Love To Luv (22 page)

My phone vibrates on my hip.

VOICE ON THE PHONE

I guess you have received the news by now. Bring me everything I want or you will lose something that money can’t replace.

JACOB

Who is this?

VOICE ON THE PHONE

That’s not important. I want what you and your aunt stole from me.

There was silence on the phone. I was about to throw my phone across the room until Dennis grabbed my arm.

DENNIS

What did they say?

JACOB

For us to bring him what he wants or I will lose something valuable to me. He wants everything me and my aunt stole from him.

ARETHA

What did anyone steal?

JACOB

Come on we have got to go. We can talk in the truck.

ARETHA

How can people be so evil?

The drive from Meridian to Hattiesburg felt like an eternity. Once we got there I asked Teddy for the paper with the directions on it.

IAN

Shouldn’t we call the police?

JEREMY

That would be a terrible mistake. If they see the police there
is
not telling what they would do.

ARETHA

Both of you are right. I just want everything to be ok. I pray that they haven’t hurt Monique or the baby.

I drove around looking for a warehouse off of Highway 49 behind the old
JarHead
building. This was unfamiliar territory for me. I had not been to Hattiesburg in such a long time.

             
This time Aretha’s phone rang.

ARETHA

Hello

VOICE ON THE PHONE

Pull up to the building and get out. Only you and Jacob get out. Everyone else is to stay in the car. No funny business.

Again the silence.

DENNIS

This has to be someone that both of you know in order for them to call Jacob’s phone and now yours.

ARETHA

Yes I figured that out. But he only wants me and Jacob to get out. He said to drive up to the building. You guys stay in.

I drove up with ease. Aunt Aretha got out first. I followed her. A voice called out for us to come up the stairs. It was dark with a glimmer of light coming from the street lights. The spring air was feeling my nose with a fragrance of oil and old boxes.

             
Aunt Aretha and I walked with ease hand in hand. She was squeezing my hand tighter and tighter with each step. Suddenly there stood a person in front of us. I
squint
my eyes to make out the face. It was Monique.

JACOB (calling out)

Monique.
Baby.

MONIQUE (crying)

Pop.

ARETHA

Honey are
you ok?

THE VOICE

She is fine. Did you bring everything I asked?

ARETHA

We did. Now let’s do the exchange.

Suddenly there was a force in my back.

THE 2
nd
VOICE

Don’t turn around.

THE VOICE

Did you honestly think that I would meet you alone? Aretha you should know me better than that.

ARETHA

Mattie?

Mattie walked out holding Monique by the neck and a gun pointing at her.

ARETHA

How could you do this? Why?

MATTIE

Come on Aretha. You just knew you had the life. You took Edgar from me.

ARETHA

How in the hell did I take Edgar from you? Edgar and I have been married for years.

MATTIE

I am the woman he was having an affair with. We picked out that condo together.

ARETHA

I thought it was Avis.

Avis walks in from the right side with a gun also.

AVIS

You took my father away from me. You took what was supposed to be mine.

JACOB

Your father?

MATTIE

Yes.
Edgar’s and my child.
The first time that he and Aretha split I was the one that consoled him. We were building a life together until she called him back.

ARETHA

I knew something was going on.
Especially when I found those pictures of you and Edgar.
How could you betray me?

MATTIE

I didn’t betray you. Edgar was a good man.
Someone that I feel in love with.
I had to stay around you to see what he was doing.

ARETHA

You dirty little bitch.

THE 2
nd
VOICE

I wouldn’t do that if I were you or good ass gets it.

JACOB

Joe?

JOE

In the flesh.
I told you I would see you again.

MATTIE

Meet my son.

JACOB

What in the hell is all of this?

MATTIE

Well Joe is my oldest child. He was locked up for a few years. It was just great that you two started to communicate years ago. Now I want you to give him the deeds and the money.

Aretha passed him the envelope with the deeds in it and a check. Joe took a flashlight from his pocket to make sure everything was there.

