Family Values (8 page)

             
Gran walked towards the door.

MADISON
(stopping and placing her hand on my chest)

Dwight
you know that I love you. You know that she is set in her ways.

DWIGHT

Yeah still in the ole south. I think that we are going to leave tonight.

MADISON

No flights out of Meridian after 9 PM.

DWIGHT
We will drive to Mobile. I can’t take being here.

BRIAN

Baby, I just got here. I am tired. Plus think about your baby brother. He needs you here.

MADISON
(looking at Brian)

He is right. Gran is upset right now. Please don’t leave.

DWIGHT

Okay. I will meet you back at the hospital.

              Madison stood on her tiptoes to give me a kiss. Realizing how short my sister was made me smile. She pinched me on the cheeks and exited the restaurant.

DWIGHT

So are you hungry?

BRIAN

Yes.

             
I directed Brian to have a seat as we waited for the waiter to return.

             
I arrived at the attorney’s office reasonably late. I walked in with Brian by my side. Gran stood and walked towards me.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What are you doing here?

DWIGHT

I received a text from an unknown number telling me to be here.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Who would text you?

DWIGHT

Gran I don’t know. Like I said – it was unknown.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Why is that boy here?

DWIGHT
Gran, his name is Brian. Please refer to him as that.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Okay, why is that boy, Brian, here?

             
I didn’t care to respond. I took a seat and moved it to the far end of the office. I could not take being close to her. We all waited for the attorney, Mark Wallace, to return from his office to the conference room. I took my phone out and checked my Facebook page.

             
Madison and Trent walked into the room. I noticed that she was wearing shades. She walked into the room and sat beside Gran. When Trent raised his hands to hug Gran I also noticed that Madison flinched.

MARK (walking into the room)

I apologize for being tardy. Mrs. Cove how have you been?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Doing well and yourself?

MARK

Great.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

How is that baby?

MARK

She is good – growing like a weed.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

You remember my granddaughter, Madison. And this is her husband, Trenity Cooley.

MARK

Nice to meet you both. (noticing me in the corner) And you sir? (Grandmother Ella rolls her eyes)

DWIGHT

I am Dwight Cove.

MARK

Oh okay. Why don’t you move up?

DWIGHT

No I am fine back here.

MARK

Well okay. Ummm, let’s get down to business. Mr. Cove revised his will about three weeks before his death. It is very basic.

             
We sat and listened to Mark read the will. Grandfather included everyone in his will. I knew that my name would not be listed but to everyone’s surprise, my name was called.

MARK (reading the will – when Gran heard my name she turned and looked at me)

“Dwight Cove. You know that we never really had a relationship. I watched you grow into a fine young man. I want you to know that you had a special place in my heart. I am…”

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Wait a minute. This can’t be my husband’s will.

MARK
Yes ma’am it is. May I finish? (continuing to read) “I am glad that you are my grandson. Your grandmother held hatred and malice in her heart for your mother. Regardless of who your father is – you are a Cove. I want you to cherish the bag that I am leaving you.”

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What bag?

MARK
I don’t know. I have never seen a bag.

DWIGHT

Grandfather gave me a bag the day that he died.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

What was in it?

DWIGHT

I don’t know. I never looked.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Bring that bag to my house today. I mean that.

DWIGHT

Just yesterday you told me to never step foot back into your house.

             
Mark placed the will back into his briefcase. He also gave Gran a copy of it. She took the will and flipped through it quickly. I walked over to Madison.

DWIGHT

Why are you so quiet?

TRENITY

She is a little under the weather.

             
I looked at Trenity. This was not normal behavior for my sister.

MADISON
I am okay. Just a little tired.

             
What was supposed to be only three days has turned into two weeks. Brian and I sat beside Landon’s bed and stared at him as he lay in an induced coma. His condition seemed to get worse by the day. I wondered if he was in any pain, was he able to think, did he know that his family was here.

BRIAN

I see your mind racing. What are you thinking about?

DWIGHT

Just thinking about Landon. What is he feeling? That’s all.

BRIAN

I think that he is resting. I am quite sure that he knows that his family is here.

DWIGHT

Yeah.

BRIAN
(looking at his watch)

It is about dinner time. Do you want to go get something to eat?

