed.”
“Ok, let's go get it done.”
Rose smiled and said, “We'll take that ride tomorrow. I'm going to go up to the Magnolia guest bedroom and rest.”
We went out to the stable and I looked at all the power tools. I opened the plastic container of the sawzall and saw it was still brand new unused. I handed it to JT and said, “We need an extension cord.”
“They're over on that wall.”
I went over to a cherry picker engine lift and said, “This will lift it. Those wheels won't roll on that soil, so we'll put it upon the back of your truck and use it as a wrecker.”
“Cool.”
“Yeah, when you guys see what's down there, you're going to really think it's cool.”
“How could you see all that?”
“I don't know. It just flashed in my brain. There've been little things which have happened to me before, but what I learned is you don't argue it because it checks out. Look how many things checked out today, but what's in the well is like the motherlode.”
“Oh man”
“All their valuables that could handle water went down there. There's items of silver and gold down there as well as some crystal and some things which aren't going to look so hot that were valuable once but are probably better off in a museum now.”
“Why?”
“They're not something we could legally use, I don't think.”
“What?”
“Bronze cannons.”
“Huh!”
“Yeah, they used to have them because the shipping trade along this stretch weren't all good guys. A lot of them would go along there and rob plantations. So, they had them to defend the place.”
“Hmm, I think I heard about things like that happening, but never thought it was this close to us.”
“The cannons were only fired a few times. Once word got out this place could defend itself, they skirted around it. They used them mostly for drownings over in the river.”
“Why?”
“They thought a cannon firing would bring the body to the surface. I don't think it ever did, but who knows.”
We pushed the cherry picker out and he and I lifted the first set of wheels into the bed of his truck and then the last set. Steve was standing there with the sawzall and the extension cord. “Cut through it like butter.”
“Yeah. The weight of it should keep it held down. I know my grandparents didn't have any bolts.”
WE took a bit of chain and lifted the well casing up. Over to the side was what I was looking for. I pulled the rope and said, “Steve, you and JT will have to help me.”
We pulled upward and the first rope came up with a tug.”
“I'm surprised it's still good.”
“They used parrafin wax. That's that black stuff on our hands.”
At the end was a box about two feet by three and about eight inches tall.
Steve and JT both wanted to look inside it. “No, wait and let your mother share in this. We'll open them all at the same time.
We went over to another hook and I said, “Steve we need that chain from the cherry picker. If we had a winch it'd be better, but we don't.”
“I've got one on the front of my truck!”
“Ok. This is the one for the small cannon.”
Steve said, “What!”
“Small cannon. It's about four feet long and about six to eight inches in diameter.”
“Why'd they put it down there?”
“It cost better than sixty dollars new ! If they'd let the enemy get them, they'd used it against our own boys!”
“Oh”
“JT, Steve, we need to take that cherry picker off the truck and then turn the truck around.”
We did that and then turned the truck around. On the end of the cherry picker was a pulley. We put the cable through the pulley and then spread the legs out on the cherry picker. We got it arranged so it was over the hole and then raise it so it was adjusted to be full height which was about six feet up.
“This will work for the small cannon, but the large one isn't going to go this way. We'll wait on it, but we'll get all the other little items out.”
JT began to winch and it came up without a groan. When the links of the chain got to the top, I saw there was still about ten feet to go before it'd clear the top. “Man, this is complicated!”
JT said, “How about if I call Randy. He can bring out his wrecker and we can get this done easier.”
“Why didn't you offer that before?!”
“I thought you knew what you were doing!”
“I'm not a brainiac all the time!”
He laughed and said, “Now you tell me! I'll be back.”
When he left, we heard the hearse coming up the driveway. It had yet to round the bend, but Steve immediately tensed up. “Hon, let's lift these boxes. Don't think about that. We've got to have something to keep your mama occupied once they take him away.”
He nodded and said, “It's a diversion tactic, isn't it?”
“Yes, for you all. Hopefully JT will come back out.”
“He will.”
We lifted two more boxes which were identical to the first. “I see the second chain!” Steve said excitedly.
“Good, that's the large cannon.”
“It's going to weigh a lot.”
“Yeah, I'm glad he's got a wrecker coming.”
“I wonder how they got by with not having them here. Both sides had to have known they were someplace around here.”
“They did. They got told the other side had taken them.”
“Oh, that makes sense.”
“There's another rope over there. That box is bigger. It's the size of a steamer trunk.”
“When this is done, I'm going to try you on some unsolved cases I've got.”
“Good. It'd be interesting to see what happens.”
“Babe, do you think I'd make a good Governor?”
“Yes”
“You surprised me with that. You made it sound to him like we'd discussed it.”
“I know and I'm sorry for not consulting with you, but it had to be done that way. If you could see someone who hasn't been the best person working for you would support you, then you would know a lot more people will support you.”
“How we going to get around us being gay.”
“Easy, and your mama helped me there. Think about when two people who are guys run and they raise their hands up holding each other's hands. We can do that in public and people support us. If I run for Attorney General, then we can do it together and not have issues.”
“Hon, I hate to burst your bubble, but people are going to find out you're an ex-con.”
“Yeah and you're going to give one of your most powerful speeches ever and tell your state how you believe people who have served their time should be given a fair shake. You'll lose some votes, but you'll gain all the ex-cons of the state.”
“That's
brilliant!”
“Yeah, I'd like to take credit for it, but that's your mama's idea.”
“Oh man, that would pull people from both parties because not only would the ex-cons vote for us, their families who love them would too.”
“Yeah, so be prepared to switch parties because that's what we'll do.”
“You'll do this with me?”
