A Little Bit of Sin Chapter 15.2

More talking. deep talking and some story background explaination. Put on your reader's hat and go to town. Let me know what you are thining.

Late night and late day. busy being a mom but you know what I'm doing it.

Wanted to kill the oldest girl today. She had communication problems and did not tell me she had detention so Monday they sent her home with a suspension slip.

I was pissed beyond all recognition and wanted to literally strangle her for not telling me.

WHAT I'M DOING NOW?

It's late at night in Detroit. I've heard three gunshots about five houses away and ten minutes ago three firetrucks passed my house.

I turn off all the lights and tv in the bed room to look out the window.

I just got finished wathcing thefamilythatpreys by Tyler Perry and i'm kinda mad. (Movie spoiler coming up now) I fell having Kathy Bates kill herself was a writer's cop out.

That's my writer voice talking.

anyhoo, getting on with life and listening back to my Brian McKnight. Post this in the dark before more gun shots. Don't want the light from the keyboard attracting any attention.

enjoy...

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Taking a deep breath, Synthia started from the beginning. If she lost Grace as a friend for indulging in her lustful curiosities she deserved no better because she hated herself from her mistake. Her mother had certainly been right about Synthia's curiosity getting her in a world of trouble.

By the time she finished with her tale of sex, lies and deceit, shamefully admitting about Colin and exactly who he was, the look on Grace's face went from horror to bafflement.

The room was so quiet once she finished the clock on the second floor stair way could be heard
ticking loudly. They'd gotten the clothes out the way and while Synthia had been rapidly explaining things, Grace had been finishing up the wash and migrated to the kitchen to finish fixing her father's dinner.

“Are you going to say something?” Synthia asked nervously.

“I am,” Grace said. “I'm just trying to figure out some things.”

“What?”

“Katrina planned everything? I mean calling this guy and meeting at the hotel.”

“Yes, pretty much.”

“Did she have to use my name?” Grace asked in a teasing light.

“It’s my middle name too,” she said possessively. “Katrina found the guy through Tanya, called the guy, and made all the arrangements for him and the hotel.”

“Does Tanya husband know his wife is seeing a male prostitute?” Grace questioned in disgust going off subject.

“I don’t think Tanya’s husband even comes home to care.” She wanted the attention back on her.

Grace asked, “And you believe she's in cahoots with Noel?”

“Of course. That’s the only thing I can think.”

“Just because you have a beautiful face, Synthia, everyone isn’t jealous of you. Some people just
don’t like you because of you.” Grace crunched on a piece of celery with no look of remorse in her eyes.

Synthia knew Grace was a little like Trisha in her boldness and honesty, no bones about it talk.
“Why would they do something like this?”

“Like I believe before, I don’t think Noel would have something to do with this. But because
Katrina’s been envious of you and liking George since forever, but you just didn't know.”

“What are you talking about?” Synthia asked confused.

Grace sighed and spoke as if Synthia should know this. “You forget I still get the gossip from Noel and from Tanya, so I’m pretty knowledgeable about what goes on in all your lives, even if I
don’t leave the house. She met George first right? She introduced you to George. And wasn't it by mistake you two met. I remember you saying once it was because you missed your flight and decided to wait to catch the next so you attended Katrina’s birthday instead. The same one she invited George to most likely to make a move on him.

“I would have been devastated if I had missed her party.”

“Was she really happy to have you there? Can you even think outside of your perfect world to even remember?”

“It was so long ago I don't really remember.”

“But you aren't sure, are you? Although that look you told me they shared on the boat was deep.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I don't think Noel set up any part of this. She never could stand Katrina just like my sister couldn’t either. Noel would have little tolerance to work with her not matter how much she doesn’t like you.”

“And how do you know my sister so well?” she asked suspiciously.

“We talk often, but not like best friends. Just talk. I think everyone thinks of me as a bowl of
advice for some reason or they miss Trisha.” Grace didn’t look offended by this. “But quite possibly, they think I have absolutely no life, they want to share their life with me.”

