Southern Gossip: A Complicated Love Story (2 page)

“My mom and Mama Gray were the main ones who didn’t agree with me opening the
Lion’s Den
.”

“That’s because it’s a titty bar.” Jada slid in. “You know y’all have an image to uphold around here.”

“Well, my father is the Mayor of this city and he didn’t make a big deal out of it.”

“He’s a man, Marlon. What men do you know that don’t wanna look at a fine female with a nice set of breasts as she’s sliding her half naked ass up and down a damn stripper pole?” she questioned.

Marlon laughed a little and shook his head. Her southern accent was to die for. He loved it. They all had down South accents, but Jada’s was very distinct. “You’re still a smartass, I see.” He told her.

“I’m just saying.” She commented with a playful chuckle.

“Either way, my dad ended up feeling like it could be good for the family name. It added a taste of entertainment for the people here.” He said referring to those that traveled near and far, showing their love of the place by stopping by to kick back inside of his exotic lounge.

“I can only imagine,” Jada said feeling like the only night life they’d had in the past was partying at a friend’s house or at the park on the Gray Plantation.

“Look, we have different things going on each night of the week. So for your information, Miss Jada Kent, the women on the stripper poles don’t always strip or touch the pole for that matter. We have some very tasteful nights of just erotic dances, good food, and mixed drinks.”

Jada looked at him with the side eye stare. “Well, what’s going on tonight?” She asked with good intention, but before Marlon could answer, she added, “Because, I wanna see some breast and ass?” She teased, but was very serious. She was back in town and there was no way that she wasn’t turning up. If Lynn Hilton’s famous gossip column, ‘Here’s The Tea,’ was going to report that she was back. She’d make it worth their while writing about it.

“I want you to come out and enjoy yourself, but don’t forget that this city is relentless in finding out the juiciest gossip. I’m sure that reporters come in and out of my business trying to dig up something on us and now that you’re back,” he paused taking in a deep breath. “They may get a raise in trying to find out exactly why you left on a day that I thought was supposed to be special for us.” He said, also trying to figure out what had happened on that joyous day that turned out to be his worst nightmare.

Jada dropped her head, knowing that there would be questions. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to answer them, but she was ready to face her fears in hopes of putting the past behind her.

Marlon stepped up to her as she rested the side of her face on his chest. He couldn’t resist the urge to once again wrap his arms around her body as a sign that he still cared. For the moment he just wanted to keep her close and only think of the happy times.

Just knowing that he was still the Marlon she knew before she’d left only confirmed the feelings he would always have for her. She had no choice but to do something about those unresolved feelings between the both of them. Walking away again wasn’t an option. However, secrets scattered across the Gray Plantation would make it very difficult for a girl to ever choose wisely. 

***

Elsewhere on the Gray Plantation, Mr. Gray had just entered his large, family home and had made it upstairs. He walked inside the huge master bedroom suite as he looked over at his beautiful wife. Upon seeing her, he started. “Darling, where is Marlon? I see his car parked out front, but I didn’t see him.”

Mrs. Gray glanced away from the Essence magazine that she was reading. “He left on the 4-wheeler to go to your mom’s house. Apparently, she’s not feeling well and he was going to sit with her for awhile.” She responded.

“They haven’t touched those 4 wheelers in a long time. Did he take the wooded path behind the house?” He asked, pulling the tie from around his neck then sitting down on the side of the bed to pull off his shoes.

“I’m not sure, but maybe he did. It is quicker to get to her house that way.” She stated.

“Well, I hope not, because I’ve been telling them for years to stop taking short cuts through the Kent’s property.” He said as if he was a bit irritated or probably even sleep deprived.

Mrs. Gray could clearly tell that something was bothering her husband. “Baby, they’ve been riding their bikes, their ATV’s, walking, and no telling what else has gone on in that stretch of woods from here to the Kent’s house. The Kent’s never had a problem with them cutting through their property back then to get to your mama’s house. So why should they have a problem now?”

“Because they’re not teenagers anymore,” Mr. Gray grumpily spoke up. “Marlon is twenty-eight years old and even though A’keem isn’t quite two years younger, they’re still grown and should act like it. What is so hard about him taking the road to mama’s house? I just don’t get it. They need to start acting more responsible.”

“Hm,” Mrs. Gray uttered. “I don’t know what has sparked such an interest in fussing about Marlon taking the path to get to Mama Grays house. Hell, I could remember a time when you were just like them, hiking up the same path. If it wasn’t for you and your brother there wouldn’t even be a path.” She added as a reminder followed by a slick grin.

“Not now, Love.” Mr. Gray firmly stated. His tone was heavy and serious. He wasn’t trying to hear nothing about his past.

Mrs. Gray frowned, looking over at him. “Baby, what is wrong with you? What did the boys do this time?” She asked, because it couldn’t be anything else that would arise such dissatisfaction in his behavior.

Mr. Gray rubbed in his head gently as if he was stressed a bit. “I had to get A’keem out of jail this morning?”

“What did he do?” She asked with a worried stare.

“Driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana,” he said walking into the bathroom and turning on the water in the sink.

“Lord have mercy, when is he going to learn?” Mrs. Gray questioned.