“Yes babe. I mean an attorney general is someone you'll need on your side. By the time the state finds out the truth about us, you'll be in office and it won't matter because with the jobs you bring, this state will be back on it's feet better than before and the Jackson dynasty will be entrenched in power.”
“Only for sixteen years. Eight for me and eight for JT.”
“Well slap me in the mouth, but maybe after you two I'd like a go at it.”
“Oh, I never thought about that.”
“Yeah, now I'm going to ask you something and you really think about it.”
“Ok”
“Name one thing that would bring a hundred thousand jobs to this state.”
“Oh man, that's tough. The military doesn't. A plant wouldn't....I don't know because that's a lot of jobs.”
“Yeah,
and wouldn't it be nice if you could go up and as a zinger in a
debate tell the state you'll get it for them.”
“What is it?”
“A shipping port. They have them in Miami and a few other areas, but one here would really be useful and along with the port there'd be railroad and trucking and all the other jobs which those would create.”
“I don't think Charleston is big enough.”
“Hon, you're not thinking on the scale I'm thinking.”
“Ok, but it'd take billions of dollars.”
“Yeah, and support of some of the most powerful senators in the nation which you have and with our connections, we've got a lot of fingers in a lot of pies. I'm sure if the term national defense got thrown around the money would flow in. So, take a look at some of the busiest ports in the world and see what they have. They've got access to the ocean and deep water. Look out there. It's your one resource which isn't used enough. Now, imagine if you ran a pier out there which floated.”
“You're thinking like what they're doing over in Dubai.”
“Yeah, but the airport over in Hong Kong is another idea. They built that thing out in the middle of the ocean.”
“Oh man!”
“Yeah, now you're getting the scale.”
“The problem with that is a lot of people would say they wouldn't want it messing up their view.”
“I'm sorry hon, but the privledged few versus the massive unemployment you've got, you'll find you've got support once things begin to steamroll.”
“Ok, now I'm going to ask something and you tell me where I'm at here.”
“Ok”
“In all of this political talk, you've left Kevin's name out of it.”
“Yes, for a reason.”
“Why?”
“First of all, I'm not going to speak on his behalf because if I tell you what he knows for the law, you'll tell me to step back and let him run for attorney general. I'd do that if I can have the huge amount of land it's going to take for the cargo container facility. That's where the money's going to be, so my finger's going to be in that pie so much you'll wonder if I have a hand.”
“How?”
“David owes me favors. He's someone that could swing a lot financially and he's someone that would get us mountains of support. He's someone that can't be directly linked to us.”
“But billions of dollars of capital?”
“Hon, it's not my position to tell you what he's involved in, but if the truth were known what he's got minority or hidden interests in, you'd wonder how the man wasn't acting like he does.”
“Really!”
“Off the top of my head, I can point at at least four major hotel casinos in Las Vegas. At least six around the country and a huge interest in a major manufacturing company. And, he's done the port thing before.”
“Man!”
“Yeah, there's more because I know about those too, but when you want jobs to come hon, David will get them here.”
“This is awesome.”
“Yes, because what it takes is not a campaign promise but the belief of the voters it's coming. Once those jobs are here, lives are better, your tax infrastructure is better and this state goes full steam ahead and in the wake is anyone who rides on your coat tail and you support because you're so well loved and remembered by everyone.”
“You're making me see it's possible. Oh man.”
“That's going to be your campaign slogan.” I said smiling, “It's Possible.”
He gave me a hug and said, “Babe, my daddy would love you. He's wanted me to think about it for so long, but I never opened my mind to the thought because I kept thinking, “I'm nothing but a low country Sheriff, what would anyone want me in there for?”
“It takes vision. You're now able to see it.”
“We've got to acquire the land, but babe, we have a problem here.”
“I know, the taxes.”
“Yes. I can't make that payment.”
“I can. But, we're going to speak to a lawyer and see about challenging it first. If we lose, then we lose, but it might be such a thing you'll have to sell the land and....”
“No, the land doesn't get sold.”
“Listen!”
“No, the land doesn't get sold.”
“Close your mind some other time. I'll speak and you damned well better listen! What you could do is you sell it into trust. It goes into a trust which would negate the tax liabilities for future generations.”
“We're it!”
“Bullshit. We're it because of one thing. We lack kids. You're telling me we can't adopt and you're telling me that no adoption agency is going to give a Governor or a Leutinent Governor, or an Attorney General a kid. You know that's crap and it stinks.”
He smiled at me and said, “You'd do that!”
“Honey, for the right man, I'd do anything. Promise me it's until death and I'll get you a kid, or a whole house full.”
“Oh man. You're overwhelming my mind.”
“Yeah, it's a bit much. Where's that brother of yours?”
“Go get him.”
“Ok but I'd tell you to go get him but I'd end up with both of you in there and that's not a bit good for your mama.”
“Babe, he needs to hear all this.”
“Yes he does, but I've got to get you sold on it so much that eggshell is titanium steel first.”
He laughed and said, “Go get him. He'd do anything for you.”
“I know, and just wait until he meets Kevin because that man is going to make JT think he's Superman.”
“I love you.”
“And I do you too. I'll be back.”
I went into the house and they were bringing down the gurney. The sight of JT collapsed and crying upon the steps was unbearable. I went up the steps and put my hand upon his shoulder. He reached out and hugged me pulling me in to him. “My daddy!”
“Yes darling, but that's just his body. His soul is up in Heaven now.”
“I know.”
“Then remember him and know he's always with you in everything you do. He's here with us now.”
“You think.”
“Hon, have I lied to you yet?”
“No”
“I'm not about to start either. So, let's get up and let's go see what the surprises are which are a part of his and all your other generations.”
“I shouldn't have come in here.”