JOE

It’s all here.

Mattie pushed Monique towards Jacob. Monique tripped over a pipe that was sticking out of the floor. She fell down to the floor. I ran over to help her. It hurt my heart to see her fall the way she did.

             
Suddenly there were several gun shots. Aretha fell down to the ground. I tried to cover Monique with my body. The
firing finally stop
.

TEDDY

Pop!!

JACOB

Teddy is that you?

TEDDY

Yeah.

Teddy raced over to where we were. I turned Monique over to see if she was ok. She looked up at me and smile.

JACOB

Baby are
you ok?

MONIQUE

Yeah I am good.

JACOB

Auntie?

ARETHA

I’m good. I think I sprung my ankle.

TEDDY (checking on Aretha)

Do you have any other pains?

ARETHA

No I am good.

Aretha stood up and brushed herself off. She spotted Mattie crawling towards the envelope. Aretha quickly hobbled over and kicked Mattie in the mouth. Mattie did a semi-somersault. Aretha picked up the envelope and stuck it in her pocket.

DENNIS

Over here officers!

Dennis ran over to me and Monique.

DENNIS

Is she ok?

JACOB

I think that we should go to the hospital.

The police dispatched for an ambulance. They took their flashlights to look around. Joe and Avis
laid
on the floor – DEAD. Teddy shot them when he came. I remembered that he said that he was going to kill
whomever
was causing this. The police put handcuffs on Mattie and took her to the patrol car.

             
This was a big night. Monique, Teddy, Ian, and Jeremy graduated from high school and this was also Ian and Jeremy third month wedding anniversary. Aunt Aretha invited her friend Tony from New Orleans to celebrate with us. Dennis and I
was
trying to establish a new relationship.

             
We all were gathered at my house for a small celebration. It was very intimate.
Just family and close friends.
We all were
sadden
that Monique lost the baby from the fall that night in Hattiesburg. But as the old saying goes, “Everything happens for a reason.”

JEREMY

I have an announcement to make. Next Friday I will be leaving going to basic training for eight weeks. I will need you all to take care of my boy here. Watch out for him and keep him sane.

TEDDY

Well since you are making an announcement I guess I will make my speech. When I first moved here with my dad I did not know that my life would be like this in a year. I met my wife. I have a wonderful father-in-law and aunt.
Two new friends that I love dearly.
Hopefully a new father-in-law soon.
(Everyone starts laughing looking at Dennis) Of course I miss my dad but we talk on the regular. I will be starting classes at Alcorn State in the fall.

JACOB
YES!!!

ARETHA

Monique do you have something to say.

MONIQUE

Well I do. This year has been wild. I met a man that I love with all my heart, besides my Pop. Unfortunately I lost my baby but I know that he is with my mom and Daddy Ellis. They are watching over her. But I too will be at Alcorn in the fall.

ARETHA

I am happy that the drama is over. I met someone that share the same likes as me. We will take it one day at a time.

JACOB

I am glad that we are all together. I have really enjoyed this evening. But Dennis and I are about to leave you all for tonight. We are going to bed.

ARETHA

Do your thing then!

Dennis and I were in the bedroom with just the lamps on. I told him that I really enjoy this evening. He came over with a hug and he kissed me passionately.

             
My mouth dropped when he took off his clothes and stood before me butt ass naked. I had seen Dennis naked before but tonight was a little special. The word “damn” slipped out of my mouth. He must have heard me because he cracked the most innocent of smiles and quietly said, “You like this shit?” Watching Dennis stroke his already hard, pre-cum oozing dick I was melting inside. Sucking on his finger he just looked at me, squeezing his nipples he let out loud grunts as his pace quickened. He stopped stroking his dick, threw me on the bed and fell on top of me. I knew what was about to happened next.

             
Suddenly the lights went out and there was a very loud explosion.

VOICES

AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH
NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!