Family Values (2 page)

             
Placing my bags in the back seat I heard someone call my name. A gentleman raced out of the airport holding an object in the air. When he approached me I noticed that it was my web tablet. He handed it to me and told me that I left it on the plane. He knew it was mine because he found a business card in the pocket of the carrier. I told him that I appreciated him bringing it to me so quickly. I tried to give him a token of appreciation but he refused it.

             
I got into the car and took a deep breath.
“Here we go”
I thought.

             
I decided to stop at the nearest package store to get me a fifth of gin for my drive to Waynesboro. I would need a little buzz when I walked onto Cove Ranch.

             
I thought about some friends in Clarke County that I hadn’t seen since I left for Seattle. I decided to ride through Pachuta to see if anything had changed. I turned off Highway 145 onto Highway 11. As I was driving and looking around I realized not much had changed. I remembered that my grandfather owned some land in this area. I drove past it and noticed that the timber had been cut.

             
My phone that was lying over in the cup holder begins to ring. I smiled when I saw Brian’s name.

DWIGHT

How’s life?

BRIAN

Great and yours?

DWIGHT

Good thus far.

BRIAN

Have you made it home?

DWIGHT

No not yet. I decided to drive through a few areas to reminisce for a minute.

BRIAN

Okay, well be careful.

DWIGHT

I will. I will talk to you later.

             
I tossed the phone over to the passenger seat. As I drove down the winding country road I thought about Patrick. Patrick was the first man that I ever had sex with. I decided that I would pay him a visit. I pulled into his driveway and walked up to the door. After I rang the doorbell I wanted to quickly walk back to my car. After taking three steps the door opened. I turned and there he stood in all his masculinity. The words that I tried to speak would not come out of my mouth. Not even a simple hello.

PATRICK

Dwight! How are you?

DWIGHT

I am good. How are you?

             
Patrick walked over to me and gave me a hug so tight that I melted in his arms.

PATRICK

I am great. What are you doing here? Last I heard you were living in Seattle, Washington.

DWIGHT

Yeah, I live there now. My grandfather is dying so I came to see him before he passed over.

PATRICK

I am sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do?

             
I noticed a woman over Patrick’s shoulder. He turned and saw his wife standing holding his baby.

PATRICK

Dwight, this is my wife Symone and this is my baby.

             
I stood in disbelief.

PATRICK

Pick your jaw up before you catch a fly.

DWIGHT

Oh, um, congratulations. I didn’t know nor had I heard.

PATRICK

Honey we are going to walk down to the deer shed. We will be back in a few.

              Patrick walked over and threw his arm around my shoulder. Walking down to the deer shed – alright.

             
We caught up with each other’s lives as we were walking. Arriving at the shed I looked at his lips and longed to know if they still tasted the same. I needed to know. I yearned to gently slip my tongue in his mouth as if it were some kind of litmus test as to whether or not he was the one. Patrick stopped and kissed me.

             
Before I could control it any longer I gradually closed my eyes while simultaneously leaning into his face quickly biting my bottom lip to give myself the jolt I needed to prepare for the sparks that I was anticipating. My arms slipped around his waist and I gently yet dominantly pulled him into my body loving how I melted in his arms. Rubbing the small of his back I welcomed the warmth from his breath heating my face. I moaned. He moaned. Eventually our lips connected. And his kiss was like no other kiss I ever had.

             
For a few extended moments we were completely engaged in one another’s spirits literally sharing the most precious and basic gift from life - breathe. I am not ashamed to admit that there have been times when I have enjoyed passionate kissing sessions more than actual intercourse. Why? It’s simple; any normal genital stimulation causes me and most other men to get aroused. However, the sexual fulfillment received from kissing is satisfying to me because it is more intimate, it is closer, it is more deliberate and passionate.

             
We kissed and kissed and kissed. The more we kissed the more I grabbed his ass, rubbed his back, and moaned his name between kisses and breaths. His hands explored my body as well. Ultimately our hard penises pressed firmly into the other’s body acknowledging that we were both enjoying the experience.

             
Our heads moved quickly alternating angles and tilts helping our lips to explore different positions each occasion they met. Soon the inevitable happened. I slipped my tongue through his soft lips connecting with and gently swirling around his tongue. That kiss was amazing, spectacular, thrilling, and satisfying. It also caused us to end up naked tasting each other’s freaky parts and then exploding in unison during a kick ass love making session! Yes, I did say that sometimes kissing can be just as satisfying as intercourse, but I wasn’t necessarily saying that it was a replacement for getting it in.

MADISON
(with excitement)

My brother is home!

              Madison quickly embraced me as I walked into the house. I picked her up in my arms and spun her around. As I put her down I noticed tears were in her eyes.

             
I looked around the room and acknowledged everyone. When I got to my grandmother she exited the room. Madison saw this and walked over to me.

MADISON

It will be fine. She is upset that you left years ago and haven’t been back since. Hey you want to go see Grandfather Davis?

