Thicker than Blood

"Dad, said James—and yes, James had taken to referring to Ronald Carter as dad—Jenna and I talked. We talked long and hard on this. We think that David Carter is and has been mellowing out. And well, we, Jenna and I, see this as an opportunity. I mean him opting to help you at a really bad time has to mean something is still there of the old sentiments. I mean dontcha think?" said James.

"Honey?" said Stacey. "You know, I think the kids might be right. If David is ever going to be in a place where he might be receptive . . ."

"To rejoining the family?" said Ronald, breaking in on her.

"Yes," she said.

"That man. That crazy-ass brother of mine. He makes me so mad! I will never, never be able to pay him back for all he's done for me, for all of us.

"I'm a salesman. But, I'll be damned if I can figure a way to sell that man on how much I love him, how much all of us love him, and get him to a place where he would be willing to rejoin us and take his place as king. Because that's what he is to me, king," said Ronald. But damn it he needs a woman.

"Stacey the one fly in the ointment is getting him to be accepting of us as a couple, you and me. He's just not . . ." started Ronald.

"Dad, if I may," said James.

"Huh? Okay?" said Ronald.

"I had a PI friend of mine check him out. Dad, mom, dad David is married," he said.

"What? Who! What are you saying?" broke in Stacey.

"Her name's Rozelle. Don't know a lot about her, but she was able to get him a better paying job than he had at that bar," said James. "He's started over. I think he might be trying to move on. I mean that's what it looks like without actually talking to him or his new wife."

"Well Whaddya know," said Ronald, but he said it quietly.

"Yes, for real," said Stacey. She wanted to ask more questions, but for some reason or no reason she held off.

"Well, that settles it for sure. We're going to go there and talk to the sonovabitch and get him come home," said Ronald.

"Ronald!" screamed Stacey.

"Okay, okay, he's not a sonovabitch, I am, but he has been way over the top in a lot of this," he said.

"Dad, I think that Jenna and I should be the one to go down there first. If it looks promising we'll call, and you guys can hot foot it down there later," said James.

"James, I don't know if I've mentioned it to you, but you are one smart fella," said his father-in-law.

James snickered. "Well, you might wanna check with my wife on that one," he said. Everyone laughed, nervously, but they did laugh.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE 2015

"I'm nervous," said Jenna. "No, scared—no nervous. Oh, I don't know what I am."

There was still a good fifty miles to go. But, the road was clear and the sunny day nice. He smiled over at her.

"We're doing this right," said James. "We know what we have to do, and, we can do it."

"We have to convince him," she said.

"We will, I have a feeling," said James. "You wanna stop and get something to eat before we get there?" She looked over at him.

"Yeah, I guess," she said. "You don't think it will put us behind schedule do you?"

"If it does, we'll just shack up at a motel for the night and go to his workplace tomorrow. No problem," he said.

"Okay, then, let's eat," she said.

The Wild Horse Café had a limited menu, but the place was friendly and service acceptable.

They'd gotten seated within two minutes of arriving and menus and waters had been delivered a minute after that.

"Whaddya wanna eat?" he said.

"Just a burger," she said. "James, I'm nervous," she said.

"Well, you've said that often enough so that I'm getting to the point where I actually believe you," he said, and laughed.

"Funny!" she said, and frowned.

"Honey, we're in the right here. We've got God and righteousness working for us. We'll be fine. Okay?" he said.

"Okay, I guess," she said. She was still frowning.

The waitress finally came with their orders. They ate in mostly silence.

"It's only 4:00PM," she said. "Shall we try?"

"Yeah, why not. If he got off early, we'll just get a room and try again tomorrow," said James. She nodded.

******

The trucks were clearly shut down for the day, and so were the yards. But, the gate was open, and there was a light in what appeared to be the office. They headed for that.

He parked the car in an empty space but a few yards from the office door.

"Well, this is it, let's see what we can find out," he said. The two of them climbed the four steps and rapped on the door. A woman, a pretty woman looked up to see who the visitor was. She went to the door and admitted the pair.

"Yes?" she said.

"Hi, we're looking for David Carter if he's still around," said Jenna.

And, who might you be?" she said, looking from one to the other of the two strangers.

Jenna looked over at her husband; he nodded his okay.

"I'm Jenna Carter. I'm here to see my dad," she said. The woman in front of her appeared to recognize her.