Synthia had to bite her tongue to keep from asking if Grace have any friends or a life.

Grace continued, “Plus Katrina looks like the type that would definitely not only hurt you by taking your man, but also add a cherry on top by adding this particular man.” Her frown deepened. “Funny, I don't remember his brother mentioning he'd gotten in the prostitution business with him. Matter of fact I thought Colin hated his brother being in the business, but I think it’s cute that they’d used the same name.”

Synthia knew she looked and sounded confused when she asked, “What are you talking about?” With each word her voice went higher and higher.

Grace chuckled and had that look again as if everyone knew. “Bernard, as far as I know, is in the prostitution business. He came to me shortly after his brother was released from jail and asked me for an obituary. Dad almost shot him because they look similar, except Colin wears the thick scruffy moustache and Bernard is always clean-shaven.”

It was Synthia turn to be speechless.

Taking a deep breath, she again got back to the subject. “So who was it? Bernard or Colin?” Grace questioned.

Synthia began to pace with indecision. “He said his name was Colin, but now that you’ve described each one of them it could be either one? He was groomed nicely. Wait! Aren't you upset with me for sleeping with him if it was Colin?”

“Why should I when you didn’t know who he was? That'd be just silly,” she teased, but then became serious. “If you’re trying to figure out why I’m not screaming and hollering about now when talking about that man, I had to learn a long time ago to handle my hate for what happened to my sister. The person who was behind the wheel died. I had to come to peace with that. I guess because I keep myself here and watch my father. He mumbles about wishing vengeance on all those involved and it’s like every day he gets older and older with hatred.” A faraway look came in her eyes. “I think he’s going to die hating them and the worst part about it, he’s going to die soon from it. I guess that’s why I decided to get my law degree and help him. I don’t think I can lose another family to the misery this whole incident has brought upon us. Sometimes I really wish I were you, Synthia, selfish and all into myself.”

“I’m not shallow,” she said denying only part of it.

Touching her hand tenderly, Grace said, “I don’t mean to hurt when I speak honest. You know that, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do. Remember, I was your sister’s only friend because of her mouth.”

Sympathy encompassed Synthia for Grace. “I’m sorry, Grace.”

“Don’t pity me,” Grace said hard, shaking her head not accepting the apology. “I have a plan.
I’ve had a plan for several years now and it’s almost over. So don’t feel sorry for me.”

“What did Bernard say to you when he came to get the obituary?”

Grace sighed before she relived the memory out loud. “He apologized for the whole of white man and tried to give Dad a monetary compensation for his brother being in the car, but Dad wouldn't take it. Dad was too proud. He knows that family is hiding money and they'd rather go to the grave looking broke rather than give my father – the niggar - one red cent. Racist bigots,” she seethed. “Bernard told me that when he was nine his father filed for bankruptcy. The only solution was to move back to Michigan with their grandparents, but even at that age, Bernard didn’t want to go. So when they made a stop in Detroit, he disappeared in the crowd and made sure he was never found. Raised himself on the streets and turned to a profession that gave him good money. All the while, he found out about what had happened. His grandparents on the only bank in the county, but his parents were so addicted to drugs that his grandfather refused to leave the bank to him. He did finally find Bernard and offered to give the bank to him, but Bernard refused the offer wanting nothing to do with them at all.”

“Why? What makes their cult so bad?”

“Their leader wasn’t quite right in the head. From my research, they were kicked out the group and started their own up in Howell. Even the government watches them because of the heavy drugs, guns and so forth. Some people even think Timothy McVey came from this cult, but it’s never been proven. It’s not that they just hate black people, Synthia. They want to destroy what America stands for. They think their way of thinking is right and that there is no other.”
Synthia knew exactly who Timothy McVey was and she shuddered at the thought of who Colin could be or was.

“If they aren’t drug addicted followers, their leaders with their head screwed on backwards.”