“You did it for a good reason. Now, let's go and give your mama something that will take her mind off of it.”
“She's in her bedroom.”
“Not letting her mind be overwhelmed by what's happening out here. What would your daddy say if he were with you right now.”
“He'd be telling me to go out there and get it done.”
“Yes, because he knows that body isn't serving his use for it anymore. He's not gone hon. He's here with us in spirit. You've seen spirits in action today, so don't ever underestimate them.”
“Do you think he'd hear me if I spoke with him?”
“Yes, give it a try.”
“Daddy? I'm sorry I wasn't what you wanted me to be.”
Just then, a breeze came in off the ocean which seemed to really whistle through the house.
“Let's see if it dies down when we go outside to finish what we were doing?”
He nodded and as soon as we stepped outside, the wind gusted hard enough to make me feel like it was pushing us. “Man! Can you feel that?”
“Yes”
We went over to the well and as soon as we got near it, the wind died down. He looked at me with amazed eyes and said, “It was him!”
“Could be.”
Steve turned towards us and said, “I just had the strangest sensation.”
JT went over and hugged him and said, “It was dad. He told me to get my butt out here.”
“Well, you should've been out here before.”
“I know, but I wanted to say good bye. Rhette told me he's with us and that's just his body they're taking.”
Steve nodded and said, “I'm glad he's here with us. We're going to need every bit of help we can to get that big cannon out.”
About that moment, we heard the sound of an unmuffled truck coming up the road. “Ask and you shall receive.”
Steve smiled and JT laughed. “He's helping us!”
“Yeah babe, he's helping. He's excited too, but from where he is, he knows what's down there. He also knows over there in that pasture is a settlement of some kind that's about two feet under the soil. When the archiologists dig it up, they're going to be amazed.”
“Really!”
“Yes, we'll worry about it later, but we're going to be hard pressed not to have this site be a state park some day.”
“Not happening” said Steve. “This land stays in the family.”
“It will, but maybe when it's all unearthed, we can put it in a roadside rest area out by the interstate in your daddy's name.”
Steve smiled and said, “Mom?”
“Yes”
“She can have that. She's paid the price to get those acres donated.”
“Tell her because it will make her heart sing.”
Steve looked at me and said, “Can I get the money from you if we need it for the taxes?”
“Yes, you know that.”
“I feel bad for asking, but I can't think of a way to save it.”
“We'll make it.”
JT looked at us and smiled. “He loves you Steve.”
“I know and I love him too.”
When the wrecker pulled up, the guy got out. We filled him in on what we had and he grew more excited with what we told him. He helped us put the cherry picker back on JT's truck and then pulled it back out to put it back in the stable. JT moved his truck and he backed the wrecker back over the hole. He hooked the pulley up and then extended the boom up really tall. He said, “Here we go!”
The chain began to appear and when it got to the top, we were about six feet shy of where it needed to be. He told JT, “GO put your truck in front of mine and take your winch cable and put it up on top of my truck. I'll climb up there and get it through that second pulley and we'll winch it on up.”
JT put his truck into position and reeled out the cable. I lifted the end and handed it to Randy and as I handed it to him, he stared at me real strange. A chill shot through me and I instantly knew I was looking at a bastard child of Steve's father.
He climbed the boom and put the end through the pulley. JT continued to reel it out and it lowered. He got off the boom and went over and hooked the hook through the chain. The links of it were huge like it was homemade by a blacksmith. When he had it connected, he said, “Pull!”
JT began winching and it came on up and cleared the top of the well. It took Steve and him both to push the cannon clear of the lid. As it lowered, a lot of water poured out and at the same time, a lot of items fell out of the barrel. Steve went over and picked up one and handed it to me. It was a brooch.
They unhooked the chain and lowered the chain to the ground. They unhooked the end of the wrecker winch cable and then JT's. That's when we lifted the second cannon. It came up easier and when it came out, it again spilled a lot of contents one interesting thing was a bunch of pearls came rolling out. Steve picked them up and said, “Mom loves pearls.”
“Mine does too.”
“We'll give them to them both.”
For the final box, we lifted it and as soon as it was set down, Randy said, “Ok, here's the fee I'm charging. You give me those chains and I'll call it even.”
Steve laughed and said, “You can have the rope too!”
I went over to Randy and said, “Something tells me you and I need to talk.”
“I'm not about to say anything you already know.”
“Then we're on the same wavelength. You have any siblings?”
“Not that I know of by my daddy.”
“Well, he died today, so I was wondering.”
“I'll be at the funeral.”
“Some day it's got to come out.”
“Not while I'm alive.”
Steve came over and said, “What's going on?”
“Nothing”
“Ok, I was wondering.”
Randy winked at me and began loading the chain onto the wrecker. I helped as did JT and Steve. It was heavier than I ever would have thought.
When it was all loaded, Randy said, “I'll help you all get those boxes in, if you want.”
Steve said, “Sure, but I don't know how heavy they are.”
“Wet wood is going to weigh a lot and whatever is inside is going to be soaked, so it'll weigh a lot too.”
Steve and I lifted one of the boxes and it was almost too heavy for us to carry. JT and Randy lifted another and really gave some grunts. We carried them in and put them on the living room floor.
On the way out, I saw Rose coming down the stairs, “Well hello Randy!”
“Hi Mrs Jackson.”
She looked at him and me and I could tell she knew.
As we went back outside, Steve came over to me and said, “You know the secret, don't you?”
“Yeah and for you all to perpetuate it is beyond me.”
“We've always known. The only person who doesn't want anyone knowing is his mom. She's happily married and doesn't want it coming out.”
“Why would it matter?”
“Randy's step dad is my uncle. I've done what I can to help him and JT and he were in the same grade.”