"Yes, yes, of course you are," she said. "I've seen your picture; it just didn't click with me till you said it." Jenna gave her a confused look.

"I'm Rozelle Carter, your mother-in-law," said Rozelle.

The visitors looked startled.

"Uu-well, nice to meet you," said Jenna.

"Yes indeed," said James.

The next few minutes were spent in the mandatory introductions and pleasantries after they had taken their seats at the small round table in the office.

"Yes, it is indeed a surprise," said Rozelle. Of course, as I said, David isn't here right now. He's home, presumably getting dinner ready. I had to stay a little later: paperwork that had to be done by morning."

"Oh, okay. We'll get a room in town and be back to see him tomorrow," said James. "I mean, I'm sure you know of the problems that have gone down in recent times among the family. . ."

"Yes, yes, of course. We've talked long and deeply about it all, has David and I," she said. "Still . . ."

She picked up the landline and dialed.

"Yeah, hon, it's me. Look, something's come up. We're going to have guests tonight. We'll be there in a few. Yeah, okay? . . . For sure . . . no it's a surprise . . . no, I'll tell you everything when I get there okay . . . Okay, good."

"Well, I didn't lie, it is going to be quite a surprise," said Rozelle. Her guests nodded. James was smiling, Jenna not so much.

******

I heard the commotion at the back door. I went to see what and who my better half was doing and bringing to visit. I stopped in my tracks.

"Jenna!" I said, and I said loud.

"Daddy," she said, launching herself at me and culminating in a bear hug!

For the life of me I got even with her for her hug with an equally bearish one of my own.

"Dad," said James, sticking out his hand to shake mine. I took it.

"Well, this is a surprise," I said, looking straight at my wife.

"They showed up at the office asking for David Carter," she said, "I had to allow that I knew the guy." She was smiling, but not quite laughing at my clear state of disconcertion.

"Yes, well that would be true wouldn't it," I said, rhetorically.

"I'm assuming that the two of you know that I'm married to this lady," I said.

"That would also be true," said my lawyer daughter.

"Okay, I guess that explains why the two of you are here. So, let me formally introduce you. This is Rozelle Carter, my new wife, and wonderful lady. She it is who is my anchor and my love, and dare I say it, my benefactor," I said.

James was smiling. "Dad," he said. "I have to admit it was at the least part of the reason for us being here. I mean we didn't get the wedding invitation, but we were sure that that was just an oversight. I mean the mails these days."

I snickered. "Yes, well, actually I, we, didn't send out invitations. My experience with weddings hasn't been the best. Hence, we decided that it should be a private, low key affair," I said. The momentary joy at seeing my daughter was fast losing some of its mojo. I was thinking back to the man who gave my daughter away at her wedding and how I had been played. Adding to that the travesty of my own so called wedding and marriage to Stacey Carter nee Wilcox and how that ended.

"Dad," said James, and yes, I noticed how quiet Jenna had become since our initial greetings. "Wanting to meet, your wife, was indeed, as I said, one reason why we are here. But, well, it was not the only reason."

I know my look must have telegraphed my suspicion. "I hope that the two of you aren't here to bring me any more problems, propositions, phony promises or whatever," I said. "I seriously mean that."

"Daddy, no!" said Jenna, finally waking up from her coma. "Daddy, can we sit and have something to drink or something?" I nodded. I needed a drink too. I did want to talk to them, but I was wary. It seemed like every time I communicated at all with any of them I ended up disrespected, lied to, or treated with what I saw as utter contempt. I wasn't putting up with it anymore. That said, I was going to see how it went. Mister nice daddy, that was going to be my modus operandi.

"Yes, I guess, sure," I said.

"I'll put some drinks together," said Rozelle. She'd been hanging back watching the scene play out. Her expression, I now realized, showed what I would later describe as studied interest.

"Thanks honey," I said. "Martinis?" I said looking around at the group. They nodded their agreement.

My wife was some ten minutes preparing the pitcher of my favorite cocktail. During the interim the rest of us had settled in at our humble dinette table. Our place wasn't much, but it was clean and comfortable, nothing like the mansion my brother and my ex-wife lived in. I wondered what my daughter thought of our less than middle class digs. I noted her looking around and appraising the environment.

