Thicker than Blood

I stepped back and kind of out of the way of the maelstrom. I was leaning against the railing that circumscribed the totality of the little patio. I saw Stacey say something to Rozelle. Rozelle nodded in the affirmative. Stacey headed my way.

"Nice that Aunt Delia could make," she said, as she approached.

"Yes, but I am mildly upset with her for making the trip alone, and on the bus," I said. Stacey nodded her agreement.

"David, at some point this weekend could you and I talk. I mean alone," she said.

I looked her in the eyes. I'd expected that we would, but her asking gave me pause. I was not even sure that I would be able to handle being alone with her. Before marrying Rozelle it would have been an absolutely non-happening, but now?

"I guess so," I said. "But . . . "

"Yes, I'm a little concerned too. For sure, David, it will be uncomfortable, for me more than for you even. But, we have to do it. We have to," she said. "I'm just so grateful to whatever god intervened and sent you your wonderful new wife. I really mean it, sir. I really do."

"Okay, Stacey, maybe later tonight. We'll play that one by ear. Okay?" I said.

"Absolutely," she said.

******

I was well aware that the reason for accepting the visit of the entire clan was for the sole purpose of getting me to a place where I could see myself as back in the family and having forgiven everything that I saw as having been dumped on me. And, the sole reason that I even considered such a thing was my new wife Rozelle Carter.

The odd thing? It was getting late. Yet no one had asked me to accept anything in the entire time that we'd been together; well, so far they hadn't. Everyone talked about their jobs. Everyone discussed how they were feeling. Everyone asked me about my job and how I was feeling. In a phrase it was weird.

"Kinda crazy, huh?" said James who had joined me in the kitchen when I'd gone to rescue a can of beer.

My son-in-law was one heckuva a bright guy. "I guess that would be one way to characterize things," I said.

"You going to come home, sir?" he said. Bright and considerate: I liked the guy.

"Probably not in the flesh. But . . ." I said.

"Maybe bury the hatchet?" he said.

"Maybe that, James," I said. "Rozelle is kinda hoping I will, that we all will. But, we'll see in the next day or two, I guess.

He and I and Jenna sat down together. The topic? Her wedding and how it had gone down and how I'd cut country and whether or not I could forgive and forget the conspiracy to get me to do the tandem walk down the aisle thing.

What bothered me, though she said that she did wrong in trying to force the tandem idea on me, was the feeling I got that she only did so grudgingly. This from the daughter who early on was okay with assigning uncle-hood status to me, and who I did a long stretch in prison for. Oh yeah, I was indeed having a problem with that. But, I said nothing. I was under orders from my wife to let the long weekend playout.

CHAPTER FORTY 2015

Jenna and James had arrived on Friday; Stacey and Ronald early on Saturday and Aunt Delia later that same day. Our place was a three bedroom. With the arrival of Aunt Delia, Jenna and James opted to shack up at the motel-6 a half mile down the street. Rozelle had made the offer of our newly purchased convertible sofa bed, but the youngsters argued that it would just be easier for them and for everyone if they moteled for the one night.

On Saturday I'd talked to both Jenna and James more or less extensively, but only briefly to my brother and my ex, to Aunt Delia hardly at all. But that would change now.

It was Sunday morning. It was early. Most of the crew were still asleep, and the Ellisons would be arriving in an hour or two. Rozelle was showering and getting ready for the day. I'd gotten up early and made the coffee. Stacey surprised me.

"Got an extra cup?" she asked, rhetorically.

"Morning," I said. "Sure, I guess. I was just going to take mine out on the patio and relax a bit before everyone got up and moving."

"Oh, okay. Would it be okay if I joined you?" she said. Her tone was earnest. "But, I mean if you need to be alone . . ."

"No, no, that would be fine," I said. I poured her the cup and we made to go outside.

"We used to do this in the old days on Sunday mornings. Remember?" she said.

I did remember. And, I missed those Sundays among other things. "Yes, I remember. Those were good times."

"Would it surprise you to know that I miss those days, David? Ronald and I sometimes do the same. I guess what I mean is that you will always have a place in my heart, and, I really mean it when I say, so does your brother."

"It would surprise me that you thought very much about me at all. Look, Stacey, I know you feel guilty about the break up. I know you like me, maybe even a lot. My brother? I guess the same kinds of things might be true of him. But, when you dumped me like you did . . ." I started. I could feel myself getting emotional. She looked down.