DWIGHT

Just as soon as Trenity gets here.
I don’t want to leave Landon by himself.

BRIAN

Who is Trenity?

DWIGHT

That is my Maddie’s husband.

BRIAN

Oh okay.

             
The door to his room suddenly opened and in walks two dark complexion men with determination in their eyes.

DWIGHT

May I help you?

ROMAN

Yeah. I heard that my boy Landon was in the hospital. I wanted to drop in and check on him.

DWIGHT
(standing up)

He is in a coma right now. He is resting.

ROMAN

Do you know what happened?

DWIGHT

Someone broke into my grandmother’s house and they must have attacked him.

ROMAN

Why would someone do that? Landon is a cool dude.

DWIGHT
Yes he is. The only thing that we can figure is that he was trying to protect the house.

             
Roman glared at me. His mouth had a slight crooked smile.

DWIGHT

May I ask who you are?

ROMAN

I was a business associate with him.

             
That answer didn’t set well with me.

DWIGHT

What type of business?

ROMAN

Let’s say sales’ rep.

             
I knew that Landon was always into something but never knew what.

ROMAN
Well we are going to leave and let him continue to get his rest but we will return to visit.

DWIGHT

Okay that will be great.

             
Roman tapped his associate on the arm and they turned and walked out of the door.

APOLLO
(standing outside the room door)

I will get my money one way or another. I think that we need to pay his grandmother a visit.

ROMAN

What do you plan on doing to that old woman?

APOLLO

She will either give me my money or I will make sure that she pays for a funeral.

ROMAN

Sounds like my
kinda payment plan.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA (sitting in the living room of her house)

I am glad that you could visit with me today. I haven’t seen you since Jefferson’s service. How have you been?

NURSE ROBIN

I have been good. How have you been?

GRANDMOTHER ELLA (pouring some tea)

Doing well.
Do you care for a cup of tea?

NURSE ROBIN

No thank you.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

I have a few questions for you. You spent a lot of time with Jefferson when he was ill. I know that you two probably talked some.

NURSE ROBIN

Yes ma’am. We did.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

A few days ago we read the will of my late husband. He mentioned a bag that was left to one of my grandchildren. Do you recall a bag of any sort?

NURSE ELLA

Yes ma’am I do.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Do you know the contents?

NURSE ROBIN

I do. But I promised Mr. Cove that I would not talk to anyone about the bag.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Well he is dead now. You can tell me.

NURSE ROBIN

No I can’t. I hold true to my promises.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Very commendable of you. That means a lot to me that you would carry that secret for my late husband. Well. How has life been for you? Have you found another job? Have you married yet?

NURSE ROBIN

Life has been good. I am still searching for new employment.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Married?

NURSE ROBIN
(laughing)

No ma’am.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

How would you like to come and work for me again? You can have a full package and you might get a husband out of it.

NURSE ROBIN

What exactly would I be doing? I am only trained to care for someone. I am not business savvy.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Just say you will work for me and I will take care of the rest.

NURSE ROBIN

Okay. I will work for you.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Great.
First things first. We need to go shopping. Let’s go…you can drive my car.

             
Noah was leaving his job when his phone rang.

NOAH
Hello

WINSTON

Good morning baby. How are you?

NOAH

Exhausted.

WINSTON

Well come on home. I have a surprise waiting for you. I am about to leave for work but I will see you this evening for dinner.

NOAH

Okay. What is the surprise?

WINSTON

You will find that out when you get here.

NOAH

Alright. You have a good day at work.

WINSTON

I will. But you come on home and get some rest. You will need it for tonight.

NOAH
(blushing)

TTYL!

WINSTON

I love you.

NOAH (sitting in his car)

I love you too.

              Noah was contemplating about meeting Trenity this morning. Against his better judgment, he drove to Trenity’s house. He reached for his phone to give him a call to see if all was okay. There was no answer. Noah made a quick right turn to head home when his phone buzzed. The caller I.D. showed “Trent”.

NOAH

Yes sir.

TRENITY

Are you coming by?

NOAH

I was but you didn’t answer your phone so I turned to go home.

TRENITY

I couldn’t get to my phone. She was still here.

NOAH
Is she gone?