“So he cheated upon your mom?”
“Yes, I told you there were things my dad did which weren't nice.”
“Jeez”
“Is he the only one?”
“The only one we know about.”
“When we got to the boxes, Randy looked at the big one and said, “That thing's going to be too heavy.”
“We'll give it a try and see. Who knows, it might've been full of small things”
“Not likely”
“Steve and I went over and attempted to lift it. It didn't budge. Randy came over and said, “Let's all try to lift it and see. Again, it didn't budge.”
“What do they have in it? Rocks?”
“It'd have to be heavy.”
Randy said, “Guys, I'm afraid if we did find a two wheel cart and get it carted in, we'd run risk of denting the wood floor. We're going to have to open it.”
I said, “Let me go get Rose so she can witness it being opened. Can you lift those cannons up so all the contents can pour out?”
“Sure, but can I get four of those pearls to take home?”
Steve said, “Randy, take four for you mom and take four for your wife. If we find a bunch more, we'll make each of the necklaces, ok?”
Randy smiled and said, “Sure.”
I ran into the house and saw Rose. “Ro, we need to open a big box. It's too heavy to lift to bring in. Would you come out and witness it being opened?”
“Sure hon.”
When we walked out, she said, “ We'll talk about it later. There are some thing he's going to get in the will whether he likes it or not.”
“Good, the eyes gave him away.”
She smiled and said, “All my men had those eyes.”
When we got out to the box, Steve had a crowbar. He pried up on the lid of the box, and it began opening. The square nails were long.
When it was finally opened, we looked inside and everyone gave a huge cheer.
I couldn't believe it, in that box was a bunch of gold nuggets and dust.
Steve looked at me and said, “Hon, I think we just paid the taxes!”
“We'll have to find a way to get this sold, but I can't believe how much is there!”
Rose came over to me and said, “You're the one that told us, so I want you to have a share too.”
“Give mine to Randy. I'll have mine with Steve.”
Rose turned to Randy and said, “Randy, it's going to be split equally and you're going to get a share.”
“I don't want it.”
“Tough! It's not coming from him. It came from Rhette.”
Randy looked at me and said, “Ok, I'll take it from you, but that man caused me more pain that you ever know. It's only her kindness that saved me.”
He went over to Rose and said, “For as long as I've been alive and knew, I've wanted to give you a hug and thank you. You let JT and I be friends and when he wouldn't let us on the place, you snuck and let them come down. I couldn't give you a hug all those years, can I have one now?”
She went over and hugged him. “Randy, he really was a good man. Why his heart was hardened towards you and your mama, I don't know. We all knew he made mistakes, I don't know why he never owned up to you.”
“Well, we had a good life thanks to you, so that's what counts.”
“It's the least I could do. I wish I could have done more.”
Steve said, “Mom, we need some containers to put this in. Once word gets out daddy's dead, everyone's going to come and we can't have this out here.
“Honey, I don't have that many boxes and I'm not sure if a box will hold all that weight.”
Randy said, “What we'll do is we'll go into town and get a bunch of coolers or plastic boxes. My idea would be to get coolers since no one would think to look inside of them if they were stored someplace out in plain site.”
I handed Randy my credit card and said, “Would you and JT go into town and buy a bunch of them?”
“How many?”
I looked at the box and said, “What do you think? Ten?”
Steve said, “You better get sixteen of them just to be sure. While you're at it, get a cart to haul them on and a gallon pitcher so we can measure them equally. That way it's all divided up and no one is getting more or less than anyone else.”
I said, “Randy, is there a bait shop here that sells sinker molds?”
'Yeah, why?”
“We could melt that down and be able to sell it easier.”
Steve looked at me and said, “I have no idea where we'd even begin to sell this stuff. Wherever we sell it, it's going to have to be graded and I've no idea where to begin.”
“We'll check, but if they charge a bunch of taxes on it, I'll sell the stuff on ebay first!”
“I don't know. That's a lot of gold. I wonder where they got it?”
“My guess would be a gold rush. It was probably in 1849, but that would have really made your family one of the wealthiest in this whole area back then.”
“Hon, we were We owned a whole lot more land in other areas and a lot of that is still ours. This is just our home.”
Rose smiled and said, “ Rhette, when the will is read, you're going to really be amazed at what all is a part of this estate. JT's going to get a bunch of land and he's going to get a lot of things which will make up for you two getting this here. What James and I bought and accumulated while we were married is what I'm getting. It's a lot and some day, it will go to you three and possibly four since JT's going to have someone in his life real soon.”
Randy looked at JT and said, “You tell them!”
“Yes”
“Well tell me who he is!”
“It's easier if I showed you. Let's all go in and see what's in the boxes and while we do that, I can show you the video.”
Steve and I carried in the last box and when we got inside, we set it upon the others. I started to head out to get the crowbar when Randy held it up.
Steve said, “Rhette, you found them, so you open the first one.”
I took the crowbar and began opening the box. The wood splintered and it took a lot of effort to finally get the lid off. Inside were silver candle sticks and candelabras. There were a lot of them
Rose counted them and said, “There's enough here for each bedroom to have two and each room down here to have four. Those candelabras were probably for the dining room table.
I said, “The mantle gets two of them in each room.”
“There's
not enough of them here hon.”
“There will be.”
We took all the candle sticks and candelabras and put them upon the dining table. We opened the next box and there were more. It also had a lot of pieces of crystal which all had the hooks upon them for the chandeliers which weren't upon the ceilings any longer.
I looked towards the ceilings and asked, “Did you save the chandeliers?”
“They're up in the attic. We'll put the box upstairs with them.”
The last box had a lot of rings, jewelry, gemstones, and pieces of gold adornments. Rose took a look at a gold cup and said, “This is beautiful. It seems like it's solid.”