"It's the best we could afford for now. But, we'll be doing better down the line," I said.

"Huh?" she said. "Oh no! Really, daddy, it's very nice. I like it." I laughed.

"Well, thank you for that," I said, my response to her as disingenuous as was hers to me.

"Dad," started James.

"Here are the drinks folks," said Rozelle, interrupting things. We all relaxed as she played barkeep and poured for each of us.

We sagged back in our seats and sipped until Rozelle took her seat next to me.

"Dad, as I was saying," said James. "We have another reason for coming down, I mean in addition to wanting to meet Rozelle and congratulate the two of you on your marriage."

"Okay," I said.

"Dad . . ." he paused. "We know about the donation, the one you made to save daddy Ron." He waited to see if I would react. I didn't. I just stared coldly at him. Well, I was quite frankly, speechless. Aunt Delia had double crossed me! I couldn't believe it!

"Yes, dad," said Jenna. "And, daddy, I love you for doing it. I mean even more than I did before and I had plenty to love you for before."

"Aunt Delia?" I said. My meaning was clear. Jenna looked away. James on the other hand decided that a good defense was the best offense.

"Yes, Mister Carter," he said. And yes, I did notice that he'd suddenly gone formal on me. "Aunt Delia, and really all of us, think it's time you came back to us. Time you forgave your brother, as hard as that might be for a man as prideful as you. And, it's time you forgave your daughter's mom for what she did to you as well. Anger as deep as yours is just got to die, sir."

"That's your thinking is it?" I said. I chanced a look in my wife's direction.

"Some scenes need to still play out, dear," she said, "but it may indeed be time to think about doing what your son-in-law is suggesting. I know you still dream about it all. You've even talked in your sleep on a few occasions. And, I will admit, sometimes you worry me." I could feel my expression change to one of questioning concern. The absolute last thing I wanted to have happen was for my baggage to upset or in any way cause my wife worry. I nodded.

"How, do you see this playing out?" I said. I was looking at James when I said it.

"You mean you'd consider . . ." started Jenna. James put a hand gently on her arm signaling her to let him keep the lead. She looked up at him with pleading eyes, but nodded her assent.

"Sir, Jenna and I talked these things over before coming down here, and if the truth were to be known, on the way down here as well.

"The way we see it, in the best of all possible worlds, all of the problems of the past would end. And, we think that there are two ways we might could go to reach that goal. Of course the choice in the end is yours and maybe your wife's.

"Okay?" said Rozelle.

"One would be for you to come home. Just up and move back and accept the real and well-earned undying gratitude of the whole family. You're owed that much at the very least by all of us," he said.

"And, the other choice?" I said. My wife touched my arm; she could sense I was on edge. It, her touch, calmed me. God how I loved this woman and needed her.

"Choice number two would be for the rest of family to come down here and talk it out with you and your wife on your turf," he said. I nodded.

"We're just working people," said Rozelle. "We can't just take days off. I looked over at my wife. She raised an eyebrow. I got the message.

"Have them come here," I said.

"Oh thank you daddy!" screamed Jenna. The smile on James' face was hopeful. He pulled his cell and walked off toward the miniature patio of our little house.

He put his cell away and returned. "They'll be here tomorrow," he said.

"Okay," I said.

"We have a spare bedroom. You two can stay here tonight," said Rozelle. "No need you going into town to get a room." I nodded my agreement with her offer.

"Okay, well that'd be good," said James.

"Yes, daddy, that would be the best," said Jenna.

******

"Well, Whaddya think?" I said looking over at my wife as we lay beside each other.

"James is right. It's time to at least try to put everything behind us. And, David, it is 'us' now, not just you. That doesn't mean that everything will be good, or that some bad memories might not remain. But, it does mean that a healing process should at least be given a look see," she said. "And, if I have any say in this at all, I think that their motives, their motives these days, most definitely need to be considered."

"Honey, without you this could not happen. And, you do have a say in all of this. Like you say, it is us now not just me. I need your input, and trust it more, than my own." I said.

"Well thank you for that," she said. "And, I know seeing her again is going to make things hard for you, but I'm a pretty damn good substitute for her believe it."

I looked her straight in the eyes. "Damn straight you are. You are my life, and finding you, or you finding me, I guess, is proof positive that there is a God," I said.

She smiled her appreciation and that made me smile.