“He’ll never learn as long as we keep bailing him out.” Mr. Gray responded, cupping a handful of water in the palm of his hands and splashing it on his face. Mrs. Gray closed the magazine, gently getting out of the bed. She then entered the bathroom with her husband. A smile appeared on her face as she stood directly behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and then resting her head on his back.

She sighed with relief. “He hasn’t gotten in any trouble in almost five years, baby. Don’t be so mad at him about this little hiccup.” She said. One thing about the Gray boys was that their mother would go through hell and back for them. She wasn’t about to let them or nobody else ruin their reputation or the family name if she had anything to do with it. “What did you do about the charges?” She politely asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t joke at a time like this, baby. Election is right around the corner and we don’t need nothing like this preventing you from keeping your position as Mayor in this fine city.”

“It was only a small amount of marijuana and a suspended license, Darling. Don’t worry about it. I’ve already taken care of it.” He turned to her, kissing her forehead lightly. “Don’t I always take care of it?”

“Yes, you do,” she said with a smile on her face. Mr. Gray knew that his wife was no joke and could be quite cut throat to keep their family safe and negatively out of the gossip column as much as possible. She was and would always be very protective of them no matter what.

Mrs. Gray followed her husband out on the balcony as they overlooked part of their twenty acre land.

“I heard that Denise’s daughter is back in town.” She informed him.

Mr. Gray sat thinking for a few seconds then said, “So, Jada is back? I’m almost certain now that Marlon took the wooded path to mama’s house just to try to see her.” He commented. “What brings her back to town? I thought that she had gotten engaged to another and was soon to be married or something.”

“That’s what Denise told me about a year ago. I don’t know what happened, but I intend on finding out.” She said.

“Don’t go sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong, Love.” He said.

“Baby, I’m not,” she commented. “I’m just going to drop by there and see where her head is. Don’t worry I’m not going to hypnotize her or anything.”

Mr. Gray grinned. “Please don’t.” He said, knowing all too well the skills that his wife possessed as the city’s finest Family Psychologist. She knew everybody’s business through one person or another. Her sessions with the wealthy and the not so fortunate provided her with lots of knowledge and in the city of Rocky Springs, GA knowledge was definitely POWER.

“I just hope that she’s not here to stir up any trouble between the boys. I could remember such trouble back in the day between you and your brother. I refuse to let my boys go through that foolish family history over and over again.”

“They’re grown, Honey. Don’t you know how much has happened in the time that she’s been gone?”

“Apparently not enough,” she said. “Neither one of them have gotten married, yet. It’s like they were waiting for the moment that she’d return.”

“You got to let them live their own lives and that means finding love on their own.”

“I understand that, but it’s only one of her and two of them. How in the hell is that ever going to work out for anybody?” She seriously questioned.

“You never know. She may not be interested in either of them, anymore.”

A bit of comfort settled inside her. “You’re right. She could still be engaged or even married by now for that matter. Who knows?” She commented.

“Don’t worry yourself about the boys. They’ve gone through a lot while she’s been gone. They’ve each been with more women than we both can count I’m sure. Everybody should know that.”

“Thanks to that nosey ass, ‘Here’s The Tea’, gossip column.” Mrs. Gray uttered. “The boys can’t even smile at a woman without a reporter running back to Lynn with some information. That paper would be dead to people if it wasn’t putting them in everybody’s business.”

“That gossip column has helped us too now Dear, don’t forget it.”

“And, it’s also put out some things that we would’ve preferred to keep private.” She stated.

“I won’t deny that.” He agreed.

“As soon as it gets around that Denise’s daughter is back in town that paper is going to be all over it.”

“I’m sure it will, but just remember that no matter what it says, Jada Kent was just a crush that the boys had ever since they were teenagers.” Mr. Gray mentioned.

“Funny, as I can remember, one of our sons proposed to her so it was definitely more than just a crush.”

“A proposal that she turned down,” Mr. Gray interjected. And then she unexpectedly left town while leaving everyone with questions that were never answered. It’s been at least five years now. Regardless of why she’s back, I feel that they’ve had nothing but time to get over her.” He assured her. His demeanor was always laid back never allowing any situation take him out of his character. “Plus, Marlon is in a relationship now with a business savvy, very pretty woman that he loves.”

Mrs. Gray folded her arms and chuckled. “As if that means anything when there is a
Kent
woman present.” Mr. Gray immediately stepped back into the bedroom preparing to lie down and a get in a nap. He knew exactly what his wife was thinking as the unpleasant thoughts of her almost losing him to Denise, years back, replayed in her mind.
Not this morning,
he thought.

“I have a town’s meeting today with the citizens and my staff about building a community learning center with a park in an open area between Lovers Lane and Park Drive.”

“Well, I personally think that having this meeting on a Saturday afternoon was a good idea. More citizens should show up.” She stepped over in the body mirror fingering through her short Hale Berry cut. She had on a yellow and gray pair of Nike nylon shorts with the matching yellow and gray Nike t-shirt. She also wore the yellow, gray, and white Air Max’s to top off her casually laid back appearance. From the looks of things, it seemed that she was about to go on her morning jog around the plantation. “This community center will help keep a lot of those misguided teenagers off the streets and the younger children will have a nice, clean place to play and learn.”