Something flashed in my mind and I said, “Hold that back. It's not from here and it's a part of a set that you'll find is worth more than everything we've got.”
“I wonder what it could be?”
“If I told you, you'd probably feint, but it was given to the person for loyalty and heroism during a battle.”
“The American revolution?”
“It predates that. It's Spanish”
Rose handed it to Steve and said, “The land grant! It has to be.”
“Did Spain own this area?”
“Hon, Spain's the one Columbus came over from. They were down by St. Augustine. Some later explorers came up this way and when a piece of land wasn't owned, they through land grant were given the area.”
“So you're Spanish?”
“No, we're decended from French and English, but the story goes the old boy who had the land grant gave it to one of my forefathers because he wanted to marry the man's daughter. Since she was a beautiful girl, she was given and he got this plantation.”
“Oh, where are her decendents at?”
“I'm not sure, but we have the copy of the land grant in our safe deposit box at the bank.”
I nodded and said, “Man, it gets confusing. There are all sorts of things going through my mind off all this. Each piece here, I'm feeling some of the people's spirits who touched the stuff and it's like a lot of people are all trying to tell me what their claim to it was.”
JT said, “Randy, let's go into town and get those coolers.”
Randy nodded and said, “My mom and you need to sit down sometime. She's got something very similar to what you have. She can tell you stories about all sorts of things.”
I nodded and asked, “Would she mind speaking to me?”
“I'll check. I think she'd sit with you over a cup of coffee somewhere, but she'd have to be invited to come here.”
Rose said, “Randy, tell her she now has an open invitation. He's not here any longer and I'd enjoy sitting with her.”
“Ok, I'll do that.”
He and JT left and I said, “We have to get candles for all those. You don't know it, but I can tell you where every one of them went just by feeling them.”
Steve said, “Babe, let's sit and talk here with mama for a moment.”
He turned to his mom and said, “Mama, when the tax bill comes due, I'll have it covered. It might take a while to sell this gold, but Rhette's covering me.”
She smiled and said, “Honey, I know that. Now, before you do a thing, you speak to an attorney. I want to know we absolutely have to pay this bill before we pay it.”
She got up and went over to a book case and said, “Rhette, over here is the Family Bible. When you get a chance, I want you to run your hand along it and I want the whole story of each of these people. We'll have as many tapes here as you need, but I'd love to have the family history written so we can carry it forward.”
Steve said, “Mama, Rhette and I are going to adopt some kids. Our legacy will go forward, but it won't be with blood.”
She frowned and said, “How about surrogate?”
Steve looked at me and asked, “Hon, what do you think?”
“It'd be fine, but my fear is the mother being impregnated and then wanting to keep the child and insisting upon child support. If we could find someone who would do it so we got the kids, it'd be fine.”
Rose came over and said, “If we could find some eggs, and they were fertilized, I could carry them?”
Steve said, “That'd be like me impregnating you mom! I can't do that.
She said, “It's me carrying them. They won't be my eggs. Let's look into it and if I'm too old, then so be it, but I'd do that.”
I said, “Let's look online and check for incidences which this has happened. I think if we look for doctors who specialize in this field, we could look into it.”
Steve said, “Honey, I feel uncomfortable doing it. Let me think on it.”
Rose smiled and said, “Well, if Rhette feels fine with it, it doesn't have to be your sperm. It could be his. Could you love the baby if it was his?”
“I could love any baby mom, it's the thought of you carrying it with it being mine that's just not what I want to think about. If I ran for Governor and word ever got out, they'd laugh me out of office.”
She nodded and said, “Honey, we'll find a way. Don't worry.”
I said, “Rose, where do you want to live? We'd love to have you here, but you don't want that. I'm not sure when you're comfortable looking, but I'd gladly go with you to look and I'd even pay for it if you want.”
“Honey, I can afford it.” She looked at Steve and said, “Do you feel comfortable showing him the will?”
“Yeah, that's fine. He has to know sometime, so now's as good as any.”
She started to stand up and said, “Would you boys feel fine if we had tonights dinner out?”
“Sure mama, or we could go get something and bring it home. It's entirely what you want to do.”
“I'd rather take everyone and go out. Let's get the gold divided up and then we'll have the evening as ours.”
She turned to me and said, “Honey, as far as I'm concerned, this house is you guys. We'll have James buried early in the week, and I'll have a place bought by the end of the week. If you would like to go shopping with me for condos, that's fine with me.”
“Where do you want to look? We could look online and get a list of them. I'm not sure where there are condos in the area.”
Steve said, “There are condos all over. Some of them I'm not going to let her look at since the crime is so rampant in the neighborhoods.”
Rose nodded and said, “I'd really like to be where Corine is. That village is really nice and it's beautiful there.”
Steve smiled and said, “She'd love having you close too.”
I looked at Rose and asked, “Do you drive?”
“Yes dear, I've got a car out there.”
I looked at Steve and said, “Can I buy your mom and mine a car?”
“You've got to ask them. It's your money.”
“No, it's ours that's why I'm asking.”
“Why do you want to buy them a car?”
“I know my mom would love one and your mom is becoming like a mom, so I thought I'd see about getting her one.”
“I doubt if she'd drive a car that nice.”
“Hon, is it ok if we get them a car? If they drive it, or if they don't, what matters is we bought them a car.”
“I'll think about it.”
“Why have to think about it?”
“Because you're not seeing how it is to be related to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at your brothers and JT. Can they afford to get them a car?”
“My brothers, no. JT, I don't know. He might have taxes too.”
“How would you feel if your brother was loaded and bought your mom and dad a car? Would you feel like you couldn't compete?”