******

"You think that this time . . ." started Ronald.

"I don't know, but I sure as hell hope so; it's fucking time. My wonderful ex-husband needs to get it together. Him being married may be the kicker," she said. "I wonder what kind of woman she is. I'm worried about that one," she said.

"And he is wonderful. If he kicks my cheating as from Douglas to the red planet Mars, I'll thank him and ask him to do it again," he said.

"Not until after I ask him to kick me there first," she said. "Ron, we, the both of us, did him wrong, no matter that we never wanted to hurt him. What we did was guaranteed to hurt him. We deserve to be punished, and the fact is that putting us in the position were in 'is' punishment. The question is will he see it that way."

"Everything you say is spot on. But, our good intentions notwithstanding, he's got to want to forgive us, and that's the kicker, not just his wife," he said.

******

I saw them pull up in front of the house. The Caddy looked new. Well he was a rich man. Wonder what it felt like to be rich? What I was sure of was that I'd never know. Money just didn't seem to like me very much. But that's okay, I was happy, my wife was happy, nothing else mattered.

It was a hot day, and the others were out on the patio waiting for the arrival of the next bevy of guests.

I went to the door; I didn't immediately alert the fans on the patio; I don't know why. At any rate, I had instructions from my wife as to how to behave when they did arrive and I was going to be following orders.

The knock was tentative; I thought that kinda odd. I answered it.

"Well, hello," I said. Ronald looked at me strangely.

"Hello, hi, to you too, David," said Stacey. She stepped forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I stepped back and looked at her; I think I upset her judging by her hand going to her mouth.

"David, I didn't mean . . ." she started.

"No, no, no problem with me. It was—a nice greeting," I said, trying to smile my friendly smile. Well, I was under orders. "Come in, come in," I said. The two of them entered. They were smiling at me, but the smiles were kinda forced. I could see they were uncomfortable. Well, after everything, I guess that that kinda figured.

I could see that the both of them were doing their best to "not" notice my, our, digs. It amused me. They were clearly trying their damnedest too to not offend me. Well, I decided to be magnanimous and to not take offense unless they did something totally egregious.

"Dave, We are really glad that you could see your way clear to allow us to visit you," said Stacey. "We've missed you, honestly."

"Sure, okay," I said. "Everyone else is out back. Let's join then." I wanted to get my wife near me as soon as I could. I didn't trust myself around the woman, Stacey. I needed my Rozelle, and I know that that makes me sound like a pussy. What can I say, I am one when it comes to my women.

******

"Momma! Dad!" screamed Jenna. I could see that she had immediately bitten her tongue, greeting my brother as she had.

"Hi, honey," said Stacey. Stacey went to our daughter and hugged her. Ronald, looking a little uneasy, made the decision. He went to her to and hugged her as well. He didn't say anything; he just hugged her and stood back. He was obviously doing his best to not upset the apple cart. He was getting the lay of the land: finding out how far I'd come in being willing to kiss and make up. That was okay by me; I wasn't sure myself. Her being there, across from me, was making it hard for me to concentrate.

"Honey," encouraged Rozelle.

"Uh—yes, Stacey Carter, Ronald Carter, this is my wife, Rozelle Carter," I said.

Pleasantries and greetings and questions about the trip down from Phoenix over with, everyone began talking at once, and then laughing kind of hysterically and then calming down and then a moment of silence ensued. And then the doorbell rang. We were all still on the patio, but I heard the doorbell and went to answer it.

"Aunt Delia!" I said. I had not expected her.

"Rozelle called me and asked if I were able to come down. I took the bus," she said.

"Oh, okay. I wish I'd known: I would have come for you myself," I said. I had questions for her, but it was beginning to look like they, the questions, were passé.

"Actually, Rozelle offered. But I knew that the others would already be here, and you and Rozelle needed to meet with them more than me. You and I are already on the same page in everything. But . . ."

"But?" I said, totally realizing that I was keeping our guests waiting on the patio.

"I decided that I'd best be here in case," she said. "But more on that later perhaps. For now, could we just join the rest of the family?"

"Uh—yes, of course. They're all out on the patio," I said.

The hullabaloo, that erupted when I brought everybody's favorite aunt outside and announced her, bordered on the comical. It was like Aunt Delia had saved the day. It remained to see whether or not that that was the case.