"David, I never saw my leaving you for him as dumping you. I saw it as correcting a mistake that I made, more than one obviously, and trying to make them, the mistakes right is all.

"I'm not very smart, Davey. Ronald as good as he is at business isn't very smart in things of the heart. Do you know I caught him cheating on me with the maid?" she said. I had to smile at that revelation.

"No, I didn't know. But, I'm not surprised. He always was a womanizer," I said. "But . . ."

"The uncle-hood thing, right?" she said, completing my thought for me.

"Yes," I said.

"In retrospect that was the biggest mistake of my entire life. As I told you before, the idea wasn't so much to lower your status with Jenna, it was to give a kind of kick start to my husband's status with her. I mean he was her biological dad. And, you'd been rubbing his nose in it, your fatherhood, so much that he felt kinda kicked in the balls if that would be the right way to say it," she said.

"But, I was and am her dad. I demanded then and I demand now to have that recognized by all of you," I said. "If I don't get that, then all of this is a waste of time."

"David, surely you must know, that considering all you've done for this family, especially Jenna and maybe even more than especially for your brother; that no one is going to deny you anything!" she said. "I can tell you without the slightest shred of doubt that I sure as hell want to give you the fucking moon.

"Stacey . . ." I started.

"You saved my husband, David. He's my life. And, I'm going to say it, so are you. Got that young man! I mean it," she said. "Ronald is the man who will always be sharing my bed, not you; but in every other respect there will forevermore be damn little difference between the two of you in my heart."

"I don't know, Stacey. I mean I found a wonderful woman to share my bed with. And make no mistake, she has my heart. I couldn't go on without her; she's that important to me. As important to me, as it appears, is Ronald to you.

"But, I don't know, it's the years of betrayal as well as all of the rest, Stacey. There were just so many things. I think about it, the whole schmear, all of the time. Roz is trying to help me get by it, and because of her I am able to cope. That's why this weekend is even able to happen, that and the input of James. God he's a good man, one of a kind, really," I said.

"He is that.

"David, all said and done, is there any chance that we can get by all of this bad stuff? I mean for real," she said.

"Maybe," I said. "We'll see."

We heard noises from inside the house.

******

The hullabaloo on VJ Day 1945 in New York City, was something to witness. The riot of fun and frolic and togetherness in the Carter home—the Douglas venue thereof—was a close second.

The pancakes and bacon were consumed with a passion. The hopeful toasts that followed the food, made with coffee mugs and water glasses, were for my benefit. "To the brother who saved my life," announced, Ronald. "To my daddy, David Carter," howled Jenna; I say howled because she cried in the doing of the toast. "To a wonderful nephew," avowed Aunt Delia. "To a man worthy of the name," said Stacey.

Oh yeah, I was honored as hell. And I was embarrassed. And, all the while my wife, Rozelle Carter, held me back from retreating from the room. Boy did I want to retreat.

Then it was time for a speech. I knew it was time because everyone kept chanting "speech-speech-speech!" Rozelle nudged me. I took a deep breath. I looked over at the clock in the dinette where we were all clustered about. It read 11:15AM.

"Twenty-eight years ago I met and married Stacey Wilcox. We began our lives together and everything looked rosy. Then, over the years between then and now things went from wonderful to bad, for me; and now I guess we start over. My wife and my son-in-law James and Aunt Delia have made the case that I need to rejoin the family. So, as of this minute, well I hope all of you will accept me back among you.

The cheers, yes they actually cheered, were something. But, I was tired. I really wasn't sure about it all. But, everyone said it was all good, so I guess that it was. Most importantly for me, Rozelle said it was all good; that sealed it.

But, there was one more act to play out. A proposition my brother made me: one, frankly, I would have spit on but a short time before; but now, well I didn't spit on it.

******

It was late, it was Sunday night, I think he arranged it that way. Maybe he figured I would be too tired to resist. Looking back on it now, I think he may have been right. At any rate . . .

"Stacey talked to you?" he said.

"Yes," I said.

"And?" he said.

"Nothing. She just made the case that it was time for us all to try and get by the past. By us all, I really mean me," I said.

"And?" he said. "I mean me and Stacey and you specifically?"