“Is it a competition? I didn't know I had to compete for anyone's love? What if my brothers said, “Hey, he's got all that fucking money and he doesn't even buy them a car!” I don't know. They don't need a car, but I didn't know loving someone was a fucking competition.”
I got up and walked outside. I began to walk down the road and towards the highway. I wanted to see the horses and know there was life on this place where it wasn't complicated. Part of me was disappointed in the statement, but part of me now understood things better. I rounded the bend and decided to jog for a few moments to get some exercise.
A few moments later, I heard the sound of the motor of a four wheeler coming up behind me. I stopped running and Steve came up beside me. “You leaving?”
“No, I'm going to see the horses. I want to see something around here that's not complicated.”
“I'm complicated?”
“Yes. No. And a whole lot of in between.”
“Ok, we'll go see the horses and I'd like an explaination.”
“The horses don't really matter. What matters right now is that comment about the competition. I'm sorry, but my brothers and I don't compete for our parent's affection. Does that statement mean you do?”
He looked at me and said, “It probably doesn't matter.”
“Ok, then take me back to Bluffton and it won't matter. I'll be fine without the drama because it won't matter.”
“Ok, but I guess that mean's you're a liar.”
“Huh?”
“You said we'd stay here. You said that house was a gift to my brother and Kevin. Another fucking lie.”
“Ok, I'm a liar, but you're dodging the question. Do you feel the need to compete with your brother?”
He looked down and then at the fence row away from me. Then, he turned towards me and said, “Yes. I'll admit we had to compete. My dad loved him more. I don't know why, but he did. I should feel lucky because I was loved more than Randy, but I sometimes wonder if something went wrong in their relationship and my mom got pregnant with me to hold onto him.”
“So, you compete with him? Why the fuck didn't you ask him? I mean the way I see it, it must suck something awful to be your brother, but if JT's content on sucking hind tit, then who am I to judge!”
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“Let's see. You get Sheriff first. Yay rah! After your done with it, then give it to JT. Whoo-hooh. Then we talk about Governor for you and I'm content to see you happy, but I'm also content on giving it to JT before I take a slice of the pie. So call me a liar because I'm fucking fed up with a double standard here. I'll go home and you can get on with the life you lead as you see it.”
“So you don't like things are, so you'll leave. Is that the way things are with you? Say your piece and run....oh, I forgot, buy expensive items to make yourself feel better. That's not reality. That's a whiney fucking bitch.”
“Later dude. See ya around. Believe it or not, I came here to make life more uncomplicated. I'll take that exit now.”
I started walking and didn't look back. I heard the motor stop and run back up the road away from me.
I started walking down the road and was near the highway when JT's truck came up the road towards me. He pulled to a stop and said, “Where are you going?”
“Back to Bluffton. Have a good life JT, call me a cab when you get back to the house. I'll need my credit card now.”
“What the fuck happened?”
“Your brother and I got into an argument. We're failing to see things eye to eye, so I'm a whiney fucking bitch.”
“Hold up! What! He loves you!”
“Well, you could have fooled me. Life got complicated and I see he doesn't need me.”
“I'll take you back to Bluffton, but you stay here until I get the truck unloaded and get Randy situated.”
“Whatever, just call me a cab. Your family needs you.”
“Bullcrap. The moment my mama finds out I never gave you a ride, she'll have my hide.”
“Hon, your daddy died. I'm not taking any more of you guys time.”
He handed me my credit card and said, “I'll be back. Does my mom know you're leaving?”
“I don't know. I didn't tell her goodbye. Tell her for me, ok?”
“Whoa, you and Steve got into it and you're leaving and mom doesn't know. What was it about?”
“JT, there are times in my life I could actually tell you I don't know what the fuck happened. This is one of those times. He's been different since we got here and so have I. IF it's this place, I'm not going to stick around because that's not going to be my life. I came here to make things simpler and more peaceful. It got complicated fast and if it's a man that's doing that, I'll take a raincheck and not go on with one. Now, there's not much daylight and I've got to hoof about forty fucking miles.”
“I'll give you a ride. Let me get the truck unloaded and I'll be back.”
“You know where I'll be. Either way, I'm just as gone.”
I began walking and when I got to the road, I took a right and started walking. I hadn't made it a good mile when a county cop pulled over and asked me for identification. He asked me what I was doing there and proceeded to harass me. I finally looked at him and said, “Take me to the Jackson residence as I need to punch your Sheriff in the mouth. IF that's his form of retribution, he'll find out what mine is.”
“Oh hold up there bucko. It seems to me your going the wrong way there to go to the Jackson residence. It's back that way.”
“Yes, I just came from there. I'm walking back to Bluffton and your Sheriff can kiss my ass.”
“How about you sit in that car for a moment?”
“Am I under arrest?”
“No, but I need to check on some things.”
“Well you check because I've got about forty miles to walk. You can pick me up when you've got grounds to arrest. Until then, don't attempt to hold me.”
I began to walk and I heard the sound of a click of a pistol cocking. My hands went up in the air and I said, “It better be a head shot motherfucker because I just got your badge.”
“It seems I'm the one holding the pistol, dickweed.”
“Dickweed! HA! If that's what the rednecks around here do for fun then excuse me, I'll take a hike.”
I started walking and he said, “I said freeze!”
“Sorry, you've not got grounds and I'm not armed.”
I heard a motor revving behind me and the sound of squealing tires. “Homer! What the fuck are you doing?! DO you know who the fuck that is! You're one dumb son of a bitch, Steve will have your job over this. Drop your weapon now, or I'll be forced to blow your head off and you know I'll do it.”
“He's resisting arrest.”