“It’s not even the money my father wants. He knows taking their land and money is really the only way to hurt them, but since they've claimed to have none we have gotten little of the settlement.”

“That's terrible and unfair,” Synthia said. “But I suspect it’s because the driver’s father was a powerful well known lawyer and knows how to work the system.”

“Well I've just got my law degree and I plan to stick it to him.”
Synthia was shocked to know this and wondered to herself how did Grace leave the house?
“When did you get your law degree?”

Grace gave the look as if everyone had a law degree. “Just got it two years ago and I've been using most of my free time to gathering information about Frank's family. You know his brother just got his law degree?”

“I didn’t know you had yours. Plus you know I didn’t involve myself in all that,” Synthia said.
“I just wish I could put it all away and go on with my life, but I know as long as Daddy walks

around and mutters about the injustice, I’ll never be able to forget. So when this Bernard guy comes telling me about his brother and how his family was a part of a cult so bad it makes the KKK look like the Girl Scouts, I know then that I have to put a stop to everything and if taking every penny those bastards have will stop them, then I’ll do it. I’m just tired of living in Trisha’s shadow. Even though she’s dead, I’m still living behind her.” Grace changed the subject back to Synthia's trouble. “I think you need to ask Katrina why she did that. I think you'd see what Noel and Trisha saw about her. As for George and you, there really isn't any love loss about it. If you really wanted to get back with him most likely all you have to do is wait and George will be likely be like all the other saps and come back. As for Colin...,” her voice trailed off and her thoughtful frown became harder. She hesitated before speaking.

During the moment of silence, Synthia's stomach had twisted into a knot.

“I asked Bernard when he came to get that stuff did he think that his brother still believed in all that stuff this cult preached anymore now that he was out of jail and all Bernard did was shrug unsure of himself. He said that he missed his brother so much, he really didn’t care what kind of man he had become. He told me he was going to make a silent pact with Colin and never discuss anything anymore as long as Colin was making a change in his life. No need rustling up bad demons.” She looked at Synthia hard with an obvious tone in her voice. “You have a choice, Synthia. You can further anger Jason by finding out why this gentleman doesn't feel your cat's meow or you can drop the whole thing like a bad habit, forget about him, go on with your life and find another man who will salivate all over you, treat you like a queen for a while and then wear you like arm candy.”

“That was cruel to say, Grace.”

“Not my words. Those are Noel’s actually. I don’t think she hates your beauty. She hates that you don't appreciate your beauty and you'd rather settle for the materials than find a man that will make you feel good. That will make you feel period. You’ve closed yourself off to what it’s like to feel anymore, Synthia.”

She stiffened and started to protest, but Grace threw up a hand to stop her.

“Don’t sit here and deny it with me. You came here to be closer to Trisha. If you’re going to use me to channel my sister, then you might as well take the truth and stuff it where the sun don’t shine for all I care. You know I’m only speaking what even you don’t want to face. Since Trisha’s death and other things you’ve shut the world away from your heart and you think cavorting around with all these men who can buy you the world, but couldn’t light an emotional flame to your heart even if you gave them the match to do it with.” Grace paused only a little, looking Synthia’s stiff composure up and down. “But I know someone has touched your heart before, Synthia because even after Trisha died you weren’t all the way locked away.” She narrowed her eyes and then shook her head in understanding.

“Moookie?” she suspected, saying the name quietly as if it were an abomination to speak.

“You're still stuck on that?”

“Mookie ruined my life,” Synthia confessed.

“He didn't have a job and he was street, but he never got you in his kind of trouble.”
Synthia used putting up the towels as a distraction to hide her agitation. “What am I going to do about everything?”

“I'm not here to tell you what to do, I'm just here to help you think it out.”

“That doesn’t help.”

“Help me organize the Power Point pictures for the memorial and maybe I’ll help you understand this Colin.”

Synthia agreed just glad they didn't go more into Trisha's brother.


A little Bit of Sin Won't Hurt Chapter 15.2 (c) 2009 Sylvia Hubbard. All Rights Reserved


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