"I guess," I said. "A lot of it, as I told Stacey, is still kind of a tough nut for me, but my wife has put it to me that it's time and so I guess it's gonna be time." He nodded.

"Okay, David. Thank you for that. We—I—need you to be ours again, my brother again," he said.

I shrugged, "It's all good, Ronald. I guess it's all good."

"David, I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse. You saved my life. You didn't have to do that. And given everything I did to you, especially stealing Stacey away from you; well, I need to do this and you need to let me," he said.

"If you're going to kiss me forget it," I said, and I smiled.

"No, no, I draw the line there. No, I'm giving you half my kingdom," he said.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" I said.

"David, I have six dealerships now; I'm giving you three of them: two new car dealerships and one used car. Oh, and I'm not taking no for an answer; and yes, I did go behind your back and got Rozelle to okay everything first," he said.

He was smiling, but he did at least have the grace to look worried. I nodded.

"I don't know anything about the car business," I said.

"Is that a backhanded way of saying you accept?" he said. I nodded again.

"Don't worry about that; the office managers and the operations guys know the game. They'll orient you soon enough. Oh, and I got one of my old employees back to make sure you'd feel comfortable in the new job," he said. "I had to buy out her old business to get her to. The lady drove a hard bargain, I don't mind telling you."

"Old employee?" I said.

"Yes, Marianne Woodley," he said. "She's very good at what she does as you know."

"God, Marianne. It's been a while," I said.

"Yes, and well, and of course I will be around whenever you want to talk, discuss, ask anything; well you know," he said.

"Okay, Ronald, I guess if Rozelle okay'd it; then, I'm onboard," I said.

"Wonderful," he said. And, I could have been mistaken, but it looked as if he were about to break up. But, just as I was going to say something, she appeared, my wife.

"Hi honey," said Rozelle. "I see you and Ronald are getting along."

"Yes, I suppose we are. He said you okay'd the new business opportunity," I said.

"Yes, I did. I hope you're not . . ." she started.

"I'm onboard," I said short shanking her. She smiled her approval.

"Well, good. It's time," she said. "Oh, and your aunt wants to talk to you. She in the den. She's going to be leaving shortly."

"Oh, okay," I said.

I headed for the den to say goodbye to Aunt Delia.

******

"Aunt Delia, Rozelle says you're leaving," I said.

"Yes, nephew, I am. "Just wanted to have a word with you before I go," she said.

"Yes, of course," I said.

"David, I know you still have misgivings about everything, and in the deepest darkest of the night you'll still be thinking, well, some not so good thoughts. But, it's time to start weaning those kinds of thoughts out of your system.

"As possessive as your brother is, and that is who he is mister possessive; he's gone the extra mile here and done his best to make things up to you as much as he can. Stacey is lost to you in terms of the way things once were. But, you seem to have landed on your feet in those respects too: Rozelle is a treasure, and I'm sure you know that," she said.

"I do," I said.

"Well, good," she said. "David, think positive from now on. Like I said, there will be moments of doubt and bad memories to deal with, but they are all about things from the past; you need to live in the now and the future. Okay? Stacey and Ronald are not bad people, just selfish and careless. But, they have a lot to deal with now too. Your generosity has guaranteed that. And, when once in a while the road gets a little bumpy just remember nobody does everything right, nobody."

"Okay, Aunt Delia, I think that I understand. And, I will remember what you've said.

******

It turned out that Aunt Delia was leaving with Jenna and James: she would not be busing it any more. Ronald and Stacey stayed for an early dinner before hitting the road. I got a scorcher on the lips from Stacey as they left. Rozelle was standing beside me when she did it. Ronald was only a few yards away by the car. The both of them smiled their approval.

"All's well that ends well," said my wife, as I rejoined on our little porch.

"I guess so," I said. "So, I guess we'll be moving back to Phoenix. I mean with the businesses being in that area and all."

"Yes," she said. "I've already arranged for the movers to be here Monday morning two weeks from now. Well, we do have to give notice at the warehouse." I nodded.

"Yes, that's good," I said. "How much for the movers?"

"Forty-seven hundred," she said.

What!" I said.

"Relax, it's part of the package from Ronald for taking over the three dealerships," she said. I nodded, but slowly.