“Resisting arrest! You dumb son of a bitch. He's walking away from you!”
I turned around and went up to the deputy. “This is resisting you dumb fuck!”
I punched him in the mouth and said, “Now, go tell Steve what the fuck I just did. When he beats your ass, then come back and apologize.”
He looked at me shocked and said, “You just struck an officer of the law!”
“And you just pulled a pistol on an unarmed man who can sue this county into oblivion you dumb fuck. Now, get in your car and go back and tell Steve what you just did. Then tell him the punch in your cocksucker was too light for what you deserved.”
JT said, “Homer, I'd get moving. Rhette's a nice guy and for you to have pulled that shit is insane! You're lucky you never pulled that trigger.”
I walked over and got in JT's truck. “JT, get me the fuck out of here.”
“No, first of all, I need to see if you would like to write an incident on Homer here.”
“Tell your brother I'll file my own paperwork when I file suit upon the county. Then, tell him his form of retribution is what I expect the spineless bastard to pull on me. The man wants to hide behind a fucking badge to end an argument. Well he can eat shit.”
JT said, “Homer, go up to the house and tell Steve. If I don't see that car go up our drive, I'll call you in myself. You got me!”
“Ok”
JT began driving down the road, he turned on the four lane heading to the interstate and we began talking.
JT came over and said, “What the fuck was that all about?”
“Let's see. I'm taking it that your brother chose to call and give me a bit of police harrassment. Well, that might be fine, but the guy ran my name and had no warrants. Then he wants me to go sit in his car. Sorry, but I know the name of that game. “Let's sit your ass in jail until I can make something up”. He got told he had no grounds so I was walking. He pulls his pistol and I told him it better be a headshot because I'd sue the county to oblivion and have his badge.”
“You probably just got his badge. Steve's going to really chew him a new asshole.”
“Well, cops like that really make golf fun. Everytime you turn around, there's a new hole to play.”
He turned to smile at me and said, “I can't believe you just went back there and punched him in the mouth with a pistol aimed at you.”
“He wasn't going to use it. If he was, he would have already done it. Besides, you would have dropped him.”
He chuckled and said, “I'm glad you have confidence in me. I don't even know how to shoot. I'm a dispatcher. I have to carry it, but I've never trained with it a day.”
My cell phone rang and I looked at the number. “It's your brother.”
“Answer it and give him the ass chewing he deserves.”
I
answered it and said, “Listen up you spineless shit. OH, I'm
sorry Rose”
“No, he's probably deserving that. Tell JT to turn around and you come back here. He's outside chewing Homer a new one over what he did.”
“He called him!”
“No, Steve never called anyone. He came back and I was chewing on him as soon as he pulled up and told me what happened. I assure you what happened out there wasn't Steve's doing.”
“Then that guy just did that with no reason!”
“It seems that way. Right now, Steve's giving him a ripping up one side and down the other.”
“I'll be back. The guy's going to be lucky I don't beat his ass.”
I
turned to JT and said, “Take me back to your house.”
“Why?”
“Steve's had nothing to do with what that guy just did.”
“Oh man”
JT slammed on the brakes and was already turning before we stopped, The truck did some fishtails and he floored it up the road.
“Rose, I'll be there in about three seconds the way this kid drives.”
“I'll be expecting you. Tell him he needs to slow it down.”
I clicked the phone off and watched the trees become a blur
“Is this your land over here?”
“Yes, my brother's land starts up here.”
“Oh, so how much do you have?”
“The same, but mine's leased out to Georgia Pacific. Those are cut about once every twenty years. They cut three hundred and twenty acres each year and I get a percentage.”
“Enough to make the taxes?”
“Yeah, I don't have to worry about my taxes. Steve's tax burden is because his is mostly pasture and those stands of trees they won't allowed cut.”
“Man, that's a lot of trees.”
“Yeah, there's like seventeen thousand an acre. If you get lost in there, they'll find you some day maybe. The trees are planted every three feet. We were forbidden to play in there because the eastern diamond back are thick as thieves.”
“Oh”
“Didn't stop me and Randy from playing in there though. We'd go in huntin snakes and seeing if we could get lost. We came close one day, but about the time we thought we were, we hit a fenceline and found our way out.”
“Randy's a nice guy. I don't know him, but he seems decent. He's got you and Steve's eyes.”
“He's got Steve's dick too. That's why he's got all them kids.”
“You didn't get the dick?”
“Not as much. I got enough to make people look twice in the showers, but not enough to grab their asses and run like them two.”
I chuckled and said, “You'll have to get used to that if you get with Kevin.”
“He got a yard long dick too!”
“Yeah, he's gentle.”
“Good, you know Randy and I fucked each other silly when we were little. After a while, I got to liking it and that's when I knew.”
“So Randy's bi-sexual?”
“No, he's li-sexual. He'd fuck a snake if it'd lie still long enough.”
I chuckled and said, “I've known a few like that, but you're supposed to have that reputation too.”
“I dated them. Randy and I had this deal where I'd go out with one and if she tried to come onto me, I'd be polite and tell her next date. Then, I'd tell him and he'd date them until they couldn't walk anymore. When he got Beth Ann pregnant, all that stopped. Of course, word got around and my daddy heard and had to make some comments about knowing he'd never amounting to much.”
I saw the white fence and soon he was slamming on the brakes and rounding off the corner and giving it full throttle again.
“You know, this truck would drive better if you'd not have nothing but flat spotted tires.”
He chuckled and said, “You'll learn you can drive any way you want to being related to the Sheriff and all.”
“No, I used to drive like this when I was a teen, but that stopped when I had to start paying for car parts myself. “
“I pay for mine. Heck, I get a new truck every two years whether or not it's needed.”