DWIGHT

Yeah, sure.

              Madison took me by my hand and led me to his bedroom. Madison knocked on the door and the nurse told us to come in. There was stillness in the room. I slowly walked over to Grandfather Davis’ bed.

MADISON

Grandfather, look who’s here. It’s Dwight. He flew in to check on you.

             
Grandfather Davis opened his eyes and looked up. He turned his head away to me.

GRANDFATHER DAVIS

Maddie let me talk to Dwight alone.

MADISON

Yes sir.

Madison
looked at me and winked. As she and the nurse left the room I only wondered why Grandfather Davis wanted to see me in private.

GRANDFATHER DAVIS

Pull you a chair over here.

             
I grabbed the chair and placed it beside his bed.

GRANDFATHER
DAVIS

Your mother betrayed this family years ago when she had you.
I told your father to get rid of you because I didn’t want someone elses child in this family. You are the bastard in this family. Your mother was poor trash and I didn’t want my son marrying the likes of her. But he did. She gave me two grandchildren that I love dearly. But now that I am on my deathbed I need to clear some things up. I know that you are probably glad that I am about to die.

             
The anger started to build up in me. I wanted to take his pillow and place over his face and put him out of his misery but my heart would not let me do it. The more his spoke, the more I could feel the knife turning in my heart.

DWIGHT

Grandfather …

GRANDFATHER DAVIS

This is something that I have always wanted to say. Now don’t stop me. I could not put you in my will. Your grandmother would meet me on the other side and kill me. I want you to look in that closet and get that bag out of the corner.

             
I did not want him to see me wipe the tears from my eyes. So as I walked to the closet I made sure that he could not see my face. When I opened the closet I reached for a bag. It was a heavy black bag that was tucked in the far corner of the closet. I grabbed the bag by the straps and took it to him.

DWIGHT

Is this what you wanted Grandfather?

GRANDFATHER DAVIS

I want you to take that bag and don’t tell anyone that I gave it to you. Never tell anyone what is in it.

DWIGHT

Grandfather, may I ask you something?

GRANDFATHER DAVIS

What?

DWIGHT

Is the reason you and Grandmother hate me so much is because your son is not my father?

             
He turned his head to the other side of the bed. I walked around because I wanted to look him in the eyes.

DWIGHT

Did you have my mother killed?

             
Grandfather coughed and turned his head again.

DWIGHT

Did you kill my mother?

GRANDFATHER
DAVIS

Your mother was abducted and held for ransom. They killed her when I would not give them everything they requested.

DWIGHT

Grandfather I can’t believe that. You thought Landon wasn’t a
Cove like me. You and Grandmother would have done anything to keep this family’s name clear. You had her abducted and killed.

GRANDFATHER
DAVIS

I think that it is best that you take that bag and leave right now boy. Now when I come back to get Ella I will have my ear next to the dirt. I don’t want to hear you up there dancing because we are gone.

              I picked the bag up from the foot of his bed. I looked at him and shock my head. I could not believe what he said by not speaking.

I exit the back of the house and placed the bag in my trunk. When I slammed it closed my baby brother surprised me from behind. I jumped as I turned around. We hugged each other and I gave him a kiss on the jaw.

LANDON

When did you get in?

DWIGHT

I have been here for a while. I just visited with Grandfather.

LANDON

Did Grandmother speak to you?

DWIGHT

No. No she didn’t.

LANDON

Well she is just upset that you left years ago and didn’t come back. You know that they didn’t want you to leave and move north.

DWIGHT

Landon it is deeper than that.

             
Landon looked at me with confusion on his face.

LANDON

You know that this family has always been secretive. I always felt that you all tried to keep a lot from me.

DWIGHT

A lot of it was best that you didn’t know.

             
Madison came out of the house. She was wiping her eyes. Landon and I raced over to her.

MADISON

He is gone. I guess he was waiting on you to get here Dwight.

Landon and I walked into the house. Grandmother was sitting beside Grandfather’s bed on the phone. As soon as she placed the phone on the receiver she looked over at me.

GRANDMOTHER ELLA

Dwight
I want you to know that you are not in the will. So if you want to leave and go back to Seattle – you can.

LANDON

Grandmother!

DWIGHT

No Landon. Don’t say anything. Her mind is made up that she doesn’t want me here.

             
I walked over to my grandfather and kissed him. I kneeled down in front of Grandmother Ella. I placed my hand on her knee.

DWIGHT

Well since Grandfather is gone I guess we can let everything out. Landon, I am your half brother. Grandmother here has hated me for so long for not being a Cove by blood. After you were born your grandparents had our mother killed because they thought that she was having another outside child. They could not allow any outside children to come in and steal what they had built.

LANDON

Is this true?

             
Before Grandmother could answer, Madison walked in. Grandmother noticed her and requested that she remove me from the room. I could not believe how much she hated me because Bobby wasn’t my father.