"I have to tell you, I just can't feature Ronald giving up so much of his business to me," I said. "I mean he is mister materialistic. He loves those stores of his as much as he does Stacey, and I know that that's a lot."

"Hmm, well yes, you may be right," she said. "But as for the gifts, that was actually Aunt Delia's idea. That's the main reason she came down. To his credit he didn't argue, so Aunt Delia told me, but did look kinda something, she said."

Well it looked as though things would be working out. Fifty-some years old and starting over—again! Helluva thing.

******

THE FALL of 2016

The gathering was largish. No one was speaking as the minister pronounced the words of condolence and prayer over the still open grave. My, our, Aunt Delia was no more. She'd been the greatest. And, as has been seen, she was instrumental in getting the family past some very hurtful experiences, especially me; but, as to that, really all of us.

I felt numb watching them lower the casket. I was choked up, but numb. I looked over to my right and saw Stacey Carter, my brother's wife wipe away a tear. My brother, Ronald, was stony faced. Well, I guess that was how I appeared as well. It had to be the saddest day I'd yet lived, even sadder than the funerals of our mom and dad so many years gone.

Everyone began turning away and heading for their waiting cars, everyone except me. I turned when I felt a tug on my sleeve. It was my wife, Rozelle Carter, and next to my Aunt Delia, the one most responsible for saving me, and saving me is indeed the right way to phrase the reality, my reality.

"She was a wonderful person, David. We'll all miss her," said my Roz.

"She was all of that and way more," I said. My wife nodded.

"We need to go, now, my husband," she said. I let her lead me away. The reception would be at Ronald's and Stacey's house, well, it was closer.

I really wasn't in the mood for a wake or a reception or whatever they were calling these things nowadays. I wanted to be alone or maybe with Roz. I did not want to be having to respond to questions from a bunch of well-meaning guests and family, none of whom could ever really know how I was feeling at that moment. But, Roz had said that we should go, so go we would.

The tables were laden with a surprising variety of eats. Aunt Delia would have been pleased that everyone was there and having a pleasant if not actually a good time. She would have reproved me for not being in a good mood, well, that was who she was always concerned that everyone else was okay.

I'd been to their house, Ron and Stacey's, any number of times since the great rapprochement more than a year gone, but I was never really comfortable being there; today was no exception.

Roz had abandoned me to help with something or other in the kitchen. I had stationed myself out on the patio with a cup of coffee in my hand. For the moment I was alone and thinking about times gone by, well, this was one of those occasions that suited reminiscing quite readily. Well, I was alone, and then I wasn't.

"You okay, David," she said, coming up behind me. I turned to see my ex-wife standing but two feet away. I looked up at her; she was still a pretty woman fifty years old or not.

"I guess," I said. "No. Actually, I'm not." She nodded.

"She was a wonderful lady; we all owe her a lot," said Stacey. I just stared at her.

"David?" she said. I shrugged.

"Dave, are we okay? I mean you and I?" she said.

"I guess so, Stacey. There's no rancor anymore. Just a kind of malaise. I just don't feel comfortable here, I guess," I said.

"I'm sorry for that, David. I really am. But, I guess I do understand. It was the scene of a lot that went down over all of those years," she said. I nodded.

"May I ask?" she said. "How are you and Roz doing?"

"Well, we're doing quite well thank you very much. I don't know what I'd do without her; she's my rock," I said. Her turn to nod.

"David, you and Roz need to come over more. You say you don't feel comfortable coming here. Davey, that's not it and you know it. You don't feel comfortable around me, or maybe me and your brother," she said. "But, you need to. We love you. We love the both of you, you and Roselle. It's time you granted us some mercy and took our relationships to the next level. Really!"

"Maybe," I said. "I'm not trying to be a downer or anything, but, well, I just don't know." She'd taken a seat opposite me, and was all but staring at me as she spoke.

"Did you know I spoke to Aunt Delia before she, well, before she passed," she said.

I'd been looking down, but now I looked up at her and saw the earnest expression she'd taken on.

"No, I didn't know. I mean I knew you'd gone to the hospital to visit her as had we all. But that you'd had private words with her? No, I wasn't aware," I said.

"Well, I did. She made me promise to make things right by you, I mean between me and you," she said. "She knew you were still hurt in spite of all of the forgive and forget rhetoric that went on last year."