“Ok, but don't ask to borrow my Rolls because you'll get told no fucking way.”
“Cool, you got a Rolls!”
“Yeah, yesterday.”
“Oh man, awesome car.”
“Yeah, it's your brothers when the one I ordered comes in.”
“I thought you didn't want anything to do with him.”
“I could love the man so easy, but it's little things that I don't like. He doesn't like to answer questions.”
“He does that when he's wrong about something. When he's right, he'll ride you hard on it.”
“Not this one.”
We pulled around the bend and I could see Steve's finger jabbing away at the idiot. He was clearly yelling and that's when JT slammed on the brakes. The truck skidded to a stop and a cloud of dust enveloped the truck. I got out and went around the back. I went around the front of the cruiser and stepped up next to Steve.
“When you're done chewing on that ass, I want to gnaw a few pieces myself so save leftovers.”
Homer looked at me and Steve continued. “Another thing, this guy here is the love of my life. If you don't understand that, then you need to find a new job. If you had even so much as harmed a hair on his head, you'd be one dead som bitch.”
Steve looked at me and said, “You ok?”
“I'll speak with you in a moment.” I looked at Homer and said, “How many people have you fucking shot asshole!”
He looked at me and didn't say anything. “I can't hear you. I bet riding shotgun with you is one fucking shoot'em up party. Steve's asking me to come in and find cases of missing people. How many am I going to find with your name all over them. Huh!”
“None”
“Could've fucking fooled me. You need to thank your lucky stars you never pulled the trigger. Let me see that gun so I can aim it at you. Then you'll see what life's like on the receiving end of it.”
He started to hand it to me and I said, “Never give someone your weapon. He could kill you! And as pissed off as I am right now, I don't want to scrub your brains off that cruiser. And where the fuck did you learn to cuss? Chewing tobacco college? Dickweed! Jeezuz fucking key-rist, I thought I was on the backroads of Missouri with that language and you know what we do to them back there on backroads? We make them scream until they fucking love it. So bend over and spread em officer because I'm about to make a man out of you.”
He looked at me and I turned to Steve, “Take care of this. I've got to go apologize to your mother for not telling her goodbye.”
I walked towards the house muttering about not ever going anywhere with anyone again without a set of wheels.
When I went inside, Rose was laughing. “Hon, you better go out there and tell Steve to get in here. He'll give Homer a heart attack before he's finished.”
I went out the front door and yelled, “Steve, let that man get in his car and go waste some bullets. Either fire the som bitch, or let him go!”
Steve looked at me and I heard him tell Homer to get out of there.
He stalked towards me and when he got up to me, he swooped me up into a huge hug and kissed me. “I love you and you can piss me off so bad.”
“Me! You're insufferable! Whiney fucking bitch! Whew, at least you never learned to cuss from Homer there.”
He smiled at me and said, “Pissed you off, did I?”
“Oh yeah, one thing changes and I'll tell you that. The competition between you two stops. That bullshit is crazy.”
“Bullshit! You see a bull around here? It's horse shit!”
I chuckled and kissed him hard.
He picked me up and carried me through the threshold. He set me down and said, “I love you....really.”
“I love you too, but you really need to not irk the shit out of me.”
“Babe, let's go for a walk and talk.”
Notes From Retta:
I would like to thank you for all the emails of appreciation for this story. I realize many of you didn't understand “Buckets of Blessings” of the “Can You Catch My Heart” series. It took patience and time to read to get the storyline picked up. It seems those of you who had patience got the pay off.
Yes, I realize this story is different. It's a lot more fast paced and in the upcoming chapters, you're really going to see it pick up. We'll be going from city to city and really getting into the underbelly of the way things run. Before that, I've got to build the characters and get you to understanding what makes the character tick.
Thanks once again. If you like the story, feel free to drop me a line and let me know. I like the words of encouragement.
One thing you'll learn about my writing is by the time this story actually makes it to web, I'm on to other stories. Right now, I'm writing the next book in this storyline and starting a thrid. ON the sidelines, I'm writing Lance & Ty which is going to be a continuance of the “Buckets” story. In all of that, I'm building some other stories (about fifty so far). One of those is going to be really great. It's called “Heartbeat of Rose” which I'm not sure on the web it will arise because it's a straight story.
That story came to me because of what I see when I lay down at night and close my eyes. It's strange, because I see this rose with a heart beating in the center of it. Interestingly, it's behind some words which are appearing to be frosted onto glass. If anyone can tell me what he symbolism is, I'd sure like to know!
As you can see, the creativity is flowing and I'm really pouring the stories out. My writing time now is about six hours a day, so I'm getting a lot out. My reason for getting them all down is I want to have them down in case there ever comes a time when I'm drawing blanks. So far, I'm not, so I'm getting everything down.
“From My Keyboard To Your Heart”,
Retta
Copyright Notice – Copyright 2008 by RettaMichaels
The Author, RettaMichaels copyrights this story and retains all rights. This work may not be edited, changed, or duplicated in any form, media [known or unknown], without the author's expressed permission. All applicable copyright laws apply.
Retta Michaels does NOT give editorial consent in order for this story to be published. If it is deemed unpublishable, in it's context, permission must be granted before publication or changed occur.
Trademark Notice – Trademarked 2008
“From My Keyboard To Your Heart”, “ 'Retta”, “RettaMichaels”, “Retta”, “Rhett”, “Rhette”, “Vonn Michaels”, “VonnMichaels”, and “Vonn Michael's Stud Service Night Club” are all trademarks of the RettaVonnMichaels L.L.C.. None of these trademarks may be used, or authorized without consent.
Disclaimer: All individuals depicted in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to real persons, characters, locations, or incidents is purely coincidental.